My Favorite Things 2022: Movies
Today, I’m talking about my favorite movies that I watched in 2022. You would think that I would have watched newer releases being at home so much this year. I usually spend most of the year catching up on older movies and re-waiting old favorites that I’ve seen a million times, but I actually managed to watch a lot of 2022 releases this year. Here is a compilation of films that made the top of my favorites list.
Spirited
A musical version of Charles Dickens’ story of a miserly misanthrope who’s taken on a magical journey.
I love a good musical, but when I saw the trailer for Spirited I wasn’t sure what to expect. I ended up enjoying the movie more than I thought I would. It was funny, full of show-stoppers, and incredibly heartwarming. I loved every moment of this and how the plot took a twist in the Christmas Carol story (it gave me some Scrooged vibes). The production value was high-quality and many of the songs are instant earworms. It has a star-studded cast and many of these actors/actresses I had never seen in a musical before. So it was very cool to see them using their musical chops.
Smile
After witnessing a bizarre, traumatic incident involving a patient, Dr. Rose Cotter starts experiencing frightening occurrences that she can’t explain. As an overwhelming terror begins taking over her life, Rose must confront her troubling past in order to survive and escape her horrifying new reality.
Along with another film featured later on in this list, Smile is one of my favorite Horror films of 2022. I’ve seen a couple of Horror short films that use a smiling person in all of its creepiness, but this movie took that idea and ran with it. It was thrilling and scary as the main character Rose tries to figure out the mystery of the new horror that plagues her. You’re not sure which is real or fake as her reality becomes warped the more the film progresses. Most of all I appreciated how this film is an allegory for trauma and grief how it discusses how can affect us. Multiple trigger warnings for this film, so I would advise caution before watching it.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Queen Ramonda, Shuri, M’Baku, Okoye and the Dora Milaje fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with Nakia and Everett Ross to forge a new path for their beloved kingdom.
Definite spoilers if you haven’t watched the first film for this sequel. What an emotional rollercoaster ride this (almost) 3 hour movie was. There was not a dry eye in the theater including me. I think they did a great job of paying homage to Chadwick and the memorial they included in the film and balancing it with propelling the story forward (a “new Black Panther”). I don’t want to give too much away, without spoiling it. I love the introduction of the new characters and villains in this film. I’ll admit at times it did drag on in specific parts, but overall it was a great movie. The cinematography was absolutely stunning. It was action-packed from beginning to end.
Wendell & Wild
Two scheming demons strike a deal with a punk rock-loving teen so they can leave the Underworld and live out their dreams in the Land of the Living.
Once I heard Henry Selick and Jordan Peele were working on this film I knew I was in for a treat. Most of all it has a diverse cast and a Black girl as the main protagonist. The film is whimsical and filled with many exciting supernatural elements that make it a great film for the Halloween season or when you’re just looking to get into a spooky mood. I have always had an appreciation for stop-motion animation as a child and I found the visuals in this film to be amazing! The story is a lot of fun and it’s action-packed from beginning to end. This film is must watch for fans of animated films!
Encanto
The Madrigals are an extraordinary family who live hidden in the mountains of Colombia in a charmed place called the Encanto. The magic of the Encanto has blessed every child in the family with a unique gift — every child except Mirabel. However, she soon may be the Madrigals last hope when she discovers that the magic surrounding the Encanto is now in danger.
Encanto is not a 2022 release, but I finally watched it in 2022. I was late to the bandwagon, lol. I loved the story of the magical Madrigals and the powers that they use to help their community. The animation is so colorful reflecting not only the characters and landscape but the rich culture of Columbia. This is a movie with a lot of heart and I appreciated how it tackles generational family trauma and holding yourself up to a standard that is unattainable.
Turning Red
Mei Lee is a 13-year-old girl who is torn between being her mother’s obedient daughter and the chaos of her youth. As if that were not enough, when she gets too excited, she turns into a big red panda.
This film was so heartfelt and captured the essence of adolescence and being an awkward teenager. Since the film was set close to my own teenage years I could relate to the boy bands, 2000s teen fashion, technology (Tamagotchi), and more. It felt like I was watching my own younger self through the lens of this film and I know a lot of other viewers felt the same. Besides the fun and fantasy elements, I loved the rich Chinese culture in the film and how it explored the mother-daughter relationship that evolves at that age.
Luca
Set in a beautiful seaside town on the Italian Riviera, the original animated feature is a coming-of-age story about one young boy experiencing an unforgettable summer filled with gelato, pasta and endless scooter rides. Luca shares these adventures with his newfound best friend, but all the fun is threatened by a deeply held secret: he is a sea monster from another world just below the water’s surface.
While not a 2022 film release, Luca is a movie that I watched for the first time in 2022. For which I also bawled my eyes out in the end. Like most Pixar films, Luca is a well-written and beautifully animated feature film that transports readers to a world different from our own. This movie was so incredibly heartfelt and emotional. It discusses themes of self-discovery, grief, acceptance, and most of all friendship. The trio of friends (Giulia, Alberto, Luca) has me smiling throughout the entire film. I think the immersive setting and overall concept are the film’s true charm.
Jurassic: World Dominion
Four years after the destruction of Isla Nublar, dinosaurs now live and hunt alongside humans all over the world. This fragile balance will reshape the future and determine, once and for all, whether human beings are to remain the apex predators on a planet they now share with history’s most fearsome creatures.
As you all might know, I love dinosaurs so much! I was amped to see this conclusion in the Jurassic World film trilogy. This film was much better than the second film, where the plot seemed to drag on for the entire film. My favorite film in this series has to be the first one. This film was incredibly action-packed and had a lot of tie-ins to the original Jurrasic Park films too. It was nice to see the original cast return and it made the film feel very nostalgic. Fans of this movie franchise should add this to their watch list.
Nope
Two siblings who run a California horse ranch discover something wonderful and sinister in the skies above, while the owner of an adjacent theme park tries to profit from the mysterious, otherworldly phenomenon.
Nope is the second Jordan Peele feature film I’ve seen since Get Out (I still need to watch Us). Though it has mixed reviews, I loved it. Like Get Out, Nope is a film full of symbolism and the smallest details giving it rewatch ability. You could watch the film multiple times and still find something new or meaning to take away from it. As a horror film genre fan, this film felt very original and fresh (especially in an era of reboots and copycat films). It made me think a lot (with its main theme of discussing sensationalism) and there were a couple of jumpscares and scenes that had me spooked.
What were your favorite movies you watched in 2022? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
