Biggest Disappointment: Shazam: Fury of the Gods

I love the original "Shazam." It is such a fun movie, and it quickly became one of the best of the DCEU movies. It didn't take much; the bar was pretty low at that point (and that is no slight to "Shazam.") Despite the quality of movies in the DCEU, I was still hopeful for this one, and boy, what a letdown. Above all else, it was boring, and I hated every time the villains were on screen; I don’t check my watch often during a movie but did frequently whenever the story focused on the bad guys. 

Biggest Suprise: Wonka

I recently rewatched "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory"; it is a masterpiece. It had been years since I watched it, and "Wonka" inspired me to revisit it. While I enjoyed the "Wonka" trailer, I was shocked at how much fun the movie was. Timothée Chalamet did a great job making Wonka his own and not trying to mimic Gene Wilder. My only real issue is that if it is a prequel, I don't know if I want to see the movies where Chalamet's Wonka becomes the jaded cynic that Wilder's version is. 

Best Video Game of 2023: Marvel's Spider-Man 2

One type of media I do not log or talk about is video games. I do not play many video games and stick to specific series if I buy new games. One of the few new games I bought in 2023 was Spider-Man 2." The first game was incredible. The gameplay was stunning (I could spend hours just swinging through the New York City of that game), but the story was one of the best I have ever experienced. I played the final boss fight while in tears because of the story they told. If this game had just cleared that, admittedly, high bar, it would have been my favorite game of the year. What it did was that and then some. The introduction of Venom as the bad guy, the story it told with the secondary bad guy, Kraven, and the overarching story of Peter Parker and Miles Morales made it easily the best game of the year for me.

2023 Honorable Mentions

Making a top 10 list is hard, and there are always some I wish I could put on, but they get moved off the list for one reason or another. Here are just a few that didn't make the cut.

No One Will Save You-It has some sci-fi and horror elements and a fantastic performance from Kaitlyn Dever. It is currently on Hulu if any of those things appeal to you. 

Talk To Me-2023 was a good year for horror, but this was the best of the bunch. I have been meaning to revisit it because I wasn't feeling good during it, but despite all that, I still really enjoyed it. A sequel is already in the works, and I cannot wait.

The Boy and the Heron-I have seen very few of legendary Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki's films, but each one has been incredible. If this is his last movie (he is 83), then this is a fitting movie about a creator looking to pass on his legacy. 

Nimona-I really wish Netflix had released this in theaters. This was something special that everyone should have the chance to see. It is set in a futuristic, medieval kingdom, and the titular Nimona is a shapeshifter that the kingdom's knights have sworn to destroy. 

Asteroid City- This is the most Wes Anderson movie ever, and I loved it. If you are a fan of Anderson and his style, then this is for you. 

Most Anticipated Movie of 2024: Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

"Mad Max Fury Road" is the best action movie ever. Full stop. Geroge Miller, who is 75, can direct action better than directors half his age. This movie takes the character who was, for all intents and purposes, the lead of "Fury Road" and gives her backstory. It looks absolutely incredible and is an early contender for the No. 1 spot on the best movies of 2024.