Now that we're a few days into 2024, I want to reflect on all the movies I've watched last year and how they rank on my list. 2023 was an excellent year for movies; there were a lot of hits, and I struggled to rank some of them.
Don't judge, but I rank my movies based on how much fun I have in them, how long they stick in my mind afterwards and elements that stand out to me.
10. Killers of the Flower Moon
At the ripe age of 81, Martin Scorsese still manages to deliver a powerful movie. The performances given by Lily Gladstone, Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio were incredible and moving. Although it is a beautiful movie, it doesn't make you feel good about how disgusting the ordeal was. Robert De Niro played his character so well that I hated him and almost forgot that he's an actor. I put this one 10th on my list because there were a lot of scenes that could've been edited down or cut out completely; it didn't need to be 3 hours long.
9. Saw X
It's crazy to think that this franchise has ten movies made already. Being a huge fan of this franchise, I was happy to see it make a comeback and do it well. The focus on John Kramer and giving him more screen time was a great choice. It was what was missing from the previous movies; you didn't get to see him much, even though he's such an iconic character. The movie also gave us some of the most brutal traps, and I'm here for it!
8. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-verse
The animation in this movie was ground-breaking, innovative and beautiful. I didn't think you could do much with animations these days, especially after seeing what Pixar has done. But this movie took it to the next level with its various art styles, especially that watercolour scene. The art captivated me, and I couldn't look away. Today, when most movie-goers are over superhero movies, you know this one was done well to land on most critic's top 10 list.
7. Barbie
When this movie was announced, I didn't think I would like it. I didn't know who it was geared towards, and I never liked Barbie growing up. I still gave it a shot anyway, and I'm glad I did. The movie was a lot of fun, and I walked out singing "I'm Just Ken." The message it sent was relatable to many of us, myself included, although I have some gripes about it. For a movie about Barbie, it felt more like it was about Ken, which went against what the movie set out to do. Besides that, I loved Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. Can we talk about how cute the movie sets were?
6. Oppenheimer
Even though this wouldn't be a movie I would rewatch repeatedly, it made it to 6th place because it truly was a cinematic event. With sold-out IMAX showings, this was one to catch on the big screen if sitting for 3 hours isn't too long for you. In today's world, where everything is shot digitally, the fact that it was shot on 70mm film was mindblowing and super cool to see.
The movie left me with a sense of dread and thinking about the power these people had, the complications of the world and how terrifying it all could be. Cillian Murphy delivers an astounding performance as J. Robert Oppenheimer, with Christopher Nolan giving us another masterpiece.
5. Talk To Me
With a small budget and a list of unknown actors, I was blown away by how good this movie was. It kept you on the edge of your seat without showing too much. It left a lot to your imagination, which not many movies do these days. The tension building was spectacular and left me feeling uncomfortable.
I like how it captures what teens would go through in the day of technology, the pressure of trying something new and facing the repercussions of having everything you do recorded. Very simple premise but done extremely well on a budget of only $4.5M.
4. Dream Scenario
Nic Cage? Say no more. As one of my favourite actors, I couldn't pass up watching this movie and boy, did it deliver! Yet again, A24 gave us another great movie with an original idea, which seems to be lacking in Hollywood lately. I swear, when this was made, it was written with Nic Cage in mind. He was perfect for the role, the way he can go from zero to 100 so fast.Â
With how the world is today and our chase for internet fame, it gave us a glimpse into what that would look like and the downfalls that come with it, especially in today's cancel culture. Also, was it just me, or did it give some major Black Mirror vibes as well?
3. The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Let's-a-go!! This movie may not have made a lot of people's lists since 2023 gave us so many great hits, but it made mine! Sure, it's not ground-breaking, but I had so much fun in this movie, probably more so than the kids in the theatre with us. Being a Nintendo fan all my life, it was a blast picking out the easter eggs in the movie. I love the touches of the game's soundtrack being integrated with the movie OST.
For so long, all we've gotten was ridiculously made Nintendo movies; for this one to be so good, it deserves a spot on my list. It's been one of those movies that I would throw on all the time and still pick out little details I would miss. Peaches was one of my top-played songs of 2023 as well. Jack Black honestly deserves an Oscar for that alone.
2. Godzilla: Minus One
Godzilla was a complete gem, and it seemed to have come out of nowhere. It was a movie that was full of action but also made me cry at the same time. We've been used to cheering on Godzilla and not caring about the human characters. This one changed all those feelings. The soundtrack was brilliantly done and created the right tone for the movie. I was actually terrified of Godzilla in this one, and his nuclear blast was incredibly intense. You also came to care for the characters and felt what they were going through.
With a budget of only $15 million, it was a surprise that this movie looked amazing. So my question is, what is Hollywood doing with massive budgets and still making not-so-great movies? Looking at you, Disney.
1. John Wick 4
Finally, my number one movie of 2023 is John Wick 4. There were so many movies where I had a lot of fun, but this one will always stand out. Although it's a sequel, this is one of the few franchises that I adore, and it gets better with every instalment. The action sequences were the best and most innovative that I've ever seen. Keanu Reeves, Donnie Yen and Hiroyuki Sanada were fantastic and captivating. I also love that even though it was a movie with very little dialogue, it kept you hooked at every second. I loved every second of this movie and wondered what being a stuntman on this set was like.
Honourable Mentions
I couldn't make my list without naming some honourable mentions. These were all movies I absolutely enjoyed for different reasons; even though they didn't quite make my top 10, I still loved them nonetheless. In no particular order, here they are:
Leave the World Behind
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Amongst Thieves
Tetris
Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part I
No One Will Save You
Blackberry
How To Blow Up A Pipeline