Renfield

Renfield, the tortured aide to his narcissistic boss, Dracula, is forced to procure his master's prey and do his every bidding. However, after centuries of servitude, he's ready to see if there's a life outside the shadow of the Prince of Darkness.

This was honestly a pretty silly ass movie but that was completely expected.   The casting of Nicolas Cage and Nicholas Hoult was honestly perfect and kept you entertained throughout regardless of how silly the movie was.  The gore was sudden and crazy over the top at times but as long as you can deal with that then you would enjoy this movie.

I would recommend people checking this out.  Not because its a good movie by any means but it is a silly entertaining watch for sure.

Mafia Mamma

A mild-mannered suburban mum unexpectedly inherits her late grandfather's mafia empire in Italy. Guided by the firm's trusted consigliere, she hilariously defies everyone's expectations as she finds herself stuck in the middle of a deadly mob war.

This was an extremely mailed in movie.  If you saw the trailer you 100% saw the movie.  There was nothing special about it and very very formula.  It was nice to see Toni Collette in a lighter material movie for once but that is really the only positive thing I can say about it.

I wouldn't recommend anyone bothering with this movie.  It's a just there stereotypical comedy that is pretty much a big waste of time.

Air

Sonny Vaccaro and Nike pursue basketball rookie Michael Jordan, creating a partnership that revolutionizes the world of sports and contemporary culture.

For a movie that not much really happens except for negotiating a deal this was a very entertaining movie.   It was a great cast with some awesome performances - especially Viola Davis.   It did a great job of pulling back the curtain to show how something so big started with something so small and was all about people being dedicated and taking chances.

I would definitely recommend people checking this movie out.   It was a really good watch.

The Pope's Exorcist

Father Gabriele Amorth, chief exorcist for the Vatican, battles Satan and innocent-possessing demons. A detailed portrait of a priest who performed more than 100,000 exorcisms in his lifetime.

This is really just another run of the mill exorcist movie.  Adding Russell Crowe did absolutely nothing to it except really marveling at how far he fell off.   There was nothing special or different about this movie in any way except his name value which is clearly not what it was at one point.

I wouldn't recommend anyone bothering with this.  Some of the makeup of the possessed kid was good at times but that is literally the only thing that I took from this movie.

The Super Mario Bros Movie

With help from Princess Peach, Mario gets ready to square off against the all-powerful Bowser to stop his plans from conquering the world.

This movie is exactly what you would expect.   Very fun animation and shout outs to the video game.  Great characters that you already know and love.  And lots of laughs for adults as much as kids throughout.  This is a perfect family movie because of how universal Super Mario Bros is for all ages at this point.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.   It was a very fun watch.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

A charming thief and a band of unlikely adventurers embark on an epic quest to retrieve a long lost relic, but their charming adventure goes dangerously awry when they run afoul of the wrong people.

I am stunned at how much I enjoyed this movie.  I had honestly only gone to see it because one of my nieces has had the family role play through stuff like this and it has been hilarious so of course we had to see this.  And then the movie was actually a fun as hell ride.  If felt a lot like a Pirates Of The Caribbean or Jungle Cruise kind of ride.  You turn off your brain and just be entertained by it all.  

I would shockingly recommend people checking this out.  Never thought I would say that but this movie was a lot of fun.  

John Wick - Chapter 4

With the price on his head ever increasing, legendary hit man John Wick takes his fight against the High Table global as he seeks out the most powerful players in the underworld, from New York to Paris to Japan to Berlin.

The action in this movie was incredible as always.  They somehow always manage to raise the bar with the action in these.  Did it need to be almost 3 hours long?  No.  They could have edited a lot of stuff out to shorten this down but it was still an awesome ride and made the whole crowd ooooh and aaaaahhh plenty of times.

I would definitely recommend that everyone check this one out.  They are all awesome watches.

Champions

A former minor-league basketball coach receives a court order to manage a team of players with intellectual disabilities. Despite his doubts, he soon realizes that together they can go further than they ever imagined.

Did I laugh at this alot more than I probably should have?  Yes.  But was it still a very funny and heartwarming movie that had you hooked by a ton of the characters in it?  Also yes.  This was a really great feel good movie and just a very fun time.

I would absolutely recommend people checking this movie out.  It has lots of laughs and leaves you feeling very good.

Shazam! Fury Of The Gods

Bestowed with the powers of the gods, Billy Batson and his fellow foster kids are still learning how to juggle teenage life with their adult superhero alter egos. When a vengeful trio of ancient gods arrives on Earth in search of the magic stolen from them long ago, Shazam and his allies get thrust into a battle for their superpowers, their lives, and the fate of the world.

This was one of DC's more difficult movies to watch.  Not only was it a just there movie that definitely dropped off from what was a somewhat fresh original comic book movie entry.  But the fact that the villain was one of the most miscast things I have ever seen in Helen Mirren and then the fact that this movie is part of a massively failed DCEU that is being disbanded just made it so beyond pointless.  Like the two credit scenes literally referenced a Black Adam/Shazam crossover even though Black Adam has already been declared dead and a third Shazam movie that will never come to pass.

I would not recommend anyone really bothering with this because you are just giving DC/WB money for movies at this point that are completely pointless.

Scream VI

Four survivors of the Ghostface murders leave Woodsboro behind for a fresh start in New York City. However, they soon find themselves in a fight for their lives when a new killer embarks on a bloody rampage.

I had massively low expectations for this since Scream V was a massive turn in my eyes.   This one was a million times better than the first one.  I still was able to call every twist that they tried to pull off but it was definitely more hooking than the last one.  The location changed definitely helped as NYC kind of became a character.  It was also much more violent and gory than past ones with the attacks being much more vicious.  That didn't necessarily make it better but just different.

I would actually recommend people checking this one out.  It was one of the better offerings in the franchise since the first two ones.

65

After a catastrophic crash on an unknown planet, pilot Mills quickly discovers he's actually stranded on Earth -- 65 million years ago. Now, with only one chance at a rescue, Mills and the only other survivor, Koa, must make their way across an unknown terrain riddled with dangerous prehistoric creatures.

This was one of the most pointless big budget special effects movies I have seen in a long time.  Like completely pointless.  It was a random lobbed up Jurassic Park wannabe.  And on top of that - if you watched the trailer you legit watched the whole movie.  Like this was really just a 90 minute throwaway movie.

I wouldn't recommend anyone bothering with this.  It's a waste of time and money.

Creed III

Still dominating the boxing world, Adonis Creed is thriving in his career and family life. When Damian, a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy resurfaces after serving time in prison, he's eager to prove that he deserves his shot in the ring. The face-off between former friends is more than just a fight. To settle the score, Adonis must put his future on the line to battle Damian -- a fighter who has nothing to lose.

The movie is incredibly formula in every possible way.  There is nothing that you don't know is going to happen long before it does.  But it keeps you hooked.  The build up is good.  The direction was good - and even better when you factor in that Michael B Jordan directed it.  The performances were strong.  And Jonathan Majors continued his Hollywood takeover by completely owning every scene he was in.  The boxing was filmed in a different way that made it look more like a HD video game and that really worked well.

I would recommend any fan of the franchise checking this out.  It is definitely my favorite of the three and you can give the majority of reasoning for that to Jonathan Majors for sure.

Cocaine Bear

After a 500-pound black bear consumes a significant amount of cocaine and embarks on a drug-fueled rampage, an eccentric gathering of cops, criminals, tourists, and teenagers assemble in a Georgia forest.

There are really only two words to describe this movie.   CINEMATIC MASTERPIECE.  There is nothing that I find more entertaining then an excellent guilty pleasure movie.  A movie that makes fun of itself and doesn't take itself seriously while being entertaining as hell.   This was exactly that.  You knew it from the trailer that created crazy buzz and you feel it the whole time the movie is on.  I know in advance that I will be watching this movie several times in my lifetime.  

I would absolutely recommend people checking this out.  Kind of violent at times but so much fun.  I definitely see this showing up on my Top 10 list at the end of the year.

Jesus Revolution

In the 1970s, Greg Laurie and a sea of young people descend on sunny Southern California to redefine truth through all means of liberation. Inadvertently, Laurie meets a charismatic street preacher and a pastor who open the doors to a church to a stream of wandering youth. What unfolds is a counterculture movement that becomes the greatest spiritual awakening in American history.

I have always said that for a movie about faith and spirituality has to be really well done to hook me because of the limits on my faith and spirituality.  The one did just that.  I was very interested in the stories of several characters.   I was definitely hooked an invested and at several points made me think about being more religious or spiritual . . . . . . for a little while.

I would surprisingly recommend that people check this out.  It was a good story with a couple of character arcs that you get hooked by.

Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania

Ant-Man and the Wasp find themselves exploring the Quantum Realm, interacting with strange new creatures and embarking on an adventure that pushes them beyond the limits of what they thought was possible.

Um . . . . . . this might easily be the most disappointing of all Marvel movies.   Jonathan Majors is AWESOME as King and that was easily the best part of this movie but outside of him there really wasn't much else to take from this movie.   Also - MODOK might be the single worst thing that Marvel has ever done.  What in God's name made any part of that seem like a good idea.  Marvel has pretty much gone waaaaaaay too sci-fi and waaaaaaaaay too CGI at this point.  I really wish that they could reign that in a lot.  

I would still recommend seeing this of course to continue with the overall MCU storylines but this was definitely massively disappointing.

Magic Mike's Last Dance

Mike Lane takes to the stage once again when a business deal that went bust leaves him broke and bartending in Florida. Hoping for one last hurrah, Mike heads to London with a wealthy socialite who lures him with an offer he can't refuse -- and an agenda all her own. With everything on the line, he soon finds himself trying to whip a hot new roster of talented dancers into shape.

I am not really sure what to make of this movie.   It felt like it didn't even really fit in with the other's except for like two scenes.   The opening dance scene with Tatum and a zoom call with guys from the other movies.  Outside of that this was pretty much a different stand alone movie that was more about the Salma Hayek character that just kind of used the Magic Mike franchise name.  

I wouldn't really recommend that anyone bother with this.  I wasn't really expecting much from this but I was expecting better than this.  The first two movies were actually pretty enjoyable (and funny) movies if you could get past the male stripping stuff.  This one?  Not so much.

Knock At The Cabin

While vacationing at a remote cabin in the woods, a young girl and her parents are taken hostage by four armed strangers who demand they make an unthinkable choice to avert the apocalypse. Confused, scared and with limited access to the outside world, the family must decide what they believe before all is lost.

Sadly there was literally nothing more to the movie outside of the trailer.  Like the whole movie was just a philosophical question without really defined progression and there was some kind of pointless flashback stuff to flesh out the family that is posed said question.   And worst of all, with this being a M Night Shylamanananana movie - there was no twist.  Like if there was ever one of his movies that needed a twist this probably would have been the one.   Very weird and the movie just kind of ended up being there.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone bothering with this.  There is so little substance to it which is honestly shocking because of the high premise trailer.   

80 For Brady

Four best friends live life to the fullest when they embark on a wild trip to see their hero, Tom Brady, play in the 2017 Super Bowl.

This movie is literally the trailer for it.  You watch that you watch the movie.  They pull some completely predictable and formula heart strings along the way but there is nothing outside of the trailer substance wise for this movie.

I wouldn't recommend anyone bothering with this.  Even for the specific age demographic it was made the movie is ultimately just there.

Fear

A weekend vacation turns sinister when a group of friends must confront their worst fears one by one.

This was basically your textbook January throwaway horror movie.   Takes way too long to get going because its building a bunch of characters that you honestly don't care about.  It's somewhat cool once it gets there but you will basically forget about the movie the day after you watched it.  

I wouldn't recommend anyone really bothering with this.  The recent horror movies had a pretty good run but this is definitely one of those textbook throwaway January horror releases that we have become accustomed to.

Missing

When her mother disappears while on vacation in Colombia with her new boyfriend, June's search for answers is hindered by international red tape. Stuck thousands of miles away in Los Angeles, June creatively uses all the latest technology at her fingertips to try and find her before it's too late. However, as she digs ever deeper, her digital sleuthing soon raises more questions than answers.

This was a decent watch.  Very much like Searching a few years back.  Unfortunately for me the looking at a bunch of apps and computer or phone screens takes away from all of it and pretty much kills the suspense.   It also makes me not want to look at any screens - including the one I'm using right now - for a while after seeing a movie like this.  

I would somewhat recommend this to people.  The current tik tok generation will certainly love it but the older one would probably prefer more of a straight forward suspense movie.

Infinity Pool

Guided by a seductive and mysterious woman, a couple on vacation venture outside the resort grounds and find themselves in a culture filled with violence, hedonism and untold horror. A tragic accident soon leaves them facing a zero tolerance policy for crime: either you'll be executed, or, if you're rich enough to afford it, you can watch yourself die instead.

This was another one of those artsy gory movies.  I wouldn't remotely say that it was scary at any point but it was like a twisted and artsier version of the Purge with much more gore.  I never know how to fully feel about artsy gore or horror movies.  It just feels kind of weird.  Mia Goth has really become the queen of these kinds of movies at this point though.  

I would sort of recommend people seeing this.  It's not a must see by any means.  It is disturbing and keeps your attention but is a pretty great watch even though the artsy edge to it makes it weird.

Women Talking

Women Talking takes place shortly after members of the fictional Mennonite community of Molotschna learn that the rape of many of its women over the previous two years has been committed not by demons or devils, but by male colonists, after using an animal anaesthetic to incapacitate the women.

This was a very great and disturbing content movie.   Its terrifying to think about how something like absolutely has happened and probably much closer to our time then when this was based.  I liked seeing the women communicate and work together but it still was very upsetting hearing all the different psychologies interacting with each other.  

I would definitely recommend people checking this out just because it is a necessary eye opening kind of watch although it really feels like you are watching a play.

House Party

Aspiring club promoters and best buddies Damon and Kevin are barely keeping things together. Out of money, down on their luck and about to lose the roofs over their heads, they need a huge windfall to make their problems go away. They soon decide to host the party of the year at an exclusive mansion, which just happens to belong to none other than NBA superstar LeBron James. What could go wrong?

I was a huge fan of the first movie.  I remember seeing it in theaters and very much enjoying it.  I was annoyed when I heard of the existence of this movie but decided to give it a shot.  After 40 minutes of not even smiling once forget laughing I pulled the plug and left.  Maybe it got better. . . . . . . . . but I couldn't doubt that any more if I tried.  

I would not recommend anyone bothering with this.  It's a waste of time and another massively insulting remake.

Plane

Pilot Brodie Torrance saves passengers from a lightning strike by making a risky landing on a war-torn island -- only to find that surviving the landing was just the beginning. When dangerous rebels take most of the passengers hostage, the only person Torrance can count on for help is Louis Gaspare, an accused murderer who was being transported by the FBI.

This is basically your textbook Gerard Butler action movie.  Instead of in the White House or whatever its a plane in a an ungoverned country.  Completely formula from start to finish.  That being said I have always been okay with turn off your brain action movies as long as they keep you interested enough and this one did that.  

I would lukewarmly recommend this movie to action movie fans.  As long as you don't overthink it at all the movie is a decent watch.  

M3gan

M3GAN is a marvel of artificial intelligence, a lifelike doll that's programmed to be a child's greatest companion and a parent's greatest ally. Designed by Gemma, a brilliant roboticist, M3GAN can listen, watch and learn as it plays the role of friend and teacher, playmate and protector. When Gemmabecomes the unexpected caretaker of her 8-year-old niece, she decides to give the girl an M3GAN prototype, a decision that leads to unimaginable consequences.

This movie is a testament to how a good trailer can create the best buzz for a movie.  The second I saw this I was in.  Didn't care if it was gonna be good or if it was going to be an entertaining train wreck.   It just immediately sucked you in.  The movie was pretty good.  It took a little too long to build things up and would have been a bit better if the crazy last 15 minutes or so could have been spaced out a bit more.   But even with those complaints its still a very watchable and enjoyable movie.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  It is an enjoyable creepy movie and basically this generation's Child's Play.  

A Man Called Otto

When a lively young family moves in next door, grumpy widower Otto Anderson meets his match in a quick-witted, pregnant woman named Marisol, leading to an unlikely friendship that turns his world upside down.

Every once and a while a very simple emotionally charged movie hits you at exactly the right time.  This is one of those movies.  I absolutely loved this movie.  I loved how real it felt.  I loved how genuine and random all the characters were.  I loved how it all came together and how the background info was told.  I loved the overall journey.  

I would absolutely recommend people checking this movie out.  I hope that it emotionally hooks and resonates as much with others as it did with me.

I Wanna Dance With Somebody

Discovered by record executive Clive Davis, Whitney Houston rises from obscurity to international fame in the 1980s to become one of the greatest singers of her generation.

This was a pretty decent biopic movie.  I very clearly remembered the rise and "fall" of Whitney Houston and this movie did a really good job of staying true to that even though it didn't really do the fall justice.  Things were alluded to and glossed over instead of really dived into which is nuts considering the movie was 2 1/2 hours long.  

I would somewhat recommend people checking this out.  It is a great tribute to her even if the pacing was definitely screwy at times.

The Ten Best Movies Of 2022

 Honorable Mention - Pearl

This movie was downright creepy as hell in all the best of ways.   Whether it was the performance or the direction it literally had you on the edge of your seat and terrified several times.  

10 - Everything Everywhere All At Once

This movie was just a lot of off the wall fun.  Great acting, pacing and story made this an almost better multiverse story then the comic book movies have done.

9 - Emancipation

Will Smith is even more of a dumbass for that slap stuff knowing he had this movie coming out this year.  He would have been a lock for back to back best actor wins if he didn't make himself such a PR nightmare.

8 - Elvis

This movie was much much better than I thought it would be.  Austin Butler was great and the pacing/progression of Elvis's life was very well done.

7 - Spirited

Easily the best Christmas movie I have seen since Elf.  Great songs, great laughs and great characters keep you completely hooked.   Will happily watch this annually.

6 - The Black Phone

In what was a banner year for horror movies really getting better for the most part this was the best one.   The trailer was awesome and the movie totally delivered on that.  It zeroed in on basically the biggest fear of my generation growing up and was well done.

5 - The Batman

One of the best offerings to come from DC since the DCEU started.  Granted time will tell if it ever connects or hell but this was very enjoyable as a standalone offering.

4 - Bullet Train

This was just straight up adrenaline fun on screen.  You sit back, turn your brain off and enjoy the very entertaining ride.

3 - The Fabelmans

This was such a great insight to the joys of filmmaking and the combination of inspirations to do so and how to do so along with the ups and downs of family.

2 - Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

This was an amazing tribute to Chadwick Boseman that did right by all of the characters from the first one and moves the story along excellently.   

1 - Top Gun: Maverick

Possibly the easiest choice for best movie of the year I have had in a long time.  You want to know how to properly do nostalgia - this should be the textbook for it.  I loved this movie a million times more than the first one.  

The Ten Worst Movies of 2022

Dishonorable mentions - Jurassic Park: Dominion & Terrifier 2

Jurassic Park: Whatever - just wow.  Like how can this movie have been sooooooooooo bad.  They brought in the recently successful nostalgia angle and completely fumbled.  This will be one of those sequels that I'm going to just pretend nothing happened.

Terrifier 2 - How is this a thing?  Honestly.  How is this a thing?  Anyone that was involved in the making of this movie needs to be on a FBI watch list or monitored at all times because what the hell is wrong with you!!?!?!

10 - Moonfall 

Remember when Roland Emmerich was the king of the disaster movie?   Well he clearly is not anymore.

9 - Father Of The Bride

Was anyone asking for a remake of this?  Better question . . . . . was anyone asking for a drama version remake of this?   No.  Nobody.

8 - Studio 666

All due respect to the Foo Fighters drummer that died this year but this is a movie that baffles the mind for ever having been made.

7 - Morbius

Sony's continued attempts to capitalize on Spider-Man being connected to MCU while these movies are not just get worse and worse.  It's brutal honestly.

6 - Blonde

This movie was just one of the most cringeworthy movies I have ever seen.   The word Daddy is destroyed forever.

5 - Honk For Jesus!  Save Your Soul 

The trailer for this actually made it seem like there might be some decent laughs based on the talent involved.  It was wrong.  There were none.

4 - The Munsters

Yet another of the was anyone asking for this remake movies on the list.   Can Hollywood just stop letting Rob Zombie make movies?  I really don't understand how this is so difficult.

3 - Firestarter

Repeat after me again.  Who was asking for a weak ass reboot of this movie?

2 - Lyle Lyle Crocodile

This might honestly be one of the biggest robberies of parents money for a family film in history.  This was honestly brutal and for all the poor parents that had to pay money to sit through this and suffer I applaud the love of your children because it must be MASSIVE.

1 - Halloween Ends

So let me get this straight.  This was the second part of the one that came out last year that was actually pretty good.  Except you are not gonna have Michael Meyers in the first half of it and the 2 hour movie really just boils down to a 15 minute fight between him and Jamie Lee Curtis to "end" the franchise.  This movie was a complete and total waste of time.

Puss In Boots: The Last Wish

Puss in Boots discovers that his passion for adventure has taken its toll: he has burnt through eight of his nine lives. Puss sets out on an epic journey to find the mythical Last Wish and restore his nine lives.

This was a great continuation of the story with the characters that you are already attached to and they did a great job of working in new variations to other fables and children's stories that worked tremendously.  There were lots of laughs and cheers at certain points and this is really one of those ideal holiday movies for the whole family.  

I would definitely recommend people checking this movie out.  Who doesn't enjoy the Shrek series and this spinoff of it?

Babylon

Decadence, depravity, and outrageous excess lead to the rise and fall of several ambitious dreamers in 1920s Hollywood.

Well this was definitely something.   It was very much like being on an acid trip for three hours.  Some absolutely ridiculous things were seen and done on screen.   I liked the characters.  I liked the filmmaking style when things were off the wall.  But that run time was an absolute killer and bogged this movie down massively.  

I would somewhat recommend people checking this out.  Like I said - I totally understand why people would like this but it was definitely waaaaaaaaay too long.  

The Whale

An obese and reclusive English teacher tries to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter for one last chance at redemption.

Wow!   This movie was something.   Really something.  Amazing performance by Brendan Fraser.  Excellent directing of a play like story/setting by Arnofsky.  It REALLY makes me question eating my feelings and its a massive kick to the head for people who judge based on appearances without thinking of what have made things get to that point.  

I would definitely recommend people watching this because it really does say ALOT about society as a whole in several aspects.   It was not an easy watch at all but was a great movie with an amazing performance.  

Avatar: The Way Of Water

Jake Sully and Ney'tiri have formed a family and are doing everything to stay together. However, they must leave their home and explore the regions of Pandora. When an ancient threat resurfaces, Jake must fight a difficult war against the humans.

This was very much just like the original.  An incredible movie to watch visually.  Good enough story.  Good enough characters.  Amazing action.  Did I mention the incredible visual appearance of the movie already?   It's basically the only movies I would ever recommend actually seeing in 3D.  Unfortunately there is no need for this to be 3 hours and 15 minutes long.  45 minute to an hour could have easily been left on the cutting room floor so you don't feel like you are losing years off of your life watching this.   LOL!

I would still absolutely recommend people checking this movie out.  Again - its a visual masterpiece.  There is no denying that at all.  Just waaaaaaaaay too long.

Bones And All

Love blossoms between a young woman on the margins of society and a disenfranchised drifter as they embark on a 3,000-mile odyssey through the backroads of America. However, despite their best efforts, all roads lead back to their terrifying pasts and a final stand that will determine whether their love can survive their differences.

This movie was basically a decent premise with good actors cast in it but then decided to be waaaaaaaay too artistic for its own good.  There was so much dead time throughout this movie of just a score playing and nothing really happening and then something crazy would happen and it would go back to treading water.  It kind of made it miss its mark overall.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone bothering with this movie.  It's not the worst watch but the movie kind of like ruins itself because of how it was too overdone.  

Violent Night

An elite team of mercenaries breaks into a family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone hostage inside. However, they aren't prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus is on the grounds, and he's about to show why this Nick is no saint.

This movie is 10000000% exactly what you thought it would be.  It's a longer version of the trailer and doesn't disappoint for what it was.  It's over the top in every way.  It's quite corny at times.  But it works completely because the filmmakers and cast don't take themselves too seriously.  

I would actually recommend people checking this movie out.  It's a very fun, turn your brain off kind of movie that is basically Santa Claus inserted into Die Hard.

The Fabelmans

Young Sammy Fabelman falls in love with movies after his parents take him to see "The Greatest Show on Earth." Armed with a camera, Sammy starts to make his own films at home, much to the delight of his supportive mother.

This was a really really great movie.  Anyone who has been sucked into movies and been a fan of every aspect of them will surely love this movie.   Adding to it the person's life that you follow the journey on through the eyes of his camera and the people around him and you have a movie that I think will definitely be nominated (and win) a bunch of awards this year.  

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  It's a very real feeling movie with great emotional hooks.  

Devotion

The inspirational true story of Jesse Brown, the first Black aviator in U.S. Navy history, and his enduring friendship with fellow fighter pilot Tom Hudner. Helping to turn the tide in the most brutal battle in the Korean War, their heroic sacrifices ultimately make them the Navy's most celebrated wingmen.

This movie was a decent watch.  Especially because of the true story hook to it.  The flight scenes were good and the character development was good but for this to come out the same year as Top Gun 2 was kind of a death sentence just because you can't help but kind of compare then and this loses in a landslide.

I would lukewarmly recommend people checking this out.  It is a good watch but not a must watch by any means.  

Strange World

The Clades are a legendary family of explorers whose differences threaten to topple their latest and most crucial mission into uncharted and treacherous territory.

Wow.  This was pretty much Disney's biggest disappointment in a long time.   The story was eh.  The characters were dull as hell.  And there was like no hook whatsoever.  The only other Disney animation movies that I can even remotely compare this to would be Treasure Planet and Atlantis but at least both of those had small niches.  This was just there and released on Thanksgiving as THE family film.   Pretty much a money grab.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone bothering with this movie.  I had very to little interest while watching and forgot about most of it by the next day.

The Menu

The film, penned by Will Tracy and Seth Reiss, "focuses on a young couple who visits an exclusive destination restaurant on a remote island where the acclaimed chef has prepared a lavish tasting menu, along with some shocking surprise."Deadline notes, "Fiennes plays the world-class chef who sets it all up and adds some unexpected ingredients to the menu planned. The action follows one particular A-list couple that takes part. I've heard Stone will play half of that couple."

This was a weird ass and demented movie.   Not bad.  Just very twisted.  The actors really committed to their roles and it made for a really good watch.  They were all great and there were plenty of intensity and anxiety spikes throughout to keep you hooked.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  It was a very enjoyable and twisted watch.

She Said

The New York Times journalists Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor publish a report that exposes sexual abuse allegations against powerful Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. The shocking story also serves as a launching pad for the #MeToo movement, shattering decades of silence around the subject of sexual assault and harassment.

This was a good movie for what it was.  This was a great telling of the start of the MeToo movement with actual moments and soundbites from along the way.   Both of the reporters were great and it was paced in a way that doesn't bore you.

I would somewhat recommend people checking this out.  It's not a must see by any means and it doesn't expose any unknown information.  Just a good job of showing how it all happened.  

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Queen Ramonda, Shuri, M'Baku, Okoye and the Dora Milaje fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T'Challa's death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with Nakia and Everett Ross to forge a new path for their beloved kingdom.

Wow!  Just wow.  So emotional.  So action packed.  So entertaining.  This movie was such a massive home run under some of the most difficult circumstances ever.  They did a great job of honoring Chadwick.  They did a great job of introducing Namor.   They did a great job of continuing to develop a wide array of cast members across the board.   

I would absolutely recommend people checking this one out.  It is an awesome watch from beginning to end and you don't remotely feel the 3 hour time length.  

Lyle Lyle Crocodile

When the Primm family moves to New York City, their young son, Josh, struggles to adapt to his new school and friends. All of that changes when he discovers Lyle, a singing crocodile that loves baths, caviar and great music. The two become fast friends, but when evil neighbor Mr. Grumps threatens Lyle's existence, the Primms must band together to show the world that family can come from the most unexpected places.

How is this a thing?   How the hell is Javier Bardem in this!?!?!?!  This movie was basically a massive insult to family movies.   They should be brought up on criminal charges for taking parents' hard earned money.   

This movie is beyond not recommended.  It is honestly criminal.   

Prey For The Devil

The Roman Catholic Church combats a global rise in demonic possessions by reopening schools to train priests to perform exorcisms. Although nuns are forbidden to perform this ritual, a professor recognizes Sister Ann's gifts and agrees to train her. Thrust onto the spiritual frontline, she soon finds herself in a battle for the soul of a young girl who's possessed by the same demon that tormented her own mother years earlier.

This was pretty much your run of the mill, wash - rinse - repeat, exorcism movie.   I feel like I have seen some version of this movie a million times.   It had some really good sight scares but the bottom line is that you kind of forget about the movie five minutes after watching it.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone needing to see this.  The movie isn't a bad movie.  It's just really a dime a dozen exorcism movie and brings nothing new to the table.  

Ticket To Paradise

A divorced couple teams up and travels to Bali to stop their daughter from making the same mistake they think they made 25 years ago.

This was a textbook rom-com.  There is nothing about this movie that you didn't know from the trailer.  You saw that and you pretty much saw the movie.  That being said - the chemistry between Clooney and Roberts was very legit and Madde the movie watchable/enjoyable even with how predictable it was in every way.  I wish that there would have been more laugh out loud moments during the movie like the beer pong scene but it was a decent watch regardless.  

I would recommend this to any fan of rom-coms.  It is a decent watch.  Not a must see by any means but enjoyable enough.  

Black Adam

In ancient Kahndaq, Teth Adam was bestowed the almighty powers of the gods. After using these powers for vengeance, he was imprisoned, becoming Black Adam. Nearly 5,000 years have passed, and Black Adam has gone from man to myth to legend. Now free, his unique form of justice, born out of rage, is challenged by modern-day heroes who form the Justice Society: Hawkman, Dr. Fate, Atom Smasher and Cyclone.

I find it impossible to not watch DC movies skeptically now.  LOL!  This was a really good movie for like the first 3/4 of it.  The background origins of Black Adam were good.  The Rock was great in the part.  The new characters that were introduced were all good.  And then right when I actually said this is much better than I expected they went and ended it the same exact absurd way that all DC movies end.  Fire everywhere.  An oversized satan related villain and lots of massive slow motion jumping and action.  Like why in the blue hell is that a thing.  Still though - this movie did much better than any previous DC movies in terms of connecting things to it throughout the universe but like do they really know what they want to do with the DC Universe?   Like I think that is the massive problem.

I would still recommend people checking this out.  It is a better than average watch and I mean . . . . . . its The Rock.  Why would anyone not watch him?

Bros

Bobby is a neurotic podcast host who's happy to go on Tinder dates and content not to have a serious relationship. That all changes when he meets Aaron, an equally detached lawyer who likes to play the field. Repeatedly drawn to each other, both men begin to show their vulnerable sides as their undeniable attraction turns into something resembling a commitment.

This movie was a decent watch overall.  It started as being very homosexually specific but then hit its groove when it really embraced the Rom Com formula.  The tough thing with this movie is that no matter how accepting you are of LGBTQ community, this is still a targeted watch.  Like heterosexual couples wouldn't see this as their date movie.  Families are not going to go see it.  I like that they put it out there for the targeted audience but it is a very targeted audience watch.

I would recommend this to anyone who is homosexual or is open minded enough to take it for what it is.  It's a decent rom com overall outside of some extreme sexual content.

Halloween Ends

Four years after her last encounter with masked killer Michael Myers, Laurie Strode is living with her granddaughter and trying to finish her memoir. Myers hasn't been seen since, and Laurie finally decides to liberate herself from rage and fear and embrace life. However, when a young man stands accused of murdering a boy that he was babysitting, it ignites a cascade of violence and terror that forces Laurie to confront the evil she can't control.

What the hell was this?   They legit just wanted a final battle with Laurie Strode and Michael Myers and tacked on a whole other movie a year later in order to show that scene during the last 15 minutes of the movie.  Everything up to that was beyond pointless, beyond crap and honestly became like comedic material.  I am baffled as to what their plan was here.  Totally baffled.

I would not recommend anyone watch this.  Ever.  This has to be the odds on favorite for worst movie of the year.

Amsterdam

Set in the '30s, it follows three friends who witness a murder, become suspects themselves, and uncover one of the most outrageous plots in American history.

This was one weird ass movie.  If I would have reviewed this right after watching it I probably would have ranted about how ridiculous it was and all over the place with you watching the whole thing saying what the f am I watching.  But when thinking about it overnight I realize that it was all by design.  It was taking a bunch of very dedicated method actors and putting them in this where you can't help but think a bunch of it is improvised and even though you have no idea where it is going or what is happening at so many points - you are definitely. hooked and invested and at no point entertaining pulling the plug.  Credit where its due that is actually pretty impressive.  

I would strangely recommend people checking this out.  Its a very enjoyable watch with awesome actors even though it is quite random and off the wall.