With 2018 upon us, we here at Trophy Unlocked would like to take a look back at the best and the most disappointing movies and video games of 2017. This year we got a lot of quality entertainment, perhaps more than last year, though that didn't stop a few duds from popping up. In no particular order, here are the highlights of the year, a subjective list of what to check out and what to avoid. As usual, however, we are limited by our own time and money, so if you don't see something you think should be on this list, that is likely a reason why.
Top
Movies of 2017
Admittedly, this barely qualifies for
the list considering it’s mainly a nostalgia movie. However, for a childhood
Yu-Gi-Oh! fan, the latest film in the franchise, penned by Kazuki Takahashi
himself, is an absolute ride from start to finish. The animation never falters
and the increased focus on Seto Kaiba was actually a nice change of pace. The
main villain, Aigami, might not have the same presence as other villains like
Bakura or Marik, and the internal logic behind Dimension Dueling doesn’t make
the most sense, but that did nothing to take away from my enjoyment of the
story. Watching this movie is like hanging out with old friends, which can be a
good feeling to have from time to time.
This movie is easily one of the more
emotional ones of the year. The setup, though somewhat reminiscent of films
like The Lake House and Freaky Friday, gives way to a compelling “Boy Meets
Girl” story with equally compelling characters and an engaging plot with a few
smart twists at just the right moments. Your Name. also has some of the best
traditional animation out there and a soundtrack that kicks in at the most
impactful moments. If you only see one anime film from this year, this is the
one to see.
After a string of notoriously awful
movies, the DCEU managed to finally get one good entry in the form of Wonder
Woman. The film, directed by Patty Jenkins, features great acting, particularly
by Gal Gadot and Chris Pine, good action and a more compelling plot than its
predecessors. If you only ever see one DCEU film, make it this one.
Logan stood out for a number of reasons.
It takes Wolverine and places him within a slightly futuristic noir framework,
a relatively rare R-rating (meaning children shouldn’t watch) allows the story
to use the character without pulling any punches and the movie is able to use a
very dark take on a popular character without feeling overly bleak or joyless. The
characters are very well-written, backed by very powerful acting, particularly
from Hugh Jackman and Dafne Keen, and the plot moves along at a balanced and
engaging pace. If you decide to view on it on home video, make sure to also
view Logan Noir, a black-and-white version which contributes very well to the
noir atmosphere (though it is otherwise unchanged).
Wonderstruck is one of the more
interesting films to come out this year. Thanks in part to a screenplay by
Brian Selznick, the author of the original novel, the movie is a mostly
faithful adaptation that makes some respectable changes that would allow the
story to work better on film. What makes it really stand out, however, is that
it focuses on two protagonists separated by time whose stories eventually
intersect. One is shown in the style of a black-and-white silent movie while
the other is more or less in the style of a 1970s movie. Although the movie
spends a little too long establishing 1970s New York at one point, the story
and characters are very compelling and the way the stories intersect is quite a
surprise. A good film to check out for those who are looking for something a little
different with a unique presentation or fans of Brian Selznick’s work.
After two previous attempts, the MCU
finally does a Thor movie right. Thor: Ragnarok is in many ways the opposite of
the first two, as it contains more humor and makes use of a generally brighter
color palette and more variety in the setting than just Asgard and Earth (aka
Midgard). Along with Chris Hemsworth’s great performance as Thor, we also get
more character development for Bruce Banner/Hulk and an interesting villain,
Hela. As one of the better films in Phase 3 of the MCU, Thor: Ragnarok is one
entry not to miss.
Top Video Games of 2017
Resident
Evil 7: Biohazard
Although I hadn’t really played any of
the Resident Evil games, I was aware that the series had been in decline with Resident
Evil 5 and 6, which took the action elements of Resident Evil 4 a bit too far. Cue
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, which returns to the series’ survival horror roots in a
big way, placing the action in first-person and telling a very personal story
in a smaller, more intimate environment. The new story and gameplay direction
presented by Resident Evil 7 creates a persistent and somewhat more
realistically frightening atmosphere that is able to pull the player in and not
let go. While it remains to be seen how the franchise will continue form here,
this is a great foundation to build upon and is perfect for both fans and
newcomers.
As someone who had absolutely next to no
knowledge of Persona, let alone Shin Megami Tensei, I had an absolute blast
playing Persona 5. While the story may feel uneven at times, the gameplay is a
huge step forward for turn-based RPGs, especially in terms of speed, and the
world is highly immersive thanks to surprisingly interesting social simulation
elements. Combine that with a unique sense of style, an acid-jazz soundtrack
that won’t quit and some memorable characters and you have a game that
rightfully earns a spot on this list.
Cuphead
Cuphead stands out from the competition
due to its unique visual style. A labor of love by Studio MDHR, all of
Cuphead’s assets and every single frame was hand-drawn, hand-painted and
animated using the same techniques as a 1930s Fleischer cartoon. Additionally,
the game has a 1930s Jazz soundtrack recorded in a similar fashion. The sheer
amount of dedication to developing Cuphead paid off, as the stunning visuals
are married with a challenging run and gun gameplay style that makes taking
down each boss feel incredibly satisfying. Easily a game that lives up to the
hype and one that shouldn’t be missed.
South
Park: The Fractured but Whole
South Park Digital Studios’ follow-up to
The Stick of Truth is a remarkable improvement over its predecessor. On the
story side, in spite of feeling a bit muddy as it goes on, the jokes just keep
coming one after another and pretty much all manage to hit their mark. The
South Park style of humor and political commentary is ever-present and feels
right at home with its setting. The idea of using the kids’ superhero personas
is taken full advantage of in the gameplay, which features an evolution of the
combat system where instead of a traditional turn-based system, it now involves
one where field position and the range of each ability actually matters. It may
be kind of easy overall and the idea of a “perfect team” is a very real thing,
but the game is still consistently fun all the way through.
Assassin’s
Creed: Origins
Ubisoft’s latest entry in the Assassin’s
Creed franchise has proven that taking a year off between installments was
worth it. The more open ancient Egypt setting feels fresh and the gameplay,
though in some ways familiar, feels different and unlike any other game in the franchise. The story feels uneven at times, but goes very well with the setting
and is able to immerse the player in a rather fascinating time in history,
complete with opportunities to learn more about ancient Egyptian culture. If
taking time off allows the series to gain a breath of fresh air, then I
wouldn’t mind if two-year gaps between installments become the norm.
Super
Mario Odyssey
When I bought a Nintendo Switch for some
future releases, I also got a copy of Super Mario Odyssey to have something to
play on it in the meantime. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it turned out to
be really fun. The plot is very simple, Mario has to stop Bowser from marrying
Peach, but the gameplay strikes the right balance of simple and difficult.
There’s always something new for the player right to the end and the boss
battles take full advantage of the different mechanics at play. From my own
limited experience, Super Mario Odyssey felt like a modern and natural
extension of Super Mario 64, which seems like a pretty good foundation. If you
need something to go with your Switch, this is a good game to start with.
Top
Disappointments of 2017
The latest installment in the Sharknado
franchise is an absolutely unenjoyable mess. It manages to be almost soullessly
bad as the nonsensical plotline, lower-tier celebrity cameos and overabundance
of increasingly terrible special effects make it perfectly clear that Sharknado
has outstayed its welcome. When a Sharknado movie of all things is capable of jumping
the shark, you know something’s truly wrong.
Ghost
in the Shell (2017)
While Ghost in the Shell (1995) is
fondly remembered as an artistic masterpiece which helped spawn a well-loved
and influential franchise, the same will likely never be said of the recent
live-action remake. Pre-release nontroversy aside, Ghost in the Shell (2017)
falls very short of its main influence by managing to near-faithfully execute
the visual identity of the franchise, but without the same heart that would
allow it to feel like Ghost in the Shell. On top of this, it decides to try and
recreate memorable scenes from the original animated film, but without any of
the original motivation that made those scenes so iconic. If you have interest
in Ghost in the Shell (2017), you’re better off watching the 1995 original and
the subsequent Stand Alone Complex anime.
Illumination’s latest entry in the
Despicable Me franchise was definitely a disappointment. While it may be an
improvement over Minions, itself a very low bar, the story features an
overstuffed plot backed by a premise normally reserved for the creatively
bankrupt. Not even Trey Parker’s legitimately enjoyable performance as
Balthazar Bratt is enough to redeem the overall quality of the movie. Perhaps it’s
time for Illumination to reconsider the direction of the franchise, considering
they still haven’t been able to recapture the spark that made the original
Despicable Me work so well.
While Wonder Woman gave the DCEU its
first real winner, the follow-up in Justice League nearly erased a lot of the
goodwill the franchise had. There were plenty of issues, from a cast assembled
too early to an uninteresting villain and slow-moving plotline that had me
looking at my watch a few times too many. It’s obvious Warner Bros. needed the
team-up to happen before the upcoming Avengers: Infinity War, but this might have
turned out better if audiences actually had time to get used to each member of
the team before putting them together. Justice League may be one of the better
DCEU movies, but when compared to Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad, is that
really saying much?
