Imagineering for the Day

As evidenced by the fact that I write a blog dedicated to all things Disney, it's not difficult to realize that I love the Walt Disney World Resort beyond what you could probably imagine. I have been fortunate enough to visit the place where dreams come true in almost every year of my life and will hopefully continue that trend throughout the future. Every time I walk through the gates of a Disney Park, I am instantly a child again, ready to explore and discover what this magical world of fantasy has in store for me today.

Today, however, I want to be able to make this place of amazement even more awe-inspiring. While everyone loves Disney World, we can all admit, that some changes could be made to make it even better. For just the length of this post, I am going to put on my Imagineering hat, with ultimate power and unlimited cash in my theoretical hand, and look at the four parks and suggest some changes that could be made to improve this vacation haven for the entire world.

To simplify matters slightly, I will remain focused exclusively on attractions and shows, not the logistical or technical side of things. Strictly speaking from an entertainment perspective, this is my evaluation of Disney World and what could be improved upon.

Magic Kingdom
I'll begin at the place where everything in Central Florida began: the Magic Kingdom. Overall, it's extraordinarily tough to find flaws in the Magic Kingdom because usually, this is the park everyone remembers for years and years to come. Everything from the castle to the classical attractions to the unforgettable character experiences makes the Magic Kingdom the supreme leader in theme park entertainment worldwide.

So how do you improve upon perceived perfection?

In my opinion, the place that needs the most work is perhaps my favorite land in the entire park: Tomorrowland. First of all, Stitch's Great Escape needs to go. I applaud the Disney Imagineers for trying to give Stitch some theme park love, but reverting him back to his former way of living after witnessing his remarkable transformation in Lilo & Stitch is counterproductive. If you're going to give Stitch some respect in Tomorrowland, the drawing board must be revisited. Maybe upon further investigation, we discover that Stitch just doesn't fit in this particular part of the park. Luckily, we have other options. In 2015, Disney released an entire film called Tomorrowland. Now, looking back at the box office numbers for this George Clooney-led film, one might be apprehensive to giving this one an attraction in Tomorrowland, but if you've seen this movie, you know that when the setting shifts to the actual Tomorrowland, there are some tremendous gadgets and inventions that would be great to explore more in depth in its motherland of sorts. Plus, this movie has a cult following, so it could replicate the success of other cult classic attractions at WDW, like the late Maelstrom at Epcot and The Great Movie Ride at Hollywood Studios.

If we don't want to go with Tomorrowland, we could take a page out of Shanghai Disneyland's book and bring Tron to the Magic Kingdom. The concept art released from Shanghai's Tron soon-to-be attractions were breathtaking, and my immediate reaction was that Disney World needed Tron in Tomorrowland. This wouldn't be the first time Disney Parks shared among themselves either. Think about the Tower of Terror going to Disneyland and Soarin' coming to Epcot. I'm sure we can figure out a way to get Tron into Central Florida. Another option for the proposed vacant building currently belonging to Experiment 626 is to bring Pixar some more love by giving Wall-E an attraction. Everyone's favorite Disney robot would be quite perfect for Tomorrowland. Who wouldn't want to further explore the adventures of the Axiom and its notorious crew.? Pixar already has a strong presence in Tomorrowland, so why not let the one movie that lends itself best to the theme of the land take over for Stitch and company? All in all, we have to find a replacement or major refurbishment for Stitch's Great Escape.

Furthermore in Tomorrowland, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin needs a minor refurbishment. Although it remains one of the more popular attractions at the Magic Kingdom (it's one of my all-time favorites as well), we're trying to improve the Magic Kingdom, and one way we can do that is by giving guests what they want, and what they want is to be able to tell which laser is their own personal laser when they're slaying Zurg and his army. This problem was solved greatly with Toy Story Midway Mania at Hollywood Studios. Obviously, you couldn't do it exactly like that, but giving each blaster a unique color so the guest knows what to look for wouldn't be a bad idea. Plus, while we're at it, why not enable the blasters to freely move without being constrained to the ship? These are two minor changes that would tremendously improve the quality of an already fantastic attraction.

Moving over to Fantasyland, Mickey's Philharmagic simply needs an updated movie. I love seeing these classic Disney scenes come to life like never before, so while I don't want an entirely new attraction, an updated film featuring some other classic Disney scenes (The dancing scene from Cinderella? The "I've Got a Dream" sequence from Tangled? A Sugar Rush race from Wreck-It Ralph?). The possibilities are truly endless. Keep the spirit of the attraction but just give it a slight but significant upgrade.

Finally, let's bring back SpectroMagic and rid ourselves of the Main Street Electrical Parade. Musically and thematically, SpectroMagic, in my opinion, is the far superior nighttime parade. It is one of the few things that are no longer at a Disney Park that I genuinely miss. Jiminy Cricket narrating both SpectroMagic and Wishes would be a perfect way to end the day at the Magic Kingdom, just like in the good ole days.

The Magic Kingdom doesn't need reinvention, but these proposed changes could go a long way in satisfying generations to come beyond their wildest imaginations.

Epcot
When thinking about how to improve Epcot, I think the one thing we can all agree on is that Epcot needs a more broader appeal to families with children. Every time I help one of these families out in planning their Disney vacation, they always wonder if they should spend any time at Epcot beyond just a couple of hours. Unfortunately, I cannot tell them that they should go to Epcot for an entire day. Nowadays, as I have grown to appreciate what Epcot really is, I love it and wouldn't trade it for the world, but as a child, Epcot was by far my least favorite park of the four. Let's change that with three key additions to this legendary park.

Primarily, and I wrote a blog about this specific topic a few months ago, we must give the Imagination Pavilion (currently occupied by Figment and Captain EO) an upgrade courtesy of Inside Out. One of 2015's biggest hits, Pixar has one of their crowning achievements simply begging for Epcot to let them in because thematically, it's a picture perfect fit. I won't just rewrite that previous blog here, but if you want to read my detailed proposal of this addition, follow this link: http://insidedisney407.blogspot.com/2015/11/from-inside-out.html.

Secondly, following the trend set up by Frozen taking over Norway, why not allow for more Disney characters to be prominently featured throughout World Showcase? Now this proposal won't necessarily be a popular one, but I actually like the idea of characters in WC. Therefore, if Anna and Elsa get Norway, why not let Mulan become the highlight of the China Pavilion? She already has a periodic meet and greet in China, so I propose that we reimagine this pavilion to let Mulan become the focal point. Mushu and Cricky are just begging to host an attraction or show, so because I'm an Imagineer for the day, I'm giving them one! Furthermore, let's expand Mulan's presence and give her an attraction to be featured in too. Mulan is one of the most underrated Disney classics of all-time, and to have an entire pavilion dedicated to her home, limit her to a meet and greet only, and then still have the problem of attracting families to Epcot is a mistake. This reimagining would be great for the reputation of Epcot.

In addition to that proposal, let's go over to the France Pavilion and let Ratatouille take over. One of the most mature animated films of all-time, Remy and company would be a perfect collaborator for France as both kids and adults alike love this movie. Prominently featured in the film, let's allow for Gusteau's to be the main dining destination for World Showcase like we did for Be Our Guest over at the Magic Kingdom. To further enhance the Ratatouille experience, we can let Remy have a meet and greet of sorts throughout the restaurant. Who doesn't want to eat at Gusteau's after watching this movie? Disney World is the place where dreams come true, and this addition would allow for some of those dreams to be fulfilled.

Families need a reason to stay at Epcot all day long, and the additions of Inside Out, Mulan, and Ratatouille to the scene in addition to the continued presence of Nemo and friends and the expected arrival of Frozen this year, Epcot would quickly become a family destination without harming the adult vibe already associated with it.

Disney's Hollywood Studios
By now we all know that the additions of Star Wars and Toy Story are coming to Hollywood Studios in the coming years, so for the purposes of this task, I will focus on everything else. What can we do in the meantime to help Studios become a must-see destination again?

Chiefly, let's give the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular and Muppet Vision 3D some much needed upgrades. Disney recently purchased the rights to Indiana Jones and The Muppets, so we clearly have some plans for those two entities within the parks, so let's take two fairly popular attractions and give them a face-lift. The stunt show has run its course, and while I still thoroughly enjoy it, we can do something better for this brand new generation of vacationers. It could be just as simple as focusing on another Indiana Jones film like The Last Crusade. I'm not advocating for its removal, but I do want to see some upgrades. For Kermit and the gang, Disney obviously wants to capitalize on their investment, but having a 3D show from the turn of the century isn't the best way we can use the Muppets at Studios. Even if we didn't want to give them an attraction, let's give Muppet Vision a brand new show to display the talents of some of the popular characters from the new movies and television show, something new audience members can recognize and enjoy. Now that I've mentioned it, though, giving the Muppets an attraction would be tons of fun! Nonetheless, the Muppets need something new and improved at Studios.

Theatrically, the Beauty and the Beast stage show has come to the end of the road. This film is my favorite Disney film of all-time, so this is rather painful to admit, but with New Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom boasting a brand new section devoted entirely to Belle and the Beast, I think it would be better suited for the improvement of the resort if we allowed for other musicals to take over the Theater of the Stars and let Beauty and the Beast dominate Magic Kingdom. One such possibility for a replacement could be a Tangled musical. Having Rapunzel and Flynn's presence be felt beyond just a restroom area at the Magic Kingdom is something Disney needs to make a priority, and giving this modern day classic a stage show at Studios would be a perfect way of doing just that. Along those lines, The Princess and the Frog would be another worthy replacement because Tiana and Naveen need something substantial at WDW. These two films are too great for them to be relegated to a meet and greet and a restroom area. We must expand their influence to greater heights.

Similarly, with The Voyage of the Little Mermaid in Animation Courtyard apparently witnessing its final days as we prepare for Toy Story Land, let's speed that process along and get a brand new show in there, like Tangled or The Princess and the Frog. Another possibility could be Aladdin considering the recent success of such a show at Disneyland. This allows for audiences new and old alike to experience something truly remarkable even if they've been to Studios twenty times in the past two decades.

Hollywood Studios is a park in transition. Let's speed that transition along and implement these significant changes to improve the experience of guests's worldwide while we wait for Star Wars and Toy Story to arrive.

Disney's Animal Kingdom
We finally come to Animal Kingdom. The newest of the four parks is in pretty good shape overall, but we can still make changes to make it even better while we wait for Pandora- The World of Avatar to entertain us all.

Foremost, let's give It's Tough to Be a Bug an upgrade like I've proposed for Muppet Vision 3D. I like A Bug's Life taking over the Tree of Life, but I want to see Flik and company get a new and improved film to show in this uniquely cool theater. To me, the movie showing now isn't worthy enough to occupy that space. Therefore, give it an upgrade or get something else in there, like The Lion King or hold on and wait for Zootopia to take over the world.

Venturing on over to Dinoland USA, Pixar just recently released The Good Dinosaur, and while it wasn't met with the highest of praise, reimagining Dinoland to focus on Arlo and Spot would be a solid idea in my book. To have a Pixar release about dinosaurs take over a section of Animal Kingdom that desperately needs an upgrade almost makes too much sense. Why have generic dinosaurs when you can have dinosaurs people have seen and interacted with? This would be a major upgrade in a minor way because you would still keep the integrity of this section without sacrificing innovation.

Finally, let's bring the Pocahontas and Tarzan shows that once entertained audiences for years back where they belong. These two films deserve respect in the Disney Parks, and they simply aren't getting it currently. We're going to have Tarzan take over the Theater in the Wild for the Finding Nemo musical, allowing for Epcot to exclusively have the Nemo draw. For Pocahontas, let's finally replace the Flights of Wonder show that needed to be replaced years ago. These two new additions would further draw families to Animal Kingdom to stay all day, something the park still struggles with.

Pandora will help this problem out superbly, but I still feel as if Animal Kingdom needs something else to make it an all day park for families and guests of all makes and models. If Zootopia becomes a global sensation, allowing for this fictional world consisting of nothing but animals to have its own little niche in Animal Kingdom would be something worth investigating. Obviously, we have to wait and see on that one, but some other options could be just to give some more love in the form of attractions or shows to other movies focusing on animals, like The Jungle Book, Robin Hood, or the aforementioned The Lion King. Having Simba and friends expand their presence beyond The Festival of the Lion King would be a nice addition to the park, similar to the New Fantasyland expansion at the Magic Kingdom with The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast.




So there's my assessment of the Walt Disney World Resort. Change is good, healthy even, and when it comes to Disney, change could mean further dominating the theme park landscape worldwide like never before. Walt Disney once said, "We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." Let's ensure that we keep Walt's spirit alive and well by pressing on, never resting on our laurels, and continuing to make dreams come true for years to come!

-Cody Fleenor, Imagineer

Top 10 Movies of 2015

10. Room

Emma Donoghue's fantastic novel is one of my favorite books I've read in recent memory, so my expectations for the film adaption were fairly high. Luckily, director Lenny Abrahamson delivers one of the most thought-provoking and hopeful films of the year. The main character, Jack, is portrayed by Jacob Tremblay, a true revelation of the year without question because of his nuanced and effective performance as this innocent boy who's not quite sure what to make of this big world we live in. Brie Larson is perfectly cast as Ma. She was everything I expected her and wanted her to be upon reading the book. Every word and she utters and every mannerism she chooses adds another layer to this superb character. Never has a film been more full of hope in the face of obvious adversity and hardship. Even given the extreme premise of a child along with his mother being kidnapped and thrown in a room for years, Room instills hope again and again. This is one of those films that is life-affirming as you leave the theater ready to explore and conquer the world like never before.


9. The Big Short

Mortgages, loans, the housing market, Wall Street creed and corruption...these are all topics that simply don't interest me that much, but coincidentally, all of those topics along with many more are the crux of The Big Short. So why did I: 1) see this movie to begin with? and 2) rank it number nine on my list of my top ten movies of 2015? To answer question number one, I saw it because I had heard so many great things about it from the Oscar buzz to the high praises being heaped upon it by critics across the country. Plus, the cast looked top-notch as Steve Carell, Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, and Brad Pitt headline this all-star bunch. Then, to answer question number two, The Big Short most certainly deserves all the praise it has garnered and the cast is simply perfect. Director Adam McKay, who is best known for directing Will Ferrell in some of his most famous films like Anchorman and The Other Guys, is the real star of this film as he pulled off a miracle by making me genuinely care about economics for nearly two hours. He was born to direct The Big Short. This film is one that is pure exhilaration while also producing rage among anyone with a brain and a soul as the story of the collapse of the housing market in 2008 is unmasked. I left the theater thoroughly entertained and thoroughly enraged, a testament to some excellent film-making on display.

8. The Martian

Similar to Room, I read Andy Weir's masterpiece novel The Martian before seeing the film, so my expectations were relatively sky-high for Ridley Scott's newest project. Scott delivers his best film since Gladiator in 2000 as The Martian more than deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Alien and Blade Runner as the best of Scott's career. Matt Damon as Mark Watney was a casting move that creates legends. Damon is acting so natural in this movie that I had to constantly remind myself the he is actually acting. His charisma has never been higher in what may just be Damon's career best performance thus far. The supporting cast led by Jessica Chastain, Jeff Daniels, Chiwetal Ejiofor, Kate Mara, and many more are stellar as well, perfectly supporting Damon and Scott's vision. The story itself is so unique and brilliant while Drew Goddard's screenplay is one of the best scripts in science fiction history, deftly combining sly comedy with genuine drama. Endlessly quotable and entertaining to the max, The Martian is an instant classic.

7. Bridge of Spies

Anytime Steven Spielberg is making a movie, I have just become to expect nothing short of greatness. Time and time again, Spielberg redefines an entire genre on his way to making another gem for the ages. With Bridge of Spies, Spielberg expertly crafts a superb Cold War thriller with an abundance of emotion and excellent characterization. His loyal partner, Tom Hanks, my favorite actor of all-time, turns in, as always, a spectacular performance filled with subtlety and nuance. Hanks, like Damon in The Martian, effortlessly brings James Donovan to life, so much so that I don't think people realized just how great he really was in this film. Supporting Hanks, Mark Rylance is the standout of the film in a performance understated in nature and without the aid of lengthy screen time. When Rylance graces the screen with his presence, he captivates the audience with every word. This is business as usual for Spielberg and Hanks, and business as usual for Spielberg and Hanks equals classic film-making.

6. Creed

If we were all honest with ourselves, a vast majority of us were not really expecting much from this latest Rocky installment. First of all, none of us were really asking for it in the first place, and secondly, Rocky Balboa wasn't even going to be the main character anymore. I must admit that I had those exact thoughts going into Creed, but on occasion, I can swallow my pride and proudly admit that I was dead wrong about this one. Creed is the movie nobody really wanted but everyone really needed. Successfully and flawlessly handing the torch to a brand new generation of filmmakers, Creed is a knockout. Michael B. Jordan as Apollo Creed's son, Adonis, proves to be one of the true sensational talents of this generation. The physicality of this role coupled with the raw emotion he brings to every scene is truly special. Sylvester Stallone tops his initial turn as Rocky Balboa on his way to the best performance of his career without question in my opinion. The real star of Creed is director Ryan Coogler who not only breaths new life into this once tired franchise, but sets up future installments to go in brand new and exciting directions while also not forgetting to make this installment extremely memorable. The previous generation had Rocky; this generation has Creed.

5. Steve Jobs

I have always been fascinated by the life of legendary innovator Steve Jobs. He truly is one of the greatest minds of the modern era, so I wanted a movie that did him justice while also displaying his many flaws to go along with his brilliance (no, I do not count Ashton Kutcher's Jobs as a worthy memorial). With Steve Jobs, director Danny Boyle gave me everything I wanted in a movie like this and infinitely more. Jobs is portrayed like never before: an extraordinary human being with extraordinary flaws. The man responsible for paying homage to Jobs is Michael Fassbender, and Fassbender delivers a remarkable performance for the ages. He is truly phenomenal, effortlessly combining dry humor with the expertise one might expect from Jobs himself. Aaron Sorkin's screenplay is the stuff legends are made of, but it's not something everyone can grasp and then perform at a high level. Fassbender is on every page of Sorkin's 180 plus script, and his on screen presence and ferocity leads to a classical performance the real life Apple icon deserves. The supporting cast, especially Kate Winslet, Seth Rogen, and Jeff Daniels, have never been better, going toe to toe with Fassbender and never backing down. This is a film that demands your attention for the entirety of its runtime, and if you can make it to the end, you'll discover this movie is just like its inspiration: legendary.

4. Spotlight

I have never been more floored by a movie's message and story than I was with Spotlight. Recounting the investigating that went into the award-winning Boston Globe article uncovering the brutal truth about sexual abuse in the Catholic Church in recent decades, director Tom McCarthy has crafted a uniquely powerful and heartbreaking film. Every audience member will leave the theater fully knowing they just watched a powerhouse cinematic experience, but simultaneously, many will leave infuriated at the fact these events actually took place and nobody did anything to stop them. Sticking to the film's merits strictly from a cinematic experience, if you look up the term "cast ensemble" in the dictionary, a picture of Spotlight's spotless cast will appear featuring Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, John Slattery, Brian d'Arcy James, and Stanley Tucci. Neither actor upstages the others as they all work seamlessly together, realizing that story trumps all in the case of this film. Everything about this film is simply flawless. Sure to go down as one of the great films of this generation, I believe Spotlight will quickly become a must see for movie lovers from all walks of life.

3. The Revenant

What is there really to be say about The Revenant that hasn't already been said by scores of moviegoers across the country? This is a film that will have books written about it in the coming years. Following the stellar Oscar-winning Birdman, director Alejandro G. Inarritu has crafted a modern day marvel filled with spectacular themes and stunning cinematography. In a career full of classic performances, Leonardo DiCaprio turns in what may just be his greatest performance of his illustrious years on the silver screen. Doing so much with so little, Leo shines like never before by using mainly his eyes and body language to portray emotion and pierce through the soul. You can understand what Hugh Glass is going through just through one stare from Leo. It's a performance for the ages and a performance that will go down in history as one of the greatest from one of the greatest. Supporting Leo, Tom Hardy has never been more villainous and yet completely within the boundaries of human nature. Hardy's character must decide between survival of the fittest or the survival of their comrade, one of the many hard-hitting themes The Revenant poses to its audience. Extremely bold and devilishly daring, The Revenant is one of those rare films that both exhilarates, devastates, and somehow inspires all at the same time.

2. Inside Out

The art of animation has always held a special place in my heart. What these incredible artists are able to create literally from scratch is astonishing to me, and the kings of animation are all employed by Pixar Animation Studios, who in 2015 crafted one of the greatest animated films of all-time in Inside Out. With a beyond brilliant story beaming with originality and wit, Pixar continues to entertain and challenge audiences with their signature charm and emotion. With Inside Out, Pixar not only cracks us up as they always do (I still have that wonderful Triple Dent Gum song in my head to this day), but as is the Pixar way, they also turn us into puddles of our own tears by the movie's end. Director Pete Docter has given the world a supremely exuberant film while also being extraordinarily necessary in society today. The idea that sadness is to be embraced just as much as joy in our everyday lives is a message that takes guts to bring to the screen in a movie geared first and foremost for children and their families, but I wholeheartedly applaud Pixar for going out once again on the proverbial limb and creating a film that defines what it means to truly live. The voice talent in Inside Out is some of the best you will ever see in animation. All five main emotions are perfectly cast, highlighted by the dynamic duo of Amy Poehler as Joy and Phyllis Smith as Sadness. Pixar raises the bar every time they make a movie, and with Inside Out, the bar has reached a level where only Pixar can compete with itself.

1. Star Wars: The Force Awakens

I will unashamedly admit that this pick for my number one film of 2015 has absolutely no objectivity involved in it whatsoever because my heart will forever belong to that galaxy far, far away. JJ Abrams and company gave us a movie that Star Wars fans like me around the world never truly deserved but are ever so grateful for its existence. One of the countless great things about The Force Awakens is that leaving the theater after every show, the conversations I had and heard were not about lightsaber duels or X-Wing flights (although those are incredible); instead, we were all amazed at the awesomeness that was this new cast of characters. It was surreal and beyond incredible to see Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Chewbacca, C3PO, and R2-D2 back on the big screen, but the new kids on the block stole the show from beginning to end. Adam Driver and Oscar Isaac are gifts from above and the Star Wars universe is so fortunate to have them. I would be remiss not to mention everyone's new favorite droid, BB-8, a scene stealer through and through. John Boyega is a gem that provides the perfect amount of comedy with rock solid action. His character arc is something never before seen in this franchise, and I am extremely anxious to see where the next episodes take him. Finally, the genuine superstar of the show is Daisy Ridley. Her character, Rey, is an instant movie icon, and that is all because of Ridley. With just this one film, this has become Ridley's world and we're all just living in it. Abrams directed the fool out of this one, having so much fun doing in it as evidenced by the classic tone and nerd-worthy references. To bring a franchise like Star Wars to unprecedented heights never before seen in Hollywood is truly something special. There will never be another film quite like The Force Awakens.

Honorable Mentions:

• Beasts of No Nation: Netflix's first original movie will rock you to the core. Newcomer Abraham Attah is a star in the making and Idris Elba commands every scene like never before.
• Sicario: Director Denis Villeneuve crafts one of the tensest thrillers of the modern era with two powerhouse performances from Emily Blunt and Benicio Del Toro.
• Concussion: As a football fanatic, I needed to see this film. Will Smith's performance is one of his best.
• Black Mass: This one will stick with you for quite some time. Johnny Depp has never been better.
• Avengers: Age of Ultron: You know my love for all things Marvel. Joss Whedon's sequel is superb.

Good luck topping that, 2016!

-Cody Fleenor

We All Dream in Gold: My Personal Oscar Ballot

As I write this post, the date is January 13, 2016, also known as Oscar Nomination Announcement Eve in the movie world. In yet another year full of phenomenal films with excellent performances in countless soon-to-be classics, the biggest accolade anyone in this year's race can ever put on their resume is "Oscar-nominated" or, better yet, "Oscar winning." Film critics and pundits have spent the past few months giving out their own awards, and on the morning of January 14, 2016, the granddaddy of them all will recognize the most deserving films from 2015.

Today, I want to assume the role of an Oscar voter. Obviously, I am not one nor will I probably ever be one, but for the purposes of this post, I want to reveal what my ballot would look like for some of the major categories if I had a say in this year's Oscar race. I'm not going to give out every single award, but I am going voice my opinion on what I think was some of the best of the best from 2015. Keep in mind, this is my personal ballot, so you may (you probably will) disagree with some of my selections, but that's the beauty of the Oscars: everyone has an opinion, and everyone's opinion matters. This is not what I think the Oscars will look like; this is what I want the Oscars to look like.

Now, the strange thing about my ballot is that I will not be revealing my votes for Best Picture. The reason being is that on a later date, I will posting an entirely new post about my top ten films of 2015. Therefore, if I reveal my top ten on this post, you have no reason to come back and read that one, and I want you to read that one too. So for this post, we'll stick to the main awards except for the biggest prize of them all.

So without further ado, let the voting begin!

Best Supporting Actress

Alicia Vikander, Ex Machina
Rebecca Ferguson, Mission: Impossible- Rogue Nation
Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs
Rachel McAdams, Spotlight
Lea Seydoux, Spectre

Honorable Mentions: Tessa Thompson, Creed; Julie Walters, Brooklyn; Cate Blanchett, Cinderella; Elizabeth Banks, Love & Mercy; Elizabeth Olsen, Avengers: Age of Ultron

WINNER: Alicia Vikander
RUNNER-UP: Kate Winslet

One of the first great films of 2015 was Ex Machina, and it all worked because of the outstanding performance of the breakout star of the year, Alicia Vikander. Primarily using only her voice and facial expressions, Vikander's nuanced performance is one for the ages in the science fiction genre. As for the other nominees, Ferguson did the unthinkable and stole a Mission: Impossible movie away from Tom Cruise. She's the highlight of one of the most entertaining films of the year. Winslet goes toe to toe with Michael Fassbender and Aaron Sorkin's dialogue and shines like never before. McAdams completes the full ensemble of Spotlight and boasts some of the best moments of a nearly flawless film. Finally, Seydoux is the best thing about the newest James Bond installment, and coming from me, that's saying something considering I loved everything about Spectre.

Best Supporting Actor

Sylvester Stallone, Creed
Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies
Idris Elba, Beasts of No Nation
Michael Keaton, Spotlight
Benicio Del Toro, Sicario

Honorable Mentions: Harrison Ford, Star Wars: The Force Awakens; Mark Ruffalo, Spotlight; Jacob Tremblay, Room; Tom Hardy, The Revenant, Oscar Isaac, Ex Machina

WINNER: Sylvester Stallone
RUNNER-UP: Idris Elba

Stallone triumphantly returned to the most iconic role of his career and turned in one of the best performances in modern history. Every line holds so much importance to Stallone and the furtherance of the story, and the interactions with Michael B. Jordan's Adonis Creed are worth the price of admission alone. Additionally, Elba rolled the dice of Beasts as Netflix's first original film, but luckily for the world, Elba's tremendous talent is evident even on the online streaming service. He's haunting and captivating at the same time. Mark Rylance does so much with so little screen time, a testament to his on screen presence and the nuances of the performance. Keaton leads the way in Spotlight and gives one of the best performances of his career. Del Toro is terrifying yet empathetic. His eyes can pierce through a soul while also instilling hope in us all, a truly remarkable balance.

Best Actress

Brie Larson, Room
Daisy Ridley, Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn
Jennifer Lawrence, Joy
Emily Blunt, Sicario

Honorable Mentions: Lily James, Cinderella; Cate Blanchett, Truth; Jennifer Lawrence, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2; Alicia Vikander, Testament of Youth; Charlize Theron, Mad Max: Fury Road

WINNER: Daisy Ridley
RUNNER-UP: Brie Larson

To be the best part by far of the latest installment in biggest franchise in the world is no small feat, but Ridley's Rey is an instant movie icon, and Ridley brings her to life so simply and yet so powerfully. The reason I have now seen the movie three times is due in large part to Ridley. I almost gave this award to Larson, whose performance in Room is one for the ages. Never has a movie been more hopeful in the midst of certain adversity. I was not dying to see Brooklyn by any stretch, but I would gladly see it again because of Ronan's terrific performance. Lawrence is the queen of Hollywood, and she proves that yet again in Joy. Finally, Emily Blunt's deeply layered performance in Sicario may just be the best of her already illustrious career,

Best Actor

Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant
Johnny Depp, Black Mass
Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs
Matt Damon, The Martian
Will Smith, Concussion

Honorable Mentions: Jake Gyllenhaal, Southpaw; Steve Carell, The Big Short; John Boyega, Star Wars: The Force Awakens; Tom Hanks, Bridge of Spies; Abraham Attah, Beasts of No Nation

WINNER: Leonardo DiCaprio
RUNNER-UP: Michael Fassbender

How can anyone deny the magnificence of Leo's performance in The Revenant? To do so much with so little dialogue is something Leo accomplishes as if it were no problem whatsoever. This film is one that'll have books being written about it in the future, and the majority of those writings will be talking about Leo's greatness. Fassbender portrays the legendary innovator with such ferocity and grace, commanding every single scene and demanding the audience's attention for the entire length of the film. Depp turns in one of the best performances in his filmography in Black Mass by bringing raw emotion to every line. I had to remind myself constantly that Matt Damon was in fact acting because his role in The Martian is so effortless to him because of his natural charisma and ability, and Will Smith's bold risk on this hugely important film pays off greatly as his performance is the best he's given the world in a decade or so.

Best Director

Tom McCarthy, Spotlight
Alejandro G. Inarritu, The Revenant
Ryan Coogler, Creed
Adam McKay, The Big Short
JJ Abrams, Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Honorable Mentions: Ridley Scott, The Martian; Cary Joji Fukunaga, Beasts of No Nation; Steven Spielberg, Bridge of Spies; Danny Boyle, Steve Jobs; Pete Docter and Ronnie Del Carmen, Inside Out

WINNER: JJ Abrams
RUNNER-UP: Ryan Coogler

The selection is based solely on the fact that Abrams did what many considered to be the impossible: resurrect Star Wars from the dead. However, not only did Abrams do that by giving us an exhilarating and extraordinary film, but he did it with so much joy and admiration that it's hard not to applaud his work. He had a monumental job on his hands, and he pulled it off so gracefully. Coogler, on a smaller scale, had the same problem on his hands as Abrams in regard to the Rocky franchise. No one was really clamoring for another Rocky movie, but when audiences began seeing Creed, they instantly knew why this film needed to be made, not only because of the excellent story but because the world needed to be formally introduced to the talents of Ryan Coogler. McCarthy brings an extremely tough subject matter to life in tremendous fashion and perfectly directs a flawless cast ensemble to career best performances all around. Every choice Inarritu makes is sublime and is instantly up for study and teaching. Plus, directing Leo to a career best performance deserves praise in and of itself. Finally, who knew the guy behind Anchorman and Step Brothers could make a movie about the collapse of the housing market so exciting and worth seeing? McKay's work is so bold and daring, and the biggest miracle of them all is that it made me truly care about mortgages and loans.

There you have it folks! If I were an Oscar voter, that's what my ballot would look like for some of the major categories. Now, I'll wait to see if the Academy agrees with me! Stay tuned for the reveal of my top ten films of 2015 coming soon!

-Cody Fleenor