Must-Watch Movies of 2016 and 2017

Louise Choi ‘17, School News Editor

A bold teenager battles massive monsters; a man with twenty-three different personalities struggles to survive by repressing his most violent personality; two lovers struggle to protect their love affair against the dreams that threaten to rip them apart; a tense battle arises between the Empire and the Rebel alliance—these are just a few of this year’s most-gripping movie plotlines.

With the 89th Academy Awards approaching, movie franchises have begun frantically marketing their films for the upcoming award season. In just a few months, famous production companies will have released a bountiful number of outstanding films encompassing all genres, ranging from science fiction to romance. So, which movies should you watch?

Disney’s most recent animated fantasy film, Moana, takes place in a world of black coconuts, dead fish, and failing crops. While it may seem like any other Disney Princess movie, Moana introduces its audience to crucial issues, such as climate change and pollution. To preserve the environment, a young teenager, Moana, must work together with a demigod, Maui, to fulfill her ancestors’ unfinished voyage and save the climate. Full of dramatic music and unexpected monsters, Moana has been nominated for several accolades.

La La Land, a musical film that has also received much praise, immediately rocketed in popularity because of its entertaining dances and songs. A charming film about balancing the friction between love and ambition, La La Land, starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, has already received fourteen Oscar nominations. However, Vivian Zhu ‘17 adds that “even though the songs and dancing are extremely nice and fun, the plot was pretty flat. There wasn’t anything special, and I was disappointed that the characters didn’t build a stronger chemistry.”

If you favor horror movies, try the movie Split. A psychological horror film from Universal Studios, Split scrutinizes the life and actions of Kevin Crumb, a victim of childhood abuse with severe multiple personality disorder. The film also follows the story of three kidnapped girls, who struggle to escape before “The Beast”, Crumb’s underlying and most dangerous personality, reveals itself.

Although Split has not generated nearly as much revenue from ticket sales as other recent movies have, Anup Dupaguntla ‘17 claims that Split is the best movie of all: “I recently saw Split, which was really good because of its theme of duality. Split is very unique because of Kevin, acted by James McAvoy, a guy with multiple personality disorder. His disorder really [created] the suspense throughout the story, since the audience never knew which of the 23 personas he was at any time.”

For sci-fi fans, you may enjoy Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, a prequel to A New Hope. In Rogue One, an alien Empire has kidnapped Jin’s father in order to build the ultimate weapon, the Death Star. Following Jin’s life after her displacement from her parents, Rogue One focuses on Jin’s involvement with the rebels to overthrow the Empire, portraying a possible strife between father and daughter.

If you want to escape from reality for a few hours, procrastinate studying for that upcoming test, or just relax and have fun with a few friends, go out and watch one of these movies. Each movie has its own unique twists and quirky characters, so be sure to give them a try.