The year 2023 was an exceptional one for movies. Despite the Hollywood labour strikes that halted film and television production for nearly half the year, a variety of blockbusters still hit cinemas. From the phenomenon of Barbenheimer, to beloved Marvel productions and heartwarming Pixar flicks, here are five movies our junior reporters loved in 2023.
The best songs of 2023: Taylor Swift, Yoasobi and Miley Cyrus all delivered hits we won’t forget
John Wick: Chapter 4
Gregory Rusli, Hong Kong International School
The latest in the John Wick series, starring Keanu Reeves, has characters with lots of depth, diversity, and rich acting that makes you sympathise with them. It also has funny moments, the characters feel very realistic, and it has a well-written antagonist.
Oppenheimer
Sophia Ling, German Swiss International School
This movie delves into the dark arcs of life and science and the ethics of creating a weapon of mass destruction. It follows American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer, known as the “father of the atomic bomb”. He had many apprehensions after creating the bomb, recognising that he had invented a monster that would destroy humanity and nature.
Elemental
Tony Fu Ho-man, Po Leung Kuk Wu Chung College
Set in a world inhabited by the elements of nature, this Disney and Pixar movie talks about the love between fire element Lumen and water element Wade. They grow up believing that elements cannot mix, but against all odds, the pair finds a way to be together.
Team YP’s picks for the best music, movies and TV shows of 2023
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Valerie Chiu, St. Mary’s Canossian College
In this film, the Guardians embark on a journey to save Rocket, who is badly injured after being attacked by Sovereign warrior Adam Warlock. This fascinating movie explores the themes of friendship, perfection and growth. The best part is that the director manages to share the origins of the Guardians’ most adorable member while reinforcing how cruel the alien geneticist High Revolutionary is.
Barbie
Vijay Narayanan, Island School
Barbie breezed into the summer to show why pink is the new black and act as the sunny and bubbly antithesis to the dark and gritty nature of Oppenheimer.
The movie takes inspiration from Mattel commercials and the excited minds of young girls all over the world, painting a whimsical image of a society slathered in ignorance and pinkness.
Margot Robbie stars as the title character, perfectly walking the tightrope between blissful ignorance and a feminist awakening, while Ryan Gosling is surprisingly goofy and vulnerable as Ken. Life in plastic may not be as fantastic as we thought, but for a few hours, you can escape into a world where life is your creation.
