Esther's movie reviews: Best of 2022
Thoughts | Esther Choi
Graphic by Olivia Hadfield
I watched 70 movies in 2022, here are the movies I rated 4.5+/5 on Letterboxd.
1. Guardians of the Galaxy and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (4.5)
The script? Perfect. Chris Pratt was born to be Peter Quill and continues to give such natural charisma to the character in Vol. 2.
2. His House (4.5)
A beautiful but tragic story about grief and how its rippling effects can tear apart your sanity. The cinematography was chilling—scenes were haunting, heartbreaking, and very spooky indeed. I had to sleep with one eye open. (Genre: horror)
3. Everything Everywhere All at Once (5)
Duh. This movie was the culmination of a psychedelic trip and existential dread. It was a sublime experience that gave me whiplash with its constant contradictions and the various multiverses. It also genuinely made me laugh out loud, which is always a sign that it’s worth watching. This movie was meant to be watched in the theatre; I’m 100% certain that my experience would have been different if I watched it at home on my laptop. Although I did find beauty in its absurdity, I also struggled to find deeper meaning. While the looming question of “What if?” plagues conventional Asian immigration stories, I felt that the nuances of the mother-daughter relationship could have been explored more. Does everything matter or does nothing matter???? Overall, this was the most epic and cynical movie about taxes I’ve ever watched.
4. Thor: Ragnarok (4.5)
Yes, I watched a lot of Marvel movies this year. Yes, I’m late to the party, but I wanted to give the Marvel series the proper, chronological watch it deserved. Thor: Ragnarak was probably one of my most favourite Marvel movies I’ve watched so far. Thor and Loki’s dynamic is such a joy to witness. However, I did find the whole Goddess of Death antithesis overly drab and unnecessary. Still, the one-liners in this movie genuinely made me cackle alone in my room, which is why I gave this a 4.5. Also, that one scene when Loki made Valkyrie uncover her memories of her fighting Hela was so memorable; that scene alone gave me goosebumps. This was enjoyable and not overly cheesy, easily the best Thor movie so far.
5. Avengers: Infinity War (4.5)
This is technically a rewatch because I first watched it when it came out but I did not understand anything before. But wow… this movie just does not give you time to breathe, it was so stressfully exciting up to every last minute. While it was extremely anxiety-inducing, I’m glad I watched this again after watching the sequential marvel movies that set up this one because now I fully understood the plot and the gravity and excitement of all the character interactions. Also, now I’m starting to realize how much I love Thor, he’s so sexy with or without his long hair.
6. Josée (4.5)
I’m not gonna lie, I watched this purely for Nam Joohyuk (he’s so hot) but I quite enjoyed the film’s subtle, quiet beauty. It was bittersweet, a bit claustrophobic, and surprisingly heartwarming. The cinematography was minimalistic but succinctly captured the melancholic quality of the plot. I definitely shed a few tears at the end… they really had to put IU’s song in the end credits…
7. Okja (4.5)
This is probably one of my favourite films to rewatch, it’s just that good. Bong Joon-ho is one of the most accredited directors and for good reason. Okja features a stellar cast, beautiful Korean scenery, dynamic characters, and a unique plot that keeps you rooting for the good guys and rightfully villainizes corporate America. Eat the rich!!
8. The Handmaiden (5)
You can tell I really tried to watch a lot of Korean films, but for good reason. This was a cinematic masterpiece. Holy moly. I finally got around to watching this after pushing it off for so long because it’s three hours but honestly, time flew by. I can’t believe that it not only had one but two plot twists that were so grippingly clever. I am still processing this movie and will be thinking about it for a long time.
9. The Spectacular Now (4.5)
This film is uneventful, yet surprisingly engrossing. I watched this first in high school, but watching it a few years later completely changed my perspective of it. I love the use of minimal makeup and the strangely too-candid screenplay; it invites strong feelings of tragedy, heartbreak, passion, and honesty. It all feels a little too real and a little too familiar. The chemistry between Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley is fantastic; they captured the mundanity, the anxiety, and the awkward nature of a budding high school relationship.
10. Best in Show (4.5)
If you haven’t watched this film yet, you must. This was so funny for absolutely no reason. If you like dogs and Jennifer Coolidge, there is nothing not to like.
11. Singin’ in the Rain (4.5)
“She can’t act, she can’t sing, she can’t dance. She’s a triple threat”. I wouldn't call myself a musical fan, but this was just pure joy. For a film made in 1952, this was ahead of its time. I understand why it’s such a classic. They really do be singing in the rain.
12. Top Gun: Maverick (5)
Listen, Tom Cruise is such a dilf in this film I could not help but give it a 5. Miles Teller and Glen Powell are fantastic—such a stacked cast! Now, THIS is a summer movie.
13. Nope (4.5)
A lot of people disliked Jordan Peele’s Jaws in the sky, but I’m giving it high praise. It was the perfect social thriller—it was original, refreshing, and featured an excellent sibling duo. There were many references, such as Charla Nash, that nodded towards a more subtle, refreshing social commentary on spectacle culture, spectatorship, and surveillance compared to Peele’s other two films.
14. (500) Days of Summer (4.5)
“I’m Autumn”. Like are you KIDDING me? The expectations vs. reality scene, the nostalgic cinematography, the pacing of their relationship—this was devastatingly beautiful and I cannot watch it for another year or so.
15. Summer of Soul (...or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (4.5)
A beautiful testament to how beautiful Black is!!! This festival is proof that music is so much more… music is a celebration of Black pride, identity, and culture. It’s truly one of the best concert docs I’ve ever seen… so enlightening, emotional, and educational, and it really has the power of making you feel like you’re living and breathing in that era. I feel like every person must watch this at least once in their lifetime.
16. Lady Bird (4.5)
This was beautiful and unexpectedly emotional. Like, I really did not expect to cry this much????? It made me miss my parents so much???? I loved this a lot—her two names, her two relationships, her relationships with her two parents… this reminded me a lot of The Spectacular Now, which makes sense seeing that these two movies were produced by A24. A24 just does a superb job of capturing nostalgia, melancholy, and realism in a very adoring way.
17. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (4.5)
One of the top movies I’ve watched this year—the first act acknowledging and mourning Chadwick’s passing straight off the bat was incredible and intensely moving. I cried three times throughout! The soundtrack hit as always, and the visuals were stunning; it reminded me of Avatar a lot, which I loved. It gave the Marvel franchise a new, mystical, alluring charm that I never expected. And wow, there was SO much culture, the Latin-American representation and discussion about colonialism and reparations was so enlightening. I couldn’t help but be captivated by MCU’s new villain, Namor—which I think is an amazing characterization. Being able to feel sympathy for the villain is so refreshing and heartbreaking at the same time. The pacing did seem a bit disjointed at times, especially during emotional moments like the queen’s death. I wish they slowed down more in those moments to really capture that mourning. For a sequel without its previous protagonist, they did an incredible job matching up to the audience’s expectations.
18. Avatar: The Way of Water (4.5)
The graphics? Unreal. The papyrus font? Still fugly. Heart-wrenching? Absolutely.
19. 20th Century Girl (4.5)
They made movies like this for romantics like ME. I was their sole intended audience. Except I hate this movie for not giving me the happy ending I wanted and I will forever resent the director for that horrid, gut-wrenching ending, which made me literally want to jump out the window and did not cure my Twenty Five Twenty One (a K-drama you must absolutely watch) broken heart. I loved, LOVED this movie but at what cost?
20. Pride & Prejudice (5)
I’m a changed woman… it is a truth universally acknowledged that this is the peak, the epitome of true romance and cinema!!!!