It’s 2024! Have some more recs~
Jan. 13th, 2024 01:04 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rinjaBeen a hot minute, but haven’t been watching any less content… although a good chunk of my watching time recently went to an edited rewatch of Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden (which honestly, I somehow never finished previously lmao), mainly because I was super sick for a good 10 days. Also I took quite a bit of vacation time in December (before the plague) and managed to do a bunch of like, ACTUAL reading??
Editing to add: lmao I saw a ton of movies this past year so uh added a massive movies section… I do have a theater subscription pass thingy and I’m BEHIND, believe it or not. Adding cuts!
anime/donghua
link click
studio: LAN Studio
drama, action, fantasy
This one kind of took me by surprise. Crunchyroll had been pushing this one at me for a bajillion years, especially with the new season that came out this past year, but I finally actually read the synopsis and was like, okay I’ll bite. And then I binge-watched both seasons in Very Quick Succession. Blown away by the production quality, the voice acting quality, the STORY QUALITY—this one is really, really well done. It does take a few episodes to really get into the meat of the plot, because the first part of season one is very episodic, like a “mission of the week” kind of thing. It builds on itself though, and several of those little individual storylines come into play later on in the overarching plot. And once that plot takes off… HOOBOY. Basically, this is a really interesting take on the whole “time traveler” genre, using photos as a medium. Also, the two main guys are definitely gay for each other, but because it’s Chinese content, it’s just very vaguely implied so they can get around the CCP censor haha. I’m super glad I caught onto this one AFTER season 2 dropped because season 1 has a HORRIBLE cliffhanger right at the end. Season 2 has a cliffhanger too, but it’s definitely different style than Season 1, more the type that’s creating HUGE spirals of conspiracy theories in the general fanbase. Honestly, this one is highly worth a watch, and I can’t wait for Season 3!
jujutsu kaisen
studio: MAPPA
seinen, action, supernatural
Yep, bringing this one back, because if I thought season 1 was great, season 2 was PHENOMENAL and turned me into a diehard satosugu fan lmfao, even though it hurts SO MUCH. I truly despise how badly the animators were treated during the production on this season, but honestly their hard work created something truly spectacular (though you can kinda tell where they had to cut some corners to get things out on time, sadge). Basically, if you haven’t watched any of this yet, the recommended order of viewing is Season 1, the 0 movie, and then Season 2, because the 0 movie may not make sense on context when you watch it but it provides massive context for a few major things that happen in Season 2. This one is a wild, rough ride, and there’s definitely a good reason for all the hype.
hell’s paradise: jigokuraku
studio: MAPPA
seinen, action, historical, supernatural
Yeah look. This one is super crazy weird but honestly, you toss historical Japanese ninja-samurai content at me, I’m probably gonna bite. General synopsis: a legendary ninja named Gabimaru gets captured by the Shogunate and is sentenced to death for his crimes (executions of these kinds are carried out by a famous family of executioners). He’s offered a chance at salvation (along with a bunch of other superpowered death row inmates) if he finds the Elixir of Life on this mystical, dangerous island that nobody’s ever returned from. The story kind of devolves into a major Battle Royale on the island between the different inmates, who are all being babysat by their executioners. Doesn’t sound like much but honestly the vague, limited background we’ve been given on Gabimaru is super intriguing, and I really like Sagiri (his executioner) as well. Only one season in so far, and apparently season 2 is slotted for this year sometime (ahhh sorry MAPPA animators, you guys are definitely not getting enough breaks, gosh!!). I’m definitely excited for more!
mashle: magic & muscles
studio: A-1 Pictures
comedy, action, magic
All you need to know about this one is that it’s an actual, unashamed ripoff of Harry Potter, if Harry Potter was a magicless himbo who is obsessed with working out and cream puffs. I started watching this one with my nephew in Japan, and we were laughing so hard we were crying. It’s so, so very dumb, and I swear I’ve lost brain cells watching this. Great for some really cheap, really dumb laughs. And Season 2 just started.
tv shows
lessons in chemistry
provider (US): Apple TV+
period drama, romance, slice of life
I turned this into a Girls’ Night(s) show with my mother, and we both really enjoyed it! Our female lead is a university lab tech in the US during the 1960s, who struggles against misogyny in her field and is ultimately fired, and then by chance lands a role as the host of a cooking tv show. Hard to describe how else this goes without spoiling things that happen, but honestly this show has a ton of heart. While insanely infuriating, it’s also incredibly uplifting. I’m pretty sure this is a one-and-done (i.e. a one season limited series), too, which is also nice. I recently picked up the book this is based on, and have plans to peruse that during my next longer vacation (whenever that ends up being, haha).
blue eye samurai
provider (US): Netflix
historical, action, thriller, animation
HOW DID I FORGET TO INCLUDE THIS LMAO. One of my good buddies (and sometimes gaming/anime watching pal) was like, “HAVE YOU SEEN THIS YET” and I hadn’t… and then I binge-watched the WHOLE DAMN THING. Oh my god, this show is insanely good. Very intense, violent, raw, raunchy, very adult, and so SO good. The production quality on this is really top-notch, too—the animation is unique and gorgeous, the music is killer (I want a soundtrack oh my GOD), and the storytelling is phenomenal. I went in on this one with absolutely zero context other than “IT’S SO GOOD” (from my friend), and I think that was for the best. My only thoughts that I’d share on this that are hopefully not super-spoilery is that our main protagonist is absolutely fascinating, because some of the decisions and thought process are a little hard to stomach and I ACTUALLY… REALLY LIKE THAT. Highly recommend a watch. So glad another season is green-lit already!!
one piece (live action)
provider (US): Netflix
action, adventure, supernatural, anime adaptation
Also HOW DID I FORGET TO INCLUDE THIS TOO;;; But if y’all haven’t heard the hype on this one this past year, you’re living under a damn rock. Sets the bar on live action anime adaptations, and for such a massively popular series too. You can tell the showrunners AND talent on this cared a TON about paying proper homage to the source material. Absolutely love the cast, the overall vibe, and the decisions they made on what to focus on. Really looking forward to more seasons for this. (Plus, one of my sisters—one of the ones who ISN’T into anime—was like OH MY GOD THIS IS SUCH A GOOD SHOW and it made my YEAR haha!)
movies
chevalier
director: Stephen Williams
historical, drama
This was on my list to see in theaters, but somehow missed it during its run, so I finally watched it at home recently. Super fascinating story, and based on a true story about a black musical prodigy in pre-revolution France who rivaled artist/composers like Mozart, but whose story got buried over politics and racial discrimination. I hadn’t heard anything about the historical figure this is based on, and honestly more of these stories need telling!! Phenomenal acting from the lead, and the music is AMAZING.
the greatest beer run ever
director: Peter Farrelly
historical, comedy, drama
This starts off as almost a frat-boy style comedy, and then goes on a really crazy ride that really made me go “oh my god this was based on a TRUE STORY?!” I know this one got a lot of mixed reviews from critics, but personally I really enjoyed it. Kind of drives home the kind of shitshow that was the Vietnam War, too.
killers of the flower moon
director: Martin Scorsese
historical, drama
Okay look. This one started a lot of very heated discussions about who has the right to tell indigenous stories. And whatever side of that conversation you might fall on, I’m just glad this movie is dragging that conversation into the spotlight at all, because it’s an important one. As for the movie itself, well, if you’re used to Scorsese films, it’s definitely a piece of art akin to his usual style (gorgeous cinematography, excellent music, very long & drawn out). Lily Gladstone is incredible in this, too. It’s a story worth knowing, even if you don’t like the fact that Scorsese is the one directing and that DiCaprio is such a big role in it.
the creator
director: Gareth Edwards
sci-fi, action
This was one of those movies that kind of surprised me, because I didn’t know at all what to expect just based on the trailers (except that it had the potential to be REALLY good), and I was NOT disappointed! Could absolutely see this becoming its own franchise at some point. Really fascinating take on where AI could go, and really appreciated John David Washington’s performance as the lead (I HAD NO IDEA HE WAS DENZEL’S SON UNTIL WAY LATER LMAO). I am ALL FOR original content movies when they’re like this, because it feels like they’re so few & far between. (So many movies these days are sequels, franchises, remakes, based on books/biopics/true stories/other content, let’s be real.) Highly worth a watch if you like sci-fi.
a haunting in venice
director: Kenneth Branagh
mystery, drama
I’m a huge fan of Agatha Christie mysteries, and surprisingly this one didn’t really campaign as an Agatha Christie movie except that the main character is Hercule Poirot. (Look, I am not a fan of horror or exorcist-type movies—that’s what this campaigned as, but because I recognized that it was Agatha Christie I agreed to go see it lmao.) And quite frankly, I really enjoyed this one! Definitely was surprised to see Branagh directed it because it’s a huge departure from his normal style. If you like murder mysteries with the possibility that it could be something more, this is a fun one.
joy ride
director: Adele Lim
comedy
Okay so the humor in this one is more like the type of humor you’d find in films like The Hangover and Bridesmaids—crude, raunchy, no-holds-barred, very adult—and it’s a BLAST. Loved the main cast, and it has a surprising amount of heart for a comedy of its style. I definitely laughed a ton, and even teared up some towards the end. Great times, fun movie, recommend a watch if you don’t mind super adult comedies.
teenage mutant ninja turtles: mutant mayhem
director: Jeff Rowe
comedy, action, animation
I haven’t honestly seen a ton of TMNT content of late (I was a HUGE fan as a child but fell off in the late-90s/early-00s, god I’m old lmfao), but the animation style and overall vibe on this one looked like it’d be a great time, and it WAS! Super fun movie with enough content for a wide span of age groups. You could tell the showrunners were fans of the 90s animated shows like I was, but they updated it to more modern tastes, and it made for a really entertaining movie.
spider-man: across the spider-verse
directors: Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson
superhero, action, adventure, animation
Let’s be real: Across the Spider-Verse is the BEST Marvel movie ever made, hands down. This took the super high bar from “Into the Spider-Verse” and threw it into the stratosphere. From the animation style, to the production quality, to the overall storytelling… They’re really setting a new standard for animated films produced in the US. And it ended on a huge sucker-punch cliffhanger, oh MY GOD, and with the strikes that happened we know the next installment got delayed but if they continue with the same level of quality, I’ll WAIT AS LONG AS THEY NEED ME TO. So. Good!!!!
barbie
director: Greta Gerwig
comedy, drama
Yes. I dressed up in pink and went to see this with the girls. This movie was made for us, and I know we all fucking loved it. Anyone who tells you it’s bad is probably a misogynist, or just didn’t Get It (or they never saw it lmfao). Between the memes, the inside jokes, the HEART… the movie was absolutely Kenough. Thank you, Greta. I haven’t had this much fun in theaters in a very, very long time.
oppenheimer
director: Christopher Nolan
historical, drama
While I didn’t do a true Barbenheimer double feature, I did see this one in theaters as well (maybe about a week or so after I saw Barbie). This is also a really well done movie, though in true Nolan fashion it’s a lengthy dramatic beast. Cillian Murphy was incredible in it. Very thought-provoking in its own right.
mission: impossible - dead reckoning part one
director: Christopher McQuarrie
action, adventure, spy, thriller, drama
I actually did a full binge of all the Mission: Impossible movies to get ready for this one, and I am honestly REALLY glad I did!! The last several entries were all actually really, really great and this one definitely held up that bar. Again, sadge that the strikes delayed the next release to 2025 because this one ended on a gnarly cliffhanger, but if it’s going to continue the insanity started on this one, WORTH. Great times, and Tom Cruise still knows what he’s doing.
the marvels
director: Nia DaCosta
superhero, action, adventure
Look, I know we’re all a little burned out on MCU movies & shows. And as much as this one was one the general public seemed to really want to hate on, and I honestly was prepared to dislike as well, I actually had a good time. Fun popcorn blockbuster, and I surprisingly really enjoyed the movie introductions of both Monica Rambeau (also in WandaVision) and Kamala Khan (also in Ms. Marvel, which I’ll admit I never watched). I also was SUPER HAPPY to see one of my fave k-drama stars, Park Seo-joon, get a great role in this! (I definitely squealed in the theater haha oops.) The next gen cast of Marvel superheroes is getting lined up, and honestly it seems like they’ll be pretty fun—though I still am a little burned out haha. At any rate, this one surprised me with being a lighthearted, fun romp.
indiana jones and the dial of destiny
director: James Mangold
action, adventure
I had very low expectations on this one after how bad the Crystal Skull entry was for the Indiana Jones franchise, but this actually really felt like it honored the vibe and style of the original trilogy. I had a great time watching this one, which surprised me, and it reminded me why I still love the Indiana Jones franchise as a whole. Another fun popcorn blockbuster romp.
guardians of the galaxy vol. 3
director: James Gunn
superhero, action, adventure
So glad Disney decided to bring back James Gunn for this one. I loved the first two GotG movies, and I loved this one too—though it definitely had a way different vibe from the other two. This is very much a love letter to Rocket’s character, and my heartstrings were yanked on pretty hard lmao. I’ll admit this one made me tear up a bunch, rUDE. It was a very fitting finale for the GotG trilogy. And despite my general MCU burnout, I’m super glad I caught this one in theaters.
dungeons & dragons: honor among thieves
directors: Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley
fantasy, action, adventure
Okay, look, I’ve never actually played D&D. I always wanted to, but never seemed to make friends with a group that did it regularly, so uh. My enjoyment of this movie should have that context in mind, haha. Basically, you give me fun romp with Chris Pine and toss in Regé-Jean Page’s glorious presence, and I’m there?? Plus the abbreviation for the movie is actually DADHAT and you can’t beat it. This movie was just so gosh-darned FUN. Sure, the D&D diehards nit-picked all the nitty gritty details on this to death and I’ve heard some of their complaints, but you can’t really seriously tell me this wasn’t a fun movie. Lots of humor, adventure, and even some great heartfelt moments chucked in, and I am a fan, would absolutely watch more films in this series if they’re like this.
john wick: chapter 4
director: Chad Stahelski
action, thriller
Okay look this is great and y’all know it. Everything it says on the tin with John Wick (and Keanu Reeves), what else would you expect? … Also, the reason I made the effort to binge-watch all of the Mission: Impossible films before the Dead Reckoning 1 came out was because of the mistake I made with John Wick… I went and saw John Wick 4 MANY years after seeing the first one, and without seeing 2&3. BIG mistake. I was like, WHAT THIS ACTUALLY HAS A PLOT??? I mean, I still enjoyed every bit of this movie, and it was everything the franchise promises and more, but you really do need the context from 1-3 to fully appreciate this one. Still, I really enjoyed it, and I still do plan to do a full 4-movie binge at some point so I can get the full experience.
65
directors: Scott Beck, Bryan Woods
action, sci-fi, adventure
Look, I was promised by advertising a sci-fi adventure starring Space Dad Adam Driver and dinosaurs, which sounded like I’d enjoy it, and this delivered exactly what was promised. I don’t know what critics were expecting when they read the tin. Again, another movie with original content (i.e., not based on pre-existing IP). I thought this was probably one of the more unique/new takes on dinosaur movies with a fun sci-fi flare. I could dive into this whole universe and really enjoy it. Plus, I really liked Adam Driver’s performance, taking on the role of protector for a young girl who spoke another language, and watching them learn how to communicate was really a treat. If you like what you read on the tin, give this one a watch—it’ll give you just that.
operation fortune: ruse de guerre
director: Guy Ritchie
thriller, action, spy
Okay Guy Ritchie films can be hit or miss for me, but I really enjoyed this one. Spy/thriller action film starring Jason Statham? Check! Although the standout for me was Aubrey Plaza’s character and her super quippy, sarcastic one-liners, she had me CACKLING throughout the entire movie. Also, Cary Elwes is always a huge treat & bonus in my book. I had a really unexpectedly good time.
haunted mansion
director: Justin Simien
supernatural, horror, comedy
I didn’t want to like this one but honestly I really did. Loved LaKeith Stanfield’s performance, he brought a lot of heart to the film. (I’m also usually a Rosario Dawson fan, she was great too!) Actually, the entire cast is probably the main reason this movie had any chance at all of being remotely entertaining. This wasn’t on the same caliber of the Pirates of the Caribbean’s initial successes by ANY means, but it was actually a surprisingly fun movie.
the gray man
directors: Anthony & Joe Russo
action, thriller
Yeah, yeah, over a year late watching this one, but I finally did see it and I get why it was hyped up when it came out on Netflix in 2022. I’m not always a fan of Russo Bros content, but I really enjoyed this and I’d be interested to see more come out of the franchise. Phenomenal cast, too: Ryan Gosling is amazing in the lead role, Chris Evans yet again plays a fantastic villain, Ana de Armas is quickly becoming one of my big screen faves, and we even have Regé-Jean Page (HELL YEAH). Plus, I like the overall universe it’s set in. Might even pick up the book it’s based on at some point.
books
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
historical, drama, family, slice of life
I really, really loved the TV series for this, so I tracked down the book, and was absolutely blown away by how beautiful the writing is. Incredibly gorgeous storytelling. This isn’t even my usual genre of book that I go for (aside from the historical part), and I was entirely captivated. Definitely looking forward to seeing how they finish out the story on the TV series version. Although the story has a very bittersweet ending to it, there’s something uplifting there as well. Highly recommend this one.
Artemis by Andy Weir
sci-fi, action
I went to go pick up a copy of “Project Hail Mary” (see below) from my local mom&pop bookstore (we still have one in my city and I LOVE it), and this was on the shelf next to it, so I picked it up too because heck, I really loved “The Martian” and I like Andy Weir’s first person writing style (I can’t say that for many authors, tbh). Read this in about 2 days while I was lounging on the beach in Hawaii, and I had a blast. This was such a fun escapade, and I appreciated the female protagonist whose perspective this is told from. General gist is that there’s a city on the moon, and our narrator is a down-on-her-luck porter who supplements her limited income with smuggling contraband, and gets dragged into a massive crazy conspiracy much by accident. Very smart, very fun, and as with most of Andy’s works, lots of humor.
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
sci-fi, apocalyptic, space adventure
I hadn’t realized Andy Weir was writing more novels after “The Martian” until a YouTuber I follow recommended it, and I was like, HECK yeah I’ll go pick that up to read on vacation! And so I did. :) And honestly, this really, REALLY did not disappoint! Basically our lead wakes up in deep space with amnesia (like, he doesn’t even remember his own name at first), his crewmates are all dead, and he has to piece together who he is, what the heck happened, and how he ended up there. And because this is Andy Weir, SO MUCH SCIENCE. Super crazy wild ride where you’re learning things as the narrator is learning them, and like honestly the storytelling is WRITING GOALS. There are parts of this that are super reminiscent of Interstellar, but way more human and honestly, a lot more fun & interesting. This novel just cements Andy Weir’s status as one of my fave published authors of late.I would absolutely watch a movie or a limited/miniseries based on this book. OH MY GOD THEY *ARE* MAKING A MOVIE OUT OF THIS?? WITH RYAN GOSLING?!?! AAAAA YESSSSSS!!!
Editing to add: lmao I saw a ton of movies this past year so uh added a massive movies section… I do have a theater subscription pass thingy and I’m BEHIND, believe it or not. Adding cuts!
anime/donghua
link click
studio: LAN Studio
drama, action, fantasy
This one kind of took me by surprise. Crunchyroll had been pushing this one at me for a bajillion years, especially with the new season that came out this past year, but I finally actually read the synopsis and was like, okay I’ll bite. And then I binge-watched both seasons in Very Quick Succession. Blown away by the production quality, the voice acting quality, the STORY QUALITY—this one is really, really well done. It does take a few episodes to really get into the meat of the plot, because the first part of season one is very episodic, like a “mission of the week” kind of thing. It builds on itself though, and several of those little individual storylines come into play later on in the overarching plot. And once that plot takes off… HOOBOY. Basically, this is a really interesting take on the whole “time traveler” genre, using photos as a medium. Also, the two main guys are definitely gay for each other, but because it’s Chinese content, it’s just very vaguely implied so they can get around the CCP censor haha. I’m super glad I caught onto this one AFTER season 2 dropped because season 1 has a HORRIBLE cliffhanger right at the end. Season 2 has a cliffhanger too, but it’s definitely different style than Season 1, more the type that’s creating HUGE spirals of conspiracy theories in the general fanbase. Honestly, this one is highly worth a watch, and I can’t wait for Season 3!
jujutsu kaisen
studio: MAPPA
seinen, action, supernatural
Yep, bringing this one back, because if I thought season 1 was great, season 2 was PHENOMENAL and turned me into a diehard satosugu fan lmfao, even though it hurts SO MUCH. I truly despise how badly the animators were treated during the production on this season, but honestly their hard work created something truly spectacular (though you can kinda tell where they had to cut some corners to get things out on time, sadge). Basically, if you haven’t watched any of this yet, the recommended order of viewing is Season 1, the 0 movie, and then Season 2, because the 0 movie may not make sense on context when you watch it but it provides massive context for a few major things that happen in Season 2. This one is a wild, rough ride, and there’s definitely a good reason for all the hype.
hell’s paradise: jigokuraku
studio: MAPPA
seinen, action, historical, supernatural
Yeah look. This one is super crazy weird but honestly, you toss historical Japanese ninja-samurai content at me, I’m probably gonna bite. General synopsis: a legendary ninja named Gabimaru gets captured by the Shogunate and is sentenced to death for his crimes (executions of these kinds are carried out by a famous family of executioners). He’s offered a chance at salvation (along with a bunch of other superpowered death row inmates) if he finds the Elixir of Life on this mystical, dangerous island that nobody’s ever returned from. The story kind of devolves into a major Battle Royale on the island between the different inmates, who are all being babysat by their executioners. Doesn’t sound like much but honestly the vague, limited background we’ve been given on Gabimaru is super intriguing, and I really like Sagiri (his executioner) as well. Only one season in so far, and apparently season 2 is slotted for this year sometime (ahhh sorry MAPPA animators, you guys are definitely not getting enough breaks, gosh!!). I’m definitely excited for more!
mashle: magic & muscles
studio: A-1 Pictures
comedy, action, magic
All you need to know about this one is that it’s an actual, unashamed ripoff of Harry Potter, if Harry Potter was a magicless himbo who is obsessed with working out and cream puffs. I started watching this one with my nephew in Japan, and we were laughing so hard we were crying. It’s so, so very dumb, and I swear I’ve lost brain cells watching this. Great for some really cheap, really dumb laughs. And Season 2 just started.
tv shows
lessons in chemistry
provider (US): Apple TV+
period drama, romance, slice of life
I turned this into a Girls’ Night(s) show with my mother, and we both really enjoyed it! Our female lead is a university lab tech in the US during the 1960s, who struggles against misogyny in her field and is ultimately fired, and then by chance lands a role as the host of a cooking tv show. Hard to describe how else this goes without spoiling things that happen, but honestly this show has a ton of heart. While insanely infuriating, it’s also incredibly uplifting. I’m pretty sure this is a one-and-done (i.e. a one season limited series), too, which is also nice. I recently picked up the book this is based on, and have plans to peruse that during my next longer vacation (whenever that ends up being, haha).
blue eye samurai
provider (US): Netflix
historical, action, thriller, animation
HOW DID I FORGET TO INCLUDE THIS LMAO. One of my good buddies (and sometimes gaming/anime watching pal) was like, “HAVE YOU SEEN THIS YET” and I hadn’t… and then I binge-watched the WHOLE DAMN THING. Oh my god, this show is insanely good. Very intense, violent, raw, raunchy, very adult, and so SO good. The production quality on this is really top-notch, too—the animation is unique and gorgeous, the music is killer (I want a soundtrack oh my GOD), and the storytelling is phenomenal. I went in on this one with absolutely zero context other than “IT’S SO GOOD” (from my friend), and I think that was for the best. My only thoughts that I’d share on this that are hopefully not super-spoilery is that our main protagonist is absolutely fascinating, because some of the decisions and thought process are a little hard to stomach and I ACTUALLY… REALLY LIKE THAT. Highly recommend a watch. So glad another season is green-lit already!!
one piece (live action)
provider (US): Netflix
action, adventure, supernatural, anime adaptation
Also HOW DID I FORGET TO INCLUDE THIS TOO;;; But if y’all haven’t heard the hype on this one this past year, you’re living under a damn rock. Sets the bar on live action anime adaptations, and for such a massively popular series too. You can tell the showrunners AND talent on this cared a TON about paying proper homage to the source material. Absolutely love the cast, the overall vibe, and the decisions they made on what to focus on. Really looking forward to more seasons for this. (Plus, one of my sisters—one of the ones who ISN’T into anime—was like OH MY GOD THIS IS SUCH A GOOD SHOW and it made my YEAR haha!)
movies
chevalier
director: Stephen Williams
historical, drama
This was on my list to see in theaters, but somehow missed it during its run, so I finally watched it at home recently. Super fascinating story, and based on a true story about a black musical prodigy in pre-revolution France who rivaled artist/composers like Mozart, but whose story got buried over politics and racial discrimination. I hadn’t heard anything about the historical figure this is based on, and honestly more of these stories need telling!! Phenomenal acting from the lead, and the music is AMAZING.
the greatest beer run ever
director: Peter Farrelly
historical, comedy, drama
This starts off as almost a frat-boy style comedy, and then goes on a really crazy ride that really made me go “oh my god this was based on a TRUE STORY?!” I know this one got a lot of mixed reviews from critics, but personally I really enjoyed it. Kind of drives home the kind of shitshow that was the Vietnam War, too.
killers of the flower moon
director: Martin Scorsese
historical, drama
Okay look. This one started a lot of very heated discussions about who has the right to tell indigenous stories. And whatever side of that conversation you might fall on, I’m just glad this movie is dragging that conversation into the spotlight at all, because it’s an important one. As for the movie itself, well, if you’re used to Scorsese films, it’s definitely a piece of art akin to his usual style (gorgeous cinematography, excellent music, very long & drawn out). Lily Gladstone is incredible in this, too. It’s a story worth knowing, even if you don’t like the fact that Scorsese is the one directing and that DiCaprio is such a big role in it.
the creator
director: Gareth Edwards
sci-fi, action
This was one of those movies that kind of surprised me, because I didn’t know at all what to expect just based on the trailers (except that it had the potential to be REALLY good), and I was NOT disappointed! Could absolutely see this becoming its own franchise at some point. Really fascinating take on where AI could go, and really appreciated John David Washington’s performance as the lead (I HAD NO IDEA HE WAS DENZEL’S SON UNTIL WAY LATER LMAO). I am ALL FOR original content movies when they’re like this, because it feels like they’re so few & far between. (So many movies these days are sequels, franchises, remakes, based on books/biopics/true stories/other content, let’s be real.) Highly worth a watch if you like sci-fi.
a haunting in venice
director: Kenneth Branagh
mystery, drama
I’m a huge fan of Agatha Christie mysteries, and surprisingly this one didn’t really campaign as an Agatha Christie movie except that the main character is Hercule Poirot. (Look, I am not a fan of horror or exorcist-type movies—that’s what this campaigned as, but because I recognized that it was Agatha Christie I agreed to go see it lmao.) And quite frankly, I really enjoyed this one! Definitely was surprised to see Branagh directed it because it’s a huge departure from his normal style. If you like murder mysteries with the possibility that it could be something more, this is a fun one.
joy ride
director: Adele Lim
comedy
Okay so the humor in this one is more like the type of humor you’d find in films like The Hangover and Bridesmaids—crude, raunchy, no-holds-barred, very adult—and it’s a BLAST. Loved the main cast, and it has a surprising amount of heart for a comedy of its style. I definitely laughed a ton, and even teared up some towards the end. Great times, fun movie, recommend a watch if you don’t mind super adult comedies.
teenage mutant ninja turtles: mutant mayhem
director: Jeff Rowe
comedy, action, animation
I haven’t honestly seen a ton of TMNT content of late (I was a HUGE fan as a child but fell off in the late-90s/early-00s, god I’m old lmfao), but the animation style and overall vibe on this one looked like it’d be a great time, and it WAS! Super fun movie with enough content for a wide span of age groups. You could tell the showrunners were fans of the 90s animated shows like I was, but they updated it to more modern tastes, and it made for a really entertaining movie.
spider-man: across the spider-verse
directors: Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson
superhero, action, adventure, animation
Let’s be real: Across the Spider-Verse is the BEST Marvel movie ever made, hands down. This took the super high bar from “Into the Spider-Verse” and threw it into the stratosphere. From the animation style, to the production quality, to the overall storytelling… They’re really setting a new standard for animated films produced in the US. And it ended on a huge sucker-punch cliffhanger, oh MY GOD, and with the strikes that happened we know the next installment got delayed but if they continue with the same level of quality, I’ll WAIT AS LONG AS THEY NEED ME TO. So. Good!!!!
barbie
director: Greta Gerwig
comedy, drama
Yes. I dressed up in pink and went to see this with the girls. This movie was made for us, and I know we all fucking loved it. Anyone who tells you it’s bad is probably a misogynist, or just didn’t Get It (or they never saw it lmfao). Between the memes, the inside jokes, the HEART… the movie was absolutely Kenough. Thank you, Greta. I haven’t had this much fun in theaters in a very, very long time.
oppenheimer
director: Christopher Nolan
historical, drama
While I didn’t do a true Barbenheimer double feature, I did see this one in theaters as well (maybe about a week or so after I saw Barbie). This is also a really well done movie, though in true Nolan fashion it’s a lengthy dramatic beast. Cillian Murphy was incredible in it. Very thought-provoking in its own right.
mission: impossible - dead reckoning part one
director: Christopher McQuarrie
action, adventure, spy, thriller, drama
I actually did a full binge of all the Mission: Impossible movies to get ready for this one, and I am honestly REALLY glad I did!! The last several entries were all actually really, really great and this one definitely held up that bar. Again, sadge that the strikes delayed the next release to 2025 because this one ended on a gnarly cliffhanger, but if it’s going to continue the insanity started on this one, WORTH. Great times, and Tom Cruise still knows what he’s doing.
the marvels
director: Nia DaCosta
superhero, action, adventure
Look, I know we’re all a little burned out on MCU movies & shows. And as much as this one was one the general public seemed to really want to hate on, and I honestly was prepared to dislike as well, I actually had a good time. Fun popcorn blockbuster, and I surprisingly really enjoyed the movie introductions of both Monica Rambeau (also in WandaVision) and Kamala Khan (also in Ms. Marvel, which I’ll admit I never watched). I also was SUPER HAPPY to see one of my fave k-drama stars, Park Seo-joon, get a great role in this! (I definitely squealed in the theater haha oops.) The next gen cast of Marvel superheroes is getting lined up, and honestly it seems like they’ll be pretty fun—though I still am a little burned out haha. At any rate, this one surprised me with being a lighthearted, fun romp.
indiana jones and the dial of destiny
director: James Mangold
action, adventure
I had very low expectations on this one after how bad the Crystal Skull entry was for the Indiana Jones franchise, but this actually really felt like it honored the vibe and style of the original trilogy. I had a great time watching this one, which surprised me, and it reminded me why I still love the Indiana Jones franchise as a whole. Another fun popcorn blockbuster romp.
guardians of the galaxy vol. 3
director: James Gunn
superhero, action, adventure
So glad Disney decided to bring back James Gunn for this one. I loved the first two GotG movies, and I loved this one too—though it definitely had a way different vibe from the other two. This is very much a love letter to Rocket’s character, and my heartstrings were yanked on pretty hard lmao. I’ll admit this one made me tear up a bunch, rUDE. It was a very fitting finale for the GotG trilogy. And despite my general MCU burnout, I’m super glad I caught this one in theaters.
dungeons & dragons: honor among thieves
directors: Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley
fantasy, action, adventure
Okay, look, I’ve never actually played D&D. I always wanted to, but never seemed to make friends with a group that did it regularly, so uh. My enjoyment of this movie should have that context in mind, haha. Basically, you give me fun romp with Chris Pine and toss in Regé-Jean Page’s glorious presence, and I’m there?? Plus the abbreviation for the movie is actually DADHAT and you can’t beat it. This movie was just so gosh-darned FUN. Sure, the D&D diehards nit-picked all the nitty gritty details on this to death and I’ve heard some of their complaints, but you can’t really seriously tell me this wasn’t a fun movie. Lots of humor, adventure, and even some great heartfelt moments chucked in, and I am a fan, would absolutely watch more films in this series if they’re like this.
john wick: chapter 4
director: Chad Stahelski
action, thriller
Okay look this is great and y’all know it. Everything it says on the tin with John Wick (and Keanu Reeves), what else would you expect? … Also, the reason I made the effort to binge-watch all of the Mission: Impossible films before the Dead Reckoning 1 came out was because of the mistake I made with John Wick… I went and saw John Wick 4 MANY years after seeing the first one, and without seeing 2&3. BIG mistake. I was like, WHAT THIS ACTUALLY HAS A PLOT??? I mean, I still enjoyed every bit of this movie, and it was everything the franchise promises and more, but you really do need the context from 1-3 to fully appreciate this one. Still, I really enjoyed it, and I still do plan to do a full 4-movie binge at some point so I can get the full experience.
65
directors: Scott Beck, Bryan Woods
action, sci-fi, adventure
Look, I was promised by advertising a sci-fi adventure starring Space Dad Adam Driver and dinosaurs, which sounded like I’d enjoy it, and this delivered exactly what was promised. I don’t know what critics were expecting when they read the tin. Again, another movie with original content (i.e., not based on pre-existing IP). I thought this was probably one of the more unique/new takes on dinosaur movies with a fun sci-fi flare. I could dive into this whole universe and really enjoy it. Plus, I really liked Adam Driver’s performance, taking on the role of protector for a young girl who spoke another language, and watching them learn how to communicate was really a treat. If you like what you read on the tin, give this one a watch—it’ll give you just that.
operation fortune: ruse de guerre
director: Guy Ritchie
thriller, action, spy
Okay Guy Ritchie films can be hit or miss for me, but I really enjoyed this one. Spy/thriller action film starring Jason Statham? Check! Although the standout for me was Aubrey Plaza’s character and her super quippy, sarcastic one-liners, she had me CACKLING throughout the entire movie. Also, Cary Elwes is always a huge treat & bonus in my book. I had a really unexpectedly good time.
haunted mansion
director: Justin Simien
supernatural, horror, comedy
I didn’t want to like this one but honestly I really did. Loved LaKeith Stanfield’s performance, he brought a lot of heart to the film. (I’m also usually a Rosario Dawson fan, she was great too!) Actually, the entire cast is probably the main reason this movie had any chance at all of being remotely entertaining. This wasn’t on the same caliber of the Pirates of the Caribbean’s initial successes by ANY means, but it was actually a surprisingly fun movie.
the gray man
directors: Anthony & Joe Russo
action, thriller
Yeah, yeah, over a year late watching this one, but I finally did see it and I get why it was hyped up when it came out on Netflix in 2022. I’m not always a fan of Russo Bros content, but I really enjoyed this and I’d be interested to see more come out of the franchise. Phenomenal cast, too: Ryan Gosling is amazing in the lead role, Chris Evans yet again plays a fantastic villain, Ana de Armas is quickly becoming one of my big screen faves, and we even have Regé-Jean Page (HELL YEAH). Plus, I like the overall universe it’s set in. Might even pick up the book it’s based on at some point.
books
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
historical, drama, family, slice of life
I really, really loved the TV series for this, so I tracked down the book, and was absolutely blown away by how beautiful the writing is. Incredibly gorgeous storytelling. This isn’t even my usual genre of book that I go for (aside from the historical part), and I was entirely captivated. Definitely looking forward to seeing how they finish out the story on the TV series version. Although the story has a very bittersweet ending to it, there’s something uplifting there as well. Highly recommend this one.
Artemis by Andy Weir
sci-fi, action
I went to go pick up a copy of “Project Hail Mary” (see below) from my local mom&pop bookstore (we still have one in my city and I LOVE it), and this was on the shelf next to it, so I picked it up too because heck, I really loved “The Martian” and I like Andy Weir’s first person writing style (I can’t say that for many authors, tbh). Read this in about 2 days while I was lounging on the beach in Hawaii, and I had a blast. This was such a fun escapade, and I appreciated the female protagonist whose perspective this is told from. General gist is that there’s a city on the moon, and our narrator is a down-on-her-luck porter who supplements her limited income with smuggling contraband, and gets dragged into a massive crazy conspiracy much by accident. Very smart, very fun, and as with most of Andy’s works, lots of humor.
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
sci-fi, apocalyptic, space adventure
I hadn’t realized Andy Weir was writing more novels after “The Martian” until a YouTuber I follow recommended it, and I was like, HECK yeah I’ll go pick that up to read on vacation! And so I did. :) And honestly, this really, REALLY did not disappoint! Basically our lead wakes up in deep space with amnesia (like, he doesn’t even remember his own name at first), his crewmates are all dead, and he has to piece together who he is, what the heck happened, and how he ended up there. And because this is Andy Weir, SO MUCH SCIENCE. Super crazy wild ride where you’re learning things as the narrator is learning them, and like honestly the storytelling is WRITING GOALS. There are parts of this that are super reminiscent of Interstellar, but way more human and honestly, a lot more fun & interesting. This novel just cements Andy Weir’s status as one of my fave published authors of late.
