Filmed stories remain a major source of enjoying life. You can also learn valuable lessons. Some of these films were turned into their own blog posts, some of that reflecting my positive view, others for convenience. In other words read this fuller list includes films that deserve attention, but everyone has their own bias as do I.
Modern Features
"Woman of the Hour" (2024) based on a serial rapist who actually appeared as the winning bachelor on a dating game tv. show. Directed by Anna Kendrick who also was the leading actress.
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"Wicked" (2024) A blockbuster spinoff of The Wizard of Oz. Lots of music, dancing and pyrotechnics.
"Fading Petals" (2022) Two women start to relate, but one becomes very antogonistic.
"Challengers"(2024) A love triangle involving three tennis players. The ups and downs of their rivalry to not only win a game,but also to win love.
"Wildhood" (2022) Two brothers run from an abusive father looking for a mother who eventually does appear. There is Micmac history and a little of their culture is displayed.
"Wolfs" (2024) Two cleanup artists hired to dispose of a dead body and drugs. Comedy with George Clooney and Brad Pitt.
"Love Without Walls" (2023) Story of young couple dealing with financial problems and homelessness. He sings and there are a lot of songs.
"The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry" (2022) Book seller on island, widowed with drinking problem meets book seller and young 2 year old black girl. Movie carries on for about 20 years.
"Waikiki" (2023) Drama shows another side of Hawaii.
"This Ends With Us" (2024) A lost love comes back while woman in a new relationship. Lots of stress.
"Here" (2024) A multi generation film, heavy use of AI. Tom Hanks.
"Little Brother" (2024) Story of two brothers headed back home at the request of a strict father. The older of the two is suicidal.
"Kinda Pregnant" (2025) Crude comedy.
"My Home Unknown" (2024) about a woman suffering from mental illness depicting drugs, sexual abuse. Very brutal.
"Somewhere in Queens" (2023) Family drama with son reaching college and breaking up with girl friend.
"The Life List" (2025) In order to qualify for an inheritance a young adult woman had to accomplish her life goals she had written down as a 13 year old. Interesting challenges.
"Gladiator II" (2024) A different plot than "Gladiator" (2000)). Gory and action oriented there is a story with possibilities.
"We Live in Time "(2024) An enjoyable romance with not quite a happy ending.
"The Substance" (2024) A horror movie that caught me off guard. A redeeming feature was that it was critical of our beauty culture.
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"Magazine Dreams" (2025) On the surface seemed about body building, but it turned out to more about mental deterioration.
"Black Bag" (2025). British espionage plot trying to detect a mole.
"The Wedding Banquet" (2025) A remake of Ang Lee's classic, but set in America. A couple of lesbians and a couple of gay men are friends leaned on each other. Weddings and pregnancies complicate matter. A Korean grandmother is the most sane one.
"Slash/Back" (2022) a juvenile horror fantasy. Redeeming features are the Baffin Island scenery and the charming teenage girl cast.
"Alice, Darling" (2023) Deteriorating relationship balanced with two girlfriends.
"Friendship" 2025) a comic view of friendship inspired by an unhappy experience of the writer/director.
"Green and Gold"(2025) Back story was about small farmers losing farms to banks. One farmer got into a bet that if Green Bay Packers won the NFL Superbowl and his grand daughter had a prospective musical career. Well done.
"Rebecca" (2020) A remake based on Daphne Du Maurier novel. For me the highlight was a bitchy performance by Kristin Scott Thomas.
"You're Cordially Invited " (2025) Two weddings are forced to use the same resorts on the same day. With a few relationship concerns. A lot of laughs.
"The Weekend Away"(2022) A psychological mystery set in Croatia.
"Eephus" (2025) A group of mostly middle aged men playing recreational baseball on a field destined to be demolished for a school. It goes into extra inning and it become necessary to light the field with cars and trucks. Eephus refers to a pitch that is very difficult for a hitter to adjust to.
"Rule Breakers" (2025) Girls organized to be robotics experts for international contests and achieved success against odds.
"Sinners" (2025) A popular movie, but to me weird, vampirical, violent. A redeeming feature was the music, mostly blues, but also a bit Irish.
"Familiar Touch" (2025) An ocogenarian woman goes to a care assisted facility and has difficulty adjusting. She was not suffering dementia.
"The Woman in Cabin 10. (2025) A murder mystery on a cruise boat.
"The Unbreakable Boy" (2025) A boy is born with brittle bones and autism. He is likable, but a big stress on both his parents.
"A House of Dynamite" (2025) A political thriller about an unidentified missile headed for an American city. The ending is deliberately ambiguous from Wikipedia: The film is non-chronological, showing the same sequence of events from different perspectives.
"The Great Escaper"(2023) Michael Caine plays a WWII navy veteran who escapes from a seniors home and takes off to a D Day memorial. He teams up with a Air force and later meets up with some German veterans who also lost friends at the battle.
"F1: The Movie" (2025) Racing car movie with lots of action on the track, with story off the track.
"Jay Kelly" (2025) George Clooney plays big movie star ignoring his kids and goes on a European trip.
"The Sunlit Night" (2020) a fairly ordinary film, except set in Lofoten Island, just north of the Arctic Circle with almost 24 daylight part of the year.
"Goodby June" (2025) A wife and mother is in hospital for a week or so dying. Grown children react in different ways.
Series
"Hacks" (2021-2025) A female stage comedian with an ego and a young aggressive writer. Lots of cattiness, but also some clever dialogue.
"Zero Day" (2024) Political thriller with Robert De Niro as a former president.
"Running Point" (2025) A woman becomes president of a basketball team.
"Grace Point" (2014) modeled on Broadchurch and also starring David Tennant as a difficult detective. Filmed in British Columbia.
"The Four Seasons" (2025) Three couples (including one gay) go on holidays together each season. There is a split and some adjustments.
"Oh Canada" (2025) A film maker dying decides to tell his story. The actors played themselves at different ages, even regardless of the film time and often mixing up older and younger images.
"Dept Q" (2025) Complicated police mystery set in Edinburgh, Scotland based on Danish novel. Well done.
"The Thursday Murder Club" (2025) British light murder mystery. elen Mirren Ben Kingsley, Pierce Brosnan, Celia Imrie with Jonathan Pryce and David Tennant with small parts.
"The Survivors" (2025) Australian series set in Tasmania (beautiful scenery). Memorial for two deaths(plus another) and one murder in current time.
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"11.22.63" (2016) Stephen King time travels back to John Kennedy's assassination in effort to prevent. Filmed in many Ontario cities including Hamilton. They do confirm if you are able to change one historical fact it effects everything else.
"Heretic" (2024) is a horror film, most unusual for me. The first part was a cynical view of religion, which I pretty much agreed with. I have adopted that idea from Yuval Noah Hariri that religions are really stories meant to control people. After the religious discussions the story transitioned to a horror film. I am not the sort that enjoys horror who who can laugh it off. So be warned.
"Superman" (2025) Modernized version--he is vulnerable. Married secretly to Lois Lane, Lex Luther is a villain. Lots of science fiction machines.
"The Gold" (2023) Based on an actual gigantic gold heist in 1983 in England with some gold ending up in the Canary Islands. Only part of the gold recovered in this first season. Hugh Bonneville shows a different demeanor than seen in Downtown Abbey.
Patience (2025) Partnering a police officer with autistic woman in criminal records. The autistic notices little details missed by others and also does research to help solve crimes. Part of the drama is provided by the police department and their initial skeptism and inability to deal with autistic idiosyncrasies. Filmed with a Belgian company, several commentators stating the Belgian original was superior, but I thought well done.
"Down Cemetery Road" (2025) A military chemical warfare experiment went seriously wrong a great effort to hide including killing.
Older Films
"Love in the Time of Cholera" (2007) Based on a well written book, but descended to being over sexualized. Good music and cinematography
"Triple Cross" (1966) Based on story of Eddie Chapman, a safecracker who after getting caught cons his way into being a spy for Germany and then to England. In the end not too sure where his loyalties really lie.
"Ghostbusters" (1984) Missed it when popular with youngsters. Okay.
"Marley & Me" (2008) Dog not trained runs family. Covers to its death.
"It Always Rains on Sunday" (1949) Old lover escapes from prison and although married she tries to help him.
"Lost in Translation" (2003) Understood and enjoyed much more after over ten years. Two people on their own in Tokyo keep each other company.
"Stone of Destiny" (2008) About a some young adults who stole the Stone of Scone. A moment stirring Scottish nationalism.
"The Train" (1966) Toward the end of WWII a German officer planned to steal some valuable paintings and French resistance tried to stop the effort. Some action with Burt Lancaster doing his own stunts
"The Italian Job: (1969) A heist in Italy. Good viewe of Turin, Italy.
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"The Wings of the Dove" (1997). Based on novel by Henry James, A strange love story among the idle rich. Partly set in scenic Venice.
"Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story: (2004). A sort of slapstick story, but using Dodgeball as a tool. My son is very heavily involved in New Zealand.
"I Declare War" (2014) is totally children, but who pretend warfare. Dynamics of one upmanship insecurity.
"Planes, Trains & Automobiles" (1987) I thought this might be slapstick comedy, but it was more sophisticated and I did laugh more tan a few times. John Candy, a Canadian and Steve Martin made a good pair.
"Happy Gilmore" (1996) An Adam Sandler comedy. Ridiculous, but I laughed from time to time.
"The Princess Bride" (1987) A all star cast in a fairy tale. Enjoyable.
"Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" (1984) Another adventure this one in the Indian subcontinent (actually filmed in Sri Lanka).
"Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" (1989) This adventure included Sean Connery. Stirring and interesting.
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"Roswell" (1994) A film that suggests the 1947 incident claimed by some to be from extra terrestrials was covered up. Some doubt still expressed, but one recognizes there was a coverup effort, perhaps to avoid panic.
"Super 8" (2011) Young teenagers making a movie encounter something from outer space. A few laughs.
"The House of the Spirits" (1994) is a political story based on 1900's South America. All star cast.
"Salt" (2010) Action espionage with Angelina Jolie Lots of double agents.
"Dolores Claiborne" (1995) A sort of family drama involving an abusive husband and a seemingly harsh rich house owner. Stephen King wrote the original book. Cathy Bates was outstanding.
"The Hollars" (2016) Family drama with mother getting tumor, one son returning and the other just fired by father (to avoid bankruptcy).
"The Ipcress File" (1965) A spy story with a hero wearing glasses. Hypnosis played a big role.
"The Bourne Identity" (2002) Action packed spy story with basic plot of agent getting amnesia, but still retaining skills.
"The Bourne Supremacy" (2004) My third Bourne story this week and I am impressed with Matt Damon and much of the supporting cast. Action with car chases and hand combat.
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"Jason Bourne" (2016) Action packed spy story. Part of a series.
"Compensation" (1999) Two parallel romances involving deaf and hearing couples that didn't work. Minimal talking.
"Instant Family" (2018) A family drama about fostering three siblings. Inspiring ending.
"Kill Bill" (2003) Action film emphasizing martial arts. Gruesome.
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"Willow" (1988) Fantasy adventure with dwarfs.
"Dances with Wolves" (1990) Oscar winning film about a military man who became involved with the Sioux adopting their way of life. Very well done. One quote said with a smirk "you turned Indian." Catches the cultural conflict.
"A Bridge Too Far" (1977) As World War II reaches its end generals strive to be the first to reach Berlin. The Germans are determined to destroy bridges and westerners to preserve them. Loads of action. Disastrous decision made. All star cast.
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"The Bad News Bears" (1976) A ragtag group of kids turn around their baseball team under the guidance of grumpy Walter Matthau. Despite cast, not really good for children."
"Confidential Report" (1962) Orson Welles production.
"Transformers" (2007) Science fiction with lots of action provided by robots. Alien competitors fight it out in America.
"The Hitch-Hiker" (1953) Two men pick up a hitch-hiker who turns out to be a psychopathic prison escapist. A lot of tension until resolved. Directed and acclaimed by actress Ida Lupino.
"Forgetting Sarah Marshall" (2008) Sort of a sex comedy a few laughs
Hollow Triumph" (1949) Released convict heads right back to crime and discovers he is a look alike to another man, but not all good.
"Norma Rae" (1979) Won 2 Oscars. About troubles establishing a union in the southern U.S.
"22 Jump Street (2014) Goofy police men go uncover at a school.
"The Perks of Being a Wallflower" (2012) High school students start to grow up.
Documentaries
"Bushman" (2024) An educated Nigerian immigrant to San Francisco area later gets into trouble with the law.
"The Ending of Blndness" (2021). An ophthalmologist in Ethiopia has been doing cataract surgeries in rural areas and being supported.
"The Brain-Gut Connectin with Dr. Emeran Mayer" (2023) Explains nutrition affects the brain. Recommend plant based foods, compressed eating time (maximum 10 hours from first to last), don't eat under stress.
"Dynamic Planet" A four part series of adaptations to climate change covering Brazilian Rain Forest, Florida, California, Mexico, the Antarctic and much more. Great cinematography and study.
"Mad About the Boy: The Noel Coward" (2024) Never appreciated him before, but he was much more versatile. I thought he was a high class snob, but he was self taught from a poor background.
"Con Mum" (2025) An elderly woman who it turned out was actually the victim's mother defrauded the chef and helped break of his relationship with mother of his child.
"Great Migrations: People of the Move" is a series regarding black immigration post Civil War. First they automatically went north and then a second migration to the north. They encountered lots of discrimination, but managed to become a major part of culture. Another migration was back down south where many felt more at home. Their impact was felt in Georgia where their voting strength did result in more black politicians getting elected. After World War II there was an increase in blacks from the Caribbean. One distortion is the way Haitians are discriminated against in comparison to how Cubans who also used boats. The African continent is increasingly immigrating to the U.S. and like the Caribbeans are adding to the culture.
"In the Shadow of Hollywood" (2007) was about black cinema. Black actors could only get subservient roles in Hollywood. Some in black cinema would go on to Hollywood roles. One example was Lena Horne and another Dorothy Dandridge. Not well preserved. A quote from introduction from Ossie Davis: "Any form of art is a form of power. It can not only move us, it can move us.
"Bearing Witness Native American Voices in Hollywood" (2014) Some indigenous spokespeople including Tantoo Cardinal. Natives had been portrayed as violent and backward. Europeans felt it was their destiny to own the continent and Indians were in the way. World War II elevated some natives serving in the war. John Ford famous director of westerns his military service changed his attitude and he was more sympathetic in film treatment. Highlighted a variety of movies plus Marlon Brando's refusal of an Oscar as Hollywood had treat indigenous people.
"Every Little Thing" (2024) A woman has made hummingbirds her mission in life. We see many injured hummingbirds which mostly, but not always brings back t life.
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"Seymour: An Introduction" (2015) Biographical of concert pianist retired and into teaching. Philosophy and psychology.
"The Stringer The Man who Took the Photo" (2025) The most famous photo from the Vietnam War was of a girl who was fleeing a napalm explosion. One man was given credit including winning a Pulitzer Prize, but another man was identified as the real photographer.
"25 Cats from Qatar" (2025) Cat rescuer woman from Milwaukee learns about millions of stray cats in Qatar and decides to rescue. She is practical, not wanting cats that would be difficult to adopt. We see a bit of Qatar and lots of cats, some that had been abused.
Animated
"The Croods: A New Age" (2020) A film adults can enjoy. Art work good. A comic clash between cave men and moderns. Look forward to watching the original.
"Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" Silly, but enjoyable enough.
"The Croods" (2013) The original. Unfortunately I got a bad copy, but feel it captured some of production seen in the sequel.
"Abominable" (2019) Enjoyable cinematography. Interesting story.
Shorts
"The Only Girl in the Orchestra" (2024) The woman hired full time for the New York Philharmonic. Her instrument was the double bass. Won an Oscar.
"The Quilters" (2025) Features long term prisoners who make quilts for foster children. They see it as a purpose when their lives seems wasted.
"Extremis" (2016) Documentary set in hospital with patients (and their families) having to make very difficult medical situations; a procedure could prolong their life, but increase suffering or diminish consciousness.
"Fish War" (2024) tells history of Indian tribes fighting the right to fish salmon. A court judgment was ignored by Washington state. Eventually after much court activity they reached a stage of co-operation with non Indians. Now, however everyone's concern is climate change that threatens the fish and the environment.
"Mosiah" (2023) mostly covers a court case fighting against racism. He was deported after the trial although a jury only convicted him on 1 of 26 charges.
If your favorite movie of 2025 wasn't mentioned please feel free to tell me and why you think checking it is a good idea.
Check out last year's selections"http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/12/english-speaking-films-for-2024.html
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