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Thor: Love and Thunder – Directed by Taika Waititi. Written by Taika Waititi and Jennifer Kaytin Robinson. Starring Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Christian Bale, Tessa Thompson, Taika Waititi, Jaimie Alexander, Russel Crowe, Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Bradley Cooper, Sean Gunn, Vin Diesel, Pom Klementieff, Kat Dennings, Stellan Skarsgard, Kieron L. Dyer, and a few surprises

***1/2 out of ****

The Thor franchise was always a troubled one for Marvel, with all three installments having a radically different identity. The first installment brought gravitas from its cast and director, but had a weak plot and most of its characters felt like beta versions. The sequel let Tom Hiddleston cut loose as Loki, but was bogged down by a terrible villain. Then came Thor: Ragnarok, which unleashed the madness of indie director Taika Waititi on the franchise and gave us a technicolor fantasy that truly captured what the franchise could be – but was rather divisive due to its jokey nature. It’s one of my favorite Marvel movies, but many people were hoping he would rein it in for the sequel.

He did not. In fact, you might say he went Full Taika, because Thor: Love and Thunder is probably the most distinct vision a creator has ever gotten to put on a Marvel movie. Unlike Eternals, its big cosmic concepts don’t feel like they’re too big for the movie. However, this is one of the shortest Marvel movies at only two hours, and it doesn’t let that restrain its ambition at all. It takes on some of the weightiest stories the character of Thor has ever had, drawn from the epic run by Jason Aaron. While it does many of those stories justice, it’s also easy to see where things had to be cut.

We pick up with Thor after the events of the last Avengers movie, where he lost many of his friends to Thanos’ attack. He’s now essentially a cosmic version of a beach bum, getting back into shape by fighting monsters on alien planets and getting dating advice from Star-Lord of the Guardians of the Galaxy. It’s a hilarious opening, but Waititi doesn’t shy away from the fact that Thor is seriously depressed. This isn’t played for laughs like it arguably was in Avengers: Endgame, and that helps to drive home that Waititi always respects his source material.

The same goes for the movie’s second lead, Natalie Portman as scientist and former Thor love interest Jane Foster. She went on with her life after she and Thor’s relationship ended, and she went on to be a world-renowned astrophysicist – but now she’s battling stage four cancer, with little hope of survival. After science doesn’t provide any answers, she seeks out another type of hope in the shattered remains of Mjolnir in the small settlement of New Asgard – and the hammer answers back. There is a pretty major twist on why the hammer answers to her now. It feels very in-character for everyone involved, but I can also see it ruffling some feathers. Portman never made much of an impression in her first two outings, but here she comes off as a full-fledged superhero in a way she hasn’t since her star turn in V for Vendetta.

And this movie will need two Thors, because it has maybe the most fearsome villain in the franchise in Christian Bale’s Gorr the God Butcher. In a harrowing prequel, he’s introduced as a lonely pilgrim seeking water and refuge in a drought on an alien planet, desperately trying to protect his young daughter and ultimately burying her, and all the while maintaining faith in his God. And when he finally meets him, the God mocks him and rejects him. Through a series of comic book contrivances, he winds up in possession of the deadly, corrupting Necrosword, which allows him to launch a genocide against anything that could be considered a God. Bale pushes his performance right up to the point of absurdity, coming off as deeply unsettling without ever truly being comical. Gorr is a ghastly mass murderer with one of the biggest-scale plans so far in the MCU outside of Thanos, but he never stops feeling human.

The main plot kicks off when Gorr invades New Asgard with a horde of shadow demons straight out of The Mist. After losing an initial bout to Thor and Thor, he absconds with all of New Asgard’s children – including Heimdall’s son Axl, played by an engaging Kieron L. Dwyer. The two Thors head off for space along with Waititi’s hilarious rock-man Korg and Tessa Thompson’s always-entertaining Valkyrie to build an army of Gods – which doesn’t work particularly well. A set piece inside a massive planet of the Gods, overseen by a hilariously sloppy Russell Crowe as Zeus, is maybe the one scene that leans a little too much into parody, but never so much that it takes you out of the movie.

At the heart of this movie is the connection between Thor and Jane Foster, and in that Waititi has his work cut out for him. He positions them as the true loves of each others’ weird, spectacular lives, which is a hard sell because their original romance in. the first two Thor movies was so perfunctory and forgettable. It’s clear that Waititi brings out the best in both actors, because the scenes they share together are packed with emotion. The story of Jane’s cancer plays out very differently here, for the simple reason that it’s playing out over a two-hour movie rather than a two-year comic book storyline. Portman gives it her all, but I can’t say the same for the makeup artist – she looks rather haggard at times, but the film never quite sells that she’s a stage-four cancer patient on the verge of death.

With the MCU, a lot of things go on behind the scenes and determine the plot, and the ending makes pretty clear who in this film is our Thor going forward. It takes some wild left-turns plot-wise, sets up a bold new status quo for the survivors of Asgard, and introduces a major new player in the stinger. It’s too jokey in points for its deathly serious subject matter, but it comes together into the kind of boldly enjoyable stew Waititi is best at. That being said, I’m assuming he’s giving us a Thor 5 as well – because if not, he’s leaving a LOT to clean up.

After taking a year off due to obvious reasons, I’m back with a look at the 2022 box office! 2020 was mostly a wash, but the movies came roaring back in the latter half of 2021. Well, at least one studio did. Five Marvel movies, four by Disney delivered strong results. We even had a rare original IP blockbuster succeed. Of course, other movies struggled – especially those for grown-ups.

Which brings us to 2022. While Omicron is still wreaking havoc around the world, it does seem like the 2022 box office will bring back a full year’s release schedule with the return of many top franchises, massive Disney releases in several franchises, and a bunch of movies that have been delayed almost two years.

But things are still unpredictable, and I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of these movies move their release date or even push back due to competition or other circumstances. So for this list, I’m going to pass on giving number predictions – they’re just too much of a crapshoot this year. In 2021, one movie will have made the same money as the next three combined. That’s a huge disparity. What I can do, though, is give predictions of placements with some confidence.

So without further ado, my predictions for the top twenty-five movies at the box office in 2022.

25. Puss in Boots – The Last Wish

Is there any heat left in the Shrek franchise? What was once the biggest animated franchise of all time has largely faded from the public eye – until this long-delayed sequel. The first installment was a hit, and I predict this one will do modest numbers as well, but just enough to sneak into this list.

24. Morbius

This odd-looking Jared Leto vampire superhero film is getting on the list for one reason and one reason only – spillover audience. Coming on the heels of a second hit Venom movie and what might wind up being the top-grossing solo superhero movie ever, the Sony Spider-universe production should get enough eyes in seats for the first week before flaming out quickly.

23. The Lost City

This seems to be the year romantic comedies try to make a comeback. I’m not sure whether the genre can recover – things like the Julia Roberts/George Clooney reunion dramedy Ticket to Paradise or the J.Lo/Owen Wilson instant-wedding farce Marry Me feel like they’ll be limited to one quadrant. The exception may be this Sandra Bullock/Channing Tatum romantic comedy adventure, which seems to be trying to recapture the vibe of old pulp adventures with a romantic twist.

22. Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore

I know, I know, everyone thinks this will bomb due to JK Rowling’s…controversies. The thing is, I’m not sure that’ll matter. This series has suffered from massively diminishing returns after the first installment, and the combination of the firing of Johnny Depp, the poor reception for the second movie, and the absence of most of the elements people actually care about from the Harry Potter series makes me think this movie is primed to be the year’s most notable bomb. The fact is, with no Hogwarts and no original main characters, this is barely a franchise.

21. DC’s League of Super-Pets

I feel kind of silly complaining about accuracy in super-pets…but this really isn’t a super-pets movie. It’s a Krypto movie where a bunch of random other animals get superpowers. It’s The Secret Life of Pets with superheroes, and Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart doing voices. And you know what? That’ll probably be enough. The trailer makes this look like lowest-common-denominator kids entertainment, and there’ll always be a place for this. There will be much bigger animated movies this year, and much bigger superhero movies, but this will find its audience.

20. Violent Night

This one is a bit of a flyer, because we know relatively little about this December R-rated action thriller starring David Harbour. But the breakout star of Stranger Things and Black Widow is a big selling point, as is the fact that it has the John Wick team involved. Those guys know how to deliver ultraviolent popcorn entertainment that crosses over into the mainstream, and I could see this being successful counterprogramming amid a wave of family films.

19. Top Gun: Maverick

You know who likes to see movies? Dads! You know who hasn’t had a movie in a while? Dads! I was a little down on this loooooooooooong-awaited sequel when I first analyzed it in 2020’s preview, but I’ve since changed my tune. The trailers make this look like a retro, rah-rah action movie, and Tom Cruise surprisingly still has it. This won’t be his last appearance on this year’s box office countdown, but I think this one could surprise.

18. Strange World

Virtually nothing is known about the next Walt Disney Studios animated feature beyond it being a father-son adventure on an alien planet and one piece of concept art. Disney has been going in a very unusual direction with their animated features in the last few years, and this looks to continue. They struggled with sci-fi films in the early 2000s, but I think the company has built up enough goodwill that this will be a modest hit.

17. Sonic the Hedgehog 2

The first in this series was one of the last hits before the shutdown – and is considered by many to be the only good video game adaptation. It’s really more of a “funny talking animals” action movie, but the sequel looks like the same family adventure but with much more. Bringing in a more authentic Doctor Robotnik, along with Sonic’s loyal sidekick tails and frequent rival Knuckles, this should make an impact as the first big family film of the year.

16. Nope

We know less about this movie than any other on the list – literally nothing except a spooky poster implying that Jordan Peele’s third horror film will involve some sort of spooky circus. Does that matter? Not really. He’s built up such a great reputation as a horror director that the odds are he can dominate the box office no matter what he does. Much like M. Night Shyamalan in his early days, he’s a brand in himself and will easily claim the top horror movie of the year.

15. Black Adam

The first Shazam was a modest hit, but you know what it didn’t have? Dwayne Johnson launching a new franchise. While it’s a big risk as DC’s first villain-led franchise (not counting the bizarre, R-rated Joker), the first teases look spectacular and the action-packed high fantasy should be a hit. This feels like it could be DC’s first successful shared-universe launch in a while if it leads to an intersection with the conclusion of Billy’s trilogy.

14. Turning Red

Pixar’s been delving into some bizarre concepts lately – with great success – but this 2000-set coming-of-age comedy from “Bao” director Domee Shi may take the cake. The story of an awkward Chinese-Canadian teen who gets the ability to shapeshift into a giant red panda looks like the best Hulk movie ever made, and its diverse cast is more evidence of Disney broadening its horizons. Still, it may be a little too oddball and quirky to match the massive success of some Pixar movies.

13. Mission Impossible VII

James Bond may be taking a lengthy break, but Ethan Hunt is here to pick up the slack. Just like this year’s other top Tom Cruise Dad movie, this is a franchise that will skew older. It also has a very strong box office track record and will likely play as counterprogramming to the superhero movies around its release. Director Christopher McQuarrie has had a good reception on the franchise and will likely deliver another strong outing.

12. Minions: The Rise of Gru

This is one of the longest-delayed films since the pandemic, coming out a full two years after its initial scheduled release. I don’t think it’ll hurt the franchise, though – it’s basically pre-sold. You either love or hate the little yellow buggers, but this installment has a box office edge over the first – it features the return of Steve Carrel’s Gru, here a teenager looking to break into villainy. It’s going to be a powerhouse, but I think there are a few animated hits that will be even bigger.

11. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

Jason Momoa’s completely insane deep-sea adventure (Julie Andrews as the voice of the Cloverfield Monster!) was a surprise 2018 smash, but I don’t know if the sequel will quite duplicate that. Novelty is often a big part of movies like this breaking out, and the superhero market has only gotten more crowded. Still, even amid a very competitive month, this is one of the DC films best suited to be a hit.

10. The Flash

Probably the year’s biggest question mark, this has gone from an Ezra Miller solo film in the Snyderverse to an insane, dimension-hopping adventure that will apparently involve both Michael Keaton’s Batman and a new Supergirl, among other possible surprises. Miller has a lot of clouds over his head regarding conduct and this movie has often seemed cursed by countless directors and false starts. Still, I think the curiosity factor should be enough to get it into the top ten.

9. Avatar 2

First up, this is one of two movies on this list that I will believe come out in 2022 when I actually see them on the screen in front of me. But I know what you’re thinking – how does the sequel to the biggest movie of all time at the time barely break the top ten? Simple – Avatar has had very little in the way of cultural impact. Sure, there’s a Disney theme park land in Animal Kingdom, but the film rode its then-groundbreaking technology and a near-empty schedule to record numbers and then faded from the public consciousness. How long has it been since the first? The only MCU film released before it was Iron Man. The first one. The sequel plot, involving the main characters’ kids on an adventure, sounds uninspiring. It will likely make a solid profit, but the movie box office has moved on without it.

8. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Part One)

It’s always great to see a movie truly become a word-of-mouth hit, and the Oscar-winning animated multiverse adventure is considered by many to be the best Spidey film. But despite that…its box office wasn’t that impressive, especially not compared to the live-action versions. In fact, it’s the lowest-grossing Spider-man movie. This one looks bigger, better, and wilder, introducing several new Spiders. I think that’ll translate to a major increase in the box office, easily doubling the original. But to get higher than this spot, it’ll likely have to triple – and that may be a bridge too far even for Spider-ham.

7. Mario

I know, I know. Chris Pratt as Mario? The internet is enraged! But here’s the thing…it’s not about us nerds. This is an Illumination movie, and just about everything they touch turns to gold at the box office. But they’ve never had a crack at a franchise quite as large and instantly recognizable as Mario before. With a voice cast that includes Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong and Jack Black as Bowser, it looks like it could be the heir to past animated hits starring all-star voices like Shrek. Sure, there’s a chance it could be terrible and kids will hate it, but I would say parents should get ready to hear Pratt talk about plumbing a lot in the coming years.

6. The Batman

Batman is probably the most bank-able character in comic book movies besides Spider-Man, but this Robert Pattinson reboot has a few things going against it. First of all, it’s a stand-alone noir film at the same time as many people are clamoring for more Ben Affleck Batman. Second, the DC cinematic universe is in flux as a whole. Finally, and most significantly, the movie will be going on streaming a month after release – either related to Covid concerns, or a lack of faith in the film. The trailers have been met with overall good response, but not exactly wildly enthusiastic. It’s Batman and it’ll be a hit, but a lot of factors will keep it from the highest tier.

5. Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness

Coming on the heels of the megahit Spider-Man: No Way Home, this next chapter in the Marvel multiverse adventure should be huge. It’ll introduce new character America Chavez, bring in Scarlet Witch (with rumors of Loki), and play on a much bigger scale than the previous installment. But with all that, the first Doctor Strange was big but not huge, and this movie looks to be much more “inside baseball” than other Marvel franchises. It won’t do less than double the first installment’s numbers, but I don’t expect that to be enough to contend for the year’s crown.

4. Jurassic World: Dominion

It might not get the hype of the biggest franchises, but the Jurassic World franchise shocked the world by taking the opening weekend record with its first installment, and the second was no slouch. This is not only the conclusion of the trilogy, but brings back the core trio of the very first Jurassic Park movie – Sam Neill, Jeff Goldblum, and Laura Dern – and pits humans against dinosaurs in the wild. Some people will want a blockbuster that they can enjoy without ten years of lore, and this will fill that niche with a whole lot of creative dinosaur kills.

3. Thor: Love and Thunder

The Thor franchise was kind of Marvel’s ugly stepsister for a while, with the first two movies getting middling reception. That all changed with Taika Waititi’s rollicking space action-comedy Thor: Ragnarok, which was the biggest hit of the franchise. Not only is he back, directing Hemsworth (maybe the last remaining member of the original Avengers to headline a film), but he’s bringing Natalie Portman back to wield the hammer – adapting one of the best-regarded runs on the character ever. Add in Christian Bale as the terrifying Gorr, and you’ve got a recipe for a massive hit.

2. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

You remember how I said there were two movies on this list I wasn’t sure would actually come out? This is the other. The first Black Panther shocked the world and became the top-grossing superhero movie of all time for over a year – and then we all know what happened. The tragic death of Chadwick Boseman shocked the world and left director Ryan Coogler with the near-impossible task of picking up the franchise and paying tribute to his friend. Rumored new star Letitia Wright has been at the center of vaccine drama and the movie has been plagued by rewrites and delays. All that said, if it makes its release date, the throng of people lining up to watch a tribute to Boseman’s legacy and the future of Wakanda will be huge.

1. Lightyear

I’m taking a flyer on this one, but the Toy Story franchise has not given any indication of being played out. The last two installments have both crossed 400M at the domestic box office, and this new spin-off features the wildly popular Chris Evans taking over the lead role as a young Buzz Lightyear in a real space adventure. While it lifting itself over the three MCU films this year will be a challenging task, the sci-fi/adventure trailer reminds me a lot of another film – The Incredibles 2, which did a staggering 600M+ at the box office. In a superhero glut, it’s entirely possible that a stand-alone family adventure tying into one of the most beloved franchises of all time will come out the victor.

What do you think will dominate the year? Feel free to give your thoughts in the comments or on Facebook/Twitter.

It’s time for the third installment of The Great Disney Countdown! So far we’ve taken a look at the bottom of the barrel, and then sorted out the many films in the solid middle that achieved success but not quite excellence. Now we’re getting into the top half, the elite list of classics that have stood the test of time.

This list only includes the films officially produced and released by Walt Disney Animation Studios. No Pixar films (although you can see my current ranking of those here) and it also doesn’t include the cheaper DisneyToon films like A Goofy Movie, or the oddball Touchstone musicals like The Nightmare Before Christmas.

24. The Sword in the Stone (1963)

This take on Arthurian legend is one of the more divisive movies in the Disney legend, with some fans loving its catchy musical numbers and likable characters and others feeling it makes too many changes to the legend to be kid-friendly. There’s some truth in the latter, but I come down firmly on the former side. There are three segments in this film that are up there with the best of Disney – Merlin’s catchy musical number as he packs his books; the anarchic shape-shifting final battle between Merlin and Madame Mim, and a sweet, mostly silent segment after Arthur is transformed into a squirrel and meets a female squirrel.

23. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)

Let’s get one thing straight – this is one of the most beautiful Disney films ever made. Its animation is sweeping and majestic, and its soundtrack is a marvel. Two of its numbers – the opening “Bells of Notre Dame” and the villainous “Hellfire” – are among the best Disney music of all time. But it’s also a movie with some real tonal problems. It’s shockingly dark, with a perverted and genocidal villain and a wacky sidekick who nearly executes the heroes in cold blood. Touches like that make its funny gargoyle characters feel even more out of place, and contribute to why this never achieved the success of other films of the era.

22. Hercules (1997)

A dramatic shift in tone from the previous year’s release, Disney’s first foray into the world of Greek myths is a jaunty adventure filled with action. Its gospel-inspired soundtrack has some great numbers, although none really stands out as a truly iconic Disney number. James Woods’ Hades is an equally menacing and hilarious foe, and its unconventional love interest Megara has gained a huge fanbase. But the departures from the actual myth are so drastic that it’s essentially Hercules in name only – it has much more in common with an Ancient Greece Elseworlds for Superman.

21. Bambi (1942)

A classic from Disney’s early years, Bambi is their first foray into the “talking animals” genre without major human characters. It gets off to an extremely dramatic and traumatic start with one of the most memorable moments in Disney history – the death of Bambi’s mother. But after that, Bambi’s friendship with the forest animals and his eventual rise to become the leader of his fellow deer is enjoyable – but not all that memorable.

20. Cinderella (1950)

The second of Disney’s original Princess trio, Cinderella has gotten some flack over the years for its passive heroine. That’s largely unfair, because it’s actually a pretty compelling story of a girl rising above abuse (a theme done even better in a film we’ll see much later on the list). It has some great music primarily courtesy of the Fairy Godmother, and the ongoing subplot of a trio of friendly mice battling an evil cat adds some fun slapstick without detracting. Its biggest weakness? Its Prince Charming has almost as little personality as the one-scene prince from Snow White.

19. The Jungle Book (1967)

This adventurous adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s famous story of an Indian boy raised by animals is still a fun romp today. Maybe a bit too fun – while the original book had some serious danger in it, this cartoon largely keeps it light throughout. Although villains Shere Khan and Kaa have some menace, the slapstick-y nature of the story and jazz-influenced soundtrack have made it a favorite among younger kids. “The Bare Necessities” remains one of the most enduring Disney songs, but the 2016 remake is the only one of that wave of live-action reinventions to eclipse the original.

18. The Little Mermaid (1989)

The movie that kicked off the Disney Renaissance that followed, there’s no question it stands up today as an entertaining and thrilling fairy tale. It pioneered the modern Disney formula of heroine, love interest, villain, sidekicks, and henchmen, and its soundtrack and villain remain the highlights. It drags in the middle after Ariel’s transformation, and Ariel’s father is so unlikable in the early going that it detracts for many people. Are Ariel and Eric as compelling as future Disney protagonists? No, but try listening to “Under the Sea” and not humming along.

17. Robin Hood (1973)

In the forty-five years since Disney’s take on Robin Hood was released, dozens of other adaptations of the famous property have been made. Few have come as close to the core of the story as this “funny animals” version. A lot of comedy and some over-the-top musical numbers lightly disguise a tale about class warfare and corrupt government, and its political streak makes it stand out from the other Disney films of the era. It maybe veers a bit too hard into slapstick at times, but it’s highly enjoyable throughout.

16. The Princess and the Frog (2009)

Has there ever been a Disney movie that suffered more from bad timing than The Princess and the Frog? The last 2-D animated film (until the little-seen Winnie the Pooh), it came at a time when the medium was dying and CGI was the new fancy. That led to this film being largely ignored despite having a LOT going for it. Featuring the first African-American princess, Tiana, this movie makes the most of its setting on the Louisiana Bayou. Its villain, the mad witch doctor Facilier, not only has one of the best Disney villain songs but drops multiple hints at a larger Disney multiverse in the process. Its drawbacks? A courtship that can feel too much like a Hallmark romantic comedy at times, and a little too much time for the comic relief sidekicks. But it’s a gem that gets ignored more than it deserves.

15. Bolt (2008)

Bolt is not an ambitious film, but it’s a near-perfect one. A charming, nearly villain-free tale of animals on a road trip, it follows a TV star dog who believes he actually has the superpowers of the dog he plays on TV. Teaming up with a streetwise stray cat with a tragic past and a hyperactive super-fan hamster who never leaves his exercise ball, Bolt’s attempts to “rescue” the little girl who plays his owner lead to some of the sweetest depictions of the love between pet and owner Disney has ever explored. This is another one that gets almost completely swept under the radar. It deserves better – Rhino the Hamster is one of the funniest characters Disney has ever created.

14. Fantasia (1940)

The final package film on the list, Fantasia is almost as significant as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in the evolution of Disney’s film history. A combo of silent animated shorts set to iconic works of classical music, it features two of the most iconic segments in Disney animation history – the Mickey Mouse-starring The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, a brilliant work of chaotic animated comedy; and the chilling Night on Bald Mountain. Featuring the demonic Chernabog, it’s one of the darkest and most haunting segments ever put to animation. There’s no question they’re works of Disney genius. But the other six animated segments have largely been forgotten, with some having deeply uncomfortable racial imagery.

13. One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961)

The best of Disney’s “funny animals” genre, this story has become an iconic film for dog-lovers everywhere. Surprisingly, though, it’s the human characters who steal the show here. Charming musician Roger gets the film’s best scene with his trash-talking musical number about the villain, and his romance with Anita is arguably the studio’s best depiction of a courtship. Cruella De Vil arguably created the model for the charismatic-but-hateable Disney villain. It neatly balances the human and animal characters and holds up well even today, without the over-the-top slapstick that became a mainstay of the genre.

12. Aladdin (1992)

How far can one brilliant performance take a movie? That’s the question this movie poses. Robin Williams’ Genie may be the best comic-relief sidekick in Disney history, a rapid-fire blast of pop culture references and shapeshifting gags. The movie has a lot more going for it – Aladdin is a likable underdog hero, the movie has a lush and thrilling environment, and the soundtrack is top-notch. Villain Jafar is a bit of a stock character and his obsession with marrying the teenage Princess Jasmine puts Frollo to shame, but the Cave of Wonders segment may be one of the best animated scenes in the entire Disney library.

11. Alice in Wonderland (1951)

A lush and faithful adaptation of the surreal Lewis Carrol classic, this film combines elements from both the original Alice in Wonderland and its sequel Through the Looking Glass. Like the source material, its narrative is more a collection of bizarre adventures that a little Victorian girl encounters on her journey. But so many of those adventures are all-time classics. The Cheshire Cat’s confusing chaotic-neutral guidance makes him one of the great Disney sidekicks, and the Queen of Hearts is alternately buffoonish and menacing. It’s a bizarre, hilarious ride that never lets you get bored for a second.