BEST OF 2014

I'm not going to wait for the year to end to post this. I have work on the 31st so I don't think I will be able to have the time to write a post then. So I'll write this while working on Rizal Day.

All images captured from Google.

BEST MOVIE (International)
LAST YEAR: Gravity

The best film is the type of film wherein days after you've seen it you still think about what you saw and it still gives you the chills. Whether it's how awesome the characters are or how disturbing the story was, it still leaves something. Gone Girl is my best movie of 2014. What a disturbing movie!!! I watched it twice and in both showing, I notice how everyone in the cinema were really talking seriously about what they just saw. It was disturbing. It was emotional. It was shocking. It was a very very effective film. On facebook, whenever I post about a film I just saw, I normally just get likes, but when I posted about this, people really wanted to discuss the movie. You don't really get that a lot. And for that reason alone is why Gone Girl is my best film of the year.
RUNNER UP: Captain America: Winter Soldier

BEST MOVIE (Local)
LAST YEAR: OTJ

I know in terms of quality, the indies take the cake for brilliance in the local film scene. But in all honesty, I have not been exposed to it as much as I want to. But to be honest, 2014 hasn't really been a good year for us in terms of quality films. Even the indies had fewer noteworthy titles to choose from. So bear with me as my pick this year is reflective of the mainstream Pinoy films that we all love to hate. But then again, truth is we still pay to see these films. We swoon when we see kilig moments. And we still smile watching all the same cliche's film after film after film. Honestly, all Pinoy films tell the same story but with only different actors. Okay, enough ranting. The best of all jologs Pinoy cheesy films of 2014 is Starting Over Again. And I choose this solely because I love Toni Gonzaga.
RUNNER UP: Bride For Rent

GAME OF THE YEAR (Console)
LAST YEAR: Grand Theft Auto V

2014 is the start of the current generation of consoles, so it's quite understandable that the games are not of the same standards as the brilliant games that came out last year. Honestly, this year only 2 games are vying for the title of the best game of 2014. A choice between gameplay innovation and sheer size. Admittedly, Shadow Of Mordor's Nemesis system is the best thing to come out of video games this year. It gives players the ability to tell it's own story uniquely his. But Dragon Age: Inquisition consumed most of my idle time ever since I bought the game a few weeks ago.  I have poured in 60 hours into this game and I don't think I'm halfway done. There are literally tons of things to do in this game world and it's clearly worth what I paid for. Oh and just like with previous Bioware Games that I choose to win GOTY, it really helps that they let players have gay sex.
RUNNER UP: Middle Earth: Shadow Of Mordor

GAME OF THE YEAR (Handheld)
LAST YEAR: Tearaway

I bought my PS4 this year, and have played no other console as much as I did with my PS4. So my choice for Game Of The Year for Handhelds for 2014 is the only game that I played the most. Nintendo is great at creating games that allow you to kill time. With titles like Mario Kart, Smash Bros, Pokemon or even Animal Crossing, you could literally lose thousands of hours playing those games. But my 2014 Handheld game of the year is nothing like the innovative games I mentioned above. It's a return to form for classic JRPGs. Bravely Default is the best turn based RPG I have played since the time of the PS2 era JRPGs. It's tactical, challenging, and really addictive. I love getting new costumes as that meant that I will have new abilities. The characters are charming and funny and it has a very Japanese story which is quirky, imaginative and confusing as shit. Just how I like my Japanese Role Playing Games.
RUNNER UP: The Walking Dead: Season 2

BEST OF TV DRAMA 
LAST YEAR: The Good Wife

So the past few years I have been skipping on this show as the best US Drama series because there have been a lot of outstanding shows. That's why I think I've given this award to almost all of the best shows out there. That's why this year, I'm giving the award to one of my favorite shows of all time. Shameless. It's a family dramedy about a VERY dysfunctional family. The show is so taboo I don't think this will ever be allowed to be shown in our country. Regardless, the show is damn funny, brilliantly acted, and just like drugs, is so addictive. It is tasteless sometimes. It is filled with morally questionable characters and your heroes are pretty much all criminals in the making, but they are the most relatable and likeable characters on tv. I fucking love Shameless!!!
RUNNER UP: Game Of Thrones

BEST OF TV COMEDY
LAST YEAR: The Mindy Project

I am no longer the target market of MTV. I actually want to puke whenever I see something teenybopper on television these days. So imagine my surprise when I found myself glued to the television watching this year's winner. Faking It. It's a show about a couple of high school girls faking being lesbians so they will become famous in school. Just like the usual coming of age stories, one of them turns out to really be gay and falls in love with the best friend. But as cliche as this story gets, it's actually funny and it doesn't take itself too seriously (hello Glee). The show, now on it's second season, has now moved on from it's original premise and I think is getting better for it. This show may never win an Emmy, but I think it's the closest we'll get to seeing how American teenagers really are this generation. It's a cool show.
RUNNER UP: The McCarthy's

BEST OF TV (Local)
LAST YEAR: Got To Believe

What is a Gillboard Best Of post without an appearance of something directed by Cathy Garcia Molina. It would be nothing. And this year, I'm giving out the recognition of Best Pinoy TV Series to Forevermore. I love how this show makes me feel younger. It is a very Pinoy Soap Opera. It checks on a lot of boxes in the How To Make a Teleserye Handbook. The poor girl / rich guy love story. The evil future mother in law. The scene stealing supporting characters. The funny barkada of the guy. The third party. I'm pretty sure someone will get kidnapped by the end of this show. But then again, even if you do it, if you do it right. Get the script right. Get the chemistry right. Filipinos will buy the shit you throw at them. Unfortunately, I'm one who buys those shit. And come on, there really isn't anything really good on Philippine TV apart from our news and current affairs stuff. Is there? Anyway, back to Forevermore. What I like about it, is that it's smart enough that even if it ticks all those soap opera cliches, it gives us a bit of a twist that keeps us guessing if what we predicted will come true or not.
RUNNER UP: The Voice Of The Philippines

BEST IN MUSIC
LAST YEAR: Just Give Me A Reason

Let me be predictable for once. I like me some melancholy songs. And my song of the year goes to a singer who really writes great sad songs. The male or gay version of Adele as they say. Sam Smith's Stay With Me resonates for a number of  reasons. One, the song is really really relatable. Who among us have that one night stand that we wished was not just? Oh god, if I heard that song like 8 years ago, I would have sung that to that unforgettable one night stand. Two, Sam Smith. Wow, that voice!!! You could really feel his emotions in all of his songs. He's my favorite artist this year, bar none. Three. It was not overplayed unlike John Legend's theme song of the year. Four. It's just one song from an album that's full of great music. Actually, let me take back the award from Stay With Me. The Best In Music this year for me is anything from Sam Smith.
RUNNER UP: Ed Sheeran Thinking Out Loud

BLOG OF THE YEAR
LAST YEAR: Wickedmouth

I know I haven't been the most active blogger this year. I think I visit only a handful of blogs. And let's be honest, there haven't really been a lot of active bloggers anymore. The greats have now moved on  to better things in life. But there's been no one really who's been as consistent in writing posts as this year's winner. Regardless the posts are read or not, he still writes. I heard it's something he needs to do. For me, he is the epitome of the adage, "we write to express, not to impress". He's one blogger that I have known from like when I started blogging a few years ago, yet, he's someone I've never actually met in person. I admire this blogger because it is difficult to find things to write, but he never seems to fail to find one. From trysts, to heartbreaks, his job, to family matters. They may sometimes be deep, but they are very well written. I have given this award to people who are no longer in the blog world, but I'm quite positive, we'll be seeing his posts for quite some time more. Cheers Kuya Joms of L'Heure Bleue
RUNNER UP: Geosef's Alphabet