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50 books. 50 movies. 2015. (Follow Format in OP!)

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donny2112

Member
Final Update

Jungleland - 51/50 Books | 51/50 Movies

Finally made it with one movie and book to spare. Saw a lot of crappy movies this month to finish this challenge.

Congrats!


Thanks! Didn't know where the new thread was. (^_^)
 

Cade

Member
Here we go:

Cade - 50/50 Books | 111/50 Movies

I had a lot of fun and read a lot of great books and watched a lot of movies.

Top 5 Books In No Order:

  • Annihilation - While I like Acceptance maybe as much, I find Annihilation the best as it works wholly standalone. An incredible work of weird fiction, it's always lurking in my mind, and I often think of the strange flora and fauna of Area X. In addition, the way the story is told and the somewhat unreliable narration, in addition to the mysteries that will never be resolved (The stack of expedition journals. Hnng.) make this book an excellent book and a great start to one of my new all-time favorite series.
  • Ship of Fools - Although some people will find its lack of resolution and conclusion off-putting, I loved this book. Whereas I don't think it's as good a book as No Country for Old Men or The Road or even some of my four-star books, I loved everything about this book. The creeping unease. The betrayals. The line about praying to God, and someone else answering. Incredible sci-fi space horror, a sorely underused genre.
  • No Country for Old Men - McCarthy's best in my mind, No Country for Old Men was one of the best movies I watched this year and so I went to read the book and was blown away. With a lot of details that didn't make it into the book, I found the book a perfect companion piece - not wildly better than, nor completely replaceable by, the movie. And McCarthy's prose is on point as always, painting bleak pictures of incredible violence and characters of questionable morality.
  • World of Trouble - The stunning conclusion to Ben Winter's excellent Last Policeman trilogy, this book made me equal parts sad and content, with smatterings of deep sorrow and great joy. One of the few books that ends exactly as you think it will, but still leaves you thinking about the finale. I think of the end scene often, a slow burn of happy sadness.
  • On Stranger Tides - This fifth spot was a tough battle between this and a couple other books, but Tides is amazing. The writing is very good and the characters intriguing, and I love the trope of a character who just ends up way over his head but becoming a cool character in his own right. I like the voodoo themes a lot as well, and pirates are still cool to me, dammit.

Seven Honorable Mentions In No Order:
The rest of the Southern Reach Trilogy
Salem's Lot
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
Station Eleven
The Lies of Locke Lamora
Extra Lives: Why Video Games Matter
Roadside Picnic



Top 5 Movies In No Order:
  • It Follows - A divisive choice to be sure, but for me any work of fiction has to be memorable and keep me thinking and asking questions, and It Follows has that in spades. The amount of ambiguity in certain parts of the movie. The absolutely terrifying concept of the monster. The beautiful choreography. The soundtrack. The strange time period anachronisms. It's got it all, with coming-of-age themes to boot. The plot sounds dumb summed up: Sex monster follows you. But it's so much more than that.
  • No Country for Old Men - Yes, the rare work that gets on my top list for both book and movie version. The Coen Brothers totally nailed this adaptation. It's pretty. It's tense (Seriously, the coin flip scene is among the tensest scenes I've ever seen). It's got action in spades, one of the best villains ever put to film, and it's got heart. The end monologue is incredible. Just a great movie all the way around, something I'll be rewatching for years.
  • The Guest - A tour-de-force of visual splendor, perhaps the best licensed soundtrack in decades, and great Carpenter-esque scenes, The Guest is just fun. I already rewatched it once or twice. The action. The characters. The amount of tension in this movie is insane. I'm gonna be rewatching this movie all the time forever. ♫Oh, Antonio, my Antonio♫
  • Reservoir Dogs - My favorite Tarantino movie thus far, Reservoir Dogs has a standout cast, amazing performances, and a great plot. The ending destroys me. I like a lot of his films, but RD seems like it holds up the best. No filler, no distractions, just criminals, betrayal, and how things go utterly wrong in such a very short time.
  • The Cabin in the Woods - Just beating out Looper for the top 5 (My movie list seems to be all super, super divisive movies on GAF), Cabin in the Woods is an odd one for me. As someone who wasn't into the horror genre at all before this year, I watched Cabin in The Woods before I watched any of the things it referenced and paid homage to... and I loved it. Lovecraftian horror. Characters in a horror movie you don't want to die. Just a smart, smart movie. Deconstructs horror tropes without insulting you for liking them. I rewatched it after watching a bunch of classic horror movies and loved it even more. I want a movie about the 1994 incident or whatever it's called.

Seven Honorable Mentions In No Order:
Looper
22 Jump Street
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Event Horizon
Hot Fuzz
Rosemary's Baby
Ex Machina

---

Great year, everyone. Glad I finished (just in the nick of time). I'll be going back over the past couple pages and reading people's writeups.
 

choodi

Banned
Final count
Choodi - 27/50 books | 41/50 movies

I annihilated my book total from the last few years, but watched way less movies.

Audio books helped me to get through a lot more, but I also made a conscious effort to expand the genres and types of books I read.

My favourite books and films below:

Books
  • Foundation series - Isaac Asimov
  • Ringworld - Larry Niven
  • Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell - Susanna Clarke
  • Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card
  • The Lies of Locke Lamora - Scott Lynch
  • In Cold Blood - Truman Capote
  • The Hero of Ages - Brandon Sanderson

Movies
  • The Raid Redemption
  • Ex Machina
  • The Martian
  • Amy
  • The Dressmaker
  • Inside Out
  • Star Wars The Force Awakens
  • Mad Max Fury Road
  • The Kingsman
 
December Update and final count:

FUBAR McDangles - 48/50 Books +4 | 112/50 Movies +8​

Books

  1. K9 Trident Warriors - Mike Ritland | ★★★
  2. Star Wars Battlefront: Twilight Company - Alexander Freed | ★★★★
  3. Alien: Out of the Shadows - Tim Lebbon | ★★★
  4. Star Wars Comics (Star Wars 1-6, Kanan 1-3, Vader 1-6, Leia 1-4) - Various | ★★★★

Movies
  1. Deep Impact | ★
  2. Creed | ★★★★
  3. Star Wars: The Force Awakens | ★★★★
  4. The Man from UNCLE | ★★★★
  5. The Martian | ★★★★
  6. Max | ★★
  7. Self/Less | ★★
  8. Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation | ★★★

While it is again disappointing to come just short of the goal of 50 books (last year I got 49, this year 48), I had a bit more fun with it this year and read some better books I think. I didn't have a bunch of Jack Reacher books to fall back on in the latter half of the year, which kind of bums me out but overall I had fun.

As for December, my book of the month is Battlefront: Twilight Company. It starts slow and did little for me until about halfway through it, but it is everything I wanted from Star Wars in a single book form. It's called Star Wars. Wars in the stars. But the series never actually treats war like it should be. This book did. I really enjoyed it.

My least favorite book of December was probably K9: Trident Warriors. I still enjoyed it, but it dragged a bit as it went. Lots of good tips about selecting and training a dog, but he repeated himself semi-frequently and the writing style was not the best. Still a good book though.

Movie-wise, 2015 was a good one. I saw several of what are now some of my favorite movies ever.

My favorite movie of the month was definitely Creed. I went through last month and watched all of the Rocky movies (save Balboa, which isn't on Netflix) for the first time, and it became one of my favorite series' of all time. Creed was the perfect next step for that series. I loved it. It came just short of 5 stars because, in the end, it was a bit too predictable.

Least favorite movie of the month was Deep Impact. That movie sucked ass.
 

Glaurungr

Member
Glaurungr - 82/50 books | 197/50 movies​
Last update (new in December in bold):

Books:

  1. Antony Beevor - Kreta: Okkupasjon og motstand (Crete: The Battle and the Resistance) (1991)
  2. Arnfinn Pettersen - Vampyr! Blodsugende lik i litteratur og tradisjon (2003)
  3. Atle Hansson - Frilans! En komplett håndbok for frilansere (2008)
  4. Bernard Cornwell - The Pale Horseman (2005)
  5. Brandon Sanderson - Firefight (2015)
  6. Brian Jacques - Redwall (1986)
  7. Bruce Holsinger - A Burnable Book (2014)
  8. Charles Stross - The Atrocity Archives (2004)
  9. Christian Janss and Christian Refsum - Lyrikkens liv (2003)
  10. Cornelia Funke - Inkheart (2003)
  11. Dante Alighieri - The Divine Comedy (1321)
  12. David Walliams - Gangsta Granny (2011)
  13. Edgar Allan Poe - Edgar Allan Poe: Poems and Poetics (2003)
  14. Edvard Eikill (trans.) - Flatøybok, bind 1 (The Flatey Book: Part 1) (1394)
  15. Ernest Cline - Ready Player One (2011)
  16. Garth Nix - Clariel (2014)
  17. G.K. Chesterton - The Innocence of Father Brown (1910)
  18. Gro Steinsland - Mytene som skapte Norge (2012)
  19. Günter K. Koschorrek - Blodig snø: Stalingrad 1942 (Blood Red Snow: The Memoirs of a German Soldier on the Eastern Front) (1998)
  20. Homer - The Iliad (ca. -850)
  21. Jan Guillou - Att inte vilja se (2014)
  22. Jan Ingar Thon - Varulver: Blodtørstige menneskedyr og hårete filmhelter (2006)
  23. Jeanette Sky - Alver: Naturens barn, kulturens skapninger (2003)
  24. J.M. Coetzee - Disgrace (1999)
  25. John H. Arnold - History: A Very Short Introduction (2000)
  26. John Ringo - A Hymn Before Battle (2000)
  27. John Williams - Stoner (1965)
  28. Jonathan Maberry - Patient Zero (2009)
  29. Jon Bing and Tor Åge Bringsværd - London 2084 (2014)
  30. Jo Nesbø - Sønnen (The Son) (2014)
  31. Joseph Conrad - Heart of Darkness (1899)
  32. J.R.R. Tolkien and Christopher Tolkien (ed.) - Morgoth's Ring: The History of Middle-earth - Volume X (1993)
  33. J.R.R. Tolkien and Christopher Tolkien (ed.) - The War of the Jewels: The History of Middle-earth - Volume XI (1994)
  34. Judith Flanders - The Invention of Murder: How the Victorians Revelled in Death and Detection and Created Modern Crime (2011)
  35. Katherine Addison - The Goblin Emperor (2014)
  36. Kathy Reichs - Déjà Dead (1997)
  37. Ken Follett - Fall of Giants (2000)
  38. Kenneth Grahame - The Wind in the Willows (1908)
  39. Kristian Hall - Opp fra avgrunnen (2015)
  40. Leif Wærenskjold - Labben og meg og Nullen (1931)
  41. Lois McMaster Bujold - Brothers in Arms (1989)
  42. Lois McMaster Bujold - Borders of Infinity (1989)
  43. Lois McMaster Bujold - The Vor Game (1990)
  44. Lois McMaster Bujold - Barrayar (1991)
  45. Ludvig Holm-Olsen (trans.) - Edda: II - Heltedikt (The Poetic Edda: Part II) (1975)
    [*]Margaret Frazer - The Novice's Tale (1992)
  46. Maureen Ash - The Alehouse Murders (2007)
  47. Merete Morken Andersen - Skriveboka (2008)
  48. Michael Crichton - The Andromeda Strain (1969)
  49. Michael Crichton - Jurassic Park (1990)
  50. Michael J. Sullivan - Theft of Swords (2011)
  51. Nils Gilje - Heksen og humanisten (2003)
  52. Owen Davies - Magic: A Very Short Introduction (2012)
  53. Owen Davies - Grimoires: A History of Magic Books (2009)
  54. Peter Tremayne - Shroud for the Archbishop (1995)
  55. Peter Tremayne - Suffer Little Children (1995)
  56. Peter Tremayne - The Subtle Serpent (1996)
  57. Per Petterson - Ut å stjæle hester (Out Stealing Horses) (2003)
  58. Rachel Bach - Fortune's Pawn (2013)
  59. Renni Browne and Dave King - Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: How to Edit Yourself into Print (1993)
  60. Robert Bennett Jackson - City of Stairs (2014)
  61. Robert McKee - Story: Style, Structure, Substance, and the Principles of Screenwriting (1997)
  62. Simon Singh - The Code Book: The Science of Secrecy from Ancient Egypt to Quantum Cryptography (1999)
  63. Simon Urban - Plan D (2011)
  64. Skjalg Bye - Kretsløpet (1997)
  65. Snorri Sturluson - Edda (The Prose Edda) (1220)
    [*]Sol Stein - Stein on Writing (1995)
    [*]Stieg Larsson - Menn som hater kvinner (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo) (2005)
  66. Ståle Dyrvik - Året 1814 (2014)
  67. Susanna Clarke - Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (2004)
  68. Sven T. Arneberg and Kristian Hosar - Vi dro mot nord: Tyskernes skildring av felttoget i Norge i april 1940 (1989)
  69. Terry Pratchett - The Shepherd's Crown (2015)
  70. Tom Egeland - Nostradamus' testamente (2012)
  71. Toni Morrison - Beloved (1987)
  72. Velle Espeland - Spøkelse! Hvileløse gjengangere i tradisjon og historie (2002)
  73. Victoria Durnak - Natt på museet (2012)
  74. Virginia Woolf - To the Lighthouse (1927)
  75. Voltaire - Candide, or Optimism (1759)
  76. William Zinsser - On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction (1976)
  77. Yevgeny Zamyatin - We (1921)
  78. Øyvind Johnsen - Slaget om Narvik: Sydfronten (2009)
  79. Øyvind Johnsen - Soldathjerter: Slaget om Narvik - Nordfronten (2012)

  • Arild Stubhaug - På veg til våpenhuset (1995)
  • Bjørn Nitteberg and Philip Newth (ill.) - Tjukke-Knut på fisketur (1997)
  • Brandon Sanderson - Firstborn (2008)
  • Brandon Sanderson - Sixth of the Dusk (2014)
  • Brandon Sanderson - Perfect State (2015)
  • Cornelius Jakhelln - Umgangskrigen (2013)
  • Erlend Loe - Kurt blir grusom (1995)
  • Eva Jensen - Mens lyset endrar flatene (2008)
  • Geir Halnes - Hils hvis du ser meg (2007)
  • Gilles Dossou-Gouin - Tunge nøkler rasler (2013)
  • J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (1997)
  • J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (1998)
  • J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Prizoner of Azkaban (1999)
  • J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2000)
  • J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2003)
    [*]J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2005)
  • Kamala Das - Tørketid (2000)
  • Kari Bøge - I trylleskogen (1986)
  • Kari Grossmann - Trollungen Romle vil ikke legge seg (1992)
  • Marianne Mørk - Blått regn (2011)
  • Martin Widmark and Mats Vänehem (ill.) - Høvdingens beger (2011)
  • Mary Bente Bringslid - Stankelbeinskrift (2009)
  • Neil Gaiman and Chris Riddell (ill.) - The Sleeper and the Spindle (2014)
  • Neil Gaiman and Lorenzo Mattotti (ill.) - Hansel and Gretel (2014)
  • Philip Larkin - High Windows (1974)
  • Pia Strømstad and Jan-Kåre Øien (ill.) - Julenissen (2012)
  • Robert Jordan - A Crown of Swords (1996)
  • Robert Jordan - The Path of Daggers (1998)
  • Robert Jordan - Winter's Heart (2000)
  • Robert Jordan - Crossroads of Twilight (2003)
  • Robert Jordan - Knife of Dreams (2005)
  • Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson - The Gathering Storm (2009)
  • Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson - Towers of Midnight (2010)
  • Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson - A Memory of Light (2012)
  • Sally Regan - Vampyrer (The Vampire Book) (2009)
  • Samuel Beckett - Waiting for Godot (1952)
  • Seamus Heaney - Door into the Dark (1969)
  • Shel Silverstein - The Giving Tree (1964)

Movies:

  1. 2 Fast 2 Furious - John Singleton (2003)
  2. 21 Jump Street - Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (2012)
  3. Adaptation - Spike Jonze (2002)
    [*]Alien3 - David Fincher (1992)
  4. Amadeus - Milos Forman (1984)
  5. American Beauty - Sam Mendes (1999)
  6. American Sniper - Clint Eastwood (2014)
  7. Anastasia - Don Bluth and Gary Goldman (1997)
  8. Ant-Man - Peyton Reed (2015)
  9. Apocalypse Now - Francis Coppola (1979)
  10. Attack the Block - Joe Cornish (2011)
  11. Avengers: Age of Ultron - Joss Whedon (2015)
  12. A Walk Among the Tombstones - Scott Frank (2014)
  13. Back to the Source: Historical European Martial Arts - Cédric Hauteville (2015)
  14. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm - Eric Radomski and Bruce W. Timm (1993)
  15. Big Hero 6 - Don Hall and Chris Williams (2014)
  16. Birdman - Alejandro G. Iñárritu (2014)
  17. Bravo Two Zero - Tom Clegg (1999)
  18. Brazil - Terry Gilliam (1985)
  19. Brother Bear - Aaron Blaise and Robert Walker (2003)
  20. Bruce Almighty - Tom Shadyac (2003)
  21. Byôsoku 5 senchimêtoru (5 Centimeters Per Second) - Makoto Shinkai (2007)
  22. Casper - Brad Silberling (1995)
  23. Chappie - Neill Blomkamp (2015)
  24. Cinderella - Kenneth Branagh (2015)
  25. Citizen Kane - Orson Welles (1941)
  26. Click - Frank Coraci (2006)
  27. Cloud Atlas - Tom Tykwer and Andy Wachowski (2012)
  28. Conan the Destroyer - Richard Fleischer (1984)
  29. Corpse Bride - Tim Burton and Mike Johnson (2005)
  30. Darkman II: The Return of Durant - Bradford May (1995)
  31. Darkman III: Die Darkman Die - Bradford May (1996)
  32. Das Leben der Anderen (The Lives of Others) - Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck (2006)
  33. Dawn of the Dead - George A. Romero (1978)
  34. Deep Impact - Mimi Leder (1998)
  35. Den demokratiske terroristen (The Democratic Terrorist) - Pelle Berglund (1992)
  36. Dinosaur - Eric Leighton and Ralph Zondag (2000)
  37. Dracula Untold - Gary Shore (2014)
  38. Dr. No - Terence Young (1962)
  39. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb - Stanley Kubrick (1964)
  40. Dumb & Dumber To - Bobby Farrelly and Peter Farrelly (2014)
  41. Edward Scissorhands - Tim Burton (1990)
  42. Escape from L.A. - John Carpenter (1996)
  43. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial - Steven Spielberg (1982)
  44. Evil Dead II - Sam Raimi (1987)
  45. Ex Machina - Alex Garland (2015)
  46. Exodus: Gods and Kings - Ridley Scott (2014)
  47. Fantasia/2000 - James Algar and Gaëtan Brizzi (1999)
  48. Fantastic Four - Josh Trank (2015)
  49. Fargo - Joel Coen (1996)
  50. Fast & Furious - Justin Lin (2009)
  51. Fast Five - Justin Lin (2011)
  52. Field of Dreams - Phil Alden Robinson (1989)
  53. Fire and Ice - Ralph Bakshi (1983)
  54. From Russia With Love - Terence Young (1963)
  55. Furious 6 - Justin Lin (2013)
  56. Furious Seven - James Wan (2015)
  57. Fury - David Ayer (2014)
  58. Hundraåringen som klev ut genom fönstret och försvann (The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared) - Felix Herngren (2013)
  59. Gattaca - Andrew Niccol (1997)
    [*]Get Hard - Etan Cohen (2015)
  60. Ghost - Jerry Zucker (1990)
  61. Ghostbusters II - Ivan Reitman (1989)
  62. G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra - Stephen Sommers (2009)
  63. G.I. Joe: Retaliation - Jon M. Chu (2013)
    [*]Goldfinger - Guy Hamilton (1964)
  64. Gone Girl - David Fincher (2014)
  65. Gremlins - Joe Dante (1984)
    [*]Hitman: Agent 47 - Aleksander Bach (2015)
  66. Hocus Pocus - Kenny Ortega (1993)
  67. Home - Tim Johnson (2015)
  68. Hotaru no haka (Grave of the Fireflies) - Isao Takahata (1988)
    [*]Hotel Transylvania 2 - Genndy Tartakovsky (2015)
  69. Inside Out - Pete Docter and Ronnie Del Carmen (2015)
  70. Insurgent - Robert Schwentke (2015)
  71. Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem - Kazuhisa Takenouchi (2003)
  72. Interstellar - Christopher Nolan (2014)
  73. Into the Woods - Rob Marshall (2014)
  74. Jackass Number Two - Jeff Tremaine (2006)
  75. Jaws - Steven Spielberg (1975)
  76. John Wick - Chad Stahelski (2014)
  77. Jumanji - Joe Johnston (1995)
  78. Jupiter Ascending - Andy Wachowski and Lana Wachowski (2015)
  79. Jurassic World - Colin Trevorrow (2015)
  80. Kaguyahime no monogatari (The Tale of the Princess Kaguya) - Isao Takahata (2013)
  81. Kaze tachinu (The Wind Rises) - Hayao Miyazaki (2013)
  82. King Kong - Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack (1933)
  83. Kingsman: The Secret Service - Matthew Vaughn (2014)
  84. Knowing - Alex Proyas (2009)
  85. Kurenai no buta (Porco Rosso) - Hayao Miyazaki (1992)
  86. Ladyhawke - Richard Donner (1985)
  87. Labyrinth - Jim Henson (1986)
  88. Legend - Ridley Scott (1985)
  89. Les triplettes de Belleville (The Triplets of Belleville) - Sylvain Chomet (2003)
    [*]Liar Liar - Tom Shadyac (1997)
  90. Life of Brian - Terry Jones (1979)
  91. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa - Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath (2008)
  92. Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted - Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath (2012)
  93. Mad Max: Fury Road - George Miller (2015)
  94. Majo no takkyûbin (Kiki's Delivery Service) - Hayao Miyazaki (1989)
  95. Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials - Wes Ball (2015)
  96. Mimi wo sumaseba (Whisper of the Heart) - Yoshifumi Kondô (1995)
  97. Minions - Kyle Balda and Pierre Coffin (2015)
  98. Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation - Christopher McQuarrie (2015)
  99. Mr. Holmes - Bill Condon (2015)
  100. Mr. & Mrs. Smith - Doug Liman (2005)
  101. Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb - Shawn Levy (2014)
  102. Nightcrawler - Dan Gilroy (2014)
    [*]North by Northwest - Alfred Hitchcock (1959)
  103. Nothing to Lose - Steve Oedekerk (1997)
  104. Nuovo Cinema Paradiso - Giuseppe Tornatore (1988)
  105. Outpost 37 - Jabbar Raisani (2014)
  106. Over the Top - Menahem Golan (1987)
  107. Pafekuto buru (Perfect Blue) - Satoshi Kon (1997)
  108. Papurika (Paprika) - Satoshi Kon (2006)
  109. Paths of Glory - Stanley Kubrick (1957)
  110. Penguins of Madagascar - Eric Darnell and Simon J. Smith (2014)
  111. Persepolis - Vincent Paronnaud and Marjane Satrapi (2007)
  112. Pink Floyd The Wall - Alan Parker (1982)
  113. Pixels - Chris Colombus (2015)
  114. Predator 2 - Stephen Hopkins (1990)
  115. Predestination - Michael Spierig and Peter Spierig (2014)
  116. Raw Deal - John Irvin (1986)
  117. Real Steel - Shawn Levy (2011)
  118. Red Sonja - Richard Fleischer (1985)
  119. Riddick - David Twohy (2013)
  120. Robot Overlords - Jon Wright (2014)
  121. Robots - Chris Wedge and Carlos Saldanha (2005)
    [*]Run All Night - Jaume Collet-Serra (2015)
  122. San Andreas - Brad Peyton (2015)
  123. Scrooge - Brian Desmond-Hurst (1951)
  124. Sennen joyû (Millennium Actress) - Satoshi Kon (2001)
  125. Seventh Son - Sergei Bodrov (2014)
  126. Shark Tale - Bibo Bergeron and Vicky Jenson (2004)
  127. Skyline - The Brothers Strause (2010)
    [*]Song of the Sea - Tomm Moore (2014)
    [*]Spaceballs - Mel Brooks (1987)
  128. Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron - Kelly Asbury and Lorna Cook (2002)
  129. Sunset Blvd. - Billy Wilder (1950)
  130. Superman Returns - Bryan Singer (2006)
  131. Stargate - Roland Emmerich (1994)
    [*]Stolen - Simon West (2012)
  132. Taken 3 - Olivier Megaton (2014)
  133. Terminator Genisys - Alan Taylor (2015)
  134. The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad - James Algar and Clyde Geronimi (1949)
  135. The AristoCats - Wolfgang Reitherman (1970)
  136. The Bank Job - Roger Donaldson (2008)
  137. The Beastmaster - Don Coscarelli (1982)
  138. The Big Lebowski - Joel Coen (1998)
    [*]The Book of Life - Jorge R. Gutierrez (2014)
  139. The Chronicles of Riddick - David Twohy (2004)
  140. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - David Fincher (2008)
  141. The Day the Earth Stood Still - Scott Derrickson (2008)
  142. The Evil Dead - Sam Raimi (1981)
  143. The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift - Justin Lin (2006)
  144. The Fox and the Hound - Ted Berman and Richard Rich (1981)
  145. The Grand Budapest Hotel - Wes Anderson (2014)
  146. The Great Dictator - Charles Chaplin (1940)
  147. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies - Peter Jackson (2014)
  148. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 - Francis Lawrence (2014)
  149. The Imitation Game - Morten Tyldum (2014)
  150. The Judge - David Dobkin (2014)
  151. The Librarian: Quest for the Spear - Peter Winther (2004)
  152. The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines - Jonathan Frakes (2006)
  153. The Librarian: The Curse of the Judas Chalice - Jonathan Frakes (2008)
  154. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. - Guy Ritchie (2015)
    [*]The Martian - Ridley Scott (2015)
  155. The Maze Runner - Wes Ball (2014)
  156. The Perfect Storm - Wolfgang Petersen (2000)
  157. The Pianist - Roman Polanski (2002)
  158. The Prince of Egypt - Brenda Chapman and Steve Hickner (1998)
  159. The Prestige - Christopher Nolan (2006)
  160. The Raid 2: Berandal - Gareth Evans (2014)
  161. The Road to Eternity - Mike L. Mitchell (2015)
    [*]The Santa Clause - John Pasquin (1994)
    [*]The Santa Clause 2 - Michael Lembeck (2002)
  162. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty - Ben Stiller (2013)
  163. The Shining - Stanley Kubrick (1980)
  164. The Theory of Everything - James Marsh (2014)
  165. The Thing - John Carpenter (1982)
  166. The Truman Show - Peter Weir (1998)
  167. The Water Diviner - Russell Crowe (2014)
  168. The Wizard of Oz - Victor Fleming (1939)
  169. Toki o kakeru shôjo (The Girl Who Leapt Through Time) - Mamoru Hosoda (2006)
  170. Tokyo Godfathers - Satoshi Kon and Shôgo Furuya (2003)
  171. Tomorrowland - Brad Bird (2015)
  172. Top Gun - Tony Scott (1986)
  173. Tropa de Elite (Elite Squad) - José Padilha (2007)
  174. Troy - Wolfgang Petersen (2004)
  175. Turbo Kid - François Simard and Anouk Whissell (2015)
  176. Under the Skin - Jonathan Glazer (2013)
  177. Vals Im Bashir (Waltz With Bashir) - Ari Folman (2008)
  178. Vendetta - Mikael Håfström (1995)
  179. Waking Life - Richard Linklater (2001)
  180. Where the Wild Things Are - Spike Jonze (2009)
  181. Whiplash - Damien Chazelle (2014)
  182. Wild Card - Simon West (2015)

  • A Christmas Carol - Clive Donner (1984)
  • Home Alone - Chris Columbus (1990)
  • Home Alone 2: Lost in New York - Chris Columbus (1992)
  • Jackass 3D - Jeff Tremaine (2010)
  • Le voyage dans la lune (A Trip to the Moon) - Georges Méliès (1902)
 

Ephidel

Member
Ephidel - 50/50 Books | 188/50 Movies | 8/50 Graphic Novels
End of December Update - Completed :)
Books:
1. Re: Colonised Planet 5, Shikasta (Canopus In Argos: Archives 01) by Doris Lessing (I have no idea how to score this book) (12 Jan)
2. Heartless (Parasol Protectorate 04) by Gail Carriger ★★★½ (15 Jan)
3. Thieves' Quarry (Thieftaker Chronicles 02) by D.B. Jackson ★★½ (18 Jan)
4. The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman ★★★½ (23 Jan)
5. Timeless (Parasol Protectorate 05) by Gail Carriger ★★★★★ (24 Jan)
6. Sailing to Sarantium (The Sarantine Mosaic 01) by Guy Gavriel Kay ★★★½ (06 Feb)
7. Marked (Servants of Fate 01) by Sarah Fine ★★★ (07 Feb)
8. The Thought Readers (Mind Dimensions 01) by Dima Zales ★½ (09 Feb)
9. Technomancer (Unspeakable Things 01) by B.V. Larson ★★★ (14 Feb)
10. The Bone Triangle (Unspeakable Things 02) by B.V. Larson ★★★ (25 Feb)
11. A Taste Of Blood Wine (Blood Wine Sequence 01) by Freda Warrington ★★ (28 Feb)
12. The Darkest Night (Lords of the Underworld 01) by Gena Showalter ★★½ (06 Mar)
13. Prometheus Bound and Other Plays (The Suppliants; Seven Against Thebes; The Persians) by Aeschylus, Translated by Phillip Vellacott ★★★★★ (13 Mar)
14. The Darkest Kiss (Lords of the Underworld 02) by Gena Showalter ★★ (14 Mar)
15. Claimed (Servants of Fate 02) by Sarah Fine ★½ (24 Mar)
16. The Darkest Pleasure (Lords of the Underworld 03) by Gena Showalter ★★★ (24 Mar)
17. The Darkest Whisper (Lords of the Underworld 04) by Gena Showalter ★★★½ (03 Apr)
18. The Heretic (Beyond the Wall 01) by Lucas Bale ★★★ (08 Apr)
19. John Dies At The End by David Wong ☆ (30 Jun)
20. Daughter of the Empire (The Empire 01) by Raymond E. Feist and Janny Wurts ★★★★★ (02 Jul)
21. Servant of the Empire (The Empire 02) by Raymond E. Feist and Janny Wurts ★★★★ (06 Jul)
22. Mistress of the Empire (The Empire 03) by Raymond E. Feist and Janny Wurts ★★★★½ (13 Jul)
23. The Bricklayer (Steve Vail 01) by Noah Boyd ★★½ (18 Jul)
24. Lore and Order (Warlocks of Whitehall 01) by Steve K. Peacock ★★★½ (01 Aug)
25. Temeraire (Temeraire 01) by Naomi Novik ★★★★★ (03 Aug)
26. Throne of Jade (Temeraire 02) by Naomi Novik ★★★½ (03 Aug)
27. Black Powder War (Temeraire 03) by Naomi Novik ★★★ (04 Aug)
28. Empire of Ivory (Temeraire 04) by Naomi Novik ★★★½ (06 Aug)
29. Victory of Eagles (Temeraire 05) by Naomi Novik ★★★★½ (08 Aug)
30. Hair of the Dog (A Warlocks of Whitehall Novella) by Steve K. Peacock ★★★½ (08 Aug)
31. Durarara!! Volume One by Ryohgo Narita, Translated by Stephen Paul ★★★½ (15 Aug)
32. Tongues of Serpents (Temeraire 06) by Naomi Novik ★★★½ (21 Aug)
33. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke ★★★★★ (13 Oct)
34. Fated (Servants of Fate 03) by Sarah Fine ★★★★½ (15 Oct)
35. Scaredy Cat (Tom Thorne 02) by Mark Billingham ★★½ (24 Oct)
36. Cast In Fury (Chronicles of Elantra 04) by Michelle Sagara ★★★ (30 Oct)
37. The Paper Magician (The Paper Magician 01) by Charlie N. Holmberg ★★★½ (02 Nov)
38. The Glass Magician (The Paper Magician 02) by Charlie N. Holmberg ★★★ (09 Nov)
39. The Master Magician (The Paper Magician 03) by Charlie N. Holmberg ★★★ (14 Nov)
40. Plague Ship (Oregon Files 05) by Clive Cussler and Jack Du Brul ★★★ (29 Nov)
41. Prince of Fools (The Red Queen's War 01) by Mark Lawrence ★★★★½ (11 Dec)
42. Kidnapped (David Balfour 01) by Robert Louis Stevenson ★★★★ (22 Dec)
43. Catriona (David Balfour 02) by Robert Louis Stevenson ★★★½ (24 Dec)
44. Ai no Kusabi Volume 1: Stranger by Rieko Yoshihara, Translated by Kelly Quine ★★★ (24 Dec)
45. Déjà Dead (Temperance Brennan 01) by Kathy Reichs ★★ (26 Dec)
46. Death du Jour (Temperance Brennan 02) by Kathy Reichs ★★ (26 Dec)
47. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (Haruhi Suzumiya 01) by Nagaru Tanigawa, Translated by Chris Pai ★★★ (27 Dec)
48. Blood Bound (Mercy Thompson 02) by Patricia Briggs ★★★½ (29 Dec)
49. Iron Kissed (Mercy Thompson 03) by Patricia Briggs ★★★★ (30 Dec)
50. Empress (Godspeaker 01) by Karen Miller ★★½ (31 Dec)​
My favourite books for the year were:
Daughter/Servant/Mistress of the Empire by Raymond E. Feist and Janny Wurts
I haven't actually read Riftwar, which I understand this trilogy is related to, but it absolutely stands on it's own.
I loved it. The world was intriguing and the politics and plotting were interesting (even if some outcomes were overly convenient), and I liked the characters. Mara and her supporting cast were great, even if I could have done with less Kevin.
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
I wasn't particularly invested in the characters but I loved the writing style, the sort of understated 'feel' of the book, and all the worldbuilding. And all the footnotes.
Prince of Fools by Mark Lawrence
Jal and Snorri are great characters, and Jal's slightly iffy narration made the journey a lot of fun. I'm not entirely sold on (vague ending spoiler)
the magical character reset button because I'd enjoyed seeing him grow as a character
but I'm prepared to give it the benefit of the doubt and I'm definitely looking forward to reading The Liar's Key (which I got for Christmas \o/)

I also enjoyed Temeraire but the series wobbles up and down after the first.

Movies
1. The Holiday Tree (2014) ★★★★ (01 Jan)
2. Quartet (2012)★★★★ (01 Jan)
3. Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986) ★★★★ (02 Jan)
4. Elf-Man (2012) ★ (03 Jan)
5. Mandie and the Forgotten Christmas (2011) ★★★ (03 Jan)
6. New In Town (2009) ★★★ (03 Jan)
7. Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang (2010) ★★★½ (03 Jan)
8. Oh Christmas Tree (2013) ★★★ (04 Jan)
9. Christmas Magic (2012) ★★★½ (04 Jan)
10. This Matter of Marriage (1998) ★★★ (06 Jan)
11. Ring By Spring (2014) ★★½ (08 Jan)
12. Management (2008) ★★ (10 Jan)
13. Signed, Sealed, Delivered () ★★★ (11 Jan)
14. Ice Quake (2019) ★★½ (11 Jan)
15. Unknown (2011) ★★★★ (11 Jan)
16. Badge of Betrayal (1997) ★★½ (13 Jan)
17. MegaFault (2009) ★½ (14 Jan)
18. Hidden Away (2013) ★★½ (15 Jan)
19. Mockingbird Don't Sing (2001) ★★★ (18 Jan)
20. Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Time to Start Livin' ★★★ (18 Jan)
21. Gone (2012) ★★ (18 Jan)
22. I, Robot (2004) ★★★ (19 Jan)
23. Grave Secrets (1992) ★★★ (21 Jan)
24. Fast & Furious (2009) ★★★½ (22/23 Jan)
25. The Exterminators (2013) ★ (24 Jan)
26. LA Apocalypse (2014) ★★★ (25 Jan)
27. Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Second Chances ★★ (25 Jan)
28. Face Value (1991) ★★★½ (31 Jan)
29. Vanished Without A Trace (1999) ★★★ (01 Feb)
30. Taking Back Our Town (2001) ★★★★ (01 Feb)
31. Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Reconcilable Differences ★★★ (01 Feb)
32. Stranger In The Family (1991) ★★★ (01 Feb)
33. Crimes of Passion: Victim of Love (1993) ★★½ (01 Feb)
34. Falsely Accused (1993) ★★★ (07 Feb)
35. Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Freedom to Forgive ★★★★ (08 Feb)
36. When Calls The Heart (2013) ★★★ (10 Feb)
37. One Day (2011) ★★★★ (14 Feb)
38. The Babysitter's Seduction (1996) ★★½ (15 Feb)
39. Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Family Reunited ★★½ (15 Feb)
40. Bridal Wave (2015) ★★★½ (21 Jan)
41. Post Impact (2004) ★★★ (22 Jan)
42. Signed, Sealed, Delivered for Christmas ★★★ (22 Feb)
43. Coffee Shop (2014) ★★★½ (28 Feb)
44. Path of Destruction (2005) ★★★ (01 Mar)
45. Friend Request (2013) ★★★½ (01 Mar) [Just to note this isn't the 2013 thriller, it's the 2013 romance also known as "Chance at Romance"]
46. Sweet Surrender (2014) ★★★★ (01 Mar)
47. Surprised by Love (2015) ★★★★ (01 Mar)
48. Cliffhanger (1993) ★★★★★ (03 Mar)
49. Thicker Than Blood: The Larry McLinden Story () ★★★★ (07 Mar)
50. Step Up 3 () ★★★½ (08 Mar)
51. Lying to Be Perfect (2010) ★★★ (08 Mar)
52. Solaris (2002) ★★ (09 Mar)
53. Battleship (2012) ★★½ (11/12 Mar)
54. The Rock (1996) ★★★½ (12 Mar)
55. Children of Divorce (1980?) ★★½ (15 Mar)
56. Desperate Rescue (1993) ★★★ (16 Mar)
57. The Michaels (2014) ★★★ (21 Mar)
58. Nuclear Hurricane (2007) ★★½ (22 Mar)
59. The Wedding Chapel (2013) ★★★ (22 Mar)
60. Family in Hiding (2006) ★★½ (22 Mar)
61. Alex Cross (2012) ★★ (22 Mar)
62. Montana Sky (2007) ★★★½ (26 Mar)
63. My George (2014) ★★★ (28 Mar)
64. Cloudy with a Chance of Love (2015) ★★★½ (29 Mar)
65. Rescuing Madison (2014) ★★½ (29 Mar)
66. Death at a Funeral (2010) ★★★ (30 Mar)
67. The Replacement Killers (1998) ★★★★ (30-31 Mar)
68. We Bought A Zoo (2011) ★★★★★ (05 Apr)
69. Take Me Home: The John Denver Story () (05 Apr)
70. The Detonator (2006) ★★½ (05 Apr)
71. The Contractor (2007) ★★★½ (05-06 Apr)
72. Fatal Trust (2006) ★★½ (07 Apr)
73. Sleeping With The Devil ★★½ (12 Apr)
74. Perfect On Paper ★★★ (12 Apr)
75. Sleeping Beauty (2014)(The one with Finn Jones) ★★ (12 Apr)
76. The Back-Up Plan (2010) ★★★½ (12 Apr)
77. Exam (2010) ★★★½ (12 Apr)
78. Wildfire 7: The Inferno (2002) ★★★★ (14 Apr)
79. Tornado Warning (2002) ★★ (14 Apr)
80. Mom and Dad Undergrads (2014) ★★½ (19 Apr)
81. Out of Reach (2013) ★★★ (19 Apr)
82. My Boyfriend's Dogs (2014) ★★½ (19 Apr)
83. Broken City (2013) ★★★ (19 Apr)
84. Recipe for Love (2014) ★★★ (25 Apr)
85. G-Force (2009) ★★★★ (26 Apr)
86. Terror Peak (2003) ★★½ (26 Apr)
87. Murder on the 13th Floor (2012) ★★★ (30 Apr)
88. Category 5 (2014) ★½ (03 May)
89. A Time To Remember (2003) ★★★ (03 May)
90. Her Desperate Choice (1996) ★★★½ (03 May)
91. Dead Before Dawn (1993) ★★½ (09 May)
92. Hearts on Fire (10 May)
93. Did you hear about the Morgans? (2009) ★★★★ (10 May)
94. The Lazarus Project (2008) ★★½ (10 May)
95. Bunraku (2010) ★★★★ (10-11 May)
96. Perfect Stranger (2007) ★★ (16 May)
97. Apocalypse Pompeii (2014) ★½ (17 May)
98. Lucky Number Slevin (2006) ★★½ (20-21 May)
99. Hard to Forget (1998) ★★ (24 May)
100. Premonition (2005) ★★★ (24 May)
101. The Chateau Meroux (2011) ★★★ (24 May)
102. Corrina, Corrina (1994) ★★★½ (30 May)
103. Video Voyeur: The Susan Wilson Story (2002) ★★★ (30 May)
104. Something Borrowed (2011) ★★½ (30 May)
105. Paddington (2014) ★★★½ (31 May)
106. Airplane vs Volcano (2014) ★½ (31 May)
107. Freedomland (2006) ★★½ (06 Jun)
108. Annie (2014) ★★★ (07 Jun)
109. Eight Days to Live (2006) ★★☆ (07 Jun) (This was meant to be based on a true story. The after movie clip that revealed just how loosely that term was used kind of retroactively spoilt it)
110. Dangerous Child (2001) ★★★ (07 Jun)
111. Ca$h (2010) ★★★ (13 Jun)
112. The Boxtrolls (2014) ★★★½ (14 Jun)
113. A Wife's Nightmare (2014) ★★★ (20 Jun)
114. A Christmas Wedding Date (2012) ★★½ (21 Jun)
115. The Cold Light of Day (2012) ★★½ (28 Jun)
116. Wedding Planner Mystery (2014) ★★★ (30 Jun)
117. Fire Twister (2015) ★★½ (05 Jul)
118. Atlantic Rim (2013) ★★½ (05 Jul)
119. Firequake (2014) ★★ (11 Jul)
120. Mega Shark vs Kolossus (2015) ★★½ (18 Jul)
121. 3-Headed Shark Attack (2015) They put Sharknado on instead :(
121. Moonlight & Mistletoe (2008) ★★★ (19 Jul)
122. 16 Blocks (2006) ★★★½ (22 Jul)
123. Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! (2015) ★★★ (23 Jul)
124. All of my Heart (2015) ★★★★ (25 Jul)
125. The Gourmet Detective (2015) ★★½ (25 Jul)
126. Jack Reed: Death and Vengeance (1996) ★★★½ (26 Jul)
127. Bride Wars (2009) ★★★ (02 Aug)
128. A Trace of Danger (2010) ★★ (03 Aug)
129. Double Wedding (2010) ★★★ (05 Aug)
130. The Toy (1982) ★ (08 Aug)
131. Freshman Father (2010) ★★★★ (09 Aug)
132. The Rescue of Jessica McClure (1989) ★★★½ (09 Aug)
133. Win, Lose or Love (2015) ★★★ (09 Aug)
134. A Wish Come True (2015) ★★½ (15 Aug)
135. You Did What? (2006) ★★★ (15-16 Aug)
136. Home Song (1996) ★★★ (16 Aug)
137. What I Did for Love (2006) ★★★½ (18 Aug)
138. Have You Seen My Son? (1996) ★★★ (22 Aug)
139. Strawberry Summer (2012) ★★★ (23 Aug)
140. Just Ask My Children (2001) ★★★★★ (23 Aug)
141. Fatal Honeymoon (2012) ★★★½ (29 Aug)
142. The Reluctant Nanny (2014) (2015) ★★★ (30 Aug)
143. Crimes of the Mind (2014) ★★★ (02 Sep)
144. A Deadly Adoption (2015) ★★★½ (05 Sep)
145. Parenthood (1989) ★★★★★ (06 Sep)
146. Aftermath: A Test of Love (1991) ★★★ (09 Sep)
147. Lava Storm (2008) ★★ (09 Sep)
148. Runaway Car (1991) ★★★½ (13 Sep)
149. Earth's Final Hours (2011) ★★½ (13 Sep)
150. Jailhouse Rock (1957) ★★★½ (14 Sep)
151. Making Mr Right (2008) ★★★½ (27 Sep)
152. Abduction of Innocence (1996) ★★½ (27 Sep)
153. Bound and Babysitting (2015) ★★★ (01 Oct)
154. The Christmas Takeover (1998) ★★½ (04 Oct)
155. Mistletoe over Manhattan (2011) ★★★ (04 Oct)
156. Romantically Speaking (2015) ★★★ (11 Oct)
157. The Christmas Pageant (2011) ★★★★ (12 Oct)
158. Client Seduction (2014) ★★½ (14 Oct)
159. 10.0 Earthquake (2014) ★★ (18 Oct)
160. 100 Million BC (2008) ★★½ (18 Oct)
161. The Christmas Box (1995) ★★★½ (19 Oct)
162. Custody of the Heart (2000) ★★★ (20 Oct)
163. Skyline (2010) ★★½ (24 Oct) - It gets points for alien design and giving me plenty of time to oggle Balfour. It loses points for just about everything else about it.
164. Lavalantula (2015) ★½ (25 Oct)
165. Christmas Under Wraps (2014) ★★★½ (07 Nov)
166. Smothered (Recipe for a Perfect Christmas) (2005) ★★½ (07 Nov)
167. Holiday Road Trip (2013) ★★★ (08 Nov)
168. Back to Christmas (2014) ★★½ (15 Nov)
169. Another Christmas Kiss (2014) ★★★½ (15 Nov)
170. Snow Bride (2013) ★★★ (17 Nov)
171. Mega Shark vs Mecha Shark (2014) ★★★ (25 Nov)
172. The Christmas Candle (2013) ★★★★ (29 Nov)
173. Impact Earth (2015) ★★½ (29 Nov)
174. A Christmas Promise (2015) ★★★★ (03 Dec)
175. A Magic Christmas (2015) ★★½ (06 Dec)
176. Merry Ex-Mas (2014) ★★★ (06 Dec)
177. An En Vogue Christmas (2014) ★★★ (06 Dec)
178. Family For Christmas (2015) ★★★ (13 Dec)
179. 12 Gifts of Christmas (2015) ★★★½ (13 Dec)
180. 3 Holiday Tails (2011) ★★½ (20 Dec)
181. Dashing Through the Snow (2015) ★★★½ (20 Dec)
182. The Magic Stocking (2015) ★★★ (20 Dec)
183. Sin City (2005) ★★★★ (20/21 Dec)
184. The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Claus (2006) ★★½ (25 Dec)
185. Christmas Confession (2015) ★★★ (26 Dec)
186. A Perfect Christmas List (2014) ★★★ (26 Dec)
187. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus (2002) ★★ (27 Dec)
188. One Special Night (1999) ★★★ (31 Dec)

Uncounted Re-Watches
1. The Christmas Ornament (2013) (01 Jan)
2. June in January (2014) (10 Jan)
3. Price of a Broken Heart (1999) (11 Jan)
4. Knight and Day (2010) (17 Jan)
5. Crimes of Passion: Victim of Love (07 Feb)
6. Miss Congeniality 2 (08 Feb)
7. Lucky In Love (09 Feb)
8. Just Married (2003) (14 Feb)
9. Doctor Who: The Movie (1996) (16 Feb)
10. Love Happens (2009) (22 Feb)
11. Deadly Isolation (2005) (15 Mar) - this is one of those films I didn't know the name of last year.
12. Johnny English Reborn (2011) (29 Mar)
13. Killer Instinct () (29 Mar)
14. Fatal Vows (1994) (29 Apr)
15. The Net (1995) (12 Jul)
16. Sharknado (2013) (18-19 Jul)
17. Jack Reed: One of Our Own (1995) (26 Jul)
18. All of my Heart (2015) (18 Aug)
19. Tootsie (1982) (12 Sep)
20. Honeymoon With Mom (2006) (11 Oct)
21. Meet the Santas (2005) (18 Oct)
22. A Perfect Day (2006) (01 Nov)
23. (Some Christmas Film I've Seen Before) (07 Nov)
24. A Very Merry Mix-Up (2013) (08 Nov)
25. The Christmas Ornament (2013) (08 Nov)
26. Blades of Glory (2007) (08 Nov)
27. Nine Months (1995) (22 Nov)
28. Road to Christmas (2006) (24 Nov)
29. The X-Files: I Want to Believe (2008) (28 Nov)
30. Star Trek: First Contact (1996) (07 Dec)
31. Dear Santa (2011) (15 Dec)
32. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) (23 Dec)
33. Die Hard (1988) (24 Dec)
34. Christmas At Water's Edge (2004) (29 Dec)
35. Mandie and the Forgotten Christmas (2011) (30 Dec)​
We Bought a Zoo was very touching and made for a good watch with the family.
Bunraku wasn't really a good film as much as it was a very stylish one, but somehow the style was enough. I really enjoyed it.
Parenthood was at times funny, tragic, and sometimes kind of brutally honest. It pulled together all these good and bad moments of family life into something that, despite the drama, felt surprisingly real.
And Cliffhanger was great for all the stunts and action. I'd watched the first 12 minutes or so repeatedly during a music class back in high school but never actually seen the entire film until now.
 

mu cephei

Member
December Update

mu cephei - 58/50 books | 55/50 films

films

51. Child 44
52. Infini
53. Crimson Peak
54. Sicario
55. Arrietty

books

53. The Sixth Extinction - Elizabeth Kolbert
54. The Age of Empathy - Frans de Waal
55. A Universe From Nothing - Why There is Something Rather than Nothing - Lawrence Krauss
56. Life Ascending: The Ten Great Inventions of Nature - Nick Lane
57. A Monster Calls - Patrick Ness
58. From Eternity to Here: The Quest for the Ultimate Theory of Time - Sean Carroll

Thanks to Pau, Ashes, Orthodoxy1095, Minishdriveby, donny2112 (and everyone really) for running the thread, rankings, cheerleading, lists etc. And good luck to GK86 for next year.
 

Piecake

Member

Well, failed miserably on the movies, but that did not surprise me. Did quite well on the books, and I would have beaten Mumei if I didn't re-read a bunch of history for my 'Make US History Stick' project. *shakes fist*

Below is a list of books that Ive read this year that I ranked 5 stars. The order is the order that I read them this year. Going by that list, I should really drastically cut down on reading fantasy novels. I probably won't do that because they are just so easy and brainless to read! Easy and cheap entertainment, me like.

Books
  1. City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett ★★★★★
  2. Freedom From Fear by David Kennedy ★★★★★
  3. The Half Has Never Been Told by Edward Baptiste ★★★★★
  4. The Big Short by Michael Lewis ★★★★★
  5. How We Learn by Monica Pasupathi ★★★★★
  6. Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality by Eliezer Yudkowsky ★★★★★
  7. The Early Middle Ages by Philip Daeleader ★★★★★
  8. The High Middle Ages by Philip Daeleader ★★★★★
  9. The Late Middle Ages by Philip Daeleader ★★★★★
  10. Hall of Mirrors: The Great Depression, the Great Recession, and the Uses-And Misuses-Of History
    by Barry Eichengreen ★★★★★
  11. Making it Stick: The Science of Successful Learning by Peter Brown ★★★★★
  12. American Slavery, American Freedom by Edmund Morgan ★★★★★
  13. Augustus by John Williams ★★★★★
  14. The Summer Book by Tove Jannson ★★★★★
  15. Understanding Cultural and Human Geography ★★★★★
  16. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success ★★★★★
  17. The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution by Bernard Bailyn ★★★★★
 

GK86

Homeland Security Fail
December update and final count. I knew I was going to blow out the movie portion of it. I failed miserably on the book count, but I'm determined to get to at least 10 for next year. I got super competitive when I saw I was in the top 5 in movies. I wanted to be first.

GK86 - 1/50 Books | 210/50 Movies

December watches are in bold.

Movies:
  • 1- Dawn of the Planets of the Apes 5/5
  • 2- Purge: Anarchy 4/5
  • 3- Side Effects 3/5
  • 4- Automata 2/5
  • 5- Undefeated 5/5
  • 5- Django: Unchained 4.5/5
  • 6- Park Avenue: Money, Power and the American Dream 4/5
  • 7- Wet Hot American Summer 4/5
  • 8- I Know That Voice 4/5
  • 9- Premature 3.5/5
  • 10- Barbershop 4/5
  • 11- Alan Partridge 3.5/5
  • 12- Hot Shots 3.5/5
  • 13- Chef 4/5
  • 14- Horns 3.5/5
  • 15- 300: Rise of an Empire 3/5
  • 16- Riddick 4/5
  • 17- Trick 'r Treat 3.5/5
  • 18- Bram Stoker's Dracula 3/5
  • 19- Dead Snow 4/5
  • 20- Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn 4/5
  • 21- Looper 2.5/5
  • 22- Training Day 5/5
  • 23- The Wolf of Wall Street 4/5
  • 24- The Grand Budapest Hotel 5/5
  • 25- Xanadu 4/5
  • 26- Monkey Shines 2/5
  • 27- Brave 3/5
  • 28- 22 Jump Street 4.5/5
  • 29- Need for Speed 4/5
  • 30- Wolfcop 4/5
  • 31- My Awkward Sexual Adventure 3.5/5
  • 32- X-Men: Days of Future Past 4/5
  • 33- Let's Be Cops 3.5/5
  • 34- How to Train Your Dragon 2 4/5
  • 35- The Secret Life of Walter Mitty 4.5/5
  • 36- Captain America: The Winter Soldier 5/5
  • 37- The Babadook 1/5
  • 38- The Town 4/5
  • 39- Housebound 3/5
  • 40- John Wick 5/5
  • 41- Hot Fuzz 2/5
  • 42- Nightcrawler 5/5
  • 43- The Kings of Summer 5/5
  • 44- Face/Off 5/5
  • 45- Safe Haven 1/5
  • 46- They Came Together 4/5
  • 47- Oblivion 3.5/5
  • 48- Hobo With a Shotgun 4/5
  • 49- Coraline 5/5
  • 50- Sound of Noise 4/5
  • 51- Hercules in New York 1/5
  • 52- Pitch Perfect 5/5
  • 53- Fruitvale Station 5/5
  • 54- Take Shelter 2/5
  • 55- The Imitation Game 5/5
  • 56- [REC] 4: Apocalipsis 2/5
  • 57- Zombeavers 3.5/5
  • 58- What If 4/5
  • 59- Mad Max: Fury Road 5/5
  • 60- Whiplash 5/5
  • 61- Hot Girls Wanted 3/5
  • 62- Perks of Being a Wallflower 3/5
  • 63- A Serbian Film WTF/5
  • 64- Brooklyn Castle 4/5
  • 65- The House I Live In 4/5
  • 66- Lone Survivor 4/5
  • 67- Exam 4/5
  • 68- The Maze Runner 3/5
  • 69- White House Down 3.5/5
  • 70- The Book of Life 3/5
  • 71- The Guest 4.5/5
  • 72- Begin Again 4/5
  • 73- The DUFF 4/5
  • 74- Rocky 3/5
  • 75- Star Trek Into Darkness 3.5/5
  • 76- Foxy Brown 3.5/5
  • 77- Parallels 4/5
  • 78- Rocky II 4/5
  • 79- Rocky III 3.5/5
  • 80- Rocky IV 3.5/5
  • 81- Midnight in Paris 4/5
  • 82- Premonition 1/5
  • 83- Birdman 4.5
  • 84- Crazy, Stupid, Love 4/5
  • 85- Hercules ('14) 3/5
  • 86- The Theory of Everything 4/5
  • 87- The Lost Boys 4/5
  • 88- Pariah 3.5/5
  • 89- The Running Man 5/5
  • 90- Demolition Man 4/5
  • 91- Horrible Bosses 2 5/5
  • 92- The Spectacular Now 4/5
  • 93- If I Had Wings 3/5
  • 94- Gone Girl 3/5
  • 95- Big Hero 6 3/5
  • 96- Escape From New York 3.5/5
  • 97- She's Out of My League 3.5/5
  • 98- Dear White People 3.5/5
  • 99- Hotel Transylvania 4/5
  • 100- Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark 5/5
  • 101- Seeking a Friend For the End of the World 4/5
  • 102- 2001: A Space Odyssey 2/5
  • 103- This is Where I Leave You 5/5
  • 104- City of Men 3.5/5
  • 105- Knuckleball 5/5
  • 106- Rambo: First Blood 5/5
  • 107- Commando 5/5
  • 108- Flight 93 3/5
  • 109- The Big Green 4/5
  • 110- The Last Days 3/5
  • 111- Time Lapse 4/5
  • 112- Flipped 3.5/5
  • 113- Short Term 12 3.5/5
  • 114- The Hole 3/5
  • 115- We Are the Millers 5/5
  • 116- Despicable Me 2 3.5/5
  • 117- Coherence 4/5
  • 118- Blue Ruin 3/5
  • 119- McFarland, USA 5/5
  • 120- Shooter 3.5/5
  • 121- Thunder Soul 5/5
  • 122- Maximum Overdrive 5/5
  • 123- Selma 5/5
  • 124- The Inbetweeners 4/5
  • 125- It's Kind of a Funny Story 4/5
  • 126- The Switch 3/5
  • 127- United 93 4/5
  • 128- Silver Linings Playbook 4/5
  • 129- The Masters of the Universe 4/5
  • 130- 13 Sins 3.5/5
  • 131- Evil Dead (2013) 3/5
  • 132- Curse of Chucky 3/5
  • 133- Creep .5/5
  • 134- American Sniper 5/5
  • 135- Spring 3/5
  • 136- The Orphanage 3/5
  • 137- The House at the End of Time 3.5/5
  • 138- Nightbreed: Director's Cut 2/5
  • 139- Teeth 3.5/5
  • 140- Dead End 2/5
  • 141- Beasts of No Nation 4.5/5
  • 142- Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom 5/5
  • 143- It Follows 5/5
  • 144- Ex Machina 5/5
  • 145- Today's Special 4/5
  • 146- Eden Lake 4/5
  • 147- The Loved Ones 4/5
  • 148- Circle 5/5
  • 149- The Relic 3.5/5
  • 150- Captain Phillips 5/5
  • 151- The Killing Room 3/5
  • 152- Afflicted 4/5
  • 153- Kingsman: The Secret Service 4.5/5
  • 154- 5 to 7 4.5/5
  • 155- Two Night Stand 3.5/5
  • 156- The Last Shift 3.5/5
  • 157- Flypaper 5/5
  • 158- The Perfect Host 3/5
  • 159- Copenhagen 4/5
  • 160- Taken 2 3/5
  • 161- Paul 3.5/5
  • 162- Arthur Christmas 4/5
  • 163- Hackers 3.5/5
  • 164- The Perfect Game 4/5
  • 165- 50 Shades of Grey 2/5
  • 166- St. Vincent 3.5/5
  • 167- Remember the Titans 4/5
  • 168- Rambo II 4/5
  • 169- Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films 4/5
    [*]170- Lifeforce 3/5
    [*]171- Her 3/5
    [*]172- A Case of You 4/5
    [*]173- After Earth 2/5
    [*]174- Runaway 2/5
    [*]175- LOL 2/5
    [*]176- The Eagle 1/5
    [*]177- Gooby 2/5
    [*]178- Jaws the Revenge 1/5
    [*]179- Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor 3/5
    [*]180- 2 Guns 4/5
    [*]181- Inside Out 3.5/5
    [*]182- Furious 7 4/5
    [*]183- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014) 2.5/5
    [*]184- People Places Things 4/5
    [*]185- Gangs of New York 3/5
    [*]186- The Avengers II: Age of Ultron 4/5
    [*]187- Little Red Wagon 3.5/5
    [*]188- A Better Life 5/5
    [*]189- Southpaw 4/5
    [*]190- Paddington 4/5
    [*]191- Amazing Spider-Man 2 3/5
    [*]192- Star Wars Holiday Special 1/5
    [*]193- Death Spa 5/5
    [*]194- Fury 5/5
    [*]195- Army of Darkness 4.5/5
    [*]196- Mad Max 2/5
    [*]197- Die Hard 4/5
    [*]198- We are Your Friends 4/5
    [*]199- Song of the Sea 5/5
    [*]200- Prisoners 4/5
    [*]201- Megamind 4/5
    [*]202- Chronicles 3/5
    [*]203- Ruby Sparks 3.5/5
    [*]204- Walt Before Mickey 2/5
    [*]205- Liz & Dick 1/5
    [*]206- Big Boss 2/5
    [*]207- Hudson Hawk 4/5
    [*]208- Night of the Comet 1.5/5
    [*]209- What We Do in the Shadows 5/5
    [*]210- Draft Day 3.5/5

Books:

  • 1 - Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari
 

A Human Becoming

More than a Member
Didn't make 50 for each, but I did watch 7 more new movies this year than 2014. If I did not rewatch 5+ films I would have made it.

Final list:

Books 8/50

It - January 18th:
Engaging Students with Poverty in Mind: Practical Strategies for Raising Achievement - February 5th
Love Does - February 15th
The World of Ice and Fire - April 21st
Superior Spider-Man - August 3rd
The Eye of the World - September 21st
The Great Hunt - September 28th
The Dragon Reborn - October 12th

Movies 45/50

Dr. No - January 1st
Birdman - January 8th
Side Effects - January 15th
Automata - January 25th
Legend of the Galactic Heroes: My Conquest Is the Sea of Stars - January 26th
The Imitation Game - January 31st
IP Man - February 2nd
Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa - February 9th
The Way - February 15th
Nightcrawler - February 16th
Whiplash - February 20th
Still Alice - February 20th
Selma - February 21st
American Sniper - February 22nd
Bram Stoker's Dracula - February 24th
The Evil Dead - February 26th
Evil Dead 2 - March 3rd
Total Recall - March 10th
Labyrinth - March 13th
Marmato - March 31st
The Endless Summer - April 12th
True Grit (1969) - April 20th
Iron Man 3 - April 30th
Avengers: Age of Ultron - May 1st
Thor: The Dark World - May 2nd
Mad Max: Fury Road - May 17th
Inside Out - June 19th
Man of Steel - July 6th
Wet Hot American Summer - August 2nd
Regular Show: The Movie - September 12th
The Martian - October 6th
Steve Jobs - October 25th
Amy of Darkness - October 31st
Boogie Nights - November 19th
Her - November 22nd
All About Eve - November 26th
Ex Machina - December 16th
Tangerine - December 17th
Monsters University - December 20th
Jurassic World - December 21st
Trainwreck - December 22nd
Inglourious Basterds - December 25th
Star Wars: The Force Awakens - December 25th
Shaun the Sheep - December 30th
Fantastic Mr. Fox - December 31st

Favorite book of the year: The Eye of the World
Favorite movie of the year: Nightcrawler
 

Choomp

Banned
Choomp - 8/50 Books, 97/50 movies

As expected, I used this more to keep track of my movies than anything. Still contemplating whether or not to do it again in 2016.

Favorite Book: Columbine
Favorite Movie: Donnie Darko (Donnie and Apocalypse Now are probably my most favorite on the year while they're rewatches, I thought they were fresh experiences and it had been a while so I counted them anyway)
 
December update:


Books

54. Let The Right One In - John Ajvide Lindqvist - ★★★★★
55. Doctor Sleep - Stephen King - ★★★★★
56. Dragon Killer - Rob May - ★★★
57. Paragon - Autumn Kalquist - ★★★★
58. Night Shift - Stephen King - ★★★★​

Movies

47. Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films (2014) - Dir. Mark Hartley - ★★★★★
48. Tiger House (2015) - Dir. Thomas Daley - ★★★½
49. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) - Dir. J.J. Abrams - ★★★★★
50. The Martian (2015) - Dir. Ridley Scott - ★★★★★​

Challenge complete!
 
allegate - 87/50 Books, 125/50 Movies

Books
78. Grendel Omnibus, Vol. 2: The Legacy, Dec. 02, 2/5
79. In a Dark, Dark Wood - Ruth Ware, Dec. 3rd, 3.5/5
80. Undermajordomo Minor - Patrick deWitt, Dec. 8th, 4/5
81. Plugged - Eoin Colfer, Dec. 9th, 3.5/5
82. Relic - Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child, Dec. 19th, 3.5/5
83. The Graveyard Book Volume 1 - Neil Gaiman, Dec. 22nd, 4/5
84. The Book of Three - Lloyd Alexander, Dec. 23rd, 3.5/5
85. Reliquary - Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child, Dec. 24th, 3/5
86. The Graveyard Book Volume 2 - Neil Gaiman, Dec. 26th, 4/5
87. Kick-Ass 3 - Mark Millar, Dec. 29th, 3.5/5
88.

Movies
98. Elf, Dec. 4th, 4/5
99. Epic, Dec. 6th, 3.5/5
100. How to Eat Fried Worms, Dec. 7th, 2.5/5
101. Pitch Perfect, Dec. 8th, 3/5
102. Ex Machina, Dec. 9th, 4/5
103. Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, Dec. 9th, 2/5
104. Pitch Perfect 2, Dec. 9th, 3.5/5
105. Jingle All the Way, Dec. 10th, 2.5/5
106. The Midnight Hour, Dec. 11th, 2/5
107. Spy, Dec. 12th, 4/5
108. Shaun the Sheep, Dec. 13th, 4/5
109. George of the Jungle, Dec. 16th, 2/5
110. Bruce Almighty, Dec. 18th, 4/5
111. Odd Thomas, Dec. 18th, 4/5
112. Ant-Man, Dec. 19th, 3/5
113. The End of the Tour, Dec. 21st, 3/5
114. Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Dec. 22nd, 4/5
115. Kick-Ass - Dec. 25th, 3/5
116. Kick-Ass 2 - Dec. 25th, 3/5
117. Minions, Dec 25th, 2.5/5
118. Arthur Christmas, Dec. 26th, 2.5/5
119. Bad News Bears (2005), Dec. 27th, 3/5
120. City Slickers, Dec 29th, 3/5
121. Kingsman: The Secret Service, Dec. 29th, 4/5
122. Johnny English, Dec. 30th, 2.5/5
123. Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, Dec. 31st, 2.5/5
124. Johnny English Reborn, Dec. 31st, 1.5/5
125. Independence Day, Dec. 31st, 3.5/5

Updated original post.

Last update.

Ex Machina was an interesting movie to watch a few weeks before Star Wars, that's for sure. I liked it, but it could have been better if a plot hole or two had been plugged. But then I remember Sunshine and think to myself, 'Oh yeah.'

The Kick-Ass movies and Kingsmen were both poorer than their comic counterparts. I know they can't be 1:1 but come on.

Minions was almost completely terrible, to the point that I wonder why they bothered and I question the sanity of those people making minion memes on facebook.

Ant-Man was great, really enjoyed that one. Arthur Christmas was odd. I remember thinking it was a nice-ish movie but watching it again, all of the Santas in the movie are insufferable twits until the last one. Bad News Bears wasn't as good as the original (duh) and you could tell the beats where they were like, "Let's do that but bigger" and also the beats (no pun intended) where they were like, "we can't hit a kid in 2005".

I'm going to try for 100 books next year.
 
Maklershed - 53/50 books | 54/50 movies | 6 games

Books
50. Ancient Shores
51. Thunderbird
52. Trunk Music
53. Childhood's End

Movies
46. Insurgent
47. Kingsman: The Secret Service
48. Steel
49. Kazaam
50. The Maze Runner
51. American Sniper
52. Gone Girl
53. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
54. Star Wars: The Force Awakens






Books
1. The Son
2. The Explorer
3. The Little Sister
4. Tales From the Radiation Age
5. Sphere
6. Provinces of Night
7. Dark Places
8. Rubicon
9. The Witch of Hebron
10. A Scanner Darkly
11. Less Than Zero
12. The Black Echo
13. I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream
14. The Black Ice
15. Ubik
16. On Stranger Tides
17. A Slant of Light
18. Shards of Honor
19. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
20. The Fifth Heart
21. Stoner
22. The Quiet American
23. The Island of Dr. Moreau
24. Invincible Omnibus 1
25. Blindsight
26. Eaters of the Dead
27. Finders Keepers
28. The Echo
29. Orphans of the Sky
30. The Ploughmen
31. Approaching Omega
32. Citizen's Creek
33. Dead Space Martyr
34. Sneaky People
35. Winter's Bone
36. John Dies at the End
37. The Devil All the Time
38. The Name of the Wind
39. The Concrete Blonde
40. Station Eleven
41. The Last Coyote
42. Ghettoside: A True Story of Murder in America
43. The Victorian City: Everday Life in Dickens' London
44. The Feud
45. The Zona
46. Summer of the Apocalypse
47. True Confessions
48. Factotum
49. Ruthless
50. Ancient Shores
51. Thunderbird
52. Trunk Music
53. Childhood's End

Movies
1. Guardians of the Galaxy
2. Dark Victory
3. Live Die Repeat
4. Horse Feathers
5. A Day at the Races
6. Room Service
7. Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit
8. 300: Rise of an Empire
9. Zardoz
10. The Raid
11. Journey to the West
12. Automata
13. Das Finstere Tal
14. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
15. Big City Blues
16. Nightcrawler
17. On Deadly Ground
18. Topper
19. Safe Haven
20. Deep Blue Sea
21. The Great Gatsby
22. The Equalizer
23. Lake Placid
24. Interstellar
25. X-Men: Days of Future Past
26. Captain America: Winter Soldier
27. Iron Man 3
28. Avengers 2
29. Mad Max: Fury Road
30. Doom
31. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
32. Ender's Game
33. Jupiter Ascending
34. Runaway
35. Theodore Rex
36. The Drop
37. John Wick
38. The Retrieval
39. Killing Them Softly
40. Maximum Overdrive
41. Masters of the Universe
42. Perfect
43. Death Spa
44. Lifeforce
45. Hackers
46. Insurgent
47. Kingsman: The Secret Service
48. Steel
49. Kazaam
50. The Maze Runner
51. American Sniper
52. Gone Girl
53. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
54. Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Games
1. The Swapper
2. Battlefield 4
3. Far Cry 4 (platinumed)
4. The Order
5. The Room
6. Gone Home
 
November/December Update:

New in November/December:
5 Books | 14 Movies

Books:
No Plot? No Problem! - Chris Baty - 3/5
Precious (Based on the novel Push) - Sapphire - 4/5
Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands - Chris Bohjalian - 2/5
Auggie & Me - R.J. Palacio - 4/5
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli - 4/5

Movies:
Juan of the Dead (Juan de los muertos) (2011) - 3/5
Amy (2015) - 4/5
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 (2015) - 4/5
Tonight You're Mine (2011) - 2/5
While We're Young (2014) - 2/5
Almost Famous (2000) - 4/5
The Spectacular Now (2013) - 3/5
Laggies (2014) - 4/5
Obvious Child - 4/5
The Night Before (2015) - 4/5
The Good Dinosaur (2015) - 5/5
The Room (With Rifftrax) (2003) - 4/5
Whatever Works (2009) - 3/5
Star Wars - Episode VII: The Force Awakens(2015) - 5/5


January Update
February Update
March Update
April Update
May Update
June Update
July Update
August Update
September Update
October Update

Final update! Got lazy and din't update in November (not that there was a whole lot to update anyway) so I've combined them here. A couple good books, one notable dud. Nothing super fantastic, but I can't say I hated most of what I read.

On the movies side, The Good Dinosaur and Star Wars Episode VII were pleasant surprises. Didn't think I'd enjoy either a whole lot but I wound up really getting into both.

In terms of the year as a whole, I had a few books that were given a rating of 5 and a good chunk of movies that received the same.

Dandy Crocodile's Best of 2015:

Books:
A Little Life - Hanya Yanagihara - 5/5
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - Betty Smith - 5/5

And Then There Were None - Agatha Christie - 5/5
Firefight - Brandon Sanderson - 5/5
The Emperor's Soul - Brandon Sanderson - 5/5
Joy in the Morning - Betty Smith - 5/5
The Art of Language Invention: From Horse-Lords to Dark Elves, the Words Behind World-Building - David J. Peterson - 5/5


Movies:
Zodiac (2007) - 5/5
Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014) - 5/5
Whiplash (2014) - 5/5
Wild (2014) - 5/5
About Time (2013) - 5/5
Paris Is Burning (1990) - 5/5
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) - 5/5

Monster (2003) - 5/5
Inside Out (2015) - 5/5
The Brass Teapot (2012) - 5/5
Bernie (2011) - 5/5
Spy (2015) - 5/5
The Sapphires (2012) - 5/5
Housebound (2014) - 5/5
Goodnight Mommy (Ich seh, Ich seh) (2014) - 5/5
The Good Dinosaur (2015) - 5/5
Star Wars - Episode VII: The Force Awakens(2015) - 5/5


Media I particularly enjoyed has been bolded.
A Little Life is my new favorite book, and now the one I like to force upon friends and family when they even hint that they might want book recommendations.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn was utterly superb. Betty Smith has become a fast favorite and I hope to read more of her bibliography in the coming year. Reading her books feels like savoring the best, simplest parts of life.
The Art of Language Invention was really great. Conlanging is really cool so getting insight into the act of it from a professional like Peterson is fab. Examples from real world languages and constructed languages make the book accessible even to laymen. Probably.

Whiplash was great, but everybody knows that.
About Time is a new favorite. I originally thought it was another lame romantic comedy but it's so much more than that. Time travel, family drama, comedic situations, and the simple act of enjoying life are all wrapped up pretty neatly into one fantastic film.
Paris is Burning was incredible. While I knew a bit about the ballroom scene of New York, seeing it firsthand, and getting to become acquainted with some of its inhabitants and watch as a small portion of their lives unfolded was inspiring and heartbreaking.
Mad Max, of course, was fantastic as well. Proved to me that D-Box is an invention worthy of existing. Those gear shifts. Hnnng.
The Brass Teapot was a pleasant surprise. I liked both the lead actors so I thought I'd give it a try. It's one of those movies that went further than I expected and shouldn't have worked as well as it did. A teapot that gives you money if you get hurt after touching it? Only fun can ensue. And a blasé performance from Alexis Bledel!

Good year for entertainment consumption. :p
 

Guamu

Member
Here's the final count for me. Not even close and a worse performance than last year's

Congrats to those who made it!


Books
  1. AKIRA (Complete Vols. 1-6) - Katsuhiro Otomo
  2. Arséne Lupin vs. Herlock Sholmes - Maurice Leblanc
  3. ¡Atiende Fanfarrón! - Marcial Lafuente Estefania
  4. Banquetes de los viudos negros [Banquets of the Black Widowers] - Isaac Asimov
  5. Birthday - Koji Suzuki
  6. Ciencia Ficción Selección 2 - Varios
  7. David Starr, ranger del espacio [David Starr, Space Ranger] - Isaac Asimov
  8. El Principio De Peter: Tratado Sobre La Incompetencia O Por Qué Las Cosas Van Siempre Mal [The Peter Principle] - Laurence J. Peter & Raymond Hull
  9. El Yeti y otros bichos, ¡vaya timo! - Carlos Chordá
  10. En el Japón Fantasmal - Lafcadio Hearn
  11. Fraudes paranormales [Flim-Flam! Psychics, ESP, Unicorns, and Other Delusions] - James Randy
  12. Full Dark, No Stars - Stephen King
  13. Guía del mal padre 3 [ Guide du mauvais père #3] - Guy Delisle
  14. How music got free - Stephen Richard Witt
  15. Kwaidan. Cuentos fantásticos del Japón - Lafcadio Hearn
  16. La conspiración lunar ¡vaya timo! - Eugenio Manuel Fernández Aguilar
  17. La fiesta de la insignificancia [La fête de l'insignifiance] - Milan Kundera
  18. Las Brujas [The Witches] - Roald Dahl
  19. Las corrientes del espacio [The currents of space] - Isaac Asimov
  20. Loop - Koji Suzuki
  21. Los ovnis ¡vaya timo! - Ricardo Campo
  22. Los productos naturales, ¡vaya timo! - J.M. Mullet
  23. Luces en el cielo [Quasar, Quasar, Burning Bright] - Isaac Asimov
  24. Lucky Starr y el gran Sol de Mercurio [Lucky Starr and the Big Sun of Mercury] - Isaac Asimov
  25. Lucky Starr y los piratas de los asteroides [Lucky Starr and the pirates of the asteroids] - Isaac Asimov
  26. My Neighbor Totoro - Tsugiko Kubo
  27. Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography - Neil Patrick Harris
  28. Pioneros del espacio [Ciencia Ficcion #12] - Anthology
  29. Spiral - Koji Suzuki
  30. Super Mario: How Nintendo Conquered America - Jeff Ryan
  31. The Ultimate History of Video Games: From Pong to Pokemon - Steven L. Kent
  32. Top of the Rock: Inside the Rise and Fall of Must See TV - Warren Littlefield & T.R. Pearson
  33. Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination - Neal Gabler


Movies
  • 30 for 30:Fernando Nation (2010, dir. Cruz Angeles)
  • 30 for 30: Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL? (2009, dir. Michael Tollin)
  • Aliens on the Moon: The Truth Exposed (2014, dir. Robert Kiviat)
  • Are All Men Pedophiles? (2013, dir. Jan-Willem Breure)
  • Captain America: The First Avenger (2011. dir. Joe Johnston)
  • Happy Feet (2006, dir. George Miller)
  • James y el durazno gigante
  • Las aventuras de Peabody y Sherman (2014, dir. Rob Minkoff)
  • Lupin III - El dragón de la muerte [ルパン三世 燃えよ斬鉄剣] (1994, dir. Masaharu Okuwaki)
  • Lupin III - Farewell to Nostradamus [ルパン三世 くたばれ!ノストラダムス]
  • Sherlock Jr. (1924, dir. Buster Keaton)
  • That Guy... Who Was in That Thing (2012, dirs. Ian Roumain, Michael Schwartz)
  • Safe Haven
  • 47 Ronin
  • Tekken 2
  • Death in Tombstone
  • Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift
  • Sin City: A dame to kill for
  • Minions
  • Phoenix Wright
  • Lupin III
  • Life Itself
  • Back in Time
  • One for the money
  • Tinker Bell: hadas y piratas
  • An honest liar
  • Atari: Game Over
  • Star wars Episode VII
 

Wensih

Member
Better late than never (I didn't think any one else was going to do it, and I figured some recognition was deserved for the people who participated last year).

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GK86

Homeland Security Fail
Thank you, Minishdriveby!

Number one in movies! Sweetness. I already matched my book totals from 2015 in 17 days lol.
 

kinoki

Illness is the doctor to whom we pay most heed; to kindness, to knowledge, we make promise only; pain we obey.
kinoki - 69/50 books | 158/50 movies​

Books
  • Winds in the Willows (1908), Kenneth Grahame - ★★★½ -
Movies
  • Oliver Twist (1948, dir. David Lean) - ★★★½ - A cleverly staged adaption with some good performances. Doesn't come close to the masterpieces he produced later on.
  • The Artist (2011, dir. Michel Hazanavicius) - ★★★★ - I tried watching this once but dismissed it as pretentious garbage. Now that I've watched the whole of it and given it some time I actually think it's quite good. Good framing and acting really makes it a complete package. Some really clever photography just seals the deal.
  • Call Girl (2012, dir. Mikael Marcimain) - ★★½ - The only reason to see this is Hoyte Van Hoytema. The cinematography is great. Everything else is oddly paced, acted and the music stands out as really stupid. Everything about the visual design and how it's framed is top notch, however. A really boring movie.
  • Maleficent (2014, dir. Robert Stromberg) - ★★ - Together with new Cinderella this is the second really oddly produced piece of real-life fairy tales. Tone-deaf and stupid with some nice art-direction.
  • The Punisher (2004, dir. Jonathan Hensleigh) - ★★ -
  • A Very Murray Christmas (2015, dir. Sofia Coppola) - ★★★ -
  • Million Dollar Baby (2004, dir. Clint Eastwood) - ★★★½ -
  • Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015, dir. J.J. Abrams) - ★★★★ - Everything Star Wars needs to be. I could complain that the third act seems a bit disjointed and that it has some underdeveloped characters but all that fade when I remember we have the first good Star Wars movie in decades and that it's this good.
 
If kinoki can be late, so can I!

orthodoxy1095 - 14/50 Books | 59/50 Movies​


Favorite Movies of the Year (in no particular order
  • The Big Lebowski - I was a little apprehensive about watching this. I always get that way when approaching "cult classics," but Lebowski delivers in every way.
  • Redline - Every frame is a work of art, and the entire movie is an absolute thrill to see unfold from beginning to end. I could have done without some of the extraneous plot threads, but who cares. The movie is a damn good racing movie.
  • Love & Mercy - A brilliantly presented biopic. By narrowing the focus, the film really ends up giving a far more interesting portrait of Wilson. Dano is particularly stupendous and I don't know that I've ever seen a more convincing portrayal of the musical creation process on the big screen.
  • Departures - Brilliantly touching in a way that felt distinctly Eastern. The end gets a little cliche and cloying, but the rest of the film is so well done that an average end can't bring the rest of it down.
  • Chef - It's a predictable flick, but enjoyable nonetheless. Afterwards, I went and made myself a Cuban sandwich.
  • Ant-Man - Easily one of my favorite Marvel films so far. The sense of humor felt far away and above other Marvel films and Ant-Man's unique powerset made the film fresh.
  • Ip Man - I was looking for a good Kung-fu film. And I found it. Excellent action and choreography and an interesting story too, even if very embellished.
  • Mad Max: Fury Road - The movie is a giant car chase and escort mission combined together and yet was easily the most exciting film I watched all year.
  • Song of the Sea - Absolutely gorgeous. That's what everyone tells you about the film right? It's also absolutely adorable.
  • Kingsman: The Secret Service - I didn't watch the newest James Bond flick this year, at least in part because Kingsman was so satisfying.
 
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