STACK #230 December 2023

MOVIE FEATURE

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TOP 10

Talk to Me Who could have imagined that the most talked about and celebrated horror movie of the year would be Aussie? Talk to Me was an instant hit, and had tongues wagging across the globe. Scary and hilarious in equal measure, the film is a clever and original take on the possession subgenre and is essential viewing for all horror fans. This movie exceeded expectations when directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein ( Game Night ) delivered a gut bustlingly funny fantasy adventure that paid homage to the titular role-playing game, as well as classic movies such as The Princess Bride and The Lord of the Rings , as well as the comedy of Monthy Python . Transformers: Rise of the Beasts Just when we thought that the Transformers franchise was running out of steam, along came Bumblebee (2018) to breathe new life into the old girl, only to be outdone by this fantastic follow-up, Rise of the Beasts . Set in the mid-’90s, this latest instalment introduces characters from Beast Wars and takes the action all the way to Peru. This is the most fun the Transformers have ever been! Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Into the Spider-Verse redefined animated movies in 2018, and revolutionised the genre. No one anticipated that a sequel would not only equal that movie’s brilliance, but also trump it. Across the Spider-Verse instantly ranks amongst the greatest superhero movies of all time, and is a feast for the eyes: clever, complex, and pure unadulterated entertainment. The Flash Arguably one of the year’s most highly anticipated movies, The Flash had fans champing at the bit for a look at Michael Keaton’s return as Batman (his first such appearance since Batman Returns in 1992), and the film went above and beyond to deliver an action-packed adventure with a cavalcade of cameos and Easter eggs. Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves

It’s been a bumper year for movie lovers, with some colossal titles dominating the box office and home entertainment. From the latest Transformers to big-screen Barbie, 2023 has proven to be an assortment of treats. Let’s take a look at the year’s top ten. Words Glenn Cochrane John Wick: Chapter 4

and shocked audiences with its no-holds-barred brand of lowbrow comedy, combined with the sweet and endearing schmaltz that comes with talking animal movies. TMNT: Mutant Mayhem There was a lot of anticipation brewing for the latest Ninja Turtles movie, and in the end it did not disappoint. Spearheaded by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, the film went back to the source material to give the characters proper teenage personas, with the story presented in a unique and innovative style. It's also hilarious, and the best TMNT movie adaptation yet. Fast X No number of sequels (or internet memes) are going to slow Vin Diesel down, and when it comes to putting big get-out-of-town action on the screen, you better believe he means business. This tenth instalment is more outrageous than ever before, upping the ante and giving the fans exactly what they want. By now the franchise has become essential event viewing.

The almost three-hour running time didn’t deter John Wick fans from lapping up this epic fourth instalment. The action-packed sequel made an absolute killing at the box office and on physical media formats, making good on its promise to line up the bad guys and bump ‘em off in all sorts of stylish and violent ways. The Super Mario Bros. Movie Let’s-a go! The Super Mario Bros. Movie bounded onto our screens with the energy of a 1-Up’d, flower-charged plumber from Brooklyn. Featuring an all-star voice cast led by Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Jack Black, the movie struck a chord with kids all over the world, and soon had them singing Bowser’s earworm belter: “ Peaches, Peaches, Peaches Peaches …”. Strays Talking dogs with potty mouths: what's not to love? This riotous adults-only comedy from the makers of Cocaine Bear arrived out of nowhere,

54 DECEMBER 2023

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