Top 10 Memorable Movie Moments of 2018

From all of what I saw from 2018 cinema, here are the top ten moments that had been most memorable to me.

Honorable Mentions: the Brachiosaurus’ death scene (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom), Cash raps in his boss Steve’s party (Sorry to Bother You), Disney Princesses save Ralph (Ralph Breaks the Internet), Teen Titans time travel to prevent and then un-prevent the origins of superheroes (Teen Titans Go! To the Movies)

10.) Giant Oprah

Let’s start with an unforgettable moment for the wrong reasons.  A Wrinkle in Time was probably the worst movie I saw in 2018.  And there’s one thing from it that I will never forget (or two, if we count the most insufferable child actor/character in movie history): the hilariously terrifying image of gargantuan Oprah – a most unsettling titan this side of, well, Attack on Titan.

9.) Chucky Goes Amok

Who would have thought, that in a movie packed with pop culture icons (i.e. Ready Player One), this murderous doll would have the most memorable few seconds’ worth of screen time?

8.) Buster Sruggs Kills Surly Joe

In the opening and eponymous segment of The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, the titular character enters a saloon wherein the policy is for customers to leave their guns at the door.  Buster complies.  Once inside, he quickly gets into a fight with Surly Joe, who happens to be disobedient of or exempted from the “no guns” policy.  No problem.  Buster simply pulls off the coolest kill in 2018 cinema.

7.) X-Force’s Surprising Demise

The trailers for Deadpool 2 had footage of Deadpool’s recruits, i.e. the X-Force, fighting enemy goons.  However, this turned out being a red herring for the most ambitious, most elaborate movie joke of 2018.  None of those footage ended up in the movie.  Rather, on the day of their mission, strong winds lead them – with the exception of Deadpool and Domino – horribly parachuting to their deaths.  And it was a total riot.  Moreover, the invisible Vanisher was apparently a Brad Pitt cameo.

6.) Tom Cruise Shows Off His Immortality in an Epic Helicopter Chase Sequence

The Burj Khalifa scene in Ghost Protocol is still my most favorite stunt in the Mission: Impossible franchise.  Nevertheless, the helicopter chase set piece in Fallout – a film that already showcased several epic sequences prior to that point, but clearly saved the best for last – is for the ages.  Also, Tom Cruise deserves an Academy Award for Best Actor Ever.

5.) The Last Shot of A Quiet Place

The film has a masterful, emphatic, tone-setting opening sequence, and papa Lee Abbott’s ultimate sacrifice later in the third act is a powerful scene.  Still, the last shot of mama Evelyn Abbott cocking her shotgun, now ready and capable of killing the murderous sound-sensitive aliens that her family has suffered from for too long, takes the cake.  It’s such a cathartic and badass moment.   And ending the film there was just perfect.

4.) Ito vs. Arian

The Night Comes for Us is The Raid’s spiritual successor.  Thus, it’s not a surprise why its climactic battle – a brutal, no-holds-barred mano a mano between friends-turned-enemies Ito and Arian – is easily the best movie fight scene of 2018 (the second to fifth best are likely from this movie as well).

3.) Thor Joins the Battle of Wakanda

Accompanied by Rocket, Groot, and the swelling Avengers theme, Thor arrives just in time as the good guys were starting to get overrun, and immediately kicks the enemies’ butts.  At that point, there was no denying that Thor was the MVP of Avengers: Infinity War.

2.) The Revelation of How Han Solo Got His Last Name

Apparently, Solo was not Han’s surname at birth.  He didn’t have one.  When he signed up to be a foot soldier for the Empire, the recruiting officer assigned to him the surname “Solo.”  Why?  Because he’s alone.  He’s solo.  Get it?!  (*Rolls eyes*)  I was legitimately shocked that something this atrociously stupid passed several authority figures – director, producers, studio executives, etc. – during the movie’s production and somehow got approved to be put on screen.

1.) The Screaming Bear Scene in Annihilation

The stuff of nightmares.