Best Movies I Saw in 2017

I had intended to do an entry about my goals for 2018, but there's a few I don't really feel like sharing. What do I feel like sharing? Well, after I got off track towards the end of 2017, I want to put more of an effort into creative endeavors in 2018. That includes writing and writing includes this blog.

For the first entry, I'll run down some of the best movies I watched in 2017. This doesn't mean they came out in 2017. It just means I discovered them in 2017, or finally watched them last year. There's a lot of movies that also came out last year, that I haven't watched. Or, frankly, I have no desire to watch, no matter how good people have told me they are.

In no particular order:

Welcome to Leith (2015) - An interesting documentary about how white supremicists tried to take over a rural town. I watched it before the events of Charlottesville. Another viewing would probably be even more terrifying.

Arrival (2016) - I was mediocre the first time I watched Interstellar. The second time, I hated it. It spends too much time explaining everything to you. Arrival doesn't do that. It's a sci-fi movie with great concepts that you have to pay attention to and if you do, they reward you.

Hell or High Water (2016) - Taylor Sheridan is going to be a filmmaker to track from now on. All the films he's written have been great and Wind River was beautifully directed, but Hell or High Water is my favorite.

The Magnificent Seven (1960) - This was a bit of CinemaShame for me that I actually watched twice in a couple days. The end is a bit confusing, but the opening of this film is one of the best I've ever seen.

Get Out (2017) - I don't usually watch Horror movies, but after several people told me about it, I watched it and wow. It's not what the Horror genre has become, but what it was. You're unsettled and by the end, what you thought was going on, wasn't. Upon further rewatches you'll see scenes from a different angle and I love that. Also, the fact that this was Jordan Peele who was mainly known for comedy, well, that's something special.

The Founder (2016) - My wife put it best, they do a great job of making you feel bad for Ray Kroc at the beginning and when you get to the end, you hate his guts. That alone is a challenge, but it's a monumental challenge when the actor is Michael Keaton.

Metallica: Some Kind of Monster (2004) - Over a decade late. Watched this for The Documentary Show and while I had zero interest in Metallica, it was extremely well done and very interesting. It became more about social interactions and team work and therapy.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) - I've gone back and forth on whether this is better than the first one. The title sequence is amazing. There's a lot of stuff I absolutely love about this movie. It's fun and enjoyable but also carries a lot of emotion and packs a punch.

Colossal (2016) - What I loved most about this movie, was the originality. Literally, you have not seen a movie like this. Some elements you've seen but not together like this. There's a character development that I did not see coming. And a finale that I realized only at the same moment the main character did.

Kong: Skull Island (2017) - You know what, it's just a fun movie. I watched it thinking it was Apocalypse Now with a giant monkey. Turns out that's what they were going for. It also opens the door for more, but still gives me closure, which very few franchise movies do these days.

Batman & Bill (2017) - Another documentary I watched for the podcast. For comic book fans, creators, and people that just like a good story. It's the story of how one man tried to make sure Bill Finger got the credit he deserved for his contributions to Batman - which were a lot.

The Big Sick (2017) - I like romantic comedies as much as the next guy...okay, more than the next guy, but only by a little bit. I like them when they're good and this one is great. How many Sandra Bullock ones did we have to endure from the mid-90s to 2009? Too many. I put The Big Sick right next to When Harry Met Sally... A romantic comedy that is funny, but is also real and honest. (Spoiler Alert: It's based on a true story and everything works out in the end because they wrote the movie together.)

Baby Driver (2017) - The soundtrack really makes this movie, but it's more than that. In a world where Fast and Furious is up to number eight - nine if you could XXX: Return of Xander Cage - a movie with actual car chases is refreshing. Plus Edgar Wright is a fantastic filmmaker. It's just another one of those great, enjoyable movies.

Logan Lucky (2017) - It's different, but not really. It's basically Ocean's 11 in West Virginia. But what it does, it does great. Another movie that I just like watching and could watch many times. It also gets me very excited for a world where Daniel Craig is no longer James Bond and does a broader spectrum of movies. I also like the way that this film was made and cut out the studios, but that's not as important.

Thor: Ragnarok (2017) - It's the best of the Thor movies and I wish we had gotten to this point sooner. It's fun and it's funny. But it also has a heart at time. It raises pretty big stakes and frankly, I was bit surprised with how they got out of it. In retrospect, it has me hopeful that Marvel is ready to put a big guy made out of rocks on screen and not have it look awful.

Honorable Mentions: Wind River, The Accountant, Doctor Strange, Patriots Day, Hacksaw Ridge, Hidden Figures, Yoga Hosers, Logan, Car Dogs, Miss Sloane, Going in Style, Wakefield.

And that's it. There were other movies I watched that I enjoyed this year, but these were the best. Or at the very least, the ones I enjoyed the most.

Maybe in another couple days, I'll post a list of the worst movies I saw in 2017. It's a bigger list, but I'll try to pare it down.

Spoiler Alert: