Favorites of 2014: The Silver Screen
Each year I cut the favorites list in half. The first half is always the favorite 2014 movies and TV shows of the past year that I’ve enjoyed most. The second are the best of books from my reading year. Since, of course, it’s the books we love the most, that is the one I publish secondly. Let’s jump in.
FAVORITE 2014 MOVIE AND TV SHOWS
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At the Movies…
I really think I found some that were surprisingly good this year. Those I did see weren’t “great” in the sense of whatever magic it is that makes a movie truly spectacular – or something like Amazing Grace, but there are some on this list that I found heartwarming. Most of all, there are fun titles that left me feeling happy and right or wrong, that’s largely all I require from entertainment.
Belle: Quiet and impactful. We need more of these.
Captain America, the Winter Soldier: *happy sigh* Who doesn’t love the Captain? It’s no secret I think he’s a pretty great guy and in my movie opinion, this sequel was epic. In the best kind of way.
The Hunger Games, Catching Fire: Technically this one came out in 2013, but I didn’t see it until this year. So… it counts.
Divergent: LOVED this YA adaptation. I cannot judge it as an adaptation, but as a dystopian picture, it’s brilliant. Especially the romance which is (relatively) mess free.
The Fault in our Stars: I’m wavering on this one. On one hand it really was a beautiful kind of love story and I like it simply because it made me like (or respect) a not-so-happy ending.
Favorites of 2014: The Silver Screen #TheArchives Share on XThe Hundred-Foot Journey: this one I added last minute because it’s a good, solid quiet kind of film. Moviegoers need more of that amid the “big-action pictures” (which I admit I do normally love). Plus it has some great family values.
If I Stay: I’m not 100% sure about this one being on the list. But I did like it way more than I anticipated and since usually I wouldn’t go for this kind of movie, I *had* to add it.
Maleficent: Marvel may have the superhero world cornered, but Disney has the fairytale/fantasy world in their grip. Oh, my! This one is so charming with deeper messages that one might expect. Also, I would love to add another certain Disney title to this list. Alas I haven’t seen it yet. This week..
Thor, the Dark World: Again, this one released in 2013, but via the DVD, I saw it earlier this year. Vast improvement over movie number one. Loved it so much.
Veronica Mars: Ah, Veronica. Adding this kickstarter film to the list was a no-brainer.
X-Men, Days of Future Past: Whoever it was that decided it was a good idea to merge the past, younger X-Men with the next generation is brilliant. For a superhero blockbuster I adored this one.
TV Shows…
Unlike most years, I actually watched some new season shows by their websites or via instant download. Some I haven’t caught up with yet, others I’m still watching and enjoying (while passing it off as work *wink*). Either way, even NOT being caught up on most of these, I have to say, 2014 brought some great TV to our homes.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D: Been told this one only gets better. Still on season one, but so far, so good.
The Blacklist: Yes, this one premiered in 2013, but I binge-watched it earlier this past summer. So. Darn. Good. (Be warned, it’s very addicting.)
The Flash: Loving this one lots. I’ve had the pleasure of recapping it for Silver Petticoat and am actually missing it over this break. We’ll be back to chatting it up in January though!
Forever: Glad this lovely got a full season pick up. The pilot was really good. All the tweets and declarations of its improvement has tempted me to watch more… and I haven’t.
The Librarians: Fun is what this show seems to operate on.
The Musketeers: New favorite British bit of sappy fun alert. LOVED this one… until the end. It got kind of sad which makes me wonder: is this going to follow in the footsteps of its predecessors? Robin Hood and Merlin both started out splendidly then spiraled into darkness…! Huh.
Selfie: *sniff* Why did this get cancelled?! It was so cute. This reminds me. I still have to watch the final episodes.
I actually tried a couple of other new shows this season also… but I’m still trying to decide how I feel about them. Sometimes the good outweighs the bad… and sometimes the bad overshadows the good.
That’s a wrap. My favorite 2014 movie and TV shows. Share any thoughts, comments or your favorites down below. Next up are my book picks of 2014! Be on the lookout. Happy Monday, friends.
Great list I put Belle on hold at my library! Mine would include Catching Fire, MockingJay, Divergent, If I Stay, Night at the Museum 3 (just saw it yesterday), The Giver (this was a shocker since I do not like the book at all), and of course The Fault in Our Stars. I'm sure there are some more but these are the ones I can think of off the top of my head.
I haven't seen any of those tv shows but then I'm weird and don't really like tv. I know I'm weird. I did really enjoy Red Band Society ( minus 2 that had to be all about sex and drugs. So much for nice family show) however it got cancelled. So now I'm back to no tv shows to watch. I want to see the Ryan Phillippe show Secrets & Lies. It's suppose to start March 1st, I bet if I watch it and like it then it will get cancelled. :(
Belle is fabulous. It took me a while to see it, but I'm really glad I finally picked up a copy. Yay for Mockingjay (will be renting that pretty) and 'Museum' looks so cute. Cannot wait to add that one to the trilogy. :)
Nothing wrong with not liking TV. Sorry about Red Band Society. I didn't watch it, but know the feeling of getting attached to a show then seeing it cancelled. ;) Hope you like Ryan Phillippe's new show.
My friend loved Belle! Still haven't seen it yet though! Captain America was pretty beasty though as well as Divergent!
Enjoy Belle if/when you see it. I thought it was a great one. Always loved Captain America ever since his first movie. Divergent was the best dystopian film I've seen yet. :)
I've been wanting to watch the Musketeers as soon as I saw the trailer, but haven't found really anything about it. I may try it sometime… =)
The Musketeers is fun, Kara. Hope if/when you try it, you like it. It's definitely a bit "campy," but overall, really enjoyable. :)
I have to agree on Captain America & XMen. Of course I adored Thor and Catching Fire is my fave of Hunger Games. I think I only saw three movies at the theaters this year. XMen, Captain America, and Mockingjay Part 1.
*High Five* I saw Captain America in theaters but of the films you list, that's all. Didn't get to X-Men, or any of THG films. Maybe I'll see that last in the series in theaters… that way I'll be "in the know" with Mockingjay, Part 2. ;)
Thanks for joining the conversation, Dawn.
I haven't seen most of these, but I've seen "Catching Fire." I might have liked it better had I not read the book first, but that's no surprise. ;-)
And oh yes, "Maleficent!" I got it for Christmas and hope to watch it again sometime this week. And if "Into the Woods" is the other one your hinting at. I too hope to see it soon. I hope it is just as awesome as "Maleficent."
"The Musketeers" sound cool, but I don't know if I can handle another "Merlln" ending. It's been almost a year since I watched the last episode, and I'm still not over it.
Ah, bummer! Sorry you didn't love 'Catching Fire.' I like the movies better than the book or that was the way it went with THG. Still haven't read the last two books.
Yay for Maleficent. I do like that one. We went to see it and then snagged a copy so we re-watched it. Yes! I cannot wait to watch Into the Woods. It looks spectacular.
I've not finished Merlin either. I want too, but just haven't gotten to it. I don't know that The Musketeers will go in that direction, but compared to the majority of the series, the finale ended on more of a downer. Anxious to see what comes of S2. :)
Great list! I won't mention my favorites here because my post will be going up in the next couple of days. But mostly because I still haven't gone through and actually written down my favorites of the year yet! :) {I have a general idea of most of them but need to go through and double check that I did in fact watch them for the first time this year.}
Fun! I'll definitely be looking forward to your list, Kristin. Hope you came up with those favorites. :)
I loved Captain America and Maleficent. I also had the pleasure of discovering several awesome TV shows (a couple thanks to you, Rissi! :)): Forever, The Flash, Downton Abbey, and Merlin.
walking in the air.
Great favorites, Hannah; both of those are awesome. Yay! Hope you continue to enjoy those TV picks… it's fun to discover new TV fandoms! :)
This is such a great post, but right now all I can think is "SELFIE GOT CANCELLED?!?!"…I had no idea! I LOVE that show. So sad right now. :(
Anyways, this post is perfect. I watch most of the stuff you mentioned and you have some of my very favorites from this year as well! The only ones I would add would probably be the shows "The 100" and "Chasing Life." :)
Right!? Selfie was darling. Must finish the remaining episodes. Soon. ;)
Thanks for reading, Bekah… always have fun with this year-end post. Never seen the two you mention but have heard The 100 is addicting and Chasing Life does look interesting. I may have to check it out. :)
Captain America: the Winter Soldier was an excellent movie, I think it would definitely up there as one of my favourites this year too :)
So glad. I'm already looking forward to Marvel's line up of 2015 films or TV productions. Whatever they may be. ;)
'Maleficent', 'Catching Fire' , and 'Thor, the Dark World', are really great! Glad you liked them too:)
I still want to watch ' Belle' and ' Captain America-the Winter Soldier' in the near future.
I did indeed, Ella. Thor was better than its predecessor by far. :)
Hope you enjoy Belle and if you liked Thor of the Marvel Universe, you'll likely enjoy the Captain America sequel. It's just as fabulous. :)
Thanks Rissi!!
:)
Ooh, I looooved Belle! I wish all movies were that good. :) I'm so behind on Forever! I watched the first several episodes and was enjoying it, but just missed it a couple of weeks and didn't pick back up. I thought the episodes I saw of Selfie were better than I expected! I really dislike the name, which turned me off of the show a lot. I wish shows that showed promised but struggle with ratings were given more of a chance more often. Oh well. :)
Right!? I love the loud, action-packed movies as much as anyone, but sometimes it's nice to enjoy a quiet, more meaningful story. Belle was beautiful in that regard. I've only watched one or two episodes of Forever, but I enjoyed it lots. Selfie was just cute and that's why I liked it. :)
Thanks for visiting/commenting, Rachel. :)
Yes, so many good movies and shows! We're totally addicted to Blacklist too although I did skip parts that were too much for me this season. We also have watched Flash. I still need to watch Fault in our Stars and If I Stay (I have read this one and its sequel) and I need to watch Mockingjay part 1. I've liked the first two movies like you. I need to watch Belle since I think I'd like that one. I'll have to go look up your review to see about content. I may just purchase it. Then all those fabulous superhero/sci-fi movies!!! I'm looking forward to next year…
I'm not watching (will catch the DVD set) S2 of The Blacklist but season one was freaking amazing. Way addictive that's for sure! Loving The Flash. It's such a "cute," lighthearted hour. :)
Oh, I hope you like those two YA adaptations. If/when you see them, let me know your thoughts. :) As for Mockingjay, I have to see that one too. When it arrives to DVD. Looking very much forward to the 2015 lineup. So far, so good. :)
Glad you shared, Tressa.