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The Five Best And Worst of 2017


Best


1. Dunkirk
This is the top movie of 2017 because it was a pleasant experience in cinema. Watching this in cinema was not an initial intent however the strong reviews caught my attention. It is Christopher Nolan's best. It is short and sweet without dwelling on much. Han Zimmer's thrilling score levitates the movie to a whole new level.



2. Blade Runner 2049
It is another surprise hit for me as I did not intend to watch this in cinema too. The long runtime was partially the drawback for me but I was pleasantly surprised that I was engaged throughout the whole movie. Aside from Dennis Villeneuve's strong direction, Han Zimmer's score is on another level.




3. Thor Ragnarok
Last year has been a great year. I did not expect to enjoy the third outing of Thor that much. The first one is so-so and the second one is an improvement however none of them stood out in my memories. Thor Ragnarok is definitely one of the most outstanding movie in both the Thor and Marvel franchise. It is breezy, witty and packed with action. The score by Mark Mothersbaugh is also one of the best score in the Marvel franchise.



4. Star Wars: The Last Jedi
I know this is subjective as many fans hate this outing. I enjoyed this immensely. It is tense, fast paced and action-packed. Although there are flaws here and there, they did not stop me from enjoying it. I hope J.J Abrams will feature more lightsaber fight scenes in the concluding chapter.



5. Dave Made A Maze 
The last movie is an indie movie that did not catch any wave or recognition. I found it smart, funny and creative. Given its low budget, I would say the director and crew did an exceptional job in creating a world. I look forward to see more indie movies being more creative and go out of the box.




Worst


1. Serpent
Speaking of indie movies, this kind is the worst kind. It is noticeable that its budget is low. Most of the run time is in a tent. The concept is creative enough but it is executed badly. The consistent shaky camera work is annoying, the lighting is barely there and the steam runs out 45 minutes into the movie. Overall, it is just a dull movie that not even an attractive cast can save it.



2. Temple
I would say the one of the few positive stuff is its decent technical merits given its budget. The atmosphere is set decently with some sleek camerawork. The rest of the movie is a chore to watch. The pacing is off even if it has a short run time. I do not care for the characters too. It is a pity because the technical merits have potential to pull the movie from the grave.



3. Lake Alice
I know it is a low-budget indie movie but it is not an excuse to make a movie as boring as it can be. I know the worst movies I listed out are indie movies. Dave Made A Maze proves that creativity can be executed well with the right people. The worst movies I listed out seem like the directors had zero interest in directing except for the paycheck. Lake Alice is no different. It is terribly boring with nothing much happening. 



4. The Layover
Another dull movie. However this one has a fairly decent cast and is directed by actor William H. Macy. Guess what. They could not save the movie. It is unfunny and uninteresting. The pacing is off and make the movie longer than what it should be. The characters' motives are sometimes foolish and unrelatable. The hot cast could not save their characters.



5. Members only
The erotic Hong Kong movie is pure rubbish if you look at the editing department. The pacing is terrible and the whole movie becomes confusing especially during its climax. The sex scenes are okay but the pacing and editing distract you from even enjoying the movie. I find this one of the worst Hong Kong movies ever.

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