2015 is drawing to a swift close and the Big Screen Hooligans are taking a look back at this year in cinema/movies. We are intentionally making this post before the release of the latest Star Wars, as our inner geeks are willing it to be the best movie of the year and therefore free of critical eyes.

There have been plenty of HIGHS & LOWS and yes a few SURPRISES. We have decided this will be our format for each reviewer.

Up first are the boys for the group: Ramz, Nomad Shad and The Chairman

NOMAD SHAD

HIGHS

5. Ant-Man

Marvel fatigue is setting and it’s up to Ant-Man  to save the studio. Ant-Man reigns in all the world-ending action for a fun caper about a dad being a hero to his daughter.

4. Inside Out

Pixar is back at their brilliant best with a film that will bring you on the verge of tears.  It all about the feels. Bing Bong is the best…

3. Straight Outta Compton

This is a must! A well-directed masterpiece takes us back to a time when hip hop was real!

2. Mad Max: Fury Road

Think a 2 hour long car chase would be a terrible  idea? Fury Road proves you’re wrong! A rich spectacle of sand and fire, Mad Max reinvigoarted the action genre with stunning practical effects and Furiosa, the badass of the year! If that doesn’t convince you then this Flaming Guitarist will…

1. The Martian

Ridley Scott and Matt Damon hit gold on Mars. The Martian shows the human will to survive against all odds. Matt Damon plays the witty Mark Watney, a botanist that sciences the shit out of his predicament.

Brilliant direction, screenplay, visuals, and an ensemble cast just boost this film to Oscar heights. It also proves that duct tape fixes all.

LOWS

5. Jupiter Ascending – A film that attempts to have a plot but not really.

4. Pixels – Adam Sandler…nuff said.

3. Chappie – Chappie bubblegum are more entertaining.

2. Hitman: Agent 47 – Pouring hot oil into my eyes would be a more entertaining experience.

1. Fantastic Four –The most horrendous thing that 2015 has spewed. It is a convoluted mess of an origin story with dull, uninspired characters. Hate is not a strong enough word. [Expletives]

Biggest Surprises

Mad Max: Fury Road

In all honesty, I thought this film would sink . I’m glad George Miller proved me wrong.

 

 RAMZ

HIGHS

5. What We Do In The Shadows

Probably the funniest movie of the year for me. Jemaine Clement making New Zealand proud once again with the best adaptation of the vampire film genre in decades.

4. Ant-Man

Tired of seeing big muscles, six-packs or tits & ass fighting aliens to protect the world? Paul Rudd has come to rescue us from comic book movie clichés by embracing them and taking the piss out of it every step of the way. More a heist movie in the vein of Ocean’s Eleven, this has become one of my favourite superhero films.

3. Kingsman: The Secret Service

Again a film that takes a tired genre (the spy film) and judo flips it on its ass by having as much fun as they can with it. They end up giving us the most entertaining, over the top, fight choreography and characters in years while winking at the camera just to let you in on the joke (literally).

2. Ex Machina

This thought-provoking film about what it really means to be human tackles questions of love, life and everything else through the eyes of an artificial being and its conversation with an awkward young man who feels just as out of place in this world as the robot who struggles to understand human intimacy.

The stylish directing, excellent writing and incredible acting from all involved should make this film a shoe-in for an Academy Award nomination.

1.Mad Max: Fury Road

My words will not do this film justice! This is a visual masterpiece of violence and ugliness that is balanced with unexpected moments of tenderness. The ridiculous silliness and craziness of this Max’s world only proves that you don’t have to be mad to survive this movie but, my God, it will certainly help.

…and here’s a picture of a guy in a onesie, playing a flame-thrower guitar.

 

LOWS

5. Focus – This film tries so hard to be cool and sexy but misses the mark every time. I’ve seen better B-grade movies about con artists. This film made my 5 worst mostly because people hyped it up so much.

4. Jupiter Ascending – Stupid story that will entertain you once you just accept it for what it is.

3. Mortdecai – Johnny Depp has become a parody of himself.

2 .Knock Knock – Kak Kak

1. Chappie – This film offended me and I still want Neil BlomKak to pay back the money I spent on this piece of shit.

Biggest Surprises

The Duff

This was the most pleasant surprise of the year. A heart-warming and charming story about the awkwardness of being a teenager and how high school peers can affect your self-esteem. The film is about more than just puppy love, it’s about the value of friendship and the confidence to be you.

Don’t worry about them haters. You do you, boo.

Avengers: Age Of Ultron

Surprisingly mediocre.

THE CHAIRMAN

HIGHS

5. Ant-Man

A great fresh take on one of the founding members of the Avengers, Paul Rudd was great and Michael Pena brings the laughs to the max. Wine Tasting anyone?

4. Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation

Tom Cruise and the IMF crew are once again amazing, Ethan Hunt tied to a plane and then that plane taking off and all this being a real stunt is worth the admission price.

3. Mad Max: Fury Road

George Miller + Australian Desert (actually Namibia) = AMAZE-BALLS!!!! Witness the sickness.

2. The Martian

A movie that will break your heart at the death of potatoes, even though you know those potatoes were grew with human poop…..mmm, delicious. This a great comeback for Ridley Scott

1. Avengers: Age of Ultron

James Spader delivers one of the most memorable performances of his career and he was a completely CGI character. The tensions among the Avengers are building and this movies ties Phase 2 of the MCU up nicely.

 

LOWS

5. Pitch Perfect 2 – This could go down as one of the worst sequels I have ever seen, given how good part 1 was…..note: less Rebel Wilson

4. San Andreas – Disaster movies are great when the stakes are higher, disaster porn at its worst.

3. Jupiter Ascending –  Somebody really needs to stop giving the Wachowski siblings money….like at all.

2. Chappie – This movie made me embarrassed to be South African, come on Neil Blomkamp…..you are better than this!

1.Furious 7 – This movie made me physically mad and I hated myself for watching it till the end. Preview: Fast 8: In Space…..sounds plausible in this franchise.

Biggest Surprises

Jurassic World – Fun times with dinos and Starlord.

Terminator: Genysis – Not shit or a trainwreck

 

Let us have your thoughts, do you agree with our choices? Girls edition to come soon…..I hope 😉