My Favourite Sci-Fi Films

Science fiction films can make for a really entertaining and thought provoking watch when made properly. Some filmmakers tend to be lazy with plot and characters and focus more on the special effects which leads to a boring and predictable film. Fortunately, there are a lot of films that are smart and feature clever ideas, interesting characters and visually stunning effects. In this list, I'll be talking about my favourite science fiction films.

Arrival (2016)

A lot of alien invasion films focus on trying to destroy the extra terrestrial beings rather than trying to make an effort to try and communicate with them. This is the premise for Arrival, director Denis Villeneuve's first sci-fi feature film. In the summer of 2016, Roland Emmerich released the sequel to his 1996 action film, Independence Day, called Resurgence. That film was an example on how not to make a sci-fi film as Emmerich focused more on improving the special effects and used lazy and predictable storytelling. Fortunately, Villeneuve's Arrival will, hopefully, wash away any bad memories that Independence Day: Resurgence left you with. The film stars Amy Adams as Louise Banks who is a linguist recruited by the military after mysterious unidentifiable flying objects appear in various places across the globe. Louise is brought in to try and translate what the aliens are saying but the task proves to be harder than it sounds. Helping her communicate with the aliens is mathematician, Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner) who has an optimistic outlook on the situation. The film never fails to be compelling, mainly because of Adams' mesmerising performance. Watching her communicate with the aliens is really refreshing as opposed to someone running away from them screaming. Like a lot of sci-fi films, Arrival's climax features a clever twist that explains why the aliens arrived. The special effects are incredible, they don't look too over the top and the aliens look real which is important in a film like this. Arrival is a must see for all sci-fi fans.

Passengers (2016)

This is probably one of the most original sci-fi films on this list. This is because it focuses on the two lead characters, Jim Preston (Chris Pratt) and Aurora Lane (Jennifer Lawrence), who are two of 5,000 passengers in hibernation on a 120 journey to a new planet called Homestead II. Unfortunately, Jim and Aurora's hibernation pods malfunction and they are awakened 90 years too early. This was one of my most anticipated films of 2016 and it didn't disappoint. Both Pratt and Lawrence generate a lot of chemistry which is important as the whole movie focuses on them and how they deal with the scary situation of being trapped. Passengers is a combination of different genres including romance, drama and adventure so there's something for everyone to enjoy. Fans of romance and drama will not be disappointed. The scenes where Jim and Aurora fall in love are some of the best as it's so heartwarming to watch. What impressed me the most was the design of the spaceship, Avalon. In the beginning of the film, Jim is woken up first by his pod malfunctioning and we see him exploring the ship which is like a cruise-line in space. It's very luxurious, filled with a bar, restaurants, gaming centres and more to keep passengers entertained. The special effects were also impressive. The scene where Jim and Aurora fly outside the spaceship was visually stunning. Not only does Passengers feature two of the best actors working in Hollywood today, impressive design and some of the best special effects, it is also thought provoking. I doubt many of us will know what it's like to be truly alone and Passengers makes us wonder what we would do in their situation? Would we live the rest of our life alone and die before we reached our destination? Or would we try and find a solution to the problem? This is based on Jon Spaihts' 2007 script and directed by Morton Tyldum who is best known for directing the 2014 Oscar winning drama, The Imitation Game. Tyldum really does bring Spaihts' script to life and has successfully achieved in making a thrilling sci-fi drama that features elements of romance, drama and comedy. 

Alien (1979)

​Director Ridley Scott's second feature film succeeds mostly because of its female protagonist, Ellen Ripley portrayed by Sigourney Weaver. She doesn't stand out in the beginning of the film but, by the film's climax, she develops into a strong and brave heroine. The first alien invasion film is Close Encounters Of The Third Kind released two years earlier. However, the majority of the film focused on Richard Dreyfuss' character, Roy Keane, who was obsessed with an isolated area located in the wilderness. This is a contrast to Scott's Alien which was full of dark and tense moments and was more of an alien attack rather than invasion. Unlike in Arrival, there's no point in trying to communicate with this alien, known as a 'xenomorph', as it's hungry and is more interested in devouring the crew aboard the spaceship. The xenomorph is truly terrifying and it's because of that and Sigourney Weaver's outstanding performance as Ellen Ripley that this will always be the best alien invasion film. James Cameron's 1986 sequel, Aliens, is worth a watch too as it packs a much more visceral punch, and features a typically strong performance from Sigourney Weaver.

Moon (2009)

In my opinion, I think that this is the most underrated sci-fi on this list. I've only just watched this recently and thought it was great. This is Duncan Jones' feature film debut and he succeeds in creating a tense and dramatic 97 minutes watch despite there being no aliens involved and only one human character. Moon is set, as you might have guessed from the title, on a lunar station on the moon and focuses on Sam Rockwell's character, Sam Bell, who is coming to the end of his three year contract with Lunar Industries. Unfortunately, he begins to notice strange things are going on which leads to him making a shocking discovery. Despite its short runtime, the film doesn't take long to set up the premise and, within the first 10-15 minutes of the film, Sam is already beginning to notice things. Featuring one character in a film can be a tricky move as it can mean there's no communication or conflict with other people. However, in Moon, Sam's main conflict is with his shocking new discovery and himself (literally). I had no idea the film was going to turn out the way it did and I enjoyed it more than I thought it would. Moon also features another character, GERTY, who is a intelligent computer voiced by Kevin Spacey and is based on HAL-9000 from Stanley Kubrick's definitive sci-fi, 2001: A Space Odyssey. The film is very intense throughout and we never fail to feel sympathetic for Sam who, apart from GERTY, is completely alone on his mission. This is a great feature film debut for Duncan Jones as he fully captures the feelings of isolation and claustrophobia. 

The Martian (2015)​
It's no secret that director Ridley Scott can create a successful sci-fi feature film. Alien remains, 37 years after its release, one of the best alien invasion films. In The Martian, Scott takes a new approach to the sci-fi genre. The film focuses on Matt Damon's character, Mark Watney, who is left behind on Mars after a storm hits and his team are forced to evacuate. While there are plenty of drama and tense moments shown throughout as NASA try to come up with a plan to rescue Watney, it's Matt Damon's performance as the title character where the film is at its most entertaining. This is because Damon portrays Watney as a charismatic and likeable character and he connects to the audience by video blogs he films on his computer. By explaining the situation via his webcam, we, as an audience, understand what's going on. Damon also brings humour to the role and brings comic relief in some of the film's most dramatic moments. Scott proves that not all sci-fi films have to feature alien invasions as they can be just as successful and entertaining without them. Unlike Duncan Jones' Moon, the film focuses on the other characters involved who are trying to rescue Watney. This includes the team at NASA lead by director Teddy Sanders (Jeff Daniels) and also Watney's crew who instantly feel guilty after learning that he is still alive and are determined to do whatever it takes to bring him back home. The Martian was nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Motion Picture Of The Year and Best Performance By An Actor In A Leading Role for Matt Damon. After watching this at the cinema, it quickly became one of my favourite films of 2015 and one of the best sci-fi films I've ever watched.

Inception (2010)
​Written and directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Inception is a smart and innovative sci-fi action thriller. The film focuses on DiCaprio's character, Dominic Cobb, who, after he fails to steal an idea from inside someone's subconscious at the beginning of the film, is hired by Saito (Ken Watanabe) to plant an idea within someone's subconscious instead. Cobb knows that this is his most difficult challenge yet but he's willing to do it because, if he completes this mission, he'll be able to return to his two young children. Helping along the way is his friend, Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Eames (Tom Hardy) and newcomer Ariadne (Ellen Page). They all bring their unique skills to the job. The first hour is spent setting up the mission and planning it out which is important so that everyone understands what's going on and what's going to happen later on in the film. The final hour is where the film is at its most thrilling. There are plenty of exciting car chases and shoot outs and mind blowing stunts, one of which comes from Gordon-Levitt during an anti gravity sequence in a hotel. The combination of action and sci-fi worked really well in Inception and is one of my favourite films that Nolan has created.

Avatar (2009)
The story isn't anything we haven't seen in film already but the main reason to watch Avatar is because of its impressive and stunning visuals. A paraplegic marine, Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), dispatched to the moon Pandora on a unique mission becomes torn between following his orders and protecting the world he feels is his home. The majority of the film is set on the fictional world of Pandora and this is where the film is at its best. In his Avatar form, Sully meets, and eventually falls in love with, Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), a member of the Na'vi tribe that lives on Pandora. The two become close as she teaches him her ways. Unfortunately, a war is about to break out between the military and the Na'vi people and Sully makes a life changing decision to protect the people of Pandora. This is directed by James Cameron, who is best known for creating Aliens, which is the sequel to Ridley Scott's Alien. Cameron has admitted to having this film in development for over 20 years but wanted to create the film when computer generated imagery was at its peak and I can understand why. I doubt Avatar would've been as impressive if it was made in the 1980s. While the incredible special effects are where the film succeeds the most, it does feature a lot of interesting character including Worthington's Sully, who, despite his condition, proves to be a strong soldier and is willing to help and defend the people of Pandora. Saldana is perfect as Neytiri who is brave and fierce. Sigourney Weaver, who reunites with Cameron after their collaboration on Aliens, is brilliant as Doctor Grace Augustine and isn't afraid to express her feelings. The action sequences that feature in the film's climax are exciting due to the impressive visuals and scenery.

I, Robot (2004)
This is the first film on my list to feature robots as the antagonist. In 2035, technophobic homicide detective Del Spooner (Will Smith) of the Chicago Police Department heads the investigation of the apparent suicide of leading robotics scientist, Dr. Alfred Lanning (James Cromwell). Unconvinced of the motive, Spooner's investigation into Lanning's death reveals a trail of secrets and agendas within the USR (United States Robotics) corporation and suspicions of murder. Little does he know that his investigation would lead to uncovering a larger threat to humanity. Like Moon, I think this may also be one of the most underrated films on this list. I, Robot is full of action and is thrilling throughout. Bridget Moynahan portrays Susan Calvin who is the chief robot psychologist and helps Spooner uncover the truth about Lanning's death. What I liked most about her character is that she was an interesting individual and the writers didn't use her as a love interest for Spooner. We see that she truly cares about the robots and their wellbeing. Speaking of, the robots are well made and the film focuses on Sonny (Alan Tudyk) who Spooner thinks is responsible for Lanning's death. This is a great sci-fi thriller that is full of action and has an intriguing mystery at the centre of the plot. It also features a strong performance from Smith as the lead character.

Galaxy Quest (1999)
Galaxy Quest blends the mix of science-fiction and comedy really well. It is said to be a spoof of the Star Trek television series (Tim Allen's character is loosely based on William Shatner). Jason Nesmith (Allen), Gwen DeMarco (Sigourney Weaver) and Alexander Dane (Alan Rickman) are actors best known for appearing in the popular sci-fi series, Galaxy Quest. After aliens, known as Thermians, ask for their help, thinking that the series is real, the actors soon get caught up in a serious battle between the Thermians and General Sarris, a genocidal alien threatening to destroy the world. This is intelligent and humorous satire featuring a star-studded cast that includes Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver and Alan Rickman. At the time of Galaxy Quest's release, both Weaver and Rickman were known for their serious roles with Weaver being best known for appearing in the Alien films and Rickman making appearances in action films like Die Hard and period dramas such as Sense and Sensibility. However, we see a completely different side to them here. Rickman is almost unrecognisable underneath the impressive make-up (which his character never takes off) and hates his character's famous line 'By Grabthar's hammer, by the suns of Worvan, you shall be avenged'. Weaver also gives a solid performance as Gwen DeMarco whose job on the show is basically to repeat what the computer says. Supporting roles come from Sam Rockwell as Guy Fleegman, played an unnamed security officer that got killed off in his first episode, and Tony Shalhoub as Fred Kwan who portrays the Chief Engineer on the show. This is a highly entertaining film that is filled with humour and also some exciting action, especially in the final climax.

The Star Wars franchise (1977-)

Since the release of A New Hope in 1977, Star Wars has gone on to become one of the most popular franchises of all the time. A New Hope introduced us to three of the most iconic characters in sci-fi history, including Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher). Luke was an orphan who, after buying two droids known as C-3PO and R2-D2, he discovers a message sent from Leia containing the plans of the death star which the evil villain, Darth Vader (portrayed physically by David Prowse, voiced by James Earl Jones), is planning to use to destroy entire planets. With the help of the two droids, a Jedi knight, Obi-wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) and Han Solo and his wookie sidekick, Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew). Luke sets out to save Leia and stop Darth Vader from achieving his destructive plan. What's great about A New Hope is that it works as a stand-alone sci-fi film. However, writer and director, George Lucas, expanded on the story and released two more sequels, The Empire Strikes Back and Return Of The Jedi. This lead to characters developing and plot twists no one saw coming. Because all three of these films were incredibly successful, George Lucas released three prequels which mainly explained Darth Vader's backstory and how he became the menacing villain. This all began in 1999 with Episode 1 which was titled The Phantom Menace. Despite the criticism it received, it still proved to be highly entertaining. One of the main highlights was the Pod Race that a young Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd) takes part in. It's fast-paced and thrilling. It also featured a star-studded cast that included Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor and Natalie Portman who all give solid performances in their roles. The Phantom Menace proved to be a huge success at the box office, receiving over $1 billion. Attack Of The Clones was released three years later and showed Anakin (Hayden Christensen) as a grown adult and we see him training to be a Jedi and developing a relationship with Padme (Portman). The action sequences were just as thrilling as they were in the previous films and this sequel served as a great follow-up to The Phantom Menace. In 2005, Revenge Of The Sith was released and it proved to be the darkest and most tense of the entire franchise. Lucas successfully brings his second Star Wars trilogy to a suitably thrilling and often poignant conclusion. Episode 3 was thought to be the end of the entire franchise, however, a follow-up to Return Of The Jedi, was released in 2015 and continued the saga. Episode 7, titled The Force Awakens, introduced us to new characters including Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Finn (John Boyega) with beloved characters returning including Han Solo and Princess Leia. It was packed with action and it successfully recalls the series' former glory while injecting it with renewed energy. Most recently, another addition to the franchise was added known as Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and takes place after the events of Revenge Of The Sith but before the events of A New Hope. It explains how Leia had the plans for the destructive weapon known as the Death Star. Overall, the Star Wars films are, by far, the best science-fiction films ever released. This is because of the visually-stunning special effects, iconic characters and plot developments.

Those were my favourite science fiction films. I highly recommend watching them if you haven't already. Thank you for reading this.

MY TOP 10 FILMS OF 2016

2016 has been a great year in terms of films. Looking back, there were a lot of highly anticipated films released this year and, fortunately, only a small number of them were disappointing. In my annual end-of-year Top 10, I'll be discussing my favourite films that were released this year. This list is in no particular order. 

Honourable Mentions:

These are the films that didn't make the list but still deserve a mention and are definitely worth a watch.

How To Be Single

This was one of the first comedies released this year and, while it's not the funniest, it's still really entertaining and is worth a watch if you enjoy comedy. The main reason I enjoyed this is because it focused on women and how they can have fun without having a boyfriend. I've seen far too many comedies try and force in a romance between the two main protagonists even though it's not necessary. The main character is Alice (Dakota Johnson) who has, recently, ended her relationship with her boyfriend and moves to New York to live with her sister (Leslie Mann). This is where she meets and befriends Robin (Rebel Wilson) who teaches Alice how to enjoy being single. Wilson is definitely one of the best things about this film as she doesn't hold back from hilarious one liners. Johnson proves that she can be just as funny and Mann is perfect as her sister who becomes broody after working as a midwife. 

Nerve

This is one of the most original films I've watched this year and the film's story focuses on an app called 'Nerve' where the person chooses to be either a player or watcher. If the person chooses to watch, they pay a fee and choose the dares for the players. If the players successfully complete the dare, they earn money. The two main characters are Vee (Emma Roberts) and Ian (Dave Franco) who get caught up in the game and are risking their lives when the dares become more dangerous. Both Roberts and Franco have great chemistry together which is important because the film's main focus is on them. At first, the two think that the dares are a lot of fun but things take a dark and serious turn and it's up to the pair to stop the game for good before any serious damage is caused. This really kept me on the edge of my seat especially during some of the dares. I had no idea if anyone was going to make it out alive. This was released during the Pokemon Go hype and it makes you realise how caught up and obsesssed we are with the latest technology. I highly recommend this if you're a fan of thrillers.

Me Before You

To be honest, when this was first released, I had no desire to see this as, judging from the trailer, I thought it'd be cheesy. However, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Emilia Clarke is perfect as the optimistic Lou Clark who begins working for Sam Claflin's character, Will Traynor, who, after an unfortunate road accident, is paralysed. Will is the complete opposite of Lou and is understandably depressed but Lou is determined to make his life better and it doesn't take long for the two to become close friends. Me Before You mainly benefits from Clarke and Claflin's alluring chemistry. Despite Lou already having a boyfriend, Patrick (Matthew Lewis), I really wanted her to be with Will. The film clearly shows us that Lou's relationship with Patrick isn't that great and we see her becoming closer with Will. The film also does a great job of handling a subject that I've never seen in film before and that's the life of a paralysed person. When we first meet Will, he has no desire to live but Lou, with her optimism, gives him a reason to remain strong. It is definitely one of the most emotional films I've watched this year and if you're thinking of watching it, be sure to keep some tissues near as you'll most likely be crying during the film's climax.

The Jungle Book

It's been a busy year for Disney. Not only have they released two animated features, Zootopia and Moana, they've also released two live action adaptations of classic films including Pete's Dragon which is a remake of the 1977 musical and The Jungle Book which is a remake of the 1967 animated feature. Although Pete's Dragon was an enjoyable adaptation and was a lot better than the original, I would have to say I think that The Jungle Book is better. I loved the original animation so I had high hopes for this live action remake. Fortunately, it didn't disappoint and, in some ways, improved on the original. This includes the visuals. The young actor who portrays Mowgli, Neel Sethi, is the only one who appears in the flesh. All the other characters are created using computer generated imagery and look incredibly life like. The jungle is an important part as it's where the majority of the film is set and it's brought to life. Sethi's performance is really impressive and captures the charm of Mowgli. It also has an great cast of voices including; Bill Murray as Baloo the bear; Ben Kingsley as Bagheera the panther; Idris Elba as Shere Khan the tiger; Lupita Nyong'o as Raksha the wolf; Scarlett Johansson as Kaa the snake and many more. They all bring their own distinct voices to their chosen role and make The Jungle Book an even more entertaining watch. This film is definitely worth a watch for many reasons one of them being the stunning visuals and impressive debut performance from Neel Sethi.

Finding Dory

After the release of Finding Nemo in 2003, it soon went on to become one of the best selling films of that year. Usually, because of its success at the box office, most production companies would start writing a sequel straightaway and have it released within 2-3 years. However, Disney/Pixar took its time creating a sequel for Finding Nemo and focused on creating more original animated films. Now, after a thirteen year wait, the sequel fans have been waiting for is finally here and it didn't disappoint. The first film focused on Marlin (voice of Albert Brooks), a clownfish, searching for his son, Nemo (Alexander Gould) along with the help of a blue tang with short-term memory loss, Dory (Ellen DeGeneres). Now, this film focuses on Dory as she travels through an aquarium with the help of an octopus, Hank (Ed O'Neill), in order to find her parents. At first, when I heard the title, I thought that it might be about Dory going missing and Marlin and Nemo going out to look for her. This film is actually more about finding more about Dory and her life before she met Marlin. This film brings more depth to her character and, thanks to DeGeneres' voice, makes her a more likable protagonist. I wasn't wrong about Marlin and Nemo, though. When Dory accidentally ends up in the aquarium, it's up to Marlin and Nemo to go out and look for her. There scenes includes some bonding between the father and son. This is a rare sequel that proves to be just as entertaining as its predecessor and is definitely worth a watch if you enjoyed Finding Nemo.

Bridget Jones's Baby

When it was announced that there was going to be third film in the much loved Bridget Jones franchise, I couldn't have been more excited. I was a bit surprised, though, considering that the actress who portrayed the title character, Renee Zellweger, had taken a hiatus from acting in 2010. Fortunately, Zellweger returned to one of her best roles and filming began in late 2015. Now, after 12 years of the release of the first sequel Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason, Bridget is back and, this time, she's pregnant but the only problem is she doesn't know who the father is. Is it her ex, Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) or a charming new love interest, Jack Quant (Patrick Dempsey)? I did have certain doubts before I watched this film as I know The Edge Of Reason failed to impress critics and audiences when it was released. However, the majority of the reactions to this film were positive and I can't understand why I had any doubts in the first place. Despite being linked to the earlier Bridget Jones films, I'd say that this is good enough on its own. Viewers who haven't seen the two predecessors need not worry as this is simply a comedy about a woman finding out who the father of her unborn child is. This plotline has been used several times in many films and episodes of TV shows, however, Bridget Jones's Baby brings original comedy and makes it fresh. Bridget Jones's Baby is definitely worth a watch if you're looking for a comedy that is highly entertaining.

Ghostbusters

I will never understand the negative reception that this remake of the 1984 comedy, Ghostbusters, received. I remember when the trailer was released and the comments were filled with hateful comments and this was all because all four of the title characters were played by women rather than men. Being a woman, I loved the idea of an all-female remake of Ghostbusters and it was one of my highly anticipated films of this year. However, I was surprised when, on its release day in the UK, the IMDb page became filled with negative ratings leading it to receive an overall rating of 3.7/10. Despite this, critics were more positive towards the new remake and it received a 73% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Because of the negative response, I went in with low expectations, fortunately, this film exceeded my expectations. As much as I enjoyed the 1984 Ghostbusters, I have to say I enjoyed this a lot more and that's not because it's an all-female remake and I'm a woman, it's because I felt like it was more entertaining. All four of the leads, Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones, have great chemistry together. This isn't the first time Wiig and McCarthy have worked together: they both starred alongside each other in Bridesmaids. Because of this, the two have natural chemistry together. However, this is the first feature film for McKinnon and Jones, who are best known for appearing in several sketches on Saturday Night Live, and, together, they bring most of the laughs with their many one-liners and character traits. Chris Hemsworth, who is best known for portraying Thor in the Marvel films, is a surprise here and brings humour to his role as Kevin, the receptionist who really isn't at all bright. There are even cameos from members of the original Ghostbusters cast including Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts, Dan Aykroyd and Sigourney Weaver. Overall, this all-female reboot does an impressive job of standing on its own as a marvelously cast supernatural comedy. I wouldn't recommend paying attention to the negativity surrounding this film as, after all, it's just a comedy created to entertain fans of the original.

10. Nocturnal Animals

This is Amy Adam's third film this year (the other two being Batman V Superman and Arrival) and also one of her best performances. She plays Susan Morrow, an art gallery owner, who is currently in an unhappy relationship with her husband, Hutton (Armie Hammer). However, things take a drastic turn when she receives a manuscript of a novel from her ex-husband, Edward (Jake Gyllenhaal), called Nocturnal Animals. What makes this unusual is that she hasn't heard from Edward in 19 years and the book is based on their life. The film frequently cuts between parts of the book, Susan's reaction and her relationship with Edward. Throughout the film, I wondered what Susan had done that was unforgivable? Because the book is dark and, at times, violent, I wonder if any of those things had actually happened during their relationship? Nocturnal Animals asks a lot of questions and only a few of them are answered. However, this doesn't make this a bad film, it is actually one of the most original films this year. I hadn't seen Tom Ford's 2009 directorial debut, A Single Man, prior to watching this so I had no idea what to expect. Ford definitely doesn't shy away from anything here. The opening shows naked obese women dancing, the violence that features in the film is quite graphic and disturbing and there's even a naked man on the toilet. However, while some of this may gross some viewers and may affect their opinion of the film, for me, I just accepted it. If there's a reason to watch the film, I'd say it's the performances that really sell it. Adams gives a solid performance as Susan, her reactions to parts from the book are really convincing as we can clearly see that she is affected by it. Gyllenhaal proves, once again, why he's one of the best actors of our generation and manages the difficult task of playing two different characters including Edward and Tony Hastings in the book. We see more of Tony than we do of Edward, however, both performances are really strong. I would like to see him win an Oscar one day. Both Michael Shannon and Aaron Taylor-Johnson give exceptional performances as two characters in the book.

9. Zootropolis

Okay, I confess to not watching this film when it was first released in March this year as I thought that it was aimed at young viewers. However, I couldn't have been more wrong. It received massive critical acclaim and many audiences enjoyed it as well. Critics said that it was suitable for viewers of all ages because of the themes that feature in this film and I couldn't agree more. Despite living in the 21st Century, people still judge and discriminate against other people based on numerous things including gender, sexuality, race and skin colour. Disney successfully manages to create a story that offers a thoughtful and inclusive message whilst managing to be entertaining and funny enough for younger viewers. Zootropolis consists of anthropomorphic animals who are split into two groups, predators and prey. While predators no longer hunt and feed on prey and live in peaceful harmony with them, there are still issues of prejudice and discrimination. This is made clear where a bunny, Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin), moves to the titled city hoping to become a police officer. Unfortunately, because she's a bunny and the first one to become a member of the police force, she becomes victim to prejudice. Despite this, Judy doesn't let this get to her. She is smart, tough, witty, brave - everything you could want in a protagonist. The second character is Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), a sly fox who makes his money by conning people. Judy catches him but, instead of arresting him, asks for his help regarding a missing otter. Nick agrees and this leads to an unlikely friendship developing between the two. Not only does Zootropolis impress with its message, it features an original story. I enjoyed watching Judy and Nick together as the two couldn't be more different, however, it turns out they are more alike than they thought as they were both subject to bullying as children. In the beginning of the film, we see Judy as a child being bullied by a fox which leads to her thinking that all foxes are like that and her parents giving her a spray to protect her. And, in the middle of the film, we see Nick, as a child, wanting to join the Ranger Scouts but is discriminated against because he's a fox. These scenes causes the viewer to feel sympathetic towards them. Overall, this is a film that is worth watching for many reasons, the main one being it's important message which is to never discriminate or judge someone.

8. The Girl On The Train 

When I heard that there was going to be a film adaptation of Paula Hawkin's best selling book, The Girl On The Train, I thought I'd give the book a read and I really enjoyed it. It was thrilling throughout and full of twists. Because of this, I did have high hopes for this film and was surprised to discover that it had received a lot of criticism. This meant my expectations were lowered, however, after watching it, I couldn't understand the negative reception it had received. I thought it was a great adaptation of Hawkin's book and, despite knowing what was going to happen, I was still on the edge of my seat. The Girl On The Train focuses on Rachel (Emily Blunt) who becomes obsessed with watching her ex-husband's house and another house a few doors down which is owned by a couple, Megan (Haley Bennett) and Scott (Luke Evans). However, she soon becomes caught up in a mystery when Megan disappears. This is worth a watch if you enjoy drama/thrillers. This also features a strong performance from Emily Blunt and all the actors involved. 

7. X-Men Apocalypse 

This was another film that received a lot of criticism when it was first released. I think this is because people's expectations were so high especially after the release of the previous film, Days Of Future Past, which is probably the best in the whole X-Men franchise. Despite the negativity surrounding this film, I really enjoyed it. I thought it was a great sequel to Days Of Future Past and features plenty of action and a strong villain, Apocalypse (Oscar Isaac), who is the strongest mutant. It also introduces us to the younger versions of character we already know from the first X-Men films, however, some characters may have turned out differently due to the events of Days Of Future Past. The film focuses on Apocalypse who has been awakened after thousands of years and is determined to wipe out civilisation and create a new world. This leads to him recruiting mutants including a depressed Magneto (Michael Fassbender), Storm (Alexandra Shipp) and two new mutants, Angel (Ben Hardy) and Psylocke (Olivia Munn). With Professor Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) taken hostage by Apocalypse, it's up to a new team of X-Men, including Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence), Beast (Nicholas Hoult), Quicksilver (Evan Peters), Jean Grey (Sophie Turner), Cyclops (Tye Sheridan) and Nightcrawler (Kodi Smit-McPhee) to try and stop Apocalypse. I would say that this is the second best in the franchise as it's full of thrilling action and features strong performances from the majority of the cast. This includes McAvoy, Fassbender, Lawrence, Hoult and Peters who all return from previous installments. The new cast are also really good, especially Turner as Jean. She's best known for appearing in fantasty drama series, Game Of Thrones, however, this role proves what a talented actress she is and she understands Jean's struggle to control her mind-reading powers. I also thought that Isaac gave a strong performance as Apocalypse, who, because of his many powers, was scary at times as I wasn't sure what he would do next. The climax had me on the edge of my seat as it was really tense. I doubt fans of X-Men will be disappointed with this latest installment.

6. 10 Cloverfield Lane

This was a film that I wasn't expecting to enjoy as much as I did. At first, I wasn't interested in watching 10 Cloverfield Lane as I didn't really like Cloverfield due to it being filmed using a handcam which it was incredibly shaky and was hard to keep up with at times. However, this all changed in the sequel which I think is an improvement on the first film. The camera is stable and, instead of an alien destroying New York, the focus is on three different characters who are all trapped in an underground bunker. This includes Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), Howard (John Goodman) and Emmett (John Gallagher Jr.). The film's tagline is 'Monsters come in many forms' and that's the main premise. When we first meet Howard, he comes across as creepy and has very strict rules for his bunker and Goodman's portrays him as a monster because of the things he does. Fortunately for Michelle, she becomes friends with Emmett who is friendly and has an optimistic outlook on the situation. Before watching this film, I read the entire synopsis as I didn't think I would ever watch it so I wasn't surprised by certain things that happen. The stand out performance is Winstead as Michelle as she portrays her as a strong and brave individual. The majority of the film is set inside the bunker and gives it a claustrophobic feel as there's no where else to go. It also makes the audience wonder what's going on outside and if Howard is telling the truth about there being an apocalyptic catastrophe. Like the audience, Michelle is unsure what to believe and comes up with a plan to escape. The producer of Cloverfield, J.J. Abrams, has described 10 Cloverfield Lane as a 'blood-relative' to the first film. It's not clearly explained whether it's a prequel or a sequel but, judging from 10 Cloverfield Lane's thrilling climax, I'm guessing that the story took place around the same time as the first film. Overall, this is one of the best thrillers I've watched because it's smart, solidly crafted and palpably tense. 10 Cloverfield Lane makes the most of its confined setting and all three leads give strong performances.

5. Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them

Fans of the Harry Potter franchise were, understandably, upset when the final film, Deathly Hallows Part 2, was released in July 2011. They all thought that this was the end of the Wizarding World but, fortunately, J.K. Rowling admitted to not being able to 'let go' of the magical world she had created in her books. This lead to her writing a West-End play, Harry Potter And The Cursed Child, which is set 19 years after the events of Deathly Hallows Part 2. Not only that but she wrote her first ever screenplay, Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them, which is based on a textbook that Harry Potter reads at Hogwarts. The story is set in 1926 and Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) has just completed a global excursion to find and document an extraordinary array of magical creatures. Arriving in New York for a brief stopover, he might have come and gone without incident...were it not for a No-Maj (American for Muggle) named Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler), a misplaced magical case, and the escape of some of Newt's fantastic beasts, which could spell trouble for both the wizarding and No-Maj worlds. This is one of the most anticipated films this year and, unlike other highly anticipated films, Fantastic Beasts not only met my expectations, it beat them. Making a motion picture that is as enjoyable as the Harry Potter films must have been incredibly stressful but both the cast and crew have succeeded. I can't imagine any Harry Potter fans being disappointed. David Yates, who directed the final four films in the Potter franchise, returns and I couldn't think of anyone else better than Yates at directing. He brings J.K. Rowling's imaginative world to life once again. The setting is completely different to anything we've seen before in the Potter films as it's in New York and is set in the late 1920s. Both the setting and costume design are perfect. It felt like I was transported to New York in 1926. The performances all round are brilliant but the stand out is, of course, Redmayne as shy and awkward Newt. It's hard to believe that almost three years ago he gave an Oscar-winning portrayal as Professor Stephen Hawking in the 2014 drama, The Theory Of Everything. This role is further proof that Redmayne is one of the best actors of this generation. Other strong performances come from Katherine Waterston as the brave ex-Auror (dark wizard catcher), Tina Goldstein, who is willing to help Newt, Dan Fogler, who brings comic relief as Jacob, and Alison Sudol, who is perfectly flirtatious as Tina's sister, Queenie. Recognisable actors include Colin Farrell as Percival Graves who is a high ranking Auror but has a dark side to him. Ezra Miller gives a sympathetic performance as, Credence Barebone who is the mysterious son of the sinister leader of New Salem Philanthropic Society. Credence also plays an important part in the film's exciting climax. There's not a bad performance to be found. Overall, this is a welcome return to the Wizarding World.

4. Moana

Disney have managed to produce over hundreds of entertaining animated features that are suitable for the whole family. Moana, Disney's latest offering, is no different and provides over 100 minutes of solid storytelling, the best animation I've seen this year and two likable lead characters.

Moana Waialiki (voice of Auli'i Cravalho) is a sea voyaging enthusiast and the only daughter of a chief in a long line of navigators. When her island's fisherman can't catch any fish and the crops fail, she learns that the demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) caused the blight by stealing the heart of the goddess Te Fiti. The only way to heal the island is to persuade Maui to return Te Fiti's heart, so Moana sets off on an epic journey across the Pacific. The film is based on stories from Polynesian mythology. Moana takes place in Polynesia which is a part of Oceania, a region that consists of numerous islands dispersed throughout the Pacific Ocean. This isn't the first Disney animated film to feature a Polynesian theme. Lilo & Stitch also took place in modern day Hawaii, however, Moana is the production company's first Polynesian princess, growing up in the fictional island of Motunui. She is also a clear example of the lead animated characters becoming more diverse. For a long time, Disney were known for creating princesses whose only concern were marrying a prince. Fortunately, those times have changed and there is no love interest for the lead protagonist. Her relationship with the demigod Maui is purely platonic and he behaves like her older brother most of the time. This was one of my favourite things about this animated feature. Overall, with its title character being as three-dimensional as its beautiful animation, Moana is truly a family-friendly adventure for the ages.

3. Joy 

Jennifer Lawrence is one of my favourite actors working in Hollywood at the moment. Since appearing in The Hunger Games in 2012, she has gone on to receive phenomenal success. She has won one Academy Award for her performance as Tiffany in Silver Linings Playbook, along with three other nominations and she's also won three Golden Globes. Released in January earlier this year, this was her first of three films Lawrence appeared in (the others being X-Men Apocalypse and Passengers). She plays the title character who is based on real life business woman and entrepreneur, Joy Mangano. In her third collaboration with director David O. Russell (the two previously worked together on Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle), Lawrence portrays Joy as a determined, hard-working mother of two who comes up with a new product, the Miracle Mop, which is self-wringing. Unfortunately, selling this product is easier said than done and, throughout the film, we see Joy overcome many obstacles which makes her a strong protagonist. What I liked most about this film was, apart from Lawrence's brilliant performance, the fact that there's no unnecessary love interest for Joy. In order to get her self-wringing mop noticed, she meets with the executive of QVC, Neil Walker (Bradley Cooper), so she can get it advertised. Most filmmakers would try and force these two characters to fall in love but, fortunately, that's not the case here. Their relationship is purely platonic and nothing happens between them. I also thought that this film was really inspiring as we Joy struggle a lot before she finally becomes the successful entrepreneur she is today.

2. Passengers

This was my highly anticipated film this year as it featured Jennifer Lawrence in one of the lead roles. The plot also really intrigued me as well because the story seemed original. The setting is the Starship Avalon which is a spaceship travelling to a new planet known as Homestead II, however, because this journey will take 120 years, all 5,000 passengers are sent to sleep inside their hibernation pods. Unfortunately, 30 years into the journey, the ship hits a meteor which leads to two hibernation pods malfunctioning. The two passengers that wake up are Jim Preston (Chris Pratt) and Aurora Lane (Lawrence). It doesn't take long for them to realise that they're the only two people awake and they still have at least 90 years of their journey to go. Creating a science-fiction film can be a difficult thing to achieve but, nevertheless, director Morten Tyldum brings Jon Spaihts' script to life. Before watching the film, I really enjoyed reading Spaihts' script and knew it would be an entertaining film. Passengers is at its most entertaining during the first 90 minutes in which Jim and Aurora's relationship develops. In a montage, we see the two dance, play basketball and dine together. Unfortunately, things take a drastic turn in the climax when the ship begins to malfunction and it's up to the pair to fix it and save all 5,000 passengers. Both Lawrence and Pratt give strong performances in this film and share a lot of chemistry. Passengers further proves how talented Lawrence is, given that this is the third film she's appeared in this year (the others being Joy and X-Men Apocalypse). After watching Pratt in his two previous films, Guardians Of The Galaxy and Jurassic World, I did find him a bit irritating, however, my opinion soon changed after watching his portrayal of Jim. This is probably his most dramatic role and also his best one, in my opinion. What I also loved about the film was the setting and design of the Avalon. When Jim and Aurora are exploring the ship, I was blown away by how stunning it all looked. The visual effects are amazing too. The scene where Jim and Aurora fly outside the ship is one of my favourite sequences in the film. Overall, I think this is a film that everyone needs to see as it's original and features elements of drama, romance, action and bits of comedy sprinkled in for good measure. It's also worth watching for the performances from both Lawrence and Pratt.

1. Arrival

The second science fiction feature film to appear on this list, Arrival is, by far, the best film I've watched this year. It's smart, thought-provoking, has an original plot and features an outstanding performance from Amy Adams as the lead character. Before I watched this film in November, Arrival premiered at the Venice Film Festival where the director, Denis Villeneuve won the Future Film Festival Digital Award. It was then screened at the Toronto International Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival and the British Film Institute London Film Festival. Since then, it's gone on to receive widespread critical acclaim with a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatos with 268 reviews with many saying it's a 'must-see in cinemas' so, of course, with all the positive reviews surrounding this film, I had high expectations. Fortunately, Arrival proved to be better than what I expected it to be. At first, I thought it was about an alien invasion but, after watching it, I now know it's about more than that. Arrival begins with Louise Banks (Adams) experiencing a personal tragedy. Now, she's a professor at a university teaching language when they arrive. And by they, I mean large, mysterious objects that have appeared at numerous places across the globe. With Louise being an expert at linguistics, she is brought in by the military to try and communicate with the aliens that live inside the pods. Most alien invasion films focus on trying to destroy the extra-terrestrial beings before trying to find out what they want. However, in Arrival, the military make the decision to try and find out what the aliens want. Villeneuve succeeds in creating an tense atmosphere throughout the film. The most intense scenes occur when Louise first meets the aliens, which they soon call 'heptapods', and tries to communicate with them. Not only are these scenes really intense but this is where Arrival is at its most engaging. Adams portrays Louise as a strong, brave protagonist and she's one of the reasons why Arrival is successful. This is a cinematic masterpiece and the best film of 2016.

Those were 15 of my favourite films this year.

I do recommend that you give them a watch.

Thank you for reading my blogpost, I really do appreciate it. 

I can't wait to find out what my top ten films of  2017 will be.

MY TOP 10 FILMS OF 2015

2015 has been a great year for films. At the end of 2014, I was so excited for the year ahead, mainly due to the films that were being released. A year later, I haven't been left disappointed. I think that the majority of my favourite films have been released this year. So, before 2015 comes to its inevitable end, here are my top 10 favourite films of this year.

10. Into The Woods

I am a huge fan of musicals, especially the film adaptations, so I was very excited about seeing this. It features several of my favourite actors (Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, Anna Kendrick, James Corden and Johnny Depp) and combines some of my favourite fairy tale stories: Cinderella, Rapunzel, Red Riding Hood and Jack & The Beanstalk. The majority of the film is set in the woods and each character has their own personal reason for being in the woods. For example, the Baker (James Corden) and his wife (Emily Blunt) are both in the woods looking for four items for the Witch (Meryl Steep): a cow as white as milk; a cape as red as blood; hair as yellow as corn and a slipper as pure as gold. Soon, the Baker and his wife soon learn that this task is harder than they thought and they only have three days to complete it. This film is full of recognisable characters and fun songs and it has since become one of my favourite musicals.

9. Spy

I am a huge fan of comedies and I loved Melissa McCarthy and director Paul Feig's previous film they made together, The Heat, so  I knew I was going to enjoy this film. McCarthy plays Susan Cooper, a desk-bound CIA agent who is forced to go out onto the field for the first time and has no idea what to do which makes this film so funny. Susan is a really likable character as she works hard at her job and is desperate to go out on the field. There are plenty of slapstick moments when Susan is fighting with the bad guys and features some of my favourite actors including: Jude Law; Miranda Hart; Alison Janney and Rose Byrne. With great characters and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, this is one of the best comedies I've ever seen.

 8. Kingsman: The Secret Service

Director Matthew Vaughn returns to the action/comedy genre with Kingsman, starring Colin Firth as Harry Hart, a veteran Kingsman agent who teaches young Eggsy (Taron Egerton) how to become an agent like him. The villain is Richmond Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson) who is a billionaire philanthropist who speaks with a lisp and can't stand violence, despite his plan being full of violence. Vaughn had previously directed one of my favourite comedies, Kick-Ass, so I was very much looking forward to this one. It didn't disappoint and kept me laughing the whole way through. The fact that Firth did most of his own stunts impressed me and newcomer, Taron Egerton, was really likable as Eggsy. This is probably one of Vaughn's best films and the fact he is making a sequel makes me very happy.

7. Paper Towns

Based on John Green's best-selling novel of the same name, the film focuses on Quentin (Nat Wolff) and his relationship with Margo (Cara Delevingne), his neighbour, who he has a crush on. The two were friends as children but, when they started high school, they drifted apart and, whilst Margo became a part of the popular crowd, Quentin became a part of the nerd crowd with his two friends, Ben and Radar. Despite the two not speaking since they were children, Quentin is shocked to discover Margo climbing through his bedroom window one night. She tells him that she has just caught her boyfriend cheating on her and she wants revenge. The two spend a crazy night going over to her ex-boyfriends house and creating havoc. The two are happy, at first, but Quentin is surprised when he learns that Margo has gone missing. Now, he and his friends spend the majority of the film trying to find Margo and discover what happened to her. I loved the book so I was very excited about the film and it didn't disappoint. Like the book, the story is told from Quentin's point of view. This film is full of comedy elements but, like John Green's previous film The Fault In Our Stars, has dramatic and tense moments. 

6. Spectre

I became a fan of the James Bond franchise when I first watched Casino Royale in my Film Studies class when I was 16. I'd never been interested in any of the films until I watched Casino Royale and I was surprised at how good it was. The film's narrative focuses a lot on the game of poker and, since I had never played a game of poker before, I was worried I wasn't going to understand it. However, I did and since then I've been an avid watcher of the previous Bond films and definitely think they've gotten better. This is true with Spectre. I loved Skyfall and thought it was the best out of the whole franchise until I saw this. Daniel Craig returns, in his fourth film as the iconic spy and he's just as good as when he made his first appearance in Casino Royale. This film has all the ingredients to make a great Bond film: brilliant action sequences; an evil villain; an attractive 'Bond Girl' and an amazing theme song sung by one of the biggest singers. I would have to say that James Bond is the reason I enjoy action-packed films. Definitely up there with Casino Royale and Skyfall as one of the best Bond films.

5. Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation

It's hard to believe that it's almost been 20 years since the first Mission: Impossible film was released. Back then, nobody, not even Tom Cruise, had predicted that it would be the successful film franchise it is now. Like with the Bond films, I didn't show any interest in any of the M:I films until recently. When I found out about the fifth film, I knew I had to give the previous four films a watch. I enjoyed them all and I was ready for the fifth one. It didn't disappoint and I definitely think that it's one of the best in the franchise. Tom Cruise is better than ever as agent Ethan Hunt. In the previous film, Ghost Protocol, Cruise performed a breath-taking stunt when he climbed the outside of the Burj Khalifa building in Dubai. This time, he's taking the stunt to a whole new level when the film opens with him jumping on the outside of a plane whilst it takes off. This was one of my favourite sequences in the film as it shows Cruise at his adrenline-filled best.

4. Inside Out

I've always loved Disney/Pixar films as, not only is the animation amazing, they always come up with a creative story to entertain both children and adults. The majority of Disney/Pixar films have an emotional aspect to them and always manage to make me cry. Now, they've released a film about emotions themselves. The film focuses on 11-year-old Riley, who has recently moved house and school, and her emotions: Joy; Sadness; Anger; Fear and Disgust. Joy is the 'main' emotion and she narrates the story in the beginning when we watch a sequence of Riley growing up. This is a great way of introducing the main character and her emotions. Like most children, Riley isn't happy with the new house/new school situation and finds herself feeling sad, thanks to Sadness taking control in her mind. Joy tries to take control of Riley's emotion and make her feel happier but this only leads to her and Sadness being sent through a tube inside Riley's mind and now the two must work together to get to the main control room. I can definitely say that this is Disney/Pixar's best animated feature ever since they released Toy Story 20 years ago. The story is unique, the characters are relatable (there's a funny scene when Riley is sat having dinner with her parents and we see inside their minds) and there's something for the whole family to enjoy. 

3. Everest

Before I watched Everest, I think I underestimated how dramatic it was going to be. It's based on a true story about Rob Hall who, along with a team of adventurers, tries to climb Everest, the tallest mountain in the world. This is set in 1996, a year before I was born, so I hadn't heard of this story before. I didn't know if the group of climbers were going to reach the top. The actual climb doesn't start until about 20-30 minutes in the film but that's okay as the beginning is spent introducing us to the climbers. We see their personality and how determined they are to reach the top of Everest but no one is more determined than Rob Hall (Jason Clarke). He warns his fellow climbers of how freezing the temperature is going to be and how their bodies are going to be 'literally dying'. Despite these claims, he and the other climbers still attempt the strenuous journey up the mountain. When the majority of the climbers reached the top of the mountain, I felt relived, however, I soon learned that this was only part of their journey and that things were about to get worse when a storm hits and optimistic Rob tries his hardest to try and get everyone down the mountain. There was tense from the beginning of the climb until the credits rolled. This is truly one of the most dramatic and saddest films I've watched this year but with great performances from the actors and stomach-churning cinematography, this is one of my favourite films of 2015.

2. The Martian

Matt Damon gives a truly epic performance as astronaut, Mark Watney, who has been left behind on Mars after a storm hits and must learn how to live there whilst the team at NASA figure out a plan to save him before he starves to death. The reason why Watney is a likable character is because he's optimistic and makes the most of his situation. He knows he could easily die but that doesn't get him down. Through video blogs, we see his updates on Mars and we learn how he manages to survive. This is why we, as an audience, want him to survive and make it back home. His fellow astronauts aren't aware of him still being alive as they thought he died. Commander Melissa Lewis (Jessica Chastain) made the decision of leaving him behind and is left guilt-ridden when NASA informs her of his situation. Now NASA, Commander Lewis and the other group of astronauts must make the tough decision of extending their trip or leaving Watney behind. Watney, himself, isn't aware of this as he is unable to communicate with NASA and doesn't know if he's going to be saved or not. This is what creates most of the tension in the film. This is directed by Ridley Scott (best known for the Alien trilogy) who manages to create another brilliant sci-fi adventure. This is based on the book by Andy Weir which I definitely want to read now I've seen the film.

1. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2

Almost four years ago, I had just begun reading the first book in the Hunger Games trilogy and had just watched the film adaptation. The first film shows us a future, set in America which is now known as Panem, where people must fight to the death for food and money for their home. Every year, a boy and girl, between the ages of 12 and 18, are picked from 12 Districs to perform in the Hunger Games. The film is set during the 74th year of the Hunger Games and, when her younger sister, Prim, is chosen to fight, Katniss volunteers to take her place and must train and try and survive the violent Games. She gives an outstanding performance which is one of the reasons why I think this is one of the best YA (Young Adult) franchises of all time, alongside the Harry Potter franchise. Katniss is likable because she saved Prim's life by volunteering to take her place. Despite having impressive skills with a bow and arrow, Katniss doesn't think she'll survive yet by the end of the Games, she has managed to start an uprising when she and, her fellow tribute, Peeta try and rebel against the rule of there being one Victor. The two are stopped and are declared the very first Victors of District 12. In the second film, Catching Fire, Katniss and Peeta must act as the 'star-crossed lovers' of District 12 whilst a rebellion begins to form in the other Districts. They think they are safe from the Games until President Snow announces that the tributes will be the Victors from the previous Games, much to their horror. In the 75th Games, Katniss is determined to keep Peeta alive but things go badly wrong when, at the end of the Games, she is saved by the rebellion and he is kidnapped by the Capitol. In Mockingjay Part 1, Katniss begins to suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and must perform in a series of videos as the Mockingjay, which is the symbol of the rebellion. This film showed how strong Katniss really is and how much she is willing to put an end to the Hunger Games. Unfortunately, when Peeta is finally rescued from the Capitol, his mind has been hijacked and he tries to, unsuccessfully, kill Katniss. Now, in the thrilling conclusion to the franchise, she must join a team of soldiers and rebellions to take down President Snow and put an end to the Games. The director, Francis Lawrence, has described this as the most violent out of all the other films and he's not wrong. People become badly injured and there are many deaths, two of which brought me to tears. I had read the books and I would have to say that this film is the best adaptation of the four. It contains the majority of the book and the only parts that were left out were only minor. The reason why this is my favourite film of 2015 is because I've been eagerly waiting this conclusion and it didn't disappoint. It's full of action, violence, emotional scenes and brilliant performances from every actor involved. 

So those were my 10 favourite films of 2015.

The reason why the latest Star Wars film, The Force Awakens, isn't on here is because I haven't watched it yet and I probably won't watch it until next week which will be 2016 so it'll most likely be on my top films of 2016 list.

Thank you so much for reading my blogs, it really does mean a lot.