Movies of 2015

This year I'm starting this blog at the beginning of the year. This way I won't have another 2013 mishap where I forget a bunch of movies, nor will I have a 2012-2014 mishap where I forget what I thought of certain movies.

By the way, these are movies I saw in the theater.

1. The Imitation Game

I heard conflicting things about this movie. The screenplay was on the Black List (always a good sign) but I also heard that they downplayed Turing's sexuality, and for a man who was chemically castrated by the government because he was gay, that's a crappy thing to do. However, I totally did not get that vibe. It wasn't the central point of the movie, but it played a pretty large role. Point being, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. My main complaint is that the movie downplayed the role of women at Bletchley Park. I know that wasn't the point of the movie, but women were code breakers, analysts, linguists, cryptologists... They weren't just secretaries and intercepting messages. But yes, overall, I liked this movie a lot.

2. Wild

This woman is incredible. Her life fell apart after her mom died, so she decided to hike the Pacific Crest Trail. I heard an interview with her when her book came out a few years ago and found her fascinating. I never did read the book, but I totally wanted to. This movie made me want to do something all outdoorsy, and any movie that makes me want to do that is probably a good movie. Cause you know, I like being in nature, I just don't enjoy the strain to get there or staying very long. I like to breath it in, enjoy the scenery, take a few nature shots, then go home and pee in a toilet.

3. American Sniper

The critics aren't necessarily wrong when they say that this movie is very much a 'Murica' movie (aka it kind of punches you in the face with patriotism), but it was still enjoyable (apart from that awful doll they used, because for some reason a baby is hard to come by for one freaking scene). Sure, every single Iraqi was either evil or dead/about to die and the PTSD aspects were more "look, he has PTSD" and less delving into it, but you know, it was a movie. Not Best Picture and Best Actor worthy, but whatever. The Academy can suck it.

4. Selma

Why this movie go the shaft at the Oscars this year is beyond me. I know I've only seen four movies so far, but this one is probably going to be a contender for the best all year. It was incredibly powerful and moving. Seeing this on Tuesday and then hearing Justice Sonia Sotomayor speak on Wednesday made for a very good week, one that reaffirmed the need for everyone (EVERYONE) to vote in every (EVERY) election.

5. The Kingsman

I enjoy going to the theater, and I go a lot. I like sitting in a dark room eating popcorn and watching a film on a giant screen with like-minded individuals (apart from the asshats who won't stop talking or pull out their phones. I promise, we still see it even if you're trying to hide it). So when I say, "it's rare that I have this much fun in the theater," you know I know what I'm talking about. This is one such movie. It was hilarious, witty, action packed, filled with men in finely tailored suits and the sexiest glasses I have ever seen. One joke at the end seemed lazy to me, but other than that, this movie was nigh unto perfection. I loved it. I will most certainly go see it again and I will definitely own it. It is fantastic. 

6. Still Alice

I've always loved Juliane Moore, but after this movie she may have climbed her way up to the top of my favorite female actors list (just beneath Cate Blanchett and Tilda Swinton, because no one can surpass them). Moore is perfect and heartbreaking in this movie. She plays a character with early onset Alzheimer's, and it is a devastating 2 hours watching her deteriorate. I cried about half of the time and ugly face cried multiple times. But good grief, Moore is incredible. As I write this, the Oscars are tomorrow, and she better win. [EDIT: she did win and I am happy]

7. Cinderella

Full disclosure: I don't love Cinderella. I don't even like Cinderella. Not the Disney film and not the character. In fact, after Snow White, that is my least favorite Disney Princess movie, cause at least Sleeping Beauty had a cool villain. This version of Cinderella, while visually stunning, is still Cinderella. They tried to give the step-mother a bit of depth, but fell short of that. They tried to give Ella and the Prince more of an excuse to fall in love, but two meetings really isn't much better than one. And I failed to understand why Ella allowed herself to become a servant in her own house at the age of 18. The whole "have courage and be kind" motto she lived by ended up making her a doormat. And I don't care how awesome a house is, it's a lame excuse for putting up with what she put up with. As far as Cinderella stories go, I thought it was fine. There were fun moments and I was generally entertained, but it's no Ever After.

8. Furious 7

This movie... Man, this movie! My love for this franchise knows no bounds. I still haven't seen one, two, or four, but I probably will. I know they're terrible, but continuity, you know? Furious 7 was not terrible. Quite the opposite, in fact. I saw it opening day (because of course I did). Then that Sunday I had my sister, my parents, my uncle, and a family friend watch Fast 6. It was of course a big hit. The next day my sister and I saw 7. She had been super reluctant to watch any of these movies, but we had a blast in the theater. In fact, we were the only ones laughing when [SPOILERS] The Rock flexes out of his arm cast (!!!!!), Paul Walker and Vin Diesel drive between not two, but three Abu Dabi towers, and at each of The Rock's cliched lines. (Seriously, that's all he spoke in. "Daddy's gotta go to work." "Woman, I am the cavalry!" etc. It was amazing.)

On top of all the awesome that these movies are, they are the most diverse I have probably ever seen. And guess what? 75% of those who saw this movie opening weekend were non-whites. Take note, Hollywood. America wants to see something other than white men all the freaking time.

It was interesting to see it the second time because it was really stark how little Paul Walker was in it. He had a few lines, sometimes you would see him from behind or a profile... it just made it all the harder to watch knowing that he wasn't there for most of it. They did a beautiful tribute to him at the end. I choked up both times seeing it and I'm getting chills just thinking about it now.

Anyway, highly recommend. 7/7 stars, minus all the butts.

9. What We Do in the Shadows

Thanks to my (and many others) generous Kickstarter donation, I was able to see this in the theater (and get a poster). This movie was hilarious. I've always had a soft spot for vampires (well, Buffy and Interview with a Vampire vampires. Did not ever get into Twilight, True Blood, or Vampire Diaries) and this was a great mocumentary on these horrifying creatures of the night. I can't wait to get my giant What We Do in the Shadows poster and hang it up next to my giant Veronica Mars poster.

10. While We're Young

I liked this one. Everyone is awesome in it (the actors, not necessarily the characters). I didn't love it enough to care about this review or see it again, but it was enjoyable.

11. Avengers: Age of Ultron

It was good. Not nearly as fun as the first one, but it's a decent flick (and no, my feminist sensibilities were not offended by that Black Widow monologue). It was kind of obvious that the studio was interfering with what Joss Whedon wanted to do with the characters, and I think that's where it fell for me. Not as much character development (which Whedon wanted to do) and maybe a bit too set up for future movies and action. I also think maybe Whedon's heart wasn't in it as much as last time. The man was tired and had been working for the Marvel Machine for several years, without the ability to really let his creativity flag fly. I'm very much looking forward to what he does next and I think the Russo Brothers are going to do a phenomenal job with Infinity War.

12. Pitch Perfect 2

Aca-awesome! Probably not as good as the first one, but that's due in large part to the fact that the first one was so surprising and new. This one was more of the same, but that same was awesome, so I'm not complaining. Yeah, there was a character who was there for nothing but to be a satire of a racial stereotype, but that satire was so funny, and much less problematic than being an actual stereotype. The music was bigger, the stakes were higher, and the way Becca interacted with the woman from Das Sound Machine was complete and utter perfection. I loved every second of this movie.

13. Mad Max: Fury Road

Speaking of movies I loved every second of... Fury Road hits it out of the water. Or field. Park? I don't do sports metaphors. This film was wall to wall insanity and SO much fun. It was also probably the most feminist movie I will see all year. Despite its title, Charlize Theron's Furiosa is the main character, Max is just along for the ride (though Tom Hardy is in top form, as always). She risks all to save five "breeders," known collectively as "the wives," and take them somewhere they will be safe and away from the horrifying Immortan Joe. Each of the five wives is an impeccable character. The women in this this movie aren't "strong women." They are real women, which is all we really ask for. They are dressed in what you'd expect a sex slave to be dressed in, but they are never sexualized. They are young and have lead lives of "ease" and "comfort" (I put those in quotes because even in the most lavish of circumstances, a sex slave does not live easily or comfortably - not by a long shot), yet they aren't the damsels in distress. They take the initiative to beg Furiosa to take them away and they do what they need to in order to survive the journey.

This entire movie is an amazing spectacle. It's definitely a theater movie. 2 hours of cars driving fast, explosions, and a fire-spewing guitar that played way more of a role than I was expecting. It was awesome. If you like having fun you should see this movie.

14. Spy

I will forever defend Melissa McCarthy as one of the greatest comedic actors of the decade. Sure, there have been some missteps (I'm looking at you, Tammy and Identity Thief), but this woman has chops and is always flawless when paired with Paul Fieg. The frumpy undercover personas she is assigned at first seem a bit cheap, but luckily that doesn't last long, and there are exactly zero (ZERO!) jokes about her weight. In fact, she's freaking amazing at her job - especially the physical, hand-to-hand stuff. Jason Statham has some of the best lines in the movie, and Rose Byrne is spot on, as always. This movie is definitely worth seeing. I need to go see it again because I was laughing so hard at times that I missed what was said (mostly when Statham was talking). 

15. Jurassic World

I went through a lot of emotions with this movie, even before it came out. I started out as unabashedly excited. Chris Pratt? Bryce Dallas Howard? Colin Trevorrow? The writing teams of the new Planet of the Apes franchise and Safety Not Guaranteed? The inevitability that after two horrible sequels, it was statistically improbable that they'd make a third terrible one? Sign me up! 

Then I started to see just how much CGI they used in this movie and they released that horribly sexist clip between the two main characters and my expectations (and hopes) plummeted. 

Still, I agreed to see it opening night. The day I bought my ticket was the day the media embargo ended and it was actually getting fairly decent reviews. Most of what I saw basically said, don't pay too much attention to the plot and you'll have fun. That's exactly what I did. 

Yes, I mourned for practical effects. I rolled my eyes at how angsty Claire seemed about her decision to not have children (it's possible for women to not be angsty about that, I promise). It doesn't exactly paint scientists in the friendliest of lights, which is a shame. The kids seemed shoehorned in there, as did the whole sub-plot about the private military company, or whatever the hell they were. I was also really confused as to what Owen's role was at the park or if he worked for the military douche bag guy and if he did, why wasn't he doing what his boss was telling him to do? Also, how is a former Navy guy qualified to train raptors? Not once did they talk about his experience with other animals. I assume he used to be a lion tamer or something (he had to be, right?), but they only ever talk about his Navy background. And he's also somehow qualified to inspect the structural integrity of the Indominus Rex's cage, but I'm fairly certain he isn't an engineer. And why do movies keep underutilizing Judy Greer?! 

You get my point. The plot was ridiculous, but the movie itself was super fun.

16. Inside Out

Pixar movies have often made me ugly face cry, but none so much as this one. I was... "moody" might be an understatement, but we'll go with that, in my pre-pubescent and teenage years and the way they portrayed how feelings get mixed up and lost was spot on. Because of this I was kind of on emotional edge the whole time. But to see what I went through (and what many of us with depression continue to go through at times) so beautifully portrayed on screen was amazing. And I loved what Mindy Kaling said about the movie after she heard the pitch. She was crying and said that they were making a movie telling kids that it's okay to be sad. And they really did. I'm still getting chills thinking about it. This movie actually made me (briefly) wish that I had kids so I could show it to them.

17. Far From the Madding Crowd

I didn't like this one as much as I thought I would or wanted to. But it was all because of the pacing. I could tell that several years passed over the course of the movie, but it wasn't evident when watching. I really want to read the book now, though. Other than that, this was a great film. It's about an independent woman when women weren't supposed to be independent and of course I'm going to love that. 

Fun fact: the term "cliffhanger" came from Thomas Hardy (the author of this book). He wrote a serialized book called "A Pair of Blue Eyes" and one of the installments ended with a man literally hanging from a cliff. (My dad knows everything.) 

18. Magic Mike XXL

This was going to be a super long review about the female gaze, female sexual expression, and objectification all with the idea of exploring whether it's okay for women to objectify men the way men objectify women, but you can read that debate elsewhere. My personal opinion: this movie objectifies men, but not the same way men objectify women. And maybe it does, but it doesn't have the same negative impact because it's not at cultural epidemic proportions. 

Anyway, this movie was just pure, unadulterated fun. It wasn't as good as the first one, but that made it better. Leave the plot, gain more dancing and laughing and shrieking and fun. 

Going back to the first paragraph though, I do think these movies are pretty ground breaking. They are made specifically for the female gaze and have zero male gaze in them. There are arguably a handful of movies that tilt more towards the female gaze (Marvel movies among them), but they're a drop in the bucket compared to the films that are flush with the male gaze. It's refreshing to have a movie specifically tailored to me. This must be what it feels like to be a white male aged 14-34. Or what it would feel like, if they had any idea that movies were tailored to them. 

19. Ant-Man

This movie was a pleasant surprise. I enjoyed it far more than I expected to, but then again, I went in with very low expectations. It hailed back to the better Marvel movies like Iron Man and Guardians of the Galaxy without quite getting to that level. I liked the lower stakes and I'm sure I laughed a few times (Basically anytime Michael Pena was on screen). The action sequences were still Edgar Wright's, and you could absolutely tell. Those were the best moments, in my opinion. It was fine and I'd watch it again sometime, but aside from Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvel has been feeling painfully formulaic lately.

There were two things I specifically didn't like about this movie. It suffered from Trinity Syndrome (wherein there is a more than capable woman who trains a man to do the job she easily could have done without any training, often because of man feels) and there was a serious lack of Wasp. Yes, Lily's character is presented with the suit and perfectly encapsulates what we've all been thinking ("It's about damn time"), but the promise of Wasp in a future movie is not enough for me. She should have been the main character. This should have been a Wasp movie. (No, I'm not over my white male superhero fatigue.)

20. Trainwreck

I loved every moment of this one. I adore Amy Schumer and this movie was all that I wanted and more. I did not expect to tear up multiple times while watching this. Lebron James was amazing in this. I can't remember watching an actual athlete in anything and thought that they could even passably act, but James is perfection and hilarious. 

21. Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation

These movies are generally a good time, and this one was no different. Solid action flick. I was really hoping that the objectification of Rebecca Ferguson was just in the poster, but nope. Whatever, she was awesome in it. Although maybe someday they'll give Tom Cruise a love interest that isn't 21 years younger than him. 

22. The End of the Tour

This was a good character film. I probably would have enjoyed it more had I known anything about/read anything written by David Foster Wallace, but it was a fine movie. 

23. Sleeping with Other People

You really can't go wrong with a cast that includes Alison Brie and Jason Sudeikis (not to mention Adam Scott playing a scum bag). I don't know why I've always loved the 'friends become lovers' story line, but I'm a sucker for it. Probably because even though I have had many platonic friendships with men and hate the idea that men and women can't be just friends, I really hate dating. A lot. This is that kind of story. It's basically When Harry Met Sally, only better? Featuring more complex characters? Updated? It's been a while since I've watched that one so I can't say anything for sure. Apart from the fact that I'd recommend this movie. And When Harry Met Sally. 

24. Sicario

If this movie had a subtitle it would be Why the U.S. is Responsible for 75% of the Horrible Things Going on in Mexico. Fantastic movie. I'd especially recommend it to youngsters who are considering illicit drug use. Just have 6th graders watch this instead of the ineffective D.A.R.E. program. 

25. The Martian

Did anyone not love this movie? Really, the only thing I can think of to make it better is add more minorities, but that's basically every movie. 

26. Bridge of Spies

I went into this one not knowing much about it and left very happy that I had seen it. One thing that really struck me was watching the Soviets build the Berlin Wall. I've obviously seen images of it being torn down and can absolutely appreciate the significance of it, but I never thought about it being built. It was just there in my head. It was really moving watching that. 

27. Suffragette 

You know me, give me a good female-centric movie and add in political strife and I'm sold. I especially appreciated the fact that this story was told from the perspective of a working-class woman. First wave feminism can too often be very white and middle-class stories, and at least one of those was changed for this movie. Granted, it was mainly white and middle-class women in the Suffrage movement, but I'm all for being more inclusive. I'd still love to see this or a movie like Iron Jawed Angels told from the perspective of a black woman, though. Cause let's face it, women didn't get the right to vote with the Suffrage movement. White women did. 

28. Spotlight

This was hard to watch at times, but definitely necessary. It obviously made me very happy to not be Catholic, but it was really interesting to watch a couple of the reporters (especially Mark Ruffalo's character) go through what they did with their spiritual crises. I could definitely relate to that. It also made me miss good journalism like this. The Internet has kind of ruined fact. 

29. Crimson Peak

I saw this one much later than I thought I would. I had been super excited about this movie since first hearing about it at Comic Con a couple of years ago, and I had planned on going opening night. I can't remember why I didn't (probably because I wasn't in the mood to go alone), but I didn't end up seeing it until it had been out for about a month. I, like many others, thought this was a horror movie and because of that, I think I'm happy I waited to see it. After it came out I read that it's wasn't a horror, but a gothic romance with a few ghosts. Changing my expectations I think helped a lot in my love of this movie. I'm not sure what I would have thought had I gone in expecting to be scared. But oh, this movie. It's absolutely stunning. Both visually and story-wise. I can't wait to watch it again to peel through all the layers. 

30. Spectre

Spoiler in this one. Big fat meh. I am by no means a Bond fan, having only seen Craig's movies all the way through, but come on. Casino Royale was downright entertaining, so I know they can do it. I wasn't feeling particularly fond of this one throughout, but as soon as I figured out that the big bad was some kind of brother figure for Bond, I lost any sense of caring about this movie. Then they went ahead and did the "it's all connected!" route, which was REALLY poor storytelling. Nothing ties these movies together except the main character, but all of a sudden it's the same story of Bond's adoptive brother sending his various goons after him? Ugh, no. My suspension of disbelief is not that strong. 

31. Mockingjay Pt. 2

I had high hopes for this one since I remember liking part 1 so much. This was fine, but now that we have all four movies, I think they split the wrong one. If they were going to make one book two movies, it should have been the first one so the characters could have been fleshed out more. I also hated how much the love triangle was played up. I hated it in the book and I hated it in the movie. 

32. Trumbo

Bryan Cranston, as always, is fantastic. This is a story I wasn't aware of and it was kind of hard to watch knowing that it happened. Yes, the threat of Communist spies was real during the Cold War, but asking people in a Congressional hearing if they are members of the Communist Party is deplorable. Now excuse me while I go watch all of his movies again (except The Brave One. I have yet to watch that for the first time). 

34. Macbeth

Apart from the few plays I have watch repeatedly, I may not super love Shakespeare. I remember adoring Macbeth in high school, but that's probably because I studied it and could understand everything. That was a good 12 or 13 years ago, so this version did not enthrall me the way I remember. It was beautiful and I was mesmerized by both Fassbender and Cotillard, but aside from the overall plot, a lot went over my head. Maybe I'll stick with his comedies that I know inside and out with the occasional Romeo and Juliet when I'm not in the mood to study before a viewing. 

33. Star Wars

Minor spoilers here. Yes, the plot is very similar to the original movie, and yes, the relationships and character development were rushed. Now that we have that out of the way, this movie was fan freaking tastic. There were so many amazing movies this year, but this one had it all: adventure, pain, angst, nostalgia, not to mention a woman and a black man featured as main characters and a Hispanic man as a supporting character. Plus all the background characters who were minorities and women. And a movie as big as Star Wars will probably have a pretty big impact on the industry in the long run, simply because of how diverse it is. Another awesome thing: little girls are going to grow up with a Jedi role model. Girls rarely see positive and well-rounded portrayals of women in movies, but this is going to be a beautiful exception. And not just this one, with the cast of Rogue One, my guess is LucasFilm will be continuing in this positive direction. Movies can play a huge role in how our society is shaped, and this one is definitely going to nudge things in a positive direction. God bless you, Kathleen Kennedy. 

35. Sisters

Not necessarily on my must-watch list, but it was hilarious. Definitely a repeat option for any girls' night. 

36. Creed

It's been well over a decade since I've seen any of the Rocky movies, but I remember enjoying them, and this one was no exception. Sylvester Stallone did a very good job, and Michael B. Jordan is always a treat. It had all I wanted in a boxing movie: shirtless Michael B. Jordan, blood, sweat, tears, slow motion running, slow motion walking, slow motion boxing, and training montages. I couldn't have asked for anything better. 

With five fewer movies than last year, I plan to up my game a bit. Starting with The Danish Girl. 

James Horner, 1953-2015

As I was parking my car last night, I received the following text:

"James Horner died."

There was more to the text, but it took me a couple of minutes to recover from my shock and read it.

James Horner was one of the best film composers alive. He was a huge talent and this loss will be both felt and heard.

I wrote about him briefly in another post about film composers, but this is a good time to pay tribute to Horner.

The following may not be his best compositions, but they're my favorite. Although, his repertoire is long and there are plenty of his scores that I haven't heard.

I know attention spans aren't what they were, but try to listen to the songs all the way through.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan - "Main Title" and "Epilogue"

Two pieces for this one because there's no way I could choose between them.

Braveheart - "Freedom"

When I last wrote about Horner I included "The Legend Spreads," however this piece is objectively the best one from Braveheart. It never fails to give me chills, and today it's making me cry. 

Apollo 13 - "Main Title"

I dare you to really listen to this one (don't multitask) and NOT have a physiological reaction to the trumpet. 

The Land Before Time - "The Great Migration"

This video punched me in the gut before the music even started. But apart from that, this music is perfection (as is the movie). 

An American Tale - "Somewhere Out There"

Who doesn't love this song? You don't have a soul if you don't love this song.

The Rocketeer - "Main Title"

It's been at least two decades since I've seen this movie, but the music still gets me. 

The Mask of Zorro - "Diego's Goodbye"

I loved this movie when it came out and the music was a huge part of that. 

On That Sansa Scene and Why I'm (probably) Done with Game of Thrones

It's been two days since I watched the most recent episode of Game of Thrones and I have read hours of articles and comments on *that* scene. I've decided I need to put my two cents in. That, and I haven't written anything on this blog for quite a while.

This will have a spoiler. It's a medium-sized one if you are not caught up and haven't read the books. If you aren't quite caught up but you have read the books and you know the character switch the show runners made, it's a very minor spoiler. You knew it was coming. And really, if you've been on the Internet, you probably know what happens. But spoiler is after the gifs.

Also, trigger warning.

Yep, Ramsay Bolton raped Sansa Stark. You can skip the next two paragraphs if you're caught up on both the books and the show.

Book version: Ramsay Bolton marries a girl named Jeyne Poole. She is posing as Arya Stark so he can cement his claim to the North. Everything we read about them is from the perspective of Theon Greyjoy, a despicable person who Ramsay has broken through horrifying torture and mutilation. In the book Ramsay marries Jeyne who he thinks is Arya (Theon knows who she really is) and on their wedding night forces Theon to take part, but I won't go into details. Suffice it to say Ramsay goes on to do horrible things to Jeyne (we're never really given details, but we know Ramsay is capable of the worst) and Theon watches over a number of weeks (?) as she deteriorates and is traumatized. Jeyne's story prompts Theon to overcome his fear of Ramsay, rescuing both Jeyne and himself. Which is also a turning point for Theon because he was always of the mind that the lower classes were beneath him and not worthy of his notice. Yes, the rape and torture of a young girl is solely used to move Theon's plot along and that trope is profoundly overused. However, Jeyne is a very minor character in the books and, as horrifying as her story is, it works in context of the story. It's not ideal and still very problematic, but it works.

Show version: Sansa Stark (a main character) has replaced Jeyne Poole (a very minor character). In both the books and the show, Sansa has gone through a horrifying amount of physical, mental, and emotional abuse, and had the threat of sexual abuse has been hanging over her head for far too long. In the books, she is safe posing as another man's illegitimate daughter and is learning how to play the political game. In the show, she marries Ramsay Bolton so he can cement his claim to the North. Her reason for agreeing to marry him is to get revenge on the Boltons for killing her family and hopefully become Wardeness of the North. In the show she has become pretty adept at politics and manipulating people and it has been awesome to see her grow from a victim to a real power player. On the night of the wedding, Sansa was clearly not wanting to consummate the marriage, but seemed prepared for what she needed to do in order to get what she wanted. However, at the last moment, Ramsay Bolton told Theon to stay in the room and watch. Sansa is clearly thrown and horrified and as Ramsay rapes Sansa, the camera closes in on Theon, a broken man, crying as he watches this girl he grew up with is raped.

Here's my beef: 

1. With that last shot of Theon, Sansa's story is not about her anymore, it is about Theon. Yes, this is what happened in the books, but Jeyne is a very minor character. Sansa is one of the biggest characters in the story. The writers of the show have taken away the agency and point of view she had as a major player and used it to shape a male character's story.

2. There was no reason for this scene other than shock value. We know Theon is broken. We know Ramsay is a monster. We know Sansa has experienced a ridiculous amount of trauma. We don't need this scene because it tells us nothing new.

3. Sansa had some power when the three of them entered the room, but none when the scene concluded. Her whole arc in the show has been how she slowly grows from a naive little girl into a powerful and savvy young woman. She isn't completely there yet, but she has progressed leaps and bounds. This scene stripped everything away from her for no reason.

Really, this scene could have played out in a number of different ways that would have shifted the power dynamic and made me hate it less. Here are just a few suggestions: 

1. Sansa orders Theon out, standing up to Ramsay. This would throw him since no one does that.
2. Ramsay doesn't order Theon to say at all. This would have avoided the unnecessary rape entirely.
3. Sansa finds the strength inside her to overcome the massively uncomfortable situation of Theon watching. This would have allowed her to keep the power she had when walking into the room.
4. Skip the wedding night scene all together. Again, WE DON'T NEED IT TO TELL THE STORY OR FOR CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT.
5. Sansa pulls a knife out of her dress and stabs Ramsay before rallying the Northers to take back her castle and position.

That last one is more wishful thinking, but it would make for excellent television.

Point being, there are ways to make that scene (if you REALLY insist on having it) less problematic and let Sansa keep the strength she's gained from going through all those other traumatic experiences she went through.

This is the third time the show has put in a rape scene where there wasn't one in the book. Drogo raping Dany on their wedding night destroys the character he's written as when he goes out of his way to make sure she is consenting in the book. Jaime raping Cersei after Joffrey dies destroys the character development and redemptive arc he goes through in the book. They have consensual sex and he realizes he doesn't want to be the man she wants anymore. He wants to be something better.

It's all for shock value. Yeah, a lot of things are, especially in this show, but I don't want to see the most powerful women in the series be raped when it adds nothing to the narrative. I don't want to see them be raped when it does, but it can happen when done very rarely and tactfully. These scenes have not been and I'm sick of it.

Yeah, Sansa could turn around, still get revenge on the Boltons and retake the North. If that happens, I may start watching again, depending on how the fallout of this episode is handled. But the show runners have given me no reason to hope for that. They're diverging from the books with this story, so I guess anything could happen, but that focus on Theon at the end really does make me think that they're using her rape as character development for him, and I can't handle that.

So I'm done. I'll keep reading the books because they are fantastic and not NEARLY as horrifying as the show (in my opinion), but I'm finished with the show.

On the plus side, I do prefer reading the story first, not watching, so this will take away the dilemma I was facing with the show out-stripping the final two books. So there's that, I guess.

Movies of 2014

Another year, another 'movies I saw in the theater' list. Actually, I'm starting this in August, so it feels weird to say that, but whatever. I have a crappy memory so I wanted to get a head start and I was bored at work.

I also have a lot to say about The Battle of the Five Armies, so sorry about that one. 

1. Frozen

I enjoyed this movie. I didn't love it like everyone loves Frozen, nor did I hate it like my friend hates Frozen. It was fun and I liked that it used over-used tropes in a way that Disney never uses those tropes. Did my inner feminist tear up inside? Yes. Have I seen this more than once? No. Probably because I'd still rather watch Brave. 

2. Saving Mr. Banks

I was torn about seeing this movie because of how inaccurate it apparently is. But the pull of Emma Thompson's siren call was too much for me. I can't say no to that woman. I can, however, say no to watching one of her movies a second time. I didn't dislike it...

3. August: Osage County

Hoo, boy. If you are in the mood for something heavy, watch August: Osage County. It was a fantastic film (with the double whammy of Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts, how could it not be?), but not one I'll want to watch again. Every other scene you're punched in the gut and while it may be a good learning experience for you (this is a bad analogy), you probably won't subject yourself to it again. 

4. Philomena

I just need to point out that Judi Dench (and Steve Coogan to an extent) is airbrushed to the point of being unrecognizable in this poster. I hate it. She's old. That's not a thing you need to hide with photoshop. That being said, this movie is great. I'm a sucker for adoption movies, and this one is going on the list as one of my favorites to date. 

5. Lone survivor

I saw this movie about a month after my brother was deployed to Afghanistan. I didn't think about that connection until a few minutes into the movie. Or if I did, I figured I'd be fine since I didn't see my brother as being in that much danger (turns out he was in just one fire fight this time around). Boy, was I wrong. I was in pretty bad shape during the movie (I don't know why the idea of leaving the theater didn't come to me) and I was failing to hold back sobs for a good 20 minutes after the movie ended. Big shout out to my boyfriend for being so nice about that. I was a wreck on that drive home. All that being said, I can pass no judgement on this film. 

6. Her

I've had months to think about this, and I honestly don't know if I like this movie or not. Samantha's development in the film was actually really cool, but it's still about a guy who falls in love with his computer...

7. The LEGO Movie

Pure, unadulterated, fun (unless you realize how few female characters there are, but I [grudgingly] look past that with just about every movie I watch). Luckily, as the directors have said, there will be more "female stuff" in the sequel. I do love me some female bricks, female chairs, female buildings, and female cars. Sarcasm aside, with the same creative team, I am looking forward to the sequel. 

8. The Lunchbox

This is one of those just flat out charming films. My favorite is the ending [SPOILER]. She leaves a bad marriage, even without the promise of another man waiting for her. I love it. 

9. The Grand Budapest Hotel

Loving every Wes Anderson movie for me is akin to loving waffles. It comes almost too naturally. This Wes Anderson film specifically is one of my favorites among his collection, if not THE favorite. Ralph Fiennes is having a blast, and it's great to see all of Anderson's regulars (including Goddess of All, Tilda Swinton). There are some surprisingly moving performances as well. All around I just freaking love this movie. 

10. Veronica Mars

This movie was nothing but fan service and I loved it. Opening day, sitting in the theater with all the other fans and Kickstarter backers was a blast. We whooped when Veronica made snarky remarks, we ow'ed when Logan came on screen, and we laughed whenever Dick was around. Watch the series (you can skip season 3 if you want - there's just one detail you'll want to get from me about that one) then watch the movie. It's the perfect love letter to fans. I'll say this though: Logan cleaning up and giving up his violent and jealous tendencies was mighty convenient. That irked me a bit, but I've always been on Team Logan, so I let myself enjoy it. 

11. Divergent

Sigh... Why haven't we retired the butt/boob pose yet? The movie itself was fine, despite having a horrible poster. I haven't read the books so I had nothing to compare it to, but it was an interesting, if simple, premise. Not my favorite YA flick, but not bad. Although I did expect it to be worse after reading all the reviews, so my low expectations may have played a role in how I felt.  

12. Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Marvel made a successful entrance into the spy thriller genre with this one (or as my mom called it, "a superhero movie with a good story") and I love how much screen time Black Widow and Falcon got. But just to be clear, Feige, Captain America: Winter Solder is not a Black Widow movie. You still need to make one. Oh, and by the way, Winter Soldier kind of sets up a BW film pretty perfectly. If you did that on purpose, get on that. If it was an accident, take it as a sign from the universe (and the literal hoard of people clamoring for a female super hero movie) that you need to make a Black Widow film (followed shortly thereafter by a Captain Marvel film that will oh so perfectly tie the Avengers in with the Guardians of the Galaxy).

Editor's Note: (Yes, I edit my own things) The Captain Marvel film is a go, but still no Black Widow. Boo, I say. Boo! (But many, MANY cheers for seeing Princess Sparklefists on screen in a few years.)

13. Only Lovers Left Alive

This was one of my favorite movies of the year. If you just put Tilda Swinton on a stool and had her stare into the camera for two hours, it would be one of my favorite movies of the year, but this one did so much more than that. It also had Tom Hiddleston who, as a skinny Brit, I sort of have to love. In an era of vampire over-saturation, this is a vampire movie that will stand the test of time. Mainly because of Tilda Swinton, but the movie itself really is fantastic. 

14. Locke

I saw Locke and Only Lovers Left Alive as a double feature and it was totally worth sitting on the horrible seats for four hours. Locke is freaking amazing. It's Tom Hardy driving a car and talking to people on the phone, trying to salvage his life that is falling to pieces as we look on. Few other people (Tilda Swinton among them) could have carried a movie entirely on their own, but Tom Hardy is perfect, as is this movie. 

15. Belle

Speaking of perfect movies... Belle has race relations, a coming of age, romance, gender politics, regular politics, and 17th century England. Seriously, what is there not to love?! I'm impatiently waiting for this movie to be released on DVD so I can make everyone in my family watch it, because everyone in my family will love it. Even my brother, who is as passionately against everything even resembling anything having to do with Jane Austen as I am pro-peanut butter and chocolate.  

16. Million Dollar Arm

I was actually pleasantly surprised by this movie. I'm of the opinion that if you've seen one inspirational sports movie, you've seen them all and I had seen two others before this (Remember the Titans and Invictus, in case you were curious). I had a girls night and there was little else to go see that someone hadn't already seen. That, plus the pull of Lake Bell and John Hamm (but especially Lake Bell) were too much for even this sports-hater. But I actually did enjoy this film. It was cute. It also had Lake Bell. 

17. Godzilla

Monsters and battles and worthless army dudes and monsters fighting and monsters laying eggs and monsters trying to fertilize those eggs and monsters destroying entire cities and monsters saving other cities and monsters spewing radioactive fire stuff and people clapping for the monsters and monsters killing other monsters and one monster almost dying but it doesn't so there's the promise of even more monsters. Also Ken Watanabe being all mysterious and nonchalant about mass destruction and Bryan Cranston yelling. Yeah, this movie was freaking awesome. Or it would have been had it had more monster screen time. As it is, this movie was just fun. 

18. The Immigrant

This is one of those films that is good, but I wouldn't watch again. I think what didn't appeal to me is that it is too realistic. No one is all good or all bad, it's about crappy things that happen to a young woman that absolutely would have happened given the circumstances, and would still happen today. I'm glad I saw it and I would recommend it, but I won't watch it again. 

19. X-Men: Days of Future Past

I'm not a fan of Bryan Singer. As a person (teenage sex ring, anyone?) or a director. The first two X-Men were okay, but after First Class I expected more from the franchise. When I found out Fox was bringing back Bryan Singer, I was not pleased. My expectations plummeted and continued to drop as the marketing continued (remember that awful Quicksilver/Carl's Jr. commercial?). I started to gain a little more faith when reviews came out, and the film itself surpassed my expectations. I just wanted more Kitty Pride because I always want more Kitty Pride. And a non-Halle Barry Storm. Also, this was the first X-Men movie to not pass the Bechdel test since the first X-Men, so no points there. 

20. Obvious Child

If you don't know Jenny Slate, stop right now and go look up something she's in. Her stand up, Kroll Show, Parks and Rec, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, I don't care - just go watch her. She is brilliant and this movie is brilliant. 

21. How to Train Your Dragon 2

A perfectly enjoyable, if not predictable film. In the words of the great Forrest Gump: "That's all I have to say about that." Mostly because it's been a while since I've seen it. Not because I didn't enjoy it. 

22. Edge of Tomorrow

What's this? An original sci-fi movie with two strong leads, one of whom is a woman?! Sure, movies like these are a bit easier to find than a unicorn, but not by much. I loved it. Emily Blunt is a god and Tom Cruise only gets better with age. This movie was fun, funny, suspenseful, and just down right awesome. And look! It's Tom Cruise that gets the but/boobs pose in this poster :D

23. 22 Jump Street

The hilarious sequel we didn't need of the hysterical reboot no one wanted. Guys, these movies just make me so happy. The second was not as good as the first, as is always the case (with the exception of Empire Strikes Back), but I still loved it and I'm still anxiously awaiting the third movie. 

24. The Signal

I saw this movie at Sundance, and it was different. I liked the twist, but almost the entire movie seemed to move excruciatingly slowly, there were a bunch of mysteries that were never solved, and the ending seemed rushed. All in all, I give it an 'eh'. 

25. Snowpiercer

If you have not seen this movie, stop reading this and watch this movie. Hands down, this is the best film I saw all year, and as I write this, the year isn't over. I don't even want to tell you what it's about because you should just go in blind. 

26. They Came Together

If I were to make a list of the funniest and most adorable actors in Hollywood, Amy Poehler and Paul Rudd would be at the top, so it makes sense that they would be the stars of a perfect rom-com parody. It's all there - You've Got Mail, Forget Paris, When Harry Met Sally, along with amazing comedic storytelling. Now, I can't say I'll watch this again any time soon, but I did thoroughly enjoy it. 

27. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Let me tell you a story about this movie. I saw it, LOVED it, and promptly told everyone to watch it. My sister and I are almost the same person, so I was surprised to hear that she hadn't seen Rise of the Planet of the Apes, nor did she have any desire to see Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, even though the original Planet of the Apes was a classic in our home growing up. So what did I do? I essentially forced her to watch Rise. The result? We went to see Dawn shortly thereafter, per her request. This movie is amazing and the animation is phenomenal. It makes me wonder why The Desolation of Smaug looks the way it does when Apes-level technology is available. My only complaint: where are the lady apes? Judy Greer played Cornelia and was on screen for about 45 seconds (you do NOT underutilize Judy Greer like that!) and the director said he assumed Maurice was a female because the actor was a woman, but with a name like Maurice, that's not even a little bit obvious. I feel better cause some journalist called Matt Reeves out on it, but unfortunately I can't find the article. Maybe he'll fix that for the next one now that it's been brought to his attention. 

28. Guardians of the Galaxy

 

Minus the gratuitous Zoe Saldana butt shots (and let's face it, more women and minorities), this movie was damn near perfect. Guardians has two gratuitous butt shots and Avengers has none. However, Guardians passes the Bechdel Test while Avengers does not, so it's a tough call to say which one is my favorite. Winter Soldier is right behind those two, but I'm hoping Captain Marvel beats out all of them. Guys, I'm so freaking excited for that movie. Go read Kelly Sue DeConnick's current run right now. You aren't that far behind. 

29. The Drop

*Minor spoiler in this one. Tom Hardy and a puppy. You need no other reason to watch this movie, but there are plenty more. I didn't love the ending (a little too happy for the subject matter), but it was a great film overall. And watching the best looking man in Hollywood right now (the man is stupid hot) care for an adorable little pit bull is just the cutest thing ever. He does a lot more, but that's the cutest thing he does. Probably the only cute thing he does, though. 

30. Gone Girl

I highly recommend you see this movie, but I'd rather you read the book first. The movie pretty much is the book, save for one really important detail that didn't translate onto screen. Or maybe it didn't because I knew how it ended. Gillian Flynn did an amazing job shaping her novel into a screenplay and David Fincher (as always) does a beautiful job bringing it to life. Affleck is fine, but Rosamund Pike nails Amy. Pike is generally perfection, but she is stunning in this movie. 

31. John Wick

When I first heard about this movie I thought it was just another action flick. Then I saw more and more people online raving about it so I figured I would probably give it a chance. Then I saw the preview.

You know how in action-heavy movies/books/comics/shows there is usually some woman close to the protagonist who either gets kidnapped or murdered and that sparks the man to take his revenge/move the story along? It's called "fridging" a woman (or woman in refrigerator) when you do that, and it's done all the freaking time. Seriously, so, so tired of this trope. Taken, Taken 2, probably Taken 3, Spider-Man, Gladiator, The Mask of Zorro, Thor: The Dark World, Casino Royale, The Dark Knight, Amazing Spider-Man 2... And those are all just from the top of my head. I'm not saying this trope should never be used, but A) it should be used WAY less often (cause it is freaking everywhere) and B) there are far fewer examples of men in refrigerators. I can't actually think of a single film right now where the roles are reversed.

Anyway, the reason I go off like that is because I figured John Wick would be the same. Friends, it is not. Sure, his wife is already dead when the movie begins, but she died of natural causes. His motivation for going on a killing spree to get revenge? The bad guys kill his puppy. His puppy!

DON'T YOU SEE HOW AWESOME THAT IS?! 

32. The Skeleton Twins

I love Kristin Wiig and I love Bill Hader, so I love this movie. It's a great story about tragically imperfect people, the horrible mistakes they make, and the consequences of those mistakes. I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

33. Dracula Untold

Let me defend myself before you rush to judgement. My boyfriend's best friend got married the weekend this opened and they wanted to go see it with us before they left on their honeymoon. The newlyweds enjoyed it well enough, but boyfriend and I were not so thrilled. It was not a good movie and Dracula was not a bad guy, nor did he turn into one. I felt cheated. 

34. St. Vincent 

Bill Murray. So yeah, it was great. Melissa McCarthy, Naomi Watts, and the adorable little kid were just icing on a beautiful Bill Murray cake. 

35. Interstellar

This movie, guys. So I know it's been getting mixed reviews, and I saw one film critic who said it was his least favorite Nolan movie ever (et tu, Eric Snyder?), and I guess I can at least try to understand that, but good grief is it fun. The bad: it may have dragged a bit in a couple of parts (though I didn't begrudge the almost 3 hour running time) and there were certain plot elements that were predictable. The good: first of all, it's just fun. It's filled with huge epic scenes accompanied by an epic score (heavy on the organ). You travel through space, through a worm hole, to the edge of a black hole... it's so much freaking fun! Second, this is probably the least problematic-lady film of Nolan's that I've seen. Of the four main characters, two are women (fully formed characters at that) and they both happen to be scientists. Neither has a love story that is central to the plot. That brings me to my third point, the main character, played by Matthew McConaughey, does not fall in love with the woman he travels into space with. Love is a powerful motivator in film (and life too), but in this movie it's his love for his children that pushes him forward, not his love for a woman. I'm generally just tired of love stories in my movies, so it's refreshing. Fourth, I know I already talked about the epic score (and I hate using that word, so you know it's a big deal), but this is my favorite score in years. The music was beautifully paired with what was happening on screen. Plus, organ! SO MUCH ORGAN! I love that instrument and you never hear it in film scores. It was brilliant. Hans Zimmer, I tip my hat to you yet again. Fifth, according to Neil deGrasse Tyson, a lot of the science is as accurate as it could have been, which is really very impressive. 

tl;dr, go see this movie if you love space adventures. 

36. Dear White People

It's not often (or never) that we get a film whose main cast is entirely black and talks about race so openly. This hilarious yet poignant film looks at an issue that I have never had to deal with, while some deal with it every day. This movie doesn't have any answers, and that's how it should be. This is one that gets you thinking, not tells you what to think. 

37. Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

Let me first say something to the screenwriters/directors of the last Harry Potter movies, the last two Divergent movies, Peter Jackson, and anyone else who wants to split a book up into multiple movies: THIS IS HOW YOU DO THAT. Add scenes that don't happen in the book, but probably would have happened in the background. Focus on character development, not getting minute details exactly the same. Don't include things that don't translate well on screen. And whatever you do, don't add three different plots that don't make sense to the overall story for the sake of justifying multiple movies (I'm looking at you, Peter). 

Now that's out of the way, I loved this movie. It didn't feel drawn out, and it ended in the perfect spot. Katniss' PTSD is on full display, her friendship with Finnick was sincere and telling, and we're already seeing the similarities between Coin and Snow. It's a war movie that focuses on the human cost of war, not the actual battles. Those are forthcoming, and I'm excited to see them too. 

Jonathan Danny Strong, you did a hell of a job writing that screenplay. 

38. Big Hero 6

Disney seems to be on a roll lately. Wreck it Ralph was amazing, Frozen was cute, and Big Hero 6 is a lot of fun. I cried, because of course I did, and guess how many white men were part of the super hero team? ONE! Asian boy, Asian woman, Hispanic woman, black man, white man. I'd say that's probably a good representation of a large metropolitan area like San Fransokyo, wouldn't you? 

39. Whiplash

I have finally seen a contender for Snowpiercer and it is Whiplash. The screenplay was included on the Black List in 2012, and for good reason. Let's just get two minor annoyances out of the way. First, the story they tell about Charlie Parker is wrong. In the movie the story goes that drummer Jo Jones threw a cymbal at 16 year old Parker's head, when really it was his feet. Second, practice alone does not create a jazz musician, and I felt like this movie downplayed that aspect a little. Sure, they talk about drive, but to be a Charlie Parker or a Chick Webb takes more than just drive and practice. It takes a Motzart-level genius that few jazz musicians have. 

Anyway, this movie was still amazing. J.K. Simmons was incredible and the musicians in the film were actually playing their instruments. I always appreciate that because it's oh so distracting when an actor is blatantly faking it. The movie showcases one of the most complicated relationships I've seen on screen in a long time and it's just a generally brilliant film. And of course the music is fantastic. So go see it. 

40. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

My thoughts on this movie could probably be a blog post on its own.

Two years ago I wrote that I enjoyed An Unexpected Journey. I was wrong. I only saw that movie once, and I honestly don't remember liking it so that feeling must have been brief. It left me with no desire to see The Desolation of Smaug, and I didn't until September of this year. I had zero desire to see The Battle of the Five Armies, but work bought out the theater and let us play hookie for the afternoon, so who was I to say no?

I feel like I shouldn't have to warn you about spoilers below since the book has been out since 1937, however there are no major spoilers for things that happen in the movie that don't happen in the book (which is almost everything).

This one was probably the least infuriating of the three, but only because nothing that happens in this movie happens in the book. Well, not nothing, but the moments in the movie that are shared with the book probably total about 15 minutes of the movie. The Battle of the Five Armies in the book is a fairly short affair since the book is mostly from Bilbo's perspective and Bilbo was unconscious for much of the battle. But they still managed to turn 5 paragraphs into 2 hours of ceaseless battle sequences and contrived drama.

Now for some specific annoyances:

First, if you're going to put an awesome female warrior elf in the movie who wasn't in the books because Middle Earth is in DIRE need of more than 3 women with names and who speak, don't make her need saving multiple times by two different people. It gets old. Also don't contrive a stupid love story for the sake of making sure the ladies come see your movie. They will, love story or not. Seriously, not a single moment of the Tauriel/Kili storyline was interesting or felt genuine. Probably because that was literally the only reason Tauriel (and therefore Legolas) was there.

Second, Jackson has gone the way of George Lucas, and I fear he will never return. I mean, what the hell was the point of making Dain ENTIRELY CGI?! The fact that the orcs aren't actual people anymore was bothersome enough, but Dain? DAIN?! Your movie has 13 freaking dwarves played by actual actors with prosthetic and makeup but you feel the need to make Dain CGI?? Was Billy Connolly that unwilling to put a fake beard on? Seriously, Jackson. WTF?!

(okay, some movie spoilers here) Third, the only thing I was looking forward to in this movie was seeing Galadriel lay Dol Guldur to waste. I saw her carry an unconscious Gandalf (which was a nice break from the alternative of seeing the male hero carry a lifeless woman) and I saw her banish Sauron (which was admittedly pretty cool to glimpse how powerful she really is), but there was no laying to waste.

Fourth, we get it. Thorin has dragon sickness. You don't need to keep dwelling on that fact. Over and over and over again.

Fifth, we get it. Thorin is having an existential moment that brings him out of it. You don't need to spend 5 minutes on it and repeat every single line about how Thorin has dragon sickness.

Sixth, I know this is an issue with the second one too, but I'm still annoyed that Smaug had no jewels encrusted into his hide.

Now I know it doesn't seem like it, but I'm really not a purist. I generally like it better when movies stay more faithful to the book, but I can also appreciate changes made when adapting a book to screen if they're done well and with good reason. For example, adding Tauriel was done for good reason, but not well. I like her, I don't like her story line. Most of the additions and changes were made for no good reason and/or were poorly executed, so yeah, I'm going to pine for a more direct interpretation.

Ultimately, my issue with The Hobbit movies is the fact that Bilbo gets lost in everything else that happens. The book is about him, the movies are not. It's about his adapting and changing and that transformation is buried beneath 8 hours of B plots. The Hobbit isn't about the hobbit. He just happens to be there sometimes.

tl;dr see the bolded sentences above.

41. The Interview

I'm really glad I didn't end the year on The Battle of the Five Armies.

With all the craziness surrounding this movie (the Sony hack, the terrorist threat, North Korea denying involvement but saying 'good job to whoever did this', the North Korean Internet going down and the US neither confirming nor denying involvement, etc.), I became more and more excited for this film. However, I never took it for anything other than a stupid comedy, and that's exactly what it was. It was adolescent, pretty racist, kind of sexist, but super funny.

And that's all. I keep breaking my record, so this is a good trajectory. This year may not continue on that though, since I no longer have a free movie pass to The Broadway.