Monday, July 2, 2018

My Top 20 Movies of 2018 (So Far)


Now that we are a little over halfway through 2018, it is time to share my 10 favorite movies of the year so far, so people can start catching up with their movie watching for the summer, and to help prepare me for my final list at the end of the year. Each title below is linked to the Wikipedia page if you want to read more about it and see the trailer.

1. A Quiet Place

2. Heriditary

3. American Animals

4. Black Panther

5. The Rider

6. Leave No Trace

7. Annihilation

8. Avengers: Infinity War

9. Hostiles

10. Game Night

11. Paddington 2

12. Ready Player One

13. Incredibles 2

14. Deadpool 2

15. Filmworker

16. Upgrade

17. Unsane

18. First Reformed

19. You Were Never Really Here

20. Thoroughbreds

Since I am trying to promote the superiority of the theater experience in watching movies this year, instead of watching movies at home as many tend to do these days, I will also offer below my top five theater experiences so far this year, experiences which could not be replicated watching movies at home on television or on a computer or cell phone. I have actually had many great theater experiences this year so far, primarily because I was in Los Angeles for a over a week, and I attended many midnight films this year, so to narrow it down to five is tough, and I could easily list another top twenty, but here it goes.

1. The Man Who Laughs (1928) - Saw this excellent silent film at one of my favorite local theaters in Boston accompanied by a flawless live orchestra that elevated the experience even more.

2. It Happened One Night (1934) - Saw this in an old silent era theater outside Los Angeles, that made me feel I was back in 1934 watching this classic film on opening night.

3. Black Panther (2018) - I've been wanting to visit the Pacific Theatres's Cinerama Dome on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles for a while, and got to see Black Panther for a second time in this domed theater, which is how movies like this should be seen to give you wide visuals and excellent sound.

4. Black Panther (2018) - Saw this movie for a third time this year at the famous Chinese Theater on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, which is another historic theater I have long wanted to visit.

5. Sunset Boulevard (1950) - Never saw this movie classic until I saw it in the theater this year, and I'm glad I waited to see it in the theater. It has now become one of my favorite films of all time.

Honorable Mention: Vertigo (1958) - Saw this movie many years ago at home, and my recollection of it was that it was slow and a bit boring. Saw it in a theater a few months ago, and now I know why it is considered one the greatest films of all time. A great example of why watching movies in the theater enhances the movie experience the way it is meant to be.