Last Updated on August 3, 2021
As 2018 draws to a close we reflect on a year of ups and downs at the movies, both critically and financially. There were some surprises in regards to which highly anticipated movies lived up to their trailers and marketing as well as some dark horses that came out of nowhere to really steal the show. But, if there is one thing for certain, there are always movies that are highly overrated and underrated by critics and fans alike. As the UnPopular Opinion Guy, I felt it was only fitting to issue my list of the movies I felt that the masses got wrong. Some of these may shock you and some may just piss you off, but these are my honest to goodness perspective of the movies of 2018. If you disagree with any of the choices, please voice your own opinion in the talkback below. After all, the only opinion that really matters is yours, I am just here to share mine.
5 – A STAR IS BORN
There is nothing particularly wrong with A STAR IS BORN as a film, but it also doesn't tread any new ground or provide any insight not found in the three versions of the story that came before it. While the original music is very good, the performances from the cast are bland and unengaging. The chemistry between Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga is virtually non-existant and I found myself caring more for the supporting players than the stars of the film. Plus, Cooper is being lauded for filmmaking awards when his direction is as boring and workmanlike as Clint Eastwood's. A good movie being way overhyped, A STAR IS BORN could have been so much more.
4 – INCREDIBLES 2
As a devoted fan of Brad Bird, including TOMORROWLAND, I found myself enjoying INCREDIBLES 2 the first time I saw it but finding more and more faults with each additional viewing. For starters, after waiting fourteen years, I expected more from this movie. Yes, the action and animation are top notch (as always from Pixar), but the story hits the exact same beats as a first movie. The Screenslaver is a wasted red herring and the big villain twist was easy to figure out from the outset. What is missing from this sequel is the emotional resonance the first film had. Instead, we get a nice looking action movie for all ages that doesn't have the depth of it's classic predecessor.
3 – HEREDITARY
Ari Aster's feature directorial debut is quite the original story. The twist ending and performances are all excellent, but the languid pacing of the film never earns it the laurels being bestowed on it. Tons of critics hailed HEREDITARY as the scariest film of the year and one of the scariest of all time when it is far from either achievement. Toni Collette's performance is a highlight in a movie that is full of dumb characters making dumb decisions just to further the plot. By the final act, the reveal of exactly what has been going on does not feel earned (or logical) and leaves you scratching your head to make sense of it. While there are multiple scenes that are exceptionally well done, the film as a whole doesn't add up to the sum of it's parts.
2 – HALLOWEEN
While I applaud David Gordon Green and Danny McBride for delivering a worthy sequel to John Carpenter's original HALLOWEEN, this movie is nowhere near as good as it should have been. Like many sequels, it suffers from hitting the same beats as what came before it but with a bigger budget. HALLOWEEN is refreshing compared to the formulaic sequels that came before it, but HALLOWEEN itself doesn't defy convention in any way. The kills are rote and generic, the supporting characters just as dumb as in any horror film, and the sheer amount of plot contrivances that get Michael Myers from Point A to Point B are beyond convenient. While HALLOWEEN could usher in an era of worhy reboots and sequels to classic horror films, it should have been so much better than it was.
1 – BLACK PANTHER
Everyone lobbying for BLACK PANTHER to earn a Best Picture nomination needs to slow the fuck down. Like WONDER WOMAN last year, BLACK PANTHER is a good comic book movie that finally gives a specific demographic the superhero they deserve. I fully understand and appreciate the box office clout that BLACK PANTHER demonstrated and hope it shows movie studios that there is no need for special minority movies as everyone can appreciate a good hero regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation. That being said, BLACK PANTHER does not do a single innovative thing that sets it apart from every other Marvel movie to date. In fact, it boasts some of the worst special effects of any major studio film in the last decade. While I will be first in line to see the sequel when it gets released, this movie is in no way deserving of any Academy Awards nor should it enter into any conversation of the best movies of the year. Is it one of the most impactful? Absolutely. Is it one that will represent a historical place in film history? Yes. Is it even in the top ten comic book movies of all time? Not even close. It isn't even in the top five comic book movies of 2018.
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