The Best Stuff From 2022

It's the end of the year and you know what that means; end of the year lists! Here's the stuff I personally enjoyed the most from this past year.

Andor

This should come as no surprise to anyone who follows my posts. 'Andor' was something else; the best Star Wars content since the 'Knights of the Old Republic' games, heck since the original trilogy, and just plain great TV to boot.

A gripping political thriller with a lot to say, 'Andor' really takes the time to build up to its big moments by helping us to truly understand the world(s) that the characters inhabit, and what their motivations are, smartly using multi-episode mini-arcs (usually about 2-3 episodes long) that all lead to a bigger finale, slowly creating tension for what's to come before exploding into a heart-pounding, gut-punching climax. The show's constant setups and payoffs, and the fact that we genuinely care about/understand the characters and the stakes, makes it a profoundly rewarding experience to watch.

Glass Onion

Another one that should come as no surprise, Rian Johnson somehow manages to make lightning strike twice with this riotous sequel.

While not quite as tight and intimate as the previous story of the Thrombey's family drama, the crew of 'Glass Onion' nonetheless make excellent fodder for Johnson's lampooning of the social elite, and the cast is more than up to the task. Well-acted, timely, and most importantly, hilarious, 'Glass Onion' is everything I could have hoped for as a follow up to one of my all time favorites.

The Northman

DAMN I loved this movie. It's weird, it's violent, and it is not for everyone, but boy did it tick a lot of my boxes.

Based on the Norse legend that allegedly inspired Hamlet, 'The Northman' stars Alexander Skarsgard as Amleth, a man out to avenge his family against his treacherous uncle. A harrowing revenge epic that ruminates on traditionally masculine ideals in a VERY unsubtle way, 'The Northman' may turn off viewers with its strange nature and decidedly "indie" sensibilities, but hey, it's not every movie that has me coming back for 4 viewings in a single year, so take that as you will.

The Green Knight

While this technically did not come out this year, I did watch it for the first time this year, and I loved it. Plus this is my blog and I can put whatever movies I want on here.

Much like 'The Northman', this is a film about generational trauma and toxic masculinity, and it will likely turn some viewers away with its slower pace and surreal trappings, but, also much like 'The Northman', this movie drew me back for multiple viewings and easily worked its way into my top ten films.

The Batman

Not a lot to say here except finally, finally someone besides Christopher Nolan made a good Batman film.

God of War: Ragnarok

Easily one of the best games I've ever played, this one is a wild ride from start to finish. AAA spectacle, excellent storytelling, and top tier voice acting make this game one hell of an experience, and if this is the only game I ever play on my PS5, it was still worth the buy. In a world where game after game settles for mediocrity, 'Ragnarok' comes out swinging and doesn't let up until the credits roll.

Vampire Survivors

This adorable, deceptively simple, downright evil little indie game has stolen so many hours of my life since I discovered it a few months ago. With a price tag under 10 bucks, an addictive gameplay loop, and more secrets to uncover than you can shake a stick at, I don't think I'll be putting this down anytime soon. The perfect game to unwind at the end of the day. This is the 'Hades' of 2022.

Elden Ring

Elden Ring. Duh.