ARTICLE

2016 Movies Lookback (Part 1)

By Freddy / 24 Dec 2016 (Saturday)

The year 2016 is anything but uneventful. A European country exited a certain politico-economic union; a certain man was elected to lead a superpower nation; a certain gorilla was shot by a zoo in the same nation.

This year is also full of great films, and here are some of our top picks.

(Don't miss the '2016 Movies Lookback Part 2' here!)

InCinemas Reviewers Top Pick 1: Sully
The story of a real-life hero has adapted into a great film thanks to Tom Hanks who plays the titular character and the strong direction of Clint Eastwood.

Photo credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

InCinemas Reviewers Top Pick 2: Moana
With a fresh Polynesian setting, stunning CGI, Lin-Manuel Miranda-composed songs, and the strong performances by Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson

Photo credit: Walt Disney Animation Studios

Best Comedy: Deadpool
In a film industry saturated with numerous superhero movies, Deadpool’s humorous self-aware references cannot be more timely. Ryan Reynolds on-point portrayal and his obvious influence in ensuring the film be produced by Fox in its R-rated glory gave us this Golden Globe-nominated gem.

Photo credit: 20th Century Fox

Best Animation: Zootopia
This deceptively simple animated feature completely raised the bar when we realised it discusses the issue of racial discrimination. Fluid animation, engaging story, and likeable characters make it a perfectly great film for kids, proving that family movies don’t have to be dumbed down.

Photo credit: Walt Disney Animation Studios

Best Sequel: Ouija: Origin of Evil
Despite having the baggage of being a prequel to its disappointing predecessor, this film managed to be leaps and bounds better. The success can be credited to its strong writing, commendable acting by the three lead actresses, and the scares of a classic horror film.

Photo credit: United International Pictures

Best Musical: La La Land
Great songs, spellbinding cinematography, and amazing on-screen chemistry between Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone make Damien Chazelle’s third feature stand out.

Photo credit: Golden Village Pictures

Best Horror: The Conjuring 2
It might not be as good as its legendary predecessor, but James Wan’s Conjuring 2 is an excellent horror film that delivers legit old-school scares when many other horror flicks have become laughable.

Photo credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

Best Thriller: Don’t Breathe
Gripping from start to finish, its intriguing premise and clever writing breathe fresh air into the overdone trapped-in-a-house thriller. Jane Levy and Stephen Lang deliver in their respective roles.

Photo credit: Sony Pictures

Best Reboot/Remake: The Jungle Book
Recreating this Disney classic is a daunting task, but this film exceeds expectations with its seamless live action and CGI interaction, mesmerising imagery, and strong narrative.

Photo credit: Walt Disney Studios

Best Documentary: The Songs We Sang
This documentary on the forgotten ‘xinyao’ music is full of warmth and socio-cultural insight. Snippets of remarkable old and new ’xinyao’ songs make this film even more entertaining.

Photo credit: Golden Village Pictures

Best Superhero Movie: Captain America: Civil War
It was fun to see our heroes divided and fight each other. That gives us not only top-notch actions and special effects, but also more emotional depth as the ideologies of our heroes clashed.

Photo credit: Walt Disney Studios

Best Science Fiction: Midnight Special
Harkening back to Spielberg-era movies, Midnight Special juggles its sci-fi mystery and chase film aspects effectively, with all-round excellent performance by its cast.

Photo credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

(Don't miss the '2016 Movies Lookback Part 2' here!)

Do you agree with this list? Which are your personal favourites? Share with us in the comments!

Lookback Deadpool Moana Don't Breathe Ouija La La Land Conjuring The Songs We Sang Captain America Civil War Jungle Book Zootopia Sully Midnight Special

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2016 Movies Lookback (Part 1)