Geek of Oz

Beneath Zootopia’s furry facade, lurks some compelling social commentary. Sure it’s a kids film about an adorable bunny cop solving a missing persons case; but for adults, the filmmakers have laced this story with the perils of stereotyping and the manipulation of citizens via fear. A lot to squeeze into a animated feature, but the Mouse House just keeps delivering the goods film after film. After a run in with the local bully, Judy Hopps vows to defy the odds and become Zootopia’s first bunny police officer. Moving from her parents’ carrot farm to the big smoke is an eye-opening experience, as Judy learns life isn't quite what she thought. When she's given her first real case, Judy is forced to team up with some unlikely partners to get to the bottom of it. There's enough mystery to keep adults engaged without it going too far over the heads of younger viewers. I hate saying this, cause I feel like I'm repeating it with every new film, but this is some t...

As the curtain comes down on 2014, Disney saves one of its best for last. Big Hero 6 is a gorgeously animated, action-packed superhero origins story with multi-generational appeal. Based upon a Marvel comic series by the same name, Big Hero 6 takes place in a futuristic city known as San Fransokyo, a merging of the geography and infrastructure of San Francisco with the other-worldly visual appeal of Tokyo. Hiro (Ryan Potter) is a prodigious robot builder, who spends his time hustling for cash by entering his adorable (yet lethal) robots in illegal street fights, frequently bringing Hiro to the notice of the police. In an attempt to straighten Hiro out and unlock his true potential, his older brother Tadashi (Daniel Henney) introduces Hiro to his University colleagues. Tragedy strikes, however, and Hiro is forced to use his special skills in an entirely unforeseen manner and, with the help of a new friend named Baymax, rise up against a mysterious figure terrorising his city. ...

Well, it’s been a damn fine year for cinema, with standout films in almost every genre. Since the internet is in dire need of another top 10 list, I humbly present my best films of 2014.  As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this year’s cinema. Feel free to tell me your favourite films for the year in the comments below or come over to our Facebook page to shoot the breeze. Bring on 2015. - Stu Honourable mentions