Another year of entertainment has come and gone so it’s time to look back at some of the very best that it had to offer. I decided to add a feature that I didn’t last year where I will also reveal what my favorite new games were of 2022.
Granted, it’s only two games I’m referring too but these are two games I actually planned to do a review of but never could get around to it by the time they were both still relevant. I figured they deserved a shout-out in some way, shape, or form so why not also include them in some other best of the year list like this one. Keep in mind, there were plenty of well-received games I didn’t get around to such as Stray and Elden Ring. Gaming is much more expensive now than ever and I only purchase games that I have extreme interest in and believe I will actually enjoy in some capacity. Plus, I still have yet to get a proper next-gen console, which I’m hoping to fix soon.
And of course, I will also mentions the best movies of 2022 (that I actually saw).
Again, just like with video games, I haven’t gotten around to EVERY single movie released this year but I more or less, did see just about every single one I had legit strong interest in. If you find a well-received movie that wasn’t on this list, then that means I either a.) didn’t care as much for it or b.) I just didn’t have any interest in it. Considering the Regal theater in my area closed and I can no longer use my Unlimited pass, I also had to be more considerate with my limited budget on entertainment. I’m in the middle of job hunting and I need to be more careful with the way I spend. Be sure to keep all of that in mind when viewing this list.
I will also do what I did last year and included an unqualified mention and special mention for two specific films. Two films that I don’t think are anywhere close to being the best movies of the year but deserve a shout-out nonetheless.
Anyways, now to start off with what was my two favorite games of the year.
Best Games of 2022
Kirby And The Forgotten Land
I’m not gonna lie, I had NEVER play a Kirby game before this one. My only familiarity with the character was in the Super Smash Bros series. After playing through The Forgotten Land, I certainly might want to consider changing that. Excluding spin-offs, this actually was the first ever Kirby game to be fully 3D and taking that into perspective, it’s about as good as you can hope to be. I can criticize certain aspects such as the clunky movement of the controls at times along with the repetitive mini-bosses but this definitely helped me understand the appeal of Kirby. Not only is he incredibly lovable and adorable but he can be a complete badass who can basically do anything you want him to. It looks great, sounds great, the level design is top notch, it’s a never a chore to collect items or grind to upgrade, and was just overall a really fun experience. If you are a Kirby fan, then you probably already have played the game and love it. Even if you are not, then I strongly recommend checking it out.
God Of War: Ragnarok
2018’s God of War was an absolute fresh air for the God of War franchise. It struck a near perfect line between being a soft reboot and also a direct continuation of previous games. And what better way to follow-up the 2018 game with what was arguably the most popular tale when it comes to Norse mythology, with Ragnarok itself. Following up the promises that the original teased, 2022’s God of War feature is able to deliver all of that in terms of story, gameplay, and the development of the main characters of Kratos and Atreus A.K.A. Loki. The narrative is among the most engaging of any game that I’ve played, it’s always able to provide that sense of levity without it being too serious, and is it ever satisfying to slice and dice up your enemies like they’re nothing. Were their moments where I die repeatedly that caused me to rage a bit like any other game? Absolutely! But when all is said and then, God of War: Ragnarok is about as good of a follow-up as one could except and hope for. Very curious to see how this series will continue going forward!
And those were my best games of the year! Now, onto the best movies of the year!
First off, my unqualified mention.
Avatar: The Way Of Water
As I mentioned in my review, while this was undeniability an amazing visual accomplishment that is more than worth seeing on the big screen in IMAX 3D, I do wonder how this movie will fare once it hits Blu-Ray/4K. Will the story, characters, and themes actually resonate with folks this time around or will it only be the visuals, action, and the theater experience stick with them like the original Avatar? Time will tell but no doubt this was worth the trip to theaters to see it on the biggest screen in 3D. Let’s just see how many will be able to say that this will have any staying power.
Now, my special mention.
Sonic The Hedgehog 2
What can I say? I like Sonic and good movies! And Sonic 2 was a pretty damn good movie. In many ways, this is pretty much the movie I wanted the first one to be. There’s more focus on the Sonic characters, more lore from the games that is introduced, the human characters are more properly utilized, and the third act delivered about all the Sonic goods I could possibly ever want from a Sonic movie. It’s also able to do more justice to Tails and Knuckles then the overall series has done for over the past decade. I wouldn’t necessarily call it a great movie as it is quite predictable with it’s story beats (aside from that bizarre wedding subplot with a laughable plot twist) and some of the humor can be quite hit and miss but in a year which was undoubtedly the year of Sonic, this was a worthy addition to the series. Bring on Part III and the Knuckles show!
Ten Honorable Mentions (or #22-12)
22.) Tar
I’m not quite in love with this one like most critics are. It’s too slow for my liking with not a whole lot of things going on through it’s bloated runtime. However, it has Cate Blanchett in it. And Cate Blanchett can make any movie good or watchable no matter what it is about.
21.) Bodies Bodies Bodies
A funny/scary thriller that sees yet again a bunch of young rich folks partying like there’s no tomorrow only to find themselves in a deadly game of live and death with a mysterious killer in the group. Can it be a bit excessive and obnoxious for some? Sure but there’s enough here to keep you entertained and engaged for 95 minutes. Not the very best from A24 or even for these kinds of “party” movies but still worth a watch!
20.) The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent
You can never get enough of Nicky Cage. You can Nicky Cage in, you can Nicky Cage out. You can never have too much Nicky Cage. Oh and the movie’s real good btw. And it has Pedro Pascal.
19.) Weird: The AL Yankovic Story
An incredibly refreshing change of pace for these kind of musical biopic flicks that’s able to make fun with it’s material without exactly making fun of it, historical inaccuraties and all. Daniel Radcliffe stands out very well here a Al Yankovic and this is basically like a Walk Hard for a new generation.
18.) Pearl
I liked X but this one stuck with me more. In fact, it stuck with me a bit too well. So much so that I’m pretty sure I now see Mia Goth with an ax in my nightmares. I guess you can say this movie about an origin story of a psychopath did it’s job a little too well. You might be right but it’s definitely still worth a mention. Now, let’s stop talking about this movie because it scares me.
17.) She Said
Certainly not the most pleasant movie to watch on this list but definitely a solid movie about the two women who were successful on shining the spotlight on Harvey Weinstein. Similar to 2015’s Spotlight, it’s able to tell it’s story in a very strict and straightforward matter without being too dramatic about it. Far from the best ever film about serious subject matter but it still works.
16.) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
This is about as good and thematically rich of a sequel as it could have been given the circumstances surrounding it. Despite losing a main key piece and a few too many subplots that feel like they’re only here to tease future movies and shows, it is still able to follow the remaining characters and themes from the first one in a way that feels organic and right. It’s beautifully acted and made, the handling of Chadwick Boseman’s death is done to near perfection, and is certainly a film you will want to bring tissues too. Of all the Marvel movies to release in 2022, this was definitely the best one.
15.) The Black Phone
Scott Derrickson returns to the horror genre after his departure from Doctor Strange 2 to make what is perhaps his best film to date. A chilling suspenseful thriller with a haunting atmosphere and superficial elements that proves Derrickson knows how to properly build tension without strictly resulting into cheap horror tropes. Looking back, it looks like having Sam Raimi take over the Multiverse of Madness and Scott Derrickson crafting this gem ended up being a win-win for both parties.
14.) The Woman King
This is a strong work of art and entertainment from one of the more underrated action directors today in Gina Prince-Bythewood. It’s work as it’s own compelling action-packed historic drama as well as an inspiring feminist empowerment piece. This time around, the women come together and they are indeed strong! Also, Thuso Mbedu should be in more things! Along with Lashana Lynch!
13.) Barbarian
Easily the most unpredictable movie that I saw this year. This is a movie that you should go in knowing as LITTLE as possible. I promise it makes the experience even better. It definitely plays differently than most horror films out there and certainly break some traditional rules of screenwriting. However, if you are able to roll with it, then it’s a blast. Also, without giving too much away, this is probably a better Resident Evil movie than any of the Resident Evil movies released thus far. Go figure!
Now, decided to spice things up this time to include my top main 12 movies of the year instead of 10. Why? Because there was at least two other films on here I knew I had to put on the list. Also, because it’s my list and therefor my rules!
Best Movies Of 2022 (#12-1)
12.) The Batman
No, it’s not my favorite Batman movie ever made but I’d be hard-pressed to think of a movie that didn’t feel more Batman than this one. Matt Reeves brings his style and influence on the Caped Crusader and David Fincher films to make a well-crafted detective tale showcasing the early years of Bruce Wayne as Batman. We get to see a Gotham City that has never been more corrupted, Batman in a younger, insomniac, and more reckless stage, and get a glimpse of the criminals/vigilantes in the underworld that has helped made a corrupt town the way it is. The near three-hour long runtime may be taunting to some and has a sequel tease that feels needlessly tacked on but it does it’s job at ticking the right boxes for what most people want out of a proper Batflick movie. Off all the superhero/comic book movies that came out in 2022, this was my favorite.
11.) Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Not quite as good as the first one but this was still a rocking good time. Rian Johnson is clearly at home with these movies, knowing exactly what he wants to do and exactly how to do it. It’s entertaining, the cast is stellar, the screenplay is air tight, there’s plenty of laughs and shocks along the way, and it might even make you hungry for even more of these kind of movies. I’ll definitely watch a third one and maybe even more after that. I can never enough of Daniel Craig and that lovely accent he has in these movies. Also, suck it Ben Shapiro!
10.) Nope
Might be a divisive one (just like a handful of movies on this list) but I love it! It was truly nice to see a pure original film with a blockbuster-like scale make it’s way to theaters. It’s a great mix of multiple sub-genres such as horror, mystery and sci-fi, the performances from the cast are all top-notch, it’s cinematography is a treat for the eyes, it’s scale is as epic as it can be, and it’s exceeds exactly in the same merits as it’s intended to be. Similar to my feelings on another certain movie on this list, while I’m not sure this is the overall best film from director Jordan Peele, it’s certainly his biggest and most ambitious feature to date that was definitely worth the theatre experience. Also, cast Keke Palmer in more things please!
9.) Turning Red
There are definitely Pixar films I’m more attached too and several I think are better than this one, but I can’t recall a Pixar movie that is just so open and honest with itself as this one is. It take risks and tackles subject matter that at least 99% of other animation studios are probably afraid of tackling for a supposed kids film, it has a strong thematical and emotional core that holds the whole thing together near perfectly, and has animation that serves it’s purpose and executed in all of the intent and purpose imaginable. This is a wonderfully, lovable movie about an awfully, cringe-able time period that we all have or will have to go through. Just a shame this movie is remembered not for it’s overall quality but for resurrecting 9/11 memes! Thanks Mr. Enter! Thanks!
8.) Prey
This, more so than any other movie in this series since the original, gets the appeal of the franchise. It’s the action, it’s the tension, it’s the suspense, it’s the subversive genre, it’s the haunting atmosphere, and it’s just the plain badassery from the main characters that are likable, fun to watch, and easy to care about. Amber Midthunder is a revelation and the whole “back-to-basics” approach is exactly what Predator needed after a handful of inconsistent sequels. Hopefully, the success for this movie is so big that it might encouraged feature Predator sequels to be released in theaters and not just for streaming services! Only time for tell but this still rocked!
7.) Puss In Boots: The Last Wish
An exciting, triumphing Part Two to go along with the other great Part Twos that DreamWorks animation has created with their filmography. The animation is spectacular, the characters are engaging, the set pieces are fun and inventive, the humor is well done, the story goes into dark places you wouldn’t except a simple “kids” movie would go, and it teaches a very valuable lesson on how we should live our life to the fullest with the ones we love before it’s too late. Never in a million years would I guess that it would be frigging Puss in Boots of all characters that could potentially give the Shrek series another lease on life but I guess anything is possible.
6.) The Northman
Here is proof that The Witch and The Lighthouse were no flukes and Robert Eggers should be notified as one of the next big directors to keep an eye on for future projects. While it’s not as well-made as the former or as bizarrely entertaining as the latter, this is undeniably Egger’s biggest and most ambitious film to date. It looks amazing, the cast is terrific, it’s delightfully excessive and action packed, and has probably one of the most satisfying third acts I’ve seen in quite some time along with one of the best final shot I’ve seen. This is proof that it’s not just the big blockbusters that are worth savoring the theaters for, it’s also the big independent films as well!
5.) Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio
There was quite a bit of Pinocchio movies that’s been released in recent memory. There was the one that came out this year on Disney Plus that quite sucked and there was another one with the subtitle A True Story that sucked even harder. Thankfully, we have Guillermo Del Toro to prevent the trifecta of bad recent Pinocchio movies with his own spin of this iconic character that came out on Netflix. This beautifully made and wonderfully animated tale is perhaps the darkest and most realistic version of Pinocchio that has ever been presented in movie form, going deeper into the horrors of war and how it can take away the ones you love. The animation is tremendous, the stop motion is flawless, the voice cast is great, it will pull your heart strings, and gives more depth to the characters than any other version I’ve seen. This is the first Pinocchio movie I can recall that lives up the original 1940 version and perhaps even surpasses it.
4.) Top Gun: Maverick
I’ll admit a part of me does respect this movie more than I actually love it. Not just for what it has done at the box office (grossing over a shocking billion dollars worldwide) but what it does for these kind of sequels. However, there is still plenty I love about this movie. You can say what you want about Tom Cruise as a person but he definitely knows his own reputation as an actor and will do whatever it takes to entertain his audience. Whether it’s Mission Impossible, Jack Reacher, or Top Gun, he still act as the best kind of action hero that anyone can except. Unlike other legacy sequels, this seems to give the notion that it’s titled main character can still be on top form with what he is still able to do even if he can’t seem to do anything else. He can still best the best at what he does even when it’s time to pass the baton to a new generation. Sometimes it’s okay to let Tom Cruise be the Tom Cruise that audience knows and loves about him without the need for anything else. And if the 1.6 billion dollar signs at the box office has anything to say about it, I think mainstream audience would agree.
3.) The Fabelmans
This is Steven Spielberg’s newest coming-of-age feature that is a part autobiography and part fictional tale of Steven’s early years as a boy and as a filmmaker. While this is far in away not the biggest or most aspiring film in his filmography, this is easily his most personal one. The one that feels like he has waited his entire career of making up to this point. The one that honestly feels like that everything has come full circle from in. The one that symbolically and thematically should be his final one or at least the beginning of an end to one of the most influential directors of all time. Not only is this one of the best films of the year, it easily stands as one of the top-tier works of Spielberg and possibly my favorite film of his in the 21st century thus far. I’m sure many of you reading this will find that all to be hyperbolic but just like the film itself, I find it to be aspiring.
2.) Babylon
Well, the world seems to be against me on this one and I would be lying if I couldn’t see why. Damien Chazelle’s newest feature is undeniably graphic, excessive, long, and can certainly make for a rather exhausting and overwhelming experience for many folks. However, for me, this was one of the best times I had at the movies all year. It’s hard to say exactly what appeals to me but I just love films that feel like it’s own animal and just plain “out there”. I love films that plays by it’s own rules without a care or worry about how audience will react. I love films where you can tell the love and passion the director has behind the camera. I love films that could go on for three hours and I wouldn’t mind if it kept going. Throw in a tremendous cast, with Margot Robbie, Diego Calva, and Brad Pitt being the stand-outs, top-notch production values, superb direction, a great screenplay, and a fantastic score and you get absolute pure cinema. Also, it has Tobey Maguire in of the best extended cameos in recent memory. I didn’t love La La Land or First Man, but this and Whiplash proves that Damien Chazelle is one of the better directors working today. You all can have Top Gun: Maverick as your movie of the year but let me have this and #1 as mine.
1.) Everything Everywhere All At Once
Yep, this one is still my favorite. This is a movie that feels like existing at all seems like some sort of miracle. It’s proof that there are still movie directors out there that aren’t afraid to put their own stamp on filmmaking. It’s proof that creativity and surprise is still possible for movies out there. It’s proof that you can take a concept that is sure to get tiresome soon or later by can still make for something completely worthwhile. It’s as if the Daniels are taking a great look at the future of films and decided to make a movie with a familiar concept, not to simply mock or critique it, but show the best possible version of it without the need to neglect or devalue the ones that come before it or will after. This still stands as one of the most creative, inventive films I’ve ever seen with some of the best execution of any idea or concept on film that I’ve ever seen. I love films that is able to give me an experience I’ve never had before and this excelled greatly at that. This was the best movie of 2022 and might even join my list of my personal favorite movies. This is Michelle Yeoh’s universe and we are all living in it. Also, Ke Huy Quan’s world as well. And Stepheanie Hsu.
And that does it for 2022. Thank you so much to everyone who took their time to read my pieces this year! I have no idea what 2023 will have in store for me but I’m hopefully I will at least be available to continue writing entertaining pieces on here involving movies, tv shows, video games, sports, or whatever is on my mind that I would like to write about. These are always a ton of fun to make and I hope you all had just as much fun reading them.
Thanks again to everyone that reads or follows me on here! Happy New Years! Cheers to a great 2023!
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