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Well, there's an hour and change left of 2018 in my timezone. It hasn't been the shittiest year ever for me personally, but it hasn't been an especially good one either. On the larger scale of national and world news, it's been a deluge of horror with a hint of hope to come. However, rather than delivering any thoughtful reflections on larger issues, here's a list of some movies, books, and fanworks I loved this year. This is a list of my favorites, not necessarily what I think was the best quality.
Favorite Movies
-Black Panther - This list is in alphabetical order, not ranking order, but Black Panther is undeniably my top film of 2018. Perfect blend of dealing thoughtfully with big issues, fascinating characters, great action, and a gorgeous look.
-Colette - Keira Knightly plays a bisexual author, stands up for her desires and recognition against patriarchal expectations, and wears gorgeous period outfits...it's like they made it just for me. I found the depiction of her marriage to be fascinating. It wasn't a healthy relationship at all, but it was an interestingly complicated one.
-Ocean’s Eight - A super fun romp featuring competence porn and a great cast of ladies.
-Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse - Would have been the best Marvel movie of the year if Black Panther hadn't existed. The animation was outstanding, and somehow made even a Spider-man origin story feel fresh. Fun for both very casual and more serious fans.
-The Spy Who Dumped Me - The most underrated movie of the year. Look, I'm not saying it's great cinema for the ages, but TSWDM was probably the most fun I had in a movie theater all year. I laughed so much. Kate McKinnon and Mila Kunis seem to be having a great time onscreen together. Part of building a movie industry less centered on men is that women should also get to be at the center of silly action buddy comedies of middling quality. We deserve a Mary Sue-ish fantasy of being swept up from a boring life into a more exciting world and eventually, after a lot of mishaps, ending up being really good at it. If that hasn't sold you on this movie, Kate McKinnon flirts with Gillian Anderson (only minimally in character) and performs on a trapeze.
- A Star Is Born - The second-closest I came to crying in a movie theater this year. Lady Gaga proves that her acting chops are as strong as her singing voice.
-Won’t You Be My Neighbor - Definitely the closest I came to crying in a movie theater this year was in this documentary about Mr. Rogers. It's well worth watching if the world at large is dragging you down as a reminder that there are truly decent and kind people in the world, and at least one of them was even a white man.
Favorite Books (Alphabetical by author. Not necessarily books published this year, just ones I read this year)
-All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders - Moving, inventive, quirky, relevant.
-The Mortal Word by Genevieve Cogman (Invisible Library series #5)- One of my favorite ongoing series. So much fun, and characters who really need more fandom.
-The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal - alternate history of space travel after a devastating meteor strike in 1952. Great premise, diverse lady-centric cast, tautly written.
-Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty - tense space thriller full of clones and nonlinear narratives.
-Night and Silence by Seanan McGuire (October Daye #12) - Latest installment in my other favorite ongoing series. I love these characters so much and want to protect them from all the terrible things and big revelations that keep happening.
-On Trails: An Exploration by Robert Moor - Fascinating nonfiction about trails from the first organisms to move along the sea floor to modern long-distance hiking.
-The Shades of Magic series by V.E. Schwab (A Darker Shade of Magic, A Gathering of Shadows, & A Conjuring of Light, all read this year) - Fantastic worldbuilding, suspenseful, memorable characters including a piratical female antihero.
-The Refrigerator Monologues by Catherynne Valente- deliciously angry tales from all the women killed in male-centric superhero stories.
-Space Opera by Catherynne Valente - Eurovision in space with the fate of humankind at stake. Glam rock meets Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Hopepunk comedy.
-Avengers Get Ready by niyalune- fanvid distilling so many MCU feelings.
-Winter's Herald by leveragehunters. My inner 14 year-old died of squee at seeing that there was an epic length MCU/Heralds of Valdemar fusion focusing on Steve/Bucky, and it was incredibly well done. Soul bonds and telepathy and magical horse-like beings, oh my!
-i need a forest fire by tomorrowsrain - Bucky and Tony go on an epic roadtrip as fugitives, enemies to friends. Also Steve/Bucky relationship. Plotty with excellent dialog.
- light a match and burn them down by defcontwo - it has Steve/Bucky/Peggy and serum!Peggy with great banter...all the things my heart desires in a fic for these characters, pretty much.
What have y'all enjoyed this year? What great things did I miss that I'll have to catch?
Happy 2019, y'all. May it hold manifold good things in store for you, and may you all find the strength to meet its inevitable challenges.
Favorite Movies
-Black Panther - This list is in alphabetical order, not ranking order, but Black Panther is undeniably my top film of 2018. Perfect blend of dealing thoughtfully with big issues, fascinating characters, great action, and a gorgeous look.
-Colette - Keira Knightly plays a bisexual author, stands up for her desires and recognition against patriarchal expectations, and wears gorgeous period outfits...it's like they made it just for me. I found the depiction of her marriage to be fascinating. It wasn't a healthy relationship at all, but it was an interestingly complicated one.
-Ocean’s Eight - A super fun romp featuring competence porn and a great cast of ladies.
-Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse - Would have been the best Marvel movie of the year if Black Panther hadn't existed. The animation was outstanding, and somehow made even a Spider-man origin story feel fresh. Fun for both very casual and more serious fans.
-The Spy Who Dumped Me - The most underrated movie of the year. Look, I'm not saying it's great cinema for the ages, but TSWDM was probably the most fun I had in a movie theater all year. I laughed so much. Kate McKinnon and Mila Kunis seem to be having a great time onscreen together. Part of building a movie industry less centered on men is that women should also get to be at the center of silly action buddy comedies of middling quality. We deserve a Mary Sue-ish fantasy of being swept up from a boring life into a more exciting world and eventually, after a lot of mishaps, ending up being really good at it. If that hasn't sold you on this movie, Kate McKinnon flirts with Gillian Anderson (only minimally in character) and performs on a trapeze.
- A Star Is Born - The second-closest I came to crying in a movie theater this year. Lady Gaga proves that her acting chops are as strong as her singing voice.
-Won’t You Be My Neighbor - Definitely the closest I came to crying in a movie theater this year was in this documentary about Mr. Rogers. It's well worth watching if the world at large is dragging you down as a reminder that there are truly decent and kind people in the world, and at least one of them was even a white man.
Favorite Books (Alphabetical by author. Not necessarily books published this year, just ones I read this year)
-All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders - Moving, inventive, quirky, relevant.
-The Mortal Word by Genevieve Cogman (Invisible Library series #5)- One of my favorite ongoing series. So much fun, and characters who really need more fandom.
-The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal - alternate history of space travel after a devastating meteor strike in 1952. Great premise, diverse lady-centric cast, tautly written.
-Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty - tense space thriller full of clones and nonlinear narratives.
-Night and Silence by Seanan McGuire (October Daye #12) - Latest installment in my other favorite ongoing series. I love these characters so much and want to protect them from all the terrible things and big revelations that keep happening.
-On Trails: An Exploration by Robert Moor - Fascinating nonfiction about trails from the first organisms to move along the sea floor to modern long-distance hiking.
-The Shades of Magic series by V.E. Schwab (A Darker Shade of Magic, A Gathering of Shadows, & A Conjuring of Light, all read this year) - Fantastic worldbuilding, suspenseful, memorable characters including a piratical female antihero.
-The Refrigerator Monologues by Catherynne Valente- deliciously angry tales from all the women killed in male-centric superhero stories.
-Space Opera by Catherynne Valente - Eurovision in space with the fate of humankind at stake. Glam rock meets Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Hopepunk comedy.
Favorite Fanworks
-Avengers Get Ready by niyalune- fanvid distilling so many MCU feelings.
-Winter's Herald by leveragehunters. My inner 14 year-old died of squee at seeing that there was an epic length MCU/Heralds of Valdemar fusion focusing on Steve/Bucky, and it was incredibly well done. Soul bonds and telepathy and magical horse-like beings, oh my!
-i need a forest fire by tomorrowsrain - Bucky and Tony go on an epic roadtrip as fugitives, enemies to friends. Also Steve/Bucky relationship. Plotty with excellent dialog.
- light a match and burn them down by defcontwo - it has Steve/Bucky/Peggy and serum!Peggy with great banter...all the things my heart desires in a fic for these characters, pretty much.
What have y'all enjoyed this year? What great things did I miss that I'll have to catch?
Happy 2019, y'all. May it hold manifold good things in store for you, and may you all find the strength to meet its inevitable challenges.
