There is a current trend for films to be split into two parts. Dune, Mission Impossible and, in the cinema now, the musical Wicked. All have a part 1 and a part 2. I can only imagine that filmmakers did this because they have young kids – as all my films this year have been split into two parts because I don’t have enough time in the evening to watch an entire film after our three year old has gone to bed.

But how do you split a film into two (or more) parts? The first thing to do is to check the film’s running time. If it’s less than 90 minutes, there’s a chance you might be able to watch it in one go. But if it’s longer than I try and watch around an hour for part 1 and then whatever time is left for part 2. If longer than 2 and half hours then we’re into two 90 minute film territories and I watch to half way and then the second half the following night.

This worked well for Killers of the Flower Moon and Babylon, both of which were over three hours long and largely episodic, less so for films like Avatar where the action is towards the end and part 1 becomes a slog and part 2 has all the ‘good bits’.

Now you might think that watching films in half means you will watch fewer films. But you’d be wrong – because kids can watch films all the time and while you might see fewer films, you will see more film as the same films will play each and every day. Moana I’m looking at you. And you, Encanto. And don’t think I can’t see you at the back, Frozen. All of which are on a constant loop.

At Christmas, we went to see Moana 2 and my wife asked me what I thought of it:

“I don’t know, I’ll need to see it another 127 times to know if it’s any good,” I said.

So, if we ignore Disney, and Moana (though its clearly the film of the year as I’m still watching it and enjoying it on the 128th viewing) my favourite films were:

Babylon – one of the worst films I’ve seen this year because of the opening and also the best film I saw this year by a mile because of the sheer flawed ambition of it.

Final Cut – a zombie film. And that’s all you should know because the delight in this film comes from finding out what exactly it means when it says it’s a zombie film.

Sisu – one man. Nazis. Fight! Sisu I think is Finnish for bloodbath.

Pearl – one woman. No nazis. Barely any blood until there is.

Abigail – very enjoyable nonsense – with lots of blood

Hitman – enjoyable nonsense with no blood

Kneecap – f***king enjoyable nonsense

Reality – a film made entirely from FBI transcripts of the arrest of a possible whistleblower.

Late Night With The Devil – another true story, in theory…

Across the Spiderverse – I didn’t enjoy the first one, but the sequel was great (as is it’s soundtrack)

Blackberry – The Social Network with phones

Wonka – Paddington with chocolate

Dune 2 – which despite being a part 2, I saw all in one go at the IMAX, otherwise it would have been part 2 and part 3.