2024 - Highlights
Films
watched, but not necessarily released, in 2024. In no particular order:
Godzilla Minus One/Minus Color
This version, Minus Color, was released in 2024. This is one of, if not the best, Godzilla/monster film ever made. Not only is Godzilla a real threat but this film has heart to it, something so often lacking in these kinds of films. The black and white only seems to add to the feeling of watching a classic.
A holdover
from 2023. The story of three people who are forced to spend the Christmas
break together. Some very strong acting from Paul Giamatti, Da'Vine Joy
Randolph, and Dominic Sessa.
Another 2023
leftover. I wasn’t sure what to expect but it was a treat with a
compelling story and strong performances for a cast that included Jeffrey
Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross, Issa Rae, Sterling K. Brown, John Ortiz, Erika
Alexander, and Leslie Uggams.
The first of
several animated films with robots on this list. I would call this a little film but it was
highly effective. We’ve all been in relationships that for whatever reason
didn’t work out they way we wanted but we all have to move on.
Not sure
what happened here. The film was much better than the advertising and
marketing, what little there was, would have led audiences to believe. A lot of celebrity voices but it still works, and was fun.
The best of
the three animated films with robots, and perhaps the best animated film of the
year. Shows there is still hope for DreamWorks. Lupita Nyong'o leads a voice
cast which includes Pedro Pascal, Mark Hamill, and Catherine O’Hara.
Pixar has
been known to make sequels with diminishing returns, so I was a little
apprehensive about seeing Inside Out 2. I’m happy to report that the
film exceeded my expectations and is a good companion to the original.
The third in the franchise and the infusion of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine was exactly what it needed. The film also pays homage to the Marvel films from 20th Century Fox before Disney swallowed it whole.
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
While not
perhaps as good as The Wrong Trousers, the sequel shows that there
is still life in this series. Ben Whitehead is a good replacement for the late
Peter Sallis as Wallace.
You don’t
need to be a gamer to appreciate the series of Sonic films. This one has
everyone back, including Jim Carrey, who plays two roles, but also introduces
Shadow, voiced by Keanu Reeves. The fourth in the series has already been
announced and judging by the reaction of the audience I saw it with, it will no
doubt be a hit as well.
The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland
As much of a misstep that Red One was (see below), this animated film manages to successfully blend Christmas with the Wonderland from Alice fame and become something that can be watched year after year.
2024 - Disappointments
Again, films seen in 2024, in no particular order:
This was far
from the best animated film released in 2023 but still won the Academy Award on the
reputation of its creator, Hayao Miyazaki. I’m not sure if the Academy doesn't take the category seriously or they wanted to honor Miyazaki for his past
works. This is a little like John Wayne winning for True Grit; not his
best work.
I had to
admit I wasn’t really looking to seeing this film and so I shouldn’t be
surprised it wasn’t near as good as the original. Sometimes it’s best to leave
well enough alone. Here’s hoping there’s not a Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Beetlejuice in anyone’s future.
Not sure who
this film was aimed at but whoever it was, it seems to have missed the mark.
One sequel
too far in the franchise from DreamWorks. It seems to indicate they didn’t know
what they had created and when to stop.
It hurts me
to put this on the list but this could have been so much better. Basically,
it’s the Mayles Brothers documentary The Beatles - The First U.S. Visit (1964)
with added stuff that doesn’t always seem to fit. Love Smokey Robinson, but why
his 1968 appearance on Ed Sullivan singing “Yesterday” in this documentary? And
the “grownup” analysis doesn’t really add much either; the reaction at the time
was visceral not cerebral. More Beatles performing would have made this better.
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