Here we are again, the end of the year, and coming up with my top 10 movie list of the year. Going through what I have seen this year, I will admit, I am a bit disappointed in myself for how many smaller and independent movies I ended up not seeing. So, bust out the popcorn as we go through my top 10 of 2023.
10. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
First off, the animation in this is amazing; it looked messy, but in a very good way. Was this your regular TMNT tale? For the most part yes. But with Teenage Mutant in the title I always wanted a teenage story of our foursome, yet they typically feel much older. Here, they focused more on the teenage aspect of them which was a very refreshing experience for a TMNT movie. But also, the choice to not have Shredder as the big baddy was awesome! I love Shredder, but there are so many other great villains in the TMNT lore.
9. Sisu
Sisu is the story of a gold miner searching for gold in Germany 1944, and he runs into some Nazis who want his gold. But they’re going to need more than an army to take the gold. This movie is crazy, and a bit ridiculous at times, but overall a fun, yet violent, action movie. It could have used a bit more of a punch up character-wise, but overall it is how it is advertised.
8. Scream VI
What I love most about the Scream series is the who-done-it aspect and trying to figure out who the killer is. There were multiple times I thought I had it figured out but then, bam! Twist! This serves as a great sequel to 2022’s Scream, so I recommend seeing that one before Scream VI.
7. The Super Mario Bros. Movie
I had quite a fun time with this one. I loved that it incorporated aspects of the games into it – even the 2D boxes, bricks, and fireball course were represented in a fun way. It was great to be in that world and follow Mario on this wonderful adventure. Also, Princess Peach is usually the damsel in distress, but here she’s this badass princess who takes control in all of her scenes. I really love what they did with the world and these characters and hope to return someday.
6. Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
Lately I have seen a few of these “build a team together to take down the bad guy” plots, which is a good backbone for a story, but this was the best executed one – along with the best sense of humor. Truly the comedy throughout this is what I enjoyed most. I absolutely love fantasy movies in general and all the magic and creatures here made this into such a fun adventure.
5. Barbie
I did not think I was going to like this movie as much as I did. The trailers made it look like a good time, but how it plays with stereotypes of what Barbie is then turns it into Stereotypical Barbie finding herself and who *she* truly is was brilliant. Society expects you to be a certain way, but we are not that way and we have flaws since everything is not perfect. This movie had such a powerful voice and I am so happy it exists.
4. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
The MCU Multiverse is quite overwhelming and the thought of it gets exhausting, but the story in here is very grounded. Destiny has already been laid out for you but if you can change that, would you – and should you? That is what Miles Morales/Spider-Man is grappling with and it makes an incredibly emotional story of doing the right thing or letting destiny take its course. We also get the story of Gwen Stacy/Spider-Gwen, dealing with wanting to save the ones she loves, but it coming with a price. 2018’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse sets up this world so well, but this took the characters and made it more emotional and character driven. Slight spoiler here: I am so bummed that it ends on a cliffhanger, but I am so excited for what is to come.
3. Oppenheimer
How this movie is put together, the direction, the music, the cinematography, the editing, the sound, everything is almost perfect. This is a movie with 3 hours of talking, yet it is engaging and kept it interested the whole time. I am truly amazed with what Christopher Nolan pulled off here, and how he shows the power and effect of what this bomb truly means for the world.
2. Fast X
I am sorry, yes I am part of the reason why The Fast Saga movies keep getting made (see my primer for the franchise here). I love this series and I had a blast with the latest entry. Jason Momoa brings so much chaos into this, as well as new life to the series. I do criticize that this one felt very much like a greatest hits of the previous ones, but what helps is that most of the crew are separated; even though their goal is to meet up with each other, how they make their way to the rendezvous location is what drives Fast X. I know this is Part 1 of a 2 or 3 part finale, and I hope it ends in a satisfying way.
1. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
This is the movie that affected me the most in 2023. I didn’t start off as the biggest fan of the Guardians, but as the years have gone by, they really started to grow on me. However, Rocket Raccoon was always my favorite of the group and this one really is his story. We learn about his backstory here, and gah damn, is it rough. I will caution, if you are sensitive to animal cruelty this is a tough watch. I think it helps that these characters are animated, but still, it is tough. What James Gunn crafted with the backstory is amazing and so powerful; we get glimpses of Rocket when he was a cub, but what he went through and everything around him is impactful and the absolute heart of this story. Everyone else brings their A game here as well, especially Chris Pratt as Peter Quill. This is the best I have seen him, as he brought an urgency to the character that has always been a go-with-the-flow kind of guy, but he has been through a lot which can definitely change a person. GotG: Vol. 3 isn’t something I can watch over and over again, but what it accomplishes is beyond a regular superhero movie.
Thank you for joining me through this year of movies. 2023 was a fun year for sure and a big year for me personally as well! As always I am excited for the next year to come, and look forward to new worlds and stories.