Ten Great Movies1st Half of the Year (2015)

• Plot: A young bear raised in the jungles of Peru is shipped to London after a deadly earthquake destroys his home. Finding himself lost and alone at Paddington Station, he attempts to find a caring family. He meets the kindly Brown family, who offer him a temporary haven.

• Our review: Paddington was a hit with both young and mature alike because it has an endearing quality that kids love and the not too heavy-handed for adults since it functions as a rather stealthy allegory about immigration.

PG | 95 min | Comedy, Family | January 16

Director: Paul King

Writers: Paul King, Hamish McColl (screen storyStars: Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters

Paddington

Plot: Troubled UK teen "Eggsy" is recruited into a covert operation of deadly spies, tasked with stopping the global-domination schemes of the wicked Richmond Valentine. It show the development of an unrefined, but promising street kid into the agency's ultra-competitive training program, just as a global threat emerges from a twisted tech genius.

Our review: Murder, mayhem and madness are unleashed in this absurdly enjoyable spy caper that David Niven or perhaps Patrick Macnee might have made in the 1960s. The cast is incredible from the chemistry between the lead actors to the priceless contributions made by the exceptional character actors.

15 | 129 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy | February 13

Director: Matthew Vaughn

Writers: Jane Goldman (screenplay), Matthew Vaughn (screenplay)Stars: Colin Firth, Taron Egerton, Samuel L. Jackson

Kingsman: The Secret Service

Plot: The DUFF stands for the "Designated Ugly Fat Friend." A high school senior, Bianca learns that her fellow students believe she is The DUFF, so she instigates a social pecking order revolution after finding out about it. She enlists a charming jock to help her reverse her image.

Our review: "The DUFF is a teen comedy that can sit beside Mean Girls, in the respect that it takes its subject matter on with a meta sensibility. It's should also be seen as a good launching pad for Mae Whitman to start playing some more lead roles, as she not only carries this film, she makes it pop."

R-13 | 101 min | Comedy | February 20

Director: Ari Sandel

Writers: Josh A. Cagan (screenplay), Kody Keplinger (novel)Stars: Mae Whitman, Bella Thorne, Robbie Amel

The Duff

Plot: Stuck behind enemy lines after a military maneuver falls apart, a young and disoriented British soldier is accidentally abandoned by his unit following a riot on the deadly streets of Belfast in 1971. He must avoid hostile Belfast locals to survive a very difficult night before a rescue mission can take place.

Our review: Powerfully directed and acted, '71 stays true to its fact-based origins while remaining as gripping as any solidly crafted action thriller.

15 | 99 min | Action, Drama, Thriller | February 27

Director: Yann Demange

Writer: Gregory Burke (screenplay)Stars: Jack O'Connell, Sam Reid, Sean Harris

‘71

Plot: Sir Kenneth Branagh tackles the classic fairy tale, giving it a live-action twist, as the put-upon orphan triumphs over a wicked step-mother and finds true love after attending a magical ball.

When her father unexpectedly passes away, young Ella finds herself at the mercy of her cruel stepmother and her daughters. Never one to give up hope, Ella's fortunes begins to change after meeting a dashing stranger.

Our review: Refreshingly traditional in a revisionist era, Kenneth Branagh's Cinderella proves Disney hasn't lost any of its old-fashioned magic even with this American live-on romantic fantasy film. Although not a direct remake, it borrows many elements from the 1950 animated film of the same name.

U | 105 min | Drama, Family, Fantasy | March 13

Director: Kenneth Branagh

Writer: Chris Weitz (screenplay)Stars: Lily James, Cate Blanchett, Richard Madden

Cinderella

Plot: A supernatural and deadly force follows a beautiful teenager getting involved in a sexual encounter with her new boyfriend… not knowing that he was merely trying to "pass" the entity on to her.

Our review: Smart, creepy, unsettling original, and above all terrifying ‘It Follows’ is intelligently barebones; the rare modern horror film that works on multiple levels -- and leaves a lingering sting. This horror gem from David Robert Mitchell will be the scariest thing you'll watch all year.

15 | 100 min | Horror, Thriller | March 27

Director: David Robert Mitchell

Writer: David Robert MitchellStars: Maika Monroe, Keir Gilchrist, Olivia Luccardi

It Follows

Plot: Reclusive, young, genius programmer, Nathan believes he has cracked the code on Artificial Intelligence after being selected to participate in a ground-breaking experiment in artificial intelligence. He came to this conclusion after evaluating the human qualities of a breath-taking female A.I. He then invites an expert programmer to come to his hideaway and run tests on Ava, his groundbreaking creation.

Our review: Alex Garland has proven himself time and time again that he is one of the most gifted sci-fi screenwriters working today. His ‘Ex Machina’ displays an uncommonly engaging sci-fi feature. This also shows that the filmmaker has an exciting eye as a visual artist, as the movie is as beautiful as it is captivating. This is a visually polished piece of work even it if leans more on the ideas rather than the effects.

15 | 108 min | Drama, Sci-Fi | April 10

Director: Alex Garland

Writer: Alex GarlandStars: Alicia Vikander, Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac

Ex Machina

Plot: In a burned-out post-apocalyptic desert, Max Rockatansky gets swept up in Imperator Furiosa’s plan to rescue the multiple brides of the sadistic Immortan Joe. The two lead joined forces in a stark desert landscape where humanity is broken, two rebels just might be able to restore order.

Our review: Mad Max: Fury Road is a bombastically entertaining and action packed special film. But it does not stop there; excellent treatment was given to the plot and the emotions it evoked.

15 | 120 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi | May 15

Director: George Miller

Writers: George Miller, Brendan McCarthy, 1 more credit »Stars: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult

Mad Max: Fury Road

Plot: This is a touching, tragic yet inspirational story of the brilliantly troubled songwriter Brian Wilson at two different stages of his life. In the 1960s, Beach Boys leader Brian Wilson struggles with emerging psychosis as he attempts to craft his avant-garde pop masterpiece. In the 1980s, he is a broken, confused man under the 24-hour watch of shady therapist Dr. Eugene Landy.

Our review: As unconventional and unwieldy as the life and legacy it honors, Love & Mercy should prove moving for Brian Wilson fans while still satisfying those who are not familiar with his work. The movie is one interesting audio trip: from the sweet, spiritual harmonies of “The Beach Boys” to the way Pohland uses sounds in captivating and fascinating ways to convey the madness in Wilson’s head.

12A | 121 min | Biography, Drama, Music | 1June 5

Director: Bill Pohlad

Writers: Oren Moverman, Michael A. Lerner (as Michael Alan Lerner) , 1 more credit »Stars: John Cusack, Paul Dano, Elizabeth Banks

Love & Mercy

Plot: Pixar’s latest takes us inside the head of an 11-year-old girl, where dominant emotions like Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust and Anger control her daily mood swings. After young Riley is uprooted from her Midwest life and moved to San Francisco, her conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house, and school.

Our review: Inventive, gorgeously animated, and powerfully moving, Inside Out is another outstanding addition to the Pixar library of modern animated classics. It’s a phenomenal, touching and special piece of art, and fittingly a mind-blowing and emotional experience.

U | 94 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy | June 19

Directors: Pete Docter, Ronaldo Del Carmen

Writers: Pete Docter (story), Ronaldo Del Carmen (story) (as Ronnie del Carmen) , 5 more credits »Stars: Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Lewis Black

Inside Out