Cindy Prascik's 2018: My Year in Movies

Dearest Blog: 2018 was a strange year for movies, as it was a strange year in many, many ways. I only saw 70 new movies during the year that's winding down, which is 20-30 off my normal total. At fault were two main factors: First, there were fewer movies that felt like imperative viewing, and, secondly, the behavior of movie audiences has become so bad that I'm less inclined to get out and see something just to see it, or merely to have content for the blog. I've become much more likely to seek out something I can watch at home than to brave the talkers, texters, seat-kickers, and smuggled-candy rattlers at the cinema.

Normally, year's end finds me trying to whittle 20-25 favorites down into a top-ten list, but this year only 13 movies earned final consideration. This year also may mark the greatest divergence yet between my list and the lists of people who get paid for their movie opinions. As usual, that's due in part to many awards contenders not getting screen time locally until they rack up a pocketful of major nominations, but mostly paid film critics and I just don't agree on what makes a good movie. I hope you'll consider both of our opinions, then get out to the movies and form your own.

Disclaimer: As usual, repeat viewings or the lack of opportunity for same may result in a film's original Weasley rating not being reflected in its year-end position.

Without further ado, my top ten best/favorite movies of 2018:

10. Black Panther (original Weasley rating 9/9) Black Panther is a superhero whose time has come. Marvel once again hits the casting jackpot with Chadwick Boseman, who fronts a compelling tale fleshed out by vibrant visuals and an amazing score. It burns me just a little that Black Panther will be the first of its genre to earn serious awards consideration, an honor deserved by The Dark Knight and/or Captain America: The Winter Soldier, but that's the system's problem and can't be held against the movie. Two claws way up!

9. Sherlock Gnomes (original Weasley rating 8/9) Sherlock Gnomes took a beating from critics and fans alike, but I loved it for its bright colors, boppy tunes, extremely reasonable runtime, and, of course, Johnny Depp. If there hadn't been much good said about it before, upon the release of Holmes and Watson, at the very least it became the best big-screen Sherlock Holmes of 2018.

8. Aquaman (original Weasley rating 8/9) DC's big-screen Aquaman takes a long-ridiculed, B-list hero and makes him a box-office juggernaut, thanks to a well-crafted film and Jason Momoa's effortless coolness. It's not as dark as past DC offerings, nor as silly as garden-variety Marvel; instead Aquaman makes its own niche and is better for it.

7. Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (original Weasley rating 8/9) I love the Hotel Transylvania franchise for its ability to bring a little bit of creepiness into any season. The third installment in the series is colorful, bouncy fun, and, as always, benefits from limiting Adam Sandler to just one stupid voice, as opposed to his usual array of MANY stupid voices. Long live Drac!

6. Green Book (original Weasley rating 9/9) Green Book is an "inspired by actual events" story that, if it takes some liberties with real life, its message is no less timely or important for it. Magnificent performances from Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen make Green Book one of the year's true must-see movies.

5. Hunter Killer (original Weasley rating 8/9) Quit laughing, will ya? Hunter Killer is an epic two hours of enormous effects, steely glances, and male posturing, all the things that bring me to the big screen regardless of any other considerations. Throw in my fave, Gary Oldman, and Gerard Butler doing his best meathead hero, and you've got a guaranteed new classic that I'll watch hundreds of times once it hits cable.

4. Darkest Hour (original Weasley rating 9/9) Oscar says this is last year's film, but I didn't see it 'til January, so it makes my 2018 list. An everything-winning turn by Gary Oldman heads a picture that keeps you on the edge of your seat despite knowing how it all turns out in the end.

3. Bohemian Rhapsody (original Weasley rating 9/9) Another based-on-a-true-story that takes some cinematic license with the facts, Bohemian Rhapsody is an uplifting biopic that proves the old saying: a happy ending depends on where you end your story. A star-making turn by Rami Malik makes Bohemian Rhapsody a top contender as we cruise through the heart of Awards Season.

2. Paddington 2 (original Weasley rating 9/9) Paddignton 2 is a delight. The charming and thoroughly-English continuing adventures of an endearing teddy bear and his family boasts a top-notch cast, with a standout performance by Hugh Grant as its villain. Paddington 2 is movie-making at its finest, not to be missed by anyone of any age.

1. Den of Thieves (original Weasley rating 8/9) From its first trailer, I started calling Den of Thieves my number-one movie of 2018. If we're being honest, along the way I truly expected some big-budget superhero epic or favorite actor's awards bid to unseat it, but...here we are, and here it is. I re-watched it again the night before last just to be sure this was where I wanted it, and, yeah, it is. Shootouts, car chases, Gerard Butler's chest-thumping anti-hero, and an unexpectedly terrific ending make Den of Thieves the kind of movie that will always draw me to the cinema. (For the record, I noticed upon preparing this list that I saw my number-one and number-two movies on the same day, way back in January, and that about sums up the kind of year it’s been at the cinema.)

So, dear reader(s), another year draws to a close. Many thanks to everyone who reads this blog, who takes the time to like, comment, and share, and especially to Daniel, for letting me be a part of his first-class movie page. Best wishes to everyone in 2019, may it be a better year for us all. Happy New Year!

PS: Where's my Cats trailer??

Cindy Prascik's Reviews of Bumblebee, Aquaman, and Holmes & Watson

Holiday Catch-Up Triple Feature!

Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for the catch-up triple-bill of Bumblebee, Aquaman, and Holmes & Watson.

Spoiler level here will be mild, including a couple non-plot-specific things not revealed by trailers (far as I remember).

First on the docket: Bumblebee, a Transformers origins story.

Bumblebee is a pretty great film that, for me, was ruined by a really bad audience. I'll keep this review as objective as possible, but I know I didn't love it half as much as it deserved due to the poor theater experience.

Bumblebee represents a bit of a reset for the much-maligned Transformers franchise. Gone are the male leads and testosterone-driven action, replaced by Hailee Steinfeld as our young heroine with extensive auto-repair skills and an impressive collection of concert tees. Though Bumblebee doesn't diverge from the Transformers mold, Steinfeld carries the acting and action almost entirely on her tiny shoulders. Second-fiddle John Cena is amusing, and Jorge Lendeborg, Jr. is quite charming, but mostly it's down to Steinfeld and giant alien robots. Bumblebee's effects are sufficiently huge, and thankfully minus the dodgy bits that plague many CGI-heavy blockbusters these days. Sound mixing and editing are extraordinary. The picture boasts a hot 80s soundtrack that helps it accurately capture the feel of the decade. I didn't enjoy Bumblebee as much as the previous two entries in the franchise, but even I must admit it is, objectively, an improvement and a nice step in a positive direction.

Bumblebee runs 114 minutes and is rated PG13 for "sequences of sci-fi action and violence."

Bumblebee feels longer than it is and I enjoyed it less than I should have, but it can fairly be called not just a good Transformers movie, but a good movie all 'round.

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Bumblebee gets seven and a half.

Fangirl points: Lovin' that Damned tee! And Save a Prayer in digital surround-sound? Yes, please!

The filling in yesterday's cinema sandwich was the latest entry in DC Comics' cinematic universe, Aquaman.

Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? Well, it's not Aquaman, though for years a yellow cartoon sponge has been laughed at only slightly more than DC's waterlogged hero. That ends now.

I am a DC girl through and through, and I'd been giving big-screen Aquaman the side-eye for some time. Between Arthur Curry's comic-relief role in Justice League and a wisecrack-heavy trailer, I expected a full-on attempt to mimic Marvel's "funny" superhero films. While Aquaman is neither as grounded as the Nolan Bat-verse nor as grim as Batman v. Superman, I'm pleased to report it finds a solid balance and is quite the enjoyable outing.

Jason Momoa is terrific as the would-be King of Atlantis, carrying the picture with his super-heroic buffness and easy charm. The dude-bro act from Justice League has been toned wayyyyyyy down, leaving a very human, very 2018 hero who hugs his pa, cries over his ma, and even makes a reasonable facsimile of that awful classic Aquaman costume look pretty rad. Patrick Wilson appears to be having the time of his life as Curry's half-brother and nemesis, gleefully overacting at every turn.The film is all the better for having names like Willem Dafoe, Dolph Lundgren, and Nicole Kidman in supporting roles. The only real negative is a dull turn by Amber Heard, who occupies just enough screen time to be annoying, but thankfully not enough to ruin the film. Aquaman boasts magical visuals, and natural comedy that flows well and doesn't feel forced. The movie does run a bit long, and the second act starts feeling like one run-on fight; like most superhero movies, by the time it hit the two-hour mark, I was ready to jump in and save the damn world myself.

Ultimately, though, Aquaman is enough fun that the need for a trim is a small quibble. Though I'm still jonesing for a really good Batman movie starring my favorite Bruce Wayne, Ben Affleck*, I'm happy to let Arthur Curry and Diana Prince get DC back on solid cinematic footing.

Aquaman clocks in at 143 minutes and is rated PG13 for "sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and some language."

Aquaman is a redeeming big-screen outing for an overdue hero and an unlikely win for DC. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Aquaman gets eight.

Finally, yesterday's closer was the Will Ferrell/John C. Reilly comedy, Holmes & Watson.

A comedic take on the world's greatest detective and his sidekick.

Here I shall go on record as a fan of Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly, both individually and as a team. Talladega Nights is a top go-to movie in my house; we watch it religiously and quote it relentlessly. I mention that only to be clear: There's nothing that made me pre-disposed to dislike an idiotic comedy; it was quite the unpleasant surprise that I hated Holmes & Watson so, so much. The sad fact of the matter is: It just isn't funny.

Holmes & Watson hopes to earn laughs by exaggerating Sherlock Holmes' insufferable arrogance and John Watson's sometimes pitiful devotion. Ferrell's trademark ridiculousness is in full effect, but the film is more gross-out than slapstick. Proving that resistance turns up in the unlikeliest of places, Holmes & Watson takes a few swipes at He Who Must Not Be Named and American gun culture. While both are easy marks, that sort of poke only works if it's funny and/or clever, and this is most emphatically neither. Even more unforgivably, the movie is a criminal waste of two of my best girl crushes, Rebecca Hall and Kelly MacDonald. There's one solid gag at the end, but it's way too little, way too late.

Holmes & Watson runs a painful 90 minutes and is rated PG13 for "crude sexual material, language, some violence, and drug references."

If you really need a Sherlock Homes fix for 2018, your better big-screen bet is the one where he's a garden gnome.

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Holmes & Watson begrudgingly gets one.

Fangirl points: He must've lost a bet to turn up in this garbage, but great to see Hugh Laurie!

Until next time...

*Shut up. I won't believe he's not coming back until they cast someone else.

MOVIE REVIEW: AQUAMAN

Once home to the most advanced civilization on Earth, the city of Atlantis is now an underwater kingdom ruled by the power-hungry King Orm. With a vast army at his disposal, Orm plans to conquer the remaining oceanic people -- and then the surface world. Standing in his way is Aquaman, Orm's half-human, half-Atlantean brother and true heir to the throne. With help from royal counselor Vulko, Aquaman must retrieve the legendary Trident of Atlan and embrace his destiny as protector of the deep.

Director: James Wan

Cast: Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Patrick Wilson, Dolph Lundgren, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Nicole Kidman

Release Date: December 14, 2018

Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Rated PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and for some language

Runtime: 2h 23 min

Review:

Aquaman is one of those properties that could have gone off the rails fairly easily much like Marvel’s Thor.  The best thing DC did was nail the casting much like they did with Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman.  Jason Momoa has great screen presence and he never takes himself overly serious.  He’s had a trial run with him making an impressive debut in Justice League and he proves that he’s more than capable of carrying his own film here.  The combination of James Wan and Jason Momoa make for an incredibly fun film which has a massive scope but it never loses its focus even as it becomes more and more ridiculous.  Wan does a healthy bit of world building delivering some incredibly impressive visual set pieces and action sequences.  After a bit of a slow start the film revs up and never let’s down, its energy is palpable through out even at nearly two in half hours.  The supporting cast rounds out the film with Amber Heard leaving the biggest impression with Nichole Kidman coming in a strong second.  It’s a testament to how well crafted the film is that you can overlook a few missteps like a bland villain, Black Manta would have worked better as the primary baddie, and some formulaic story beats.  Even so Aquaman is a superhero film that’s sure to please nearly everyone especially long suffering DC fans.  

A-