Movies

After the New York Times released its top 100 films of the 21st century earlier this summer, it felt only right that I, too, add my two cents as someone who has watched hundreds of films over the years.Despite being only one quarter of the way through this century, an impressive array of films has landed on our screens, both in cinemas and via streaming services, which have grown exponentially in the past few years. That, coupled with a huge advance in technology, the first 25 years of this century have massively progressed the film industry. But through this period of change, which films have stood out among the rest? Here are my top 10 films of the 21st century, ranked. Do you agree?10. One DayThis could be a controversial opinion... as people either love it or hate it. But One Day (2...

A horror ‘masterpiece’ with a 92% score on Rotten Tomatoes is available to watch on Netflix. Barbarian is a 2022 American horror film written and directed by Zach Cregger in his solo screenwriting and directorial debut.Starring Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgård, and Justin Long, the plot involves a woman finding out that the rental home she reserved has been accidentally double-booked by a man, not knowing the dark secret within the dwelling. Zach Cregger was inspired by the non-fiction book The Gift of Fear, which encourages women to trust their intuition and not ignore the subconscious red flags that arise in their day-to-day interactions with men. He sat down to write a single thirty-page scene that would incorporate as many of these red flags as possible.Barbarian has been character...

Many great books have been turned into films over the years. But not every adaptation has been a success. Some struggle to capture the story properly or they don’t have the same emotional effect. However, some movies have been able to elevate books even more on the big screen.One example that continues to impress audiences is a film based on a Stephen King novel. The book was originally released in six volumes before being republished as a single story and went on to win the Bram Stoker Award for Best Novel in 1996. It has been described as the “saddest book” ever written by many readers, and the film adaptation has been called one of the “most heartbreaking” of all time.The story follows Paul Edgecombe, a death row prison guard during the Great Depression, and John Coffey, an inmate ac...

There is a high likelihood that many people, if asked, would tell you that their favourite gangster movie is the Francis Ford Coppola classic The Godfather. However, there is another gangster film that is a strong contender in the running for the best of all time and it came out nearly 10 years after the first Godfather movie, and it is streaming on Netflix.Running at a cool three hours and 49 minutes, it is a gangster epic that everyone should watch at least once in their lives. Once Upon a Time in America is a staple in the genre and a cinematic masterpiece. Each scene, frame and performance influenced its impact and defined what makes filmmaking great. Made in 1984, the film has a 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes and 8.3/10 on IMDb.The story follows best friends "Noodles" Aaronson, playe...

From The Lion King and The Little Mermaid to Aladdin and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Disney has given us countless unforgettable classics that have shaped childhoods around the world. These animated films have become timeless staples, filled with memorable characters, enchanting music, and magical stories. Now, Rotten Tomatoes has ranked the top 10 best Disney animated movies based on critical acclaim and audience appreciation, a list that will surely spark nostalgia and maybe a few surprises.Topping the ranking is the 1940 classic Pinocchio, boasting an impressive 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This timeless tale of a wooden puppet who dreams of becoming a real boy remains one of Disney’s most ambitious and emotionally resonant works, praised for its beautiful animation and heart...

War films are a strange genre. They show some of the worst times in human history, full of blood, fear and destruction, and yet people can’t look away. At their best, they don’t just entertain, they leave you thinking about them long after the credits roll. And that’s exactly what many say about one film that has shocked, moved and impressed audiences around the world in recent years.It’s based on a book written almost 100 years ago, and tells the story of a young soldier who quickly learns that war is nothing like what he was promised. The film is All Quiet on the Western Front, a 2022 German-language epic set during the First World War. It follows a teenager named Paul Bäumer who signs up with his friends full of excitement, only to be thrown into a brutal nightmare.The movie is based...

When talking about the best war films, the likes of Apocalypse Now and Saving Private Ryan are often named dropped as top tier, but fans of the genre are turning their attention to lesser-known movies now. A 2014 film named Kajaki has received praise from fans on social media as being one of the "best war movies" they've ever seen, and it is streaming on Amazon Prime.Kajaki is a British war docu-drama film directed by Paul Katis in his feature debut, written by Tom Williams, and produced by Katis and Andrew de Lotbiniere. The plot is based on the Kajaki Dam incident, involving Mark Wright and a small unit of British soldiers who were positioned near the Kajaki Dam, in Helmand province, Afghanistan.The film's synopsis reads: "Helmand Province in Afghanistan, 2006. A company of young Brit...

All of You: Official trailerWarning - this article contains major spoilers for All of YouNew sci-fi romance film All of You, co-written by and starring Ted Lasso’s Brett Goldstein, originally had a very different ending that was changed at the eleventh hour.The Apple TV+ film that’s currently available to watch in cinemas follows two best friends, Simon (played by Goldstein) and Laura (Imogen Poots), in the not-too-distant future where scientists have perfected a DNA test to find people’s soulmates.Laura takes the test and supposedly finds her ideal match, but Simon has secretly harboured intense feelings for her for years.They eventually start a secretive affair when Laura realises she reciprocates those feelings, but she finds it impossible to tear herself away from her husband Lukas ...

Stranger Things sensation Millie Bobby Brown is poised to headline a fresh Netflix picture that's been branded 'Black Mirror but make it romcom.'The British actress teams up with Gabriel LaBelle in Just Picture It, a romantic drama following two university students who are left bewildered when their phones glitch and reveal an image of themselves a decade into the future, as a married couple with children.Currently in production, the romantic comedy also boasts The Sex Lives of College Girls star Amrit Kaur, How to Train Your Dragon's Julian Dennison and XO, Kitty actor Anthony Keyvan.The cast is rounded out by Orange is the New Black's Ben Jackson Walker, Nickelodeon veteran Brec Bassinger, Wicked sensation Idina Menzel, and Emmy winner Margo Martindale.Netflix recently turned to X, pr...

This year, I have devoted more time than ever to the world of film, making it my mission to watch as many new (and old) movies as possible. I've spent hours in the cinema, scrolling through the various streaming apps and working my way through an ever-growing watchlist. And it has been pretty successful, with many highlights that deserve to have some light shed on them, as well as the big hitters everyone has been talking about. However, one film has stood out as my favourite for a variety of reasons.Firstly, I am a sucker for a romantic comedy, and those have been lacking in the film department in recent years. What once was an abundant genre with more love stories than you can count to choose from has become a somewhat overlooked area of film. But not anymore. Following the release of...