No way are we already halfway through the year! Summer has finally arrived in the UK, I can tell, because I’m sneezing constantly and my eyes won’t stop watering. I tried to use that as an excuse whilst watching Me Before You, but that didn’t work, sadly. As per usual I’m nowhere near up to date with all of the cinema releases, but what kind of movie blog would this be without a mid-year best and worst list? Having decided to do some research for this post I realised just how many movies I have actually missed so far this year!
There are movies I know will be great that I haven’t seen yet, like The Nice Guys, and others that simply haven’t landed in our cinemas yet, like Finding Dory. I’d like to say I’ve also steered clear of some of this year’s stinkers...but I’m depressingly up to date with those. But, without further ado, here’s what I consider the 5 best and worst movies of this year so far, in no particular order.
Let’s start with the best!
It was only when I went through my Letterboxd diary that I remembered Spotlight was a 2016 release in the UK! Despite the feeling that the last 6 months has flown by, this movie feels much older to me already. My firm favourite in the Oscars line up and I’m still so glad it won Best Picture. In fact, I’d almost pushed the chill factor I got from watching it to the back of my mind until now. It’s one of those movies I want to rewatch for the amazing performances by the cast, but it’s such a tough subject I also never want to see it again. A must watch for sure though. I have to wholeheartedly agree on both this being one of the best and also that I can't believe it was released this year, it feels like ages ago!
As a huge Deadpool comic fan, and after waiting years for this movie, I’d have been happy if it simply didn’t suck. In fact, with the amazing marketing stunts in the run up to it’s release, it could have still sucked and I’d have been happy. Maybe. What I got to see on Valentine’s Day weekend was one of the funniest movies I’ve seen in a long time, with more heart than I was expecting. I’ve rewatched it a couple of times now and my opinion hasn’t changed, but I didn’t manage to convince my Mum not to see it. I don’t think her innocent mind was prepared… I wish I could have seen your Mom's face, why didn't you invite me!? Another one that I agree with! I have watched this countless times and it has never failed me, it still makes me laugh out loud and I still spot things I missed the last time I watched it. Also, it made my Valentines weekend (going out with my Dad) seem much less pathetic as it was 'to see Deadpool'. Hmm we're on a roll, this has to end soon surely.....
When the super secret trailer for 10 Cloverfield Lane came out, I raced home that night to watch the original Cloverfield for the first time. It was good, but honestly, it was J.J. Abrams’ name that got me excited the most. I didn’t know what to expect from this, I wanted to say sequel, but it isn’t. In fact, it could easily be unrelated to Cloverfield entirely, but enough of that. It’s best watched knowing as little as possible, and it’s one of the most intense movies I’ve ever seen. I don’t know if John Goodman will be up for any awards for his performance but holy moly, he should be. And it's ended! Not because I didn't like it but because I haven't seen it. I have added my 'replacements' at the end of the list so as not to 'invade' Allie's list too much! Point to be made though, me and Allie have sworn to watch more horror movies this year, that include strict instructions that include but are not limited to a) staying over at each others houses after the movie b) Allie's husband is NOT allowed to jump out from behind a wardrobe because it's funny! and c) plenty of commentary to avoid thinking about the horrors that are likely hiding under my bed!
Last year Disney destroyed my emotions with Inside Out. I’ve seen it far too many times since and I laugh and cry every time. Then The Good Dinosaur came out, which looked so unoriginal I didn’t even watch it. I had low hopes for Zootopia (or Zootropolis, over here) too, but the voice cast was enough for me to give it a go. Boy, was I wrong! With Zootopia, Disney managed to explore a relevant and serious issue in such a clever way, and even made fun of themselves along the way. Every character is memorable, but I may be biased after Nick stole my heart in Disneyland! Ooh ooh ooh, I need to watch this now, how can I do a Top 5 list without having seen the latest Disney film, I'm disappointed in myself!
I’m never too proud to admit I’m wrong. When the first trailer came out for Everybody Wants Some, and the hype picked up, I felt like the only person in the world who just didn’t get it. The trailer wasn’t funny, and I couldn’t even work out what the plot was. Everything went quiet until it’s release, and then the overwhelmingly positive reviews flooded in. At that point I gave in, I just wanted to see what the fuss was all about. I loved it. Every second. I can’t even put it into words yet as I only watched it a week ago, but it all felt so natural, and it was funny! Now I feel like I have missed even more films as I haven't seen 3 out of Allies top 5 films of the year, maybe i need to check in with her more!
Honourable mentions from me go to Midnight Special and Captain America: Civil War. I can’t even tell you how hard it was to cut this down to 5, I’m going to be screwed when the time comes to doing a full year post!
Ok so there were 3 on Allie's list that I can't say I didn't agree with as I haven't seen them so here are my extras:
I am the first to admit that Me Before You was not as good as the book, I have read the book countless times and there were elements missing from the film that I thought were important. But I think they nailed the actors for the lead roles, particularly Emilia Clarke, she couldn't have been any more perfect as Lou.
Yes The Jungle Book terrified me, but it was so well put together and such a brilliant version of the story, it was so close to the Disney version whilst just that little bit darker. The CGI work was absolutely incredible and so magical to watch (probably why I was so scared, the animals looked so real!). Not one I will be watching with my niece but will most definitely will be watching it again!
How could I not include the feel good movie of the year, Eddie the Eagle is a re-watch must. It, without a doubt, puts a smile on my face! This may also have something to do with my Taron Egerton obsession and seen as his next movie is a cartoon, this is my only fix for the medium term.
An easier list to put together was the worst of 2016 so far…
One of my first cinema trips of the year was to see How to Be Single, and I was so excited! Surely a cast like this couldn’t disappoint, but it did. The only laugh out loud moments were in the trailer, and it had been shoved in my face so many times prior to it’s release that they just weren’t funny anymore. There was an attempt at a serious storyline that felt way out of place, and one of the main cast had literally no connection to the others at all. This could have been great, but it’s only memorable moment for me was the ‘tit punch’. Agreed, not only was this rubbish but it let us believe it was going to be a good movie from the trailer only to massively disappoint upon viewing!
Oh my goodness, my subconscious had actually done me a favour and made me forget all about Get a Job, and then my film diary reminded me of this monstrosity. Normally I can always find a little bit of good in a movie, but this just plain sucked. This is another movie that could have been great, the plot felt so relevant to me personally, the cast was promising, I mean, what could possibly go wrong? There are so many separate plots in this that none of them get enough time to even make sense, and then it’s all over as quickly as it began (you will diagree but this is the exact problem I have with Love Actually!). Afterwards I learnt that the movie stayed on a shelf for 4 years before it got a release date. It should have stayed there. I wrote my list before even looking at this post and yet somehow I knew this would be on there, great cast, truly awful script!
Jenna, this one is on you. You tried to lure me in with ‘by the makers of Sharknado’, but all I got was some post-apocalyptic western filled with boyband members, and I don’t even remember what happened now. This wasn’t even bad on the same level as Sharknado where you can poke fun at a crazy plot and awful continuity, this was just plain bad. Admittedly, this wasn't one of my best choices but it has started the 'from the makers of Sharknado' subplot to the blog ;-) This was on my list as well so not to worry, I am aware of my failures as a movie picker....just needed to see Nick Carter in action again!
I’m sorry, Jenna. I know how much you loved this. If it makes you feel any better I thought Dirty Grandpa was hilarious but everyone hates that. It’s probably your fault actually, you told me how good this would be, but for me it was another Tammy. It just wasn’t funny, but I went along with the plot, I wanted to know how the brownie business was going to go, but then I nodded off, and the next thing I know Melissa McCarthy and Peter Dinklage were having a sword fight on a roof, and I had to check I was still watching the same movie! The film was crap to be fair but I laughed all the way though, it's Melissa McCarthy she just has that effect on me. I had drank a couple of glasses of wine beforehand so maybe I need to try again sober, but for now this is not on my worst films list.
I feel kind of bad for including this, because Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice wasn’t that bad, it was just a huge letdown. I partly blame the marketing to be honest. I mean, all we needed to know was that these two heroes were going to fight each other, and we’d have all rushed to the cinema to see it. We didn’t need to know who else would be there, or indeed, what the entire plot was. After goodness knows how many trailers, I felt like I’d already seen the whole movie. In the end, it just felt like it’s only purpose was to set up a Justice League movie, and it should have been so much more. So remember when I mentioned that I was a little bit behind with my 2016 movies, I wasn't kidding! I still haven't seen this so I can't judge but the countless bad reviews probably deterred me somewhat from rushing to the cinema the second it was released.
Honourable mention for Independence Day: Resurgence, only because I had so much fun making fun of it for our review!
Speaking of which, I have a couple of my own to add, one of which being Independence Day: Resurgence - thank god for Jeff Goldblum or I may have walked out. I think I more disappointed than anything, I loved the first one and I just really wanted it to be great and it just wasn't....at all!
Finally, and probably my biggest disappointment of the year - Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie. Nope nope nope and nope, this was all kinds of crap mushed together to make a ridiculous plot and shonky script. the cameo spotting which should have made it bearable were so over the top, there were 7 in the first 30 seconds of the film - too much! I still love Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley and the original series but this was just one big nope!
