2014 has been another fantastic year for movie lovers all around. And as Christmas approaches (and yes, it is now acceptable to listen to Christmas songs) it is time to countdown the top 15 films of this year. From superhero movies to romance movies: there really has been everything in 2014. So which films have made it into the top 15? Listen to the Christmas songs and make sure to add some of these films to your Christmas wishlist if you haven’t already done so.
1. X Men: Days of Future Past
Put the cast of X:Men and the cast of X:Men First Class together and what do you get? And no, this isn’t a terrible Christmas cracker joke. What you get is one of the best X Men films to date. Days of Future Past saw the original cast reunite and join forces with the cast of the prequel. The plot was relatively simple with Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine having to go back to the 1960s and stop Peter Dinklage’s Bolivar Trask from creating machines which kill mutants. With an all star cast including James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Sir Ian McKellen, Sir Patrick Stewart, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult and Halle Berry (phew!), X Men: Days of Future Past isn’t a film to be missed. Full of action, a suspenseful plot, and brilliant acting, Days of Future Past is one of the best X Men films to date.
2. How to Train Your Dragon 2
After the success of How to Train Your Dragon the sequel hit cinemas this summer. The film takes place five years after the first film and Hiccup is all grown up along with his friends. Of course, a dramatic turn is taken when Valca, Hiccup’s long lost mother turns up. Throw in a man who wants to take over the world and you have the perfect ingredients for an animation hit. How to Train Your Dragon saw the returning cast share their vocal talents with the addition of Kit Harrington and Cate Blanchett. The film is funny and rather scary in some places which makes it different than your average animated film.
3. The Fault in Our Stars
If you feel like watching a tearjerker then this is the film for you. Based on the novel by John Green, the film follows sixteen year old Hazel as she struggles with cancer. After her parents force her to attend a support group she soon finds herself falling in love with Augustus Waters, an ex-basketball player and amputee. From then on the film is full of romance, heartache and tears. Definitely do not watch this without a box of tissues by your side.
4. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay
Mockingjay is the third installment of the Hunger Games franchise, based on the book and split into two parts. The film follows the Hunger Games victor Katniss as she struggles to lead a rebellion against the Capitol. Add in a strained love triangle between Capitol hostage Peeta Malerk and fellow rebel Gale Hawthorne, and Jennifer Lawrence certainly has her work cut out for. Credible mention should also go to Julianne Moore who is intriguing and honest as President Coin: leader of the rebels. Although the film featured nowhere near as much action as its predecessors, it was still interesting and definitely worth the watch. It will be interesting to see how the final part comes together, especially without the addition of Philip Seymour Hoffman, and what will finally happen to District 13’s Katniss Everdeen.
5. Guardians of the Galaxy
There was a lot of anticipation over Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy and whether it would be as successful as any of the Avenger movies. Marvel had no need to worry as the movie was a blockbuster success with an excellent cast, light-hearted humour and a nostalgic soundtrack, Guardians of the Galaxy is a definite film to see if you missed it in the summer. Staring Chris Pratt as Peter Quill, also known as the Star Lord, the half human half alien is forced to team up with a bunch of alien misfits after stealing a coveted orb. Zoe Saldana, Vin Deisel,  Bradley Cooper, John C. Reilly and Glenn Close also star in the entertaining Marvel film.
6. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
The Cap was back in the sequel to The First Avenger and with him there came a shock from his past. This film was considerably better than the first, with brilliant action scenes, and the addition of Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow stole the show. She was witty, funny and definitely improved the franchise. Christ  Evans was charming as Steve Rogers, the super soldier who faces a rogue division of S.H.I.E.L.D. With Marvel constantly releasing a steady stream of films, The Winter Soldier was one of its better ones.
7. Gone Girl
For those who went to see this film having not read the book and managed to avoid spoilers from the internet (which truly is no spoiler free zone) then Gone Girl was a film full of suspense and hold your breath moments. The film features Ben Affleck as Nick, husband to famous author Amy (Roasamund Pike) who is presumed missing when Nick comes home to find his wife gone. From then on there is a media frenzy as to whether Nick played a part in his wife’s disappearance. Featuring stunning performances from Affleck and Pike, Gone Girl is one of David Fincher’s best films to date.
8. Nightcrawler
Jake Gyllenhaal returned to screens this year as Lou Bloom, a man who finds his calling as a freelance video journalist. Nothing seems to go to plan as Lou refuses to give up on finding the best story he can, which means going to horrifying lengths. The film was interesting, and one of Gyllenhaal’s best performances to date. Nightcrawler may not appeal to everyone, but it was surprise hit of 2014.
9. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
The final installment in Peter Jackson’s trilogy was emotional, full of action, and everything we love about Middle Earth. The final installment showed the consequences of awakening the dragon Smaug, and there were quite a few of them. With the King Under The Mountain looking to reclaim the Arkenstone, Bilbo Baggins is once again forced into action as others look to share in the wealth of Erebor, pledging themselves to war if they do not get what they want. There are faces from the Lord of the Rings trilogy including Sauroman, Lord Elrond and Galadriel. The Battle of the Five Armies takes all the best bits of the trilogy and adds them into the final journey to Middle Earth.
10. Boyhood
Boyhood is the groundbreaking story which is filmed over 12 years with the same cast. The lead is Mason (a standout performance by Ellar Coltrane) who literally grows up in front of the camera. We see his journey through childhood and into adolescence through a snapshot of videos from director Richard Linklater. Boyhood is moving, intimate, and an underrated hit of the year.
11. The Grand Budapest Hotel
Wes Anderson returned to directing with The Grand Budapest Hotel, a film which recounts the adventures of Gustave H, a concierge at one of Europe’s most famous hotels in between the wars. The story revolves around the theft of a priceless painting and the fight for a family fortune. With Ralph Fiennes as the lead character Gustave, the film is funny and entertaining. With a star studded cast, The Grand Budapest Hotel was a funny surprise from Wes Anderson.
12. The Lego Movie
Who would have thought that a film about Lego characters would have been hilarious? No one probably. But The Lego Movie went one step further and proved itself to be full of gags, great animation and a surprisingly interesting plot. The film follows Emmett who is mistaken for the most powerful to save the world against evil. Emmett is obviously unprepared, but that doesn’t stop him from taking part. Featuring superheroes in Lego form, The Lego Movie is funny and not to be missed.
13. The Imitation Game
It was the year in which Benedict Cumberbatch finally announced his engagement (sobs internally for decade to come), but it was also the year all of the Oscar buzz surrounding the famous actor hit. Cumberbatch stars as Alan Turing, the man who was key in cracking Nazi’s Germany Enigma code, only to find himself prosecuted for homosexuality. They critics have already hailed Cumberbatch’s performance and the film is a definite must see about a man who played such a pivotal role in World War Two.
14. Interstellar
Christopher Nolan was back in the directing chair with this science fiction flick. The film features a group of scientist who travel through a wormhole in a desperate search for a new home for humanity. The film has already been hailed as a success, which is no surprise for those who are familiar with Nolan’s work. Boasting an all star cast including Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain and Michael Caine (is he contractually obliged to appear in most Nolan films), Interstellar was a film which gave audiences a range of emotions whilst watching.
15. Mr Turner
Timothy Spall returned to the big screen with this biographical film about the life of British artist J. M. W. Turner. The film follows the last twenty five years of the artist’s life and the extreme lengths he went to in order to create art. It also follows his personal relationship with his housekeeper, and also focuses on the relationship he had with his deceased father. It first premiered in Cannes where Spall won the Best Actor award, and is definitely one of his finer films.
