Phil’s End Of Year Awards 2017

by Phil Hobden Quick Review Year In Review

So 2017 is almost over and it’s that time a year again where everyone reflects back on their best and worst films of the year. So we’ve covered our best and our worst films of 2016, so before we look at the films coming up in 2017 here’s my ‘Alternative’ End of Year Awards for 2017…

The Most Entertainingly Bad Film Of The Year Award…
Geostorm

The Gerard Butler Award For Consistently Making Entertainingly Terrible Films
Gerard Butler (Geostorm)

Surprise of The Year Award…
That Any one’s left standing in Hollywood after the year of deaths and scandals…

Performance Of The Year Award…
Mark Kermode AGAIN… for his still oddly favourable reviews for his friends movies (see Murder On The Orient Express)

Just Fuck Off and Die Award…
Michael Bay & Transformers. Just stop. Now.

Least Deserving Commercial Bomb of The Year (Maybe EVER) Award…
Blade Runner 2049

Shit so I still can enjoy these films right, even though their lead/producer/co-star was a pervert/bully/ sex offender/Insert Crime Here Award
Baby Driver, Swimming With Sharks, Pulp Fiction, X-Men 2, Toy Story… agh almost ALL my favourite films. God damn you Hollywood.

Come In Your time is Up Award…
Zack Snider. You made two good films. EVERYTHING else has been deeply average. TIED with Harvey Weinstein – your a cunt Harvey pure and simple.

Trailer Of The Year Award…
Logan Redband Trailer

Let Down of The Year Award…
Hollywood. A seething industry of low lives and scum.

Yes it’s Good. But come on people its also a bit Emperors new clothes…
Get Out

Low Budget Straight To DVD Surprise of the Year!
Shot Caller

The ‘YES! See We don’t Always Fuck Up Award’
DC/Warner Brothers. They Made a Good Film! (Wonder Woman)

Fuck! We Spoke Too Soon Award
DC/Warner Brothers for Justice League

Let Down of The Year Award Part 2….
George Romero NOT coming back as a Zombie when he died.

Cameo of The Year Award…
Tim Curry’s original Pennywise The Clown in the 2017 version of IT.

The Prove That ‘You Can Come Back from Horrible Shit’ Award (Aka The Future Kevin Spacey Award)
Mel Gibson (Hacksaw Ridge, Daddy’s Home 2)

The Oscars only like REALLY famous dead people award for missing out other stars who died Award…
Garry Shandling, Florence Henderson, Alexis Arquette, Doris Roberts and Robert Vaughn

The Proof That Award Shows Suck Award…
Snubs (Didn’t wins or Not Nominated) for I Daniel Blake, Hunt for The Wilder People, Sing Street, Hell Or High Water, Jake Gyllenhaal, Kubo And The Two Strings, Silence, Amy Adams and many more

The Poof That Award Shows DONT Suck Award…
It’s La La Land… No Moonlight… No Titanic… No it’s me. The awards themselves offered few surprises, The Oscars even less, but the best picture cock up at the Academy Awards was pure gold!

The Audience Wins! Award. 2017 Sees LESS remakes/Reboots than ever before. Some still sucked.
Flatliners, The Mummy

Not ALL remakes & reboots suck Award…
IT 2017. Just awesome.

Yup we just made it for the money award (aka The Sequels Suck) Award…
Transformers Age Of Extinction

Films That SHOULD have been on my 2016 List’s but I Hadn’t Seen…
The Edge Of Seventeen, The Girl With All The Gifts, Train To Busan, Deepwater Horizon, Kubo & The Two Strings, Sing Street, Hunt For The Wilderpeople, 13th, I Daniel Blake

Next time: Phil’s Look at 2018 and a look back at my 2017 predictions…

Phil’s Best & Worst of 2017… So Far! FINAL Edition (1st December 2017)

by Phil Hobden All Things Film Blog Other Cr*p Year In Review

So this is my semi-regularly updated of the BEST and WORST of 2017’s movies, as well as the best films I missed from last year and the Phil’s Quick Capsule Review Sharknado Award.

This will be the LAST Edition until our final end of year Wrap up.

All in my very humble opinion…

BEST Films Of 2017… So Far:

Baby Driver (9/10)
T2 Trainspotting (9/10)
Paddington 2 (9/10)
Raw (9/10)
OJ: Made In America (9/10)

Honourable Mentions:

Blade Runner 2049 (8/10), La La Land (8/10), IT 2017 (8/10); Thor: Ragnarok (8/10), Shot Caller (8/10); Dunkirk (8/10), Spider-Man Homecoming (8/10), Logan (8/10), Prevenge (8/10), Logan Lucky (8/10), Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 (8/10), Counterpunch (8/10), Jawbone (8/10), Silence (8/10), Hidden Figures (8/10), War For The Plant of The Apes (7/10), Wheelman (7/10), Happy Death Day (7/10)

WORST Films Of 2017… So Far:

Fifty Shades Darker (2/10)
Transformers The Last Knight (2/10)
Sleepless (3/10)
Assassins Creed (3/10)
Underworld Blood War (4/10)

Dis-Honourable Mentions:

The Mummy (4/10), The Circle (4/10), Power Rangers (4/10), A Cure For Wellness (4/10), Gaga: Five Foot Two (4/10), Leatherface (4/10), Hacksaw Ridge (5/10), King Arthur Legend Of The Sword (5/10), Live By Night (5/10), Sing! (5/10), The Boss Baby (5/10), The Dark Tower (5/10), The Limehouse Golem (5/10), Justice League (5/10)

**The 2017 Sharknado Award for Films So Good (!) They Cant Be Rated:**

2 Lava 2 Lantula & Sharknado 5: Global Swarming

The 2017 Films I just couldn’t Finish…

The Ghoul, The Lost City of Z

Great Films Of 2016 That I saw In 2017:

The Edge Of Seventeen, The Girl With All The Gifts, Train To Busan, Deepwater Horizon, Kubo & The Two Strings, Sing Street, Hunt For The Wilderpeople, 13th, I Daniel Blake

Phil’s Best & Worst of 2017… So Far! 5th Edition (12th October 2017)

by Phil Hobden Quick Review Year In Review

So this is my semi-regularly updated of the BEST and WORST of 2017’s movies, as well as the best films I missed from last year and the Phil’s Quick Capsule Review Sharknado Award. All in my very humble opinion…

BEST Films Of 2017… So Far:

Baby Driver (9/10)
T2 Trainspotting (9/10)
Raw (9/10)
OJ: Made In America (9/10)
Blade Runner 2049 (8/10)

Honourable Mentions:

La La Land (8/10), IT 2017 (8/10); Shot Caller (8/10); Dunkirk (8/10), Spider-Man Homecoming (8/10), Logan (8/10), Prevenge (8/10), Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 (8/10), Counterpunch (8/10), Get Out (8/10), Jawbone (8/10), Silence (8/10), Hidden Figures (8/10), War For The Plant of The Apes (7/10)

WORST Films Of 2017… So Far:

Fifty Shades Darker (2/10)
Transformers The Last Knight (2/10)
Sleepless (3/10)
Assassins Creed (3/10)
Underworld Blood War (4/10)

Dis-Honourable Mentions:

The Mummy (4/10), The Circle (4/10), Power Rangers (4/10), A Cure For Wellness (4/10), Gaga: Five Foot Two (4/10), Hacksaw Ridge (5/10), King Arthur Legend Of The Sword (5/10), Live By Night (5/10), Sing! (5/10), The Boss Baby (5/10)

**The 2017 Sharknado Award for Films So Good (!) They Cant Be Rated:**

2 Lava 2 Lantula & Sharknado 5: Global Swarming

Great Films Of 2016 That I saw In 2017:

The Edge Of Seventeen, The Girl With All The Gifts, Train To Busan, Deepwater Horizon, Kubo & The Two Strings, Sing Street, Hunt For The Wilderpeople, 13th, I Daniel Blake

Phil’s Best & Worst of 2017… So Far! 4th Edition (July 28th 2017)

by Phil Hobden Quick Review Year In Review

BEST Films Of 2017… So Far:

Baby Driver (9/10)
T2 Trainspotting (9/10)
Raw (9/10)
OJ Made In America (9/10)
La La Land (8/10)

Honourable Mentions:

Dunkirk (8/10), Spider-Man Homecoming (8/10), Logan (8/10), Prevenge (8/10), Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 (8/10), Counterpunch (8/10), Get Out (8/10), Jawbone (8/10), Silence (8/10), Hidden Figures (8/10), War For The Plant of The Apes (7/10), Wonder Woman (7/10),

WORST Films Of 2017… So Far:

Fifty Shades Darker (2/10)
Sleepless (2/10)
Assassins Creed (3/10)
Underworld Blood War (4/10)
The Mummy (4/10)

Dis-Honourable Mentions:

The Circle (4/10), Power Rangers (4/10), A Cure For Wellness (4/10), Hacksaw Ridge (5/10), King Arthur Legend Of The Sword (5/10), Live By Night (5/10), Sing! (5/10), The Boss Baby (5/10)

**The 2017 Sharknado Award for Films So Good (!) They Cant Be Rated:**

2 Lava 2 Lantula

Great Films Of 2016 That I saw In 2017:

The Edge Of Seventeen, The Girl With All The Gifts, Train To Busan, Deepwater Horizon, Kubo & The Two Strings, Sing Street, Hunt For The Wilderpeople, 13th, I Daniel Blake

Phil’s Best & Worst of 2017… So Far! 3rd Edition (June 2017)

by Phil Hobden Quick Review Year In Review

BEST Films Of 2017… So Far:

T2 Trainspotting (9/10)
OJ Made In America (9/10)
La La Land (8/10)
Logan (8/10)
Prevenge (8/10)

Honourable Mentions: Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 (8/10), Get Out (8/10), Silence (8/10), Hidden Figures (8/10), Fast & Furious 8 Aka Fate Of The Furious (7/10), Wonder Woman (7/10), The Founder (7/10), XXX: Return Of Xander Cage (7/10), Ghost In The Shell (7/10), Alien Covenant (7/10)

WORST Films Of 2017… So Far:

Fifty Shades Darker (2/10)
Sleepless (2/10)
Assassins Creed (3/10)
Underworld Blood War (4/10)
Hacksaw Ridge (5/10)

Dis-Honourable Mentions: King Arthur Legend Of The Sword (5/10), Live By Night (5/10), Sing! (5/10)

**The 2017 Sharknado Award for Films So Good (!) They Cant Be Rated:**

2 Lava 2 Lantula

Great Films Of 2016 That I saw In 2017:

The Edge Of Seventeen, The Girl With All The Gifts, Train To Busan, Deepwater Horizon, Kubo & The Two Strings, Sing Street, Hunt For The Wilderpeople, 13th, I Daniel Blake

Phil’s Best & Worst of 2017… So Far! 2nd Edition (April 14th 2017)

by Phil Hobden Quick Review Year In Review

BEST Films Of 2017… So Far:

T2 Trainspotting (9/10)
OJ Made In America (9/10)
La La Land (8/10)
Logan (8/10)
Silence (8/10)

Honourable Mentions: Fast & Furious 8 Aka Fate Of The Furious (7/10), The Founder (7/10), XXX: Return Of Xander Cage (7/10), Patriots Day (6/10)

WORST Films Of 2017… So Far:

Fifty Shades Darker (2/10)
Sleepless (2/10)
Assassins Creed (3/10)
Underworld Blood War (4/10)
Hacksaw Ridge (5/10)

Dis-Honourable Mentions: Live By Night (5/10), Sing! (5/10)

**The 2017 Sharknado Award for Films So Good (!) They Cant Be Rated:**

2 Lava 2 Lantula

Great Films Of 2016 That I saw In 2017:

The Edge Of Seventeen, The Girl With All The Gifts, Train To Busan, Deepwater Horizon, Kubo & The Two Strings, Sing Street, Hunt For The Wilderpeople, 13th, I Daniel Blake

Phil’s Best & Worst of 2017… So Far! 1st Edition (17th Feb 2017)

by Phil Hobden Quick Review Year In Review

So this is my semi-regularly updated of the BEST and WORST of 2017’s movies, in my very humble opinion.

BEST Films Of 2017… So Far:

T2 Trainspotting (9/10)
La La Land (8/10)
Silence (8/10)
The Founder (7/10)
Patriots Day (6/10)

Honourable Mentions:

WORST Films Of 2017… So Far:

Underworld Blood War (4.10)
Hacksaw Ridge (5/10)
Live By Night (5/10)

Dis-Honourable Mentions:

The Sharknado Award for Films So Good They Cant Be Rated:

Great Films of 2016 I didn’t see in 2016

The Edge Of Seventeen, The Girl With All The Gifts, Train To Busan, Deepwater Horizon, Kubo & The Two Strings, Sing Street, Hunt For The Wilderpeople, 13th

Train to Busan – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
In a near double bill with Girl With All The Gifts, Train To Busan more than held its own. The Korean action horror delivers on shocks, thrills and spills and puts to shame even recent episodes of The Walking Dead with characters you care for in imaginative and often tragic situations. It’s not even about the gore (the film has some but nothing compared with it’s TV cousin) as the film pounds relentlessly forward with hardly a moment left to catch your breath. Brilliant.

Best Bit: Tunnels

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Dawn of The Dead, 28 Days Later, The Girl With All The Gifts

If You Liked this Try: Buy

IMDB Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★

Author: Phil Hobden

Phil’s 5 Best Films of 2016 (Updated)

by Phil Hobden Quick Review Year In Review

So 2016 may be in the rear mirror but having now seen a few of 2016’s last few must see movies I’m having a do-over and republishing my list of the best films of 2016.

So here it is: my FINAL pick of the BEST films of 2016.

Film of The Year: The Nice Guys
In Brief: It was pretty much Room or The Little Prince all the way this year until The Nice Guys came along. But then any film directed and written by one of my favourite filmmakers in Shane Black was always going to have a fighting chance. Smart, funny and sharp as a tack… The Nice Guys is the best film you probably didn’t see this year!

2. Kubo And The Two Strings
In Brief: : Paranorman, Coraline, The Boxtrolls and now Kubo. That was high bar for sure but amazingly Kubo sets it higher still. Near perfect.

3. The Little Prince
In Brief: Who saw this coming? Adaptation of a popular kids book, released almost exclusively on Netflix. But man it knocked it out the park. Brilliantly animated and heart wrenchingly performed, Little Prince is up there with the best of the genre.

4. Sing Street
In Brief: Much like Sunshine Of Leith a few years back, Sing Street brings the songs, the charms and the heart and brings them all in spades. One of the best films of the year for sure.

5. Hunt for The Wilder People
In Brief: A coming of age family drama that will spawn a million “Shit Got real” T-shirts. Worth all the amazing reviews…

6. Room

7. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

8. Moana

9. Green Room

10. The Girl With All The Gifts

Bubbling Under: Deadpool, The Big Short, Arrival, Doctor Strange, Train To Busan, Eddie The Eagle, Midnight Special , Creed, Bad Moms, Spotlight

The Girl With All The Gifts – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil's Quick Review Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
The Girl With All The Gifts plays like a cross between 28 Weeks Later and the yet to be made movie version of The Last of Us. And yup for the most part it lives up to the quality of those two lofty titles. Which is no mean feat. Close, Arterton, Considine and relative newcomer Sennia Nanua make a superb ensemble cast, delivering on point performances against the back ground of Colm McCarthy’s expertly drawn universe. Dystopian worlds don’t come any better drawn than this, especially at the budget level on display here but the film, it’s world and characters are superb. Highly recommended.

Best Bit: The pram…

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Buy

If You Liked this Try: The Last of Us (PS4), 28 Weeks Later, Train To Busan, The Road

IMDB Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★

Author: Phil Hobden