For the first time, I am also ranking the shows I’ve watched this year considering that I’ve seen so many it feels right to do so. So, here goes nothing. Enjoy!
10. The Wheel of Time
This show really wasn’t very good at all. I came in halfway through after my sister had binge-watched the first four episodes and found it entertaining enough to intrigue me to check it out. Unfortunately, the second half of the show was the worst half and it was quite agitating if I’m being honest. But I did enjoy watching it with my sister. We laughed through most of it and yes, I was mostly watching it for the plot.
The plot:
But on a more serious note, I don’t recommend this series, that’s for sure.
⭐⭐
9. The Bad Batch
I wanted to love this show and at times it gave me plenty of things to enjoy but this series just felt lazily written more often than not. With convenient obstacles allowing predictable new stages of this show to take place, I was more exasperated than happy while watching this cartoon.
It’s been a busy movie year. I’ve seen a bunch of movies, some that have been legitimately enjoyable while there have been a few stumbles along the way. Now it’s the end of 2021 and it’s time to share my ranking. Enjoy!
32. The Matrix: Resurrections
When I saw the official teaser for The Matrix: Resurrections I wasn’t expecting the best movie ever but I wasn’t expecting a movie that bad.
A few days before the fourth installment hit HBO Max I watched The Matrix with my sister (it was only my second viewing… and it was awesome… again) so I was fresh into this story. Then I watched Resurrections and my head practically exploded.
It’s so bad and as someone who has never been a fan of this franchise, this movie just seemed even worse than I could’ve imagined. The story is an intriguing concept but poorly executed, Yahya Abdul Mateen II is a TERRIBLE Morpheus, and the actors, set designs, and costumes sometimes feel like a high-budget show on Syfy. It’s that bad.
⭐
31. The Suicide Squad
There are people who will say this is one of the best comic book movies they’ve seen. I beg to differ. The Suicide Squad is a ridiculously violent, boring island adventure with a bunch of unlikable characters and maybe two standouts. And yeah the villain was actually intimidating…for two seconds. Then he was killed in such a ridiculous fashion that I was left just staring at the screen like, “Really.”
But I’m glad there were people who liked it.
⭐½
30. In the Heights
In the Heights used to be my least favorite film of the year but there are two films worse than it this year for sure. It’s is still one of the worst musicals I’ve ever seen though.
⭐⭐
29. The Little Things
I wasn’t expecting this movie to be good but I wasn’t expecting it to be as bad as it was either. I love a good whodunnit movie but this film just didn’t cut it. And its conclusion was infuriating!
Before I begin this review I must let you know, Benedict Cumberbatch is my favorite actor. Every time he’s making a new movie or show I am intrigued and so when I heard of one of his latest films, The Electrical of Louis Wain, the biopic of a famous British painter who brought cats to life in extraordinary ways.
Well, this film was far better than I expected. I had heard the buzz a few months back when it was debuting at the film festivals but it still took some time for me to finally check it out. I’m glad I did.
This movie is remarkable in its ability to transport you into a whole other world and with Benedict Cumberbatch’s incredible acting leading the way the film became one I will not soon forget.
To my great surprise, the film was more sentimental than I could’ve possibly imagined. I found myself crying profusely on a number of occasions and when the film concluded I was in a puddle of my own tears.
Yes, Cumberbatch deserves an Oscar this year. The work he puts into every role he plays is mind-boggling. He can transform from a young, genius detective in Sherlock to a fire-breathing dragon in The Hobbit to a cape-wearing superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and so much more. His level of range is phenomenal and even though I haven’t seen The Power of the Dog yet…I’m rooting for him over Will Smith for Best Actor. He’s an absolute master at his craft and there aren’t many actors like him anymore.
Oh geez, this has turned into a Cumberbatch appreciation post. All in all, The Electrical of Louis Wain is a surprisingly fantastic film and I highly recommend it.
I thank you for reading and I hope you have a lovely day.
Every year I share the films I watched the previous year and how I ranked them. This list is just…sad, but we were right in the throes of COVID-19 and well, I was stuck to watching stuff on streaming and most of it wasn’t good.
Thank goodness 2021 was better!
15. Artemis Fowl
I cannot express to you just how bad this movie is. Artemis Fowl is a beloved children’s book that Disney decided to adapt into a film for Disney+ and the result was astronomically bad.
This movie was so, so very terrible that having never read the book I was still offended. Here’s a suggestion: never watch this movie.
14. The Trial of the Chicago 7
The Trial of the Chicago 7 is such a crap fest of a movie. It’s one of those cliche movies with a recognizable cast about an important American event that’s getting Oscar buzz not because it’s actually good but because it’s reflective of the times. I watched this movie all the way through only because I had to write a review. And that was painful.
13. Wonder Woman 1984
Yes, the newest Wonder Woman film has suffered the dreadful sequel curse. Riddled with eye-rollable moments and lackluster action scenes which all culminate into a strange sequel that retains practically none of its predecessor’s charm, Wonder Woman 1984 is a botched film that struggles to convey a message that this movie didn’t need to say.
I wanted to watch Wonder Woman 1984 for escapism, not to be reminded of how messed up this world is.
12. Safety
Safety is a cute, inspiring film but it’s ultimately forgettable.
11. Birds of Preyand the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn
Birds of Prey wasn’t received very well and for good reason. The movie is a bit confusing and muddled in its attempt to be cool and fresh but I find the film somewhat enjoyable, even though I’ve only seen it all the way through once.
10. Project Power
Netflix movies can be pretty crappy but Project Power is a surprise hit. It’s a superhero film that feels way more realistic, delivering a powerful story that’s actually pretty fun to watch. Comic book movie alums Jamie Foxx and James Gordon-Levitt are the stars of this Netflix movie and they do a great job. If you’ve got Netflix, check it out. It’s actually pretty good.
9. Enola Holmes
After having just finished the critically-acclaimed series, Sherlock I was really excited to meet Enola Holmes, Sherlock’s super intelligent and super eager for an adventure sister. The Netflix original film is well-made and actually had some nice surprises. It also manages to be feminist without being too on the nose (yes, I’m talking about you Wonder Woman 1984) or detracting from the overall fun of the mystery. Enola Holmes isn’t great but I personally found it more enjoyable than the two Sherlock Holmes movies starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law.
8. Underwater
If you like Alien you’ll like Underwater. This movie starts quickly and it doesn’t stop. Get ready for a suspenseful ride.
7. The Invisible Man
Don’t sleep on The Invisible Man. This horrifying thriller is actually really good. With an on-the-edge-of-your-seat story that continues to surprise along the way, The Invisible Man is a must-watch if you have HBO Max.
6. American Utopia
Earlier this year on HBO Max, a live Broadway production filmed by Spike Lee and helmed by Grammy-winning singer/songwriter David Byrne called American Utopia debuted and I decided to watch it. For nearly two hours I was sucked into a performance that had me dancing and totally immersed. I know David Byrne for his most iconic works as a member of the hit band, Talking Heads, but it was nice to see him as an older man still jamming. Now I’m a David Byrne fan.
5. Clouds
I was not expecting to enjoy this movie as much as I did but Clouds is undoubtedly, next to The Mandalorian and The Clone Wars, the best original piece of content that has come to Disney+ this year. This movie made me cry SOOOO HARD! It was a really headache-induced morning.
4. Da 5 Bloods
Da 5 Bloods is a powerful film that has unfortunately not received the praise that it should. This movie surprised me in more ways than one and could very likely end up rewarding the film’s lead, Delroy Lindo, an Oscar nomination/win. No, Da 5 Bloods isn’t the best Spike Lee movie I’ve ever seen but it’s undoubtedly one of the best.
3. Tenet
Christopher Nolan’s latest endeavor is a mind numbing, mind boggling, ridiculous attempt at trying to be the greatest action movie of all time, resulting in what was instead an inspired fail. Tenet is still one of the most visceral and unforgettable films I have ever laid eyes on but its greatness is just a bit too much. But still, give it a look if you have the chance. It’s worth it.
2. Hamilton
I never thought I would get the chance to see Hamilton. Disney+ made a dream of mine come true and thankfully, Hamilton lived up to the hype. It was everything I had hoped for and more. The music was scintillating, the performances inspiring, and the story was perfectly told, delivering enough humor, suspense, and drama to refrain from being a bit of a bore. Plus, to see a Broadway musical with a cast so diverse literally brought me to tears.
Hamilton is amazing and if you still haven’t seen it yet I implore you to give it a look. It really is something.
And 1. Soul
I was not expecting Soul to be as good as it was but boy was this film absolutely spectacular. With a story that’ll you have reevaluating your own life and meaning in this world, Soul is a fantastically animated, incredibly moving story that left me not only crying in the end but utterly touched. It’s, in my opinion, the best movie of the year.
So there’s my moving ranking of 2020. What will 2021 bring? Hopefully a better year than this.
What have been your favorite movies of 2020? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.
I thank you for reading and I hope you have a great New Year’s Eve.
I don’t know what I was expecting but I wasn’t expecting to be bored. Unfortunately, I was.
Minor spoilers ahead!
The opening minutes of the episode were fantastic. Seeing a flash of Kamino got me giddy, the visualization of Boba Fett’s escape from the Sarlacc Pit was disgusting and absolutely everything I’ve ever wanted, and of course, I love seeing the Tusken Raiders. That, however, was the best part of the show for me. The rest was a snooze fest for me.
First off, because I’ve been off of here for a while, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. Secondly, The Book of Boba Fett drops tomorrow. Am I as excited for it as I will be for the third season of The Mandalorian? Definitely not, but I am intrigued as to why we’re even getting this spinoff in the first place and how it will connect to the grander story that is Star Wars. (Because every story in this franchise eventually connects to one of the movies or other Dave Filoni-helmed shows in some capacity.)
The trailers and tv spots have been intriguing enough as it is. There will be action, there will be new characters, and plenty of underworld criminals. Am I expecting characters like Omega, Qi’ra, or Cad Bane to show up? No, because then I’ll be disappointed if they don’t show up. Instead, I’m ready to just follow along for the ride, and hopefully, it’s just as good as the sixth episode (“The Tragedy”) of the second season of The Mandalorian. If so, I’m going to be losing my mind for seven weeks.
Either way, the long-awaited Boba Fett standalone story is finally here.
I thank you for reading and I hope you have a great day.
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