So this List is in two parts and this is the first one, now without further ado let the countdown begin!

#10 Crazy Rich Asians

This video is the property of  Entertainment Weekly

Release Date: Aug. 17

Starring: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Gemma Chan, Awkwafina

This is basically a romantic comedy with a unique twist: a Chinese-American woman experiences culture shock when she visits her boyfriend’s family in Singapore. She finds out that he is apparently from a filthy rich and one of the most eligible bachelors in Asia. Confronted by a foreign lifestyle she was not at all expecting; she experiences and learns about this unfamiliar culture; which brings up all sorts of relationship hiccups and shenanigans.

This movie promises to be a delightful and refreshing romp with its departure from traditional rom-com set-ups. I’ll be honest: I’m looking forward to watching it partially because of my Asian bias (whispers: “I’m Asian, don’t tell anyone”), but hopefully it’ll be something lighthearted and fun.

You’ll soon understand why I’m emphasizing the lighthearted aspect so much when you see the rest of my selections; most of them are in a word: intense. And, while angst-y, the world is hanging in the balance type films with high stakes are often my favorites sometimes one just wants to relax and enjoy something with a more carefree plot.

And on that note here comes:

#9 X-Men: The New Mutants

This video is the property of  20th Century FOX

Release Date: Apr. 13 Feb. 22, 2019

Stars: Anya Taylor-Joy, Maisie Williams, Charlie Heato

A superhero horror movie within the setting of the X-Men Universe… Oh the joy. Ok, to be absolutely frank; I hate horror films, the only reason why this film even makes the list is due the fact that I am a HUGE-GIANT-UBER-NERD FAN of the X-Men franchise. I just cannot get enough and so I will watch this film even if it scares the crap out of me.

The premise of this film is good enough to get me interested; “new young mutants with untrained powers being held captive and pursued by some sort of mystery evil force” is an intriguing plot and I need to find out what happens next. Another reason I am anticipating watching this is because – sigh – I’m pretty (about 95%) sure that X-Men Dark Phoenix is going to suck hard (Apocalypse was such a nightmare of a film –  ugh) and so I am banking my hopes of a good X-Men fix on this one. So whether this film soars high to box-office success or tanks miserably is yet to be seen – but I for one am ready to find out.

On to the next one:

#8 Game Night

This video is the property of  Warner Bros. Pictures

Release Date: Feb 23

Starring: Jason Bateman, Rachel McAdams, Sharon Horgan, Kyle Chandler

A comedy film with a Mystery/Suspense mix: this movie centers around a couples’ game night gone horribly and bizarrely wrong. Max (Bateman) and Annie (McAdams) are attendees at the game night hosted by Max’s brother Brooks (Chandler) who arranges a murder mystery party full of gangsters, fake thugs and fake federal agents. It’s all in good fun until… the host gets kidnapped!  However none of the participants are aware of the very real danger until they are thrust into life threatening situations while trying to solve the mystery.

This film has an interesting premise which can set the stage for plenty of hilarious gimmicks and hi-jinks (as proven by the trailer); so my hopes for this one are fairly high. I am curious to see how the film-makers will balance out the comedy with the fairly serious undertones of the plot though: will they provide a satisfying conclusion to the mystery or will the story-line be compromised for the sake of a few laughs?

And the next one is:

#7 The Death of Stalin

This video is the property of Entertainment One UK

Release Date: Mar. 9

Starring: Steve Buscemi, Jeffrey Tambor, Simon Russell Beale, Rupert Friend

Contrary to what the film’s title would have you believe – this is not a historical drama. The film is set in 1953, Josef Stalin’s secret police and various toadies help him cement his totalitarian rule over Soviet Russia. Then, suddenly Stalin dies – leaving a power vacuum the size of a canyon – which his former toadies take turns jumping into and greedily grabbing for any scrap of power that lands in their grasp. The master satirist that is Armando Iannucci turns this scenario into a rib-cracking-ly funny farcical comedy of errors that leaves you breathless and entertained. If you squint you might see the tongue-in-cheek references to current political corruption and chaos that is hidden in this hilarious movies’ underbelly.

Onwards my fair steed!

#6 Ocean’s 8

This video is the property of Warner Bros. Pictures

Release Date: June 8

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Helena Bonham Carter

A star-studded production, with an all-female criminal team (Sandra bullock is the mastermind) which plans to rob a certain someone (*hint*hint*It’s Anne Hathaway!!!*exited squeal!*) at New York’s annual Met Gala. If the All-star cast doesn’t pull you in the glamorous setting sure will! All jokes aside who doesn’t enjoy an Oceans heist? So even though I was a bit put off at first since this film practically smacks you in the face with its unsubtle “GURLL POWERRR!!!” vibes, I am still looking forward to watching it, just for the Ocean heist series association.

To be Continued…

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