2022 Movies Reviewed

The Batman is a brilliant movie. Robert Pattinson and Zoe Kravitz give unique and fascinating portrayals as Batman and Catwoman. Batman's arc in this film is amazing. We get to see a more violent and inexperienced Batman that serves "vengeance" only for him to realize that is the same mindset the villains use to justify their actions. This is what changes him to fight for "justice" and become the symbol of hope from the shadows that he's supposed to be. Matt Reeves does some top tier directing in this movie and gets so many beautiful shots and incredible performances from his actors. The movie has intense action, an intriguing mystery, an impressive use of practical effects, and a killer soundtrack. The costume and set design teams also deserve a shout out for how immersive they made this movie feel. The sound design team also did a great job, especially with the batmobile. It's one of my favorite super hero movies ever made. 10/10

Top Gun Maverick is everything a sequel should strive to be and is one of the few sequels that is genuinely better than the original. Tom Cruise gives a great performance and the film adds many layers to the character of Maverick. It has nice homages to the original film but also builds on that story in a beautiful way. Having Maverick mentor Rooster, the son of Goose, was a genius idea. Rooster can only see the man he blames for his father's death and Maverick only sees the possibility that he could make the same mistake again. That story allowed for the film to be emotionally complex, and the way both characters evolve to have teamwork and mutual respect is very satisfying. This movie has a lot of jaw dropping shots and using real jets made a major impact on how awesome the film was to experience. Tom Cruise gave this movie 110% both on screen and behind the scenes and it absolutely paid off. 10/10

This movie truly lives up to its title and has a lot of things going on constantly. This movie is not afraid to get wild and crazy but it works because it never loses its heart, which is really the story of a broken family just trying to connect. Michelle Yeoh gives an amazing performance as Evelyn, who is this mom that is so harsh on her daughter, just for her to realize that it's a reflection of how she was raised, and the exploration of generational trauma is beautifully executed. The entire rest of the cast here is also great but a special shout out to Ke Huy Quan and his Oscar winning performance as Evelyn's husband, Waymond. The directing here from the Daniels is great and executes the wonderful script very well. The movie uses the multiverse concept to the fullest extent which I appreciate. I adore how creative this movie is and the action here is some of the most unique and well choreographed I've ever seen. This movie is a blast to watch and has a very good message to it. 9/10

Benedict Cumberbatch is still great at playing Doctor Strange and is always enjoyable to watch. His arc of learning to be happy being a hero and accepting that he can't be with the love of his life is good but gets overshadowed by a lot of the negatives this movie has. The action is all CGI nonsense and the visual effects are also not very good which makes them even worse. Raimi is obviously a great director but his directing style wasn't a great fit for this film as it came off as corny rather than scary in many instances due to the limitations of working in the MCU. The script overall isn't very good and the plot contradicts itself more times than you can count. The film wastes the multiverse concept completely and does nothing interesting with it, like what was even the point of the Illuminati scene? Rachel McAdams is used more in this movie than the first Doctor Strange, but is still barely given anything interesting to do. I don't understand why Marvel would hire one of the best actresses working today and just give her the most basic scenes and pieces of dialogue to work with. The movie also ruins Wanda's character. Wanda reading a book is lazy writing and a terrible explanation as to why a superhero becomes a mass murderer. Elizabeth Olsen really does give an excellent performance for Wanda as she always does but it doesn't fix the major character assassination that happens in the script. Just not a good movie overall. 5/10

Elvis is a great movie. I love Baz Luhrmann's distinct directing style. It is all over this movie and it fits perfectly. Austin Butler really became Elvis for this movie and he gives one of the best performances of all time. You really buy into it and you are able to sympathize with him as he goes through so many hardships. Tom Hanks also did an amazing job playing Parker. He really gets you to hate him with his performance. The hair, costume, and makeup teams also deserve so much praise for how they transformed these actors into the characters, especially Tom Hanks, who looks unrecognizable. It's a visual spectacle, and it's Elvis, of course, the music is gonna be fantastic. I think this film did a great job showing us the story behind the icon and succeeded in making a whole new generation care about Elvis. 8/10

Thor Love and Thunder is a film that had so many great things going for it, but managed to kill itself with comedy. This movie's two main plot lines were cancer and child abduction and they decided to make it a comedy. Maybe this could possibly work if the movie was actually funny but pretty much every joke falls painfully flat. In the few scenes where the movie actually takes itself seriously Natalie Portman gives an extremely emotional performance as a woman battling cancer and it's easily the best part of the movie. The rest of the cast put everything they had into the movie but they didn't really get much to work with. There are a couple cool scenes with Gorr the God Butcher also, but overall it's an unfunny movie that also suffers from poor visual effects and bad action scenes. 5/10

Jurassic World Dominion is fine for what it is. It was cool seeing the old cast return and every line out of Jeff Goldblum's mouth was hilarious. The bug plotline was a stupid way to go after the massive ending of the previous movie, and even if it's an unpopular opinion I still feel that Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom is by far and away the best Jurassic Park sequel as it's the only one that felt like it actually had something to say. Overall this movie is some dumb fun, but it could've been more. 5/10

Black Adam is fine. The Rock provides some fun action and it's a decent movie to just turn your brain off and enjoy. There is an attempt for the whole argument about whether superheroes should kill or not but it's already been done to death and it's not interesting here. There's nothing that's really that bad here but there's nothing that stands out as that great either. The Superman tease would be exciting if the franchise didn't get rebooted after this movie failed at the box office. 5/10

I love Black Panther Wakanda Forever. After Doctor Strange 2 and Thor 4 I felt kind of checked out with Marvel for this year, but this movie brought me right back in. This film is a beautiful tribute to Chadwick Boseman and his legacy as the Black Panther. Letting the actors use their real grief made this movie feel so genuine and very emotional. Letitia Wright and Angela Bassett give performances that gave me chills at some points and left me in tears at other points. The movie is also so well directed and Ryan Coogler gave us some of the best looking shots I have ever seen. The costume and set design teams also gave it their all and the movie is so immersive because of that. Shuri's character arc is one of the best in Marvel history, and the soundtrack is great. If I had some complaints it would be that the CGI is a little hit or miss and some plots could have been shortened to keep the film more focused. Overall I think Wakanda Forever is a beautiful emotional roller coaster. 8/10

Steven Spielberg has delivered yet another masterpiece with The Fabelmans. This is a movie about a kid who wants to make movies and Spielberg clearly had so much passion for this project. The directing here is obviously fantastic, I mean it's Spielberg. The cinematography is on another level here, and even the most grounded scenes look mesmerizing. This is a very moving story with so much heart to it. Gabriel LaBelle does a fantastic job starring in this film as Sammy and Michelle Williams is an absolute standout as his mother. Sammy goes through so much in life and his love for family and love for filmmaking really splits him. The inspiration he gets from his mother to go and chase his dream, to do the thing that she never did, is such a beautiful story. The way that she then is able to go and live the life she has always wanted, because of Sammy even though it hurts him, is great storytelling. This movie shows the real struggles that can happen in a family and doesn't shy away from any of it. Chloe East as Sammy's girlfriend Monica is also hilarious and I thought she deserved praise for her performance. The Fabelmans yet another example of why Spielberg is the best director of all time. 9/10

Del Toro's Pinocchio is delightful. It has a warmth and soul to it that very few other movies do. It's a fun story with wonderful use of stop motion. The voice cast is fantastic, especially Ewan McGregor. There are no real flaws with this movie and it's a nice adventure that the whole family can enjoy. 8/10

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 knows exactly what it is and has fun with it. There are some jokes that are actually pretty funny and the movie has good messages. There are no groundbreaking performances or standout character arcs but you can tell the people behind it are genuinely passionate about this project and love Sonic which makes the movie more enjoyable. Overall it's a solid movie for kids but nothing spectacular. 6/10

Glass Onion is a competent mystery movie that serves as a solid sequel to Knives Out. Daniel Craig returns as Detective Blanc and he has really mastered playing the role at this point. He's tons of fun to watch on screen and the rest of the cast is great as well, with Kate Hudson being the other standout. Unlike the original this is much more of a classic murder mystery and while it's less creative it still keeps you intrigued the whole time. The twists in the movie work very well for the most part, and I especially loved the twin twist. Usually, twin twists are lazy and cheap but it was very well utilized here and makes a rewatch of the movie sound like a fun idea, to try and catch the clues you might have missed the first time. However, the final reveal is pretty predictable in my opinion. My only real complaint is that the ending felt kind of rushed and was not as satisfying as the original. Overall it's a really good time, but doesn't quite have the magic the first movie has. 7/10

The Gray Man is the definition of generic action movie. The Russo Brothers deliver some beautiful looking shots and incredible action scenes but the movie's story never does anything to make it stand out from the million other movies that have a similar premise. Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans, and Ana De Armas all give some pretty solid performances but yet again the characters are written so one note, that they aren't memorable. Overall The Gray Man is some forgettable fun, and that's about it. 6/10

I LOVE The Whale. This movie is an emotional experience. This movie helps you understand the true beauty of humanity despite all the bad things that happen in the world. Brendan Fraser kills it in this movie and his performance is beyond worthy of his Oscar win. His character, Charlie, has been through the wringer but he remains this hopeful person that truly cares for others. And the journey that this movie has for his daughter, Ellie is also so fantastic. She's this person that takes all her hate and anger out on the world and throughout the movie, she shows how much she actually does care, despite her not realizing it. The scene at the very end where she grows to accept herself and her father is so beautiful but so tragic and sad. It's a fascinating exploration of how different people can react to hardships in life. Sadie Sink delivers an immaculate performance here that is on par with Brendan Fraser. She continues to be one of the best actresses in the industry despite her young age. The set designers also did a great job with the house and what the makeup team did with Brendan Fraser to really make him become the Whale is one of the most impressive things in the history of cinema. The Whale is a movie that has such a beautiful message about love and acceptance that the world really needs right now. 9/10

Turning Red has many great elements in it. The overall story between the mother and daughter is very well told, and the movie has a very creative and fun premise. The movie is kind of jarring though. I feel like it tries to hard to be quirky. It's very stylized and it won't be for everyone. And unlike most Pixar movies I feel like this one is more aimed directly for young kids. The messages aren't subtle and it feels a bit dragged out, especially in the third act. Overall Turning Red is a decent Pixar movie that has something to say, but struggles a bit in it's execution. 7/10

I had a great time with Avatar The Way of Water. Just like the first movie, this film is a visual spectacle. It's so cool to look at and you feel like you are actually on Pandora. The story also had a lot of heart to it and the connection between the family was very powerful. The cast manages to give such emotional performances in full mocap suits, especially Zoe Saldana. I also loved the relationship between the people and the whale creatures, it was such a beautiful connection. The action was top tier and it easily has the best special effects of the year. I don't know whether I prefer this movie over the first one yet, but it is definitely just as good and one of the best movies this year. 9/10

Rosaline is actually quite a bit of fun. It's cool to see this alternate take on Romeo and Juliet and I didn't expect this movie to be as funny as it turned out. When the movie is more serious it falls into some classic cliches, but it's never really that big of an issue. I've always been a fan of this story and I liked how this movie switched it up a bit and actually managed to make Romeo's ex girlfriend, Rosaline a pretty engaging character, with a solid arc. This isn't a masterpiece or anything but if you like the Romeo and Juliet story, you'll probably have a good time with this. 7/10

Rise of Gru is fine for what it is. If you find the minions amusing you'll probably have a good time. I do find it unfortunate that the series will probably never be as clever, funny, and heartfelt as the first two Despicable Me movies were but I would say Rise of Gru is a small step up from Despicable Me 3 and the first Minions spin off. 5/10

Babylon is pretty good. Margot Robbie carries this movie with one of her best performances yet. The rest of the cast is also great, with Brad Pitt bringing a lot of emotion, and Tobey Maguire giving his most unique performance yet. Newcomer Diego Calva is wonderful and is able to act off of veteran actors perfectly. Even though it's not his best work, Damien Chazelle still does an incredible job directing. The cinematography is gorgeous and the story is very engaging. However I do feel like the film drags sometimes and there are some plot lines and characters that probably could've been cut out to keep the film more focused. So even though the movie has some problems, especially in the pacing, this is a film that reminds us why we love cinema and the ending is amazing. Overall I think Babylon is a very enjoyable time, especially if you're a fan of Damien Chazelle's style. 7/10

Dear Zoe is a mixed bag. Sadie Sink obviously gives a fantastic performance, and she shows so much range. Her character is also taken on such an emotional journey throughout the film and everything related to her learning to move on with life after the death of her younger sister is excellent. The movie also was very well directed, so many shots looked beautiful, and the transitions especially early on in the movie were awesome. However the script of the movie leaves quite a bit to be desired. The dialogue is clunky, the love story is very forced and the age gap is questionable to say the least. Story wise the best part of the movie was the relationship between Tess (Sadie) and her father, it felt very natural and the two had great chemistry. The movie had some good emotional scenes and nice performances but the lackluster script holds it back from greatness. 6/10

Aftersun is heavily carried by it's two lead performances. Paul Mescal and Frankie Corio play their parts to perfection and have great father/ daughter chemistry. The directing here is also great with many clever shots and amazing transitions. The story is also heartfelt, but a bit to vague in my opinion. There's a difference between subtlety and just not giving enough information and I think that's my biggest problem with the movie. In my opinion we didn't get enough information or background to really care about these characters. And while I appreciate that the movie takes its time I think it moves too slow. Overall I enjoyed Aftersun especially from a technical perspective, but I feel like the script was lacking in some aspects. 6/10

This movie is very meh. Bringing back Dewy just to have him die like that was stupid and pointless. The franchise has gotten so stale and repetitive at this point. I don't understand why the franchise is still trying to use the whole meta movie within a movie story line, it didn't work when they first did it in Scream 2 and yet here they are four sequels later still doing it. I want a Scream movie that doesn't talk about "Stab" because it drags these movies down and makes them overly confusing. Also why is everyone related to each other? Why does it seem like nobody except our main trio ever has any sort of real trauma? Scream has just become a parody of itself. The only things keeping this movie from being awful are the performances from our characters which are actually solid. 5/10

The original Puss in Boots was a mediocre spin off of Shrek from over a decade ago so nobody expected much from this movie. However, this film turned out great. The animation here is by far the best Dreamworks has ever looked; just beautiful, and you can tell there was inspiration taken from Into the Spider Verse. The movie is lots of fun but also tackles deeper themes as Puss is trying to escape Death. Death is also such a great villain, and his whistle has already become iconic. Puss in Boots has a great arc here as he learns the value of life. The Last Wish is a huge success and the best movie in the Shrek universe since Shrek 2. 8/10

I love how the movie tackles how in modern day society accusation can just lead to automatic guilt in the eyes of so many people. It also handles the idolization or hatred of someone's work just based on race or sexuality, and the difficulty of trying to please everyone when everyone wants different things. Tar has a lot to say and I think it managed to portray all of it's messages perfectly. All of these themes are tied together wonderfully by a truly incredible performance from Cate Blanchett. However I feel like this movie is longer than it has to be and it can sometimes feel like it is dragging on. I also think the directing is decent and there are a few cool shots, but overall the movie is kind of boring to look at. I think Tar does a great job saying what it wants to say but needed a bit more originality in it's execution. 7/10