That being said, there are still a handful of movies that deserved attention this year. So after thinking hard, here are the 10 movies that I enjoyed the most this year.
#10: Star Wars: The Last Jedi
I kept bouncing this on and off the list based surely on its' flaws. But, I will say, for me, I had a hard time getting this movie off my mind throughout the last couple of weeks of the year. And it is one gutsy blockbuster. Director Rian Johnson takes risks in this movie that normal blockbusters would shiver in their socks thinking of. That's a good thing, as Johnson gives this aging (whether you like it or not) franchise a much-needed creative boost. In the meantime, it delivers the usual thrills, spills and chills a Star Wars movie should give. While the ending leaves some confusion, it still provides plenty of excitement for diehards and casual fans.
#9: The Star
This animated adaptation of the Birth of Jesus could have been too silly or gone way too far off the Biblical beaten path. But thankfully, The Star is as wholesome of all-ages entertainment you can get. It doesn't rank among the best animated movies ever (and may not have made this list if released in an earlier year), but it does succeed in making a quick-paced, entertaining, heartfelt, and laugh-out-loud funny rendition of one of the greatest stories ever told. In the meantime, it retells the story without disrespecting the source material.
#8: A Question of Faith
In a year where the faith-based genre fell short of 2016's very good line-up, A Question of Faith was the best of the bunch. It may push the cautionary message of texting/driving perhaps a little hard, but it brought what the rest of the faith-based movies of 2017 were missing: a truly moving, soul-stirring story. The stories are balanced impressively well, the cast is wonderful, and the ending is one of the best of the year. Not War Room, but close.
#7: Goodbye Christopher Robin
Based on the life of A.A. Milne, this author biopic was both bittersweet and wonderful. Fantastic performances, a clever look at moments that discuss the inspiration behind the world famous Pooh stories, and a clever balance between whimsy and real-life hardships make this one of the year's most fascinating films.
#6: Wonder Woman
Helping the DCEU out in a big way, Patty Jenkins directs this solo movie in a thoughtful and in a much needed old-fashioned way. Wonder Woman nearly brings the superhero genre back to its roots, with a Captain America-style origin story that remains consistently entertaining and exciting. Mrs. Gal Gadot is absolutely wonderful as Diana, and the ending carries surprising emotional bite and depth.
#5: The LEGO Batman Movie
This movie earns the title of "the most fun movie of the year". And, perhaps as much as The LEGO Movie, this creative adaptation is both hilarious and thoughtful. The movie both mocks the character and builds on the character in very interesting ways. Not to mention, the animation is oftentimes spectacular, the voice cast fantastic, and the references to pop culture are clever and funny.
#4: The Man Who Invented Christmas
It was the year of author biopics as Bharat Nalluri brought to life the story of A Christmas Carol author Charles Dickens in a very fantastic way. Through a lively, theatrical feel, clever use of Dickens' characters, plus a thoughtful script, some wonderful performances and messages also make for also a very good Christmas movie that I will likely add to my yearly watchlist.
#3: A Monster Calls
If there's one director to keep an eye on, its' J.A. Bayona. His work here in A Monster Calls is pretty jaw-dropping. From an old-fashioned filmmaking style, to some creative elements, and a heartbreaking and deeply-moving story, this book adaptation is quite a movie. Liam Neeson makes a fantastic monster, and Lewis MacDougall gives the year's breakout performance.
#2: Wonder
I didn't get to see this until the end of the year, but Wonder gives a character-filled and character-driven story that we desperately needed this year. The characters are all given depth, the story is moving, the performances wonderful, the direction is gentle, and the messages are timely. By the time we get to the cheer-filled finale, Wonder is not only one of the best family films in a long time, it's a kind-hearted, understated character study that deserves awards season attention.
#1: Hidden Figures
I kept juggling the Top 4 around. In the end, I realized that there was only one movie that really engaged me with its' performances, old-fashioned storytelling, surprises, music score, songs, memorable moments, and emotional depth. The fact that Hidden Figures accomplishes all this while helping us learn something important about history (without force-feeding political messages or opinions) is quite outstanding. The result is one of the best true story movies made to date, and well-deserving of the Oscar attention it received at the beginning of this year.
NOTE: Hidden Figures and A Monster Calls are technically 2016 releases, but they did not open in wide release for the general public until January 2017. So I don't count them for 2016.
Before I end this post, lets' take a look at a few honorable mentions that fell short of making this list...
Thor: Ragnarok - Marvel threequel is just as enjoyable as its' Thor predecessors, and the best MCU film since Captain America: Civil War.
All Saints - Well-acted faith-based movie is unconventional and unique with an unexpected twist ending that works very well in its favor.
Born in China - One of Disneynature's strongest documentaries involves cute animals, a perfect running time, and some genuinely beautiful landscapes.
The Greatest Showman - Not the best musical ever made, but has some standout moments in an appealingly and entertainingly old-fashioned panache.
2017 is officially over. Now its time to look forward to what 2018 has in store...
