The 14 Popcorn Films of 2014
Low or big-budget, adrenaline fueled, CGI or stunt-filled spectacles or sweeping sagas that thrill the senses, minds and emotions alike. In other words, just plain entertaining. Grab a big bucket of popcorn for these ones.
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- DirectorDon HallChris WilliamsStarsRyan PotterScott AdsitJamie ChungA special bond develops between plus-sized inflatable robot Baymax and prodigy Hiro Hamada, who together team up with a group of friends to form a band of high-tech heroes.A delightful holiday treat that may appease the kid in all with a brisk, well directed combination of Disney sentiments and Marvel superhero thrills. It's big on family-friendly action and laughs, but like "Wreck-It Ralph", it has heart. Miles better than the overrated "Frozen".
- DirectorGareth EdwardsStarsAaron Taylor-JohnsonElizabeth OlsenBryan CranstonThe world is beset by the appearance of monstrous creatures, but one of them may be the only one who can save humanity.In short, awesome. The King of the Monsters is truly back to triumphantly reclaim his throne in this exhilarating, spectacular blockbuster that pits some A-list talent against huge-scale, highly ambitious sequences that reinvigorates the monster movie genre among other Hollywood heavyweights.
- DirectorJames GunnStarsChris PrattVin DieselBradley CooperA group of intergalactic criminals must pull together to stop a fanatical warrior with plans to purge the universe.An enormously entertaining space opera that has its tongue firmly in its cheek, like a self-aware "Star Wars", "Star Trek" and "Riddick" rolled into one glossy Marvel package, and filled to the brim with engaging, albeit oddball direction courtesy of James Gunn ("Slither", "Super"), whose love for '80s pop songs and culture only adds to the sheer carefree attitude of the film. And I say with a straight face that a wisecracking raccoon is the best character in a film filled with various space oddities.
- DirectorChad StahelskiStarsKeanu ReevesMichael NyqvistAlfie AllenAn ex-hitman comes out of retirement to track down the gangsters who killed his dog and stole his car.A solid return to form in the action foray for Keanu Reeves in what could be perhaps his most badass role since "The Matrix" - this film is pure testosterone the moment that little puppy bites the dust. A dog lover's revenge fantasy brought to brutally beautiful life - this dynamite action film is a no-holds-barred shoot-em-up designed to delight even the harshest of critics as Reeves' latest action icon goes *beep* Charles-Bronson-style killing these scumbags with enough style and wit to go along with him.
- DirectorBryan SingerStarsPatrick StewartIan McKellenHugh JackmanThe X-Men send Wolverine to the past in a desperate effort to change history and prevent an event that results in doom for both humans and mutants.Director Bryan Singer returns in a blaze of glory as he triumphantly reinvigorates the "X-Men" saga with equal parts spectacle and humanity. In a move that owes itself to James Cameron's "Terminator" films, this is perhaps the first time I've seen an actual ret-con unfold before my eyes, neatly fixing the wrongs of the two "X-Men" films before "First Class". This is less of a comic-book fangasm, and more of an actual, true-blue film which stays true to the comic books that inspired it... and continues to go a bit beyond that to fine cinematic storytelling.
- DirectorAdam WingardStarsDan StevensSheila KelleyMaika MonroeA soldier introduces himself to the Peterson family, claiming to be a friend of their son who died in action. After the young man is welcomed into their home, a series of accidental deaths seem to be connected to his presence.This is one crazy movie, and it's proud of it; here is a film that never shies away from being over-the-top, scary, hilarious and intense simultaneously. Dan Stevens delivers a star-making performance as the mysterious hunk whose presence evokes devilish mischief and Terminator-like ruthlessness. Director Adam Wingard and writer Simon Barrett, who last created the below average horror film "You're Next" the previous year, enthusiastically succeed this time in wholly entertaining the crowd and leaving them wanting more.
- DirectorAntoine FuquaStarsDenzel WashingtonMarton CsokasChloë Grace MoretzA man who believes he has put his mysterious past behind him cannot stand idly by when he meets a young girl under the control of ultra-violent Russian gangsters.Somewhere up in the sky, Charles Bronson is looking down at Denzel Washington and smiling in approval. His spirit permeates throughout this vigilante film, whereupon a brutal knight sadistically kills or maims people who cause harm to others, and I get a kick out of every scene where he dishes out cathartic, sociopathic brutality to the deserving evil-doers. It suffers from predictability, but it's not about the what, it's about the how. And how indeed - I'd probably stay away from corkscrews and power drills for a while now.
- DirectorAnthony RussoJoe RussoStarsChris EvansSamuel L. JacksonScarlett JohanssonAs Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world, he teams up with a fellow Avenger and S.H.I.E.L.D agent, Black Widow, to battle a new threat from history: an assassin known as the Winter Soldier.
- DirectorMatt ReevesStarsGary OldmanKeri RussellAndy SerkisThe fragile peace between apes and humans is threatened as mistrust and betrayal threaten to plunge both tribes into a war for dominance over the Earth.No monkey business here, it's a film written and directed with a great deal of attention, intelligence and thought. Part political/religious allegory and part rip-snorting action adventure, this sequel under "Cloverfield" director Matt Reeves showcases a mastery of visual effects which enhance the plot and characters further rather than adding a slick gloss to it. The film is extraordinarily beautifully shot and scored, in which it deserves Oscar nominations for, but might Andy Serkis finally get nominated for a mostly CG-motion-captured character?
- DirectorPhil LordChristopher MillerStarsChris PrattWill FerrellElizabeth BanksAn ordinary LEGO construction worker, thought to be the prophesied as "special", is recruited to join a quest to stop an evil tyrant from gluing the LEGO universe into eternal stasis.Months ago I scoffed at the idea of Hollywood making a movie about Lego. I now eat my own words, because this gorgeous animated film is G̲O̲O̲D̲ - the most imaginative from Hollywood in years. The film is made with sort of a madcap brilliance by writers/directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller ("21 Jump Street", "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs") who have created a wonderfully wonky, lively and colorful universe bursting with energy and humor from these miniature figurines and bricks.
- DirectorJon FavreauStarsJon FavreauRobert Downey Jr.Scarlett JohanssonA head chef quits his restaurant job and buys a food truck in an effort to reclaim his creative promise, while piecing back together his estranged family.Jon Favreau's latest comedy may follow a familiar structure, but it bears the mark of a filmmaker's passion project, a glowing tribute to the love of food that is expertly crafted with love and charm, benefiting greatly to the extraordinary chemistry between every member of the impressive ensemble cast, and shot lovingly without being obtrusive. While having a thing or two to say about criticism, this is undoubtedly the feel-good movie of the year so far. Not since "Ratatouille" will the film cause one to seek the nearest restaurant/food outlet once the movie's over, as the beautifully shot food porn will cause stomachs to rumble, providing one didn't eat before watching.
- DirectorWes AndersonStarsRalph FiennesF. Murray AbrahamMathieu AmalricA writer encounters the owner of an aging high-class hotel, who tells him of his early years serving as a lobby boy in the hotel's glorious years under an exceptional concierge.I enjoyed everything about this deliriously whimsical dark comedy - from its exquisite cinematography and elaborate production values, to a horde of charming performances from a lot (and I do mean a LOT) of talented actors, to its unique atmosphere that fills you up with blissful joy and glee. And coming from autuer filmmaker Wes Anderson, another film from him is another honey-and-toast treat for the eyes and ears.
- DirectorGareth EvansStarsIko UwaisYayan RuhianArifin PutraOnly a short time after the first raid, Rama goes undercover with the thugs of Jakarta and plans to bring down the syndicate and uncover the corruption within his police force.This is a rampaging, roaring beast of an action movie from Indonesia, jam-packed with one crowd-pleasing, bone-shattering, neck-breaking action sequence after another. The Indonesian team that brought 2012's action extravaganza "The Raid" ups the ante with this one with a bigger, twisty crime story that serves as an excuse to unleash Iko Uwais to single-handedly destroy a criminal empire with his bare hands and legs. Each graphic, brutal kill is drowned by the winces and cathartic cheers and action-gasms from the extremely lively audience, myself included. You want action... you got action.
- DirectorChristopher NolanStarsMatthew McConaugheyAnne HathawayJessica ChastainWhen Earth becomes uninhabitable in the future, a farmer and ex-NASA pilot, Joseph Cooper, is tasked to pilot a spacecraft, along with a team of researchers, to find a new planet for humans.Christopher Nolan's sci-fi epic is terrific entertainment, and a glowing tribute to Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey". Absolutely do not miss the IMAX experience - you'll thank me later. More importantly, despite its exposition-heavy flaws, it is astounding in its perfect marriage of mind-blowing visual effects, editing, music and cinematography (all of which should nab Oscar noms) with the thematic fragility of human love that knows no boundaries, not even time and space, in a Spielberg-ian sentimental move that makes the stakes more interesting, anchored by a strong Matthew McConaughey performance and a fine ensemble cast. Finally a blockbuster where you can escape into your senses and not feel short-changed.