Another year has come to an end and that means it’s time for everyone to have their own top ten movies of 2018 list. And I can’t be left out! So here it is… Leland’s TOP TEN MOVIES of 2018! These were the movies that moved me or gave me the feeling of “wow” when I left the theater.
Ocean 8
You might be wondering… wtf! Yup. Oceans 8. Look, not as good as the original Oceans films by any stretch of the imagination, but it has all the heart and a stellar cast: It’s fun, hilarious and a pure joy to watch some of the best actresses in Hollywood, all in one movie kicking ass. It has its issues, but at the end of the day I didn’t care. Was a great flick with amazing sets, costumes and fun character moments that carry the movie over the lack of plot.
Tag
Based on a real story of a group of friends that gather every year to play tag, this is a comedic look at the contest: just funny from start to finish. Clearly a good time was being had on set. Just watching these actors you know how much fun they were having. And that feeling transfers to the audience while watching. The movie is laugh out loud funny with its over the top situations.
Ant-Man and the Wasp
One of the most enjoyable movies of 2018: a fun comic book romp. Has some massive villain issues that kind of bog down the plot here and there, but none of that mattered the moment Evangeline Lilly as the Wasp was allowed to be the hero we knew she could be. Her solo fight scene in the hotel lobby is amazing. The cast is great and the addition of Michelle Pfeiffer is wonderful. Every movie is just better with her in it. This was a great comic book movie: so funny and full of heart. And that ending! DAMN!
Incredibles 2
18 years in the waiting for what was a just another great Pixar movie featuring the great Incredible Family. Picking up right where the last one left off and jumping head first into the pool was great: an overall great family movie with wonderful humor. I could watch the Jack Jack raccoon fight over and over again. Was totally worth the wait.
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
The whole Internet and world seemed to not like this movie. Frankly I don’t get it. This movie was fantastic. I got to spend more time in a world I love with characters that I think of as good friends. This franchise just got dark AF and I loved all of it. Yes, there are some minor issues with characters and time lines, but when your franchise goes this long and starts doing prequels, issues will happen. With the addition of Johnny Depp, who kills it in his role of Grindelwald and Jude Law as Dumbledore.
Mission Impossible: Fallout
Every time a new one of these come out I think, well it can’t be as good as the last one. But this one does it better. This was just awesome all around. This franchise just keeps better and better: from the cast, the action, the sets and location. These movies are just great and this was just another stellar entry into the Impossible series.
Avengers: Infinity War
Could be one of the best comic books movies ever. Giving the fans what they have been waiting for: 20 something heroes fighting against one massive bad guy. It’s pure comic book cheese in the best way possible. It’s the cast you know and love doing what you’ve come to expect at this point. A movie worth waiting 10 years for.
Love, Simon
One of the best little movies of the year: first studio teenage comedy with a gay lead for main stream audiences. Just wonderful. It’s full of great acting from the cast, wonderful humor and full of all the feels. This is an important movie and I hope that people will remember it for just that. Hope it sparks a trend of other LGTBQ themed main stream movies.
Halloween
Who knew that 40 years later we’d still be watching Laurie Strode fight the masked serial killer Michael Myers. Ignoring the H20 entry from 20 years ago, this is alternative take on Halloween story. The movie is completely unneeded as far as the franchise is concerned, but massively enjoyable and awesome. From the acting, the kills and even the soundtrack this had all the Halloween nostalgia one could want.
Bad Times at the El Royale
A little movie that not many people saw: that in itself is a travesty. As if Tarantino and Joss Whedon had a baby. This movie has a look and style all its own: fantastic performances, plot, story, music and a look that brings tears to one’s eye. This was one of the best movies of 2018. This is worth your time. Seeing Hemsworth break out of his normal pretty boy Thor shtick and become the creepiest cult leader ever is noteworthy for the movie. This just blew my mind. It really is that good, no matter what someone might tell you. They’re wrong. They just didn’t get it.
Honorable mentions:
Black Panther
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Isle of Dogs
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Bumblebee