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2023 Movies You Need to Watch (Part One)

The year of 2023. What an interesting year it was for me personally. Honestly, I’m done with this year, so instead of thinking about the memories I’d rather forget, let’s go through the best movies of the year!

Scream 6 (Released March 10th)

(Credit: Wikipedia)

Starring: Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding

Director(s): Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett

Scream 6 is the first movie on my list and first horror movie! With the fifth movie being an excellent addition to the franchise, this sixth installment takes us out of Woodsboro and into the city that never sleeps: New York. This movie clearly benefits from the change of scenery, adding suspense in ways that was unreachable for the franchise until this point, like the subway scene with Mindy (Jasmin Savoy-Brown) or the ladder scene with Anika (Devyn Nekoda). The story follows sisters Sam (Barrera) and Tara (Ortega) as they fight against another Ghostface. 

(Credit: Variety)

What made this one stand out to me more is the lack of legacy characters this time around. Courtney Cox returns as Gale Weathers, in a very small cameo, while Hayden Panettiere reprises her role as Kirby Reed from Scream 4 in a much more substantial role. Despite those additions, this is Barrera and Ortega’s movie, with their relationship becoming the main thing holding the movie together. The Ghostfaces (Yes, more than one) are kinda mediocre and predictable, but the motives aren’t, which makes up for it. All in all, an awesome suspenseful film that is a perfect end to a franchise, thanks to Barrera, Ortega, and the director leaving. 

Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (Released March 31st)

(Credit: Wikipedia)

Starring: Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis

Director(s): Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley

An underrated gem from this year is Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. The trailers did this movie an injustice, as it was nothing like they made it out to be. Pine and Rodriguez play a perfect platonic pair of friends as they try to survive in this big fantasy world. The story follows Edgin (Pine) and Holga (Rodriguez) as they travel across the world to save Edgin’s daughter Kira (Chloe Coleman) from Forge (Hugh Grant). Everyone plays their parts to perfection, and it makes you feel like you’re playing as these characters, and it shows that not everything will go as planned. 

(Credit: NY Post)

There are so many funny moments from the Fat Dragon to different ways Edgin gets out of sticky situations. It also helps that both Smith and Lillis play excellent side characters that add to the awkward dynamic that may feel familiar to D&D players. Along with that, there are fun cameos from different actors that I won’t spoil that made me and my friends laugh. I hate that this film didn’t get more love because it truly is a joy to watch it. All in all, this is an amazing movie that deserves more love, and you should give it a watch if you haven’t, you’ll enjoy it!!

Evil Dead Rise (Released April 21st)

(Credit: IMDb)

Starring: Lily Sullivan, Alyssa Sutherland, Morgan Davies, Gabrielle Echols

Director: Lee Cronin

Another horror movie that came out this year, and on my birthday, was Evil Dead Rise! This was my first time watching an Evil Dead movie in the theater, and I really enjoyed it, thanks to other patrons in the theater. This movie was brutal, but not as brutal as the 2013 remake. A lot of people were mad about how goofy the movie was, but that’s actually my favorite part! It was like a return to the original Evil Dead, taking it back to its roots. I loved the change in scenery, from a cabin in the middle of the woods to an apartment building on the verge of falling apart. 

(Credit: Variety)

The cold open was literally the best part, shoving people into the deep end and showing what’s to come. The story follows sisters Beth (Sullivan) and Ellie (Sutherland) as Ellie becomes possessed and begins to attack her sister and three children in their apartment. It was so suspenseful and insanely dramatic, to the point where it was laughable in the best way possible. Although, I’ll admit, the ending kind of lost me a little, I was willing to look past it thanks to the performances of the actors on screen. Overall, I say if you’re a fan of the first three Evil Dead movies starring Bruce Campbell, I highly recommend it. If you’re a fan of only the 2013 remake, I suggest going in with a bit of a warning that it is not as intense as the previous remake. 

Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3 (Released May 5th)

(Credit: IMDb)

Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan 

Director: James Gunn

The end of a beautiful trilogy. Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 not only solidifies the fact that this is the best trilogy, but also Gunn’s reputation as the best director in the MCU. From the very beginning, Gunn perfectly captured the tone of the film, and didn’t let me go until the very end. The story revolves around Rocket (Bradley Cooper) suffering a deadly injury, where Peter (Pratt) and the other Guardians travel to save him. 

(Credit: Space.com)

Throughout this movie, I was so anxious that someone was going to die, but to my surprise, Gunn didn’t kill anyone off. I adore this film so much, and while Gunn has left, I will hold this story and the other two in my heart forever. If you would like to read more about the Guardians from me, please go to my previous post!

The Little Mermaid (Released May 26th)

(Credit: Wikipedia)

Starring: Halle Bailey, Jonah Hauer-King, Daveed Diggs, Awkwafina

Director: Rob Marshall

Ah, the best Disney remake. Ariel has always been my favorite princess. I wasn’t born when the movie first came out, but coming from Hawai’i, I’m constantly surrounded by water, so how could I not have Ariel as my favorite princess? When I heard that they were remaking it for live action, I was excited. I was even more excited when they casted Bailey in the role. 

(Credit: Screencrush)

Although I am not African American myself, I am a POC, and it made me so happy to see representation. I can see the joy in other girls' faces when they see Bailey performing as Ariel, and it brings a tear to my eye. I never had anything like that growing up and seeing them makes me so happy. If you would like to read more about The Little Mermaid, please read my post below.

Spider Man: Across the Spider Verse (Released June 2nd)

(Credit: IMDb)

Starring: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Brain Tyler Henry, Lauren Vélez

Director(s): Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson

The sequel to the highly praised Spider Verse movie has finally been released this year, and it does not disappoint. First off, addressing something in the room, although it is a Part One to another movie, this is a full movie, and it does end on a cliffhanger, but it has an ending! This movie tries to pack so much into its runtime, that I’m surprised it even accomplished being a complete movie! It builds off of everything that happened in ‘Into the Spiderverse’, building off of characters like Gwen and Peter B. Parker, while also making us care about new characters, like Spider Punk and Spider-Man India. 

(Credit: Polygon)

This might be pretty contriversial, but I am not a fan of Spider-Man 2099, he’s too much of an asshole for me to care about him. The only saving grace is that he’s played by Oscar Isaac. Also, Jason Schwartzman as the villain was surprisingly amazing, and his origin story is hilarious. All in all, an excellent sequel that leaves me dying for more!

Elemental (Released June 16th)

(Credit: Disney Movies)

Starring: Leah Lewis, Mamoudou Athie, Ronnie del Carmen, Shila Ommi

Director: Peter Sohn

Pixar is still releasing bangers, with Elemental being added to the list. First off, the trailers did this movie a HUGE disservice! It sold it as some whimsical world where elements live together in harmony, but it is a retelling of Sohn’s life story told through the eyes of Ember (Lewis). It is emotional, and it hits me in a certain way, thanks to being raised with Asian parents. 

(Credit: Los Angeles Times)

Ember and Wade (Athie) are both adorable in their own way, and I believe that people just saw this as a Zootopia rip off and decided not to go. It’s not!! They’re two different stories!! Please go ahead and watch it if you haven’t!! You will not be disappointed. With Pixar movies just being shoved into Disney+, Elemental deserves to be on the big screen. 

With that, I’m ending the first part here! Thank you for reading, be on the lookout for Part Two and my review of The Iron Claw, coming out next week!