Happy New Year!! To celebrate, I've decided to look back on the top five best movies I've seen this year, and looking back, 2015 was a great year for movies. Not only were there several great films over the year, but many of them surprisingly were in competition with each other. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to see all of them because of how close they came out to each other, so if you don't see one of your favorites on here, you'll understand why. But the stuff I went to see, I enjoyed thoroughly. With that said, here are my top five favorite films of 2015:
5. Ant Man
Of course, there would be a Marvel movie on here. Now, I never knew about Ant Man before this movie, but this film completely won me over. Even though a good chunk of this story had been done before, something about how they execute it made it feel fresh and new. I really love a story that can do that. The cast is great, (especially Paul Rudd as Ant Man) the action is great, and the story is well done. I really look forward to seeing Ant Man join the Avengers. Actually, I'd love to see all these characters interact with the Avengers. This was definitely a welcomed addition to the Marvel cinematic universe. Also, it has probably the funniest Stan Lee cameo yet.
4. Jurassic World
This film is the sequel Jurassic Park deserved. I remember hearing rumors for years that there was going to be a Jurassic Park 4, but I never knew if they were actually going to go through with it. Well, they did, and it proved to be one of the most entertaining films of the summer, as well as the third highest grossing movie of all time. Yeah, I was not expecting it to take off as well as it did, but I'm glad it did so well because I enjoyed all of it. The ideas of expanding the park and making almost like Sea World were very interesting, and of course, the fact that now it's open to the masses, as opposed to just a few people like in the original film, makes the dinosaur scenes all the more suspenseful and energized. Chris Pratt is wonderful as always, and he has a team of raptors at his beck and call (dude, that's just awesome!) And of course, it had the best ending of any Jurassic Park movie, but I'll let you watch the film to find out! On the whole, the movie was not as good as Jurassic Park, but it came pretty close for me. I had a great time with this one.
3. Cinderella (2015)
Like most people, I rolled my eyes when I heard they were going to do a live-action remake of Disney's Cinderella. But little did I know that not only would it turn out fantastic, but in many respects, it turned out to be an improvement to the original. Directed by Kenneth Branaugh, the visual style in this film is amazing. The setting looks like a combination between fairy tales and Shakespeare. Also, like Kenneth Branaugh's prime material, this adaptation shows a lot of dignity in what it changes. As much as I enjoy the mice in the original film, they're barely in this film because they're not the focus. The focus is what it should be, Cinderella and the Prince, who, let's face it, are a million times more developed here than in the original. On top of that, they even make the step-mother identifiable, with a wonderful performance by Cate Blanchett. It also does a wonderful job conveying the message of "have courage and be kind." I enjoy the original animated classic, but I have to be honest, I loved this one even more, and am looking forward to what they do with their next remake. If you love classic Disney films, this is definitely one to check out.
2. Star Wars: The Force Awakens
1. Inside Out
Not only is this the best film of 2015, not only is the greatest movie Pixar's ever made, but it is without a doubt the best movie I've ever seen, period. This is a movie that takes an idea and does everything great you can do with it. And the idea is so simple, but it opens up a world of possibilities, and they take advantage of them all. With every scene, you admire the creativity of how they portray a certain part of the mind of a child, (and even sometimes adults) from the point of view of the emotions inside their heads. The idea of emotions having personalities is nothing new. A lot of cartoons did it before, but this was the first movie that said, "Hey, we can do something that's not only funny, but dramatic. It's something, regardless of age, anyone can understand." The story is actually a coming-of-age story that talks about changes, adapting, sacrifices, and letting go. All these hardships are shown through the characters who develop Riley as she deals with these hardships. The characters are great, the story is unbelievably creative, the voice-acting is some of the best I've ever heard, and, fittingly, every emotion that needs to play out plays out. You feel everything you need to feel, which actually resulted in the biggest tearjerking scene I've ever witnessed. Even now, I still cry hard at the end.
But the lesson it teaches is what truly makes it a masterpiece. So many of us try to hide our sadness, or other emotions, but this movie proves that it's not only healthy to show emotions, but it's incredibly healthy. All emotions are healthy, you just have to know how to keep them in check. There's no shame in feeling sad. There's no shame in feeling angry. If anything, by confronting these emotions, you create new emotions and new moments. More importantly, change happens to all of us, and we have to learn to embrace it. Sometimes it happens for the better, sometimes for the worse, but we all change. But we shouldn't be ashamed of our past, nor should we glorify it. Like anything, there's positives and negatives, and good moments in bad times, as well as bad moments in good times. Because of this, growing up can be tough for all of us. Sometimes, we obsess over little things when we shouldn't, other times, we tend to make mistakes. But in these hardships lie what matters most: it's the choices we make now that define who we are. So, this year, when you remember to be kind and understanding to others, remember also to be kind and understanding to yourself. Also, be honest with yourself. If you're going through a rough time, don't be afraid to talk to a close friend or family member about it. Much like Riley, you'll be amazed how much they can help you. And trust me when I say, you're definitely worth the time.
This is a movie that's truly perfect, and a testament to what movies can do for someone. It didn't just stop at doing everything right, it went above and beyond. I can only say a movie is perfect so often before it gets repetitive, but the richness of the emotions this elicits cannot be ignored. Films like this are what truly stand the test of time. Every time I see it, it just get better and better. This is the rare film that not only made me thankful I saw it, but makes me feel like a better person because of what it teaches. Inside Out is funny, creative, colorful, powerful, and intense, creating a world of ingenuity, wonder, and magic. Inside Out, my pick for best film of the year, as well as my new favorite film of all time.
And those are my top five picks for 2015. I know there were a lot of other great films out there, but I wasn't able to see all of them, there were so many. Let's hope 2016 has just as much good things in store.
