#and the way they paid respect to Chadwick Boseman i just-

[corvidaecircus]

just came back from seeing Black Panther: Wakanda Forever don't talk to me im fragile

[r-fenghuang-fanfiction]

Watched Black Panther Wakanda Forever and had some real mixed feelings about it.

It was beautiful, it was well done, I loved watching M'Baku get emotional over the loss of his friend and his king, I loved seeing Shuri deal with her grief and come into her adulthood, I loved how they acknowledged N'Jadaka as a member of the family, I loved the respect paid between Namor and Shuri as the rulers of their countries, I loved that the whole film had that cool, modern feel that I associate with Coogler films, but...

Honestly, it felt too fresh. I watched it in a theatre with giggling white people and cried through almost the entire film. It was so much about losing Chadwick and it was a beautiful way to honour him and what he brought to the role and I loved seeing indigenous rep, but I just had the weirdest experience with it. As a native Hawaiian/Pinoy American it was so upsetting to see the Talokan and Wakandans killing each other and harming each other. In the middle of grieving for Chadwick, I then had to wince through every fight scene (which were well shot but so upsetting) and then peppered into that was the unecessary white man plot (saying this as someone who likes Martin Freeman and appreciates his work) which I had no patience for and then the whole time, I just kept thinking : Disney made this movie. Disney, an incredibly harmful monopoly known for mistreating and exploiting people and only ever doing the bare minimum to support queer people and people of colour. Disney made this movie. Ryan Coogler and Chadwick Boseman and so many others loved this film and made this film with the best of intentions, but that will always be undercut by the reality that Disney made this movie for a profit. We're Disney's token POC friend that they bring up everytime someone accuses them of being racist.

I don't really have anything bad to say about the actors or the film itself, but the emotional reality of it was just too much for me and I definitely watched it with the wrong people.

7/10. It hurt and it was frustrating and I hated seeing people who have so much to gain from understanding and supporting each other, tear each other down instead (even if they do eventually learn their lesson.)

[theuntitledblog]

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) - REVIEW (SPOILER ALERT)

SYNOPSIS

Wakanda is in mourning following the unexpected death of King T'Challa which has left Queen Ramonda and Princess Shuri with the task of leading Wakanda against the threats posed by intervening world powers. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, a new power emerges from the Earth's ocean in the form of Namor who challenges Wakanda in ways it has never been challenged before.

No other film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with such a weight of genuine sadness upon it as reality and fiction merge to acknowledge onscreen the real life passing of lead star Chadwick Boseman. There wasn't really any way for Ryan Coogler to avoid it and to his credit, Wakanda Forever tackles it head on with the greatest of respects being paid. The story has to acknowledge it as well with impact of that loss reverberating throughout the whole story and particularly influencing the character work. As a sequel to 2018's Black Panther, Wakanda Forever builds upon all the successful elements of that film and attempts to elevate them further with a bigger story that touches upon modern themes and showcasing the talents of its impressive cast. Black Panther boasted one of the best ensemble cast of characters in an MCU solo project and here they equally carry the load while this particular brand of the MCU looks to reboot itself with a new lead and renewed focus. In this sense alone it is a general success but when considered as a whole, it doesn't quite match the leaness of the first film for me nor does it quite manage to fully fill the absence caused by Boseman's sad death. If nothing else however, it is a moving tribute to Chadwick Boseman and takes some interesting and welcome steps in securing his legacy in the role of T'Challa.

Wakanda Forever doesn't immediately lean towards a new lead character; you might be able to guess going in who the successor to the Black Panther will be but throughout much of its runtime it doesn't make that clear. Given the collective popularity and strength of Letitia Wright's Shuri, Lupita Nyongo's Nakia, Danai Gurira's Okoye and even Winston Duke's M'Baku as characters, this isn't really an issue. Angela Bassett's Queen Ramonda is a particular triumph following her comparatively smaller role in Black Panther but Ryan Coogler ensures that each of the main characters have a significant role to play at different points during the rather lengthy runtime. But the burden of lead does eventually fall, as I suppose it inevitably would, to Letitia Wright who does as good a job as could be expected given that she is carrying the biggest share of the on screen weight of Boseman's death. She fully convinces as a lost and angry Shuri who is true to character by hiding behind her technology and rejecting tradition as she mourns T'Challa's death. But she still has a way to go for me to fully convince as an action star even though she isn't really given much to showcase what she can do as the Black Panther.

As a sequel, Wakanda Forever does a lot right. Much like the first, the costume design and music is incredible and helps maintain its unique style and aesthetic within the MCU. While T'Challa's death underpins everything emotionally, his death does also have the consequence of adding a sense of vulnerability to the powerful nation of Wakanda and its main characters. There is no Black Panther following Killmonger's burning of the Heart-Shaped Flower and this weakness is only amplified by the arrival of Namor (Tenoch Huerta) and the warriors of the kingdom of Talokan. There are some hard hitting set pieces and enough character development done with Namor to ensure he is more than just your standard villain. There is also the threat posed by CIA head Valentina de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) which is another promising story strand that runs parallel to Namor as the nations of the world scavenge the planet looking for more Vibranium. However this is a story that feels like it's being held back slightly for a potential Black Panther 3 or even the Ironheart series and therefore doesn't reach full fruition. What this does do however is create some genuine threat which is not something the MCU has always been very good at so Coogler deserves credit for me again here.

Wakanda Forever has perhaps too much going on and isn't quite able to bring everything to a head in a fully satisfying way. While the conflict with Namor is well handled, the final set piece feels beneath the film as a whole and seems like a obligation rather than an essential piece of this story. Likewise the debut of Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne) despite enjoying good chemistry with Shuri and even a few moments with Okoye, generally lacked depth as a character and the Ironheart concept felt unexplored. These aren't enough to bring down the film completely because it is a generally well crafted sequel and a character driven affair that hits strong emotional beats especially with T'Challa's death firmly at the centre. It's a funnier film despite the aura of sadness upon it, the set pieces are suitably thrilling for the most part and the characters remain the greatest asset of the Black Panther series.

VERDICT

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a wonderful tribute to its late star but Ryan Coogler's story judges it perfectly with the emotional weight elevating the film in general. Led by its incredible cast, Wakanda Forever is a well crafted sequel that builds on story elements of first Black Panther to thrilling effect even if it has perhaps too much going on to satisfy fully.

4/5

[ratingtheframe]

Everything That Happened at the 2021 Golden Globes

The first two months of the year are finally over and as the days grow longer, we can start to see the early signs of spring. With spring comes summer and with summer comes an influx of movie releases, with the majority of films that were put on hold last year scheduled to be released in the following months in cinemas across the world. You know, cinemas, as in those big rooms where you pay to sit and watch movies from start to finish without pausing it? Gosh have I missed the pre movie adverts, comfy chairs and super wide screens. It's not the same at home and despite Netflix, HBO and Amazon Prime thriving, we shouldn’t set anything in stone when it comes to the quality and accessibility of film. 

Cinema is tradition whereas On Demand is convenience and usually choosing convenience over tradition does impact the quality of work being distributed. There are a bunch of films on streaming platforms that would be too inappropriate for cinemas, seeing as they lack a cinematic or dramatic feel to them to be good enough for a big screen. This allows mediocre to downright awful films to find an audience via streaming platforms. All well and good, seeing as these platforms are great exposure for upcoming filmmakers but at the same time it's a capitalistic system that puts views above the quality of content. It doesn’t matter if what you’re watching on Netflix is bad, they just want you to keep coming back for more. This can be said for mainstream cinema too, but to a lesser degree seeing as cinemas typically release around 68 movies per month, whereas Netflix has the ability to add up to 200 releases on their platform per month. It makes perfect sense that Netflix has the viewers that it does, as we can see that it releases almost twice the content of cinemas per month. For the avid cinephiles, this leaves us wanting a lot more as we’re only able to enjoy maybe one or two films a month from online streaming services, because the quality is so inconsistent. I hope that cinemas open soon so that I can relax knowing that the film I’ve paid money for will be of a good quality. 

Speaking of good quality films, Chloé Zhao, director of Nomadland (2021) became the second woman in the 78 year history of the Golden Globes to win an award for directing. This is an exceptional triumph and from the moment I saw Nomadland, I knew that it would have an incredible impact on awards circuits this year. Nomadland also won Best Picture, which proves something that up and coming filmmakers may need to start getting their heads around. People may not necessarily be gravitating towards cinema for a chance of escapism any more. I thoroughly believe those days are behind us, buried in the 70s and 80s with films that defied the laws of filmmaking and went to extreme lengths to serve us an entire universe that we couldn’t even comprehend. However, as the world grows more fragile and people start to realise the fragility of life, we want to connect with one another authentically and realistically. 

The way that film can do this is by showing our real selves on screen, showing our pain, redemption, emotions, fear, honesty, laughter, race, gender, humanity, darkest secrets and biggest dreams using the backdrop of cinema to sell us a story. People want films that are honest and are a reflection of humanity as well as the current society we’re living in. Not necessarily “a slice of life”, but a slice of humanity that we never see because it’s never impacted us directly, yet we still want to be made to feel like it has through film. That’s the key to success in any film, making the viewer feel like they’ve experienced something on screen even when they haven’t. If the film is too far away from our own psyche or humanity, we switch off, as we can no longer relate or even want to relate to something so obtuse and boring. Nomadland was the complete opposite to this theory, bringing us humanity in all its glory; its sadness and pure emotion that affects millions everyday, especially in such a time when loneliness is rife.

This is why Mank (2020) lost out. In a time where the world is in a sensitive disposition, Mank came as ineffective to the world of film. Though triumphant in it’s making, the film proves the fundamental foundation of film that Mank failed to do; have a good story. Mank just wasn’t the story people wanted or needed to see and one can appreciate a filmmaker’s efforts to make films but at the end of the day, the story is truly the only thing that’ll carry a film and if it's uninteresting and impersonal, people switch off. And they clearly did, seeing as Mank lost out to all SIX of its nominations. Less is more, I suppose, seeing as Nomadland won two out of four awards, including the top prize of Best Picture. David Fincher even took a shot every time he lost a category. Better luck next time.Other snubs included Emerald Fennell’s Promising Young Woman (2021) starring Carey Mulligan ,which was released on VOD last month. The film was nominated for four prizes and I suppose the lack of release in cinemas worldwide or at a Film Festival meant the lack of hype for the film. Regina King’s One Night In Miami...failed to pick up a prize, having been nominated for three awards. King shouldn’t be too disheartened, seeing as her debut definitely got her the recognition she deserved.

Aaron Sorkin most notably won Best Screenplay for his amazing picture, The Trial of the Chicago 7. I had the fortune of catching this in cinemas and the musicality of this screenplay was unreal. An incredibly authentic, riveting and honest piece of work, I believe we can safely say that Aaron Sorkin is the greatest writer for cinema and TV in our day and age. Sorkin is used to being showered with accolades, from Primetime Emmys with The West Wing, to an Oscar with David Fincher’s The Social Network.

The late Chadwick Boseman was honoured in full glory, having won the award for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture for his role as Levee in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. An exceptional performance that reeks with Oscar success, Boseman is the first actor to be awarded the prize posthumously.

What’s also to be noted is the amount of British nominees and winners at this year’s ceremony. It seems like the American Film & TV market is wide open for Brits, seeing as Emma Corrin, Josh O'Connor, Daniel Kaluuya, Sacha Baron Cohen, Rosamund Pike, John Boyega and Anya Taylor Joy all won awards for acting. Helen Bonham Carter, Olivia Coleman, Vanessa Kirby, Riz Ahmed, Gary Oldman, Antony Hopkins, Dev Patel, James Corden, Hugh Grant, Jodie Comer, Lilly Collins and Nicolas Hoult all received nominations and were all born in the UK. The Crown in particular just seems to be getting more successful with each year and despite its controversy, the show has won Netflix 7 Golden Globes and 10 Emmys. What does this tell us about our actors and their ability in comparison to our friends overseas? Is it just a stroke of luck that the majority of actors who won this year are British or are we doing something different? Only time will tell as more British actors begin to be recognised for their flare over in the US.

If anything, we’ve learnt that The Golden Globes is for everyone. Anyone can win an award despite their background as long as those who control the awards ceremony are willing to give a variety of films a chance, not just ones directed by David Fincher. Nomadland is certainly an underdog for cinema, one that may not have done as well had other films been released last year. COVID-19 created space for this film to be seen and has truly been taken in as a work of art, proving that films of the same kind deserve to be seen in the up and coming future. British actors can and have made it big in Hollywood and it seems like American audiences welcome them with open arms. Sacha Baron’s Cohen’s humour in Borat Subsequent MovieFilm wasn’t unrequited, seeing as it won Best Musical / Comedy at this year’s award season, meaning every moment of that film (incriminating or not) WAS WORTH IT. Even though Regina King and Emerald Fennell lost out on their respective films, their work has been courageous and profound in helping to give space to women in the film industry. The fact that they were even nominated along with Chloé Zhao, was an achievement in itself and has women like me looking up to the success of these three women and realising that I could have the same shot. Mank came at the wrong time, and though good visually, it lacked a beating heart that the Golden Globes could identify with enough to give it at least one award. Soul was named Best Animation Feature Film of the year, also winning an award for music with a beautiful score by Atticus Ross, Trent Reznor and Jon Batiste. The Queen’s Gambit also reigned supreme, as Anya Taylor Joy won Best Actress for a performance in a mini series / tv film and the overall series won Best Television Mini Series / Television Film.

This has to be the best Golden Globes I’ve ever witnessed. Not only did it champion diversity in the film categories, British Actors and female directors, it actually gave consumers as well as judges, something that actually wanted, which was to see underdogs thrive in an environment that’s usually laid bare for the same characters. Let’s keep this up for the next ceremony !

ig @ratingtheframe

[hellofaride2021]

Hi, can we please get another 30 questions post? 🥰

Sure, why not? 😊 I found this by searching 30 questions and this one via @immahomosexuall popped up.

1. What do you like and dislike about the way you were brought up?

I like that I was brought up not to judge others. My parents were always clear that I shouldn’t judge people or treat them differently because they were different. Wether that was race, religion, sexuality, disability; I remember being young and them explaing that to me.

I hate my dads temper. I hate that I have the same temper and that we’ve spent too many times clashing and arguing from big stuff to little stuff that turns into big stuff.

2. What do you believe are the 5 biggest issues we face as humans now?

Racism!

Womens rights!

LGBT Rights!

Corona Virus!!!!

And just the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer and nothing being done to help them/treating them like it’s their fault.

3. If you could write a novel what would it be about?

Since I was a teenager I’ve wanted to write a mystery based on the 1920’s focused on a jazz club singer. Most recently I’ve wanted to write a mystery involving family history. My mother has done family history for years and her findings plus other people’s stories have really inspired me.

4.  What are your beliefs regarding the universe and the nature of life and death?

Honestly? I have no clue. Maybe there’s a God, maybe there isn’t. I do like the idea of reincarnation.

5. Talk about the best dream you’ve ever had. 

This was when I was about ten years old so I don’t remember much of it but involved my friends and I finding a door in a tree, which led to this other world and going on some adventure. The only other thing I remember is us crossing a bridge over lava lol

6. Do you want children? Why or why not? 

Eh. Yes and no lol. Kids are cute and having one I could help grow and watch them fall in love with things, become passionate about would be great. Also giving my parents grandkids would be cool too. But I don’t know if I’m very maternal. I would hate to be the temper filled parent my dad can be and I’m afraid I wouldn’t have the patience with things like learning to ties shoes, tell the time, help with homework.

7. What are your views on gender equality? 

I think you should be paid based on your title and experience wether you’re a man or woman. I think everyone should be treated the same regardless of gender.

8. How do you feel about cultural appropriation? 

It’s wrong, of course. But sometimes I find myself reading about it online, a new one that’s happened and I’ll be like “oh, is that cultural appropriation or just appreciation? And can I really be in a conversation about that?” Basically I’m constantly learning.

There’s actually a photo of my as a child dressed as Pocahontas for a school dance because I was obsessed with her! At the time I had no idea that was cultural appropriation, I was just young and wanted to be like this person I thought was cool, but I feel awful about it now.

9. Where are the 3 places you most want to travel to and why?

NYC for Broadway

Hawaii because I have family there I’ve never met.

New Zealand because I have family there who I’ve met but we’ve never visited because we can’t afford to, but we have an open invitation.

10. What are some things you wish you’d been taught as a child that you weren’t? 

That you may not end up in your dream job but that it’s ok. It doesn’t mean you failed.

11. Talk about some of the biggest mistakes you’ve ever made?

Not having the confidence to fully learn my country’s language which has held me off getting jobs. Also, just dumb family arguments, especially with my dad.

12. Do you feel you are in control of your destiny or do you believe fate controls the course of your life? 

A little of both?

13. Do you believe is ghosts/ spirits? If so why do you think they exist?

Another yes or no. I think some stories we’ve heard are false but I think it’s a possibility.

14. Do you think there are any other forms of intelligent life in the universe? 

There has to be. With how big space is, we can’t be the only ones out there.

15. What do you think constitutes a truly healthy relationship?

Openness, respect, accountability, compromise.

16. How would you like to live your life?

Happy, financially secure and with more confidence.

17. Talk about a time someone treated you badly.

A kid stole my stuffed lamb in nursery lol the same kid also attacked me in the school playground. Once when I was about 14 this girl and a couple of her friends stopped my friend and I because she had a problem with my cousin. She threatened me, hit me and ended up having the cops go to her house and tell her to keep her distance from me or there would be stricter consequences.

18. Talk about a time you treated someone else badly. 

I’ve been pretty bitchy and awful to my sister when we’ve argued.

19. What is something you can’t do that you really wish you could? 

Dance! It’s in the family and I’d love to. Also sing.

20. What are your initial thoughts when somebody tells you they’re religious? 

Interest. What religion are they? How involved are they?

21. Were you more of the victim or the bully as a child? 

Victim in school for sure.

22. How have you changed since you were a child and how have you stayed the same? 

While I’m still kinda shy and social anxious, I’m so much better than I was when I was younger! There have been things I’ve done that I never would have then.

As for the same? Well I’m still the same geeky person I was as a kid who loves marvel, dc, sci fi, supernatural, music, films, tv, reading, history and true crime.

23. Are you the kind of person who has a large group of friends or are you someone who has just a few people they’re close to? 

Just a few close friends. One I’ve known since I was three, the other six and the third since we were sixteen.

24. What qualities have you got from your parents? 

I have for my sarcasm and love of music, musical/dancing and history from my mum, and from my dad his temper, music and true crime.

25. What is one thing you wish somebody would say to you right now?

You’ve won the lottery lol 

26. Describe your ideal partner? 

Off the top of my head; picture a mix of the personality and looks of Matt Bomer, Darren Criss, Robert Downey Jr, Lin Manuel Miranda and Chadwick Boseman. I’m sure I’m missing some but yeah.

27. Describe yourself as a person?

Passionate, anxious, self critical, protective, geeky, sarcastic.

28. What things don’t you do right now that you feel like you morally should? 

Attend protests for things I believe in. I mostly don’t because I’m claustrophobic and those things get large. Did you see the sizes of the Women’s March and BLM? I felt anxious just looking at them.

29. What is your star sign and how accurate do you think it is in describing you?

Scorpio and I think it’s pretty spot on. There’s one or two i think aren’t complety right, but mostly it’s pretty accurate.

30. What sort of terms are you on with your exes? 

I actually have no exes. I am a grown women who has never been in a relationship 🤷🏼‍♀️ it’s partly to do with how shy I used to be (still can be tbh) and also, guys just have never asked me. So yeah.....pandemic is not helping either lol

[themosleyreview]

The Mosley Review: Best Film of 2018

Another year has passed and man was it a good year with some great films. Now I know I missed a good number of them, but I saw the ones that interested me. This list comprises of the best films that either wowed or moved me. Now I try to keep these lists at 10 films, but this year I'm adding one extra slot. If you want the full review of each film then click each title. Now without further ado, here's my list of the best film 2018! First up......

Blockers: It has truly been a while since we've had a fresh idea come to the teen sex comedy genre and this one was what the genre needed. It was genuinely funny in so many ways and unexpectedly heartfelt and sweet. The sight gags were truly fantastic and hilarious especially the "kiss the car moment". I loved the chemistry each parent had with their teenagers and the over all message of growing up and acceptance. American Pie was of my generation and this film was for this generation and I still loved it.

A Quiet Place: If there was a list of the best trailers of 2018, then this film’s trailer would win. Originality is key to the horror/sci fi thriller and the fact that director John Krasinski tapped into that with a genius idea was truly surprising. Known for comedy, it was a great switch to see his more dramatic side. I loved the family story that surrounded the constant threat in the world and it made for some of the most thrilling moments on screen once certain family members were alone. I truly was on the edge of my seat the entire film and I had one of the rare theater experiences where I was in a full theater and nobody made a sound. No crinkling of rappers, whispering or cell phone usage. Everyone was engaged completely. Man I loved this film.

Hereditary: I love the resurgence of slow burn horror films. Not all have mastered it yet, but the ones that do are truly special. This film was creepy and heartbreaking in so many ways. If it was just a family drama then it would be great, but with the addition of the horror element it becomes a masterpiece. The whole cast delivers great performances, but Toni Collette was unbelievably fantastic and I hope she gets nominated for Best Actress. She was so real and gut wrenching when tragedy hits her. This was truly the best horror film of the year and it should not be missed by anyone.

Incredibles 2: Why did it take 14 years until we finally got a sequel to one of the best original animated superhero films?! Well the wait was worth it because Pixar delivered once again. Not only does the family get more challenging drama sprinkled into their lives, but things get kinda scary. I loved every sequence with Elastic Girl, but Jack Jack stole the entire film with his fight with the raccoon. Every year Pixar delivers with their original stories and it was about time that my favorite Pixar film got the sequel it deserved. PLEASE don't make us wait another 14 years for Incredibles 3!  

Blackkklansman: I love Spike Lee. He is and will always be one of the most powerful voices in the black community and in cinema. To see his take on one of the most dangerous and awesome true stories was truly exciting. I did have a hesitation about seeing the film because at times racism related films can be a too aggravating, but I gave it a chance and loved it. It was a story that needed to be told on the big screen and with all the powerful messages. The performances were great all around and I loved John David Washington and his chemistry with Adam Driver. The pair were excellent apart and together. The ending of the film was a strong political and social message that was heard loud and clear and I loved the film all the more for it.

Mission: Impossible - Fallout: Again and again this franchise gets even more intense with its fantastic storytelling and astounding action sequences that are breathtaking. The reason why these films are still loved is because the action is real and gritty. Tom Cruise keeps this franchise fresh and as Ethan Hunt he hasn't stopped being great. From start to finish the connections to past films and the twists were truly amazing and I loved the rivalry between Tom and Henry Cavil's character August Walker. This was an espionage epic and another definition of how to keep your franchise fresh.

Bohemian Rhapsody: It is very rare to do a film about an influential band right and I think that's the reason why we don't see films like this anymore. The ultimate challenge was presented to do a film on possibly the greatest band England and the world has ever seen and will ever know. I was so happy with the results of this magnificent film. So much care and heart went into the making of this film and immortalized Queen and Freddie Mercury while showing respect to his memory. Everybody wants the deep, dirty and dark side of a person's life, but that wasn't the important part of the film. It is rightfully addressed, but it doesn't consume the film. This was a love letter to Queen and to all the generations of fans that were there from the beginning, who grew up with Queen and for the new ones just discovering them now.

Avengers: Infinity War: 10 years of a serialized film universe has finally come together in what is to be known as one of greatest technical achievements in storytelling and filmmaking. All this time the powers behind the Marvel Cinematic Universe have taken risk after risk and it has paid off each time. Now this film brings almost all of the characters we know and love and puts them together in a cohesive story that spans across the globe and stars and it keeps the grounded feel that has been consistent throughout each film. The action was fantastic it was truly breathtaking to see a film of this scale to be the first film shot entirely in IMAX. The moment we started losing characters was truly heartbreaking and a communal tear was shed for one in particular. I loved this film and I can't wait for Endgame.

A Star is Born: It is the one story that has been told countless times and a film that has been remade 3 times prior and I have to say that this is the best version. The music in the film was fantastic and the way that the live performances were shot was expertly done. I felt as if I was onstage with Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga. The two of them delivered outstanding performances and Lady Gaga has shown her acting chops before, but this was on another level of excellence. Their bond throughout the film was the heart that kept beating steadily and when it breaks, it breaks your soul. I loved this film so much and I haven't stopped listening to the soundtrack to this day.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse: If there's one character that has had more reboots than anybody else, its Spider-Man. The entire franchise has been rebooted and plagued with 3 bad films and luckily the character was saved by the MCU handlers. Now comes the story of a new Spider-Man and my god was it astounding. The visuals alone were groundbreaking and pushed what can be done in animation to the next level. The story was a perfect introduction to a fan favorite Miles Morales and a worthy origin story for him. This film exceed all my expectations and blew the doors off how origin stories are made. This was a crowning achievement in filmmaking and storytelling and will be one of the most influential story for children of all ages and race. Such a masterpiece.

And now the moment is here. The best film of 2018 is......

Black Panther: I have waited with baited breath for the moment that the first black superhero in comic book history would finally get his own film and it finally happened. Not only did the film fully bring to life the hero, but also his world and the heritage with the African nation. The colors and art style exploded off the screen in every frame. Wakanda was finally brought to life with such skill, love and respect. The film had many themes of family, ancestoral history, but at its core was a social commentary on growing up in 2 different worlds. One in America and one in Africa. The many similarities between T'Challa and Killmonger were great and although both world views were different, both were righteous in their beliefs. Killmonger had a point in the fact that Wakanda is far more advanced than any nation and the technological advances should be shared and used for domination. He was kinda right, but wrong in his execution. He made for one of the best villains/idealists and it was one Michael B. Jordan's best performances. Chadwick Boseman has always been a class act and he becomes T'Challa in this film and I loved his journey. Winston Duke stole the film as M'Baku and he is one of the best characters the MCU has. Black Panther is the film that encapsulates everything that is good in the MCU and its story is the most influential and gives the black community a hero we can all learn from and root for. This film is a cinematic staple that will not be forgotten and deserves every accolade it receives.

And that's it people! That is my list of the best films of 2018! What a great year for film and I can't wait to see what 2019 has to offer. With the upcoming slate, I think my list will be harder to make come next January.