Top Movies of 2019 So Far


We've reached the mid-point in 2019, and it seems a good time to reflect on all that's come so far. That means considering the best movies of the first half of the year. For me, it's been a mix of animated features and superheroes that have stood out through the July Fourth weekend. Here's my Top 5 so far.

5. How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
About: This was the third film in the franchise, and the final film. I haven't always loved this franchise, but I thought this third and final installment was a lot of fun, and packed an emotional punch. It felt like a great way to end the series and it was one of the most fun films I saw during the Spring. In a year that's been great for animated features, this one certainly earned a spot here.

4. Toy Story 4
About: Going back to the animated well, this is another sequel that felt like it delivered a fitting finale to the franchise. Let's hope that is the case, as it felt like a perfect way to wrap up Woody's (Tom Hanks) story. This was a movie that had a lot of interesting animation and packed plenty of emotional punches. It might not have felt as good as "Toy Story 3," but it was still pretty powerful and one of the best of an uneven summer.

3. Avengers: Endgame
About: Another sequel, this one writing a finish to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as we've known it. This film had a lot of pressure and a lot of hype to live up to, and it did so well. I thought it wrote a perfect and somewhat beautiful end to the story of many of these heroes and was one of the best of the year so far.

2. The Lego Movie 2
About: This is my favorite animated film of the year so far, and I think it will probably stay that way. I saw an early preview screening and it was worth it. This was a lot of fun, but also a rich, emotional journey, one that really got me. This is the rare sequel that, I think, surpassed the original.

1. Captain Marvel
About: Finally a movie on this list that isn't a sequel. This was an origin story, sure, but it also had plenty of shout outs to the Marvel Universe and 1990s culture. Brie Larson was great in the title role, and her pairing with Samuel L. Jackson really worked. Much like its titular hero, "Captain Marvel" was awesome.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Now Playing

Image
  It was an interesting week for new releases in theaters. Below is my take on the two big theatrical films from the weekend. You can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734. Boy Kills World (Theaters) Starring : Bill Skarsgard, Jessica Rothe, Famke Janssen, Brett Gellman, and Michelle Dockery Synopsis : We have seen a lot of action films this year. Many have featured violent sequences, but some have been more artful than others. The new film, Boy Kills World, provides plenty of violence. It’s right there in the title. But where it falls short is in building something compelling beyond the killing spree. We’re introduced to a Boy (Skarsgard) early in the film. He tells us that his world is ruled by the Van Der Koy family, whose head, Hilda (Janssen) keeps the people in line through an annual Culling, where she kills “enemies.” Our protagonist’s mother and sister were among her victims. The Boy barely survived; saved by the Shaman (Yayan Ru...
Read more

Fall TV Roundup, Week 16

Image
  It’s Christmas week, and you might find yourself looking for some distractions in the form of new shows to check out. But which are worth checking out? Let this weekly post be your guide as I review the pilot and second episode of new shows this Fall. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Tuesdays: American Auto, Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on NBC (Premiered December 13) About: A lot was made of the fact NBC, former home of Must-See TV, launched a schedule this Fall with no sitcoms. NBC isn’t planning to do the same in the winter, and they got a jump start to close the year, offering two-episode previews of a pair of new sitcoms that will begin their normal runs in January. The first, American Auto , comes from Superstore creator Justin Spitzer and centers on a new CEO (Ana Gasteyer) at a car company. She doesn’t come from the world of cars but is trying to effect positive changes. I thought the first two episodes were funny and definitely filled the Superstore vib...
Read more

Now Playing

Image
  It was a solid week for new releases, including my favorite animated film of the year. You can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734.  Brats (Hulu) Synopsis : From Andrew McCarthy, this new documentary takes a look at the infamous Brat Pack. The film features interviews with the members as they look back at the title that branded them and helped define some of their career. As a member of the group, McCarthy brings a unique perspective. Often the interviews, with actors such as Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Timothy Hutton, and Demi Moore, among others, feels more like old friends catching up. There’s a sweetness and a lightness to the documentary that is incredibly appealing. The film does a good job of capturing the highs and lows, and helping these actors and actresses give an account of what the pressure of that time—and these high-profile films—meant in their lives and their careers. As a child of the 1980s, I was fascinating by t...
Read more