2017 was a big year in geek-tainment with some ultra cool sci-fi and superhero movies as well as TV Shows burning up screens across the world. While Blade Runner 2049 gave us a peek into the dystopian future without making it seem too unrealistic, Okja surprised us with its ingenuity. Dark and Stranger Things 2 engrossed us into worlds unknown, while A Series of Unfortunate Events and The Tick tickled our dark sense of humour.
But just like any other year, 2017 also came with its own share of disappointing movies and TV shows, which tied our hopes but ultimately failed to make a lasting impression (Read: Justice League, The Circle, The Space Between Us and so on).
Nevertheless, 2017 seems to be ending on a high note for geeks thanks to Star Wars: The Last Jedi. So without further ado, here are the Best Geeky Movies and TV shows of 2017.
Blade Runner 2049
By far the best Sci-Fi movie of 2017 is Blade Runner 2049. While this list follows no particular order, the neo-noir science fiction series took existing modern technologies and created a fictitious world which seems like a natural progression of our own. Starring Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling, Blade Runner 2049 is a must watch. Gosling, an LAPD cop unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to create chaos in what’s left of society, while Ford, a former LAPD Blade Runner resurfaces after 30 years!
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman was an iconic superhero film for 2017, as for the first time ever, a female-led superhero movie made such big waves across the world, garnering rave reviews while it was at it. Not only did Gal Gadot scorch up screens in her Amazonian avatar, director Patty Jenkins also broke records with Wonder Woman becoming the highest-grossing film helmed by a solo female director...ever! If you haven’t seen Wonder Woman, you haven’t seen one of the most entertaining superhero films of all time.
Spiderman Homecoming
We called Spiderman Homecoming “The Best Spiderman Movie” of all time in our review. It not only delivers what was promised, but establishes the film as one of the best MCU has produced thus far. There are a lot of throwbacks to the comic books with Spider-Man riding on top of city trains, sitting on a ledge with a half open mask while eating, and sneaking into his room through the window all the time. The movie is a thrill ride with the perfect amount of action, emotion, and humor to keep you hooked right till the end. And guess what! This is only the second appearance of the young Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He now has two Avengers movies and another dedicated solo in his kitty post Homecoming.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
GOTG Vol. 2 was top-notch entertainment for a second time over. The Marvel’s crew of space outlaws banded together for a second time in a story full of laughs, thrills and some quality tunes.
The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks
Every vaccine in the world, every major breakthrough in the medicine industry came from one woman’s immortal cells grown in labs all around the world! Remember her? The movie will make you! The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks follows traces what happened to her family after she died, only to live on inside millions of people who were helped by her cells. A must watch.
Thor Ragnarok
Marvel finally has a Thor movie to brag about. Not only was Ragnarok highly entertaining with blockbuster scale action, it had an ingrained element of humour added to the mix. And of course, who doesn’t want to see the puny god take on the green monster! You can read our review of Thor Ragnarok here.
Logan
Another Marvel offering delighted us and fans of the Wolverine this year. Although the film does not follow Marvel’s Old Man Logan story arc, it features Hugh Jackman as the aging wolf who will have the last cry. This was Jackman’s last stint as the clawed killer and what a satisfying end it was...
Okja
If cultivating super pigs to feed the hungry is science fiction, then we guess Okja makes the cut for being a sci-fi. But more than that, It is a refreshing take on the evils of biotechnology on one hand, and a moving tale of friendship on the other. Here's what we thought of the film.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Before you kill us, Star Wars: The Last Jedi is only in this list because of its huge fan appeal. However, fans of the franchise at Digit did not think the film lived up to expectations. While there is a balance of emotion and action, The Last Jedi leans more towards the former. Some argue that the movie makes way for the new cast and outlines a path forward for the Jedi and the rebellion, but parts of the film felt outdated and rushed. If you haven’t already seen it, this is the time to catch Star Wars: The Last Jedi in theaters.
Black Mirror 4
We know you haven’t set your eyes on Black Mirror Season 4 till now but we have. We liked the show so much that we decided to create an episodic commentary around it. The show releases on Netflix this December 29 and it’s one you can’t miss. The way Black Mirror portrays the dark side of technology and its effects on the human race will actually give you goosebumps and leave you scratching your brains, thinking if the world is truly headed to a dystopian future led by tech. You can read our thoughts on Episode 1 and Episode 2 of Black Mirror Season 4 now.
Dark
Netflix’s Dark feels a lot like Stranger Things, only with young adults instead of small kids. We must say that we were totally surprised and taken by this German show (also available with English dub on Netflix) which appeared out of nowhere and created quite a storm. The supernatural thriller takes the concept of time travel and merges it with the a black hole theory which will have you questioning the existence of a parallel reality. Go watch it now!
Stranger Things 2
Another year, another monster, another mystery, another evil, another hero, another reality, but not just any other show. Stranger Things 2 is the sequel the show deserved. It not only introduces new characters adding that fresh flavour to the series, but also further deepens the audience’s connect with the key cast. You can read all about Stranger Things 2 here.
The Tick
Superheroes take their jobs too seriously. Not this one. The Tick is a new superhero series on Amazon Prime Video and is based on the comic book character created by cartoonist Ben Edlund in 1986. The Amazon original has managed to build upon the childish tone of the cartoon series which was created by Fox back in 1994 (Yes millennials, you were not born yet). The story revolves around The Tick and his side-kick Arthur. The Tick is strong, yet impulsive and relies on Arthur to keep him in check. What follows is a hilarious chemistry between the two as Arthur tries to shrug off the superhero who won’t seem to relent. Together the two embark on an adventurous journey to destroy the local super villain.
Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency
There are only a few TV shows in life that this writer has thoroughly enjoyed. There are even fewer of those starring Elijah Woods. This is one show, however, that has the ability not only to entertain, but also to excite and intrigue at the same time. Dirk Gently is a great visual imagination of Douglas Adam’s novel with the same name. Samuel Barnett portrays the character of the time-travelling detective to a T, and Elijah Woods makes for a great sidekick/assistant. It is truly as Adam’s described it on the cover page of the novel back in 1987 - "thumping good detective-ghost-horror-who dunnit-time travel-romantic-musical-comedy-epic
Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events
If you have a bad hangover from the 2004 movie with the same name starring Jim Carrey, Jude Law and Meryl Streep, then Netflix’s take on Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events will pleasantly surprise you. Neil Patrick Harris’ portrayal of the despicable Count Olaf is spot on and the weirdness quotient of the series is remarkably intriguing.
The Handmaid’s Tale
Set in a dystopian world where being a fertile woman means a life of destitute, rape and physical abuse, The Handmaid’s Tale is a show based on Margaret Atwood’s book by the same name. Society is governed by a totalitarian regime which enforces strict laws of procreation after fertility rates drastically reduce due to environmental disasters. The Handmaids are the only women who can have children, and are forced into a life of submission, humiliation, forced sex and Christian reconstructionism by their masters. The show is not only gripping, but well scripted, directed and acted. It also won the Emmy for the Best Drama Series, along with three other awards for Best Lead Actress, Best Supporting Actress and Outstanding Writing.
Young Sheldon
If you like Big Bang Theory, then you’ll love Young Sheldon. The show has an endearing quality to it, mostly because it traces the childhood of one of TVs most loved characters - Sheldon Cooper. The CBS original created by Chuck Lorre and Steven Molaro serves as a prequel spin-off to Big Bang Theory and is now available for streaming in India through Amazon Prime Video.
The Punisher
Probably one of the most entertaining Marvel shows Netflix has created so far, The Punisher has all the makings of a classic comic book-to-Live action transition. The show traces the story of Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal), an ex-marine looking for revenge for the murder of his family. Top class action and top class acting is in store for you in this one.