I was quite shocked to discover that I have not done one of these end of year reviews for some 5+ years. And given some of the movies that I have had to endure during 2025, I decided it was time to correct that.
Being a serious cinephile, I do go to the Cinema quite a bit. I managed again over 100 visits during 2025, with varying results.
I still firmly believe in Cinema, nothing that one can create at home, now matter how big a TV screen you have, can compare to the big screen experience. Like so many I have been horrified to read about the potential Netflix buyout of Warner Bros. which like so many are saying, will be the beginning of the end of Cinema.
But enough of doom and gloom, let us look at the past 12 months of films.
Like 2024, this year did not produce a 10/10 film. Quite something really. I cannot recall two back to back years where there was not a standout film.
(I will just mention that I normally do not allow retro screenings into the scoring for a film year, but if one were to class "Kill Bill The Whole Bloody Affair" as a new film, given it has been re-edited, then this would certainly have a score of 10 out of 10)
When I look back at the films and their scores for 2025, I am surprised at how many have really low scores, like between 2 and 4. This is most unusual, and does not bode well. Some films that have received much hype and praise have fallen in that score range....more of that later.
Great Horror and horrific Horror....
2025 was siaid to be the year of the horror film - here are just four examples of how the Horror film can vary in degrees of success. "Silent Night Deadly Night" was passable though I have not seen the original version. I was a huge fan of "Black Phone", and was somewhat weary of a sequel, and it turns out I was right to be. For me everything they got so right in the first film, they completely ignored for the sequel.
"Bring Her Back" is a rare film. Loved by so many, but not me. I loathe it with a passion. When watching the film I found myself getting angrier and angrier. There was so much wrong with the plot of the film. Things that should have never made it to the page let alone on screen. A huge mess of a movie.
Then the flip side is "The Monkey". I had hoped it would be good, especially as every time I saw the trailer, one particular moment had me laughing everytime I saw it, and yes it did deliver, and then some.Wickedly funny, wonderfully gruesome, and a real delight to watch.
Back on the Big Screen....
Like Horror, familiar faces returned to the Big Screen with varying results.
After a sigficant absense, the "Final Destination" franchise returned to the big screen, with a somewhat lacklustre effort. You kind of think that if this is the best that they can come up with after all this time, then was it worth doing??
As for "Superman", I could write pages and pages just on this one movie. Boy what a waste of a golden opportunity. Main issue was no chemistry between the two lead characters, and don't get me started on what Ma and Pa from Krypton were secretly up to. Another mess of a movie.
There was a final reckoning for the MI Team, and I think it is safe to say the whole franchise has finally run out of steam. The films seem to be fitting themselves around the stunts rather the stunts fitting within the film. It was ok, but if this is the last film, then it left one feeling rather underwhelmed.
That mad cap diarist Bridget Jones returned with a wonderful new movie. It was great to see a beloved character still able to work her magic thanks to the amazing Renee Zellweger, and also from up and coming Actor Leo Woodall.
Films that did not impress.....
Nosferatu....Wolf Man....Flight Risk....Hard Truths....The Brutalist....Heart Eyes....
One of Them Days....Mickey 17....Drop....Death of a Unicorn....The Ritual....Clown in a Cornfield...
Weapons....Together....The Toxic Avenger
Films that were even worse (Absolute Worst of 2025)
One of the films in this category, believe it or not, is the favourite to win Best Picture at this years Oscars ceremony. Just shows how opinions can be divided.
Here are the most tedious, absolute waste of time movies that I have seen during the past 12 months. For me they really are shockingly bad. My only consolation is that I will never have to sit through them again....one viewing was more than enough.
Biggest Surprise of the Year
I had heard the rumours that this film was going ahead. Then filming began, and then I saw the trailer. And for me it had disaster written all over it. With some reluctance and a great deal of trepidation, I went to see said movie.
I could not have been more wrong...and will gladly admit it. This film was one of the highlights of the year, coming from nowhere, with so few expectations.....and it was one of the most entertaining films of 2025. And it is......
After years of playing the mature action hero in great movies like the "Taken" series, "The Grey" to name just a few, the last person you expect to take on the lead of Frank Drebin jr, especially taking over from the comedy legend of Leslie Nielson, would be Liam Neeson. You just would not put the two of them together....and that is why it DOES work, that and a wickedly funny script, coupled with great visual gags, that were what made "Naked Gun" so successful the first time round. I think it is a shame that there is little chance of a sequel, but sometimes it is best to leave well alone. A huge well done to all concerned with the making of this comedy great.
Films that I really enjoyed watching
Timothee Chalamet really excelled in "A Complete Unknown", there is little that this incredibly talented actor cannot do.
Action thrillers fared well with great movies like "Black Bag", which when I saw the trailer it was almost like it was tailor made for me, and excellent it was too.Likewise Rami Malek proved he can be an action lead in the equally entertaining "The Amateur".
The 'John Wick' universe provided its first spin-off with the wonderful actress Ana de Amas taking the lead in the action packed and heated film "Ballerina". I thoroughly enjoyed it. Alas the masses did not seem to agree.
Other movies that I really enjoyed include F1, The Life of Chuck, Downton Abbey The Grand Finale, Relay, Nuremberg and Wicked For Good (and this is despite not being a fan of "Wicked")
So.....although no one fim really stood out ("Kill Bill aside) to earn a score of 10, there were 3 films that came close with an impressive score of 9, and they are.....
As mentioned a phenomenal performance from Timothee Chalamet as Bob Dylan in the music biopic. It was a great shame that he did not win the Oscar, along with Ralph Fiennes. Both were far more deserving than the actual recipient.
"Tron Ares"...what a great movie. A wonderful marriage of visuals and sound. Seen on the IMAX it was the best looking film of the whole year.
And completing the trilogy is the biopic "I Swear", a truly brilliant, moving and uplifting film about a young man and his daily struggles living with tourettes syndrome.
Amazing performances across the board, and just a great example of fantastic storytelling.
So there you have it. 365 days of Cinema, which included some great retro screenings.
Jaws had its golden, The Goonies had its ruby (hard to believe), Se7en turned 30 as did Sense & Sensibility, Heat and GoldenEye also turned 30, The Shining hit the big 45, and there were many more.
At times the retro screenings prove more favourable than new releases, especially with some of the films released in 2025.
But here is hoping that the New Year will have some great, inventive and original films to enjoy
Love the movies....love Cinema
