(This article is part of our Best of 2023 series.)
I know what you are wondering, “What are Ralph’s Top 5 films of 2023?” Well, unfortunately, I don’t know since I haven’t left my house since 2021 and I now have more cats than the DCEU has flops. That’s partially true. I do leave my house… when my wife has Scandinavian crime show night on Netflix. Wait a second! Lucky you, I have my Top 5 right here… just in time for Scottish crime show night on Netflix! In the words of the great American philosopher and destroyer of the undead Ashley Williams, “Buckle up Bonehead. You’re going for a ride.”
1. The Super Mario Bros. Movie
This movie is what a movie-going experience should be. It’s family-friendly, fun, lighthearted, and fast-paced. You don’t need to pull out your thinking cap and you don’t need to be deeply versed in all things Mario Bros to enjoy it. With that being said, there are numerous “Easter eggs” liberally placed throughout the film. So if you are a longtime Mario gamer (all the way back to “Wrecking Crew”), you’ll be in heaven. Voice casting doesn’t really overshadow the characters, Chris Pratt is serviceable as Mario (though the original video game voice for Mario, Charles Martinet, is in the movie just not as Mario) while Jack Black as Bowser almost steals the movie, especially with his “Peaches” song. Unfortunately, Charlie Day as Luigi almost gets lost in the shuffle. Finally, the film’s score by Brian Tyler is amazing. Mario gets a new theme, but there are nods to video game cues EVERYWHERE! This was tops for me in 2023… I didn’t mean to rhyme there.
2. Sound of Freedom
Unlike my number one pick, this film is deep and leaves an impact. I originally was going to pass on it, but my wife had other plans. I’m a Dad and I typically avoid movies like this, but I think this is a movie parents should watch. The film is based on the story of US Homeland Security Agent Time Ballard, played by Jim Caviezel, and his rescue of a child involved in a child trafficking ring. Whereas I prefer to see Caviezel beating bad guys to a pulp while whispering his lines as he did in the TV show Person of Interest, this is definitely heavier stuff. This film is dramatic and suspenseful to the end. Caviezel does an excellent job, as does the entire cast.
3. The Last Voyage of the Demeter
I really wanted this film to be Davos Seaworth (from Game of Thrones) versus Dracula. Maybe not. You’ve had Dracula origin stories from every director known to man, right? Well, this film revolves around a specific event in Dracula lore; the transport of Dracula from Carpathia to England via the schooner Demeter. Dracula awakens and Sir Davos to the rescue! Not Really, Liam Cunningham (AKA the legendary Ser Davos of Game Of Thrones) leads the cast as Captain Eliot with Corey Hawkins as Clemens. Look, you should know how this trip ends and it’s not to Valinor, Lord Elrond. However, just sit back and enjoy the panic as the entire crew gets picked off. It’s a really graphic, squirm-fest. Maybe they took some liberties with Bram Stoker’s original story, but it’s definitely worth a watch on a rainy night. I might also have an unhealthy obsession with Ser Davos Seaworth, Hand to the rightful King of the seven kingdoms: Stannis Baratheon.
4. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Granted this isn’t the typical Marvel spectacle, it felt like a smaller film as most Ant-Man films do (Ant-Man… smaller film, HA!). Anyway, this is the official big-screen introduction to Kang the Conqueror and I had to see it since I’m a total nerd. Is it good? Yes, but not to the level of the first two films. This film relies more on action than comedy. Almost the entire cast of the previous two Ant-Man films return but the omission of Michael Pena’s Luis, David Dastmalchian’s Kurt, and T.I. Harris’s Dave hurts the connectivity and comic relief of the overall trilogy.
We essentially pick up post-Avengers: Endgame and, oh no, our heroes get sucked into the Quantum realm. Finally, we meet Kang played by Jonathan Majors, and get this Kang’s backstory via Janet Van Dyne. Let’s take a moment to absorb Majors playing this character to perfection; he really takes a ho-hum comic book baddie and elevates him. I had serious doubts if any version of Kang could be a Phase-level bad guy like Thanos, even after Majors played “He Who Remains” (a Kang variant) on Loki, but this film proved me wrong. Of course, all of that is up in the air now. For the first two Ant-Man films, you go for the heroes; for the third Ant-Man film you go for the bad guy and enjoy the glory that was Jonathan Majors’ Kang.
5. The Flash
Before you start tossing rotten fruits and vegetables at me, hear me out. You have to go into this film NOT expecting a Zack Snyder DCEU film and to be honest I don’t feel that a Flash movie should be in the same “tone” as Snyder’s DC movies; he’s a different character. Maybe even think of it as a standalone film. Ezra Miller’s final DCEU turn as Barry Allen was serviceable, Michael Keaton once again donning the cape and cowl of Batman was typical awesomeness, and Sasha Calle’s turn as Supergirl was outstanding. Granted, I’m a sucker for nostalgic characters/actors so I was sold once Michael Keaton was announced. Now did the return of Keaton’s Batman turn out like I wanted? No, but it was nice to see him in the suit coupled with Elfman’s iconic Batman theme.
There were a few surprise cameos here and there. I’ll admit that the Superman cameo and theme got me in the feels. Overall, it’s not a terrible film; not Wonder Woman 1984 terrible. It’s decent comic book film fare. I think three things doomed this movie: Ezra Miller’s off-screen antics, massive delays/reshoots James Gunn’s announcement of the death of the DCEU… and maybe sub-par CGI. Can any connected film universe survive a studio saying, “Look, we know this is in mid-chapter, we’re just gonna start over, ok?”” I had a feeling everything after that announcement was going to crash faster than The Suicide Squad.
What are your thoughts on the movies that made my top five? Share them down below!
