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2014 was a mixed bag when it came to film and television - we saw Mzansi Magic grow, SABC produced more local dramas and a couple of SA films made it on our local circuit. So let's dig in and look at the best and worst films and shows of 2014 and what to look forward to in 2015 ...
Best SA film
iNumber Number: The Donovan Marsh kasified Reservoir Dog flick with a pumped Sifiso Mtshali, iconic SA gang types. It was funny, intense and filled with action. Proof that a major budget does not have to make or break a movie but great writing and even greater idea does.
Honourable Mention: Thina Sobabeli (indie movie about pair of siblings trying to survive Mzansi ...deserved more eyes to see it)
Best Documentary
Miners Shot Down: If you haven't seen it, then you probably think the miners were a bunch of hooligans. Rehad Desai produced an insightful and touching documentary that not only exposes our police but the superficial reporting of our own media when it comes to the Marikana Massacare.
Best TV Show
The Flash: In the year where we got Agent of Shields, Saints and Sinners, Gotham, Game of Thrones, the last season of Boardwalk Empire and True Blood the one show which had it all was the new incarnation of The Flash.
Starring the original Flash from the 90's series aka Dawson dad ..... as the new Barry Allen's dad. The new Flash has drama, intrigue,an intriguing villan and overeaching story that has forward, a love triangle for the sentimental type, superheroes and villans for the geeks and a great tale for those who love a good story.
Honouable Mention: Our Perfect Wedding, i may not really dig this show but one has to admire how it owns the Sunday slot. Got people without DSTV dying of FOMO, it totally owns twitter and Monday morning conversations on lock down.
Best Indie Movie
Boyhood. Richard Linklater's epic 12-year movie has heart, charm, a meditation on family and growing into one self. A master piece.
Honourable Mention : 12 Years a Slave
Best Animated Movie
Big Hero 6. It may not be as funny as The Lego Movie but it has the heart of How to Train your Dragon the brains of Up and the action of the Incredibles. Plus we have a non-caucasian hero for a change - go multiracialism.
Best Comic Book Movie
The Guardians Of the Galaxy. Rocket, Groot, Starlord and Co really gave us the best laughter, soundtrack, characters and far off in space action out of any comic book movie of 2014. F-U-N describes Fuardians.
Honourable Mention: Kick Ass 2 ( in spite of the poor box office reception this was well written and an extremely clever flick on many levels.)
Best Sci-Fi
Interstellar has it all; the brains, the action, the heart and the science. Defineatly not everyone's cup of tea but a brilliant film if you let it.
Honourable Mention: Her ( a movie that speaks to our time set in the future, digital love has never been this weird.)
Now for the disappointing bits of 2014 ...
Proof that Digital is going to kill cinema award goes too: The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies.
With it's HFR image was such a dud. It was like watching a TV game meets warrior Xena princess at the cinema. A total letdown.
Proof that the Comic Book Movie genre is starting to run out of steam: Thor the Darkworld.
This movie proved that place-holder comic book movies that are made to make up the numbers truly are a bad idea. Thor was forgetabble and if you really think of it... it had a thousand and one plot holes and no true impact on the Marvel universe. Hope Marvel (and DC) learned an important lesson with Thor.
The Bad Idea Movie of 2014
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was a terrible idea for anyone above the age of 16. Add Michael Bay, the bad factor, just quadrupples. Unless you under 16 and don't know better.
2015
That was 2014 but 2015 looks to be a great year for television and film. Here's some of the stuff to lookout for which i believe will make 2015 a year to remember:
Television
Game of Thrones: Season 5 finally comes back in April. We finally get to go to Dorne, Bravos and meet the rest of the Martels.The big question is how much of the books will be changed or moved around in this season? Will know in April.
The Flash: comes back from the production break and we finally get clear answers on why the man in yellow killed Barry's mom and his end game. Oh we also get to see the gang from Prison Break come back as a crew of bad guys. This should be interesting.
The Walking Dead: More heartache and pain for our post apocalytptic crew. The question: who will be joining the group and who will be killed?
Movies
Avenger 2 Age of Ultron: I didn't like the first Avengers - i thought it was paper thin on story and character, but the trailer to the sequel looks more intriguing and the mood more sombre and less flippant. Plus it features Jozi. What is there not to love?
Spectre and Kingsmen: James Bond is back this year and the man behind the first Kick Ass and X Men: First Class, Vince Vaughn is introducing his own super spy with a b-boy attitude. Taking all the stuff the Bond movies are currently ditching - gadgets, outlandish villans and plot. It should be fun.
Star Wars Episode 7: the saga continues. This is the first of a whole new trilogy whereby the very first team Skywalker; Luke, Han and Co. pass on the torch to Jon Boyega and company. We still have no idea on what the plot will be. December will say.
Aside from that there's the new Mad Max, two flicks from Pixar and two new Marvel comic book movies (Antman and Fantastic Four.) ,We finaly get to see Birdman,Snowpiercer,Selma and Foxcatcher.
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