Best Movies of 2018 So Far and Awards

Honorable Mentions: Game Night, Deadpool 2, The Tale, Black Panther, The Endless, Annihilation, Love Simon, Avengers: Infinity Wars, Ant-Man and the Wasp.
Note: These are what I consider to be the best movies released so far in 2018. It's important to remember I haven't seen every movie to come out in 2018.

Runner-Up: Revenge
When I made this same list last year, I included a film called "Hounds of Love." A controversial film revolving around a woman who is kidnapped by a married couple and is repetitively raped and tortured, unfortunately, that film was loosely based off true events regarding an Australian couple who did just that. The movie was controversial regarding its depiction of violence against women, particularly because of some more graphic rape and torture scenes. Now this year, I include a film that's not based on true events but is a pure exploitative throwback. "Revenge" tells the story of a young woman and mistress who is taken to a desert resort by a French man who is there to later big game hunt with his friends. When the friends show up early, one of them becomes a little too attached to her and rapes her. Later the girl tries to escape but is chased down by the men who push her off a cliff nearly killing her, only to survive and seek revenge against them. The "rape/revenge" genre has never been my favorite; I always viewed them as a trashy homage to a time in Hollywood that has since passed. But "Revenge" is the best the genre has seen in a very long time. Over-the-top, violent, action-packed, disturbing imagery with the saturation turned up, and one of the most badass women protagonists I've seen on screen in a long time. If you can stomach the violence, this is one worth watching.

Runner-Up: Isle of Dogs

For the past 20 years, Wes Anderson has been hailed as one of the best active American directors. Noted for his unique visual style and storytelling, his films like "The Royal Tenenbaums," "Fantastic Mr. Fox," and "The Grand Budapest Hotel" are often called modern classics by his fans. So every time he says he's working on a new film, the whole industry perks up. His latest movie is "Isle of Dogs," a stop-motion animated comedy that may bring a tear to your eye. Taking place in Japan, a political leader signs a bill into law banning all dogs to the nearby Trash Island after the spread of a mysterious disease linked to the animals. The film primarily revolves around a group of dogs on the island who find a young boy after he crashes his plane, the boy is looking for his lost dog that was taken to the island, and with the other dogs help hopes on finding him alive. "Isle of Dogs" is a lovely littler treasure, stop-motion movies are few and far between and this is the best I've seen in a while. Anderson's quirky style translates well, and knows just when to drop in offbeat humor and emotionally draining moments. If you're a fan of the genre, or quality film making in general, this is one you shouldn't miss.

5. Incredibles 2
I imagine when people are working on the follow-up to a successful, critically acclaimed, and beloved film there's a good bit of pressure on their shoulders; if I had to guess I feel "Incredibles 2" is the epitome of that situation. "The Incredibles" was a 2004 animated movie from Pixar that did well at the box office, won two Academy Awards, and garnered a huge fan base spanning several generations. It followed a family of superheroes in a world where it's illegal to be one. Picking up directly after the first ended, the story revolves around Elastagirl (aka Mrs. Incredible) as she is hired by an eccentric billionaire to perform heroic acts and get supers back on the public's good side. "Incredibles 2" took 14 long years to come out, and while I don't think it's as good as its predecessor, I still think it's great. Highlighted by great performances, memorable characters, beautiful animation and art direction, and taking place in a word filled with lore and personality helps this stand among some of the very best in Pixar's filmography.

4. Sorry to Bother You

When the early year festival season was going on a few months back, one indie movie that made a whole lot of waves was the upcoming comedy "Sorry to Bother You." Receiving high praise from critics and audiences, and even now is one of the year's best reviewed movies on Rotten Tomatoes, this satirical film had all the makings to one of this year's best. The story follows Cassius, a down on his luck loser who lives in his uncle's garage with his girlfriend and needs to lie to get a crummy telemarketing job. While he has trouble at first, he receives some advice on how to be a better salesman, put on his white voice. He gives it a try and sees immediate success, and what follows is super crazy and too hard to describe. "Sorry to Bother You" is one of the best satires I've seen in years, and certainly one of the funniest. Filled with memorable characters, hilarious lines, and crazy situations, this is one of those rare movies that lives up to its immense hype.

3. A Quiet Place

Going into the first half of 2018, this was one of the more talked about films. After premiering at some film festivals, the movie received considerable buzz as one of the best and most original horror movies in years. Acting as John Krasinski's directorial debut, and after seeing it I certainly agree with all the praise it had received. The film takes place in a near future where primal aliens have invaded and wiped out most of the population. A family that has survived live out on a farm away from areas more populated with these monsters. With the mother pregnant and about to give birth, a deaf daughter who feels guilt over the death of her younger brother, and the other challenges that come with surviving the end of the world, we see the family fight for their lives as best they can. On top of being a well written and intense horror-thriller, what makes this film stand out would be its use of sound, mostly in that it uses little of it. There is almost no talking in this film; most conversation is through sign language. Most noise comes from the background, and there are long pauses of mostly silence; and whenever the perspective switches to the daughter, the sound cuts out altogether. "A Quiet Place" is a phenomenal movie, one of the best directorial debuts I've seen in a while, and one of the year's stand out films.

2. Won't You Be My Neighbor?
If you were to design a movie to make people cry, this is it; because this movie made me cry, a lot. And what I mean by a lot, I've never cried so much during a movie. I'm a big enough man to admit this movie made me cry like a little girl, and I highly recommend you go through the same experience. "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" chronicles the life of Fred Rogers, the host of "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood," an educational children's show that attempted to teach morals and life lessons to children of all ages. Mr. Rogers holds a special place in my heart, I watched his show growing up and that almost assuredly contributed to why this movie made me so emotional. Overall though, I'd rank this among the best documentaries I've seen in years. Exceptionally well told with great use of archived footage, even if you didn't watch Mr. Rogers growing up, this is one I can't recommend enough.

1. Hereditary
Over the years of doing this blog, I tend to like polarizing movies. I'm not sure what it is, maybe I look at movies a different way than general audiences (more like an analytical critic I guess, or I at least try to approach movies like this), but there is something interesting about seeing thoughts of a film split down the middle. For the most part, "Hereditary" is one of these films. Lauded by critics but met with much criticism from audiences, "Hereditary" is an artful tour de force a lot of people aren't going to like. The film follows the Graham family, a dysfunctional family whose matriarch has recently died. Not long afterwards the family falls into disarray, with tragedy after tragedy befalling them. I think the main reason that so many didn't like this film was that even though it was marketed as a horror film, it's not that scary. There is an underlying tension and sense of dread, but few jump scares and spooks. It's really a tragic family drama with horror elements. But when you approach it like that it's brilliant. Exceptional acting, a haunting score, an engaging plot filled with twists and turns, and a strong script culminate in what I think is the best movie of the year so far.

Best Actor in a Leading Role: Lakeith Stanfield (Sorry to Bother You)
Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Josh Brolin (Avengers: Infinity Wars)
Best Actress in a Leading Role: Toni Collette (Hereditary)
Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Millicent Simmonds (A Quiet Place)
Best Animated Feature: The Incredibles 2
Best Cinematography: Hereditary
Best Costume Design: Avengers: Infinity Wars
Best Director: Ari Aster (Hereditary)
Best Documentary Feature: Won't You Be My Neighbor?
Best Film Editing: Hereditary
Best Foreign Film: Revenge
Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Avengers: Infinity Wars
Best Original Score: Avengers: Infinity Wars
Best Original Song: All the Stars (Black Panther)
Best Picture: Hereditary
Best Production Design: Avengers: Infinity Wars
Best Sound Editing: A Quiet Place
Best Sound Mixing: Avengers: Infinity Wars
Best Visual Effects: Avengers: Infinity Wars
Best Adapted Screenplay: Avengers: Infinity Wars
Best Original Screenplay (Tie): Hereditary/Sorry to Bother You

Fifty Shades Freed Review

     So here we go again, one last terrible f*cking time. Now, if you don't know me very well, you might not know my utter disdain for the "Fifty Shades" franchise. "Fifty Shades of Grey" was released back in 2015, and while it wasn't the worst movie of the year it certainly ranked somewhere near it. The only "redeemable" factor of the movie was that I felt like the director tried her best to make it work, unfortunately for her there was too little to salvage. Two years later we got the sequel, "Fifty Shades Darker," which was my choice for the worst movie of 2017. With the sequel, there were no redeemable qualities. Horrendous performances, cringy writing, subplots that lead nowhere, no chemistry between the actors playing forgettable characters, and I don't even feel the director tried. "Fifty Shades Darker" is one of the worst films I've ever seen, and I hope to never see it again. Unfortunately, when it comes to the series as a whole, I've come this far so I might as well finish what I started. Now in 2018 we get the final chapter of the "Fifty Shades" series, "Fifty Shades Freed." I'll go ahead and cut to the chase, it's bad. It’ll be in consideration for one of the worst movies of the year. I'll get into detail why, but I thought I'd save you the effort. Now sit back, relax, and read my words on why this movie sucks.

     "Fifty Shades Free" picks up shortly after the events of its predecessor. The two main characters, Christian and Anastasia, are getting married and are ready to start their lives together. But their honeymoon is cut short when there a fire caused by arson breaks out at Christian’s company. The two head home to Seattle, and are confronted by the reality that Ana's old boss seems to be going after them. The two go back to their normal lives, but now married some new conflicts arise. Then some other stuff happens, they have sex a lot, and then it's over.

     Listen, I said it earlier and I'll say it again, this isn't a good movie. No need to beat around the bush, I'll just go ahead and say "Fifty Shades Freed" is a bad movie and if you wanted to know my overall opinion it is just that. Now, on to the actual review. I feel like I should go ahead and get the positive things out of the way first. This movie is certainly a step up from its predecessor. The second film in the series was "Fifty Shades Darker," a film I absolutely despised and even ranked it as the worst movie of 2017. "Freed" is certainly better. The main reason is that the story is at least coherent; as convoluted and boring as the plot of this movie is, you can actually follow what happens. And unlike "Darker," they didn't completely fill it with nonsense side-plots you don't care about. Also, there were actually a few jokes in this movie that gave me a decent chuckle; so that's nice. Now with the good out of the way, let's talk about everything else. To call this screenplay poorly written doesn't really do it justice. As I already said, the plot is so boring and convoluted that little makes sense but you don't even care. Like its predecessors the dialog is always cringy, and it's delivered with no passion from uninspired actors giving terrible performances as characters that are unlikable and uninteresting. I don't blame them that much though, it helps that the film's direction seems non-existent, with no idea in what it wants to be. But if I had to choose the one area that this movie fails completely, it would be with sex. For what are supposed to be erotic movies, these films have always been rather unsexy. It's such played up, romanticized sex with BDSM elements thrown in but there's no real weight behind it. Maybe because the actors have no chemistry, the direction, or that the woman who wrote the books can't write sex (or anything else but that's beside the point). It's just that when you have a movie that literally revolves around sex, you really need to get that element about it right. "Fifty Shades Freed" is not a good movie. It's boring, bland, and every other negative adjective in the book. I could go deeper, similar to what I did with its predecessor regarding its unmemorable music or cinematography, but you get the basic gist by this point. It's not the worst film I've ever seen, or even the worst installment in its franchise, but hopefully I'll never have to see it again. But there is one more pro I forgot to mention; with the conclusion of this movie, the "Fifty Shades" series is officially over. And that's something we can all get behind.

Pros: A step-up from its predecessor, a few jokes gave me chuckle, coherent story, ending the franchise.

Cons: Non-existent direction, uninspired actors with no chemistry, terrible performances, poorly written screenplay, cringy dialog, lead characters are unlikable and uninteresting, not sexy, convoluted and boring story.

1/5 Stars

10 Best Movies of 2017

Honorable Mentions: John Wick: Chapter 2, The Lego Batman Movie, The Lost City of Z, Wonder Woman, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, T2: Trainspotting, Hounds of Love, Okja, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Wind River, Uncertain, It, Logan Lucky, Mother!, Brawl in Cell Block 99, Killing of a Sacred Deer, War for the Planet of the Apes, Thor: Ragnarok, Brigsby Bear, Coco, The Big Sick, The Square, Mayhem, Columbus, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Icarus, Call Me By Your Name, I Tonya.
Note: This list is based solely off my own personal opinion of what I thought were the best/most memorable/impressive movies released during 2017 and is ordered alphabetically (not including the runner-ups which are listed before the top 10, also in alphabetical order). To qualify for this list, a movie must have had a limited or wide theatrical or online release in 2017 (festival screenings alone do not count); I would like to mention I was not able to watch every movie released in 2017.

Runner-Up: Detroit
What gets me excited about a movie is not the subject matter, or the actors, or the writers; what gets me excited about a movie has to be the director. "Detroit" already looked interesting, but when I found out it was being directed by Kathryn Bigelow, my interest was really peaked. If you don't know, Bigelow is one of the most talented directors working today. She directed "The Hurt Locker" and "Zero Dark Thirty," and is the only woman to win the Oscar for best director. With "Detroit" she stepped away from the war in the Middle East like her previous two films, and with this one focused on a war that happened in our back yard. In 1967, there were massive riots in Detroit that resulted in countless injuries and arrests, but the worst moment of the riots happened at the Algiers motel. One night of the riots, the police and national guard stormed the Algiers motel claiming that someone was firing at them front the second floor window. They began interrogating the occupants, which resulted in one of the worst cases of police brutality in American history. Now in all honesty, "Detroit" is the weakest installment of Bigelow's three most recent films. It doesn't have the same impact, or weight behind it, that her previous two films had. Even so, it's great. With some of the year's best performances and memorable scenes, as well as Bigelow's strong direction, "Detroit" will be one of the stand-outs of 2017 for many.

Runner-Up: Lady Bird

If you were to go back to the beginning of 2017, and tell me the most critically acclaimed movie of 2017 (according to Rotten Tomatoes anyways) was going to be an indie coming-of-age film about a teenage girl from a first time director, I'd ask you politely but firmly to leave the room. Well, 2017 wasn't exactly a conventional year anyways. "Lady Bird" tells the story of Lady Bird (her self-given name), a young woman from Sacramento growing up in the early 2000s. Lady Bird is an interesting girl, who has dreams to make it out of California and go to college on the east coast where culture lives. Along the way she fights her family, her friends, and herself. "Lady Bird" is one of the better coming-of-age movies I've seen in the past few years. The screenplay is clever, funny, and often very sincere, Saoirse Ronan gives one of the best performances of the year in the title role, and the fact that this is the directorial debut for Greta Gerwig is actually pretty impressive. While "Lady Bird" may not have blown me away like it did some people, it's easy to call it one of the year's best.

Runner-Up: Logan
I think this is the first time a super hero movie has ever appeared on my lists of the best films of the year. There have been a few times where one came close like "Civil War" or "The Winter Soldier," but this is the first. "Logan" is the latest installment in the X-Men franchise, and the third film revolving entirely around Wolverine. Loosely based off of the acclaimed "Old Man Logan" comic, "Logan" takes place several years in a future where mutants don't really exist anymore. Only a few are left and they're often hunted by the government. Logan (aka Wolverine) is working as a driver in Mexico while taking care of a dementia ridden Professor X. Logan hopes to make enough money to buy a boat so him and the professor can live away from the mainland, but his plans are derailed when a young mutant girl falls into their laps and needs to be taken to the Canadian border. "Logan" works on so many levels: it works as a super hero film, as a drama, as a neo-noir western, and as an action film. It also took a page out of "Deadpool's" book and just went for that hard R rating (this is an incredibly violent movie). "Logan" is a movie that was even better than I hoped it would be, it brought something new to the franchise and sent the character of Wolverine out on a high note. It's smart, emotional, occasionally funny, and often very exciting. "Logan" isn't just one of the best films of the year; it's the best super hero film since "The Dark Knight."

The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)

If you were to make a list of the worst actors of all time, there's a good chance that Adam Sandler would appear on it. Sandler rose to prominence in the 1990s as one of the biggest names in comedies. While not critically acclaimed, his movies "Billy Madison," "The Waterboy," and "Happy Gilmore" were loved by millions. But starting in the mid 2000s, his reputation began to dip. He began to make terrible movie after terrible movie until his name became synonymous with bad film making. The reason I say this is because I'm legitimately surprised how good he is in the starring role of this movie. "The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)" is a Netflix comedy-drama about the Meyerowitz family. It primarily revolves around two half brothers (played by Sandler and Ben Stiller) and their father. I absolutely loved this movie. It was funny and sincere, had great performances, and one of the best original screenplays of the year. When I first saw the trailer for this movie I immediately wrote it off because Sandler was the lead, but after watching it I feel like I need to write him an apology letter and congratulate him on arguably the best films of his career.

Runner-Up: Mudbound
Over the past half decade or so, online digital streaming has been a force to be reckoned with when it comes to traditional TV series. Shows like "House of Cards" and "Stranger Things" established streaming services such as Netflix as a place of great original content. But while their shows have been great, streaming movies haven't quite reached the same level of quality. There have been some strong exceptions in the past (See "The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)" above), but overall there seem to be few standouts. But we saw something different with this movie. "Mudbound" is a southern drama taking place in the 1900s just after the war. It revolves around two families in Mississippi; a white family who recently moved to the state to buy a farm, and a black family that lives on the farm as help. There's some tension between the two but they ultimately get along. As time goes on each family has a loved one return from the war, the son from the black family and a brother from the white. While these returning war heroes have little in common, they find kinship in their shared experiences, which manages to upset some of the racist townsfolk. "Mudbound" may be the best film released through an online streaming service. Beautifully shot, great acting, and strong direction make it one of this year's standouts. Due to the subject matter, it's not an easy watch, but one I'd certainly recommend.

Baby Driver

I work part time at a movie theater, and like me, many of my co-workers love movies. And looking back at 2017, the movie that seemed to get them the most excited was surprisingly "Baby Driver." At the end of the day, it just looked fun; and considering who the director is, it's not hard to see why people were excited. "Baby Driver" is the latest action comedy from the master Edgar Wright, and is one of the year's most entertaining films. Taking place in Atlanta, the film follows a getaway driver named Baby (a nickname obviously). Even being so young, he is very good at what he does and is the favorite of a local crime boss (who met Baby after he tried to steal his car years earlier). Baby agrees to work for him to pay off his debt, but hopes to get out of the game soon. Along the way though he falls in love with a waitress named Debora, and plans on leaving it all behind for her; but getting out of crime is never that easy. Edgar Wright is the master of action-comedy, with movies like "Hot Fuzz" and "Shaun of the Dead" in his filmography; and "Baby Driver" ranks among his very best. Exciting, entertaining, action packed, and often hilarious, this will be a personal favorite for many from the past year.

Blade Runner 2049
This movie had a lot to live up to, so much so that many would consider it a miracle if it did. "Blade Runner 2049" is the sequel to the legendary 1982 "Blade Runner" from director Ridley Scott. "2049" picks up a couple decades after the events of its predecessor, and revolves mainly around a replicant named K. K is a blade runner, a type of cop who is tasked with tracking down and retiring old replicants that have gone rogue. One day while out on the job he discovers something, something that could potentially change the course of human history; and he sets out to learn the truth. "Blade Runner 2049" is an impressive piece of modern sci-fi. It hits on all the notes: memorable characters, an interesting story, strong direction, impressive imagery, beautiful cinematography, great acting, etc. It is the sequel that "Blade Runner" deserved, a brilliant film that will stick with you long after you leave the theater.

Dunkirk

It's been a while since we've had a truly great war movie, probably not since "Zero Dark Thirty" back in 2012. Then in comes Christopher Nolan to deliver one of the best the genre has ever seen. "Dunkirk" is about the Dunkirk evacuation from France in 1940. Several hundred thousand British troops were stuck on a beach in the city of Dunkirk while being surrounded by Nazi troops. The film follows a couple different groups of soldiers and civilians caught up in the whole mess. "Dunkirk" is one of those movies that acts as a love letter to cinema. It is very old school in its approach, from how it was filmed to how it was made; the use of practical effects, thousands of extras, shot on 70mm film, and the tone and pacing as a whole. With this, Nolan gives us one of the best movies of his already illustrious career. If I had to choose something to criticize, it would be that several of the characters are forgettable (many of the soldiers just kind of blend together). But if you can get past that annoyance, "Dunkirk" is a remarkable film that will be admired for years to come.

The Florida Project

There are certain things I really enjoy seeing in movies, one of which is true humanistic properties. So often with movies, TV, etc., it's an idealistic or perfect portrayal of the human condition; in reality, it rarely is. That's one thing "The Florida Project" does well, it's believable from start to finish. This is the only movie in recent memory, that isn't based off of real life, which could conceivably happen in real life. And that's something rather unique. "The Florida Project" takes place during the summer in Kissimmee, Florida. The film primarily revolves around Mooney and her mother Halley as they live out of a motel. While Halley struggles to pay the bills and support her daughter, Mooney is mostly unaware of the situation and goes about her life with her friends without a care in the world. This is a beautifully ugly movie, which sounds like a contradictory statement. What I mean is that life is a difficult, but to watch children enjoy their lives while the walls crumble around them is a site to see unfold in this movie. "The Florida Project" is one of 2017's indie darlings, and a truly heartfelt film.

Get Out

If you're going to talk about what 2017's sleeper hit was, you have to talk about "Get Out." Acting as the directorial debut from comedic actor Jordan Peele, "Get Out" is a comedic horror-thriller that vastly surpassed anyone's expectations. Chris is a young black man living in New York who has recently started dating a beautiful woman named Rose. Rose has invited Chris to spend a few days at her parent's home, telling him at the last minute that they don't know he's black but shouldn't have a problem with it. When they arrive Chris is met with open arms, but he soon begins to feel that something is off with the family's cozy little neighborhood. "Get Out" is an utterly brilliant movie to say the least; a fantastic original screenplay, original premise, great use of humor, fantastic acting, and strong direction from a first time director. One of the best horror movies in the past few years, "Get Out" will undoubtedly top many "best of the year" lists.

Good Time
If I had to guess what will go down as the most underappreciated movie of the year, it would be this one. Receiving a very tiny limited release, and only in theaters for a short time, few people actually had a chance to see one of the year's best films. "Good Time" is crime-drama about two brothers; the older brother Connie, and the younger brother Nick who is mentally challenged. One day the two attempt to rob a bank, only for things to go south and Nick getting arrested. Connie escapes and sets out to get bail money together to get him out of jail, but as you'd imagine things don't come easy. "Good Time" is a surrealist film in my eyes; it's like watching someone experience a horrible dream. Featuring some interesting film techniques and an Oscar worthy performance from lead actor Robert Pattinson, this movie was one I won't soon forget.

Raw
Going into 2017, there were a lot of movies I was looking forward to; but one that flew under the radar that had peaked my interest was a French-Belgian movie by the name of "Raw." "Raw" played at a few small film festivals back in 2016 to rave reviews and intense audience reactions. Apparently, many movie goers passed out and vomited while watching it. This alone was enough to get me interested. "Raw" follows a young vegetarian woman named Justine as she follows in her family's footsteps in going to veterinarian school. All seems fine until a hazing ritual that has her eat a piece of raw meat, after that she begins to change and gains an unquenchable hunger that leaves her wanting something a bit more taboo to eat. "Raw" did something special, it really stuck with me. After walking out of the theater, I thought about this movie every day for weeks; and when I think of movies that came out this year, this one pops into my head first. There's something memorizing and special about it; it's stylish, sexy, loud, and bloody. It's a brilliant little art house-horror that is the best I've seen from the genre in a long time. And if you ask me, I think "Raw" is the best movie to be released in 2017.

The Disaster Artist

In 2003 the world was greeted with "The Room," a drama that was written, directed, produced, starred, and funded by Tommy Wiseau. Upon its release, "The Room" was panned as one of the worst movies of all time. There were no redeeming factors, other than the fact that it might be fun to watch when drunk with friends. Over the years it's become a cult film because of how bad it truly is, and a lot of it is because of Wiseau. The man behind the film is a pariah, we don't know where he's from, how old he is, or how he made his fortune. And watching his interviews, the guy just seemed off. Because of this though he has become the stuff of legend, and everyone wanted to know more. A few years back, the co-star of "The Room," Greg Sestero, wrote a book about his relationship with Wiseau and the making of the movie. The book was praised, and somewhere down the line James Franco and Seth Rogan wanted to turn it into a movie. So "The Disaster Artist" is the adaptation of the book, and all that went into making one of the worst movies ever. Fortunately, this movie is good. "The Disaster Artist" may be the years best comedy, but it's so much more. James Franco, who directed the film and starred in it by playing the on screen version of Wiseau, shines. Dave Franco who co-stars is equally brilliant, with both of the Franco brothers giving the best performances of the year. Pair that with a brilliantly adapted screenplay, and you have a movie that is easy to love and a joy to watch.

The Shape of Water

There are few people in the film industry that I like better than Guillermo Del Toro. The Mexican born director has made a name for himself over the years with his visually stunning movies; many of which often center on practical visual effects, production design, and over all visual design. Unfortunately his story telling and writing have made his movies more hit or miss. While he has a masterpiece like "Pan's Labyrinth" under his belt, he has other lack luster films like "Crimson Peak in his filmography as well. But at the end of the day Del Toro is a visionary, a wholeheartedly unique filmmaker who loves what he does. And I'm so happy his latest film is so good. "The Shape of Water" centers on Elisa, a mute who works as a cleaner at a high security government facility in Baltimore. One day she learns of a creature that has been brought to the facility, some sort of aquatic human/fish hybrid captured in the Amazon that the government plans to run tests on. She begins to grow an unlikely relationship with the creature, and wishes to see it free at whatever the cost. "The Shape of Water" will be called the best of the year by many. Filled with stellar performances, beautiful cinematography and visual design, a unique and creative story that acts as a love letter to the films of the 1950s with a modern/sci-fi twist, this is unquestionably one of Del Toro's best movies, and one of the best of 2017.

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
When I first watched the trailer for this movie, I thought it was going to be great; then when I learned who the director was I was positive it would be. Martin McDonagh is a British director and writer, and before this he had only directed two feature length films. While he may not be the most experienced director, those previous two movies were "In Bruges" and "Seven Psychopaths," both of which were exceptional dark comedies. Now with his third movie he brings us "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri," and you can make a strong argument it's the best movie of the year. The story follows Mildred, a divorced mother living with her son in Ebbing, Missouri. Several months before the movie takes place, Mildred's daughter is raped and murdered but her killer is never caught. She blames the police department for their incompetence, and to bring awareness she rents three billboards just outside of town condemning the department; while the whole town is turning against her, she is determined to continue her one woman war. Towards the end of the year, this was one of the movies I was most excited for. From the first trailer it really did look like it could be great, and it turns out it was. Phenomenal performances from the leads, a funny but emotional screenplay, and strong direction from McDonagh all come together beautifully. "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" is a great movie that I'd recommend to almost anybody.

Best Actor in a Leading Role: James Franco (The Disaster Artist)
Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Sam Rockwell (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri)
Best Actress in a Leading Role (Tie): Frances McDormand (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri)/Sally Hawkins (The Shape of Water)
Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Laurie Metcalf (Lady Bird)
Best Animated Feature: Coco
Best Cinematography (Tie): Blade Runner 2049/Dunkirk/Raw/The Shape of Water
Best Costume Design: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Best Director: Julia Ducournau (Raw)
Best Documentary Feature: Icarus
Best Film Editing: Raw
Best Foreign Film: Raw
Best Makeup and Hairstyling: The Shape of Water
Best Original Score: The Shape of Water
Best Original Song: Remember Me (Coco)
Best Picture: Raw
Best Production Design: Dunkrik
Best Sound Editing: Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Best Sound Mixing: Raw
Best Visual Effects (Tie): Blade Runner 2049/Dunkirk/Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Best Adapted Screenplay: The Disaster Artist
Best Original Screenplay (Tie): Get Out/Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

15 Best Shows of 2017

Honorable Mentions: The Grand Tour, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Speechless, Family Guy, The Simpsons, Bob's Burgers, Star Wars Rebels, RWBY, Suits, The Walking Dead, The Flash, The Last Man on Earth, Supernatural, Iron Fist, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Jane the Virgin, This is Us, iZombie, Scandal, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Archer, Dragon Ball Super, 13 Reasons Why, American Dad, F is for Family, Red vs. Blue, Mike Tyson Mysteries, Attack on Titan, House of Cards, American Horror Story, Orange is the New Black, The Tick, South Park, Angie Tribeca, Preacher, Riverdale, Ozark, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, The Sinner, The Good Fight, Big Mouth, Lady Dynamite, The Crown, Little Witch Academia, Trollhunters, She's Gotta Have It, The Good Place, American Vandal, Mindhunter, Master of None, Silicon Valley, Konosuba.
Note: This list is based off my own personal opinion of what I thought were the best shows of 2017, and is ordered in descending numerical order. To qualify for this list, a show must have aired some time in 2017; I would like to mention I was not been able to watch every show that aired in 2017, and a series might not qualify if it aired later in the year and did not complete its season before the start of 2018.
Notable Shows I missed: Big Little Lies, The Americans, American Crime, Halt and Catch Fire, Narcos, The Deuce, The Vietnam War, Alias Grace, Fargo.

Runner-Up: Black Mirror
Since its inception, "Black Mirror" continues to have one of the best premises of any show out there right now. For those living under a rock, "Black Mirror" is a British anthology show. Each episode is its own story tackling a different theme or subject matter usually revolving around modern society, the near future, or technological innovation and its impact on the former. Starting with the third season the series began to air on Netflix, giving the show even more free reign to tackling difficult topics. It's hard to rank each season of "Black Mirror," it's easier to rank individual episodes. This season contained some really good episodes, one or two unimpressive ones, but the true saving grace had to be the first episode "USS Callister." I don't want to give anything away, but it might be the best episode of any show from 2017, and among the three best episodes of "Black Mirror" overall. If you aren't watching this series, that is something you should fix; it's one of the few shows out there right that meets the hype around it.

15. Stranger Things
"Stranger Things" was maybe 2016's biggest surprise. It was a creative new series from Netflix that played the nostalgia card at all the right times. Taking influences from sci-fi and horror films ranging from the 80s all the way back to the 50s, it was a stroke of brilliance that took the world by storm. Now, to be honest, the second season simply isn't as good. Even so, it was still good enough to make it on this list. The second season picks up where the first left off, all the kids hope they are done with the Upside Down and hope to get back to their normal lives. Despite their wishes though, Eleven is still missing, Will is suffering from the effects of being in the upside down, and the government is still messing with powers they don't fully understand. The second season of "Stranger Things" seems to be suffering from sequelitis; it feels like set-up for what is to come. Even so, it's still a fun ride. It has some of the best characters on TV right now, an interesting premise, and the full force of the Netflix juggernaut behind it. So I have high hopes that the third season will continue the trend of greatness.

14. The Handmaid's Tale
Now, if you listened to professional critics (of which I am not), you would probably think this was the best show of the year. It was listed as the best on countless lists, winning several prestigious TV awards, and I'd be surprised if this wasn't the most lauded show of 2017. While I don't hold it to that high of a standard, it's still damn good. "The Handmaid's Tale" is based off the novel of the same name, and takes place in a near dystopian future where a large part of the US has been taken over by a fascist Christian fundamentalist group. At the same time, most women have lost the ability to give birth, so women who are known to be able to get pregnant are turned into handmaidens (whose job is to have children) for powerful couples who can't give birth themselves. The symbolism and parallels to our own world right now are obvious, and really help elevate the series; on top of solid production and exceptional acting. A Hulu original, the platform has had trouble matching the quality of original content coming from Netflix. But with "The Handmaid's Tale," they really made something great in 2017.

13. Wormwood

And the award for most heartbreaking series, as well as the best documentary series, goes to "Wormwood." "Wormwood" is a Netflix docudrama series; it is a documentary that contains reenactments of the actual events. The series tells the story of Frank Olson, a bio-warfare scientist working for the US government in the 1950s who, for some reason, decided to jump out of a high-rise's window in New York. Years later it came out that Olson was dosed with LSD as part of the government program Project MKUltra, a CIA operation that involved dosing US citizens in the hopes of discovering mind control tactics. The events of the series are told by Olson's son who just wants the truth about the death of his father. "Wormwood" was a heartbreaking series to watch, an unnecessary loss of life that could have been avoided, and having Olson's son talk about the death of his father is even more gut-wrenching. "Wormwood" cuts to the chase, it doesn't beat around the bush. From the opening scene you know that you're in for something different. If the idea of this series interests you at all, I can't recommend "Wormwood" enough.

12. My Hero Academia

I can already hear my co-worker Greg being happy that I included this show on this list, but furious that it's only number 12. Even so, this is only the second time than an anime series has appeared on my end of the year list so you know that I liked it. "My Hero Academia" is a Japanese based shounen battle anime about a modern world populated by super heroes. The majority of the population is born with what are known as quirks, genetic mutations that range from levitating small objects to super strength and speed. With the rise of powers, crime also rose; so professional heroes began to save the day. Izuku Midoriya is a young boy born without a quirk, but once he meets the legendary hero All Might, he is given All Might's power which can be passed on. He then enters in a prestigious hero academy to follow in his footsteps. Since its first season "My Hero Academia" has taken the anime world by storm. The show's characters, humor, animation, fight choreography, and emotional impact have all received praise. One of the most popular anime of the past few years, I fell in love after only the first episode. A third season is planned for 2018, and considering how far ahead the manga is, it's likely that "My Hero Academia" will be on for years to come.

11. GLOW
If you were going to go back to the beginning of 2017, and tell me one of the year's best shows was going to be based off of a B-league women's only wrestling series from the 1980s I would probably call you crazy."GLOW" is a new Netflix series that tells the mostly fictional beginnings of the real like Gorgeous Ladies Of Wrestling promotion. Ruth is an aspiring actress who shows up to a casting call one day that turns out to be for a new wrestling organization called GLOW. She decides to go through with it and gets hired on, but only if she can get her friend Debbie (who showed up to the addition yelling at Ruth cause she slept with her husband) to get involved as well. They both get hired on, and hope to get the organization off the ground. I'll go ahead and say it, "GLOW" is a lot better than I thought it would be. The actors are great, it manages to be both funny and emotional, and often wildly entertaining. Netflix has already renewed the show for a second season, and if we're lucky many more will come after it.

10. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
First off, shout out to my Facebook friend Michael who recommended this series to me. Second, congrats to Amazon for putting out their best show to date. "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" is a comedy series about Miriam "Midge" Maisel in the 1950s. Midge is a Jewish woman happily married and living in New York. She is the idea house wife type, who loves and cares for her family and her aspiring comedian husband Joel. All is well until Joel tells her he's been having an affair and leaves her. Midge has a bit of a meltdown, ends up at a comedy club, goes on a tear, and catches the eye of the club's manager. Midge has a talent for comedy, and decides it's worth the risk to become a real comedian. From start to finish, I adored this show; it might be my favorite of the year. It's funny, entertaining, and filled with great characters. Fortunately a second season is in the works, and I can guarantee I'll be watching it all day one.

9. Dear White People
If you want to talk about the most controversial show of 2017, it might just be this one. Based off the film of the same name, Netflix announced that they picked up the rights to make a show. From the very first trailer (which was poorly put together in all honesty), was met with immediate backlash with many saying it was racist against white people. Those people are idiots thought and very clearly didn't watch the movie or have any interest in watching the show. "Dear White People" takes place at Winchester University, an elite, mostly white college. The show's central character is Samantha White, a radical black feminist who runs a radio show called Dear White People, meant to point out prejudice and racism within the university. The show also stars a large cast of unique characters. "Dear White People" is a brilliant work of satire. Not only is it straight up funny and insightful, it goes down the same route as "South Park" in that it takes shots at and criticizes everyone. No one is off limits, which is what a satire should do. I loved the first season of "Dear White People," controversy and all; and I'm very much looking forward to what it brings to the table in its second season.

8. Rick and Morty
And the worst fandom in the world goes to the fans of this series. "Rick and Morty" is an Adult Swim based animated series. The show is about the two title characters; Rick Sanchez, the smartest man in the known universe, and his idiot grandson Morty. The two travel throughout the multiverse going on adventures and doing this and that. After the events of the previous season, Rick has been arrested by the intergalactic federation; but manages to quickly escape. Then he and Morty continue their crazy adventures. "Rick and Morty" has been a consistently great show. The humor, voice acting, and animation are top notch. The problem is that fans of the show suck. They've been freaking out for a while wondering when the third season would arrive, many feel superior for some reason (so much so its become a meme that only people with a high IQ can enjoy the show), and don't get me started on the szechuan sauce. Even so, it doesn't change the fact that "Rick and Morty" is one of the best animated shows on TV.

7. Mr. Robot

From the very first episode, I fell in love with "Mr. Robot." Considering it came from the USA network, it really did blow me. A modern day take on "Fight Club" and one of the most entertaining shows on TV. Elliot is an anti-social outcast who happens to have a split personality named Mr. Robot, modeled after his deceased father. Without Eliot's knowledge, Mr. Robot started a hacking group called "fsociety," whose goal was to take down one of the largest companies in the world (referred to as Evil Corp). Their hack locked all of Evil Corps financial information, plunging the world into an economic crisis. Regretting his decision, Eliot has to stop a notorious Chinese hacking group called the Dark Army from blowing up a building containing all of Evil Corps paper records. This show's plot feels like a mystery wrapped in an enigma, as soon as you think you have it figured out it takes a sharp left turn. With its third season in the books, "Mr. Robot" is still going strong. It was announced that USA had ordered a fourth season, and while I'm not sure what it will be about I'm still so excited.

6. Bojack Horesman
"Bojack Horseman" may be the biggest leap forward in quality I've ever seen from a series. The first season is alright, but ultimately feels like another dumb, somewhat raunchy animated comedy. While they begin to touch on some more complex themes, little comes of it. But starting with the second season, it became one of the most intelligent and complex shows out there. A Netflix original, it tells the story of Bojack Horseman, an actor who was famous from a 90s sitcom but eventually fell of the map after its cancellation. He recently got his big break though when he landed his dream role in a movie about Secretariat, but has a bit of a meltdown and leaves to find himself. And he has to ask himself the question, "why won't he allow himself to be happy?" On top of being hilarious and filled with memorable characters, it does an exceptional job touching on themes of self-destruction, self-loathing, depression, and holding on to the past. It's a brilliant show that just seems to keep getting better.

5. Game of Thrones

Since I've started my blog discussing the best shows of the year, "Game of Thrones" has always appeared on that list. And since then, this is the lowest it's ever appeared on this yearly entry. Why? Because the seventh season of "Game of Thrones" has been the worst. I'm not saying it's a bad season; it's just been the worst. Over the past few seasons the quality of the show's writing has dipped, mainly because the show is getting further and further from its source material. For the first few seasons it was able to go off of some of the best fantasy books of our time, now the writers have to make up the story as they go based off of George R.R. martin's guidance. So the writing, dialog, and storytelling just isn't what it once was. Even so, everything else about this show is still top notch. The actors seem to get better and more comfortable in their roles every season, the production value is like nothing we've ever seen on television before, the action scenes are nothing short of amazing, the special effects rival that of some movies, and it's still entertaining as hell. This show isn't as good as it once was, it's that simple; but it does show something very impressive. "Game of Thrones" on its worst day is better than most shows on a good one.

4. Samurai Jack
I waited so long for this show to come back, and while the ending wasn't perfect, it was still a hell of a ride. "Samurai Jack" was a animated series by Genndy Tartakovsky that played on Cartoon Network in the early to mid 2000s. The series revolved around Jack, a samurai who was hurled thousands of years in the future by an ancient evil bent on ruling the world. The show was praised for its art, direction, story, music, and characters; but was abruptly canceled after its fourth season. Fans were left in the dark, and unsure if we would ever see a proper ending. But a little over a decade later it was announced that Adult Swim would air a fifth and final season directed by the show's creator. It's been fifty years since the events of the fourth season, but Jack no longer ages. He is tired, and has lost his sword. He fights to protect innocents, but has given up on returning to the past or killing the evil overlord Aku; but still, he fights. The fifth season of "Samurai Jack" continues what has always made the series so great, but now on Adult Swim the show is more mature and violent. The only issue with the fifth season is the ending, it felt rushed. The series needed either two more episodes, or at least an hour long finale. It's not a bad ending, but they wrapped up a 16 year long journey in like 10 minutes. Even so, I'm glad that as a fan I finally get to see Jack's journey come to an end; despite how bittersweet it was.

3. American Gods
Every year we manage to get a few stand-out new shows, and this year was no exception; but of the new series on TV, this might be the true stand out. "American Gods" is based off the novel of the same name by respected author and comic book writer Neil Gaiman. Gaiman, known for his unique style, storytelling, and general "weirdness," often has "American Gods" called some of his best work. The story starts with an ex-con named Shadow Moon getting out of prison, and immediately heading to his wife's funeral. Along the way he meets a mysterious man named Mr. Wednesday who offers him a job. Shadow refuses at first but ultimately agrees. He's then roped into a war between gods, and the fate of the world. This might have been my favorite show from 2017. The story, the production, and style make it truly unique. It's wildly entertaining while still being a mature and complicated series. While a second season is on the way, I am nervous because the show runner has decided to part ways with production. So while the future of the show is still a bit up in the air, I have hope they can pull through.

2. Legion
Right of the bat I want to say that this show is WAY better than I thought it was going to be. I had hopes because the show runner was involved with the making of "Fargo," but despite my interest I set my expectations kind of low when I first heard of it; but after watching the first few episodes I was blown away. "Legion" takes place in the 1980s, and revolves around a character named David Haller (known by his super hero name Legion). David is a schizophrenic living in a mental institution. He goes about his day, lives his life, and everything is normal until he falls for a young woman recently admitted to the facility. They begin a type of romance that appears normal, until they accidentally switch bodies. What follows is David learning about himself, his past, and the fact he may be the most powerful mutant ever born. "Legion" is the best new show of the year, and is utterly brilliant. A fun but respectful look at the X-Men style universe, this show is just the right amount of crazy. A second season is on its way, and I can't wait to give it a watch.

1. Better Call Saul

Back in 2008, AMC premiered a new show titled "Breaking Bad." While the first season was met with praise, as time went on the series was called one of the best shows ever by many fans and critics. Particular praise was given towards the acting, directing, writing, characters, and complex story telling. The show is beloved, so many questioned whether or not the spin-off prequel would live up to the legend. Centering on the character Jimmy (a layer that's later known as Saul in "Breaking Bad"), the third season primarily involves the interactions between him and his brother (also a layer, who believes Jimmy to be a farce and hopes to get him disbarred). All while a few other sub-plots are going on. What made "Breaking Bad" so great is also what makes "Better Call Saul" great. The acting, directing, writing, and storytelling are some of the very best on TV. The characters are memorable and complex, taking part in one of TV's smartest shows. With its third season coming to an end, it looks like "Better Call Saul" is still heading down the right track. "Breaking Bad" are some big shoes to fill, but this show has managed to do that just fine while being the best series of 2017.

10 Best games of 2017

Honorable Mentions: Disk Jam, Mr. Shifty, Life is Strange: Before the Storm, Destiny 2, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, LawBreakers, The Walking Dead Season 3, Hob, Stories Untold, Fortnite: Battle Royale, Sonic Mania, Flinthook, Ruiner, Pillars of the Earth,The Sexy Brutale, Hollow Knight, Ticket to Earth, West of Loathing.
Note: This list consists of the best games released in 2017 that I played. There are several games that came out in 2017 that I did not have a chance to play, and therefore could not qualify for this list (including titles such as "Divinity: Original Sin II"). I've also decided to exclude games that are incomplete (such as Early Access games like "Dead Cells" and "Pit People" or incomplete episodic games such as "Pillars of Earth").

Runner-Up: What Remains of Edith Finch

If I had to give an award for the biggest surprise of 2017, it may be this one. Not necessarily because I thought it was going to be bad, but because it was so much more than I thought it would be. "What Remains of Edith Finch" is a narrative driven exploration game; you play as Edith Finch, who returns to her childhood home as a teenager. You explore the house, learning of your relatives, while the Finch curse (which has claimed the lives of many family members) looms overhead. If I had to choose a specific genre for this game, it's one that makes the eyes of many a gamer’s roll into the back of their head; "What Remains of Edith Finch" is a walking simulator. The majority of the game is you just walking throughout the house while a narrator tells the story. What this game does better than most of the genre though is that it actually includes gameplay. Whenever you learn of your relatives you often get a little section of varied gameplay to break up the monotony. It adds a lot to a game that already has a strong narrative telling a beautiful story. I do believe there is a place in games for walking simulators, despite what others may say; and it you ask me "What Remains of Edith Finch" has set a new standard for what the genre can, and should be.

10. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

In all honesty, I'm not a big fan of horror games; the only one in recent years that I really loved was 2015's "Until Dawn." It was a stroke of genius, playing off the horror films of the 1980s; it was fun, scary, and creative. While there have been a few since then that I've heard good things about, it wasn't until this game that I felt the need to pick up a horror title. "Resident Evil 7: Biohazard" is the latest installment in the ground breaking "Resident Evil" Franchise. What started out as survival horror in the 90s would turn into an action horror series in the mid 2000s; but with RE7 the franchise gets back to its roots. You play as Ethan Winters, who has traveled to rural Louisiana in search of his wife who has been missing for three years after you receive a message from her. But once he arrives at the backwoods home off an old plantation, he comes face to face with some sort of mutated family that is making it their mission in life that he never leaves that house. RE7 is one of the most genuinely terrifying games I've ever played. From the opening moments, I was scared. Unlike previous installments in the series, this game takes place in a first person perspective. Because of this and what feels like a relatively small FOV, every time you turn a corner you're scared, you never know what's coming. Coupled with an intriguing story and exceptional ambiance, I really was scared. My only complaint is that the game relied a little too much on the combat, which is often very weak. Throw in a couple anticlimactic, but frustrating boss fights, and you take a lot away from such a great game. Even so, if you can make it through this game without your heart racing, you are braver than me.

9. Cuphead

Every year, there's always an indie title or two that manage to really take the video game world by storm; and this past year that game was "Cuphead." Beginning development back in 2010, this was a game many questioned whether or not it would ever come out; considering how long ago it was announced, and how long the studio has been showing it off while simultaneously pushing back the release day. "Cuphead" is a 2D action platformer, very much similar to old-school games such as "Contra." You play Cuphead, a young boy who loses a game of chance to the devil and is forced to go collect the souls promised to the devil in order to keep years. A fascinating little title, "Cuphead" is simple but manages to really shine. While the gameplay is solid and nothing really that special, what gained notoriety would be the art. Drawn to look like cartoons from the 1940s, this game has some of the most unique aesthetics I've ever seen. Accompanied by a great soundtrack, fantastic boss fights, solid combat, and difficulty that will make you want to pull your hair out (while fun for me, it won't be for everyone) and "Cuphead" has to be the indie darling of 2017.

8. Pyre

Over the past few years, Supergiant Games has gained a reputation as one of the best development studios in the world right now. Noted for the beautiful art styles and scores they bring to their games, as well as a variety of other unique mechanics, they've gained a strong following and critical acclaim. And their latest title is far different from anything they have put out so far. "Pyre" takes place in a strange, Middle Eastern inspired land. You play as a faceless character picked up by a traveling band of nomads. They bring you into their group because of a unique skill you posses, the ability to read (which is outlawed). So you set out traveling the world with your new group of companions in the hope of finding a better tomorrow. Supergiant's previous two games were action based; but this one, not so much. When progressing through the story it is basically a virtual novel. You and your companions talk, you chose from a select amount of dialog on occasion, and then you move on. The interactive part of the game comes from these rituals you must perform. Basically it's like basketball. It's 3v3 where you must get the ball into your opponent’s bonfire to weaken them. While simple on the surface, it's some of the most fun I had in a game in 2017. "Pyre" is another impressive notch in the belt of Supergiant, and really cements them as one of the industry's best studios.

7. Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
"Wolfenstein: The New Order" was a surprisingly great game released back in 2014. Coming out of nowhere, it was unanimously praised as one of the best FPS campaigns in the past few years. The game gained a following, so a sequel was sure to come, and this year we received "Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus." TNC picks up shortly after the events of its predecessor. BJ Blazkowicz survived his injuries and is saved by his fellow rebels. In a world ruled by Nazis, his group is one of the last true resistance groups. Unsure of what's to come, but knowing that he has children on the way, Blazkowicz sets out to finish off the Third Reich once and for all. Now, to be honest, TNC is not as good as its predecessor. It has more than a few issues: various technical issues, some bad level design, it gets preachy time to time, and a few of the major protagonists aren't the most likable in the cast. But the biggest issue is that it doesn't feel as fresh as its predecessor. The New Order was a great surprise, while the New Colossus is more of the same. That being said, it's still great. Memorable characters, several cool levels, top notch gun play, an interesting alternate history story, and just being absurdly fun. "Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus" is a hell of a ride start to finish.

6. Horizon Zero Dawn

Making a video game is a big investment. It costs millions of dollars, tens of thousands of man hours, and years of development time. So when a studio sets out to make one, they need to be sure and get a publisher on board to help distribute and market the game. So when Guerrilla Games, a Dutch based company known only for an above average first person shooter, went to Sony and pitched a new IP that involved a female protagonist in the post-apocalypse hunting robot dinosaurs with a bow, they must have been really confident. "Horizon Zero Dawn" takes place many years in the future when mankind is holding on to whatever life they have left, residing in a primitive state devoid of modern technology. Living alongside them is some sort of race of robot animals that take many shapes and forms. You play Aloy, an outcast who attempts to join a nearby village; but after members of the village are attacked she sets out to stop the group responsible. And along the way she gets wrapped up in a plot that will change human history. HZD was a surprise hit early in 2017, being met with critical praise and strong sales. Noted for its design, combat, story, lead character, and some of the best technical graphics we've ever seen on a home console, it took the industry by storm and has become one of the PS4's best selling exclusives. With an ending that suggests a sequel is on its way, we haven't seen the last of this new franchise yet.

5. Nioh

If you ask me, the most influential video game franchise of the last decade would have to be the "Souls" series. The first installment was "Demon's Souls" in 2009, but the franchise began to hit its stride with "Dark Souls" in 2011. Since its introduction, countless games have emulated it; the term "souls-like" label has even been coined. While this term is thrown around often, only a few games really met the criteria regarding combat, difficulty, play style, and mechanics. While many have tried this style outside of the "Souls" franchise, in my opinion only one has succeeded. "Nioh" is a third person, hack-and-slash action RPG from Japanese developer Team Nija. You play a legendary Western samurai during feudal Japan, fighting various demons and other enemies. The story of this game is confusing to say the least, but you don't play it for the story. This is the only game to really get the "Souls" formula correct. The combat is fast and frantic, it's extraordinarily difficult, and there are layers on top of layers of mechanics that need to be mastered. "Nioh" is not for everyone, and is one of the hardest games I've ever played; but if you give it a chance you'll be rewarded with one of the year's best.

4. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

I can already hear the sounds of fury coming from those seeing that this game is only number four on this list. In my defense, there are good reasons why. I'll get to what makes this game great in a minute, but let me talk about what annoyed me. This game had some mechanics and overall direction I was not a fan of. First would be that every weapon in the game has degradation, so the more you use it the more likely it is to break. This isn't a fun mechanic; it's annoying to be in the middle of a fight only to have your weapon break and having to pause the combat while you switch to a new one. I'm also not a fan of how "leveling up" in this game works. To level up either your help or stamina you must collect certain items from shrines scattered throughout the map (shrines are puzzle based challenges). Now the problem is to level up, you need to beat several of these shrines; so to get your health up just a few more hearts will require an annoying amount of work. It would have been better to require only one shrine to level up, but for it to be a bigger affair. Instead of it being one of many you must complete, finding and finishing a shrine could have been a big deal. I understand the choice to use many shrines, each shrine focuses on different puzzle solving mechanics, there is a gradual increase in difficulty the further you get from the starting area, and completed shrines can be fast travel points. I just would have preferred for completing a shrine to be a more notable thing and a bigger individual challenge. And my last real complaint would have to be your mobility around the map. Yes you can get a horse to move more quickly, or jump off a high ledge then glide for periods of time, but most of the game you'll just be running. The issue is that it's connected to your stamina, so you can only run for a few seconds, then walk while your stamina regenerates, then run again. It's annoying, and getting from point A to B is made more difficult than I feel is needed. And the only way to get your stamina up is to complete shrines which can be a pain. The game is very large, and compared to other open world games it feels more tedious to travel across the map. This game could have been perfect, but there are some annoying mechanics that hold it back. That being said, it's still great. The art, music, world design, story, combat, and just about everything else is top notch. If you have a Switch or a Wii U, flaws and all, "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" is one of the best games you can buy.

3. Nier: Automota

Most of the time, when a sequel for a game is announced it makes sense why It was; the original was successful, the fans wanted it, or some other logical reason. So when it was announced that the 2010 action RPG "Nier" was getting a sequel, many scratched their heads. "Nier" didn't sell particularly well, receive glowing reviews, or even have that big of a cult following; so why "Nier?" As more was shown it began to make a bit more since. "Nier: Automota" was more of a spiritual successor, taking place in the same world but thousands of years later and having almost nothing to do with its predecessor. At first I wasn't interested, but when I found out the exceptional Platinum Games was developing the title I became  intrigued. "Nier: Automota" takes place thousands of years in the future when humans have left the earth and all that remains are various machines. You play as 2B, a highly advanced combat robot tasked with fighting the machines on behalf of humanity. And the story that follows gets to crazy to talk about. Upon its release N:A was met with wide acclaim for its combat, art, characters, and multiple endings that are unlocked after beating the game through once (some of the endings involve you playing as other characters seen in the story). N:A is a creative, inventive, and fun as hell game that did surprisingly well commercially and critically. It's one of the best action games I've played in years, and certainly one of the best games we've seen in 2017.

2. Super Mario Odyssey

I've got to say, the Switch had a pretty great first year when it comes to games. "Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild," "Xenoblade Chronicles," "Splatoon 2," and the re-release of "Mario Kart 8;" but if you ask me the clear standout for the Switch's best exclusive this year was "Super Mario Odyssey." This game starts off like many of its predecessors, Bowser kidnaps Princess Peach. Mario does his best to stop his nemesis, but Bowser is victorious and Mario is cast off into some far off land and loses his trademark hat. When he awakes Mario is greeted by Cappy, a hat like ghost in the Cap Kingdom. Cappy tells Mario that like Peach, his sister has been taken by Bowser, and that he wants to help Mario save them. Mario agrees, and Cappy tags along by replacing his hat and lending his unique powers. Now the two set off to find their loved ones on a flying ship called the Odyssey. As ridiculous as that plot sounds, don't let it turn you off from this game; there's a reason it's so high on this list. "Super Mario Odyssey" is an absolute treat; it is Mario at its best. Stellar level design, beautiful worlds, tons of stuff to explore and collect, tons of new gameplay mechanics, and a sense of nostalgia that reminded me of playing "Super Mario 64" when I was younger. My only criticisms would be that the game has a tendency to rely a bit too much on nostalgia (most notably the 2D sections that can be clever, but don't bring a whole lot to the game), and the control scheme (with some moves tied to motion controls, and unless you hold the Joy-Cons in separate hands, my least favorite way of playing the Switch, feel very awkward with every other control scheme). Minor complaints aside, I had a blast with "Super Mario Odyssey." If you plan on picking up a Switch any time soon, this would be the first game I recommend you buying.

1. Persona 5

Okay, so this one is technically cheating since it was originally released in 2016. "Persona 5" first launched in Japan in September of last year, and didn't make its way to the rest of the world until this past April. When I do my list of the best movies of the year, I'm very strict regarding when a movie is released and if it qualifies for that list. But that's because movies coming out in different countries in different years is very common; while in video games, that's much more rare now-a-days. So for this I'm making an exception since it was EASILY the best game I played this year. Also, it's my list so f*ck it I can do what I want. "Persona 5" is the latest installment in the ground breaking JRPG franchise. You play nameless, mostly silent protagonist who moves from a small town to the big city after being falsely accused of assault by a powerful politician. Shortly after arriving you feel something is very wrong with the city, and are brought into a strange web of conspiracies you cannot explain. You learn that you have the ability to enter the minds of people, referred to as their castles. So you decide to use this power to steal the hearts of criminals and make them change their ways. You found a group known as the Phantom Thieves with some of your friends in the hopes of making the world a better place. Not only is "Persona 5" the best game I played in 2017, it’s one of the best games I have ever played. The only noticeable complaints I can think of is that the game takes a few hours to give you your freedom, and that the English voice acting isn't anything special. Other than that, it's pretty damn close to perfect; the turn based combat, music, art style, visuals, design, style, story, characters, writing, and just about everything else are truly phenomenal. What always looked like a promising game turned into the must have exclusive for any PS4 owner, and certainly the best game that I played in 2017.