Every year seems to have its own trend in movies, with a good majority of a genre succeeding in comparison to others. Sure, we may see more commercials for the latest formulaic animated family movie, but what about the really good films? The ones that truly dominated the year in terms of critical and commercial success?
Of all the movies this year, the action genre topped my list. We had amazing entries this year in the action category; and I’m not just talking about "Avengers: Age of Ultron." This year, we saw many unique flicks that received high praise for their entertainment. Below is just a small list of the best action films that I believe dominated in 2015.
Kingsman: The Secret Service
I’ve talked about this film with my friends and at work more than any other on this list. "Kingsman" is spot on with its creativity, witty humor, and entertaining action. Not only that but numerous parts in the story will catch you off guard with crazy tense moments and a surprisingly large amount of screen time dedicated to bullet-proof umbrellas. This was a breath of fresh air for the spy genre!
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Not quite as impressive as "Kingsman," "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." did give a bit of an interesting twist with a nice amount of wisecracks interrupting the typical action plot. The whole film is just a good time and it's always funny seeing an American and Russian argue with each other. This flick, in particular, will become one of those underrated gems that will live amongst true film connoisseurs.
Ex Machina
Call it cheating, but I still consider "Ex Machina" somewhat of an action movie. While it may not be explosions and guns from start to finish, there are a lot of things going on that allows it onto my action film list. Before watching this, I was very reluctant due to the unethical methods on how the film was marketed (they used dating websites), but I respect the filmmakers, not the advertisers. Still, this sci-fi/action film raises a lot of questions about artificial intelligence and what we consider human.
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Duh, I’m not going to forget what at one point was the most hyped up movie of the year ("Star Wars: The Force Awakens is out in about a week). "Age of Ultron" was no better or worse than the first "Avengers" film. Humor, heart, comic book style camera shots. I'd even go so far as to say that Ultron proved to be more of an interesting villain Loki. It is pretty strange when a robot is trying to save humanity by eradicating it while still struggling with the concept "f humanity" in general.
Mad Max: Fury Road
Of course, I have to add this one. "Mad Max: Fury Road" was like watching a heavy metal concert with vehicular homicide and road rage as the guest performers. The visuals were beyond stunning and the story held my interest so closely for the over two hours that it lasted. I didn't move an inch the entire time. One of my favorite elements of the film was how graceful the camera work was. An amazing thing to say since that's exactly not how everything else plays out in this film. With every shot, your eyes aren’t darting around everywhere trying to find the focus. Each shot transitions beautifully into each other. If I ever teach a film course, this is a movie I would show! And I’m not the only who praises this movie, as the National Board of Review named it the “Best Film of 2015.”
Overall, 2015 was a great year for many films, but these were the best highlights. With 2016 on the horizon, I, personally, am excited for many films coming out next year. Anyone else ready for the "Deadpool" movie?!
