2022: A Year In Review by Justin

 So, I need ro preface a few things:

1. This is based on personal enjoyment, not quality, though I will gladly defend my choices lol 

2. I didn't consume half of the media that I usually do in a year, so my picks are based on a much smaller amount than usual

Top 15 Movies:

1. Everything Everywhere All At Once

2. Top Gun: Maverick

3. The Batman

4. Nope

5. Glass Onion

6. The Banshees of Inisherin

7. Barbarian

8. Prey

9. Wakanda Forever

10. Black Phone

11. Avatar: The Way of Water

12. The Northman

13. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

14. Bodies Bodies Bodies

15. Emily The Criminal

HM: Werewolf by Night

https://boxd.it/fCBJO

Top 100 Songs*: 

1. Bad Habit - Steve Lacey

2. The Heart Pt 5 - Kendrick Lamar

3. The Place Where He Inserted the Blade - Black Country, New Road

4. Home Maker - Sudan Archives

5. Brambleton - Pusha T

6. Runner - Alex G

7. Cash in Cash Out - Pharrell, 21 Savage, & Tyler, The Creator

8. Titi Me Pregunto - Bad Bunny

9. Step by Step - Braxe + Falcon

10. Dance Now - JID (with Kenny Mason)

11. Count Me Out - Kendrick Lamar

12. Something in the Orange - Zach Bryan

13. Belinda Says - Alvvays

14. Good Will Hunting - Black Country, New Road

15. bank account - Baby Keem (ft. Lil Uzi Vert)

16. Not Allowed - Ray Vaughn

17. CUFF IT - Beyonce

18. Walkin - Denzel Curry

19. F.N.F. (Let's Go) - HitKidd & GloRilla

20. Romantic Homicide - d4vd

21. PUFFIN ON ZOOTIEZ - Future

22. Jimmy Cooks - Drake (ft. 21 Savage)

23. Just Wanna Rock - Lil Uzi Vert

24. Where I Belong - Whyandotte

25. About You - The 1975

26. Old Friend - Earl Sweatshirt

27. Ur Mom - Wet Leg

28. Out of Time - The Weeknd

29. Premature Love - WizTheMc

30. 2AM - Foals

31. Killing Me - COIN

32. Hurts to Love - Beach House

33. anotherlife - Nilüfer Yanya

34. X-Wing - Denzel Curry

35. ignorance is bliss - aldn

36. N95 - Kendrick Lamar

37. HOME -Remix - Mike Dimes (ft. JID)

38. End of Beginning - Djo

39. CAN'T EVEN LIE - WESTSIDE BOOGIE (ft. Soulja Boy)

40. Cracker Island - Gorillaz (ft. Thundercat)

41. Glimpse of Us - Joji

42. Thump Shit - 42 Dugg & EST Gee

43. Creepin' - Metro Boomin (with The Weeknd & 21 Savage)

44. Lavender Haze - Taylor Swift

45. pg baby - redveil

46. loving u is harder - SEB

47. Tonight -

48. happy accident

49. Spitting Off the Edge of the World

50. SAOKO

51. Bitch Where

52. Bad Love

53. Milk Crates

54. Surround Sound

55. WHEN SPARKS FLY

56. Gasoline - The Weeknd

57. Western Wind -

58. Seeing Someone Else

59. Let Me Drown

60. Johnny P's Caddy

61. Kody Blu 31

62. American Teenager

63. THE SUN

64. Survivors Guilt

65. DROUGHTSKI

66. Shotgun

67. Feelings 4 You

68. Mad At Me

69. Love Me More

70. Stick Season

71. Anywhere With You

72. Family Line

73. Yuck

74. New Gold

75. Being In Love

76. Talking to Yourself

77. Everytime I See The Ocean

78. Another Man's Jeans

79. born yesterday

80. Sidelines

81. girlfriend

82. Simulation Swarm

83. Expert in a Dying Field

84. This is Why

85. Stressed

86. Girls

87. Weird Goodbyes

88. Snooze

89. So Typically Now

90. This Hell

91. PORN ACTING*

92. Dance - Jay Safari

93. Pressin

94. AIGHT

95. Riot - Nardo Wick

96. I Ain't Worried - OneRepublic

97. Hot Shit - Cardi B (ft. Ye & Lil Durk)

98. As It Was - Harry Styles

99. Ready or Not - Shakey Graves (ft. Sierra Ferrell)

100. SELF-SABOTAGE - Waterparks

*Usually songs are ranked, this year they are not

SPOTIFY PLAYLIST:

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Top 10 Albums: 

1.  Ants Up There - Black Country, New Road
2.  The Forever Story - JID
3. Mr, Morale and the Big Steppers - Kendrick Lamar
4. DAWN FM - The weeknd
5. Midnights - Taylor Swift
6. Heroes & Villains - Metro Boomin
7. SOS - SZA
8. Her Loss - Drake and 21 Savage
9.  Renaissance - Beyonce
10. It's Almost Dry - Pusha T

Top 10 Shows:

1. Andor

2. Strange Things

3. Atlanta

4. The Boys

5. The White Lotus

6. Yellowjackets

7. Peacemaker

8. Abbott Elementary

9. Only Murders in the Building

10. Moon Knight

'The Creator' Film Review

 I’ve seen buzz for this film comparing it to genre-defining classics such as Blade Runner, Alien, District 9, Ex-Machina, and Arrival. Unfortunately, it falls much more in line with Avatar. 

Solid direction, competent writing and character work, and stunning visuals that transport you effortlessly into the world, but unfortunately don’t do or say anything that you couldn’t predict from the first 5 minutes. While there is nothing inherently wrong, it just doesn’t feel like I’m seeing anything new. Beautiful execution of the same tried out tropes.
 
Even still there are things that felt just off to me. The emotional core of the film mostly works, but I still just had a level of disconnect that I wish I didn’t. 

I wanted to love this movie, and perhaps my expectations were too high and in time and with rewatches I’ll appreciate it more, but this unfortunately doesn’t feel like a film that will sit with me in the same way that the films it’s getting compared to do.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem Review

 

The Spider-Verse influence is clear, both in terms of animation and character-driven storytelling. There is a clear love and care here, and though not everything lands, you can’t help but to admire it anyway. 

Some truly gorgeous shots, an incredible score, and (as mentioned before) a strong focus on character makes this film a fully enjoyable experience. 

But, like Spider-Verse, if you’re a fan of Ninja Turtle lore then you need to go in with the mind that this is an entirely new interpretation of this world, as it veers into unique places often. The teenage aspect of the turtles has never been better, and their pop culture influences and references firmly place them in Gen Z in interesting and often hilarious ways.

Barbenheimer Reviews

Oppenheimer:

Christopher Nolan at his most focused, though not quite his most explosive. 

Oppenheimer looks at the man behind one of the most impactful creations in history, and highlights him as the complex and flawed individual that he is. 

There are genuinely haunting scores, imagery, and dialogue throughout and by the time it’s over you realize this is a story we haven’t seen considered yet, but it is still one that will stay with you forever.

Barbie:

There is something so magical about watching a movie opening night and realizing it’s going to be a classic. 

While Barbie discovers herself, Ken discovers patriarchy, and I can’t think of a funnier and more thematic setup for this film. 

One of the funniest films of the last few years, and it’s fairytale nature is perfectly suited for the now historic mythos behind Barbie.