Films watched for the first time and reviewed in 2018
Note: Since Trophy Unlocked has to pay for most of the movies we see in the theaters and for most of the films we watch at home, we don’t have the scope of a newspaper reviewer. We don’t see everything that’s out, so our ratings of films are based on what we decide to spend our money on.
The Highlights, in no particular order:
Guillermo del Toro's take on the Creature from the Black Lagoon gives it a definite Cold War twist. Imaginative to say the least. A tour de force for actress Sally Hawkins who goes above and beyond in her depiction of Elisa Esposito, the mute cleaning woman who befriends the beast. Michael Shannon's performance as Col. Richard Strickland is also very good as well. A horror film with a heart, this film won Best Picture honors at the 2018 Academy Awards.
For a film that was the 19th in a series that has been going on for ten years, there was a lot riding on Avengers: Infinity War. Over that time, seeing Marvel films was a lot like school, I began to feel like I had to see the films rather than wanted to see them. However, Infinity War is a good partial payoff for all the time invested. The story is not concluded, but this was a very entertaining film.
Deadpool 2 may have its flaws but our favorite merc is back and Cable has come with him. I believe I saw this film at least three times this year in its various versions, including twice in the theater with the original and Once Upon A Deadpool versions. Ryan Reynolds is the driving force behind this and deserves much of the credit for making a successful R-rated Superhero franchise. The PG-13 version released at the holidays uses the same wraparound story that The Princess Bride used, complete with Fred Savage reprising his role.
Bradley Cooper makes his directorial debut with yet another A Star is Born remake. Lady Gaga plays the protege who surpasses her mentor becoming the bigger success as he drifts into alcoholism. The end result is a very strong film that will definitely be remembered during Awards season. Looking forward to seeing what Cooper does when he takes a path less trodden and directs something original.
After five live-action films, the Transformers series moved from Michael Bay to director Travis Knight, perhaps best-known for the stop-motion films made at Laika Studios. While the film relies less on special effects than previous films, there is also a better human character at the center of the story, Charlie, played by Hailee Steinfeld. I would strongly recommend them to keep making movies with her in the lead and Knight behind the camera. This is the best of the Transformers live-action films. One hopes that the franchise hasn't found its footing too late.
The disappointments, in no particular order:
For a film that was nominated for Best Screenplay, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017) was a second act looking for a third. More of a character study than a complete film. The film has what I consider to be a lousy ending, leaving unresolved what I would assume was the point the film was setting up.
I am normally a big fan of Nick Park's work, but this seems to be one of the weaker of Aardman Animation's films. Entertaining, the plot was very predictable. You expect more from them than the usual underdog sports film. Good, but it could have been a lot better.
Remember when Star Wars films were few and far between? In their rush to capitalize on the franchise, Disney has been making one-offs in addition to the main series. Sometimes these are very good, like Rogue One. Other times they are rather ill-conceived like Solo: A Star Wars Story. This film seems like a money grab from the get-go but fails to deliver the goods. While I'm a fan of Alden Ehrenreich's, I would say he was miscast as Han Solo and the altered origin story doesn't necessarily jibe with what is already out in the Star Wars universe.
After the success of
Wreck-It Ralph, it seemed unlikely that there wouldn't be a sequel. Too bad that it turns something somewhat original into an internet version of The Emoji Movie. Not only did they miss out on the obvious sequel title Ralph Wrecks the Internet, but they turned it into something desperately close to a commercial about Disney.com.
There is so much wrong with this film that I'm not sure where to start. The film starts with the dinosaurs that, by the way, kill and eat people, are in danger when a volcano explodes on their island. Instead of rejoicing that these man-made genetic mutants are going to go extinct, there are plans to try and save them. Dumber still would be to try and weaponize them, which they try to do in the film as well. The film sets itself up for a trilogy since you've got to have one these days, but I think I'll stay home next time. Time for this franchise to go extinct as well.
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