Summer Recap 2018

If it were not for these regular posts, this blog would be dead. I mean, there's Letterboxd, where I post (lazier) reviews/comments on the films that I watch. I use Medium to rant about some things. Where does that leave this blog?

Anyways, this one comes a bit late. But here is Summer 2018 films recap! Most of this year's summer films have been verging on the 'uh, okay' like Solo, Ocean's 8, Equalizer 2 (but super awesome Denzel). At least it's better than the trainwrecks last year. I'm omitting the 'most surprising film' because there isn't any.

Top 3 Films

1. Mission Impossible: Fallout

Overall, this film isn't better than the next two. But, in terms of big blockbuster summer movies, this one takes the crown. Great action scenes. Amazing in IMAX. Committed performance from Tom Cruise. Christopher McQuarrie is now officially top-tier director. This film deserves all the universal praise its getting.

2. Hereditary

Firstly, the film's biggest achievement is its marketing. It's misleading by design. Once you think was gonna happen didn't happen, you were left with pure horror. Oscar nom for Toni Colette and such a promising debut feature by Ari Aster. You don't need jumpscares, just terror.

3. Searching

Searching's valuable assets are inventive direction, strong screenplay, John fucking Cho, and the producers' learning lessons from Unfriended. The opening montage is just behind the heartbreaking opening scene from Up. Such a modern, unique thriller that will definitely spawn copycats but will remain far above them.

Honorable mentions

- Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, for being pure joy regardless of its continuity holes.

- Deadpool 2, better, more focused, funnier.

- Crazy Rich Asians, it's above the 'uh, okay' but the film's just really fun and historic.

Most Disappointing Film

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Not as disappointing as the films previously mentioned in this section but it's such a wasted potential. The confined third act was a weird one especially when the title includes the words 'world' and 'kingdom'. I already forgot that it actually came out this summer.







Honorable mention
- Solo: A Star Wars Story, which shouldn't have been made because this ain't it, mate.


Worst Film

Mile 22
Peter Berg-Mark Wahlberg combo's worst so far. Bad direction, stupid story and even worse, incoherent editing. This film also dedicated a subplot for a divorce app where people can decide to limit interactions. Wtf. A waste of time and talent.

Star Wars Fans Are (Officially) The Worst

Hey, I like Star Wars. I hated the Ewoks. I liked Midichlorians. I hated Jar Jar Binks. I like The Force Awakens. I'm indifferent towards the spinoffs. I'm okay with the prequels. I really like The Last Jedi. 

There's a vocal fan group that really hated Star Wars because Rian Johnson killed their childhood dreams and their expectations. Honestly, no one asked you to make your life all about Snoke theories and Rey's parentage. So if Johnson had another idea than you did, deal with it. He's the filmmaker and you're supposed to watch it.

I didn't really like Solo and some people have been boycotting the movie. They boycotted the film not because it was an unnecessary move by Disney in attempt to cash in from the IP, but because The Last Jedi sucked according to them. Which is sad because people who hated The Last Jedi pretty much would love Solo. In a The Last Jedi quotable quote, Kylo Ren said, "let the past die, kill it if you have to." And boy did TLJ, killed all traces of nostalgia in exchange for a fresh, unexpected take. It didn't feel right at first because Star Wars had been all about throwbacks. But I decided to give it another watch and some thought and I like the direction they're going. While Solo, fully embraced the nostalgia, even milking it. So them TLJ haters would definitely dig Solo, but they wouldn't know.

Recently a sub-group launched an initiative to remake The Last Jedi. Haha. yes, they wanted to remake a 200 million movie which had people all around the world working on it and that movie actually made over a billion dollars. I'll just put this poll that they made here.

That is just sad. Haha. No one wanted The Last Jedi remake. 

And who made their hashtag? Donald Trump?

Really, #LastJediAwful could really belong in a Trump tweet.

If only they realized that they actually got a well-made, singular-vision film.

Unlike the DCEU. #ReleaseTheSnyderCut right?

Was It Trailers Week or Something

First of all, someone said in the last post that he would post a review of Avengers: Infinity War. Where is it now?

In the past three days, there has been a boatload of new film trailers for 2018 (also for 2019). Let's see which one looks promising. 

Ralph Breaks The Internet: Wreck-It-Ralph 2
Starring: John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman
Director: Rich Moore

Really, really unnecessary long title, also outdated too. 'Break the internet' was a thing in 2014 I think. It also has that Emoji Movie vibe and a really bad Disney advertising. "Take me to a website that's super intense and really nuts!" Goes to Walt Disney website and meets Disney princesses. *Eyerolllllll. I look forward to have my doubts lifted.

Mortal Engines
Starring: Hera Hilmar, Hugo Weaving
Director: Christian Rivers

Not familiar with the book but I'm glad that this film don't have the ugly, obvious-CGI look that The Hobbit trilogy has.

The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part
Starring: Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks
Director: Mike Mitchell

Looks solid, even if it's half as funny as the first one it's going to be alright. Let's just hope it's not as bad as Ninjago. 

Operation Finale
Starring: Oscar Isaac, Ben Kingsley
Director: Chris Weitz

Great ensemble led by Oscar Isaac. So great to see Melanie Laurent, Joe Alwyn and even Nick Kroll in a serious role in the trailer. Also, how fun it is to see Ben Kingsley from playing Itzhak Stern to Hitler's lieutenant.

Bumblebee

Starring: Hailee Steinfeld, John Cena
Director: Travis Knight

This one looks promising. Very 80s Spielberg vibe and that could work. I'm still going to laugh for the fact that this was the only thing that the much publicized writers room can conjure up as a spinoff. Excited to (not) see John Cena, because that guy's on track to surpass The Rock. The film is going to face stiff competition though in Christmas.

Suspiria
Starring: Dakota Johnson, Tilda Swinton
Director: Luca Guadagnino

Full disclosure I have never seen the original, but this one looks terrifying and great. I am all in for Dakota Johnson in anything but the Fifty Shades franchise. Also Tilda Swinton in everything.

Sharp Objects
Starring: Amy Adams, Patricia Clarkson
Director: Jean Marc Vallee

A yes for any film that utilizes Amy Adams' talents to the full potential. Also, a big yes to Jean Marc Vallee who directed Big Little Lies with such a style (that bleeds over to this one).

White Boy Rick
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Richie Merritt
Director: Yann Demange

Very cool trailer, very badass McConaughey. Great ensemble cast too.

The Old Man and the Gun
Starring: Robert Redford, Casey Affleck
Director: David Lowery

I'm sold already with the vibe and the cast. I think this was meant to be Redford's last film before he retires. But there's also the fact that David Lowery directed this! A Ghost Story was the weirdest but reflective experience ever and I'm looking forward to this one.

Widows
Starring: Viola Davis, Cynthia Erivo
Director: Steve McQueen

Steve McQueen. Gillian Flynn. Daniel Kaluuya. Viola Davis. Jon Bernthal. Michele Rodriguez. Brian Tyree Henry. Liam Neeson. Elizabeth Debicki. Cynthia Erivo. Michelle Rodriguez. Jackie Weaver. Colin Farrell. Robert Duvall. Carrie Coon. I am here for this movie.

I tried to rank the trailers but they all look so good (except for Wreck it Ralph 2, which I personally don't like).

I hope there's more posts from me too.

Back in Business

Hi everyone. I'm announcing that I'll be more active in this blog.
First up tomorrow will be my review of Avengers: Infinity War.

For now, here's a treat for you all:
Nicolas Cage as The Avengers

2018 Oscars Predictions (AND WINNERS)

Well, this blog could be declared dead if not for this post. No one is reading anyway. I have a Letterboxd account now where I share my lazy short reviews of the films I watched. If I have more time, I should come back here.

It's hours before the Oscars and I would like to predict some of the winners for this year. I will update the post with winners and see how much I got wrong. This year, I'm quite behind. I've only seen 6 out of 9 Best Pic films but let's clumsily predict.

*Now added with actual winners.

Best Picture
I've not seen The Shape of Water, Phantom Thread and I, Tonya. But if the race's between TSoW and Three Billboards, I'll pick Del Toro's. Three Billboards is good but not as good as previous McDonagh's films.
Official prediction: The Shape of Water
Personal prediction: The Florida Project  The Shape of Water
RESULT: The Shape of Water (1/1)

Best Actor in a Leading Role
Gary Oldman winning is the most boring result. I hope Timothee Chalamet or Daniel Kaluuya makes a shocking upset. Because I'm upset James Franco was snubbed.
Official prediction: Gary Oldman, The Darkest Hour
Personal prediction: Timothee Chalamet, Call Me By Your Name
RESULT: Gary Oldman (2/2)

Best Actress in a Leading Role
Never forget: Frances McDormand was in Transformers: Dark of the Moon.
Official prediction: Frances McDormand, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Personal prediction: Margot Robbie, I, Tonya.
RESULT: Frances McDormand (3/3)

Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Sam Rockwell has also done a Frances McDormand sweep in all the awards circuit. But I'd like to see Willem Dafoe gets recognized.
Official prediction: Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards...
Personal prediction: Willem Dafoe, The Florida Project
RESULT: Sam Rockwell (4/4)

Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Allison Janney all the way. Glad to have Laurie Metcalf be the strongest contender.
Official prediction: Allison Janney, I, Tonya
Personal prediction: Allison Janney, I, Tonya
RESULT: Allison Janney (5/5)

Best Achievement in Directing
I don't feel this year's race is that exciting. Especially with Martin McDonagh not in the mix.
Official prediction: Guillermo Del Toro, The Shape of Water
Personal prediction: Jordan Peele, Get Out
RESULT: Guillermo Del Toro (6/6)

Best Adapted Screenplay
Official prediction: James Ivory, Call Me By Your Name
Personal prediction: Aaron Sorkin, Molly's Game
RESULT: James Ivory (7/7)

Best Original Screenplay
I'm amazed and glad at how strong this year's category is. Super hard to make a choice.
Official prediction: Jordan Peele, Get Out
Personal prediction: Jordan Peele, Get Out
RESULT: Jordan Peele (8/8)

Best Cinematography
If Roger Deakins doesn't win, we'll all fail in life.
Official prediction: Roger Deakins, Blade Runner 2049
Personal prediction: Roger Deakins, Blade Runner 2049
RESULT: Roger Deakins (9/9)

Best Editing
Dunkirk has some annoying edits in my opinion. Baby Driver has won major editing awards.
Official prediction: Baby Driver
Personal prediction: Baby Driver
RESULT: Lee Smith, Dunkirk (9/10)

Best Production Design
Another tough competition, this time between Shape of Water and BR2049
Official prediction: The Shape of Water
Personal prediction: Blade Runner 2049
RESULT: The Shape of Water (10/11)

Best Costume Design
All signs point to The Shape of Water, but Phantom Thread is a film in the world of fashion!
Official prediction: The Shape of Water
Personal prediction: Phantom Thread
RESULT: Phantom Thread (10.5/12)

Best Make-up and Hairstyling
Official prediction: Darkest Hour
Personal prediction: Darkest Hour
RESULT: Darkest Hour (11.5/13)

Best Animated Feature
Official prediction: Coco
Personal prediction: Coco
RESULT: Coco (12.5/14)

Best Song
I don't hate The Greatest Showman, but if it win over Coco, we should question The Academy.
Official prediction: 'Remember Me', Coco
Personal prediction: 'Remember Me', Coco
RESULT: Coco (13.5/15)

Best Original Score
Jon Brion's score for Lady Bird was criminally snubbed.
Official prediction: The Shape of Water
Personal prediction: Phantom Thread
RESULT: Alexandre Desplat, The Shape of Water (14.5/16)

Best Visual Effects
Official prediction: Blade Runner 2049
Personal prediction:  War for the Planet of the Apes
RESULT: Blade Runner 2049 (15.5/17)

Well, I guess this year I'm quite on point. Missing out only on the editing category.
Last year I had 12.5/17, the previous year I had 13. So this is my personal best.

This year's show is quite tame and a bit boring. No surprises and all the gimmicks were not that exciting. Jet ski? Really? Also while I'd be thrilled to meet both Gal Gadot and Margot Robbie, I'd be a bit pissed to have them disturb me during a film. Honestly I would probably just go home without continuing A Wrinkle in Time, the film couldn't top the experience.

2018 Watch List

The blog may be dead for some months, but the tradition has to continue. Otherwise, we'll all be Olaf looking for traditions and hated by people around the world. Honestly, who looks for traditions? You make traditions, or someone made them. I wasted a lot of time in the past year but no 24 minutes was more wasted than watching Olaf singing sub-par songs. But good news, I ended the year watching The Disaster Artist and started 2018 with All the Money in the World. Looks like a solid year or everything could go downhill.

You know the drill: bold titles mean must-watches and unmarked means it's optional. I just copied and pasted and paraphrased that last sentence, because plagiarizing your own work is totally acceptable (and at least I owned it)--AGAIN.

(There are some award-season films that I overlooked as they were mostly released in 2017 and obviously, we have to watch them anyway. Some films that are too far in the year are selected from its premise, cast and crew.)

JANUARY

The Commuter Liam Neeson, Vera Farmiga, Jaume Collet-Serra (director)

12 Strong Chris Hemsworth, Michael Shannon, Nicolai Fuglsig (director)

FEBRUARY

Annihilation Natalie Portman, Tessa Thompson, Alex Garland (director)

Black Panther Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Ryan Coogler (director)

MARCH

Isle of Dogs Edward Norton, Bryan Cranston, Wes Anderson (director)

Ready Player One Tye Sheridan, Mark Rylance, Steven Spielberg (director)

Red Sparrow Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Edgerton, Francis Lawrence (director)

A Wrinkle in Time Chris Pine, Oprah Winfrey, Ava Duvernay (director)

7 Days in Entebbe Rosamund Pike, Daniel Bruhl, Jose Padilha (director)

Mary Magdalene Rooney Mara, Joaquin Phoenix, Garth Davis (director)

Tomb Raider Alicia Vikander, Dominic West, Roar Uthaug (director)

Pacific Rim: Uprising John Boyega, Scott Eastwood, Steven S. DeKnight (director)

APRIL

God Particle Daniel Bruhl, Elizabeth Debicki, Julius Onah (director)

The New Mutants Anya Taylor-Joy, Maisie Williams, Josh Boone (director)

Beirut Jon Hamm, Rosamund Pike, Brad Anderson (director)

A Quiet Place Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, John Krasinski (director)

Tully Charlize Theron, Mackenzie Davis, Jason Reitman (director)

Rampage Dwayne Johnson, Naomie Harris, Brad Peyton (director)

MAY

Avengers: Infinity War Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Russo Brothers (directors)

Where'd You Go, Bernadette Cate Blanchett, Billy Crudup, Richard Linklater (director)

Solo: A Star Wars Story Alden Ehrenreich, Donald Glover, ? (director)

JUNE

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, JA Bayona (director)

Deadpool 2 Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, David Leitch (director)

The Incredibles 2 Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson, Brad Bird (director)

Ocean's 8 Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Gary Ross (director)

Sicario 2: Soldado Josh Brolin, Joel Edgerton, Stefano Sollima (director)

JULY

Mission: Impossible 6 Tom Cruise, Henry Cavill, Christopher McQuarrie (director)

Ant-Man & The Wasp Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Peyton Reed (director)

Alita: Battle Angel Rosa Salazar, Christoph Waltz, Robert Rodriguez (director)

Mamma Mia! 2 Lily James, Amanda Seyfried, Ol Parker (director)

Skyscraper Dwayne Johnson, Neve Campbell, Rawson Marshall Thurber (director)

AUGUST

The Predator Boyd Holbrook, Olivia Munn, Shane Black (director)

The Meg Jason Statham, Ruby Rose, Jon Turteltaub (director)

Scarface Diego Luna, Coen Brothers (directors)

The Equalizer 2 Denzel Washington, Antoine Fuqua (director)

Crazy Rich Asians Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Jon M. Chu (director)

Captive State John Goodman, Vera Farmiga, Rupert Wyatt (director)

Christopher Robin Ewan McGregor, Hayley Atwell, Marc Forster (director)

Kin James Franco, Zoe Kravitz, Baker Brothers (directors)

SEPTEMBER

Robin Hood Taron Egerton, Jamie Foxx, Otto Bathurst (director)

Johnny English 3 Rowan Atkinson, Olga Kurylenko, David Kerr (director)

Boy Erased Lucas Hedges, Russell Crowe, Josh Edgerton (director)

OCTOBER

First Man Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy, Damien Chazelle (director)

The Girl in the Spider's Web Claire Foy, Fede Alvarez (director)

Mowgli Christian Bale, Benedict Cumberbatch, Andy Serkis (director)

Venom Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Ruben Fleischer (director)

Bad Times at the El Royale Chris Hemsworth, Drew Goddard (director)

NOVEMBER

X-Men: Dark Phoenix Sophie Turner, James McAvoy, Simon Kinberg (director)

Fantastic Beasts 2 Eddie Redmayne, Jude Law, David Yates (director)

Creed 2 Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson, Steven Caple Jr. (director)

Widows Viola Davis, Elizabeth Debicki, Steve McQueen (director)

Holmes & Watson Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Etan Cohen (director)

Mary Queen of Scots Margot Robbie, Saoirse Ronan, Josie Rourke (director)

Nutcracker & Four Realms Keira Knightey, Lasse Halstrom (director)

Wreck-It-Ralph 2 John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Rich Moore (director)

DECEMBER 

Aquaman Jason Momoa, Willem Dafoe, James Wan (director)

Mary Poppins Returns Emily Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Rob Marshall (director)

Bumblebee Hailee Steinfeld, Travis Knight (director)

Mortal Engines Christian Rivers (director)

Bohemian Rhapsody Rami Malek, ? (directors)

I feel like there are more films that you can skip easily this year especially the comedies and some actioners. Even Clint Eastwood's latest isn't compelling for me as a non-American. The Rock has two films this year and after last year's disappointments, we'll proceed with more caution now. Some sequels also has to be approached with less expectations such as Pacific Rim: Uprising, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again and Soldado. Not to mention there are at least two troubled productions this year, the Han Solo prequel and the Freddie Mercury biopic. We've seen how reshoots can impact a film from the 'successful' Rogue One to the disastrous Justice League, it'll be interesting to see how those two films turn out.

From last year's list of 61 films, I watched 41 of them. Some of them hasn't been released and a few were bumped to this year (transfers from last year include Red Sparrow and God Particle). Last year I put four duds in my top 10 (JL, Kingsman 2, Kong Skull Island and Alien Covenant). Let's see how I fare this year. Honorable mentions go to Alita Battle Angel, The New Mutants, Isle of Dogs and Widows (scripted by Gone Girl's Gillian Flynn!). Here's my top 10 anticipated films for 2018:

10. Robin Hood - Hoping for a Peaky Blinders/Kingsman vibe in this one

9. Mission Impossible 6 - All in for Tom Cruise in action mode

8. Ready Player One - So far the trailers look great

7. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom - Ugly title though

6. Deadpool 2 - Annual dose of R-rated superhero film

5. Aquaman - Hoping for a Wonder Woman-scale success

4. Avengers: Infinity War - if this isn't in your list, whats wrong with you

3. God Particle - God bless the Cloverfield series

2. Annihilation - Alex Garland yass

1. First Man - Ryan Gosling & Damien Chazelle double yasss

My new year's resolution this year is easy: list all the films/episodes I watch this year and probably at the end of the year I can reflect on how much time was utilized (or wasted or saved) by watching them. Also, I'm on Letterboxd, find me!

And also get a better job.