Well here we are, the end of the decade. There have been several amazing films to come out of this decade, some of which you'll see on my list. Probably the hardest one I had to make, I really tried my best to pick the ones that I felt the best about. To make this fair, I picked two films from each year that I saw and felt had the best chance of deserving a place on the list. I'm sure they'll be disagreements, but hey, opinions are opinions. Reviews for movies I've covered will be linked, and be sure to check out my lists for the best movies from 2017, 2018, and 2019. Now let's begin: 20. The Revenant 19. Rise of The Planet of The Apes 18. Alpha 17. Deadpool 16. The VVitch 15. Star Wars: The Force Awakens 14. The Wolf of Wall Street 13. The Irishman 12. Prisoners 11. Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2 10. Django Unchained 9. The Dark Knight Rises 8. Coco 7. Logan 6. Whiplash 5. Dawn of The Planet of The Apes 4. Avengers: Infinity War 3. How To Train Your Dragon 2. Joker 1. Toy Story 3
And that's a wrap on the 2010s. What a decade it has been! Here's to what the 2020s have in store. As always, tune in for more posts coming your way and till then...
Well, we are about to each the end of the 2010s, and what a decade it's been. Before we take a look at the best that this decade has had to offer, let's take a look at some of the best the year of 2019 had to offer first. 2019 was an interesting one in that it started off pretty good before meandering in the middle then blowing me out of the water by the end. As such, this was a pretty hard list to make. Reviews for the movies I've covered will be linked here, and be sure to check out my lists for the best movies of 2017 and 2018 in the links below:
Well just like that, Jake's Blog of Entertainment has reached 100 posts before we reach the end of the decade. To celebrate this major achievement, why not take a look at the conclusion to the major overarching story that has shaped the foundation of one of my all-time favorite franchises in the realm of fictional media. The Star Wars Saga has, to put it mildly, seen better days. There was hope for the franchise back in 2015 when The Force Awakens graced our screens, with Rogue One coming in 2016 to reaffirm that hope. Unfortunately, come 2017, and all went to Hell. For me, The Last Jedi was a major disappointment in a number of ways, but the worst thing to come from it is the massive uproar that has torn the fandom apart. It is just crushing to see so many people turn away from this beloved franchise and even worse to see the people who work so hard on these projects receive the most venomous of disdain. Fortunately, 2019 has seen the franchise do a bit of course-correction to begin repairing the damage done within the years, particularly with the Disney+ series The Mandalorian and the video game Jedi: Fallen Order. Ultimately though, it all came down to this, the final chapter in the Skywalker Saga. I was cautiously optimistic, wondering exactly what the heck the producers could do to make it so that we'd get a conclusion that brings the fandom together and leaves them satisfied. While the general consensus for the movie is less than positive, I found myself thoroughly pleased with what I saw yet still realize there are some heavy flaws plaguing this film. Now let's get into what makes The Rise of Skwalker work and what makes it fall short:
UPS
J.J. Abrams did a good job at addressing some of the problems I had with The Last Jedi. Most notably was the character of Snoke (who was easily one of the worst aspects of that film) essentially becoming a clone used as a puppet in Palpatine's grand scheme. Likewise, Rey, Finn (for the most part,) and Poe feel more well-rounded and interesting this time around after being a little watered down in The Last Jedi and the tone was more optimistic and hopeful, which gave me the feeling I hope for in a Star Wars movie.
Leia. With Carrie Fisher's death, this movie had a very daunting task in addressing Leia's role in the movie, a task which either made or break the movie if nothing else did. I personally found myself content with what they did, especially since she had a much larger role to play than I ever would have expected. There were some issues here and there, but given the circumstances, I am content with what we were given.
Sure it's clear that bringing him back was a last ditch effort to please the fanbase, but Palpatine remained a true delight in the movie. Ian McDiarmid provided all the menacing, fiendish glee that he was known for and I think the story did factor him in pretty well. Some of the movie's best scenes involved him and it's nice to see the ultimate villain in this saga shine bright once again.
DOWNS
This movie had major pacing problems. It's clear that J.J. and Rian Johnson had two very different ideas about where they wanted this trilogy to go, and with J.J. taking the director's seat once again, it's clear he wanted to fit in his entire vision. The issue is that what he fits in is enough to fill two whole movies. The beginning in particular is a complete mess, with so many things happening and none of it feeling organic and natural. Likewise, there are several plot threads (particularly revolving around Finn's feelings for Rey, the fact that he may or may not be Force Sensitive, and whatever was going on between Jannah and Lando at the end) that are given some setup before being left hanging with no resolution, which leaves us as audience members feeling like the endgame is not wholly satisfying.
It plays things ridiculously safe. As much as I enjoyed what I saw, I can't help but think that they would work better if they took a few more risks. Say what you will about The Last Jedi (as I already have,) but that film did try to do something different with the franchise, and while the final product didn't come off as well as it possibly could have, the effort should still be appreciated. The Rise of Skywalker, by comparison, tried to go back to basics, and as a result feels like more of the same instead of something that truly broke new ground for the franchise.
If you were to provide a singular example of the problems this movie, and by extension the entire trilogy, has, then the sad truth is to look no further than Kylo Ren. It hurts me to say this but the movie really brought this character down for me. Adam Driver certainly gave it his all as usual, but given the great character arc he had throughout The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi, it's disappointing that J.J. ultimately went the predictable route and had him be redeemed before essentially throwing him away to the sidelines. Yeah it was nice to see him have a final moment with a vision of his father, and having him help Rey fight Palpatine and eventually save her life at the cost of his own were indeed great moments, but again, I'm really dissapointed with what they did with the character since it seemed they were going in a different (and better) direction. Oh, and the less said about the kiss, the better...
OVERALL
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker had a similar problem as the final season of Game of Thrones: being a bundle of great, intriguing moments that did not have the proper setup to feel like they were earned or made sense with the overarching story. This also reaffirms the real problem in that the Sequel Trilogy had no clear plan going in, having two vastly different visions clash during a rushed production schedule that clearly affected how the story was to be developed. To say that this trilogy was not the best it could have been is a pretty big understatement. Still, I enjoyed most aspects of the movie and hope that from here on out, Disney will work to ensure that the upcoming projects do not have the same problems this trilogy did. I think we'll all be better off if they do,
And that's it for my 100th post. Thank you to all who check out my posts and hope you continue to show your support in the years to come. Tune in for lists of the best movies 2019 had to offer before I close out the year with my Best of the 2010s post. Till then, take care and may the Force be with you :)
Around the good times of Christmas, there's always one Christmas special people hold near and dear to their heart. From It's A Wonderful Life to How The Grinch Stole Christmas, there's a variety of classics to choose from. However, some people have picked a rather unique choice to view during the holidays, and that is none other than Die Hard, one of the greatest, if not the all-time best, action movies ever made. There's a lot to love about this film, and given that it's set during the big day and littered with references galore, it does make sense why people would see this as their go-to pastime for Christmas, even if many, including Bruce Willis himself, say otherwise. Overall, in this very merry post, I will go over what makes Die Hard great and, if necessary, what doesn't:
UPS
Bruce Willis as John McClane. It's easy to say that Willis stands alongside heavy hitters like Arnold Schwarzenegger as the definitive live-action star, and it is this role that solidifies it. What makes McClane such a perfect protagonist is that he isn't some swash-buckling hero who swoops into danger to rescue the girl, defeat the villain, and save the day; he's just a normal guy, much like anyone else, with his own set of strengths and weaknesses who finds himself unexpectedly thrown into danger. This idea of him being the unwitting hero makes for some of the funniest and most intense scenes in the movie, as you really root for him to succeed, even when the stakes get higher and higher and his chance for survival gets slimmer and slimmer. Overall, McClane is a great hero, and Willis captures that perfectly. Of course, every great hero must always have their perfect villain, and fortunately we have that in the form of...
Hans Gruber. Played by the late great Alan Rickman, Hans really is the best villain for this film and the perfect counterpart for McClane. In sharp contrast to Willis' rugged, foul-mouthed, hot-headed protagonist, Rickman plays Gruber with such calm, cool, sophisticated suave and is such a devious and calculating mastermind that he really makes him just as enjoyable to watch. His back-and-forth banter with Willis is excellent, and he also has stand out moments of his own. Overall, Hans is a great bad guy, and he really gives McClane a run for his money.
Honestly, this movie has all the makings of a perfect action movie, Aside from having the best hero and villain, the script is filled with such amazing, sharp, and witty dialogue that is so immensely quotable, and along with that we have pulse-pounding action and a great place of setting with the Nakatomi Plaza, which really feels like its own little world thanks to the filmmakers exploring every little corner of the building. This film just really makes the most of every single detail.
DOWNS
While it isn't enough to detract from the movie as a whole, I do wish the cops were portrayed as being a little more competent. Sure, there wasn't much they could do, and Hans playing them all only made things worse, but the fact that they had no idea what was going on yet still went out of their way to not trust John and be a thorn in his side became very infuriating, as if the poor guy wasn't going through enough already. John even lampshades this in a very hilarious way. Overall, I can't help but wonder if everyone was like Powell, the movie would be a lot shorter.
OVERALL
Die Hard is a perfect action movie...and yes, I consider it a Christmas movie. You can't go wrong with this one.
And that's it for this special, guys. Tune in for more on the way and above all...
It has all lead to this. The moment we've all been waiting for. The culmination of ten years worth of moviemaking. The MCU has come along way since it began with Iron Man way back in 2008, and now we have reached the point where everything will change. After years of planning, years of build-up, the Mad Titan Thanos has finally arrived, and with him comes the greatest challenge Earth's Mightiest Heroes have ever faced. With all this hype that's lead to this moment, the question remains: did it live up to the hype? The short answer is one big YES!!! This movie not only met expectations, but it exceeded them. Now let's find out what makes Infinity War stand the test of time:
UPS
You'd think that when you have a movie with as many characters as Infinity War, it would almost be expected for at least some of them to be pushed to the side in favor of others. Surprisingly, that is not the case here. Every character gets a chance to shine, even if it's for a couple of minutes. There's not a moment where everyone feels wasted, and it really does help that we got to know these characters since this all started. Overall, I was immensely pleased and impressed with how each character's role was handled, and it gives me hope that movies like this one can indeed work.
The tone is, to quote Thanos, perfectly balanced. It still retains the trademark humor that the MCU is so well known for (and this movie could possibly hold some of the funniest jokes in the entire franchise,) but unlike other movies, this one manages to go to dark places; the darkest the MCU has ever gone as a matter of fact. For one, characters actually die, and the fight the heroes endure is one where you're not too sure they could win. In the end, they don't, and there is no clear way to be sure where they could go from here.
The surprise cameos. While we had all the other characters to focus on, the movie manages to throw in a few surprise faces to leave a mark. The one who takes the cake though is obviously the FREAKING RED SKULL! It was speculated, but who honestly would've outright expected him of all people to show up? Not me, certainly. Overall, this was one of the many pleasant surprises to populate this enormous film.
Before I get to the big moment, I think I should address the best element (or character rather) of this whole movie: THANOS HIMSELF! Despite all the time we spend with the heroes, this is the Mad Titan's story first and foremost, and he truly went above and beyond in delivering on the long build-up to his ultimate moment. What can I say about him; he's menacing, intimidating, has a great CGI design, a powerful performance by Josh Brolin, and he manages to be a full, engaging, three-dimensional character with a goal and motivation that makes him seem like he could be the hero...minus the mass genocide, of course. Oh, and he wins. HE WINS! That alone sets him above all the other villains the MCU has had to offer, and he could become one of the best villains in Marvel movie history.
Snap! If there is one thing that I never thought they would do, it was that. It just seemed like such a hard decision to make that the fact that they did it and killed off half the cast is something that is totally worth applauding. It remains to be seen how much of Avengers 4 will undo this, but what remains for now is that the MCU is changed...forever.
DOWNS
Other than the fact that I am not to eager to see Avengers 4 (mainly because of the reason stated above,) I have no doubts to discuss. I enjoyed practically everything, and that's all I could say.
OVERALL
Avengers: Infinity War is, quite honestly, almost a perfect movie. This is everything I could've asked for when going into this, and I think it may rival Spider-Man as my favorite Marvel movie ever (it definitely runs far and away with the title of best MCU movie, that's for sure). I hope Avengers 4 doesn't reverse everything and basically make it out like it didn't happen. Fingers crossed...
And that is it for my 50TH POST! Can't believe I have made it this far. To everyone who has taken the time to check out my posts, I just want to say THANK YOU! I wouldn't have gotten this far without your viewership, which I greatly appreciate. With that being said, take care and let's reach 100 :)
And with that, another year is about come to an end. 2017 was a big year for movies, and in this special post I will give my top 10 movies for the whole year. Now this will just be a simple list, nothing more, nothing less. If you want my in-depth thoughts on each movie, be sure to check out the reviews I have posted (which will be linked to here as well.) Without further adieu, here are the Top 10 Movies of 2017:
It's that time of the year again, folks. The time where werewolves howl at full moons, witches concoct magical spells, vampires feast on fresh blood, corpses walk the Earth, and most importantly, kids hunt for candy. Halloween is easily my favorite holiday of all time and part of that is the simple fact that I love horror movies. They ROCK!!! Now of course, which ones are my absolute favorite? Well today, on All Hallows Eve, it's time to find out. Let's begin with a little Nightmare Before Christmas:
10. The Babadook: Kicking off this list is a terrifying yet fascinating film. With its dark visuals and foreboding atmosphere, The Babadook keeps you on the edge of your seat as you sink further and further into a deep, dark abyss, and by the time you realized you fell in, it may already be too late. Spookiest Moment: "You can bring me the boy" 9. The Mist: One of three Stephen King adaptations to appear on this list, this movie just needs to be seen to be believed! But beware, for the ending will have you fucked up for a good long while if not the rest of your life! Spookiest Moment: The Pharmacy 8. Get Out: One of the more recent films on this list is also the funniest, but that doesn't stop it from being here due to how downright chilling its concept really is. The actors are great, the music is terrific, and Jordan Peele's direction allows the relevant social commentary to seep through in an incredibly clever way. And who doesn't love Rod :) Spookiest Moment: "No, No, No"
7. The Conjuring and The Conjuring 2: Yeah, they both share this spot on the list. Both movies are great in that they are quite touching while never failing to deliver on the scares. And they also contain the Warrens, who are, in my honest opinion, the greatest protagonists to exist in the realm of horror movies.
6. The Exorcist: Everyone knows this movie. It is called the scariest movie of all time. While I actually disagree with that statement, it is still a creepy movie nonetheless. The idea of a little girl being possessed by the freaking Devil is not a pleasant concept to think about. Add in phenomenal performances from all the cast members and William Freidkin's fantastic direction, this movie is one that you will never forget, whether it scares you or not. Spookiest Moment: "LET JESUS FUCK YOU!!!" 5. The Shining: It may not be the most faithful adaptation, and Stephen King himself may have expressed his dislike of the film, but this movie (as the poster there suggests) is a horror masterpiece. Jack Nicholson's performance is legendary, Stanley Kubrick's direction is top-notch, and it is very, very scary, more so than The Exorcist in my honest opinion. All in all, great movie, and would have been my favorite Stephen King-based movie if not for... Spookiest Moment: Room 237 4. IT: As much I love the original miniseries, it's simply decent and not very scary for the most part, and it is knocked out of the park by the new one, which pretty much elevates everything that made the original great (except Tim Curry of course.) This movie pulls no punches and makes the most of every scare (that isn't a jump-scare,),the kid actors who portray the Losers Club are outstanding, and while he may be no Tim Curry, Bill Skarsgaard is terrifically creepy as Pennywise. Now I could say more, but why don't you check out my review for that ;) Spookiest Moment: "Take it, Georgie" 3. Jaws: Duh Nun...Duh Nun...Duh Nun Duh Nun... They just really make the most of keeping the shark unseen for most of the movie, and the tension between each of its attacks is supremely effective. Steven Spielberg hit a home run with this movie, and till this day, that opening scene will always linger in my nightmares. For a while, I'll confess in saying that I found Jaws to be the scariest movie of all time...that was until I saw... Spookiest Moment: Chrissie's Last Swim 2. Don't Be Afraid of the Dark: Simply put, after watching this movie, you WILL be afraid of the dark!!!
Spookiest Moment: Really any scene involving those little bastards, but special mention goes to the ending
And my favorite horror movie of all time is...CUE THE MUSIC...
1. Halloween: What better way to end the list than to have a movie named after the holiday being at the top spot. There are no words to describe the love I have for this movie. It's not only my favorite horror movie, but one of my favorite movies period! It has a simple plot, but the execution is perfect. The atmosphere is chilling, the tension is high, and Michael Myers is quite possibly the best movie slasher ever! And that theme song is just...perfection! None of the sequels could compare to this one, and I don't think there is any other horror movie in general that can top it either. Spookiest Moment: "It was the boogeyman..."
And that is it for my list, guys! Keep tuning in for more posts and above all...
20. The Revenant
19. Rise of The Planet of The Apes
18. Alpha
17. Deadpool
16. The VVitch
15. Star Wars: The Force Awakens
14. The Wolf of Wall Street 
13. The Irishman
12. Prisoners
11. Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2
10. Django Unchained 
9. The Dark Knight Rises
8. Coco
7. Logan
6. Whiplash 
5. Dawn of The Planet of The Apes
4. Avengers: Infinity War
3. How To Train Your Dragon
2. Joker
1. Toy Story 3
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9. 
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7. 
6. 
5. 
4. 
3. Marriage Story
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5. The Shining: It may not be the most faithful adaptation, and Stephen King himself may have expressed his dislike of the film, but this movie (as the poster there suggests) is a horror masterpiece. Jack Nicholson's performance is legendary, Stanley Kubrick's direction is top-notch, and it is very, very scary, more so than The Exorcist in my honest opinion. All in all, great movie, and would have been my favorite Stephen King-based movie if not for..._poster.jpg)
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