2025 in Review: Looking Back

And just like that, we've come to the end of my 2025 in Review series of posts. To recap, I shared my Top 10 Best Games on Monday. On Tuesday, it was my Top 10 TV Shows. We did Top 10 Songs on Wednesday, and yesterday, it was all about my Top 10 Movies. Today, we'll be looking at a few of the events and people that helped shape the past year from my purview.

As anyone who frequents the internet undoubtedly knows, it is becoming increasingly difficult to stay apolitical, or worse, not become completely radicalized. We can blame some of that on the clear bias that exists amongst news agencies, out to protect their corporate interests, or the social media companies like Facebook and X, with algorithms designed to funnel and trap their users in respective echo chambers.

But it ultimately comes down to the so-called "useful idiots" who walk among us, those who are quick to signal boost or regurgitate a prescribed narrative without taking a moment to question any of it. I mean, what else would explain full-grown adults going around keying Teslas or firebombing charging stations, the very same adults who, mind you, would claim to be advocates for climate change whenever it is politically expedient.

And we see this sort of two-faced, duplicitous behavior on both sides of the political aisle all the time. So, with all that in mind, rather than fan the flames of a never-ending culture war, I'll do my best to maintain a non-partisan view as we make our way through the rest of this year-end review.

The Roman Catholic Church welcomed a new Pope on May 8th. This was following the death of Pope Francis, who died on April 21st at the age of 88. This meant that a new spiritual leader was to be elected during the gathering of cardinals known as the conclave. And after two days of voting, Pope Leo XIV was elected in the fourth ballot, the first American in history to serve as head of the Catholic Church.

I am not a Catholic myself, at least not since I was a little kid, but I've always held this deep respect for the Catholic faith and what the Church represents as an institution, with its various traditions and storied history. So, just like millions of others around the world, I watched and marveled as white smoke finally rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, signaling the dawn of the new papacy.

2025, like most recent years, was rife with civil unrest as protesters took to the streets. In the US, it was the No Kings protests and Anti-ICE riots. The former was centered around concerns over authoritarianism in the current Trump administration, while the latter was a direct response to the actions of that administration's immigration law enforcement agency, ICE, specifically its crackdown on illegal immigrants.

Over on the other side of the pond, we had the Tommy Robinson-led Unite the Kingdom march in London, which took place on September 13th, amassing well over 100,000 participants. The march was driven by fears over free speech restrictions, as well as a loss of national identity under a wave of unchecked immigration into the UK. Plus, it was coming in the wake of a devastating blow to the global conservative movement.

On September 10th, I woke up to the news that Charlie Kirk had been assassinated while debating students on a US college campus. I had discovered Charlie and his work with Turning Point USA about two years prior, through those very debates and the opportunity for an exchange of ideas that they provided. And I always looked forward to watching them whenever a new one showed up in my YouTube recommendations. 

So to say that I was immensely heartbroken by the news does not even begin to cover it. But even worse than the news itself was watching all the people who came out of the woodwork to mock and take a victory lap over it. I mean, how sad and pathetic must your life be for you to celebrate the murder of someone simply because you didn't agree with his political views? The whole thing just reeks of loser behavior in my opinion.

But I guess this is emblematic of the state of the world we are living in, and just how fractured and divided it has become. And the irony here is that those who were seeking to silence Charlie's voice, or miscontrue and deliberately paint his views in the worst light possible, have only succeeded in amplifying his message, at least judging by the overall Google search trends for 2025 and the uptick in his social media following.

Reeling things back home, 2025 was another very busy year over here at the Batcave, even though a part of me still wishes I'd been able to get more work done. For instance, I am no closer to finishing my next book than I was at the start of the year, which is a shame considering how much momentum I'd gained last year. But the purpose of this portion of the post isn't to beat myself up over missed targets. 

Rather, it is to reflect on what I did manage to get done and celebrate the little wins along the way. And in terms of wins, I finally hit the 10,000 subscribers milestone on my YouTube channel. Which is wild considering I still feel like I don't even know what I am doing half the time. Yet, the community continues to grow, and I am immensely grateful for all the support and the opportunity to learn and grow as a creator.

To be honest, though, the YouTube milestone I am most proud of hitting this year is my 1,000th video after five years of consistent uploads. This is primarily because this was something directly within my control, and thus the only real goal I'd set for myself from the get-go. So here's to even more years of consistent uploads, because the new goal is to simply keep going while it still brings me some measure of joy and fulfillment.

And finally, I couldn't possibly end this post without saying a few words about a dearly departed member of this Blogger community, P. T. Dilloway. I didn't know you personally or the struggles you must have endured during your fight with cancer. This is why the news of your passing early this year was especially shocking. Your frequent comments on my sporadic posts helped to make me feel like I wasn't talking into a void, and I will always remember you for that.

Rest on, my friend. You are dearly missed. And to anyone reading this right now, always remember to take a moment to appreciate each new day you get to see, and appreciate your loved ones while you can, or more importantly, while it matters the most.

2025 in Review: Top 10 Best Movies

Despite the often prophesied demise of moviegoing and movies in general, there were still a lot of great films released in 2025. This is not me saying that we didn't get a lot of the usual slop and cash-grab remakes like Snow White, but more a reflection on the overall resilience of the art form in this day and age of AI-generated videos and second-screen viewing. So, after some well-intentioned deliberating and position shuffling, here are my Top 10 Movies for 2025, ranked from good to greatest.

10. Avatar: Fire and Ash

This one is coming in hot and fresh out of the oven, considering I only just saw it a few days before compiling this list. So perhaps there is some recency bias at play here. But the latest Avatar film, Avatar: Fire and Ash, is indeed worthy of inclusion because it not only delivered some of the best visuals I saw in 2025, but it did so while reminding me of a magic that can only be found in the familiar dark halls of a movie theater.

9. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

The third film in Rian Johnson's Knives Out series, Wake Up Dead Man, is easily my favorite one. A lot of that comes down to its setting and subject matter because I've always had this soft spot for movies that deal with matters of faith and religious doubt. So the movie's murder mystery and its suspects, made up of a congregation of questionable churchgoers, scratched that itch in a way that last year's Conclave didn't.

8. Predator: Killer of Killers 

Predator fans were eating good in 2025, and nowhere was that more evident than in Predator: Killer of Killers. The movie gave us precisely what we'd been clamoring for, especially after Prey, which was an opportunity to watch the titular Predators hunt formidable warriors across distinct time periods. The feudal Japan section remains a highlight, and one I wouldn't mind seeing fleshed out in its own standalone movie.

7. Kpop Demon Hunters

If there is one movie on this list that can claim the title of 2025's sleeper hit, then it is surely Kpop Demon Hunters. No other film can boast of a larger cultural footprint, which extended into the realm of music with songs like Golden and its near dominance of the Billboard charts. And the best part is, it had kids and adults alike obsessing over a shared love for its titular hunters and their rivalry with the Saja Boys.

6. Warfare

Alex Garland has been quite busy lately, between his work on last year's Civil War and the very next movie on this list. And the second of his two back-to-back war films, Warfare, proves to be the better one, as he teams up with real-life veteran, Ray Mendoza, to tell a story of a harrowing encounter he had during the Iraq War. Its no-frills approach had me on the edge of my seat, and I was hooked from the very beginning.

5. 28 Years Later

Danny Boyle returned to the horror franchise that helped redefine the zombie subgenre after nearly as many years as its latest entry's title. And much like I'd hoped, 28 Years Later showed that he still has that distinctive flair for breathtaking visuals. That causeway chase scene still remains seared in my memory. This is why I am a little disappointed that he won't be directing its sequel, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.

4. Superman

Heading into 2025, no other movie had as much riding on its success as James Gunn's Superman, the movie intended to help launch his new (at least in some aspects) DC Universe. So you can imagine my relief (and his too, undoubtedly) when it turned out as good as it did. Sure, it might not be to everyone's taste, but there's no winning over the Snyderbros, who were already deadset on trashing the movie regardless.

3. Predator: Badlands

Who would've guessed that we'd be getting not one but two stellar Predator movies in 2025? Not me, that's for certain. But after his work on Prey and Predator: Killer of Killers, I knew Dan Trachtenberg had what it took to knock this one out of the park. And Predator: Badlands delivers in ways that had me grinning from ear to ear at the theater, with great visuals, awesome action scenes, and an emotionally resonant story.

2. Weapons

After subverting expectations and earning some serious street cred with his breakout horror film, Barbarian, Zack Cregger has done it again with easily his best film to date. That film is Weapons, a movie I can only describe as one hell of a rollercoaster ride. I didn't think I would ever get excited by the prospect of yet another Resident Evil reboot in 2026, but with Zack Cregger set to write and direct, you can sign me up.

1. Sinners

Surely you saw this one coming a mile away. And if you didn't, then I don't know what to tell you that I didn't already say in my review, other than the fact that I was forced to eat some serious crow this year when Ryan Coogler's Sinners blew away my expectations. To think that I was skeptical of his latest movie's quality because his work on Black Panther: Wakanda Forever had left a bittersweet taste in my mouth.

Well, all that is history now, and I have since come to worship at the altar of Sinners, one of the most endlessly breathtaking films I saw this year. I mean, it's a bit telling that I was still surprised when the vampires finally showed up about an hour into the movie, despite foreknowledge of that development. That's how engrossed I already was with the world and characters, a world I can see myself returning to for many years to come.

 

P.S: Merry Christmas everyone!

2025 in Review: Top 10 Best Songs

In this day and age of AI-generated music and algorithm-driven charts, there is so much—quote, unquote—slop that it is easy to think there is little actual creativity left out there. This is one reason why most people would rather fall back on the nostalgia of songs from years past. But I am here, as I was in previous years, to highlight a few personal gems from the 2025 music scene. Ten to be specific. You can thank me later.

10. Huntr/x - Golden

If there was one thing that completely dominated music and pop culture this past year,  then it was surely Kpop Demon Hunters. And of all the songs from the hit Netflix animated musical, Golden is the one that best exemplifies its mass appeal, with its catchy melodies and sing-along-inducing chorus.

9. Seyi Vibez - Shaolin

Not many songs managed to stay seared in my memory in 2025 the way Shaolin by Seyi Vibez did, which is remarkable in itself since I wasn't all that familiar with his music prior to it finding its way into my YouTube recommendations. But I'm a simple man; I see a music video channeling old kung fu movies and the War Boys from Mad Max: Fury Road, and I'm automatically sold.

8. Architects - Blackhole

Move over, Falling in Reverse, because the award for the most cinematic music video I saw this year goes to Blackhole by Architects. Set on an oil rig in the middle of a massive tropical storm, it has the kind of VFX that low-budget Hollywood movies would kill for. The song itself goes quite hard, too, in typical Architects fashion. 

7. Robbie Williams - Rocket (feat. Tony Iommi)

2025 was supposed to be the year we finally got a new album from Robbie Williams. But in the face of a Taylor Swift-sized asteroid, Britpop was moved into 2026. At least we still got singles like Rocket to tide us over until then, featuring the legendary Black Sabbath guitarist with riffs that sound like a throwback to simpler times.

6. Yungblud - Zombie

Not to be confused with The Cranberries' song of the same name, or its more recent cover by Bad Wolves, Zombie is a wholly original rock ballad by Yunglud. The fact that it sounds like something you would hear on the radio in the mid-2000s only adds to its charm, an appeal that has earned it a Best Rock Song nomination at the Grammys.

5. Taylor Swift - Opalite

It's fair to say that almost any song from Taylor Swift's The Life of a Showgirl could have occupied this position on my list. But if I had to pick one that perfectly captures the carefree nature of the album as a whole, then it has to be Opalite. And as the kids and younger Swifties would say, the song is, quite simply put, a bop.

4. Lady Gaga - Abracadabra

There's a version of this list in my head where Abracadabra by Lady Gaga is number one. I mean, even my Spotify Wrapped would suggest as much. But regardless of where it has landed, it is the song that had longtime Little Monsters like me belting out the loudest as we attempted to cast our spells on the night, as instructed.

3. The Weeknd - Open Hearts

Speaking of spells, The Weeknd was certainly casting a few of his own this year, judging by how mesmerizing his song, Open Hearts is. But it is hard to even talk about that song without also shouting out Baptized in Fear, the track preceding it on his Hurry Up Tomorrow album, if only for that smooth, seamless segue.

2. Ed Sheeran - Azizam

I always appreciate it when a song perfectly captures a feeling so strong that it transcends language barriers. And with Azizam by Ed Sheeran, the track taps into a Middle Eastern (Persian to be specific) well for inspiration. The result is an endlessly danceable ode to falling in love and the exhilaration that comes with that feeling.

1. Lady Gaga - LoveDrug

When Lady Gaga released Mayhem back in March, I could very quickly tell it was going to be my favorite album of the year. And out of all the songs on the album, LoveDrug is the one I found myself returning to the most. Mind you, this wasn't a case of love at first sight (listen?), as there were definitely other songs that could be considered catchier.

But with each subsequent listen, it further sank its hooks into me until I was wholly consumed by it. Perhaps it was its 80s-inspired arena rock riffs and synths, or the fact that it has one of the biggest, most memorable hooks on the record. Whatever the case, LoveDrug is here to stay, and it is easily my favorite song of 2025.

2025 in Review: Top 10 Best TV Shows

As the streaming wars settle into a phase marked by consolidation and acquisitions, many are rightfully concerned about a future shaped by a potential Netflix monopoly. But judging by the output of new and returning shows in 2025, the overall marketplace appears to be as healthy as it has ever been, at least using perceived quality as our preferred metric. This is why whittling down the number of shows I watched and enjoyed this year to just ten has proven more difficult than most years. Still, where there's a will, there's a way, so what follows are my Top 10 TV Shows for the year.

10. The Last of Us Season 2

I really struggled with whether or not to include Season 2 of The Last of Us on my shortlist. That's how hard the show has fallen out of my good graces following its adaptation of what was already itself a very divisive second game. The decision to kill off a certain major character aside, there were just too many questionable, ideologically-charged inclusions in its story, which threatened to derail the entire thing. But ultimately, the show succeeds in more ways than it falls flat on its face, even though I can finally better understand the vitriol it inspired in certain pockets of the game's fandom.

9. Squid Game Season 3

Following an abrupt end to Season 2 of Squid Game, Netflix released what was effectively the second half of that particular story arc this year. And taken as a whole, Season 2 and 3 certainly had their fair share of things to say about classism and the dangers of free-market capitalism. But chances are you cared more about the games themselves, of which there were new ones as well as returning favorites. And while I would never forgive Player 456 and Detective Hwang for nearly grinding the story to a halt with their stupidity, I still enjoyed the final season, all things considered.

8. Severance Season 2

I was a bit late to the game with Severance when it originally swooped onto the scene in 2022. But I made sure I was caught up with its high-concept premise, as well as the various innies working the brightly lit offices of Lumon Industries, in time for its second season, which was doled out over the course of several weeks on Apple TV earlier this year. And while I personally didn't think it hit the same heights as that critically-acclaimed first season, the new season peels back just enough layers of its central conceit and mysteries that I can see myself sticking with it for another season or two.

7. It: Welcome to Derry

2025 was a solid year for Stephen King adaptations, from movies like The Life of Chuck, The Long Walk, and The Running Man, to It: Welcome to Derry on HBO Max. Bill Skarsgård reprises his role as Pennywise the Dancing Clown, the chosen avatar of the eponymous It, long before he goes toe to toe with the members of the Losers Club. The show delves deeper into the lore from the books, with creative connections to other Stephen King works like The Shining, and it is anchored by an all-round solid cast. Just don't get too attached to any of them, if you know what I mean.

6. Peacemaker Season 2

The DCU was already off to a great start with both Creature Commandos and Superman. So, going into Peacemaker, I was more concerned with how it would reconcile the show and its titular character's origins within the DCEU with how he was now being positioned as part of the new universe. But rather than tackle that issue head-on, Season 2 merely opens with a recap of events that mirrored the ones from the first, suggesting we were dealing with a parallel universe, a concept that would serve as a throughline for the events of the entire season and, by the looks of it, the future of the DCU as a whole.

5. Adolescence

Netflix is hardly regarded as a de facto home for prestige television, with a good chunk of its library falling well under the umbrella of slop, or even worse, second-screen viewing. This is why whenever a show like Adolescence comes around, everyone pays attention. The four-part miniseries explores the effects of online spaces like the manosphere on young, impressionable minds. But it is in its single-take construction that the show really impresses, with each episode being filmed as one continuous tracking shot. This is next-level filmmaking, bolstered by equally strong performances from its acting ensemble. 

4. Invincible Season 3

Mark Grayson continues his ascension to full-fledged hero in Season 3 of Invincible, a show that has always been packed with some of the most awesome superhero showdowns. This year, it was the fight with the Viltrumite commander, Conquest, that had fans salivating, a confrontation so epic that it made his beatdown by Omni-Man in Season 1 look like warmup. The new season had other highlights too, but frankly, I was just glad to see Mark finally move on from Amber, whom I've always found insufferable, and embrace his future with Atom Eve, whom I adore.

3. Pluribus

When Pluribus arrived on Apple TV with a perfect 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, I was cautiously optimistic. After all, it was the same crop of critics who gave Season 2 of Foundation a similar score. But with acclaimed Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul showrunner Vince Gilligan at the helm, and a high-concept science-fiction premise that is part alien invasion, part viral outbreak, I knew I was bound to have a jolly good time. Except nothing could have prepared me for just how rib-crackingly funny the show is, with a variation of dry humor that borders on the very edge of absurdist.

2. Andor Season 2

Star Wars fans were in dire need of a palate cleansing after a string of mediocre Disney+ shows set in a galaxy far, far away (I'm looking at you, Ahsoka and The Acolyte). And like a cool breeze on a hot summer day, Andor was back to show the hacks at Lucasfilm what was possible when you pair the right showrunners with the right projects. Season 2 further bridges the gap between Revenge of the Sith and Rogue One, covering events spanning a four-year period with some of the best writing and directing seen on this side of the Volume.

1. Stranger Things Season 5

I know we are technically only halfway through the final season of Stranger Things, but if the first four episodes are anything to go by, then what a season it is shaping up to be. Will the Wise is dead. Long live Will the Sorcerer. The buildup and execution of that big reveal is a payoff nearly a decade in the making, taking an often-neglected secondary character and making him one of the most powerful players on the board.

Sure, the kids might look way too old for their roles now. And say what you will about Netflix and its gradual shift away from its traditional binge model. But, damn it, if it all isn't just some next-level genius planning, as they've suddenly given fans of the show something to look forward to over the holidays. Now Christmas and New Year's Eve can't come soon enough.

2025 in Review: Top 10 Best Games

Would you look at that? I mean, it's hard to believe that we have already come to the end of yet another year, when it feels like just yesterday we were ushering in a new one. Don't get me wrong, I am beyond grateful to be here, still scribbling down my thoughts and ideas on this very blog. But Jeez Louise, where did all that time go?

And it is in pursuit of that very answer that I must now spend the next few days reflecting on the past year, or more specifically, the games, TV shows, songs, movies, etc. that kept me occupied. So sit down with your beverage of choice, dear reader, and strap in as we begin this week-long journey with a ranking of my Top 10 Best Games.

10. Ruffy and the Riverside

It's only fitting that we kick things off with Ruffy and the Riverside since it was the very first game I managed to roll credits on this year. Developed by Zockrates Laboratories, the game is a love letter to the 3D platformers and collectathons of the N64 and PS1 era. But it was ultimately its blend of hand-drawn 2D characters set against low-poly 3D environments that drew me in, and its unique copy-and-paste swap mechanic that kept me going until the end.

9. Little Nightmares 3

I can already hear the groans from those questioning how Little Nightmares 3 could possibly make it onto any Top 10 list. After all, those "mixed" reviews on Steam should tell you all you need to know about the overall sentiment about the game. But this is my list, damn it, and one of my most anticipated games of the year. So despite the game itself being more of the same, it still delivered enough of what I was hoping for to secure its placement here.

8. Shinobi: Art of Vengeance

One game whose inclusion shouldn't cause any groaning is Shinobi: Art of Vengeance. Because from the moment we first caught glimpses of what Sega was cooking at The Game Awards in 2023, you could tell we were in for a treat. The game boasts some of the most stunning hand-drawn art to grace PCs and consoles this year, which shouldn't come as a surprise considering it was developed by Lizardcube, one-third of the team that worked on Streets of Rage 4.

7. Blue Prince

As I continue to warm up to more games with roguelike elements, I still find myself struggling with their heavy reliance on RNG. Given the choice, I would rather have carefully constructed levels than ones pulled from a pool at random. But despite all that, I still knew I had to experience Blue Prince, a first-person puzzle adventure game reminiscent of 2013's Gone Home. And what an experience it has been, even as I am still trying to unravel every last mystery of the Mt. Holly Estate.

6. Pokémon Legends: Z-A

After finally evolving the gameplay in its Pokémon series through its first Legends spinoff, Game Freak has shown that it still has more goodies stashed away in its bag of tricks. And the biggest change in Pokémon Legends: Z-A comes in the form of real-time battles, with players only needing to wait for cooldowns to issue commands to their Pokémon. Sure, the graphics might still be a bit of a mixed bag, but the overall charm of the series remains fully intact.

5. Marvel Cosmic Invasion

Beat 'em up fans have been eating good lately, between Marvel Cosmic Invasion and another game further down this list. The first of those two games was developed by Tribute Games, the same studio behind Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge, and their new game makes good use of its Marvel license with a roster that includes fan favorites like Captain America and deeper cuts like Phylla-Vell. But it is its smooth gameplay that would no doubt have you coming back for more. It also helps that the whole thing is brought to life with some beautiful stages and sprite work.

4. Hades 2

I purposely waited for Hades 2 to come out of early access before diving in, because I knew I wanted the full, fat version 1.0 experience, with most of the bugs and other kinks ironed out. And sure enough, the game has proven to be well worth the wait. Unlike the first game, you play as Melinoë, whose ultimate goal is to defeat the time titan, Chronos. But much like that game, you can expect the same buttery smooth gameplay and great sense of progression.

3. Absolum

Developed by Guard Crush Games, another third of the team that worked on Streets of Rage 4, Absolum is the new gold standard for modern beat 'em ups. From its gameplay to its presentation, music, and sound design, the whole thing comes together in a way you seldom see from the tried and tested genre. And remember how I said I wasn't the biggest fan of the overreliance on RNG in roguelikes? Well, it turns out the solution to that particular pet peeve was to throw some sweet beat 'em up gameplay into the mix, making each run feel less like a slog.

2. Hollow Knight: Silksong

For a hot minute there, it seemed like Hollow Knight: Silksong was nothing more than a running gag, considering how the game completely dominated all discourse during the various game showcases, even ones in which it didn't make an appearance. And now that it is finally here, sitting in our various game libraries, I have to say that it was certainly worthy of all that hype. Yes, I'm still licking my wounds from its punishing difficulty, but that only makes my triumphs all the more rewarding. If this were any other year, the game would be sitting at the very top of this list, which brings us to...

1. Dispatch

 

In a year already brimming with superhero shows with great storytelling, it is somewhat ironic that the best of the bunch was not even an actual TV show. That is the power of Dispatch, an eight-episode adventure game by Adhoc Studios, a team formed by former Telltale Games devs. And if there is one thing their new game did for me this year, it was to remind me how much I loved those Telltale adventure games, and how they would completely dominate my year-end lists.

But the true brilliance of Dispatch is not in how it tries to replicate the thrills of those games, but rather, how it streamlines them. The game plays more like an interactive movie than a proper adventure game, so what it loses in explorable environments it makes up for in story and pacing. Simply put, this is all killer, no filler. So whether you are an Invisigal stan or a Blonde Blazer glazer, chances are you'll be craving more time with the Z-Team by the time the credits roll.

Avatar: Fire and Ash (Movie Review)

After multiple delays and a protracted period spent in development hell, the next film on James Cameron's conveyor belt line of Avatar sequels, Avatar: Fire and Ash, is finally here. And while the two previous entries had enjoyed unprecedented levels of success at the worldwide box office, one has to wonder if it is only a matter of time before the series starts to run out of steam. So does the new Avatar film come with its own bag of new tricks, or is it merely more of the same?

The film is set immediately following the events of the last one, in the aftermath of the battle between the Metkayina Clan and the RDA. The Sully family is still mourning the loss of Neteyam while still trying their best to earn their keep. But when a new threat emerges in the form of raiders from the Mangkwan Clan, a group of Na'vi who have shunned the goddess Eywa, and their bloodthirsty leader, Varang, the Sullys must once again fight for their lives and the future of all of Pandora.

There's been all this talk about the Avatar films over the years, and how they've failed to leave any real kind of cultural footprint despite being some of the highest-grossing movies of all time. And while there is indeed some merit to that claim, there is no denying the mass market appeal of the first two films in the series, serving as the kind of tentpoles that demand to be seen in a cinema. A lot of that has to do with the technology behind the films, as they utilize cutting-edge CGI and 3D effects to immerse viewers in its alien world like never before.

But once you've seen and experienced that world twice before, it starts to lose a bit of that novelty. And therein lies the main hurdle ahead of Avatar: Fire and Ash and the remaining forthcoming sequels, that unshakable feeling of been there, done that. This is why it is important for each movie in the series to introduce something that could potentially help shake things up before things become too stale. In the last film, it was the Metkayina (or Water Na'vi), and this time around, it is the Mangkwan (or Ash People as they are called).

Except the movie still follows a lot of the very same story beats used in the first two, that it soon starts to feel more like a greatest hits compilation than a meaningful progression for the series. In fact, there were a few shots that felt like they were ripped straight out of the first two films, so much so that I imagine it would be fun to line them all up and play a game of spot the difference. To be clear, I am not saying the movie is derivative, only that it is pulling from the same old bag of tricks.

It also bears stating that the movie is very long at 3 hours and 17 minutes. And somewhere around the two-hour mark, I started to feel that length, which was a problem I never had with the previous films. It doesn't help that it takes a while for things to get going, and that we spend a good deal of time watching characters make questionable decisions, as though they were beholden to the demands of the plot and not their own freewill and autonomy. 

This is also the most fantastical that the series has ever been, so hard sci-fi purists might find themselves scratching their heads a few times during the movie. I mean, there was even a frigging sky beam that shows up at some point to further mess with the gravity, which definitely looked incredible and was used to cool effect, but it made about as much sense as it sounds. But this is Avatar we are talking about here, the series about tall, blue, alien cat people; being implausible is practically baked into the premise.

And despite all these perceived shortcomings, I'd be lying if I said I didn't ultimately have a blast with Avatar: Fire and Ash. This is because the film knows what it is good at, which is delivering gorgeous visuals that push the boundaries of what is possible with CGI. There were even one or two shots in the film that were so striking that they almost crossed into the realm of surrealism. I also enjoyed the further expansions into the lore of Pandora that we got, and found that the movie worked best when it slowed down to allow for that information to be doled out.

Then, of course, there is the action in the movie, which is another clear highlight and the reason why a lot of people will be seeing it in the first place. I was on the edge of my seat through most of it, even if that action did lack a lot of the emotional resonance from the first two films. I didn't see the film in 3D or IMAX, unfortunately, nor do I plan to, so I can't speak to the quality of either effect on the movie. But I imagine they were every bit as transformative as they were in the last film, and that they help make all the already great action scenes that much more amazing.

Avatar: Fire and Ash is a bloated, overlong follow-up that is every bit as spectacular as its predecessors. But if the series is to survive going forward, it will need to do more to shake up its formula. What that shake-up might look like is anyone's guess, and it is possible that James Cameron already has just what the series needs waiting in the pipeline. All I know is that not many films offer the kind of movie magic we see in these Avatar movies, and this new one is a solid reminder of that.

Predator: Badlands (Movie Review)

After revitalizing the Predator franchise with Prey and Predator: Killer of Killers, Dan Trachtenberg is back again in the director's seat for its next installment. And as you can imagine, expectations are quite high for Predator: Badlands, especially since it would also mark a return to theaters for the series, after the last two aforementioned movies had gone direct to streaming. So is the latest Predator film actually worth a trip to your nearest cinema, or are you better off waiting for it to drop on Hulu?

The film centers upon Dex, a fledgling Yautja warrior struggling to prove his worth to his clan, or more specifically, his father, their leader. And yep, you heard that right, the film actually has a Predator as its main protagonist, a species that has been relegated to the role of villain or reluctant ally ever since its 1987 introduction. In order to earn his place in the clan, Dex must journey to Genna, a planet so harsh that even the strongest of Yautja warriors have failed to conquer it. And even though he plans to hunt down its apex predator, he must first work his way up from the very bottom of the food chain.

When Predator: Badlands was first revealed through its teaser trailer, the first thing that stood out to many people was its titular Predator, or more specifically, how he looked. There was just something distinctly uncanny about him, with special effects that frankly seemed undercooked. After all, this is a series that has historically relied more on makeup and practical effects to bring the Yautja to life, so to see this one lean so heavily on CG was indeed an immediate cause for concern. 

Well, I am pleased to report that the CGI in the final film is vastly improved from that first showing, even though part of me still misses the fully prosthetic mask and suit of the original film. But I understand the decision to go digital, given the vast array of emotions the Predator needed to be able to express as the film's lead. And after a while, I did get used to how he looked, so I imagine most others would as well. 

The area where the effects in the film get to shine, though, both literally and metaphorically, is in how they've been used to portray the Predator's arsenal of gadgets and weapons. From his grappling hooks to his laser sword and bow, the whole thing maintains a design language that doesn't stray too far from the earlier films while staying consistent with the more recent entries. We've definitely come a long way since the janky invisibility effects of the original film, that's for sure.

And as you would imagine, all those gadgets and weapons are put to good use during the film's action setpieces, of which there were plenty. Each one was appropriately grand and spectacular, and it is here that the film makes its biggest case for why it deserves to be seen sprawled across the big screen. There were many oohs and aahs from the audience I saw the film with, and it was quickly clear to me that we were all getting our money's worth from the spectacle alone. But I suppose all that shouldn't really come as a surprise for an action movie of this size and budget. 

One aspect of the film that did catch me off guard was the humor in it. I certainly didn't expect to laugh as much as I did during the movie. It helps that the humor didn’t feel particularly forced or shoehorned in at inappropriate moments. And sure, the first two movies had the occasional quip and one-liner, but by and large, they were serious affairs with straight-up horror elements. This one ditches all of that in favor of something closer to Godzilla vs Kong, but you won't catch me complaining.

The only minor gripe I have with Predator: Badlands is how it barely expands upon the overall Predator lore. I mean, this was supposed to be the clearest picture we've gotten to date of Yautja culture, outside of that final sequence in Predator: Killer of Killers. And it is no secret that the film has connections to the Alien universe, with Weyland-Yutani synthetics and whatnot. 

But a part of me wishes they'd gone deeper with that connection. After all, there was all that talk from the director of Alien: Romulus himself, Fede Alvarez, regarding another potential crossover between both properties. But what we got here was pretty surface-level stuff, so perhaps that is something we'll simply have to wait for future installments to see come to fruition.

Predator: Badlands is another slam dunk for Dan Trachtenberg and his take on the Yautja. The film is easily the most crowd-pleasing the series has ever been, and depending on who you ask, that could either be considered a good thing or a bad thing. But if you ask me, I am perfectly okay with watching the franchise continue to evolve the way it has under his stewardship, provided, of course, that he still retains some space for future entries that skew closer to the horror side than the campier, action-adventure thrills on this one.

Top 10 Horror Movies of 2025

Today is Halloween, which marks the culmination of what is popularly referred to as spooky season. And as is no doubt customary in many households, it is a time for horror fans to indulge in some of their favorite season-appropriate offerings from Hollywood studios big and small. Thankfully, 2025 has provided quite the stellar lineup to choose from, so in light of the ongoing festivities, I have decided to share my Top 10 Horror Movies for the year.

It bears stating that the year is not quite done with horror releases, even though most studios typically capitalize on the buildup to Halloween. Also, of all the horror movies that have been released thus far, I've only managed to see a handful, or at least more than enough to fill up a listicle, so do with that information what you will. All that said, here is my totally subjective ranking of the very best the genre of horror has had on offer in 2025.

10. The Conjuring: Last Rites

Billed as the final film in the mainline Conjuring series, The Conjuring: Last Rites once again finds paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren going toe-to-toe with supernatural forces. I wasn't too keen on their previous outing and was pleased to find that this latest entry was a return to the campier thrills of the first two films, even though it never quite manages to recapture the magic of those older movies.

9. The Gorge

Speaking of campy thrills, The Gorge certainly had its fair share of those. What started as a run-of-the-mill action thriller with a strong tinge of romance (it was released on Valentine's Day after all) eventually devolves into a full-blown science fiction horror film. It definitely felt like a throwback to the schlocky sci-fi movies of the 90s, or a video game brought to life, which, if you ask me, was precisely what it needed to be, given its premise.

8. Companion

In this day and age of AI chatbots, a film like Companion doesn't seem as out there as it once did. And it is that contemporary quality that serves as the movie's biggest draw, the fact that we are already living with the kind of technology that would make its central conceit somewhat plausible. But it is in the execution of its familiar premise that it manages to set itself apart from its forebears with some genuinley thrilling twists and turns.

7. Final Destination Bloodlines

After an extended hiatus, the Final Destination franchise was brought back to roaring life this year with its sixth entry, Final Destination Bloodlines. And while I wouldn't consider myself the biggest fan of the series, I still remember being captivated by the outlandish kills seen in the earlier films. And the new film clearly understood the assignment, subverting expectations as it finds even more inventive ways to thin out the film's roster.

6. Bring Her Back

The YouTubers that gave us Talk to Me were out to prove they weren't one hit wonders, which is what they've been able to accomplish with their sophomore effort, Bring Her Back. But rather than follow-up their last movie with more of the same, their new film falls more in line with the psychological horrors of an Hereditary than the supernatural horrors of the former. The result is a disturbing examination of grief and the pain of letting go.

5. Good Boy

Speaking of grief and letting go, no other horror film has been able to get me to tear up the way I did at the end of Good Boy. The movie tugs at the heartstrings in a way that is most unusual for a genre often more concerned with jump scares than anything else. And sure, we've had countless haunted house movies at this point but not many can boast of the novelty of being set entirely from the perspective of a dog.

4. Together

Body horror is one specific subgenre of horror that seems to be getting a lot of love lately. Last year, we got The Substance, and now we can add Together to that list of shining examples. The film flips the very concept of the former on its head, as it explores the physical and psychological ramifications of a couple whose strained relationship is put to the test when their bodies start to merge.

3. 28 Years Later

To say that I was hyped going into 28 Years Later would be an understatement. I was beyond pumped due largely to the incredible first look at the film that came in the form of its teaser trailer. It perfectly conveyed the sense of scale and dread the film was aiming for, and even though the final product fell just shy of doing that trailer justice, it still proved once again that Danny Boyle is a top-tier filmmaker with a flair for the dramatic and striking visuals.

2. Weapons

Is it just me, or was Julia Garner everywhere you looked in 2025? From her appearance in the somewhat lackluster Wolf Man to the more crowd-pleasing The Fantastic Four: First Steps, she definitely wasn't lacking for film roles. But perhaps she'll be best remembered for her turn as a troubled school teacher in the horror mystery box, Weapons, a film that boasts one of the wildest and most satisfying climaxes I've seen in a movie all year.

1. Sinners

After I was ultimately disappointed by his work on Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, I confess that my interest in Ryan Coogler's next project, Sinners, was minimal to nonexistent. But following a flood of positive word of mouth in the lead up to the movie's release, I was compelled to give it a shot and was not disappointed by what I saw. Spoiler alert for my year-end favorites list, but Sinners is not only the best horror film released in 2025, but quite possibly the best film overall.

Hollow Knight: Silksong is forcing me to reconsider my stance on difficult games

So I recently started playing Hollow Knight: Silksong. This is despite my deep-rooted aversion to difficult games of all types. For context, I never played Dark Souls, and I typically avoid the many so-called Soulslikes that seem to spring up like mushrooms every year.

The reality is that not everyone has the time, patience, or willpower needed to "git gud" as they say. And when you are someone like me who tends to ragequit during the tougher boss encounters in seemingly benign titles like Paper Mario: The Origami King, perhaps it is best to leave the punishment to those who actually welcome that sort of challenge.

But for some reason, I still found myself drawn to Silksong despite cautionary tales of how much harder than the first Hollow Knight it was. That increased difficulty shouldn't come as a surprise, though, considering the game was originally conceived as DLC meant for those craving more from what was already itself a very difficult game.

Except this is Hollow Knight: Silksong we are talking about here, one of the most anticipated and requested games in recent memory. There is no universe in which I wasn't at least going to try and see for myself what all that noise was about. So after much deliberation and second-guessing, I caved and gave in to FOMO.

And right off the jump, the game hits you with its uncompromising difficulty, so much so that I came this close to quitting and uninstalling it within my first hour of play time. But just when I thought I'd been slapped around more times than my fragile dignity would allow, the whole thing began to click.

Just like Neo at the end of The Matrix, I could finally see the tells and patterns of the enemy's attacks, and how I could best avoid them before dishing out attacks of my own. And therein lies the hook of the gameplay in Hollow Knight: Silksong, that perpetual dance between player and enemy that rewards both patience and razor-sharp reflexes.

Speaking of enemies, there is no shortage of crazed bugs trying to bring our hero's journey to an end. But it is the various bosses that populate the kingdom of Pharloom that act as the true standouts. I've only faced a handful of them thus far, but each one I've managed to beat has proven to be as satisfactory as they were frustrating.

Another element of the game's difficulty worth mentioning is the platforming. This is a Metroidvania after all, so much of the gameplay involves moving between the various hallways and biomes scattered across Pharloom. Some of those areas can be borderline sadistic to traverse, compounded by the fact that dying to a boss or enemy along the way means you get sent back to a save point, which are few and far between.

I suppose such gripes come with the territory for anyone used to playing games of this ilk, but it is still worth mentioning. It would have been nice if the game could autosave before major boss encounters and platforming gauntlets, or if there was a more generous placement of benches, but this is not that type of game, apparently.

It is a good thing the world of Pharloom looks as good as it does, though, making those repeat treks through its hazards scenic ones. The whole thing is brought to life with some truly stunning hand-drawn art, paired with atmospheric fog, lighting, and other environmental effects reminiscent of the ones employed in Playdead's Limbo and Inside.

The same attention to detail extends to the music and sound design. I especially love the gibberish language spoken in Pharloom, as it lends the many characters you meet along your journey an undeniable charm. It is all these things that ultimately make Hollow Knight: Silksong worth sticking with, if only to discover more of its beautiful world and the pilgrims populating it.

It is not often that a game forces me to question my preconceived notions about entire genres. In retrospect, perhaps I was simply too harsh on games like Elden Ring and Sifu for their baked-in difficulties. And while I don't know if I'll eventually succeed in helping Hornet scale up to the heights of the Citadel, I'll keep trying and hold off on hitting that uninstall button, assuming, of course, that frustration doesn't finally get the best of me.