BlueGuyTalks

In a time where high-quality racing films are a dime-a-dozen, Michael Mann’s Ferrari expertly delivers on why Enzo Ferrari is the legend he is, despite everything and everyone standing in his way to do the only thing he knows how to do: win no matter the odds.

Whether it’s your first or twelfth Miyazaki film, The Boy and the Heron is a beautiful experience for all cinema-goers, regardless of age, with its delightful animation, immersive worldbuilding, and soul-stirring storytelling making it one of 2023’s most comforting and moving experiences.

Godzilla Minus One rises to great heights to deliver a story accessible and understandable to all. While it does feature the occasional story cliche, it ultimately helps create a narrative well worth seeing on the biggest screen possible.

Napoleon feels like it wants to be a historical epic and a political satire simultaneously, but in doing so, fails to deliver a structurally sound narrative surrounding Napoleon’s political and romantic life for audiences to sink their teeth into.

The Creator is a visually stunning sci-fi adventure featuring a relatively shallow but strongly built narrative surrounding AI and what people will do to stop its advancement.

Despite including beautifully cinematic sequences and a tough and rugged biographical angle surrounding Jann Mardenborough’s journey from Gran Turismo to professional endurance racing, Gran Turismo ultimately fails at the very thing it set out to do: have it based on a true story. FULL REVIEW HERE: ****/the-blue-critic/post/gran-turismo-2023

With almost ten years in the spotlight, Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 acts as a send-off for the Guardians, James Gunn, and the audience, making the film a well-rounded and emotionally gripping adventure, where characters and fans are more than ready to move on to bigger and more exciting adventures. FULL REVIEW HERE: ****/the-blue-critic/post/guardians-of-the-galaxy-volume-3-2023

Regardless of Mattel’s plan with their merchandise in the film industry, their first crack at it is a smash hit. However, once past a Barbie doll’s quirky and enjoyable surface, Barbie pushes for feminism and masculinism for Barbies and Kens alike, treating both sides respectfully and giving audiences a good laugh. FULL REVIEW HERE: ****/the-blue-critic/post/barbie-2023

Christopher Nolan seems to always be at his peak in cinematic storytelling, with Oppenheimer being no stranger to the idea. The way Nolan casts a lens over J. Robert Oppenheimer’s life gives the biopic a grand, powerful, and extravagant perspective, justifiably making “the bomb” one of the biggest moments in cinema and world history. FULL REVIEW HERE: ****/the-blue-critic/post/oppenheimer-2023

With awe-inspiringly outlandish stunts and a relatively gripping narrative, it’s easy to see why Mission: Impossible stands as a thrilling action classic deserving of Tom Cruise’s stuntman acrobatics and as one of today’s biggest movie franchises. FULL REVIEW HERE: ****/the-blue-critic/post/mission-impossible-1996

With the cultural and industry-leading importance of Into the Spider-Verse, Across the Spider-Verse needed to be bigger and bolder in almost every way. Fortunately, the film propels animation into more spheres of possibility and supplies constantly gripping messages of love, fate, independence, and desperation to make the movie a once-in-a-lifetime experience for people to love and cherish. FULL REVIEW HERE: ****/the-blue-critic/post/spider-man-across-the-spider-verse-2023

Being an adaptation of a tabletop roleplaying game, many would expect a mostly dull cinematic advertisement. Luckily for audiences, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is a delightful adventure following a group of failures who mangle their way through occasionally smart plans and comedic dynamics, making it an unexpectedly refreshing iteration of IP material. FULL REVIEW HERE: ****/the-blue-critic/post/dungeons-dragons-honor-among-thieves

Once it stops stubbing its toe, Enola Holmes shows **** bit of action and mystery amidst its questionable and genre-bending subplots, making it nearly devoid of a true detective mystery flic. FULL REVIEW HERE: ****/the-blue-critic/post/enola-holmes-2-2022

Despite being the mother of all cliches, 10 Things I Hate About You ages brilliantly, offering a touching and realistic look at high school romance, nestled within the movie’s successfully comedic punchlines. FULL REVIEW HERE: ****/the-blue-critic/post/10-things-i-hate-about-you-1999

Raya and the Last Dragon is an entertaining adventure rarely seen from Disney Animation Studios but finds its strength through eye-grabbing character designs and Asian-inspired culture despite including out-of-touch comedy amidst a serious narrative. FULL REVIEW HERE: ****/the-blue-critic/post/raya-and-the-last-dragon-2021

Upon first viewing the movie, many see the surface-level details of its overarching narrative. However, once the audience sits on what they experienced, they understand its purpose, making it go above and beyond what the film is at face value. FULL REVIEW HERE: ****/the-blue-critic/post/whiplash-2014

“The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a fantastic adventure for adults and children. It feasibly balances known moments with fresh ones and offers opportunities to bring more Nintendo franchises onto the big screen.” FULL REVIEW HERE: ****/the-blue-critic/post/the-super-mario-bros-movie-2023

The Top Gun franchise may be a bit older and more cliché than other films, but Top Gun: Maverick’s witty delivery and sublime action sequences make it a film worth watching in the forthcoming years. FULL REVIEW HERE: ****/the-blue-critic/post/top-gun-maverick-2022

Despite its attention-grabbing premise and well-casted supporting characters, Bullet Train lacks composure when the film needs it most and often ruins what it had going for it. FULL REVIEW HERE: ****/the-blue-critic/post/bullet-train-2022

John Wick balances witty character dialogue with an easily digestible story with well-presented action sequences to create a refreshing reality check on modern-day moviemaking. FULL REVIEW HERE: ****/the-blue-critic/post/john-wick-2014

Glass Onion masterfully manages to reinvent the murder mystery wheel while questioning the sheer stupidity of mankind and the people who manipulate it. FULL REVIEW HERE: ****/the-blue-critic/post/glass-onion-a-knives-out-mystery-2022