Happy New Year to all! And Happy 10th Anniversary to The Dork Knight. I’ll have a separate commentary about this anniversary and what it means to me personally in a future post. Today and tomorrow is about the films we loved and those we hated in 2022.
Let’s look at The Worst Films of 2022 and let the debate begin. Starting with…
10. Turning Red
Right off the bat I know this pick will be controversial. This Disney animated film may even make some critics Top 10. For me, it was painful to sit through and watch. As a father of two daughters I understand the symbolism of the film but ALL the characters are unlikable especially the mom and the daughter herself. As for the soundtrack it’s forgettable at best. The worst animated film by Disney in years.
9. Jackass Forever
The most appropriate name to describe this entire series. A terrible waste of time.
8. Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore
It’s no secret that this extension of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter has struggled medially. Not sure what it is because the casting in these films are its greatest strength. The problem is, the magic (no pun intended) is just not there like it was for the Harry Potter series. It’s a shame because the potential was always there.
7. Moonfall
Ugh… I like a disaster film as much as anyone but this disaster film is just that, a moon-sized disaster. Having loved Independence Day, I wanted to like this Roland Emmerich film but he goes way off course by the final act. What you end up with is a campy B-movie. Watch just the trailer and let it go at that. Or better yet, watch films like Armageddon or Deep Impact for your earth destroying fix.
6. Memory
I wish I could wipe this Liam Neeson assassin film from my memory. I normally love Neeson’s films. Unfortunately, he has two films on this list and both for similar reasons. Both started with a pretty good idea but that’s where it ends. Memory has too many plot holes from a script that didn’t know what direction it wanted to go.
5. The King’s Daughter
This Pierce Brosnan adventure is a royal disappointment. A muddled mess of a film with very bad CGI work. Feels like a step back in technology. The best thing I can say is that it’s a short 90 minute film.
4. Morbius
The best thing I can say about this film is that Jared Leto is better at Moribus than he was as The Joker. However, that’s not saying much. Another film I really wanted to like. However, this Sony/Marvel venture is a disjointed mess with terrible effects. Leto isn’t bad in the title role but the film reeks of a rush job to capitalize on the MCU bandwagon and that prints money for the Walt Disney Company.
3. Firestarter
A remake of the 1984 film of the same name stars Zac Efron as father trying to keep his daughter with unique powers safe from government operatives. Pretty standard if not unnecessary remake of a mediocre film that helped launch (or halt) Drew Barrymore’s career nearly 40 years ago. If you’re into government involvement and experimentation of children, watch Stranger Things on Netflix instead. You’re welcome.
2. Blacklight
The second Liam Neeson film to make this dubious list. It’s a pain by numbers action film with a few cool chase scenes but much like the film Memory, a good idea with no sense of direction. Neeson plays a government “fixer” and its only when his own family come under fire that he questions everything about his past and the people he works for. What you will wish for is that he could fix the mess that is Washington D.C..
1. The Requin
So much potential on paper. A couple (Alicia Silverstone and James Tupper) vacationing on an exotic location rent a bungalow just as the storm of the century hits. They become lost at sea and surrounded by a great white shark. By the time this film ends, you too will be rooting for the shark. By far the worst film of 2022 and it wasn’t even close.
So there you have it, the bottom dwellers for 2022 as seen by yours truly. How many of these made it to your list? What’s your bottom 10? Share away, I would love to hear from you.
Tomorrow, we look back at the Best of 2022.
May the Dork be with you,
JPB
The Dork Knight
