A Year End Review 2014

The year of 2014 brought a lot of changes to TheLifeStyleElite.com, with our verification of our Facebook page, our continuing media partnerships with Aston Martin, Omega, and now both Jaeger Le-Coultre and Rolex. This year we began including a new film review, console game reviews, and exclusive features on our website as well. All things considered, it has been a year that has seen many changes, and improvements to our website. We have featured/reviewed several books, films, gadgets, fashion, and everything you would expect from our elite lifestyle website these past 12 months. We have compiled a list of a few of the interesting things we have featured throughout 2014 and ranked them from best to worst.

There have been a lot of things we featured on our website this year, but we found these to be the best. We put them into selections.

As stated in 2014 we introduced a few new features to the website one of which was our “Exclusive Features”, and they have become quite popular. Though none have been as popular as our “The 50 Greatest Love Songs Of All Time”, and our “The Ten Rules Ever Gentleman Must Follow.”  These two features made our list not only of the overwhelming response they have received but the realization we have a growing female readership.  The overwhelming response to these two features was via e-mail in the form of a single question asked time and time again. This unanswered question has started an urban legend of sorts,and the question in question you may ask? Well to those who have not asked  the said question may be curious to know what it is,and how the urban legend started.  Starting the day ”The 50 Greatest Love Songs Of All Time“ premiered we began receiving e-mails asking “Is there a woman these 50 loves songs are about?” , “Who is the woman ”The 50 Greatest Love Songs Of All Time“ is about?”,or even “The Ten Rules Ever Gentleman Must Follow“ has received similar questions.  This in turn has created the urban legend promoting a search of various of our “Exclusive Features” for more clues of who the said woman is.  To answer the questions we have received throughout the year our official response is: ” We can not either confirm nor deny that these features are about a woman.“

Another moment that made our year was early in the year in reference to our ”The Ten Most Stylish Musicians of All Time“ feature. Which we received the acknowledgment of the Sam Cooke Estate of this feature.

As there were several films released this year we are only selecting the films we reviewed in the calendar year of 2014 that we deemed worthy. and though not everyone is good, we found these to be the “Best of 2014”.

#1. Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Captain America: The Winter Soldier was our all around favorite films we reviewed for many reasons. Unlike other superhero films it felt more like a spy film that just so happened to have super hero in the film opposed to the other way around, and we feel this is Marvel’s answer to DC’s Oscar winning Dark Knight. With Steve Rogers dealing with real world issues this is a much maturer hero than the previous films have shown. Steve Roger’s big brother and little sister relationship with Natasha Romanoff  (which herself became one the subjects of a feature this year “Alpha Females And Why Men Love Them”) was a very interesting take on the characters, allowing witty banter,and a little hint of sibling rivalry. All of which adds to the super spy thriller that includes a more realistic villain, government cover ups,and a realistic secret organization that unlike the first look at Hydra is almost believable that it could exist. Read our full review of the film [Click Here]

#2. 300: Rise of An Empire

The sequel some what of a prequel ,300: Rise of An Empire, did the impossible by making a film equally as good as the first,and in many ways quite possibly better than the original. The break out performance of the film is the beautiful French actor,Eva Green, as Artemisia. A ruthless naval warrior commander who’s drive to see Greece burn changes the course of history. Unlike the film’s predecessor this film’s villain would have given even the great King Leonidas a run for his money. Her fighting skills are unmatched by anyone in the Persian army,she see the God King Xerxes as a child,and in many ways beneath her. She was the brains behind the operation so to speak,and true joy to see on the big screen.

#3. Edge of Tomorrow

The second year in a row summer blockbuster for Tom Cruise, Edge of Tomorrow, is a near-future sci-fi with aliens and action on a global scale. Based on a graphic novel entitled “ All You Need is Kill”

#4. John Wick

John Wick was by all intents and purposes a standard “shoot ‘em up” style film, and yet upon the advanced screening of the film we were privy to a Q&A with: the screenplay writer, director, producers, and the star Keanu Revees. During this Q&A the screenplay writer expressed there was a much different story than what we had seen. Needless to say, they made the right decision by making the script changes.

#5. Guardians of The Galaxy

#6. Interstellar

This year we have found a mixture of television shows that were both anticipated, new to our readers, and surprisingly good.

#1. House of Cards

House of Cards the Netflix original remake of the BBC of the same name returned on Valentine’s Day ,and like the previous season…it did not disappoint. The loveable villain in the first episode murders one of the main characters Zoe,and sets the stage for an even crazy season. In the first season he was denied the chair for Secretary of State, and he has never really forgiven the president for this. So much so in fact that he manipulates him into giving up his presidency,and ends with Underwood as the new Commander and Chief. The writers,and cast always keep the show fresh and ever unexpected.

#2 Sherlock

Sherlock was by far one of the most anticipated shows of the year; taking a two year hiatus from the air the return was met with quite the fan fair. Although a few of our US readers had to wait a little longer to watch it than our European readers, we were able to see it when it premier the same time on BBC One,and it did not disappoint. Unlike American television, BBC television shows have less episodes in their series( what would be called a season in the U.S.) to work with. This means they have to fill an extensive amount of information in a much shorter time frame. With a normal series being a minimum of  four episodes,and a maximum of six. The series ends with Sherlock murdering the villain of the third series ,and the return of the favorite villain, Moriarty.

#3. Peaky Blinders

The second British drama to make our list is the over looked “Peaky Blinders”

#4. House Of Lies

After an explosive season two

#5. Sons of Anarchy

Sons of Anarchy’s finale season ended with a bang,and answered the question that seemed to be less important at the end of the previous seasons. Unlike most series ending finales Sons of Anarchy ended with the deaths of everyone you expected,and some you never expected. The questioned that plagued the main protagonist Jax was the death of his father,and in the final episode we see that his father oped to take his own life to both save his club from retaliation,and to end what could be in fighting among the club. All of this was accomplishes the same way his father did,and in true poetic fashion he uses the same motorcycle to do so in high speed chase with a trail of police chasing him he veers into a 18 wheeler truck to end it all.

#6. Lilyhammer

Netflix’ original original series returned this year with season 3, and this time around Lilyhammer returned with a more mature storyline. If the first two seasons were considered juvenile the third season truly is an adult version of these seasons. This season we find the cast in various locations,with a cast of new characters that make the show even more interesting,and the references to both Godfather and Goodfellas made this season better than the other two.

As with the best there is the worst-after all without the worst how would you know what is the best?

This year like last year we reviewed films we did not like………..And this year one has become so notorious that it has coined a phrase.

#1. Lucy.

Fresh off the success of  Captain America: The Winter Soldier ,Universal Pictures showcased Scarlett Johansson in the films trailer as an action hero similar to the her character “Black Widow” in her role for the Marvel franchise. Unfortunately Lucy about 45 minutes into the film we like everyone who saw the film began to notice that we had become victim to the old bait and switch routine by Universal Pictures. The film not only was nothing like the multiple trailers we saw leading up to the film, but the film itself lacked direction at all which gave the film an uneasy feeling. This coupled with three great actors not being used to their full potential,and the lack of real science backing the story lead us here at TheLifeStyleElite.com to coin the phrase “LUCY’d”.  This has became the phrase that is used to reference a film that misleads the audience,and the end result is a “movie” (a juvenile attempt at making a film) that is all but unwatchable. As was the case for this “movie” it will not only never stand the test of time,but will undoubted always be a reference to what we call something you should avoid. “LUCY’d”

#2. Sin City : A Dame To Kill For

Nine years after the first film Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez release a sequel (of well sorts) to the 2005 hit Sin City. Much was to be expected from this follow up, but with the nine year wait most were skeptical about the films appeal after the wait. The exit of Quentin Tarantino is very apparent in the plot, as it seems only he can truly do the out of order story lines edits that he became famous for. The stylist film noir of the first film is intact,but lacks any improvements to the visual effects. Perhaps nine years ago they were amazing,but with all the advancements in film today we were expecting more. The only enjoyable part of the thin story line was Eva Green,and Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s performances. Eva Green much like her performance in earlier this year’s 300 : Rise Of An Empire , the her seductive eyes lure men in to her web,and has them eating our of her hand throughout every scene she is in. Coupled with multiple sexy nude scenes gives her character “Ava Lord” an irresistible figure in Basin City. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is equally amazing, the stylish actor pulls no punches in his performance as “Johnny”, the card shark the comes into town like an outlaw from a western film. We wheels and deals with the heavy hitters through out the town gambling with an uncanny ability to win at all cost. Even when he loses he wins, but what is it that drives him the reveal is worth the story line.  Read our full review here. [Click Here]

#3. Get on Up

Get on Up the first official bio pic about one the most influential musicians of all time,James Brown, was produced by Mick Jagger and the James Brown Estate. With a wealth of history to draw from the film makers truly miss the mark, with miss placed lips singing ques,and terrible wigs. Though Chadwick’s performance is notable,the random order mixed with the random breaking of the fourth wall only to randomly ignore the audience makes this in our opinion a film not worth seeing. One thing we noticed was a lack of acknowledgment of both his influences (such as Sam Cooke),or The Beatles made this film even more lack luster. Read our full review of the film. [Click Here]

This year there were many television shows that ended,and a few we felt should have ended along time ago. Here are our selections for the worst television has to offer in 2014.

#1. Boardwalk Empire

For years Boardwalk Empire, has been one of the few American television shows we have enjoyed for both the clothing style,and visual style of this period piece. Unfortunately the final season did not live up the series short legacy. The introduction of new characters that are seemingly important to the plot, but only to be killed shortly after leaving more questions as to why they were even bothered to introduce them in the first place.  The last few episodes in the season killed off several main characters including Nelson Van Alden, Chalky White,and Nucky’ Thompson (though history says the later two lived much longer). The final season lacked the excited its predecessors offered audiences,and failed to deliver the both stylish clothing,and visuals we had grown to expect from the series.

#2. Hell On Wheels

Hell On Wheels has for some time been one of our favorite American television shows,but as of  late (much like Boardwalk Empire) has made strange changes to its cast by killing off one the main characters. In the first season they killed off Lily Bell in second season a character that spent the first and second season establishing her importance to series as well as her over all dominating presence as the most powerful woman in the west. The show was able to push forward as this was a reason to turn the “Sweed” into the ultimate villain and force the evil for Cullen Bohannan. It is their last change to the cast that has made a once beloved series apart of our worst of 2014 list.  After an almost entire season without the character Elam Ferguson (who spend four season as the sometimes best friend of Bohannan),only to appear scared and crazy. In the same episode he is later killed by Bohannan signaling and end of an era. This is the unfortunate turning point for the show, and unlike Boardwalk Empire’s low point series ending, we feel this will only make the show unwatchable. All and all 2014 was a both eventful and the start of a new direction of our website. With both our first ever console game giveaway,and our 3D ticket giveaway with partners Fandango. As we stand on the edge of 2015 we look toward to the future,and promise big things in the new year.