I did not review my number 3 since it was a streaming exclusive. For anyone that really wants to know how I felt, I added a review at the bottom of the page.
Watch on YouTube for a more detailed review
5. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever– The pacing has some serious issues, the action is largely forgettable, and Shuri just doesn’t have the charisma to lead the film. Luckily, the acting is fantastic, Namor is a complex villain and the emotional moments hit hard thanks to incredible tributes to the late Chadwick Bozeman.
4. Avatar: The Way of Water– The film rehashes a lot from the original, including the villain while moving the story from the trees to the oceans and minimizing the love story in favor of focusing on the kids. However, the special effects are just amazing, the story is more engaging, and the theatrical experience is still a fun ride.
3. Prey– Despite not breaking much new ground and fairly forgettable characters, the back-to-basics stripped-down approach captures the spirit of the original and delivers a satisfying film.
2. The Batman– The main characters are fairly one-dimensional, there’s not a lot of action, and the film feels like a mashup of Nolan’s Batman and the movie “Seven.” But the cinematography is fantastic, and the actors work well for the gritty interpretation of the characters.
1. Top Gun: Maverick– The film is cliche, the characters are generic, and the last action sequence feels tacked on. But the leads carry the film, the main emotional moments work, and the big action set-piece is well setup and has you on the edge of your seat.
Bonus review for Prey
A surprisingly entertaining “Predator” prequel that takes the basic story beats of the original and makes them new again and creates one of the best films in the franchise. While the basic plot isn’t much different than the first “Predator,” setting the story in 1700’s America with the Comanche really gives the movie a new flavor. While Amber Midthunder is excellent in the lead with both her acting and her physicality, outside of her brother the rest of the cast is fairly forgettable and lacks the colorful characters from the first film. (However, the dog Sarii comes close to stealing the show.) Although the film is a slow burn, the payoff is some great, vicious actions sequences, including a solid final battle that has a strong climax to Naru’s character arc. (If you watch the credits, there’s a hint of a what could set up a sequel.)
***1/2 out of *****