It took 16 days longer to reach 25 movies in 2017 than in 2016. I’m blaming the flu. Per previous milestones, it’s now time to reveal the grades (from 0 to 5 stars) for the first batch of movies watched in 2017. Last year, there were 3 movies — Zootopia, The Witch and Deadpool — with 4 stars or more but only 1 — Logan — in 2017. Only 7 films received a Thumbs Up last year, though. This year 10 movies graded out to a Thumbs Up and none (not even Rings) received 0 stars. Here are the first batch of grades of 2017:

The “Thumbs Up” Group

Logan 4 out of 5 stars (4 / 5) REVIEW
More than a superhero popcorn flick, Logan was a moving tribute to a beloved character served Western-style and with enough emotional heft to require tissues for some.

John Wick: Chapter 2 3.5 out of 5 stars (3.5 / 5) REVIEW
Kedi 3.5 out of 5 stars (3.5 / 5) REVIEW
Beauty and the Beast 3.5 out of 5 stars (3.5 / 5) REVIEW
A sequel that was arguably better than the original, a compelling documentary about cats and a live action update of an animated Disney classic all had one thing in common: They delivered!

Split 3 out of 5 stars (3 / 5) REVIEW
The Lego Batman Movie 3 out of 5 stars (3 / 5) REVIEW
I don’t feel at home in this world anymore. 3 out of 5 stars (3 / 5) REVIEW
Get Out 3 out of 5 stars (3 / 5) REVIEW
Kong: Skull Island 3 out of 5 stars (3 / 5) REVIEW
CHiPs 3 out of 5 stars (3 / 5) REVIEW
2 horror films and 2 comedies are joined by a big budget creature feature and a small-time Netflix exclusive with the previous 2 mentioned being so different, it squashed a planned Noah’s Ark joke.

The “Thumbs Eh” Group

Before I Fall 2.5 out of 5 stars (2.5 / 5) REVIEW
xXx: The Return of Xander Cage 2.5 out of 5 stars (2.5 / 5) REVIEW
The Sense of an Ending 2.5 out of 5 stars (2.5 / 5) REVIEW
Before I Fall and the xXx sequel were better than expected while The Sense of an Ending was disappointingly mediocre. They all fall in that dreaded middle group of films good enough to not get a Thumbs Down but not quite strong enough to recommend.

The “Thumbs Down” Group

A Cure for Wellness 2 out of 5 stars (2 / 5) REVIEW
The Space Between Us 2 out of 5 stars (2 / 5) REVIEW
The Belko Experiment 2 out of 5 stars (2 / 5) REVIEW
A Dog’s Purpose 2 out of 5 stars (2 / 5) REVIEW
3 of these 4 movies, I actually expected to like with A Dog’s Purpose being the one I expected to not through a bone to. All 4 ended up on the wrong side of the grading scale.

Fist Fight 1.5 out of 5 stars (1.5 / 5) REVIEW
Bitter Harvest 1.5 out of 5 stars (1.5 / 5) REVIEW
2 very different films with a very common thread between the two: They both were not good.

Fifty Shades Darker 1 out of 5 stars (1 / 5) REVIEW
The Great Wall 1 out of 5 stars (1 / 5) REVIEW
Until I sat down and wrote this, I forgot Fifty Shades Darker was on the “watched” list. The Great Wall is not as forgettable but it’s spectacularly awful nonetheless.

Sleepless 0.5 out of 5 stars (0.5 / 5) REVIEW
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter 0.5 out of 5 stars (0.5 / 5) REVIEW
Collide 0.5 out of 5 stars (0.5 / 5) REVIEW
Rings 0.5 out of 5 stars (0.5 / 5) REVIEW
Somehow this foursome of failed flicks gives just enough to garner a 1/2 star.

1 Comment

  1. Kedi needs 5 stars though… ?

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