No 10 - Captain America - The Winter Soldier
Such an improvement over its predecessor can be attributed to two factors. The first is the post Avengers world it now resides in. A cinematic universe now exists which didn't in the first film and a clear outline is set between each film. So clear in fact, that Marvel didn't care as to how this would affect its Agents of Shield TV show's potential. The second factor is behind the camera. Brothers Anthony and Joe Russo have directed a smart and confident sequel which has tremendously creative action beats and a credible villain that is a genuine threat to our hero. That being said it's still a Marvel film so a massive ship inevitably falls from the sky and its gets a bit standard near the end but this was ONE of the surprises of 2014. Well done Chris Evans. Speaking of which...
No 9 - Snowpiercer
ANOTHER film based on a Graphic
novel featuring Chris Evans as the hero? Have I gone crazy? This was the last film to sneak in the list (sorry Xmen:DOFP) but this was a joy to watch but also incredibly depressing. To sum up the plot, the world is frozen and the remnants of humanity ride on a post apocalyptic train that houses the earths elite (first class) but also the dregs of civilisation (third class). The dregs, led by Chris Evans stages a revolution and the film is their attempt to make it to the front of the train and take back control of their lives.
Each carriage is expertly designed and given its own personality, getting more classy the further they get. Of course the front don't wish to have their lives ruined so they fight back with the aid of train spokeswoman, Tilda Swinton, who seems to be basing her character on Deidre Rachid. One scene where Evans explained his 'tasty' past nearly made me sick in my mouth it was that powerful. And with an ending that didn't have to succumb to Hollywood shmaltz (it's South Korean), this was a hidden gem of 2014.
Adam Yates
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