Holly cow,
it’s 2020, the first year of a brand-new decade … and it was a rough year to
say the least. With the unfortunate COVD-19 epidemic, theaters were shut-down,
many anticipated releases were pushed back, and Video On Demand seems to be the
main way to experience new releases. Still, I’m the kind of guy who savors the
experience of seeing movies in the theater, and those are the events that I
want to recap. While I didn’t see as many movies in the theater this year as I
normally do, there’s still just enough for me to rank. I’ll only be ranking the
movies I saw in the theater, which means some other really good (and bad) films
from 2020 won’t make the countdown. Also, this is all my own personal opinion, these
films aren’t ranked by the quality of the picture, but simply by how each left an impression on me. There are four movies in total, and lets just have some
fun looking back at some of the films from 2020.
#4 “The New Mutants”
My favorite comic-book franchise takes an interesting new direction into the horror genera, resulting in a fun little haunted house film, but with superpowered excitement mixed in. While the plot is very run of the mil and predictable … the committed performances from a strong cast, along with the novelty of seeing lesser characters from the X-Men comics finally on the big screen were just enough to make this a genuinely satisfying experience. The down-side is that the whole film dose feel rather disposable, like a passable set-up for a series that will never happen. Had this been a piolet for a TV series, it would have been better … as a stand-alone movie … it’s okay. At the very least, it was a novelty just for feeling so different from any other film in the series … and sense it’s tied into my favorite superhero franchise, I’ll at least remember it for that.
#3 “Sonic
The Hedgehog”
After years and years of waiting, I finally got to see one
of my childhood icons on the big screen … and naturally I’m talking about Jim
Carry. After being absent for almost a decade, it was such a treat to finally
see my childhood favorite comedian of the 90’s returning back to form, and he
was clearly having a lot of fun as a cartoony villain. Also, while I’ve never
really called myself a fan, Sonic was never the less present in my childhood in
one form or another, and it was a genuine delight to see him on the big screen.
For a run of the mile set-up involving a marketable cartoon character in our
boring normal world, with generic humans, and a one-note car-trip plot … I didn’t
think the film was half-bad at all. In fact, I think it set a genuine high-bar
for videogame adaptions. It's by no means a masterpiece, but just a fun little
family comedy adventure, with a genuinely likable cast of characters.
#2 “Tenet”
Christopher Nolan treats his fans to a movie that’s essentially one big love
letter to those of use who admire and enjoy his style of filmmaking. His ideas,
his screenplays, his usage of jaw-dropping practical effects, breathtaking
visuals, innovative action, and above all else … putting aside “The Dark
Knight Trilogy” … it’s his persistence in originality that makes him one of
the great filmmakers of our time. While there are certainly familiar elements
of James Bond, Spy Capers, and Time Travel, it’s the execution of his ideas, and
seeing things from a different perspective that makes “Tenet” … among
his many films … feel like refreshing and new experiences. While perhaps a
little too confusing for viewers not familiar with his style, and unique
methods of storytelling, it’s still the kind of experiences worth having in the
theater.
#1 “The
Invisible Man”
Of all the classic Universal Monsters, The Invisible
Man has always been my personal favorite by far. For a modern retelling of
the H. G. Wells novel, this film doesn’t try to copy the original in any way,
and is a completely unique entity on its own, with different strengths then
it’s predecessors. I’ve always felt that horror is most effective with the
dangers that are off-screen … and this movie takes that approach and runs with
it. Leigh Whannell’s direction and presentation is brilliant as he uses sound
design, and crafty camera tricks as a tool to create a sense of uncomfortable
tension and chilling suspense. Subtle practical effects are utilized
frequently, while the digital special effects are used sparingly … which I
highly respect. The cast all around is solid, with Elisabeth Moss delivering a
fiercely committed lead performance. While this remake is by no means a “game
changer”, it never the less is a great example of an original source material
being reimagined into something fresh, smart, and exciting in its own right. 
So,
concludes 2020 … and if we’re lucky … the thrill of the theater will return next year.
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