This year brought me an incredible lineup of movies that have thrilled and excited me. Although, I think it isn’t as packed as 2023 was, it’s a good year for movie lovers.

P.S. This list is based on personal review.

• Inside Out 2

• Dune 2

• Furiosa — A Mad Max Saga

• The Kitchen

Inside Out 2

Inside Out 2

9 years later, we got part 2! Didn’t see it coming though, which even made me more excited to see this. This has to be my top rated because it is well written, very accurate and everything about it just screams brilliance. I loved how I could relate to it. I remember saying I wanted to watch it the day it was released and someone asked if I was a child that I was that excited to see animation, my reply was — yes, for this, I just might be.

Riley is now grown up and certain emotions have taken over. In part 1, it wasfear, joy, anger, disgust and sadness that were her major emotions. In part 2, new characters were introduced and anxiety really did it for me, because it’s the same way it feels when it takes over your body, you struggle to remember the things that bring joy and things that you naturally find peace with, you are just there in panic mode. If you haven’t seen this, I don’t know what you are waiting for, I think I want to see it again… for the THIRD time.

In addition to anxiety are — envy, ennui, embarrassment and nostalgia, kudos to Maya Hawke for embodying the character — anxiety and Ayo Edebiri — envy. I can’t wait for it to come out on Blu-ray so it can become my comfort movie. Also, for you to get the clear story, I definitely recommend watching part 1 again, because it helped me.

Dune 2

Dune 2

Safe to say the sequels are winning this year, because I thoroughly enjoyed their return. When there is a beautiful plot to see, time goes by very fast, Dune 2 was almost 3 hours long and I didn’t actually notice. Austin Butlerfangirl here, allow. I was patiently waiting for this movie because of him, although I wish he got more screen time, but okay.

Paul Atreides has become Lisan-al-gaib. I’m pretty psyched for part 3 because I want to see how it unfolds especially with the way things ended with Chani and Princess Irulan. By the way, fear men, this is your reminder because, why did Paul tell Chani he’ll always be with her and then goes to find a wife ‘to join forces’ right in her front? Again, never trust men.

I particularly enjoyed Stilgar’s enthusiasm whenever Paul did anything, essentially being the biggest fanboy and screaming Lisan-al-gaib every 2 business seconds.

The cinematography has to be 100% for me, the monochrome scene of Feyd Rauther on his birthday, whew! The scene was mind blowing. Another scene that stood out for me was when Paul finally learned how to ride the sandworm and made peace with the Fremen, loved it.

Overall, Dune 2 tied up many loose ends from part 1 making it a highly satisfying watch for me.

Furiosa — A Mad Max Saga

Furiosa — A Mad Max Saga

I did my top rated female characters sometime ago on YouTube and Anya Taylor Joy was on that list, (she just had to be). I’ve loved her since The Queen’s Gambit and The Menu. To top it off, the movie came out on my birthday and I just had to include it in my plans for that weekend.

Anya brings a different but familiar fire to her character, a younger, less battle-hardened version of her predecessor that we know are familiar with — Charlize Theron.

I got to say, Chris Hemsworth also does well as her villain, I think after Thor, this might be one of his most brilliant performances.

Honestly this movie doesn’t exactly get an A1 in the plot, but the action sequences are pure adrenaline. The stunts and visuals went hard and George Miller once again proves he’s the maestro of mayhem.

In summary, Furiosa is a spectacular addition to the Mad Max franchise. It delivers on all fronts — stunning visuals, intriguing performances, and edge-of-your-seat action. I might be in the minority, but I think it is better than Mad Max — Fury Road.

Anyway, whether you’re a die-hard fan or a newcomer to the wasteland, I think you’d get along with this just right.

The Kitchen

The Kitchen

Daniel Kaluuya’s directorial debut, he deserves all his flowers! I definitely look forward to seeing more from him.

It’s on my bucket list to be in the streets with the ‘mandem’ (well ‘Kano’ to be more specific) in the UK and spend time with them not totally hearing their sentences but replying with “Oi”, “Cheers”, “Peace mate”. I just love how they speak and that’s enough to convince me to watch anything that has the English people in it.

The Kitchen came out on Netflix early in the year and for me it’s still topping charts. I’m sure someone who hasn’t seen this is probably thinking it’s about food, it is totally not. If you’ve seen Top Boy it is similar to that, in fact some of the characters from there are in the movie.

What resonated deeply with me was that despite the enormous loss, grief, poverty, and constant brutality to which The Kitcheners were subjected, they endured and continued to live lives that were even more exciting than their oppressors.

There’s a review on my Youtube, check it out if you need more convincing, although I wish it didn’t end on a cliffhanger, hoping it gets enough hype for a sequel.

And there you have it. My top rated in the first half of 2024! But wait, there’s more.

Honourable mentions like the heartfelt drama Suncoast, the award winning Poor Things, the action-packed Fall Guy, the riveting adventure Monkey Man, and the epic return of the Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.

Did I miss anyone on this list? What movies are your top rated? Let me know in the comments. To be concluded at the end of the year.