Top Favorite Movies of 2017

Below is a list of my favorite movies of 2017( List subject to change): 


TOP FAVORITE MOVIES OF 2017

1. “Dunkirk” - Christopher Nolan wrote and directed this acclaimed look at the British Expeditionary Force’s evacuation from Dunkirk, France in 1940. Fionn Whitehead, Tom Hardy and Mark Rylance starred. 

2. “Wonder Woman” - Gal Gadot starred in this movie about the D.C. Comics’ heroine Wonder Woman and her experiences during World War I. Patty Jenkins directed. 

3. “Murder on the Orient Express” - Kenneth Branaugh directed and starred in this fifth adaptation of Agatha Christie’s 1934 novel about a murder aboard the famed Orient Express. Johnny Depp and Michelle Pfieffer co-starred. 

4. “I, Tonya” - Margot Robbie starred in this deliciously bizarre biopic about the controversial Olympic ice skater, Tonya Harding. Directed by David Gillespie, the movie co-starred Sebastian Stan and Allison Janney. 

5. “Marshall” - Chadwick Boseman starred in this interesting biopic about an early case of future Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Directed by Reginald Hudlin, Josh Gad and Sterling K. Brown co-starred. 

6. “The Post” - Steven Spielberg directed this fascinating look about The Washington Post’s efforts to publish “The Pentagon Papers”, the controversial Department of Defense documents about the Vietnam War. Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks starred. 

7. “Detroit” - Kathryn Biegelow directed this harrowing look at the Algiers Motel incident during Detroit’s 1967 12th Street Riot. John Boyega, Will Poulter, Algee Smith and Anthony Mackie starred. 

8. “Justice League” - Zack Snyder directed (most of it) this entertaining, yet flawed tale about the formation of the Justice League of America and its battle against the alien villain known as Steppenwolf. Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Ray Fisher, Jason Momoa and Henry Cavill starred. 

9. “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” - Johnny Depp returned as Jack Sparrow in this funny, yet slightly poignant fifth entry in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” film franchise. Directed by Espen Sanberg and Joachim Rønning, the movie co-starred Javier Bardem, Brenton Thwaites and Kaya Scodelario. 

10. “Logan” - Hugh Jackman and director James Manigold reunited for this haunting adaptation of the 2008 Marvel Comics tale, “Old Man Logan”. Patrick Stewart co-stars as Charles Xavier aka “Professor X”. 

Honorable Mention: “Baby Driver” - Edgar Wright wrote and directed this tale about a young Atlanta getaway driver and music lover who is forced to work for a kingpin in order to settle a debt. Ansel Elgort, Lily James and Kevin Spacey starred. 

"X-MEN" Movies Ranking

With the release of the new X-MEN movie, “X-MEN: APOCALYPSE”, I decided to list my ranking of the previous films in the franchise. Warning: many may not agree with it: 


“X-MEN” MOVIES RANKING



1. “X2: X-Men United” (2003) - Bryan Singer directed this film about Army colonel William Stryker’s plans to use Professor Charles Xavier to destroy the world’s mutant population once and for all. As you can see, my favorite in the franchise.





3. “X-Men: First-Class” (2011) - Matthew Vaughn directed this tale set in 1962 about the first meeting between Charles Xavier “Professor X” and Erik Lensherr “Magneto”, their creation of the X-Men and their efforts to prevent mutant villain Sebastian Shaw from using the Cuban Missile Crisis to acquire world domination. Despite the questionable costumes and a few plot holes, this was a big favorite of mine.





3. “X-Men: The Last Stand” (2006) - Brett Ratner directed this tale about the X-Men overcoming tragedy to deal with the resurrected and more powerful Jean Grey and Magneto’s continuing war on non-mutant humans. Many fans hated this film. I enjoyed it, although I found the pacing a bit too rushed. Enough said.





4. “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” (2009) - Gavin Hood directed this movie about the origins of James Howlett aka the Wolverine and his relationship with his murderous half-brother Victor Creed aka Sabertooth and his first class with William Stryker in the 1970s. Another movie hated by the fans. And again, I enjoyed it, although I consider it lesser than the 2006 movie.





5. “X-Men: Days of Future Days” (2014) - Directed by Bryan Singer, this movie is a time-travel adventure for Wolverine, who must convince a younger Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr to prevent Mystique from murdering a anti-mutant scientist, whose work will prove deadly for mutants within a half century. Great premise, but shaky execution. Too many plot holes, but still enjoyable.





6. “The Wolverine” (2013) - James Mangold directed this atmospheric tale about Wolverine, still grieving over a recent tragedy, traveling to Japan to meet the Wolverine heading to Japan for a reunion with a soldier named Ichirō Yashida whose life he saved during the Nagasaki bombing at the end of World War II. He ends up defending Yashida’s granddaughter from the Yakuza and her avaricious father. Great Japanese atmosphere and interesting beginning, but it nearly fell to pieces in the last half hour.






7. “X-Men” (2000) - Bryan Singer directed this first movie in the franchise about Wolverine and a young Marie aka “Rogue”’s introduction to the X-Men and their efforts to defeat Magneto’s plans to transform the entire population into mutants against their will. Enjoyable, but it felt like a B-movie trying to disguise itself as an A-lister. Also, too many plot holes.





8. "Deadpool" (2016) - Ryan Reynolds starred in this reboot of the Deadpool character about the comic book hero's origins and his hunt for the man who gave him an accelerated healing factor, but also a scarred physical appearance. Despite the sharp humor and fourth wall cinematic device, the narrative struck me as sloppily written and mediocre.

Favorite Moments in MARVEL Movies and Television

Below is a list of my favorite moments featured in Marvel movies and television: 


FAVORITE MOMENTS IN MARVEL MOVIES AND TELEVISION

1. “Spider-Man 2” (2004) - After a brutal fight with Doc Ock on top of a Manhattan El Train and saving the train’s passengers, an exhausted Spider-Man aka Peter Parker is unmasked by the latter in what I regard as the most poignant moment in any Marvel production. 

2. “The Avengers” (2012) - During its fight against invading Chitauri troops, director Joss Whedon gave audiences an iconic shot of the newly formed Avengers, before they continued the battle. 

3. “Iron-Man 3” (2013) - Iron Man aka Tony Stark saves the surviving passengers and crew of Air Force One in this breathtaking sequence, using aerodynamics, one of his Iron Man bots and his brains. 

4. “The Wolverine” (2013) - In this exciting sequence, the Wolverine aka Logan battles members of the Yakuza on top of a Tokyo bullet train, as he tries to prevent them from kidnapping the granddaughter of a recently deceased businessman that he had briefly met at the end of World War II. 

5. “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D” (1.20) “Nothing Personal” - Agent Phil Coulson rescues his kidnapped subordinate Skye aka Daisy Johnson from HYDRA agents, who had hijacked the fallen agency’s C-17 plane, known as “the Bus”, with his sports car called “L.O.L.A.”. 

6. “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” (2014) - While staving off rogue HYDRA agents in Washington D.C., Captain America aka Steve Rogers has a brutal hand-to-hand fight with the assassin known as “the Winter Soldier”. Best fight scene in any Marvel production … at least for me. 

7. “Iron Man 3” (2013) - In this hilarious scene, Tony Stark finally comes face-to-face with the “terrorist” known as “the Mandarin”, who proves not to be what many had assumed. 

8. “The Hulk” (2003) - The opening credits of the 2003 movie featured the chilling efforts of Dr. David Banner to create super soldiers by introducing modified DNA sequences extracted from various animals to strengthen the human cellular response. This sequence gives me the chills whenever I watch the movie. 

9. “X2: X-Men United” (2003) - The second movie in the “X-MEN” franchise featured an exciting attack by a brainwashed Nightcrawler aka Kurt Wagner on the White House, in an attempt to assassinate the U.S. President. 

10. “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” (2014) - S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury is attacked by HYDRA agents and the assassin known as “the Winter Soldier” on the streets of Washington D.C. 

11. “Iron Man 2” (2010) - S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Natasha Romanoff aka the Black Widow fights off security guards at Justin Hammer’s factory in order to prevent Ivan Venko from using James Rhodes in the War Machine suit from killing Tony Stark aka Iron Man. 

12. “Ant-Man” (2015) - Scott Laing aka Ant-Man attempts to infiltrate the new Avengers headquarters for a particular device, and has an unexpected encounter with Avenger Sam Wilson aka the Falcon. 

13. “Iron Man 3” (2015) - An Extremis enhanced Pepper Potts saves Tony Stark from villain Aldrich Killian by killing the latter. 

14. “Captain America: The First Avenger” (2011) - The recently enhanced Steve Rogers is recruited by a U.S. senator for a war bonds tour in this colorful montage, after the former is rejected by Colonel Chester Phillips when the super soldier formula is lost. 

15. “Thor” (2011) - Recently cast out from Asgaard by his father Odin, a now mortal Thor struggles to free himself from a hospital’s personnel before he is eventually drugged in this very funny scene. 

16. “Guardians of the Galaxy” (2014) - A group of extraterrestrial misfits uses one of the Infinity stones to defeat Kree supervillain Ronan the Accuser, who is bent upon destroying the Nova Empire’s capital city, Xandar. 

17. “Captain America: The First Avenger” (2011) - In this emotionally sad scene, S.S.R. Agent Peggy Carter gives in to tears, when communication with Captain America aka Steve Rogers is cut short, after he forces a HYDRA plane with deadly weapons into the Atlantic Ocean. 

18. “Spider-Man 3” (2007) - Another sad scene features Spider-Man aka Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson grieving over the dead body of their friend, Harry Osborn aka New Goblin, after the latter is skewered by villain Venom aka Eddie Brock. 

19. “Agent Carter” (1.07) “Snafu” - S.S.R. Chief Roger Dooley jumps to his death in order to save the lives of his subordinates from the bomb device that had been strapped to his body. 

20. “The Hulk” (2003) - Ang Lee directed this bizarre scene featuring the death of former military officer Glenn Talbot, after the Hulk aka Bruce Banner escapes from a military base. 

Honorable Mention: “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” (2014) - Director Marc Webb directed this heartbreaking sequence in which Gwen Stacy falls to her death, after Spider-Man aka Peter Parker fails to save her from Harry Osborn aka the Green Goblin. 

"THE WOLVERINE" (2013) Review

"THE WOLVERINE" (2013) Review

Fans of the X-MEN have been discussing the making of Bryan Singer's new entry to the franchise recently. But while said fans wait eagerly for "X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST", 20th Century Fox and Marvel Comics released a second movie featuring the mutant with adamantium claws called "THE WOLVERINE". 

Directed by James Mangold, who first worked with star Hugh Jackman in 2001's "KATE AND LEOPOLD", "THE WOLVERINE" is a tale that begins nearly seventy years earlier, during the waning days of World War II. In August 1945, James Howlett aka Logan aka the Wolverine is a U.S. Army soldier imprisoned in a Japanese-held prison camp near Nagasaki, Japan. During the atomic bombing of the city, Logan rescues a Japanese Army officer named Yashida and shields him from the blast. Nearly seventy years later, Logan is leaving as a hermit in the Yukon, struggling with his memories of being forced to kill fellow mutant Jean Grey in 2006's "X-MEN 3: THE LAST STAND". A mutant with the precognitive ability to foresee people's deaths named Yukio manages to track him down on behalf of Yashida, now the CEO of a technology corporation. Yashida is dying of cancer and wants Logan to accompany Yukio to Japan, so that he may repay his life debt. Upon his arrival in Tokyo, Logan discovers that Yashida's idea of repayment is an offer to transfer Logan's healing abilities into his own body. Not only would this transfer save Yashida's life, but also alleviate Logan of his immortality, which the latter considers a curse.

Logan also meets Yashida's son Shingen and granddaughter Mariko. During his first night in Tokyo, Yashida's physician Dr. Green (aka Viper) introduces something into Logan's body, but the latter dismisses the incident as a dream. The next morning, Yukio informs Logan that Yashida has died. At the funeral, Yakuza gangsters attempt to kidnap Mariko, but Logan and Mariko escape together into the urban sprawl of Tokyo, with the unknown help of Mariko's former lover, Kenuichio Harada, who is also leader of the Black Ninja Clan. When Logan is shot during their escape, he discovers that his wounds do not heal as quickly as they should. As he continues to struggle with this memories of Jean, Logan becomes involved with Mariko and tries to prevent her from being harmed by a feud between the Yakuza and the Yashida family. Meanwhile, he remains unaware of the actions of Dr. Green, who proves to be a lot more dangerous that Logan had originally surmised.

By the time I had watched the first half-hour of "THE WOLVERINE", I suspected that this movie might proved to be very interesting. It is not the only X-MEN movie that began in the past. In fact, this seemed to be the criteria for all of the movies in the franchise. But the World War II setting of the movie's beginning really blew my mind, leading me to believe I would be seeing something unique. Based on the 1982 limited series, "Wolverine" by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller, the screenplay became even more intriguing with Logan's state of grief and guilt over Jean Grey's death over sixty years later, and his meeting with Yukio in the Yukon. The movie also featured some intriguing scenes during Logan's visit to Japan - his reunion with Yashida after 60 to 70 years, the violent chaos that ensues during Yashida's funeral and especially the mind boggling action sequence atop a bullet train speeding through Tokyo. The movie's screenplay also continues Logan's difficulties in coming to terms over Jean's death via visions of the late red-haired mutant and the consequences of the substance that Dr. Green introduced to his system during his first night in Japan with every wound that he receives.

Unfortunately for "THE WOLVERINE", the movie seemed to slide into a mindless action flick by its second half. The Yakuza's pursuit of Logan and Mariko proves to be nothing more than a red herring to disguise a family feud between Mariko and her avaricious father Shingen over who would assume control of the family's corporation. And even that story line not only proved to be minor, but a waste of time. Unfortunately, it also dominated most of the film. I also a big issue with Logan's healing factor. "X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE" revealed that his healing factor prevented the adamantium in his system from poisoning and killing him. Even the Marvel comics support this. Which is why I am baffled over why the adamantium failed to affect his health, after his healing ability was affected by Dr. Green. I am not claiming that the adamantium should have killed him right away, but should have began poisoning him, once the healing factor became compromised. For the third time, Logan's penchant for passive women landed him into a dull romance. It seems that external factors - namely danger or a love triangle - can only make his relationships with Jean Grey, Kayla Silverfox and in this film, Mariko Yashida, interesting. Logan's romantic chemistry with these three women - especially Mariko - tend to fall flat with me. And I hate to say this, but I really disliked the final action sequence where Logan, Yukio and Mariko are forced to confront the Dr. Green, Harada (who eventually becomes repentant) and a new adversary, the Silver Samurai, who is also interested in Logan's healing factor. That is correct. Logan's healing factor has returned to the forefront of the movie's plot at the last minute. And I found the finale over-the-top and quite frankly, boring. 

The one aspect of "THE WOLVERINE" I had no problems with are the performances. Well . . . with a few exceptions. Hugh Jackman was certainly not that exception. I feel he gave one of his better performances as Logan aka the Wolverine, conveying a world-weariness and tinge of grief not really explored in his previous performances. It does help that Jackman is finally starting to show his age in this film. Hiroyuki Sanada gave a top-notch performance as Shingen Yashida, Mariko's greedy father who is willing to kill her in order to assume control of the family's business. Not only did I find Svetlana Khodchenkova's portrayal of the mutant called Dr. Green aka Viper insidious, but also creepy and cold-blooded. It seemed a pity that she was not the film's main antagonist. Will Yun Lee gave an emotional and morally complex performance as Mariko's former lover and head of the Black Ninja Clan, Kenuichio Harada. Ken Yamamura was especially impressive as the young Japanese Army officer, Yashida, who is traumatized by the Nagasaki bombing and his fear of dying, and shocked by his discovery of Logan's healing ability. My favorite performance in the movie came from former model, Rila Fukushima, who literally stole the film as Logan's strongest ally, the feisty and very deadly Yukio. Fukushima's performance was a pure joy to watch. 

However, there were performances that did not particularly impress me. One came from model Tao Okamoto, who portrayed Logan's main squeeze, Mariko Yashida. Although the character proved to be quite capable of taking care of herself, Okamoto's performance struck me as rather dull and petulant. And a mid-credits scene revealed Logan's encounter with Charles Xavier aka Professor X and Erik Lensherr aka Magneto at an airport, two years later. I love Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen, but they looked and acted like two old men who had dragged out of their sick beds to shoot that scene. 

"THE WOLVERINE" had the potential to be a very good film, thanks to James Mangold's energetic direction, a first-rate opening scene in Nagasaki at the end of World War II, a potentially intriguing story line and first-rate performances from a cast that includes Hugh Jackman and Rila Fukushima. But despite these virtues, Mangold could not rise above an uneven script written by Mark Bomback and Scott Frank, which included a mindless action finale. Pity. I only hope that the next X-MEN movie proves to be a lot better.