2025
Captain America Brave New World
Are we back? Is Marvel cookin? Questions I am left with after this movie. I was pleasantly surprised by Brave New World a movie trampolined off of the most forgettable Marvel film. The Incredible Hulk. The plot was on point, the golden character development, and the movie’s ability to tie up some glaring narrative loose ends in the universe was welcome. Antony Mackie shined alongside Harrison Ford in this return to dramatic Marvel movies. Brave New World is an entertaining journey and a breath of fresh air. As a standalone movie, I feel I could watch this again and again and as a base for what is to come, I’d say Marvel is standing on a solid foundation.
Companion
Barbarian was fantastic and so what more could its creator give us? Companion apparently. A movie full of intense “oh shit” moments and messages about emotional manipulation and abusive relationships. I loved every minute of this movie and found the performances of everyone involved to be stellar. Particularly that of Sophie Thatcher. She delivered such raw and powerful emotions throughout the plot that you could connect with them. If you’re a fan of Barbarian you’d be a fan of this. What I like most I think is it shows the diverse skills of the creator and their ability to shift between genres while maintaining peak storytelling.
Wolfman
The first movie of 2025! Wolfman was not what I expected but has everything and more of what I wanted from the classic monster tale. The movie utilized a dual POV of one character as the Wolfman and one who witnesses the transition. I enjoyed the Wolfman POV as it reveals the inner workings of the monstrous change and adds some sympathy to the creature. The overall plot is fairly simple following the standard wolf plot of being scratched, changing, and rampaging. There was the bonus of the threat of survival from the original Wolfman who caused this conundrum. Certainly an entertaining movie and fresh take on the wolf. I would recommend it for those who are curious but passersby need not be concerned as I think this movie will not make any major waves.
2024
Lord of the Rings War of the Rohirrim
I’m always a fan of anything LOTR and I’ve been excited about this movie since it was a mere rumor. Boy did it live up. I think the story telling was fantastic. I loved all the characters and performances and was just left in pure joy. I think the anime art style and animation in general is a perfect medium to expand on Lord of the Rings and tell these much more niche stories. I had such a great time with this movie and I think anyone who likes LOTR will too.
Gladiator 2
I thought the movie brought a lot to the table and ended up being a lot more impressive than I thought. Pedro Pascal and Paula Mescal were so good and I loved every second of their screen time. I wasn’t the biggest fan of Denzel but still thought his performance was immaculate. I think what I didn’t enjoy about him was the character motivations. They certainly felt flat and underdeveloped. Finally, I didn’t love the overall plot. I don’t think Ridley expanded on Gladiator as much as he could have. He instead kinda erased the progress made by Maximus and just restarted. Overall it was good but not my favorite.
Civil War
Civil War is much like the book World War Z but worse. It follows 4 journalists on their way to Washington D.C. who encounter tragic event after tragic event during the United States Civil War. My main issue is the meandering plot that has no real meaning and the extremely unlikable characters. I utterly despised the narrative of this film. The trailer made it look much more dramatic and tense while in reality it’s just loosely connected events with unflattering cinematography. I can’t say enough how frustratingly dumb this plot was. It didn’t help that the characters were just pieces of cardboard with names. They were so flat and boring. I couldn’t have cared less about them throughout the film. Civil War is an absolute skip and a classic case of over-promising and under-delivering.
Moana 2
Moana 2 exceeded my expectations with how great it looked and how well the story flowed into Moana. I was thoroughly impressed with every aspect of the film and it my second favorite Disney musical sequel right behind Frozen 2. Aside from core aspects of the film, I felt like they injected even more Pacific Islander Culture into the movie. It added so much depth to the environment and was honestly just so cool. I love it when movies lean into culture and give people a peek into customs. Moana 2 falls high on my list of best movies this year as 2024 comes to a close.
Wicked
Having never seen the original play I had zero expectations going in. I’m also not the largest fan of the Wizard of Oz but I respect its status as an incredible piece of cinematic history. Wicked (both movie and play for I’m sure if I had seen the play I would have liked it) has made me reevaluate the world of Oz. I think it is a colorful and interesting place with lots of character. Speaking of which I loved the characters. There felt like so much to attach to in each of them be it pity, hope, support, or loathing. I thought this was paired with an incredible cast headlined by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. Wicked was a pleasant surprise to my November and has rocketed into a top contender of the year.
Godzilla Minus One
A stunning return to some traditional Godzilla layered with fantastic drama and commentary about Japanese culture, World War II, and nuclear weaponry. The movie was astounding. The visual effects were out of this world and deserving of an Oscar. I could feel the heart put into this film and I wish all the best to everyone involved I hope to see more of their movies and action, most likely the best of the year.
Venom The Last Dance
A predictable disappointment with nuggets of hilarity and heart. Venom The Last Dance to no one’s surprise was terrible. Other than Tom Hardy the acting was subpar. They all seemed to phone it in and collect their paychecks. It was truly heartbreaking to see these actors just not care. However, Tom Hardy brings a lot to the table as Eddie Brock. The passion for comedy and his character shines through. To be honest I feel like the writers wrote some great bits and then needed a plot in between so they just dumped whatever trash was in their brain. As my girlfriend said, “it was a hilarious comedy wrapped in a bow of mediocrity”. Stream it for free folks.
Speak No Evil
This one is an uncomplicated short film that frankly does not require a deep review. James McAvoy was astoundingly creepy and the film created such a tense environment but none of the characters were likable and the plot’s predictable twist only led to a short bad decision shoot-out and a teary-eyed cut to black. It was alright, certainly won’t be trusting vacation strangers anytime soon though.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
The Juice is loose and Winona Rider is back in black. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is a pretty decent sequel that lives up to the wacky and morbid Tim Burton experience we all know and love. The comedy was on point and delivered with excellent skill by Hill and Keaton while Rider and Ortega brought in the emotional weight of the film. The movie did suffer from trying to do too much with its plot specifically concerning Betelgeuse's ex-wife Dolores. Her addition to the film did not add any value since she did not interact with any of the main cast until the last few minutes of the film and only for 2-5 minutes. Minus Dolores’ parts the plot was quite intriguing and found Lydia’s daughter falling for a psychotic dead boy hell-bent on stealing her life while Betelgeuse remains obsessed with Lydia who unfortunately needs him to save Astrid (Ortega). At the end of the day, the movie was faithful and with so many terrible sequels that’s all we can ask for. I was pleased with how Beetlejuice Beetlejuice turned out and hope that the rest of you out there enjoy it.
Alien Romulus
Now I should preface that I don’t know a whole ton about the Alien franchise. I have seen several of the movies but I don’t remember lots of details. I do however find the universe fascinating and appreciate the movies for what they are, excellent science-fiction action thrillers. I don’t classify these movies as horror films because whether I’m just desensitized or it’s the truth they aren’t terribly scary. Now on to the meat. Alien Romulus was overall an enjoyable experience. The entire cast was phenomenal with a special shout out to the actors who played Andy and Rain because they went above and beyond in their portrayal. Narratively the movie follows the same relative pattern as all the other alien movies. Characters ignorant of their situation make unfortunate decisions that lead to their demise and unraveling of best-laid plans. What Romulus does however is clearly communicate through character development and visual storytelling the motivations that drive the characters to make all those unfortunate decisions. It shows how terrible their home is and you sympathize with their search for a better life. The bulk of the movie is quite entertaining with the action and drama you would expect from a movie like this. Visually everything was breathtaking to look at and the sound design was spot on. Where the film ended up dropping off for me was the ending. By the time we resolved this Xenomorph-filled journey the movie took a few predictable left turns that while I’m sure did out-of-this-world things for the lore of Alien but not so much for the entertainment value. All in all the movie was a faithful return to Ridley Scott’s intriguing and dark space legacy that I would recommend watching.
Trap
It’s been a minute since I’ve watched me some good M. Night and Trap was just the movie I was jonesing for. There is a dark lightheartedness to it that I think perfectly resembles the mindset of our protagonist Cooper. Well, he’s more antagonistic being a serial killer and all. The film locks you into this trap with Cooper, however (depending on the person you are) instead of feeling for him and hoping he finds some means of escape I felt compelled to worry about his daughter. I thought this added an extra layer of dimension to a film already brimming with tension. Speaking of tension I think we should get a psychological evaluation on Josh Hartnett who plays Cooper because he was a little too good. I’m serious though, every scene the man is in is just perfect for the character and his surroundings. He truly embodies a sociopath and I couldn’t tell the difference between character and actor. This movie Trap was so good and I thoroughly enjoyed the writing of it. I would highly recommend this movie to anyone and will be picking it up on DVD.
Deadpool and Wolverine
It’s perfect. Go see it.
Fly Me To The Moon
Was the moon landing real or was it fake? This delightful movie manufactures an entertaining narrative around one of the world’s biggest conspiracies. Johansen and Tatum were perfectionists. They were delightful and funny characters who you could attach to and follow their emotional journey. The film was a little long but I never felt like it was slow or droning on. As far as movies for 2024 Fly Me To The Moon is up there for great experiences. It might not make the cut for best of the year but I will remember this movie fondly and I’d watch it again for sure.
IF
This movie was not what I expected yet everything I needed. IF was a heartfelt story about childlike wonder and dealing with the challenges life throws our way. Through the emotional cast of characters, we learn that growing up is never over and doesn’t have to be scary because, at the end of the day, we will always succeed in whatever we do. While this movie certainly seemed kid-focused it was definitely made for adults. IF was an excellent experience and I am happy to recommend this movie to anyone.
A Quiet Place Day One
I’m still not sure how I feel about Day One. After watching it my initial thoughts were “It’s okay”. I enjoyed the acting from Lupita Nyong'o. She did an incredible job conveying the spectrum of human emotion with little to no sound. I also enjoyed the concept of the movie and appreciated the minimal lore it established for the original and its sequel. My main hang-up with the movie is its inconsistency and action. I wanted the movie to be less of an action film and more of a thriller but unfortunately, I was shoveled a great deal of action moments that took me out of the seriousness of the film. Concerning the inconsistencies, it’s all about the rules. As Randy Meeks says in Scream, horror movies have rules and that means Quiet Place has rules. The main rule you may ask? Be quiet! However the movie never really discusses how quiet. Sometimes loud breathing could get you killed but this time the monster couldn’t hear you even if you were gasping for air. As good as the movie was it was disappointing to see the basics fall by the wayside. I’d still recommend seeing this movie if you like A Quiet Place but I wouldn’t pay theater ticket prices for it.
Inside Out 2
While sad and reflective Inside Out delivers an uplifting Disney ending that once teaches us the value of self-worth and helps us understand our more frustrating emotions. The movie was very well-paced and built upon a lot of the unique concepts generated by the original. We got to see more people’s emotions including two of Riley’s friends and once again dug at how the minds of stereotypical parents work. Inside Out 2 also delivers a new core concept in the form of a belief system. I found this fascinating. I loved seeing how Disney further developed the human mind by showing kids that our actions and emotions make us who we are. The movie picks up right down the road from the last one with Riley being conformable in San Francisco and having a wealth of new generally positive experiences. However, nothing gold can stay when puberty hits combined with a heavy dose of change. Anxiety takes root in Riley and forces our beloved cast of emotions to be repressed. I thoroughly enjoyed the depiction of Anxiety and while it did not align with my own experience the overall character still hit home. The characters of the film enjoyed sizable development including Joy being angry and sad (which led me to ask, do the emotions have emotions in their head?). Inside Out’s biggest drawback is its repetitiveness. The movie’s simplified plot is that the emotions are ejected from the control center (just like the first one but with more characters) and Joy does not understand that all emotions can be good emotions (just like the first one). I wish they had tried a different route but understand why they did it that way. Overall Inside Out was a strong movie and I would highly recommend it.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Furiosa was a wonderful spectacle of car stunts and wasteland violence it lived up to Furt Road’s aesthetic and grandeur. I was impressed by the skills of every stunt person involved and during action sequences I was on the edge of my seat. The two headliners of the film Chris Hemsworth and Anya Taylor Joy delivered exceptionally entertaining performances. Hemsworth’s was comical yet insane and Joy’s dramatic and cunning. There was a lot to enjoy about Furiosa. My only wish is that the story was better. Where Fury Road was very linear with interesting twists and character development Furiosa tried too hard to establish lore and include every aspect of Fury Road. It would have been more refreshing to create a story independent of Fury Road’s characters until the end when Furiosa becomes employed and trusted by those characters. Instead, I felt the movie was over-saturated and took screen time away from the stars. Is it worth your money? Not entirely. Is it worth your time? Yes.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
A solid seven out of 10 films matched the grandeur of the original three films I think that the I think that the CGI was very well done and gave me the same sense of all that I had watching Andy Circus performance Cesar the characters were interesting and funny exciting, and in many places I was on the edge of my seat, wondering what was going to happen with the movie was the sort of bee story the biggest flaw with the movie was its uninspired narrative. The themes didn’t feel much different than the first and it seems like they could easily repeat their events but in reverse. Ape dominant human struggle then fight then peace. The kingdom just seems to set up another war when it should be tackling concepts of morality. It’s my opinion tie that the first three movies are about survival and now the next three should be about morality followed by a finale that is just existence. This follows the lines of evolution and ties in nicely as an overarching premise.
Wish
It would be too harsh to say I hated this movie and it has no redeeming qualities, but it came pretty close! The only positive thing I can say walking away from this backyard dumpster fire is that Ariana DeBose who plays Asha has a great singing voice and the song This Wish is pretty good. Everything else in this movie was so jacked up I felt like I was having a bad trip. Let’s get to it, shall we? First, this movie had so many plot holes they must have had Shia Lebouff digging them behind the scenes. If you put any basic thought into the plot the whole comes down like a house of cards. For example, Magnifico can take away memories so couldn’t he just take Ashas? Boom movie over. Speaking of Magnifico, he is an absolute joke of a Disney villain; they should have been ashamed to have even created him. His character is weak, Chris Pine phoned it in, and he’s meant to be this master manipulator but he exposes himself 2 minutes after talking to Asha. The whole movie is horribly paced, one minute feels like ten and nothing comes together. In the end, they defeat Magnifico with the power of unity I guess, and hold hands. I was left embarrassed for Disney and surprised this movie was ever released. This is the first time for The QR Code but 0/10 don’t waste your time.
Whiplash
Hard to watch in the most beautiful way. Whiplash is a story of art, abuse, and perseverance. I was in awe of Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons’ performances. I think they both mastered their respective roles and brought a lot of heart to the characters. Hearing J.K. Simmons scream, shout and threaten Teller was terrifying but every single second was so genuine. As for the story of this drumming film, it does not have a very complex surface. The confrontations with Simmons, half-hearted love interest Nicole, and the struggle to be the best drummer make up the core of the narrative. However when you look deeper and consider the themes of struggle and its effect on art and the power dynamics of students and teachers that’s when I would say this movie becomes a complex piece. Whiplash was certainly entertaining and I would recommend it for your next movie night. Although best to avoid it if you can’t handle extremely uncomfortable situations.
Interstellar
Wow, I wildly underestimated this film. I don’t know if it was the almost 3 hour time stamp or the Christopher Cultists that turned me off originally but after 10 years I finally watched Interstellar. The short of it is that it might be my favorite Nolan movie and quite possibly the Best in Class Movie this year. The long of it is that I was extremely entertained for 90% of the entire movie. I did feel the beginning was slow but there was a lot to establish so it was expected. I never anticipated the level of drama, action, and genuine heart this movie had. McConaughey and Hathaway delivered some (inter) stellar performances that just blew me away. The additional performances by Jessica Chastain, Matt Damon, John Lithgow, and Michael Caine were also amazing and developed such an intriguing story. I knew visually this movie was going to be stunning, I mean it’s Nolan so, but seeing them was something else entirely. I understand now why this movie won Oscars and I appreciate it a lot more than I did. If you’ve got the time on your hands I’d highly recommend this one folks.
Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire
Does the plot have to make sense when I get 2 hours of my big lizard boy wrecking monsters? Absolutely not. For those of you who don’t know my guilty pleasure is Godzilla and my guilty pleasure movie is Godzilla King of the Monsters. All of these monster movies are just such mind-numbing adventures but they are truly delightful. The plot behind the newest one sees Kong searching for his family and Godzilla just prepping for battle. There’s also a lot of exposition, telepathy, and very 80s camp vibes. This movie definitely doesn’t take itself too seriously and just lets viewers enjoy the controlled chaos. I’d recommend this film if you’re looking to tune in and drop out but certainly not if you’re looking for depth and meaning.
The First Omen
The First Omen was alright. Was it scary? Not really. Frankly, the movie was more disturbing and really took a baseball bat to the knees of the Catholic Church (which depending on who you are is a good thing or a bad thing). I was interested in the film’s premise and found the narrative to be quite compelling with quality twists that never felt boring. Nell Tiger Free who plays the main character Margaret Daino did an exceptional job in the role. I thought she brought a lot of talent, fear, body horror, and passion to the table. Overall The First Omen is less of a scary horror movie and more of a messed-up thriller with lots of sound-based scares. If you’re a fan of scary movies like my friends and I it’s worth a watch but I’m not sure I’d watch it again.
Kung Fu Panda 4
Kung Fu Panda 4 was what you’d expect from the 4th movie in a long-running franchise. It follows the path of On Stranger Tides the 4th installment to Pirates of the Caribbean. The movie was alright and entertaining enough but it lacked a certain spark that made the original 3 so good. I felt Awkwafina’s new character was funny, interesting, and charismatic with lots of room to grow throughout the story. Jack Black did another stellar job as Po but was significantly weighed down by his writing. The motivations and personalities of the beloved characters we knew before seemed to have shifted slightly making them feel different. Yes, Po still loves food and Kung Fu but the maturity he gained throughout the first 3 seems to have disappeared. The same can be said for Shifu. I think this movie was also plagued by a forgetful villain that wasn’t relatable and didn’t have any meaning. There’s a certain depth to the other 3 main Kung Fu Panda villains that The Chameleon seemed to lack. Frankly, I blame it on her lack of screen time. She has complex abilities (which are cool) and desires that feel cookie-cutter with no real depth so in the end we don’t care. Overall the movie was good for some laughs and nostalgia and if seen with friends or a loved one the company so I’d recommend it for fans of the series.
American Fiction
American Fiction was an absolute delight and I can see why it has been nominated for best picture this year. The narrative was creative, original, and just plain enjoyable. The messages American Fiction conveyed about storytelling in our modern world came across clear and concise which was nice for someone who aspires to be a writer. Across the board the acting was outstanding and every character was relatable in some way shape or form. It was an overall fantastic experience and I highly recommend watching the movie if you’re looking for something this weekend.
Dune Part 2
Out of the gate Dune Part Two was far more engaging than its predecessor. I never felt bored while watching Part 2 like I did watching Part 1. I felt a lot more was going on throughout the movie with the Emperor, the Fremen, and religious propaganda. Nothing in the movie felt rushed either, in fact at some spots, it may have slowed down too much but I didn’t think that hampered it at all. Once again I thought the cast did a stellar job and the cinematography was incredible. I honestly find myself not having too much to say about the sequel to Dune other than it was good. I had an enjoyable experience that will probably create a deeper interest in the books and world. Most likely I will try my hand at the audiobook given I find a good copy. I look forward to seeing what Part 3 might bring about (yes there will be a Part 3) and perhaps by the end of Dune’s story, it will be another addition to my box set collection.
Killers of the Flower Moon
A tragic story of greed, betrayal, and unfortunately real-life events. Killers of the Flower Moon was an exceptional movie from start to finish. The set design and cinematography were astounding and added an unspoken layer of depth to the film. However, the standout feature of this 3-hour and 26-minute beast of a movie was the acting. The performances from De Niro and DiCaprio were great, but Lily Gladstone stole the show. Her role as Molly allowed her to flex her acting range and mastery of the scene. I was constantly impressed by her throughout the film and I believe she made it much more enjoyable. My only gripe with Killers of the Flower Moon would be its length. I think the movie might be slightly too long, but that doesn’t affect my feelings towards it overall.
Poor Things
I walked away from this one entertained and questioning what I had just watched. The movie is thought-provoking and hilarious but in an unexpected way. The film feels like an artist’s painting come to life. Its vibrant colors and dreamlike world are unlike anything I’ve seen recently. I felt transported to the mind of Yorgos Lanthimas. I was in love with the cast of characters throughout Bella Baxter’s journey but the star of the show was of course Emma Stone. Her incredible performance will stick with me for days and leave me contemplating the deeper meanings of the narrative. I truly do not have enough good things to say about this movie but do be warned there is considerable nudity from most everyone involved. However, I will say this aspect of the movie did not feel forced upon the audience and worked to drive the character development and themes of the movie forward.
The Boy and The Heron
Consistency, consistency, consistency. When you have a portfolio like Studio Ghibli there’s really nothing else to say. I found the film perfectly aligned with the style that Ghibli represents and was just another feather in a beautiful animated cap. Personally, the film’s themes did not resonate with me and the story was occasionally slow but that never impacted my viewing experience. For fans of art or Ghibli, I would highly recommend this film.
Dune Part One
He’s just Jesus. Review over.
I’m just kidding Dune is far more complex than that. This review comes about a week after I viewed the film. Since then I’ve had several conversations about it with a colleague and finally reached my thoughts. Dune Part One (because it is a Part One) felt like a grandiose setup for a much better movie. Conceptually Dune is awesome and I believe the movie conveys that well. You’ve got the big sandworms, a desert, some action, and sci-fi out the wazoo. However, in practice all that didn’t land. There’s about an hour and a half of slow politics in which you forget basically everyone’s names then there’s about 10 minutes of action and the movie closes with an hour of walking around. In defense of the movie, I don’t think the marketing did it any favors. Every trailer for Dune I saw made it look so much more cool than it was then you watch the movie and find out all that cool footage was just him hallucinating the future. So for me, the marketing team failed Dune Part One. I’m hoping Part Two will improve on Part One and perhaps when combined they’ll make a pretty darn good movie, but we shall see
Iron Claw
A high bar setter for 2024. The Iron Claw had memorable and exciting cinematography. The acting from Zac Efron and his fellow co-stars were absolutely incredible. The story of the Iron Claw was (no pun intended) gripping. I found myself on the edge of my seat the whole time.
2023
Wonka
For those in love with Gene Wilder I am pleased to report this movie will make you smile. Wonka was an excellent adaption of Willy Wonka. As I watched the movie I could see how they strove to develop a prequel story to the Gene Wilder film. Timothy Chalamet captured the essence of a younger Willy Wonka and the imagination that enthralled us all when we were younger. Not only this but the supporting cast (most notably Calah Lane as Noodle) really helped drive home heart warming origins of the most famous chocolatier in the world. The story of the film was entertaining to say the least with a few corny moments that interrupt otherwise great moments. Finally, the music. I was surprised by how enjoyable I found the songs in Wonka and actually hope a few stick in my head for the days to come.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
This movie was unfortunate and although the first 4 movies are not perfect they far exceeded this confusing uninspired mess. However, before we dive into all the things that made me regret spending my time watching it I would like to at least acknowledge some positives. I thought the time period of the movie was captivating and it did a lot to show us how much Panem had grown by the time we reached the Hunger Games. I also found the discussions surrounding the creation of the Hunger Games interesting and it subtly answers a lot of questions about their origin, purpose, and value. Yet none of these positives could save The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes from a typhoon of negatives. My chief gripe is Snow and Lucy Grey. Both characters are absolutely sloppy, it feels like they actually have negative character development if that’s possible. They are not entertaining to watch on screen, they are clearly given weird directions and there is zero resolution for either character let alone the whole movie. There were no stakes throughout the entire movie and if they were they just didn’t land. The actual Hunger Games portion of the film was entertaining for about 2 minutes and then really slow for 45. Having never read the book I would be and am disappointed in this movie. I loved the original 3 Hunger Games books and enjoyed the first 4 movies but this was a flaming trash pile that someone stuck the name on.
