There is much that can happen in a year. Good memories, bad memories, times of prosperity and times of difficulty. The same can be said for the film industry at its whole, as movies are cranked out left and right throughout the year. Next, to reviewing films and analyzing the philosophy and storytelling, one of my favorite pieces to write is the top 10 list! These lists happen only once a year and every year, it is an absolute joy to write. A few quick full-disclaimer of this piece: 1) This does not represent Temple of Geek as a whole, this only represents my personal opinion. 2) I have not seen every film this year, so if a film did not make the list, you probably know why. With that out of the way, let us take a stroll down memory lane of 2018!
10. Ready Player One
Kicking off the list is this sci-fi adaptation adventure of every nostalgic gamer’s dream. I read the book this past year and absolutely enjoyed it. Was it the best novel I have read? Not even close, but being a gamer, and being a fan of dystopias, technology, and yes, even nostalgia to a degree, it was enjoyable. Philosophically, it spoke heavily on how far we are moving along technology wise, yet how far we are drifting from having personal, authentic relationships with people face-to-face. This is definitely an 80’s, 90’s and 2000’s kid’s dream film in the area of nostalgia, gaming, classics, and more and it’s heavily enjoyable with countless references, awesome action, and overall fun. Though the book was better than the film, the film itself did its best to make the necessary changes for its adaptation and went full out in entertainment. I honestly don’t believe any other director other then Steven Spielberg could have pulled a movie like this off.
9. Aquaman
With the negative track record that DC Extended Universe has had other than Wonder Woman (2018), the idea of Aquaman succeeding my expectations let alone cracking my top 10 list was nowhere near in sight. Boy, was I wrong. While the film is definitely a lot to take in given its screen time (2 hours, 22 minutes), it pays off significantly not just in the action sequences or the story of Aquaman, but the mythology and legends of Atlantis and the gods. I was so thrilled to see the writers and creators take advantage of such rich history and mythology and have it pay off the way it did. Along with that, the cinematography was spot on, the characters were relatable and likable, and it honestly did not come off as a superhero film, traditionally. Instead, it came off more like an adventure, and when you have a complete separate land underwater that is surrounded by the legend of the lost Trident, that better be an adventure story. The fact that I found this even more enjoyable than Black Panther this year is absolutely surprising. With how DC is doing in these solo superhero films, I think they may stick the landing in the end if they continue with this success!
8. Creed II
I personally haven’t been on the edge of my seat during a fight a movie since Warrior in 2011, until now. Creed II brought the heart of Rocky III, the suspense of Rocky IV, and added a fantastic twist to it toward the end in terms of reconciliation and fatherhood. The idea of the sons of legendary fighters facing off is not a new one, but one that never gets old Michael B. Jordan continues to amaze me in his outstanding performances as an actor as if being in Black Panther this past year was not good enough. Silvester Stalone also continued to impress, showing that he can still do more than over the top action films and bring heart to the audience. I truly hope that they stop here with the Creed films because that was a fantastic ending. Don’t milk it too much like the Rocky franchise!
7. Eighth Grade
I am a huge fan of Bo Burnham’s comedy and songs he has created over the years, so when I heard that he wrote and directed a movie through A24 Studios, I couldn’t resist. This greatly exceeded my expectations as simply focuses on the ups and downs of the middle school life, aka, the embarrassing part of life that everyone wants to forget. It brings heart, it brings anxiety, and it brings truth to coming of age story for young people. Normally, movies, where the junior high character has the spotlight, is a silly comedy meant for the family and it is hardly ever taken seriously. Eighth Grade goes completely against the expectations and is full of depth and character development. Philosophically, it begs the question for young kids, “are we significant?” Considering that grad schools and high schools and even colleges are full of popular crowds, and the best of the best. And as with a good coming of age film, it shows that not only being yourself is significant, but accepting yourself for you are is.
6. They Shall Not Grow Old
Never before has a documentary made my top 10 list until now. Being a major history buff of the First and Second World War, this film caught my interest highly to where I even wrote a review about it a week prior. Director Peter Jackson did a fantastic job reminding audiences just how relevant the first world war really is in terms of the horrors of war, the selfishness and seeking glory in battle, and much more. It was more than the color setting of 100-year-old footage, but the 14-18 archives, the recordings, the lip reading, and so much! It is rare for an average person to attend a documentary screening in theaters due to the idea of being entertained, and Peter Jackson went above and beyond to make this more than your average documentary. While it is entertaining, it does no
5. Avengers: Infinity War
One of the things running through my mind when watching Infinity War was the fact that it felt like a graphic novel. It cuts at parts necessary to focus on other characters, it showed just how different the Guardians and Avengers in terms of teaming up and even brought into question about population control and resources drying up. Of course, I do not agree with Thanos strategy, but he does have a solid point in how the earth is on its last legs and that something must be done. He definitely is going in my book as one of the best MCU villains let alone one of the best comic book villains on the big screen. The long wait that fans had to endure was finally paid off as all our heroes faced their match in the epic battles of this film. One can only imagine what is to come for Avengers: Endgame let alone Captain Marvel’s tie later on this year.
4. The Death of Stalin
As if being a 20th Century history buff wasn’t enough – let alone having a slight obsession for Soviet Russian history – a comedic take on one of the darkest moments in Russia’s political history was absolutely enjoyable and a hysterical time. Aside from the fact that the accuracy, for the most part, was on par, the dark comedy direction taken took the film even further. It was funny, engaging, dark, and in some ways, nihilistic…my kind of movie! In a number of true story adaptations this past year, they have been filmed through the comedic genre and to be honest, it has been for the better in terms of engagement and critical thinking. Also, you get a real kick on seeing one of history’s most notorious dictators go down like a total punk.
3. BlacKkKlansman
Speaking of a comedic take on history, BlacKkKlansman was a huge success as a whole in storytelling, dialogue, and character development. The trailer had me sold, knowing a comedic take on history would be engaging. The idea of a black man impersonating a white nationalist is something that was unheard of me, let alone the fact that it was a true story. One of the great things about comedy – whether in film or stand-up – is that they go beyond entertaining. Because the audience is already engaged enough into the film to laugh, that when a significant moment happens, their focus remains intact as they take in the seriousness of the situation. Brilliant writing, directing, and acting throughout. And to push it even further, how they tie into modern day politics was significantly well done as it reminds audiences that there is still work to be done in our country.
2. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
I’ll be honest in saying that I was not sold by the trailer when it first debut. Knowing Sony’s history on how they’ve handled Spider-Man adaptations and the cash grab that was Venom this past year, I was not excited nor sold. After hearing comic book friends and colleagues rave about it, I decided to watch it. And boy, were my expectations completely blown out of the water. First off, the animation was completely groundbreaking as it heavily resembled comic book art and literature while also being entertaining throughout. I greatly appreciated how the creators went full-out in being a fun, dramatic, and entertaining film while also remaining faithful to the comic book source material – i.e. the multiverse theory, the doppelgangers, classic Spider-Man Sinister Six villains, and even the wittiness. In the past year, Marvel movies and wittiness, jokes, and quipping were difficult in how it was handled and written. Into the Spider-Verse flowed more naturally and was placed in scenes and dialogue where it flowed best. I am heavily excited for the sequel and definitely will be watching this again and again and again.
1. Upgrade
What is absolutely great about third-party studios creating films compared to big budget companies is that they take major risks in storytelling. I was not sure what to expect out of Upgrade outside of the classic revenge story. Think of the setting and mood of Dredd (2012) and the story, action, and cinematography of John Wick (2014), you get Upgrade. The setting completely set the mood of the film – dark, edgy, futuristic, and violent. Before the action even settles in, the audiences gain a large amount of sympathy in the first act with Logan, seeing not just what he lost, but how lost he became because of it. The film embraces the classic revenge story while putting its own spin on it throughout with twists and turns, and the edge of your seat moments. One moment, the audience will think they know where the story is going, and the next thing you know, it takes a complete 180. As mentioned previously, the studio and creators take big risks with this revenge story to a point where I honestly cannot see big budget studios doing the same. They more than likely would play it safe for the sake of the audience and profit. This is not the case. Just goes to show that quality, in the end, is better than quantity when it comes to authentic storytelling.
And that is the list for the top 10 films of the year! A very interesting year indeed, from blockbusters to independents. What was on your list this year? Let us know!
