KAUSERN REVIEWS TOP 10 MOVIES OF 2017

I watched 43 movies this year, short of 4 movies from 2016. First movie of the year, La La Land and last movie of the year, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.

As mentioned in my post for Top 10 Movies of 2016, it's a privileged to be living in Malaysia as our cinema tickets are very affordable. Beside movies released via the cinemas, added to my list this year are exclusive Netflix movies.

Also for this Top 10 list, I've excluded movies which are considered last year's releases (eventhough it was only released in local cinemas here early of 2017). These movies are:

• Arrival (9/10)
• La La Land (8.5/10)
• Hacksaw Ridge (8.5/10)
• Dangal (8/10)

You can read more on my commentary on the above list when I did a mid year stock take on the Top 10 list of 2017

Ok, now that I've put that all aside, let's get on with the Top 10 movies of 2017! All of these movies were chosen mainly because it connected with me emotionally. Some of these made me laugh out so loud, some made me bawl my eyes out and there are some here which kept me on the edge of the cinema seat. And there are a handful which are just fresh and clever.


NOTEWORTHY MOVIES OF 2017

MAD WORLD (8/10)

A Hong Kong film on the rare topic of mental illness, with powerful performances from the three leads.


WONDER WOMAN (8/10)

A superhero movie done right. And Gal Gadot... *deep sigh with a hint of infatuation*


WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES (8.5/10)

Somebody give Andy Serkis an Academy Award already!

BABY DRIVER (8.5/10)

Another Edgar Wright masterpiece: perfectly edited, amazing visuals and the SONGS!


THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE (8.5/10)

Very entertaining, highly re-watchable with many LOL moments and surprisingly grounded in real life family issues.


...AND HERE ARE THE TOP 10 MOVIES OF 2017! 
(Click on the titles to read the full review)

#10 COCO (8.5/10)

That scene where little Miguel sings "Remember Me" to Mama Coco? T____T


#9 GIFTED (8.5/10)

Such a feel good movie with genuine performances especially from little McKenna Grace.


#8 STRONGER (8.5/10)

A true story of Jeff Bauman (played by Jake Gyllenhaal), a Boston Marathon bombing survivor who lost both of his legs. This movie plainly shows the good, the bad and the ugly of what he and his loved ones had to go through to rebuild his life. Very believable.


#7 COLOSSAL (8.5/10)

A quirky, funny, refreshing, clever and tragic story on undealt issues and its consequences. A high-concept movie.


#6 THOR: RAGNAROK (8.5/10)

I re-watched it recently and it was still as funny! A really ballsy, entertaining and fun Marvel movie, complete with the fist-pumping Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song" memorable last act.


#5 OKJA (8.5/10)

This movie made me NOT EAT pork, beef, lamb and chicken for a month. I ate mainly vegetables and the occasional fish.


#4 GET OUT (8.5/10)

An exceptionally tight and clever movie which masterfully blends social commentary with the horror genre.


#3 BAD GENIUS (9/10)

A Thai movie which is brilliantly directed, edited and acted. What I love about this movie is the unpredictable plot. As soon as you think it would go a certain way, the dynamic changes. Who would have thought that watching a group of high school students cheat in their exams would be a nail-biting experience right to the very end!


#2 DUNKIRK (9.5/10)

A technical masterpiece filled with riveting moments which demands to be watched on the biggest screen possible and with the best sound system available. I watched it twice on IMAX.

  
#1 A GHOST STORY (9.5/10)

A haunting movie about unfinished business. A simple but yet a very high-concept film which was both intellectually and emotionally satisfying for me.


AND...that's a wrap for 2017! Here's looking forward to 2018!