Dunkirk – Are You Not Entertained?

I did pretty good last year, so if you want to make a quick buck, I’m your go to guy for this.

The Oscars are this Sunday, so it’s time for some predictions! Who got snubbed? Who’s going to take home the most gold? Who’s getting a little more attention then they should? All of these are valid questions that I will try to answer below. I’m going to run down all the nominees for each category and then pick who I think will take home the award! I’m going to have a lot to say for certain categories and awards and very little about others.

Sound Mixing

Everyone’s favourite award of the evening! Sound mixing. Actually a pretty big toss up, not going sit here and lie and pretend I know anything to do with sound mixing. I do however know how movies sound inside the theatre and for me, the movie that sounded the best was Dunkirk.

Winner: Mark Weingarten, Gregg Landaker & Gary A. Rizzo – Dunkirk.

Sound Editing.

You know, these things kind of go hand in hand. One wins mixing, why not just give them both. Listen Dunkirk was an extraordinary technical movie. So I’m giving it both of the sound awards. You felt as you were in the battle during it, you were transported back to the beach. The gun fire sounded so real, everything to do with sound was quite spectacular.

Winner: Richard King & Alex Gibson – Dunkirk.

Original Song.

I’ve heard mixed reviews on The Greatest Showman, but one thing everyone can all agree on is the music, and the soundtrack. It’s catchy, it’s the best part of the movie, and apparently that’s why people have been going to see the film. But Coco was a mega hit, with great cultural music and it’s Pixar, they own the award season when they are nominated. So it’s a toss up between This Is Me and Remember Me from Coco. I’ll give credit to Mystery of Love in Call Me By Your Name is a beautifully haunting song, really closes out the movie in spectacular fashion.

Winner: Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez – Coco

Original Score

You have to go with the GOAT in this situation. Hans Zimmer and his epic score from Dunkirk will surely bring home another Oscar for himself. He won back in 1994 for The Lion King. Like I said, Dunkirk in terms of technical achievement and sound is incredible. They should take home at least 3 Oscars. Hans Zimmer also just has a really cool and awesome name to say.

Winner: Hans Zimmer – Dunkirk.

Film Editing

Editing, the most strenuous part of any movie. Now when I watch a movie, one thing that bothers me to no other, is god awful editing. It’s such a vital part to what makes a successful movie. Baby Driver, had such fantastic editing throughout the entire film. Considering some of the sequences that involved music, and car chases, and all around craziness, but was pull off to such perfection, it would be difficult to give this award to anyone else.

Winner: Paul Machliss and Jonathan Amos – Baby Driver

Production Design

The vast open world, or the beauty of a small lavish space? I would say there are three front runners to this category; The Shape of Water, Dunkirk and Blade Runner 2049. I personally think that Blade Runner 2049 is going to take home the award for production design. Not enough people went to see this movie, and the landscapes and set pieces are quite remarkable. It deserves recognition come awards night. Shape of Water is a beautiful movie, but the first time seeing each movie, I was taken aback by the production and the sights of Blade Runner 2049 much more than Shape of Water. That is why it is my winner here.

Winner: Sarah Greenwood & Katie Spencer – Blade Runner 2049

Costume Design

In a category for costume design, I think it’s pretty obvious that the movie based on an obsessed craftsmen would win. Phantom Thread the movie about costumes, about designing costumes is nominated for best costume design, it’s a little too much on the nose isn’t it?

Winner: Mark Bridges – Phantom Thread

Animated Short

A pretty tough category to choose a winner for, considering I never got around to seeing any of these animated shorts. So I will just go with my Mamba mentality and pick Dear Basketball, because KOBEEEEE!

Winner: Glen Keane and Kobe Bryant

Live Action Short

I drew names out of a hat!

Winner: Kevin Wilson, Jr – My Nephew Emmett

All of these movies are worthy of this award. I saw every single one of these in IMAX, the biggest screen I could find, and they didn’t disappoint. But these days when it comes to visual effects, ones mind tends to lean towards one man, Andy Serkis. You know the guy who was in all the Lord of The Rings movies, King Kong, the Hobbit movies and now played Caesar in the new Planet of The Apes trilogy. The guy is a legend when it comes to motion capture, he has changed the game. Most of those movies won for this such category and they have mostly Andy to thank for that. So why should this be any different? War For The Planet of The Apes was the best visual effects I saw all year at the movies. Each new installment got better, and they need to be recognized on the grandest stage. I’ll be shocked if they don’t win. This isn’t taking away anything from any of the other nominees, they all had incredible effects, Kong: Skull Island actually blew me away with how gorgeous it looked on the big screen.

Winner: Joe Letteri, Daniel Barrett, Dan Lemmon and Joel Whist – War For The Planet of The Apes

Makeup & Hairstyling

Listen, you don’t have someone wake up at ungodly hours in the morning, and make them sit in chair for hours and hours to do their hair and makeup and not get the recognition you deserve. On top of that Gary Oldman got into a fat-suit everyday during the production of the Darkest Hour, and this will no question be taking home the gold. They managed to quite literally transform him into Winston Churchill, and that really is a feat on its own.

Winner: Kazuhiro Tsui, David Malinowski and Lucy Sibbick – Darkest Hour

Again, I don’t want to sit here and pretend I know anything about foreign films. So I’m taking my best guess here, and did a quick little google search. A Fantastic Woman was well received and appears to be the front runner.

Winner: Chile – A Fantastic Woman

Documentary Short

If there’s one thing the Academy loves, it is the city of Los Angeles. Take last year for instance, yes La La Land didn’t end up winning best picture, but it took home some awards and the Academy loved it to pieces. Remember that’s their town they are talking about here, so Traffic Stop is a shoe in for this award. Based on the 405 highway in LA, I won’t be surprised when it walks away with the Oscar.

Winner: Kate Davis and David Heilbroner – Traffic Stop

Documentary Feature

I don’t watch nearly enough Documentaries, so with that being said, I have no idea what any of these are about. Icarus once flew to close to the sun and well his wings burned up and he died. Poor guy, the universe has a funny way of showing karma.

Winner: Bryan Fogel and Dan Cogan – Icarus

Adapted Screenplay

This is a difficult category. Master writer Aaron Sorkin vs. Tommy Wiseau. I’ll say congrats to Logan for being nominated for such a prestige Oscar, writing it a big deal when it comes to the big night, so James Mangold should be proud of himself. But for me, the winner shall be James Ivory for Call Me By Your Name. If not only for the last scene of the movie, which is so damn beautiful and well written that it probably won the award right in that very moment.

Winner: James Ivory – Call Me By Your Name

Animated Feature

The odds of Coco winning are -5000. That means if you bet 5000 bucks on Coco to win, you would only get 100 in return. It’s the lock of the century

YOU GO GLEN COCO!!!!

Winner: Lee Unkrich and Darla K. Anderson – Coco

Original Screenplay

One of the toughest categories of the evening right here. I feel three films have a chance here. Three Billboards, the dark comedy highlighting racism, police brutality and the abuse of women. Really caught the eye of movie goers, and was revered for it’s sharp and serious real world problems writing. Get Out also highlighted racism but from a much different perspective and angel, and was done so brilliantly that people at first didn’t get it. I think Lady Bird also has a chance to walk away a winner here. The coming go age tale and the importance of a mother/daughter relationship.

Winner: Greta Gerwig – Lady Bird

Cinematography

There is one winner and one winner only for this award. Fun fact, Roger Deakin’s has never won an Oscar before. 14 nominations, Shawshank, True Great, Assassination of Jesse James, Jarhead, No Country For Old Men. All of these movies, done by this man. That is just the tip of the iceberg. Now he comes along and does Blade Runner 2049, without question, the most beautiful looking movie of 2017. The visuals were stunning, sharp, vast and out of this world. It is finally time to recognize this marvellous man and all the incredible work he has done over the years. This one award simply won’t make up for it, but it will be a good start.

Winner: Roger Deakins – Blade Runner 2049

Supporting Actor

Let’s just all agree that yes, Sam Rockwell’s character in Three Billboards was a racist, no good son of a bitch. But it’s a movie, and he acted the hell out of that role. He’s been sweeping the award season and it’s not going to change come Sunday. I thought he gave a unnerving and chilling performance. One that stuck with me for a few days after I watched Three Billboards, always a good sign. One huge snub though, Michael Stuhlbarg for Call Me By Your Name, actually it’s more than a snub, it’s down right rude.

Winner: Sam Rockwell – Three Billboards.

Supporting Actress

It’s a cage fight between two of these lovely ladies. We have uptight mother, who just wants what’s best for her daughter. The type of Mother who does everything for her family but her daughter still is a little shit about it, well meet Laurie Metcalfe’s character in Lady Bird. In the other corner, we have another Mother, one who loves to curse, throw kitchen knives at their daughter and loves her pet bird. It’s Allison Janney from I, Tonya. I keep going back and forth between these two women, who give just remarkable performances. On the one hand Janney has more comedy in her role, where as Metcalf is the person we feel sorry for. I want Metcalf to win, but Janney is the lady who will win.

Winner: Allison Janney – I, Tonya

Leading Actor

Daniel Day Lewis, the freight train of acting. Stopped by a guy in a fat-suit in his last ever acting performance. Who would have seen this coming? First Churchill stops Hitler, now he stops Daniel Day Lewis. What a legacy that man has achieved. In all seriousness, again the male acting category kind is a known commodity at this point. Gary Oldman will win, because, well he gave the best performance of the year, no questions asked. Would it be cool if the new kid of the block Timothee Chalamet won? Yeah totally, the kid is 22 years young and would be the youngest winner ever for this category.

Winner: Gary Oldman – Darkest Hour

Leading Actress

If the supporting actress category was a cage fight, then this is an all out war. I have no idea who I want to win this award. All these ladies gave such inspiring and beautiful performances. The Skater Girl, The Shit Talker, The Fish Fucker (sorry for cursing), The Lady Bird and well Meryl Streep. They all give their own unique and mesmerizing performance, each sticking with you in a different fashion. Cross of Streep, because she’s won enough and actually for once is the weakest member of the group. Next people will say cross off Margot Robbie, which is unfair, because that’s who I think SHOULD win this award, but she won’t. Sally Hawkins speaks about 30 words in the entire movie, but does more acting in her face, then most people do in a lifetime. Now it’s down to new school vs. old school and much like the other acting nominees who have been winning at every award show, Frances McDormand was a powerhouse in Three Billboards. She’s earned it, and I think gives speech of the night.

Winner: Frances McDormand – Three Billboards.

Directing

Another stacked category! I think it’s between Greta Gerwig and Guillermo Del Toro. Del Toro, that man loves his monsters, probably more than anyone in Hollywood. What he made was simply breathtaking and such a beautiful story. It’s a shame, that it’s being known as the “fish fucking movie” but hey, beats not being known at all. Greta Gerwig made one of the most refreshing movies I saw all year. They made such polar opposite movies, that is hard to choose one over the other. I feel like Del Toro has paid his dues, and he’s been around, and sometimes the Academy repays you for that kind of thing. So with that being said, it’s going to the man responsible for the greatest love story since Romeo and Juliette.

Winner: Guillermo Del Toro – Shape of Water

Best Picture

Blade Runner 2049, it would not have won, but they are allowed 10 nominees and it should have been included. That’s all I have to say about that. What an incredible year for movies. I saw every single best picture nominee except The Post (Sorry Tom, Sorry Meryl). All 8 films I saw were remarkable in their own way, and deserve a shot at the biggest prize of the night.

Seriously, I can’t believe Get Out came out almost a year ago, and PEOPLE ARE STILL TALKING ABOUT IT! I think it would be one of the best moments, if not the best moment in Oscars history if Get Out took home best picture, but it just can’t. People fell in love with this movie, and rightfully so, but I just think having came out almost a year ago, hurt it in the long run. If you asked me in the summer, I would have said Dunkirk wins best picture, but I feel like the campaign push for Dunkirk was really weak. It’s a great film, and was fascinating to see in IMAX, but the buzz around it going into Sunday is pretty much dead. Toss out, Phantom Thread, not enough buzz and all around isn’t getting the acclaim of some the other movies. Now, rope in Darkest Hour, Call Me By Your Name, and The Post. Thanks for coming, but we will see you later. It’s a three woman race, Lady Bird, Three Billboards and Shape of Water. Like most of the night, these movies will battle it out for soul survivor of the evening. Culminating in once last award that decides who is the best. All centered around strong female leads (that’s a wonderful thing!!), all different visually, style wise, tone and all around the way each movie was made. I legit have zero idea who will win, they all deserve it in some manner. But two of the acting winners will be from Three Billboards, it’s feels like an important movie, during a time when we need important movies like this, and movies like Get Out. I want Get Out to win, it just isn’t humanly possible. Three Billboards is my winner, and I’m not happy about my choice

Winner: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri

Reviews

‘Dunkirk’ Review

July 27, 2017August 31, 2017 Wannabe Movie Critic

Style for miles. – That’s the best Harry Styles pun I could think of.

Over time, I believe that Dunkirk will be remembered more for what’s missing, rather than what we witness on screen. It’s tense, it’s loud, and it makes you feel like you are standing on that beach with 400,000 other soldiers. I felt like I was part of the war, and Christopher Nolan really encompasses what I imagine it would literally be like to be stranded on that beach, waiting for a way home. It’s visually beautiful, in terms of filmmaking, its damn near perfect. With all that being said, I walked away from Dunkirk a little confused. For the first time in a very long time, I couldn’t remember any characters, not a single name. That’s not because there aren’t any characters, there is ZERO characterization within Dunkirk, and I’m not sure if that was done on purpose or not. It’s a war movie, so you usually find yourself rooting for certain characters or certainly getting attached to a few, but it was difficult to do so within the realm of Dunkirk. It just felt weird that even our greatest heroes within the movie, don’t receive any kind of backstory or personality that really bummed me out. That is Dunkirk’s biggest problem, there’s just a serious lack of substance to it, but that doesn’t take away from the actual movie. It’s just kind of something you have to deal with, and either you’re going to hate that aspect of Dunkirk, or you won’t mind at all.

The opening is so hauntingly beautiful, for me it was the best part of the movie, and it was a mere two minutes long. I won’t go into it, because I want this to be a spoiler free review, but it was really the only moment of the entire movie, that felt stress free. Any real moment where you weren’t worried about these poor helpless men. It’s a peaceful moment, right before we get 106 minutes of sheer action, suspense, chaos and death. Christopher Nolan once again delivers, I’ll say this isn’t his best movie overall, but the man really knows how to make a movie! He’s been on such an incredible streak, that it’s hard not to justify that he is the best filmmaker working today. I expect a best director nomination at next years Oscars, and he’s probably the front-runner right now to win the award. This movie screams Oscars. I’m going to say best supporting actor, best director, best picture, sound editing, sound mixing, best cinematography, and best costumes are pretty much all locks for Oscar noms. I’m looking forward to coming back and seeing if I’m right or not. That’s the thing about Dunkirk; it’s just so well made, but has other serious flaws, that for me weigh it down.

The cast is unique, because well the lead of the movie (Fionn Whitehead) might have 10 lines of dialogue throughout the whole movie. Which suited his character, but again it was tough to get behind a guy, who doesn’t speak and we know little to nothing about him. Tom Hardy plays a badass jet fighter, and in classic Nolan form, covers up his entire face. Also what’s with Tom Hardy and not being able to understand ONE word he says? I swear he puts peanut butter inside his mouth before he speaks. So that was frustrating, but he does pull a serious Kramer on his jet’s gas tank, that thing just kept going! Mark Rylance will get the supporting actor nod, I just couldn’t see this movie without him, and they needed his character, as he added the much-needed humanity and hope aspect. I’m shocked guys, Harry Styles is a good actor people. Like he works really well in this. Nolan making him a pretty boy d-bag is a masterstroke of genius. He’s part of some of the best scenes in the movie and is involved in arguably the tensest moment of the film.

With a run time of only 106 minutes, this is go go go from the start. You really don’t have a chance to breathe, after the opening few minutes. I found that ironic, in the sense that about every 10 minutes we find soldiers fighting for their lives in water trying not to drown themselves. For myself, watching people drown in movies is insanely stressful and there’s a ton of it in Dunkirk. There’s music going on throughout the film, which adds to the suspense, and builds on tense moments, the use of sound is extraordinary. When planes are flying over the heads of shoulders, it’s so loud and so effective, you almost have the urge to look up yourself. That’s how you make a movie, that’s how you get the most out of the audience experience.

One thing I wanted more of was some historical context. I wanted to know more about why the British and the French were in this situation. They really didn’t dive deep on that, and maybe they were expecting everyone to already know the backstory, but I think it could have been really effective if they were to touch on it a bit more throughout the movie. This was a really huge event in human history; I felt they should have maybe touched on that just a little bit more. This was about 400,000 men trapped on a bench, with nowhere to go, planes flying overhead dropping bombs. They were helpless, they were hopeless, and you felt that, but for me, it just needed a little more gravity to it.

A spectacle is the best way to describe Dunkirk, you have to see it in IMAX, and it’s something that everyone should see. It’s why movies are made, and it’s the definition of movie making. It also can be described as an art house war movie because it’s just so different from anything that has come before it. It’s extremely powerful, and you feel the pressure, you feel the tension. I felt for every single man on that beach and you understand and realize pretty quickly just how bad they wanted off. I just wonder if our main hero ever got the chance to take his number two.

Check ya later.

Nate’s Movie Tour Reviews – Dunkirk = 90/100

Reviews

Most Anticipated Movies of 2017

February 1, 2017March 18, 2021 Wannabe Movie Critic

Goodbye 2016, hello 2017! At last, the year from hell is over! 2016 in many people’s eyes will go down to be an all-timer, in the worst way possible. For popular culture junkies like myself, I will never forget it. We saw so many influential people leave us, and movies disappoint us (I’m looking at you Batman V. Superman) that when the clock struck 12 on December 31st, we all rejoiced that it was officially the start of a new year. That being said it wasn’t all-bad in 2016; if you’re reading this, you probably love movies as much as I do. Movies are a great way to escape for a few short hours and be reminded just how extraordinary something can truly be. While there were many disappointments in 2016, I’d just like to thank certain films such as; La La Land, Moonlight, Arrival, and Nocturnal Animals for restoring my faith in Hollywood, after what was a lackluster summer, to say the least. That’s all behind us now, and I’d like to share the ten films I’m most anticipated to see in the year 2017!

10 Stephen Kings IT director/ Andres Muschietti

Beep beep Richie! Are words that haunted me as a young child. The 1990 made for TV movie adaptation of Stephen King’s famous novel brought the terrifying Pennywise the clown to life. Personally, I think the original still stands up today, and I’ve come to appreciate it more as I’ve grown older. Andres Muschietti is coming off a stellar directorial debut with Mama and hopes Bill Skarsgard who’s playing the infamous clown will bring the same magic as Tim Curry did in the 1990 version. I’m not usually one for horror movies, as I believe they have shifted in a weird direction, but there’s just something about this movie that feels right. Boasting a great young cast especially Finn Wolfhard (Mike from Stranger Things) and Jaeden Lieberher (Midnight Special) makes this seem even more promising. I’ll admit that I was a little turned off from the photos of Pennywise so far, but I can’t let a few pictures determined how excited I am to finally see this movie on the big screen. My goal for this movie is for it to be successful enough that we get the adult sequel and that I don’t regret putting it on my list.

9 Power Rangers director/Dean Israelite

Nostalgia, Nostalgia, Nostalgia. Don’t judge me on this one; the original had a lot of my firsts. First toy I can remember, and certainly my first crush (thank you, Kimberly). When I first heard they were remaking the Power Rangers into a feature film I didn’t think much of it. The 90’s TV show can be summarized as a poppy, cheesy afterschool kids show. So it was hard to fathom how they were going to translate that onto the big screen. Lionsgate has really flipped Power Rangers a complete 180 degrees, with it looking very dark and gritty from everything we have seen thus far. For some, this is the biggest criticism of the movie, but I think it’s the perfect direction to take this franchise. The trailer gives off a very breakfast club meets Chronicle vibe and I’ve been intrigued ever since. The folks behind the new movie have been rolling out promotional images of the movie here and there and the new look Alpha 5, Zords, and even the rangers who are looking a little too Iron Man-ish have me thinking that they are taking Power Rangers in a whole new direction. The biggest surprise for me would have to be the casting of Bryan Cranston as the giant floating head Zordon. Why on Earth would he choose to be in this movie? Does it make me believe there’s a chance this movie could be good, well maybe but sometimes actors just need a payday? The thing I’m most excited about is without question is Elizabeth Banks playing the villain Rita Repulsa. At least from the trailer and all the images we have seen it looks like she’s all in on this role and I couldn’t be happier about it. This has all the makings of being a horrible crapfest, but that’s not the point of the list. I’m excited to see what this movie could be, and I’m even more excited to see just how bad this movie could truly be. IT’S MORPHIN TIME!!

8 War for the Planet of the Apes director/Matt Reeves

“The irony is we created you. And nature has been punishing us ever since”.

First, it was just apes, then apes on horses and now you’re telling me apes on tanks?????! The apes are back baby, and this time it means war! This movie is going to be bittersweet for a lot of us, seeing how it will certainly be the last time we get to watch the great Andy Serkis do his thing as Caesar. This franchise has done so much for motion capture performances; it’s taken them to a whole other level. The first Apes was a great movie, the second was extraordinary and this could be the cherry on top of the trilogy sundae. This has all the makings to be a great trilogy, maybe even one of the best ever. Matt Reeves is back in the directors’ chair for the second time for this franchise and this time around he’s bringing Woody Harrelson. Who looks menacing as hell as the villain along for the ride. I loved what I saw in the first trailer and visually these movies just keep getting better and better. The apes look breathtaking and I just can’t say enough about what Andy Serkis has accomplished for the motion capture industry. These movies have done wonders for the lure of the planet of the apes, and with some rumors that this final installment might have some ties into the original movie, it intrigues me even more. I’m going to miss Caesar and I hope this movie will be the sendoff he deserves. Side note: I really hope they bring back Koba, that guy was awesome!

7 Kingsman: The Golden Circle director/Matthew Vaughn

I remember back in 2014 walking into Kingsman and not thinking too much about it. I heard it was a fun time at the movies and was based on a graphic novel, so I said to hell with it and gave it a shot. As soon as the opening credits hit and Money for Nothing, Chicks for Free by Dire Straights came on, I knew then in my heart I was going to love this movie. Kingsman was fun, full of incredible action (YouTube the church scene and you can thank me later) and it didn’t take itself too seriously. I love being surprised by movies when they go beyond your expectations; it’s just a really great feeling to have when walking out of the theatre. Now 3 years later, here comes Kingsman: The Golden Circle, and I couldn’t leave it off my list. Matthew Vaughn is returning and he’s on a little bit of a role with, Kick-Ass, X-Men First Class, and Kingsman respectfully. The entire cast is back but you’re telling me Julianne Moore, Jeff Bridges, Halle Berry, and Channing Tatum are being added?! This only wets my beak even more. Not a whole lot of information is known about the plot or whom the new cast members are playing, with things being very tight-lipped around the project. What I expect from this sequel is more of the same, great laughs, really good action, and most importantly a great story and awesome new characters being thrown into the mix. This has serious potential to be one of my favorite films of 2017!

6 Dunkirk director/Christopher Nolan

In the latest Christopher Nolan movie, he will be heading to World War 2 to tackle the historic battle of Dunkirk. Let’s face it, when Nolan steps up to the plate it’s an event at the movies. He’s a filmmaker through and through and what you are watching is a spectacle you have to go see to believe. Whether it was the Dark Knight Trilogy, Inception, or his latest film Interstellar the man knows how to make a movie. If you know history, well you know Dunkirk does not end well (spoilers) so I’m curious to see how Nolan is going to pull this one-off. We got a great war movie in 2016 with Hacksaw Ridge, but Dunkirk will be packing a little more of an emotional punch, seeing how brutal and violent that battle was. There’s just not much more to say about this movie, visually it will be stunning, tremendous acting and it’s going to be an emotional time at the movies. In the end, it’s Christopher Nolan doing a war epic, I’ll be there opening night.

5 Alien: Covenant director/ Ridley Scott

In space, no one can hear you scream, but they might have heard me yelling in the theatre as I sat and watched Prometheus. What was there not to be excited about, it was Ridley freaking Scott back directing an Alien movie, and boy did it not sit well with me.

The poster alone got me excited for this movie, because as a huge alien fan, it told me everything I needed to know about this movie. I think it was the best movie poster of 2016. Then early Christmas morning FOX decided to drop the trailer for the next installment in this franchise and OMG this movie is going to be bananas. It’s everything I wanted Prometheus to be, it looks like Ridley Scott is taking it back to what made Alien so successful, suspense, gore, horror, and most important of all ALIENS. The trailer is so well put together that I don’t need to see anything else to know that I’m going to enjoy the crap out of this movie. I want to be on the edge of my seat when watching an Alien movie. I want to be a little scared and this looks like it’s going to fulfill those needs. The cast alone is just out of the charts with talent, but the person who I think is going to steal the show is none other than Kenny Powers himself Danny McBride. Actually, James Franco is in this too, so maybe this is just some crazy high and it’s somehow a Pineapple Express sequel, there’s only one way to find out. Fun fact, Terry Hall from The Mighty Ducks is in this, I honestly thought he made one movie in his life. Who knew?

4 Logan director/James Mangold

First off, props to Ryan Reynolds for leaking that Deadpool footage, because without doing so Deadpool is never made and without Deadpool, the world wouldn’t be getting a rated R Wolverine movie. This isn’t your grandma’s Wolverine here folks; it’s a whole new ballgame. This will be the most brutal, violent Wolverine yet, something we really haven’t seen since the mansion scene in X2. If watching that trailer synced to Johnny Cash’s Hurt didn’t get you fired up for this movie then something is wrong with you and you should see a doctor immediately. The trailer gave me all the feels and made me realize just how much I’m going to miss Hugh Jackman playing this role. This trailer really knocked me on my ass, and it’s something as a Wolverine fan I’ve always wanted to see. This is it for Hugh Jackman as the beloved character, it’s his kitchen sink performance you could say, he’s going to be throwing everything he’s got at this one, and for some, it’s going to be an emotional ride. He’s been playing this character for almost 20 years now (that’s insane), and this movie is going to be is swan song. I’m excited to see where this movie takes the X-men lure, and how it’s all going to play out in the end. Based loosely on the Old Man Logan story from the comics, this movie finds Wolverine teaming up with Professor X one last time to save a young mutant much like Wolverine from falling into the wrong hands. One thing that intrigues me about this movie is the Professor X storyline part, part of me thinks he will just be in Wolverine’s mind the entire time, and I can’t wait to find out if I’m right or not.

3 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol: 2 director/James Gunn

“Showtime A-holes”

The gang is back! Marvel’s misfits are returning after the 2014 smash hit that up until this year’s Civil War I considered to be the best all-around Marvel movie. This time around Star-Lord is finally getting over his daddy issues and is in search to hunt down the man. Fully loaded with another awesome mixtape, the whole gang is returning but this time we are getting the ever so cute Baby Groot!. James Gunn is back directing (duhhhh) and he cares so much about these characters and franchise that I don’t think anyone else could direct this movie. The trailer alone sold me on this movie, it looks tailor-made for me, and with Chris Pratt promising this would be the biggest most epic scale movie we’ve ever seen on the big screen. I can only hope they follow through on that promise. The humor seems to be back, and the dynamic between the Guardians is something that’s almost rare in movies these days. It’s a massive science fiction, fantasy blockbuster that just feels right. Everything from the trailer looks like it’s popped right off the pages of a comic book and it just looks fantastic. I only have one concern about this movie, and it’s a little thing but I just don’t want them shoving Baby Groot down our throats for the entire movie.

2 Star Wars: Episode VIII director/Rian Johson

The force will be strong with this movie. The Force Awakens did a great job bringing back Star Wars into our lives, all the beloved characters that people hold so dear in their hearts. It was the perfect way to set up this new universe with all the new characters and immersing them with the old. Everyone knows that this movie will be pulling on heartstrings whenever Carrie Fisher graces the screen, regardless of how much she will be in the movie. The Force Awakens did exactly what Disney and JJ Abrams wanted it to do, and that got everyone excited again about Star Wars. Now the real fun can begin with Episode VIII, and this movie is going to take Star Wars in a new direction, one that people really haven’t seen before. People are going to want this movie to be the Empire Strikes Back of the new trilogy, for me I just want it to be something new and fresh. Let Rian Johnson take this franchise to places it’s never been before and do things we aren’t accustomed to when it comes to the Star Wars universe. The director Rian Johnson knows how to make a great science fiction movie, Looper was such a unique and original story that I don’t think I would be as excited for this if he wasn’t sitting in the director’s chair. Obviously, everything is very hush-hush about this movie, but one thing is for certain and that is the return of Luke Skywalker, and I’m pumped to see Mark Hamill back on the screen playing the role that made him famous. I’m curious to know where they will take his character and ultimately just who has Luke become.

1 Justice League director/Zack Snyder

OHHHHHH BABY!!!! Here we go folks; it really is due or die time for WB and the DCEU. Just like Eminem said, “if you had one shot, one opportunity, to seize everything you ever wanted. In one moment, would you capture it,
or just let it slip”? If I were to say no other DCEU movie had come out, and this picture of the Justice League was released and this was the first thing we ever got to see from WB, people would lose their minds. That’s not the case, we have gotten three stinkers in a row now and time is running out for them to turn this ship around. There is so much riding on the success of this movie, and I’m just not talking about financial success here people. Let’s try to get a DCEU movie fresh on rotten tomatoes, shall we! Saying all that, we can all agree that Batfleck crushed it as the Caped Crusader. Now they are introducing the Flash, Aquaman, and Cyborg into the mix and from the trailer, it at least looks like they are on the right path. I just can’t be walking into Justice League a super confident person, because I have seen the three previous DCEU movies and I just don’t know which Zack Snyder will be stepping up to bat (pun attended). The Justice League is the greatest superhero team-up of all time, and we are finally going to get to see that on the big screen, something some people have been waiting to see their whole lives. A nice change in tone, shifting away from the gloominess of BvS will do wonders for this movie. People need to care about these characters and want to see more of them when they are done watching Justice League and have people talking about whether they will be more excited for the next DC or Marvel movie. For the love of god please don’t screw this up Zack Snyder that’s all I ask of you, sincerely the entire world.

Well, there you have it, my most anticipated movies of 2017. I have a feeling 2017 is going to be a tremendous year for movies. If I did this list for 2016 all of my favorite movies from the year wouldn’t have even made the list and that’s what I love so much about movies. You just never know what you are going to love and which ones you are going to hate until you see them.