NorthStar’s Favorite Films of 2023
By Onyinyechi U.
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DISCLAIMER: Always consult your parents before watching ay of the films mentioned!
The 96th Academy Awards ceremony took place on March 10, 2024. In this exciting event, many films from 2023 were honored for their performances, screenplays, and technical effects. So we decided to ask NorthStar students which of last year’s movies they loved best.
When asked to name their favorite motion pictures of last year, some students named films that won Oscars this March. One person praised the haunting World War II movie The Zone of Interest, winner of Best International Feature Film, saying, “I thought it was super interesting! It gave a new perspective on the people involved in [running] Auschwitz and how they wanted good lives for their family as well.” Another loved the comedy Barbie, which received the award for Best Original Song: “I thought it found a really great balance between keeping things lighthearted and funny, which also pointing out some tough realities for women (and men) in our society.”
Some films did not win an Academy Award this year, but they are still treasured by NSA students. Nearly 40% of responders said that their favorite movie of the year was Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, a nominee for Best Animated Feature Film. When asked what they loved about it so much, students had many answers. Many praised the animation, calling it “gorgeous,” and “go[ing] beyond expectations.” Others enjoyed the character development, with one saying, “Each character in the movie has their own story and personality….[w]e, as an audience, can connect with them.” Overall, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse was very well received by NorthStar students.
People also loved the action film Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One, a nominee for Best Visual Effects and Best Sound. A responder described the film as “[v]ery action packed,” applauding the “amazing” stunts. Similarly, a student said, “This movie will make you go through a rollercoaster of emotions. Part of you may want to cry; other parts of your heart will be racing; and other parts of you will be excited.”
Still other films failed to get any Oscar nominations, but delighted many NorthStar students. For example, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was approved for its casting and the plot’s faithfulness to the book. One other responder appreciated the Christian drama Jesus Revolution, calling it “entertaining but accurate” in its presentation of the Jesus movement of the 1960’s and 70’s.
Students here have a wide range of tastes in film, ranging from Oscar favorites to lesser-known movies. Hopefully, the reader enjoyed learning about NorthStar’s favorite motion pictures!
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Onyinyechi U. lives in Pennsylvania with her parents and two siblings. She is a tenth grader, and this is her third year at NSA. She recently started writing for the Navigator. In her free time, she enjoys writing novels, plays, and poetry.