10. Space Battleship Yamato
This live action adaptation of an anime series has some quality space battles but is let down by some slow talky bits near the end.
9. Drive
Surprisingly violent driving film that owes more to westerns than The French Connection.
8. Stories We Tell
Sarah Polley tells the story of her family using photos, video footage and reconstructions. A touching film.
7. Red Cliff
An epic historical sword-a-thon that has some quality action sequences and humour.
6. I Was Monty's Double
I can remember watching this with my granddad when I was about six. I enjoyed it then, but I love it even more now.
5. Our Children
Emotionally gut wrenching drama starring one of our finalists in the FA Cup of Actors.
4. Oblivion
Far more intelligent (and slow paced) than the average Hollywood blockbuster, this is a film that I've seen a few times already.
3. Wolf Children
Halfway through this touching anime by this excellent Mamoru Hosoda, I thought I'd got the rest of the plot sussed. I was wrong.
2. Grave of the Fireflies
If anyone is in any doubt that anime can be for adults, give this a watch. Haunting and heartbreaking.
1. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
I wasn't keen on the first film but this is much, much better. It's more like a seventies spy thriller than the usual superhero stuff. Plus Black Widow and Nick Fury get a lot more to do.
evlkeith
Interesting varied list! I too loved Grave of the Fireflies, and agree it's suitable for adults. Not often that an animated film can affect me on an emotional level, and this one succeeded.
ReplyDeleteI've also seen Drive and Stories We Tell from your list. The former impressed me with its 80s inspired soundtrack, the latter had an interesting approach, but I felt could have been told in half the time.
Happy new year Chris! I actually think that Grave of the Fireflies is a lot better film than The Winter Soldier but that got the top spot because it's something that I can watch again and again. Grave of the Fireflies is a tad too emotionally gruelling to watch too often.
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