#103: Best TV & Film experiences of 2022 + Why I'm excited about 2023

New Year, Let's Gooooo!

Happy New Year readers!

Something about a new year gets me psyched. Even if my rational brain knows that absolutely nothing has changed between 11:59 on 12/31/2022 and 12:00 on 1/1/2023, there’s an electricity in the air that I feed off of as long as I can.

It helps that 2022 was a stand-out year and I’m taking some momentum and positive energy into a new year. Many of those good vibes come from you, so thank you for being here.

It was a good year for movies. I went to the theater 16 times, making memories with friends and family. I also got the most out of my Netflix and Disney+ subscriptions at home.

Here are my top film and TV experiences of the year.

Honorable Mentions

• War & Peace (2016, BBC) - Watched this as part of The Big Read and loved it. You can find my 10 reasons why I think you should watch here.

• Never Have I Ever S2 & S3 (Netflix) - This show is consistently funny and heartwarming. Yeah, the characters keep making the same mistakes, but that’s teenagers!

• Stranger Things S4 (Netflix) - While not the GOAT of Stranger Things seasons, I enjoyed this one more than the last. Fun new characters, scary villain, and that scene with the Kate Bush song that I’ll never forget.

• Reservation Dogs S2 (Hulu) - I think I enjoyed Season 1 more but the finale to Season 2 was beautiful and cathartic and brought the storyline to a highly satisfying conclusion.

• Wednesday (Netflix) - I liked this way more than I thought I would! It leans hard into YA Fantasy but Jenna Ortega is magnetic and the writing is clever.

Movie Experiences: 6-10

• Scream franchise (1996 - 2022) - I went down the Scream rabbit hole this year and have no regrets. They are stupid, funny, creative, self-referential, and thrilling.

• Everything, Everywhere, All at Once - There are many parts of this movie that I did not enjoy and I don’t think I’ll ever watch it again. But the scenes that worked for me really worked and certain messages were deeply resonant. It’s fun to talk about.

• Prey - I watched this twice at home and loved the story and central performance by Amber Midthunder. In a word, this movie is cool and I hope they make more.

• The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent - I saw this during my trip to Portland with my friend Michael and it made me laugh harder than any other movie all year.

• Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery - This was a fun date night movie. Find my full review here! This movie is awesome!

Movie Experiences: 1-5

• Roald Dahl’s Matilda: The Musical - I did not see this coming! We watched this as a family over the holidays and have listened to the music every day since. The songs, the dancing, the performances and sets and make up is all so good! Fun for the whole family and blows the 1996 movie out of the water.

• Station Eleven - Finished this almost a year ago and still think about it. I get excited when others tell me they’re watching it. It was magic and my favorite TV experience of the year.

• Avatar: The Way of Water - Full review last week but this was my second-best movie theater experience after Top Gun. I’m still trying to convince my plus one to go with me!

• RRR - I loved it. You’ll love it. Carve 3 hours out of your weekend and enjoy some CG animals and the best dance off since Zoolander.

• Top Gun: Maverick - I’ve been raving about this all year. I’ve seen it 3 times now and it’s thrilling every time. Easily the best cinematic experience of the year.

New Adaptations in 2023

(Synopses courtesy of IMDb. Image courtesy of Letterboxd)

There is a lot to look forward to in 2023! These are the page-to-screen adaptations that interest me the most that I hope to write about this year:

Knock at the Cabin (Feb. 3)

Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, while vacationing, a girl and her parents are taken hostage by armed strangers who demand that the family make a choice to avert the apocalypse. Based on The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay which I am currently reading.

Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret (April 28)

When her family moves from the city to the suburbs, 11-year-old Margaret navigates new friends, feelings, and the beginning of adolescence.

Oppenheimer (July 21)

Directed by Christopher Nolan and shot on IMAX cameras, this is the story of American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his role in the development of the atomic bomb. Based on American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer. I’m currently listening to the audiobook.

The Color Purple (Dec. 20)

Musical adaptation of Alice Walker's novel about the life-long struggles of an African American woman living in the south during the early 1900s. I read this last year but never saw the 1985 movie or the musical.

Movies I’m most excited about in 2023

I have to document this, mostly because it’s always interesting to look back and compare the expectation of a shiny new movie coming out with the reality of the final product.

What were your favorites of 2022? What are you looking forward to this year?

Thanks for reading!
Kyle