From Worst to Best: 2018 Movies of the Summer

Welcome everybody to another controversial edition of J-Bang Rankings! Today, I am ranking all of the movies I saw this summer from the bad to the best! The summer season has always been known as "the season of summer blockbusters" and this year was no exception, but that's not to say that there weren't bad movies at the box office either. But be warned that this list is 100% constructed of my own opinion, so please respect it, and in return I will respect yours. Because, we're all humans, and as humans, each of us have a different taste in what we want and are guaranteed to have different opinions. And if your favorite movie is not listed, it's not because it wasn't worthy, it's simply because I had no interest in seeing it. That being said, let's rock and (rick)  roll...

                                                    9. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

Let me start off by saying that I absolutely LOVED the first "Jurassic World" movie. I thought it was the most fitting sequel to the original classic "Jurassic Park" and delivered all the excitement guaranteed from a summer blockbuster. That being said, I thought "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom" was one of the worst movies I have seen in a long time. Going in, I knew this movie wasn't going to have a complex plot or anything, but this movie actually EXCEEDED my expectations on how stupid it got?! Hell, even the characters are so bad that I thought I was watching a high budget Saturday morning cartoon. The only saving grace this film has are the dinosaurs themselves, which prove to be more likable than anybody else in this film. To sum it all up, I would describe "Fallen Kingdom" as this: a horrible SyFy Channel movie with great special effects.
  
                                                               8. Sorry to Bother You

Now don't get me wrong, "Sorry to Bother You" is a very competent film. Stars Lakeith Stanfield and Tessa Thompson particularly shine in their roles, showcasing that moral stress that comes with trying to live and succeed in White America. The story and themes explored in this film are pretty much "A grade." But, for me personally, what makes this movie go from an A- to a C+ is the plot twist at the end of Act II. Sure, I do understand the deeper meaning behind it, but that doesn't excuse the fact that the message gets lost in translation, and ultimately becomes a literal wild goose chase about saving the abused lower class. I get it, but I don't get it. That's what made this film so disappointing to me as a young black male. It told a great story, but got lost in the spectacle of its own fantasy. 

                                                         7. Solo: A Star Wars Story

Surprisingly, this wasn't as bad as many people thought it was gonna be. "Solo: a Star Wars Story" is actually a fun adventure film that feels more like a "Star Wars" movie than "the Last Jedi" did. (FYI I loved the Last Jedi. Come @ me) Donald Glover steals the show as a young Lando Calrissian, and Alden Ehrenreich holds his own as the iconic gun slinger Han Solo. Sure, no one else is gonna play the part better than Harrison Ford did but Ehrenreich does bring something new, yet familiar, to the table. The only true problem that "Solo: a Star Wars Story" has that, well, it isn't really that memorable. It's a good time at the theaters, but nothing else. 

                                                           6. Ant Man and the Wasp

From start to finish, "Ant-Man and the Wasp" is overall a funny and extremely wholesome film. But coming from a hardcore Marvel fan like myself, Marvel's most recent entry proves to be somewhat forgettable. Considering it had to fall behind two of Marvel Studios most ambitious and iconic films, "Ant-Man and the Wasp" were destined to serve as a safe, low risk adventure to tide fans over from all the trauma they just endured this year (more on that later) Now don't get me wrong, the characters are amazingly compelling and the shrinking-growing special effects are top notch. But ultimately, "Ant-Man and the Wasp" is, just like "Solo," a good time at the theaters, but nothing more. (Minus the end credit scenes, of course)

                                                                   5. Deadpool 2

X's GONNA GIVE IT TO YA! "Deadpool 2" is another addition to the unexpectedly successful X-Men spin-off franchise. The always charming Ryan Reynolds returns to play the over the top"Merc with a Mouth" but also brings along the scene-stealing Zazie Beetz as the lucky Domino and Terminator knockoff, Cable, portrayed by the naturally intimidating Josh Brolin. (love him) "Deadpool 2" is chalk full to the brim with one-liners and references so dated, you'll laugh just because you think you're supposed to. (which is not always a bad thing) Although just as entertaining as the first one, this sequel does improve from its predecessor with much more brutal action set pieces. (courtesy of John Wick director David Leitch) All in all, Deadpool 2 is a chimichanga worth sinking your teeth into!

                                                                   4. Incredibles 2

A sequel damn well worth the wait! "Incredibles 2" gives us fans the long-waited return of the Parr family in action. The first film was...well...Incredible (I'm sorry), and is damn near unbeatable to top, but rather than try to out-do the original, returning director Brad Bird delivers an emotionally engaging superhero film that feels just as good as the original while also feeling also entirely different. "Incredibles 2" is a film both kids and adults can enjoy! As the old cliche would say, "it's fun for the whole family."

                                                              3. BlackkKlansman

Spike Lee's latest joint, "BlackkKlansman" brings the forenamed director back to what made his films so great in the first place. "BlackkKlansman" goes to places that many mainstream directors wouldn't even dare to venture. Following the undercover investigation of the Ku Klux Klan, Spike Lee showcases the racist tendencies of 1970s America while also exhibiting what the existence of the KKK means both to those who want to preserve it as well as those who want to destroy it. Weirdly enough, by the time the credits rolled, I felt like this could be a movie that everyone can watch, enjoy, and learn from...including racists. 

                                                        2. Mission:Impossible-Fallout

When I say "Mission: Impossible-Fallout" is the best pure action film since "Mad Max: Fury Road," I mean that shit! Starring the 56 year old Tom Cruise, (yep, fifty-freakin six) Ethan Hunt returns with his rogue team member of IMF agents to save the world from nuclear fallout. Now, I know when it comes to the Mission Impossible franchise, the story is usually the same. But how Fallout differs from the rest is franchise is: Beautiful cinematography, amazing soundtrack, and a SPECTACULAR ABUNDANCE OF PRACTICAL STUNT-WORK FROM TOM CRUISE HIMSELF. I mean, MY GOD?! The action feels so real that although the story adds drama, it's really the set pieces the creates the tension of almost dying over and over again.



                                          ...and the #1 summer movie of 2018 is...









                                                          1. Avengers: Infinity War

Was there ever any doubt? I mean "come on?" You had to see this coming! Being marketed as the culmination of a 10 year journey, Marvel Studios delivers a superhero epic that doesn't pull a single punch. With all hands on deck, every hero (minus Hawkeye and Ant-Man) we have been introduced to for the past 10 years must band together to take down a Mad Titan named Thanos, who is hell bent on collecting all 6 of the infinity stones in order to accomplish his mission: Wiping out half of the universe in existence. Thanks to the Russo Brothers directing at the helm, Marvel Studios delivers a film that makes you laugh, cry, hold your breath and breaks you heart over and over and over again...