2017 has finally ended. Wow. It felt so fast. Faster than how long 2016 did. Senior
year sure speed things up massively, especially when you’re under all the
pressure of studying for university selections. God. But I’m not here to talk
about that. This first post I’m writing will be about all the best things from
this fleeting year. May this first post be something I can look back and maybe help me crack a smile
or two.
Best Movie
At this point if you ask me what’s my favorite movie
regardless of genre I would unhesitatingly answer COCO. Coco really was the
best thing to grace our silver screen this year, I was so surprised and
disappointment that it doesn’t garner that much attention, online or offline. I
was positively TRIGGERED OFFENDED beyond reason when I read an article
listing out the “winners” and “losers” of cinema in 2017 that put Coco in the loser list. I couldn’t even
leave a nasty comment in its page to express my distaste at the author’s
judgement. How ironic that they put diversity as one of the aforementioned
“winners” and leave off all animated features that doesn’t star yellow pill
parasites that came out this year as losers, on the basis they all don’t come
close to the box office records that one film had. Come on.
Honestly, I’m over with feeling let down with the numbers Coco pulled in its US release. I want to
rejoice in the victory it pulled by being the #1 film in Mexico, how it
singlehandedly outnumber the income of every pixar release in China COMBINED,
and how it can unite people all around of the world with its universal theme of
family and tradition. Not to mention how AWESOME everything about that movie
was. The story, setting, colors, animation, characters, and how detailed they
are to make it feel like a lived-in world. More on that later, I have an
upcoming post about my whole thoughts of Coco,
that may or may not entail bashing Disney’s lackluster efforts of promoting it
and how America’s political climate that might have something to do with the
domestic earnings Coco had *coughracistscough*. (I’m sorry, I’m a non-American
but I STILL have a say in it, okay?)
I feel a bit bad for not including any other movies in this
post, and maybe a bit ashamed for stating my above opinion, so maybe I’ll make
a follow up post for the best movies of 2017? There’s a lot of films I missed
out on, unfortunately, senior year and all. I haven’t watched Ladybird though,
it’s not out here yet and I have a feeling I would absolutely love it. I was
skeptical at first, but a moment from the trailer where Saoirse Ronan is
irritated by her mom but immediately spoke warmly to her after she suggested a
dress to her sold me the film.
Honorable mentions, aka films released this year that are good but doesn't necessarily mean I cherish it as much (I guess it's an indicative of my childlike tastes. Welp.) : Get Out, Logan, and Wonder Woman.
Best Book
I’m sorry. I didn’t read too many books this year, so it’s
probably not that valid. But I still want to tell everyone how much I ADORE Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny
Han. It is such a satisfying, tooth-rottingly sweet ending for the beloved Lara
Jean series. God knows I need such a good read this late in year or I would’ve
really putted my foot down to any more YA books. It’s been such a long time
since I enjoyed a book that much, much less a YA one. I felt like I outgrew
them after realizing how terrible the Mortal Instrument’s movie adaptation was.
I don’t know was it because I read the first book through
the e-book version or because I haven’t read it in so long, I thought this
third one was the best in the series. The second one was arguably the weakest,
but I won’t delve too much into that since the one that’s still fresh in my
memory is AAFLJ (yeah I’m making it an acronym to keep things short).
This book, along with Coco,
was so relevant and poignant for my 2017. Let me jump back into talking about Coco for a bit. Coco reminded me of how much you have to fight for your dream and
passion, but also told me that I can pursue it while keeping in mind of my
family. Again, I’m going to touch more on that subject in another post. As for
AAFLJ, like Lara Jean, I too, am facing senior year. Sans the boyfriend, of
course. And I really, REALLY want to go to this one university that makes all
other university look like an unqualified institution (I’m being hyperbolic
here). Hopefully I do get in there. Lara Jean deals with senior year with a
fantastic, sweet, boyfriend (who is too good to be true, honestly) and the book
does it all with refined taste. I read a review of it in Goodreads saying how
much she was dissapointed that Lara Jean didn’t change, she’s too naïve
yadayadayada, but out of all the female protagonists in the (few) books I’ve
read, Lara Jean is the one who feels the realest to me. It’s not because she’s
Asian, because if so, another book with an Asian-American heroine would’ve also
be held close to my heart, but it doesn’t
*coughibelieveinathingcalledlovecough*
I’m still reeling from the experience of finishing AAFLJ for
the first time so I can’t offer up an insightful review of it, but all I can
say is, from the first pages this book got me grinning madly like an
intoxicated chesire cat. Excuse the metaphor, I don’t even know where that came
from.
Best Songs
Here are the songs that were released in 2017 that I really
liked. I’m a bit iffy on this one,
because even though Havana really is a jam for me now, I’m pretty sure I’m not
as obsessed with it now as I was obsessed with it as I was obsessed with That’s
What I Like earlier this year.
1.
Remember Me – from Disney Pixar’s Coco
This is pretty self-explanatory,
considering I gushed a lot about Coco earlier. I love all its versions, and
since I’m so deprived of any new Coco
content that Disney has not been giving, I’ve also resorted to watching videos
of Coco in other languages, that
includes trailers, music videos, and interviews. I want to say more about each
of the versions, but it might include spoilers so.. maybe next time?
2.
Havana – Camila Cabello
What a coincidence that the moment I was
first interested in this song ever since someone played it in my class (there
was a lengthy time between when that happened and when I was curious enough to
search it myself), the next day just happened to be the music video’s release.
Love the video, by the way, one of the best of this year.
3.
Peek-A-Boo – Red Velvet
I found the video by chance (hint: youtube
algorithm). It was amazing. It’s not my first encounter with Red Velvet songs,
my 10th grade classmate likes to make dance cover videos of it and
play the songs in class. But this was the first Red Velvet song that I’m
actually really fond of. (Why did I use that word? Oh well.) Imagine my
surprise when I was in Bali and it was played on the radio.
4.
Love Story – SURAN feat. CRUSH
Thanks to my younger sister for introducing
me to the wonderful world of SURAN. I really, really like the video. It’s so
cute and wholesome. Also I apologize for using all these words in one
paragraph, I think this is my brain’s way of saying it’s in a writer’s block.
The music video really captures the essence of this song’s dreamy-like
narrative. Suran’s voice is like a smooth honey, gliding down from its glass
bottle. Crush’s part in the song feels like a natural addition, usually
featured artists in a song feels as if they’re just dropped in there out of
nowhere. Listening to it is like falling in love.
5.
That’s What I Like – Bruno Mars
UGH. My first reaction to it was an
off-guarded astonishment, that apparently a song played over and over again in
my school’s field trip bus could sound so good. But then again, it is Bruno,
one of the few 2000s-2010s top 40 artists I actually enjoy listening to. The
beat, rhythm and flow make it hard for you to not move along to it. Not to
mention the enticing lyrics makes it excruciatingly difficult for me
listeners not to imagine being the subject of the song. Bruno’s girlfriend
must’ve been really cherished by him. *cue swooning*
6.
DNA – BTS
Look. My life is now surrounded by this
group. I go to school, two of my friends start talking about it, back home my
sisters blast their songs out with speakers. It happens vice versa as well.
From all the songs I am exposed to, curiously, DNA was the one that stood out
to me. Maybe because it’s more easy on the ears for average listeners? Perhaps
so.
7.
New Rules – Dua Lipa
What a bop. Pop music with synthesized sound
creation should be utilized to not just make noise, but actually have a tune
and melody. That didn’t apply to only New Rules, the same could be said of DNA,
honestly. Not only is Dua Lipa a bop, what a good set of rules to follow
through for anyone who had a break up. Which I can’t really relate to but ‘Yay!’
for people who fit those categories!
These are the list of some of my favorite things things this
year. Might edit or add some things later. Thank you for reading.
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