2015 in movies

Ok. It’s either I’m getting old or something, ’cause I clearly am not the cynic bitch I used to be. During this new year’s eve we’ve been talking about movies, and apparently I was unable to cope with the general opinion that 2015 has been a lame year, and that 2016 is probably going to be […]

Ok. It’s either I’m getting old or something, ’cause I clearly am not the cynic bitch I used to be.

During this new year’s eve we’ve been talking about movies, and apparently I was unable to cope with the general opinion that 2015 has been a lame year, and that 2016 is probably going to be worst. So here’s my list of 7 movies that made our world a better place. Nothing too intellectual: as you all know, I have very simple tastes when it comes to cinema and all I need to make me happy is to see something blowing up.

Of course I was disappointed by Avengers: Age of Ultron, and I still haven’t seen quite a few things I was awaiting in anticipation, such as Garrone’s Tale of Tales. Still, I’m far from dissatisfied and I think you shouldn’t be either.

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7. The Martian
I wrote about it here (sort of: just jump at the end of the article if you’re not into Russian spacecrafts) and I think Ridley Scott’s rendition of Andy Weir’s novel was a neat product, highly enjoyable and with some very well done scenes, such as the space dance with orange ribbons. It ranked 10th in the highest-grossing films of 2015, at least according to Wikipedia, and it ranks 10th in my list of nice products that came out in 2015.

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6. Jupiter Ascending
Ok, you remember it, I wrote about it here. It was confused and confusing. And I am still not sure what the idea was. Still, it’s important to remember it as the movie that brought back the Wachowskis to science fiction after that beautiful Cloud Atlas, and again it teaches us that you can be as visionary as you want but without a good story you still are nothing.

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5. Shaun the Sheep Movie
Yes. In the same world of Inside Out (possibly the worst embodyment of what Disney thinks is suitable for her public nowadays), there still is space for this little jewel of stop-motion and British humour. I am crazy about Aardman and I hope they stay in business for many centuries to come: they tell us a story of patience and old techniques, of the way they have to evolve to meet modern technology, but most of all they teach us that technique and technology isn’t all. You have to develop your own storytelling, your style, and then go with the technique that suits you most. This is what Wallace & Gromit did, this is what Shaun the Sheep does, even in the series, and the movie didn’t disappoint like Minions did. I am always very glad to see something so well done.

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4. Mr Holmes
I still haven’t seen it, but I’ll put it up here just on faith. I’ve been waiting ages for Ian McKellen to come back with some Victorian drama and here he is. The novel didn’t impress me much, but what I’ve seen of the movie seems to have been able to put some “kick” into it.

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3. Macbeth
Seriously: Shakespeare and Michael Fassbender is all that you need to know to be mad about this movie.

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2. Fantastic Four
Ok, I’m kidding. Still, if you read Italian you have to be grateful because this movie brought you the best review by Ortolani so far. I know, I know, it’s not fair to laugh at someone else’s suffering but I really can’t help it.

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2. Mad Max
George Miller drives this postapocalyptic charade with iron fist and creates a gigantic fresco of… well, nothing, really. No plot, no characters, no insight. Just visual and an endless race between tank trucks on fire. Still you’ll love it. Expecially if you love tank trucks on fire. As I do.

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1. Star Wars Episode VII
Well, it’s something you have to cope with, even if you liked it like I did (see here) or if you didn’t like Leo Ortolani (see here). It will define this year, like 1999 was defined by the Phantom Menace even if it was the same year of The Sixth Sense, American Beauty and Matrix.

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Ok, ok, I know what you are thinking: I haven’t seen two of them and one of them was a joke. All right, you won. It hasn’t been such a great year after all, and I still am that cynic bitch. The world can keep spinning.

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