Joe Cianciotto: The Three Best Movies of 2023

 

Best Movies of 2023: Joe Cianciotto’s Favorite Films

2023 was a wild ride for moviegoers, but between box-office bombs and huge hits, there was no shortage of great movies. Here are Joe Cianciotto’s top 3 movies of 2023.

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The Boy & The Heron

Hayao Miyazaki is a filmmaker with decades-spanning career returns. Going into The Boy and the Heron, it is tempting to question if the director can really pull off one last trick after decades of great movies. Fortunately for his fans, Miyazaki’s new film is cinematic magic. The Boy and the Heron is an achievement. Every frame brings something new and beautiful to the table. Just like most of Miyazaki’s best movies, the fluid animation combines with an excellent score to create something haunting, gorgeous, and like nothing we've been seen before.

Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse continues the adventure of teen superhero Miles Morales as Spider-Man, and his fan-favorite partner, Gwen Stacy's Spider-Woman. With the same unique comic book style as the first movie, this sequel really lives up to its predecessor, says Joe Cianciotto. The film weaves together visually-stunning action sequences and the emotional heaviness of family relationships. It sets itself apart from the current wave of more formulaic superhero movies.

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Oppenheimer

Joe Cianciotto says Oppenheimer is unique compared to other biopics because its goal isn't to tell audiences J. Robert Oppenheimer's entire story, but rather showcases his life and work in relation to a singular objective: creating the first atomic bomb. Everything in the movie ties to that one big event. The movie shows that countless decisions - small and large - can change the course of history. Oppenheimer is relentless. Nothing is unnecessary and it doesn't dance around its points.

Ranking The Best James Gunn Movies

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Due to his numerous recent hits, James Gunn has become one of the most well-known directors in Hollywood. Movie enthusiast Joe Cianciotto ranks the director’s best films to date in this article.

4. Slither

James Gunn's directorial debut is a throwback to alien invasion films that became popular in the 1950s. "Slither" is the story of a strange alien parasite that lands on earth and invades a small town in South Carolina. Although the flick was a box office failure, it generally received positive reviews from critics and has since become a cult classic.

3. Guardians of the Galaxy

When the production of "Guardians of the Galaxy" was announced in the early 2010s, the film was met by skeptics who doubted that an unknown group of Marvel superheroes could enjoy the success that its MCU predecessors did. However, Joe Cianciotto notes that "Guardians" became the highest-grossing superhero film of 2014.

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2. The Suicide Squad

"The Suicide Squad" was not supposed to exist because of the critical and commercial failure of its prequel, released in 2016. James Gunn created a successful sequel and even managed to help save the reputation of a movie franchise that has become infamous for producing substandard films. His take on the squad of anti-heroes was well-received by fans and critics, with the film being one of the few DCEU flicks with a Rotten Tomato score of 90% or higher.

1. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

James Gunn's best work to date is "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2." Joe Cianciotto explains what makes the film so great is that the director was able to take it up a notch and defy expectations that were already sky-high due to the success of the first film. The film's ability to recapture the original's feeling of novelty and humor while dissecting the complex nature of family made it a fan favorite.

A Look at What Makes a Movie Poster Iconic

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The fact is that not all movie posters are created equal. Some posters stand the test of time and become collectors' items. Others, meanwhile, are simply forgotten. For this blog, Joe Cianciotto describes the qualities of an iconic movie poster.

Good design is essential to create an attractive poster because if the design isn't good, it could end up being a bad marketing tool for the film. Before starting the poster, several elements need to be considered, including perspective, layout, and typography, says Joe Cianciotto.

Here are some important aspects of movie posters:

1) Good Composition

Composition in art is how the various elements of an image are arranged. It is not just about how the poster looks but also its overall impact on the viewer. When designing a movie poster, this is one of the most important aspects to consider.

Composition in film marketing flyers can be divided into three sections: foreground, mid-ground, and background. Each section has its own specific role in the marketing strategy, so if you want your movie poster to be good, it needs to have a well-thought-out composition, explains Joe Cianciotto.

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2) Calls-to-action

Calls-to-action are prompts intended to excite viewers and motivate them to take action. The main goal of the poster is usually to get the viewer to watch the movie in theaters, but in some cases, it can be used for other purposes. For example, a call-to-action can encourage people to buy the DVD when released, visit the movie website, or even attend an event promoting the film.

3) The Main Image

The most important part of any good design is the main image. According to Joe Cianciotto, this is the first factor to consider when creating a poster to develop an attractive design. After all, it is often the main image that comes to mind when we think of the most iconic movie posters.

More sci-fi classics from the '90s

When the ‘90s rolled in, film buffs were doubtful if films in the next 10 years could measure up to the previous decade’s. After all, the ‘80s saw some of the most iconic movies in almost all genres. However, in many ways, the ‘90s exceeded expectations.

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On that note, here are three more great science fiction films from the ‘90s. Joe Cianciotto.

Flatliners: Joel Schumacher opened up the decade with a sci-fi thriller unlike any other in the 1990’s “Flatliners.” Incredibly harrowing and impeccably shot, the film gives a unique take on the afterlife, and what may happen if people take a stroll in it before their time. Joe Cianciotto.

Jurassic Park: Master director Steven Spielberg redefined the use of CGI on film with his mega-blockbuster “Jurassic Park.” A breathtaking thrill-ride through a perilous natural (and not-so-natural) park, this film marks the first wide-release wherein creatures seemed all too real. It was something absolutely no one had ever seen before. Joe Cianciotto.

Galaxy Quest: A hilarious and quirk-filled take on “Star Trek” and almost every similar space opera, “Galaxy Quest” is the perfect example of how the elements of a film simply work. From the plot to the action sequences to the comedic timing to the iconic punchlines, “Galaxy Quest” has over the years, become quite a cult favorite, as it deservedly should be. Joe Cianciotto.

Three inspirational films to come out of Hollywood in the past 50 years

All heart -- Joe Cianciotto

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Hollywood has come out with a number of inspirational movies in the past half-century, films that have made audiences tear-up at their most triumphant or emotional moments.

As the first part of a tribute to all the inspiring films in the past 50 years, here are three movies that have tugged at audiences’ hearts.

Rudy (1993): Americans love football, and they love football movies. And while there have been a dozen or so quality films on the sport, none of these films was as inspiring as “Rudy.” The film, based on the life of Daniel Ruettiger, wasn’t a box-office hit, but it created a cult following that endures until today, with many people saying that watching the “Rudy” saved their lives. Joe Cianciotto.

Rocky (1976): Probably the most inspirational film on combat sports ever made, “Rocky” is the original and definitive underdog Hollywood hero. In it, Sylvester Stallone plays the down-on-his-luck prizefighter who is given a once-in-a-lifetime chance and makes the most of it, finding redemption, love, and destiny all at once. Joe Cianciotto.

Braveheart (1995): “Braveheart” is a historical epic loosely based on Scottish medieval history. Mel Gibson both directs and stars in the Oscar-winning movie that’s both brutal and beautiful. At its heart, the film tackles one of man’s basic needs – freedom, and his determination to get it at all costs. Joe Cianciotto.

Why R-Rated Comic Book Movies Click With Fans

The hype surrounding the comic book movie “Logan” has not completely died down yet, with many people still praising how the story of the original X-Men (of the films) was beautifully – and tragically – concluded.

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However, Logan was not your “normal” comic book movie, and it was apparent from the opening minutes of the film. While most of the comic book or superhero movies that did well in the box office and were critically acclaimed catered to fans of all ages, Logan departed from that tried-and-tested formula. It was given an R-rating, and director James Mangold and the producers used the violence, profanity, and a dark and mature plot to its full potential.

Instead of being forced to create a film that needs to be accepted by the masses, Mangold said that the R-rating allowed them to understand better their audience, and it is obvious that the target audience responded well to it.

Logan actually benefited from the success of another R-rated comic book movie released in 2016, “Deadpool.” The studio 20th Century Fox understood that they could not produce a Deadpool movie that is faithful to its source material with a friendlier rating. What resulted was the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time that received various awards and nominations, and the go-signal for studios to release similarly rated comic book movies.

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Joe Cianciotto here, an architect working mainly in the Bay Area. I am also a movie buff who enjoys a diverse selection of genres that include comic book films, classics, indie films, and more. Visit this website for similar articles.