2023 Films
I'm going to try and rate and rank every 2023 film I see. The hardest would be ranking films with the same number - all 8's, etc. - especially without re-watching all of them. There are a lot of films categorized as being 2022 that were only shown at festivals, but weren't shown theatrically or released on DVD until 2023. I am going to put these in 2023 according to theatrical date.
These reviews will have SPOILERS, so read with caution. I will try to remember to put a SPOILER warning before any major spoilers are given. Otherwise, don't read too much about any movie that you don't want spoiled.
These reviews will have SPOILERS, so read with caution. I will try to remember to put a SPOILER warning before any major spoilers are given. Otherwise, don't read too much about any movie that you don't want spoiled.
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- DirectorJohn Francis DaleyJonathan GoldsteinStarsChris PineMichelle RodriguezRegé-Jean PageA charming thief and a band of unlikely adventurers embark on an epic quest to retrieve a lost relic, but things go dangerously awry when they run afoul of the wrong people.8/10 - Redbox DVD freebie. This was better than I thought it would be. Funny and very clever at times. 7/7/23
- DirectorGreta GerwigStarsMargot RobbieRyan GoslingIssa RaeBarbie and Ken are having the time of their lives in the colorful and seemingly perfect world of Barbie Land. However, when they get a chance to go to the real world, they soon discover the joys and perils of living among humans.8/10 - 1x watch via $1 Redbox Blu-ray. The set design and Margot Robbie look amazing. They came up with a cool idea. I don't know how I feel about the ending. It would be nice to hear Gerwig/Baumbach talk about what they meant by it. Matchbox 20 Push, haha. 11/5/23.
- DirectorChristopher McQuarrieStarsTom CruiseHayley AtwellVing RhamesEthan Hunt and his IMF team must track down a dangerous weapon before it falls into the wrong hands.8/10 - 1x watch via Blu-ray. This was another solid action film with some great stunts. The whole AI thing isn't the greatest though. The actor who played Gabriel almost makes it feel like it will turn out he is part cyborg or has impanted microchips or something. He just seemed really weird. It also felt weird how they accept Hayley Atwell's character so easily. Sad to see what happened to Becky Ferg, but it was actually spoiled when I searched for about her earlier today. The train car / cliff sequence reminded me of The Lost World Jurassic Park, but they maybe doubled the number of cars that went over and had variety of what stuff would be falling on them. The motorcycle cliff stunt was so played in the promos that it really lessened the impact. I don't remember if they mentioned The Syndicate at all. I watched the last 3 all in a row, so I may be confusing some things. Some of the scenes, like being on top of the train, just were a little too CGI to feel real, but not terrible. Now it looks like it will be over a year until the next film, which they seem to have changed their mind in calling it Part Two. 2/10/24
- DirectorAndy MuschiettiStarsEzra MillerMichael KeatonSasha CalleBarry Allen uses his super speed to change the past, but his attempt to save his family creates a world without super heroes, forcing him to race for his life in order to save the future.8/10 - 1x watch via Blu-ray. For this type of movie, I thought it was pretty well done. I thought it was pretty creative and the cameos and different versions of characters were fun. CGI was wonky, but for whatever reason it didn't bother me too much. 12/9/23.
- DirectorWes AndersonStarsJason SchwartzmanScarlett JohanssonTom HanksFollowing a writer on his world famous fictional play about a grieving father who travels with his tech-obsessed family to small rural Asteroid City to compete in a junior stargazing event, only to have his world view disrupted forever.7/10? - Watched in the theater. I'm torn on this one. I didn't enjoy it that much while watching it, but it is sitting with me. I'm not sure I grasped everything going on. I have seen all of Wes' films, but haven't connected as much with those past the first 4/5. Written days later on 7/4/23. I put this at the top for now, because it definitely tried something different in comparison to the other films of 2023 that I've seen.
- DirectorMichael B. JordanStarsMichael B. JordanTessa ThompsonJonathan MajorsAdonis has been thriving in both his career and family life, but when a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy resurfaces, the face-off is more than just a fight.7.5/10 - Redbox BR rental. This is an enjoyable film, but it is kinda paint by numbers. Jordan's direction is great, and all of the actors do a great job. 6/9/23.
- DirectorM. Night ShyamalanStarsDave BautistaJonathan GroffBen AldridgeWhile vacationing, a girl and her parents are taken hostage by armed strangers who demand that the family make a choice to avert the apocalypse.7/10 - 1x watch via Redbox Blu-ray freebie. This was a solid thriller. You won't like it if you need an explanation for things. Shot well by Shymalan, just something missing to make it great. Would it have been better if they followed the book closer? I read the book summary on wikipedia. 6/10/23.
- DirectorMatt Bettinelli-OlpinTyler GillettStarsCourteney CoxMelissa BarreraJenna OrtegaIn the next installment, the survivors of the Ghostface killings leave Woodsboro behind and start a fresh chapter in New York City.7/10 - Redbox stream rental for $5.13. My first stream rental at this high price point ($5.99 and I had a $1.25 coupon). I didn't want to stream rent this, but the physical version is not coming out for 2 months and I was tired of trying to avoid spoilers. This is enjoyable up until the killer reveal. The motive is too unbelievable, just absurd. People are somehow living from extremely major injuries, as well. 5/19/23.
- DirectorChad StahelskiStarsKeanu ReevesLaurence FishburneGeorge GeorgiouJohn Wick uncovers a path to defeating The High Table. But before he can earn his freedom, Wick must face off against a new enemy with powerful alliances across the globe and forces that turn old friends into foes.7/10 - 1x full watch via Redbox DVD. I rented this from Redbox a few weeks ago and could not finish the film because I could not get past a certain screen. Had to rent it on DVD because the Blu-ray player would keep returning to the bad screen. My favorite JW film is 2. I saw it in the theater. 3 already got pretty bloated and this took it even further. The ending is kinda bogus, as well. Bringing more and more High Table story just bogs the movies down. Killing characters that didn't need to be killed. There also seem to be bits in the fight choreography where there are multiple people that the stuntmen are just kinda pausing for the lead actor to get to them, where in real life they would have attacked the lead actor. I noticed this in 3 and it continued here. There always seem to be a pause to let the fighters regroup, whereas in real life they would just keep coming and kill JW and the others. It's still pretty fun and could be a lot better with minor tweaking. 9/9/23.
- DirectorPeyton ReedStarsPaul RuddEvangeline LillyMichael DouglasScott Lang and Hope Van Dyne are dragged into the Quantum Realm, along with Hope's parents and Scott's daughter Cassie. Together they must find a way to escape, but what secrets is Hope's mother hiding? And who is the mysterious Kang?7/10 - Watched in 3D (though it didn't seem setup right) at the theater on 2/17. It was a fun popcorn movie. I watched the prior 2 Ant-Man films beforehand, and I probably enjoyed those more. This falls in line with the last handfull of Marvel/comic book movies for me. Just fun popcorn movies that give you escape for 2 hours. Nothing mindbendingly spectacular. GOTG 3 is next in the MCU, and surely it will be a better film than these as of late. 2/18/23.
- DirectorDavid F. SandbergStarsZachary LeviAsher AngelJack Dylan GrazerThe film continues the story of teenage Billy Batson who, upon reciting the magic word "SHAZAM!" is transformed into his adult Super Hero alter ego, Shazam.7/10 - 1x watch via Blu-ray. This is a pretty solid movie, but it just feels like another superhero movie with nothing extremely special about it. I watched The Flash and Shazam! before this, so maybe it was just really wearing on me to see 3 of these in a row. 12/9/23.
- DirectorAaron HorvathMichael JelenicPierre LeducStarsChris PrattAnya Taylor-JoyCharlie DayA plumber named Mario travels through an underground labyrinth with his brother Luigi, trying to save a captured princess.7/10 - Redbox Blu-ray Birthday freebie. This was pretty solid for a video game movie. The one LOL moment was when someone threw a banana peel on the road and it made someone crash. The Jack Black Peaches song was also fun. I have a soft spot for the live action film, which I have on Blu-ray but haven't watched yet. 6/30/23