Best of 2015: Joe’s Top Ten Movies

1. Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens: The weight of the galaxy was on its shoulders and it delivered. Big time. It’s exactly what it needed to be. If the biggest complaint was that <REDACTED> and that we barely see <REDACTED>, I’ll take it. Recall how much was riding on this movie. Even if it was basically a soft rehash of A New Hope, it does a great job of setting up the coming trilogy (and beyond). I was blown away. And face it… You were too.

2. Avengers: Age of Ultron: Close second. Perfect follow up to the original. While it lacked the novelty factor of the first movie, it did a great job of introducing the themes to come in the Marvel cinematic universe. I guess you can call it a tension-builder/foundation movie. All in all, this movie may not go down as my favorite Marvel flick, but as you can see, there’s only one movie I was more excited to see this year.

3. Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation: Man, don’t sleep on the MI series. I keep waiting for these movies to start “dropping off” in either wow factor or quality (not because I don’t want them to be good, but that’s usually just how franchises go)… But it never happens. I think the series is better than it has ever been. Tom Cruise is at his best as a seasoned, veteran Ethan Hunt. You care about the team members. And now he has a female rival I want to see more of. Take note, other franchises.

4. Kingsman: The Secret Service: Who saw this one coming? Yes, the comic is cool. And the trailer looked great. But this movie was cool, brutal, and stylish. Not just because of Samuel L. Jackson, either. Fact of the matter is it’s a series you can get excited about seeing much more of. A sleeper hit for me. And probably you too.

5. Ant-Man: You’d think I would’ve learned my lesson from underestimating Guardians. But the truth of the matter is that Marvel can’t lose money on a movie right now. Or any time in the foreseeable future. Like Zach mentioned in his list, when you consider what a catastrophe it looked like this movie was shaping up to be, you couldn’t ask for a better result. Another great universe-builder (and hero roster slot filled up) for Marvel.

6. Jurassic World: I really liked the nostalgia factor. The CG really killed me at spots… And it wasn’t huge on substance. BUT, it was super fun. Really not much else to say about it.

7. Inside Out: This movie had all the feels. Literally. Tremendous voice casting, great writing, punch-in-the-stomach life lessons, and screen-licking visuals. I didn’t cry. Much.

8. Furious 7: It might not be the best in the series… But in summary: We’re family, we miss Paul Walker, and the Rock is just the best.

9. San Andreas: Speaking of the Rock… This is the classic 90s disaster movie on super soldier serum. So much fun. So much Rock. So much destruction. How could you go wrong? If you didn’t see it in D-Box, you messed up.

10. Taken 3: Hear me out. I realize how stupid this movie was. I also realize how insane it was. But damn it, I was raised on Commando. This movie is in my wheelhouse. And you have to admit it was better than the second one. Point of the story, I enjoyed it. Maybe too much. Whatever.

Honorable Mentions

American Sniper: I’m not touching the politics of it (you know, like how 50% of it is likely complete BS), but as a movie, I thought it was powerful. Another great Eastwood film, and a strong performance by Bradley Cooper. I’d still prefer to just play Call of Duty, but it’s all good.

Wedding Ringer: Sleeper comedy pick. Wasn’t that into seeing it, laughed my ass off. Massively underrated. Check it out if you haven’t.