Videosifts Sarzys Best And Worst Movies Of 2015

@Sarzy runs down his favorite 10 films of 2015. He also throws in his worst 10.
Drachen_Jagersays...

Have to disagree with Star Wars.

Without the massive appeal the series built, this movie wouldn't get many good reviews at all. The plot is an insane jumble of random events and plotholes that should have been embarrassing. To enumerate a few:

1) Randomly Melennium Falcon happens to be at the right place, right time (I can buy this, barely, because it's fun)

2) Before they can even have a full conversation (something the filmmakers seemed determined to avoid, even though, as this list shows, dialogue can make riveting cinema) HS and Chewie burst in. I could buy into this, if not for the rapid-fire pace of these events, as it is it just seems random and things are starting to get silly.

3) Before THEY can even have a full conversation not one, but two gangs HAPPEN upon the group, for no reason, except some executive was apparently worried about giving the audience a moment to reflect and MAYBE develop some connection with the characters.

4) Kylo Ren kicks ass. He's the only Force master EVER to stop a blaster bolt mid progress. He's got some serious juice!

5) Kylo Ren can't fight his way out of a paper bag (a bag named Finn) narrowly winning the fight and merely wounding the otherwise fairly useless ex-stormtrooper.

6) Kylo Ren is BEATEN by some chick with no training whatsoever! (Don't get me wrong, I like Rey, but the good guys are SUPPOSED to be weaker than the bad guys, and what's the point in Jedi training if she already kicks Evil's ass? )

7) WTF is up with this whiny Emo? He is, bar-none, the worst villain of the entire SW series thus far. It's not surprising that they defeat him, he's so useless, what's surprising is it takes them so damn long to beat his whining Emo shitty-at-lightsaber-duelling ass.

IMO the whole film was a hot mess that reeked of far too much studio interference which turns artistic vision into "more explosions!"

In summary, and this is totally true, my ten-year-old son, who loved the first 3 SWs (I won't let him watch the prequels) when asked what he thought of it replied, "Too many explosions." This is the mediocrity paradigm of big-budget Hollywood films at it's pinnacle.

Sarzysays...

I dunno, it's certainly not a perfect film by any stretch of the imagination, but I don't think its appeal rests solely on Star Wars nostalgia. I saw it with a friend who's never even seen the original trilogy, and he still loved it. I don't think the reviews or the word of mouth would be as strong as they are if it were just a nostalgic wank-fest (which it is to a certain extent, don't get me wrong).

As for your Kylo Ren issues -- the guy had been shot by Chewbacca's blaster, which is established earlier in the film as having some pretty serious stopping power. So he's injured during the Finn/Rey fights.

Drachen_Jagersaid:

Have to disagree with Star Wars.

Without the massive appeal the series built, this movie wouldn't get many good reviews at all. The plot is an insane jumble of random events and plotholes that should have been embarrassing. To enumerate a few:

1) Randomly Melennium Falcon happens to be at the right place, right time (I can buy this, barely, because it's fun)

2) Before they can even have a full conversation (something the filmmakers seemed determined to avoid, even though, as this list shows, dialogue can make riveting cinema) HS and Chewie burst in. I could buy into this, if not for the rapid-fire pace of these events, as it is it just seems random and things are starting to get silly.

3) Before THEY can even have a full conversation not one, but two gangs HAPPEN upon the group, for no reason, except some executive was apparently worried about giving the audience a moment to reflect and MAYBE develop some connection with the characters.

4) Kylo Ren kicks ass. He's the only Force master EVER to stop a blaster bolt mid progress. He's got some serious juice!

5) Kylo Ren can't fight his way out of a paper bag (a bag named Finn) narrowly winning the fight and merely wounding the otherwise fairly useless ex-stormtrooper.

6) Kylo Ren is BEATEN by some chick with no training whatsoever! (Don't get me wrong, I like Rey, but the good guys are SUPPOSED to be weaker than the bad guys, and what's the point in Jedi training if she already kicks Evil's ass? )

7) WTF is up with this whiny Emo? He is, bar-none, the worst villain of the entire SW series thus far. It's not surprising that they defeat him, he's so useless, what's surprising is it takes them so damn long to beat his whining Emo shitty-at-lightsaber-duelling ass.

IMO the whole film was a hot mess that reeked of far too much studio interference which turns artistic vision into "more explosions!"

In summary, and this is totally true, my ten-year-old son, who loved the first 3 SWs (I won't let him watch the prequels) when asked what he thought of it replied, "Too many explosions." This is the mediocrity paradigm of big-budget Hollywood films at it's pinnacle.

JustSayingsays...

@Drachen_Jager , my man, I can get why you dislike whiny, insecure Kylo Ren (and I hugely prefer him over whiny, insecure teenage Anakin) but have you ever considered that somebody can be very powerful in one area (the Force) and terribly rubbish in another (swordfighting)? Sure, a lightsaber can't become dull from wrong usage but this guys starts hacking at shit when he's throwing his hissy fits. Would a good swordsman do that?
He's wounded, survived quite the explosion, is rubbish at swords and just killed his dad. And you give him crap for merely getting away alive after taking on two people tag-teaming him?

JustSayingsays...

You don't have to be blind to love SW:TFA, you just have to appreciate a very well made blockbuster for the whole family that doesn't insult an adults intelligence.

bareboards2said:

I finally saw it. Came up with a one line review.

Love is blind.

bareboards2says...

Agree to disagree, I guess.

I was bored by the long beginning sequence and I certainly rolled my eyes more than once at plot points. Part of the beauty of the original was its grounding in Saturday serials that played before the movies that would leave you in a "cliffhanger" moment, then skip ahead to the following Saturday without explaining things. I don't think the reboot was grounded enough in that delicious silliness.

In my opinion, of course. I'm just one person. Clearly millions disagree with me. There isn't any right or wrong here. Although my unedited response upon walking out when it was over was snarky and judgmental. I'll apologize for that, but not for my personal experience of the movie that culminated in that one line judgemental-of-other's-fun review.

JustSayingsaid:

You don't have to be blind to love SW:TFA, you just have to appreciate a very well made blockbuster for the whole family that doesn't insult an adults intelligence.

christo351says...

Agree 100%. Hollywood put to much of them in to this movie. George Lucas wishes he did not sell to Disney. Lets face it. They will destroy the true fans of the originals in favor of the modern series of crap.

Drachen_Jagersaid:

Have to disagree with Star Wars.

Without the massive appeal the series built, this movie wouldn't get many good reviews at all. The plot is an insane jumble of random events and plotholes that should have been embarrassing. To enumerate a few:

1) Randomly Melennium Falcon happens to be at the right place, right time (I can buy this, barely, because it's fun)

2) Before they can even have a full conversation (something the filmmakers seemed determined to avoid, even though, as this list shows, dialogue can make riveting cinema) HS and Chewie burst in. I could buy into this, if not for the rapid-fire pace of these events, as it is it just seems random and things are starting to get silly.

3) Before THEY can even have a full conversation not one, but two gangs HAPPEN upon the group, for no reason, except some executive was apparently worried about giving the audience a moment to reflect and MAYBE develop some connection with the characters.

4) Kylo Ren kicks ass. He's the only Force master EVER to stop a blaster bolt mid progress. He's got some serious juice!

5) Kylo Ren can't fight his way out of a paper bag (a bag named Finn) narrowly winning the fight and merely wounding the otherwise fairly useless ex-stormtrooper.

6) Kylo Ren is BEATEN by some chick with no training whatsoever! (Don't get me wrong, I like Rey, but the good guys are SUPPOSED to be weaker than the bad guys, and what's the point in Jedi training if she already kicks Evil's ass? )

7) WTF is up with this whiny Emo? He is, bar-none, the worst villain of the entire SW series thus far. It's not surprising that they defeat him, he's so useless, what's surprising is it takes them so damn long to beat his whining Emo shitty-at-lightsaber-duelling ass.

IMO the whole film was a hot mess that reeked of far too much studio interference which turns artistic vision into "more explosions!"

In summary, and this is totally true, my ten-year-old son, who loved the first 3 SWs (I won't let him watch the prequels) when asked what he thought of it replied, "Too many explosions." This is the mediocrity paradigm of big-budget Hollywood films at it's pinnacle.

cloudballoonsays...

Far different from what I would rank as Top 10 of 2015....

Especially the Top movie pick. As much as I think I quay myself a SW fan (too many expensive SW collectibles, ringtone's set to the Imperial March since my first smartphone... blah blah) this one is a minor disappointment. There are lots and lots of superior choice even for a SW fan.... if you're even slightly unbiased.

On Drachen_Jager's points: pretty much what I thought after seeing the movie. My thought is SW:TFA is right in the "middle of the road" movie, whether you look at it from a fan/non-fan perspective. It's not as good as any of the OT, but better than the prequels. And as a stand alone Sci-Fantasy Action movie.... it's a turn-off-your-brain-then-it's-good kind of movie. Too many media/fan's buying into the hype-machine to rate it that high.

Still, it's a commendable direction the new sequels is taking the franchise in the future. I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt on all the stupid fights/plotholes in this movie just so it can move further pass the OT characters so as no further sully the fond memories of these OT characters by seeing them on screens as tools rather than heroes.

Drachen_Jagersaid:

Have to disagree with Star Wars.

Without the massive appeal the series built, this movie wouldn't get many good reviews at all. The plot is an insane jumble of random events and plotholes that should have been embarrassing. To enumerate a few:

1) Randomly Melennium Falcon happens to be at the right place, right time (I can buy this, barely, because it's fun)

2) Before they can even have a full conversation (something the filmmakers seemed determined to avoid, even though, as this list shows, dialogue can make riveting cinema) HS and Chewie burst in. I could buy into this, if not for the rapid-fire pace of these events, as it is it just seems random and things are starting to get silly.

3) Before THEY can even have a full conversation not one, but two gangs HAPPEN upon the group, for no reason, except some executive was apparently worried about giving the audience a moment to reflect and MAYBE develop some connection with the characters.

4) Kylo Ren kicks ass. He's the only Force master EVER to stop a blaster bolt mid progress. He's got some serious juice!

5) Kylo Ren can't fight his way out of a paper bag (a bag named Finn) narrowly winning the fight and merely wounding the otherwise fairly useless ex-stormtrooper.

6) Kylo Ren is BEATEN by some chick with no training whatsoever! (Don't get me wrong, I like Rey, but the good guys are SUPPOSED to be weaker than the bad guys, and what's the point in Jedi training if she already kicks Evil's ass? )

7) WTF is up with this whiny Emo? He is, bar-none, the worst villain of the entire SW series thus far. It's not surprising that they defeat him, he's so useless, what's surprising is it takes them so damn long to beat his whining Emo shitty-at-lightsaber-duelling ass.

IMO the whole film was a hot mess that reeked of far too much studio interference which turns artistic vision into "more explosions!"

In summary, and this is totally true, my ten-year-old son, who loved the first 3 SWs (I won't let him watch the prequels) when asked what he thought of it replied, "Too many explosions." This is the mediocrity paradigm of big-budget Hollywood films at it's pinnacle.

mentalitysays...

That's not unexpected, because they took the best parts of A New Hope and rehashed it for this movie. What worked for ANH back in the day still works now with a new coat of paint.

It was disappointing movie for me because after you strip away the nostalgia, there wasn't much left. It's still a good movie, but I would not put it in my top 10 list, even though the original trilogy was one of my favorite movies of all time.

Sarzysaid:

I saw it with a friend who's never even seen the original trilogy, and he still loved it.

kingmobsays...

The new star wars is flawed...but you have to realize the original trilogy was extremely flawed too. Just because you first digested it as a little kid and those memories are still with you does not make those movies perfect.

The new star wars was fun...something the prequels failed miserably at (effing politics is the root plotline). The characters were appealing and full of charisma.

Despite its over-hypedness and glaring flaws the new star wars is an excellent restart for the series. I look forward to the other movies coming.

Cheer up guys.

poolcleanersays...

Looking forward to Follow It. I love the soundtrack by Disasterpeace. He did the soundtrack for the game Fez. Love that lowfi shit. And I love me some creepy ass horror with chilling moments made possible by a nerve wracking pace. You're right that It Follows... follows you into your dreams. Like Freddy.

But... I'm not sure it was my favorite film, nor my favorite horror film of 2015. I really enjoyed the horror comedy Scout's Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse -- it had zombie boobies, zombie kitten paws under doorways; the entire theater exploded in various combinations of delight and disgust on multiple occasions, like monstrous audience-gasms. And it had a gorefest ending with scout crafted zombie killing machines reminiscent of the lawnmower scene in Peter Jackson's Braindead.

It is also my opinion that it was a more effective comedy than Kingsman. Scout's Guide had the audience roaring, which is such a great moment to experience in a theater. Laughter and screams? Top theater experience of the year. Better reactions than Star Wars even.

I don't know what I think about David Robert Mitchell (It Follows) or Chrisopher Landon (Scout's Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse) as directors. Each have created a single horror gem reminiscent of 1970/80s horror but for different reasons. I hope they keep making movies like these.

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