I want to explore more of the movies released this year. Since we are about halfway through the year I wanted to create a list of what I might've missed. I think my favorite so far is probably Oppenheimer.
2 Barbie - Surprisingly deep movie for something based on a doll.
3 Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse - This appears to be the year of 'surprise! - TO BE CONTINUED!'
4 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 - touching exploration of Rocket's backstory. Kind of nice seeing one of these with super small stakes.
6 Oppenheimer - I got to see this at one of the 19 cinemas running IMAX 70mm and it was pretty phenomenal. Murphy of course, but Downey needs an Oscar nod for supporting.
7 Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania - Not the same without the recap guys. I like the actor they got for Kang, but the legal troubles throw it all in doubt now. :(
8 John Wick: Chapter 4 - Good ending, but the fight scenes started feeling kind of "samey".
9 Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny - Felt too much like "if you liked that, you'll love this!" Copy/paste from the old movies. Lost opportunity to bring back an adult Short Round.
15 Fast X - Momoa was a DELIGHT. "TO BE CONTINUED!"
17 The Flash - Dragged for the visual effects, but opening the DC multiverse was neat. Wish it looked better.
19 Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves - Didn't see this until Blu Ray... it wasn't awful. Could have been better.
23 Shazam! Fury of the Gods - Could have done without the blatant product placement.
36 Asteroid City - Even among Wes Anderson fans, this is a niche movie. You have to be a fan of 1950s-60s absurdist live theater. I enjoyed it... lots of other folks were LOST.
I still need to see Joy Ride.
Soo many others from the list I'm like "Wait, that came out?"
29 Haunted Mansion
77 Chevalier
117 Shin Ultraman
179 Carmen
And one that I didn't even know was a thing, but now I have to go find it...
189 Have You Got It Yet? The Story of Syd Barrett and Pink Floyd
I agree with you on Ant-Man. Kang has been the most interesting thing in all the recent marvel stuff, even though he's been underused. That actor steals every scene he's in. Sucks that the real life situation isn't good at all.
I actually like DnD. It's just a fun movie, nothing serious. If you want an adventure with laughs in it you're in for a good time.
Guardians 3 was good as an endcap.
Had anyone seen Shin Ultraman yet? I haven't heard anyone talk about it.
Funniest movie I've seen in 2023: Barbie
Most emotional movie I've seen in 2023: Sound Of Freedom (Runner-up: Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3)
Best action movie I've seen in 2023: Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One (Runner-up: John Wick Chapter 4)
I don't know if you have an interest in horror, but I just watched Talk to Me last night and it was fantastic. Very well made and thoughtfully written. Not what I would call "fun," but a very good movie.