Jordan Decker’s Top 5:
5. Finding Dory:
This is Pixar doing what they do best: making family-friendly animated entertainment with loads of heart. It doesn’t reach the emotional highs of its predecessor, but it’s thoroughly fun in its own right.
4. Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping:
A very funny update of This is Spinal Tap for a new generation. Who doesn’t love fake, comedic songs written by “The Lonely Island”? Great cameos, fun story and surprisingly heartfelt at times.
3. Deadpool:
Studios like Warner Bros. are currently thinking that they should emulate Deadpool’s mature content and violence to appeal to audiences, but here’s the truth: Deadpool worked so well because it was incredibly faithful to its irreverent source material. Ryan Reynolds steals the show, fully becoming this character who’s hilariousness borders on, if not fully drifts into insanity.
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The last time I can recall being so immersed in a movie’s visual splendor and world building to this degree was in James Cameron’s Avatar; I loved every second of The Jungle Book, largely because of incredible CGI, fast-paced, confident direction by Jon Favreau, uplifting soundtrack and empathetic voice talent. Bill Murray as Baloo? Come on.
1. Captain America: Civil War:
Not to compare this to Batman V Superman… oh wait, that’s exactly what I’m going to do (the films’ stories are too similar to not warrant comparison.) Where that film falls flat on its face from too many characters and set ups for future movies, Civil War makes every plant for future Marvel movies feel as vital to the story as Cap’s main arc. The Russos introduce Black Panther and Spider-Man with the apparent ease of an NBA layup. Robert Downey Jr. gives his best turn as Tony Stark since the firstIron Man in terms of his flawed humanness. Also: Ant-Man. Need I say more?
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