Top 10 Memorable Moments in 2019 Cinema and TV

There’s no longer enough time for me to make separate “most memorable moments” top tens for the movies, TV shows, and anime of 2019 like I did for 2018.  It’s in the middle of March already.  Still, I want to do at least one such list  So here are what I found to be the top ten most memorable moments from all the stuff I saw from both the big screen and small screen in 2019.

Honorable Mentions: Batman’s “Illuminati” is revealed to be pulling the strings from behind the scenes (Young Justice: Outsiders; Mandalorians rescue the Mandalorian (The Mandalorian); Tanjiro (with Nezuko) vs. Rui (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba); Ash finally wins his first ever Pokemon League championship (Pokemon: Sun and Moon)

10.) Kristoff’s “Lost in the Woods” Song Number (Frozen II)

One can argue that, by itself, “Lost in the Woods” is a beautiful song that wonderfully encapsulates the emotion and state of Kristoff’s arc at that point of the story.  Maybe.  That’s one way of looking at it.  But the lyrics and style of the song are really reminiscent of old-school, over-sentimental rock love songs like Peter Cetera’s “Glory of Love.”  The filmmakers might have realized this, and thus, proceeded to present the song number, tongue in cheek, as a cheesy, overdramatic 80’s-style music video.  Thus, it ended up being the most hilarious – and most memorable – scene in the movie.  What makes it funnier is that Kristoff’s voice actor, Jonathan Groff, took it seriously.  In one interview, he said, “We were completely genuine when we were making that song.  There was nothing funny about it at all and then the animators did such crazy things.” LOL!

9.) Bran is Chosen to Be King – Ugh! (Game of Thrones)

Remember: when we say “memorable”, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s good.  Sometimes, a moment is memorable because it’s so bad.  And such is the case of this particular moment in the ninth spot.  By the time of Game of Thrones’ finale, I already knew that season 8 had already ruined, to the point of no return, what otherwise was arguably the most groundbreaking TV show of the 21^st century.   I didn’t think it was possible to hate the final season any further.  But I was wrong.  As it turned out, the stupidest, most BS writing that the show has ever had was apparently reserved for the finale; and that is, out of nowhere, making Bran the King of the Seven Kingdoms (sans the North).  And Tyrion – intelligent, sensible Tyrion – proposing this only made it even worse.

8.) Logan Dies (Veronica Mars)

As a fan, I hated that Logan, just as he and Veronica had brought their relationship to the next and ultimate level (i.e. marriage), had to be killed by that car bomb.  It was just heartbreaking.  Nevertheless, this isn’t a result of bad writing.  The shocking development has narrative sense.  It’s genuinely impactful.  Moreover, it’s only in accordance to the cynical tone that Veronica Mars has always had.  Still, I’m hoping that a new season will reveal that Logan, being a spook and all, is actually alive, and only had to go on a mission that required him to fake his death.

7.) Hodaka’s Powerful Declaration to Hina (Weathering with You)

“Who cares if we don’t see sunshine again?  I want you more than any blue sky.  The weather can go crazy!”

The scene might feel kind of manipulative, but there’s no denying it worked.  It really hit me right in the feels.  HARD!

6.) Dustin and Suzie’s “The NeverEnding Story” Duet (Stranger Things)

Dustin’s supposed long-distance girlfriend was a mystery for most of season 3.  His friends even had some doubts of her existence, as he continually failed to reach her via long-range radio.  But, finally, we got to see her in the finale – and in the middle of the white-knuckled climax, nothing less.  In order to unlock a safe which houses the keys necessary to shut down the Soviet’s interdimensional machine, the group must acquire a critical password, which happens to be Planck’s constant.  None of them know it, but Dustin knows someone who does – his “Suzie-poo.”  Thankfully, she gets to pick up his call this time.  But before she’ll give it, she wants something in return – his “Dusty-bun” must first sing with her their song, which is the theme of the 1984 classic “The NeverEnding Story.”  The resulting scene that comes next is an adorable, amusing intermission from the ongoing tension.

5.) The Mermaid Sisters Perform “Galactic Mermaid” a.k.a. The Greatest Song of All Time (Carole and Tuesday)

It’s impossible to describe how fantastic this moment is.  One must see the show up to this point in order to truly appreciate its full glory.   This is probably the most hilarious thing I witnessed in 2019.

4.) J.K. Simmons Reprises His Role as J. Jonah Jameson (Spider-Man: Far From Home)

The mid-credit scene reveals that Quentin Beck a.k.a. Mysterio, prior to getting defeated, ensured that he had manipulated footage in order to paint Peter Parker/Spider-Man as a villain.  But that isn’t the most shocking twist.  It’s who’s delivering the narrative that Beck plotted to portray: an Alex Jones-esque version of J. Jonah Jameson, who is once again played by J.K. Simmons!  If Spidey is going to be branded a “menace”, it’s only right that it’s Spidey’s harshest critic who brings it about.  And Simmons’ portrayal of Jameson in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy was so iconic that it was just impossible to imagine anyone else playing the character.  Thankfully, the head honchos over at Marvel probably thought so, too.

3A.) Erwin Leads the Survey Corp on a Suicidal Charge at the Beast Titan (Attack on Titan)

This will definitely go down as one of the awesome anime moments that get forever etched on my mind.  In this powerful scene, Erwin Smith rallies his mostly terrified troops to go on a mad charge at the Beast Titan in order to be a decoy while Levi sneaks closer to blindside him.  This is essentially a suicide mission, but through a rousing speech, he convinces them that it’s their duty as soldiers to give up their lives and dreams for the good of humanity, and that, since they’ll eventually end up dying from the Beast Titan’s barrage anyway, it’s better if they go down fighting.  Seriously, when it comes to fictional speeches, there’s nobody more badass than Erwin.  And thus, their hearts simultaneously filled with both terror and resolve, the Survey Corps opt to charge to their deaths.

But their sacrifice set up this equally awesome scene…

3B.) Levi F---S Up the Beast Titan (Attack on Titan)

That’s one heck of a cathartic payoff!

2.) The Climax of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

The scene where bestfriends Rick Dalton and Cliff Booth take on the Manson Family (who in real life murdered Sharon Tate at that moment) is the heart of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.  It is what the entire movie has been slowly building up to.  Hilarious, gratifying, brutal, spectacular, and brilliant, it is where it finally comes together as a truly special Tarantino film.  If Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is a joke – an elaborate, long-winded one – then the climax is the magnificently rewarding punchline.

1.) Avengers Assemble (Avengers: Endgame)

The MCU has been a master class of fan service, and 22 movies’ worth of patient build up all came down to this epic moment.  Nothing like this had ever been done before in cinema, and it gave me so much of a rush that I was almost moved to tears.