Everything I Watched in 2021 (and What I Thought About It)

To anybody that knows me, it's no secret that I enjoy movies. While I don't exactly get to enjoy them as often as I once did, seeing how I'm a father of two with another one on the way, I still try to watch a few new things when the opportunity arises. Speaking of opportunity, I didn't think I would get to watch many new things this year due to the ongoing pandemic. In fact, I remember last September (of 2020), when Christopher Nolan's Tenet came out to just over $360 million, and reading articles about how movies and the theater experience would never be what it once was. Last week, Spider-Man: No Way Home became the first pandemic era film to make $1 billion. That being said, the current landscape in movies might not be what it once was. It might not ever be that again. However, things are beginning to look up. Here's a list of everything I watched this year, as well as a few thoughts on each. They're in no particular order.

Godzilla vs. Kong

I will, without any shame, say that I actually kind of enjoyed Godzilla vs. Kong. It was a visual feast with very little story to be disappointed by. As a fan of Gareth Edwards and his take on the giant reptile back in 2014, it was a fitting conclusion to a series of spectacles featuring giant monsters literally beating the crap out of each other. Would I have gone to the theaters to watch it if it weren't on HBO Max? Probably not, but I don't regret watching it.

Mortal Kombat

I've probably had more conversations about this movie than any other film I've watched this year. Specifically, I remember talking to Gerald Glassford from the Pop Culture Cosmos about this one, and hearing about how much he hated it. His thoughts mirrored a lot of what the critics were saying when it came out. One complaint I kept hearing and reading was about how poorly written the dialogue is, which really makes me pity the unfair standards that video game adaptations get held to. Let's be real for a minute. Mortal Kombat is based on a game that featured one-liners, people getting their spines ripped out, and the world famous "fatality." I don't think people were going into this one looking for something worthy of an Oscar. I appreciated this movie for what it was, a fun, yet, bloody return to a franchise that many haven't revisited since the '90s. Joe Taslim and Hiroyuki Sanada bring Sub-Zero and Scorpion to life in a way that the original films (or even the games) have never been able to do, giving them depth and even a little humanity.

Chaos Walking

This is the only movie on this year's list that I turned off before the credits rolled. It has a great premise, and I know it's based on a best-selling book series, but I have an issue with killing dogs in stories for dramatic effect. Tom Holland and Daisy Ridley were great in what I did see. I can also understand why there are people who enjoyed this movie, and I appreciate the art that it took to create it. I just didn't care to watch the whole thing.

Raya and the Last Dragon

Raya and the Last Dragon was a movie I wasn't expecting to enjoy as much as I did. I know that critics sort of panned it over its portrayal of Southeast Asian culture, but I'm not somebody who goes into movies with politcal or social checklists. To me, it was a fun movie with well developed characters and a story that had plenty to offer. Though I did want to know more about this world when it was over, it didn't end with me being disappointed. I also think Kelly Marie Tran and Awkwafina did a great job with the voice acting. Though it wasn't nearly as good as Coco, it was a great animated film.

The Wrath of Man

Let me start this off by saying that I am and will always be a fan of Guy Ritchie's films. I remember when King Arthur came out (the one with Charlie Hunnam) in 2017, and how much I really wanted to see the rest of his vision come to life. The critics hated it. I actually trolled some snobby film reviewer from Variety on Twitter for several weeks after he didn't just rip the film apart, but he started attacking Guy Ritchie as a person. It's for this reason that I hate film critics so much, which I suppose is ironic because I'm sort of critiquing movies on this list. Anyway, I've always loved the way Guy Ritchie's films have such vibrant characters, fast paced editing, and gritty cinematography. Wrath of Man was the first post-pandemic era film I watched and enjoyed.

Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway

As a high school English teacher, there is no character type I love more than a tragic hero. Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway offers that in the form of Hathaway Noa, the son of Bright Noa from the original 1979 mech anime, Mobile Suit Gundam. In the years following the second Neo Zeon War (Char's Rebellion), the Earth Federation has gone from being the heroes of the galaxy to the supreme dictators. Hathaway Noa is the leader of an anti-federation government organization called "Mafty." He knows he's doomed to fail, but using the RX-105 Gundam, he plans to be the spark that starts a revolution. I've always loved how Gundam explores the idea that children inherit the wars of their fathers and the aftermath that follows. If you're a fan of Gundam, this is a must watch.

Black Widow

Black Widow is an entertaining, although, slightly disappointing intro into Marvel's fourth phase. Though, I suppose you could argue that Wandavision came first. This movie was great, and it would have been even better had it come out after Captain America: Civil War, where the film actually takes place. Though we got glimpses of Black Widow's past in Avengers: Age of Ultron, Scarlet Johansson did a great job of giving her character one last time to shine in a memorable exit from the franchise. The introduction of newer characters like Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) and Alexei (David Harbour) create welcomed additions to the MCU. This was the movie that taught me that Marvel films are best enjoyed in movie theaters. There's something about watching one on the couch for the first time that makes it lose some of its luster.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife

This was the first truly great movie theater experience I had in 2021, which I suppose is rather sad as it came out in November. I think the issue was that my grand return to the movies was for Paw Patrol. I actually took my kids to see this one, as well, and I quickly learned that this is not the cheeky Ghostbusters that I grew up with. Where everything was cheap claymation back then, these monsters are computer generated and truly terrifying. My oldest actually had to step outside with my wife at one point. As for the movie itself, I loved the way it was filmed and the way the script developed a new generation of ghostbusters while still paying tribute to those who came before. This completely redeems the franchise from the 2016 reboot. I also loved reading about Jason Reitman and his father arguing on set. In the film, you can see a story of two kids whose father was never there, much like Reitman's.

Home Sweet Home Alone

Until three days ago, I had no idea that there are six Home Alone movies. I thought the franchise ended after Home Alone 3, which wasn't nearly as good as the first and second ones, but since it was the last one made before John Hughes died, it deserves respect. I haven't even seen the fourth or fifth films, but this one doesn't make me want to backtrack through the franchise. First of all, I think the kid in this movie is hilarious. I also thought he was hilarious in JoJo Rabbit. It's everything else about this movie that falls flat. What made the first two (or three?) movies so great was that the villains truly deserved what they got. In this one, the villains aren't really villains. They're just trying to get a valuable doll back that the kid stole from their open house. Not only that, but they need the doll back to save their home and and their family. That being said, I felt horrible laughing at all of the misfortune befalling them.

8 Bit Christmas

I'm not sure why I was expecting this one to be good. It was entertaining, and it wasn't awful. It just wasn't very good. As a huge fan of retro gaming, I remember the struggle to get Nintendo and Sega products as a kid. I even remember how stoked I was to finally get one for Christmas. Some of the things that happened in the movie were definitely relatable. I guess I was just expecting more.

Justice League: The Synder Cut

Technically this isn't a 2021 film, but in a way it is. With a four hour runtime, there was so much added onto the theater cut of the Justice League that it might as well be an entirely new film. That being said, I thought this cut was fantastic. I really loved how they fleshed out both Cyborg and Flash's stories in a way that made them feel more developed than they did in the original cut. It's unfortunate that we won't see the rest of Zach Snyder's vision to life with Justice League Part 2, as this movie opened up a lot of really cool possibilities.

The Matrix: Resurrections

I'm still on the fence about this one. While it did some things very well, it also did some things not so well. For example, I loved the image they painted of modern society. Everything from the human reliance on technology and devices to Smith being remade as an NFT collecting trust fund child, points out some very sad and tragic things about our society. As can be expected, there was also a heavy social agenda at play. I was truly surprised that a big outlet like IGN gave it a four out of ten. While the movie was entertaining, it felt busy, chaotic, and incomplete. It felt like an extended, alternate ending on a DVD. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it. I especially didn't love the cover of Rage Against the Machine's "Wake Up" they played in the end credits. There are some things that are better off left alone . . . like Rage Against the Machine, and the original Matrix trilogy.

Dune

Dune is an absolutely breath-taking film. I wasn't so much a fan of Dennis Villeneuve's Arrival, but it was still very beautiful in its own right. As for Blade Runner 2049, in my opinion, it's a masterpiece of cinema that will stand in my mind as one of the greatest films of all time. The script was great, the world was interesting, the acting was top notch, but more than anything, it was the cinematography that really grabbed me. It's for this reason, I was afraid that Dune wouldn't have the same effect, as Villeneuve parted ways with cinematographer Roger Deakins. After watching Dune, I can safely say that Greg Fraser created something equally as beautiful as Blade Runner 2049. The color palettes are magnificent, and the establishing shots paint the world as both beautiful and terrifying. I am beyond excited for Dune Part II.

Spider-Man: No Way Home

I officially take back everything I said about Tom Holland's Spider-Man being without the tragedies of Peter Parker. This movie started in one place - the usual comedy fanfare of the trilogy - and ended in a tone of tragic realization that mirrored both Toby Maguire's and Andrew Garfield's Spider-Man movies. I mean, seriously, I walked out amazed by what I saw, and sad for what had unfolded. Tom Holland's Peter Parker has lost everything, and for that reason, he has officially become the Spider-Man from the comic books. Besides all of that, it was great seeing Charlie Cox return as Daredevil, as well Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield's Spider-Men. I hope they give Andrew Garfield a chance to round out his trilogy. I was beginning to get superhero burnout, but now I want to see more.

007: No Time to Die

It seems like at least twice a month, I'm arguing with my wife about who played the best James Bond. While we can both agree that Sean Connery and Roger Moore are amazing, that third place spot is hotly contested. She thinks it's Pierce Brosnan, and I think think it's Daniel Craig. Of course I'm the one who is right about this. Not only has Daniel Craig played Bond with grit and grace, his films have done an amazing job at opening the franchise up to a bunch of interesting characters. Mallory (Ralph Fiennes), Madeliene (Lea Seydoux), Q (Ben Whishaw), Moneyponney (Naomie Harris), and let's not forget about Judi Dench's M. I'll even go so far as to say that Lashana Lynch's time as the new 007 was captivating. Over the course of Daniel Craig's five Bond films, I've cared more about the character than I ever have. This is because the character has consequences and pays them dearly. This is also the first time (at least to my knowledge) that an actor's version of James Bond has been killed off in their final film. Again, the franchise has gone places I never thought it would go, and I'm excited to see what happens next.

Paw Patrol: The Movie

Okay, so I wasn't going to put this on the list, but it's technically a 2021 movie that I did see in theaters . . . with my kids, of course. Did I enjoy it? Not really. Did I hate it? Not really? Was it a good excuse to eat movie theater nachos and sweet tart licorice? Absolutely. My kids enjoyed the movie, and I think that's all that really matters here.

Rurouni Kenshin: The Final

Very few - if any - live action anime adaptations do their original series justice. Rurouni Kenshin not only does the series justice, but I would daresay that it takes it one step further. As a fan of martial arts films, the choreography and swordplay in these movies have been a beautiful spectacle of chaos and carnage. If you're a fan of the series, and even if you're not, I cannot recommend these movies enough. I think there are five of them.

Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning

There's a lot of debate about where Samurai X fits in within the mythology of the Rurouni Kenshin universe. As far as I know, Rurouni Kenshin is a retelling of the Samurai X story. As for the live action mythos, they did a great job at adapting the story of Samurai X and making it cannon with the rest of the live action Kenshin journey. This is also the most bloody of the five films due to it taking place before Kenshin's vow to not kill anymore. Either way, check it out. You can watch it before the main films or after. I don't think it matters.

The Suicide Squad

This one was weird for me. I mean that in the sense that it felt very weird to watch. Everything in it was so needless that watching it felt like being a teenager and seeing nudity in a movie for the first time. Whenever something over the top happened and blood and gore splattered everywhere, I kept looking around to see if anybody was watching me watch this. I didn't not enjoy it. It was just uncomfortable to watch. Anybody looking for the same feel good vibes of James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy films is best served looking elsewhere. If you want exploding heads, crude jokes aplenty, and giant starfish, you're in the right place.

Jungle Cruise

As a recent Texas resident, I can say with certainty that the only thing I miss about California, besides my family, is being able to just cruise down to Disneyland whenever I want. For that reason, Jungle Cruise was a film that I very much enjoyed. Despite it basically being Pirates of the Caribbean with the Rock instead of Johnny Depp, it was a good popcorn flick with plenty of laughs and interesting characters. Would I watch it again? I don't know, maybe.

The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf

The Witcher is shaping up to be a big hit for Netflix. With such a rich world and vibrant characters, it's no wonder this dark fantasy is being considered to be "the next Game of Thrones" by many. First of all, if you haven't had a chance to read The Witcher novels, I would definitely recommend you do that. They're pretty easy reads, and they'll keep you turning the pages. Second of all, if you like the live action series, you'd be foolish not watch this one. Usually when an animated prequel comes out to a live action show, not many people waste their time with it, but this one is no waste of time. The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf dives into the origins of Geralt's mentor, Vesemir and explores the consequences of messing with things that we don't understand. Though The Witcher is a story of magic and bloodshed, it's full of struggles that are very human.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is one of my top three films of this year. As the second release in Marvel's fourth phase, it definitely holds its own in terms of origin stories. I've always loved the character of Shang-Chi, and I was curious how he would do outside of the Iron Fists shadow, and now, I feel confident that this is a property that can bring things to the MCU that were never there before. I mentioned this above, but I love kung-fu movies, and I also love super hero movies. This movie was packed full of my two favorite things. I can't wait to see where Shang-Chi ends up next, especially as the movie ended with a world of possibilities opening up.

F9: The Fast Saga

Good thing they're still making Fast and the Furious movies . . . said nobody in particular. I think it's awesome that this franchise is still around, but it's barely a shadow of what it once was. The fourth one was the last decent entry in the franchise, before everything started to go over the top. Now, instead of story, you get spectacle. There were several points throughout the course of this film, where I would have been fine turning it off. However, I have story OCD and couldn't bring myself to do it. With one more film on the horizon, let's hope that Fast 10 provides a decent ending to a franchise that needs to cross the finish line for good.