The Better Late Than Never: My Year in Movies Review (2023)
“Well…better late than never.” (Ghostbusters II)
Why wait till March to release what I thought of the movies I saw in the previous year? Honestly, I started writing this two months ago and kept putting it off. However, with the Academy Awards in just a few days, I decided that if I was going to release this it had better be now or never. So, let’s recap a year in movies. Shall we?
I saw a lot of movies in 2023. Like a lot of movies. On average, I watch one to two movies a week. That may not sound like much, but it quickly adds up to over a hundred without much effort. In short, 2023 was not my favorite year in movies. I saw a huge number of bad and “meh” movies this year. However, for every awful movie, there usually was a real gem. So, let’s discuss movies!
Scene from Spirited Away: Live on Stage
Top Movie Theater/Cinema Experiences of the Year
This is not a category for the best movies of the year per say, but instead, for the best experiences had while watching a movie in the cinema. This category encompasses both new and old movies and some experiences that made the movie memorable for all the wrong reasons.
Violent Night (2022) & Renfield (2023) – Two movies in one slot? How is that fair? Hear me out. I saw both of these movies with my father, and it was great. Neither of these movies particularly lit up the box office. However, there is something special when you share a movie going experience with your dad. Sometimes the best way to watch someone get their arm ripped off and then that arm used as the weapon of their own demise is with family!
The Whale (2022) – I saw The Whale twice in the cinema. On multiple occasions, I tried to write how I felt during the movie and how it represented the obese community in which I am a part of. However, as I began to write, each attempt failed to capture how I truly felt. This movie hit so close to home; I suspect I was doing more harm than good in watching it. However, it filled a hole that at that time I needed to be filled. Even now, I struggle to put the correct words forward to describe this movie. It moved me, but maybe not in the right direction. Perhaps this year, I will finally find my words and share how I truly feel about this movie.
Jesus Revolution (2023) – Oh Jesus Revolution. This movie makes this list solely on how close it came to being good. The first hour of this movie is excellent; then the second hour comes in hard dramatically changing the focus of the film to an overhanded “message” instead of the story it was telling. This could have been a good movie; maybe even a great one. It makes me upset at how close they came to producing a good “Christian” movie without being preachy. I’ve already written at length about this movie and that can be read here.
Barbie (2023) – “Do you guys ever think about dying?” The theater silenced and then, in that silence, I produced the loudest guffaw I have ever let out in a packed movie house. I was followed by more laughs. The three teenagers next to me spent the remainder of the movie laughing at both the movie and my sheer enjoyment of said film. I loved it and its message.
Titanic (30th Anniversary) – After thirty years, I finally saw Titanic. Did you know it’s more than just a movie about a boat sinking? I am glad that I saw it for the first time on the biggest screen possible and I was most impressed that the sinking of the boat in the movie was done, more or less, in real time.
Spirited Away: Live on Stage – I had been following this production on Instagram for months and had accepted the fact that I would never see the full production. Miraculously, Studio Ghibli released it in theaters as part of a special presentation and I was finally able to see how they brought the Academy Award winning film to the stage. It was so much better done than I could have ever anticipated. Brilliant puppet manipulation. Inventive staging. If it becomes available to stream, I highly recommend it,
Spiderman: Across the Spiderverse (2023) – The water-colored visuals of the first half hour of this movie made me want to see a whole movie animated in that style. The movie builds on the groundbreaking visuals of its predecessor and showed what could be done with animation.
Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds (1963) – I had never seen The Birds before, so it was a treat to be able to see it for the first time on the big screen…and it was terrifying. Days after seeing this movie, I was hiking in the middle of a forest unaware that it was migration season. Nothing is more unnerving than being alone in the woods and having a large flock of birds descend upon the trees surrounding you. Birds: They’re everywhere and they can kill you.
65 (2023) – I did not enjoy this movie. However, it makes this list BECAUSE two mothers brought a huge group of children and sat in the row behind me. Now, I can’t tell you why they brought these children to see this movie. Maybe they assumed that it was going to be a fun “Adam Driver plays with dinosaurs” movie. (It’s not that kind of movie, by the way). This makes this list solely because the trailers for this film were exclusively slasher, horror and psychological thrillers which terrified the small children. Now did the moms take the children out? No. Did that fear bring me a small feeling of delight? Before I answer that, let me ask you this: WHY WOULD YOU BRING CHILDREN TO THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE!
In the theme of better late than never, I finally saw American Graffiti for the first time as part of a special theatrical engagement. Seeing now iconic actors and film makers at the beginning of their craft is something to behold. I didn’t know where to put this film, but I wanted to acknowledge it and recommend it for those that have never seen it.
The “Meh” Awards
Perhaps time will change my opinion of these movies, maybe it won’t.
1. Wish (2023) –I don’t know what Disney was thinking with this movie. A film that was supposed to be a “celebration of 100 years of magic” turned out to be a compilation of poor song composition and even poorer story construction. The attempt to incorporate homages to previous Disney films felt so forced that it made you realize how well Shrek executed the same concept over twenty years ago. I’m putting this in the “Meh” Awards only because it doesn’t deserve to be in the worst movies of the year category currently. As time continues to pass, my disdain and disappointment in this film only continues to grow.
2. Super Mario Bros. (2023) – I remember leaving this movie feeling absolutely nothing. Neither good, nor bad. Just “meh.” This movie clearly was not made for me; or was it? It was so corporately constructed to play upon a specific set of millennial nostalgic emotions and those of their children. I left wishing that they had made a bolder choice in their storytelling.
3. Elemental (2023) – I’ll keep this one short. I liked the visuals, but I didn’t like the story. It felt played out. There were a few surprises, but overall Pixar’s take on the star-crossed lovers trope wasn’t going to end any differently than it did in the movie.
4. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023) – This movie received a lot of hate, that it didn’t deserve, but I am also not going to say that this movie holds a candle to the original entries in the franchise. Honestly, I have a lot of opinions about this film, but in the end, this will forever be remembered by me as the film I saw before I ran over two animals within five minutes on my way home from the theatre. Their deaths were quick, but their smells lingered under my car for weeks.
Although not a movie, I watched the series finale (and the final three episode season) of The Owl House more times than I can recall. In fact, there was a time, where I would just put the final season on in the background as I worked on other things. It is a crime that Disney cancelled it, but a miracle that it lasted as long as it did solely based on the over abundance of representation that the show portrayed. The first season may take a few episodes to get the story going, but stick with it. The story is more than worth it in the end.
The “Your Release Date Killed Your Movie” Award
Haunted Mansion (2023) –Disney dropped the ball on this movie in multiple ways, the biggest in my opinion was the release date. Had this movie not been released in July (two weeks after Barbie and Oppenheimer) and instead been released in late September or early October, it would have had a more impactful box office. October was especially devoid this year of movies for families at the cinema. This wasn’t a bad movie, and I would recommend checking it out via streaming.
The “Shut Up Internet Trolls, I Liked It” Award
The Marvels (2023) – Most of the chatter online was deriding this movie, but I really liked it. Liked, not loved. I would love more female led superhero movies like this. We’re not going to get them, but it would be nice. My favorite Moment: The joy in Carol Danver’s face (Brie Larson) when they realize they get to herd cats. That whole absurdist scene was just priceless.
The “Better Late Than Never Award”
Titanic: 30th Anniversary Release (1993) – Cheech Marin said it best as he observed the Titanic pulling into dock during Ghostbusters II “Better late than never.” It may have taken me 30 years, but I finally saw Titanic. Was it worth the wait? Kind of. There was plenty that I truly appreciated about the movie. As stated before, I really enjoyed watching the Titanic sink in real time. It was also nice to finally see what so many shows and movies have parodied and over analyzed over the last thirty years. Much like Cameron’s other larger than life productions, the story takes a slight backseat letting the visuals be the main draw of the movie. However, you don’t need me to tell you that. You likely saw this movie 30 years ago, when it first came out.
So why have I never seen this movie? When it was first released there was a girl in my homeroom that would talk about how many times she had seen it. I remember succinctly when she said that she was about to see it for an 8th time. “Eight times! That’s almost a day of your life devoted to this movie.” Now at the time, I shouldn’t have been as judgy, since I had seen Raiders of the Lost Ark, Back to the Future and Ghostbusters with an equivalent amount of time (likely more.) Still for some reason, at that moment I dug my heels in and decided that I would not see the movie. Hindsight, I get it. I totally understand why a teenage girl would want to see that movie over and over and over. Do I plan on seeing again in the future, probably not. After all, we all know how it ends. (The boat sinks…. that’s how it ends.)
The “I Really Wanted to Like Your Movie” Award
Fool’s Paradise (2023) – I am an ardent lover of silent movies. Charlie Chaplin’s City Lights is among the Top 10 of my favorite films. When I heard that a movie had been released harkening back to this era of silent comedies with a mute character; I was ecstatic. When the movie was at its best, it was really swinging. However, after those moments had passed, I found the rest of the movie dreadful. When Charlie Day is not on screen, you must endure the remainder of the cast especially Ken Jeong. I have liked Jeong in other projects, but he really ruined this movie. Watch it if you want, but I wouldn’t recommend it.
People often disregard the silent film era, but movies like Charlie Chaplin’s City Lights not only hold up to current features but, in my opinion, often surpass current films in storytelling.
The Good and Forgotten in 10 Words or Less Recognition
1. A Good Person (2023) – Under Appreciated movie starring Florence Pugh and Morgan Freeman. A-
2. Blue Beetle (2023) – Honestly kind of fun but will never get a sequel.
3. Theatre Camp (2023) – Perfect film for the theatre kid in your heart
The “Well, this is Awkward” Award
Groundhog Day: 30th Anniversary Release – I love re-releases. It often allows me to see classic films the way they were intended to be seen. The screening of Groundhog Day had a packed house, which on other occasions has been a delightful experience. However, in this particular occasion, it made the whole thing…well, just awkward. People laughed at the set-up of the jokes, knowing all too well what was to come next. Additionally, the patron behind me audibly quoted most of the movie either in time or slightly before the line was said. It was not as enjoyable as I was hoping. Still glad that I got to experience this weird event but will make me weary of seeing similar types of movies in the future.
The “I Wanted to See This, but….” Award
Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (2023) – I wanted to see this, but Swifties scare me. Actually, I wanted to see it, but other things kept getting in the way. If I could have afforded to gone to the Eras Tour, I would have. This seemed like the next best alternative. Am I the biggest Taylor Swift fan? No. However, since Jimmy Buffett died, I am in the market for a new musical obsession.
The “No, I Haven’t Seen It Yet” Award
Oppenheimer (2023) - I am just creating this category to explain why it’s not on my best of the year list.
The Worst Movies of the Year (in my opinion)
THEY PUT A LITERAL SKITTLES COMMERCIAL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MOVIE!!!! Okay, Okay…let’s get to the worst movies of the year.
1. The Flash (2023) – THE WORST MOVIE OF THE YEAR! The night I saw this I needed to see something loud and stupid. I saw Transformers: Rise of the Beasts first and it was exactly what I thought. But then I saw Flash. OH BOY! They said they delayed this movie because they needed to work on the visuals. These visuals? What we saw was the final product? Really. UGGHHHH!!!! I’m sorry. I’m sorry. They took a great comic storyline (The Flashpoint Paradox) and just ruined it. Also, ALSO, I am mad that this is how we waste the return of Michael Keaton’s Batman. This movie angers me so much that it is the new bar at which I judge bad movies.
2. Shazam: Fury of the Gods (2023) – Woof. This movie was not good. Originally, I tried to defend it, but as time went by my disdain for this movie grew. It is just not good. Also, and I can’t stress this enough: There is a literal commercial for skittles in the movie.
3. 65 (2023) – I don’t know what I was expecting from 65, but it wasn’t this. The only good thing that I can say is that it was short. The paleontological inaccuracies pissed me off so much that I would rant to anyone that would listen for weeks at how bad the film was.
4. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023) – Similar to Shazam: Fury of the Gods, this movie just was not great. I really can’t defend almost anything that was done throughout the course of the film. Save your time and just watch the second season of Loki (it will be time better well spent.)
5. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once and Always (2023) – My notes for this Netflix special presentation are simply “That is life that I will never get back.” Don’t watch this nostalgia bait. Just save yourself and don’t.
The Best Movies of the Year (in my opinion)
“This was a great movie that just so happened to have Godzilla in it.”
1. Godzilla Minus One (2023) – If you had told me at the beginning of the year that my top movie of the year would be a Godzilla movie, I never would have believed you. Let me cut to the chase. This was a great movie that just so happened to have Godzilla in it. I knew almost nothing about this movie going into it. I had never seen a trailer and knew nothing about what it was going to be about. Something about this movie felt so real. Perhaps it was the portrayal of survivor’s guilt so close after a worldwide pandemic that took so much from so many of us. Perhaps it was the fact that said monster was, in regard to giant monsters, more biologically realistic? (This has been a huge issue for me with the American versions.) Perhaps it is a combination of all these elements. Since it’s initial release, I have seen this movie three times. Each time discovering small details that I did not notice in the previous viewing. When it becomes available for streaming, do yourself a favor and watch this fantastic film.
“The movie builds on the groundbreaking visuals of its predecessor and showed what could be done with animation. “
2. Spiderman: Across the Spiderverse (2023) – There is little I could say about this film that hasn’t already been said. For most of the year, this was my top movie of the year. It is without a doubt artistically beautiful. With that having been said, the movie is not without its faults. The script, at times, leaves story elements to be desired and questions unanswered that would provide a simple context, additionally in a rush to get the movie out, the sound mixing leaves something to be desired. Additionally, it’s hard to mentally put aside the tyrannical early Walt Disney-esque working conditions they put the animators through. However, in the end they created a beautiful work of art…with a really, big cliffhanger.
3. Barbie (2023) – The experience of seeing Barbie is one that I won’t forget for a while. Combined with an amazing script, cast and direction this movie easily sits in my top of the year. I really don’t know what else to say since if you are reading this, you have more than likely seen the movie yourself.
4.. The Boy and the Heron (2023) – I am in a stage of my life where some of my favorite stories are when ordinary people are put in extraordinary circumstances. The Boy and the Heron takes what would have been a somewhat mundane situation and twists it into a dimensional crossing adventure across time and space. Of course, this is a genre that Studio Ghibli does so well. I don’t know if this is the first Ghibli film that I would recommend to a newcomer to the studio’s collection. However, it is one of my favorites. (Also, I feel that I should include this as well, to date I have only seen the English dubbed version. I didn’t have time to see the subbed version.)
5. Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume Three (2023) – it’s easy to forget that we had one genuinely amazing superhero film this year with the final installment of James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy series. I hope that Marvel Studios learns something about storytelling from what James Gunn created with the Guardians trilogy. With James Gunn now at the helm of the DC universe I am hopeful that he will help set the universe with my favorite heroes on the path that it deserves
If you have read to this point, CONGRATULATIONS!!! I don’t have a prize for you, just my respect.