Looking back on 2021, BYU–Hawaii students shared their favorite movies from the past year. Analei Peffer and Christal Jover said they enjoyed comedy, action and how more movies move past romantic love interests and instead have elements of brother and sisterly love.
All movie descriptions were inspired by rottentomatoes.com.
“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”
A Marvel Studios film, Shang-Chi, played by actor Simu Liu, must confront his past after he learns more about the Ten Rings organization. Shang-Chi, his best friend Katy, played by actress Awkwafina, and sister Xialing, played by actress Meng’er Zhang, all fight to protect the universe from horrific monsters.
Karen Isela Montague, a junior from Texas majoring in elementary education, said the actors portrayed their characters well and added bits of comedy that balanced out the action scenes, but it didn’t make it seem forced. She said even though she hasn’t seen all the other Marvel movies, she could still understand what was going on and enjoyed this movie.
Montague said she loved how the film showed how important Shang-Chi’s family and loved ones were to him.
Analei Peffer, a freshman from Utah majoring in social work, said due to her Chinese heritage, she related to the characters and felt it was amazing to see a predominantly Asian cast, especially since it was with Marvel Studios.
“Black Widow”
Christal Jover, a senior from the Philippines majoring in film arts, said she enjoyed seeing a lot of strong female leads in the film. As a child, she shared, she always liked watching movies about spies and because Black Widow resembles a spy, she was always Jover’s favorite superhero.
The movie, she said, resonated with her because of how it focused on the main character’s sisterly love. Jover said, having a sister herself, she was able to connect to the movie.
Another Marvel film follows the story of Natasha Romanoff, also known as Black Widow, played by Scarlett Johanson, who confronts her past while trying to take down a secret organization. Black Widow is faced with having to rebuild her relationships with her family and deals with the weight of being an Avenger.
“Free Guy”
A bank teller, named Guy, played by Ryan Reynolds, discovers he’s actually in a video game. He tries to write his own story by creating a world that has no limits and must save his world “before it’s too late.”
Emi Huber, a sophomore from Arizona majoring in business management with an emphasis in human resources, said, “When I first saw the trailer, I had no intention to go and see it in the theaters.”
She said at first glance, the movie seemed “kind of dumb,” but when she went to see it with her fiancé, she was “pleasantly surprised.” She said she laughed through the whole thing.
“Luca”
This Disney and Pixar original feature film is set in an Italian town by the sea. Luca, voiced by Jacob Tremblay, experiences an unforgettable summer with his friends, Alberto, voiced by Jack Dylan Grazer, and Giulia, voiced by Emma Berman. Their summer is threatened though, by a powerful secret.
Madison Bird, a senior from Ohio majoring in business management, said the movie “has so much heart.” Bird said although the main characters have faults, they grow and have amazing character development.
She said the animation was beautiful and looked like traditional claymation with a modern twist. Bird said the movie is “absolutely worth the watch” and meant for the whole family.
Samiya Washington, a senior from California majoring in social work, said “Luca” has such a light-hearted and innocent feel. She shared how she and her husband re-watched the movie over and over again when they spent time with their nieces. Seeing her nieces smile, she shared, made her enjoy the movie even more.•