Contributor 2017 Top Ten| The Film Avenger
This week at Reel World Theology we are featuring the top ten lists of contributors to the site. You can find all our contributor lists here, as well as links to reviews and podcasts for each movie below.
10 – Thor: Ragnarok
Thor: Ragnarok is definitely one of the most unique films to come from Marvel in a while, which is both good and bad. Not that Marvel has been putting out bad films. In fact, all their films have been consistently good. What I mean is that Ragnarok is so out of left field when compared to the other films.
I enjoyed Thor: Ragnarok. I admire director Taika Waititi’s take on the material, including the production design (it reminded me of a 1980s cartoon like Masters of the Universe) and the smart use of humor. However, like Star Wars: The Last Jedi, it seemed like the filmmakers were so eager to subvert audience expectations and literally burn away the sensibilities of the previous films that they didn’t give things time to breathe and sink in. But unlike The Last Jedi, the changes and twists in Ragnarok were easier to swallow because of the healthy dose of humor attached to them. Ragnarok was a fun slap on the back compared to the middle finger of The Last Jedi. Follow these links for the RWT review & podcast.
9 – Wonder Woman
Both critics and audiences lauded Wonder Woman as a revelation and a transcendental piece of filmmaking poised to usher in a new era in cinema. I think these reactions are a bit overhyped and inflated because it is supposedly the first female-centric superhero movie (even though it isn’t), and the first of the genre to be directed by a woman (which, again, it isn’t). That is not to say the film isn’t without merit or worthy of praise. Wonder Woman is a good movie with great moments. It’s fun, charming and full of exciting action. It reminded me of a DC era gone by – the Christopher Reeve / Michael Keaton days. There are times I think it’s the best DCEU film. But then there are times when I still think Man of Steel was better.
But what made this new film exceptionally was its thematic core. Wonder Woman was about more than just an Amazonian princess, but about the nature of humanity, real female strength (as opposed to the artificial “girl power” of today’s culture), and the power of grace. Follow these links for the RWT review & podcast.
8 – Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Guardians Vol. 2 is just as fun as the original. The principle actors have really embraced their characters, making for a more cohesive team experience. And the jokes and 80s pop culture references were hilarious. But the best part of this film is that it steps up the first Guardians‘ emotional core. All of the main characters are damaged beings in search of something to fight for: a family. Peter Quill found his father but was reminded who his daddy was. It’s the emotions, not the funny quips and one-liners, that make the Guardians movies worth watching. Follow these links for the RWT review & podcast.
7 – Cars 3
Cars 3 was a return to form for this popular Pixar franchise. The first film was a gentle, touching and thoughtful story with a great central point. Cars 2 was a fun but relatively empty spy spoof with none of the homegrown charm of the first film. Cars 3 brings back that homegrown charm, shrinking the scope of the series back down to what made the first film great.
What I love most about Cars 3, and the Cars franchise generally, is that the characters themselves are evolving – which is a bit strange for a modern “kids” movie. The maturation of the franchise gives a sense of real continuity, with new, young characters being introduced organically. Cars parallels another evolving sports film franchise: Rocky. In fact, there was a real Rocky IV and Rocky Balboa vibe going on with the McQueen / Jackson Storm rivalry. Follow these links for the RWT review & podcast.
6 – Five Came Back
Five Came Back is one of the best documentary series I’ve seen in a while. The film has a unique perspective on World War II which I hadn’t really heard until now: the Hollywood filmmakers who volunteered to serve and bring the war to the American civilian population with their storytelling talents.
The one big takeaway I got from this film was just how vapid, self-righteous and ignorant the present-day Hollywood community is compared to their counterparts profiled in Five Came Back. Today, Hollywood is all about virtue signaling, fake outrage, useless hashtag activism, and who can be the biggest victim. For Ford, Capra, Huston, Stevens, and Wyler, it was about actually doing something, actual sacrifice, actual purpose, and true bravery in the face of actual danger. The filmmakers of today could learn a thing or two from those five brave men. These men didn’t pretend to be soldiers. They were soldiers.
5 – Spider-Man: Homecoming
It was great to see Sony come to its senses and give Marvel Studios a cinematic shot at everyone’s favorite wall-crawling kid hero. Spider-Man: Homecoming, was a wonderful continuation of the groundwork laid in Captain America: Civil War. The creativity of the Marvel Studios team has injected this character with new life and made him a unique part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Homecoming is funny, lighthearted, and has a youthful exuberance that matches the personality of the character in the comics – which is something that I’ve always felt the previous films have lacked. Follow these links for the RWT review & podcast.
4 – Dunkirk
Christopher Nolan’s latest film was an arthouse blockbuster in the purest sense of the phrase, but an arthouse that isn’t pretentious, self-important, or self-indulgent. It’s a uniquely-told World War II film, which I found exciting. Furthermore, Dunkirk is Nolan’s loving tribute to the spirit and bravery of his native homeland. The Dunkirk Evacuation was not a victory in the classic sense, but a story of defiance and survival in the face of overwhelming odds. Hans Zimmer’s amazing score only added to the feelings of British patriotism with its allusions to legendary British composers like Sir Edward Elgar.
Dunkirk was also beautiful to look at, even more so in actual IMAX 70 mm (which I was lucky enough to find near me – totally worth the money). Nolan has a penchant for the old school cinematic experience, and the IMAX really enhanced everything. Nolan gave the film a cold, haunting desolation that evoked the feelings of dread and hopelessness that the soldiers experienced. The IMAX format made this emotionally overwhelming at times. But it also made the arrival of the colorful civilian ships during the evacuation scenes even more triumphant. Follow these links for the RWT review & podcast.
3 – Logan
Logan, is the best X-Men film, period. It is more visually and emotionally satisfying than any of the others. James Mangold infuses his movies with an old-fashioned, Western grit that many films these days don’t possess, and Logan is a prime example. This was Hugh Jackman’s best performance as the titular X-Man, and perhaps his best performance, period. It’s an excellent final send-off for him. He’s made such an impact as Wolverine that will be difficult to see someone else wield those claws.
The visual bleakness and stark violence of Logan are in direct contrast with its emotional heart. Jackman’s Wolverine in this film is a broken hero looking for a reason for survival, redemption for his life of death and destruction, and a reminder of the hero he was. He finds all of those in a little girl cloned from his DNA (played amazingly by newcomer Dafne Keene). The tenderness and quiet moments between Logan’s makeshift family make this movie special. Follow these links for the RWT review & podcast.
2 – The Founder
In the almost eight decades since its establishment, McDonald’s has become as synonymous with American culture as baseball. And they continue to feed millions of people in America and around the world every day. The story of McDonald’s had humble beginnings, and that is the subject of the outstanding new movie, The Founder. It’s a story of dreams, broken trust, and endless ambition. It’s not a story of faceless corporations, but one about human beings.
Aside from the great performances and wonderful storytelling, the film has a deep thematic soul to it. The story of McDonald’s is a triumph of the American free market system and a much-needed love letter to our unfairly maligned economic system. But more importantly, it’s a textbook illustration of what success really means from two very different worldviews. Follow this link for the RWT review.
1 – Coco
Coco is another solid, delightful masterpiece for the hit-making Pixar Animation Studios. Like most of Pixar’s best films, Coco hits all the notes to make it an amazing piece of storytelling: a compelling plot, great characters to follow, a wonderful universe to explore, and themes about life that appeal to everyone.
The animation and art direction in Coco are a visual Marvel. Director Lee Unkrich and his team have created a world rich in color and deeply rooted in Mexican culture. One can tell that a lot of care and respect was given by the filmmakers to get things right, visually and culturally. However, there was no overthinking or politically correct pandering involved. The culture was not the central point of the film, which is the way it’s supposed to be.
Coco is rich in themes and tropes that resonate with every person on the planet, which is the reason why I think this film will have lasting universal appeal. Everyone comes from a family, and each family has a legacy they strive to uphold. Coco brilliantly touches on how our earthly legacies can sometimes overshadow and obfuscate both the present and eternal. Follow these links for the RWT review & podcast.
