The Top 5 Films Of 2016

Year’s end, everyone! Oh, my God. 2016 has been an insane year for movies. We’ve had some good — and often — surprising entries across different genres too. So here are the top 5 picks for the best movies of 2016. Keep in mind that as in all Top Lists, this is going to be heavily based on the writers personal preference, and it might not match up directly with yours. Also, keep in mind that these are only films the writer has seen. That said, let’s get started.

5. Seklusyon

Coming clean, if I did not watch this movie, this spot would have been given to Deadpool. Seklusyon is set in 1947, where four retreatants challenge their faith against the Devil himself. The devil’s form? A young miracle-worker named Anghela. It didn’t win Best Picture at the Metro Manila Film Festival, but I’ll be damned if I didn’t give credit to its genius.

Watch “Seklusyon” trailer via Pelikula Mania YouTube channel

Horror movies typically rely on a set pattern of scares: 1.) build tension, 2.) misdirection/false scare, 3.) true scare. While generally effective, this… is overused to say the least. Seklusyon does make use of the same pattern at times., but most of the fear the audiences feel isn’t caused by the shock of a jumpscare. It is the creeping terror of an omnipresent threat that gets to you.

The ending is insanely well-assembled. Director Erik Matti does not shy away from the repulsive truth: that good does not always defeat evil. well-played, sir.

4. Silence

An entry by Martin Scorcese, Silence follows two Christian missionaries in Japan at a time when their religion was considered a criminal offense. Now I’m not including two “religious” films on this list because I’m Catholic. Trust me on this, I tried to be as objective as I could, and I just can’t deny that Silence was a great movie. The fact is, Silence delves into morality and humanity; not necessarily religion. Andrew Garfield and Liam Neeson were exceptional in their performances as well.

Watch “Silence” trailer by verified KinoCheck International YouTube channel

I think my only concern with the movie is that it was a little bit long, and it took a while to build up, but if you can look past that, then this is one historical drama you don’t want to miss out on.

3. Kubo and the Two Strings

I honestly wanted Moana to be on this list, but when all is said and done, Kubo and the Two Strings is the superior animated movie. The plot revolves around Kubo, a one-eyed boy who must use his magical/musical abilities to subdue an ancient force.

Watch “Kubo and the Two Strings” trailer via verified Universal Pictures UK YouTube channel

This is difficult to talk about without spoiling, but the rich Japanese lore, constant pace of plot, and excellent voice-acting build up to one great family animated movie.

2. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Ah, the story of the crew that stole the Death Star’s plans. Well this had to be on the list. Whether or not is deserves to be on the Top 2 spot is debatable. I’ve only just seen it, and maybe the Star Wars Hype is just making it seem more deserving than it actually is. Either way, Rogue One is just a joy to ride.

Watch “Rogue One” trailer via verified Star Wars YouTube channel

The best part I feel has to be how Rogue One closed up a few plot holes regarding Star Wars: A New Hope. In fact, without giving too much away, you can watch A New Hope immediately after Rogue One ends, and it would seamlessly fit in. It would legitimately feel like it was the same movie.

The characters were lovable, especially Donnie Yen’s take on the blind monk Chirrut Imwe. I did feel like Forest Whitaker was underused, but he did do his job well enough. I just really wish I could have seen more of him.

1. Hacksaw Ridge

Ah, another historical drama. Yes, I know historical dramas are cliche for “best movie” lists, but that is because the directors that pick them up usually know what they are doing. Hacksaw Ridge was a nail-biting experience for me. Andrew Garfield stars as a pacifist rifleman who actually ends up as a war hero despite never firing a single shot.

Watch “Hacksaw Ridge” trailer via verified Lionsgate Movies YouTube channel

A fair word of warning, this movie requires a bit of both thinking and feeling to actually appreciate, so it might not be for everyone. It WAS a genuinely good experience for me however.

Honorable Mentions:

Here is a list of the movies that I thought were excellent, but didn’t make the list…

Moana: Great voice acting, excellent performance by Dwayne Johnson, and classic Disney heartstring-tugging.

Captain America — Civil War: A lot of fan-service, and a lot of superheroes. Would’ve made the list if the other entries weren’t more meaningful.

Arrival: An alien encounter movie. This doesn’t make the list because it really isn’t for everyone. This requires a TON of intelligence to watch.

Doctor Strange: A lot of debate has sparked up on whether Civil War or Doctor Strange is better, and I prefer Benedict Cumberbatch’s work. This film introduced magic into the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the trippiest, most fun way possible.

Deadpool: Arguably the best Valentine’s Day movie ever. R-rated, Very faithful to the source material, and overall, just a fun time.

Featured Photo Source:  Verified Hacksaw Ridge Movie Facebook Page

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