Four Favorite Films of the Past Four Years

​Hello, fellow moviegoers!
   Sometimes, it can be fun to look back at the movies you’ve seen and compare them to each other. Which ones were the best? Which truly captured the moviegoing experience? I often find myself looking back and comparing recent films based on several different characteristics. Today, I've decided to list my personal four favorite films that have been released over the past four years. These aren’t necessarily the best films; they are the ones that stood out to me as ones that I can’t help but love. These are in no particular order, so keep in mind that these are just the films that I really liked. 

Honorable Mentions:
-Guardians of the Galaxy
-Man of Steel
-The LEGO Movie
-The Martian
-Deadpool

​Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

   Birdman is the type of film that I will talk about whenever there is a remote chance that it will fit the conversation at hand. I’m constantly talking about it and comparing other films to it, even here on this blog. There are so many reasons that I love this movie. First and foremost, it’s one of the most original films I’ve ever seen. The plot in this film is unlike any other film I’ve seen. Birdman is about so many different things; Hollywood blockbusters, criticism, family, depression, and most of all, people. This is a strange movie, but it’s one that I believe perfectly captures everything we are as human beings.
   The direction by Alejandro G. Inarritu in the film takes it to an entirely new plane of existence. The entire film is shot to make it look as if it’s one continuous shot. Using this technique, Inarritu manages to make the audience feel as if they are a part of the situation. They feel as if shouting at the screen might actually fix the problem. This realism in the film is highlighted even more by the absolutely fantastic performances from the entire ensemble. Birdman is an amazing movie that I would very highly recommend you watch if you haven’t yet.
 

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

   When I entered the theater to see Dawn of the Planet of the Apes for the first time, I was expecting great things from the movie; it blew my expectations out of the water. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is a perfect example of a sequel that is better than the original in every way. Director Matt Reeves did an absolutely amazing job building the tone and consequences in this movie.
   Oddly enough, the audience doesn’t know who to route for. Humans and Apes are on the brink of war, and the audience can’t bring themselves to fully support either. You want to support the apes because they have a righteous cause, and a fantastic leader, however, you feel the need to support the humans because, you know, you are one. It’s an amazing dilemma to face in this film, and because of that, you are fully immersed in the film from beginning to end.
 

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

  Not including Star Wars: The Force Awakens on this list would have just felt wrong. I still stand by it being my favorite film of last year, and it’s one that still holds up extremely well after all the hype died down. J.J. Abrams did the impossible with this movie. He managed to revive the Star Wars franchise after having been nearly dead for nearly a decade after the prequels. On top of that, he introduced new characters to follow in a new series, he brought back old characters to please the fans, and he made it all flow seamlessly. While not everybody was 100% pleased with the movie, it had an extremely tall order to fill, and I believe it absolutely did so.
   The best compliment I can give this film is that it feels like a part of the original trilogy. The Force Awakens feels like a very natural progression in the Star Wars universe following Return of the Jedi. Abrams gives us enough information to have us understand what is going on, but he leaves enough out the for potentially amazing moments in episodes eight and nine. While the film does mirror A New Hope a lot, that didn’t bother me a lot personally. I thought that it worked extremely well.
 

The Walk
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   Not only is The Walk one of my favorite films of the past four years, I also believe that it is one of the most underrated films in recent history. You never hear anybody talk about this movie. In fact, I wouldn’t blame you if you’ve never heard of it. The Walk is directed by Robert Zemeckis, and it stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt. It tells the story of Philippe Petit; a wire-walker whose dream is to walk between the two towers of the World Trade Center in 1974.
   The Walk perfectly captured the movie going experience. It brilliantly presented human tenacity when faced with something everyone says is insanity. Many people would call Philippe Petit crazy for attempting what he did, but he didn’t see it as that. The Walk is an uplifting film overall, but along the journey, you feel many different emotions. Joy, Fear, Sadness, Anger. Also, throw in the fact that the cinematography is breathtaking and the score by Alan Silvestri is fantastic, and you’ve got a recipe for an amazing film. 

   So what are some of your favorite films from the past four years? Let me know by commenting on this post! Also, if you enjoyed this article, share it on Facebook and Twitter, it really helps! Don’t forget, I post every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, so check back then for more movie reviews and miscellaneous movie thoughts!