2018 Films I saw with short reviews

10/10

FINALLY we get to see the long-awaited event within the MCU! Honestly, it was worth a wait. With all the characters it had, the film made a good job balancing the story arcs and giving each character some time to showcase their personality. Also, Thanos, while very prolonged in his announcement leading-up to this, turned out to be not only menacing, but very well developed villain with clear motives and depth. There are some gut-wrenching scenes in the film. Some brave moves were made from the producers to forward to story and I hope not all of them will be retconned to keep the impact. Actors really did their best to make us feel the gravity of the situation. The film is quite long, even if 90% of it is filled with action and thrills. It feels like there is no stopping, but I guess in any other way, people might feel there were filler scenes. This way, it's nail-biting action from start to finish! Certainly, it lived-up to it's hype!

9/10

I expected Aquaman to be a good movie, but it definitely surpassed all of my predictions. It's entertaining, visually stunning and epic! The trailers don't even spoil that much, cause there is even much more. James Wan skillfully balances different genre influences, yet pacing them harmoniously to fit like a glove. The film is primarily an adventure, but also packed with action, fantasy and even romance. It's also very comic-book accurate, from story to designs and wardrobe. It tells the origin story of Arthur Curry, a man born to an Atlantian queen and a mortal, destined to become a great hero. He must stop his brother Orm to declare a war to surface world. With the help of Orm's fiancee Mera, he starts to accept his destiny. While the story may be something that does ring a bell to comic-book/action/Sci-fi/fantasy lovers, the way it's been delivered is fresh and organic. There are also two really touching love stories which happen naturally and are in it just the right amount. The visuals are really something not seen yet and color scale is so beautiful too. The film manages to hit the center of what a good adventure is meant to look like. It sure has me fully enchanted!

9/10

This certainly is one of my favorite non-franchise films in recent years! The story follows a mercenary who needs to save an underage girl from criminals. It's mesmerizing how the director Lynne Ramsay and the leading actor Joaquin Phoenix managed to take a story which has been seen a lot of times and make it their own, using smart dialogue, well-balanced tone and a lot of metaphors. Two scenes in particular (the one with the henchman at his house and the one in the river) are small masterpieces as set pieces. The film itself is very heavy, but sincere, stylish and unique. When it's over, it leaves a lot to be re-visited and processed. Yet, it also possesses the thrill of a genre film with all the action sequences being very thrilling. I hope it gets all the recognition it deserves.

9/10

Beautiful dramedy about a closeted gay teen, his friends, family and life in general. It feels very authentic and lively, presenting characters as complex humans, with virtues and faults. It juggles multiple storylines without feeling overcrowded. The main story arc follows Simon (Nick Robinson) and his three best friends. When Simon starts chatting with an unknown guy through email, revealing his secret, things will forever change for all of them. The main character is very relatable and I rooted for him to be happy, even if the film shows us his full spectrum of good, and not so good qualities. It's a very warm, funny and uplifting film, without being sappy or cheesy. It's paced very well, giving each of it's stories time to evolve and come to a conclusion. It also manages not to do many of the cliches characteristic for most teen films, like ending on a Prom night or having typical bullies. It's a heartwarming, lovely film with very positive messages and a definite recommend for everyone to see!

9/10

Cleverly written, exciting and full of action, Mission: Impossible 6 is probably the best installment yet! This franchise operates differently from most others, because each sequel is better than the last one. Tom Cruise is amazing as agent Ethan Hunt, and the best thing about it is that he actually does all the stuff shown in the film. It's mostly not CGI and Cruise is his own stunt double. There is a lot going on and about 70% of run-time is filled with high octane action! The whole team is back and they have to team-up with the CIA agent (Henry Cavill) in order to retreat nuclear weapons from terrorists. The stunts include (but are not limited to): Jumping from a plane, fist fight in a lavatory, motorbike chase, diving, jumping from a rooftop and falling down the cliff in a burning vehicle! As if all of it isn't spectacular enough - the characters are relatable, well acted and their actions make sense regarding to their personalities and positions in the plot. There are a lot of twists and turns too, and they all make sense too. Absolutely, one of the genre highlights of this day and age!

9/10

The adaptation of one of the most iconic comic-book moments is spot-on in translating the rich source. It gives us time to connect with Superman and Lois, not only relying on the fact most people already know them. You can actually see them as real people with everyday lives, hopes and dreams. The film has a core in their relationship and Superman's duty to save humanity, but the side-stories are also crafted very well, with a lot of subtle, but significant supporting roles and cameos. Lex Luthor and Doomsday are both great villains. The action is tense and also gives us time to enjoy it. This film avoids the frequent trap of straight-to-DVD animated films, which is abrupt start and abrupt ending, with it's pacing perfectly made to properly develop characters and make us feel for the world they created.

9/10

Interesting mosaic of six seemingly unrelated stories set in the Wild West. Each is an allegory for something; different in delivery, yet oddly fitting with one another. They are of different level of realism, but each contains a pinch of dark humor and the sense of introspection. One follows a notorious gangster named Buster Scruggs, one is about a guy who robs a bank, one about a limbless entertainer, one about a young girl heading for the unknown, one about an old man searching for gold and one about the strange group of people riding in the carriage together. Not all of the follow the same route, so one can easily be mistaken of what to expect. I enjoyed them all on very different level. Some are way more uplifting than others. Actually, the tone in the most of them is very somber. However, because of the dark humor and allegory, it doesn't sting as much. It does raise many questions and makes me revisit them, though.

9/10

As the world has been conquered by aliens who get triggered by noise, the remaining humans have learned to live in the quiet. The story follows a family who try to survive in such environment. The director John Krasinski does a great job using minimal sounds and focusing on the visual aspect, like mimics and gestures. He and his wife Emily Blunt play the parents and along with child actors, manage to be believable as people who actually live their everyday lives in almost complete silence. It shows us how sound is important and how would out lives be vastly different if it was removed from being used. The family interactions are very natural, the tension is there and when the film needs to be very scary - it succeeds with flying colors! The creatures are creepy and creative and every moment with them around makes my skin crawl. The film is as scary, smart and tender, with a great balance between those things.

9/10

This horror about one family is very well filmed, scary and also quite unpredictable for the genre, so I don't want to spoil much. It's dark, disturbing and gritty. It has some really heavy imagery, but it knows well when to use it and how. It doesn't thrive only in being shocking, but also in bringing the best out of their characters. The acting is very good, especially from Toni Colette and Alex Wolff. I would recommend this to anyone who loves a good horror, but is tired of usual slashers.

9/10

Marvel has done it again! A great superhero origin film, with charismatic actors, beautiful visuals and an adventurous spirit! It is a first big-budget superhero blockbuster with the most of the cast being Black (which should have happened years ago), but it shouldn't surprise, as the plot is happening in the fictional African country of Wakanda. The color scale for this film is probably one of the most gorgeous ones in years! The effects are very good too. The plot follows King T'Challa as he returns to his country and has to take over the throne. However, new dark threat emerges and he has to protect the ones he loves once again. As with any MCU film, it has great characters, nice humor and a sense of magic. Special nod to Danai Gurira as General Okoye, a scene-stealing hero, Letitia Wright as T'Challa's sister Shuri, and Andy Serkis as the villainous Claw. Sure, the story reminds of a certain other African-based animated story, but so what? It's a good story. And in this day and age, telling a story with no common elements with another one is virtually impossible.

9/10

Clever dark biographic comedy about the events that shook USSR directly after Stalin's death. It's impeccable dark humor, and point-on delivery reminded me of the classic humor from Monty Pythons or Mel Brooks. This story is somewhat more grounded and serious than their works, but it uses the same bold moves in emphasizing the absurdity of the political situation. Acting ensemble is simply amazing, from top to bottom. They perform these sinister people with such conviction, always staying within the comedic edge, yet clearly showing the revolting things they did with no sugarcoating it. Film makes you laugh and be horrified at the same time. It's very entertaining and very heavy, smart, poignant and brave.

9/10

If you like twisty neo-noirs, here is the right movie! Several strangers, seemingly unconnected, each with a dark past, find themselves together at a shady hotel on the same night. From there on, film becomes extremely thrilling. The atmosphere is nail-biting and once you realize anyone can go at any point, you cannot stop watching. Despite the pacing being quite slow at some points, the unnerving atmosphere is still there. Acting is top notch from top to bottom and characters go some unexpected routes. Just when I though I got someone figured out, they show a new face and I change my mind. There are no typical good guys, but in my opinion, two characters turn out to be among the worst ones I've seen in awhile. The story is very entertaining without being campy, characters are very well developed without being convoluted and the film is very intense without being traumatizing. It's simply a great crime drama!

8/10

At first sight, I assumed this was going to be a monumental cash-grab based on nostalgia. And... I was wrong! Certainly, playing with various fan-bases' feelings and expectations is a part of it, but honestly, this felt so fresh and fun! Yes, it's a YA futuristic film. Yes, it's also a video-game based film. Both of those have been done to death in recent years, rarely with stellar results. However, this time around, there is much less emphasis on ''the chosen one'' arc and defying societal norms, and a much bigger emphasis on the sheer enjoyment of going through a virtual world in which you can be anyone and do anything. There is A LOT of Easter eggs in the film, from important plot-points to completely marginal ''blink and miss'' ones. Leading actors did a good job and Ben Mendelsohn is good in yet another corporate villain role of his. This film has a coherent story, but it has so much childish enthusiasm which just brings me back to some simpler times in the best way possible.

8/10

While not as groundbreaking as the first one, the second installment of Deadpool brings us even more interesting characters, a lot of humor and the same carefree attitude. Ryan Reynolds simply shines in the starring role and all of the additions are just as good. I liked how his relationship with Vanessa is surprisingly two-sided, as she is as crazy and as fierce as he is, breaking the nagging love interest stereotype. Cable and Domino were well done too. The film doesn't fully commit to some of it's heaviest subjects, though, even if it has some truly shining moments, which are both sad and funny. What I like most about Deadpool is that he doesn't seek for approval in the same way other superhero narratives do. He is not a role model, but never pretends that he is. The humor is mostly spot-on, even if I would cut a joke or two. Still, a worthy sequel indeed!

8/10

Very unusual approach to tell a Batman story, but I genuinely loved this elseworlds tale. Batman and Catwoman find themselves in the ancient Japan, fighting Joker, Harley Quinn and several others who took over the land with futuristic tools. Yeah, the story is very bonkers and I guess it's not for everyone. I loved how creative it is, especially the scene with Joker and Harley, drugged in the poppy fields. It is heavily influenced with the style of Japanese Anime, not only trough visuals, but through the storytelling and dialogue as well. A lot can happen in a short time, while still feeling slow and atmospheric. It's a different story entirely, but it captured characters' essence and interaction.

8/10

Great Suicide Squad adventure, with a lot of twists and turns among it's many anti-heroes and villains. Told from the perspective of Deadshot, it uses a lot of DC's favorite baddies to get us through this spy thriller mystery. It's very interesting, well written and entertaining. The characters are unpredictable and cunning, giving it a natural edge for many twists. The story is not convoluted, but it is complex and makes viewer really pay attention to what is happening. It has some more emotional moments too, but thankfully avoids being preachy, as it's characters are anything but.

8/10

Do you know about The Room? Do you, ha? Well, it's perhaps the best bad movie ever made and this is a story of how it's been made. James Franco stars as out of this world visionary, Tommy Wiseau and his brother Dave stars as his friend Greg Sestero. Together, after failure in the movie business, they decide to make a film of their own. Largely, this is a tribute / remake of the room, with recreation of many of it's gloriously horrific scenes and their backstage explanations. Actors ask the same questions as audiences do, like why is Tommy having sex with Lisa's belly button, why is a 26-year-old playing a boy or does Claudette's breast cancer diagnosis ever play part in the future... So, if you enjoy The Room, you will likely enjoy this too. It's very self-aware, yet also kind of touching in it's portrayal of the unusual friendship between the protagonists.

8/10

Another approach to the Jungle Book story we all know and love. This time it's been done by the master of motion capture, Andy Serkis. The film is very good and quite emotional too. It does come off a a bit too heavy for the younger audience, though. There are some really strong images and emotional baggage that probably isn't suitable for children. However, the film has a heart and Mowgli's journey is an exciting one to watch. Some characters, like Baloo or Kaa, are certainly different from the Disney version, but the work very well here too. The CGI is different as well, because it blends actor's expressions with the animals, giving it a less realistic looks. It still works very well, but you have to be aware that this is it's own thing.

8/10

Very charming, funny and action-packed, Ant-Man and the Wasp brings us more of the MCU adventures. Unlike the latest Avengers film, this is a rather small-scale story, which is very refreshing. Evangeline Lilly is amazing as Hope / The Wasp, and is certainly a breakthrough hero. The villain, Ghost, was surprisingly well motivated, so actually none of the characters were one-note. The humor is great and there were a lot genuinely funny moments. Michael Pena and Randall Park were especially standouts in that department. The dramatic parts were also handled well, as they were not as depressing as the could have been. It's a standard MCU film, which means it's really good and thrilling. One more good addition for the franchise.

8/10

When doing crossover events, it is very hard to keep the tone and the spirit of both franchises equally. Luckily, this film does it very well, feeling like a proper Batman movie AND like a proper Scooby Doo movie. Characters interact very naturally, so it is easy to believe that The Brave and the Bold is happening in the same universe as the new Scooby Doo cartoons. The mystery is quite gripping and the answer is very satisfying, using the full potential of it's antagonist(s). That said, of course it's childish and cheesy! Have you been following either of the cartoons, you'd see that coming. But within all of it's camp, it has a heart and a tone which can be enjoyable for both kids and the adults.

8/10

It follows the case in recent American history (1997-2005) when residents of New London filed a complain over a construction company who wanted to force them out of their homes to build private pharmaceutical facilities. It starts a bit slow, but once it takes off, it quite delivers the emotional impact. Personally, I have seen some places I played in as a child disappear to make room for shopping malls and parking lots. When it comes to people's private homes, the situation gets even more serious. Acting ensemble is great, led by always amazing Catherine Keener. It is a good example of how to make a movie around a, so called, smaller event, and show why it's important to tell that story.

8/10

In many ways, this is a classic romantic comedy about a middle class girl overcoming obstacles of societal norms to end-up with her prince charming. However, it's the delivery that pushes that much above the premise. Visuals are stunning, acting is amazing (especially from the grand Michelle Yeoh, who plays the love interest's mother) and characters are written with a certain depth not usually found in this type of movie. For example, cousin Astrid and the grandmother are very well rounded characters. There is a lot of genuinely funny moments, mostly from Awkwafina and Ken Jeong, but they blend-in with the drama quite well and don't overshadow the main story. It's both a good pastime and a quality film.

8/10

What if Hallmark mysteries actually had a budget to afford good visuals and editing, quality direction and more imaginative twists? This is it! A lonely widow (Anna Kendrick) befriends mysterious and glamorous woman (Blake Lively) because their sons go to school together. Soon, the woman is missing and there is so much questions to be answered from there on. All the right ingredients are here: beautiful people in beautiful houses, drama, sex, ghosts from the past and unexpected turns of events. If these kinds of mysteries are your thing, be sure to watch this!

8/10

A very, very entertaining film! It's funny, adventurous and the cast is hilarious. Four teens get stuck in the video game. There they look like their video game avatars, played by amazing comedians Dwayne Johnson, Karen Gillan, Jack Black and Kevin Hart, each of them enjoying that their actual character has nothing to do with their looks or usual attitude. Johnson is an avatar of a nerdy scary-cat, Hart is playing his jock friend, Gillan is a shy girl and Black is playing a mean girl. That's right - Jack Black is playing a teen queen from high school and there is a scene where his character is teaching Karen Gillan how to be seductive! The whole film is hilarious from start to finish. Very cute, unpretentious and adventurous!

8/10

Scary and smart story of a group of friends who go camping in Norwegian mountains and get lost in spooky woods. It's very well acted (leading guy, Rafe Spall, is an amazing actor in anything he's been in) and very well shot. It's atmospheric, the pacing is spot on and it manages to be genuinely frightening! It's kind of a The Blair Witch meets The Descent scenario and it works. The build-up of the threat is a slow-burn, but not too slow, so the interest in film never goes away. The fate of at least one character could have been different to make a more concise morals they were obviously going for, but I am sure most horror fans won't be bothered. It looks great and it hits the right tone of isolated and chilling place nobody wants to visit, but everyone wants to see.

8/10

An interesting character study of a serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer which is being told from the perspective of one of his friends before he did any of his crimes. It tells the story of his sad and lonely youth and gives us the build-up of urges that led him to do the monstrous things he did. Ross Lynch is amazing as Dahmer and the rest of the cast is really good too. Just heads up - This is drama, not a horror or an action flick. There is little going on regarding huge events, the main focus is on his mental descent into darkness. It's heavy and well made character driven film.

8/10

Tom Hardy stars as the Marvel antihero Eddie Brock / Venom in this latest attempt to give that character justice. So... did the succeed in it? Partially, I guess. The character itself is way more developed than the last time and Hardy is certainly the right man for the job. The inner monologue between Eddie and his symbiotic friend is quite entertaining and the voice he does for Venom is good. The story itself is a bit slow, the love interest is quite generic and the villain is a let down. While Riz Ahmed is actually good as the evil scientist who runs experiments on aliens, his symbiote is very one-note and boring. The final battle is also kind of meh. This movie could have been a lot better if they had more solid story and more R-rated violence, but even as it is, it's good if you love the character.

7/10

It's cute and childish, but it provides fun for the whole family. In it, Teen Titans want to make their own movie to be better established as known superheroes. The mysterious director might let Robin do it on his own. While quite predictable in it's core story, it's quite fun and unpredictable in set pieces leading up to it. The story is quite meta and self-aware, which makes it very smoothly written. It has a lot of incredible cameos and throwbacks. The animation is very good and creative. There are some slightly bizarre moments, though. At the end of the day, it's quite entertaining and gives kids a really cute and warm message.

7/10

If you usually like action flicks, chances are you will like Tomb Raider. It's a good action blockbuster, with a lot of stunts, explosions and adventures. Alicia Vikander is quite believable and likable as Lara Croft. The story is a bit cliched and I guessed most twists and turns as it went along, as it uses many already seen plot-points from any superhero origin film. However, if you are a fan of the genre, you are probably not bothered by them anyway. The final is very driven and action-packed, and the level of danger used is a good measure for an origin movie. It's quite a good adventure with a potential of giving us an exciting new franchise.

7/10

The director of the masterpiece called Martyrs strikes again! While certainly not as perfect as the aforementioned film, Ghostland is pretty awesome on it's own right. It's a heavy depiction of the physical, emotional and sexual violence and how two sisters handle being in contact with it in very different ways. I don't want to spoil much, but if you are squeamish or if you object seeing graphic imagery on screen, this might not be a movie for you. If you are open to the genre of New French Extremity, you might be interested in seeing this English-language counterpart.

7/10

A very loose adaptation of the elseworlds Batman story set in the Victorian London. It is great seeing familiar DC characters in a new environment, very lightly following the Jack the Ripper murders. It's dark and unsettling as the story owes to be. Batman and Catwoman (who is a prostitute, of course) have an interesting banter and the culprit's motives are quite sinister. Some murders have less sense than the others, and some of the action is obviously added to spice-up the usually calmer story. It's still recommended piece for both Batman and mystery fans.