The 2019 Stars & Popcorn Movie Awards

Best Visual Effects – Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

So, the new Star Wars movie might not have been perfect, but man was it pretty to look at. We got a chance to see epic new worlds, cool space dog fights, and, of course, plenty of lightsaber duels. Despite how fast-paced and frantic it seemed at times, Star Wars delivered some damn good special effects. In that regard, I feel like this newest film was a high point for creativity when it came to the franchise. Definitely one of a hand full of movies in 2019 that deserved to be seen on the big screen.

Runner-Up – The Lion King

Turns out the special effects in The Lion King might have been a little too good. The animals were all photorealistic, which was the film’s biggest problem. It’s kind of hard to get emotionally attached to characters that can’t make facial expressions. Still, it was an absolutely gorgeous film.

Best Ensemble Cast – Avengers: Endgame

Let’s face it, Marvel has half of Hollywood working for them and all of them turned up for Endgame. I could sit here listing off A-list stars from the film until I turned blue in the face. Not only did a lot of characters we expected to return show up, but then they dragged back in a ton of old ones from the previous films. The cast was not only huge but also was composed of some of the brightest stars in the industry. All of them brought their A-game too, which means no other this movie could have hoped to compete with Endgame in this category.

Runner-Up – Knives Out

It might not have been composed completely of A-list actors, but Knives Out had a pretty damn impressive cast. Wilson made a few unexpected choices when it came to choosing who would play his characters, and I believe it paid off in the end. It’s no Endgame, but Knives Out is pretty close.

Best Cameo – Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw

By now, hopefully, all of you know that Ryan Reynolds made a surprise appearance in Hobbs & Shaw as Agent Locke. He only appears in one scene in the film and one post-credit scene, but he stole the show. I hate to say it, but Dwayne Johnson found himself outmatched when it came to their verbal sparring, and Reynolds proved to be the best part of the film. Hopefully, we’ll see him again, especially since he might have a bigger role in the franchise than any of us might suspect.  

Runner-Up –  It Chapter 2

It Chapter 2 winked pretty hard at the audience when it had Stephen King make a cameo as a second-hand shop owner. The wink didn’t stop there though, because King proceeded to talk trash about James McAvoy who happened to be a writer in the film. All in all, it was definitely one of the best cameos of the year. 

Best Hero – Tony Stark AKA Iron Man (Avengers: Endgame)

All gave some, some gave all in Endgame. Tony Stark was never my favorite of the Avengers. He seemed a little too smug and condescending for me to really warm up to him. That’s what made his sacrifice all the more awe-inspiring. When the chips were down he gave his life to save, well, the universe. More than that, it showed how far he’d come as a hero since Avengers. Back then, he argued with Cap that he wasn’t the kind of guy to lay down on the wire to save the others. Guess that was just another one of his “white lies.”  

Runner-Up –  “Thicc” Thor (Avengers: Endgame)

So, some people were pissed about “fat Thor” (I call him Thicc Thor). However, I found him to be inspiring. This is a guy who lost everything that mattered to him, his family, his love, his best friend, and his confidence. Sure, he packed on the weight, but that didn’t make him any less worthy in the end. He fought against his depression so that he could fight alongside his friends. That makes him a hell of a hero in my book.