How does one even begin to sift through the numerous releases from 2019? Indeed this past year has been such a big one for movies! With the long-awaited final instalments of both the Star Wars and Avengers franchises, the release of two Disney live-action remakes and a slew of incredible dramas and comedies it makes it difficult to pick just a few. But I’ve managed to identify six that stick in my mind from the past year. Here are my favourite movies from 2019:
John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum
This may just be me because I absolutely love thrillers like this and adored the first two movies but I loved watching the third instalment of this franchise. There are not many franchises that I tend to follow, but I cannot resist this one. While I have to admit there is very little story line to keep track of, the choreography for both the fights and stunts is incredible and though narrative may be lacking (in this instalment more so than the previous ones), the world of assassins that this franchise has built is captivating. Indeed, some of my favourite moments are when the rules and structures of the organisation are explained. If you have not given it a shot yet (pun intended), definitely do so!
Zombieland: Double Tap
I am a lover of anything zombie related. Have been since I was young. I would spend hours watching my older brother play the Resident Evil games on the PlayStation. When the movies came out, I watched every single one (even though they definitely got progressively worse). But one thing that you never had when I was younger was the zombie comedy. Now you have the likes of Shaun of the Dead, Warm Bodies and Planet Terror. For me, the Zombieland sequel happily takes a place in this hall of comedy fame. Though more focused on slapstick comedy than the original, it was a delight to revisit the characters ten years after meeting them. If you are a fan of a comedy and zombies, take a relaxing evening off and enjoy a laugh with this one.
Godzilla: King of Monsters
As you can probably tell, there is a theme emerging here. I have the movie taste of an adolescent male who has yet to hit the post-pubescent stage. And I’m quite okay with that! So much so that I will energetically rant about how much I loved this movie. A sequel to the 2014 Godzilla that lives in the same universe as Kong: Skull Island, King of Monsters is the monster movie I have been waiting for ever since Pacific Rim. Numerous monsters fighting both each other and humans in a bid for world domination, it has everything I could ever ask for in a monster flick.
Rocketman
Breaking from theme here, I have to mention my love for Taron Egerton. The first time I saw Egerton in a film was Kingsman and I immediately fell in love. So when I heard that that love was going to be combined with my love for Elton John, I thought Christmas had come early. A musical based around Elton John’s life and rise to stardom, the film captures the essence of so many Elton favourite songs, as well as articulate the difficulty of coming to stardom while in the midst of sexual confusion and drug addiction. Egerton’s performance, so good that it won him a Golden Globe, brought an incredibly dynamic, flamboyant and powerful Elton to life that made it a delight, once again, to see him on the screen.
Long Shot
This one is a bit out of character for me. I usually cannot stand this slapstick style of comedy that, which is usually filled with lots of second-hand embarrassment. I frequently struggle with movies that are cringe and tend not to be able to get past the first 10-20 minutes of it (I have yet to finish Bridesmaids even though I have started it at least five times!). However, I absolutely loved this one! The perfect mix of comedy, romance and utter nonsense, this movie had me laughing for the whole thing. Indeed, I still remember that I was having a bad day when I did watch it and it was the best fix for it. Consider putting it on your list of good pick-me-up movies to watch!
The Aftermath
And last but not least on my list is a historical fiction that I adored. Originally a book by Rhidian Brook, which I loved, the movie illuminates the reality of post-war Germany in the immediate aftermath of World War II. The story of a British couple who reunite in Germany after five years apart due to the war, a women must overcome her hatred of the Germans as she comes to live in a German architect’s house while he and his daughter live in the attic. However, as she comes to realise the toll that befell German citizens under the Nazi regime and the war, her feelings turn and starts to view the architect differently. A beautiful tale of redemption, understanding and healing, The Aftermath, while somewhat different to the book of the same name, offered an insight into an often lacking perspective of the destruction of Germany during the war.
Movies from 2019 I haven’t seen yet, but want to
Yesterday
Booksmart
Men in Black: International
Booksmart
Code8
Tolkein
Check out our other 2019 roundup posts: Top Favourite 2019: TV Shows
Featured Image by Peter Lewicki on Unsplash
