Best of 2024: Favorite Movie

I decided to just combine my movie categories this year. I did not get to see most of the movies I wanted to, minus the kids movies. So I will mention both kid and adult movies (not THOSE kinds of adult movies, calm down pervs). 

Before we get into my top five lists, let me mention one movie from each category that pissed me off. First we have Trap. The horror movie from M. Night Shyamalan. The premise is great, a dad takes his daughter to a big concert, but the concert is actually a trap to catch a serial killer. The dad is the killer. How will he get out??? The early scenes are very tense, but then in the second half, the movie takes a turn into absurdity. Just irritates that this could have been great. The second one was Moana 2. I heard that this was initially going to be a Disney+ series (it definitely feels like it, with so many of the characters being introduced, and it feels like they were going to be given single episodes to flesh out). The songs feel very Disney Junior-esque (my brother-in-law said that, I am stealing it since it was the perfect description). Do not get me wrong, the kids loved the movie, but it was a letdown compared to the original. 

Top 5 Kids Movies
5. Kung Fu Panda 4–we never saw any of these movies, but went to see it one day, and it was hilarious.
4. Despicable Me 4–the kids have watched some of the other ones, and maybe the Minions movie, but I never saw any of them, and yet I thought this was really good.
3. Descendants: The Rise of Red–have you ever tried to explain time-traveling to kids? I give this movie props for introducing that concept. I am still mad that they did not have Monica play the Queen of Hearts opposite Brandy as Cinderella…
2. Inside Out 2–it was such a great movie. But it was not my favorite…
1. The Wild Robot–I considered this being part of my top five for the year. It was heart-warming, funny, interesting…I loved it.

Before I get to the top five, I need to mention two movies that came out at the end of 2023, that I saw in January: Saltburn and The Holdovers. I loved both movies, and they could have made this list if I did not have rules and standards. Heck I even included Saltburn in my Decades Project. 

Top 5 Movies
5. Watchmen: Chapter 1–the animated version of the comic was excellent. I love the Snyder film, but this was cool to see.
4. They Called Him Mostly Harmless–a documentary on HBO about a dead hiker who is unidentified, minus his trail nickname. The movie takes some twists as we learn about the internet sleuths, then we discover more about our mystery dead man. 
3. Civil War–such a solid film. I think people were upset that it was not about the causes of the civil war, but instead followed the journalists covering a war-torn America. I enjoyed it. Some very chilling moments, as well as some moments that felt way too real.
2. Deadpool & Wolverine–I know, some of you thought this would be #1, but as great as it was, it was not at the level of this next movie…
1. Dune: Part Two–I swear I end up thinking about this movie like once per week, especially now since the prequel series has been released. I just love everything about this movie.