WITHOUT a doubt, it is safe to say that Star Wars: The Force Awakens is one the most anticipated films of the year, with fans eagerly posting their excitement over the next installment of the popular franchise. And with 2015 being just a few weeks from over, yet another year passes by. Likewise, another year in cinema has passed as well. I would like to take a look back at seven of my personal favorites that came out this year.
1. Jurassic World
Jurassic World automatically earns itself a spot on my list mostly because of the nostalgia factor it has. Anyone born during the early 90s and before can attest to the immense popularity of the franchise. It is not absurd to claim that Jurassic Park has paved the way for science-fiction and dinosaur movies.
The original movie, released over 22 years ago, is one of the well-loved films of all time. I may have shed a few tears the second the original Jurassic Park theme song, composed by John Williams, played when brothers Zach and Gray arrived on the Island Nublar.
Though there are numerous nods to the original film, including the staple tyrannosaurus rex fight and a cameo by one of the original Jurassic Park cast, Jurassic World daringly seeks a new direction, allowing it to be a separate entity from the earlier movies.
Some critics have claimed that this installment, while not as thrilling as the 1993 mega blockbuster, has been a better sequel than the second and third movies. And with more than a 20-year gap from the first movie and Jurassic World, it is needless to say that the dinosaurs have undergone a major upgrade from the animatronics and special effects used during Jurassic Park.
2. Inside Out
No one expected to feel so much during a kiddie flick but Inside Out managed to tug at the heartstrings of people of all ages. The Disney-Pixar film circled around 11-year old Riley and the group of characters who are the embodiment of common emotions that control her psychological and emotional state. Exceptional voice performances expected from a cast of top comedians like Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, and Mindy Kaling were merely a plus.
The heart behind the film is the poignant insight it has to the emotional trials and struggles we have faced. Much like every classic Disney movie, behind the colorful characters and laughs from silly jokes, there will always be a heart-tugging scene. This film is nothing less than heartwarming.
3. Furious 7
I was never a huge fan of the Fast and the Furious franchise because of the disconnect I have with Vin Diesel as an actor. He’s very much typecast as his character Dominic Toretto and I find it hard to see him as anyone else. Nevertheless, Diesel works best as his F&F character and has such acting chemistry with co-star Paul Walker.
While the untimely demise of Walker seemed to signal the end of the franchise, the production team of Fast 7 was able to tie-in all loose ends from the previous Fast and Furious movies and give a proper end to Walker’s Brian O’Conner.
Scenes shot in Azerbaijan, Abu Dhabi, Tokyo as well as bigger and crazier car stunts and fight scenes were bonuses.
4. Crimson Peak
Though not as big a blockbuster hit as the other movies on my list, Guillermo del Toro’s Crimson Peak earns a spot because of the director’s masterful take on the gothic horror romance and my slight partiality for English actor Tom Hiddleston. The film is an art piece, to say the least, and is del Toro’s finest work to date. Enigmatic, perplexing, mysterious.
It is an Edgar Allan Poe piece, if the prolific writer’s words were ever condensed into film. While my usual taste for horror usually comes in its simplest yet most popular form – slasher films – a good ghost-haunting film that takes place in an eerie house where macabre happenings take place is always good for the thrill. And with a cast of Tom Hiddleston, Jessica Chastain, Mia Wasikowska, Charlie Hunnam, and Jim Beaver, there are no disappointment son the acting front.
r5. Mad Max: Fury Road
Mad Max is so exciting to the point that it is almost ridiculous. The film, a sequel to the 1979 dystopian action, brings back Mel Gibson’s Max Rockatansky, now played by Tom Hardy. The high-octane action scenes, which include a 20-minute chase scene, are barrels of testosterone at optimum speed. With the help of more sophisticated special effects, this hyper-violent, post-apocalyptic film is perfect for thrill junkies.
But perhaps the highlight of the film is that Hardy’s Mad Max is not the singular character who brings the action to the film. Charlize Theron’s stoic and strong Imperator Furiosa stands her own as a rogue soldier and equally packs a punch in bringing the heat, beyond, making her one of the toughest female characters in movies. Mad Max: Fury Road deserves a spot on everyone’s list.
6. Avengers: Age of Ultron
The Avengers: Age of Ultron has all the ingredients of a mega hit summer flick – a massively popular plot source, a hit first installment, an all-star cast, an acclaimed director, and Marvel Studios. While a number of fans have pointed out continuity flaws and other errors, we cannot deny that that movie gathering of Hollywood’s most famous in one action-packed film based on the wonderful works of Stan Lee.
The reason why I include Avengers: Age of Ultron in my list of 2015 movies is not much on the story or cinematography, but because of the charm and charisma of Marvel superheroes and the undeniable chemistry of the superhero team. It makes for an exciting film to catch with friends.
7. Selma
For anyone with a love of history, especially Black History during the civil rights movements, Selma is a must-see. Selma was the place where the historical march for civil rights took place in the spring of 1965, the battle ground for black rights, as well as one of the early locations in the fight against racial injustice.
David Oyelowo has graduated from taking supporting roles in films and took on the most honored role of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. While there are a number of Black history films, with most receiving critical acclaim, Selma sets itself apart by focusing on the life of one of the champions in the civil rights movement and including the personal side of his story. The film is as moving as the very words Dr. King had spoken when he delivered his most famous and iconic speech.