#illumination migration

[josselyn1021]

Happy ending

[the-funny-corrner]

MEME THIS

WHAT WILL YOU PUT!?

[billnuefan]

Since its the very very very very very start of 2024 here my top 4 favourite movies of 2023 so far (I'm planning to watch a bunch of animated 2023 films and a tier of them)

Honourable Mentions:

[ankle-beez]

[monkey-network]

Good Stuff: Best Movies of 2023

This was NOT a great year for blockbusters, huh? This was probably Disney's worst in years, multiple flops including what was meant to be their centennial anniversary film. It looked remarkably by the numbers, but think of the conglomerate's losses... Anyway, this to me was a pretty great year for films. Like 2022, I'm amazed at the variety we got that says more about the shifting tides of people's interest in movies. It was the most times I've been to the theater. We got a big worker's strike over the summer, especially large push back against degenerates trying to push AI to do more than just shitposting. And it was enough for me to know Adam Sandler, Godzilla, and Hayao Miyazaki could get the better of Disney. With this said, let this be a first for Good Stuff and count down my favorites of this year.

12. Renfield

My suspicions were on the money and I'm glad I gave this a shot in the theaters. Cage was the best Dracula I could've asked for in what you might say was an Adult Swim-esque dark comedy. It definitely has that style of gruesomeness and humor given Robert Kirkman and the Writer/Director behind Moral Orel made this. Unfortunately, Ben Schwartz stuck out like a sore thumb even if he fulfills his purpose in this, reminding me of Christopher Mintz-Plasse in KickAss; I feel he or Jason Schwartzman would've been better suited. Plus it can feel all over the place, an identity crisis that you can't even grasp after it finishes. Then again, I just had fun watching and would gladly rewatch for Cage and Hoult who are the highlights of this.

11. Migration

Call it blasphemous, but I enjoyed this more than the Mario movie. It's essentially Rio mixed with National Lampoon's Vacation, with a lovable cast, solid animation, and an eazy breezy road trip story. I've always looked to Illumination for simple enjoyable romps and I got what I expected here. Gave me Amphibia vibes in a way, replace frogs with birds. Everything surrounding the villain is my only real issue, he was an obvious and very nothing bad guy, but it's overall better paced than Super Mario Bros where it felt like you watched an eternity in 3 minutes. Still don't get the air of folk looking down on this for just being serviceable when it's honestly become my favorite Illumination movie next to the first Despicable Me.

10. Killers of the Flower Moon

Sad to say this is the weakest Scorsese movie for me, mainly because it felt like we're following the wrong main character. Lily Gladstone is incredible in this, among the other great performers, but she felt sidelined in favor of DeCaprio and De Niro's perspectives. It's like if in 1995's Casino, we just follow Ginger throughout the moment Sam introduces her. I liked the turmoil Leo's character goes through, but it paled in comparison to Mollie who was more affected by his and Hale's actions. That does not mean it's all bad. This can be a beautiful, dynamic, and ruthless movie that just made me feel bad for watching it; running with the words "harsh reality" throughout the 3 and a half hour runtime.

9. Good Burger 2

I watched Good Burger 1 & 2 this Thanksgiving weekend, and just had a blast. These are the kind of movies that are charmingly stupid but not insultingly so. Kel Mitchell's Ed is emblematic of how much dumb fun this duology is where he's actively comical but not smoothbrained to ruin your time. This I say is like Home Alone 2 where it is just beat for beat the 1st movie with minor developments but that doesn't really matter when it's just as well put together. It never feels like Kenan nor Kel missed a beat and the drama not overstaying its welcome. It is just "Good Burger Again" without it feeling like diminishing returns compared to other rehashing sequels.

8. Leo

Can you believe this got better publicity than Disney's Wish? Even YMS could appreciate this movie, that's how you know Sandler has his recognizable game when you least expect it. But Leo is a surprisingly good comedy that has actually sincere moments. Being Happy Madison's 2nd ever animation, it's like Adam waited to refine the production as opposed to putting a cash grab together like one would expect. It's not all good, especially trying to be a musical, but seeing it once you'd be impressed how much good it does with the risks it takes.

7. Nimona

Like Migration, everything surrounding the villain is the one big issue I have with this, especially when it comes to affecting the film's message. At the same time, she pales in comparison to the dynamic pairing of Ballister Blackheart and the titular shapeshifter. Nimona is my favorite character of 2023, her energy and confidence matched by the struggle she bears existing alone and the facade made to band-aid it. Her and Ballister's journey alone made me glad this got out of development hell, being Blue Sky's final production posthumous. To me it wasn't about being a take that to Disney, it was about the fact a movie like Nimona got to exist as great as it did. Hoping Stevenson is satisfied with their adaptation, because it definitely earned its flowers.

6. Emesis Blue

Offhand, it openly sucks that Letterboxd refuses to let this stay on the site to log, but it can't be overstated how much of a marvel this was. Repurposing not just the characters, but the lore and mechanics of Team Fortress 2 into a feature length horror thriller. The animation's top notch where it can have godly framing that was on par with the known legends of horror film making. SFM animations can be beautiful on their own, shitpost or otherwise, but Emesis Blue goes a step beyond by having a compelling story fitting for the universe on top of, again, every frame being a painting.

5. Shin Kamen Rider

I've never really saw any Tokusatsu shows. Not that I hate the genre, just could never get into it while recognizing the glorious looking chaos found in clips. Knowing Hideaki Anno directed was what got me into seeing this film and it opened my mind quite a bit. This was the legacy film that definitely had Anno's touch in both the action and drama. While the climax can notably drag, you never feel left out of what was essentially the original Kamen Rider's origin story. It doesn't have the complex VFX of stuff like Marvel, but the costumes and fight scenes makes me wish we got more of this in America beyond Power Rangers.

4. TMNT Mutant Mayhem

Advertising before release really didn't make this appear like a promising film. If there's anything I learned from this year though, appearances can be deceiving. Like Nimona was for her movie, the creative choices for this made it the TMNT movie I never knew I wanted. To me this felt akin to the Lego Batman movie where it's not only a good love letter of the franchise for more than its fanservice, but this spin on the characters is able to have a new sincere view of them without overhauling everything about the TMNT. That and it has the greatest needle drops I've had in a long while like how do insert He-Man Fabulous Secret Powers and expect me to hate this?

3. Godzilla Minus One

I call this a great year for films because it marks the first time I got to see a Toho produced Godzilla, with subtitles, in an real movie theater. Needless to say, it felt like I got to enjoy the 1954 film again anew. Not a remake mind you, but the parallels were uncanny and this spins here work just as well, if not more here than with the original in a couple places. Both are still strong movies nonetheless. Minus One is a refurbish that dishes out what people always wanted and uniquely giving a little more while never sacrificing why the OG is that timeless. With it getting more than a limited release, I'm glad this got to be more than a niche celebration of the kaijuu king.

2. Oppenheimer

This film's been meme'd to heaven, hell you could say it got meme'd to success thanks to its dual release with Barbie, but it didn't undermine getting hooked to watching this anyways. This really has become my favorite Nolan film, a compelling biopic that doesn't exactly herald its titular lead in the best light thanks to the paradoxical storytelling. Oppenheimer gives us the largest ensemble I know, and delivers in the most breathtaking moments I never knew I could get. Cillian killed it among the many who made the three hours of people sitting and talking in rooms actually tense and intriguing to thread. Plus it gave us the beauty of Josh Peck being the guy to detonate the test bomb like cherry on top of this cinematic cake.

1. The Holdovers

I remember watching Alexander Payne's Sideways with Paul Giamatti as a high schooler but couldn't appreciate it until rewatching this year. It's one of the best mid-life crisis comedies you could see, still fresh in its easy going presentation and music. The same can be said for this film, made to feel like it came from the late 70s or 80s with the old opening logos that I didn't think you could do in these times. Out the gate, this was the holiday story I was shocked would be as relatable as it was, with the trio of Giamatti, Randolph, and Sessa each having their story that resonated with me strongly. With the right amount of time, Payne offers an remarkably cozy, down to earth movie where from reserved to outgoing, it did a lot for me emotionally. Like Netflix's Klaus, I kinda want this to be a traditional rewatch for the holiday seasons. One that everyone should try at least once, especially if they feel the disillusionment of the season where this might lift their spirits one way or another.

If there's anything to learn from this year, it's that the meta has definitely shifted. Even when the many on my list didn't make billions like the Avatar films, the variety and risks made spoke more than the big dogs like Disney and WB putting out unprofitable blockbusters that ranged from very by the numbers to you don't need to see The Flash to know how god awful it just was. More people are & should branch out beyond the major mainstream names. Not that the big dogs aren't ever gonna make great films in the coming years, but we should appreciate more than the big budget features you can tell are playing it safe. Time can be patient for great cinema, sleeper hits or not, so take advantage while you're young.

[dasturdlydangerousduck]

Just posting some Mack Mallard cuz he so precious...

[goofyahhraccoon]

My Review/Thoughts on Illumination's recent film, Migration

Hey fam, I know it's been a while since I posted, but that's because I had a lot going on, I got sick for a few days but I'm feeling better now. Anyways just wanna give my thoughts on Migration because I was hyped for it and I love Illumination. I thought it was fun and cute, the animation was gorgeous as usual, the score was really great which makes sense since John Powell is a great composer, and I really love the characters, I thought they were all really funny and likeable, the best character in the movie is Danny DeVito as Uncle Dan. I also liked the kids and the parents. The villain was good, even though he's not in it that much. Keegan Michael Key and Awkwafina's characters were also fun, I guess my only issue with the film is that it's a bit too short, only 60 minutes, but you get what you get. Overall, I think this is one of the best Illumination films and I hope this Renaissance of theirs keeps going, 8/10.

[thelastdiamondpiratealchemist]

Remember how the Sonic fandom got that animation to redue Sonic's original/nightmare fuel design?

How about we get Disney to release a Wish Rewrite? We'll keep on asking until we get it. (Politely of course no bullying.)

[franciya]

Noooooo I wanted a picture with Hot Daddy™ cough the amazing King Magnifico💔

[princess-unipeg]

2 days ago I got around to watching Migration and although it’s not Illumination’s magnum opus it’s still a fun watch with beautiful animation. It’s one of those “random plot” stories. It’s not really coherent with its story structure. Basically the patriarch of the duck family just up and decides to have his family migrate after one comment from his uncle. Soon after they come across this creepy heron couple and you’re left wondering what their deal is. Then there’s this detour to New York where they end up trying to help this parrot escape his owner who is an extreme celebrity chef with a specialty for duck ala range. Third act you end up with a “Chicken Run but with ducks” plot where the duck dad has this “mandatory relationship fail” with the duck son and it all ends with a rescue plot from the chef from earlier and it all ends with most of the bird characters making it to Jamaica. There’s little breathing room between each segments and you feel like you’re watching a precursor to a cartoon series that will last 2 seasons at best. Like it’s a movie short that was stretched out so that there be an excuse to watch that Minions short that’s most likely people’s reason for watching Migration. Not to say I dislike it. It’s a delight to watch and it makes me want to see it again in theaters.

[skellys-selfships]

am i the only one who thought he was kinda......🤭

[naughtygirl286]

Of course with our viewing of Migration there was collectable goodies!! They had cups and some Duck plushies as well I didn’t get any plushies but as for the cups the cup again is a small one similar to the ones we got at Wish and Trolls Band Together it says 12oz on the bottom(which is like 121ml or so?) its small being it was meant for lil kids. The cup is of course plastic and has that super slick shininess to it the cups have been having recently it has the Movie's logo on it and a wrap around image of all the main characters for the movie. They had different toppers but but I didn't have any preference so I just took the one they gave me so I like it it is a cute lil cup

[billnuefan]

So the tier list is finally completed and here are my rankings for animated films from 2023

_______________________________________

Best-

1.Nimona

2.Spiderman Across The The Spiderverse

3.Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutant Mayhem

4.The Boy And The Heron

5.Elemental

_______________________________________

Worst

1.The Monkey King

2.Paw Patrol The Mighty Movie

3.Miraculous Awaking

4.Wish

5.Ruby Gillman Teenage Kraken

_______________________________________

Honourable Mentions:

Trolls Band Together

The Magician's Elephant

Diary Of A Wimpy Kid Christmas Cabin Fever

Leo

Chicken Run Dawn Of The Nugget

Migration

Under The Boardwalk

The Super Mario Bros Movie

_______________________________________

This Tier List shows what numbers I'd give them

[aleppothemushroom]

Oh my God

I think Illumination is getting good at character design!

[emiemi345]

the super mario bros movie may be cool but illumination is really stepping up their game with migration /s