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by Jake Ramos I love action films. If you look at my early work, most of my films consisted some sort of action and stunts. Here's my list of top ten action/adventure films of 2017. 10. JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE Jumanji is back, but this time we’re going to the jungle. The Rock leads an all star cast featuring Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan and Nick Jonas. Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle serves as both a loose sequel and soft reboot that cleverly references the 1995 Robin Williams classic. Even though I love the Rock, both Kevin Hart and Jack Black were the highlights for me and are hilarious together. The only downside was that I felt there weren’t too many animals or wildlife in the movie. I mean, we are in the jungle after all. You’d expect it to have more animals than the previous film. Just saying! 9. BABY DRIVER Baby Driver is fun and entertaining with very likeable characters. The editing of this film compliments the storytelling with an awesome soundtrack to go with it. Also, car chases. Who doesn’t love car chases? 8. KONG: SKULL ISLAND Beautifully shot reboot featuring the King of Skull Island set in the backdrop of the Vietnam war. Kong: Skull Island features awesome monster battles and a heartfelt ending with John C. Reilly’s character. If you stay after the credits, surprise! Kong may be king of Skull Island, but Godzilla is the King of all monsters! 7. ATOMIC BLONDE Based on the graphic novel by Antony Johnston in the Cold War espionage genre, Atomic Blonde stars the beautiful Charlize Theron as the ass-kicking MI-6 agent Lorraine Broughton. The story revolves around Broughton who is tasked to find a list of double agents who are being smuggled into the West, on the eve of the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Stunt coordinator and John Wick director David Leitch directs this action packed espionage thriller. Theron has clearly put a lot of work into getting herself physically capable of handling the fight choreography. Oh, and did I forget to mention how beautiful Charlize Theron is? 6. GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY: VOL 2 These little rascals are at it again! The Guardians are back and this time they take on the rest of the galaxy consisting of a band of Ravagers, a genetically advanced galactic race, and an entire planet. Volume 2 was a lot of fun - although at times I think they had a bit too much fun and kind of went off the rails with the humor. But overall quite entertaining with a great message about fatherhood. 5. LOGAN Hugh Jackman’s swan song as the titular character. Logan was action-packed, gritty, and very emotional. A mix between an old school western and a dystopian noir film. It’s going to be hard to say goodbye to a character Jackman has portrayed for 17 years. I honestly can’t think of a better actor to fill in his shoes. Logan was a beautiful way to hang up the claws. But now that Disney has bought Fox and the rights reverting back to Marvel, is it truly over for Jackman’s Wolverine? Only time will tell. 4. WONDER WOMAN Gal Gadot's inner and outer beauty charms the screen in Wonder Woman. It's fun, emotional and action packed. Director Patty Jenkins (Monster, The Killing) captured the true essence of the character from a naive princess of Themyscira to an inspiring superhero tasked to save what's left of humanity in the midst of a "War To End All Wars". The tone and feel was very reminiscent to Christopher Reeve's Superman The Movie, Christian Bale's Batman Begins, and Chris Evans' Captain America: The First Avenger - all films led by male superheroes portrayed by actors whose names start with Chris (Whoa!). But Gadot truly stands triumphant as she makes this character her own in the very first BEST female led superhero film. Themyscira was beautiful, the Amazons are fierce, and Chris Pine was funny and had great chemistry with Gadot. After 3 attempts (Man Of Steel, Batman Vs Superman, Suicide Squad), DC finally has a hit in their first superheroine outing. The Amazonian Princess' time has come. 3. THE FOREIGNER I love Jackie Chan. I’ve been watching his movies ever since I was a little kid and I oftentimes try to emulate what he does… well not to the extent that he does. But seriously, I idolize him. It was so great seeing Jackie Chan back on the big screen in The Foreigner. However, he’s a different kind of Jackie Chan. Gone is the humorous, fun lovable character. Here, you get a dark, gritty and lonely man out for revenge. It’s definitely worth seeing Chan take on more serious roles but still keeping up with the action elements. 2. JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2 John Wick is back and this time he’s going global. With a bounty on his head, every assassin is after him. Keanu Reeves shows no signs of slowing down and puts out all the stops in this follow up to 2014’s breakout action hit. 1. THE VILLAINESS The Villainess is a mix between Kill Bill, John Wick and Hardcore Henry in terms of visual style, storytelling and fight choreography. It’s insanely brutal and the most kick-ass film I’ve seen since The Raid films. This South Korean action film is great homage to female assassin thrillers. Be sure to check out my main top ten list of 2017 here.
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by Jake Ramos 2017 has been a great year for comic book movies. With hits from Marvel and DC and far in between, here's my list of the top ten comic book movies of 2017. 10. GHOST IN THE SHELL One of the most visually stunning films I've ever seen. The Neo-Tokyo/Dystopian-Punk set pieces played well in IMAX 3D. If there is one thing the movie got right, it's the look. Unfortunately it lacked the heart and soul of its source material. The film would have benefited from a longer running time that could be used to flesh out the story and character development. There was some controversy regarding the casting of Scarlett Johansson. Many felt an Asian actress should have been casted. I didn't mind so much and I get the studio chose to go with a bigger name to cater to a western audience. But I do feel that it's time for Hollywood to break out of their shell and give others a chance. There are many talented Asian actors and actresses that are leading role material that Hollywood can capitalize on. As far as Scarlett's performance goes as the Major, she actually did pretty well given the material she had to work with. She shined even more during the action sequences. With better direction and a better script, she would have been amazing. Speaking of action, I wished there was a bit more of it. I'm a huge fan of the original anime (1995) and I did appreciate some scenes being shot for shot. If you’re wondering why this film is on the list, it’s because Ghost In The Shell was originally a Manga (Japanese comic book) first published in 1989. 9. JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK Even though NBC cancelled Constantine, it’s still great to see Matt Ryan return to the role whether it’d be a cameo in the Arrowverse or in animation. Justice League Dark sees Batman team up with Constantine and his band of supernatural misfits to take on a dark threat. It’s refreshing to see the mystical and supernatural side of the DC universe and here’s hoping we get to see a live action version in the near future. 8. ATOMIC BLONDE Based on the graphic novel by Antony Johnston in the Cold War espionage genre, Atomic Blonde stars the beautiful Charlize Theron as the ass-kicking MI-6 agent Lorraine Broughton. The story revolves around Broughton who is tasked to find a list of double agents who are being smuggled into the West, on the eve of the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Stunt coordinator and John Wick director David Leitch directs this action packed espionage thriller. Theron has clearly put a lot of work into getting herself physically capable of handling the fight choreography. Oh, and did I forget to mention how beautiful Charlize Theron is? Despite all the make up to make her look battered and bruised, she still manages to look so stunningly gorgeous. 7. JUSTICE LEAGUE Justice League was fun, entertaining and had heart, but not without flaws - don't get me started on the underwhelming CGI! The film definitely fixed some issues established in the previous films. However, it could have also benefited with a slightly longer running time. At just a little under 2 hours, certain scenes needed some more time to breathe. The team dynamic was good. Everyone had their moment to shine. Ezra Miller's Flash and Henry Cavill's Superman were the highlights for me. YES, the REAL SUPERMAN is finally here and not Kal-El the god-like alien messiah that everyone either fears or are unsure of - and NO, that's not a spoiler, we all knew the world's greatest superhero was coming back. This may not be the Justice League movie I dreamed of as a kid. It's far from perfect, but a step towards the right direction. The film starts and ends with HOPE. And here's hoping the films get better from this point on. Please give us a Man of Steel sequel already! Supes deserves it. 6. SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING Spiderman Homecoming breathes new life into the Spiderman franchise. A nice blend of fun, excitement, and a good dose of teenage angst. The film stays true to its title - Spiderman is finally home (with Marvel Studios!) Looking forward to seeing Peter Parker growing into the web slinging hero he was meant to be. 2004's Spiderman 2 is still my favorite. 5. THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE Who doesn’t love Batman? Who doesn’t love Legos? The best of both worlds collide in this fun, entertaining and action packed film about family and friendship. If you loved The Lego Movie, you’ll love The Lego Batman Movie. 4. THOR: RAGNAROK Thor Ragnarok was a fun and colorful adventure that had me laughing and cheering for joy from beginning to end. It’s definitely the best of the Thor trilogy in terms of story but I was a bit let down certain characters important to the Thor mythology either met their doom or were a no show. It also featured surprising and humorous cameos by Sam Neill and Matt Damon. 3. GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY: VOL 2 These little rascals are at it again! The Guardians are back and this time they take on the rest of the galaxy consisting of a band of Ravagers, a genetically advanced galactic race, and an entire planet. Volume 2 was a lot of fun - although at times I think they had a bit too much fun and kind of went off the rails with the humor. But overall quite entertaining with a great message about fatherhood. 2. LOGAN Hugh Jackman’s swan song as the titular character. Logan was action-packed, gritty, and very emotional. A mix between an old school western and a dystopian noir film with a breakout performance by Dafne Keen. It’s going to be hard to say goodbye to a character Jackman has portrayed for 17 years. I honestly can’t think of a better actor to fill in his shoes. Logan was a beautiful way to hang up the claws. But now that Disney has bought Fox and the rights reverting back to Marvel, is it truly over for Jackman’s Wolverine? Only time will tell. 1. WONDER WOMAN Gal Gadot's inner and outer beauty charms the screen in Wonder Woman. It's fun, emotional and action packed. Director Patty Jenkins (Monster, The Killing) captured the true essence of the character from a naive princess of Themyscira to an inspiring superhero tasked to save what's left of humanity in the midst of a "War To End All Wars". The tone and feel was very reminiscent to Christopher Reeve's Superman The Movie, Christian Bale's Batman Begins, and Chris Evans' Captain America: The First Avenger - all films led by male superheroes portrayed by actors whose names start with Chris (Whoa!). But Gadot truly stands triumphant as she makes this character her own in the very first BEST female led superhero film. Themyscira was beautiful, the Amazons are fierce, and Chris Pine was funny and had great chemistry with Gadot. After 3 attempts (Man Of Steel, Batman Vs Superman, Suicide Squad), DC finally has a hit in their first superheroine outing. The Amazonian Princess' time has come.
by Jake Ramos 2017 is coming to a close and that means it’s time for my annual TOP TEN MOVIES OF THE YEAR! But this time I’m doing things a little different. Because I’ve seen so many movies this year - a total of 34, there were a lot of great ones to choose from. So I added some subcategories with a top ten list of their own. You can check them out here: TOP TEN COMIC BOOK MOVIES | TOP TEN ACTION/ADVENTURE MOVIES. And now without further ado, here are my top ten movies of 2017. Warning: Spoilers ahead! 10. Get Out Get Out marks Jordan Peele’s (of Key and Peele fame) directorial debut, and boy was it a great one! Taking on society’s issues of racism and turning it into a satirical horror film is a great way to make a bold statement. Peele has succeeded in where other experienced directors fail in getting a message to resonate with audiences. Get Out is witty and a different kind of scary. 9. SPLIT James McAvoy gives one of his best performances as a disturbed man suffering with 23 different personalities. After a series of duds at the box office, Split was an unexpected surprise from director M. Night Shyamalan. But the biggest surprise was the ending (SPOILER ALERT!) featuring a cameo by none other than Bruce Willis, who portrays the character David Dunn from Shyamalan’s 2000 hit Unbreakable. Yes, Split and Unbreakable are in the same cinematic universe and Glass, the third film of this trilogy, is well under way. 8. THE GREATEST SHOWMAN The Greatest Showman is spectacular and mesmerizing. A feel-good movie and fun for the whole family with catchy tunes that make you want to sing along and dance. Hugh Jackman can do it all and big props to Zac Efron, Zendaya, Michelle Williams, Keala Settle and the rest of the amazing and talented cast. 7. LOGAN Hugh Jackman’s swan song as the titular character. Logan was action-packed, gritty, and very emotional. A mix between an old school western and a dystopian noir film with a breakout performance by Dafne Keen. It’s going to be hard to say goodbye to a character Jackman has portrayed for 17 years. I honestly can’t think of a better actor to fill in his shoes. Logan was a beautiful way to hang up the claws. But now that Disney has bought Fox and the rights reverting back to Marvel, is it truly over for Jackman’s Wolverine? Only time will tell. 6. WONDER WOMAN Gal Gadot's inner and outer beauty charms the screen in Wonder Woman. It's fun, emotional and action packed. Director Patty Jenkins (Monster, The Killing) captured the true essence of the character from a naive princess of Themyscira to an inspiring superhero tasked to save what's left of humanity in the midst of a "War To End All Wars". The tone and feel was very reminiscent to Christopher Reeve's Superman The Movie, Christian Bale's Batman Begins, and Chris Evans' Captain America: The First Avenger - all films led by male superheroes portrayed by actors whose names start with Chris (Whoa!). But Gadot truly stands triumphant as she makes this character her own in the very first BEST female led superhero film. Themyscira was beautiful, the Amazons are fierce, and Chris Pine was funny and had great chemistry with Gadot. After 3 attempts (Man Of Steel, Batman Vs Superman, Suicide Squad), DC finally has a hit in their first superheroine outing. The Amazonian Princess' time has come. 5. THE VILLAINESS The Villainess is a mix between Kill Bill, John Wick and Hardcore Henry in terms of visual style, storytelling and fight choreography. It’s insanely brutal and the most kick-ass film I’ve seen since The Raid films. This South Korean action film is a great homage to female assassin thrillers and will leave you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. 4. THE DISASTER ARTIST Arguably one of the best movies of the year based on the true story behind one of the worst movies in cinema history. James Franco gives one of the best performances of his career! THE ROOM was one of those movies that was sooo bad but yet sooo good. What's more intriguing is the man behind the "Citizen Kane" of bad movies and the best friend that stuck with him to achieve their dreams. As a filmmaker, I can appreciate this story because it definitely strikes a chord with me and my own experiences trying to break into the industry. It's ironic that I find it inspiring given the fact that I hated The Room when I first saw it. The Franco bros and co. did an absolutely tremendous job on capturing the highs and lows of chasing your dreams. 3. STAR WARS EPISODE VIII: THE LAST JEDI The Last Jedi may have left some fans divided but as for me, I truly enjoyed it. The fanboy in me was saying “no, why’d you have to do that? I would have done it this way!”. But the filmmaker in me says “yes, I can appreciate the director’s decision to progress the story forward by ending another. It strayed away from the typical Star Wars formula and shook and broke the ground of what was familiar.” If there’s one thing both sides of me can agree with, it’s that I would have saved some decisions made in this film for the next and last one of the trilogy (Episode IX). 2. BLADE RUNNER 2049 A visually stunning, captivating, thrilling and breathtaking movie experience. A beautiful desolation of sorts where the story and characters are driven by its awe inspiring moments and set pieces. The art speaks for itself. With the trend of flashy, fast paced CGI-frenzy blockbusters nowadays, the tone and pacing is a breath of fresh air as it allows the story to unfold naturally. It's an intelligent film with an acquired taste for some which leaves us with more questions than answers compared to its predecessor. Blade Runner 2049 provides a glimpse into the not so distant dystopian future where one can no longer tell the difference between human and artificial intelligence. We're on that course... and it's scary. 1. DUNKIRK DUNKIRK is one of the most thrilling, suspenseful experiences I've had at the movies in a long time. Director Christopher Nolan does an outstanding job capturing the gripping tale of survival and building tension, most without words, as 400,000 soldiers struggled to get home... until home came for them. Hans Zimmer's score is haunting in this World War II epic and Hoyte Van Hoytema's cinematography is beautifully projected on IMAX 70MM film. It is truly and beautifully immersive and I wish more big scale movies would go this route rather than digital and 3D. Dunkirk is epic and meant for a gigantic screen!
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