You’re probably used to my blogs that usually have the words “top” and “films” in it, and in the past, it has been relegated to certain genres or topics such as stop-motion or horror. However, it recently dawned on me that next year is the start of a brand new decade! It doesn’t seem true but it is, and that has made me reflect on the past ten years and look at the films that have shaped cinema.
So here are my thoughts of ten of the best films from each of the ten years.
N.B. The following are my own personal opinions.
10. Super 8 (2011)
J.J. Abrams and Stephen Spielberg both wanted to create a film reminiscent of the tone of Spielberg’s films from the ’80s, but at the same time feel modern. This film just feels pure Spielberg, from the child protagonists to the mystery plot and the atmospheric town. J.J. Abrams, however, brought his flair, in some shots quite literally, and his Sci-Fi knowledge to the film. The concept, a group of kids who discover an alien has been let loose in a small American town, is so simple and captivating and the actor’s really draw us in and make us believe that this actually happening to them. The horror elements work really well because it doesn’t feel forced, in fact, it fits perfectly within the tone of the film. Super 8 is a masterclass in storytelling and filmmaking and I can imagine this will inspire a future generation of filmmakers.
9. Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
Sci-Fi is tricky because you have to balance the line between serious and silly. You have to be silly to create the rules for science fiction to work, but it needs to be grounded and have a human element to make it come across in a believable way. Edge of Tomorrow worked so well and is highly re-watchable because the line between these two was very well put together. The time travel element felt unique and almost like a video game, while Emily Blunt and Tom Cruise delivered top-notch performances that sold us their characters and the brutality of this world they live in. This film is highly underrated and is a big stand out in a year full of forgettable films.
8. Ready Player One (2018)
Spielberg returns to his roots, in a way. His main purpose with Ready Player One was nostalgia with a mix of video games. There are nods to games such as Doom and to films such as Back to the Future, and there are a lot of other easter eggs and hints to other games and films. This film was pure nerd heaven, but it wasn’t just about the games, but the characters too. This is why Spielberg is a master filmmaker, he puts the focus on the human element to the story as opposed to the plot. So we are taken on a journey with Wade Watts and Samantha Cook with a sense of discovery and a beautiful visual euphoria. This film also proves that Spielberg is a one-of-a-kind filmmaker.
7. Gravity (2013)
Alfonso Cuaron, the guy who made Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, had an idea. He wanted to make a realistic movie depicting what it feels like to be in space, without actually going to space. Not only that but he wanted it to feel like a survival horror. I can tell you this now, he succeeded! What I also forgot to mention is that this film got released in 3D! The added depth and the central performance on one character, played by Sandra Bullock, made this an extremely immersive experience that had not been seen before. It took the word cinematic to a whole new level. I was lucky enough to see it in 3D at the cinema and it really is the best way to watch the film, the cinematographer and the film direction genuinely makes you feel like you are in space. Alfonso had crafted a film I thought we could never see and he proved everyone wrong.
6. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
It has been a decade or so since the supposed final chapter in the Skywalker saga with Star Wars, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. That film brought a sense of finality to the series, and even the “last” film in the series Star Wars, Episode VI: Return of the Jedi felt like closure to everyone involved. So no-one thought there would ever be the seventh film … until Disney took control of the franchise. There were a lot of high expectations before this film came out because we all thought we didn’t need another Star Wars film. We were proven wrong, with that famous John Williams score booming in cinema screens and a familiar text crawl appearing before us we went on that journey again to a galaxy far, far away. It felt new, reinvented, with a lot of nostalgia, but it hit all the right notes and it brought Star Wars back into our lives. Which is not a bad thing.
5. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
So a year after the big success of itsThe Force Awakens we were treated to another Star Wars film! Although this wasn’t going to be a continuation of the last seven films, instead we got our first ever Star Wars spin-off. Based on the rebel crew that stole the plans for the Death Star just before the start of Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope. Some said it wouldn’t work, some said we didn’t need this film. Despite everything, this film succeeded in every category. The new characters and locale’s all felt like they were from the Star Wars universe. The story had a very Star Wars theme to it, and it turns out it all worked out really well. It is a perfect film to get someone hooked into the franchise and it has some fantastic stand-out moments. It is arguably one of the best films of the decade.
4. Inception (2010)
Christopher Nolan is a fantastic filmmaker. He has crafted some truly unique films over his lifetime so far, with more along the way. But one of his standout films in his canon is Inception. The idea of a film set inside a series of dreams is already a cool concept, but then you tell people its like a heist film then you’ve captured their interest. This film works so well because the concept was executed perfectly. The use of time, the music, the tension, the design work, and everything else involved is literally at the absolute best. The visual effects are all on a whole new level and has already inspired many movies since this one came out. Just look at Doctor Strange and you can tell what one of that film’s inspirations was. This film is a landmark in the cinematic landscape.
3. Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
Let’s get something straight, the original Blade Runner wasn’t the best, but then Ridley Scott kept nitpicking at it and kept making version after version until he got the best cut of the film possible. He succeeded in making one of the best Sci-Fi films of all time. So a sequel seemed inevitable, it just came out a few decades later. The long wait proves it was worth it, because this film is just absolutely beautiful to look at. The characters and style are perfectly in tune with the story. Director Denis Villeneuve harkened back to the roots of 80’s Sci-Fi and created arguably a modern masterpiece. Yes, it is long. Yes, it didn’t do well commercially. But that doesn’t stop this film from existing and I’m glad it does exist. If you’ve seen the film then you would’ve got that reference.
2. Avengers Assemble (2012)
Spider-Man, X-Men, Batman, Superman are just some superhero films that have all made a massive cultural impact on cinema. However, all of these films didn’t try to connect to each-other like this film did. The most expensive storytelling experiment of all time worked. We had five films before this exploring the characters of the Hulk, Iron Man, Thor and Captain America. We, as in the audience, had some idea that these were all connected. But would it work? The answer is a big fat yes! It worked and then some. This is the film that has changed cinema today! Superheroes are everywhere, films are connected to other films. Just look at Godzilla, The Conjuring and Justice League and you can seen this films influence on all of these. A cinematic universe was merely an idea the start of the decade, and now its commonplace. That’s the power this film had and this film worked thanks to many moving factors! Character development, a strong creative development team and a resource of comics to draw upon. Avengers Assemble has changed cinema forever.
1. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
And lastly, we come to the most recent Avengers film. Avengers: Endgame provides one thing that a lot of other superhero films don’t do — closure. Yes, we know there are more Spider-Man and Black Panther films in development. But this film ended a story arc that started in the year 2009 in a film called Iron Man. It brought closure to the end of a lot of long-standing characters and has moved the marvel cinematic universe forward in ways we can’t even comprehend yet. It’s thanks to this colossal film that superhero culture is at its peak. We will remember a lot of films this decade, but this is definitely one that will never be forgotten!
Thank you for reading today’s blog!
Alex Murray, the Head of Eyesight Productions
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