Hi everyone! As we embark on a brand new year, we look back on 2014 with both joy and sadness, and in anticipation of the exciting times ahead of us. For this entry, I would be talking about the gems of 2014 in terms of movies (be it whether I have watched it or not) and music (and the survey that i did)
First up, MOVIES!!. Fess' up everyone, movies is one of the easiest activity to think of for gatherings with friends, family and the potentially awkward first date. So what movies in 2014 did I watched (which sadly wasn't a lot) and had impacted me greatly. Here are my top 3 picks.
1. Boyhood
Easily the best movie I watched for 2014. What a captivating tale of a boy growing up right in front of our eyes. Richard Linklater, the director, started filming Boyhood when the leading actor (newcomer Ellar Coltrane) was only seventh-grade, thats the equivalent to our Secondaary 1. This film draws you in slowly, allowing audiences more than enough time to witness the growth of a boy to a teenager. All the leading cast stood out, from his mother (Patricia Arquette) to his estranged father (Ethan Hawke) and his older sister (played by Richard Linklater's own daughter Lorelei). This film is simply a blockbuster in its own right. Little wonder rottentomatoes gave it a whopping 99% for it tomatometer.
2. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
The sequel to the Rise of the Planet of the Apes, this movie packs a punch in terms of storyline development as well as breakthroughs in motion technology This movie certainly taught me a thing or two about the essence of human nature, albeit through apes. The transition of the apes from being docile in the prequel, to being organized and smart and being able to exist collectively (at the beginning) and the eventual power struggle amongst the apes made this movie one of the most viscerally exciting movies for 2014, yet at the same time, will leave you thinking and pondering (it certainly did for me and my friends)
3. Lucy
One word to describe this movie: Badass. This movie was one of the movies that I had been anticipating for awhile after i watced the trailer. Luc Besson is truly one of the most original writers, coming up with this action-thriller that had me hoping for more. Scarlett Johansson is truly one of the best female action stars, and with the elaborate action sequences (especially the one where Lucy comes after the mob upon having the drug ingested) being so classy and yet violent all at the same time, this movie definitely was one of the must watch for 2014. The only thing that I had hoped for was the duration. 89 minutes was too short!
Honourable mentions: Stay With Me (the Doraemon movie), X-Men Days of Future Past, The LEGO Movie
Movies that I will be getting the DVD: Gone Girl, Grand Budapest Hotel
Now I would talk about the music scene in 2014, that has seen the growing emergence of UK artistes making it in the coveted and tough industry that is called USA. Additionally, there is no slowing down of the EDM wave, with DJs coming up with tunes with increasing regularity.
Below are MY top 3 tracks for 2014. They might not all be chart-topping, or recorded by the most popular of artistes, but they all stood out for me for various reasons.
1. "All of Me" - John Legend
This is one of those songs that in around 5 years time, would replace this song as the go-to song for the introduction of the groom and bride at wedding functions. Everything about this song spoke to me in volumes I didnt expect, from the stripped down piano arrangment, to the lyrics that describes how a guy sees his one and only. Yes, it might be cheesy and mainstream, but thats how I like my music to be.
2. "Counting Stars" - OneRepublic
This uptempo track really took off early 2014, with plenty of chart success worldwide. With it part folk, part rock influences in the track, as well the references to Bible verses within the lyrics, this track manages to hit the right notes. Plus i love to sing this whenever i go to Kbox.
3. "Take Me to Church" - Hozier
This song has nothing to do with being religious and heading to church, in fact its undertones couldnt be more of the opposite. It talks about "comparing a lover to religion". The MV for this track got even more controversial, depicting a gay couple and their struggles within their community. Hozier's deep, soulful voice made this track even more haunting and beautiful at the very same time.
Honourable mentions
- "Stay With Me", Sam Smith
- "I'm Not the Only One", Sam Smith
- "Pompeii", Bastille
- "Let Her Go", Passenger
- "Thinking Out Loud", Ed Sheeran
- "Say Something", Great Big World + Christina Aguilera
- "Rather Be", Clean Bandit + Jess Glyne
I have compiled my Top 50 tracks for 2014, please do share your top 50 tracks with me by providing your comments :)
Additionally, I have done a survey here at mrpaokaliao with regards to music tastes of Sinaporeans. The results well be out shortly, so stay tuned :)
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