Here it is again, another top ten list.  These are my favorites for 2017, of the films I have seen this year, in reverse chronological order. There were more than a few films that I wanted to see, but haven’t formally reviewed them, like The Zookeeper’s wife, which was a good film and may have made the list if I’d seen it before now.

1. Star Wars: The Last Jedi – Episode VIII of the Star Wars saga is a movie that many aren’t happy with, mainly because it breaks a lot of expectations for what people want. In my opinion, it’s exactly what was needed, and it changes the game, allowing for a new direction in the series.
2. Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri – a film that reminds us that Indy film is alive and well, with its unconventional story and unanticipated outcome.
3. Thor: Ragnarok – speaking of breaking things down, Marvel has reached a new high with this story, by breaking down one of the pillars of their comic universe. The story, design, and soundtrack are so 80’s fabulous that it’s a welcome change to the standard battles of millions of CGI creatures you have seen in previous Marvel outings.
4. Blade Runner: 2049 – A beautiful, if disjointed sequel to the original Blade Runner film of the 80s. Stunning imagery and a brilliant soundtrack both help the film, but the story plods a little too much for my taste. Still worth seeing, though.
5. Logan Lucky – a caper film from Steven Soderbergh, of the Ocean’s movie series, with the same concept. Unrelated to those, and trimmed down to have fewer core characters, it was surprisingly much better than expected.
6. The Hitman’s Bodyguard – Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson trade quips and barbs in this funny and original movie.
7. Dunkirk – A great dramatization of the evacuation of Dunkirk during World War II, told in a unique, nonlinear order. The characters are interconnected, and you only find out how towards the end of the film.
8. The Big Sick – Kumail Nanjani’s rom com about how he actually met his wife is a real, heartwarming film, and one of the best rom coms in many years.
9. Wonder Woman – DC Comics first film of the year, and it’s one of the best they’ve ever done. Good action and strong characters make this work.
10. Logan – Another film from Marvel. Mutants have been tracked down and eliminated, for the most part. Logan, aka Wolverine, has been laying low, taking odd jobs to care for himself and Professor X, and he stumbles into a mutant child, much like himself. A worthwhile film that involves the issues of aging and redemption.