Well, the Oscars are this Sunday, folks, which means it’s time for me to list off my favorite movies that came out in 2016.
Just a few things before moving forward: I did not see every film that came out in 2016. To all my readers who check out this blog to read my reviews of animated films and TV shows: I did not see every animated film that came out this year, nor did I see every animated film that is nominated for Best Animated Feature. Also, this list contains films that are decidedly not animated movies; just so you know. To all my friends who happen to be hardcore Marvel fans, I saw Captain America: Civil War, X-Men Apocalypse, and Deadpool, but I did not see Doctor Strange. To all my intense film buff friends: I saw Arrival, La La Land, and several other films buzzing with Oscar anticipation, but I have yet to see Moonlight, Manchester by the Sea, Fences, or Hidden Figures, despite my best efforts to see them. Finally, to anyone else who I forgot to mention: I’m only human, and there are only so many films I can see in a year.
Also, this is not based entirely on how I would rate these films out of 10, but based on how I enjoyed them as an experience and how they have stuck with me since leaving the theater. Your opinions and your lists may vary, and I invite you to share your thoughts in the comments below.
When I started compiling this list, I was concerned that I hadn’t seen enough movies in 2016 to have a complete Top 10 list. To my relief, I successfully remembered at least 15 films that I saw last year, giving me enough films to compile my Top 10 Favorite Movies of 2016:
#10. The Jungle Book
When I heard that Disney was remaking The Jungle Book in live action, I rolled my eyes and thought, “oh great, here comes another Disney cash grab like Maleficent, Alice in Wonderland, and so many other remakes of animated classics.” Even with Jon Favreau attached to direct, I had my doubts. I’m glad to say that my doubts were mostly relieved after I saw this movie. While it definitely has similar story beats to the original animated film, it also felt like its own separate story. Keep in mind, The Jungle Book animated movie is, in and of itself, an adaptation of another source material. I don’t know how closely this most recent film follows the original stories, but I can definitely see some different stories influencing the film aside from the animated film that came before it. The main thing that blew me away in this movie was the CGI used to create the animals. I hesitate to truly call this movie live-action, since so many of the characters are brought to life using CGI. Then again, one of my favorite franchises of recent years is the reboot of the Planet of the Apes series, and all of the ape characters in those movies are just people in motion capture suits. It’s a bit of a blurry line, but, regardless, The Jungle Book has amazing special effects that make you think that these are real animals interacting with this child, and that is a great achievement on the part of the special effects team. If Jon Favreau can keep this up, maybe his upcoming live-action remake of The Lion King won’t be so bad (but like I’ve said before, Be Prepared for anything).
#9. The Nice Guys
A movie that I almost forgot about, and then kicked myself for forgetting about, The Nice Guys was an all-around fun action/mystery/buddy comedy/drama film. Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling were a great pair in terms of an action and comedy duo, and the story will keep you engaged from start to finish. The ending definitely leaves open the possibility of a sequel, and I hope we get one in the future, even though this film tanked at the box office. Check it out if you haven’t already, and maybe DVD sales can convince the studio to give us more of The Nice Guys.
#8. Captain America: Civil War
A film that did way better than another hero vs. hero film that came out in 2016 (*cough* Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice *cough*), Captain America: Civil War was the best superhero vs. superhero/friend vs. friend film that I saw this past year. It felt like both a great follow-up to Age of Ultron and a continuation of Steve Rogers and his adventures as he skirts the line between what he feels is right and what the rest of the world thinks is right. The Avengers having a full-blown identity crisis was a great way to throw these heroes a curveball; for years, they have been on roughly the same page, and now, it seems like they’re not even in the same chapter or even the same book. And the film’s main villain was a refreshing departure from typical Marvel villains. He’s not out for world domination, he’s not planning to kill the Avengers or anyone important; all he wants is to tear the Avengers apart in a way that Ultron never could. Finally, of course, the debut of Spider-Man and the Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe were definite highlights in this, my second-favorite comic book movie of 2016.
#7. Deadpool
I went back and forth between this and Captain America 3, but I stand by that Deadpool was the best comic book movie I saw last year, simply because it stuck to its source material as much as humanly possible and did it so well. Now, I never read Deadpool comics growing up (or even now), but I have heard enough online and from friends to know that one of the enduring traits of the character is his hilarious breaking of the fourth wall whenever he gets the chance. I have also heard, through the grape vine, that Wade Wilson’s first appearance on the big screen in 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine was a bitter disappointment and general slap in the face to fans. Ryan Reynolds’s faithful interpretation of the Merc with a Mouth in this most recent movie more than makes up for that past film’s debacle. That, coupled with a great cast, great action, great references, and a fun (though clichéd and done before) story, makes Deadpool my personal favorite comic book movie of 2016.
#6. La La Land
I’m a sucker for musicals, and that is why La La Land is on this list. The music is almost entirely original, the choreography is great, the actors and their singing voices all worked very well for this movie, and it was unique enough that I won’t clump it together with other movie musicals any time soon. It was also a great tribute to various eras in Hollywood history. One thing that really stuck out for me was how stylized its portrayal of Los Angeles was without being too stylized; the main aspect of this stylization was the inclusion of some 50s style mixed in with laptop computers, Starbucks ripoffs, and iPhones. That alone makes this movie both modern and timeless. If you love musicals and you haven’t checked this movie out, you are doing yourself a huge disservice. Check it out and see what all the fuss is about.
#5. Kubo and the Two Strings
Stop motion is a lost art, and the people at Laika are slowly but surely bringing it back. Kubo and the Two Strings is one example of their efforts. The animation alone makes Kubo deserving of his spot this list, but it also fits in a story of family, music, storytelling, and magic that will delight both children and adults. For my further thoughts on Kubo and the Two Strings, check out my review here.
#4. Zootopia
A film that looks at diversity and prejudice in a way that kids can understand, Zootopia was a film that, like Frozen, I didn’t expect to enjoy as much as I did when I saw the original trailer. But I enjoyed it immensely; the voice acting, the design of the city of Zootopia, and the way they made you feel for these animals really makes it one of Disney’s finest films of the 21st Century, and perhaps of all time. If you have kids, show them this movie. If you love animation, watch this movie. If want to see Disney tackle the real issue of race relations and inclusion, watch this movie. If you want to see a really good Disney movie, watch this movie. There is something in this film for everyone.
#3. Moana
My personal favorite animated film this year, Moana has everything to make a great modern-day Disney classic: great music, beautiful animation, an engaging plot, and a terrific voice cast, which features mostly actors of South Pacific descent (save for Alan Tudyk in the bit part of Hei Hei the chicken). I must admit, with films like this, Zootopia, and Kubo and the Two Strings, the competition for this year’s Academy Award for Best Animated Feature is going to be intense, and that’s just the way I like it. Moreover, no matter which film wins, I will take comfort in the fact that one of them was on my Top 10 list. For more of my thoughts on Moana, check out my review here.
#2. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Unless Disney really messes up with this franchise, expect either my number 2 or number 1 movie each year from now until the end of eternity to be a Star Wars film. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is a movie that puts the “Wars” into “Star Wars,” showing us what happens when everyday people, not Jedi, attempt to go up against an unstoppable, uncaring Empire. The main cast is a great band of rebels, with Jyn Erso and Chirrut Îmwe being the two biggest highlights for me. This is the film where the Star Wars universe feels the most “lived in” since we first set foot in the Mos Eisley Cantina back in 1977, which I really appreciated. The scenes featuring Darth Vader are worth the price of admission. In my opinion, this is the first time since 1983 that we have *truly* seen Darth Vader brought to life on the big screen, this time as an unstoppable monster to be feared by Rebels and Imperials alike. Also, his one line to Krennic was absolutely in character for him because Darth Vader is a dry-witted ***hole who often mocks his subordinates while also threatening to kill them. One thing that people have taken issue with is the use of CGI to resurrect certain characters originally portrayed by now-deceased actors, but the way Rogue One uses this technology is effective and respectful of the original interpretation brought to the silver screen 40 years ago. And while a good chunk of the film is supported by blatant fan service, I don’t mind it, because this film takes place days, hours, and moments before A New Hope; overlap and fan service should be expected, and it doesn’t take away from the fact that this was my second-favorite film of 2016. Rogue One is one with the Force, and the Force is with Rogue One.
#1. Arrival
My favorite movie of 2016, Arrival is a departure from many science fiction films about humanity’s first contact with extraterrestrial life that makes us examine who we are as humans. Instead of being an invasion film, Arrival is about humans and aliens attempting to understand each other, much like Close Encounters of the Third Kind. It takes the trope of the aliens being able to understand or rapidly learn our language and throws it out the window; the aliens look nothing like humans, and they have a completely different way of communicating. Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner are spectacular as the main leads, and the design of the aliens will make you believe that if we ever encounter alien life, they will look nothing like us, they will sound nothing like us, and it will probably take awhile for them to understand us. More than its contributions to the science fiction genre, it provides viewers with a plot that will make you think about your own morality and how we, as humans, make decisions. I dare not give away the plot here, as it is the main draw of this film; suffice it to say, I only saw Arrival once, and I want to see it a dozen times more. It’s that good, and it’s good enough to make my top spot on my list of my favorite films of 2016.
So, there you have it: my Top 10 Favorite Movies of 2016. What would your Top 10 list look like? Are there any films that I should check out from last year? Am I out of my mind with these rankings? Whatever your thoughts, feel free to leave them in the comments below. Enjoy watching the Oscars and, in the words of the late great film critic Roger Ebert, “I’ll see you at the movies.”