On Oct. 8, myself and another colleague, Jonah Robertson, asked all students to take a one-question survey as they entered the dining hall. This one question was simply “Which movie did you enjoy the most in 2014?” The answer choices were a list of ten movies that Jonah and I collaborated on and decided a top 10 for the students to rank. Students simply selected one of the ten movies listed and that determined Saint Leo University’s top ten 2014 movies.
#1 “22 Jump Street”
Directors: Phil Lord and Christopher Millers
Previously on 21 Jump Street, Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) completed high school twice. 22 Jump Street started their undercover adventure into college life. Schmidt and Jenko become socially and academically involved on campus, resulting in them learning to grow apart and become immature. Now they are questioning their partnership and weather or not they make a good undercover team. Not only do they have to solve the case, they also have to fix their partnership.
#2 “The Fault in our Stars”
Director: Josh Boone
The story of “The Fault in our Stars” is a book written by John Green. Hazel (Shailene Woodley) and Gus (Ansel Elgort) fall madly in love after meeting in a cancer support group. Through therapy and other daily struggles that they face, they are dedicated to being there for each other. This movie proves that even though life is not always perfect, it can still be filled with an unforgettable love.
Saint Leo University students ranked this movie of #2 out of the 10 top movies– only by one vote less than 22 Jump Street.
#3 “How to Train Your Dragon 2”
Director: Dean DeBlois
This movie took place 5 years after the first movie, so now the characters are young adults. Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) and his dragon, Toothless, go on an adventure to discover unexplored land and territories. Hiccup and Toothless are eventually captured by another dragon rider; Valka (Cate Blanchett), Hiccup’s long lost mother. They go to find their armies and fight for victory.
#4 “Guardians of the Galaxy”
Director: James Gunn
The five star rating gives the movie justice according to the University’s students. The Guardians of the Galaxy movie tells the story of a group of alien and human miscreants who are brought together by a common goal: monetary gain. Starlord, Gamora, Groot, and Rocket Raccoon are all captured during a violent outburst in an urban metropolis, and are brought to a large prison. They stage an escape, and they are joined by Drax, and large alien warrior. They head off to sell an artifact Starlord stole from some alien ruins, when they learn that Ronan The Accuser, an alien fanatic obsessed with the destruction of an entire alien race, wants it as well. They attempt to get rid of it, but it falls into his hands. They must band together to defeat him before he can unleash its power upon millions of innocent lives.
#5 “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”
Directors: Anthony and Joe Russo
After “The Avengers,” Captain America becomes an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. in an attempt to create a new life for himself. This goes well enough, until a group of mysterious soldiers attacks, one particular soldier of which appears to be stronger than Cap himself. This is compounded by an attempt on Nick Fury’s life, and suddenly there is nobody that Captain America can trust. He must discover who is trying to kill him. This will lead to him learning some secrets about his past, as well as some secrets about his present, and eventually saving the world once again.
#6 “Dawn of the Planet of Apes”
Director: Matt Reeves
This movie tells a story of “10 Years after an ALZ-113 virus spreads around the globe causing the end of human civilization, marital law, and an economic collapse. Apes who have survived the disease compete against the human survivors and a traitor who wants nothing more than to destroy humans and apes, resulting in the lack of peace,” This movie stars Dreyfus (Gary Oldman), Ellie(Kari Russell), and Ceaser (Andy Serkis).
#7 “X-Men: Days of Future Past”
Director: Bryan Singer
Days of Future Past is a vision into the future of the X-Men. In this dystopian future mutants are hunted by incredibly powerful aliens called Sentinels. In a last-ditch effort to save their race, the remaining members of the X-Men send Wolverine back in time to warn Charles Xavier not to let Mystique kill Bolivar Trask, the creator of the Sentinels. However, when Wolverine is sent back in time, other conflicts emerge and the X-Men must save the past in order to secure their future.
#8 “The Lego Movie”
Directors: Chris Miller, Chris McKay, Phil Lord
This is the story of Emmet, a normal guy who goes about his formulaic life just like everyone else in his world, and is happy with it. Until one day, he meets Wyldstyle, a girl who doesn’t follow any of the prebuilt rules of society. This leads to a crazy adventure in which Emmet will meet superheroes, pirates, wizards, and strange animal creatures. Eventually he must defeat President Business in order to save the entire LEGO world from his nefarious schemes.
# 9 “Boyhood”
Director: Richard Linklater
Boyhood tied with the “Edge of Tomorrow” with the lowest of the ratings, according to Saint Leo University’s students. Some of the stars in the movie were Mason (Ellar Coltrane), Olivia Evans (Patricia Arquette), Sheena (Zoe Graham), and Samantha(Lorelei Linklater). This movie is about a young man’s life from the age of five to 18. The movie focuses on special events throughout all of life; family dinners, birthdays, graduations and more. The entire life journey has been placed into this one movie.
# 10 “Edge of Tomorrow”
Director: Doug Liman
This movie was tied for the lowest rated movie with the movie “Boyhood”. The Edge of Tomorrow is about Lt. Col. Bill Cage (Tom Cruise) is brought into an alien war against an extraterrestrial enemy who has no infinite death. Lt. Col. Bill Cage is far from prepared for this experience, as he has never even seen combat before. He is partnered up with a Special Force, Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt). They take on this war together in hope of victory.
