Man of Steel Answers: Why Didn't Zod Terraform Mars?

MAN OF STEEL Answers:
"Why didn't Zod Just Terraform Mars?"

Warner Brothers Pitcures' MAN OF STEEL has had an uphill battle to gain comic book movie fan audience acceptance since it took its first shaky steps to create a unified DC Comics Cinematic Universe. Many people know that this film is supposed to be the first of this new concept of a unified film mythology and it seems right that Superman (comic’s first “super-hero”) be the one who starts it. Nothing before it, not the beloved “The Dark Knight”, “The Green Lantern” (thankfully), nor, sadly, I know, the many “awesome” new television series are a part of this new DC Cinematic Universe.

Almost from the day it opened “Man of Steel” has been criticized for its departure in depicting Superman as the unwavering icon of righteousness that stands for truth, justice, and the American Way we remember from the comic book. Despite the fact all the fans, audiences, and critic stating that is what they find most boring about the character. It is made clear in the movie that we are not dealing with that character, but with the beginnings of that character. Still, the criticisms are leveled.

Criticism is leveled at almost all aspects of the film, from costuming, (No underpants on the outside!) to its overuse of action, (despite fans wanting Superman to “punch something.”), to its superficial alterations to Superman’s origins, (No crystalline palaces!) and mostly of his perceived behaviors, with the biggest controversy being that Kal El kills Zod. But the precedent of Superman killing stalwartly evil enemies has been long set in the comic books and, even in the vaunted movie Superman II. (No the “Donnor Cut” does not count. It’s ridiculous that Superman would turn back time, twice. Then, every Superman movie should end that way then.)

Most of these critiques can be easily answered. Why did he kill Zod? Because Zod put him in a position where there was no other choice. Why was Metropolis so decimated by their fight, possibly killing thousands of fictional people who never existed? Because when two super-powered, indestructible beings fight, that is what happens. They cannot just bounce off of walls. Just because these things came at the end of the movie, does not mean there will not be consequences. I hope. One of the things I particularly dislike about the recent flux of superhero movies is that there are no consequences to their actions. But that is an article for another time.

Possibly the third biggest critique leveled at “Man of Steel” is usually referenced as a “plot hole”. Which is the question this writing attempts to answer: Why didn’t Zod just terraform Mars?”

It is considered a plot hole because if Zod had just done that, Metropolis would have escaped destruction and those thousands of lives would not have been in danger to begin with. But, like those other critiques, this one can also be answered simply: Why didn’t Zod just terraform Mars? Easy, he couldn’t.

Thank you. Thanks for your time and reading this-wait. What, you need an explanation?

Well, to begin there are two main reasons why he cannot do this, one technical and the other is philosophical. Before you get worked up that the film never showed us these reasons, I answer, Snyder did. First, I present the Technical reason. There is an axiom in filmmaking that gets pounded into you as you study screenwriting: Show it. Don't say it. Meaning that if you can visually show the situation rather than having two or more characters give expository dialogue in a scene, then, you show it visually.

What has been shown in Snyder’s “Man of Steel” is the absolute failure of Krypton’s terraforming program. Indeed, we have all the visual evidence we need to confirm that Krypton's Terraforming for Colonization efforts were failures. Zod says it himself, when after escaping the Phantom Zone and going out in search of other Kryptonians; "Everywhere we went, we found only death."

In the following montage we see all the planets they came to, showing dead World Engines dead Kryptonians, and planets without atmospheres. Yet, somehow, this, as obvious as it was presented, (So obvious that I would have been laughed out of Screen Writing I at Columbia College Chicago, had I made this mistake.) Krypton’s terraforming failures, ironically, failed to register with audiences. So we know that terraforming Mars was then completely out of the question then, because like all of their outposts, it too would have failed. Before you make claims that they only failed on a societal level, once again, it is shown that some of the dead Krytonians are in space suits. So are Zod and his crew, because the planets are uninhabitable. Meaning that the World Engines failed to produce the desired affect and that was what led to the collapse of the outposts.

Now, knowing what a terrible failure terraforming is in this universe, we can then see that Zod's conquest of Earth via terraforming with the World Machines was a really BAD IDEA. It was doomed to fail and not only would he have killed every person on Earth in the process, he would have doomed that last of the Kryptonians who were with him due to their limited resources, thusly, he would have killed off the entirety of Kryptonian culture as well. If Zod simply took over the Earth and adjusted his survivors to the environment, then, cohabitation or conquest would have been within easy reach. “This is another plot hole,” you find yourself saying. No.

Zod could not do that either because of the Philosophical Reason.

Zod and Jor El were friends once. But something drove them apart. Their past relationship is mentioned many times during the film. What drove them apart were the differing philosophies on how to save Krypton. For Zod, its failure was due to the degenerate bloodlines contaminating their society, bringing it to a weakened state of governance. He is not looking at the bigger picture. He is only looking at the idea that force is the way to save Kryptonian culture. For Jor El, it was not that simple.

The world is about to end and yet everyone is ignoring that fact. (Sound familiar?) JorEl knows, he knows, that Krypton’s time is up. To recreate Kypton would be to recreate its failures and prejudices. But he wants to try and make the next generation of survivors aware of their failures. Jor El mentions that he had been looking for a suitable planet for a long time. Meaning his further research beyond terraforming was to look for instead, habitable worlds to colonize. Which is why he was adamant about "Looking to the stars".

You see? Jor El was not trying to save Kryptonian Society; he was trying to save the species! Failure of their society left no hope for the planet or the culture to continue on other worlds but the species could live on somewhere else, to start anew with differing rules, historical knowledge, and a real chance at surviving the wilds of other environments. His son’s natural childbirth changed those rules: a procreation program for another planet where they will not suffer the same failures in the philosophies of governing themselves or establish class before a child is born without the chances and choices to determine their own destinies. This, to JorEl, is what led Krypton to its demise. With his plan, they can make up a new society for themselves without adhering to the old world. These ideas are what drove the wedge between Zod and himself.

Zod saw the small picture of degenerate bloodlines, need of purity, of the survival of the culture through those old means of creating life. You see? Zod needed to terraform Earth as a sort of “Fuck You” to Jor El’s philosophy and Jor El’s plan to save Krytonian culture through integration. What drives Zod to overlook simple conquest of the Earth is the aspect of personal philosophical revenge that plays out.

Zod wants to terraform Earth, even if he cannot see, or, maybe he is unwilling to see, the terrible results it holds for his people. He needs to show Kal El that his way is the correct way and maybe using Jor El's relocation plan and selected planet to do so will lend greater credence to that in some aspect that only seems to make sense to himself. But Kal can see right away that this is wrong. Kal is still a Kryptonian here, but his being undecided about his place in the world suddenly finds focus when the only home he has ever known is threatened. Kal El, the Kryptonian becomes Clark Kent and when he must decide which culture to save, he then becomes child of Earth.

But Zod's true failure was that he was so damn adamant about NOT GIVING UP THE PAST. Sounds mighty familiar to me. His unbridled madness to recreate the Historic Krypton again blinded him to seeing the potential of this new planet and possible futures. This is how Jor El saw the earth as a world of potential beyond the failures of Krypton. Kal El realizes this as well. So does Zod when he sees that Jor El’s philosophy of starting again on Earth taking root his son when Kal El proclaims, “Krypton had its chance.”

Which is then why Zod vows to destroy every human once Kal El thwarts his plan. We see how this philosophical defeat affects Zod, it drives him to madness, to paraphrase, “That is the sole purpose for which I was born. My soul. That is what you have taken from me.”

“I'm going to make them suffer Kal, these humans you've adopted. I will take them all from you, one by one.” It breaks Zod, mentally. It drives him mad to the point of murderous destruction. Then, through the following fight, we see Zod’s changed nature and belief that he needs to conquer Jor El’s philosophy through genocide, which leads ultimately to putting Kal in a position where he needs to ends Zod’s life. So it become less about Superman flying off to an empty location to keep humanity safe, but having no choice but face the threat right there, to end that threat as quickly as possible. But this also means breaking his final connection to his past self as a Kryptonian, a connection whom, ironically, turns out to be Zod himself.

So we have seen how absolutely wrong Zod was about everything about trying to “Save Krypton” and how his fanatical devotion to such a wrong-headed ideology breaks him mentally, turning him into a genocidal maniac that it fell upon Kal El to have to kill to end that threat. Maybe we can see some real life parallels in this?

With the recent release of the trailers for the upcoming “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice”, it seems that Warner Brothers Co. is taking into account what happened in “Man of Steel”, most especially, the destruction of the climactic end, as well as, touches on the fear espoused by Jonathan Kent (Kevin Costner) about how the people will fear Kal El. Excellent stuff for a follow up, though I am not so sure now about the contrived conflict with Batman now in light of all this. I hope they do not gloss over this to have Batman take over the story.

The teasers and trailer lead me to believe that “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” could be a great follow up to “Man of Steel”, a great continuation of the growth of Superman – it is just not going to be a good Batman story. While I was one of the first to champion the addition of Batman so early on in this cinematic universe, the casting of Ben Affleck has taken the wind from my sails in my excitement about the movie.

Now it seems that the ramifications of “Man of Steel’s” destructive conclusion will be pushed off to service the Batman Versus plotline. But when you see the Batplane mowing down exploding cars in the trailers, I am sorry to say that we do not care about all the destruction in the end as long as it is philosophically justified, or, championed by a Batman. When the destruction of the enemy is justified by a Batman’s actions, does that not make him as fanatical as Zod? I digress.

Zod was operating on a failed premise: the resurrection of the Historical Kryptonian culture on Earth through terraforming. His fanatical zeal for this ideology is what brought about his death at the hands of Kal El; that he could not see, or chose not to see, that terraforming the Earth using such failed technology as the World Engines would doom the surviving Kryptonians from the start. By proceeding with such a failed plot, did they make Kal El decide definitively that he is a child of Earth and pushed him to defend his home, thus setting him on his path to become the hero we all know....

Humbly submitted,

Ernest M Whiteman III

January 2016

IF YOU CAN'T FIX WHAT'S BROKEN - THE BESTS OF 2015

If you can't fix what's broken, you'll, ...you'll go insane.

The Top Fifteen of Twenty-Fifteen: Best of Stuffs Lists

By Ernest M Whiteman III

Here we are once again at the ending of another year, this time it is 2015. As with other years, we have been inundated with a plethora of media that demand our attention, our responses, and our opinions and actions, because these things are more important than creating a world we can all live in peaceably.

Also, as in other years, I have compiled what I think are the bestest things of that all-attention-grabbing media and force you to listen to my opinions on them, like some drunken uncle at a holiday meal. But you are too polite to say anything for causing undue “drama” at a time when we are supposed to be nice to that stupid, stupid uncle.

BOOKS of 2015

This has been a pretty good year for me, book-wise. I was able to read a lot more this year and I have had my mind and eyes opened through reading for the first time in a long time. Is that not the purpose of books to begin with? Unfortunately, due to all the added reading, I have read “Three Kingdoms” only twice last year. So, what did I think were the best things in books this past year? Please note that I will not include a list of brand new books, as I have not really gotten around to reading anything new. But without further ado:

Still Reading: “The Grace of Kings” by Ken Liu: What attracted me was the blurb on the back cover stating this was the wuxia version of Game of Thrones. Which I thought was funny, because Game of Thrones is the medieval version of Three Kingdoms. It also helped the author’s surname is Liu. So, I checked this out from the library and so far it is neither of those things. But it is written well enough to make me want to stick it out. We will see.

Still Reading: “1Q84” by Haruki Murakami: Intriguing to say the least. I have heard of this book for some time and on a whim checked it out from the library. The characters are good and it takes its time setting up the scheme, and the things that bother me most are 1) it is good but decends into Guy Writing at points. (i.e. the beatifgul deadly assassin will suddenly start to think about the high school lesbian experience she had in great detail for NO reason.) and 2) all of this dense prose is done through a translator so I have no idea if the actual turn of phrase is Murakami’s or the translators feeble attempt to mirror his style. We will see.

“The Art of War” by Sun Tzu: Never hurts to have extra copes of this lying around. This is a small, “leather” bound edition that fits in the pocket and what I use as a wallet from time to time. Plus, it sets aside all of the translator’s stupid musing of the text and lets the text set by itself for the reader’s own interpretation. I have yet to give it a thorough read.

“Chicken with Plums” by Marjean Sartrapi: I checked this out from the library after watching the movie based on this also directed by Sartrapi. The movie was a fun, charming tale, this was a dry, quick read.

“The Star Wars Trilogy” B&N Edition by Various Authors: Got this as a gift from Bonnie, with the black Darth Vader cover. My favorite line from the Star Wars novelization: “He is the last of the Jedi and the greatest” (Vader describing Obi Wan)

10. “A Feast for Crows”/“A Dance of Dragons” by George RR Martin – I recently re-read these two books back to back after seeing YouTube’s Preston Jacobs’ video’s concerning the “Dornish Conspiracy” which made me think about all the little details that I have been missing from these, the most underrated books of the series. I think the reason they are the most scorned is because House Stark (Readers’ favorite) is no longer a viable threat and has put a ton of pressure on Jon Snow to be the All-Holy Savior because he is still a Stark Man. But reading these again, I really enjoyed them for the stories they told, and as a result, they moved apace quicker than I remembered when I first read them. But enjoyed them I did and I suggest you try them and give them another chance because so much of the overall Song of Ice and Fire happens in these pages.

9. “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare – Cambridge 3^rd Edition – I bought this from a hipster bookstore that sells books by the pound. Get it? I have been living Hamlet since 2009 when production on my movie adaptation began. What caught my eye and separated itself from all the other versions where 1) the image of Christopher Eccleston on the cover (my favorite Doctor) and 2) the copious acting and story notes, questions, and exercises set along side every page of the play making it invaluable for my own examinations.

8. “Descender Volume One: Tin Stars” by Justin Lemire & Dustin Nguyen Trade Paper Back – I got this as a gift but I expressed interest in reading it. It concerns the aftermath of an all-out attack by planet-sized robots called Harvesters, a small android awakes to find that after 10 years, robots are outlawed and he is the target of the government and bounty hunters as his DNA may contain the secret to why the Harvesters attacked. Very good are and intriguing story.

7. “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” George RR Martin – This illustrated hardcover collection of three Dunc and Egg short stories that take place well over hundred years before the events in Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire Series. Martin is a great writer and these adventures are fun, with great mystery and adventure with the false knight Sir Duncan the Tall behaving more like a true know than many of the knights Egg and he encounter. Great read. Pick it up.

6. “Three Kingdoms” Illustrated Edition – found this in the China section of Half Price Books and I was overjoyed to find it. I am in continually search for varying versions of “Three Kingdoms” and when I found this, I bought it, scraped up my change and bought for fear of someone else getting it. It is done very much in the Asian style of grade school comic books but the text has been translated to English.

5. “The Revolution Will Not Be Funded” Impact! Women Against Violence, Various Authors – Madonna Thunder Eagle’s Essay “Titled” is one of the most concise writings on the usurpation of causes by the liberal elite in this country. That we all willingly sacrifice the freedom of serving our causes to fit into a fixed structure of corporate non-profitism simply over money astounds me still. I checked this out from the library after a five month long reserve. I photocopied the essay and read it continually to help my perspective in running my own non-profit.

4. “47 Ronin” by Mike Richardson and Stan Sakai, Graphic Novel – The story of the 47 ronin has fascinated me for years. I love the two-part Kenji Mizoguchi film from 1943, 44. This was researched and written by Mike Richardson and was drawn by “Usage Yojimbo” creator Stan Sakai whose art balances both a cartoony look with the ancient Japanese painting of the Edo Period in which the story takes place. It is a great little book that I recommend. However, never be seduced by the idea of the Samurai code as depicted in the Hagakure. While it is a book about the expected behavior of the samurai class, it was written 80 years into a 200-year period of peace, when the samurai class was working to justify its existence. Though, the story of the 47 ronin is a great story of martial honor and revenge. Check this graphic novel out.

3. “Orson Welles Last Movie: The Making of ‘Other Side of the Wind’” Josh Karp – This was a very good reconstruction of the collapse of Welles’ last film. It clearly shows that he himself was partially to blame, running from producer to producer, almost conning them into giving him funds to maintain his lifestyle while shooting but never kept any records of expenditures, so he lost the right because he would refuse, at first, to produce a budget, then refusing to show how he spent the money given. It is a crazy story of how a genius tries to maintain creative control over his film. It is a great read that reveals a part of film history, I think.

2. “The New Jim Crow” Michelle Alexander (Still Reading) – Speaking of eye-opening books, this is one of them. It is about how the entire justice system is set up to keep ex-cons, especially ex-cons of color from their civil rights, especially voting. It is very informative about the “War on Drugs” and how that is still being used to disenfranchise many African-American communities. I now have to look at all angles of our justice system and see what I already kind of knew: that it is not really as fair as we want to think it is. I am still reading this because after every page I read, I have to put it down in frustration.

1. “Three Kingdoms” Luo Guanzhong, translated by Moss Roberts (Still Reading) – You must be so tired of this by now but I cannot tell you how much this book means to me. On its surface, it is a piece of romanticized historical fiction with a blend of warfare, magic, and politics, with the original text being so dense that many translations are packed into as many as four volumes with copious notations, and over 1000 individual characters that cross the story that tell the saga of the “Three Kingdoms” Era of China, when the country, wracked by constant warfare, falls into three warring kingdoms vying to unite the country. But deeper readings reveal so many personal, political, and storytelling lessons that I am constantly picking up the abridged translation and re-reading at every chance. The stories of valor resonate with me in trying to be complete human being. It opens the book on politics and shows you that even a friend could betray you in the right circumstances, that holding onto a status quo will only push you further towards a fall, and that personal integrity, while a nebulous thing, can be the only solid foundation for building a true life. Read it if you can.

On to music:

MY MUSIC of 2015

I know a lot of you do not really care about my taste in music. You never will. You all like the grungy-punk-electro-rap so-I-can-mention-MIDI-in-my conversations tip that makes you cool. Well, I never subscribed to being “cool”, no one ever thought I was cool, and I really do not care to be cool. “Cool” is fleeting. Good music is subjective and if you cannot comprehend that, I cannot convince you what makes “good music”. I just know what I like and what appeals to me. I also know that that prior text was written for last year’s list but think of it instead as my sample, that I am looping here, cool?

Here is what I bought last year:

5. Danielle Ate the Sandwich – Things People Do: I discovered Danielle Ate the Sandwich years ago on YouTube. I thought the song she sang was good and original, that she was cute, and was charmed by the fact she plays a ukulele. Over the years, I have followed as her fame spread and her talents grew. What I believe to be her best instrument is her voice, which has grown with her. Things People Do was the first CD I purchased from her via her website. I later bought the rest of her CD’s at her live show whenever she passed through Chicago. I had long ago gave this to one of my stepdaughters and recently bought a brand new copy for myself. Possibly my most favorite track on the album is the same song that comes to mind when I try to describe her style; “Handsome Girl” is a song about the play of words when describing women and mixing it with also the descriptions of men. It is a good song and a really good album overall. Completely self-produced, “recorded at my kitchen table” say the only liner notes. This lends an intimacy and realism to the songs. I am happy to get a new copy, though I miss the raw cardboard cover.

4. Danielle Ate the Sandwich – The Drawing Back of Curtains: is the newest album featuring songs she composed for the documentary of the same name. The opening song shows her great progression from her early works, the layering, the instrumentation, the harmonies, and the lyrics reflect a grown up Danielle and I hope her fans allows her to spread her wings more and explore new territories in other music genres as I feel that her strongest instrument, her voice, with anchor such explorations, and hopefully, will grow and enrich her talents.

3. Andra Day – Cheers to the Fall: I discovered Andra Day my accident catching an ad for her at the movie theater. I was deep into my exploration of Billie Holiday and noted some vocal similarities and bought Cheers to the Fall sight unseen and have enjoyed it from day one, especially the hit “Rise Up” and the title track.

2. Billie Holiday – Lady in Satin: This was the first Billie Holiday album I bought. I saw Ken Burn’s Jazz series piece on Holiday and it broke my heart and later on caught a documentary about her rough life. The doc in part, covered the making of this album, the last to be release while she lived. Once I found it in the store I bought it and was not disappointed, to hear the ravages of time in her voice, backed by a silky smooth orchestral arrangement is also heartbreaking. Get this one. 

 

1. Billie Holiday – Lady Sings the Blues: Here first official album, so in a sense, I purchased her first and last albums. Here you can hear the differences. My favorite is “Strange Fruit” one of the very first songs she helped write based on her own experiences as a child. Another one everyone should own. This one is my most favorite buy this year.

What is grievously missing is the amazing Nina Simone. To be rectified this year, I hope….

My DVDs of 2015

Patience is the greatest key to finding the DVD that you want. I am so happy that places like Disc Replay, Reckless Records, and Half Price Books exist, because I find that, if I am patient enough, I can find my favorite movies on DVD for a steal. That is how I got my vast library of movies.

Citizen Kane 75^th Anniversary Edition (ebay – “cheap”): Everyone should own a copy, at least.

Ikiru (Criterion #221, 50% Sale): One of my many favorites of Kurosawa, possibly the most complete director to grace the medium.

Birdman (40% B&N Sale): My best Picture pick from last year. Finally snapped it up in a deal.

Two Days, One Night (Criterion #771, 50% Sale): Still have not watched this, though it has gotten great reviews. Bought it sight unseen due the cover featuring the glorious Marion Cortillard.

Throne of Blood (Criterion #190, 2^nd Copy, new edition, 50% Sale): When the updated edition appeared on DVD with all new extra features, I got it as a companion to the first print editon I got last year.

Doctor Who Season Nine – Part One (Gift): I am a fan of Capaldi’s Doctor and Season Nine was the strongest, in my opinion, since Season One featuring Eccleston.

Skyfall (Target Discount “cheap”): Got it to complete the Craig Series on DVD. Not a huge fan of the movie as it begins the slide back into gadgety camp.

Mad Max: Fury Road (full price!): Of course.

Coriolanus (resell): One of my favorite Shakespeare adaptations. Ralph Fiennes nails it.

Magician (Documentary, Amazon discount): A weak documentary only interesting in telling Welles’ childhood story.

X-Men: Days of Future Past – The Rogue Cut (Target discount): Char and I geeked out over the additions. Glad to have gotten this one.

Jodorowsky’s Dune (Documentary, 30% coupon – first Blu Ray!): One of my favorite films last year! Inspiring in my own work on “Hamlet”.

Watership Down (Criterion #748, 50% sale): A childhood favorite remastered on DVD.

Locke (40% B&N Sale): Got mainly for the performance. Check it out.

The Color of Money (Reckless Records): Had to own my most favorite Scorsese film.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (Widescreen edition, Reckless): I have been looking for this for a while, mainly because I am a Branagh fan and completist. But it took time to find an actual widescreen edition.

Redbeard (Criterion #159, eBay): possibly my most favorite Kurosawa film. I had a copy years ago in a boxed set but I sold that off. Now, I own it once again after a long looking around.

Boardwalk Empire – Season Three (Target sale)

Boardwalk Empire – Season Two (Target sale)

Boardwalk Empire – Season One (Target sale): I bought S1 on a whim and enjoyed it. I would have bought all five season by now but Bonnie viewed ahead and saw them already so my interest has waned.

Game of Thrones – Season Four (B&N Sale): When the Fratboys took over the storylines and then made them worse in Season Five. Bought mainly as a completist.

John Wick (B&N Sale): Again, of course.

Grand Illusion (Criterion #1, Reckless)

Beauty and the Beast (Criterion #6, Reckless): I found these together and read they were first prints and was surprised that someone would sell them off. SO, I got them both. Both are really great films and I have enjoyed watching them both. It is great to add these to my growing Criterion collection.

Hamlet (Criterion #82, Half Price): I have been on the look out for all available movie versions of HAMLET to sort of augment my own cinematic knowledge of presenting the play with my own film. Olivier’s is considered the bar. I do not disagree.

Avatar: The Last Air Bender – Book One: Water (B&N Sale): Decided I wanted to get into this since it has a big following. I liked it very much though I still have to get and watch the remaining two sets.

As you can see, I got a lot of DVDs this last year. Thank goodness for sales, resell shops and a whole lot of patience. Let’s move on to movies on the big screen. But first a look back at what I was looking forward to last year:

LOOKING BACK: The Top Ten Films I WAS Looking Forward to in 2015

1. Mad Max Fury Road – See “Top 15 Movies” List Below.

2. The Other Side of the Wind - Orson Welles - May 6: This never got a release date at all. There are still many rights problems with it and it is left to Peter Bagdonovich to cut it together. From what I understand, they had a contentious relationship for the final years of Welles’ life. I enjoyed Josh Karp’s book “Orson Welles’ Last Movie” about the making of this film. It was one of my favorite books last year. But reading it let me see another side of the genius, someone who would self-destruct a project, if he were not able to have the control he wanted. Very much the spoiled brat genius he is made out to be. Check out that book if you can. Still hoping this gets a 2016 release though.

3. Minions – I was not able to drum up any interest in this after the endless previews and trailers. The Minions are a cute idea but I am not sure they are able to sustain the gag for an entire movie. I am probably wrong because this opened huge.

4. Spectre: Sadly, they reset everything back to status quo of the cheese-fests of the 60’s & 70’s. We did not need that. Our heroes are supposed to be a reflection of our selves, our self-image, not nostalgia-laden callback films, that is pop music now days. Stop it.

5. The Peanuts Movie - Nov 6: What went for the Minions goes for the Peanuts Movie. But I would still like to see this.

6. Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens: I can admit that I am probably wrong about the fun and spectacle of this, but what I will not be wrong about is its necessity. It was good but that is all. I do not understand the whole ruckus surrounding what is basically a reboot of the franchise. I guess I have a problem with the direction; it was flashy and shallow. It always ends up with the JJ Curse where Super Genius is seen as Character Development. It can be seen in both the “Mary Sue” Aspects of Rey and Kirk, or any of the Star Trek Main Crew. (“Mary Jane refers to a character that is perfect from the beginning and shows no growth.)  Also a part of the JJ Curse is the over-reliance on Nostalgia, worse than Tarantino. Look at his “Super 8” which is an “E.T.” homage. So, as much as I love Star Wars, this movie did not do it for me. I mean it is great to have a kickass woman in the lead and a minority character as a lead hero but to have them both in service to such a shallow piece is kind of a waste. I have only seen this once so far.

7. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend - Aug 28: This was delayed and relegated to Netflix. Too bad, the trailer looks like standard kung-fu fare though, which is kind of disappointing.

8. Pixar's The Good Dinosaur: I really enjoyed this one. It is a western at its core. It almost made the Top 15 but it was not as complete a story as other Pixar films, aside from “Cars” that is. But overall, a good story and great animation! I am still amazed at the near photorealism of the environments created for the film and if anything should get a production design nomination.

9. Ant-Man: Another one that almost made the Top 15, and was on it, until I saw “The Hateful Eight”. I enjoyed this very much and is probably my favorite Marvel movie, besides “Guardians of the Galaxy”.

10. Bone Tomahawk: This barely passed through the theaters in the US and nowhere in Chicago. So, I finally caught it on DVD recently. Though everyone I know who has seen it has had good things to say, which made me mildly suspicious. As I said last year, looks like a western version of “The 13^th Warrior.” I ended up being disappointed with it. The style and cinematography were good, the characters were good, Matthew Fox was great, yet, the dialogue was trying to push into “Deadwood” territory and despite its claims at trying to upset the conventions of the genre, it fell grossly into the genres it is trying to upend the conventions of. (See what I did there?) The Terrifying, Indestructible, Unstoppable Enemy where easily tricked into drinking poisoned whiskey and were suddenly doing everything realllllllyyyy slow as to draw out tension when that is not what they were built up to be. They should have killed all the heroes in less than a minute, but who were suddenly indestructible at the time of the climax – a busted, increasingly infected leg? No problem, it never plays into the climax. Getting your stomach opened and a flask shoved into the wound before having your manhood shot off? Just a scratch because your Kurt Fucking Russell! Disappointing the more I think about it. By the way, why don’t the Cannibals treat humans the same way humans treat any wild food source? They would never put humans, especially smart, possibly escaping humans into cages. They would butcher them in the field like we do with moose or deer or bear or eagle. That’s just stupid. I would love to see a movie where the invading aliens or cannibal society treated humans literally like cattle, breeding, milking, butchering them, processing them, and we all go along docile because after generations of being treated like this, it is the life we know. Now, THAT would be a western!

The Maybe's of 2015:

MI5 – In case you cannot grasp abbreviations: Mission Impossible 5: Rogue Nation is a fun if forgettable entry into an already fun and forgettable movie series. Which is surprising for all the directorial talent they sign on to direct these. Well, just Brian DePalma and John Woo, I guess. Maybe, that guy who directed “The Incredibles”, who I cannot recall now- Brad Bird, it’s Brad Bird. Plus, hours of Tom Cruise running solving the situation and he hung off a plane in this one, which is what every one will remember it for.

Mr. Holmes – See “Top 15 Movies” List Below.

The Kingsman – As fun as it was, I do not think it was as great and “subversive” as people made it out to be. What makes me sad for humanity is how people are calling that Church Shootout Scene one of the GREASTEST ACTION SCENES EVER! Which is sheer stupidity. What we have is a brainwashed affluent white man killing off people who we do not agree with. At its core it is liberal wish fulfillment. It makes caricatures of regular people turning them into racist zealots, making it easy to NOT see them as fellow humans, thus, easier to kill off. Why, the very same thing was done to Native Americans. It is the most stupid scene ever. What makes it worse? A black man made the heroic white man do it.

The Visit (M. Night) – Not a horrible as people made it out to be. Not as great as his previous works either.

The Hateful Eight dir. Quentin Tarantino: Surprise! A Tarantino movie makes the list! See List below!!

TOP TEN RE-SCREEN & SPECIAL EVENT SCREENINGS OF 2015

From the looks of it, I saw a lot of repeat screenings and special event screenings. Look out; there is a LOT of Orson Welles on this list. Besides being one of my favorite film directors, you have to admit, in his later years, there was a LOT of Orson Welles wherever he went! Ha!  Here is what I saw as a re-screening or special event this year:

10. RIFFTRAX LIVE: The Crappening took place over the course of 2015, which included; The Room, Miami Connection, and Santa Claus and the Ice Cream Bunny. It also included “Sharknado”, but Bonnie and I are loathe to watch any of the Sharknado movies because we feel that PURPOSELY MADE Bad Movies are not what Rifftrax should be riffing. It is a principle thing.

9. NTL: Hamlet: Yeah, the one with Benedict Cumberbatch. There were a lot of Sherlock Fans there squeeing whenever he did something mildly humorous. But overall, it was a good adaptation, with huge cuts and alterations to the play, which makes sense. But coming as familiar as I am with the play in my production, I did not care for some of the reshufflings.

8. Back to the Future + Back to the Future Part II: Screened as part of the 30^th Anniversary precisely on Oct 24^th at 6:35pm to showcase the connection to BTTF pt II. It was a fun time and one of the all-time great sci-fi comedies.

7. Citizen Kane (Welles at 100 Retrospective): I always make a point to see Welles’ directorial debut, often called the Greatest Film of All Time, as often as it comes available to screen.

6. The Lady from Shanghai (Restoration Exhibition, Siskel Center): Never saw this before and was happy to finally get a chance to see the great fun house chase. But what I loved most was Welles’ character’s monologue about the sharks. Great film noir classic.

5. The Magnificent Ambersons (Welles at 100 Retrospective) I think the critique that this is Welles’ better film is apt. It shows so much of how innovative and creative he was; especially, to make such a story so complex and interesting. Welles put such a mark on this film that the tacked on ending stands out horribly. What was lost in the producer’s cut was a segment Welles stated took place at the party, what would have been a three story, twelve-minute tracking shot. Pity. Still, if not on par with “Kane” could be listed as better than, at least.

4. F for Fake (Welles at 100 Retrospective) This is my favorite Welles movie of all time. It speaks so much to authority of art. It has informed my own thoughts and ideas on Art in general and Native American art specifically, especially in how we present lies as truth because it satisfies our authoritarian egos.

3. The Chimes at Midnight (Welles at 100 Retrospective) Never seen this one either, but catching it on the big screen was amazing and it shot right up there in becoming one of my most favorite Welles’ film. This is what the man could do if you let him and his did not self-destruct the project. It is an awesome example of storytelling economy, with a great story, cinematography, and performances.

2. Wings of Desire (On the Road Again, the Wim Wenders Retrospective) I saw this on the big screen before but only after a two-hour class lecture, so I fell asleep. But seeing it with a crowd that is active and engaged, makes the humor pop more, the story flow smother and the surprises surprise more. This was one of the very first foreign movies I saw that made me realize there is a world out there beyond US cinema. The others were “Seven Samurai” and “Henry V (1989)”, not to forget all the Godzilla movies too. The story of an angel falling in love depicted as a “fall TO grace” rather than from it is stark, beautiful, and full of philosophical musings that I could not help but be enamored.

1. Until the End of the World: Director’s Cut (On the Road Again, the Wim Wenders Retrospective) This one is the one I have been looking forward to as soon as I heard about it. (More so than the new Star Wars!) This is another one of my all-time favorite films, by the great Wim Wenders screened as part of the Siskel Center's participation of the roaming Wenders retrospective "On the Road Again". This is the nearly forgotten director's cut that was first screened before US studios demanded a shorter cut, which clocked in at three hours. This version clocks in at nearly 5 hours!

And yet, I was never bored with it as it truly is the epic road movie that Wenders wanted. Starring his then-girlfriend and film's co-writer, the lovely Solveig Dommartin as Claire, who heads out on the road chasing down a stranger she meets by chance, Sam, played by William Hurt, who is then followed by a bevy of men she knows and happens upon, lead by Eugene, played by Sam Neil.

Set in 1999, this was a more-apt prediction of future tech than "Back to the Future II", in my opinion. (Though no one can predict fashion accurately.) The chase goes around the world, beginning with a car crash and ending with Sam's father's obsession with recording dreams. The impeccable Max Von Sydow and Jeanne Moreau play Sam’s parents.

The addition of all the extra scenes made the movie fresh for me and helped fill in the missing piece and also moved the pace along a bit better than the old VHS version I still have. Made me miss Dommartin, who is no longer with us. Beautiful woman in a great film.

RE-SCREENS & SPECIAL EVENTS I ALSO SAW IN 2015:

Touch of Evil (Welles at 100 Retrospective): Great as always!

Jaws (40^th Anniversary): Fun to watch.

Othello (Welles at 100 Retrospective): Another Welles Masterpiece!

The Trial (Twice; Welles at 100 Retrospective + Restoration Exhibition at Siskel Center): Yet another Welles Great.

The Third Man (Welles at 100 Retrospective): Not a Welles film but a good cameo performance.

Gremlins: Fun and very 80’s

Black Magic (Welles at 100 Retrospective): Another fun Welles performance.

Confidential Report (Welles at 100 Retrospective): I liked this better than I remembered. It almost made the list but for “Lady from Shanghai”.

Doctor Who Season Eight Finale: Dark Water + Death In Heaven: I am a Doctor Who fan, not a Whovian. So I thought I would catch theses on the big screen.

Psycho: Another great one on the big screen.

Ghost: Blech! Saw this because we bought a package deal. Did not age well at all. We wondered why Goldberg won for this when she has so many other better performances out there.

The Princess Bride: Fun and quotable.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail: Quotable and fun.

Buena Vista Social Club (On the Road Again, the Wim Wenders Retrospective): The great documentary on the last of the great Cuban musicians being found and recording an album that was a great hit back in the late 1990’s. This opened the Wenders retrospcective and I went to see it because it was one of the film Indie films I saw when I first moved to Chicago in 1999. I remember the cute ticket person at the now-defunct Three Penny Theater, which used to be right across from the now-defunct Biograph Theater on Lincoln Avenue. Great film and great music.

Dracula (1931): Boring. But historical. In a film sense.

OTHER NEW MOVIES I SAW IN 2015:

The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies: Disappointing. The whole thing should have been a 90-minute kids movie rather than Peter Jackson’s Prequel Trilogy. Char put it best when the lights in the theater came up, “Well, it’s all over now.”

It Follows: It was not as scary as it could have been but I appreciated that the teens thought and planned like teens would.

Furious 7: Ridiculous with a couple of standout gags. But isn’t that what the whole series is?

Avengers: Age of Ultron: The thing about introducing your heroes in a ton of separate individual films ala Marvel, that have fanboys screaming “That’s how it’s done!” is that you take away any aspect of danger. You know having lived through so many adventures that you know that once they team up, again, they will win. Sometimes, I forget I watched this.

Spy (Twice): Another one that could have been on my Top 15 list if there were not so many other better movies out there. I would include this one because it played with the conventions of the spy genre moreso than “The Kingsman” or “Spectre” and never once made a joke about Melissa Macarthy’s size. Plus, it was funny and fun.

Jurassic World: I did not like this at all. Described as the T-Rex’s “Unforgiven”, so, it was a spectacular let down.

Man from U.N.C.L.E.: A fun movie based on the condescending TV show.

Trainwreck: Another funny, female-led film. This time she gets to do what the guys do up until the end when she decides she needs a man and does the whole stupid secret meet up surprise to win him back. Typical and atypical.

Sicario: I have no clue why this is making a ton of Best of lists. It was kind of stupid trying to force a black and white morality on something as gray as this world. I also hated the redneck pit stop we made in the middle of the film.

Crimson Peak (Twice): Ejoyed the Pulling-the-knife-from-his-face shot but is reflective of everything wrong with this film. Thank about it.

Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie – A pretty good reboot of the film series. Not as great as the original and its sequel but what is now days? Check it out.

Office: the lure of Chow Yun-Fat in a Chinese musical set in a business office was to great to pass up. Alas, Chow never let his vocal styling show but it was a fun, quirky office space story punctuated by Asian pop songs telling the various stories of the staff of a brokerage on the eve of its IPO.

Legend: Tom Hardy was great as the Kray Twins who ruled the UK underworld. Unexpectedly funny, the bro fight, and especially the start of that joke!

Macbeth: Grim and gritty and I wish I got to see it with Bonnie. This is a very stylish retelling of Shakespeare’s play.

So here we are at last:

EW3'S TOP 15 MOVIES of 2015

This time I will try to keep it to first-run, brand new movies, and not include re-screenings or special event screenings. Those were cheats to fill out the lists as I find that I really do not care for a lot of new movies out there now days. So here we go with what I thought were the best movies of 2015. I realize that my list is not filled with cutesy Independents and the like, but what can I say? I really like movies. So, it comes down to what my

15. Mr. Holmes: directed by Bill Condry (Gods and Monsters) – Ian McKellan stars as the famed Conan-Doyle sleuth Sherlock Holmes, here, in his 90’s living into the 1940’s and very much a part of our real world, with Dr. Watson heavily embellishing the man. I was struck at how the character was recreated as a living person rather than a persona, which is oft repeated, bringing a fresh humanity to the character in his late age. The central mystery here is that Holmes is trying to puzzle out the last case of his career, the one that sent him into retirement, while at the same time, trying to stave off his failing memories. It is not a huge blustery mystery but a small personal portrait that I think the truest of Sherlock fans will appreciate.

14. Inside Out: directed by Pete Doctor (Toy Story) – Pixar once again regains its top position as the animations studio to beat. This is the simple take of a child going through a move to another city, told through the perspective of her inner emotions, characterized by five different identities; joy, rage, fear, disgust, and sadness. When the Core Memories are accidentally dumped, Joy and Sadness must journey into long-term memory to retrieve them as Riley, the young girl, is suddenly at am emotional loss in dealing with her new circumstance. The ending brought me to tears and Sadness’ role in Riley’s life is revealed and sends a great message in how we should deal with sadness. Great picture.

13. Selma: directed by Ava DuVernay (I Will Follow) – Retells the story of the Selma protests with David Oyelowo giving a great performance as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. One of the many films on my list depicting the African-American struggle in modern America. I realize that this is a 2014 release but it was released in a limited run to compete for the Oscars. It was filled with a great cast and never shied away from the shortcomings of MLK himself.

12. Coming Home: directed by Zhang Yimou (Hero) – This is the story of a revolutionary’s struggle to return home to his loving wife, who after and earlier accident, has memory loss in which she cannot recall what her husband looks like and as the years pass, he must regain her love, and does so through the reading of all the letters he wrote her in all the years in prison. He must also reconnect with the daughter that turned him in and was the cause of the accident. Touching and sad, as the wife never regains her memories of him and every year, she goes to the train station, on the day he wrote he would be released, and awaits him. This is a very Yimou story and I enjoyed seeing this aspect of Chinese society.

11. The Hateful Eight: directed by Quentin Tarantino (Pulp Fiction) – This was the last movie I saw in 2015. I have been disappointed with Tarantino’s last few films. The last one I really enjoyed was “Jackie Brown”, which I feel is his best and most grown up film though he did not originate the story, it is based on “Rum Punch” an Elmore Leonard novel. This time, I was not disappointed and was treated to a spectacle I had not seen from Tarantino before. Shot in 70mm, the cinematography is beautiful as if he really put effort into how the movie looked. The Hateful Eight tells the story of nine people trapped in a stagecoach station during a blizzard and the eight strangers who must determine who is not who they say they are. There are a lot of turnout performances. It is a great ensemble. I really enjoyed the “Roadshow Edition” with its overture and intermission and program books. I am glad Tarantino made this one. Great western.

10. He Named Me Malala: directed by Peter Guggenheim (An Inconvenient truth) – This documentary tells the story Malala Yousafzai, the young girl who was shot in the head by the Taliban for advocating for equal rights to education for girls. She is also the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. This works hard to present her as a young teen, which she is despite her grave wounding as a child. It is done in the style of many of Guggenheim’s other docs, interlaced with animated sequences and historical voiceovers. It was engaging and moving and a fantastic depiction of what someone too young has to go through, both in fame and horror, to get a simple message across.

9. Straight Outta Compton: directed by F Gary Gray (Friday); Saw twice – I have been interested in this almost since it was announced. I am no rap or hip-hop authority but I was very interested in the story. The film traces the rise and eventual coming apart of the group N.W.A. Filled with some good performances by the young cast. It is uncannily relevant in today's atmosphere. Of course, some of the story has been fictionalized and leaves out a lot of negative characteristics of the group but the story is strong and the message is still relevant.

What I loved most about it was that it made us talk about the story and the actors and the racial events mentioned in the film, but also the things left out such as Dre's assault charges against a woman. There is a lot more the film could have shown but in the context of what the film was trying to accomplish. I hope those things, such as their treatment of women, are not left out of the discussion but included in them. Not to overshadow their story, because the film has important things to say, but such thing should be included in the discussions.

What delighted me though was how much NWA knowledge Bonnie was dropping afterwards. But, it hit me; of course she would know. First, she's very intelligent and would look this stuff up her self. Secondly, it reminded me how much rap owes to jazz. I mean, real old school jazz. Rap is an offshoot of jazz. Rap is riffing on the social and racial issues of the time. But so was jazz. The instruments changed: a tenor sax to a gruff voice and mic. It also reminded me of how much this culture was appropriated and stolen from, meaning both jazz and rap.

Bonnie's father is Paul Miller, one of the preeminent proponents of black jazz in the day, who use to compile a yearbook of jazz for Esquire back in the fifties. In many of the articles I found on Paul Miller, he was constantly looked down on or criticized in defending black jazz. He was one of the few people who knew and acknowledged where it originated. Bonnie grew up around this. Duke Ellington and Sydney Bechet were household guests. So, it does not surprise me she would know so much about NWA.

What it truly means is for better people's deeper discussions. However this depiction is perceived, it must be noted that this film at least opens the door for such discussions. I also think it should become one of those great touchstone film that does open the door to such a varied discussion on race relations in the late twentieth century into today.

8. Creed: directed by Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station); Saw twice - Another of my anticipated movies this year. (Yes, even more so than Star Wars 7!) Ryan Coogler takes over the writing and directing duties from Stallone, in telling the story of Adonis Johnson, the illegitimate son of Rocky-verse Legend Apollo Creed as he looks to his famous father's former adversary and friend, Rocky Balboa to train him in the sport of boxing.

Now, this is NOT a Rocky Sequel, but another tale told in that same world, which I think disappointed many of the old men in the theater this day I saw it. While it is practically the same story of the original Rocky, it stands on its own with Michael B Jordan a very strong lead, and Stallone does some of his best acting in years, virtually regaining the tics and mannerisms from the original film, but as an aged man.

There are tropes that they need to bounce through but it should never be seen as a "boxing movie" but the story of a young man trying to find his place in the world. I think that opening scene really turned off many of the old guys in the crowd but it is a Ryan Coogler film and this is a new generation.

7. Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution: directed by Stanley Nelson Jr. (We Shall Remain Series: Wounded Knee) - Very good documentary film about the beginning, middle, and end of the Black Panther Party, using new interviews from all sides of the issues, archive interviews and footage. This tells the deeply rich and controversial history of the leading Black Power Movement group of the Sixties. I found it very enlightening in the information it brings to light, showing a different community side of the this oft-hated group. It has shown me the co-option of such struggles and the downfalls that come from within and without.

Very powerful.

6. Goodbye to Language 3D: directed by Jean Luc-Goddard (Pick one… Breathless, et.al.) - I was very interested to see this and could not wait, so tonight I went and saw it.Damn curious and interesting. Great use of 3D and very much a Goddard film. I may go see it again if I can find a place showing it in 3D. Goddard’s use of the cameras, at times, splitting the focus of the two cameras to give us a compacted sense of space was innovative and I have never seen that used before or since. It slits our vision as the characters are split emotionally. Great, complex, simple, cloying, endearing, childishly crude, and amazing work from a master of the medium.

5. Spotlight: directed by Tom McCarthy (Pixels, YEAH!); Saw twice - Probably one of the most searing and powerful films I have seen this year. This stars Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, and Rachel McAdams as the Boston Globe Spotlight reporters looking into the Catholic Priest Scandal. It is heart wrenching to see everything that stood up to try and stop this story from getting out is surprising and frustrating.

It would be too crass to say this should be the Best Picture because the story it tells is too important to forget. Great performances, not one wrong note from any one of the actors, from the major roles to the smallest bit parts.

4. The Amazing Nina Simone: directed by Jeff Lieberman (HBO First Look Series) - Probably my most favorite documentary this year. A very tumultuous story of the rise of Nina Simone and her roots, her music, her activism. She is an inspiration to me seeing as how she ever fought off the labels placed on her music and art. I feel the same way. It also tells the little-known story of her secret bipolar affliction and how it affected her life and music.

Of late I have had my eyes opened to how this world operates and to see that I am not alone in seeing this. Nina saw the failures in the co-opting of social movements that still happen today. I have been reading more about this very thing and see it in our communities as well. It makes me pretty sad. But to just to connect to her in such a way made me feel very strong in how I do things in my own way.

Stunning film, inspiring, touching, and sad to see what the giant becomes, filled with her great music. Just, wow

3. Kumiko the Treasure Hunter: directed by David Zellner (Goliath, 2008) – I saw this at the early part of 2015 and this very simple story is a sad, charming, funny, and at times, very dark look at the story of the woman who went in search of the "Fargo Treasure". Starkly shot, both in cinematography, blocking, story, and in dialogue as a young Japanese women, who does not know the language, travels to the United States because she thinks the stolen money from the movie exists. The background on this film is also based on a story the filmmakers once thought was true. The performance of Rinko Kikuchi (of the horrible “Pacific Rim” and “Babel”) anchors the film a glass of melancholy as her determination outweighs her common sense. This is a really overlooked film, one that I keep thinking on even though I saw it so long ago and why it makes #3 on my Best Of List.

1. (Tie)

The Assassin: directed by Hou Hsiao-Hsien (Flight of the Red Balloon); Saw twice – I have just seen my most favorite movie of 2015, hands down. This martial arts film by Taiwanese director Hou Hsiao-Hsien, takes place in the crumbling Tang Dynasty about a lone assassin sent to kill her cousin, a martial governor of the Weibo region. But her humanity gets in the way, which results in the Nun who raised and trained her, turning on her.

This is exactly how I want my HAMLET film to look! Judging from my dailies, I am so close. This is more a philosophical musing and it is gorgeously filmed and the action is quick and never flashy. This is one of my Best Movies of 2015, probably right up there with Mad Max Fury Road. Both have a very feminist slant without being a slave to a dogma. Here the Assassin is a young woman who does not need to fall in love nor does she mess up any of her jobs. Unlike Mad Max Fury Road's Furiosa, she is not stripped of all feminine markings. She is allowed to remain a woman.

The SOUND DESIGN IS AMAZING! I hope it will get nominated at least for that. I hope to see it extended at Siskel as the theater was packed. That would mean I would get to see it again. If you can, find this and see it. I already know it will move too slow for the wap-wap, kung fu bros. But it is My Best Picture for 2015.

Mad Max: Fury Road: Directed by George Miller (Happy Feet); Saw thrice! - Arguably, the other best movie I have seen last year. Definitely lived up to the trailers. Hardy makes a good Max, so everyone shut up about it. The chases were great and fun, the whole thing was cool, action-packed, silly, and awesome all at once. Nice little ode to the first film, if you blink and miss it. Brass tacks: All you "No Mel, No Max" hypocrites need to get out and see this. Grow up. That is the problem with most people, they are so attached to nostalgia that they cannot recognize it is a good thing when an old idea gets dragged into the 21 century and made awesome.

I had this whole diatribe about the feminism in the film. I did not see it as the "Feminist Propaganda" that most guys are feeling threatened by right now. But this silly little review is not the place for getting in too deep. I felt this was the perfect flip side of the feminism coin offered by “The Assassin”, wherein both main characters are women who are great at their jobs, so much so they incur the trust of their masters. I felt no threat from Furiosa or from Nie Yinniang. I am not supposed to because they are equals and their gender has nothing to do with the skills displayed. Furiosa did not emasculate Max. He sees her as a means to escape and by the end they both part as equals. Still, where the two lead women characters part ways is that Furiosa is stripped of her femininity. She dressed like a man, wears a short buzzcut, does a “man’s job” of driving a truck, and is stripped of the most glaring sign of her womanhood – her left hand, her wedding hand.

Nie Yinniang is allowed to remain a woman, yet she is never treated as anything less than a threat to the men in power. In once fantastic sequence in “The Assassin”, Nie Yinniang saves the governor’s brother, but not before a capable stranger rescues the guard, who, while his heart is in the right place, drags the chase out because he is just trying every trick he knows to lose is pursuers. Then Nie Yinniang arrives and dispatches everyone quickly and cleanly because she is capable and efficient. All of the action scenes in “The Assassin” are quick and fast, and strung out by vast shots and scenes with very little dialogue. It is both a mirror and a contrast to Fury Road, which is all action and sparse dialogue. Which is why I loved “The Assassin” as much. It makes you fill in the blanks of the story, while “Fury Road” gave you every detail of the action.

Some of the audience members at the screening of “The Assassin” just could not put the story together. It took its time and moved one to the next story point efficiently. When Nie Yinniang goes to report to her master, she is then attacked by her for going against her mission, the scene is quick and over fast. There is no definite conclusion to the master attack scene yet the story simple moves on to Nie Yinniang arriving at the small way station to guide a traveling group over the mountains “as she promised”. No one got what happened. I could fill in the blanks easy but we are so used to films showing us every little detail that a sparse story is sometimes seen as a bad one. But all it lacks is your imagination.

So, “The Assassin” and “Fury Road” two sides of a coin in action, sparse dialogue, even feminism but both beautifully rendered by their respective directors, lead actresses, cinematography, and clarity of story. Both are my picks for the Best Movie of 2015.

Well, all 68 movies I saw last year are accounted for. So, lets take a look at the year ahead as it just gets started….

Looking Forward to in 2016:

Since we got through all that, let's take a look at what I am looking forward to this year. Now, if I have learned anything doing these lists it is that the best films are not the huge blockbusters that I was looking forward to last year. I think that is a lesson I should continually be shown again and again.

1. Kubo and the Two Strings (8.19): From the makers of “Coraline” and “Para-Norman” is this Asian-influenced stop-motion adventure. I love tales like this and having the great stop-motion crew make this is also an added bonus.

2. Ghostbusters (7.15): Everyone and their brother is beating up on this one because they decided to cast women in the four main roles. But I look forward to seeing what these ladies can do with the premise.

3. X-men: Apocalypse (5.27): I guess this is something I am looking forward to only because I enjoyed “First Class” and “Days of Future Past” so much. This is supposed to close out a “Prequel Trilogy” for the X-Men films.

4. I Saw the Light (3.25): This was supposed to premiere back in August of 2015. It is a biography film about one of the greatest country singers of all time, the immortal Hank Williams, here played by Briton Tom Hiddleston. My dad was a fan and I am really interested in seeing how they tell this story.

5. Shin Gojira (7.29 JP): Since the US mucked it up, twice, it is up to the masters of the genre at Toho Studios to revive their monster kings once more. The images look scary and freaky. It is going to be great, despite the detractors.

6. Deadpool (2.12): As stated, I am not a big Marvel fan but I am enjoying the concept of a fourth wall-breaking, anti-hero. We will see. This almost did not make the list.

7. The Magnificent Seven (9.23): Antione Faqua directing Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke in a remake of “Seven Samurai”? Sounds intriguing.

8. Untitled Bourne Movie (7.29): The director and star return once again for another adventure. Sure, I’ll check this one out but I am not overly excited.

9. Doctor Strange (11.4): I have had some luck with the Marvel films that are not tied to the be-all-end-all story arc of the Avengers. This sounds intriguing so we will see.

10. Hail, Caesar! (2.5): The Coen Brothers’ latest goofy oddity. I like their dramas more and I guess I will check this one out. As you can see it was a struggle to even compile a Top Ten. I have been surprised the last couple of years with more independent and documentary fare.

The “Maybes” of 2016:

Meaning, maybe I will go and see these:

Jane Got a Gun (1.29): A Natalie produced and starring western? Maybe.

Knight of Cups (3.4): The latest Terrence Malick NOT starring Ben Affleck? Maybe.

Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Whatever (3.25): The first time team up of DC’s two most famous character, with one played by Ben Affleck? Ugh. I don’t know.

Captain America: Civil War (5.6): The latest Avengers movie? Maybe. (This was in the Top Ten for a while until I remembered “Shin Gojira”.)

Snowden (5.13): An Oliver Stone film about famous (or, infamous) NSA whistleblower? Maybe.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (12.16): Yet, another Star Wars story? Sheesh, maybe.

WHY BOTHER OF 2016:

Meaning, why bother seeing these at all? I probably will because I love my little girl who will want to see them:

ID: Resurgence (6.24)

Star Trek Beyond (7.22)

Suicide Squad (8.5)

Well, that will do it for this year, or, for last year. I know, I know, a lot to wade through just to get a stupid opinion and read the Riot Act about taste. But, that is why you read this every year. People want their opinions repeated back at them to be validated, or they want an opposing opinion to shoot down, all for ego’s sake. Which is basically why I write this nonsense, to placate my own ego. But the list keeps me writing and it helps me sort my own opinions about what is essentially useless stuff and opinions that we give meaning to.

So, tune in again next year to see if my opinions match yours or if yours are so much better in musical and movie tastes.

Until next year….

2016 Ernest M Whiteman III