We are halfway through the year, so it’s about time somebody gave their view on the best movies so far. Spoilers follow…
Black Panther
Three months since Black Panther was released and I am still hearing “Wakanda Forever” and imitations of Forest Whitaker’s bad African accent, this just shows the success of Black Panther, that it’s still being discussed like it was released last week. Black Panther was what the world needed, especially for black people; even though in essence it is a superhero movie, its incorporation of African cultures and traditions and portrayal of black people not as slaves or maids but as royalty, was deliciously refreshing.
Like almost every other Marvel film, we meet the title character King T’Challa in Captain America: Civil War and the events of his stand-alone film follow the events that occur after Civil War; T’Challa dealing with his father’s death, becoming King and trying to capture the enemy of the Land Ulysses Klaue who stole vibranium and had a hand in the murder of the King. Black Panther not only lived up to the hype, it exceeded it; the cinematography, the cast, the costumes, the story, some of the lines in it are amazing. Black Panther is a cinema masterpiece and deserves all its plaudits and more, I can’t wait for the sequel.
A Quiet Place
When a film gets a 95 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, whether you like the genre or not, you have to go watch it. For a film with barely any dialogue in it, it’s absolutely amazing. Emily Blunt and John Krasinski deliver quality performances. The story of monsters that respond solely to sound and having the protagonists make sure they don’t make any noise is so effective; it even translates to the audience.
I have never been to a film screening where it was so quiet, deathly quiet, some cinemagoers were even afraid to munch on their popcorn in case they made a sound, the cinema was so quiet you’d be wary to even breathe too heavy. The film follows the Abbott family who are trying their best to live in a world where they can’t make any noise or they die which will prove quite difficult especially since they have a baby on the way. The film is a tense, suspenseful 90 minutes and your heart rate won’t return to normal until the film is over.
Avengers: Infinity War
My brother’s friend described the film as “from jump straight greaze” with the exaggerated arm movements to go with it and I have to say, I have yet to hear anything that describes the film as perfectly as this. For those who don’t know what “greaze” means, it’s basically when something is really, really, REALLY good and Avengers: Infinity War is most definitely that.
In the film we are reintroduced to Thanos, a huge powerful purple dictator on the quest to collect all six infinity stones and bring his plan to basically wipe out half the universe to fruition and simultaneously destroy anything or anyone who tries to stand in his way. The film is an experience; its two and a half hours of every emotion imaginable, until you get to the end of the film and you just sit in your cinema seat with your empty bag of popcorn, staring at the black screen and just think to yourself: “what the hell just happened?”
The following movies are two of my most anticipated, and I am sure they are some of yours too!
The Incredibles 2
Now this film is not out yet but I already know it will be in my top 2 and it won’t be 2. The Incredibles was the first film I ever watched in the cinema, I remember every detail of that day, that’s when I learnt to never sit at the front row in the cinema. I believe for my generation especially, that this is one of the most anticipated sequels especially since the first film ended on a cliff-hanger.
I’ve been repeatedly watching all the mini-trailers Disney has been releasing building up to the release of the film and I’ve been trying to piece together what the story could be. Based on the trailer unlike the first film in this film Helen takes centre stage, it’s her turn to rediscover her prime superhero days and Bob’s turn to be a stay at home parent that would be a nice change as the viewers barely got to see Helen shine as an individual in the first film, in addition I love the fact that Frozone’s wife is back too, she’s such an iconic character everyone knows or should know her line from the first film. There’s not much more to say I can’t wait to feel like an 8 year old girl again when I eventually watch the sequel.
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
God bless J.K. Rowling. Some of her twitter opinions may divide but her fictional writing sure does not. Not to be a drama queen but life lost a little bit of meaning after Harry Potter ended so when Fantastic Beasts and where to find them was announced I was over the moon, having something to fill the Harry Potter whole in my life was exactly what I needed but Eddie Redmayne managed to make his own whole in my life.
The film was brilliant in its complete own right and Harry Potter was a distant thought when watching it, the film had a great story and the characters especially Eddie’s was quite endearing. I am thoroughly excited for the next instalment in the Fantastic Beasts series also I am more excited with the fact there will be a young Albus Dumbledore in the film also. For all us Potterheads this is definitely something to look forward to and I am more than certain that the film will not disappoint.
By Estrella Mabika
Images provided by Paramount Pictures, Marvel Studios, Disney/Pixar and Warner Bros. Pictures
Reverbium 