There was no shortage of incredible projects and performances that came out in 2022. Whether it’s travelling the multiverse (no we don’t mean Doctor Strange), exorcizing demons at a mortuary or a family that rides dragons, 2022 was quite a year entertainment wise. While it’s impossible to list them all, we managed, key word here being managed, to narrow down our favorite moments that brought us joy during these tough times. These moments are broken down into several categories as we agreed there were many aspects to cover. So here’s a look back at some of our favorite moments and releases of 2022.
Best Film
G: Everything Everywhere All At Once. There are few films that can balance emotional story beats while serving absolute wild concepts into the story. Everything Everywhere All At Once manages to do just that. The film is just pure insane fun and has so much charm and heart so it’s hard not to smile from ear to ear. You get wonderful performances from the entire cast, an emotional rollercoaster of a story and a whole lot of laughs and tears. The movie is quite simply a masterpiece from start to finish.
K: Everything, Everywhere All At Once. There’s no doubt about it. Hands down it was the most unique film experience I’ve ever had and I wish I could watch it again for the first time to get that same high I got during the first watch. The visuals, the storyline, everything was chef’s kiss. It’s the masterpiece of 2022.
Best Show
K: Maybe I’m biased but the show I’ve been raving about since it aired was Peacemaker. I’m still raving about it. In fact I haven’t shut up since it premiered in January. I’ve collected the Funkos. Made my own merch. Annoyed my friends and family. What more is there to do except wait for season two so I can do it all over again? On a more serious note, this is Gunn’s best work so far despite what the haters are saying. They can stay mad.
G: Tired of the superhero genre? The Boys manages to pull something unlike most shows can do now a days which is to outshine it’s previous seasons and get better and better. The most bonkers show currently streaming, but it’s so damn good it’s no wonder why so many people are tuning in. This season blew up the meme culture scene, but even beyond that, if you have not checked out this show yet, I urge you to do so. The show flips the genre on its head in its very modern and realistic portrayal of the superhero branding that big corporations and government would take advantage of, while delivering some of the most complex and interesting characters of all time.
Standout Performance
G: Ke Huy Quan. What more can I say? Ke manages to shine the brightest in a film that is STACKED with great performances, but to say that Ke isn’t the scene stealer in this film would be a lie. His portrayal of Waymond was haunting and encapsulates everything wonderful about the human spirit to which Ke delivers a stunning performance that it’s hard to believe he hasn’t been working in the industry for the past 20 or so years.
K: This is the bias talking again, but Freddie Stroma has me wrapped around his finger. His acting in Peacemaker had pretty much everyone who was unfamiliar with his work fooled (the man is British but his real accent sounds fake in comparison to his American one. Let that sink in). Freddie doesn’t get enough praise for his chameleon-like ability to blend into his projects. Don’t let that baby face fool you. He’s a powerhouse and Peacemaker has hopefully opened doors for more opportunities for him in the future.
Our Comfort Characters
K: Do I even need to say it? I’ll drop a hint: he’s Peacemaker’s bff and he’s played by Freddie Stroma (I should just write about that man separately at this point). But yes. It’s Adrian Chase aka Vigilante. He hasn’t done a single wrong thing in his life and he’s a cupcake of a man.
G: I feel like I must go with Joyce and Hopper from Stranger Things as well as everyone from the Guardians of the Galaxy since we recently got a holiday special out with them that reminded me how much I miss them.
Best Anime
G: Chainsaw Man. Are you a fan of Mappa? Enough said. Looking for an absolute bonkers concept of an anime? Watch this. You get gorgeous animation all packaged in a creative concept of an anime and it’s no wonder why the manga blew up in popularity.
K: Chainsaw Man. When MAPPA rings the dinner bell, I come running. Everything MAPPA creates is pure gold and I’m going to eat it up every time. It’s the next best thing after Attack On Titan and the animation styles often feel quite similar, especially the fight sequences. But still. I’m in a MAPPA chokehold and I’m okay with that.
Best Soundtrack
K: I doubt anyone’s given this a second thought, but does anyone else appreciate the masterpiece that is the soundtrack to Netflix’s The Sandman? It feels so magical and whimsical yet dark and powerful at the same time and it gives me goosebumps whenever I listen to it. And by goosebumps I mean the ones that this song causes.
G: Everything Everywhere All At Once by Son Lux. I greatly enjoyed so many of the original tracks made for this movie. Some were so unique and delivered up such creative music that goes so well for an equally unique movie. It was so well serviced and fits right in, and some of the music has been on repeat for me throughout the year. Also want to give a shout-out to Black Panther 2, Wakanda Forever’s soundtrack since that too has been on my Spotify playlist.
Best Animation
G: GDT’s Pinocchio. One of the freshest takes on the story of Pinocchio in recent memory. The stop motion animation is beautiful, as are the performances, all paired with an interesting and much darker take on the wooden puppet that delivers mature concepts in a not so family friendly story. You can feel that this was a passion project of GDT since every frame is oozing with so much care and detail. The final product is well worth it.
K: This one is pretty recent but Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio was gorgeous. Stop motion films have always captivated me and the sheer amount of work that goes into them may be daunting but the end results are often breathtaking. Coupled with an original soundtrack and a talented cast, this is another film I wish I could watch again and experience for the first time.
Best Video Game
K: Unpopular opinion but I really enjoyed The Mortuary Assistant. It had a unique concept unlike anything I’ve seen before and regardless if I played it or not (I haven’t), it was still very good gameplay. After watching several YouTubers and streamers play, it was fascinating to see how each one of them had different experiences and different spooks. No two playthroughs were the same.
G: Elden Ring. As a huge fan of the Souls series, Elden Ring was a no brainer. FromSoftware was able to create their best work, utilizing all that they’ve learned from the past games to create a huge world full of some rich story and intricate game mechanics while also giving so much freedom to the players to do what they wish. The game offers a huge challenge as did their games before, but one that is so enjoyable that it’s hard not to give credit where credit is due.
What We’re Looking Forward To In 2023
G: So many great projects to choose from! Here’s my short list that includes my top movie and tv show picks I’m most looking forward to in no particular order: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3, The Super Mario Bros movie, Oppenheimer, Barbie, The Last of Us, Washington Black, The Boys s4, and Mandalorian season three.
K: There’s a lot to look forward to but the thing I’m most excited for is The Last of Us airing on HBO. Everything I’ve seen so far about it is living up to the hype and I pray that it does the game justice. And for the first time in a long time, I have high hopes for this adaptation. With Papa Pedro in it, it’s bound to be good.
We hope everyone has a safe and happy holidays and we’ll see you again in 2023!
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