2016 was a very eventful year for many people. As a movie buff, I had one of the best cinematic years ever! It was the year of comic book movies, Mel Gibson's comeback, and my all time favorite film "Hacksaw Ridge."
As 2017 quickly starts running, I want to look back on 2016 and all its great films. This list will not be a list of my highest rated movies of the year, but of the movies I had most fun viewing.
I gave Hacksaw Ridge a 100% and it will forever be my favorite movie, but it was not necessarily a "fun" movie to watch due to the brutality and sorrow of war. Therefore, It will not make my top 10.
10. War Dogs (85%)
Going into War Dogs, I knew that the movie would be based on a true story, but I didn't know what that story was. During the movie, I kept looking at my buddy sitting next to me in awe of what was transpiring on the big screen. It might not have been the best directed or most truthful adaptation of the actual event, but it was a very fun watch and well worth the money spent.
9. Captain America: Civil War (85%)
Captain America: Civil War was a great ending to a very solid trilogy. As a comic book nerd, I went into this movie with the highest expectations and left the theater with a tear dripping down my face. Not really, but you get my point. A problem I felt the movie would face was being overcrowded with characters, but the directors handled the transition so swiftly. The additions of Black Panther and Spider-Man were a breath of fresh air that the Marvel Cinematic Universe desperately needed to keep going into the third phase. Although I heavily disagree with the outcome, I see why they would go the route they did, and this movie was a good time.
8. Blood Father (82%)
After impatiently waiting for years, I was finally blessed to watch Mel Gibson perform in Blood Father. The movie was far from perfect, but I was enjoying the hell out of it. Gibson came back with style in this movie, and it shows that he is better than ever before as he delivers an astonishing performance. People make mistakes. Hollywood needs to forgive Gibson for his mistakes and accept him back because they are missing out, big league.
7. Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates (72%)
Anything that features comedian Adam Devine will have my attention. I absolutely love this guy in everything he does. He's hilarious but also has the awkward charm that a comedian desperately needs. This film was quite messy and a little cheesy at times, but whenever Devine was on the big screen, I was laughing uncontrollably. He stole the show, as he always does, and made this movie way more fun than it should have been.
6. Deadpool (82%)
Wow, I can finally say I've seen a standalone Deadpool movie now. How long was that wait? Like 9 years? Well here's a big thank you to God for blessing us with Ryan Reynolds because this man did not quit until we (the comic book nerds) got the movie that we've all been waiting for. Deadpool was everything that I expected it to be. It was action-packed, funny, and a little bit romantic. At times during the film, it felt like the character had been ripped out straight from a comic book page. Deadpool 2 can't come any sooner.
5. Why Him? (77%)
Going into this movie, there was no way I would've thought that it would make my top 10, let alone my top 5 of the year! James Franco blew me away in his hilarious performance and amazing chemistry with literally everyone in the film. Keegan Michael-Key was the best part, though. In almost every scene he was in, Keegan was demanding in his presence. His chemistry with Franco made this movie 10x better than it should've been. Their scenes were the absolute best, therefore making my top 5 list.
4. Finding Dory (90%)
Just keep writing... Just keep writing... Almost at the end of this list, but first I have to mention Finding Dory. Coming at #4, this film had me hooked from the first minute of run-time. I was never going to watch it because I thought it would be a big flop after the glorious Finding Nemo, but it was way better in my opinion. I never knew a movie intended for children would have me so invested in the characters and plot. Not only was the script direction a good one, but the comedic relief was even better! There were times in this film where I found myself laughing harder than the kids seated 2 rows below me. Truthfully, Ellen DeGeneres can do it all.
3. The Accountant (90%)
Ben Affleck, you've done it again. Your comeback is officially complete.
Gone Baby Gone, The Town, Gone Girl, Batman v Superman, and The Accountant were all great movies, and Ben Affleck is a big part of their success.
The Accountant was very different than any movie Affleck has starred in, but he fit the role so perfectly and proved to be one of Hollywood's top stars.
The movie was so unexpectedly funny. The comedy added to the quality of the film because it was no longer just a shoot-em-up movie about an accountant with some martial arts training.
Anna Kendrick brought life to the film and had excellent chemistry with Affleck during their short amount of time on screen together. The ending was very open to a sequel, and I hope they go in that direction because I want to see more of this accountant.
2. The Jungle Book (96%)
Directed by Jon Favreau, The Jungle Book introduced us to a whole new world on the big screen. For a 95% CGI based movie, the environments and characters looked perfectly real.
The cast was filled with A-Lister stars, and they all fit right into the universe that Favreau was trying to build. The chemistry between the CGI characters was unreal. Nothing can compare to the chemistry between the apes in the rebooted Planet of the Apes series, but it comes seriously close.
The only concern I had going into this movie was the kid they cast as Mowgli. I wasn't doubting him, but I wasn't sure anyone could pull it off due to the age of the certain character. Proven wrong again, I was blown away by the young boy (Neel Sethi).
Another standout was Christopher Walken as King Louie. He was barely featured, but his scenes were cinematic gold. Walken portrayed the character perfectly, and his chemistry with Mowgli (Neel Sethi) was outstanding. The big scene between Mowgli and King Louie stole the show and made the movie so much more memorable.
1. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (79%)
Finally, at #1 is Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Directed by Zack Snyder, Batman v Superman had so many mixed reviews ahead of opening night that it gave me a headache. I was so hyped for this movie, but I started worrying as soon as the reviews started coming in.
However, nothing was going to stop me from watching the movie I've been waiting for since the day I was born.
Batman v Superman is far from perfect, but this list isn't about perfect movies (if it was, then Hacksaw Ridge would be at #1). This list is made up of the movies I had most fun with in 2016.
I watched Batman v Superman eight times... EIGHT. I loved the movie and I loved the characters that were introduced into the DC Cinematic Universe.
As far as story goes, I was most impressed with the way Zack Snyder handled Batman's introduction into this up and coming universe. Ben Affleck stole the show as the caped crusader and the billionaire playboy, Bruce Wayne. Every scene of his was top notch and well deserving of a spot on the list of the best Batman / Bruce Wayne. In my very popular and important opinion, he is the best Batman and Bruce Wayne to ever grace the big screen.
I had so much fun during this movie. All I've ever wanted was for Batman and Superman to be in the same movie together, but I was blessed enough to get an interpenetration of Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns. Although the fight between the two heroes was very underwhelming, I enjoyed the fact that we even got this battle in a live action movie.
Unlike some of the annoying and ridiculous "DC fans," I enjoyed the hell out of this imperfect movie instead of nitpicking the shit out of it and looking for every single flaw that it had.
Thank you Warner Brothers and thank you Zack Snyder.
I hope they can get it 100% right with Justice League and deliver a great story.
