TOP TEN MOVIES OF 2018

By Jake Ramos

2018 has come and gone. And with it were a lot of great movies. Here are my top ten movies of 2018.

10. BLACK PANTHER

Black Panther is a unique entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. From the thrills, the fun and humor, the beautiful Wakandan backdrop, the hip soundtrack and the fusion of technology, culture and heritage, Black Panther is a triumph. Not only was it entertaining and featured a talented cast and great director. But it's the timely, smartly executed and very important message the movie delivers that encourages us to examine certain issues facing our world today which makes this a must see. ​

​9. SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE

​I was absolutely swept away by how good Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse was. Merging a variety of Spidey characters into one movie was a brilliant move. Fun, humorous and quite emotional at times. Also, seeing Stan Lee’s cameo in this after his passing made my eyes well up a bit. The after credits scene was quite hilarious!

​8. AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR

​After ten years of build up, it all comes down to this. Marvel finally pulled it off… with just a snap of the fingers. It was quite hard at times watching our beloved heroes fall, and even “die” on screen. What Marvel has built over the years on screen is what other studios should look to as the pinnacle of creating a cinematic universe out of their franchises.

7. BLACKKKLANSMAN

Another great joint by Spike Lee! Blackkklansman is a reflection of our society today. Set in the late 1970s, the clothes, the music and the hair may have been different. But the same issues still exists today, unfortunately. Spike Lee does a great job showcasing the contrast and similarities between both perspectives. At times it’ll make you laugh. At times it’ll make you shake your head, and in some cases make you angry. No matter which side of the political climate you're on, Blackkklansman is a powerful must see story. John David Washington and Adam Driver give great performances.

6. BUMBLEBEE

Finally, a Transformers movie with a lot of heart and soul. No stereotypes, no racist jokes, no unnecessary cleavage and booty shots (seriously Michael Bay, what’s wrong with you?). A Transformers movie the whole family can truly enjoy. And the best part, it takes place in the 80’s featuring G1 designs! Why couldn’t we have had this to begin with? Hopefully, the rest of the franchise continues from here on out. Is it a prequel or a reboot? Honestly, I hope the latter. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve enjoyed the previous Transformers films but The Last Knight left a really bad taste in my mouth and I almost gave up on future films. But Bumblebee definitely brought back that “AllSpark” in me.

5. CRAZY RICH ASIANS

Featuring an all Asian cast, Crazy Rich Asians breaks barriers in Hollywood and proof that Asian actors can be just as profitable and just as successful as their A-List caucasian colleagues. Not just the typical sidekicks or the martial arts experts we usually see them in. But leading men and women that can garner a new generation of films.

4. A QUIET PLACE

A Quiet Place is a unique entry into the horror/sci-fi genre. A film that relies more on creating tension whilst trying to be absolutely silent. It brought me back to classics such Alfred Hitchcock films and Ridley Scott’s Alien in how they create tension and terror that’s very unsettling. Despite not having much to say, everyone, including the child actors, had great performances.

3. ​AQUAMAN

Aquaman was an epic, fun and wild ride into the Seven Seas and beyond! James Wan pulls no stops in creating a whole new world underwater. It’s zany and quite bizarre at times but it absolutely works in this swashbuckling action adventure that takes you on a hero’s journey. Part Indiana Jones, part Sword In The Stone, Aquaman is a treat for comic fans and proof that the character can be badass and no longer the butt of jokes.

2. MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: FALLOUT

Talk about impossible missions! Tom Cruise outdoes himself in this high octane, adrenaline rush of a movie. From one action scene to the next, it sets the bar very high for films in this genre. The highlight are the stunts, and there are many to choose from, which Tom Cruise gladly took part in - one even causing an injury. Definitely one of the best action films I’ve seen in a long time.

1. CREED II

Creed II brings back old and new in this strong follow up to the 2015 hit that earned Stallone a Golden Globe. Though I like the first one just a little bit more, Creed II still has a lot of heart and soul. There were moments where I was getting into the matches and even, subconsciously, felt those punches! A must see for fans of the Rocky franchise and boxing fans in general.