After 2 years of the film industry being completely ravaged by a global pandemic, 2023 looked to be the first year where things would be, more or less, back to “normal” programming. 2023 was a pretty stellar year for cinema with the return of numerous auteurs like Scorsese, Nolan, Coppola, Fincher, Mann, Anderson, Payne, and Haynes, and the rise of new exciting filmmakers like Goldhaber, Song, and Borgli. However, while 2023 had some triumphs, there were also some blunders, films that missed the mark, made little impact, and/or just did not work with audiences. This year, we found 2 films that unfortunately were the most disappointing films of 2023.
Power Rangers: Once & Always
There is no question that hearts were in the right place when brainstorming a 30th-anniversary celebration for an adapted television series from Shuki Levy and Haim Saban. A pop culture phenomenon spawning a line of action figures, Halloween costumes, and other merchandise! After previous anniversary celebrations, one could begin to imagine how such a milestone celebration would be commemorated. What the world ended up receiving was an all-in gamble on nostalgia loaded with continuity errors too distracting to forgive. While anticipation highlighted happy returns, it was mind-boggling to see 25 years of storytelling retconned without explanation or a sense of purpose. While centered undertones of the resurrection were well in meaning, it left the viewer with impressions of gimmickry instead of advancements through compelling storytelling.
Sometimes, story developments are best to be told off-screen or left to the viewer’s imagination. When thinking of real-life events surrounding specific performers, was stock audio utilization a necessity? Combined with the hammering emphasis of themes with the introduction of a new character, it comes across as intelligence-insulting, such that winds up demeaning a story more than advancing it. This was the case with Power Rangers: Once & Always — a story that took away any form of compelling advancement, when it could have been a grandiose celebration in the simplest form dating back to a day at a dumpster three decades ago.
-Thomas Hughes
The Super Mario Bros. Movie
The most disappointing film of 2023 was probably The Super Mario Bros. Movie. It wasn’t horrible, but I was definitely expecting something better. It was not interesting, and it was too corny at points. If you are going to make a movie about the iconic Super Mario Bros. world with its iconic characters, you need to make it a standout. This was not that. Also, I think they could have catered the film to older audiences a bit more because Millenials and Gen Z played these games all the time as kids. So many missed opportunities.
-Nicole Dwyer
Exorcist: Believer
What a travesty. Never have I seen a sequel misunderstand the source material so badly than this did. I couldn’t even watch the whole thing. I caught the last 40 or so minutes and it was MORE than I needed. As someone who loves not only the original film, but also the orignal novel, this movie made me so ungodly mad. It completly missed why the story of the original Exorcist worked so well. It was never about the demon, it was the drama. But how can it be a drama if those around the possessed individual range from comically stereotypical to criminally unlikable, and you just don’t care about a single one of them? Not to mention now it’s 2 possessed little girls instead of one. Oh my, so different! It retreads too many plot points from the original, but butchers them beyond belief. And to make matters worse, there’s still two more of these things coming out.
-Toby Hunter
Knock At The Cabin
I was extremely excited for a new film by Shyamalan, especially with this concept. Add a super interesting cast, and I was immediately sold to be a day one viewer. However, this film really fell flat with its very messy themes and unimpactful plot. I found a lot of moments were hollow. I wished this film had more impact, but unfortunately, this film lacked anything that gripped, excited, or engaged me.
-Austin Waybright
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