2017 Best of Year Entertainment

I should really take more notes throughout the year as I often forget some of the earlier stuff that caught my attention - this list covers most of the highlights though - and I really like most of what Sigrid has put out this year - so she's worthy winner - and 'Like it Ain't Nuttin' is definitely the groove of the year!:

1. Strangers / Plot Twist / Don't Kill My Vibe - Sigrid
2. Like it Ain't Nuttin' - Fergie
3. Chained to the Rhythm - Katy Perry ft Skip Marley
4. Waterfall - Stargate ft Pink and Sia
5. Cola - Camelphat & Elderbrook (Franky Rizardo Rmx)
6. Ciao Adios - Anne-Marie
7. Green Light - Lorde
8. Shape of You - Ed Sheeran
9. New Rules - Dua Lipa
10. Lust for Life - Lana Del Ray ft The Weeknd
11. The Man - The Killers
12. In the Mood / Mermaids - Skott
13. Slide - Calvin Harris ft Frank Ocean & Migos
14. Feels - Calvin Harris ft Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry & Big Sean
15. Lemon - NERD ft Rihanna
16. Los Ageless - St Vincent
17. Boys - Charli XCX
18. Despacito - Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft Justin Bieber
19. Mi Gente - J Balvin & Willy William ft Beyoncé
20. I Miss You - Clean Bandit ft Julia Michaels

My favourite film last year was American Honey, and in some ways I see 'The Florida Project' as a companion piece to that - a snapshot of colourful American fringe life - this time set in pastel hues and on the outskirts of Disney World Orlando. It does not have as good a soundtrack, but the premise, casting, acting, cinematography and direction are all first rate - a highly memorable film about childhood. Blade Runner 2049 did not disappoint either - forming a very worthy sequel to one of my all-time favourite films, and Baby Driver was an exceptional virtuoso performance in soundtrack and visual choreography by the ever inventive Director - Edgar Wright. Note that I always watch Star Wars over the Christmas holidays with most of the kids - so that's obviously not included for now - I may add a note post viewing.

1. The Florida Project
2. Blade Runner 2049
3. Baby Driver
4. Thor Ragnarok
5. La La Land
6. Personal Shopper
7. Atomic Blonde
8. T2 Trainspotting
9. Wonder Woman
10. Wind River
11. Raw
12. Get Out
13. Logan
14. Kong Skull Island
15. Guardians of the Galaxy 2
16. John Wick 2
17. Lost City of Z
18. Colossal
19. Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
20. Logan Lucky

Television continues to outstrip cinema in various ways, and there were some truly exceptional programmes this year. I'm not sure Game of Thrones can get more epic, even though it does drop fairly regular logic-bombs. American Gods is the best thing Amazon have ever delivered, and Twin Peaks was visceral and exciting yet not quite a match to its original in overall appeal - all were pipped by the wonderful 80's love-letter that is Stranger Things - it came up trumps for me once again - reinforcing several fond memories of childhood along the way - that series resonated with me the strongest:

1. Stranger Things 2
2. Game of Thrones 7
3. American Gods 1
4. Twin Peaks: The Return (3)
5. Star Trek Discovery 1
6. Ozark 1
7. Godless (MS)
8. Peaky Blinders 4
9. Taboo 1
10. Fargo 3
11. Blue Planet II
12. GLOW 1
13. American Vandal 1
14. 13 Reasons Why 1
15. Mindhunter 1
16. The Deuce 1
17. Black Sails 4
18. Line of Duty 4
19. Into the Badlands 2
20. The Expanse 2

The Comics Universe shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon - it's still the golden age as I've said many times already. And the Image imprint is still leading the charge in innovative and arresting titles. Not to say I still don't buy the occasional Marvel and DC issue - I really enjoyed Star Wars' Dr Aphra this year. By and large though - it's Image, Dark Horse and Titan which are winning out for me. I don't feel that there was any particularly significant release on Humanoids this year - certainly nothing approaching Incal or Metabaron:

1. 4 Kids Walk into a Bank (Black Mask)
2. Shade - the Changing Girl 1 (DC : Young Animal)
3. Motor Crush 1 (Image)
4. Extremity 1 (Image)
5. Black Cloud 1 (Image)
6. Snotgirl 1 (Image)
7. Monstress 2 (Image)
8. The Goddamned 1 (Image)
9. Cursewords 1 (Image)
10. Black Hammer 1: Secret Origins (Dark Horse)
11. Briggs Land 1: State of Grace (Dark Horse)
12. Chew 12 (Image)
13. The Death of Stalin (Titan)
14. Lazarus 5 (Image)
15. Kingsway West (Dark Horse)
16. Khaal (Titan)
17. God Country (Image)
18. Frostbite (Vertigo)
19. Reborn (Image)
20. King Tiger 1 (Dark Horse)