Normally at this time of the year I would have been able to recount all of the wonderful things that I did and the people that I shared my time with throughout the year, and write a really amazing blog post reminiscing about those events; this year however - not so much! To say that 2020 was a difficult year would be a massive understatement, but for those of you that are out there reading this, well at least we survived it right?
Equally it was a strange year of cinema to say the least! I cannot deny that the viewing opportunities in 2020 grew wider and faster than anyone (even myself) could possibly have kept up with. However, this year I only watched 185 movies in total, which does sound like a lot but it was actually 30 less than I watched in 2019. This was mainly due to the quality of the films on offer, which in opinion were not nearly as consistently great as they were in 2019 and I found myself wading through a lot mediocre movies this year.
However, television was a whole other ball game, and I watched 153 television series (some of which were more than one series of catch up as well) which was a lot more TV than I viewed in 2018 or 2019, so it all balances out to the same amount of couch smashing in the end and still translates to me being a serious media addict.
You will notice that there are a lot of TV series listed below that got 4 chilli peppers or more, certainly more than movies did and that is simply because there were a lot more excellent TV experiences to be had this year. The influx of genuinely high level television in 2020 was literally never ending and because of COVID19 lockdowns across the globe we were given the best TV streaming opportunities that we have ever had before. My 'to see' list is pages long these days as I struggle to keep ahead of the game and the movie reviews that I still need to add to my blog, but alas it is a labour of love and I have enjoyed every moment of media escapism that I have indulged in this year.
2020, just like 2019 managed to deliver greatness across all genres, for which I am very grateful. The international films, independent films and animated films were amazingly good this year and it was great to see so many excellent films and series from those genres. And so, without further ado....here is my selection for the best viewing experiences of 2020.
BEST MOVIES (2020 release):
Soul - Kids 5 Chilli Peppers (Hall of Fame)
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm - Comedy 4 Chilli Peppers
Sound of Metal - Drama 4 Chilli Peppers
Onward - Kids 4 Chilli Peppers
Black is King - Musical 4 Chilli Peppers
The Vast of Night - Sci-Fi 3.5 Chilli Peppers
The Invisible Man - Horror 3.5 Chilli Peppers
The Willoughbys - Kids 3.5 Chilli Peppers
His House - Horror 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Colour Out of Space - Sci -Fi 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Da 5 Bloods - War 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Enola Holmes - Crime 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Deadwood: The Movie - Crime 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Save Yourselves! - Sci-Fi/ Comedy 3.5 Chilli Peppers
2020 HONOURABLE MENTIONS:
The Platform - Gritty/ International 3 Chilli Peppers
Swallow - Gritty 3 Chilli Peppers
Palm Springs - Romance/ Comedy 3 Chilli Peppers
Vivarium - Sci-Fi 3 Chilli Peppers
#Alive - Horror 3 Chilli Peppers
American Murder: The Family Next Door - Doco 3 Chilli Peppers
Relic - Horror 3 Chilli Peppers
Here are my top recommendations for pre-2020 releases that I didn't see until 2020:
1917 - War 5 Chilli Peppers (Hall of Fame)
Parasite - International 4.5 Chilli Peppers
Shadow - International 4.5 Chilli Peppers
The Nightingale - Gritty 4 Chilli Peppers
Uncut Gems - Crime 4 Chilli Peppers
The Lighthouse - Art House 4 Chilli Peppers
The Farewell - Drama 4 Chilli Peppers
Burning - International 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Ford v Ferrari - Drama 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Chasing Coral - Doco 3.5 Chilli Peppers
The Peanut Butter Falcon - Drama 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Mid90s - Drama 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Zombieland 2: Double tap - Horror 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Dr Sleep - Horror 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Rocketman - Musical 3.5 Chilli Peppers
The Gentlemen - Crime 3.5 Chilli Peppers
El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie - Crime 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Hail Satan? - Doco 3.5 Chilli Peppers
3 Identical Strangers - Doco 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Mystify: Michael Hutchence - Doco 3.5 Chilli Peppers
The Lodge - Horror 3 Chilli Peppers
The Night Eats the World - Horror 3 Chilli Peppers
BEST TELEVISION SERIES 2020:
Succession S2 - Drama 5 Chilli Peppers
Ozark S3 - Crime 5 Chilli Peppers
Lovecraft Country - Horror 5 Chilli Peppers
This Country S3 - Comedy 5 Chilli Peppers
Raised by Wolves - Sci- Fi 4.5 Chilli Peppers
The Queen's Gambit - Drama 4.5 Chilli Peppers
The Mandalorian - Sci-Fi 4.5 Chilli Peppers
Better Call Saul S5 - Crime 4.5 Chilli Peppers
Morning Wars - Drama 4.5 Chilli Peppers
I May Destroy You - Drama 4.5 Chilli Peppers
DEVS - Sci-Fi 4 Chilli Peppers
The Magicians S5 - Sci-Fi 4 Chilli Peppers
The Great - Period Drama 4 Chilli Peppers
What We Do in the Shadows S2 - Horror/Comedy 4 Chilli Peppers
Mythic Quest - Comedy/Drama 4 Chilli Peppers
Kidding S2 - Art House 4 Chilli Peppers
Awkwafina is Nora from Queens - Comedy 4 Chilli Peppers
The Boys S2 - Super 4 Chilli Peppers
Ramy S2 - Comedy/ Drama 4 Chilli Peppers
The Haunting of Bly Manor - Horror 4 Chilli Peppers
The Undoing - Drama 4 Chilli Peppers
Wayne - Crime/ Comedy 4 Chilli Peppers
Unorthodox - Drama 4 Chilli Peppers
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia S14 - Comedy 4 Chilli Peppers
High Fidelity - Drama 4 Chilli Peppers
2020 TV HONOURABLE MENTIONS:
Ratched - Thriller 3.5 Chilli Peppers
SEE - Sci- Fi 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Avenue 5 - Sci-Fi/ Comedy 3 Chilli Peppers
Dave - Comedy 3 Chilli Peppers
The Servant - Thriller 3 Chilli Peppers
The Umbrella Academy S2- Fantasy 3 Chilli Peppers
The Third Day - Thriller 3 Chilli Peppers
After Life S2 - Comedy 3 Chilli Peppers
Killing Eve S3 - Crime 3 Chilli Peppers
Breeders - Comedy 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Equally it was a strange year of cinema to say the least! I cannot deny that the viewing opportunities in 2020 grew wider and faster than anyone (even myself) could possibly have kept up with. However, this year I only watched 185 movies in total, which does sound like a lot but it was actually 30 less than I watched in 2019. This was mainly due to the quality of the films on offer, which in opinion were not nearly as consistently great as they were in 2019 and I found myself wading through a lot mediocre movies this year.
However, television was a whole other ball game, and I watched 153 television series (some of which were more than one series of catch up as well) which was a lot more TV than I viewed in 2018 or 2019, so it all balances out to the same amount of couch smashing in the end and still translates to me being a serious media addict.
You will notice that there are a lot of TV series listed below that got 4 chilli peppers or more, certainly more than movies did and that is simply because there were a lot more excellent TV experiences to be had this year. The influx of genuinely high level television in 2020 was literally never ending and because of COVID19 lockdowns across the globe we were given the best TV streaming opportunities that we have ever had before. My 'to see' list is pages long these days as I struggle to keep ahead of the game and the movie reviews that I still need to add to my blog, but alas it is a labour of love and I have enjoyed every moment of media escapism that I have indulged in this year.
2020, just like 2019 managed to deliver greatness across all genres, for which I am very grateful. The international films, independent films and animated films were amazingly good this year and it was great to see so many excellent films and series from those genres. And so, without further ado....here is my selection for the best viewing experiences of 2020.
BEST MOVIES (2020 release):
Soul - Kids 5 Chilli Peppers (Hall of Fame)
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm - Comedy 4 Chilli Peppers
Sound of Metal - Drama 4 Chilli Peppers
Onward - Kids 4 Chilli Peppers
Black is King - Musical 4 Chilli Peppers
The Vast of Night - Sci-Fi 3.5 Chilli Peppers
The Invisible Man - Horror 3.5 Chilli Peppers
The Willoughbys - Kids 3.5 Chilli Peppers
His House - Horror 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Colour Out of Space - Sci -Fi 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Da 5 Bloods - War 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Enola Holmes - Crime 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Deadwood: The Movie - Crime 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Save Yourselves! - Sci-Fi/ Comedy 3.5 Chilli Peppers
2020 HONOURABLE MENTIONS:
The Platform - Gritty/ International 3 Chilli Peppers
Swallow - Gritty 3 Chilli Peppers
Palm Springs - Romance/ Comedy 3 Chilli Peppers
Vivarium - Sci-Fi 3 Chilli Peppers
#Alive - Horror 3 Chilli Peppers
American Murder: The Family Next Door - Doco 3 Chilli Peppers
Relic - Horror 3 Chilli Peppers
Here are my top recommendations for pre-2020 releases that I didn't see until 2020:
1917 - War 5 Chilli Peppers (Hall of Fame)
Parasite - International 4.5 Chilli Peppers
Shadow - International 4.5 Chilli Peppers
The Nightingale - Gritty 4 Chilli Peppers
Uncut Gems - Crime 4 Chilli Peppers
The Lighthouse - Art House 4 Chilli Peppers
The Farewell - Drama 4 Chilli Peppers
Burning - International 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Ford v Ferrari - Drama 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Chasing Coral - Doco 3.5 Chilli Peppers
The Peanut Butter Falcon - Drama 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Mid90s - Drama 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Zombieland 2: Double tap - Horror 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Dr Sleep - Horror 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Rocketman - Musical 3.5 Chilli Peppers
The Gentlemen - Crime 3.5 Chilli Peppers
El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie - Crime 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Hail Satan? - Doco 3.5 Chilli Peppers
3 Identical Strangers - Doco 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Mystify: Michael Hutchence - Doco 3.5 Chilli Peppers
The Lodge - Horror 3 Chilli Peppers
The Night Eats the World - Horror 3 Chilli Peppers
BEST TELEVISION SERIES 2020:
Succession S2 - Drama 5 Chilli Peppers
Ozark S3 - Crime 5 Chilli Peppers
Lovecraft Country - Horror 5 Chilli Peppers
This Country S3 - Comedy 5 Chilli Peppers
Raised by Wolves - Sci- Fi 4.5 Chilli Peppers
The Queen's Gambit - Drama 4.5 Chilli Peppers
The Mandalorian - Sci-Fi 4.5 Chilli Peppers
Better Call Saul S5 - Crime 4.5 Chilli Peppers
Morning Wars - Drama 4.5 Chilli Peppers
I May Destroy You - Drama 4.5 Chilli Peppers
DEVS - Sci-Fi 4 Chilli Peppers
The Magicians S5 - Sci-Fi 4 Chilli Peppers
The Great - Period Drama 4 Chilli Peppers
What We Do in the Shadows S2 - Horror/Comedy 4 Chilli Peppers
Mythic Quest - Comedy/Drama 4 Chilli Peppers
Kidding S2 - Art House 4 Chilli Peppers
Awkwafina is Nora from Queens - Comedy 4 Chilli Peppers
The Boys S2 - Super 4 Chilli Peppers
Ramy S2 - Comedy/ Drama 4 Chilli Peppers
The Haunting of Bly Manor - Horror 4 Chilli Peppers
The Undoing - Drama 4 Chilli Peppers
Wayne - Crime/ Comedy 4 Chilli Peppers
Unorthodox - Drama 4 Chilli Peppers
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia S14 - Comedy 4 Chilli Peppers
High Fidelity - Drama 4 Chilli Peppers
2020 TV HONOURABLE MENTIONS:
Ratched - Thriller 3.5 Chilli Peppers
SEE - Sci- Fi 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Avenue 5 - Sci-Fi/ Comedy 3 Chilli Peppers
Dave - Comedy 3 Chilli Peppers
The Servant - Thriller 3 Chilli Peppers
The Umbrella Academy S2- Fantasy 3 Chilli Peppers
The Third Day - Thriller 3 Chilli Peppers
After Life S2 - Comedy 3 Chilli Peppers
Killing Eve S3 - Crime 3 Chilli Peppers
Breeders - Comedy 3.5 Chilli Peppers
SOUL
Release Date: 2020
Rating: PG
Running Time: 100 mins
A computer animated fantasy film produced by Pixar Animations and released by Walt Disney Pictures. Soul is easily the best children's film and definitely one of the best movies to come out of 2020. With a concept that could be considered too adult for children to fully comprehend, Soul skilfully weaves a tale about mindfulness and living your best life that in my opinion, won't be lost on audiences of any age.
Middle school music teacher Joe Gardner has always aspired to become a successful jazz musician. That dream seems like it is about to become a reality when Joe lands the chance to play with jazz legend Dorothea Williams. However, when Joe takes a tumble down a manhole and arrives in the afterlife, his dreams of becoming a jazz star look highly unlikely.
Visually magnificent, musically enchanting and filled with otherworldly delights, Soul is a pleasure to watch whilst still delivering a beautiful and thoughtful message about the way in which we engage in our everyday lives. This film has a high vibration to it that is absolutely intoxicating and I adored it.
Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, Graham Norton, Rachel House and Richard Ayoade deliver incredible voice acting to their characters and the entire experience is nothing short of enchanting. Soul is unmissable viewing for all ages.
FINAL SAY: Life is full of possibilities. You just need to know where to look. Don't miss out on the joys of life.
5 Chilli Peppers
Release Date: 2020
Rating: PG
Running Time: 100 mins
A computer animated fantasy film produced by Pixar Animations and released by Walt Disney Pictures. Soul is easily the best children's film and definitely one of the best movies to come out of 2020. With a concept that could be considered too adult for children to fully comprehend, Soul skilfully weaves a tale about mindfulness and living your best life that in my opinion, won't be lost on audiences of any age.
Middle school music teacher Joe Gardner has always aspired to become a successful jazz musician. That dream seems like it is about to become a reality when Joe lands the chance to play with jazz legend Dorothea Williams. However, when Joe takes a tumble down a manhole and arrives in the afterlife, his dreams of becoming a jazz star look highly unlikely.
Visually magnificent, musically enchanting and filled with otherworldly delights, Soul is a pleasure to watch whilst still delivering a beautiful and thoughtful message about the way in which we engage in our everyday lives. This film has a high vibration to it that is absolutely intoxicating and I adored it.
Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, Graham Norton, Rachel House and Richard Ayoade deliver incredible voice acting to their characters and the entire experience is nothing short of enchanting. Soul is unmissable viewing for all ages.
FINAL SAY: Life is full of possibilities. You just need to know where to look. Don't miss out on the joys of life.
5 Chilli Peppers
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