2022 – The Highlights (Tetris_King)

Continuing the momentum from last year, and after a rough adjustment period, the ongoing pandemic hasn't stopped companies from putting out a steady stream of content that caught our interest. Although we've finally started going back into a theater, we have become far more selective about which movies are worth experiencing this way in order to avoid possible infection. While I liked a lot of the movies I saw this year, not too many of them stood out to me enough to make it onto this list, however playing a greater number of new games this year that I enjoyed led to some more difficult choices.

Each list is presented in no particular order, with links to reviews where applicable.

Top Movies of 2022

Sonic the Hedgehog 2

The last movie I was able to see in a theater before the world shut down was Sonic the Hedgehog, and though theaters had opened back up in the intervening years, I hesitated to go back for the longest time, deciding to ease myself back in with Sonic the Hedgehog 2. This turned out to be the perfect way to bookend this experience, as I had a lot of fun watching it and seeing how much more confident the writers seemed in bringing the film closer to its video game origins. It’s not perfect, but it’s worth it for Sonic fans and the post-credits scene has me hyped for a Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

The Bad Guys

The success of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse opened up a lot of possibilities for CG animation, and it seems as though DreamWorks Animation is one of few studios to recognize this potential, as demonstrated with their adaptation of The Bad Guys. Not only is the animation truly spectacular to watch, the story is a great adaptation of the books that inspired it, taking liberties without sacrificing its identity. Even for those who haven’t read the books, this movie is a fun and emotional ride that will leave you wanting more.

Bullet Train

On seeing ads for Bullet Train, I was a little skeptical, but after taking a chance with cheaper tickets, it turned out to be far more enjoyable than I initially expected. While there are multiple subplots, everything comes together in a satisfying way, plus the character interactions throughout can be very engaging on their own, with a lot of well-paced humor that doesn’t feel overbearing. If you’re looking for something different in the action space than the overwhelming amount of superhero content, Bullet Train is well worth your time.

Everything Everywhere All at Once

Though the success of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse led to an increase and overabundance of media centering on the multiverse and crossovers, this movie takes a very unique approach to the multiverse idea that helps it stand out from the crowd. This is especially true when compared with fellow contemporary Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which had a far higher budget yet didn’t show quite the same ambition in regards to displaying alternate universes. The main plot and its themes also justify the usage of the multiverse in an interesting way, making it well worth watching at least once.

 

Top Games of 2022

Moss: Book II

After eagerly anticipating the follow-up to the VR game Moss for years, Moss: Book II proved to be well worth the wait thanks to its more ambitious scope and increased visual fidelity that somehow manages to run smoothly in PlayStation VR. The story is also far more ambitious, resolving the plot threads set up in the first episode in an emotional and satisfying manner. With the announcement of a PS VR2 port on the horizon, I would definitely consider experiencing the entire duology again on that platform if possible.

Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series

As someone who wanted to play the Klonoa series but was priced out of it, this collection is a much-needed reissue of the first two games, updated for modern systems. The stories remain intact while the visuals and gameplay have been greatly improved, including a new optional Easy difficulty for both games, making them an ideal jumping-on point for newer players. As Klonoa media has become very sparse, the main hope is that good-enough sales can justify a reissue of other games or even a new entry.

Stray

One of the more interesting-looking games from the PS5 announcement was Stray, in which you play as a wild cat exploring a futuristic city populated by robots. While this was enough to motivate me to play it, the actual game turned out to be a lot more, with some interesting gameplay that takes full advantage of the player character being a cat as well as a setting that becomes more intriguing the further you progress. If you’ve always wanted to play as a cat, the game is well worth the purchase, and it would be interesting to see what the developer does next.

Top Disappointments of 2022

The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe

Having played the original The Stanley Parable when it came out and liked it, the Ultra Deluxe re-release proved to be a disappointment not because of the new content, but rather the lack thereof. The commentary on reviews, while clever, comes off as more bitter than witty and most of the new endings come down to whether or not you happen to be holding a bucket at the time you do so. Getting a discount at launch for owning the original lessens the sting, but not by much, since I had missed the refund window on Steam by the time I realized what I had bought. If you’ve never played the original game before, this is a pretty solid package, otherwise I would tell you to really think about it or wait for a deeper discount if you are already a fan.

Lightyear

While the Toy Story franchise has generally had consistently good output, Lightyear is not one of them, as it presents a gross mishandling of its own premise. Despite presenting itself as the film that Andy would have seen as a child in the ‘90s that made him want a Buzz Lightyear toy, it certainly doesn’t feel like it, having none of the fun or wit of the unrelated Buzz Lightyear of Star Command TV series from the year 2000. If you can, I would say to watch that show and/or its premiere TV film, The Adventure Begins, instead, as this new take is a wholly skippable adventure in the Buzz Lightyear saga.

Thor: Love and Thunder

While Thor: Ragnarok felt like a breath of fresh air compared to the two Thor films before it, Thor: Love and Thunder feels more like carbon dioxide. Whatever serious plot there may have been is buried under layers upon layers of overbearing jokes and an overabundance of Guns N’ Roses references, not to mention some questionable effects and two screaming goats that overstay their welcome. It’s hard to recommend this one to those who aren’t die-hard MCU fans that stuck with it past Avengers: Endgame, otherwise the only reason to watch it is if you’re one still keeping up with the Guardians of the Galaxy series.

Pinocchio (2022 Disney)

There are many ways to approach a remake and this is not one of them. All of the original heart and charm from the 1940 film has been lost in the translaton to live-action, introducing a number of questionable plot changes and dodgy special effects along the way. Keegan-Michael Key’s take on Honest John is pretty much the only real highlight of the film, and even that’s not enough to save it from its numerous flaws. Watch Disney’s original animated classic, or even Guillermo del Toro’s own animated Pinocchio film from this year, instead of this.

2021 - The Highlights (Tetris_King)

With film and game studios figuring out how to navigate these stressful times in terms of release schedules, this year was a lot more substantial for us for newer entertainment, even if we still don't feel comfortable enough to go back into a theater. Despite this limitation, and thanks to newer films being released across various streaming platforms, a more substantial year results in a more substantial list than last time.

Each list is presented in no particular order, with links to reviews where applicable.

Top Movies of 2021

Luca (2021)

Pixar continues their return to form after Soul with Luca, featuring a comparatively low-stakes story about a pair of sea monsters set in and around the Italian Riviera. The animation is phenomenal and works well with its unique art style, backed by some amazing character writing. Not only would I highly suggest checking this out, I would also recommend watching its related short Ciao Alberto on Disney+ right afterwards, as it serves as a great companion piece to the film’s ending.

The Suicide Squad

While the original Suicide Squad film from 2016 was a mess, James Gunn cleans it up with The Suicide Squad. His experience on Guardians of the Galaxy works to great effect here, coming off less like a ripoff as he manages to successfully make you care about lesser-known DC villains on a more emotional level, particularly the obscure Batman villain Polka Dot Man. As per its R rating, the raunchier humor is more hit-and-miss depending on the viewer, and in my case it more often missed. That aside, for those who weren’t fans of the original film, it’s a great way to wash the bad taste out of your mouth.

Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train

Following from the end of the anime’s first Season and even continuing the storyline, Mugen Train is a must-see for any Demon Slayer fan. The animation is phenomenal and the plot is well-executed to where even a non-fan can get into it even if this is their first exposure to the series. While the Mugen Train arc of the manga is getting adapted again for the anime’s second Season, it’s well worth watching the film adaptation anyway just to see why it’s (currently) Japan’s highest-grossing film of all time.

PAW Patrol: The Movie

Going in with passing knowledge of the source material and not knowing what exactly to expect, PAW Patrol: The Movie pleasantly surprised me with its well-written and emotional storyline, as well as some amazing animation that far surpasses what can be accomplished on a TV budget. It’s not likely everyone’s first choice and it’s still trying to sell toys, though I’d say it’s worth giving it a watch anyway for the storytelling alone.

Batman: The Long Halloween, Part 1 and 2

Though I have not read the original comic storyline beforehand, Batman: The Long Halloween is a very intriguing Batman story in its own right. The overarching mystery keeps you guessing until the very end, plus it features a very interesting interpretation of Two-Face. Fans of the original comic may find themselves disappointed depending on their expectations, otherwise it makes for a very solid entry in the line of animated Batman films.

Top Video Games of 2021

Little Nightmares II

Little Nightmares II takes what the original did with its themes of gluttony and applies it to a different message, that being the overconsumption of TV, without losing the intense unnerving imagery that made the first game memorable. Enough changes are made to the gameplay to keep things fresh, making this a worthy addition to any horror game collection.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

The Ratchet & Clank series has had its ups and downs, including a divisive reimagining of the original game, however its latest installment proves exactly why the series is so well-regarded. An amazing storyline and the well-written introduction of newcomer Rivet are two of the game’s highlights, though the classic gameplay is built upon further with new elements that take full advantage of the PS5’s hardware. Even for franchise newcomers, this is a must-play for any PS5 owner.

Top Disappointments of 2021

The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run

While the first two SpongeBob Squarepants movies aren’t as good as the first three Seasons of the show, the more direct involvement of series creator Stephen Hillenburg keeps them somewhat in line with those Seasons. Released as a Paramount+ launch title, the third film, Sponge on the Run, unfortunately misses the mark. While one could argue that the celebrity cameos in the first two films still managed to contribute in some way to the story, here they are totally superfluous, though the biggest sticking point of the movie is how the story feels the need to retcon early SpongeBob lore just to promote the Kamp Koral spin-off series. While the voice acting and animation are certainly on-point, they are not enough to save this film.

Space Jam: A New Legacy

While not necessarily a perfect film by any means, the original Space Jam is a film that gets more enjoyable every time I watch it, helped by Michael Jordan’s charisma and down-to-earth depiction, as well as amazing Roger Rabbit-like visual effects that still hold up nicely to this day. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about Space Jam: A New Legacy, which completely misses the point of Space Jam with weaker writing, inconsistent internal logic with the original movie and a basketball game with nonsensical “video game logic” and a ham-fisted Ready Player One scenario complete with forced crossovers between the Looney Tunes and whatever Warner Bros. happens to own. While I can recommend the original film as a solid piece of ‘90s nostalgia, this one is a hard pass.

Clifford the Big Red Dog (Film)

This is a case where I had little faith going into it thanks to an odd ad campaign, and yet I still felt disappointed by the end result. While the acting is fine for the most part, the plot and character archetypes are very generic for a Clifford movie, and while the CG is great for the most part, it can get dodgy at times. While the explanation given for Clifford’s size is accurate to the source material, the way it’s presented somehow comes off a little hokey in a live-action setting. Whether you’re an existing fan or a franchise newcomer, it’s difficult to recommend this one.

2019 - The Highlights (Tetris_King)

Each list is presented in no particular order, with links to reviews where applicable.

Top Live-Action Movies of 2019

Shazam!

Until around the release of Wonder Woman, the DCEU has for the most part been fairly lackluster when compared to the MCU. Building off of Wonder Woman and Aquaman, Shazam! proved that DC could actually make a fun superhero movie within the same league as some of Marvel’s better movies. While not without faults, I had a good time watching this movie and it makes me want to see what else DC can do with their Captain Marvel/Shazam character down the line.

Avengers: Endgame

After 11 years and 22 movies of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Avengers: Endgame had some high expectations to fulfill in order to deliver a satisfying conclusion to the Thanos arc (officially known as the Infinity Saga) that would make all that investment pay off. Endgame managed to do this and more, delivering a powerful emotional climax to the MCU that would make the following movie, Spider-Man: Far From Home, feel a little tacked on. Though Marvel and Disney have plans for a Phase Four and beyond, including canon content exclusive to the Disney+ streaming service, I’m not sure I have the energy to keep caring about the MCU after Phase Three, let alone how they can possibly top Thanos as a villain on account of how well-written he was.

Pokémon Detective Pikachu

Though based on a game I haven’t played, that being the Pokémon spin-off Detective Pikachu on the 3DS, the film adaptation finally proved that a good live-action movie can be made from a video game, effectively breaking the curse that had been over the head of that concept since the Super Mario Bros. movie from 1993. Ryan Reynolds’ casting as Detective Pikachu managed to work in its favor, as did the translation of the Pokémon themselves into a real-world setting, looking realistic enough to sell that they could exist in real life while retaining their original designs and without feeling out of place. The story was also written well enough to be accessible to even non-fans of the series, plus it made me want to try to actually play the game that the movie was based on.

Joker (2019)

I wasn’t sure what to think of this movie going in, mainly because of its tone and the decision to make a DC movie disconnected from the ongoing DCEU series. Though the movie is dark, Joaquin Phoenix delivered a fantastic performance as the Joker, whose backstory takes an interesting turn based in what happens when an already mentally unstable individual is unable to receive the help they desperately need. Though Joker is designed to be a stand-alone story, the ending seems to set up what has the potential to be a very interesting take on Batman lore, should Phoenix agree to come back in any future movies set in this universe.

Metallica & San Francisco Symphony: S&M2

Following up on Metallica’s previous collaboration with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, the reunion features a mix of old and new material from Metallica’s library while exploring new territories in combining their sound with the orchestra. What results is a musical feast for the ears, with the orchestral tunes enhancing the thrash metal on a level greater than the original S&M, this time featuring some songs where the orchestra takes the spotlight and one where Metallica backs them up in an interesting way. This is a definite recommendation to fans of Metallica, particularly their first S&M performance, and I can’t wait to get this on CD and home video when it comes out so I can experience it again.

Top Animated Movies of 2019

Dragon Ball Super: Broly

Though I had only recently gotten into Dragon Ball via the Kai edit and Super, I was very curious how they were going to handle a canon version of the previously non-canon character Broly, more so when series creator Akira Toriyama confirmed he would be rewritten into a more fleshed-out character. Not only did the movie deliver on this promise, the fight that takes up a good chunk of the movie is one of the best fight scenes I have ever seen in Dragon Ball, even topping a good number of other animated fights that I’ve seen. The portrayal of Broly in the movie also leaves a lot more room for the character to come back in a future Dragon Ball installment, whatever that may be.

Toy Story 4

With the way Toy Story 3 ended on an emotional high note (in spite of some visual overkill in the third act), the announcement of Toy Story 4 made me question how it would be able to continue the story. When I went to see it, Pixar proved me wrong as it gave Woody’s story a powerful conclusion that brought me to tears in the theater, though now it definitely seems like there isn’t anywhere else to go for these characters. Toy Story 4 is still definitely one of those unnecessary sequels, however it was an unnecessary sequel told extremely well and is something I might watch again in the future.

Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal – Tales of Savagery

As a fan of Genndy Tartakovsky’s work, I was already excited to see what his next [adult swim] series Primal would be like, and so jumped on the opportunity to see the first four episodes put together as a limited screening, subtitled Tales of Savagery. The result is a story told without dialogue that invokes some powerful imagery, both emotional and visceral, with some well-timed humor to balance things out. I consider Primal to be some Tartakovsky’s best work to date and highly recommend that anyone wanting to learn visual storytelling should give the show a watch.

Top Games of 2019

Ghost Giant

While not one of the more mainstream PS VR titles, Ghost Giant is an interesting experiment in third-person VR that allows you to feel as though you are actively taking part in the story. Said story also happens to be emotionally compelling and can tug at your heartstrings, which made me want to see it through to the end. It would be interesting to see more VR games experiment more with this style of gameplay, though for now I can’t wait to see what developer Zoink Games has in store next.

Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled (Pre-Microtransactions)

After Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy proved that shot-for-shot remakes of classic games with quality-of-life adjustments could work, it naturally made sense for the next game to be a remake of Crash Team Racing, Naughty Dog’s last game in the series before it would change hands a number of times. In my initial impressions, the game is very fun to play and compels you to improve your skills however you can in order to unlock more characters and other cosmetics for customization (though I focused more on the former). The announcement of regular Grand Prix events gave me more of a reason to keep playing, with the first Grand Prix proving that microtransactions weren’t necessary in order to keep players invested.

Tetris 99

I never thought I’d see an attempt to combine the puzzle game Tetris with the increasingly-prevalent battle royale genre, though Tetris 99 proves that this can work surprisingly well. Even though I’m not the type to play online multiplayer, I actually found myself playing several games thanks to their quick nature, however what attracted me more to this game was the introduction of offline modes through a paid update (included on-cartridge in all boxed copies of the game). Hopefully these offline modes can be fleshed out more in future updates, though that aside, Tetris 99 is a surprisingly fun game for those looking for a new take on Tetris and/or battle royale games.

Top Disappointments of 2019

The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part

Though I had my reservations at first, the original The LEGO Movie turned out to be a very strong movie that reignited my long-dormant passion for LEGO. The LEGO Movie 2 did not quite have that same impact, opting instead for a musical with a more transparent agenda to sell toys, leaving the story to suffer a bit as a result even if it had a good message. While it does still try to stay within the rules set up by the original, there is at least one point where it dances uncomfortably close to crossing the line of credulity, even if it did manage to tie back in with the B-Plot in the end. It did still make me want some of the toys, although the drive was not as strong as it was with its predecessor.

The Banana Splits Movie

In preparation for watching this movie, I ended up researching, and watching clips from, both the 1968 and 2008 Banana Splits series in order to have some idea as to what is was and try to wrap my head around the idea of rebranding a more obscure Hanna-Barbera variety show into a slasher movie in the vein of Five Nights at Freddy’s. I will admit that, since I was a bit on the fence at first, I ended up reading about the body count the Banana Splits rack up during the movie to mentally prepare myself, and even then I was actually a little terrified when I knew the kills were about to occur because I don’t do too well with horror even after voluntarily subjecting myself to some of it. Despite that, the story has Banana Buggy-sized holes in it and at least one of the Splits’ victims is written such that you actually end up rooting for one of the Splits to kill them, though the latter point is nowhere near enough to save the movie as there were also a number of missed opportunities to make the insane premise somewhat more horrific. In the end, while I don’t doubt there’s some ironic entertainment value in this movie, I can’t help thinking it may have affected the Banana Splits’ reputation and that these characters deserve better than a schlocky horror film (the upcoming Hanna-Barbera Cinematic Universe is perhaps a chance at a redemption arc for these characters).

Scooby-Doo! Return to Zombie Island

I have more of an on-and-off relationship with the Scooby-Doo franchise, however when I finally got to watch Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island in its entirety, I found it to be one of the best representations of Scooby-Doo that I’ve ever seen, so naturally my expectations were high when the sequel Return to Zombie Island was announced. By comparison to the original, Return to Zombie Island is a major letdown, with a very promising title sequence that the rest of the movie fails to live up to in just about every way. While the voice acting is good for the most part, there were so many missed opportunities to tell a more suspenseful story and the animation is not nearly as fluid as the original. Pair that with a long list of confusing retcons, as well the movie’s sudden assumption you’ve seen Curse of the 13^th Ghost, and you have a movie that even the most hardcore Scooby-Doo fans should honestly just skip.

Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker

When I saw The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi, I got some enjoyment out of both movies the first time around, only for my opinions to change in retrospect after watching them again in preparation for The Rise of Skywalker, which had the ambitious task of being the end of both the Sequel Trilogy and the Skywalker Saga as a whole. I will say the movie did actually feel like a finale for the nine-film saga George Lucas set out to do, however the plot is a bit of a mish-mash and kind of falls apart when you think about for more than five minutes (the driving force of the Sequels turns out to be something that comes right out of nowhere). When taking the Sequel Trilogy as a whole, not helped by the events of its third installment, it overall comes off as a bit of a letdown compared to the Original Trilogy; in retrospect, the Sequels feel a bit aimless as they don’t flow together as well as they could/should have, plus it at some point seems to start relying more on viewers having invested in side material that I personally don’t care for most of the time due to sheer volume (if you do care about side content more than I do, that’s perfectly fine). That said, if you’ve invested in the film series up until now, you might as well watch it at least once just to see the Saga to the end.

Slayer: The Repentless Killogy (Short Film)

I have nothing bad to say about the Forum concert featured in this movie since I happened to have actually attended that show, which makes it more special to me, however the short film that came before it on the home video release was a bit of a mess. After playing three Slayer music videos loosely duct-taped together, the video continues to show the protagonist going on a killing spree for the sake of revenge against someone named Luther, featuring a level of gore that eventually became nigh unwatchable for me, though the worst part was Luther being unsatisfactorily offed by a completely different character. Slayer also comes into play in a sort of ham-fisted way, ultimately making the short feel like a worse version of Metallica's Through the Never concert film (the story even takes a break to show Slayer playing "Angel of Death"). Slayer's music is really good, however the short film isn't really worth watching.

Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled (Post-Microtransactions)

Continuing from the above, my enthusiasm for this game started to wane a bit after the second Grand Prix events introduced microtransactions, though this is likely more to blame on the end of publisher Activision and not the developer. Still, once the system to purchase Wumpa Coins and bypass building up any actual skill was implemented, it instantly put a damper on things as I saw how sky-high the Pit Stop prices could get, almost as though they were actively trying to goad players into taking the easy way as opposed to making the rewards feel earned. That said, I still participate in Grand Prix event long enough to unlock more characters to play as in case I get to race against others, though I no longer have the same enthusiasm I once did when I first started playing.

2017 - The Highlights (Tetris_King)

With another year drawing to a close, it is once again time to reflect on what we did and did not like about it. As with last year, a large number of new movies were watched and a good amount of new games were played, resulting in a rather lengthy list I found difficult to trim down. Much like last year, due to the high volume of movies from this year that I actually enjoyed, I have split my top movies of the year between live-action and animation. As per usual, the lists below are presented in no particular order, with links to reviews on the blog where applicable.

Top Live-Action Movies of 2017

Wonder Woman

After a few missteps while struggling to keep up with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it looks like the DC Extended Universe may finally be headed in the right direction. Wonder Woman succeeds where it predecessors failed, providing an enjoyable experience with an overall more light-hearted tone and a hero you actually want to root for. With a sequel set for release in a couple years, hopefully the DCEU can live up to what Wonder Woman has to offer.

Transformers: The Last Knight

Beginning from this movie, the Transformers Live-Action Film Series is set to become its own Cinematic Universe. Having been hyped enough to attend a special early screening, I found myself enjoying the film in spite of its flaws (more on that below). While the movie has a lot of plot in it, the well-placed humor and world-building (including borrowing elements from the “Aligned” continuity) kept my interest throughout. If the upcoming Bumblebee: The Movie, to be directed by Laika alumni Travis Knight, is any good, then the new Cinematic Universe might turn out well in the end.

Logan

Another R-rated X-Men movie produced after the success of Deadpool, Logan puts the spotlight on Wolverine once again, this time taking place in a future without mutants as he winds up protecting both an out-of-control Charles Xavier and a small child with mutant powers similar to his own as they make their way to a supposed mutant sanctuary. Logan manages to both tell a well-written mature story and make itself accessible to newcomers, meaning you do not need to have seen any of the previous X-Men movies to follow along. In short, Logan is a mature comic book movie done right, as well as a great movie on its own merits. The black-and-white version, Logan Noir (included with the Blu-ray), is also worth a viewing, since, though telling the same story, it offers a much different experience.

Wonderstruck

Having enjoyed Hugo, I was intrigued to find out another Brian Selznick book was being adapted, to the point where I bought the book at the signing I was at and read it shortly thereafter. The movie, written by Selznick, is not only a streamlined, faithful adaptation of the book, it also tells a rather engaging story that makes it an enjoyable movie in its own right (though it does drag a little bit in one spot). It doesn’t have the same tone or style as Hugo, however I loved Wonderstruck all the same.

Thor: Ragnarok

The Thor movies have never been the strongest movies in the MCU for me, and so this newest entry caught me by surprise. Not only is this movie highly entertaining to watch, I would honestly consider it one of the best movies of Phase 3 so far. It breathes new life into the Thor sub-series by not taking itself entirely seriously, with moments of genuine humor found all throughout the movie as well as some new development on the Hulk. Only time will tell if this new take on the God of Thunder will carry over into the upcoming Avengers: Infinity War.

Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi

Following up on The Force Awakens, this movie picks up where it left off and provides a lot more insight into Rey and Kylo Ren. As with Transformers: The Last Knight, a lot of events transpire in this movie, some of which could arguably have been shortened a little, however I found the story engaging and found myself overall enjoying it. It’s not exactly the best Star Wars movie one could hope for, however it is worth watching, especially if you want to see the late Carrie Fisher play Princess Leia one last time.

Top Animated Movies of 2017

Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Dark Side of Dimensions

As a Yu-Gi-Oh! fan, I was already looking forward to this movie upon learning details at a Comic-Con panel featuring creator Kazuki Takahashi himself. Taking place after the end of the original manga, the movie introduces a new villain, Aigami, while placing the spotlight on Seto Kaiba and his growing ambitions to defeat the Pharaoh in a Duel. The movie is animated spectacularly and gives some good character development to both Yugi and Kaiba as they head towards their future goals, plus it was actually nice to hear the English voice actors reprise their roles once more. Aigami is also given some good development for a movie-exclusive character, which is more than I can say for Anubis from the Pyramid of Light movie, though even as a Yu-Gi-Oh! fan I couldn’t quite understand how Dimension Dueling, Aigami’s preferred method, worked exactly. Still, the movie is highly entertaining for existing fans of the series and is worth a look.

Your Name.

My interest in this movie came from hearing how successful and highly praised this boy-meets-girl story was in its native Japan, and so I took the chance to view it as part of a limited theatrical run. I could see where the praise was coming from, as I got emotionally invested in both the plot and characters. I don’t want to give anything away, though I would consider Your Name. a must-see anime film.

Loving Vincent

This movie’s premise is rather interesting, telling the story of someone investigating renowned artist Vincent van Gogh’s final days and getting multiple viewpoints on how his death played out. While the story is very engaging, the main draw is the movie’s animation style, being animated entirely using 65,000+ paintings that emulate van Gogh’s particular painting style to amazing effect. This, combined with imagery and characters inspired by the subjects of van Gogh’s paintings, creates a very immersive world that you’ll want to visit again.

Top Games of 2017

Little Nightmares

Little Nightmares is a horror game that’s very effective at building up and maintaining an atmosphere throughout. While not the type of horror you can find in Resident Evil 7, this game goes more for the psychological, and the overall design and aesthetic contribute to this expertly well to create a very unnerving experience. With a string of DLC and a comic book currently being rolled out, this is an experience I’d gladly revisit once it’s all been made available.

Puyo Puyo Tetris

In a rather unexpected crossover, the Puyo Puyo and Tetris puzzle game series have come together for the first time, delivering normal Puyo Puyo and Tetris gameplay in addition to a number of other game modes (including a mode that combines the two games together). The music and sound design are also good, as is a surprisingly entertaining story mode featuring Puyo Puyo characters meeting a new set of characters representing Tetris. Though I had more fun with the Tetris segments due to personal skill level, I did find myself getting the hang of Puyo Puyo’s gameplay over time, which helped me get more into the other game modes. This is a great game for puzzle fans, especially for those who enjoy Tetris and/or Puyo Puyo.

Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy

Having never played any of the Crash Bandicoot games prior to this collection (unless the cameo in Skylanders: Imaginators counts), I found myself really enjoying it. Though difficult, the three games in this collection have a world and characters that keep you wanting more even in the face of failure, especially in regards to the first installment. With intricately remade graphics, great voice acting and a catchy soundtrack that doesn’t stop, Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is the perfect starting point for any new Crash Bandicoot fan.

Cuphead

Before this game was released, I was hyped up by the art direction alone, taking inspiration from 1930’s cartoons and being animated entirely by hand. The game itself has a very strong difficulty curve, however beating a boss to get their Soul Contract is very satisfying and makes you want to go back for more. The visuals capture the 1930’s aesthetic very faithfully, which, along with the gameplay, make the game’s lengthy development cycle worth it. Regardless of whether you're in it for the gameplay, the animation is something that would make me recommend it to those who are fans of this particular style or possibly even animation students looking to study said style.

Top Disappointments of 2017

Transformers: The Last Knight

In spite of my praise for this movie above, I recognize the movie has some issues. Aside from any plot holes (one being Bumblebee’s new ability to Iron Giant himself back together to sell more toys), the movie has an overabundance of story, including a whole Suicide Squad-style sequence that ultimately goes nowhere, and so things could have easily been cut to shorten the run time. There’s also admittedly an overabundance of new characters, most of which don’t even have toys to sell, and the short screen time for many of them makes it a little difficult to care. Regardless, the next two films, one of which centers on Bumblebee, have a chance to rectify where this one went wrong.

Despicable Me 3

After the disappointment of Minions, Illumination had the opportunity to steer the Despicable Me franchise back on track. Unfortunately, while somewhat better than Minions, this movie suffers from an overabundance of sub-plots, leaving not much room for development for either characters or story and lowering my expectations for a teased fourth installment. The only real saving grace of the movie is Trey Parker as the entertaining villain Balthazar Bratt, and even then, his performance alone could not salvage it.

Sharknado 5: Global Swarming

The Sharknado series began as a funny joke, however that joke has probably more than run its course. While it may have been able to sustain itself for 3 movies and pushed it a bit with 4, the fifth annual installment, Global Swarming, fails to really capture the same enjoyment, relying more heavily on B-list cameos, plot contrivances, shoe-horned references and ripping off better movies to keep swimming. Though the ending teases the inevitable Sharknado 6, it seems like it may be time for this shark to finally stop swimming.

Ghost in the Shell (2017)

I’ll admit my experience with Ghost in the Shell lies mainly within the 1995 animated feature and the Stand Alone Complex (SAC) anime series, however I actually enjoyed those unlike this movie. Casting controversies aside, the 2017 movie manages to capture the look of Ghost in the Shell, though I can’t say the same about the feel. It does take some scenes from the 1995 movie almost wholesale to try and ground it within that setting (while also borrowing elements from SAC), however it can’t seem to decide whether it wants to be a remake or tell an original story, overall just falling short of its real potential. If you’re looking to have a good time with Ghost in the Shell, you may as well just stick with the 1995 movie instead.

Justice League

After Wonder Woman pushed the DCEU in the right direction, Justice League feels more like a step back. Odd villain choice aside, the movie attempts to emulate the MCU’s The Avengers without understanding exactly what made it work so well, establishing a team before many of the individual members rather than the other way around. There is some humor in places and the movie is overall a major step up from Batman v Superman, however that isn’t saying much and it overall wasn’t as fun as the movie it was trying to copy. The upcoming Aquaman movie has some promise to turn things back around, hopefully borrowing more from Wonder Woman rather than this film.

Honorable Mentions

The Hitman’s Bodyguard

Though a bit of a sleeper movie, The Hitman’s Bodyguard is one that I found rather enjoyable. The main draw though is that it co-stars both Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson, each essentially playing a version of their most famous characters (Wade Wilson/Deadpool and Nick Fury, respectively); the two of them have surprisingly good chemistry together, their characters being good foils for each other. It’s not likely the two will share a movie like this again (pending company merger notwithstanding), though in any case it’s still worth a viewing.

Skylar & Plux: Adventure on Clover Island

Another game in the recent 3D platformer revival boom, what attracted me to this particular title was, in addition to the art direction, the ability to manipulate time to solve puzzles. Though it has some shortcomings (including some technical issues), the game is actually pretty enjoyable and I found the approach to puzzle-solving interesting. While not perfect, the game presents enough potential for a follow-up title, though whether the developer will tap into this potential remains to be seen.

Rime

While I was once again captivated by the art direction, what interested me was the idea of exploring an island and solving puzzles (though it presents itself in a more linear, story-focused fashion). The puzzles can get a little difficult, however this did not stop me as I wanted to get through it and discover what the island was all about. These puzzles, coupled with a powerful ending (plus one of the best tutorials I have ever seen), make Rime definitely worth a look.