Despite the growing success of
online-streaming, I still savor my experiences in the theater, as those are the
movie events I want to look back on. So, to keep things simple, I’m listing off
each movie I saw in the theater in order of which film I saw first to the movie
I saw last and give my quick opinions on them. I viewed 11 movies at the
theater in total this year, and let’s just have some fun looking back at some of
the films from 2025.
“The King of Kings”
Kicking off 2025 at the movies for me was a new take on the
story of Christ. In general, it’s an appropriately straightforward telling of
the life of Jesus Christ for an intended younger audience, as well as cleverly
presented with a personality that will keep kids engaged, and never forgetting
the virtues and mature moments that make this tale so meaningful. Along with
the story of Christ, this also makes a terrific gateway for younger viewers to
be introduced to Charles Dickens. While the tone is initially fluffier and for
little ones first, it gradually found its grove and delivers all the content
and stirring emotions one would hope for from a variation of the greatest story
ever told.
“Final Destination: Bloodlines”
Prior to this movie, I’d only seen the original
“Final Destination” once, and enjoyed it fine, but didn’t feel won over
by the franchise. After watching “Bloodlines”, I’m encouraged to give
the series a second chance. This was a fun, thrilling, goofy outing with a
signature tone and presentation, which the series is known for, but elevated
with a layered back story, fun new ideas, and memorable, exciting set-pieces.
More than anything, it’s a fine example of how a long dormant horror franchise
can still have some life … without feeling like a walking corps. … R.I.P Tony
Todd.
“Ballerina”
From the world of "John Wick" … we get a top-tier spin-off, with Ana De Armas
carrying the fire, the raw emotion and the same white knuckled action this
series is built on. While it was cool to see John Wick himself in the film, I’d
be more then content to follow the titular Ballerina on new missions without
relying on Keanu Reeves, as she made for a great lead in of herself. All
around, this is one of the better spin-off franchise movies I’ve seen in a
while, as well as one of the better “girl boss” action movies, and proof that
the genera isn’t devoid of some hard-hitting ladies.
“F1: The Movie”
Once in a while, I need a special movie experience to remind me
why I love going to the theater to experience movies … and for me, in 2025, it
came in the form of “F1”. Between the reliable charisma of star Brad
Pitt, along with an equally strong cast, a riveting score by Hans Zimmer, pristine
editing by Stephen Mirrione, and the kinetic direction of Joseph Kosinski, this
movie was an absolute rush of excitement and left me out of breath like any
good race should. While the time-tested sports movie formula is a predictable
one … it’s the execution of the familiar beats that can make a film of this
nature soar, and “F1” made its formula accelerate!
“Jurassic World: Rebirth”
When it comes to comfort food franchises to occasionally
return to in the cinema, the “Jurassic Park” franchise remains one of
the simplest and pleasing to return to. As for this year’s instalment titled “Rebirth”,
it didn’t progress the series, but it was certainly a nice return to old-school
adventure films, with a mysterious island setting, items for the heroes to
collect, and fun dino themed set-pieces along the way … including a memorable
new river raft chase, which was admirably lifted from the original book. While
the effects were a little dogy, Gareth Edward’s direction certainly gave the
film a sense of grandeur and spectacle that was well worth experiencing in the
theater.
“The Fantastic Four: First Steps”
Jumping right into a new Fantastic Four
continuity without an origin story made it tricky to feel connected to this
team … at least at first, but once this film found its footing, this early
Marvel family pulled me in with a warm embrace. With a unique visual esthetic
paying tribute to the illustrations of Jack Kirby, it gives this comic book
experience a distinct personality and style different from others, and manages
to have fun, while also remembering to have a heart and convey a sense of
impending doom in the presence of a planet devouring giant. It was a rocky road
for the Fantastic Four at the movies … but this is the first that I feel
confident in saying is a real win … Excelsior!
“The Naked Gun”
The original “Naked Gun” film series is arguably my
favorite long running comedy franchise, and I admit, I was hesitant with the
arrival of a legacy sequel all these decades later. Thankfully, Liam Neeson not
only met the challenge, but in many respects surpassed the low bar expectations,
and delivered a hilarious joke a minuet picture, which both respected the
original and stepped out of its shadow with its own flavor and sense of wit. I
really couldn’t remember the last time I laughed so consistently in a theater
at a straightforward comedy that wasn’t related to a comic book.
“Good Boy”
I’ve been around the block with haunted house movies for a while, it’s always
been my favorite sub-genre of horror films, and admittedly there comes a point
in which you feel like you’ve seen it all. Having a spooky house experience
seen entirely from the perspective of a dog was an ingenious hook for this
film, and beyond feeling very unique in its approach, it elevated and
heightened my senses in a way the phew other horror films have accomplished. The
lead dog Indy, despite being a dog with no speaking lines, still carried the
whole film, and even managed to give the movie a heart underneath all the
scares. I don’t usually go to the theater for horror movies, but this was a
rare case in which it not only piqued my interest … I felt it also delivered
something special, and worth remembering.
“Predator: Badlands”
The iconic Predator alien is one of my all-time favorites, as despite
being an imposing foe, I always felt this creature had the potential for more.
Case in point, we finally get a Predator movie in which he’s the main character
of his own story, battling different threats on an alien world and discovering
that strength and honor come from more than simply being the strongest killer.
The formula, message and even narrative to an extent have obviously been
utilized before in other media but seeing it all play out from the perspective
of a character that we associate with the great villains of Sci-Fi cinema made
this experience feel all the more rewarding and special. It also proved that
Predator has become quite flexible as a franchise, one that can break away from
its own familiar formula and tackle other avenues. I don’t know if this should
be the norm for the series as a whole, but I love the variety and uniqueness this
film provided as its own standalone adventure. Between this and director Dan Trachtenberg’s
previous two Predator offerings, I feel this franchise is at a highpoint it’s
never experienced since its original classic debut … and that’s saying
something special.
“Wicked: For Good”
The second act of the hit Broadway musical “Wicked” is
frequently sighted as the weaker half … but that’s when a movie has the chance
to change things … for good! While this second movie adaptation doesn’t soar as
high as its predecessor, and struggles with a jarring tone, it still packs the
spark, the exhilarating music, the colorful iconography and heartfelt
performances that the world of Oz deserves. Even if it wasn’t perfect, I felt
it delivered an ending that was honestly more satisfying than the original
stage play. All around, a worthy conclusion to one of the best stage musicals
to movie adaptations I’ve seen in a while.
“Zootopia 2”
“Avatar: Fire and Ash”
Closing out my theater going experience for 2025 is another rousing experience from a series that’s made for the big screen. Yup, it’s time to return to Pandora for another round extraordinary visuals, immersive settings, mile-a-minuet thrills, and boundless imagination on display. Also, like the previous “Avatar” films, this one threatens to buckle under its familiar narrative beats, but it keeps winning me over with universal themes, and genuinely emotional storytelling. The cast of characters remains reliably engaging, with Zoe Saldana delivering her most fierce portrayal of Princess Neytiri. This time around, it's the villains who add a much-needed shake-up to the formula and basically steal the show. In the end, James Cameron may not be the most original storyteller working in Hollywood … but he is sincere with his presentation and can submerse an audience into a fictional world like any master filmmaker.
Thanks for
reading my countdown … and may the thrill of the theater continue next year!
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