2015: Year in Review

I know I didn't post at all this year, for this I apologize. That doesn't mean, however that I've stopped seeing movies. The problem, dear readers, is I see so many on a regular basis, I simply haven't had the time to sit down and review each film.


I've checked in at the movie theater 79 times this year and have seen over 100 films. You're doing the math and it doesn't make sense. Well, that's because occasionally I'll see up to 5 films in a single day and then when you consider how many films I've seen multiple times, 100+ becomes a fairly reasonable estimate. I average about 8 films per month but in some cases, will see every film currently playing at the box office that week. For example, I'm seeing 10 films this week alone.


I thought I'd take a look back and what 2015 has given us and have chosen to write brief reviews on the films I've given a full 5 stars to and also those who have received less then 3 stars. I try not to be overly critical about films, I rate them based on a wide variety of things. And considering how many genres of film there are available, obviously I can't rate everyone equally across the board. I try to be nice and remember that most of you see movies in the theater once every month or even once every six months. Or in the case of my cousin, once every decade.  So if you think my reviews are soft, understand, I'm writing for everyone; all tastes, all fans. Yes, there are some films that I love that you will truly hate, that's just the nature of things.


So, with that in mind and in no particular order, here are my top films from 2015:

Avengers: Age of Ultron

Age of Adeline

Jurassic World

Inside Out

Trainwreck

Mr. Holmes

Souhpaw

Man from U.N.C.L.E

Straight Outta Compton

American Sniper

Kingsman: The Secret Service

McFarland, USA

Furious 7

Fury

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay I & II

Paddington

The Theory of Everything

Penguins

When the Game Stands Tall

Grandma

The Martian

Sicario

Spotlight

Secret in Their Eyes

The 33

Brooklyn

Paddington

Woman in Gold

Trumbo

Creed

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Remember, dear readers, I rate films on a number of different things. Do they give you the feels? Do they give you chills? Are they visually stimulating? Do they shock you? How's the acting? How's the story presented? And the writing, is it any good?

Each of these films falls short in one of those categories, they do. But I watched each of these films and left the theater thinking, "Man, I can't wait to see that again!" In most cases, I went back a second time. In the case of the Avengers and Jurassic World, 5 times.

Now, sadly, there always has to be a worst list too. These films received less than three stars from me:

Fantastic 4

(I'm showing the trailer simply because it's better then the actual film)

Exodus: Gods & Kings

The Seventh Son

Hell & Back

Jem & the Holograms

I'm telling you right now, don't even bother seeing these. I'm serious, you're going to want those two hours of your life back.

Here's to an incredible 2016!

Happy watching!