Top Ten Movies of 2017

 

10)  Spider-Man: Homecoming

A fun superhero film that creeps in at the right time. So why does this great superhero has to come in at the very bottom? Because the film had too many issues, to begin with. First off Peter Parker is and always will be a genius. The character really didn't need Tony Stark as a mentor. That whole storyline was ok, but the writers didn't have to go that route. Peter Parker alone could've handled the villains in the film after all the web-head has many bad guys on his roster to deal with. Green Goblin, Sandman, Hobgoblin to name some. 

The film pretty much has a new cast, even Aunt May. The problem isn't the cast or the story, it's the way it all was constructed. First off Parker would've handled the challenge of going to the very important school event in Washington D.C. It would've been fun seeing Peter balance everything and making it to the event, instead, they had an action sequence. Imagery is good but when it overtakes the movie you start to lose it. 

The story is the beginning of Peter Parker, a very unique way of looking at it. Using Tony Stark as a tool for the boy to have. A just in case moment. More special effects added to the story. It would be to easy for the stupid teenager to get out of a situation himself right? The filmmakers have Tony in the film, now you have the new kid making his way up the hero line.  To me, that dropped this hero film to the very bottom of the list.

9)  American Assassin  

Continuing we have this little film which deserves the top ten list of 2017. So many films and yet this one survives. The story of Mitch Rapp who's future will be working for a black ops unit. That was the future that he underwent because of his girlfriend's death at the hands of a terrorist. That day at the beach became a transformation. He had reached out to the assassins, and as his revenge was plotted, the CIA came in as a cavalry that only angered Rapp. Afterwards, he was sent in for training, in a disclosed location. There he would meet Stan Hurley. His life would now become something else, something more.

The film had some issues, but not much. It was a making of a perfect action film. The young James Bond. Dylan O'Brien has come far from his Teen Wolf years. I knew this star would become something bigger. Teenwolf, Mazerunner series of films, and now American Assassin that has the potential to become massive. I picked this film not only because it has a great story, but because it's a wonderful action movie. Plus Michael Keaton plays Stan Hurley for the love of God.

8)  Beauty and the Beast 

The animated feature comes to life in this big live-action adaption. The story about a young girl falling for a Beast in a faraway castle, hidden beyond the ice cold forest. What makes this film a top ten film of 2017 isn't just the story. The magic in this particular movie was the story, mixed in with the music. Not everyone could sing, Emma Watson did one heck of a job singing, dancing, everything that makes a good musical good. But this film had a lot to live up to. The animation back in 1991 had grossed a substantial amount. The 2017 version adjusting for the periods, made 1,263,521,126 worldwide.  

Beauty and the Beast had achieved so much not just in the beauty of the music, but the way the actors had moved gracefully in their perspective parts. So the film makes the number eight spot because of the hard work and effort the studio put into the film. It is Beauty and the Beast the live action version. I had seen the animation before, so seeing this film was a pleasure on the silver screen. It was the visual quality, recreation from the animation that made this film wonderful. 

7)  Star Wars: The Last Jedi 

...A Long time ago, in a galaxy far, far, away... The film starts off with a bang The First Order has the resistance on the run. Despite the fanboy issues the film deserves to be on the top ten list of 2017. Because it original, shock and awe surprises surpassed anything anyone could've done. Yes, the film has some things that fanboys wanted to happen but didn't. If the movie would've gone that route then the fanboys would've complained about that as well. You can't please everyone. 

I loved the Last Jedi because it had a story, it was fresh, it continued Luke's saga in a way no one saw coming. The Supreme Leader was Darth Mauled in a way audiences did not understand. The bad guy was overconfident and he was taken out. Kylo Ren probably lied to Rey about her past. Luke was a hermit because of his past with Kylo Ren. I mean he was about to kill the dude. I would be a hermit too. All that and he blamed himself, making him human, not a superhuman hero they wanted him to be in the film. Leia's scene in space was beautiful, a part of the Force that was finally on film. As part of the audience, we never had something delivered so beautiful like the power and the mysterious way she used the Force to save her life.  

I could go on to defend the film, but fanboys and folks who are haters will never see it for what it is. Star Wars: The Last Jedi was a great film and it deserves to be here in the top ten 2017 films. 

6)  Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 

    

The team must help Star-Lord with the mysterious Ego played by Kurt Russell. The father or just another man with false pretenses. The second Guardians film is funny with a whole lot of connections that make this a pleasure to watch. Guardians are back with a whole lot of baby Groot who is loveable and enjoyable on screen. 

Effects are as good as it comes, it manages to convey the scene without losing interest in the story or the situation in that particular moment. Remember the end sequence, the battle between Ego and the team. That sequence was done well, it was balanced, and that was just a part of the film that made it great. 

The music was another draw for the film. Like the first one, this had many scenes that meshed well with the older classical music played in the background. Does this deserve to be a six on the top list, hell yeah? Action, story, and great music that delivers each scene. Got to love Sylvester Stallone as Stakar Ogord.

5)  John Wick: Chapter 2

This film you have a badass assassin coming out of retirement, or forced out of retirement. Guess having a very large bounty on your head makes it a bit difficult to live. Santino D'Antonio wants his sister, Gianna D'Antonio dead. So he forces Wick to come out of retirement. Wick at first says no, and since nobody, and I mean nobody says no to the boss; He then proceeds to blow up Wick's house. To make a long story short, he then after some thought, agrees to kill his sister. A double cross here and there, and you got John Wick 

The movie has a lot of gunplay, which for some movies can make or break the film. The switching of one gun to another has to be real, perfect. If not it will not work. Clips, mags, all come with the territory. Without the perfection of the gunplay, the movie will ultimately fail. How would you like Wick going into a scene pulling his pistol, firing 100 shots without changing a mag? The scene would be as real as a cartoon. 

I picked this film because of the emotion behind the scenes. He was put in a dark place. D'Antonio took him away from his reality, which is living like a normal person. No guns, just his dog, and life. Wick had choices, but when the house blew up, his choices were limited. 

The action sequences are truly amazing, almost as if the action scenes were a dance. Imagine two people in a ballroom. Both are dancing in a circular motion, moving, slowly at first, shortly after they dance until the room stares at them, and applauds. 

4)  Get Out

Chris Washinton is in a relationship with Rose Armitage. They have been together for some time, Chris has never had any introduction as of yet. The time has come for Chris a black man to meet his white girlfriend's parents. 

Sounds like a humdrum kinda film, but the reality of it will mess with your head. The main character, Chris meets her parents with good intentions. The setting is great, but as the film progresses so does the tension, and I mean it gets hot. The family is kinda weird, all African Americans as staff. The way each staff member reacts to a situation brings up red flags. Chris investigates Missy Armitage which ends up badly for him. Hypnosis is used to bring Chris to another place, a dark alone place, where he doesn't have the control.

Great movie altogether, it has many twists that will blow your mind. The sudden ramp-up of the crazy family is not only a great idea for a movie, it also manages to hold you close. If you could hear your heartbeat, watching this film will. Especially the main reveal of the film. 

Not all horror movies are bad, and this one manages to grab you from the start. It's a rollercoaster ride that continues to evolve as the film went on. To me this a great film, especially the reveal. 

3)  Wonder Woman  

Dianna Prince becomes the only weapon that could destroy Ares. Living on the island of Themyscira, her homeland. Trained to become the warrior she was always meant to be. Her life becomes complicated as a man, Steve Trevor came from the outside world; He was running from soldiers. Unfortunately, the soldiers giving chase caught up to Trevor, as his stolen plane crashes in the beautiful water of Themyscira. Dianna saves Steve and the story of Wonder Woman begins. 

The story is pretty solid, it takes you on a journey that started in Themyscira and ended up in London. Wonder Woman is a whole, and not because it's a hero movie but what it conveyed. Her beginning wasn't easy. As a kid, she was held back by her mother, Antiope. Her true nature wasn't revealed until an accident in training. 

The action wasn't the main theme in this film, I guess that's why I like it so much because it's more of an evolution of the main character. She had to help Steve in order to get some clues to Ares, or at least that was the plan. The mystery in the island and her world collapsed as she continues to realize the true nature of men. I guess being out in the world brings out a whole lot of trouble. Ares tried to sway her to him, but she, in the end, had the strength to defeat Ares.  What really matters was love, and the people she connects with along the way.  

Wonder Woman deserves the number three spot because of the way she demonstrated strength, leadership throughout the film. Courage was one of her traits that made her a hero to the people she saved throughout the film. Dianna was more than super, she is compassionate, strong, despite the obstacles in her way. This film is more than your average hero film because if it was, all the same, it would've tanked.

    

2)  It 

A group of kids called the Loser's Club is followed by an evil in the form of a clown. Every 27 years this evil awakens to take the children of the town of Derry. A place called the Barrens, where the evil leaves behind remains. The kids of the town banded together to fight the evil clown. As the story goes, one of the kids stays back in order to watch the evil return.

The film is really good and very scary. First off a big applause to Tim Currry who played Pennywise to perfection. Although Bill Skarsgard version is very scary. So scary that I had to turn away in some scenes. My favorite scene would have to be all the kids getting together to formulate a plan. I love that connection, especially when there is a dire situation. 

It is two parts, the kids and 27 years later, the adults. That second part comes out Septemeber 6, 2019. The movie is frightening from the beginning to the very end.

Georgie Denbrough ( Jackson Robert Scott ) races with his sailboat. The rain continues. The boy follows the paper sailboat to an open sewage drain. This scene was amazing because it's the introduction of the antagonist. Pennywise the clown introduces himself to the boy and the audience per say. The scene is established making way for more to come, and it does. This film deserves a high spot on the list. It was very difficult to choose, but in the end, it all worked out.

1) Logan

The year is 2029, Mutants have been losing the war altogether. The X-men have disbanded, some have gone into hiding. Others have died. But one thing is for sure one mutant's persistent making sure his friend Charles Xavier is ok. Time goes by and Logan formally was known as Wolverine is now a limo driver, a way to make some cash. But time is running out because the Reavers are looking for a young girl. Powerful, smart, a weapon made to kill. 

Logan must now help Laura who is a mini Wolverine. Strenght, cunning, instincts that help her attack, or even kill. The strength of this film is why I picked it for the number one spot. Logan has a killer story with a balanced amount of action sequences. Logan doesn't hold back because for the first time this hero film got an R rating.

The X-23 storyline is done well here even if it isn't straight out of the comic book. the story in the film is very different but it worked and that is half the battle. If it works, and it's good then you got a stellar story. 

Logan had more scenes that were heartwarming, and altogether sad. The death of Charles and Logan himself was a huge deal. It closed out the chapter of the old. The new chapter is with Laura and her particular story which I would love to see on film. 

Well there you have it. The Reeltime Movie Review's top 10 list. Do I agree with the Hollywood list? Hopefully not. My views are clear, not skewed. Movies are movies but when you have a love for them like I do, then your views become just as important than any critic.