Ozma of Oz
Year: 1907
Author: L. Frank Baum
Length: 188 pages
The third book in a large series always feels like it doesn’t have the weight of expectations on it and can relax into its own story. It’s far enough from the first book that it doesn’t get as many direct comparisons, but it’s also taking advantage of any feedback from the second book that either worked or didn’t. Ozma of Oz isn’t nearly up to the level of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, but it pulled enough elements through to make it feel as successful as that first book.
First, Ozma of Oz brought Dorothy back. Her missing presence in The Marvelous Land of Oz left me longing for the reaction of an average human to these fantastic settings and characters. Second, the plot felt much more simple compared to the second book. The singular focus helped bring the characters together for a common goal that didn’t get distracted by introducing too many different ideas and concepts for this world. That they weren’t even in Oz for most of it probably helped, since it didn’t have the burden of tying everything back into that land’s lore.
Of course, even in the areas where it was successful, Ozma of Oz doesn’t quite live up to the strength of the first book. Sure, it has a better antagonist than The Marvelous Land of Oz, but he pales in comparison to the threat of the Wicked Witch of the West. Since her desire to return home did not fuel Dorothy’s adventure, this just feels more like a fun jaunt through a new world instead of a concerted effort to leave. Overall, it still felt like a return to what made the original great.
The return of Dorothy and a simple plot to the Oz series, I give Ozma of Oz 3.5 stars out of 5.
Bolt
Year: 2008
Rating: PG
Length: 96 minutes / 1.60 hours
Mid-2000s Disney was an interesting time for their CGI movies. Pixar had been dominating for at least a decade and created gorgeous films with heartwarming plots. Struggling to keep up with this new medium, Disney still hadn’t fully committed to CGI, and it has not aged well. Just as an example, think about how incredible WALL-E (2008) looked and realize it came out the same year as Bolt (2008). Not to say that Bolt is a terrible movie, it just feels bland in comparison—both on looks and plot.
Part of the problem of this era of CGI movies is how dated they can feel. Sure, Disney was using some CGI in their animated films even as far back as The Little Mermaid (1989). It’s just that Pixar seemed to understand that humans needed to be more like caricatures to escape the uncanny valley. The people in Bolt look so weird and wrong that it’s almost a bit distracting. If they didn’t play so strongly in the B-plot of finding a replacement for Bolt, they could have been avoided and the better-looking animals could have carried the visual momentum of the movie.
The premise for Bolt makes sense: most animal actors don’t know they’re not in a movie, but with Bolt (John Travolta), the studio has to pull a Truman Show (1998) subterfuge to get the best acting out of this dog. When Bolt gets lost, he is exposed to the real world as he tries to return to his owner. The world-wise street cat Mittens (Susie Essman) and super-fan hamster Rhino (Mark Walton) made this Homeward Bound (1993)-type journey more entertaining. Even despite these bright spots, Bolt remains quite average in so many ways.
A painfully average film in one of Disney’s dark eras, I give Bolt 3.0 stars out of 5.
Balatro
Year: 2024
Rating: E10+
Time Played: ~20 hours
Sometimes the simplest games can be the most complex. Take Balatro, for example. The goal is to hit a certain score by making poker hands. Scored cards add chips, and a multiplier is used based on the poker hand played. As the game progresses, the required score grows and requires the use of special attributes on the cards, as well as a group of Jokers that apply different modifications to the cards, chips, or multiplier. That there are so many combinations means every run can be unique.
As with other card games (and Roguelikes), Balatro relies somewhat on the luck of the draw. There are tons of choices that can make or break a round. Do you buy a booster pack for the chance at a rare Joker? Which vouchers are worth it? Do you prioritize flushes over straights? Depending on how you like to play, finding these new synergies is part of the fun of the game. When a good set of Jokers and cards hits just right, it’s fun to watch the score balloon to insane levels.
Of course, with so many ways to play the game, there are also different decks and stakes to increase the difficulty. Since much of Balatro relies on luck, these higher difficulty stakes almost feel unfair with their limitations. I’m sure the rush of beating these higher difficulties is quite something, but I never made it to the highest stakes to know what that feels like. At any rate, I still sunk a good 20 hours into the game and unlocked most of the Jokers, Tarot Cards, Vouchers, and Planet Cards. Overall, it’s a fun game, but don’t get sucked down the “just one more game” path.
A simple card game with endless complexity, I give Balatro 4.5 stars out of 5.
A Close Shave
Year: 1995
Rating: PG
Length: 31 minutes / 0.52 hours
I think it’s difficult for the third film in a series to live up to the success of its predecessors. When the first film feels a bit rough and the second is polished to perfection, the third has a lot to live up to. A Close Shave (1995) is definitely better than A Grand Day Out (1989) but I think its scarier elements hold it back from the perfection that is The Wrong Trousers (1993). After all, the levity of Wallace & Gromit is what makes it fun to watch.
As is always the case in these early Wallace & Gromit shorts, the technical achievement here is incredible. Aardman makes it look so easy that you don’t even realize how they pulled off stop motion flying sequences or have so many moving parts working all in tandem to make a sweater. And the reason why this is falls squarely on how engaging the plot is. The art of claymation serves to enhance the story so that you hardly even notice it’s there. This is the mark of pure artistry and the reason Aardman dominated this space for so many years.
While there are violent elements in A Grand Day Out and The Wrong Trousers, the main characters never feel like they’re truly in danger. Leaning more into the Hitchcock-like suspense in A Close Shave was a bold decision, but I definitely have strong memories of watching this as a kid and being scared when the big reveal happens near the end. That’s not to say Wallace & Gromit has to be specifically for kids, it’s more that parents should know these moments are there before letting their kids watch it.
Another superb Wallace & Gromit short that’s a little darker than normal, I give A Close Shave 4.5 stars out of 5.
The Marvelous Land of Oz
Year: 1904
Author: L. Frank Baum
Length: 192 pages
It’s difficult to follow up a successful and iconic work like The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. There are always questions about how much from the first book to keep in a sequel and how much new material should be explored. Make it too much like the original and it might not ignite that same spark. Veer too far away from what made the first book successful and it might be too hard to ride that success into the second one. Ultimately, The Marvelous Land of Oz had a tough spot to fill, but it did an OK job of it.
With a world as rich and varied as Oz, there are a lot of interesting places to go and concepts to explore. The Marvelous Land of Oz decided to continue world-building without Dorothy, which is probably what made it feel less relatable than its predecessor. There wasn’t that human element that anchored all the wild and fantastical elements compared to a boring life in Midwestern America. Sure, there are still a few remnants of the original crew this story visits, but they almost feel like an afterthought to tie everything together.
The best thing about The Marvelous Land of Oz is that it built up more of the lore. I liked the twist with Tip at the end, but there were also a lot of new characters to keep track of. That so many of the characters are just sentient versions of things (like Jack Pumpkinhead or the Sawhorse) or talking animals doesn’t really inspire too much in terms of creativity. If this were trimmed down a bit and added as an epilogue to the first book, it may have been better, but it still has some value as a standalone.
A non-Dorothy story that expands the lore of Oz, I give The Marvelous Land of Oz 3.0 stars out of 5.
Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted
Year: 2012
Rating: PG
Length: 93 minutes / 1.55 hours
After the first two movies in the Madagascar franchise explored what it was like for zoo animals to survive in the wild, the natural conclusion to this arc was to bring them into an adjacent space for performing animals: the circus. While this didn’t allow for nearly as much individual character development as was in Madagascar: Return 2 Africa (2008), Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted (2012) was still a fun ride that looked the best the franchise as ever looked.
If anything, Europe’s Most Wanted shares more with the first Madagascar (2005) than the second one. The focus on animals performing (including that somewhat annoying “Entrance of the Gladiators” bit that Marty (Chris Rock) does) and the return to Central Park is a good bookend to bring closure to the saga started in the first movie. At least this journey was more purposeful than a mere accident that put the main characters into the stranded situation that led to their quest to return to New York. The new characters also brought more to the table with their own struggles and goals.
Speaking of new characters with goals, I found it bizarre that most of these movies didn’t have any humans involved, so introducing Captain Chantel DuBois (Frances McDormand) was a welcome change. Her unrelenting pursuit of these animals was honestly something that should have been a part of the first movie since the Central Park Zoo wouldn’t likely just let four of their animals disappear without at least trying to search for them. Granted, DuBois is insane, which just adds to the thrill of her chase. In the end, there’s a nice finality in the conclusion here.
A good bookend to the Madagascar saga, I give Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted 3.5 stars out of 5.
Justice: North American Tour 2025
Date: May 25, 2025
Location: Red Rocks Ampitheater
If I were to rack and stack the current listing of my favorite bands, Justice would definitely be in my top 3. Since their debut album, I have enjoyed their style of electronic music and look forward to every new album they release. I had their most recent work, Hyperdrama, on repeat for several weeks once it came out last year. I stumbled onto the fact that they were touring this year and would be at Red Rocks Ampitheater. Not only were they one of my favorite bands, but they were playing at my favorite venue!
Despite the drizzling rain throughout the concert, I truly enjoyed the show that Justice put on. Fcukers, the opening act, had an interesting set. I was actually more impressed at how recently they had formed and they were already touring with Justice. Either way, their vibe was similar enough to the main act that I thought it was a good fit. Fortunately, being at Red Rocks meant that where my wife and I were sitting was just as good a seat as anywhere else in the amphitheater.
Some bands just come on stage and play their songs, interspersing the famous classics with their newer works. This concert was an experience, not only for the choreographed light show that comes with it, but mostly due to the entire set being a remix of Justice‘s entire catalog. There were a few times where individual songs shined through, but for the most part, I could pick out all the individual elements from their discography that they fused together into fresh music that I had never heard before. It was truly an experience and I’d gladly go see them in concert again, even if it wasn’t at Red Rocks.
Downwell
Year: 2019
Rating: E10+
Time Played: 10+ hours
Outside of the games Nintendo makes for their own consoles, there aren’t a lot of games from outside developers that take advantage of the system’s unique properties. I first learned about Downwell from Game Maker’s Tool Kit and thought it looked like an interesting way to use the Switch. Because you can remove the joycons, the screen can be used vertically, giving a much more natural orientation to play this extremely vertical game. Fortunately, Downwell goes on sale fairly frequently and you’ll likely only be out a few bucks for a game with a significant challenge.
As with other Devolver Digital games like Gato Roboto, Downwell leans into its retro pixel monochrome aesthetic. Things move pretty fast when in a constant free-fall, so it’s important to have high contrast visuals to make important things stand out. If anything, the limited graphics aren’t an issue because the gameplay loop is so addicting. I even bought a Flip Grip so I could hold the Switch more naturally in the vertical configuration just to play this game. The problem is, this game felt brutally hard to me.
I’ll admit that I didn’t actually finish Downwell. The farthest I ever got was the first few parts of the fourth world, which was close enough to the end for me to make an honest review. Perhaps my reaction times aren’t what they used to be, but even when I tried to learn the best tactics to beat the game, the random procedurally generated levels always seemed to catch me off guard enough times that I rarely survived past the second world. Other roguelikes had better permanent upgrades that would help me get through to the end, but that was the one lacking aspect of Downwell that left me abandoning it without seeing the end through my own efforts.
A difficult game that uniquely uses the Switch hardware, I give Downwell 3.5 stars out of 5.
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
Year: 2008
Rating: PG
Length: 89 minutes / 1.48 hours
It’s interesting how sometimes the first sequel in a franchise can deliver the plot the first movie promised. While Madagascar (2005) was more a “fish out of water” adventure with jerky animation and humor way over the kids’ heads, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008) really showed the contrast between these zoo animals with their contemporaries in Africa. This comparison felt like a much better plot device than the cringe-worthy way the first movie handled the idea of zoo animals living in the wild.
The jokes in Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa felt less unhinged from its predecessor. That they played into each of the sub-plots better helped more than just being a string of pop culture references that didn’t quite fit the setting. The best gag of course was none of the group being able to pick out Marty from the herd of zebra (in the, “you all look the same” vibe) that, despite its racist roots, accentuated the “Am I a black zebra with white stripes instead of a white zebra with black stripes?” identity of Marty.
Each of the main cast has their own sub-plot that played off their quirks and provided them room for character development. Alex (Ben Stiller) finds himself in true competition for hierarchy, Melman (David Schwimmer) takes advantage of his hypochondria, Gloria (Jada Pinkett Smith) learns what it’s like to be loved for her personality, and Marty (Chris Rock) doesn’t want to be just one zebra in a herd. Meanwhile, the penguins and lemurs are doing their penguin and lemur things, which is hilarious as always. Ultimately, everything fits together to advance the group’s journey to return home to New York while also using their home of origin to highlight their unique personalities.
A better focused sequel from DreamWorks, I give Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa 3.5 stars out of 5.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Year: 1900
Author: L. Frank Baum
Length: 154 pages
There’s a reason The Wonderful Wizard of Oz continues to have cultural influence over 100 years after L. Frank Baum wrote it. Aside from its popular adaptation as a movie in 1939, which earned the story most of its visual representation, the original itself is a solid piece of children’s entertainment. Something about the isekai into a fantasy world coupled with these unique characters has kept a spot in pop culture that’s hard to deny. The world-building itself is likely why others continue to adapt Baum’s work today.
As an adventure, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has great character motivations which accentuate their individual flaws. From Dorothy wanting to return home to the Scarecrow wanting brains, the Tin Man wanting a heart, and the Lion wanting courage, each character has a part to play so that the entire team can achieve their goals. That anyone can find at least one character they can relate to speaks to the universal nature of the cast. To top it off, all of this is accomplished in a format that’s approachable to everyone, including the children it was originally written for.
Even though the strength of this story still stands up today, comparison to the movie version highlights some of its weaknesses. The end seemed to ramble for quite a bit, even if there were interesting concepts introduced that highlighted the fantasy aspects of the story. I can appreciate that it wasn’t framed as just a coma dream like the movie does, which helps to sell the journey as true character development. Overall, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz remains a classic piece of literature and is an easy enough read that everyone should try it.
A great fantasy classic that still holds up, I give The Wonderful Wizard of Oz 4.0 stars out of 5.
Madagascar
Year: 2005
Rating: PG
Length: 86 minutes / 1.43 hours
DreamWorks movies have always had a harsh comparison to their competition at Pixar. The visuals were never as stunning, the jokes as high-brow, or the plots as thought-provoking. And while Shrek (2001) was an early outlier, enough time has passed that they’ve developed some great movies like How To Train Your Dragon (2010) and The Bad Guys (2022). Still, movies like Madagascar (2005) highlighted everything that made DreamWorks movies distinctly of that studio—and also ultimately “less than” the comparable fare being put out by Pixar at the same time.
Ironically, Pixar explored the whole “predators can’t deny their instincts” plot to a much greater effect in Zootopia (2016). In Madagascar, these four Central Park Zoo animals find themselves separated from the support system that made their life comfortable. Their reactions to being in the titular country are played for laughs through the “fish out of water” trope. And while the frenetic, jerky motions of these characters appeals to children, I found most of the jokes aimed at the adults were amusing at best and uncomfortable to explain to my kids at worst.
The one bright spot in this movie was definitely the penguins. Seeing as these characters eventually got their own dedicated pieces after this film shows that DreamWorks realized what they had with these competent creatures. Acting like Black Ops/Special Forces, it’s criminal that these minor characters didn’t have a much bigger role to play in the driving force of the plot. While I didn’t care for any of the main characters’ quirks, I could watch those penguins again and again just for the smart, quick, and funny dialogue. They definitely save this movie from being worse, but it’s not that great either.
The average DreamWorks movie, I give Madagascar 3.0 stars out of 5.
Spiritfarer
Year: 2020
Rating: T
Time Played: 2,036 minutes / 33.94 hours
I remembered when I saw Spiritfarer on a Nintendo Direct (or other such showcase) and thought that it looked like a cute game with its hand-drawn art style. So I put it on my wishlist, picked it up on sale, and then never played it until recently. Once I finally found the time to play it, I was hooked. It provided that cozy vibe that I adored in Animal Crossing: New Horizons and had an exploration style similar to The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker that I also liked. That’s not to say it didn’t have its issues, but it was definitely worth my time and money.
There’s this nice niche of games between the hyper realistic AAA behemoths and the retro pixel art indie darlings that really appeal to me. The games that feel hand-drawn like Indivisible (or even Hollow Knight, to an extent) have this warmth to them that’s difficult to replicate in any other style. Spiritfarer has this in spades, especially with the litany of creatively designed characters (some of which might have been a tad too annoying). Everything has a cutesy vibe, even if the underlying plot is about death and moving on.
And while I loved the art in this game, a lot of the gameplay mechanic felt either repetitive or blocked off. There are barriers in the world that can only be unlocked with certain upgrades to your ship, which you can’t get the materials for unless you have a particular guest to trigger a mini-game. Eventually, travel becomes faster (you don’t have to wait through the night), but that’s after hours of tedium. Overall, though, there didn’t seem to be any significant consequences to doing the game at my pace and just enjoying the adventure for what it was.
A cozy management game with some touching moments, I give Spiritfarer 4.0 stars out of 5.
Trolls
Year: 2016
Rating: PG
Length: 92 minutes / 1.53 hours
When it came out, Trolls (2016) was one of those movies that didn’t align with my particular Millennial nostalgia—troll dolls always felt a little weird to me. As such, I didn’t watch this for the first time until I had kids of my own. Amusingly enough, this is a movie meant for Millennials who have kids. The bright, colorful aesthetic is meant to keep kids entertained. However, the soundtrack for this movie is exclusively filled with music most Millennials will recognize and will probably have some nostalgia for.
It’s encouraging that there’s something more to the plot of Trolls than just a bunch of naked, long-hair dolls. Creating this identity of creatures that have songs, hugs, and happiness as the core of their identity is a bit silly, but it works to offset their gigantic enemies who have none of those qualities. And since songs play so heavily into the troll culture here, it just makes sense to have lots of singers voice these characters. The mash-ups of these popular songs are fun and actually apply to the plot at hand (which is more than most animated children’s movies have).
I can appreciate that there’s not a lot of toilet humor here, even if DreamWorks movies have notoriously had this quality. Of course, given any kind of scrutiny, certain aspects of Trolls fall apart. I get that character arcs that level out characters like Princess Poppy (Anna Kendrick) and cause characters like Branch (Justin Timberlake) to find hope in life again to allow for character growth. Still, if you’re just along for the ride—as most kids are—then Trolls is an entertaining film. And as a Millennial, the soundtrack sold it for me.
A nostalgia trip for Millennial parents, I give Trolls 4.0 stars out of 5.
Infinite Assassins
Year: 2017
Author: Peter Meredith
Length: 410 pages
If there was one thing that caused me to pick up this series, it was the cover for this book. Having not particularly liked the first book, Infinite Reality, I was hesitant to start this one. Between the two, I think Infinite Assassins is better, but it still has lots of issues that stem from the main character. It doesn’t help that there are still formatting and proofreading issues throughout the text that pulled me out of the story. I haven’t read much LitRPG, but this series definitely reads more like a “manly man” thriller than anything else.
While Infinite Reality had the main character bemoaning the fact that he had to work with others to solve a problem, Infinite Assassins sees him strike out on his own. This fit the “lone wolf” archetype better, especially when linked with the player class he chose for this adventure. Unfortunately, he was so obsessed with human trafficking and helping the helpless in a virtual video game that it felt more like a distraction than anything else. It came off as obnoxious moralizing to prove the point that the main character was a “good guy.”
But here’s the thing, the main character is not a good person. Despite him telling the reader so much that he was resisting dark urges, his actions in the previous book would not be considered the moral high ground. He constantly turns to violence to solve his problems, sometimes even killing an individual instead of incapacitating them. I would have given an extra half star if he realized that his actions pursuing “justice” were always on the side of being evil instead of him lying to the reader the whole time.
Slightly better than the first book, but with continued main character issues, I give Infinite Assassins 2.5 stars out of 5.
Epic
Year: 2013
Rating: PG
Length: 102 minutes / 1.70 hours
One reason I loved the film Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989) growing up was the different perspective it brought. When characters are tiny, a yard can be a vast forest. Steps are enormous cliffs. Danger is multiplied. This is not an original idea by any means, but shrinking down characters to experience a much smaller world seems to always have some merit. Even books like Micro have touched on this subject. Epic (2013) is merely another entry in the “miniaturization” trope, but with some good action and world-building to back it up.
As with many films like this, Epic wraps its main character, M.K. (Amanda Seyfried) in the troubled trappings of a teenager who is somewhere she does not want to be. It takes an adventure in the nearby woods to appreciate her nerdy father (Jason Sudeikis) and his attempts to connect with her. This revelation is only loosely connected to the battle between good and evil, where the leaf men must protect the forest from the decay brought on by Mandrake (Christoph Waltz). Ultimately, it is up to M.K. to bridge the gap between the larger and smaller worlds and save the day.
The animation in Epic is passable. Nothing to write home about, but not terrible either. Unfortunately, it also feels the need to add comedic relief with the slug/snail combo—an overdone trope for these kinds of audiences. They mostly come off as annoying, but I get their appeal to the target demographic. The fantasy world-building is better than most here, and the aesthetic to go with it is well thought out—aerial battles and all. Overall, a good movie for kids that adults won’t necessarily have to suffer through.
A middle-of-the-road animated film that has some world-building strengths, I give Epic 3.5 stars out of 5.
Prune
Year: 2015
Rating: E
Time Played: ~4 hours
When I picked up a few months of Apple Arcade for free, I downloaded a handful of games to play on my phone. Prune was one that looked soothing, like Monument Valley. It also looked short, which I could appreciate. Once I got into it, I wished it was perhaps even a little shorter. The concept was solid, but the way it was executed on the touchscreen of my phone made me wanting more control over different aspects. If I wanted to play longer and complete the rest of the secret levels, I could…I just didn’t want to.
The objective of Prune is to let a tree grow until it flowers. This requires trimming off branches and limbs as it grows, allowing it to get around corners and eventually find life-giving sunlight to bloom. The almost random way these trees would grow was one of my frustrations with the game. I had to re-start so many trees because they wouldn’t go where I wanted them to, even though I trimmed in the right spots. Granted, there wouldn’t be much of a game here if I was successful on the first try every time, for every level.
When I could grow the tree in the direction I wanted, the later levels highlighted the worst aspect about this game. Since the main game mechanic is swiping my finger to cut off branches, it was also difficult to use the touchscreen to move the view around or adjust the zoom. Since the camera always followed the tree as it grew, I’d often try to move the view over to see where it was going and plan accordingly—only for it to snap right back. If the camera controls were better, I’d definitely give this review another star.
A calming idea for a game, but with too many frustrating aspects, I give Prune 3.0 stars out of 5.
Monsters, Inc.
Year: 2001
Rating: G
Length: 92 minutes / 1.53 hours
Early Pixar films always had a way of being grounded in our reality. The toys in Toy Story (1995) had to make sense as toys. The insects in A Bug’s Life (1998) were all known insects. It wasn’t until Monsters, Inc. (2001) when an entire world had to be created to explain the “monster in the closet” fear most children grow up with. And while this film is definitely another tech demo to show how good Pixar had gotten at simulating cloth and fur, the plot itself is one of the most original pieces Pixar has ever created.
Coming up with dozens of different monster designs was only the first step. That Pixar created a world designed for these monsters to live and work in was the basic follow-up, but creating a whole system of door portals that could access any room in the human world was genius. And having screams power the whole thing? That’s the cherry on top of this amazing idea that was superbly executed. I’m just glad I can appreciate the anti-Capitalist message as an adult—much like the pro-union message of A Bug’s Life just a few years prior.
By this point, Pixar had started pulling out the tearjerkers. Toy Story 2 (1999) introduced heavy emotional stakes, but Monsters, Inc. carried it to the next level. Even if Boo still suffers a little bit from that early CGI inability to render realistic humans, the connection Sully (John Goodman) forges with her is something that makes the ending hit so well. Pair this with the expert comedic counterbalance with Mike (Billy Crystal), and it’s a recipe for success (cliche second act falling out, notwithstanding). Monsters, Inc. wasn’t my favorite Pixar film growing up, but it’s definitely grown on me as I’ve aged.
An original Pixar concept full of laughs and tears, I give Monsters, Inc. 4.5 stars out of 5.
Only Human
Year: 2018
Author: Sylvain Neuvel
Length: 352 pages
While I was not actively looking forward to finishing this trilogy, I’m glad I finished it for the sense of closure it brought. I still think Sleeping Giants had such an intriguing concept in how it relayed information to the reader, but that you could only really make that work for a single book. With a cliffhanger in each book of the series, I was hoping Only Human would wrap up everything and provide a satisfying conclusion. It certainly did its best to answer all the questions that came up during the previous books, but the ending didn’t particularly wow me.
The difficulty of maintaining a narrative through reports and journal entries is only exacerbated here because the human characters are the only ones who can convey what it is like to live on an alien planet. The jumping back and forth between the past and present was an OK way to hide some of the bigger reveals, but the biggest problem is the snarky nature of most of the characters. I know it’s likely written for laughs, but after a while it becomes tiresome as the events unfold.
In terms of its message, Only Human didn’t feel like it had anything new to say. Introducing the aliens after everything that they put humanity through in Waking Gods felt somewhat anticlimactic as the major action of this book centered on the same old arms race between countries on Earth. Sure, the moral of the story was perhaps clearer here than in the previous books, but probably more as a foot stomp to make sure the readers got the point of the entire series. If I were to recommend the Themis Files again, I’d suggest readers stick to just the first book.
An ending that tied up loose ends but didn’t particularly wow, I give Only Human 3.0 stars out of 5.
The LEGO Movie
Year: 2014
Rating: PG
Length: 100 minutes / 1.67 hours
As a child, LEGO was my toy of choice. I collected it. I built with it. The endless possibilities it provided gave me endless hours of entertainment. In translating this toy to the big screen, the primary concept of imaginative play is front and center. The LEGO Movie (2014) benefited from an alignment of two forces that made it into an instant classic. First, the animation accurately depicted the feel of these plastic bricks. Second, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller have created another comedic masterpiece for kids and adults.
The debt that The LEGO Movie owes to all the kids (and adults) who used the bricks to make their own stop-motion films is unavoidably huge. The LEGO video games were a bit more flexible in their character animations…sometimes to their detriment. By keeping the models stiff and abiding by the blocky limitations of the medium, The LEGO Movie made each scene feel like it could be recreated with actual pieces of LEGO. Even the details of the little scratches on the plastic brought added realism to the chaotic worlds in this film.
While the plot of this film was incredibly similar to The Matrix (1999), I can forgive the comparison because The Matrix is also an excellent film. What helps sell this movie immensely is the incredible comedy that Lord and Miller have infused into it. Lots of lines are legitimately funny, and not in a gross-out humor way that often plagues films marketed toward children. All the voice acting is spot-on and the amount of talent they got to work on this is impressive. I still think it got snubbed for a Best Animated Picture Oscar but at least it earned that Best Song with “Everything is Awesome.”
A hilarious version of The Matrix for kids, I give The LEGO Movie 4.5 stars out of 5.
Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap
Year: 2017
Rating: E10+
Time Played: 306 minutes / 5.10 hours
Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap is one of those games that I learned about through a YouTube video and realized I already picked it up for free from the Epic Games Store. The revamped art style was intriguing, and the gameplay felt somewhat modern—even if it had changed little from the original SEGA Master Drive. All things considered, it was a fairly fun playthrough, and I got my money’s worth (despite not spending any to buy it).
The form change mechanic made the progression through this game even more interesting. Once I’d figured out how to play as one of the animal-based forms, I’d have to learn the next one and start my learning all over. Granted, the better armor and weapons I gained along the way made this easier each time. And with each new form, I’d find some other area of the map that I could now access. This game was a Metroidvania before the genre even fully existed. Throughout all this, the hand-drawn art style was colorful, charming, and a clear upgrade from the 16-bit era it originally came from.
My one gripe with this game was with the equipment that you can buy to upgrade your character. While I loved that there was a reason to spend the money earned throughout the game, I found myself often stumped about where to go next only to realize that I needed to equip a different set of armor or use a different sword to help me advance to the next area. The item descriptions were obviously meant to be vague, but a clearer sign of which abilities I had would have made it a little more fun.
A great remake of a 16-bit game but with some retained weaknesses, I give Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap 4.0 stars out of 5.
Trap
Year: 2024
Rating: PG-13
Length: 105 minutes / 1.75 hours
In recent years, I feel like M. Night Shyamalan has regained some of his talent as a director. This may be because I go into a Shyamalan movie expecting there will be some logical plot hole that would collapse the entire concept in an instant, but that there are enough logical “yeah, that makes sense” twists that it’s an entertaining ride. Much like Old (2021), Trap (2024) is the latest of these kinds of films that feel like classic Shyamalan.
As a father of a young daughter, I can only imagine which pop star my child will become obsessed with and want to see in concert. I probably relate to this movie because I know such an event is in my future. Simply put, though, Josh Hartnett does an excellent job of showing how a smile and a bit of confidence can get you anywhere. Well, that and being a straight white male…but that’s probably a deeper concept that this film didn’t explicitly intend on exploring. In the “cat and mouse” between the authorities and the killer, this expert evasion is most of the fun in this movie.
While nepotism can be rampant in Hollywood, the nepotism here wasn’t so egregious as it usually is with famous individuals and their children. Here, Shyamalan seems to want to launch his daughter’s music career into the mainstream as I had never heard of Saleka at all before this film. She certainly has some musical talent, but her acting leaves a bit more to be desired once she’s out of her element. This is part of what makes the third act a little strained. Still, the ending is amusing and has just enough of that classic Shyamalan twist to it.
Another return to form for Shyamalan, I give Trap 4.5 stars out of 5.
Chimera
Year: 2024
Author: Lena M. Johnson
Length: 98 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM THE AUTHOR***
It’s interesting how the “shifter” genre seems to use the same animals repeatedly. If you’re looking for something different, look no further than Lena M. Johnson’s Chimera. This novella was originally part of the Forgotten Shifter Files anthology, but now has its own release as a standalone novella. I appreciate how Johnson took the shifter prompt in the sci fi direction, as it feels easier to explain (and more feasible) in that context than in the way shifter stories usually go.
I’ll admit that there were a lot of characters presented at the beginning of Chimera that I had trouble keeping track of. I wasn’t sure who was going to be the lead character until about a third of the way through, and there were sparse details to let me distinguish between the different individuals. Even with this cast of characters, there were a lot of interesting backstories and lore hinted at in really special ways. For a novella, the world-building was solid and didn’t spend too much time getting into the weeds past the important facets that made these characters tick. The themes of racism, war, and regret were expertly woven into the story and grounded it with their details.
Vibe-wise, I thought Chimera felt a lot like Alien (1979), but not in the way you’d think. Sure, there’s the element of horror as a mysterious monster slowly kills off passengers one-by-one, but just surviving isn’t enough here. It all leads to Chimera‘s climax, which is when the storytelling is at its absolute best. It’s a bit of a slow build at the beginning, but once the action started, I could not put it down. Whether you like shifter stories or sci fi horror vibes, Chimera is a novella you should definitely read.
A unique shifter novella with stupendous world-building and a killer climax, I give Chimera 4.5 stars out of 5.
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Year: 2009
Rating: PG
Length: 87 minutes / 1.45 hours
There’s a point in a famous director’s filmography that may make you scratch your head and wonder why they pivoted into something so different. Hindsight is always an interesting way to see how the change in genre or form eventually brought on the full realization of the director’s style. For Wes Anderson, his previous films had begun to develop into his distinctive style, but Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) seemed to cement its aesthetic for all future Anderson movies.
Hearkening back to the original stop-motion effects from the early years of cinema, Fantastic Mr. Fox is full of frenetic energy—partly from the fur covered creatures voiced by plenty of famous actors. These aren’t clay molded stop-motion models like something from Aardman or Laika. Instead, there’s a sort of jointed stiffness that is played to great effect by Anderson’s love of straight lines and centering on the frame. That Anderson would eventually return to this form in Isle of Dogs (2018)—along with smaller stop-motion bits in his other films—shows how influential it was in defining what a Wes Anderson film should be.
Dialogue has always been a particular high point in Anderson films, and this is no different. Sure, the fast-talking characters may have lines that will go over kids’ heads, but the adults will definitely get a chuckle from. However, the kids are not necessarily there for the witty banter. The kids will like the animation of these silly little creatures, and the chosen medium of animation lessens some of the violent impact that comes with the constant battle between a fox and the humans he’s trying to steal from. And even if I don’t consider this Anderson’s best film, it definitely put him on that path.
A curious but well-executed pivot for Wes Anderson, I give Fantastic Mr. Fox 4.0 stars out of 5.
SUPERHOT: Mind Control Delete
Year: 2020
Rating: T
Time Played: ~10+ hours
While I absolutely love the SUPERHOT concept where time only moves if you move, both SUPERHOT and SUPERHOT VR felt short for being full games. It seems the remedy for this was to create the pseudo sequel in SUPERHOT: Mind Control Delete. Unfortunately, this was done through adding Roguelike elements to the core SUPERHOT gameplay, but only in a way that made repeating the levels a gimmick of necessity instead of as a reward for continuing to play.
I don’t mind Roguelikes if they are done well (Loop Hero comes to mind as a good one). This includes permanent upgrades that make the game easier to play just based on how many times you’ve run the cycle. Most of the upgrades obtained in Mind Control Delete are earned through the same set of “play X number of levels without dying” mechanic that the rest of the game has. Granted, these upgrades are helpful to advance through future levels—especially if the right alignment of abilities is presented, like in all Roguelike games. It’s more that they also become a crutch that makes the game easier to play.
There were a few interesting narrative choices for this game that I found both intriguing and frustrating. At a certain point, you have to give up all the abilities you’ve earned through the game, which makes the last few levels extremely difficult, especially if these abilities got you to the later levels. That these were the same set of levels just set on random rotation made it boring by the end because there wasn’t anything new…just new combinations. Still, the “gotta try one more run” gimmick kept me up late some nights just trying to progress to the end.
Same SUPERHOT action but with frustrating Roguelike elements, I give SUPERHOT: Mind Control Delete 3.0 stars out of 5.
Big Hero 6
Year: 2014
Rating: PG
Length: 102 minutes / 1.70 hours
Even though Disney has a reputation for being good at the “Princess” movies, I have found that the films geared toward the guys are often overlooked gems. This was probably most obvious during the early 2000s with movies like Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) and Treasure Planet (2002), both of which were sci-fi movies that flopped. Fortunately, Disney adapts and aligns with popular trends to create some better received films geared toward the boys. Fusing the sci-fi genre with an anime-like setting and superhero theming, Big Hero 6 (2014) has stood up well over time.
I think the only weakness of Big Hero 6 is how closely it plays to the standard tropes. Superhero origin stories are seen as necessary for starting a franchise, but there are only so many ways that plot can be explored before it feels too similar to other movies (with Iron Man (2008) parallels being made here). Even the Power Rangers or Voltron-esque team aspect here, the anime trope of the “power of friendship” is at least partly useful for getting Hiro out of his depression.
While there are admittedly a ton of Disney movies with orphans as the main characters, Big Hero 6 is an important movie for kids to learn how to handle the recent loss of loved ones. I think it’s accurate that a lot of boys would turn to anger and frustration at the loss of an older brother and mentor—likely the only person who encouraged and stood up for them. But what we do with that anger is the important thing that Big Hero 6 tries to convey. It’s a complex emotion that’s often tied to depression—both of which can easily be glossed over.
A Disney movie that leans into the tropes boys love to see, I give Big Hero 6 4.0 stars out of 5.
Yellowface
Year: 2023
Author: R.F. Kuang
Length: 519 minutes / 8.65 hours
There are plenty of books with authors as the main character, but Yellowface feels like the first time that the struggles have been expressed in such a realistic way. Most author protagonists seem to exist in this vacuum where nobody else in their close circles shares their love of writing and publishing stories. They have no network with other authors or can commiserate over another rejected manuscript. And while Yellowface takes a bold approach to addressing diversity in the publishing world, it still ultimately paints the main character as a villain.
One cannot overemphasize social media’s effects on the modern publishing landscape. Anything authors can do to break through the noise, they’ll attempt just to get more traction to sell their book. Tons of talented authors are overlooked for a variety of reasons, but Yellowface asks whether pursuing marginalized voices has created the unintended consequence of marginalizing the voices that used to be promoted. The frustration is real, but Juniper’s actions are not the answer. The thrill of Yellowface’s plot is how long she’s able to get away with it before she’s caught and tried in the square of public opinion.
As an author, a lot of this book made me feel seen. We always tell ourselves that our fellow writers are not competition, but it’s difficult to see others succeed when our own works go unnoticed. Jealousy is real, but we work through it and celebrate with our fellow authors so that someday they can come alongside us and celebrate our victories as well. Even if the ending gets a little weird, the way R.F. Kuang gives an intimate look into this community of writers feels authentic enough to be a universal experience for most authors.
A gripping, tongue-in-cheek examination of author rivalry, I give Yellowface 4.5 stars out of 5.
The Wrong Trousers
Year: 1993
Rating: PG
Length: 29 minutes / 0.48 hours
There are plenty of movies where the second installment in a franchise takes all the lessons learned from the first film and uses them to make the absolute best movie possible. Terminator 2 (1991) and Spider-Man 2 (2004) are my go-to examples of this. This can also extend to short films, as seen by the second Wallace & Gromit short film, The Wrong Trousers (1993). There were a lot of improvements from A Grand Day Out, and I still think that this is the pinnacle of the Wallace & Gromit shorts.
This time around, the Plasticine duo is up against Feathers McGraw—a dastardly villain who takes advantage of Wallace’s kindness and gullible naivete. The pacing, music, and tension would fit right in with a Hitchcock film, which is what makes it that much sillier when the antagonist is a penguin with a rubber glove on its head. Having such a solid (and complete) plot was definitely a plus for this film, as there were actual stakes involved. With two-thirds of the characters being non-verbal, the comedy is right up there with the greats of the silent era, like Charlie Chaplin or Buster Keaton.
As in A Grand Day Out, the stop-motion animation here is top-notch. And with a few more years to perfect the craft, the polish on everything was quite evident. I don’t think Aardman Animation would be around anymore if they hadn’t knocked it out of the park with this amazing piece of work. The train chase at the end is perhaps one of the best sequences ever put on film. Overall, The Wrong Trousers should be required viewing for anyone who loves movies, let alone stop-motion ones.
The pinnacle of the Wallace & Gromit franchise, I give The Wrong Trousers 5.0 stars out of 5.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Year: 2023
Rating: E10+
Time Played: 100+ hours
After The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild broke the 3D Zelda franchise with its open-world gameplay, I was looking forward to the sequel, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. While I wanted more of the same things Breath of the Wild offered, there were weaknesses in that entry that I hoped Nintendo would fix in this follow-up title. I may be in the minority here—much in the same way that I don’t care as much for Majora’s Mask over Ocarina of Time—but I actually liked Breath of the Wild more than this game.
Let’s start off with what was great: the story. I felt the flashbacks in Breath of the Wild left some amount to be desired, but the story uncovered during Tears of the Kingdom was leagues better and made for a much more satisfying boss battle with Ganondorf. A lot of the “same” things, like glider exploration and combat, made this game fun to play, so at least there were a few more enemy types to fight and items to collect.
At some point, I stopped playing this game and almost had to force myself to get back into it. This was mostly because the main “building” mechanic didn’t vibe with me. Every weapon needed to be prepared ahead of time. Every tool needed to be constructed. These things took time and stalled the action. Even though there was more than twice the map size to explore, a lot more of it felt empty. And when I found a key location, it was locked behind the story I hadn’t discovered yet. Overall, I think the story did a lot of heavy lifting here, but Tears of the Kingdom felt like a minor downgrade to Breath of the Wild.
An amazing story, but otherwise a minor step back from Breath of the Wild, I give The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom 4.0 stars out of 5.
Deadpool & Wolverine
Year: 2024
Rating: R
Length: 128 minutes / 2.13 hours
Ever since the early success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) proved how Marvel could successfully adapt their comics to the big screen, there was always this itch that couldn’t be scratched. This was because certain properties like X-Men and Spider-Man were “trapped” at other studios like 20th Century Fox and Sony, respectively. Through mergers and other agreements, some of these franchises came back under the Marvel umbrella (via Disney), allowing Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) to scratch that crossover itch—finally.
While this isn’t the first time that 20th Century characters have appeared in a mainline MCU entry (with WandaVision and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) having those distinctions), Deadpool & Wolverine felt like the proper send-off for these 20th Century characters. After all, it’s likely we wouldn’t even have an MCU if it weren’t for the superhero films like X-Men (2000) that came before Iron Man (2008). In a way, Deadpool & Wolverine was to 20th Century superhero films what Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) was to the Sony Spider-Man films—a recognition of the past and a passing of the torch to the future.
Even if Deadpool & Wolverine only felt tangentially related to the MCU (via the Time Variance Authority (TVA) explored in the Loki TV show), the primary draw here is the interaction between the titular leads. Both Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman were meant to play their respective characters. Finally having them together on the same screen was a fun way to fully take advantage of that R rating that previous Deadpool and Wolverine movies have enjoyed. And even if it felt odd that some of the previous characters from these movies were missing from the big farewell, this film was a great conclusion to decades of these iconic characters.
A farewell and passing of the torch for superhero films, I give Deadpool & Wolverine 4.0 stars out of 5.
Annihilation
Year: 2014
Author: Jeff VanderMeer
Length: 195 pages
Having already watched the 2018 movie adaptation of Annihilation, I knew going into this book that it would be quite the trip. My expectations were mostly set on what was going to happen in this book, but not on how the author would convey these events. I was pleasantly surprised with something that felt just as disorienting. Told in the first-person perspective, Annihilation messes with the concept of an unreliable narrator in a way that I haven’t ever seen before. The real question is whether I understand anything now that I’ve seen the movie and read the book.
There’s a melancholy present in Annihilation that almost borders on nihilism. The way the main character seems to float through this world, carrying her trauma and relational scars around in an eerily monotonous and emotionless manner, is both unsettling and oddly comforting. Was this her attempt at obtaining closure? Did she want to find somewhere she truly belonged? Whatever the reason, she is propelled forward by forces outside her control, and she doesn’t resist any of the alien influence.
The prose in Annihilation is truly the star of the show here. Other writers might try to take a more scientific approach when dealing with aliens, but VanderMeer leans into the disorienting nature of Area X. I’ve been drunk a few times, but never high enough to hallucinate like this. Several times I had to stop and re-read a page to understand what was happening. Once I turned my mind off and let the words flow through me, I had a much more enjoyable time in this book. I don’t know if I’ll get through the rest of the trilogy, but this one was worth the read.
A trippy hallucination of a novel, I give Annihilation 4.0 stars out of 5.
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Year: 2009
Rating: PG
Length: 90 minutes / 1.50 hours
One of the most memorable books of my childhood was Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. I was skeptical a short book with no plot could become a feature-length movie. But, just like trying new foods, I gave Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009) a chance. The result was something hilarious that both kids and adults could enjoy on different levels. Somehow, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller transformed this beloved book into a fun movie with lots of valid points about life.
For their first film, Lord and Miller knocked it out of the park with their style of humor. It was goofy. It was smart. There’s no doubt that this movie helped catapult them into other projects like The LEGO Movie (2014). Sure, there were the occasional bathroom humor bits, but there were so few of them as to not ruin the vibe. The voice acting fit perfectly with the characters, and the animation style was loose and frenetic enough to match the feel of enormous food falling from the sky.
What’s perhaps overlooked here are the great lessons this movie can teach kids. Flint (Bill Hader) has the confidence to follow his dream of being a scientist/inventor—despite several setbacks. Sam (Anna Faris) overcame her embarrassment of being smart and broke out of her shell placed on her by society. Even Tim (James Caan) could finally connect with his son and tell him how proud he was of him. Similar to eating their vegetables, these are all things kids should learn early so they can develop into emotionally mature teens. Overall, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is a full plate of family fun.
A hilarious adaptation with lots of healthy lessons, I give Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 4.0 stars out of 5.
Monument Valley 2
Year: 2017
Rating: E
Time Played: 96 minutes / 1.60 hours
Video game sequels have this fine balance between continuing the gameplay that made the original successful enough to warrant a sequel while also innovating with new ideas to make the sequel its own thing. There are lessons to be learned from the original that can improve a sequel because it refined what made the first game good. Monument Valley 2 attempts to do a few things differently than its predecessor, but it still feels too similar to stand out on its own.
Once again, I enjoyed the calming experience of Monument Valley 2, even if the narrative elements were meant to invoke reminders of the global collapse in the real world. While the first Monument Valley was about the right length for this kind of game, this took an hour less to complete. Perhaps this was due to the learning curve from having beaten the first game so soon before playing this one, but any game that doesn’t even last two hours to earn 100% of the achievements feels like it’s not big enough to be its own thing (like it should have just been DLC for the first one).
Again, the mouse control in the “Panoramic Edition” felt a little clunky, but I recognize this game was originally designed for touch screen devices. Its similarity to Monument Valley was perhaps too strong, as I don’t recall any of the newer concepts it tried to implement other than the fact that there were two characters to control. This isn’t to say that Monument Valley 2 is a bad game. It’s still fun and has some thoughtful puzzles that are combined with neat M. C. Escher-like visuals and a calming soundtrack. I played it and enjoyed it much like I did the first game in this series.
More of the same from Monument Valley, just less of it, I give Monument Valley 2 3.5 stars out of 5.
Fly Me to the Moon
Year: 2024
Rating: PG-13
Length: 132 minutes / 2.20 hours
NASA’s Gemini and Apollo programs remain the pinnacle of human achievement. Plenty of movies have told these stories of success and tragedy. The Right Stuff (1983), Apollo 13 (1995), Hidden Figures (2016), and First Man (2018) all tried to get somewhat close to what really happened while still being entertaining. Fly Me to the Moon (2024), however, may have leaned too much into the entertainment while being light on the facts. What’s worse, in an era of misinformation, this movie could be seen as enforcing conspiracy theories surrounding the event.
Considering this movie is a comedy, it shouldn’t be taken seriously. If you watch it and have a few laughs while considering a “what if” scenario, then it’s harmless fun. In thinking through the “why,” though, Fly Me to the Moon provides some chilling Cold War guesses as to the motive behind a conspiracy like this—some of which may be valid arguments for the conspiracy’s validity. And as soon as we question what really happened, then other historical moments are surely to come under misinformed scrutiny. That’s a rabbit hole that should be avoided.
Still, this star-studded film has its moments. Thinking about these space programs from a marketing perspective was a new way to present these historical events. That it initially has that tongue-in-cheek nod to the idea that the moon landing was faked and this was how they did it is also a fun idea. Ultimately, it does land squarely on the truth that we did land on the moon in the late 1960s. However, it’s also great at building the tension to make the audience question whether or not it was going to happen.
An amusing “what if” movie that has some loose facts thrown in, I give Fly Me to the Moon 3.5 stars out of 5.
Less
Year: 2017
Author: Andrew Sean Greer
Length: 497 minutes / 8.28 hours
As I work my way through the Pulitzer Prize-winning novels, I’m finding the modern ones hold up a lot better under scrutiny. There’s usually some eye-opening element from a marginalized group, which is partly why these are important novels to recognize. For its time, I’m sure Less came off edgier than today because of the wider acceptance of LGBTQ+ characters. Still, the writing in this book is deserving of its Pulitzer status not because of the main character’s sexuality, but rather by the humor and humanity present in these pages.
The odd thing is that I don’t think a book like this would work quite as well with a straight protagonist because they basically fall into all those same “woe is me” tropes that loser white guy main characters exhibit in a lot of literature. Yes, Arthur Less can’t commit to a relationship. Yes, he’s avoiding accomplishing the things he’s good at because he’s having a midlife crisis. The fact that he’s gay actually makes things more relatable. It doesn’t matter which gender men choose to love, they all have these problems—for better or worse.
I think the most surprising element of Less is its humor. I still recall some of the best written punchlines almost 5 months later (Volcano? It’s closed). That the author uses the humor to lighten the depressing side of this book’s plot is a godsend. Life is full of missed opportunities and burned bridges, so framing these situations with the soft blanket of humor helps make them more heartfelt. Even amongst all the exotic locations, the one common denominator is the individual who is there, trying to run from themselves. It doesn’t get any deeper than that.
A humorous and heartfelt look at the midlife crisis of all men, I give Less 4.5 stars out of 5.
Astro Boy
Year: 2009
Rating: PG
Length: 94 minutes / 1.57 hours
There’s no doubt that Astro Boy was one of the foundational anime series that helped establish the genre we have today. Like other well-known anime like Speed Racer, this anime finally received a movie adaptation in the late 2000s. Having only a cursory knowledge of the source material, I can’t say how faithful Astro Boy (2009) is to its origins. In my opinion, there’s always room for anime adaptations, since it’s honestly a fairly untapped market. As for this adaptation, it’s a fun movie that has quite a bit of heart despite being shockingly dark at a few key moments.
As is the case for a lot of animated films, the celebrity voice acting is fine here. It’s probably even a bit above average. However, voices like Nicholas Cage, Donald Sutherland, and Nathan Lane are so recognizable as to almost make it distracting when their characters are speaking. Similarly, the animation is fine—nothing to write home about except for some superb action sequences sprinkled throughout. At a minimum, Astro Boy (Freddie Highmore) looks the part and sounds how he should.
Recalling that I liked this movie when it came out, I eventually showed it to my daughter. It’s definitely geared toward older kids despite the main character looking like a young boy. I wasn’t quite prepared to discuss topics like parents losing their children or self-sacrifice with my daughter, so that’s on me. I had to assure her that everything was going to be OK in the end, because there are moments which can be quite scary. Overall, it’s a charming movie that gives me some sparkle of hope that we’d get to see a Mega Man movie someday (or at least something longer than a Secret Level episode).
An above average anime adaptation, I give Astro Boy 3.5 stars out of 5.
Monument Valley
Year: 2014
Rating: E
Time Played: 144 minutes / 2.40 hours
There’s something about the simple calming aesthetic of Monument Valley that made me want to binge the game in a single night. It has that visual feel of Journey or Alto’s Adventure but with the three-dimensional puzzle elements of Fez. And while it’s not particularly difficult, Monument Valley was this Zen experience that I have to recommend. After all, I like to de-stress with video games and experiences like this one are definitely built to reduce stress with every element of its being.
If you can imagine M. C. Escher designing a video game, Monument Valley would be it. These impossible shapes are fun to traverse but require a bit of thought to get the character from point A to point B. The fixed camera angle helps simplify things while also emphasizing the beauty of each level. The game introduces new mechanics and builds upon them organically and in a way that shouldn’t stump the player. Even the achievements are simple enough that I could 100% the game with little effort past playing through the entire thing.
While I have faulted games like this for being too short, I felt this was the right length. Too many puzzle games just have endless amounts of levels that do nothing different or just continue iterating on the new mechanic for that world too long until it becomes annoying. That I could beat this entire game in a single sitting wasn’t a bad thing. I could even see myself playing it again at some point if I manage to forget most of the puzzle solutions. Despite playing the “Panoramic Edition” on my PC—which made controlling the character occasionally difficult—I still think this is a game to be experienced any way you can.
A calm puzzle game with gorgeous, impossible visuals, I give Monument Valley 4.0 stars out of 5.
Kung Fu Panda 4
Year: 2024
Rating: PG
Length: 94 minutes / 1.57 hours
Where movies like Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024) are the exception to the “fourth movie after a contained trilogy” rule, Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024) is the unnecessary sequel that’s still just trying to cash in on a franchise. While I think the first Kung Fu Panda (2008) was the best of the first three movies, their story of Po’s (Jack Black) journey to becoming a kung fu master felt complete by the end of the third film. That this movie barely had any of the characters from the previous movies should give you an idea of how the actors saw it.
The problem Kung Fu Panda 4 falls into is the same one that I think plagued Cars 3 (2017). When the main character of the franchise is now set to be the mentor of the next generation, it usually means the writers are out of ideas. Because this trope is just a re-working of the first movie of the franchise, there’s nothing new here other than the upgrading of the main character—often a reluctant main character—from protégé to mentor.
While I still enjoy all the fancy footwork and kung fu that modern computers can create, most of it feels hollow without a purpose. In previous entries, Po had to fight villains that had new and interesting relationships with kung fu. That the Chameleon (Viola Davis) had almost the same powers and motivation as General Kai (J. K. Simmons) from Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016) but with none of the intimidation factor meant that the plot didn’t feel like it had any threats to be taken seriously. It’s safe to say, if you enjoyed the other Kung Fu Panda movies, you’re likely to be disappointed with this one.
A tried and true unnecessary sequel after a complete trilogy, I give Kung Fu Panda 4 2.5 stars out of 5.
Infinite Reality
Year: 2017
Author: Peter Meredith
Length: 410 pages
I picked up this book because I saw the awesome cover that its sequel had and I didn’t want to just jump into the middle of a series. Having never read any LitRPG before, this was my first exposure to the genre. Unfortunately, there were a lot of issues with this book—and not just the standard formatting issues and plentiful typos. Having talked with the author about this series many years ago, he made it clear that he was chasing the LitRPG trend at the time, and it shows.
Conceptually, Infinite Reality is that same “straight white guy power fantasy” but with actual fantasy. The main character is some tough guy working for the FBI and the only way to solve his case is to enter a virtual reality world and continue investigating there. This was the first implausible fault, but not the last. Like, if a Christian woman says she doesn’t feel comfortable playing as a certain character race because she’d be praying to a different god, then her morals would definitely not have her sleep with the main character while out of wedlock.
While the fantasy bits were actually pretty good, the real world parts had me rolling my eyes more often than not. The main character was this Adonis of justice, but still couldn’t see a way to save the day without killing a ton of people (surely a carryover from the author’s previous horror works). The hatred the main character (and likely the author) had for nerds, the obese, and others who would enjoy reading a LitRPG story made me wonder who this book was really for? It was frustrating and annoying. I’m still willing to read some more LitRPG because it seems interesting, but if you like the genre, don’t bother here.
A LitRPG book that hates people who like reading LitRPG books, I give Infinite Reality 2.0 stars out of 5.
Lisa Frankenstein
Year: 2024
Rating: PG-13
Length: 101 minutes / 1.68 hours
I can appreciate when movies try to do something a little different. Like how Warm Bodies (2013) made Romeo & Juliet into a zombie movie. Often, there’s some element of the public domain involved, but a good remix doesn’t negate the source material. Lisa Frankenstein (2024) takes its obvious inspiration from Mary Shelley, but with a 1980s John Hughes teen comedy slant similar to Sixteen Candles (1984) or Pretty in Pink (1986). The combo somehow works, even if its plot seems to paint itself into a corner.
Kathryn Newton kills it (har har) as the titular Lisa, giving those loner vibes that all girl protagonists from the 1980s seemed to exude before “finding themselves” and having a big glow-up. The entire premise that she’s trying to build a boyfriend with pieces of other people is grotesque, but played for laughs due to the PG-13 rating. I don’t say this often, but I think an R rating would have helped this movie’s comedy out immensely by allowing more gore. As it stands, it’s fairly safe as it’s trying extremely hard to stay in that “John Hughes” lane.
Of course, since there’s a lot of (off screen) violence, the plot heads down a path that either ends with Lisa and her boyfriend/Creature (Cole Sprouse) in jail for killing and dismembering a bunch of community members or escaping to live their new life somewhere else. Instead, it took an odd turn that I don’t entirely think made any sense. It felt like an easy out and was unsatisfying. Still, as long as you go into this movie expecting a fun time (or a nostalgic 80s trip), you’re likely to get a good chuckle or two out of it.
1800s goth meets 1980s goth, I give Lisa Frankenstein 4.0 stars out of 5.
Figment
Year: 2017
Rating: E10+
Time Played: ~5 hours
With a name like Figment, I knew I was stepping into a world filled with imaginative elements. Exploring the mind in an action-based puzzle platformer was definitely the safe choice genre-wise and allowed for plenty of creative worlds to visit. I went into this game thinking it was just going to be a pun-filled series of levels that drew heavily from Inside Out (2015). However, the twist near the end elevated this game to something deeper and darker than I expected. This was despite some of its other, more annoying flaws.
Visually, Figment looks great. Despite how everything moves, it doesn’t quite have that “Flash game” feel because all the art is so well done. Of course, it also makes navigating around the world a little challenging at times because it’s not clear if there are places where the character can go or not. Game-play wise, Figment isn’t too difficult. The combat is simple, but just challenging enough to require memorizing some attack patterns. Most of the puzzles are fairly straightforward, even if they get a little too complex and convoluted near the end of the game.
I don’t want to give away the ending, but it’s a significant tonal shift from the first 4/5ths of the game. While it’s an amazing way of looking at that part of our psyche, I almost didn’t make it to the end because earlier elements were too annoying. Don’t get me wrong, I know it takes a lot of work to do a fully voice-acted game like Figment. It’s just that its pithy dialogue overstayed its welcome by the end of the first world. I stopped playing for a while but decided to give it a second shot when I saw how short it was to complete. I’m Glad I did, just for that ending.
An artistic action-oriented look inside our minds, I give Figment 3.5 stars out of 5.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
Year: 2024
Rating: PG-13
Length: 115 minutes / 1.92 hours
After the delightful reboot that was Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021), I was excited to see that they would make a sequel with Ghosbusters: Frozen Empire (2024). Since Afterlife had taken the content more seriously than previous iterations of the franchise, I wanted to see if they’d continue that path in a meaningful way. Not that relying on comedy was a bad thing, but it felt like there was more to explore with these new characters. Unfortunately, there seemed to be a compromise of the old and the new in Frozen Empire.
80s nostalgia is huge in Hollywood right now, but I’d rather it stay as cameo appearances like in Afterlife than in bigger sub-plots like it was in this movie. There were almost too many character arcs in this film, most of which moved at a glacial pace for its almost 2-hour runtime. The ones that were interesting (and focused on the newer characters)—like the ghost girlfriend—weren’t ever tied into the major action, which itself felt like it took forever to get started. Leaning so heavily on the previous cast of the original movies felt like a crutch that shouldn’t have been used.
I’m all for franchises rebooting themselves with a new set of characters, but at least commit to it. This lukewarm coddling to older generations will never get new younger audiences engaged because they’ll see it for the cash grab that it is. Sure, visual effects have made movies like this look great. However, the heart of the movie is missing. That’s what I think Jason Reitman got right in Afterlife and was ultimately missing in this half-microwaved trip down memory lane.
A reboot sequel that doesn’t know who it’s trying to appeal to, I give Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire 2.5 stars out of 5.
Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed
Year: 2004
Author: Jared Diamond
Length: 1,621 minutes / 27.02 hours
In doing research for book based on the Ancient Puebloan society that used to inhabit the Mesa Verde cliff dwellings, I came across this book. Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed was an eye-opening examination of the factors that can lead to the destruction of a society that could have continued being successful if it weren’t for poor resource management. What’s frustrating is seeing some of these things becoming prominent in modern society, 20 years after Jared Diamond wrote this book.
While the book covers some case studies where the society identified the problem and moved to fix it, some examples Diamond gives are based on speculation—which one has to do with limited information surviving from those eras. And even though there is an emphasis on environmental factors, sometimes a string of bad years of drought is just the luck of the climate. Unfortunately, while there were hopeful stories of communities who turned away from their destruction, these examples all had one thing in common: the leaders chose to save their society.
I appreciated how relatable Diamond made this text. It wasn’t overly academic, but it provided enough details to weave a story that was easy to follow. The cause-and-effect scenarios he presented made sense and provided sensible explanations that the limited data set appears to support. The problem is, even with this knowledge, seeing the path our current society is headed down does not instill the confidence that humanity has what it takes to save itself at the individual level. Of the societies on the brink that survived, their leadership needed to step in to stop the poor resource management. When there’s no financial motivation to save the world, the current system seems on track to collapse sooner rather than later.
An approachable and eye-opening look at the factors that brought down empires, I give Collapse 4.0 stars out of 5.
A Grand Day Out
Year: 1989
Rating: Not Rated
Length: 23 minutes / 0.38 hours
I grew up watching the Wallace & Gromit shorts on VHS. There’s a certain nostalgia I have for these stop motion films that I wanted to share with my daughter. So I pulled out the DVDs I had of these shorts and watched them again. Not only do they hold up, but just thinking of the technical achievement to create a thing like this is mind-boggling. The first of these, A Grand Day Out, isn’t the best of the original three, but it’s a grand movie, nonetheless.
Like watching a silent comedy of the early era of Hollywood, A Grand Day out has a simple (if not completely absurd) premise of going to the moon because Wallace (Peter Sallis) is out of cheese and he figures it’s the best place to get some. The beauty of A Grand Day Out isn’t entirely in its ability to appeal to children and adults—as it felt most claymation at the time was of the “Gumby” variety. Instead, this Wallace & Gromit short emphasized the use of visual storytelling. Its humor is in all the expressions of the characters who have no voice.
It’s difficult to rate this short compared to all the advances the stop motion medium has gone through in the 35+ years since it came out. At the time, it was quite revolutionary, and it had me blinking and wondering how they managed to get some of those shots. Still, its simplicity is an artifact of the technical limitations of the time. That it took so long just to create 23 minutes of content shows how time-consuming the process was, even if another two minutes for a small conclusion would have made it even better.
A great start to the Wallace & Gromit series, I give A Grand Day Out 4.0 stars out of 5.
Kirby’s Return to Dream Land
Year: 2011
Rating: E10+
Time Played: ~6.50 hours
While I’m all for franchises trying out new things, there’s something about returning to the core mechanic that makes a great game. Kirby’s Return to Dream Land took the fundamentals of a Kirby game and amped up the cool factor while still maintaining that classic Kirby feel. Granted, as Nintendo delved further into gimmicks on their consoles, their franchises had to adapt as well. Return to Dream Land is no exception, but at least the base game is the standard Kirby formula.
Admittedly, one of the more “fun” aspects of this game is the super-powered abilities Kirby can use. While they do often require shaking the Wiimote to use, their increased power put a smile on my face. As far as couch co-op goes, this game is better than most. My daughter played a lot of this game with me as Meta Knight, and there wasn’t much of an issue where she needed to move along with me to advance in the level. That there could be up to four players at once is a nice evolution to the 2-player mechanic introduced back in the Super Nintendo era.
The thing that struck me with this game and felt a little off was some of the difficulty spikes. Granted, I can see how a series like Kirby—which isn’t necessarily known for being geared toward “gamers”—should provide some challenge for those who grew up with these games. Still, the amount of bosses and secret levels that I felt I barely survived seemed to be higher than most Kirby games. That I even had to go ahead and beat the game’s final boss without my daughter’s help just so I could lock in and focus shows that the “defeating god” meme for this franchise is in full effect here.
A classic Kirby formula that might be just a tad too hard, I give Kirby’s Return to Dream Land 4.0 stars out of 5.
How to Train Your Dragon
Year: 2010
Rating: PG
Length: 98 minutes / 1.63 hours
There are a few movies I would consider pinnacle achievements in story, animation, and heart. When I saw How to Train Your Dragon (2010) in theaters, I knew I had just witnessed something special. It felt like DreamWorks had finally grown up from the bodily humor of the Shrek (2001) era and into something that could be taken seriously. It’s no wonder that I still consider How to Train Your Dragon to be one of my favorite films of all time.
I have always appreciated the stories that successfully convey the “brains over brawn” mentality without being too critical of either side. This film not only emphasizes a creator/tinkerer mindset, but the importance of empathizing with nature. That it made sense to kill dragons without the full context of why the dragons behaved the way they did didn’t make the “brawn” side of the equation the enemy in the way it normally would be. This kind of storytelling is incredibly hard to do, and this movie pulled it off flawlessly.
How to Train Your Dragon also felt like a step up in DreamWorks’ animation. Not only did everything look realistic, but the mannerisms of the dragons—especially Toothless—felt so accurately cat- and dog-like that the humor came naturally from that shared experience that all pet owners have. While Pixar may have cracked the “heart” of an animated film some time before this movie, DreamWorks really figured it out with this one. I still tear up in multiple spots as the heart of the relationship between the characters shines through. Sure, the “boy meets creature and becomes close friends” thread has been done successfully many times before, but not nearly this well.
The most heartfelt and thought-out DreamWorks movie ever made, I give How to Train Your Dragon 5.0 stars out of 5.
This movie appeared in Cinema Connections:
#035. Learning to Fly
#036. DreamWorks vs. Disney
Bring Down the Stars
Year: 2018
Author: Emma Scott
Length: 285 pages
I’m not sure where I picked up this book on Kindle, but it finally took me two years to finish it (I’m excruciatingly slow at reading eBooks). To expand my horizons, I thought reading a romance novel would be good for me. Bring Down the Stars feels like a classic partly due to its heavy resemblance to Cyrano de Bergerac. Its tropes feel solidly planted in the genre, even to the point of being almost timeless. Still, the characters are a little frustrating.
When I finally sat down to focus on reading this book, it hooked me pretty well. The writing is beautifully poetic—which is most often seen from the male point of view (POV). The female POV was a good counterpoint to give the reader both sides of the story while also making the miscommunication between these star-crossed lovers a buildup to either passionate love or a complete destruction of the friendship. That dance between the two is likely what keeps people coming back to this genre. I get it now. It’s maddening, but I get it.
I found the modern elements interesting because they could have easily been swapped out for similar situations in centuries past. As I mentioned above, this is basically a Cyrano re-telling, but with two athletic college students in love with the same farmer’s girl. Which war the men went off to is irrelevant, as it could have just as easily been the American Revolution or Civil War. It frustrated me that there wasn’t a conclusion in this book, as it would have been easy to accomplish without the need for a second book. If I feel up to exploring the genre again, I might pick that sequel up.
A modern take on a classic romance, I give Bring Down the Stars 3.5 stars out of 5.
The Little Mermaid
Year: 1989
Rating: G
Length: 83 minutes / 1.38 hours
There’s no doubt that The Little Mermaid (1989) was a turning point for Disney. It helped revive the studio into its Renaissance after struggling for decades. Some of their best films came in this era sparked by The Little Mermaid, in part due to its success. Its songs and animation were its strong points, both of which are remembered today. However, its lesson (if there even is one) seems to be either too lost in the details or perhaps a bit too old for the young girls who love watching this movie.
Several of the songs in The Little Mermaid are Disney classics that most people can probably hum a few bars. Alan Menken established himself as the de facto songwriter for Disney movies with these hits. Watching this movie as an adult, I’m still blown away with Disney’s animation techniques here. There were several moments that had me scratching my head, thinking, “How did they get that effect to work?” Surprisingly, it’s easy to pick out the early use of CGI, but not so easy as to be distracting from its accomplishment.
Having now seen this movie several times with my daughter, I think the B-plot in an already scant 83 minute movie is its weakest point. That the antics of a crustacean trying to help Ariel achieve her dream feel out of place is also likely because the message feels a little muddled. I’m all for little girls following their dreams, but I also think King Triton (Kenneth Mars) could have done a little better as a single father to explain the dangers of the surface. Is the moral to read the fine print on contracts? Is it teaching girls to be better at being seen and not heard? Whatever it is, I’m sure I’ll have to sit through it at least a dozen more times.
A key turning point in Disney’s history, but also the weakest of its Renaissance, I give The Little Mermaid 3.5 stars out of 5.
Cat Quest
Year: 2017
Rating: E10+
Time Played: 542 minutes / 9.03 hours
As I continue to find games to play with my children, I was glad to come across Cat Quest for its simplicity and cat themed aesthetic. While there wasn’t anything to write home about for the role playing game (RPG) mechanics, I thought having the entire game take place on the over-world map (with small dungeons to explore) was a neat idea. And even if this game’s combat was a little too frenetic for my kids to play it, they enjoyed watching the story unfold.
The mark of a good RPG in my book is how much grinding is required to advance the plot. Cat Quest avoids some of this by having frequent quests available that provide money (for upgrades of magic and/or weapons) and experience. Of course, there’s still a lot of wandering around checking quest boards for missions that can be accomplished at the character’s current level. Even so, when I did finally decide to complete the game’s story, I was so extremely over-leveled that it was easy to accomplish. This saved me some headaches, as I didn’t want to spend a ton of time dying to the same bosses as my kid watched.
There is a lot of dialogue in Cat Quest, which is also pretty standard for RPG games. The trick here was most all of it was infused with cat related puns. It’s cute the first few times, but becomes tiresome way too quickly (somewhat akin to the How to Talk to Your Cat About Gun Safety book). Visually, Cat Quest looks like it started as a flash game and just stuck with that style. Not that it looks terrible, but when combined with limited enemy types and NPCs, there’s not a ton of variety.
A generic RPG with some cute cat theming, I give Cat Quest 3.5 stars out of 5.
Inside Out 2
Year: 2024
Rating: PG
Length: 96 minutes / 1.60 hours
Inside Out 2 (2024) is one of those rare sequels that build upon the first movie in new ways that expand the narrative of the world. There were already hints of a puberty subplot at the end of the first Inside Out (2015), but adding new emotions to the mix really helped round out that teenager experience. As a parent, I loved how the first film made it easy to talk to my kids about emotions, but now there’s a whole extra level of parenting I can unlock by using this movie as well.
Most of my gripes about Inside Out 2 are minor—partly because the first movie had these issues as well. For a head full of emotions, there really is only room for a story about one or two of them. That there were four new characters added in this movie felt a bit much, especially when most of the plot revolved around Anxiety (Maya Hawke). At least this time around, Riley (Kensington Tallman) had more of a role in her own story instead of just being a vehicle for the emotions’ adventures.
I could go on about all the amusing little puns and jokes that are sprinkled throughout this film, but its true strength is showing how our identities change over time when confronted with real-life circumstances. The original film highlighted the nuance of multiple emotions creating key memories. This one not only did a fantastic job of identifying how Anxiety can be harmful (and sometimes helpful) but how the negative aspects of our personality don’t have to be the core of our identity. This depth might go over little kids’ heads, but it’s super important to remind our older children as they develop into independent young adults.
A deeper look at even more complex emotions, I give Inside Out 2 4.5 stars out of 5.
The 5 Love Languages of Children
Year: 1995
Author: Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell
Length: 224 pages
Say what you will about any of the “personality type” analyses out there, but being able to categorize an individual can help to understand them. Whether it’s Myers-Briggs, Enneagrams, or the 5 Love Languages, being able to relate to a grouping that helps explain a personality is a great way to find an identity. These may all be pseudoscience, but they’re harmless if used in the right ways. The 5 Love Languages of Children helps identify how these personality traits show up in kids.
As a parent, I found this book immensely useful because it revealed what the major (and minor) love languages of my two children are. Knowing how to best fill their “love tank” has helped my wife and I to manage our time with our kids. Knowing how these love languages may change as our kids grow up is just as useful as knowing that they need some of all the types (Gifts, Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Acts of Service, and Physical Touch). After all, parenting kids who feel loved seems to be a much easier task than parenting kids who feel neglected.
With this personality type analysis, there’s always a caveat. No single individual will fall entirely into a single category, and these categories may change over time. Still, it’s fun to see my kids light up when they receive the love language they most identify with. Not only do I feel the 5 Love Languages are useful in understanding ourselves, but knowing how others (i.e., our spouses and children) receive love is important to growing these key relationships in our lives.
A useful tool to help parents love their children more effectively, I give The 5 Love Languages of Children 4.0 stars out of 5.
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
Year: 2005
Rating: G
Length: 85 minutes / 1.42 hours
Having grown up with the Wallace & Gromit short films, I’ve always held the belief that this duo is the core to Aardman Animations’ success. For their first outing in a feature-length context, there was bound to be some growing pains with the transition from short films. Granted, this wasn’t Aardman’s first foray into feature-length stop motion films, but there were a lot of expectations riding on this film based on how well the previous Wallace & Gromit shorts had done.
With the leap into a feature-length movie, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005) pulled out all the stops for its visuals. The whole thing looks great, even if it’s clear in spots that there were computers being used instead of just the raw physical medium of Plasticine. As always, Gromit is the most expressive silent character of this century (and I’d even say in all of cinematic history). It felt like the audience needed more of him, but that was because the other sub-plots seemed to focus solely on Wallace.
In terms of plot, The Curse of the Were-Rabbit felt a little less original than the short films. Not that the tropes they used were overdone, just that it was perhaps a little more predictable and “safe” compared to their previous outings. Still, the truly British humor shone through as always, leaving me chuckling at all the brief references and lines that the adults would get but the kids wouldn’t. Overall, The Curse of the Were-Rabbit is one of the best stop motion movies ever made, just not necessarily the best Wallace & Gromit story.
A great jump to the big screen for Wallace & Gromit, but not without some growing pains, I give Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit 4.0 stars out of 5.
This movie appeared in Cinema Connections:
#113. Stop-motion
#114. Aardman Animation
The Bridge
Year: 2013
Rating: E
Time Played: 164 minutes / 2.73 hours
Having been a fan of M. C. Escher’s works for some time, I thought a game like The Bridge would be an interesting take on his mind-bending illustrations. Presented in a black-and-white monochrome to match Escher’s illustrations, The Bridge uses rotation and platforming to solve physics-based puzzles. Unfortunately, because of these two gameplay mechanics, this game was a bit more frustrating than I expected. When solutions to puzzles aren’t based on logic as much as they are based on being able to control the physics, it just isn’t fun to play.
I picked up and played The Bridge several times over a few years. Every once in a while, I’d get some distance from it and think that I should try to tackle the next puzzle that stumped me weeks or months ago. And after completing this puzzle and a few more after it, I’d get stuck again and the entire process would repeat. The distance between play sessions is probably what led me to enduring this game as long as I did. I got far enough into the game to realize that the difficulty curve at the end was more about fine control of rotation than figuring out how to solve the puzzle.
Of course, there have been several puzzle games that I “gave up” on and just opened tutorials on how to get to the end. Baba is You and Q.U.B.E. come to mind here.These were tutorials that gave me the “a-ha moment” I needed to get past the puzzles that were stumping me. However, the precision I needed to complete The Bridge led me to give up on it altogether. Watching a video of someone playing through one solution and realizing this took them a solid 10 minutes meant I would not have fun doing it myself.
A visual homage to Escher with some frustrating physics puzzles, I give The Bridge 3.0 stars out of 5.
A Quiet Place: Day One
Year: 2024
Rating: PG-13
Length: 99 minutes / 1.65 hours
It’s wild to think that it’s been six years since A Quiet Place (2018) released. The concept was unique and fresh and lent itself to plenty of suspenseful moments. And while I thought both it and its 2021 sequel could have been trimmed down to a single, albeit somewhat long movie, I still loved the idea of a modern “silent film” that relies on its imagery as much as its lack of verbal dialogue. But did this really need a prequel?
One of the great parts of the original Quiet Place was that it didn’t explain how things came to be this way, it just dealt with surviving in this new reality. In A Quiet Place: Day One (2024), humanity first faces the threat of these aliens who attack any noise that might catch their attention. It’s still unknown why these aliens came to Earth or what their goal is, but that doesn’t lessen the suspenseful moments the humans must navigate so they can survive this invasion. Distancing itself from the other two films, Day One is able to tell different stories in a much more challenging location: the heart of New York City.
Ultimately, this film didn’t really explore anything new. Even if it re-tread some of what made the first movie so gripping, it merely reinforces how strong that initial concept is. What makes these kinds of films work is the humans who inhabit these apocalyptic scenarios. Day One has some very compelling characters, which is part of the reason it works. Granted, every movie in this franchise has people doing stupid things for their own reasons, but at least I wanted to see them succeed just to beat the odds.
A slightly different version of what made A Quiet Place an excellent film, I give A Quiet Place: Day One 3.5 stars out of 5.
The Nolan Variations: The Movie, Mysteries, and Marvels of Christopher Nolan
Year: 2020
Author: Tom Shone
Length: 381 pages
Anyone who has met me knows I am a huge fan of Christopher Nolan’s movies. His ability to provide a psychological, mind-bending narrative has kept me engaged for decades. It only makes sense that I would then read the pseudo-biography / interview, The Nolan Variations. Tom Shone’s writing style feels intimate and personable in a way that made me feel closer to Christopher Nolan after reading this book. Whether or not you like his films,The Nolan Variations is important to get into the headspace of this acclaimed director.
The Nolan Variations dives into each one of Nolan’s films, starting with Following (1998) and ending with Tenet (2020). That it provides hints of his Oscar-winning next film, Oppenheimer (2023) is really quite prescient. Unfortunately, this is also the one weakness of such a book. While it covers everything up to Nolan’s peak, unless there’s a “Volume 2” of this book, there will always be key elements of his filmography missing. Sure, it’s interesting to see how he got here, but what happens next? Where does he go from here?
The casual way in which Shone reveals these deep insights into Nolan’s mind is truly the best part of The Nolan Variations. I learned so much about Nolan’s thought process, and a deeper understanding of each one of his films. That there’s still some ambiguity in the endings of his movies even after reading this book just goes to show how talented Nolan is at crafting true head-scratching cinema. If you want the most thorough, behind-the-scenes look into 11 of the best movies to come out of the last three decades, then this is the book for you.
A relatable look into the mind of this generation’s best director, I give The Nolan Variations 4.5 stars out of 5.
Lilo & Stitch
Year: 2002
Rating: PG
Length: 85 minutes / 1.42 hours
The early 2000s were a weird time for Disney. After a solid run of their 1990s renaissance—full of classics beloved by all—they started exploring ideas outside their wheelhouse. With most of their best work in the fantasy genre, Disney hadn’t quite figured out how to do science fiction. Despite all this, they created a few cult classics during this period. One of these was none other than Lilo & Stitch (2002).
A common theme in children’s movies seems to be outsider kids befriending creatures they probably shouldn’t. This list includes (but is not limited to) E.T. – The Extra-Terrestrial (1982), The Iron Giant (1999), How to Train Your Dragon (2010), and even Bumblebee (2018). Where Lilo & Stitch takes this a step further is how it embraces the idea of the “found family.” With so many orphans in Disney movies, it surprised me it took this long to hone in on this trope and really refine it (albeit not nearly to the extent One Piece does). Furthermore, this movie also shows that everyone deserves love, even if they have a sordid past.
While there are a lot of common tropes in Lilo & Stitch—including some of its humor, which itself has graciously few bathroom-focused jokes—one of its best characteristics is the realism of its human characters. Relying on evil stepmothers or narcissistic queens as villains hides much more relatable challenges modern families face. Just trying to survive, especially when there are no parents in the picture, is hard. Being able to rely on those around us is a much better lesson for kids than princesses finding out they’re a special.
A relevant and modern take on found family and aliens as pets, I give Lilo & Stitch 4.0 stars out of 5.
This movie appeared in Cinema Connections:
#256. Hawaii
#257. Aliens as Pets
Castlevania: Circle of the Moon
Year: 2001
Rating: T
Time Played: 555 minutes / 9.25 hours
It’s a little odd how I really like to play Metroidvanias, but I never played one of the “vania” games that helped cement this genre of games. Fortunately, I finally found the time to start one and chose Castlevania: Circle of the Moon. Now that I’ve experienced this side of the genre, I can say that I totally get it. There’s something about the way this game is structured that made it enjoyable to play.
The one thing that I think I like from this side of the Metroidvania coin is how it is slightly more geared toward a Role Playing Game style of action game. Aside from the abilities that make a Metroidvania the “locked door” quest that it is, the RPG elements allowed me to upgrade my gear as I found new items. It also meant that if a boss was too hard, I could just grind a bit more to level up and increase my stats to the point where I stood a better chance.
Even though I played this on the Castlevania Advanced Collection, I didn’t use any of the useful features like save states to help me through my play through.That being said, it took me way too long to realize what the Card System did here. I probably made it half-way through and got stuck on one of the bosses before I finally figured out what these card items actually did to the gameplay. From then on, the rest was fairly straightforward. I’m sure if I had the physical game with the instruction booklet, this wouldn’t have been an issue, but as it stands, it doesn’t explain some of its mechanics very well.
A solid Metroidvania with great RPG elements, I give Castlevania: Circle of the Moon 4.0 stars out of 5.
Inside Out
Year: 2015
Rating: PG
Length: 95 minutes / 1.58 hours
It’s amusing that a movie studio like Pixar—which has been making us feel all our emotions for decades— made a film solely about those emotions. They already succeeded in making me cry in almost every other film of theirs, and this is no exception. And while they’ve always had some significant lesson in them, Inside Out (2015) feels like the best kind of therapy you can buy to make discussions with your kids much more approachable. After all, emotions are part of the human experience and everyone can relate to these feelings in some small way, at a minimum.
Visually, Inside Out is great because it combines some well-done realism with the spectacular imaginative world inside a pre-teen girl’s head. There are a ton of great jokes based on wordplay that are both funny and somewhat educational. The voice acting is superb, and the plot is a solid exploration of how to navigate our feelings. If anything, I’m glad I can watch this with my kids because it gives a fantastic jumping off point to discuss basic emotions while also giving room to expand to more difficult topics like depression.
Even if some of the inner workings of the mind might go over a child’s head, Inside Out has a foundation that emphasizes that there are no bad emotions. It’s completely natural to feel angry, afraid, disgusted, or sad. Just like it’s natural to feel joy. That all of these are part of a well-rounded life is useful to remember—even for adults. We all want to be happy as much as possible, but if we suppress emotions like sadness, then we can’t have those temporary lows with which to compare the joyous highs.
A fantastic conversation starter about basic emotions, I give Inside Out 4.5 stars out of 5.
The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity
Year: 2021
Author: David Graeber and David Wengrow
Length: 1,459 minutes / 24.32 hours
Every once in a while, I come across a book that feels like it’s way above my head, but changes how I think about the world. Their analysis calls into question the known understanding of something and references plenty of famous individuals who have written on the topic. Unfortunately, a neophyte like myself does not know who any of these people are. The Dawn of Everything is very much one of these kinds of books for me.
Not knowing much about anthropology or ancient human civilizations, I came in with an open mind and found some intriguing points put forward in this book. We often look at history through modern lenses, but how often are we merely adopting the modern lenses of those before us? If the common thinking cannot support the physical evidence, should we continue to believe it? I learned a ton by reading this book, and I don’t even feel like I was grasping everything that it was trying to convey because I wasn’t as intimately familiar with the standard model it was trying to deconstruct.
While I think The Dawn of Everything can be approachable for anyone looking to educate themselves about how humans used to interact, it suffers from being occasionally overly academic. There are tons of examples brought forth in this text that merely reinforce the main thesis, each time trying to discredit some previously held belief that I wasn’t aware existed until I read it for the first time here. At a certain point, it gets redundant. Still, there were many ideas it presented that made sense enough for me to consider that the authors were onto something big.
A mildly bloated re-thinking of the structure of early human societies, I give The Dawn of Everything 4.0 stars out of 5.
Thelma
Year: 2024
Rating: PG-13
Length: 98 minutes / 1.63 hours
Thelma (2024) is one of those rare movies that I knew little about, but saw the trailer a few times and saw it on a whim. I was glad I did, because it’s definitely my favorite film of this year. With so many action movies, it’s nice to see one like this that makes fun of the tropes in the best way possible. And to top it all off, the message it gives is as heartwarming as it is important.
The premise of Thelma is that the titular character (played by June Squibb) got scammed out of $10,000. After taking the normal steps one would after realizing the mistake, she realizes she can take matters into her own hands and retrieve her stolen money with some help from her elderly friends. It’s part heist, part chase, and way funnier than it has any right to be. This is partly due to how the common action tropes like GPS trackers, earpiece communications, and high-octane explosions were subverted to match the elderly theming. Everything feels like it could happen that way in the real world without it devolving to action movie ridiculousness.
At the heart of Thelma, though, is a message about independence. So often, older individuals are brushed off as being unable to do a lot of things, even if they could do them in the prime of their youth. On the flip side, our youth (“He’s 24”) are often prevented from showing how capable they are without their lives being constantly directed by helicopter parents. Still, being humble enough to ask for help when we need it is an important aspect of our lives, even if we know we used to do it ourselves.
The most heartwarming action movie subversion ever made, I give Thelma 5.0 stars out of 5.
Cubism
Year: 2020
Rating: E
Time Played: ~6 hours
While most Virtual Reality games emphasize the immersive nature of the medium, few handle the ability to manipulate virtual objects freely in 3D space. While there are certainly puzzle games in VR (like Tetris Effect), none quite scratch that IQ test itch like Cubism. Of course, with puzzle games like this, there comes a point where the game gets too challenging to complete. This is even without a timer or other mechanic trying to pressure the player to work faster. Still, Cubism is a relaxing challenge for your mind.
For those new to Virtual Reality, Cubism is a good primer for how to use the controllers (or even the hand-tracking features). Since the entire game is merely manipulating different shapes to fit into a 3D outlined space, there’s a lot of grabbing, rotating, and placing. It can be played seated, and doesn’t have any extreme elements that might induce motion sickness. This game could easily be ported to other non-VR platforms, but I think it works best as a VR game because it fully uses the 3D space by having the player physically move the pieces to where they need to go.
The simplicity of Cubism is part of its charm. It’s just you and the pieces—and soothing piano music by Robert Schumann. Trying to work out mentally how these pieces fit together is sometimes just a matter of trial and error. However, there are later puzzles at the higher difficulties where certain wrong solutions get stuck in your mind and it would be helpful if there was a hint system of some kind to push past these mental blocks. As it is, I could not fully complete the game, but I definitely got a lot of enjoyment out of it while it lasted.
A simple but gradually challenging puzzle game, I give Cubism 4.0 stars out of 5.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Year: 2024
Rating: PG-13
Length: 145 minutes / 2.42 hours
With how difficult it is to pull of a trilogy that doesn’t have any significantly bad entries, it’s almost impossible to make a successful movie that sits as the fourth entry outside that trilogy. Plenty of “fourth” films never hit the mark their predecessor trilogy did. This was why I had to roll my eyes when Hollywood added another movie on top of the already well-done Planet of the Apes prequel trilogy. Well, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024) proved me wrong.
By giving itself enough distance from the Caesar story arc, Kingdom threads that needle that connects the lead-up events to the very first film in the franchise. Even if most of the fundamental concepts have already been covered in this franchise, there are still enough surprising moments here to make it an excellent entry—which is also what made the original 1968 movie so memorable. It truly felt as if the audience was getting the understanding of the original movie’s plot through the viewpoint of the apes this time.
What’s perhaps the most important point with Kingdom is how relevant it is to today’s society. Sure, there were a lot of great action and battle sequences, but underneath everything is a society that’s founded on hero worship. That uses nostalgia and catchy slogans to rally apes to their cause. If history repeats itself in the real world, then what’s to say that we can’t see it happen in the Planet of the Apes? While the reboot prequel trilogy was excellent, it paved the way for Kingdom to be absolutely superb.
The rare fourth film that surpasses the solid trilogy that came before it, I give Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes 5.0 stars out of 5.
Sea of Tranquility
Year: 2022
Author: Emily St. John Mandel
Length: 347 minutes / 5.78 hours
Science fiction often bogs itself down in the details of a potential future while forgetting the poetry that can come with the written word. It doesn’t matter what scientific topic the book is handling if it’s not entertaining to read. The best ones are a combination of speculative science, entertainment, and beautiful prose. I feel Sea of Tranquility meets these three criteria. The narrative is gripping, the framework thought-provoking, and the execution superb. I’ve never seen such a common sci-fi topic like this handled so well.
Time travel feels like it can be a crutch for a writer. It’s a way to fill in details in a non-linear format that covers up any plot holes in a way that feels cheap. Jumping around in time can also make things confusing, as it isn’t clear what era each section is set in. However, the way Emily St. John Mandel handles time travel in this book is probably one of the best I’ve seen. While following a linear timeline (somewhat akin to Cloud Atlas), the depth of time travel reveals itself with each jump into the future.
I think the reason I love how this book handles time travel is that each revisit of events adds layers of context that almost require an immediate second read-through of the entire book. Sure, the time travel explains away certain mysteries—but giving the reason behind those moments just elevates the story to higher levels. And throughout the whole thing, the descriptions, wording, and overall writing is just fantastic. Even if you don’t like science fiction, this book stands out as a well-written piece of work that dives deeper into how humans can’t ever know the full extent of a moment from a singular perspective.
The best time travel book I’ve ever read, I give Sea of Tranquility 5.0 stars out of 5.
Palm Springs
Year: 2020
Rating: R
Length: 90 minutes / 1.50 hours
There’s something special about the time loop plot format. It’s been done several times in plenty of different genres. That there are even a few beloved movies like Groundhog Day (1993) and Edge of Tomorrow (2014) shows how meaningful the time loop can be when done properly. Palm Springs (2020) is the latest in this genre that follows in both footsteps of Groundhog Day and Edge of Tomorrow by being a romantic comedy with a sci-fi explanation for the repeating timeline.
As a modern romantic comedy (perhaps one of the last modern romantic comedies), much of the humor in Palm Springs is crass and sexualized. This means that occasionally there’s a good joke or two in here, but it mostly just feels like the frustrated rambling of a horny teenager. Considering that Andy Samberg features prominently in this film, it’s no wonder why this is the case. Now, there are parts that are legitimately funny, but it’s using the same formula that made Groundhog Day funny decades ago. Don’t mess with success, I guess.
I think what really sets Palm Springs apart is its ability to include more than one individual in the time loop. Most movies that follow this structure end up having the main character continually re-explain this phenomenon to the other characters. With multiple people trapped in the time loop, it sets up a contrast of what to do to escape it. Do you merely accept your fate and dive into depression and ennui, or do you try to figure out a way to solve this problem? Do you try to change the things that are impossible to affect, or do you accept that this is your life and enjoy its little joys? This philosophical aspect is what I think sets Palm Springs apart in the time loop pantheon.
A modern rom-com time loop sci-fi with some solid philosophical concepts, I give Palm Springs 4.0 stars out of 5.
Mega Man ZX Advent
Year: 2007
Rating: E10+
Time Played: 410 minutes / 6.83 hours
One hallmark of the Mega Man franchise is the ability to absorb the powers of each boss and use them against other enemies. It’s interesting that in the decades of this franchise’s history that there have been so few opportunities to actually turn into these bosses. I’m embarrassed to say that I didn’t realize Mega Man ZX Advent was referencing the character introduced in Mega Man X7 until I was almost through playing the game. In a sense, this is the first game where you play as Axl the whole way through.
Story-wise, there’s nothing terribly interesting to write home about here, and the voice acting feels shrill from the DS speakers—both of which are made worse when you have to replay cutscenes near the endgame because you failed to pass the long gauntlet. Still, the draw here is the almost Metroidvania-like collection of boss abilities that help unlock other parts of the world and reward exploration with additional benefits. While there isn’t much benefit of playing as any of the bosses for an extended amount of time, the different control schema for each gives the game some variety.
Much of Mega Man ZX Advent is like its predecessor, Mega Man ZX, which was an evolution of the popular Mega Man Zero series. The controls are fairly tight and the platforming occasionally challenging. Combat takes some getting used to, but mostly in the same “memorize the boss movement and attack pattern” that comes with all Mega Man games. Ultimately, those who can master this game’s controls are rewarded with a challenging and full experience that builds on all the Mega Man games that came before it.
A fun Mega Man game where you actually play as the bosses, I give Mega Man ZX Advent 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Fall Guy
Year: 2024
Rating: PG-13
Length: 126 minutes / 2.10 hours
I have a bit of a soft spot for movies that focus on the creative act of making movies. Most of the time, these “behind the scenes” films focus on the more managerial aspects of movies. In The Fall Guy (2024), there’s a fun meta that ties together stunts for the movie being made and stunts in the “real world” that may bring down the entire production. As a pseudo-heist movie, The Fall Guy is a fun action romp that I found entertaining and educational.
Anyone who has seen Ryan Gosling in Barbie (2023) knows that he has the comedic chops to hold up his side of a film. Honestly, he was the main reason I wanted to see this film, as I was expecting “Ken” levels of machismo, but with maybe a little more intelligence. Gosling definitely delivers, and this is a great film to watch for fans of his work. Emily Blunt is good as well, but so much of the plot is focused on Gosling’s dive into a big conspiracy that ends up being much more entertaining than the interpersonal play between his character and Blunt’s director role.
For a movie about stuntmen and the stunts they perform, there was a lot of interesting information about this process that made its way onto the screen. It’s always interesting to see how Hollywood does practical effects, and this movie plays up that aspect by showing that for the in-film movie, but also at moments where there are scenarios not captured for this meta film-making project. If anything, this film should give you an honest appreciation for all the work that goes into action films. Especially the work by all the talented stuntmen.
A fun action movie filled with stunts on and off screen, I give The Fall Guy 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Optimist’s Daughter
Year: 1972
Author: Eudora Welty
Length: 239 minutes / 3.98 hours
The Optimist’s Daughter is yet another short piece of Pulitzer Prize winning prose that I failed to connect with. Sure, the writing is solid, if not flowery at times. The problem with these kinds of books (Housekeeping also coming to mind here) is that I don’t feel it has anything significant to say. Contrasting Chicago from New Orleans is so common that culture clash is an inevitable trope for any character who ventures into the south from their home in the north.
Family drama always seems to attract prize-winning status. Here, we see the titular optimist’s daughter as she grapples with the death of her optimist father. The death of a patriarch always brings out the worst in people as they try to get as much of the remaining estate they can get their hands on. Not that the titular character isn’t without faults either, as her judgmental nature of her origins only goes away after reminding herself that it was only her close family who was awful and that most people are generally pleasant.
And perhaps what strikes me most with these kinds of Pulitzer winners is how forgettable they are. I barely remembered anything about this book before I finally sat down to write this review. It’s mostly vague feelings at this point, and none of them were strong enough to leave a significant impression on me. This may be due to how short this book was, which was both a blessing and a curse. Ultimately, if you ask me in a few years whether I’ve read this book, I probably couldn’t tell you if I did or not.
A short and forgettable Pulitzer winner, I give The Optimist’s Daughter 3.0 stars out of 5.
Fuirosa: A Mad Max Saga
Year: 2024
Rating: R
Length: 148 minutes / 2.46 hours
Having seen most of the original Mad Max films, Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) was such a shocking visual smorgasbord that it only made sense to capitalize on its success. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024) attempts to give us more of the setting, characters, and aesthetic from Fury Road, but with less of the tight octane-fueled pacing of its predecessor. It’s not bad by itself, but its premise certainly rides on Fury Road’s coattails for much of its runtime.
While it’s crazy that it’s almost been a decade since Fury Road came out, I can accept that Anya Taylor-Joy was a passable version of a younger Charlize Theron. The real surprise was how much Chris Hemsworth stole the show, leaning heavily into his Australian roots to give some amazingly authentic craziness to Dementus. That there were so many common elements to Fury Road here meant that it was entertaining to visit this post-apocalyptic world again and soak in the spectacle of it all. Oddly enough, I’d almost like seeing remakes of the first three Mad Max films in this newer style.
Of course, prequels always come with baggage. There’s an understanding of where the characters end up to make the original movie work, and there are necessary story beats that need to happen to get there. Does this mean the explanations Furiosa gives for things like her missing arm are satisfying? Not necessarily. I think it would have been more meaningful if she sacrificed the arm to protect her family instead of what actually happens in the film. As it stands, there’s still enough of the cat-and-mouse chase throughout the film to justify turning your brain off and having a good time.
A prequel for those who want more of Fury Road, I give Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga 4.0 stars out of 5.
LOVE
Year: 2019
Rating: E
Time Played: ~1 hour
When it comes to retro-inspired video games, most seem to pull their influences from the 8-bit or 16-bit systems like the Nintendo Entertainment System or Sega Genesis. Rarely have I seen something that seems to take their cues from further back in the video game pantheon. For all their limitations, Atari or Commodore 64 games still had a distinctive style that made them stand out prior to the boon in the home gaming space dominated by Nintendo and Sega. LOVE feels like an extremely polished Atari game—which is both a good and bad thing.
Platformers have always been a simple game to make on limited hardware. All you need is a few pixels that the player can move around on the screen and a variety of platforms to jump onto. LOVE takes this common idea and puts it into a mostly monochromatic, heavily pixelated space that could have been pulled straight from the home video game market of the early 1980s. The aesthetic is on point, even if it’s much more refined than I think any computer of the time could replicate. These levels are gorgeous, which is fortunate for how often you’ll be dying in them.
Another facet of retro games is how brutally hard they are. LOVE takes this in stride and provides a challenge that’s just frustrating enough to keep you playing but not too frustrating that you’d give up. With 100 lives, you’re meant to conquer the dozen-or-so levels. Since there’s a lot of iterative learning, it’s not difficult to get a handle on the game and work through all it has to offer in about an hour. The short length and insane difficulty is also a hallmark of retro games, which isn’t necessary in today’s gaming landscape.
A much older retro-inspired platformer, I give LOVE 3.5 stars out of 5.
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
Year: 2024
Rating: R
Length: 122 minutes / 2.03 hours
It feels like I’ve been waiting for a Guy Ritchie film that is a return to form. I loved his earlier works, but have found his latest projects mostly disappointing. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024) Feels like one of those early Ritchie films, which I truly appreciated. However, despite being based on actual events, it felt a bit like a watered down Inglorious Basterds (2009). The cast and action were great, but the stakes somehow felt shallow and forgettable.
I truly enjoyed the parts of the film that held onto Ritchie’s original style. The ridiculous action sequences and the machismo of the main cast (Henry Cavill, especially) are the kinds of things that I enjoyed in Ritchie’s earlier works. That any of this was even close to what really happened makes it an impressive event that should inspire people to learn more about the history. Including the brief reference to Ian Fleming (author of the James Bond series) was definitely a nice touch considering how this mission could easily be from any of the Bond novels.
The real problem here is that it either tried to stay too close to the actual history or it was too unbelievable to be taken seriously. The result is something that isn’t as memorable as it should be. Infiltrating the prison was a better set piece than the mission they were meant to accomplish, which undercuts the climax. I also felt the stakes weren’t as important to the main cast of characters, even if they definitely could change the outcome of the war if they went differently. Ultimately, I learned a little more about the first special ops squadron, but mostly with a sense of, “Huh. Neat.”
Some classic Ritchie mayhem with a heavy historical anchor weighing it down, I give The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare 3.5 stars out of 5.
The Ledge
Year: 2011
Author: Jim Davidson and Kevin Vaughan
Length: 288 pages
Humans are incredible creatures. There’s a resilience for life that shows up in the most dire of circumstances. This is prevalent in many mountaineering books—especially the ones about climbing disasters. The Ledge is the harrowing real-life story of survival against the odds on Mount Rainier. Granted, most stories like this are usually framed with the benefit of hindsight, which can also highlight the risks that led to the disaster. It’s amazing that anyone survived this situation, which is what makes this book an entertaining read.
There are a lot of extreme outdoor people in Colorado. My risk tolerance is usually low enough that I think what they do is crazy. I know it’s easy to judge when things go wrong, so it s comforting that the situation that led to the titular ledge was mostly because of bad luck. An alignment of poor conditions can take even the most experienced mountaineers by surprise, just like it did here. I appreciate the decisions made in the moment were still the smartest options available.
While I wasn’t wild about the back-and-forth framing of the disaster interspersed with flashbacks and exposition, it helped break up the intense sections where Davidson climbed out of the icy crevasse. I’m also glad that this book addressed the aftermath of the disaster, including all the PTSD and other mental effects associated with it. So many disaster books just stop at the point where they’re rescued. That there was closure to the events that happened on Rainier helped to tell a complete story. After all, these are the things most people don’t consider when dealing with the severe trauma involved with such a story of survival.
A harrowing tale of mountaineering survival, I give The Ledge 4.0 stars out of 5.
Civil War
Year: 2024
Rating: R
Length: 109 minutes / 1.82 hours
With Alex Garland’s latest film, Civil War (2024), I still maintain my belief that his films use the medium of movies to ask, “What makes us human?” In his previous sci-fi works like Ex Machina (2014) and Annihilation (2018), the genre did most of the heavy lifting with that question. For Civil War, the current heated political climate is the backdrop that shines a harsh mirror on humanity during armed conflict. The framing, however, is truly what makes this film stand out—and it’s not about politics at all.
As a photographer, I understand what it takes to capture a moment without being part of the moment. You need to be present, but neutral. Civil War pushes this concept to its limits within the context of war photography. How does the press capture these atrocious moments while standing by to let them happen? Is documenting the war more important than stopping it? On top of everything, a war photographer must be numb to the things they see through the lens, as these memories surely haunt these photographers until the day they die.
Garland’s stroke of brilliance in Civil War was to make the setting much more jarring than some banana republic or oil-drenched Middle Eastern coup. Thanks to the 24-hour news cycle, Americans are given all the outputs of foreign war photographers. However, we lack the context of the horrors because they don’t take place in a place familiar to us. The sides of the conflict in this version of a Civil War don’t matter—what matters is how easily the safe and stable country we are used to devolves into factions and immediate violence. By bringing the war to our country, the impact of a war photographer’s job becomes all too personal.
An eerie commentary on the neutrality of war photography, I give Civil War 5.0 stars out of 5.
Loop Hero
Year: 2021
Rating: T
Time Played: 2,842 minutes / 47.37 hours
While it seems like every third game these days is a Roguelike, I have occasionally come across a few like Loop Hero, which successfully makes the iterative gameplay loop fun. As a metanarrative on the larger Role Playing Game structure, Loop Hero is strangely fun for a game that automatically fights every battle for you. After all, everyone knows the best part of an RPG is finding better gear and trying to determine which one provides better stats for their character. This is Loop Hero in a nutshell.
Perhaps it’s the combination of Roguelike, Deck Builder, and RPG genres that makes this game stand out. With each round, the player character walks around a randomly generated path. By playing cards obtained through battle, the landscape can change to help (or hinder) the hero. If the hero can survive long enough, a challenging boss appears. It’s sometimes a gamble to obtain more materials to build up the camp or to play it safe and retreat before the enemies become too much for the hero. A lot depends on the luck of the draw.
Even if I died on one run, I still felt like I was making progress in the game. Like any good Roguelike, unlocking better cards or different character classes came naturally by playing the game. I liked the retro-inspired pixel art, but the sound effects were sometimes grating in a way that hearkens back to the Commodore 64. Still, I stayed up way too late on too many occasions to not recommend this game. It’s addictive and fun in a weird way that probably only appeals to spreadsheet aficionados—which is probably why I liked it so much.
A meta RPG Roguelike that was difficult to put down, I give Loop Hero 4.5 stars out of 5.
Boy Kills World
Year: 2024
Rating: R
Length: 111 minutes / 1.85 hours
Video game movies are gaining some respect after the disastrous jump to the silver screen in the 1990s. It’s interesting, then, that Boy Kills World (2024) takes all the cliches of the beat-’em-up and hack-and-slash video games from the arcades and makes a movie out of a game that doesn’t exist. The problem is this movie also adheres to a lot of the tropes that made the video game movies of the 1990s sub-par to the ones that exist today.
Don’t get me wrong here. Boy Kills World is fun if you just turn off your brain and enjoy the ridiculous ride. Bill Skarsgard is great as the “silent protagonist”—made even better by H. Jon Benjamin’s narration of the character’s internal thoughts. The action is intense and there are a few set pieces that play to the strengths of the more interesting characters. And as a video game movie, its structure of “mini bosses” scattered throughout fully shows it definitely understood the assignment. Unfortunately, a lot of video games don’t have a lot to adapt, and this self-aware film also suffers from that.
The handful of twists in Boy Kills World are woefully telegraphed like a huge Souls-like boss with an unwieldy weapon. It’s not that they’re so obvious, but that they feel uninspired. But that’s to be expected when the main point of video games like the ones this movie tries to adapt is to mow through as many enemies as possible as quickly as possible just to get to the last boss. Other movies have tried the self-aware approach and had it work well for them. Boy Kills World‘s self-awareness falls flat because the thing it’s based on simply does not exist.
An attempt at a self-aware video game adaptation, I give Boy Kills World 3.5 stars out of 5.
The Call of Earth
Year: 1993
Author: Orson Scott Card
Length: 641 minutes / 10.68 hours
After being so disappointed with The Memory of Earth, I’m surprised I gave the second volume in the Homecoming series a chance. I figured Orson Scott Card could have got things on track by this book, getting rid of all the unnecessary fluff and useless ramblings. Instead, The Call of Earth made it clear to me that I will not be continuing this series. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
I think part of the problem with this series is how it’s written. Having recently read an eye-opening book on identifying “Show versus Tell,” it shocked me how much of this book was written with “Tell” language. Granted, a lot of science fiction and fantasy books have to do this to explain interesting magic or technologies. The Call of Earth, however, spent another whole book stuck in this pseudo-Roman society that most people can easily visualize. I’m still convinced he threw this series together to meet a deadline, because it has never felt that inspired.
What’s most frustrating is knowing that it could be better. I was expecting this book to be about leaving their planet in search of Earth. Instead, they merely talked about it for 10 hours. None of the characters stood out to me, and whatever plot was there was so forgettable, I don’t even care to look up what it was. I get that not every author is going to have all their books be amazing or thought-provoking. But two in a row doesn’t give me much hope that the other three books in this series will be any better.
Another disappointing entry in Card’s Homecoming series, I give The Call of Earth 2.0 stars out of 5.
Sleeping Beauty
Year: 1959
Rating: G
Length: 75 minutes / 1.25 hours
Even though the whole Disney Princess franchise has a target demographic (that’s more aligned with my daughter), I do have a favorite Princess movie. It’s Sleeping Beauty (1959), but not for the reasons you might think. Sure, Sleeping Beauty is one of the few Princess films where the Prince plays a major role—even going so far as to have to fight a dragon to save the kingdom. However, the technical prowess on display here is perhaps forgotten by modern standards. And the fact they use Tchaikovsky for the soundtrack is a huge plus.
As a Princess film, Sleeping Beauty has a few tropes it shares with its sister films. There’s the bumbling father figures, the fantasy creatures added for comic relief, and the (by now) standard house style for all characters. It certainly spends a lot of time in its middle with almost meaningless filler, which doesn’t even pad it out past 75 minutes. I can forgive all of this because I know they created these movies with children in mind. It might be scary at a few key scenes for younger kids, but my 4-year-old didn’t seem to mind.
What Sleeping Beauty really has going for it is the technical beauty that lies beneath the surface. Technicolor made the colors pop, and they took full advantage of it by making the three fairies red, green, and blue. On my wide-screen television, nothing is cropped. In fact, there are actually black bars on the top and bottom to maintain the original aspect ratio. That so many of these technical achievements are now an industry standard (or were the inspiration for them) speaks volumes about this film’s legacy.
A technical achievement while still abiding by the Princess formula, I give Sleeping Beauty 4.5 stars out of 5.
What the Bat?
Year: 2022
Rating: E
Time Played: ~4 hours
Having played through the ridiculously funny game, What the Golf?, their VR game, What the Bat?, intrigued me. Where What the Golf? deconstructed what it means to be a golf game (or even a video game in general), What the Bat? used VR to demonstrate just how difficult it would be to live with two bats for hands. Luckily, there are buttons and other devices that help you achieve each level’s objective. That still doesn’t make it any easier to control.
It’s odd how there’s almost too much content for this game. Each level only takes a few minutes (if you’re used to your bat arms, that is), but there are just so many levels that it took me quite a few sessions to play through them all. And because it’s easy to just keep going, I found myself worn out from VR sessions that were probably too long as I tried to finish “just one more level” or “just one more world.” Of course, there’s also only so many ways that the levels can ask you to use your bats before it becomes repetitive.
While most people have probably become used to playing a game with bat-like extensions on their controllers (i.e., Beat Saber), using bats for everyday tasks is much more difficult. This is probably the most frustrating part of the game, which is unfortunate because it’s the main premise of the game. Not everything is terribly hard to do, but there are enough challenges that highlight how the limited accuracy of the hand controllers doesn’t easily produce the results you want. Of course, if you’re just looking to have fun with this insane premise, then there are plenty of opportunities to do so.
A hilarious premise that’s still a little too difficult to control, I give What the Bat? 3.5 stars out of 5.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
Year: 2024
Rating: PG-13
Length: 115 minutes / 1.92 hours
Having never seen the original Japanese series of Godzilla movies, I only have a loose sense of their progression from serious to silly. I’ve seen random clips that I couldn’t take seriously, but I also know some of the first films in the franchise were a grim analogy of nuclear war. While Godzilla Minus One (2023) nailed the serious side of Godzilla, the Monsterverse movies have steadily been drifting toward unhinged territory. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024) is merely the latest proof.
There were so many things going on in this movie, it felt like a shotgun approach to see if anything would stick. It was a bit frustrating that the headliner, Godzilla, barely appeared until the third act. The humans were even more caricature-like than previous entries, and I hardly cared about their stories or struggles. When the universe can support any random thing happening, the whole thing ultimately becomes less grounded in reality. Not that these movies were ever truly grounded in reality, but the better ones didn’t suspend my disbelief nearly as much.
Despite the criticism, though, The New Empire had its fun moments of monster mayhem. I wished there were more of them, but the ones we got were well worth the price of admission. Of course, Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) started this trend toward the silliness in this film. You can only really do it seriously once before the plot demands you add in pink energy crystals or cyborg prosthetics for a gigantic ape. As a popcorn flick, I could definitely turn my brain off and just enjoy the CGI carnage. Just don’t think about it too hard.
A Monsterverse film sliding further into “silly” territory, I give Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire 3.0 stars out of 5.
Understanding Show, Don’t Tell (And Really Getting It)
Year: 2016
Author: Janice Hardy
Length: 136 pages
As a writer, I have heard all the little idioms that are meant to help grow us into better storytellers. Unfortunately, while I’ve since been able to grasp concepts like “Kill Your Darlings,” one thing I still struggled with was “Show, Don’t Tell.” I still couldn’t see the difference between “showing” and “telling” because both seemed almost indistinguishable to me. Luckily, someone in my writing group suggested Understanding Show, Don’t Tell (And Really Getting It) as a guide to better understand this writing technique. Now I think I finally get it.
Just like the challenge of identifying passive voice, the problem with the “Show, Don’t Tell” idiom is that it asks the writer to find a problem in their writing that they might not even know is there. This book not only has a great section about identifying the different ways writers “Tell” with their words, but it also includes suggestions on how to fix these issues. Because nothing is more frustrating than finally being able to identify the problem but not having a solution for it. I’d recommend this book for these two strengths alone.
My only gripe is that there are so many ways that an author can “Tell” that it was a little overwhelming to wrap my head around everything. Luckily, this book is short enough that it can easily be read in a day as a refresher before editing. After all, it’s not about perfectly being able to excise all the telling from a manuscript, but about improving the ability to identify these problems and know the simple fixes for them.
A great resource for writers who struggle with this confusing idiom of advice, I give Understanding Show, Don’t Tell (And Really Getting It) 4.5 stars out of 5.
Free Solo
Year: 2018
Rating: PG-13
Length: 100 minutes / 1.67 hours
For those who view climbing as a serious hobby, most climbing documentaries are a way to live vicariously through those climbers who dare to do something impossible. And while the plot structure of these climbing documentaries all feel nearly identical, there was something special in Free Solo (2018) that made it better than the rest. Perhaps it was the recognizability of El Capitan. Maybe it was the danger involved. Either way, Free Solo was well deserving of its Best Documentary Feature Oscar.
Part of why I didn’t connect with Meru (2015)—the previous film by these directors—was that I had never heard of that mountain before I sat down to watch it. Having never climbed El Capitan, I was at least aware of its significance. Knowing how hard this climb is, the premise of climbing it with no kind of safety gear is intriguing, to say the least. Of course, most climbing movies seem to feature climbers who have more courage than sense, but this was a unique combo that made me want to watch this film way back when it came out.
Just like it’s mesmerizing to watch a master artisan create a new piece of art, it was gripping to watch this man achieve what nobody else had done before. While the titular free solo climb up El Capitan is the crux of this film, it’s really the amazing cinematography that captured this achievement that’s on display here. After all, how does one capture this harrowing adventure up an enormous slab of rock without impeding the one climbing it? The tension for the climb was quite palpable due to the way it was edited, but the visuals really bring home how much danger Alex Honnold was in as he ascended.
A climbing documentary with recognizable risks, I give Free Solo 4.0 stars out of 5.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land
Year: 2022
Rating: E10+
Time Played: 15+ hours
Kirby and the Forgotten Land is an interesting outlier for one of Nintendo’s longest-running franchises. Most of these games transitioned from 2D platformers to 3D space in the Nintendo 64 era. Games like Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time flawlessly made the jump into the next dimension. Even Metroid Prime successfully brought that franchise into 3D space with the Gamecube. 30 years after its debut, Kirby finally made it to 3D with Kirby and the Forgotten Land.
The game structure is the same as any other Kirby game. Each world is broken into a series of themed levels, followed by a boss at the end of the world. Kirby can inhale enemies and replicate their abilities. The final boss is a literal god. Where previous Kirby games maintained some of their puzzle simplicity by being in two dimensions, Forgotten Land allows more exploration in 3D space while still being constrained to a specific path for each level. As with other Kirby games, there are always secret areas to find and explore in each level that lead to hidden collectables.
Visually, this game is gorgeous. The “mouthful mode” gimmick was a great way to adapt this clearly post-apocalyptic world to Kirby’s standard gameplay mechanic. I also appreciated the copy abilities upgrades, since it helped with the game’s difficulty curve. I didn’t necessarily like the way I had to get the limited resources to upgrade these abilities, but that was also just part of the challenge. Overall, it didn’t feel unfairly difficult, and beating the final boss was an exhilarating battle that came right down to the line. This game perfectly captured the classic Kirby formula and brought it into the 3D world.
Another successful transition to 3D space for a long-time Nintendo franchise, I give Kirby and the Forgotten Land 4.5 stars out of 5.
Dune: Part Two
Year: 2024
Rating: PG-13
Length: 166 minutes / 2.77 hours
Years ago, when I first read Dune, I struggled to get through the first half of the book. There was so much exposition and world building I had to get through that when the action finally began, I devoured the rest of the story. While I understand the need to split this epic novel into two movies, it meant I was eagerly anticipating Dune: Part Two (2024) after the excellent job Denis Villeneueve did adapting the first half in 2021.
I appreciate that movies have multiple chances to become the iconic versions that their source material deserves. The original Dune (1984) has its own cult status among its fans (many of which are merely David Lynch fans). But the wide audience appeal of an epic story that stands the test of time is the high standard most filmmakers strive for. Few have been able to pull it off, but I think time will be kind to this two-part movie—mostly in part to the strength of its second half.
Stylistically, both parts of Dune are pure Villeneuve. New film techniques he brought to the table here merely enhanced the sci-fi world first thought up by Frank Herbert. The cinematography, set design, sound design, and overall editing of the film all came together masterfully to show Paul’s (Timothée Chalamet) acceptance of his role as avenger of his family and savior for Stilgar’s (Javier Bardem) people. The chosen one narrative might be trite in the whole scheme of things, but it was entertaining to watch, nonetheless. If Denis isn’t a household name after these two films (and Arrival (2016), of course), then people aren’t paying attention.
The best half of the Dune story, I give Dune: Part Two 4.5 stars out of 5.
Legion
Year: 2018
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Length: 612 minutes / 10.20 hours
Multiple personalities is one of those tropes that some writers use as a crutch to explain why their main character is so good at a litany of unique skills necessary to move the plot forward. And while the main character in Legion suffers from this superhuman trait, Brandon Sanderson still gives him enough weaknesses so that it’s not entirely overpowered. Still, I can appreciate that this concept only took up three novellas (contained in this volume), since it can often overstay its welcome.
Each of the stories revolves around Stephen Leeds, a super-genius investigator who has portioned off his polymath of abilities to different personalities in his head. These personalities take up a physical space around him, even if nobody else can see them. Some of the “rules” around these invisible characters didn’t seem to make much sense since they’re allegedly all in Stephen’s head, but I guess a character like this needs a Kryptonite to prevent him from solving all his problems so easily. I also had to suspend my disbelief with the mysteries Stephen was investigating, mostly rolling my eyes at the unbelievable nature of these concepts.
Overall, though, this trilogy of novellas is a solid read. It’s basically a novel in three parts, as I’ve read full books longer than these three novellas put together. The unique personalities of the “personalities” were all quite entertaining, even if they overshadowed Stephen’s somewhat milquetoast characteristics. The engineer in me wanted to know more about how this specific form of multiple personality disorder functioned, since it was a unique take on the disability. At any rate, if you’re a fan of Sanderson’s work, this is a quick read that proves he knows how to write in short form as well as his standard epic-length books.
An overdone trope that doesn’t overstay its welcome, I give Legion 4.0 stars out of 5.
Anatomy of a Fall
Year: 2023
Rating: R
Length: 151 minutes / 2.52 hours
It’s interesting how I’ve seen a lot of crime dramas before, but rarely (if ever) have I witnessed one from a foreign perspective. Movies like A Few Good Men (1992) or 12 Angry Men (1957) focus on the American justice system. Watching a murder trial in a foreign language and in a different country’s judiciary style was new and exciting for me. Anatomy of a Fall (2023) does a great job of bringing ambiguity to the proceedings enough times as to make one wonder what truth to believe.
The ability of this film to throw a series of twists into the narrative that makes the whole story flip back and forth between guilty and not guilty is an amazing achievement. That being said, despite the marketing for this film making it seem like there was still a question whether the death was an accident or a purposeful moment of murder, I felt the ending put all the pieces together for a unique revelation that left no doubts in my mind what happened. If anything, it’s a tragedy that a situation like this would be ambiguous enough to even go to trial.
While there may also be many cliche twists throughout, the application of these twists in this film set it apart as a masterpiece of storytelling. Its Best Original Screenplay win was well-deserved, and I’m glad it was at least nominated for some of the other big awards like Best Director and Best Picture. I hope Anatomy of a Fall inspires more movies about foreign courtroom dramas, especially if they end up being as high caliber as this one.
A foreign courtroom drama filled with superb twists, I give Anatomy of a Fall 4.0 stars out of 5.
Paper Mario: Sticker Star
Year: 2012
Rating: E
Time Played: 592 minutes / 9.87 hours
I’ve endured a lot of bad video games in my time. Most overstay their welcome and I eventually just want to get to the end. Others have such cryptic puzzles that I have to give up and use a guide or walkthrough to get me to the end credits. If there’s a skill issue, I have generally just reduced the difficulty so I can experience the full game. It is then a rare case when I legitimately give up on a game. Paper Mario: Sticker Star is one of those games.
I had heard rumors of this games infamy. I figured I could use any of the above techniques to get through it. At almost 10 hours in, I caved and looked at what I needed to do to finish the game and realized how frustrating this task would be. Not only did I have to backtrack through basically every level to find secret items to unlock the next areas, but there were layers upon layers of this and the “flatten the world to look at it differently” mechanic that impeded my progress. There were no creative solutions here, only prescribed gags.
This was, of course, on top of the inventory/battle system. Previous (and future) entries in the Paper Mario series did not restrict the player like this one did. Each item you use in battle takes up space on pages of stickers. There is no way to attack without using an item, so most battles end up being frustrating moments when you’re ambushed by an enemy. Of course, you must use huge chunks of your inventory space for the specific items needed to progress to the next level, let alone hidden door items to obtain that level’s item so you can use it later. I can usually endure a lot of bad gameplay, but this game broke me and I quit.
A convoluted and frustrating mess of a game, I cannot give Paper Mario: Sticker Star a rating.
Kung Fu Panda
Year: 2008
Rating: PG
Length: 92 minutes / 1.53 hours
Many people give animated films flack for being directed at children. DreamWorks movies have historically leaned toward the younger demographic with plenty of fart jokes while still having the occasional adult jokes sprinkled throughout. The problem with discounting the medium on the whole is that there are some things it can do very well. Kung Fu Panda (2008) not only has a great message about playing to our strengths, but it also uses the fact that it’s animated to present some extremely well-done kung fu fights.
Jack Black brings Kung Fu Panda to life with Po, the kung fu obsessed panda who doesn’t fit the physical model needed to practice the martial art. Despite being chosen as the next Dragon Warrior, Po must learn kung fu so he can protect the land from one of the most dangerous practitioners of the fighting style. It’s important for kids to see that he struggles with the traditional teaching methods, but he can still achieve success by learning his motivations and playing to the strengths of what makes him unique as a panda.
The beauty of an animated film comes down to the amount of control the animators have over what’s on the screen. By planning out all the kung fu moves in a series of brilliant battle set pieces, Kung Fu Panda didn’t have to rely on actors being able to perform these amazing stunts. Instead, these kung fu fights were only limited by the imagination of the animators. It’s a lot of fun seeing these battles take place since the kung fu on display is basically a deadly dance between two skilled individuals. Of course, even with all of its strengths, there are still the handful of fart jokes that bring it down a notch.
A powerful message of unique attributes accentuated by brilliant animated kung fu, I give Kung Fu Panda 4.5 stars out of 5.
Einstein’s Dreams
Year: 1993
Author: Alan Lightman
Length: 140 pages
I can appreciate poetic works that try to string each idea together into a connected narrative. I’ve seen few that have done this as well as Einstein’s Dreams has. Of course, the problem with trying to make all these disparate poems work together is that they are still just brief glimpses into stories that could easily stand on their own. Perhaps that’s the curse of well-written poetry—it leaves you wanting more. I’d almost consider these stories as writing prompts for anyone looking to make an entire book out of the dreams of the world’s best physicist.
Many of the stories in this collection/novel play upon the ideas of general relativity. The way the physics is described and how the people in these worlds live feel legitimately realistic. Of course, sometimes the physics “gimmick” isn’t revealed until the end of a story, thus leaving me in the dark as to what was actually happening as I read through the dream. I didn’t have enough patience to read through these stories again to fully understand the way their worlds worked.
As a cohesive narrative, there isn’t much that advances the story here. It’s mostly focused on exploring interesting applications of theoretical physics in the terms of people and their lives. Some are stronger than others, but they’re all basically the same idea repeated a couple dozen times in slightly different packaging. And maybe I was expecting something more like Shakespeare in Love (1998) where Einstein’s dreams help him break through the concepts he’s trying to discover. Instead, the titular character is only in a few pieces of joining text that frame the whole collection. But at least the prose was pretty.
Poetic exploration of theoretical physics, I give Einstein’s Dreams 3.0 stars out of 5.
Killers of the Flower Moon
Year: 2023
Rating: R
Length: 206 minutes / 3.43 hours
As far as movie topics go, Killers of the Flower Moon (2023) felt like something that hadn’t been addressed on film yet. I did not know about the Osage Nation’s good (and bad) fortune until I saw this movie. So, on top of being educational about a historical subject that isn’t talked about a lot, it also has the huge name of Martin Scorsese behind it as its director. And while it was an interesting film overall, I think Scorsese gets a bit too much leeway in this part of his career.
Much like how I thought The Irishman (2019) was probably an hour too long, Killers of the Flower Moon could have easily had an hour trimmed from its almost 3.5-hour runtime. Of course, this seems to be an issue with well-known directors. Sure, their later works (like Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)) have critical acclaim and are good on paper. However, I think the editors for these directors early in their career helped them establish their status as talented filmmakers. Now, their films just seem bloated because nobody will tell them no.
Acting wise, DiCaprio once again dives into an accent head first (much like his performance in Blood Diamond (2006)). De Niro is still just De Niro, but the standout performance came from Lily Gladstone. As for the plot, considering how rich white men have continued to screw up (and/or steal) everything around them, this movie is quite frustrating because they all got away with it. If they weren’t still getting away with it to this day, maybe this film might have come off a little differently instead of just making me mad that there is so much injustice in this world.
An overly long Scorsese film that highlights the continued greed of rich white men, I give Killers of the Flower Moon 3.5 stars out of 5.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Year: 2023
Rating: E
Time Played: ~10 hours
For decades, it’s felt like the true innovation of the Mario franchise has been with its 3D titles. It almost became a running gag that the most creative Mario levels were the ones made by fans in Super Mario Maker. Then along came Super Mario Bros. Wonder. While each Mario game has had its own gimmick to make it interesting, this one went all out and had an entire game filled with gimmicks. Each level has something unique to experience, and you never quite know what’s coming next.
Everything in this game is so bright, crisp, colorful, and whimsical. Nothing overstayed its welcome. If anything, I wanted to replay levels because the transformation caused by the Wonder flower was so fun that I wished there was more of it. Some of the Wonder sections were legitimately hilarious, while others really broke the mold for what a Mario game could do. That the core of this game revolved around so many interesting gameplay ideas is merely testament to the inventiveness of Nintendo. Perhaps they’ve let the 2D platformer side of this franchise languish for so long so they could cram decades of ideas into a single package.
As per usual, the platforming in Super Mario Bros. Wonder is crisp and responsive. Even more difficult levels were doable with enough practice to get through the more challenging sections. And the best part is that the difficulty is almost entirely optional. There are enough easy levels that you can get through the game without too much trouble. But for those looking for insane levels that truly test your skills, Wonder has those as well. Being approachable for all ages and skill levels truly makes this a standout entry in the Mario series that’ll be difficult to beat.
The most jam-packed innovative Mario game in decades, I give Super Mario Bros. Wonder 5.0 stars out of 5.
Being John Malkovich
Year: 1999
Rating: R
Length: 113 minutes / 1.88 hours
I have to blame Being John Malkovich (1999) for making me try more films written by Charlie Kaufman than I probably wanted to. While it is a quite peculiar film, it was strange in all the right ways. This movie was saying more than I could comprehend when it hooked me the first time I watched it, but now I can see its deeper meanings having been given the time to see it again with fresh eyes. And perhaps Being John Malkovich was more my introduction to Spike Jonze films, which has been a much better journey.
Kaufman’s writing is bizarre in ways that annoyed me in Synecdoche, New York (2008) and I’m Thinking of Ending Things (2020) but worked for movies like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) and Being John Malkovich (1999). Perhaps it’s because the latter two in this list have actual plots. I can appreciate the meta nature of having John Malkovich play himself here, but the whole setup surrounding it is so weird that it might not work in any other context. I mean, a portal into his head that’s hidden on a half-floor of an office building and spits you out on the side of the Jersey turnpike isn’t something you see every day.
What I didn’t realize at first when I fell in love with this odd movie was how the ability for women to be inside a man’s body translated to a trans experience that I wasn’t ready to understand yet. For all its queer elements (i.e., peculiar design and story choices), I only now understand its queer elements (i.e., lesbian and transexual messages). And even if the “straight white man pulling the strings” bit seems a little on the nose now, I can appreciate what it was trying to accomplish at a time where these things weren’t openly talked about.
An odd film with some forward-leaning LGBTQ themes, I give Being John Malkovich 4.0 stars out of 5.
This movie appeared in Cinema Connections:
– #322. Actors Being Usurped
– #323. Puppetry
In the Sky
Year: 2021
Author: Joseph D. Slater
Length: 456 pages
As an author, I am jealous of Joseph D. Slater’s fantasy adventure, In the Sky. I’ve read a lot of these kinds of books, but the first three chapters legitimately hooked me with their rich and well-developed main characters. I wish I could write a hook this engaging. Following three girls who are each on a journey of discovery, I was immediately drawn in by the overly confident pirate captain, the skilled dragon rider, and the sneaky cook’s assistant. The world-building was so thoroughly interesting that I couldn’t wait to read more.
I applaud Slater’s ability to craft a unique world where sky pirates do battle with government-trained dragons—and all through the lenses of these three girls. Every detail was well thought out and brought this imaginative universe vividly into my mind. Of course, sometimes these details felt a little too gory for a book that could easily be for upper middle grade kids. Sure, it brought some weight to the battle sequences to know that people could die in gruesome ways, but I have a feeling some of this comes from the author’s previous experience writing horror books.
Overall, I definitely recommend people read this book. However, my one gripe has to do with the twist in the third act. The more I thought about it, the less any of it made sense. In fact, it almost undid a lot of the logic of the events leading up to it. Still, even this weakness doesn’t negate the fact that I want more from this world. I want a sequel with these girls going out to fight the government and take down the emperor! Until then, the memories from this book will live rent free in my head.
A vividly imaginative world with great main characters and a single glaring plot hole, I give In the Sky 4.0 stars out of 5.
Toy Story 2
Year: 1999
Rating: PG
Length: 92 minutes / 1.53 hours
For all the flack that sequels get, there are the occasional few that surpass the original. Whether it’s flipping the script by making the first movie’s villain the hero (as in Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)) or merely having room to grow the characters past their introductory stories (like in Spider-Man 2 (2004)), a well-done sequel should advance the story of the franchise and not just repeating the success of the first film. Toy Story 2 (1999) is one of those rare movies that does an excellent job of advancing the groundwork laid in Toy Story (1995).
Not only does Toy Story 2 now have its original semi-villain, Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), as the hero saving Woody (Tom Hanks), but there’s also room to explore what in means to be a toy in the context of collectors items instead of just as a child’s plaything. Considering how revolutionary the original Toy Story was as the first completely computer-generated full-length movie, it still had a lot of visual rough edges that are hard to ignore by today’s standards. This is where I think Toy Story 2 really shines: its visual polish makes everything a lot more believable.
While there are definitely a lot of top-notch jokes and visual gags in this film, it’s also worth noting the immensely emotional heart that it carries as well. Jessie (Joan Cusack) has an absolutely tear-jerking song that cuts to the core of the theme of the film: eventually, toys are forgotten by the children that once loved them. This would be the turning point for Pixar, which would then show how easily they could make emotionally gripping moments in films meant for families. Even though we could have gotten a straight-to-video cash grab for this movie, I’m glad that it stands as one of the best sequels ever created.
A remarkable achievement for a sequel to a groundbreaking movie, I give Toy Story 2 5.0 stars out of 5.
This movie appeared in Cinema Connections:
– #396. Tim Allen
– #397. Miniature Worlds
Indivisible
Year: 2019
Rating: T
Time Played: ~20+ hours
As video games bleed into different categories like “cinematic” and “art,” it’s interesting to see games like Indivisible that straddle the line between them. With tons of hand-drawn animated sprites, Indivisible was a unique experience that makes it difficult to pin down to a specific genre. Sure, as a platformer, it has unlockable powers that can access new areas like a Metroidvania but it also has multiple characters that can be brought into RPG-like battle sequences. Overall, it’s nothing like any game I’ve played before.
Because of its involved story that weaves each of the 20+ characters together, Indivisible is best played as close to a single sitting as possible. I made the mistake of starting it, getting most of the way through it, and then getting too busy to play it for a few months. As a result, I had to scour the enormous world I had unlocked to find the next section of the game I was supposed to play. I eventually resorted to looking up a walkthrough to jog my memory to where I was in the game. Still, I’m glad I took the time to finish it.
The true innovation of this game is in its battle system. Each of the character designs and abilities are all so unique and interesting that it made mixing and matching each of the playable individuals into a team a fun part of each section of the game. The voice acting is spectacular, even if it might get a little annoying and repetitive during long sections with lots of battles. Still, the hand-drawn style for each character is really striking, and I recommend fans of 2D animation should play this game for that fact alone.
A unique battle experience with fantastic hand-drawn characters, I give Indivisible 4.0 stars out of 5.
Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead
Year: 1990
Rating: PG
Length: 117 minutes / 1.95 hours
While there are plenty of perfectly fine adaptations of William Shakespeare plays, I can appreciate the ones that take a different approach than just recreating the source material. Whether it’s making it into a musical like West Side Story (1961) did to Romeo and Juliet or shifting the setting to feudal Japan like Throne of Blood (1957) did to Macbeth, these plays are deep enough to allow for creative interpretations. Case in point is Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead (1990), an adjacent adaptation of Hamlet.
Most people know the events of Hamlet but few consider what these characters are doing when not in the presence of the main character. This movie tries to remedy this by following Rosencrantz (Gary Oldman) and Guildenstern (Tim Roth) as they discuss a variety of intellectual concepts—most of which might just come off as absurdist humor. Covering such ideas as probability, gravity, and logic, these two characters don’t end up doing much of anything interesting when “off stage.” Yes, it might answer the question about what they were doing when Hamlet (Iain Glen) was setting up his plan, but I don’t think many people were asking that question.
Ultimately, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead is still an adaptation of Hamlet. The problem is, there’s so little of the original play there that you start to realize that without it, anything else is mostly just boring. Sure, you get some fantastic performances from Gary Oldman, Tim Roth, and Richard Dreyfuss, but is it worth it when they don’t really have anything to do but talk in circles? This movie is great as a thought experiment when considering the lives of minor characters. That’s the problem, though—they’re minor characters.
A somewhat amusing Hamlet-adjacent story, I give Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead 3.5 stars out of 5.
Matilda
Year: 1988
Author: Roald Dahl
Length: 260 minutes / 4.33 hours
Matilda was one of those books I didn’t grow up with. I have no nostalgia for this story, so when I finally got around to listening to the audiobook version, it disappointed me. I know I’m not the intended audience, but what exactly was the lesson being taught here? The main villain was so over the top with her cruelty that I legitimately wondered what Roald Dahl’s home life was like when he was growing up. Sure, sticking up for yourself is a great moral, but come on.
I think the biggest issue I had with this book comes down to how they narrated the audiobook. There’s the way normal people narrate audiobooks, then there’s how people narrate audiobooks for children. The overacting made it difficult to listen to, but not for the reason you’d think. Matilda was such a soft-spoken character that all her lines were whispered. In contrast, all the villainous adults were voiced with shouting. This gave the volume dial on my car whiplash as I kept turning it up to hear what was being said, only to have the narration turn around and blow out my speakers.
As for the plot itself, only one character was likeable. Since everything was from Matilda’s point of view, all adults were bumbling buffoons, and all her peers were slobbering idiots. The kind teacher was the only one who gave the precocious child a chance to prove how extremely intelligent she was, but her backstory was so eye-rollingly tragic as to be laughable. Honestly, most of this book felt like I was a witness to child abuse, and that’s with its somewhat happy ending.
A too quiet and too loud audiobook about an annoyingly precocious child, I give Matilda 2.0 stars out of 5.
The Zone of Interest
Year: 2023
Rating: PG-13
Length: 105 minutes / 1.75 hours
There are few films I have ever seen that use subtlety to such an enormous effect like The Zone of Interest (2023). The raw understanding of what was happening just out of view of the commandant’s house set outside the walls of Auschwitz brought a horror that is hard to describe. And while this film leans a bit heavily on some of its more artistic segments, the actual point it tries to make comes across loud and clear. This point should give us all pause.
The genuine horror that The Zone of Interest provides is how casual it is about the genocide perpetrated by these Germans. This family lives its life as if nothing abnormal is happening mere yards from the home where they cook, clean, and play. Normalizing the thinking of everyone involved—even if it’s as tangential as a wife or child—makes you consider how complicit everyone was in the atrocity of the Holocaust. That they focus on how to get ahead in their careers or how to keep up with the neighbors, all at the cost of human lives next door, makes it even more chilling.
And while the moments of artistry are occasionally there to break up the “monotony” of the German lifestyle, they were often just weird enough to make me wonder what I was watching. Sure, there’s probably a deeper meaning there in the audio-only beginning, infrared night scenes, or modern-day cutaway. However, the stronger statement is showing how easy it is for people to condone the evils in society when they benefit from them. The parallels to current political ideologies are hard to ignore, and for that reason, I think The Zone of Interest is a required watch for everyone.
An artsy look at the complacent horrors of the Holocaust, I give The Zone of Interest 4.5 stars out of 5.
Alto’s Odyssey
Year: 2018
Rating: E
Time Played: ~9 hours
While I appreciated that The Alto Collection contained both Alto’s Adventure and Alto’s Odyssey, there wasn’t a lot that differed between the two games. They both were endless-runner snowboarding games with simple gameplay, soothing aesthetics, and chill music. Alto’s Odyssey, however, had a desert setting that gave it enough distinction from Alto’s Adventure through the slightly different application of some of its items, tricks, and gimmicks. Still, it was a lot of the same game I had already played, so there wasn’t a lot of motivation to sink much more time into it.
If I had played this game first, I don’t know if I would have played the original as much as I did, since there were some definite improvements in the way things worked. Wall grinding helped in certain sections, bouncing on balloons and getting caught in tornadoes provided an easy height gain, and the distinctive variety of settings provided their own challenges.That it wasn’t all the same snowy ruins, forests, or villages made Alto’s Odyssey at least interesting to play. I had to change how I interacted with the settings instead of just performing the same tricks repeatedly.
All this being said, tricks were a little harder to come by and were punished for greed more frequently. I also found a lot of the gaps in the landscape to be impossible to cross, even with the right characters or speed. This was frustrating, as the procedural-generated course would kill a good run before it even began. Plus, having some of the “level up” goals locked to specific landscapes made it artificially challenging because I had to play long enough to reach those sections, then perform the required actions/tricks.
More endless-runner snowboarding with slightly different settings, I give Alto’s Odyssey 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Holdovers
Year: 2023
Rating: R
Length: 133 minutes / 2.22 hours
Ever since The Descendants (2011), I’ve appreciated the family dramas that Alexander Payne has brought to the big screen. After loving Nebraska (2013) and ignoring the mistake that was Downsizing (2017), I was ready to give another chance on The Holdovers (2023). I’m pleased to report that I think this film is his finest to date. Not only does it have a heartfelt story, but the way it was filmed made it truly feel like a movie from the 1970s was unearthed and brought to life through modern actors.
The story itself isn’t particularly original. A disliked teacher at a boarding school has to stay with the kids whose parents did not pick them up for Christmas break (the titular “holdovers”). However, the acting of the leads made it a joy to watch. It felt like The Dead Poets Society (1989) with the smart dialogue of a Tarantino film. Paul Giamatti stands out with his fantastic performance, which was merely lifted by similarly spectacular performances by Dominic Sessa and Da’Vine Joy Randolph. The amount of character growth and tough decisions all three go through in this film is enough to recommend it on that merit alone.
Having seen a lot of films in my life, it astonished me how well Payne mimicked the style of films from the 1970s. For most period pieces, the trappings of the era are the only thing the production designer considers. Cars. Clothes. Colors. Here, in a movie set during a time that had its own cultural identity in film, we see the emergence of a truly period piece—one that looks and sounds like it was made in the same era as its subject. I certainly hope Payne continues to make movies in this way, because it really adds depth to the immersion.
An expertly acted and perfect period piece, I give The Holdovers 5.0 stars out of 5.
Uprooted
Year: 2015
Author: Naomi Novik
Length: 1,064 minutes / 17.73 hours
One of my first experiences with the writing of Naomi Novik was with Spinning Silver. This Rumpelstiltskin retelling was quite interesting and complex compared to the original fairy tale it was based on. Realizing this was the second in a “series” (of which I’m using this term loosely), I eventually sought this book’s predecessor. Uprooted seems to be an adaptation of eastern European folktales, but with more of the romance aspect that I expect from these kinds of fantasy books.
As with other fairy tale retellings, Uprooted starts off with plenty of tropes from the Grimm fairy tales. Dragons stealing maidens from their families, peasant farmers in poverty, things like that. It continues into the predictable tropes of the Dragon being misunderstood and the fair maiden resisting his cold personality long enough to have him warm up to her. Fortunately, this book is deeper than the tropes it was based on. The depth of the story is partly why it’s much longer than the common folktales it might be based on.
I appreciated the magic system and the descriptions of how it felt to use this magic. I thought the cursed woods trope was developed in a much more interesting way than you usually see in these kinds of stories. The eventual romance between the two characters was telegraphed for a while, leading to a slow burn that was fairly erotic. About my only qualm with this book was the audiobook narration. The narrator had an authentic sounding eastern European accent, which fit the story’s potential origins, but at the cost of being unable to understand what she was saying sometimes.
A deeply rich fairy tale with both old and new tropes, I give Uprooted 4.0 stars out of 5.
Past Lives
Year: 2023
Rating: PG-13
Length: 105 minutes / 1.75 hours
With the varied and expansive amount of films that have been made, it’s a little bizarre that one as simple as Past Lives (2023) hasn’t been made before. Sure, there are plenty of star-crossed lover stories out there, but none as realistic as the one presented here. Usually, there’s some amount of “destiny brings them together” that provides hope to the audience. Much like the endings of Broadcast News (1987) or La La Land (2016), the fairy tale expectation doesn’t align with the reality that many people experience.
For all its simplicity, Past Lives does a good job of showing the stages of a long-term and long-distance friendship. Each section gave the genuine impression of being filmed at the time it was meant to occur (without relying on the same level of dedication as Boyhood (2014)). The filmmakers expertly brought the characters’ authentic feelings to the screen. And maybe the emotions were slightly more reserved because of the culture of the two lead characters, but perhaps it works better to show that a childhood friendship can also contain deep levels of love.
Of course, with something so simple as missed opportunities between close friends, there isn’t much more here than this basic conflict. The language barrier adds some awkward moments in the third act, but that’s also where some of the most profound statements of this film reside. Past Lives provides comfort for those who have to make the tough decisions to move on. There’s something romantic about waiting for the perfect person—especially when you’ve already met them—but the reality is that perfection is always the enemy of good enough.
A simple film about the eternity of close connections, I give Past Lives 4.0 stars out of 5.
Alto’s Adventure
Year: 2015
Rating: E
Time Played: ~40 hours
The Alto Collection was one of the first non-Steam games I installed on my Steam Deck. I wanted a simple game like Alto’s Adventure to ensure that I could play games from other stores (like Epic). Then, I ended up playing this game more than any of the other games I had on Steam. Alto’s Adventure was equal parts relaxing and exhilarating. I could easily zone out and play this game for hours while simultaneously watching something, which made it perfect for playing on the Steam Deck.
Alto’s Adventure‘s strengths come in its simplicity and its aesthetic. There’s only one button to press to get the snowboarding titular character to jump, spin, or glide. The silhouetted atmospheric perspective made it easy to see what was happening at a glance. I also enjoyed the chill music that matched the endless snowboarder vibe. The more I played, the more I could unlock, both through the in-game currency and by accomplishing three goals per experience level. These goals ramped up in difficulty, requiring me to get better at playing it until I had obtained the best character in the game.
This game had a finely tuned risk and reward system that made me regret being greedy. Finding that balance between an extra trick off a grind or smoothly landing was something that hounded me throughout my hours of playtime. And while most of the mistakes were of my own doing, there were occasionally setups in the procedural-generated landscape that felt like a cheap way to end my run. Still, I had an enjoyable time with the game, and the only reason I stopped playing was because I knew I could play indefinitely.
A chill snowboarding game that can easily suck up a lot of time, I give Alto’s Adventure 4.0 stars out of 5.
Poor Things
Year: 2023
Rating: R
Length: 141 minutes / 2.35 hours
To the people who complain that Hollywood doesn’t have any original ideas, I’d argue that the bizarre films of Yorgos Lanthimos more than make up for this lack of unoriginality. Look no further than his latest Oscar-nominated piece, Poor Things (2023). A fever dream-like take on both the Frankenstein mythos and feminism, this movie succeeds at providing deeply thoughtful critiques of society while also being strange enough to have me wonder “what the heck did I just watch?” Considering the similar sentiments I had for The Favourite (2018), this tracks.
The real crux of this film was Emma Stone’s performance as Bella Baxter. Her evolution from infant to enlightened woman—all while in the same body—was spectacular. It was as if her character experienced all the benefits of her rapidly developing mind, but without the regression seen in stories like Flowers for Algernon. If you’re uncomfortable with sex (either depictions of or discussions of), then this would not be the movie for you. That the story uses prostitution to promote the independence of women by removing the shame associated with full control of their sex lives is something to be applauded.
However, while there are amazing humorous roles like Mark Ruffalo as Duncan Wedderburn, the uncomfortable part of this film comes with the realization that Duncan’s desires are easily transferrable to most men. Guys like Duncan only have enough power in a relationship when their partner has the mind of a child. They want to oppress women like Bella because they won’t be able to control them once they’re smart enough to realize Baxter’s fixation on a child-like mind borders on pedophilia. Yet again, we have a harsh reminder that men need to be better.
An odd film filled with numerous heady ideas, I give Poor Things 4.0 stars out of 5.
Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands
Year: 2022
Author: Kate Beaton
Length: 430 pages
Having only really experienced Kate Beaton’s web comic, Hark! A Vagrant and her sillier material, I was interested to see how a graphic novel of her life would play out on the printed page. I was shocked to find her somewhat whimsical style had so much emotion for a story that was assuredly a difficult one to tell. Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands is as gripping as it is frustrating that such working conditions remain this dangerous for women.
Telling the story of how Beaton paid off her student loans from art school in the fastest way possible, Ducks highlights the misogyny and sexism present in the (frankly) male-dominated field of petroleum. Working on the oil sands isn’t safe in a physical sense, but add to that the “hanging with the guys” tropes that eventually lead to assault. It was hard to read sections of this book, knowing that men should be better than this. Beaton pours her trauma out on the page and it stuck with me in a way that only a graphic novel like this could convey.
I’d say that this book should be required reading for both men and women going into these fields, but I know it probably wouldn’t change anything. There’s too much inertia to effect the significant changes that would need to happen. This shouldn’t lessen discussions about the depression, substance abuse, and suicide that men in these jobs endure, but instead highlight the tenuous strengths and inevitable weakness of humans pushed to their breaking points. For some, though, it is a lifestyle. For the lucky ones, they make it out alive in as little time as possible—which is still long enough to have lasting negative effects on their lives.
A deeply moving memoir about women working in a male-dominated field, I give Ducks 5.0 stars out of 5.
Maestro
Year: 2023
Rating: R
Length: 129 minutes / 2.15 hours
There is nothing worse to me than a movie that tries too hard to be a good movie. Maestro (2023) was a film I looked forward to, but its execution left me sorely disappointed. Maybe it’s my current distaste for biopics featuring famous men who cheat on their supporting wives—either with other women or, in this case, men. But this wasn’t the whole problem. Like a reverse “Springtime for Hitler” from The Producers (1967), Maestro was trying so hard to be a good movie that just ended up being mediocre.
I get the sense that Bradley Cooper is desperate to win an Oscar. He has directed a few films now that felt so needy for critical affirmation that they fail to miss the key tenet of actually being good. The question is whether he more desires the Best Director statue or the Best Actor one, and I think it’s the latter. Ironically enough, if he gave some other actor the limelight, I think his strengths as a director might have room to flourish. We see hints of this with Lady Gaga in A Star is Born (2018) and Carey Mulligan here in Maestro.
However, despite having Leonard Bernstein as the focus of this film, there was barely any music in it. It almost felt like there were scenes shot for this movie not because they made sense for this narrative but because they were used to better effect in more successful films. Sure, there were a few good bits that might have stood out by themselves, but it ended up being a jumbled mess that didn’t understand what made these scenes stand out in the first place. Holistically, Maestro just didn’t work.
A frustrating movie that didn’t understand how to make itself great, I give Maestro 2.5 stars out of 5.
American Fiction
Year: 2023
Rating: R
Length: 117 minutes / 1.95 hours
As an author and a creative, American Fiction (2023) spoke to me in ways that I have yet been able to put into words. Similar to how La La Land (2016) highlighted the sacrifices and compromises we must make to achieve our artistic dreams, American Fiction revealed the difference between high art and lowbrow entertainment. I feel the struggles and concerns of Thelonious “Monk” Ellison (Jeffrey Wright) are ultimately the same for any creative person who doesn’t want to lower their standard just to be successful.
While the plot about Monk being frustrated that the manuscript he wrote as a joke ended up being wildly successful is the focus of this movie, I can understand the need for other character development outside this main thread. It doesn’t paint Monk as a likable character, which humanizes him and brings him down from the ivory tower of academic literature. Showing these interactions with those he might consider lesser than himself highlights the contrast between the works he wants to be known for and the one he accidentally succeeded with. Are his opinions valid? Sometimes, but it’s important to show that even he can be wrong.
Finally, the humor in this film was amazing. Jeffrey Wright’s fantastic performance is the glue that holds all the jokes together, even if most of these gags were mostly cerebral or commentary on white culture. The plot itself felt like the “failing to success” trope from the equally hilarious The Producers (1967)—and I give that comparison with the highest praise. And while the ending felt a little too meta and noncommittal, this was the only weak point in a solid film that had important things to say about black culture and entertainment.
A sharply hilarious examination of art versus entertainment, I give American Fiction 4.5 stars out of 5.
Paper Mario: The Origami King
Year: 2020
Rating: E
Time Played: 1,590 minutes / 26.50 hours
About ten years ago, I think Nintendo perfected a “craft” vibe with games like Kirby’s Epic Yarn that they’ve been milking for a decade now. These games look hand-crafted in a way that’s extremely charming and visually stunning for how homemade they appear. The Yoshi series has used this craft aesthetic multiple times, but the franchise ripe for such things is none other than Paper Mario. In The Origami King, the paper-craft feel of origami is merely accentuated by the plot and game-play.
As a pseudo role-playing game, The Origami King has a peculiar way of executing its battle mechanics. Each battle is a ring puzzle that requires the player to line up enemies or find a path to the center to attack the boss. The boots and hammers Mario uses are breakable, but easy enough to acquire and equip that it wasn’t frustrating to lose them in mid-battle. Occasionally, partner characters would help out in battle, which made things move that much faster. At the very least, I didn’t dread the random encounters.
This series is known for its grand storytelling, and this game is no exception. There are great character moments, even if some of the supporting characters feel a little bland/flat (har har) when compared to previous entries like Thousand Year Door. I’m still not sold on the 4th wall breaking bosses, though. The worlds weren’t entirely generic, but had some fun references that the adults would definitely get. Ultimately, though, this game looked great, was fun to play, had a unique gimmick, and gave me hope that the Paper Mario franchise isn’t dead yet.
A fun and creative “craft-like” Paper Mario game, I give Paper Mario: The Origami King 4.0 stars out of 5.
After Earth
Year: 2013
Author: Peter David
Length: 547 minutes / 9.12 hours
It’s weird how a bit of hindsight brings a work into full focus. I never watched the movie After Earth (2013) because of its critical reception among audiences and critics alike. I figured maybe I would give the novel a try, not realizing it was not some work that the movie adapted, but instead a novelization of the movie itself. This was clearly a Will Smith passion project and never have I seen such blatant self-inserts in a work of fiction.
While the author of this novelization may be Peter David, Will Smith was behind much of this plot. Seeing the home life of the adult character in this book mirroring the home life that we know between Will and Jada is cringe-worthy. What’s worse is that these characters (either the Will or the Jaden stand-ins) were so flat and boring as to be completely worthless. The plot that drives their adventure felt so juvenile that any group of six-year-olds could think it up playing on a playground. It’s almost laughable that there were signs this was meant to be a bigger series.
Ultimately, After Earth is frustrating. It’s a mediocre story with lackluster ideas. But, since a rich and famous person wanted to make it, Hollywood and Random House spent a lot of money to get it made. Thinking of all the fantastic (and nearly hidden) indie stories out there that will never get the amount of exposure that this bomb got makes me sad for the entertainment industry. Sure, sometimes there are breakthroughs, but these are rare as the rough edges of interesting works are sanded off to become marketable to the masses.
A nepotism story with no subtlety, I give After Earth 1.0 stars out of 5.
Wonka
Year: 2023
Rating: PG
Length: 116 minutes / 1.93 hours
Wonka (2023) was one of those movies that I had low expectations for. A prequel to a well-known IP, there’s only so much that can be done that’s not just straight call-outs to the source material—and this includes knowing how things will end to set up films like Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971). Still, with these low expectations, I had quite a bit of fun watching Wonka. It’s not extraordinary, but it delivers on most of its nostalgia factors in ways that are modern and entertaining.
With the real world crumbling all around us, it was encouraging to see a movie like Wonka that embraced the grit needed to survive and thrive. The hope gained through forming a community and the endless optimism of Wonka (Timothee Chalamet) were contagious and uplifting. The creativity of the different candies and the funny running gags (like the bribed Chief of Police (Keegan-Michael Key)) helped with its entertainment factor. Still, there were a few elements that stuck out as being inconsistent—not only within this movie alone, but with the greater lore of Willy Wonka.
I appreciated the whimsical musical approach Wonka started with. After all, there were many songs present in the original 1971 film. However, neither is really a musical, and Wonka seems to forget that it could use songs to convey information about half-way through. And while an optimistic titular character is more of an uplifting way to tell this story, it seems inconsistent with the mad, bitter, and reclusive Willy Wonka that Gene Wilder played in 1971. This was the same disconnect I got with Cruella (2021), where they were so focused on telling an original story that they forgot to consider what the character eventually becomes (and is mostly known for).
A fun bit of entertainment that sometimes forgets where it’s going or where it came from, I give Wonka 3.5 stars out of 5.
Q.U.B.E.: 10th Anniversary Edition
Year: 2022
Rating: E
Time Played: 565 minutes / 9.42 hours
It’s wild to me that I decided to play Q.U.B.E., especially after I wasn’t particularly satisfied with the sequel, Q.U.B.E. 2. Something in me had a hankering to play a first-person physics-based puzzle game, and I figured I had this game for free in my library, so why not? Even as a 10th Anniversary Edition—which mostly just extended the playtime with a few extra features—I felt other games in the genre were better than this. If anything, it made me appreciate the sequel a little more.
The main game-play mechanic in this game is a glove that can create a variety of different cubes that can help the player move through a series of rooms on a mysterious space station. There are a lot of different cubes that you have to learn how to use as the game progresses. It felt like there were almost a dozen by the end that had a frustratingly large number of combinations. As far as the plot, it was interesting, if not hard to grasp due to the way the audio came across.
Where the sequel felt too easy, this game had a steep learning curve for applying new cubes to each puzzle. I had to give in and watch a tutorial video just to figure out the second half of this game. Most of the solutions didn’t feel intuitive because of how complex they became once there were over six different cubes to use. That there also needed to be precise 3D platforming for some of these puzzle solutions to work was a tough challenge to overcome as well.
An OK physics-based puzzle game that gets way too complex, I give Q.U.B.E. 2.5 stars out of 5.
Ferrari
Year: 2023
Rating: R
Length: 130 minutes / 2.17 hours
Almost ten years after his previous film released, Michael Mann is back with a biopic about the private and public struggles of one of the greatest carmakers. The irony of Ferrari (2023) is that the women surrounding him seem much more interesting than the man himself. Even the fittingly named Adam Driver doesn’t seem to transform into Enzo Ferrari as much as just be Adam Driver with some extra makeup on and an Italian accent. To say that I was disappointed that there wasn’t more racing in a movie about Ferrari would be an understatement.
Ferrari is yet another biopic that tries to show the struggles of a famous man whose extramarital affairs complicate things that otherwise wouldn’t be nearly as complicated. Perhaps this is why Penelope Cruz’s performance as Laura Ferrari was the standout role in this film, as she was the only one holding his empire together despite him having birthed an heir through his mistress, Lina (Shailene Woodley). It doesn’t make me sympathetic to his plight, that he has to financially support his business and two families. Someday, maybe we’ll get a biopic about a faithful husband, but Ferrari isn’t it.
After absolutely loving Ford v Ferrari (2019), I was expecting more of a racing movie here and it did not deliver. Sure, it was there as a subplot (with a shocking twist), but the amount of time spent on the racing aspect of Ferrari’s life felt so minimal as to have been an afterthought. My expectations were high for this film, considering Mann’s previous works like Heat (1995) and Collateral (2004). I don’t know if a different leading man would have saved this film for me, or if a more focused script would have helped. Either way, this was not the Ferrari movie I wanted.
A disappointing movie both from a Ferrari and a Michael Mann perspective, I give Ferrari 2.5 stars out of 5.
Humble Pi: A Comedy of Maths Errors
Year: 2019
Author: Matt Parker
Length: 314 pages
Growing up, I was never the type of kid who complained to my math teacher with the common saying, “When am I going to use this in real life?” Instead, I was always trying to find the weird and fantastical things that made math interesting. Unfortunately, many people get to adulthood and work on important engineering projects having probably asked that “real life” question at some point in their past. Humble Pi is a collection of many such stories of when math goes wrong in real life.
I can appreciate how Parker formatted this book to poke fun at some of the common math errors that have led to real-world situations. Things like the page numbers counting backward, the chapter numbers being poorly rounded, or that there are 314 pages in a book with “Pi” in the title are not lost on me. I had heard of many of these amusing anecdotes about math, but learned plenty of new ones that gave me a good chuckle as simple oversights nearly led to disasters.
My only qualm with Humble Pi is the tonal whiplash of the stories. It’s hard to keep laughing about mathematical foibles when every third story is how an error led to the deaths of hundreds of people. These stark reminders of the importance of checking and double checking our calculations were quite sobering. But when the very next story is making light of a fairly innocuous mistake in a jocular manner, it feels a little disrespectful of the people who lost their lives in the previous story (or the next one). Either way, this is an important book to read if you’ve ever wondered what “real life” math can (and can’t) do.
Some amusing and sobering examples of “real life” mathematics, I give Humble Pi 4.0 stars out of 5.
Saltburn
Year: 2023
Rating: R
Length: 131 minutes / 2.18 hours
Saltburn (2023) flew under my radar almost undetected until I learned it was by the same director who did Promising Young Woman (2020). Since the blunt themes Emerald Fennell used in her previous film stuck with me, I gave Saltburn a try. Unfortunately, the magic that had me riveted in Promising Young Woman mostly had me cringing in Saltburn. Sure, there were still those shocking twists, but everything else on top of that was just…ugh. And maybe those shocking moments were the whole point.
The acting in this movie was superb, especially Barry Keoghan as Oliver. I’m going to try to not give anything away, but his whole character arc felt like what The Count of Monte Cristo would have been if Edmund was the villain. That he throws himself into these uncomfortable moments so easily really sells the commitment to the part that Keoghan had here. There were other standout performances like Jacob Elordi’s Felix and Rosamund Pike’s Lady Elspeth, but they are almost insignificant compared to Keoghan.
Of course, despite all those weird moments, they kind of define this movie’s examination of obsession and usurpation. To cut them out does a disservice to the lengths that we sometimes go to get what we want. That we might do similar things when nobody else is watching is perhaps what makes it uncomfortable to watch as it shines a gross mirror on our baser tendencies. Ultimately, this doesn’t excuse the fact that there were several moments that had me going, “I wish I hadn’t seen that.” These scenes are stuck in my memory instead of the much more compelling third act, and that’s the true shame of Saltburn.
A gross look at obsession, I give Saltburn 2.0 stars out of 5.
Bayonetta
Year: 2009
Rating: M
Time Played: 690 minutes / 11.50 hours
As a somewhat sheltered person, I wasn’t particularly aware of Bayonetta until the character appeared as a DLC character in Super Smash Bros. for the 3DS/Wii-U. The concept of a woman in black spandex with guns as high heels was ridiculous enough that I eventually had to check it out. After all, I had heard good things about it and wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Sure, it has loads of fan service, but it was also pretty fun to play as well.
For a game that came out 15 years ago, it does show its age graphically in spots (especially in the cut-scenes). Fortunately, the big boss battles—which are often just a series of quick time events—were amazing spectacles that looked amazing. However, it was still occasionally frustrating to have to re-do an entire boss battle because I lacked the reflexes to hit a particular button at the right time. But when things line up, it’s incredibly satisfying taking down an enormous titan with a lot of razzle dazzle.
I’m not especially good at hack-and-slash games like Bayonetta. I know I need to string combos of different moves together, but I can never quite remember the button sequences when I’m in the middle of a hectic battle. As such, I played through this game on the easiest difficulty just so I could get through all the plot and reach the end of the game. Perhaps these two things made it a little boring to play in spots, but the overall story was worth it to see all the way through. After all, I probably wouldn’t have even finished this game if I hadn’t made it enjoyable to do so.
A flashy and tongue-in-cheek hack-and-slash game that was pure entertainment, I give Bayonetta 3.5 stars out of 5.
Migration
Year: 2023
Rating: PG
Length: 83 minutes / 1.38 hours
If there’s one thing I took away from Migration (2023), it’s that Illumination has finally matured as an animation studio. Sure, just like there’s a Disney/Pixar/DreamWorks “style,” Illumination has a look to the characters in their movies (especially the humans) that makes them immediately distinguishable. In Migration, there was less of that distinctive style, but the freedom to match what the movie needed to tell its original story about a family adventure. If this is what taking risks looks like, then I think it was a successful foray into more original fare.
The voice acting was superb, mostly because there were only a few characters whose voices were immediately obvious who they were. I do wonder if director Benjamin Renner’s previous work, Ernest & Celestine (2012), helped shape some of the voice acting decisions, because they certainly fit the characters well. The animation also feeling closer to a 2D traditionally animated film while still being completely 3D CGI was a nice touch that set it apart from other animated movies (but not quite as extremely as Into the Spider-Verse (2018) or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023) have done).
And while the plot wasn’t anything to fly home about, the core lessons it was trying to get across were solid enough for any kids watching to understand what it was trying to say. Even the more childish gags that are common for this kind of film were fairly rare, which felt refreshing considering the studio this film came from. Of course, this also was helped by a pretty good villain that drove most of the movie’s later conflict. Kids might be scared at a few points, but my daughter seemed to enjoy it overall.
A cute family adventure from Illumination, I give Migration 3.5 stars out of 5.
Housekeeping
Year: 1980
Author: Marilynne Robinson
Length: 332 minutes / 5.53 hours
As I’m working my way through Pulitzer winners and finalists, I approached Housekeeping with skepticism. I knew nothing about this book other than its inclusion on these lists for “high literature.” Having now read it, this book completely underwhelmed me. I’m going to include this with other books of literature like One Hundred Years of Solitude or Ulysses, both of which I found extremely boring and lacking of any kind of plot that I could latch onto. At least this was short and had some occasionally flowery prose.
Even now, thinking back on what I read, I can’t pick out anything significant that happened in this book. That I’m having trouble remembering what it was about should indicate how little impact it had on me. I vaguely remember there being something about an aunt who was a drifter and the bigger metaphor of “home is where the heart is.” And, of course, extrapolating to the title, I can estimate that we must keep our hearts clean so we can live our best lives. Of course, this is all spit-balling as even the synopses I’ve read to remind me of the plot don’t help much either.
If Housekeeping left me with anything, it was a feeling. Like an ephemeral sense that the words that were used were meant as fluid poetry in narrative form. Would I recommend this book on its feeling alone? Probably not. But that’s fine. Just because a book has many accolades and lots of people like it doesn’t mean that I also have to enjoy it. Perhaps I’m more of a shallow reader for not “getting” these books of high literature, but I also know life is too short to spend time on unsatisfying books.
The essence of a deep poetic treatise on life but in an extremely boring package, I give Housekeeping 2.0 stars out of 5.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
Year: 2023
Rating: PG-13
Length: 157 minutes / 2.61 hours
I think it’s hard to appreciate how The Hunger Games movies did a decent job of adapting the source material for the big screen while not evolving into a behemoth of a franchise. That Suzanne Collins made it clear that there was only the three books, and she didn’t want to do anything else until she was ready was a welcome change from an entertainment industry that likes to squeeze as much money out of popular things as fast as possible. With this in mind, I can applaud The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023) for being respectful of the original trilogy while also trying to expand the narrative in prequel form.
While not a completely necessary prequel, it was still interesting to see how early versions of the Hunger Games were run. Of course, our knowledge of how they eventually evolve into something worse is only staved off by seeing just how Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) “lives long enough to become the villain.” Having not read this book yet, the over 2.5-hour length of this movie felt a bit much a times as they tried to cram everything into it.
Still, through an ironic twist of fate, movies about the Hunger Games are still entertaining for the same reasons the Hunger Games are entertaining. These characters are bizarre, but interesting. Rachel Zegler was the best choice for the role of Lucy Gray, which should come as no surprise for anyone who saw West Side Story (2021). Even the famous actors (like Viola Davis, Peter Dinklage, and Jason Schwartzman) add the gravitas needed to make The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes not just another prequel cash grab.
The Hunger Games prequel that deserved to be made, I give The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes 4.0 stars out of 5.
Pokémon Go
Year: 2016
Rating: E
Time Played: ~170,000 minutes / ~2,862 hours
Ever since Pokémon swept the world in the mid-1990s, fans of the franchise have longed to live in a world where they could actually interact with these creatures. On its surface, Pokémon Go scratches that itch by fusing a location-based game with the successful franchise. I can literally go out in the tall grass and catch virtual Pokémon on my phone. I really enjoy this concept and play the game daily, but there are still plenty of things that it could improve upon.
I understand the need to prevent players from cheating, but the need to be connected to the internet constantly—especially when exploring less urban areas with poor cell service—makes this game entirely too frustrating to play. The only times I can consistently trust that the game will work correctly are when I’m sitting on the couch at home connected to Wi-Fi. This game has had several controversies from its developer, and it’s sad that a few easy fixes could make it much easier (and more fun) to play.
Depending on your play style, this game could be a huge time and money sink, an aggravating walk through the park, or an enjoyable thing to do while out and about. My goal is to “catch them all,” which has taken a lot of work. While there are plenty of features that require a dedicated friend group to accomplish, there’s still plenty to do as a solo player if you know what you’re doing. Taking advantage of events is key, but don’t let the fear of missing out (FOMO) distract you from the fact that it’s just a game and these opportunities will probably come around again in the future.
A great concept for Pokémon but with many frustrating quirks, I give Pokémon Go 3.0 stars out of 5.
The Marvels
Year: 2023
Rating: PG-13
Length: 105 minutes / 1.75 hours
The problem with extremely critical and vocal reviews of a movie like The Marvels (2023) is that often the problem is the fans themselves. There’s an amount of misogyny that’s present in fans of comic books that is difficult to ignore here. And with so many people saying this movie is bad just because it’s led by three women, it comes as a bit of a surprise when it’s actually pretty passable. Granted, it still relies heavily on having seen almost everything else in the MCU, but we’ll get to that in a second.
While I’ll admit that I’m still watching these movies because it’s basically a sunk cost fallacy, I found The Marvels to be entertaining. It’s maybe not as goofy as any of the Guardians of the Galaxy movies, but it has heart based on the characters’ connections. It also has perhaps one of the most underappreciated twists that had me laugh out loud (let’s just say it has to do with an entire planet that can only communicate via singing). If you’re not looking for anything deeper than fun entertainment, then this surely fits the bill.
However, part of the reason I enjoyed this movie as much as I did is that I had already done all the homework. I had seen both WandaVision and Ms. Marvel shows on Disney+, as well as the original Captain Marvel (2019). And while the connections between these characters made sense, it also felt a bit like the top executives not knowing what to do with these characters and just throwing them all in a movie together to “keep the brand alive.” Even I’m tired now of these movies and needing to keep up with everything.
A surprisingly entertaining movie grasping at the end of Marvel’s relevance, I give The Marvels 3.0 stars out of 5.
Exit Strategy
Year: 2018
Author: Martha Wells
Length: 226 minutes / 3.77 hours
Until now, I’ve enjoyed the somewhat serial format of the novellas from the Murderbot Diaries series. Each story grows the story of the main character with a concise plot that does a little world building along the way. It didn’t matter if the characters changed between each book, as the focus was always on the first person perspective. With Exit Strategy, we loop back to the beginning as old faces come back into the major thrust of the plot.
I appreciate that there seems to be an overarching narrative across this series. Now that things are connecting together, it feels like a much more thought-out universe instead of the “flavor of the month” stories that the series could have become. Granted, with each one being so short, this book feels like a solid arrival in the second half of the entire story arc—maybe even the pivotal half-way point. The more the titular Murderbot learns about their universe, the more they cannot silently stand by and let things happen. There’s no more time to be passive.
Perhaps the best part about each iteration of this series is how the SecUnit grows to become more human. There are legitimately tough decisions that come up in these novellas that cause the main character to face a choice that either reinforces their programming or pushes them down the path away from those murderbot tendencies. And while Exit Strategy didn’t have quite the impact of Rogue Protocol, there’s at least an end in sight for where this sequence of events will logically take us. I’m hooked now. I want to see how this all ends.
Familiar faces return as the larger plot comes further into focus, I give Exit Strategy 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Boy and the Heron
Year: 2023
Rating: PG-13
Length: 124 minutes / 2.07 hours
Studio Ghibli films—specifically the ones directed by Hayao Miyazaki—are immensely beautiful and imaginative. The distinct visual style in movies like Castle in the Sky (1986), Princess Mononoke (1997), and Spirited Away (2001) is nothing but consistent. In the latest (and perhaps last) film by Miyazaki, The Boy and the Heron (2023) still maintains the beautiful 2D animation that everyone loves from this studio. The one trick with these films is that sometimes I feel the plot is a little lost in translation from Japanese to American audiences. This isn’t anyone’s fault, but it left me feeling a little lost.
While I understood the major coming-of-age themes present in The Boy and the Heron, there were so many fantastical elements in it that I felt I may have missed something from one scene to the next. Perhaps I was too tired to give this movie the adequate attention it deserved, but there were many times where I’d blink and suddenly the movie had moved on to a different location or subplot with little warning or foreshadowing. It was a little hard to follow because of this, and maybe if I saw it again I’d give this a better rating.
Overall, though, The Boy and the Heron is a visual achievement. In an age where most films are 3D CGI, this one at least looks like it’s put together with high-quality hand-drawn animation. Everything was so colorful and expressive, whether it was the titular Heron or the army of parakeets. It’s a little saddening that we won’t get these creative fantasy visuals from Miyazaki anymore, but at least he went out on the top of his game in this department.
A visual masterpiece that was a little hard to follow at times, I give The Boy and the Heron 3.5 stars out of 5.
Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon
Year: 2021
Rating: E
Time Played: ~270 minutes / 4.50 hours
With the overabundance of Roguelike games these days, I appreciate that Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon at least put a unique spin on it. As a puzzle game, it’s really no different from a Tetris or Panel de Pon. However, the difficulty curve is such that you need to unlock items/health with the resources gained from multiple runs. Getting to the end, unfortunately, can be a matter of luck of the draw as much as it is your skill of the game.
Using the retro-inspired characters from the Shovel Knight series makes the Pocket Dungeon aesthetic work. Even if you haven’t played the original game, the characters are visually interesting and have quite a lot of personality. The game developers added new characters specific to this game that also mesh well with the established bosses and enemies. Because everything has a pixel-art feel to it, I had no trouble playing this on my phone. In fact, the “pick up and play” fusion of Roguelike and Puzzle made it easy to play a round here and there when waiting for something.
What makes this game perhaps a little more difficult than a “match three” puzzler is the rhythm aspect. Somewhat similar to Crypt of the Necrodancer, there were many times where being off rhythm caused me to take more damage than I would have liked. Additionally, once I finally reached the end credits, I felt little motivation to keep playing. This has been my main issue with Roguelikes (like Dead Cells), where there’s a lot of focus to get to the end, and a lucky run gets me there but I know I probably won’t be able to repeat it.
A unique genre blend of Roguelike and Puzzler, I give Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon 3.5 stars out of 5.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Year: 2023
Rating: PG-13
Length: 154 minutes / 2.57 hours
If you want proof that Hollywood won’t let a good franchise die, look no further than Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023). The original 1980s trilogy stands pretty well by itself, but the first reboot, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) was so odd that it took almost another 20 years for the franchise to try anything else. Dial of Destiny merely exacerbates the problem of trying to resurrect this franchise by not transitioning off Harrison Ford (like it tried to do in Crystal Skull) but instead doubling down on de-aging technology and nostalgia.
There’s a huge section in the first part of this movie that was so CGI heavy, I could have sworn I was watching a video game cut scene for 30 minutes. De-aging Harrison Ford still has the same issues that all other de-aging techniques seem to have (mainly, a kind of “uncanny valley”). None of the other characters were interesting or engaging, and that includes the ones brought on for short cameos to move the plot forward. I was falling asleep by the dramatic climax, and I don’t think it was entirely because I was sleep deprived.
What’s perhaps most frustrating with Dial of Destiny is that they could have actually made a decent film. Even within the first three films, the two where the artifact being sought after was a religious relic were the better ones. That they could have had a Lance of Longinus movie instead of the unbelievable Dial of Destiny further reinforces that nobody who made this film knows what makes a good Indiana Jones film. I sincerely hope this is the last we’ll see of this franchise, because this movie was an insult to everything that came before it.
The worst Indiana Jones movie ever made, I give Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny 1.5 stars out of 5.
Bullshit Jobs: A Theory
Year: 2018
Author: David Graeber
Length: 759 minutes / 12.65 hours
Every so often, I read a non-fiction book so eye opening that it continues to stay with me long after reading it. These are the books that point a light at something so obvious that I have to wonder why I didn’t see it that way before. And perhaps these are the best non-fiction books because they can pull an entrenched mind out of the status quo to look at the system surrounding it with an entirely new perspective. Bullshit Jobs is one of these books for me.
I’ve been fortunate to have worked at a job that I like for about 15 years now. But even within these comfortable confines, I see much of what Graeber talks about when he refers to these so-called bullshit jobs. It’s present in the bureaucracy, the middle managers, and the micro managers. That almost all jobs today have some element of BS in them shows how pervasive it is in society. Learning the reasons these jobs still exist despite decades of technological efficiencies and improvements is mind-numbingly simple—and equally frustrating.
However, being educated is only half the battle against these kinds of jobs. Actionable plans to get rid of these jobs were scarce in this book. And while I appreciated (and stand by) his intended solution, a few other options that could be enacted in the near term would have been nice. After all, this glut of bullshit jobs keeps unemployment low while also depriving people of the freedom to pursue more fulfilling—albeit not as well paying—creative endeavors. As it stands right now, this book is good at making us aware of the problem, but not necessarily being able to pull ourselves out of it.
An eye-opening book with few solutions, I give Bullshit Jobs 4.0 stars out of 5.
Godzilla Minus One
Year: 2023
Rating: PG-13
Length: 124 minutes / 2.07 hours
While the original Godzilla franchise has been around for 70 years, I must admit that I’ve only ever seen the American versions of this Japanese monster. This includes the travesty that was Godzilla (1998), as well as the much better Monsterverse iterations like Godzilla (2012). Having never seen a Godzilla film in its original Japanese context, I was curious to try Godzilla Minus One (2023) for my first foray into the “official” Godzilla franchise. What I found here was better than I could have ever imagined—and for multiple reasons.
Coming from decades-old movies that used people in rubber suits fighting among miniatures, Godzilla Minus One uses just enough special effects to make the scale of the monster believable. However, this version of Godzilla still looks a bit like the version that had a guy inside a rubber suit. Plot-wise, there are a few great sequences that make this an incredibly solid movie. From the boat chase inspired by Jaws (1975) to Godzilla’s trademark destruction of a major city to the quite intelligent plan to take down the nuclear monster, there is never a dull moment in this film. Underpinning it all is the human element, which is as uplifting as it is (at times) heartbreaking.
Contextually, Godzilla has always been about the nuclear fear that came from the dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan. In this “prequel” to the core Godzilla franchise, Godzilla Minus One follows Kōichi (Ryunosuke Kamiki)—a former kamikaze pilot—after his country was defeated during World War II. Not only did the appearance of Godzilla come at a devastating time for Japan, but it gave them a chance to fight and reclaim their damaged national honor. Ultimately, this film was perhaps the best place for me to come in and experience a true Godzilla movie.
The best Godzilla film I’ve ever seen, I give Godzilla Minus One 5.0 stars out of 5.
Pokémon Masters
Year: 2019
Rating: E
Time Played: 50,800 minutes / 846.5 hours
A defining feature of the Pokémon franchise has not only been the amount and variety of Pokémon the player can catch, but how the characters who use these creatures for battles also have unique traits and personalities. While these characters might have more screen time in the anime compared to their in-game representation, they ultimately have a favorite Pokémon that they use for battling. Pokémon Masters fulfills the dream of many fans by allowing us to actually play as high-level trainers.
This game is a free-to-play gatcha mobile app, which should tell you all you need to know about it. The gameplay is simple, but the “gotta catch ’em all” mechanic is collecting all the different characters. This includes “Synga Suit,” holiday costumes, and a glut of other variants of the fan-favorite characters. There are plenty of ways to upgrade these characters, most of which require you to battle other trainers for key materials. The more powerful your team, the easier this is. Those with luck or lots of money to sink into the game can easily obtain these powerful characters.
As a truly free-to-play experience, there is a lot of grinding, but the game doesn’t take up more than a few minutes a day to go through all the daily tasks. I’ve been playing in this style since it launched and I have 270 characters, a good chunk of which are maxed out on their stats. By now, playing this game is just a routine, but I appreciate some of the thought put into the costumed characters and the types of Pokémon they use. Partly because of the way the game emphasizes collecting these characters, it feels a bit like a virtual action figure collection.
Simple gatcha gameplay coupled with collecting all the human Pokémon characters, I give Pokémon Masters 3.0 stars out of 5.
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Year: 1954
Rating: Approved
Length: 102 minutes / 1.70 hours
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) is one of those musicals during the golden age of musicals that I was aware of but had only seen bits and pieces of. I found a DVD of it a while back and finally got around to watching it. As far as musicals go, it’s colorful and has a few good songs that are sung well by the cast. Unfortunately, the content is dated and is almost cringeworthy by today’s standards.
I will give some leniency that this film represents an era that was not entirely enlightened when it came to women. The Wild West was about survival as much as it was about the loneliness that came with it. While I’m sure there were more men than women out in these regions, it doesn’t excuse how these seven brothers went about obtaining their wives. That they’d even consider the plight of the Sabine women (which they pronounce “Sobbin'”) as an appropriate plan to get wives speaks volumes about the media literacy of these characters.
At first, I thought Seven Brides for Seven Brothers would be more about bringing the feminine touch to this rowdy group of guys. Even if Adam (Howard Keel) wooed Milly (Jane Powell) correctly—albeit incredibly fast—forcing her to get the rest of the brothers into marriageable shape felt sexist. And while I enjoyed the amazing choreography in scenes like the barn-raising (and the resulting brawl), I just can’t get past the fact that this movie condones kidnapping women like that. Perhaps if the brothers had presented themselves as better alternatives to the townsfolk as potential suitors, then they wouldn’t have had to resort to this tactic. As it stands, the Stockholm Syndrome solution doesn’t sit right today.
Great musical trappings on an otherwise troublesome plot, I give Seven Brides for Seven Brothers 3.0 stars out of 5.
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
Year: 2007
Author: Junot Diaz
Length: 960 minutes / 16.00 hours
I picked up this book because it was on a list of Pulitzer Prize winners and I figured that was a good enough metric to give it a shot. I was not disappointed. Told from a few different perspectives, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao is a fantastic look into the lives of Dominican Americans. I could tell the author was writing from deeply personal experiences, and the result was riveting.
There’s a lot I don’t know about the Dominican culture, but I felt this book was an eye-opening look into their history. Told as personal anecdotes from the characters, it was wild to see the effects of living under a dictator. However, even once someone escaped from that oppression, life in America wasn’t an easy walk in the park either. The effects of racism might not be as bad as having your daughters sold to a dictator, but they still aren’t pretty. Using these point-of-view stories to convey all this made the experience of reading this book feel more authentic.
This audiobook also included a short story by the same author, “Drown.” While this story wasn’t quite up to the quality of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, a lot of the author’s style was still present. Of course, this style felt a little rougher than his Pulitzer Prize-winning work, but it was interesting to see how it evolved between the two. Ultimately, the Pulitzer Prize can be a somewhat subjective metric for whether a book is good or not. Here, it’s spot-on and I think people should read it because of its award-winning status.
An excellent and authentic examination of the life of a Dominican American, I give The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao 4.0 stars out of 5.
Creed III
Year: 2023
Rating: PG-13
Length: 114 minutes / 1.90 hours
It’s a little weird to me that each time the Rocky franchise gets further into its sequels, it ceases to understand what made the original work so well. People don’t want to see someone living in opulence (or owning a robot butler) confronting the ghosts from their past. Instead, they want to see the underdog go the distance to show what they’re made of. And while Creed III (2023) mostly falls into this trap, it has a few moments about fatherhood that shine through.
After Creed (2015) and Creed II (2018) pulled out the biggest connections to the Rocky franchise with Rocky Balboa and Ivan Drago, respectively, I wasn’t sure where this franchise would go from there. It didn’t feel narratively strong to look backward at Adonis’ (Michael B. Jordan) past with Damian (Jonathan Majors) since any generic boxing film could have used those story beats. Sure, it makes it more personal and gives the Creed spinoffs more of their own identity away from the Rocky franchise. However, I don’t particularly care to root for someone successful like Adonis, because then he’s not really overcoming anything.
The one credit I’ll give this film for going down the “confronting your past” plotline was the chance for minor characters to shine. Tessa Thompson as Bianca has been a great part of these movies, and the addition of Mila Davis-Kent as Adonis and Bianca’s daughter is really what solidified what this movie was trying to say. Learning from our past as parents to help mold our children—especially the children who are heading down the paths and mistakes we’ve made—is a fantastic lesson for anyone who wants to be a role model for the younger generations.
An uninspired plot with a few bright spots about mentoring our children, I give Creed III 3.0 stars out of 5.
Gato Roboto
Year: 2019
Rating: E
Time Played: 210 minutes / 3.50 hours
Here’s the hook: you control a cat who can also pilot a mecha robot. That’s Gato Roboto. It’s a simple Metroidvania, both in length and graphics, but the charm of the concept itself makes it worth a play-through. It almost reminds me of Earthworm Jim (where a worm pilots a humanoid power suit) without all the weird gross-out elements. Despite its straightforward concept, Gato Roboto has a bit of a learning curve. Fortunately, given enough time and practice, it can be beaten in a couple of hours. Your mileage may vary given how used to Metroidvanias and Souls-like games you are.
Plot-wise, Gato Roboto has some amusing little twists and turns that help drive the game forward. I love that the principal antagonist is a rat/mouse in a variety of mecha robots. There isn’t too much backtracking/looping involved here, which usually lengthens how long it takes to get through a Metroidvania—thus the shorter length of this game. All the standard upgrades that you’d find in a Metroidvania are here, so expect to get dashing and double-jump abilities as you play through each individual area.
The real challenges here are the boss fights. There’s no way around their difficulty other than to “git gud” and memorize their attack patterns, using the Metroidvania skills you’ve obtained to dodge and stay alive. I found that sometimes I’d have to put it down for a few days to clear my head before tackling the boss with fresh energy. Overall, though, I thought this game had the right amount of difficulty, gameplay length, and charm. I didn’t feel compelled to 100% it, but I got most of what it offered in my singular play through.
An amusing concept for a Metroidvania, I give Gato Roboto 4.0 stars out of 5.
Renfield
Year: 2023
Rating: R
Length: 93 minutes / 1.55 hours
Sometimes, a movie comes along that has a fun concept and delivers on it. Renfield (2023) asks, “What if Dracula’s servant realizes his boss is toxic?” With all the modern progress that’s been made in worker’s rights, this ridiculous combination is just hilarious enough to work. There’s a lot of lore surrounding Dracula, so a story that’s set in the present time plays the contrasts for laughs. That this movie is even canonically connected to Dracula (1931) makes it feel like a heartfelt sequel to its almost 100-year-old predecessor.
The two actors who make this movie work are none other than Nicholas Cage (Dracula) and Nicholas Hoult (Renfield). Cage basically (and almost literally) gnaws on the scenery as he’s allowed to ham it up as the iconic monster. Hoult has shown he has great acting talent in recent movies like The Favourite (2018) and The Menu (2022). Renfield shows he knows how to play a straight role in such a way that makes Renfield’s genuine nature a funny character arc of growing independence. There are other standard comedy actors here as well, including Ben Schwartz and Awkwafina, but they’re nothing to write home about.
As an R-rated Dracula movie, Renfield leans heavily into the violence that comes with vampires and vampire-powered individuals. This gore might be over the top at times, but I think the campy nature of it leans into the comedy (like a 80s action flick). Even if the plot feels a little thin, it at least delivers on its premise of Dracula’s familiar realizing his employer is narcissistic and toxic to him as an individual. As long as you’re looking for a fun film to turn your mind off to, then this certainly fits the bill.
A modern Dracula take crossed with workers’ talk therapy, I give Renfield 4.0 stars out of 5.
Summer Knight
Year: 2002
Author: Jim Butcher
Length: 673 minutes / 11.22 hours
A piece of advice given to most writers is to make their characters suffer, then document how they grow. In Summer Knight, Jim Butcher puts Harry Dresden through the ringer. Not only is Dresden on the edge of being homeless and dead from starvation, but he finds himself tangled up in the politics of the wizards and faeries. As usual, the world-building in the Dresden Files is fantastic and multi-layered. Sure, there are still the problems that keep popping up in this series, but they seemed less when Dresden was focused on merely staying alive.
With each book in the Dresden Files, I find the deepening lore fascinating. In Summer Knight, we finally learn about the council of wizards and see how unique Harry is when compared to others from the organization. In learning about more of his past, it’s easy to see how Dresden has come to this impasse with the council. Furthermore, Grave Peril had mere hints of the faerie world and workings that Summer Knight fully expanded upon. While a lot of the world-building looks like mere politics, that it’s as well thought out as this shows to Butcher’s talent here.
While there are still bad examples of “men writing women” in this book (which is the case throughout the series), at least it seemed a bit toned down from the previous books. Dresden’s backstory made him a bit more likable in this book, as there were at least explanations why he is the way he is. I enjoy his somewhat unorthodox way of handling magic battles and can’t wait until he’s truly trained to be a more precise magic user to really see his talent emerge.
Some great world-building and main character exposition for the Dresden Files, I give Summer Knight 4.5 stars out of 5.
Napoleon
Year: 2023
Rating: R
Length: 158 minutes / 2.63 hours
On paper, this movie had a lot going for it. Ridley Scott, partnering with Joaquin Phoenix again after the wildly successful Gladiator (2000) felt like this was a surefire entertaining film. Instead, the few scenes of military action were the only things that made this movie worth watching. Usually, when I watch a biopic about a famous individual like Napoleon Bonaparte, I’d expect something eyebrow raising that I didn’t know before. Napoleon is not that kind of film, as it is filled with history that I already knew, and I don’t consider myself a scholar of Napoleon.
A lot of biopics tend to either show the genius of their titular character or cast light on their odd behavior (despite their angelic public persona). Napoleon has moments of both, each of which undercuts the effectiveness of the other. I can’t take his military success seriously when he has such peculiar bedroom habits, and I find his weird behaviors inconsistent with the occasional moments of strategic genius. That he was successful at all seems a tremendous stroke of luck. Ultimately, Napoleon is not a likable character, which makes watching him for over 2.5 hours a tedious endeavor.
Napoleon seemed to drive home that Ridley Scott is a talented director if he has great source material. Unique screenplays and adaptations like Alien (1979), Blade Runner (1982), Gladiator (2000), Matchstick Men (2003), or The Martian (2015) remain as iconic high marks of his filmography. But with every standout movie, there’s a Robin Hood (2010), Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014), or Napoleon that pulls from mostly known public domain stories. Next time, I think I might use this guide to determine whether I’ll use his name recognition before watching one of his movies.
A disappointing and generic history lesson about an odd Frenchman, I give Napoleon 2.5 stars out of 5.
Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp
Year: 2017
Rating: E
Time Played: ~150 hours
Before Animal Crossing: New Horizons came out, I had played none of the previous entries in the Animal Crossing franchise. Once I got into New Horizons, I was hooked on the gameplay mechanic and wanted more. Luckily, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp was a free and easy way to continue playing an Animal Crossing game even if I didn’t have my Switch on me. As a free-to-play mobile game, I could log in and do the daily tasks that most Animal Crossing games have, just with the convenience of it being on my phone.
While I didn’t play this game at launch, picking it up around 2020, it was clear that some of the standard “predatory” free-to-play practices had been added a few years prior. It locked a lot of the rare or seasonal items behind loot boxes that required real money to purchase. Even some of the “free” items came with extensive time commitments to obtain them. Still, if you’re like me and have the fortitude to never spend any money on free-to-play games, Pocket Camp can be enjoyable for quite a while.
I eventually stopped playing Pocket Camp when I realized there wasn’t anything else to get. I had unlocked all the characters and leveled them up to get their unique rewards. I had crafted basically everything I could (including most of the extremely expensive “golden items”). Granted, it took me a few years of playing regularly almost every day to achieve this level of completion and I don’t regret those hours spent. However, there’s nothing new other than some slightly re-skinned holiday rewards that come out every year. It scratched my Animal Crossing itch, and that’s about it.
An easier version of Animal Crossing you can play on your phone, I give Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp 3.5 stars out of 5.
Leap!
Year: 2016
Rating: PG
Length: 89 minutes / 1.48 hours
In searching for movies to watch with my daughter, I figured Leap! (2016) was a good fit since she is actively interested in dance/ballet. She seemed to enjoy it, but I wasn’t entirely impressed. I’m willing to give animated films a try when they aren’t from big studios with lots of gravitas, but this one felt just generic enough as to be almost indistinguishable from the swath of cheap direct-to-streaming fare that clogs these services. I will grant that the animation looks pretty good for 2016, but visuals aren’t the only thing that makes these kinds of movies tick.
The story in Leap! is mostly your generic “follow your dreams” fare that most movies directed at kids have done before. Common tropes of persevering and working hard are here, as usual, but with the slightly more troubling trope of lying to catch a break. Sure, gatekeeping isn’t a great way to discover new talent, but when the success of an underdog is pinned on a few moments of dishonesty, it spoils the eventual success they receive—not to mention the almost required third act reveal that the main character has been deceiving everyone until now.
What’s frustrating here is there was potential for a better movie here, but it’s held back by the cheap laughs that kids will give it. Victor’s (Nat Wolff) plotline felt almost forgotten for most of the film until it suddenly comes into play at the end. If he was more involved with Félicie (Elle Fanning) training to be a ballerina, it would have been less frustrating than him being pulled away through ridiculous means every time when the two of them get close. Still, if you’re looking for something to pass the time with your kids, Leap! can easily fit the bill.
An OK animated film filled with lots of generic tropes, I give Leap! 3.0 stars out of 5.
The Road to Little Dribbling
Year: 2015
Author: Bill Bryson
Length: 844 minutes / 14.07 hours
I keep forgetting that Bill Bryson’s books are hit-or-miss for me. I’ll read one and think it’s great, then proceed to another and find myself disappointed. Perhaps I’ve already read the good books from his bibliography and now all I’m left with are the ones that aren’t. I’ll usually forget that I’ve been disappointed after a few months or years of not reading Bryson, which inevitably leads me to remembering his good books and giving it another shot. The Road to Little Dribbling is another book I’d put on the “bad” pile.
While I never read the book that preceded this one, I didn’t need any context to determine The Road to Little Dribbling’s major flaw. As a Millennial, I am often annoyed by Boomer-age people who bemoan that things “used to be better.” They’ll moan about prices being lower, quality being better, and everyone living happily together in blissful togetherness. Those sentiments are the entire basis of this book. Maybe it’s supposed to be read as humor, but most of this book felt like the spiteful mutterings of a grumpy old man.
The issue with memoirs is that the main character is usually the author. In this book, the main character is not likable by any means. He talks down to everyone and paints them as idiots. The few slightly amusing bits were only when he proved to be the fool in a scenario that had gotten him hot and bothered. Listening to this audiobook in the car, it felt like I was driving around with someone who I would not have given a ride to in the first place. None of the positives of his journey stuck out to me because every other commentary provided was full of sour gripes.
A memoir full of whiny complaints about how the past was better, I give The Road to Little Dribbling 2.0 stars out of 5.
Elemental
Year: 2023
Rating: PG
Length: 101 minutes / 1.68 hours
I initially wasn’t too sold on the concept of Elemental (2023). The idea that elements live together in a city felt a bit too close to Zootopia (2016) to be truly original. However, Pixar (generally) has a good handle on stories, and I eventually gave this one a shot. I was surprised to find not only an approachable love story—which is rare for Pixar—but a touching look at expectations from immigrant parents and what it’s like to integrate into a society that isn’t made for you. As always, the visuals were striking, and the emotions were heartfelt.
While the movie poked fun at certain human-based design decisions for the city (like when both main characters easily pass through a chain-link fence), the overall concept felt thought out enough to truly invoke the ethnic boroughs that many cities have for immigrants of similar ethnic backgrounds. Choosing the fire people to be the “odd element out” was a smart move since air, earth, and water usually work well together and are negatively affected by (or negatively affect) fire. That sense of not belonging in a new space just based on who you are struck home.
With the latest string of Pixar films focusing on parent-child relationships, Elemental feels a bit more grown up than dealing with a missing parent (Onward (2020)) or handling the changes that come with puberty (Turning Red (2022)). Even Luca (2021) seemed more focused on younger children leaving the nest instead of independent adult children who want to pursue their own dreams. That’s probably why Elemental successfully managed to bring romance into a production company that has focused on non-romantic stories for over 20 years.
A visual treat that explores themes of immigration and following our dreams, I give Elemental 4.5 stars out of 5.
Nintendo Badge Arcade
Year: 2015
Rating: E
Time Played: 6,490 minutes / 108.17 hours
Don’t let the enormous amount of playtime fool you. Free games on the Nintendo 3DS (like Pokémon Shuffle, Pokémon Rumble World, and Pokémon Picross) rewarded playing regularly, and this one certainly tried its hardest to get me to pay for more playtime. I get why people lose a ton of money on actual claw machines, since this game is basically a digital version of these devices. The desire to collect all the “badges” from each machine kept me playing for a long time—well after the game itself had stopped being updated.
The enticement of free plays each day made me value the occasional bonus tries that I’d get for playing the practice machine in the lobby. The problem was, even with extra plays, there were some machines that had badges arranged in such a way that it couldn’t be cleared without purchasing more tries. When the extra free tries dried up when the 3DS eShop closed, I lost the motivation to keep playing. Granted, I had collected over 1,000 of the games badges by that point, so I got as close to completing the game as I think a reasonable free player could get.
Perhaps what made this game special was that the badges you’d earn in this game were used to decorate the main menu of the 3DS. Of course, I never used even close to a fraction of the badges I earned, but I could see the appeal considering how much blank space I have on my home screen. Still, locking unique decoration icons behind a paywall (and playwall, since you still had to play the game to get them) felt a little sketchy, especially coming from Nintendo.
A novelty game to unlock 3DS decoration icons, I give Nintendo Badge Arcade 3.0 stars out of 5.
The Shining
Year: 1980
Rating: R
Length: 146 minutes / 2.43 hours
Stanley Kubrick is one of those directors who can make a great movie in any genre. From science fiction like 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) to political satire in Dr. Strangelove (1964) to historic epics in Spartacus (1960), it’s no wonder that he could excel in horror with The Shining (1980). The descent into madness in an isolated mountain hotel was done with such expert craft that this film stands as a pinnacle of the genre even today. It might not be an exact representation of the Stephen King novel, but it works well for the big screen.
Kubrick succeeds in the emotions of unease here through clever application of cinematography and sound design. The audience gets the full experience. We’re along for the ride down at Danny’s (Danny Lloyd) level. We feel small and insignificant in the vast open spaces of the hotel and its nearby hedge maze. The building insanity in Jack Torrance’s (Jack Nicholson) mind is perfectly captured in the discordant sounds that crescendo during a long zoom in on his awkwardly smiling face. Everything together makes this an unnerving slow burn of horror.
And while the somewhat lengthy running time gives room for this gradual descent to madness, there are a few parts that seem only to exist to shock the viewer. I know horror is supposed to have those moments that make you cringe. But when they don’t seem to add anything to the narrative, then what purpose do they have? For what it’s worth, Jack Nicholson is what truly makes this film great. His range from serious to insane is on full display here and it looked like he could lean into some overacting that didn’t seem cheesy.
Horror the likes of which only Stanley Kubrick could deliver, I give The Shining 4.0 stars out of 5.
This movie also appears in Cinema Connections
#148. Stephen King
#149. Jack Nicholson
Rogue Protocol
Year: 2018
Author: Martha Wells
Length: 226 minutes / 3.77 hours
By this point in the Murderbot Diaries series, I’m used to the short length of these stories. I appreciate that there’s still an overarching plot that the books are driving toward, but the bite-size adventures of the sentient AI robot are also entertaining by themselves. Now that the series is in a good groove by book three, I was glad to see the introduction of a foil to compare and contrast the main character’s interactions with the humans.
The rogue SecUnit continues to find himself deeper into the shady dealings of humans, but with each interaction, he’s finding it harder to hide who he is and what he’s doing. That these “missions” he gives himself are a significant amount of effort for someone who would much rather be lazy and just watch vids all day seems contradictory until you realize that it’s great character development—even if it’s subtle. Raising the stakes with each book also helps to make this one the best one in the series to date. There has to be a point soon when things become fully out of the SecUnit’s control.
It’s always interesting to me how the characters that have stuck with me through the series (aside from the main character of course), are the other AIs and robots. In Rogue Protocol, I immediately fell in love with Miki, who showed the other side of human-robot relations as a pet/mascot. The contrast between Miki and the SecUnit was a fantastic plot device and I would love some kind of spinoff with those two characters (or characters like them). Unfortunately, the abrupt ending to this book left me a little disappointed, as I felt there needed to be more time with the characters to get their full range of emotions after the climax.
A great book filled with contrasting human-robot relations, I give Rogue Protocol 4.5 stars out of 5.
Tangled
Year: 2010
Rating: PG
Length: 100 minutes / 1.67 hours
Tangled (2010) is one of those movies that hit me at a vulnerable time in my life. Shortly after I bought it on Blu-Ray, I ended up watching it at least once for ten days straight. I had the soundtrack memorized and I still cry at the pivotal scenes. I danced to the lantern song at my wedding as the first dance with my wife. Clearly, I’m going to give this movie full marks here, but even over a decade later, I think it holds up.
After college, I moved out of my home state and was finally living on my own. Even with a good job and a handful of new friends, I related to Rapunzel’s (Mandy Moore) first song of the movie: When Does My Life Begin? There were societal expectations that I didn’t feel like I met, so seeing Flynn Rider (Zachary Levi) grow to accept non-toxic masculine traits—thanks in part to a musical tavern full of roughnecks—helped encourage me to keep going on the path I was on.
Some people argue about which Disney villain was the most evil, and I argue it is 100% Mother Gothel (Donna Murphy). Using manipulation and gaslighting to keep what she has obtained through ill-gotten means, Gothel is a terrifying look into people who exist in the real world. The emotional abuse Rapunzel suffered might initially seem fun, but Tangled goes all in to show what it looks like to break free from this kind of imprisonment. While many movies feature self-sacrifice, Tangled does it in the best way. Don’t take it at its Disney cartoony facade, Tangled is a deep and life-affirming film that everyone should watch.
An animated film that’s deeper and more real than most give it credit for, I give Tangled 5.0 stars out of 5.
This movie also appears in Cinema Connections
#313. Grimm Fairy Tales
#314. Stockholm Syndrome
Super Mario 3D Land
Year: 2011
Rating: E
Time Played: 676 minutes / 11.27 hours
There are few certainties in this life, but one of them is that Nintendo usually releases a Mario game to show off their new hardware. It might not be right at the launch, but it’s usually within the first few years—like Super Mario Odyssey. The Mario game that rolled out alongside the Nintendo 3DS was none other than Super Mario 3D Land. While it showed off the capabilities of the 3D screen that doesn’t need special glasses, its levels rehashed a lot of what had already been done in Mario games before.
Sure, the 3D effect in this game is quite striking. For handheld hardware, the game looks gorgeous. The thing is, it added nothing to the gameplay other than a third dimension to the visuals. And it’s not like its predecessor, the Nintendo DS, couldn’t also handle some level of 3D Mario platformer since it had Super Mario 64 DS. Still, having a 3D Mario platformer that had this level of visual polish was a nice introduction to what the 3DS could do. Not needing 3D glasses to get this effect is still an amazing feat in my book.
The thing is, most of the levels in this game felt like I had already played them before. There were the old standards like haunted houses and Koopa castles alongside other platforming challenges that looked like they were 3D versions of Super Mario World levels. Still, the portability of the 3DS made Super Mario 3D Land an easy pick-up-and-play game, as each level would only take a few minutes if I didn’t get stuck on a part where I kept dying (ironically enough, because of the added depth of field).
A Mario game with great polish for the 3DS, but lacking in new level design, I give Super Mario 3D Land 3.5 stars out of 5.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
Year: 2023
Rating: PG
Length: 99 minutes / 1.65 hours
I don’t have a lot of nostalgia for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Sure, I played the arcade game quite a few times and saw some episodes of the original TV show—it just wasn’t one of those franchises that stuck with me through the years. With this in mind, what made me watch Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023)? Honestly, I’m intrigued by the new wave of stylized animated films, and this movie fits the bill. I’m glad I gave it a chance.
Of the four words that make up this franchise, the one I felt was never accurately represented was the first one: Teenage. Most of the iterations of these four mutated reptiles I’ve seen focus on the “Ninja” part of their background. Here, these characters truly feel like teenagers, and the choice to make them closer to 13 than 19 was a refreshing take on the franchise. Even with each turtle keeping their foundational characteristics (i.e., Leonardo is the leader, Donatello is the tech guru, etc.), they still found room to grow into those roles in this semi-origin story.
Visually, the style takes a little getting used to. It works well in some fantastic action sequences but gets almost too “sketchy” in a few spots that had my eyes straining to figure out what I was looking at. At the very least, I’m glad that they took a risk to give it a different style so it would stand out. I think there’s a winning combination here with its distinctive visuals coupled with fresh stories that resonate with people who are deeply affected by the nostalgia of the franchise. It feels new but grounded in what made it popular.
A fresh visual and narrative take on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles that emphasizes the teenager-ness of the characters, I give Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem 4.5 stars out of 5.
I Am Not Okay With This
Year: 2018
Author: Charles Forsman
Length: 160 pages
I’m open to a lot of visual styles for graphic novels. It can be what elevates a mediocre story to something profound, but it can also tonally clash with the message and leave a muddled mess. Storytelling in this format is a challenge to pull off and few have been able to do so successfully. I Am Not Okay With This unfortunately falls into the other camp here. Even if this were just a novel without the “graphic” part, there’s not much to recommend it.
Filled with cliches about what it’s like to be a teenage girl, I Am Not Okay With This suffers from the “men writing women” trope. None of the interactions felt believable or realistic. Instead, they seemed forced through what a man thought these interactions should be based on minimal or merely pop culture research. None of it had the feel of anyone who has lived as a teenage girl in similar situations—psychic powers notwithstanding. This was why it leaned so heavily on the tropes commonly associated with girls in puberty and the male fetishes that go along with it.
I wasn’t sure if this was trying to be edgy by focusing only on heavy subjects like sexuality, bullying, and suicide, but the simplistic art style felt too childish to accomplish any of these goals with any level of gravitas. There wasn’t even a satisfying conclusion to anything, which would only be frustrating if this book wasn’t such a quick read. I’m sure it’s less of a time commitment than watching the Netflix show, but I still probably wouldn’t recommend it (even if I haven’t seen the Netflix show to compare against).
A mismatched graphic novel obviously written by a man, I give I Am Not Okay With This 2.0 stars out of 5.
Ocean’s Eleven
Year: 2001
Rating: PG-13
Length: 116 minutes / 1.93 hours
While I usually agree with people who say that remakes are worse than the originals, Ocean’s Eleven (2001) is an exception. Not only did it bring the same amount of star power that made the original stand out, but it had a heist that was much more entertaining and compelling than its predecessor. Having re-watched it recently, I found it still stands up over 20 years later, even if it’s starting to show its early-2000 edges. I still think it’s a classic that works because of its complexity and scale.
It’s impressive how there are so many big names in this movie, yet they all have their room to shine. There’s a reason many of them are still making great movies today, and their talent is on full display here. And perhaps the collective charisma of this all-star cast makes the heist they pull off so thrilling. Sure, I already knew how they were going to do it, but I still noticed details I hadn’t picked up on in all my previous viewings. The stakes were definitely higher than the 1960 version, that’s for sure.
For all the “cool” and “suave” mannerisms and dialogue, I can see how it would appeal to a younger version of myself. Even if Danny (George Clooney) wanted to show Tess (Julia Roberts) the true nature of her new love (Andy Garcia), he did it in a way that feels more arrogant than I remembered—and the scene where he interrupts their dinner proves my point, I think. The high-contrast and saturated look of this film feels like it fits stylistically with the early-2000s—which unfortunately hasn’t gotten much better since then. Overall, though, Ocean’s Eleven is a fun remake that was strong enough to merit two sequels.
A star-studded and entertaining heist film, I give Ocean’s Eleven 4.0 stars out of 5.
VirtuaCreature
Year: 2021
Rating: E
Time Played: 41.3 hours
Back in the ‘90s, the digital pet craze led by the Tamagotchi toys taught kids how to take care of a pixelated animal. These pets needed basic things like food, entertainment, and attention or their mood would deteriorate. They could even “die,” which was a threat that kept kids playing with them regularly throughout the day. While this fad has since faded away, there are still remnants of these digital pets around today. One such example is the game VirtuaCreature—a hybrid between Tamagotchi and Pokémon.
The simple graphics of VirtuaCreature brought the vibe of Tamagotchi to my computer and Steam Deck. There is also the option to battle these creatures in a rock-paper-scissors style battle that pulls at least a limited influence from Pokémon. These creatures evolve given enough experience through training and battling, but they also have a mood that can sour if you let them get too hungry/full or lose too many battles. It can be difficult to improve the creature’s mood, but knowing what helps and what doesn’t (which isn’t clearly explained) makes it easy enough to train the creature to the maximum level.
The biggest problem I have with this game is the “countdown timer” mechanic that you usually see in plenty of free-to-play games. Sure, this game was free, but it’s designed to keep you coming back and continuing to play. Since the creatures’ stomachs empty in real-time (much like Tamagotchi did), I needed to check in with them a few times a day to make sure they were well fed. After a while, this game became a chore, and I hadn’t even realized until I sunk a ton of time into it. So, if you want to recreate the stress of keeping a digital pet alive, then this is the game for you.
A digital pet game that might be a bit too addicting, I give VirtuaCreature 3.0 stars out of 5.
Us
Year: 2019
Rating: R
Length: 116 minutes / 1.93 hours
I’ve been reluctant to jump on the Jordan Peele bandwagon. This has mostly been because I rarely watch horror films. What initially won me over was the social commentary Get Out (2017) provided. NOPE (2022) was an interesting take on alien films that spoke to the inherently violent nature of animals. With these two movies in mind, I finally filled in the gap and watched Us (2019). Unfortunately, my lack of desire to watch this film when it came out seems to have been justified as I ask, “What was the point?”
I don’t want to spoil too much, but the twist was pretty easy to spot quite early on. Once the premise became clear, the movie seemed to be an excuse to just have the characters fight each other to the death—sometimes in the bloodiest way possible. Even the ending didn’t seem to be anything profound unless I’m missing something deeper that was lost through the ridiculous concept that this movie tries to sell. That there’s no explanation for anything other than “this exists, isn’t that weird?” really doesn’t help.
One of the best elements of Peele’s other films was the suspense and build-up. While there was some suspense in Us, there wasn’t a lot of it once the violence started. This is probably due to the lack of understandable motive that I already discussed above. I still think Jordan Peele’s movies have some merit, but after watching Us, I think they’re a bit hit-or-miss right now. My reluctance to see everything he puts out might still be less now that I’ve seen everything he’s put out, but I’ll also keep some of that skepticism until I see what others think first.
An odd concept with no real explanation, I give Us 2.5 stars out of 5.
The Dark Tower
Year: 2004
Author: Stephen King
Length: 1,731 minutes / 28.85 hours
For a series that spanned over two decades, it’s nice to see that The Dark Tower ends on a titular high note. Other series may lose steam or fade to mediocrity as the stories to tell become less interesting. Or the author dies. While this series narrowly avoided this fate, the meta subplots in the last few books were well out of the way for the grand finale that is The Dark Tower. I’m almost disappointed that more of the books in the series weren’t like this, since there were actual stakes involved.
I don’t normally think of Stephen King as an “action” writer, but the fight sequences in this book were absolutely superb. These enemies had the “final boss” gravitas that made the battles so entertaining to read. That there was an incredible new superpower introduced in this book makes me wish we had more stories about that character since it was such a great ability. It’s always a mark of a great ending that I almost want to keep reading to see what else happens in this world—even with all the loose ends tied up.
King definitely understood that he was never going to write the most satisfying ending for the Roland saga since it had built up for 20+ years. His solution was a great way to both leave it as the best ending we’d ever imagine while also providing a satisfactory conclusion to the Gunslinger finally arriving at the Dark Tower. That there were as many happy endings in this book as there were made the experience of saying goodbye that much more bittersweet. The Dark Tower isn’t a perfect series, but it’s solid from start to glorious finish.
The best ending that the Dark Tower series could ask for, I give The Dark Tower 5.0 stars out of 5.
The Creator
Year: 2023
Rating: PG-13
Length: 133 minutes / 2.22 hours
Knowing how rare new science fiction movies are, I was interested to see what The Creator (2023) would say about artificial intelligence. Even if we’re currently seeing a rise in generative AI tools, the AI in The Creator are more like the replicants in Blade Runner (1982). And while Gareth Edwards hasn’t had a lot of movies under his belt, he’s proven that he can handle big franchises like Godzilla (2014) and Star Wars (with Rogue One (2016)). Unfortunately, this “original” film feels highly derivative of these previous movies in his filmography.
Plot-wise, much of The Creator cribs from Rogue One. The big orbiting doomsday device that looms as a threat over key battle sequences gives off big Death Star vibes. That there’s a MacGuffin that’s supposed to save the world/universe which causes the main character to undergo great sacrifice is yet another parallel that’s hard to ignore. Granted, many consider Rogue One to be a great film, so another military sci-fi that copies a lot of elements from it is bound to be great as well. I agree that there were some interesting technology concepts explored in The Creator, but the premise didn’t click for me.
Maybe the bigger issue I have with this film is how it tells us things we already know. Since it’s set in a future version of our world, it just reinforces the fact that the United States can be an imposing military force in Asia for no other reason than to maintain a global domination of military might. As the Vietnam War showed us, the locals who are being targeted by the U.S. military-industrial complex have enough grit and tools to stand up to the oppression of the American military. Overall, its message seems weak despite its impressive visuals.
A somewhat derivative “original” sci-fi film, I give The Creator 3.5 stars out of 5.
Deepest Sword
Year: 2021
Rating: E
Time Played: 41 minutes / 0.68 hours
There are plenty of reasons I like Deepest Sword. It’s a simple gameplay gimmick with wide-ranging applications. It’s a quick play-through that doesn’t overstay its welcome. Most of all, it has a cute pixel art aesthetic and amusing dialogue for the dragon at the end of each level. There was a lot of love and care put into a game like this, and it shows. It almost feels nostalgic for the little freeware games I used to play growing up and I can half imagine it sitting on some floppy disk in my parents’ basement.
As a physics-based puzzle game, the challenge scales with the size of your weapon. Each level increases the length—and by proxy the weight—of the sword. After the first few levels, I was hooked. While it uses basically the same layout for each level, the limitations of my sword forced me into different paths that led to the dragon I was meant to slay. I quickly had to learn different techniques to move around the level, as the massive sword became more of a hindrance than an asset. Of course, this was not without its challenges.
My only qualm with this game is that it didn’t have the proper platformer “lead-up” technique that’s common for those kinds of games. A few of the puzzles stumped me and had to look up how to accomplish them. Some were only solvable by some very precise movements, others used techniques I hadn’t considered using with the sword because there wasn’t anywhere to learn or practice them before I had to use them. Still, despite this difficulty curve, I spent a lot of time trying to figure out the solution before I finally gave up and looked it up.
A cute and unique physics-based puzzle platformer, I give Deepest Sword 4.5 stars out of 5.
Annihilation
Year: 2018
Rating: R
Length: 115 minutes / 1.92 hours
While I’ve never quite been fully on board with the works of Alex Garland, I recognize there’s something about his movies that makes me want to see them, eventually. I appreciated his approach to Artificial Intelligence in Ex Machina (2014), but it took a while for me to get around to his next work, Annihilation (2018). His style of science fiction borders on horror, but more importantly, it emphasizes one philosophical question in particular. What makes us human? Instead of exploring the Turing Test as he did in Ex Machina, Annihilation focuses on the larger scale of the universe to answer this question.
Even if it takes a while to establish all the exposition, Annihilation does its best work in unraveling the mystery surrounding the return of Kane (Oscar Isaac). Most of this is done once the main character, Lena (Natalie Portman) arrives in the anomaly and can explore the bizarre alien effects on our world. The suspense that builds in step with the horror is well done and the Christopher Nolan-esque ending still had me scratching my head and trying to piece together what I had seen into a comprehensible answer.
Perhaps the closest parallel I have for this movie is Denis Villeneuve’s Enemy (2013). Some things define who we are, but how do we know if we’re the real us if there’s someone else who looks like us and moves like us? Is it just our personality that defines who we are as humans, or is there something deeper that others can’t mirror? How do we handle being replaced by an entity that surpasses us on several levels? While most of the answers to these questions are not directly stated in Annihilation, Alex Garland succeeds in fusing horror, science fiction, and philosophy into an entertaining package.
A psychological horror that asks what it means to be human, I give Annihilation 4.0 stars out of 5.
Infected
Year: 2008
Author: Scott Sigler
Length: 684 minutes / 11.4 hours
Stephen King has written most of the horror I’ve read. In deciding to branch out from the master of the genre, I saw the cover for this book in the listing of audiobooks for my library’s reader app and thought it looked interesting. While the horror here was more body/gross-out horror—which I didn’t have any issue with—there are other, deeper problems with this book. I’ll grant that in terms of audiobooks, it was an interesting recording with the sound effects and “alien voice” bits. However, I can’t say I recommend this book based on those merits alone.
Perhaps this is an artifact of the times, but a book that came out in 2008 has not aged well at all. First, is the abundance of “men writing women” tropes that not only minimize the female characters to minor roles but doesn’t consider that perhaps not everything has to be about sex. Furthermore, while the main character was a person of color, there were a lot of negative stereotypes and mildly hidden racism that came through. Reading this book made it feel like I had gotten inside the head of a “bro” guy, and it was pretty cringe.
I think the biggest problem was that this book was too cavalier with its “gross-out” factor without having enough suspense to justify the constant violence. When I didn’t care about any of the characters and the vignettes that split off to explore one-shot characters didn’t give me enough time to be empathetic for them, then who cares about the violence that happens to them? More often than not, the pacing felt so slow that I had to check how much time was left, hoping that at some point it would go faster.
A horror story that was scary for reasons other than its violence, I give Infected 2.0 stars out of 5.
Castle in the Sky
Year: 1986
Rating: PG
Length: 125 minutes / 2.08 hours
Having only seen a handful of Hayao Miyazaki films, I finally got around to some of his earlier works. Castle in the Sky (1986) might not seem special by today’s standards, but in the era when it was released, I’m sure it was quite a bold statement. As a steampunk-styled adventure, there’s a lot in this movie that has since been copied and adapted into other works (case in point, my younger brother noticed that it’s almost an identical plot to Mega Man Legends which came out a decade later).
As Miyazaki’s third film, Castle in the Sky sees many of his established visual styles and themes (like flying girls) that he has used in many of his following projects. Even with a relatively simple plot, the gorgeous animated visuals are always a major draw for Miyazaki movies like this. There’s a charm that’s hard to describe, but it’s there in the heart of this film. That it still seems polished by the standards of today’s 2D animated films is a testament to the attention to detail that this filmmaker infuses into everything he touches.
My only problem with Castle in the Sky is its pacing. There’s a significant amount of action early in the film which kept me riveted. However, as the plot continued and explanations became perhaps slightly more convoluted, things slowed down enough that I had trouble staying awake for the ending. It was still an enjoyable watch, but I think I may need to do another rewatch in the future when I’m better equipped (read: well rested). At the very least, this is one of those films I hope to share with my children someday, as it is imaginative and full of lessons that would serve them well.
An animated steampunk treat the likes of which only Miyazaki could deliver, I give Castle in the Sky 4.0 stars out of 5.
Mom Hid My Game!
Year: 2016
Rating: E
Time Played: ~1 hour
Mom Hid My Game! is one of those simple puzzle games that feel like they would easily fit into a larger mini-game structure (like the WarioWare series). Its simple gameplay makes for quick rounds of play, which comes in handy for the iterative process of determining the solution. Even its simple visual style hearkens to the peculiar games in the WarioWare franchise. Of course, with such limited objectives in such a game, there wasn’t much to do in Mom Hid My Game! once I completed all the puzzles.
The premise of Mom Hid My Game! is explained in the title itself. A young child is trying to find the handheld gaming system that his mother has taken away (likely due to how obsessively the child plays it). The obstacles that separate the child from his game are as simple as doors and drawers and as complicated as an enormous hole in the living room floor. In each puzzle, the mother is close by, just waiting for her child to find her and get in trouble for trying to find his game. There is an ending—for what it’s worth—that ultimately shows the child the consequences of his obsession.
While this game only took me about an hour in total to complete (which was via my daughter’s direction for each level), I enjoyed the Japanese humor throughout. Seeing the mother obviously “hiding” to catch the son was amusing, and the moments of more surreal humor were also equally funny. I almost purposely “failed” each level to see how the child would be caught (or hurt) in each situation to fully experience all the humor involved. It’s probably not worth more than $0.99, but if you need a quick, cheap game for a couple of chuckles, this is a good one to buy.
A short and humorous puzzle game, I give Mom Hid My Game! 3.5 stars out of 5.
The Patriot
Year: 2000
Rating: R
Length: 165 minutes / 2.75 hours
Over the years, I’ve seen most of The Patriot (2000). Having now purposely sat through the entire thing (and the Extended Cut, no less), I can see parts of its appeal. Now, I’m not going to watch a Roland Emmerich movie for any kind of historical accuracy. That Emmerich set The Patriot during the Revolutionary War is merely a backdrop for over-the-top action sequences. Some of its political statements are cringeworthy now, but there’s an amount of entertainment here that is hard to ignore. And that’s what this movie is: entertainment.
The star power in The Patriot is hard to ignore. Mel Gibson, Heath Ledger, Jason Isaacs, Chris Cooper, and Tom Wilkinson all deliver outstanding performances. In particular, the “win at all costs” Colonel William Tavington (Jason Isaacs) was a great motivator and foil for Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson) to avenge the losses he endured during the film. This subplot comes off as ridiculous in a historical film but works well for an action film. Fortunately, there are moments of humor to offset the brutal violence that runs throughout.
However, with a film made with the hindsight of future historic events, there are several scenes that mostly just made me roll my eyes. While I’m sure there were individuals from the south who shared sentiments that were more in line with their northern countrymen, the whole “we solved racism!” segments are so corny as to detract from the movie as a whole. But again, there are a ton of tropes that would not be forgiven for a purely historical film but can mostly be shrugged off in the context of this action movie.
A Roland Emmerich action movie set in a historical time period, I give The Patriot 3.5 stars out of 5.
Morning Star
Year: 2016
Author: Pierce Brown
Length: 1,310 minutes / 21.83 hours
After the disappointment of Golden Son, I was leery of starting on the last part of the Red Rising trilogy. Oddly enough, this book was actually somewhat interesting, but in a way that made the first two books seem unnecessary. There was definitely a lot of action in this book, which is part of what made it more exciting than the others. And as far as a book that’s supposed to wrap up a trilogy, Morning Star certainly doesn’t leave too many loose plotlines when it ends. I still think the world-building is forced with all the Roman imagery and sci-fi tech, but at least now it’s over.
As with the previous books, I still had trouble with keeping track of all the different characters and their motivations. The main character was pretty straightforward (if not bluntly so) and his love interest just felt like she wanted to do whatever he was doing. Everyone else had weird names that made it hard to track who was who and which side they were on. At least the plot was simple enough that I could follow what was happening.
The biggest question that came from this book was, “What was the point of trying to get into (and be rejected from) the high society?” It seems to me the only reason to have the first two books was to give the main character a love interest from a caste that was above his station. I think if it could have worked some elements of the first two books into this one, then it could stand by itself. After all, the idea of an oppressed population rising to defeat their wealthy overlords is probably the most interesting concept in this series.
A trilogy finisher that could have been a standalone book, I give Morning Star 3.5 stars out of 5.
White Noise
Year: 2022
Rating: R
Length: 136 minutes / 2.27 hours
It’s funny how I’ve always heard Noah Baumbach’s name in discussions revolving around directors I appreciate. Usually, when the conversation of scripts comes up with directors like Wes Anderson or Greta Gerwig, Baumbach gets a mention. While I couldn’t name a film of his that I had seen, his name was recognizable enough that I felt I had to give White Noise (2022) a try. After wishing I had those 2+ hours back, I realized I had seen one of his movies, Marriage Story (2019), which I also didn’t particularly care for. Now I know.
Granted, White Noise has some interesting bits. However, it never sticks with them long enough to fully conclude them. Instead, it flits from idea to idea, mostly making no sense at all (hence the title of the film, I suppose). There’s a lot of talking in this movie, but most of it feels so random that I wonder if the screenplay was written by one of Shakespeare’s monkeys who was having a particularly good day. If the movie is trying to say something, it is literally lost in the noise of the movie itself.
After peeking at Baumbach’s filmography, I think I’ll stick to films that he co-wrote. Something about this and Marriage Story makes me think collaboration is a better path—or at least one that’s more focused. And maybe there’s something deeply profound that I was supposed to pick out of this movie and I just didn’t get it. If so, fine. I’ll enjoy the small portions that made sense and just move on to another movie that doesn’t seem cobbled together from disparate ideas. I still think getting the “white noise” point across could have been handled better.
A nonsense movie that had brief moments that made sense, I give White Noise 2.0 stars out of 5.
Nintendo Labo – Vehicle Kit
Year: 2018
Rating: E
Time Played: ~5+ hours
Nintendo’s cardboard peripheral line, Labo, is a magnificent case study of the Switch’s ability to be customizable. For the “03” Vehicle Kit, the Switch joycons are used to control three different vehicles. From steering wheels to gas pedals, this kit provides a setup that emulates the feel of driving, flying, and diving. Even with the flexibility of these vehicles, there are limitations built into the game that make exploring less than ideal. It’s certainly fun to put the cardboard together, but it feels like a waste when I haven’t even spent the same time using the vehicles.
As with the other Labo kits, the sturdy cardboard is easy to manipulate. Using the Switch as an instruction booklet is a great way to provide slow-motion steps that also allow for moving the camera to get a better view. These instructions also go over what sensors in the Switch are being used to provide the emulated motions of the vehicles in the game. The cardboard building portion is a lot of fun—similar to building a Lego set. However, this is the case for all the Labo kits, so this isn’t unique to the Vehicle Kit.
For the “gameplay” itself, I found the learning curve for controlling the different vehicles was a little steep. Sure, driving the car was a standard steering wheel setup. However, the joystick for the plane and the two-wheel setup for the submarine were a little more difficult. I would have liked to play around with these vehicles more, but that there’s a limited gasoline meter that needs to be regularly refilled felt like it limited the exploration. At least the little minigames were fun, albeit too short to make a full game.
Another fun Labo build with some gameplay limitations, I give Labo Vehicle Kit 3.0 stars out of 5.
Disenchanted
Year: 2022
Rating: PG
Length: 119 minutes / 1.98 hours
It’s interesting how the “direct-to-video” sequel has changed now that streaming is the ubiquitous delivery method. Movies that studios still want to capitalize on but don’t want to spend money on putting in theaters. Disney has taken this route with many of its animated films in the 1990s, releasing multiple sequels to beloved classics. Even The Disney Channel used to be a place for them to put cheap movies. Now, with Disney+, we see movies like Disenchanted (2022) filling the space that used to be occupied by VHS releases. It’s unfortunate because these sequels could be much better than they are.
I loved the self-aware nature of Enchanted (2007). That Disenchanted held most of the same cast was encouraging, but clearly not the magic needed to recreate the energy of the original. The parody (and adherence to) traditional Disney princess stories in Enchanted made it a fun tongue-in-cheek film to watch. This sequel felt too adherent to the formula to make fun of it. Sure, it plays off the “evil stepmother” trope, which was entertaining for a bit. The songs and music felt uninspired and forgettable. Nothing clicked in this movie, and its “direct-to-video” status on Disney+ is well-earned.
The real problem with Disenchanted is how it had better potential. The “fish out of water” trope from Enchanted worked to highlight how ridiculous the Disney princess lifestyle was. Instead of bringing magic to the real world for the sequel, Disenchanted should have flipped the script and had the real world interacting with—and butting heads with—the fantasy world (akin to how WandaVision did it). To have real-world people react to how different the princess fantasy realm was to their normal life would have been much more entertaining. As it stands, Disenchanted was a disappointing mess for someone who loved the original.
A partly uninspired sequel to a fantastic self-aware princess story, I give Disenchanted 2.0 stars out of 5.
Bone, Vol. 1: Out from Boneville
Year: 2005
Author: Jeff Smith
Length: 138 pages
Bone is one of those comics I’ve always been aware of but haven’t gotten around to reading until now. It’s interesting how the visual style of the titular characters evokes an older style of comics, while the other characters in the world feel more modern. The storytelling runs at a pretty fast pace that kept me turning the pages to see what happens next. There’s some pretty good humor here, as well as tense situations to keep it from becoming too silly. I can definitely see the appeal and why it’s been a notable comic since its origins in the early 1990s.
My only qualm with this book has to do with the main characters. The three “Bones” feel out of place in the fantasy realm, let alone our world. It also took me a while to distinguish visually between Fone Bone and Phoney Bone, which was only aided because this book mostly follows Fone. These characters are quite expressive for their simple design, which helps. I understand their simple white design would make producing the (originally black and white) comic easier, but they’re so jarring when everything else is so detailed.
It’s funny how the Japanese isekai genre has picked up in recent years, only to have been solidly pre-dated by Bone. The concept of a group of people being transported/lost in an unfamiliar fantasy world is a huge genre today. The fantasy world-building Jeff Smith does in this first volume definitely holds to a lot of fantasy tropes while also taking humorous turns that make the world unique. I’m glad I picked up the colorized version of this first volume and I’ll definitely be reading the next volume when I get the chance.
A bold take on the isekai genre in an American style, I give Bone, Vol. 1 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Whale
Year: 2022
Rating: R
Length: 117 minutes / 1.95 hours
Darren Aronofsky is the kind of director who makes movies that have moments that are hard to watch but you must see at least once. With his style established in such films as Pi (1998) and Requiem for a Dream (2000), he has continued with this over the decades with varying levels of intensity. The Whale (2022) is the latest film to conform to Aronofsky’s early directorial oeuvre. It’s a simple film—which happens when adapting a stage play—but with heart-wrenching depth. That it works so well in an on-screen format is a testament to Aronofsky’s talents.
Brendan Fraser’s performance of Charlie carries this film. There’s not a lot of representation of morbidly obese people, but Fraser makes it seem realistic. Granted, Aronofsky also makes it gross quite a few times, but that’s to be expected. That Charlie seems to always be in the frame, as if Aronofsky gravitationally locked the camera to him in the small space of his apartment, speaks to the genius of the directing. Each of the minor characters orbiting Charlie also have rich and complex lives, which merely adds depth to how they interact with a man who is literally eating himself to death.
Perhaps the reason I feel this film is so superb is how connected I was to the characters. After all, with the limited setting of a stage play, the strength of the narrative comes from who the people are. Everyone here has flaws, but they’re realistic enough to become invested in the twists and reveals as they happen. By the end, I just had to sit quietly so I could process everything I had just witnessed. It’s a heavily emotional film and—much like Aronofsky’s other movies—I still suggest everyone see it at least once.
Deeply moving and superbly directed, I give The Whale 5.0 stars out of 5.
Pokémon Violet
Year: 2022
Rating: E
Time Played: 45+ hours
I’m conflicted. Pokémon Violet is one of those games that would be so much better if they changed one thing. Even though it’s something that doesn’t directly affect the gameplay. Even if all the other mechanics in the game are fun. Sure, I got used to it, but that doesn’t mean I have to be happy about it. Perhaps they should have delayed the game instead of adhering to a strict release schedule. After all, other games have done well by delaying to add that extra layer of polish. Unfortunately, I don’t think anything’s going to change.
Visually, Pokémon Violet is a tough pill to swallow. All the Pokémon models look fantastic, which just makes the look of the rest of the game a disappointment. I don’t think it would have mattered if I experienced more of the game in long shots, but the number of close-up focus moments that show jagged jpeg-artifact textures were too many to ignore. Even though the visuals don’t directly affect the gameplay, they’re frustrating to see. Other games on the same hardware look a lot better, so it’s not necessarily the limitations of the Switch hardware. If only they provided a patch with high-resolution textures, then I’d rate this game much higher.
Aside from this visual gripe, I loved a lot of what Pokémon Violet had to offer. The open-world format was something that was long overdue—including being able to see all the nearby Pokémon and decide whether I wanted to fight them. The story (all three parts of it) was superb. All the music was catchy and probably some of the best in the franchise. There were a lot of changes to the standard Pokémon formula in this game, and I think most of them worked flawlessly in advancing the franchise.
A fantastic entry in the Pokémon franchise that suffers from a lack of visual polish, I give Pokémon Violet 3.5 stars out of 5.
Barbie
Year: 2023
Rating: PG-13
Length: 114 minutes / 1.90 hours
I’ll admit that the only reason I watched Barbie (2023) was because Greta Gerwig directed it. I loved her style in Lady Bird (2017) and Little Women (2019). Going into Barbie, I was prepared for a full commentary on feminism, especially through the lens of the “perfect woman” that so many girls grew up with. And while the casting was flawless, there still felt like moments where Barbie could have gone deeper with the subject matter but declined due to pressure from Mattel. Its writing was smart and snappy, but it’s also a movie about a beloved childhood toy.
Of course, a lot of Barbie wouldn’t work if the cast was different. Margot Robbie is the epitome of the classic Barbie look. Ryan Gosling gnaws on the scenery and almost steals the show (thus enforcing the patriarchy, ironically enough). Other standout performances go to Kate McKinnon, Michael Cera, and America Ferrera. That there are two movies about a beloved childhood toy with Will Ferrell as the “business antagonist” is weird enough, but it definitely works for him. It definitely seemed like everyone had a lot of fun making this movie, and it shows.
It’s also interesting how The LEGO Movie (2015) and Barbie become self-aware that they are toys used by children to live out creative fantasies. However, Barbie has a bit more baggage (figuratively and literally) to unpack. Discussing the unfairness of the patriarchy is a heavy burden, and Barbie handles it well at a surface level. Because, ultimately, a pithy plan to distract men and abolish the patriarchy can work in a made-up world like the Barbie universe—but not in the real world. And maybe that’s why I’m a little disappointed. I expected a scathing solution to the systemic problem to come from Greta Gerwig, but the movie ends up playing it safe.
A well-cast, well-written lens through which to examine feminist problems, I give Barbie 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Memory of Earth
Year: 1992
Author: Orson Scott Card
Length: 635 minutes / 10.58 hours
Having read through Orson Scott Card’s science fiction Ender’s Game saga and alternate reality historical fantasy Alvin Maker series, I was comfortable starting a new series from him. The Memory of Earth is the first book in the Homecoming series. As a post-apocalyptic story, there are definitely elements of science fiction and fantasy in this book (however, I wouldn’t quite call it science fantasy). And while there are elements of his writing in the previous series I’ve read that I don’t much care for, I really didn’t like The Memory of Earth.
I’m not sure if this book was so bad due to publisher deadlines or if Card wasn’t getting honest feedback on it. As it stands, everything in this book feels generic. The post-apocalyptic setting has all the annoying “let’s have an in-world complicated name for items from modern technology” tropes that don’t really add anything. The plot itself didn’t stand out as having anything interesting to say other than to set up a better book in the sequel (perhaps). I also didn’t connect with the forgettable characters, which is probably why this fell so flat for me.
The distinguishing feature of Card’s other books has always been the strength of the characters. Ender—and even to an extent, Bean—were characters who had personality. Alvin may have been the god-like author self-insert, but at least there were qualities about him that made him interesting. None of the characters in The Memory of Earth stood out in any significant way. And since I didn’t care about the characters, their endless exposition about some truly interesting ideas fell flat. It really is disappointing because I know Card can do better than this.
A disappointing post-apocalyptic story from Orson Scott Card, I give The Memory of Earth 2.5 stars out of 5.
Air
Year: 2023
Rating: R
Length: 111 minutes / 1.85 hours
As a child of the 90s, I never gave much thought to Nike shoes. They were always this popular brand that—in my child-like brain—would make me run faster and jump higher. I had no idea that the singular reason they were so ubiquitous in my childhood came down to one incredibly risky decision to bet the entire company’s future on a single athlete. That this athlete was Michael Jordan is what made this deal as historic as it was. Air (2023) does a great job of giving the audience a look behind that fateful curtain.
It’s fascinating to me how a third-tier company like Nike used to be below shoe producers like Adidas and Converse. I also had no idea these other companies had the foreign commitment to excellence (Adidas) or star power (Converse) to place them above a company mostly known for jogging activewear. Despite these obvious choices, Air really tells the story of advocacy. Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon) had a gambling addiction, but his experience with big payoffs made him see Jordan’s potential. Of course, nobody saw Michael Jordan’s potential more than his mother, Deloris (Viola Davis).
There’s a lot to recommend Air. It hits that “sports underdog” trope in an interesting way. The plot buildup was riveting—especially when the team came up against problems (like shoe design standards). The weird problem I have with this movie has to do with its all-star cast. These actors have proven to be excellent in their craft in other films. Here, though, it feels a bit distracting to have all these big names together because I don’t see them as the characters they’re playing. Instead, I just see Ben Affleck and Jason Bateman having a conversation with Matt Damon. I see Viola Davis being Viola Davis. Still, despite this odd qualm, I still think Air is a good watch.
A star-studded look at a risky Nike decision, I give Air 4.0 stars out of 5.
Fez
Year: 2012
Rating: E
Time Played: 312 minutes / 5.20 hours
When it comes to indie games, I appreciate how much can be done with minimal graphics. These pixel-based games have a charm that’s difficult to get right but really shines when they’re successful. Fez is such a game. As a puzzle platformer, the genre isn’t original. However, pivoting in 2-D planes to create a 3-D game is an ingenious way to expand the gameplay. Of course, this also makes it a little difficult to keep track of where you are and where you’re going. But with such relaxing visuals and sound design, spending extra time in this game isn’t a bad thing.
There are limitations to the pixelated style that make navigating the half-dozen worlds difficult to memorize. Sure, there are gimmicks in each world that define how you move around it, but knowing where to go to solve a larger puzzle within the game can be challenging. That there are so many branching paths that need backtracking to explore every corner of the Fez universe is both a blessing and a curse. There’s a lot to explore, but you’ll also be going through the same hub locations a lot as well.
With minimal plot, I appreciated the somewhat meta ending that played on how games from decades ago would behave. These games definitely inspired Fez and its visual style hearkens back to the time when you had to use pixelated graphics because that was all the computers could render. After getting to the credits, I had little desire to reach a 100% play-through. There were enough missing items that I knew where they were located, but did not know how to unlock them or get to them. Still, I enjoyed myself playing the amount of the game that I wanted to.
A retro-inspired puzzle platformer with a mind-bending gameplay mechanic, I give Fez 4.0 stars out of 5.
Mission: Impossible—Dead Reckoning (Part 1)
Year: 2023
Rating: PG-13
Length: 163 minutes / 2.72 hours
When it comes to the Mission: Impossible movies, you know what you’re going to get. Tense countdowns. Action set-pieces. Tom Cruise running. Even though the Impossible Mission Force (IMF) has overcome many obstacles in the past, there’s always a question of whether this latest mission will be too much for them. With Mission: Impossible—Dead Reckoning (Part 1) (2023), the threat is so large that this movie only covers half of it. As long as you’re OK with not having a conclusion to the full plot, this movie is fun and full of action.
With Artificial Intelligence (AI) being a current hot topic, using it as the antagonist of this film felt like it fit right into the cultural zeitgeist. Not that AI has been a new villain by any means (as 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) has shown). Considering the (fictional) power of this AI, the Maguffin of the two-piece key to control it was a great way to drive the plot and the action. The ebb and flow of the double and triple crosses provided just enough twists to make the friends and foes always in a state of limbo.
Of course, a Mission: Impossible movie is always going to be a Mission: Impossible movie. I’ve enjoyed them for many years for all the reasons stated above. However, if it’s not your thing, then you’ll probably be bored with the same old car chases, just in different foreign locales. At the very least, the female lead (Hayley Atwell) for this film was an excellent addition to the team, as it came with some weighty decisions on her part. I’m definitely interested to see how they conclude this two-part movie when Mission: Impossible—Dead Reckoning (Part 2) comes out next year.
Another exciting half-entry in the Mission: Impossible franchise, I give Mission: Impossible—Dead Reckoning (Part 1) 4.0 stars out of 5.
Song of Susannah
Year: 2004
Author: Stephen King
Length: 822 minutes / 13.70 hours
Six books into the Dark Tower series, and I’m glad that things are wrapping up. I felt Wolves of the Calla was only as good as it was because it was clearly a ripoff of The Magnificent Seven (1960). And with so many of the books in this series focusing on the men of the ka-tet, it was nice to get a book that mostly focused on Susannah’s experiences. A lot of weird stuff happened in this book, but at least it laid the groundwork for the last entry in the series.
Perhaps the weirdest part of this book was its meta-narrative with Stephen King. I was a little surprised this fourth-wall-breaking move worked as well as it did. Then again, King clearly hinted that this was a possibility in the previous book in the series. Author self-inserts usually take the form of the main character living out the author’s fantasies. However, literal author self-inserts are a little rarer. It also felt like King was trying to remind himself why he started on this Dark Tower series at all, which doesn’t instill a lot of confidence in the reader.
I wasn’t wild about the somewhat cliffhanger ending, but it didn’t matter too much as I knew I could jump into The Dark Tower shortly after finishing this book. It’s mostly frustrating because there are a lot of things that are cut short in this book that clearly will be resolved in the next. Song of Susannah gathered King’s top ideas from his previous works, making it almost a “greatest hits” from his bibliography. That there’s been some good action in books five and six of the series bodes well for the conclusion.
A meta setup for the last book of the Dark Tower series, I give Song of Susannah 4.0 stars out of 5.
RRR
Year: 2022
Rating: Not Rated
Length: 182 minutes / 3.03 hours
While I have watched some of the “classics” of Indian cinema, I haven’t kept up to date on this brand of foreign cinema. Nothing stood out enough for me to seek it out and watch it. That was until a friend of mine suggested I watch RRR (2022). He described it as the most “anime-style live-action movie” he’d ever seen. This intrigued me, so I watched it. He wasn’t wrong. It oozes machismo while also telling a compelling story about fighting against British occupation. And just to make sure that you know it’s an Indian film, there’s a great song and dance sequence that won an Oscar for Best Original Song.
RRR reads a bit more like an American action film, especially in how ridiculous it is. Of course, that’s part of the reason I really love this movie. Sure, there’s a lot of violence, but the creative ways that it’s used made me laugh out loud at least a few times. Even despite its 3-hour runtime, there are enough action set-pieces scattered throughout to make its pacing fast enough to never lose interest. That these action sequences seem to one-up themselves just adds to the enjoyment.
Movies are made from many parts working together, and RRR has all of them working on all cylinders. Acting, directing, cinematography, sound, and music are all superb, thus creating a superb product. Even the CGI animals (which are a little jarring at first) are a great addition in a few pivotal scenes. My only disappointment comes not from the film itself, but that I can’t own it outright. That I have to have Netflix to watch this film at all is a disservice to the masterpiece that everyone should watch.
A magnificent hyper-action movie from India, I give RRR 5.0 stars out of 5.
Golden Sun
Year: 2001
Rating: E
Time Played: ~22 hours
After the initial rise in popularity of Role-Playing Games (RPGs) in the 1990s, there was a bit of a lull in the genre. Square had established itself with hits like the Final Fantasy series and Chrono Trigger, and Game Freak had slightly reinvented the genre with Pokémon. With some of the “golden era” games from this genre coming from the Super Nintendo, it made sense to see the next notable RPG come in the form of Golden Sun on the similarly powerful Game Boy Advance. Using some tropes of the genre, Golden Sun felt original in its combat and class structure.
The introduction of the Djinn mechanic made Golden Sun a blast to play. As pseudo-onetime spells, the Djinn were fun to find in the Overworld and powerful to use in battle. I wasn’t necessarily a fan of how they’d randomly seem to change the class of the characters. The elemental mixtures sometimes made it so I couldn’t use a Djinn (or their summons) because I’d lose an ability I needed to solve Overworld puzzles. I would have appreciated an in-game guide that detailed all the classes I’d unlocked so I’d know which abilities they had and could plan accordingly.
The plot of Golden Sun was pretty standard for RPGs. However, the dungeons were visually well-developed and had interesting puzzle gimmicks. While random encounters are usually annoying in most RPGs, the battle animations in Golden Sun were dynamic and flashy, thus making these fights fun when they happened. Similarly, the boss battles were epic, and felt satisfying when I defeated them. All of this was also accentuated by the game’s music, which is excellent for its time. Overall, anyone who enjoys RPGs (or maybe wants to get into them) would not go wrong with Golden Sun.
The best RPG the Game Boy Advance has to offer, I give Golden Sun 4.5 stars out of 5.
The Sea Beast
Year: 2022
Rating: PG
Length: 115 minutes / 1.92 hours
It’s weird how there’s been such a shift in CG animated films that something like The Sea Beast (2022) feels like they made it years ago. The realism in CGI has reached a point where movies from studios that aren’t Disney, Pixar, or DreamWorks look gorgeous. Since there’s been a leveling of what animated films can look like, the plot has become more important to these kinds of films. Unfortunately, while The Sea Beast looks great, its plot feels derivative of How to Train Your Dragon (2010), just with pirate-like characters instead of Vikings.
That there aren’t a ton of sea-faring stories out there, let alone animated ones, makes The Sea Beast a unique setting. With so many fantasy worlds set in medieval Europe, basing one off the slightly more modern sailing age feels fresh. I’m a little surprised that there weren’t more inventive uses of the technology of that era, since the monsters were much more sizable than the ones from the real-world timeframe. Even the “new technology” that made the hunters obsolete just felt like a standard ship with some increased firepower.
Aside from the main character (voiced by Karl Urban), most of the characters in The Sea Beast didn’t feel particularly memorable. I appreciated some of the hinted backstories for the characters without diving deep into flashbacks, but that should be standard world-building for any fantasy world like this. I’m not wild about plots that make advancements in technology (which might save lives in hazardous situations) out as villains. However, the only reason it’s really acceptable here is due to the other cliché plot about nature only being dangerous when it’s threatened by humans. Still, if you can ignore some of these things, The Sea Beast is a fun adventure.
A somewhat derivative but gorgeously animated adventure, I give The Sea Beast 3.5 stars out of 5.
A River Runs Through It
Year: 1976
Author: Norman Maclean
Length: 236 minutes / 3.93 hours
I love how books can give insight into things we might not otherwise know. How, when someone “writes what they know” in an autobiographical sense, the reader gets to experience that slice of their life. I’m not interested in fishing—in any of its styles. And yet, A River Runs Through It gave such a clear picture of what it’s like to go fly-fishing that I felt like I had actually experienced it. I’m still not interested in trying it in real life, but now I feel like I get it.
Of course, A River Runs Through It isn’t entirely about fly-fishing. There are other universal themes, like fatherhood, brotherhood, sonship, and unity with nature. I can also appreciate that there is a Christian tilt to the main character without being judgmental of the choices his family has made. This unconditional love speaks to what Christianity is all about. That’s not to say that the actions of his family aren’t frustrating to read about, it’s just that going fly-fishing is something that washes away any bad blood.
While it’s a quick read, A River Runs Through It doesn’t need much to convey the author’s genuine attitude toward life. Because it’s not about the details of actually fly-fishing that reveal how knowledgeable Maclean is at the sport. There weren’t any facades that tried to paint the main character as a saint. All the characters had flaws, just some were more obvious than others. An accurate examination of an individual’s life says more about what they’ve accepted than what they wish they’d wanted to be. And perhaps being in the “natural environment” where they’re the most comfortable is the whole point of this book.
A heartfelt love letter to family and fly-fishing, I give A River Runs Through It 4.0 stars out of 5.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
Year: 2022
Rating: PG
Length: 104 minutes / 1.73 hours
It’s honestly been so long since there have been any movies from the Shrek franchise. I had almost forgotten Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022) was a sequel to a spinoff that came out 11 years ago. Animation has changed a lot in that time, and this movie shows that traditional CGI animated fare is now following a much different look. Even with the change in animation style, The Last Wish excels at the thing that made the Shrek movies great: unique takes on well-known fairy tales.
It surprised me how dark parts of this film were, considering its target audience. When the titular character has to come to terms with his own mortality in the form of death as a deadly sickle-wielding wolf, it gets perhaps a bit too scary for younger children. Sure, there are comic relief characters like Perrito (Harvey Guillén) to lighten the mood. However, I don’t know if I’ve run across an animated film quite like this that deals with hubris (among other heavy topics) in a way that children could understand.
With the MacGuffin of the “Last Wish,” the plot moved at a pretty good pace until the third act. Perhaps there were too many subplots to wrap up. Between the fundamental conflict of Puss (Antonio Banderas) wanting his lost lives back, Goldi (Florence Pugh) wanting her biological family back, and Jack Horner (John Mulaney) wanting raw power, there was a lot to resolve. And even the resolutions we got felt cliche for the setups they had. Still, this film is another great example of the sequel being better than the original. At the very least, it’s more memorable.
A creative take on fairy tales and weighty subject matter, I give Puss in Boots: The Last Wish 4.0 stars out of 5.
Mega Man X Dive
Year: 2020
Rating: T
Time Played: 23,340 minutes / 389.00 hours
Having played almost every single Mega Man X game, the one thing I felt was missing from these games is the variety of player characters. Sure, you can start playing as Zero in Mega Man X4 and as Axl in Mega Man X7. You can even play as Vile in Maverick Hunter X (a Mega Man X remaster). But what if you could play as the Mavericks? Heck, what if you could play as Mega Man from other Mega Man franchises? Mega Man X Dive delivered on this premise.
As a free-to-play mobile gatcha game, most of the gameplay was rather shallow once you’d gotten through all of it. The new content wasn’t much different from previous events, boss rushes, or speedrun challenges. At a certain point, all I was doing was collecting resources to power up the characters and weapons I had obtained. I’m disappointed that the end-of-service is likely on the horizon since the Taiwan server closed down recently. I’m not sure I want to start over with Mega Man X Dive Offline since I sunk so much time into this game already.
Still, for a franchise that Capcom seems to have forgotten about, I had fun playing “Mega Man X lite” while it lasted. The crossover characters with Monster Hunter, Devil May Cry, and Street Fighter were a lot of fun. And yes, there was likely a bit too much fan service for the handful of female characters that were canonically in the Mega Man franchise. But in the end, I expected as much for a free-to-play mobile gatcha game. Maybe if the Offline version of the game gets deeply discounted, I’ll pick it up again.
An OK game to satiate starving Mega Man fans, I give Mega Man X Dive 3.0 stars out of 5.
Nimona
Year: 2023
Rating: PG
Length: 101 minutes / 1.68 hours
It’s funny how I initially read about Nimona (2023) as an upcoming animated film on Netflix, which inspired me to read the graphic novel, which itself made me watch the animated film when it came out. And while the movie was good, it was missing some of what made the graphic novel great. But that’s always going to be the challenge of adapting a book into a movie. Using the source material as inspiration helped make this film a tight story that works for the medium.
Sure, I would have liked to have seen an animated film in the distinctive style of the graphic novel. The emotions and climax didn’t have enough time to get deep enough—like they did on the printed page. Still, I can accept that movies like The Shining (1980), Ready Player One (2018), and Nimona are distinct and different, but just as good as the books they’re based on. An exact adaptation is pointless when the source material already performed this service. Nimona hit the right amount of frenetic action and visual gags that could only work in the animated format.
As a PG-rated movie, they replaced the edgy bits of the graphic novel with some childish jokes to appeal to a younger audience. Even so, Nimona (Chloë Grace Moretz) was wonderfully sadistic and her “evil” expressions made me laugh out loud. Overall, the voice acting was superb, and the animation was clean—or at least as clean as the recent trend of “stylized” animation can be. Is it as game-changing as the book? Not really, but it’s a fun film to watch. And, as I said in my review of the book, the more science fantasy stories we have like this in the world, the better.
A fun animated film inspired by the graphic novel of the same name, I give Nimona 4.0 stars out of 5.
How to Make Your Baby an Internet Celebrity
Year: 2014
Author: Rick Chillot
Length: 128 pages
I’m starting to think that these satirical “how-to” books genuinely only have one joke. If you’ve read the title and a few pages, you get the joke. Books like How to Talk to Your Cat About Gun Safety or How to Traumatize Your Children wear out their singular joke much too fast. While How to Make Your Baby an Internet Celebrity doesn’t have a lot of depth, at least it has cute pictures and diagrams of babies.
Humor books with a “bit” like the ones mentioned above are usually better when they fully commit. That’s why I prefer The Baby Owner’s Manual for its ability to translate raising a baby into car mechanic terms. How to Make Your Baby an Internet Celebrity isn’t quite that clever, since you might read it not knowing it’s satire and try these techniques on your own baby. And perhaps my appreciation of satirical humor comes when it’s so ridiculous that you can’t take it seriously. I’d almost wager that there are some people out there blogging about this very topic and are very serious about it.
With the fast growth of the internet age, one thing that becomes clear here is how this book feels dated almost a decade after it was released. On the flip side, it’s almost prescient in its examination of how algorithms control almost everything we see on the internet nowadays. Almost as a case in point, half of this book is filled with cute pictures of babies. If the satire doesn’t quite hit, at least you get to see professional pictures of adorable children.
One-joke satire that’s half-saved by its cute pictures, I give How to Make Your Baby an Internet Celebrity 3.0 stars out of 5.
Zero Dark Thirty
Year: 2012
Rating: R
Length: 157 minutes / 2.62 hours
There are a few key moments from cinema that stick with me, even years after watching them for the first time. Zero Dark Thirty (2012) is a little frustrating to watch, but I suppose that’s the whole point. Maya Harris (Jessica Chastain) had to deal with excessive government bureaucracy to avenge the United States after September 11th. That the last 30 minutes of this movie is the most gripping sequence I’ve ever seen is a testament to the payoff for two hours of buildup.
What strikes me with this film is how raw it feels. It’s unflinching in its depiction of torture. It doesn’t hesitate to show that the U.S. would do anything to get back at those who killed so many on American soil. The problem is that it seems to insinuate that continuing in this extreme manner would have brought the eventual result a lot sooner. These red tape holdups were there to prevent Americans from becoming terrorists themselves—at least in the eyes of the public and the world. Don’t get me wrong, it makes for a thrilling watch despite being uncomfortable to watch.
The problem with all the setbacks Maya encountered in her quest to find Osama Bin Laden was that it made this movie perhaps 30 minutes too long. The second act seems to drag as everyone around her loses interest in her objective. It’s great that she’s stubborn enough to persist so we could get that fantastic ending. However, the trigger for this operation seemed to come out of nowhere. The stars finally aligned for Maya to get the support she needed, but it felt so sudden as to make me wonder what changed in leadership to allow it to happen.
A gripping third act preceded by the fight against U.S. bureaucracy, I give Zero Dark Thirty 3.5 stars out of 5.
Hue
Year: 2016
Rating: E
Time Played: 270 minutes / 4.50 hours
The strength of a 2-D puzzle platformer boils down to how well its gimmick works. In this genre, you move from point A to point B and collect items in tough spots for an added challenge. It’s how BoxBoy! + BoxGirl! works, and it’s how Gris works. If the puzzle aspect is lacking, then the game just becomes a platformer. And making an interesting platformer is its own challenge. Fortunately, Hue has a well-done puzzle gimmick. Using colors to solve puzzles also gave this game a natural difficulty curve that was satisfying to complete.
I’ll applaud Hue for having some semblance of a plot that explains why changing the colors of the background is the main mechanic. I’m not wild about the student falling in love with her professor, though. It’s also obvious that these sections of exposition could have easily been edited out since they occur in corridors that are just long enough for the narrator to finish speaking. Yes, the story was nice, but sometimes just having a 2-D puzzle platformer is enough without having to explain why it is the way it is.
I felt the length of this game was just about right. I’m sure I probably could have spent a lot more time backtracking to find all the hidden items, but just getting to the end was enough for me. The color change mechanic was creative, and playing on my Steam Deck made it easier to control compared to using a keyboard and mouse. With each new color unlocked, the puzzles became more complex but it also became harder to hit the right color as quickly as I needed while platforming. Still, it’s an enjoyable game and worth a playthrough for anyone who likes the genre.
A well-done 2-D puzzle platformer gimmick, I give Hue 4.0 stars out of 5.
Oppenheimer
Year: 2023
Rating: R
Length: 180 minutes / 3.00 hours
Christopher Nolan’s filmography has been building to this movie. Over decades, Nolan has had gimmicks in his films that make them stand out. Oppenheimer (2023) uses many of them to create a compelling story that’s half scientific discovery and half political drama. That a movie like this—about unleashing the Pandora’s box of nuclear weapons—hadn’t been made like this before is perhaps the more impressive feat. The way Nolan weaves the two halves of the story together is masterful. However, the actors definitely do a lot of heavy lifting here.
It took me a second viewing to piece together that the black-and-white segments followed Lewis Strauss (Robert Downey Jr.) while the color segments focused on J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy). This visual stylization hearkened back to the way Nolan made Memento (2000) unique. The shifted timelines between the black-and-white/color segments evoked Dunkirk (2017)., I’m just glad that I could actually understand what everyone was saying, unlike in Tenet (2020). Ultimately, the way Nolan films his movies with practical effects adds a layer of realism that can’t be faked. The emotional realization of what they had just released on the world still gives me chills.
Of course, the style and way a movie looks can only take it so far toward greatness. The actors in Oppenheimer all turned in excellent performances. It would surprise me if Robert Downey Jr. and Cillian Murphy didn’t receive nominations for acting Oscars when awards season hits. Similarly, Emily Blunt and Florence Pugh helped to showcase the scientist’s womanizing tendencies. Even the minor characters like Niels Bohr (Kenneth Branagh), General Groves (Matt Damon), and Ernest Lawrence (Josh Hartnett) were portrayed to their fullest. Overall, Oppenheimer is a timeless film that builds upon Christopher Nolan’s already successful cinematic career.
An all-star acting tour de force backed by Nolan’s brilliant directing, I give Oppenheimer 5.0 stars out of 5.
Nimona
Year: 2015
Author: N.D. Stevenson
Length: 266 pages
It’s a rare treat to find a graphic novel with well-rounded characters, an interesting story, and an art style that has range. Even if it started as a webcomic, Nimona shows a surprising amount of depth for the medium. Sure, some of the early parts were clearly encapsulated in a serial format, but they were a quick way to introduce the characters and setting. When the story has some room to grow, it gets even better. It’s definitely a page-turner, and I devoured it as fast as I could.
The heart of Nimona is its characters. Flipping the hero’s journey on its head and focusing on the villain’s perspective was a fun touch. Nimona’s chaotic nature was a fun contrast to Lord Ballister Blackheart, who just wanted to do his villainous revenge alone. Perhaps the biggest surprise was how naturally the book handles LGBTQ+ themes. None of it felt forced or odd, even in a science fantasy setting. It was just there, with no winking nods or awkward attention brought to it. Then again, it was also a fantastic adaptation of the “enemies to lovers” trope—or would it be “lovers to enemies”?
As someone who likes to write science fantasy stories, I absolutely loved the science fantasy setting. It has all the trappings of a medieval time, just with video chats, laser guns, and dragons co-existing in a way that makes perfect sense. This is the kind of thing I can completely get behind. If anything, I hope this book inspires more writers to jump into this genre, as I desperately want to read more books like this. It’s like the best parts of sci-fi and fantasy brought together in an awesome (but also deeply moving) story.
A science fantasy graphic novel with excellent characters, story, and art, I give Nimona 5.0 stars out of 5.
Asteroid City
Year: 2023
Rating: PG-13
Length: 105 minutes / 1.75 hours
At this point, when I see a Wes Anderson film, I know what I’m getting. Not just the visual aesthetic or the almost monotone line delivery from every actor. Instead, there’s a framing that either brings the disparate narrative together (like in The French Dispatch (2021)) or acts as a lens (like in The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)). Now that we’re almost 10 years into this phase of narrative framing (with a few exceptions like Isle of Dogs (2018)), it’s finally gotten to the point of being distracting.
Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love the base story that’s being told in Asteroid City (2023). It hearkens back to some of Anderson’s earlier works that dealt with the death of a loved one (a la The Darjeeling Limited (2007)). The science fair subplot was fun, and the whole military lockdown of the second half was entertaining. Just by itself, the core plot of Asteroid City—while perhaps too short for a full-length feature—is a great movie that pulls in all of Anderson’s tropes. Again, I know what I’m getting into with his movies, and this one is no exception.
My only problem with this film is its framing. There was only one segment from the framing that made me laugh out loud (partly because of Bryan Cranston’s perfect delivery). These segments almost felt too patronizing. Like, Wes Anderson wanted to be sure he got some heady points across to the audience, so he made them in dramatic black-and-white to emphasize what he was trying to say. These feel jarring and I don’t think they really add anything other than an extra layer to distance the audience from the ridiculous nature of alien contact. If only he was confident with the core concept, it might have been a better film.
An entertaining Wes Anderson film with some unnecessary framing, I give Asteroid City 3.5 stars out of 5.
Mega Man Star Force 2: Zerker X Saurian
Year: 2008
Rating: E
Time Played: 1,055 minutes / 17.58 hours
After playing through the first Mega Man Star Force game, the experience underwhelmed me. I absolutely loved the Mega Man Battle Network games, so I figured this “evolution” of the formula would still keep my interest. Unfortunately, after two games of this, they haven’t won me over. Sure, some mechanics that made the Battle Network games fun find a home here in the sequel, but the whole series just feels so far separated from the original series as to not even be related.
I think some of what attracted me to the Battle Network series was the link between it and the robot masters of the original series. In the Star Force series, the enemies have either been based on constellations (as in the first game) or mythical creatures (as in this game). Neat themes, sure, but they don’t link to my inherent Mega Man nostalgia. I actually stopped playing this game for quite a few months before forcing myself to pick it up again and finish the main story.
Ironically enough, it wasn’t until I “unlocked” most of the secret codes present in the game that it actually became fun to play. I loved the little transformations that Mega Man could do in this game, as it was a quick boost to the power levels and evoked the style-change mechanic from the Battle Network days. Sure, the second half of the game lacked much of the challenge that had caused me to put it down in the first place, but at least I was enjoying myself again. I’ll still probably be a completionist and play the next (and gladly, last) game in this series, but not until I forget about playing this one.
More of the same Star Force gameplay without many improvements, I give Mega Man Star Force 2: Zerker X Saurian 2.5 stars out of 5.
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
Year: 2006
Rating: R
Length: 84 minutes / 1.40 hours
As far as mockumentary films go, Borat (2006) is at least in the top five. It may have not been as groundbreaking as This Is Spinal Tap (1984), but its use of real people’s reactions to a parody of Eastern European stereotypes still shocks today. Perhaps having experienced some of the American sub-cultures that were mocked is what makes those parts of this film funny to me. It certainly has its gross-out moments, but Sacha Baron Cohen’s performance is iconic.
I think what makes Borat one of the best mockumentary films is its unscripted nature. Sure, they wrote Borat’s dialogue in such a way as to provoke people (or get them to open up about their own racism/sexism/homophobia). However, the responses from these people feel completely genuine. The ones who accept Sacha Baron Cohen’s bit and try to play their part straight are perhaps the funniest moments in the movie. Plus, I don’t know if I can trust ice cream trucks after watching this.
While a lot of this movie is funny, the sexual and scatological jokes haven’t aged that well. I never cared for the extended sequence of two naked men wrestling through a hotel when I watched this movie the first time, anyway. For such a short film, some sequences seem to go on a bit too long past the point of being funny. I wonder if they just left the camera rolling long enough for these people to incriminate themselves and didn’t want to cut anything from that footage. At any rate, this mockumentary borders on an unflinching documentary of cringe-worthy American sub-cultures. And if we can’t laugh at ourselves, then maybe we’re taking a movie like Borat too seriously.
An unscripted mockumentary that ranks in the best of the genre, I give Borat 4.0 stars out of 5.
Solutions and Other Problems
Year: 2020
Author: Allie Brosh
Length: 519 pages
My first introduction to Allie Brosh’s work—as I’m sure is the case for many—was the “all the things” meme. For those looking for more depth from these drawings, look no further than the humorous illustrated memoir, Solutions and Other Problems. I have never quite read a book like this. When I picked it up off the shelf, I was expecting a graphic novel, only to be surprised with big chunks of text between illustrations. Clearly, the best of both worlds here. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll be glad you read this book.
While it might be easy to discount the simple drawing style at first glance, many illustrations in this book prove to be quite exquisite. The stories themselves, which are not all silly or humorous, aid this distinction. Solutions and Other Problems subverted my expectations by being both hilarious and deeply profound. I’ve never read a book that had both a story about an obsessed kid stealing things from a neighbor’s house and an examination of loss and depression. And yet, they both work in this context.
As these essays are deeply personal, I can say I don’t particularly agree with some of the choices presented here. And that’s fine. Everyone is different, and these are definitely the stories the author wanted to convey. I just don’t want to endorse this book without providing the caveat that I probably wouldn’t do things the way the author did them. Still, if you’re going through some tough times, then perhaps this book will help break through to you with its humor while also comforting you with the idea that your feelings are valid and shared by other people.
The best half-graphic novel/half-memoir I’ve ever read, I give Solutions and Other Problems 4.0 stars out of 5.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Year: 2023
Rating: PG
Length: 140 minutes / 2.33 hours
Without fail, I have watched wildly successful movies gain sequels that were too big for just one movie. The latest entry in this Trilogy Conundrum is none other than the animated Spider-Verse series. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) was a stylish and refreshing animated film that won the Best Animated Feature Oscar. Its sequel, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023), is equally good in both storytelling and animation. However, the size of such a story being stretched over two films affected some of this movie’s pacing.
I am increasingly becoming a fan of the “stylized” animated movies like Into the Spider-Verse and Across the Spider-Verse. Pixar can show how realistic CGI animation can be, but I found truly creative CGI animation in other studios like this one. This “cartoony” style lends itself to the humor of the fight between Miles (Shameik Moore) and Spot (Jason Schwartzman). It’s also versatile enough to be serious when it needs to be. If anything, it is able to highlight the visual differences between the different universes.
Superfans of the Spider-Man franchise likely got tons of references from decades of Spider-Man iterations. Even if this is your first introduction to the character, it’s likely you already know about the “canon events” that make up the central theme of this movie. Although it was enjoyable to see Spider-Man in different settings, the film’s second half was sluggish as it built up to the next movie’s premise. Not knowing where they were going to cut to a “To Be Continued” card made the last bit seem endless. Still, I’m excited to watch the last part of this trilogy since the first two parts have been solid.
A solid Trilogy Conundrum entry in the Spider-Verse saga, I give Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse 4.5 stars out of 5.
Spirit of the North
Year: 2020
Rating: E
Time Played: 458 minutes / 7.63 hours
Spirit of the North is a game about death, rebirth, and the beauty of Iceland. Without knowing much about it, I selected this as the next game my daughter and I would play through since it had no dialogue and seemed to be fairly straightforward. And while I was worried that the random corpses littering the game’s levels might scare her, I don’t think she fully understood what they were as we played. I enjoyed the ambiance of the music and the beautiful scenery, but the game had some issues.
While the beautiful scenery was quite immersive, any time the fox interacted with any of it, the graphics felt dated, like PlayStation 2-era graphics. It was also difficult to control the fox at times, especially when requiring precise jumps to reach secret areas. I also found the portions in the caverns/caves were extremely dark, to the point of being unable to see where I was going or what I was doing in those areas. Added on top of all of this, there were at least two or three times when I got stuck and could not figure out how to progress, which made me resort to watching a few playthroughs just to progress.
It’s a little odd that such a linear game like this would provide any challenge. I understand the need to control how the levels progressed, but I almost feel a small open-world concept could have been more engaging. Still, some puzzles and platforming sections were clever in a way that evoked Metroidvania mechanics. I also appreciated the non-verbal narrative that explored topics of death and rebirth that I could then share with my daughter.
A beautiful game that was difficult to play, I give Spirit of the North 3.0 stars out of 5.
Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3
Year: 2023
Rating: PG-13
Length: 150 minutes / 2.50 hours
Ever since the original Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), it felt like this corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) was left to do its own thing. These movies didn’t have many cameos or connections to the larger MCU except for introducing characters who fought in the Avengers films. Perhaps because of this level of separation from the core MCU, the Guardians of the Galaxy movies have felt more stable tonally than the rest of the MCU films. You can probably thank James Gunn for that.
While I consider the first Guardians movie to be one of the best superhero (or even sci-fi) films ever made, Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 (2017) diving into Peter Quill’s (Chris Pratt) origins wasn’t quite up to snuff. And while Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3 (2023) is another origin story, it felt more impactful than its predecessor. After all, the one character of the group we didn’t have any in-depth background on was Rocket (Bradley Cooper). This film remedies that in a way that’s both emotional and a fitting cap on the adventures of the original Guardians group.
In the post-Endgame MCU, movies like this feel rare. Sure, there’s room for more adventures for this new group of Guardians, but wrapping up character arcs is a much more impressive feat. Letting things come to a natural end without forcing any hints of the next tie-in or cameo was refreshing. The villain also felt unique but threatening. It was also nice to get a more realistic resolution to the relationship between Peter and Gamora (Zoe Saldana)—kind of like at the end of Broadcast News (1987). Overall, the Guardians films are great by themselves, which Volume 3 epitomizes.
A fitting and distinct wrap-up for the original Guardians, I give Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3 4.0 stars out of 5.
Sword of Destiny
Year: 1992
Author: Andrzej Sapkowski
Length: 768 minutes / 12.80 hours
In the second collection of short stories that start the Witcher saga, Sword of Destiny helps to further broaden the setting and characters that would eventually be used in Blood of Elves. Following somewhat chronologically and expanding upon ideas first covered in The Last Wish, this collection continues to flesh out characters like Geralt and Yennifer while also introducing characters like Ciri. While they’re fine stories by themselves, they pale in comparison to long-form novels like Blood of Elves, mainly because of their episodic nature.
I applaud author Andrzej Sapkowski for using these short stories to introduce the world-building of the Witcher series. While some writers might just make character sheets for their characters, he actually puts them in interesting situations to see what they would do. From a writing standpoint, I’d recommend this method of concept development as it gives certain edge cases or rarer character interactions to see where the limits of the characters lie. After all, figuring out what works in short form helps the longer pieces feel grounded. It helps when there are such strong characters to work with, though.
My only qualm with this collection was that nothing was particularly memorable. Sure, if I had read this before Blood of Elves, I might feel differently. As it is, I already know how Geralt handles himself, what drives Yennifer, and how Ciri has more going for her than even she knows. Since I’m writing this review many months later, I had to remind myself what even happened in it. Some stories in this book were covered in the first season of the Netflix adaptation, which made remembering them easier. Still, it’s a solid collection and should be required reading for anyone who wants to get into the Witcher series.
Another great, but hardly memorable, collection of short stories, I give Sword of Destiny 3.5 stars out of 5.
Cocaine Bear
Year: 2023
Rating: R
Length: 95 minutes / 1.58 hours
Back when I was in college, the most ridiculous concept for a movie was none other than Snakes on a Plane (2006). Now, almost 20 years later, the only movie that comes close to that level of ridiculous plot is Cocaine Bear (2023). Of course, being a ridiculous premise doesn’t make it a good movie by any means. Not even the fact that it’s loosely based on true events can help its lack of plot. But how much plot can you really fit into “bear snorts a ton of cocaine”?
Part of the problem with Cocaine Bear is that it doesn’t quite lean into the ridiculousness. There are too many moments that try to play the situation as seriously as possible. Despite all the stupid death scenes, there weren’t nearly as many knowing winks toward the camera to make it into a violent dark comedy. Instead, Cocaine Bear sits in this weird limbo of not being taken seriously while also holding tight onto the “true events” designator. If it went in either direction, it might have been a better film.
It’s also astonishing to me that this movie was only 95 minutes long. There were at least three separate plotlines, which felt like maybe two plotlines too many. The unfocused nature of the narrative jumping back and forth between park rangers, drug dealers, and (un)happy campers left me feeling bored. For a movie as short as this and a premise ripe for escalating into a cocaine-fueled fight to the death, I was not expecting to look at my watch as many times as I did. Sure, the movie has some novelty for bringing unbelievable events to the big screen, but that’s about it.
A surprisingly boring film about a drug addict bear killing people, I give Cocaine Bear 3.0 stars out of 5.
Pokémon Rumble World
Year: 2016
Rating: E10+
Time Played: 10,653 minutes / 177.55 hours
When I first got my Nintendo 3DS in 2016, I downloaded all the free games I could. As a Pokémon fan, I was glad to have such titles as Pokémon Picross and Pokémon Shuffle to satiate my need for puzzle games. I also downloaded Pokémon Rumble World. As the free-to-play version of the game, there were a lot of things locked behind currency that took an incredibly long time to access. The game wanted you to spend enough money to buy the game (at full price) so you could access everything.
As is the case with any Pokémon game, Pokémon Rumble World focuses on the “catch them all” aspect. Each balloon you unlock lets you visit a randomly selected area with a specific elemental theme (e.g., volcano, beach, castle, factory, etc.). By battling hordes of the Pokémon found in these areas, they occasionally become “wobbly” and are caught once fainted in this state. As a Gen VI spinoff, this game includes the Mega Evolution mechanics that occasionally prove useful if you have a powerful enough Pokémon that can use it.
With cute little Pokémon sprites, Pokémon Rumble World was a chore to play. Sure, there were some battles with powerful legendary Pokémon that were intense, and the “story mode” (such as it is) provided its own challenge. However, the grind to build up the powers of the Pokémon—let alone to get the chance to catch powerful ones—dragged out this simplistic game much further than I would have liked. Sure, I dumped an embarrassingly huge amount of time into this game because I’m stubborn about not spending any money on a free-to-play game. It doesn’t mean I enjoyed it.
A grinding chore of a Pokémon spinoff, I give Pokémon Rumble World 2.5 stars out of 5.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Year: 2023
Rating: PG
Length: 92 minutes / 1.53 hours
I’ll admit that I was skeptical about this movie going in. Some of the casting decisions were questionable, but I also knew Nintendo would have a much tighter hold on their intellectual property after Super Mario Bros. (1993). An animated take on a simple video game concept was the better way to go, but I also know Illumination has a reputation for somewhat “cheap” CGI movies. All this being said—nostalgia is a heck of a drug. The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) is bright, colorful, and a lot of fun to watch.
I felt like the character designs were definitely on-point—which wasn’t hard to do when Nintendo already has 3D models of almost every character that appeared in this movie (something the previous attempt at this movie did not have). While the plot was simple, it’s not like a game from 1985 really had that much plot to go off, anyway. If anything, they had to add a lot (like the Mario Kart segment) to pad out the runtime to be long enough. I also felt the choice of songs not from the video games ruined the feel of the movie for the portions where they were included. Either the songs clashed tonally with what was going on or were so cliché as to be groan-worthy.
Still, as a long-time fan of Nintendo, I appreciated all the little details that the team added. Whether you’ve played the old stuff or the newer games, there were probably quite a few references that you’d get. And while I had my doubts about some voices, a few—like Jack Black as Bowser—really nailed the feel of the characters. They played the nostalgia factor up quite a bit, but overall it was a fun popcorn flick.
A fairly good adaptation of a fairly simple game, I give The Super Mario Bros. Movie 3.5 stars out of 5.
The Legion of Regrettable Supervillains
Year: 2016
Author: Jon Morris
Length: 256 pages
With the success of comic book movies in the last decade, it’s sometimes hard to forget that these films don’t explore all of what the pulpy medium offered. The rise in popularity of comics in a few different “eras” inevitably led to saturation in the medium. When something becomes saturated, creators don’t care as much about what they’re putting out, since everything sells. This is how a book like The Legion of Regrettable Supervillains can collect quite a few foes that were better left forgotten.
If there’s anything this book does well, it’s showing how simple and bland the early years of comics were. Perhaps I’m just used to the modern era that’s had decades to figure out which superheroes and supervillains work best. Many of the early comic villains are forgettable, indicating a lack of imagination on the part of their creators. Unfortunately, since this book collects a lot of these villains in one place, it is boring to get through. After a few pages of supervillain puns, I got the “joke” this book was trying to make. And it just kept going.
While I understand organizing this book chronologically showed how these regrettable supervillains evolved over the years, I think it might have had more variety if it just stuck to being exclusively alphabetical. After all, it would have kept my attention a little better if I learned about a villain like Lepus before being reminded that M.O.D.O.K. exists. Perhaps my surface-level interest in comic books (especially the classics) is why it took me a while to get through this book. Still, if you want to be a super-fan of this medium, you might already know about Doctor Voodoo, which might make this humorous commentary on him a moot point.
A slightly amusing gimmick that highlights the lack of early comic book creativity, I give The Legion of Regrettable Supervillains 3.0 stars out of 5.
Léon: The Professional
Year: 1994
Rating: R
Length: 110 minutes / 1.83 hours
There’s something oddly satisfying about watching a professional do their job. The ease with which these people do the thing they’ve trained extensively to do is almost mesmerizing. While this usually applies to creative types, with Luc Besson’s Léon: The Professional (1994), a skilled assassin is equally fun to observe. What makes this movie endearing is the simple life that the titular Léon (Jean Reno) lives. Additionally, the performances by Natalie Portman and Gary Oldman shine through here in some uncomfortable ways that make this movie both timeless and of its time.
While the action sequences in Léon: The Professional are top-notch, the characters make the movie so much better. Since most people never encounter a professional assassin, there’s just this assumption that they’re always out killing people. Instead, there’s understandable caution and an almost savant level of adherence to rules that keep these professional killers alive to cash in on the next death they’re hired to accomplish. That Léon would risk his safety to rescue Matilda (a young Natalie Portman) showed that he wasn’t a heartless murderer. And while Léon is skilled at killing, knowing that he has weaknesses when it comes to reading and money makes him a well-rounded character.
Still, seeing Portman and Oldman early in their careers is worth the watch here. I constantly quote Oldman’s “Everyone!” even if the reality of his character highlights the corruption of government law enforcement. Similarly, Portman delivers an impressive performance that feels like it crosses the line between a girl crushing on an older man and something much more inappropriate for a girl of her age. In the end, Léon: The Professional is an entertaining film and a must-watch for anyone who likes these actors or the works of Luc Besson.
Superb performances that highlight the simple life of an assassin, I give Léon: The Professional 4.0 stars out of 5.
Alba: A Wildlife Adventure
Year: 2020
Rating: E
Time Played: 193 minutes / 3.22 hours
As I go through my backlog of free games I received from the Epic Games store, I’ve been trying to find games I can play with my daughter. Alba: A Wildlife Adventure seemed like it would be a good fit for us to play together, and It certainly was. Alba is a fairly simple game and doesn’t take that long to play all the way through. In fact, I 100% cleared the game in the almost three-and-a-half hours we played together.
Set on an Iberian island, Alba follows the adventures of the titular character who is spending some of her summer with her grandparents. With her handy smartphone, Alba must collect pictures of all the different wildlife on the island, filling up a digital field guide in the process. Along the way, Alba must help clean up the island and repair the wildlife preserve that was closed after a suspicious fire. The simple art design and controls made for a charming play-through, even if its re-playability level is low.
My only qualm with the game is the somewhat heavy-handed and cliche resort developer plotline. I know it’s probably closer to real life than I’d like to admit. It just feels overdone like it came out of a Saturday Morning cartoon from the 80s or 90s. If anything, there seemed to be some nuance from the residents of the island, who could see the benefit of a resort bringing much-needed tourist money to the island despite the conservation area being destroyed to do so. In the end, though, the title character collected all the pictures of animals and saved the day, showing how we need to live in harmony with nature around us.
A short and charming game about conservation, I give Alba: A Wildlife Adventure 4.0 stars out of 5.
Tetris
Year: 2023
Rating: R
Length: 118 minutes / 1.97 hours
Every time I hear a movie is being made based on a video game that doesn’t have any story, I always wonder what those movies are going to be about. With Tetris (2023), the plot centers on the distribution rights for the titular puzzle game. While it’s interesting to see what happened to bring Tetris to its status as a worldwide cultural icon in gaming, the film really just boils down to the legal and international gymnastics that needed to occur. The Cold War setting did much of the heavy lifting for the suspense, but we already know how things turned out.
I’m still confused about who this film was for. It seemed like they were trying to appeal to gamers by showing the history of one of the founding games of the industry. However, providing little pixel art cuts to explain how distribution rights for a video game were different between the arcade and home console versions seemed more patronizing to gamers than something that added to the movie. Even if this movie was meant to appeal to people who like legal drama, there was a lot of back-and-forth and waiting around as people “raced” to bring this game to market.
The only interesting development that this movie showed was the legal loophole that was found when Nintendo started making handheld video game systems. And if you want to glorify the man who leaned forward and ignored the rules to get this game out of the USSR, then this movie is for you. For me, it didn’t seem as interesting as I was expecting it to be, and my expectations were already pretty low for a movie about a 1980s puzzle game.
A legal drama with a slight video game veneer, I give Tetris 3.0 stars out of 5.
Michael Strogoff: Courier to the Czar
Year: 1876
Author: Jules Verne
Length: 416 pages
While we mostly know Jules Verne for his science fiction stories, it’s hard to miss the fact that his books are also quite adventurous. Even though Michael Strogoff: Courier to the Czar isn’t one of his famous works, it may be one of his best. This book was something my father wanted his children to appreciate, and now that I’ve read it a few more times, I truly understand how ahead of its time it was.
Even if Michael Strogoff isn’t explicitly a science fiction novel, Jules Verne still sneaks plenty of science into this race across Russia to save the life of the Czar’s brother. Of course, since it is an adventure novel, Michael Strogoff certainly has a lot of adventure between Moscow and Irkutsk, with some scenes feeling like they were pulled out of a modern action film. The tension of sneaking behind enemy lines to deliver an important message never lets up. I don’t want to give too much away, but there are quite a few well-written twists that show Verne’s mastery of this “Russian James Bond.”
Of course, there are still some tropes that are an artifact of the time when it was written. Cultural stereotypes are present and the age difference between Michael (a 30-year-old man) and Nadia (a 16-year-old girl) is uncomfortable considering how the story ends. Also, Verne describes Michael as this specimen of a man that borders on eye-rolling machismo. Still, there are plenty of interesting characters, including Alcide Jolivet and Harry Blount, who provide some humor in an otherwise serious adventure. If you like Jules Verne books, you’d definitely like Michael Strogoff.
A hidden gem of a Jules Verne adventure, I give Michael Strogoff: Courier to the Czar 4.5 stars out of 5.
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
Year: 2023
Rating: PG-13
Length: 134 minutes / 2.23 hours
I have a lot of hobbies and interests that are considered “nerdy.” Partly because of this, I have avoided Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) so that I am not fully subsumed by the culture. Despite this evasion, I have still picked up enough lingo and understanding of D&D to not be completely lost when watching Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023). I think, even without this loose knowledge of the tabletop role-playing game, this movie is a great heist film with a fantasy setting that should appeal to most people who have never encountered D&D before.
What helps make this movie approachable is how it doesn’t seem to take itself seriously. You can almost imagine the individuals around the table making their decisions and dice rolls as the dungeon master throws ridiculous situations at them. Chris Pine’s performance anchors the humor. His bard character was easily riffed on by the other characters. Plenty of the action sequences are fun and made more meaningful by the character growth (or “leveling up”) that happens as the group progresses in the campaign to stop the evil sorceress. For a D&D movie, it definitely feels like a game of D&D is being played.
What amazed me about this movie was the emotional depth and connection to the characters. Sure, there were plenty of tropes and MacGuffins that are common to this type of game. However, when life-or-death decisions come to play, I was surprised to find my eyes filling with tears. Perhaps the appeal of the “found family” trope helped make these moments more emotionally impactful. After all, you don’t go on a grand adventure with someone without developing close bonds with them. I hope we get to see more of this D&D party in future films because this one worked quite well.
A fun and emotional foray into D&D that requires no previous experience, I give Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves 4.5 stars out of 5.
The Northman
Year: 2022
Rating: R
Length: 137 minutes / 2.28 hours
Robert Eggers doesn’t have many films under his belt, but he already has a bit of a cult following for his bizarre movies. Films like The Witch (2015) and The Lighthouse (2019) are distinct by themselves. However, these movies certainly have a psychological aspect that might leave certain viewers scratching their heads. Taking a more traditional storytelling approach, The Northman (2022) still has elements that make it distinctly a Robert Eggers film. It leans heavily on a plot that’s familiar to most high school English students, however. While it’s certainly less thought-provoking than his previous works, it’s perhaps what makes The Northman the most approachable of his filmography.
Disguised behind the Norse setting, The Northman is basically Hamlet. Most of the story beats are similar to the Shakespearean play. That is, except that the duel between a man and his usurping and murdering uncle was much more epic in this movie. Considering the timeless nature of the Bard’s works, it’s not unusual to see them adapted with different cultural trappings like this. Heck, I consider one of the best adaptations of Macbeth to be the samurai film, Throne of Blood (1957). Eggers’ approach of using Vikings to tell this tale has the same effect while also allowing for some creative freedom.
As always, there is a psychological aspect to Eggers’ films. The Northman doesn’t dive too deep into this realm (like The Lighthouse did). Still, these strange sequences should be expected. Partly because the overarching plot is so familiar, it’s difficult to find anything deeper in this film that would leave room for discussion or debate. If you have seen none of his films, I’d suggest starting here to get a sense of whether you want to dive deeper into horror with Eggers’ back catalog.
A Norse Hamlet that’s Eggers’ most approachable film yet, I give The Northman 4.0 stars out of 5.
Golden Son
Year: 2015
Author: Pierce Brown
Length: 1,143 minutes / 19.05 hours
After reading this book (or more accurately, listening to it), I’m on the edge of whether I’ll continue this series. I thought Red Rising was OK for what seemed like a Hunger Games rip-off. Perhaps my problem with this one was trying to listen to it while caring for an infant. Or it was that it’s been three years since I read the last book. Maybe the genre (or what’s become of it) really doesn’t appeal to me. At any rate, I had trouble engaging with this book at all.
It didn’t help that I only vaguely remembered the main character and what his goal was. This sequel didn’t seem to have any of the recurring characters from the previous book, or at least it didn’t pull from that cast of characters very much. I understood the need for a revolution against the higher classes via infiltration, but the motivation of the main character still felt hollow. Especially now that he was among the elite, I found myself not caring about anything that was happening. It was as if he knew he was going to win no matter what, so why even bother rooting for him?
The plot itself felt convoluted, and I caught myself frequently wondering what had actually happened. A few scenes stood out to me, but they seemed to omit the larger context of what made them significant. I still question why this series is so heavily into Roman mythology and aesthetic when its sci-fi roots are clearly trying to take control at every turn. That may actually hit at my core problem with this series: it doesn’t even know what it’s trying to be.
Confusing, boring, and unengaging, I give Golden Son 2.5 stars out of 5.
John Wick: Chapter 4
Year: 2023
Rating: R
Length: 169 minutes / 2.17 hours
One thing I can appreciate with a franchise like John Wick is how it knew when and how to end. Some franchises seem to think that they have something significant to add even if the ninth entry in their long-running universe was the same plot as the previous eight. And while I had lost some of my faith in the John Wick franchise as it became more ridiculous with each iteration, perhaps my low standards made this last entry in the franchise that much better. John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023) was a fitting and classy end to a set of movies that re-defined the action genre.
I loved the simplicity and steady, fast-paced choreography of John Wick (2014), but the world-building in John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017) and John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019) started adding too many things that complicated the base elements of what made the first movie work. John Wick: Chapter 4 successfully wrapped up a lot of these loose ends created in expanding the franchise’s universe in a way that was super classy and satisfying. Sure, this movie was perhaps a little long and could have deleted a location or two, but it was entertaining, to say the least.
Of course, there is still quite a bit of suspension of disbelief in this movie. Fighting in a club where the members don’t react to the violence around them. Oblivious French drivers who don’t care that there’s active gunfire near a famous monument. A staircase that seems endless but also is just long enough to give the protagonist time to get where they need to go. I’m able to overlook a lot of these things because of the fantastic choreography and cinematography (like the top-down perspective). It’s a little sad we won’t see more of this kind of movie instead of the previous two, but it’s worth it for a conclusive ending.
A much-improved franchise-ending entry for John Wick, I give John Wick: Chapter 4 4.0 stars out of 5.
Haven Park
Year: 2021
Rating: E
Time Played: 281 minutes / 4.68 hours
When I started playing video games with my 3-year-old daughter, I purposely tried to find games that favored exploration. Then I could let her dictate where we would go and what we would do. And while the big empty world of Sable was a good start, I thought Haven Park was cute enough and open-ended enough to fit the Animal Crossing niche. And this way I wouldn’t have to restart my Animal Crossing island either. Even if it was a little short, Haven Park gave me some quality time with my daughter.
With a story that’s closer to A Short Hike, Haven Park allows you to build up campsites based scattered around an island. You get to choose what to put in each site, at which point campers will arrive and demand other amenities. It was difficult to keep track of all the different sites, but repairing the broken bridges, fences, and lamps was also an engaging game mechanic. The clean graphics had a simplicity that evoked a tilt-shift style similar to the Link’s Awakening remake. Even with a toddler dictating how we played, there still wasn’t much more than about four hours of gameplay here.
While we finished a fair amount of the game’s achievements, I found portions of this game frustrating. First, the map could have been much better. I spent more time trying to figure out where we were on the island using the marginally useful map than actually playing the game. There’s also a bit of a curve for building materials. It left me without necessary crafting items for the limited camp decorations through a good chunk of the game. Near the end, I had too much of everything. Despite receiving the “fast travel” option at the end of the game, it isn’t as fast as it could be and it didn’t help to motivate us to finish the rest of the achievements.
A cute camp management game similar to Animal Crossing and A Short Hike, I give Haven Park 3.5 stars out of 5.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Year: 2022
Rating: PG-13
Length: 139 minutes / 2.31 hours
Hollywood has woefully underutilized the mystery genre for some time. It probably doesn’t help that there aren’t a lot of mysteries being written that have been adapted to the big screen. The two modern examples that come to mind are Gone Girl (2014) and The Girl on the Train (2016) but they’re darker than the classic mysteries by Agatha Christie. That Hollywood is still releasing movies based on Christie’s works (like Murder on the Orient Express (2017)) or Christie-adjacent works (like See How They Run (2022)) shows there’s a desire for ensemble-based mysteries. Glass Onion (2022) is the breath of fresh air in this somewhat stagnant genre.
I’m glad that Knives Out (2019) did well enough to warrant a sequel with Daniel Craig’s fantastic character, Benoit Blanc. Glass Onion takes that same humor and applies it in a biting satire against the hyper-wealthy and “influencer” types that all need to be taken down a peg anyway. Of course, this is in alignment with other satires of the ultra-rich that also came out this year: The Menu (2022) and Triangle of Sadness (2022). Fortunately, all three movies are fantastic and I enjoyed every one of them for the social commentary they provide.
As far as mysteries go, Glass Onion does a fantastic job of providing a setup and a midpoint twist that changes the whole perspective of the entire film. It still has the necessary trappings of these kinds of mysteries, with the “someone on this island is the murderer” locked room setup. However, the execution of these genre tropes was quite entertaining. I hope these Benoit Blanc mysteries keep coming because they are now a “must-watch” in my book. Rian Johnson certainly has a goldmine here.
A comedic mystery poking fun at rich influencers, I give Glass Onion 4.0 stars out of 5.
Snowpiercer – The Prequel Part 2: Apocalypse
Year: 2020
Author: Matz & Jean-Marc Rochette
Length: 104 pages
After the somewhat disappointing Part 1 prequel to Snowpiercer, Part 2 was only slightly better. While the previous book in this prequel series was fairly generic with its apocalyptic scenarios, the Apocalypse portion of this trilogy gave personality to the story. Now that there are characters the reader is following, it’s easier to relate to the plight of humanity. This still doesn’t negate the fact that I know how things will eventually end up since I’ve already seen the Snowpiercer (2013) movie.
What makes this volume more interesting than its predecessor is that we get to see how humanity would really act in an Apocalypse situation. Once the end of the world finally comes, all bets are off. For the “doomsday cult,” their plan hinges on unhinged individuals. For the Snowpiercer project, it’s not so easy to control tickets when everyone wants to board. And for humanity, we see exactly what lengths people will go to for survival—even if they might not be considered the best our species has to offer. So, you know, business as usual for an Apocalypse.
While I’m getting more used to the art style for this series, the one thing still nagging me in the back of my head is the Snowpiercer project. Even knowing that the world is ending via a climate catastrophe, the fact that the train was just ready to go precisely when everything went wrong seems unbelievable. Sure, I get the parallels to the Biblical story of Noah’s Ark. However, the convenience of being prepared at the exact right time instead of well before or (more likely) shortly after the Apocalypse starts seems highly suspect.
A slight improvement on Part 1 with some still unanswered questions, I give Snowpiercer – The Prequel Part 2: Apocalypse 3.5 stars out of 5.
Triangle of Sadness
Year: 2022
Rating: R
Length: 147 minutes / 2.45 hours
It speaks to the state of current society when 2022 churned out not one, but three films that focus on the absurdity of the rich. While The Menu (2022) focused on the “foodie” culture that surrounds so many wealthy individuals, Glass Onion (2022) highlighted those “influencers” who try to disrupt industries. The one film I feel best captured the satire of the ultra-wealthy was definitely Triangle of Sadness (2022). The humor was the darkest of all three, but it went further than the other two in exposing the uselessness of the rich.
The first act sets up all the ridiculous things that rich people do. From absurd reasons to dump a romantic interest to how little money they actually have on hand, the audience gets a glimpse into their absurd world of opulence. Once the yacht enters the picture in the second act, we see all the different varieties of rich and how they almost have their own language. Then the tables turn. Wealth cannot control the weather or a person’s bodily functions. By the third act, the roles have been reversed and the invisible working-level people prove they have much more worth when money is not involved.
Without the third act, Triangle of Sadness merely highlights the disconnected world of the rich. By flipping the situation around, this film shows that the wealthy have no inherent value or anything to contribute to society. Once the currency shifts from dollars to donuts, useful skills become much more valuable. And for those who are merely trying to survive in a neoliberal society, they must adapt and learn all the skills that the rich have offloaded to those they consider “beneath them.” This is the brilliance of Triangle of Sadness.
Highlighting the uselessness of the rich, I give Triangle of Sadness 5.0 stars out of 5.
Sable
Year: 2021
Rating: E
Time Played: 1,092 minutes / 18.20 hours
Every once in a while, I’ll get a game for free via Epic Games that makes me want to jump right in and play it. Despite having hundreds of other games I’ve claimed for free in my library, I loaded up Sable and started exploring. I’m still trying to fill the “climb things, then jump off and glide” game mechanic that I enjoyed in Breath of the Wild that Genshin Impact partially met. The adventure aspect of Sable appealed to me, but the art style made me want to download it and play through it immediately.
The cel-shaded style of this game is something I hadn’t seen in other games before. Honestly, it’s the game’s greatest appeal. The scenery feels hollow and desolate, which matches the sci-fi sandy crash of a group of colonizing spaceships. And while there’s not a ton of lore to speak of, there are definitely a lot of interesting places to explore. They felt a bit samey by the end of the game, but at least there was enough variety to get me to the end credits. And I also appreciated that there weren’t a ton of things to collect or do so I could move on to the next game.
Graphically, I think the stylistic choices of Sable cover up some of its weaknesses. Even with a simplified design, there were many times when the stuttering frame rate was noticeable. Clipping was prevalent throughout a lot of the game, but it didn’t affect the gameplay too much. The emptiness felt appropriate for this game, but it also made traversing a bit of a chore. I also could have used some way to move time faster when needed for a few of the puzzles. Still Sable’s lack of enemies or harm to the player character made for an enjoyable time with my 3-year-old daughter.
A game with a unique visual style that leans into how empty it is, I give Sable 4.0 stars out of 5.
Women Talking
Year: 2022
Rating: PG-13
Length: 104 minutes / 1.73 hours
Some conversations are difficult. Things that people in power want to be covered up are often the conversations that need to happen the most. And while revealing these topics to the public is a great way to raise awareness, sometimes the most impactful way to effect change is to band together. A unified front against an egregious sin does more than merely asking those in power to stop. Women Talking (2022) takes on the heavy topic of sexual assault and makes it a not-so-simple conversation about what to do in a helpless situation.
While I feel She Said (2022) received more visibility, the heaviness of the circumstances of these Mennonite women hit significantly harder. Granted, neither film really captured the tension the way Spotlight (2015) did. It’s great that movies like this are coming out, despite being heavy topics that require introspection into the systems that enable them. Heck, even Promising Young Woman (2020) poked at all the excuses those in power used to justify continuing this abuse. What gives Women Talking a distinct edge on the same topic is their utter helplessness. If they leave this abusive colony, they don’t have the skills to survive in the modern world.
Even if this movie was quite proficient in its acting and handling of a sensitive topic, my only qualms come from frustration. Frustration about how they still need a man to make their conversation happen. Frustration that a society allegedly based on Christian values lets this collective rape continue to happen. And finally, frustration for these women who are so powerless that they develop Stockholm Syndrome. This is not a fun movie. It might even be a little boring. However, it’s an important conversation as we continue to break down these wicked systems.
A conversation that’s equally tough and frustrating, I give Women Talking 4.0 stars out of 5.
Snowpiercer – The Prequel Part 1: Extinction
Year: 2019
Author: Matz & Jean-Marc Rochette
Length: 90 pages
One of the best original sci-fi movies to come out in the last decade, in my opinion, was Snowpiercer (2013). The story originated as a 1982 French graphic novel under the name of Le Transperceneige. While I haven’t read the original source material, I decided that a prequel graphic novel was probably pretty safe to read. I figured the events leading up to the world ending and a perpetual train being launched wouldn’t spoil anything for me (I also haven’t seen the TV show either).
While it’s only a scant 90 pages, part 1 of this prequel trilogy, Extinction, had nothing I didn’t already know in it. Most of the plotlines in this book were fairly generic end-of-the-world-type stories. Each one obviously would lead to the last of humanity boarding this infinitely running train, which was no surprise. It probably didn’t help that there weren’t that many distinct characters to latch onto in this book to make it more relatable. I understand that it’s laying the groundwork for the next two books, but it almost felt that this part of the prequel series was unnecessary.
Perhaps I’m more inclined to cleaner art in graphic novels I like to read. This book had a rough, almost sketch-like style I found to be unpolished. Maybe that was the feeling the illustrator was going for, but some scenes were hard to parse visually because of how dark and thick the lines were. Granted, I still want to go back and read the original graphic novel to see if the style fits better for the actual post-apocalyptic story. However, for this “real world” setting, the art style feels too heavy even for a pre-apocalypse story.
A somewhat unnecessary story with a heavy visual style, I give Snowpiercer – The Prequel Part 1: Extinction 3.0 stars out of 5.
Tár
Year: 2022
Rating: R
Length: 158 minutes / 2.63 hours
I hate to say that Tár (2022) is what’s wrong with Oscar nominees, but it’s really what’s wrong with Oscar nominees. I had only seen a trailer for this movie once and it was a vague two minutes of Cate Blanchett blowing smoke, followed by her briefly conducting an orchestra. There was nothing to indicate to me what this movie was about. Then it was released on the coasts, never making it to the Colorado Springs cinemas until it was nominated for Best Picture and I was given the chance to watch it.
Tár is weird. It’s psychological and unapologetic about never explaining itself. I get that it’s intended as an almost “out of body” experience following the titular character around. The “artsy” aspects of Tár’s clearly untreated mental illness left me scratching my head more often than not. Still, I enjoy classical music and attending the Philharmonic, so it was interesting to see what goes on behind the scenes for a conductor. Even if the conductor is an entirely unlikable character. It takes a little while to figure out exactly how much she’s unlikable, but the results are clearly there.
Despite its obvious Oscar-bait qualities, Tár is an interesting examination of cancel culture. There are moments where the bubble of Tár’s inflated ego is prodded with the consequences of her actions. It’s subtle at first, but that she remains so oblivious to the overwhelming sentiment against her is partly what makes this an interesting film to watch. It’s almost amusing how oblivious she remains to the things happening outside of her that she’s basically blindsided by the results at the end. Maybe its the schadenfreude of having a successful individual face the consequences of their narcissism that redeems this movie.
A “weird” psychological examination of a narcissist being canceled, I give Tár 3.5 stars out of 5.
Portal 2
Year: 2011
Rating: E10+
Time Played: 8.5 hours
While Portal felt like an innovative leap in gameplay, its bare-bones test chambers left a little to be desired for the variety of puzzles. Fortunately, four years after the release of Portal, Valve released the masterpiece that is Portal 2. Everything about the original game was taken into consideration and improved significantly. The environment was chock-full of lore, the gameplay added interesting mechanics with the addition of the gels, and the characters were funnier than ever. Even playing through this game over a decade after my first time still felt fresh and entertaining.
Exploring the different areas of Aperture Laboratories (in various levels of decay) brought a much-needed ambiance to the series that was merely enhanced by the narrations of Cave Johnson (J.K. Simmons). That the game acts as a sort of prequel and sequel to the original merely emphasizes how well-considered its story is and how much lore can be crammed into a physics-based puzzle platformer. And with more than one character able to talk in this game, the dialogue between them—or their commentary about what was said—is even funnier than the original.
Playing with the various mechanics in this game is the most fun I’ve ever had in a first-person POV game. The “aha moments” when a puzzle just clicked were frequent enough to keep me playing. That I use this game as a gold standard against which all other physics-based puzzle platformers are compared says something about the quality of this game’s puzzles (unlike the somewhat cheap knockoff, Q.U.B.E. 2). With new mechanics added at regular intervals with settings to match, this game was just the right amount of everything. Even if you haven’t played the original Portal, this game is a must-play for everyone.
A significant improvement on an already well-done gameplay concept, I give Portal 2 5.0 stars out of 5.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Year: 2023
Rating: PG-13
Length: 124 minutes / 2.06 hours
I’m not sure how much more of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) I can take. After a lackluster Phase 4, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023) is what they chose to kick off Phase 5? Don’t get me wrong, I truly enjoyed the first Ant-Man (2015). However, this was because I saw it more as a comedy heist film than as an action-packed superhero film. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) initially indicated this shift for me, but now Quantumania has cemented the averageness of Marvel movies in my mind.
The part that hurts most is that they could have leaned more into the comedy. They tried with M.O.D.O.K. (who had a fantastic comedy spin-off TV show before being in the MCU) but most of those jokes were childish at best. I have to give them props for making this bizarre character make sense in the greater scheme of MCU continuity. However, even Paul Rudd’s expertly comedic delivery of his lines was few and far between and not enough to save this movie from being the same as all the rest. Even just including Luis (Michael Peña) would have helped a lot.
The fact of the matter is that I’m tired of these movies. The more they have to lean into creating fantastic worlds through extensive CGI, the less I want to see them. I know there are tons of unique universes to explore in the MCU, but nothing seems to set them apart from each other. Sure, this one is “small” but it’s so far down in the small as to be indistinguishable from an alien planet in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014). I might give the MCU one more shot in theaters for the final Guardians film, but for everything else I’m just going to wait for it to show up on Disney+.
A weak start to MCU Phase 5 with another “samey” Marvel movie, I give Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania 2.5 stars out of 5.
Virtual Boy Works
Year: 2021
Author: Jeremy Parish
Length: 176 pages
A few years ago, I found myself down a YouTube rabbit hole and stumbled across Jeremy Parish’s “Works” series of videos detailing the history of video games. Specifically, he was making videos that chronologically documented the games released for the Nintendo Entertainment System, Game Boy, Super NES, and Sega Genesis. One system that I was able to watch all the way through was his series on the Virtual Boy, Nintendo’s oft-maligned 32-bit console. This book is a written-down version of the scripts from that series.
While I enjoyed the bite-size chapters on each of the 22 games for the system, the few additional chapters on fan games were a nice addition that wasn’t part of the YouTube series. The book also included a pair of blue/red 3D glasses so readers could catch a glimpse of what these games might have been like (it works OK, but it’s no Virtual Boy emulation on a VR headset). Also having some background on the technology between chapters that talked about the games was a nice respite and made me realize how innovative this failed console was for its time.
For what it’s worth, Virtual Boy Works (the book) really just is a printed-out version of the scripts that went into the YouTube videos. Unfortunately, this also meant the formatting wasn’t the greatest for this full-color book. I understand the Virtual Boy aesthetic was very much about red and black, but printing an entire book with this color scheme made it a little hard to read—which was ironic given the Virtual Boy’s notorious eye strain issues. The formatting of the text also didn’t feel quite polished despite the high-quality photos of the games that were included in each chapter. Still, it’s a nice book to have with my video game collection even if I don’t actually own anything from the Virtual Boy.
A nice collection of YouTube scripts about one of gaming’s most spectacular failures, I give Virtual Boy Works 3.5 stars out of 5.
All Quiet on the Western Front
Year: 2022
Rating: R
Length: 148 minutes / 2.46 hours
There has been a trend in recent years of remaking films that had previously been nominated for the Oscar for Best Picture. Movies like A Star is Born (2018) didn’t win the highest prize in previous years like West Side Story (2021) did in 1961. The latest in these remakes is All Quiet on the Western Front (2022), a German-language film based on the 1929 book of the same name that had a Best Picture-winning adaptation in 1930. And while visually beautiful, I think this new version misses parts of what made the 1930 version stand out.
I’ll admit that I haven’t read the book these movies were adapting. However, there was a powerful message that the 1930 version conveyed that was missing in this newer version. Both successfully showed that war is hell and completely pointless for those fighting on the front lines. And while the 2022 adaptation made the horrors of World War I trench warfare much more cinematic, there wasn’t that much character growth for the main character. Sure, he becomes jaded from the experiences he endured. However, he then could not pass these lessons on to the young boys who were so blinded by propaganda as he was when he joined.
Perhaps this is my main qualm with the 2022 version: emphasizing the pointlessness of war. While I agree with this statement, the approach was heavy-handed. Through expertly shot scenes and an ominous, earworm-worthy three-tone sound, it gave the audience a front-row seat to all that’s wrong with war. But this analysis hasn’t changed in the almost 100 years since the original adaptation won Best Picture. What makes this observation more meaningful is when the characters push back against the pointlessness. When they help others break the cycle of propaganda to reveal the true cost of war.
A visually stunning but somewhat hollow adaptation from a century ago, I give All Quiet on the Western Front 3.0 stars out of 5.
Portal
Year: 2007
Rating: T
Time Played: 3 hours
When it comes to video game mechanics, it feels like most of the foundational concepts were born in the early years and merely perfected over time. The endless puzzle possibilities of Tetris. The platforming of Super Mario Bros. The first-person-shooter perspective of Doom. It still amazes me that a game made in 2007 could combine these foundational elements of video games into something truly original. Portal is more than its gameplay, though, which is part of what makes its story so iconic—enough to be part of some of the earliest memes.
While the length of this game makes it feel more like a tech demo, the gradual reveal of the game’s story adds some heft to its impact. As the player slowly uncovers the reality of their situation and the insanity of the expertly written GLaDOS, the portal mechanics become less about solving puzzles and more about trying to survive. That the one-sided banter of the homicidal AI is as funny as it is helps to make this game less dark than it could have been. Just the comedy alone makes this game worth playing.
My first play-through of this game was over a decade ago, so I gave the recent “with RTX” version a try. The 2007 graphics weren’t the greatest, but the RTX upgrade makes the game look better. Granted, it’s still not a 100% perfect game even with the graphical improvements. A few of the earlier puzzles require a bit of a sharp learning curve to solve, even for someone who has played through them once before and knew the solution. Fortunately, for those gamers much better at this type of game, there are now levels with increased difficulty for those masochists. Overall, though, Portal is a foundational video game in many regards and should be played at least once.
Innovative gameplay with hilariously written monologues, I give Portal 4.0 stars out of 5.
M3GAN
Year: 2023
Rating: PG-13
Length: 102 minutes / 1.70 hours
I’m not usually one to watch “horror” films, so I was going to pass on M3GAN (2023) until a friend requested to see it together. By genre standards, this PG-13 cross between Child’s Play (1988) and The Terminator (1984) was light on blood and gore that could have bumped it up to an R rating if they showed more of it. Perhaps this was intentional to emphasize the horrors of Artificial Intelligence (AI) overall. Because we all know unchecked machine learning algorithms will always lean toward some kind of murder.
I think if you go into this movie understanding that it’ll be goofy, then you can munch on your popcorn as it hits all the standard tropes. It’s not quite funny enough to be part comedy, but there are some chuckle-worthy scenes sprinkled throughout. From a sci-fi perspective, though, any robotics or AI rules that you’d usually see in these scenarios were mysteriously absent. No offhand reference to Asimov’s Laws, no cheeky nod to 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). That we’ve had cautionary tales about robots and AI since the 1950s just shows that this concept of villainous AI/robots isn’t that new.
And maybe that’s my main qualm with this film: AI being used as a buzzword to rehash old concepts. With advances in ChatGPT, deep fakes, and Boston Dynamics robots, we’re seeing the rapid advancement of these traditional sci-fi concepts in real time. M3GAN has merely taken these trendy topics and put them in a formulaic plot. Does it also poke fun at corporate tech practices that prioritize profits over safety? Sure, but it adds nothing to the current commentary of the current capitalist environment in which we live. In the end, I think M3GAN was trying to say something important, but ended up just being a fun popcorn flick.
A buzzword filled light horror movie that’s good for a few chuckles, I give M3GAN 3.0 stars out of 5.
What If? 2
Year: 2022
Author: Randall Munroe
Length: 354 pages
As a fan of XKCD, I’ve loved the What If? spinoff series despite how irregularly Randall has updated it. Considering there have only been five new posts in the last five years, and they were all in the months leading up to the release of this book, I needed a good dose of What If? Partly because it had been so long since I had read any What If? posts, all the chapters in this book felt fresh and hilarious. Now that I read through it, I’m sad that I’ll have to wait another eight years for a third book in the series.
Randall always has a down-to-earth style of describing incredibly complicated scientific concepts. This means What If? 2 is quite educational once you get past the ridiculous premises that readers have sent in. It’s also nice how each chapter is easily readable in a few minutes so that I could just pick it up and get a good laugh before moving on to something else. After all, this book is straight-up funny. This should come as no surprise—again—given the absurd questions readers asked Randall.
It felt like this book had more new content than the previous book in the series. This might not be true, but it felt that way because I hadn’t read any of the posts that made it into this book in several years. This was my main qualm with the first book: that it was just a printed-out part of the internet. In this sequel, there weren’t just new questions answered but also quick little sections that covered easily answerable questions (as compared to its predecessor’s highlights of disturbing questions with no answers). Overall, I found it to be a fun read and I’m counting the days until What If? 3 comes out.
Hilarious and scientifically accurate answers to oddball questions, I give What If? 2 4.5 stars out of 5.
NOPE
Year: 2022
Rating: R
Length: 130 minutes / 2.17 hours
I don’t know why I’m so skeptical of watching Jordan Peele’s horror films. Once I got around to seeing Get Out (2017), it blew me away with how strong its premise challenged normal horror tropes. And while I haven’t seen Us (2019) yet, I didn’t need nearly as much convincing to give NOPE (2022) a try. I feel alien-themed horror is a bit of a niche genre with sci-fi entries like Alien (1979) being more prevalent than Earth-centric invasion movies like Signs (2002). NOPE (which can be interpreted as an acronym for “Not Of Planet Earth”) definitely falls into the latter category.
Overall, I appreciated the slow build-up to the alien reveal. Leaving hints about the cause of various strange events was a great way to add suspense until we finally got to see the alien in question. The alien itself was also a fantastic deviation from the standard “little green men” that usually occupy these kinds of films—truly an “alien” being on display here. This also made the motivation of the characters to capture this creature on film as incredibly realistic as it was completely relatable.
My only qualm with NOPE is that it felt it needed to hammer home the point that animals (aliens included) are inherently violent beings. The bits with the murderous monkey snapping felt quite uncomfortable and out of place, and I think it would have been a stronger film without them. Sure, it tied into the rodeo run by Steven Yeun’s character, but maybe there could have been a subtler way to show how animals will react violently when cornered. After all, most animals have a fight-or-flight response and have to resort to attacking when there’s no chance of escape.
A superb alien horror film by Jordan Peele, I give NOPE 4.0 stars out of 5.
Baseball
Year: 1985
Rating: E
Time Played: 30 minutes / 0.5 hours
Recently, I’ve been filling out my collection of NES games and added the classic Baseball for a few bucks from a used game shop. I hadn’t actually played this specific game growing up, having instead experienced the Baseball game Nintendo released for the Game Boy. Having a free evening one night, I got the cartridge cleaned up and running on my NES so I could play a round. While not considered one of the “standards” of the system, Baseball still shows the quality content Nintendo released with their first home console. Even with the limited graphical quality of the NES, Baseball uses what it needs to convey the game simply and efficiently.
I’m sure Baseball plays differently in 2-player mode against another human, but the brief nine innings I experienced against the AI were enjoyable. Never did I feel the computer player was unfair in its fielding or batting. Similarly, I enjoyed the amount of freedom I could exhibit in fielding and pitching—the latter of which had quite a few pitch options to choose from. Perhaps my previous experience playing on the Game Boy allowed me to understand the controls right off the bat (har har), but the buttons seemed intuitive to control both sides of the game.
What Baseball is potentially missing in its brevity is the pull to continue playing after finishing a nine-inning round. If I had lost, I might have considered a rematch to see if I could beat the computer. As it was, there wasn’t much to incentivize me to play again once I got through a single game. Perhaps if there was a tournament mode, I would have played for a few hours instead of the brief 30 minutes it took to get through all nine innings.
A great pick-up-and-play classic from Nintendo’s early days, I give Baseball 4.0 stars out of 5.
Cars 2
Year: 2011
Rating: G
Length: 106 minutes / 1.35 hours
If anyone asks me for my unpopular movie opinion, they’re likely going to hear that I think Cars 2 (2011) is the best entry in the Cars trilogy. While it still doesn’t hold a candle to the superior works that Pixar released before it, Cars 2 took a risk by adapting the spy genre to its kid-friendly films. I was never much of a fan of NASCAR-style racing, so pushing these characters into worldwide Grand Prix races felt much more exciting to me. Still, I can see why some didn’t like this pivot.
As with most of the Cars movies, I never cared much for Mater (Larry the Cable Guy). The forced comedic relief always felt like it was based on how cringe-worthy they could make the character. Unfortunately, Mater had a much larger role in this movie, which only marginally worked because of how it felt like The Man Who Knew Too Little (1997). Despite this, there were a lot of new characters in this film that felt well-rounded and meant for the “adult jokes” the kids wouldn’t quite get (for example, Finn McMissile (Michael Caine) being the car James Bond normally drives).
Plot-wise, Cars 2 has a lot going for it. After only having raced in NASCAR races, Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) had to contend with other racers who could easily outpace him, thus providing room for some character growth. Contrasted with all this, we have the “spy” plot that introduces the concept of lemons into the Cars universe. Expanding the idea of sentient cars outside the small town setting of Cars (2006) made the franchise feel more grounded in its extrapolation of the concept. After all, cars aren’t exclusively an American thing, despite what our car-centric infrastructure might have you believe.
Building up the Cars lore while riffing on the spy genre, I give Cars 2 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: Squirrels Just Want to Have Fun
Year: 2021
Author: Ryan North
Length: 224 pages
After reading the second collection of The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, I was a little worried that this third collection would be more of the same. Comedic situations involving a variety of Marvel heroes and villains punctuated by some silly squirrel-based shenanigans. And while The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: Squirrels Just Want to Have Fun has these things, there was also a fair amount of character growth for the titular superhero.
I appreciated that this volume included some of the lore surrounding Squirrel Girl, especially since we’ve only seen her in modern settings in most of these issues. Knowing what it was like growing up as Squirrel Girl helped ground the character a little more and make her relatable. The arc where she teamed up with Ant-Man was also entertaining because of the change of scenery (everything is in New York, give Canada a chance!). Still, these comics were a bit “samey” to the rest of the ones in the previous two volumes.
What really struck me in this collection was the “flying squirrel” arc. Being unbeatable can become a bore after a while, so giving an antagonist that was clever enough to push Squirrel Girl to grow as a hero was a refreshing change. Perhaps my exposure to shonen-type mangas where the characters power up and grow stronger in each arc is what drew me to this story. Because while having the powers of and over squirrels is a neat trick, being able to fly is a significant upgrade to this superhero’s arsenal of abilities. Plus, flying squirrels are inherently cool creatures anyway.
More Squirrel Girl adventures with good character growth added in, I give The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: Squirrels Just Want to Have Fun 4.5 stars out of 5.
The Banshees of Inisherin
Year: 2022
Rating: R
Length: 114 minutes / 1.90 hours
After the masterpiece that was Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017), I was ready for the next film from Martin McDonagh. I appreciated the dark sense of humor he had in Seven Psychopaths (2012) and I understood his bizarre fascination with “boring” from In Bruges (2008), but for some reason, The Banshees of Inisherin (2022) didn’t quite hit for me. It’s likely because the premise is a metaphor for something I don’t entirely understand. On a second watch, I did laugh at the jokes more and I always thought the setting was pretty, but it still didn’t click.
Going in without completely understanding what this movie was about, it immediately struck me how stupid the prime conflict is. It felt like Colm (Brendan Gleeson) took far too long to admit why he didn’t want to be friends with Pádraic (Colin Ferrell) anymore, and his reason was quite stupid. I can’t stand the “conflict because the characters don’t communicate” trope, which was only compounded by his reason being that Pádraic was boring. That he “cut off his nose to spite his face” to get his point across just felt insane.
Now, after watching this movie for the first time, others informed me that this was a metaphor for the Irish civil war. Having little to no knowledge of Irish history, I would think that the whole conflict was stupid if it was based on the conflict between Colm and Pádraic. Of course, maybe that’s the point. War is stupid, but instead of just showing the ugly side of this stupidity like in All Quiet on the Western Front (1930 or 2022), it pokes at the irrational nature of the conflict. Still, for McDonagh’s first foray into the historical genre, Banshees retains his humor and penchant for shocking violence.
A metaphor via Irishmen who can’t properly communicate with each other, I give The Banshees of Inisherin 3.0 stars out of 5.
LEGO Builder’s Journey
Year: 2021
Rating: E
Time Played: 133 minutes / 2.22 hours
I’ve played a lot of LEGO games over the years, but none of them quite matched the experience I had when playing through LEGO Builder’s Journey. Early LEGO video games hit a lot of different genres until they settled into the “action adaptation” model that most LEGO games occupied in the early 2000s. Builder’s Journey felt both classic and new in its minimalist puzzle platformer format. It’s only a shame there weren’t more levels to explore, but at least it told a tight story in the few hours it takes to get through it.
Each level of Builder’s Journey conveys a small piece of an overarching narrative that’s communicated without a single word. This kind of storytelling is impressive in its own right, but even more so considering LEGO didn’t lean on the expressiveness of their iconic minifigs. Instead, the characters are made of simple bricks that hop around the bonsai-like models, requiring the player to get them from Point A to Point B in each level. It’s a charming experience and astonishing how expressive these characters can be with their limited movements.
While it only took me a few hours to play through all the levels in this game, the difficulty on a few of the later levels seemed artificially high due to how poorly lit they were. Most solutions were obvious from the get-go, but there were a handful of these puzzles that took a few dozen tries to get right. This weird difficulty spike—while fitting the narrative quite well—felt out of place in an otherwise simple game that even kids could enjoy. Regardless of these few flaws, Builder’s Journey was a refreshing LEGO game after years of “same old, same old.”
A quaint LEGO-based isometric puzzle platformer, I give LEGO Builder’s Journey 4.5 stars out of 5.
Avatar: The Way of Water
Year: 2022
Rating: PG-13
Length: 192 minutes / 3.20 hours
It’s weird to me to see so many “science fiction” fans bash the Avatar franchise and then in the next breath complain that there aren’t any new intellectual properties in the genre. Considering how recently these movies came out when compared to franchises like Star Wars, the Avatar films are the new intellectual properties in the genre. That there seems to be an overarching plan for the franchise gives me hope that James Cameron knows what he’s doing. If Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) is any indication, he’s done his homework with its world-building.
I know people complain about the weak plot of these movies; but maybe with the state of the world, we need to reiterate stories about the harmful effects of colonialism and capitalism. As always, the visual spectacle of The Way of Water is on par with—if not significantly better than—Avatar (2009). A lot of what you see on the big screen has been difficult to accomplish with CGI—until now, apparently. And sure, it’s a bit hard to tell all the different Na’vi apart at times, but it doesn’t detract from the experience.
What strikes me most about The Way of Water is the world-building that continues to bring the planet of Pandora to life. Things like an eclipse providing moments of darkness and distinctly different Na’vi based on their environment of upbringing are excellent examples of the depth of thought that went into creating this sci-fi universe. And while this movie falls into the conundrum of being a sequel that requires another sequel despite the first movie being a strong standalone entry, I’m interested to see where this franchise goes from here.
Another visually stunning sci-fi film that’s burdened with laying the groundwork for future entries, I give Avatar: The Way of Water 4.0 stars out of 5.
Hellboy: Weird Tales
Year: 2014
Author: Mike Mignola
Length: 261 pages
I have rarely read comics or graphic novels prior to seeing their movie adaptations, and Hellboy is no exception. I enjoyed the 2004 movie and its 2008 sequel but only just now picked up this anthology collection of Hellboy comics. It’s difficult to know where to start with any western comic series, so Hellboy: Weird Tales was actually a perfect injection point for me since nothing from these comics is necessarily canon. Instead, I was able to enjoy other artists’ take on this demon-fighting character’s adventures.
As with any anthology collection, not everything in Weird Tales is great. Still, there were a few comics that I enjoyed over the others. I appreciated the parody of comic books in the “Lobster Johnson” section and the manga-like “Hot” that also felt appropriate given the Japanese setting. The art style and punchline of “Haunted” were both entertaining. “Flight Risk” was bold and action-filled. “Family Story” and “The Dread Within” both had great twists. “Love is Scarier than Death” felt like it gave a side of Hellboy that might not be seen often.
Considering that the only thing that ties any of the stories together is that they share the Hellboy universe, there are some drastically different styles in this omnibus. If you’re reading this for more of the original artist’s work, you’d probably be better served looking elsewhere. Still, if you come in with an open mind, you might find some interesting storylines that are neatly wrapped up by the end of each of their respective comics. As bite-sized little pieces, I got to know some of these characters better and now I feel obligated to track down more of these collections from the canon since this collection has piqued my interest.
A good jumping-off point for getting into Hellboy, I give Hellboy: Weird Tales 3.5 stars out of 5.
Spectre
Year: 2015
Rating: PG-13
Length: 148 minutes / 2.47 hours
After the practically perfect Skyfall (2012), my expectations for what a Bond film should be were considerably heightened. And while Spectre (2015) still contained some elements that made me enjoy Skyfall, it missed that small little “aha!” moment that brought everything together for me. Sure, Spectre was directed by Sam Mendes, brought back franchise-famous villain Blofeld (Christoph Waltz), and had characters with emotional connections to Bond (Daniel Craig) that spanned across movies in Craig’s tenure, but it lacked the spark to make it fully work. Perhaps it was just abiding by the idiom that lightning can’t strike twice.
That’s not to say that Spectre is a bad Bond movie, it just has a lot to compare against. The modern style and action that Craig’s Bond has are still better than some of the sillier entries in the long-running franchise. There’s a drag in the second act that probably could have been tightened up with less time in the Alps. The action doesn’t feel memorable either, which might just be because there’s so much of it—and so much of it feels repeated from previous Bond films. Chases involving cars and motorbikes are fairly common now, but at least the helicopter bits in the beginning felt new.
I appreciate that the thread of connections from all the way back in Casino Royale (2006) and Quantum of Solace (2008) is given more of a solid explanation and organization through the eponymous Spectre. That these films aren’t exclusively one-off movies with deus ex machina plots helps recommend Spectre in terms of the whole Craig set of Bond films. I’m glad that there was at least one more movie to wrap things up after this one, though.
An OK Bond film after a hard act to follow, I give Spectre 3.5 stars out of 5.
Super Kirby Clash
Year: 2019
Rating: E
Time Played: 50.50 hours
As I have mentioned in other reviews, I have an amount of patience that allows me to play games that try to encourage the use of micro-transactions. These games usually have a currency used for upgrading and a timer to prevent continued play. Super Kirby Clash is Kirby’s version of this formula but with an online Player vs. Everyone (PVE) emphasis that sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t (as is to be expected with any online games—especially Nintendo’s). Still, I played through almost all of this game because it was fun.
I think this was another one of those games that comforted me during the height of the COVID pandemic. Quick little boss battles were just long enough to pass the time and just challenging enough to incentivize me to upgrade the equipment of my main battle class (mage, by the way). And while it took quite a long time to fully max out the best armors and weapons for the four battle classes, there were enough little goals that rewarded me along the way to keep me playing. Could I have reached this point a lot faster if I spent real money on this free-to-play game? Certainly, but I’m a miser.
And while there are definitely a lot of boss types pulled from the Kirby franchise in this game, there is a lot of repetition. It’s not even that these bosses are that different, but that they just have more health and deal more damage. This is fine if you’re battling with a team of level 100s that make quick work of the enemies. However, about half the time I experienced network issues, or I had to carry inexperienced players through a boss that I had played dozens of times before. Still, for a free game, it gave me a good 50 hours of entertainment.
A Kirby free-to-play game with lots of bosses and network issues, I give Super Kirby Clash 3.5 stars out of 5.
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
Year: 2022
Rating: PG
Length: 117 minutes / 1.95 hours
Disney has dominated the fairy tale adaptation for so long that it’s refreshing to see something like Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022) take a different approach to the story of Pinocchio instead of merely copying the 1940 version. Fittingly enough, using stop-motion for this movie was a great way to be creative as well as align with the whole “talking wooden puppet” motif. And while the time jump into World War II Italy obviously doesn’t make this a faithful adaptation of the original work, it’s at least grittier than the more colorful animated versions have come to represent.
I appreciate all the work that goes into stop-motion animated movies. I enjoyed Aardman’s Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005) and Laika’s Kubo and the Two Strings (2016), so it’s nice to see other animation companies like ShadowMachine enter the feature-length movie realm with their work. That being said, the human characters felt a bit off in this, sometimes looking more like the puppets from Team America: World Police (2004) than characters distinctly different from the titular character who is supposed to be a puppet. Despite this, the animation itself is smooth and has Guillermo del Toro’s distinct visual style.
Story-wise, this version of Pinocchio has some interesting elements that take the idea of a living, sentient puppet to a few logical conclusions. The consideration of Pinocchio’s immortality (or at least tree-like longevity) was a plot point I wasn’t expecting, even if it worked quite well. And while I understand del Toro’s obsession with including fascists as villains in almost every movie he directs, it feels a bit tiring here (probably because of real-life fascists being in the news all the time). Still, in a year that saw three separate Pinocchio movies, Guillermo del Toro’s version definitely elevated itself above the rest.
A visually distinct and uniquely told stop-motion take on Pinocchio, I give Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio 4.0 stars out of 5.
Artificial Condition
Year: 2018
Author: Martha Wells
Length: 202 minutes / 3.36 hours
After being disappointed with the length of the first entry in the Murderbot Diaries series, I’m glad that I stuck with it and read the second book, Artificial Condition. While All Systems Red was necessary to introduce the concept of a sentient (and pacifist) murderbot, this book was much more interesting from a narrative perspective. At this point, I’m used to the short length of these stories, but after reading this book now I have to know how the rest of the series plays out.
The titular murderbot in this book felt much more fleshed out (ha ha) as a character. Having moved past the phase where it recognizes that its sentience is an anomaly, the challenge of fitting into society as a murderbot or as a human as the circumstances warranted was much more enthralling. The interactions with other AI like ART were much more entertaining than merely hearing about how the murderbot liked to binge TV shows. Perhaps the fact that much of the exposition covered in the first book is now out of the way, I felt this book didn’t feel as much like an info dump.
Now that the murderbot is on its own, the goal of learning about its past is something that is not only interesting to read but provides a lot of opportunities for great action sequences. The author expertly puts the main character in situations where it has to use its AI advantages to make life-saving decisions despite the core code of its being originally designed to kill humans. The amount of character growth from the first book to the end of this one is definitely what will bring me back to finish out this series.
An improvement from the first book in the Murderbot novella series, I give Artificial Condition 4.5 stars out of 5.
Babylon
Year: 2022
Rating: R
Length: 189 minutes / 3.15 hours
If there’s one thing in common with Damien Chazelle’s films, it’s how they center on the sacrifices people endure to pursue their dreams. Whiplash (2014) focused on the physical limits someone might endure to become a successful drummer. La La Land (2016) highlighted how relationships and careers might need to take a second seat to pursuing a dream. First Man (2018) showed how a family might suffer to pursue something greater. Following this trend, Babylon (2022) gives light to the inability of some who have attained their dream—sometimes at great personal cost—to keep it in an ever-changing world.
I can succinctly state the problem with Babylon as “I didn’t need to see that.” Clocking in at over three hours long, there were plenty of storylines that could have been cut. For instance, we’ve already seen Brad Pitt’s story of a famed silent film star struggling to find relevance in the talkies through the Best Picture, The Artist (2011). In fact, the whole of Babylon comes off as a gritty remake of Singin’ in the Rain (1952). Additionally, within the first five minutes, there’s elephant defecation and a woman urinating on a man—and this is well before Margot Robbie has projectile vomiting later in the film.
It’s tragic that Babylon could have been better. There are significant moments that worked really well and highlighted the differences and difficulties working with sound. There’s also excellent subtext about making it in this era of Hollywood through hard work (if you’re non-white) or just plain luck (if you’re white). Topping everything off is the ear-worm-worthy score by Justin Hurwitz, which should win all the awards it deserves. I wanted to like Babylon more, but there’s only so much that can recommend it without having to also suggest fast-forwarding through other bits.
A bloated, if not occasionally poignant look at the Hollywood transition to talkies, I give Babylon 3.5 stars out of 5.
Chrono Trigger
Year: 2008
Rating: E10+
Time Played: 34.27 hours
I’ve tried to play through Chrono Trigger for a few decades now. Ever since my family lucked out and found this game in a Super Nintendo bundle at a garage sale, I’ve played through the first half of this game multiple times. Heck, I even bought it on the Wii virtual console because I had such fond memories of it, despite never having reached the end credits. It wasn’t until I bought this game (again) for the Nintendo DS that I could truly appreciate the top-notch game Chrono Trigger from beginning to end.
While I definitely appreciated some of the improvements the DS version made to the game (including automatic running and visible health/magic bars), the base game is mostly identical to the SNES version from 1995. What’s amazing about this game is how it truly changed the JRPG formula by putting the battles right there on the screen with no cuts or transitions. Additionally, the “open world” this game provided after the first half of the game was complete is something that modern gamers might take for granted now but was revolutionary for its time in the 16-bit era.
The thing I think makes Chrono Trigger timeless (ha ha) is the collection of top-notch elements. Memorable music. Unique characters. Intertwining plotlines. Vivid settings. Ultimately, its time travel mechanic (which is partly why The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time has held up over time as well) is what helps cement this game as one of the best games ever made. That the game nudges you to explore all the open-world portions before diving into the final boss is just testament to how it made grinding levels something you didn’t even notice you were doing because you were out exploring all the game had to offer.
A mold-breaking JRPG that can easily claim the title of “best video game ever,” I give Chrono Trigger 5.0 stars out of 5.
The Menu
Year: 2022
Rating: R
Length: 107 minutes / 1.78 hours
I want to chastise the advertisers of The Menu (2022) for making me almost miss this gem of a movie. I usually pass on horror films, so the ads for this one made me think that the “twist” would be something more like Soylent Green (1973). Instead, I was given the treat of a wildly dark comedy that plays off all the prestige and pompousness of foodies and high-concept restaurants. Sure, some moments are horrific during their brief appearances, but I would hardly put this movie in the horror category. The Menu has something to say and is actually quite funny about how it does it.
What makes The Menu work is definitely because of the performances of its top-billed actors. Ralph Fiennes, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Nicholas Hoult all act their hearts out, likely adding to how funny this satirical take on foodie culture ended up being. Almost as a bonus, this film is not even entirely about the problems with the kinds of people who go to these types of restaurants. Addressing the critical nature of the culinary arts, sexual harassment in the workplace, and the gatekeeping of “event dining,” The Menu is seriously smarter than it has any right to be.
It’s honestly not surprising that the modern king of satire, Adam McKay, was involved with this movie. While he may not have directed, I definitely see hints of his other satirical works present here. And while The Menu isn’t nearly as silly as Don’t Look Up (2021) or the cutaways in The Big Short (2015), that it plays so much of its comedy as a straight parody of fine dining is what makes it wildly hilarious. Ultimately, if you passed on this movie because you thought horror isn’t for you, try it as a (more accurate) dark comedy satire.
A brilliant dark comedy satire of foodies and fine dining, I give The Menu 5.0 stars out of 5.
The End of the World
Year: 2013
Author: Don Hertzfeldt
Length: 224 pages
I was first introduced to the works of Don Hertzfeldt via his Oscar-nominated short film, Rejected. The bizarre humor immediately struck a chord with me but the simplistic animation style (with a 4th-wall-breaking ending) made this short a classic that I still quote to this day. Since then, I have still mostly kept up with the little animation projects Hertzfeldt has done over the years. As a graphic novel, The End of the World seems like a logical step for the animator, and it works, but only in a few spots.
Despite Rejected being mostly silly, his other works (which retain his signature stick-figure style) are silly but with a profound message that seems out-of-place coming from someone who animated a character screaming of the woes brought on by a bleeding anus. The End of the World has a lot of one-off jokes that don’t quite land, but the longer narrative bits have some poignancy to them. What’s truly interesting is that the best bits from this book eventually found their way into his second Oscar-nominated short, World of Tomorrow.
If you’re a fan of Hertzfeldt’s work, then by all means pick up this book to support the artist. Considering that World of Tomorrow is available on his YouTube channel, you’d probably be better off just watching that short than flipping through the pages of this book. Not that reading this book will take you that long, but that the animated version is more in line with Hertzfeldt’s other works. Then again, if you don’t understand Hertzfeldt’s type of humor, there’s no way that you’ll likely enjoy World of Tomorrow or this book.
At times both silly and profound, I give The End of the World 3.5 stars out of 5.
Toy Story
Year: 1995
Rating: G
Length: 81 minutes / 1.35 hours
One benefit of having children is revisiting movies from my youth. I saw Toy Story (1995) in theaters and was immediately struck by how amazing it was that they made the entire film with computers. While this is no longer something that causes awe, there is something about the first movie to make this leap. Almost 30 years later, Toy Story shows its age in some of its visual aspects. However, the cinematography and storytelling here are top-notch and often made me ignore the CGI which is comparatively less polished than today’s effects.
To Pixar’s credit, they did the best they could by focusing on slightly easier-to-animate characters than humans or animals. The people and pets in Toy Story look horrific (sometimes on purpose) but there has to be grace for the limitations of the time. Still, with the immense flexibility of the digital camera, some shots in Toy Story that would have been impossible in a live-action context are played for maximum effect here to make the world of toys seem absolutely massive. Underlying all of this is some fantastic cinematography that does not skimp on the fundamentals of visual storytelling.
While Toy Story is not the first movie geared toward kids to appeal occasionally to adult humor (look no further than Genie’s references in Aladdin (1992)), I still laughed at new visual gags decades later that I finally understood as an adult. There’s a wide range of emotions that I still feel watching this film. From the unease of Sid’s bedroom to the soaring victory of Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz (Tim Allen) arriving back in Andy’s care, this film hits a lot of emotional beats despite its “kid movie” status. Is it a perfect movie? Not quite, but it certainly pushed the door wide open for CGI-animated films for decades to come.
An impressive (for its time) visual treat with surprisingly strong fundamentals, I give Toy Story 4.5 stars out of 5.
Mega Man X4
Year: 1997
Rating: KA
Time Played: ~8 hours
Much like how I enjoyed Mega Man’s evolution to Mega Man X when the franchise evolved to the 16-bit era, I equally enjoyed Mega Man X4’s jump to the next generation of console gaming. There’s some amount of “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it” here, which has honestly been what the Mega Man and Mega Man X franchises have touted for decades. And yet, the improvements that came with the jump in processing power were put in the few spots where it mattered. This refreshing upgrade brought back some of that “cool factor” that appealed to me with Mega Man X.
Ever since Zero’s introduction in the first Mega Man X game, it took way too long for him to be a fully playable character. Sure, there are small sections you can use him for in Mega Man X3, but Mega Man X4 truly makes Zero their own character with a unique fighting style that would eventually find its way into the future franchise installments of Mega Man Zero and Mega Man ZX. In fact, while playing with X can lead to a more conservative approach to battle by attacking enemies from a distance, Zero’s style requires the player to come in much closer to the action, thus naturally increasing the difficulty.
My nostalgia may be showing, but I think the visuals and music for this title are some of the strongest in the Mega Man X series—in part because of the upgrade to PlayStation hardware. The fresh new characters of General, Colonel, Iris, and Double were a welcome change to the (still cool) Vile. I also liked the anime cut scenes included in this game, even if I have to admit that some of the voice acting makes me cringe. Still, the fact that this game had voice acting at all was a tremendous step up from the games on the Super Nintendo. Overall, Mega Man X4 is one of the few games in the franchise that I regularly replay.
Another cool upgrade to the Mega Man X franchise, I give Mega Man X4 4.5 stars out of 5.
Skyfall
Year: 2012
Rating: PG-13
Length: 143 minutes / 2.38 hours
To me, one weakness of the James Bond franchise has always been the detached nature of the timeless character of James Bond (Daniel Craig) to anything from his past. He’d go off on some globetrotting mission to save the world while never having the stakes come anywhere close to where he lived—whether currently or when he was growing up. As such, the character of James Bond always felt like a caricature. An invincible man who always packed his plot armor before jetting off to a tropical paradise to deal with some megalomaniacal genius.
I feel Skyfall (2012) is the absolute pinnacle of Bond films because it makes the main character human. The brilliant way Sam Mendes used Javier Bardem as the antithesis to Craig’s Bond to highlight how loyalty is a two-way street is such a chef’s kiss that I can’t even begin to explain how it broke the mold for Bond villains. Visually, Skyfall benefits again from Mendes’ vision as a director who already made Academy Award-winning films. Aside from Bardem, the casting of new characters Q (Ben Whishaw) and Moneypenny (Naomie Harris) were welcome additions to the now-established fold of Craig’s Bond and Judi Dench’s M.
While most Bond films stand as their own separate piece of British spy craft, it wasn’t until the last moments of this film that I came to realize (with a gasp) that the Daniel Craig movies up to this point in the franchise were merely prequels to established canon. There is certainly some nostalgia for the classic elements from the Sean Connery and Roger Moore eras, but adding in some heavy backstory about Bond’s origins placed this movie firmly in modern action territory.
The absolute best Bond film, I give Skyfall 5.0 stars out of 5.
This film appears in the following posts:
Cinema Connections #240. Sam Mendes
Cinema Connections #241. James Bond
Story Engineering
Year: 2011
Author: Larry Brooks
Length: 278 pages
Every successful author eventually concludes that they have something to provide for the neophytes of the craft. The problem is that the most insight any individual author might provide for someone who wants to get into writing stories has probably been said before. In Story Engineering, I was hoping for some useful tips on structure but instead was accosted with incredibly biased opinions from the author (and his obsession with a handful of books). He seems to think there is only one singular way to be successful and his book is the only way to understand it. I’m used to biased non-fiction, but not nearly this much of it.
I think that all writing methods have their benefits and downsides, but if you were to corner the author and ask him about pantsers (i.e., people who write by the seat of their pants via “exploratory writing”), he’d probably admit that they murdered his mother. In describing his successful publishing endeavors, I got the sense that the author didn’t realize that he was incredibly lucky to have achieved the successes he did, cementing in his mind that it was the only way to be successful. The irony is how he includes several examples of successful authors who follow the pantsing method and how their books still abide by this stringent Story Engineering structure.
When I see the idiom “burying the lede,” I often think of clickbait articles or newspaper columns that take forever to get to the point. This is the first time I’ve encountered burying the lede for an entire book. It takes forever for the author to get to the point, and by then it’s difficult to remember what we were even supposed to glean from it. There might be some useful information here, but it’s so bogged down in obvious things that every other author who has written a book on writing has already said.
No new writing tips in extremely biased non-fiction, I give Story Engineering 2.0 stars out of 5.
The Expendables 3
Year: 2014
Rating: PG-13
Length: 126 minutes / 2.10 hours
When the first Expendables movie came out, the premise of a ton of washed-out action stars coming together in a single film amused me. It wasn’t that great, mostly because I thought to myself, “These are the only guys they could get?” Partly because of this, my standards had been lowered for the second film in the franchise and I found it was an absolute blast with a lot of big names that the first movie was missing. Then they made a third one and ran out of names.
What set the first two Expendables movies apart was the 80s action film machismo that made the concept of bringing these actors together so amusing. Now? It seems like they’re reaching the bottom of the bucket for these types of actors—mostly because I don’t consider them as the over-the-top action stars that the rest of the crew is. I mean, Kelsey Grammer? Really? Plus, now they’re bringing in fighters like Ronda Rousey, who really isn’t an actor, even in her somewhat natural element of fighting people. The franchise already jumped the shark when they had Chuck Norris in the second movie anyway.
All this being said, the plot wasn’t too terrible. Unbelievable? Yes. I don’t see any relation between Mel Gibson and any of the Expendable crew, so it was a bit of a stretch to even maintain my suspension of disbelief. Oddly enough, I was about as bored with the action in this entry in the Expendables franchise as I was with the first one. Everything just felt overly gray and the cuts between all the different bits of action left me confused as to what exactly was happening. Then again, this is bound to happen when you need to give so many actors screen time.
Continuing the farce after jumping the shark, I give The Expendables 3 2.5 stars out of 5.
Mega Man X
Year: 1994
Rating: E
Time Played: ~3.5 hours
Growing up as a fan of the Mega Man franchise, Mega Man X was a hugely successful jump from the 8-bit era to the 16-bit era. The basic Mega Man mechanics were the foundation that X built upon, improving many aspects of the 2D platformer that needed some innovation. Yes, nostalgia may cloud my thoughts on this game, but it’s hard to deny how it affected the franchise for the better. It might not be on the level of Super Metroid in how it changed the gaming landscape, but its influence is definitely present in modern games today.
Visually, Mega Man X is a treat. From underwater and underground levels to jungles and snow bases, each of the eight animal-themed maverick bosses are unique and memorable. The soundtrack is undeniably excellent, evoking the hard rock riffs that pay homage to the original Japanese protagonist’s name of “Rockman.” Furthermore, the presence of a small amount of plot gave this game much more gravitas and emotional impact than anything in the original Mega Man series could do. I cared about Zero, despised Vile, and trembled at the power of Sigma. Overall, the “cool factor” for this game is pegged at its maximum levels.
This isn’t even mentioning how the upgrade system made the game much more approachable than just memorizing enemy patterns, thereby making its difficulty something that could be conquered. Heart Tanks were a small reward for exploration and E-Tanks were better than the consumable versions in the original Mega Man series. Then there’s dashing and wall climbing. This single mechanic changed so much about how Mega Man games play—even more than when Mega Man 3 introduced sliding. Throw in the amusingly overpowered Hadouken secret unlock, and this game truly has it all.
The coolest Mega Man transition to 16 bits, I give Mega Man X 5.0 stars out of 5.
The Fabelmans
Year: 2022
Rating: PG-13
Length: 151 minutes / 2.52 hours
Steven Spielberg has been directing films for so many decades that it’s actually a little surprising that the semi-autobiographical The Fabelmans (2022) took this long to materialize. Because of his years of success as a filmmaker, I already knew some details of Spielberg’s rise to the successful director that he is today. Granted, I’m not sure how much of the family drama in The Fabelmans is a direct influence on Spielberg’s life or if he manufactured it for the movie itself. Still, it is interesting to see the early budding talent presented in this movie and be able to extrapolate to movies like Jaws (1975), Saving Private Ryan (1998), and Schindler’s List (1993).
Perhaps my one qualm with this movie is that it’s a bit too long. I understand the desire to show the entire life of Sammy Fabelman (Gabriel LaBelle) to understand the context of the origins of his filmmaking passion, but there could have been much shorter ways to show these moments instead of dedicating almost the entire first act to something that was much less exciting than the rest of the film. Even if it started in the second act, The Fabelmans easily captures that struggle between family and living the life of a dedicated creative.
I really appreciated the conversation about how pursuing a creative passion can really be a challenge for an individual’s personal life. Similar to how the leads in La La Land (2016) had to choose between themselves and their dreams, The Fabelmans shows how having an additional way to communicate (in this case, via filmmaking) can sometimes break through barriers and expose hard truths. The unblinking eye of the camera often sees more than we want, whether the bipolar disorder and affair of a mother or how a bully sees themselves as the hero.
A thoughtful if not slightly long autobiography of Steven Spielberg, I give The Fabelmans 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Wind Through the Keyhole
Year: 2012
Author: Stephen King
Length: 627 minutes / 10.45 hours
Backstory can often be a difficult element to work into a series. To keep the action in the present and moving forward, there’s rarely time to go into the background of the characters, let alone the main character of the series. This is why side stories like Fairest and The Wind Through the Keyhole exist. There’s a subtle need to explore the troubled past of a main character, but to get into the depth of their backstory requires a significant amount of words that won’t fit into already full books in the main series.
In The Wind Through the Keyhole, Stephen King lets the reader see the origins of Roland the Gunslinger. What’s interesting here is that King does so in a series of nested stories, almost evoking something from Inception (2010) or Cloud Atlas. After all, a single story hardly affects real people but is instead a string of interactions that themselves were influenced by the past events of other characters’ lives. And while knowing these stories doesn’t add to the whole of the Dark Tower series, they confirm some things that Roland alluded to from his past.
With many moments in the core Dark Tower series being used to show character development for the rest of the members of the ka-tet, The Wind Through the Keyhole provides the foundation for the titular Gunslinger that was mostly missing from the main series. Considering that King wrote this book almost a decade after the series concluded, it’s no wonder that the universe of Mid-World feels as rich as ever in this side story. Adding this mid-series book after the fact meant that King still had more to clarify and The Wind Through the Keyhole definitely delivers.
A Dark Tower side story with plenty of character background, I give The Wind Through the Keyhole 4.0 stars out of 5.
Little Boy
Year: 2015
Rating: PG-13
Length: 106 minutes / 1.77 hours
When it comes to movies with strong Christian messages, often the resulting movie is weak for a variety of other reasons. This might be because of poorly written characters, plot holes, or an overall lack of cinematic quality in the movie itself. This is why I absolutely adore Little Boy (2015). There are many great Christian values presented here, including faith and accepting others. However, the little twists put in the plot of this World War II story make it just that much better than a generic Christian film. If only more Christian movies were made like this, then maybe the (valid) stigma against Christian media might be reduced.
Perhaps the one aspect of Little Boy that strikes me as the most unique is the xenophobia against Hashimoto (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa). There have been plenty of movies about World War II, but you don’t see many of them addressing the racism against the Japanese living in the United States. That Father Oliver (Tom Wilkinson) encourages the titular Little Boy (Jakob Salvati) to befriend the harassed Hashimoto just goes to show the Biblical concept of loving others despite what they (or their countrymen) have done to you. We could definitely use more of that today.
And while some may downplay acts of God as mere coincidences, these moments in Little Boy are quite amusing twists that drive the conversation of faith in the little seaside town. There were points where I laughed out loud when the connection between something and its eventual resolution finally clicked (e.g., “Little Boy” having more than one meaning). Overall, Little Boy is charming, challenging, and poignant in ways that make me recommend more people see this hidden gem of a movie.
The right way to do a Christian movie on faith and accepting others, I give Little Boy 5.0 stars out of 5.
Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion
Year: 2021
Rating: E10+
Time Played: ~2 hours
Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion is one of those games that got me to play it based on the name alone. That it also only took up two hours of my time was also a plus. A cutesy action-adventure, Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion is just silly enough to not be taken seriously, but not absurd enough to be ultimately funny. I definitely played through it shortly after adding it to my vast video game library, but I also was glad that it was a free game I got as part of my Amazon Prime subscription.
As an action-adventure title, there are easy comparisons to The Legend of Zelda games, as well as the Metroidvania genre here. You collect items in dungeons that you need to defeat that dungeon’s boss and advance to the next part of the map. Where successful versions of these games succeed is by making it clear what needs to be done next after an objective is accomplished. Unfortunately, there were several times during my play-through of this game when I was wandering around, trying to talk to everyone and figure out where I needed to go next to advance the story.
I’ll admit that the concept of the main character committing tax fraud is funny, but it never really goes any further than that. What was more striking were the moments that had something deeply sinister hiding in the subtext. You could easily label this game “post-apocalyptic” and it would fit. All this being said, some of the controls felt a little loose, which led to me dying more than I would have liked for a game that was still fairly simple to beat.
A simple action-adventure game with bizarre undertones, I give Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion 3.0 stars out of 5.
Quantum of Solace
Year: 2008
Rating: PG-13
Length: 106 minutes / 1.76 hours
Ever since the turn of the millennium, many film franchises have taken to starting over; reinventing themselves for this modern era. From superheroes like Batman and Superman to age-old classics such as Rocky and Rambo, these franchises have been going back to the drawing board in order to pull in ticket sales. The James Bond franchise is no different. In 2006, the ranks of Sean Connery, Roger Moore, and Pierce Brosnan gained Daniel Craig as the new James Bond.
Quantum of Solace is a rather rare Bond film as it actually has a connection to its predecessor, Casino Royale (2006). It also has all the elements of the franchise. There are the spectacular opening credits, Bond girls, fancy car chases, and gunfights. Somewhat missing from the mix is the legendary set of gadgets, which was also missing from Casino Royale. Instead, an impressive graphical user interface on all the computers and cell phones (think Minority Report (2002)) replaces the somewhat obscure and specific gadgets. The film feels like an action film from the Bourne series, with vehicle chases and somewhat jittery camerawork that becomes hard to watch at times. Quantum of Solace starts with a car chase and uses any available vehicle to drive the action, including a motorcycle, boats, and airplanes. However, the action lulls in the second act, which drags the movie towards the final, fiery fight.
Daniel Craig has been hailed as the Bond closest to the literary image created by Ian Flemming. Craig takes the character and gives Bond depth and complexity to match his martini. The villain is real enough but feels like a bitter Al Gore who is using global warming to scare people into giving him control over everything. With a set of unknown actors (except for Judi Dench, and now Daniel Craig), the Bond franchise is starting over from the string of Pierce Brosnan films which tended towards celebrity and over-the-top silliness.
Fueled by action sequences and lightened by British wit and charm, this film should be enjoyable for both those wanting to become familiar with Bond films and those diehard fans. It’s definitely worth the price of admission.
The start of a connected Bond storyline, I give Quantum of Solace 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Last Guardian
Year: 2012
Author: Eoin Colfer
Length: 459 minutes / 7.65 hours
The Last Guardian—the final book in the Artemis Fowl series—could not have gotten here any faster. In my mind, the series was basically over once they did the “time travel” book in the fifth entry, The Time Paradox. That The Atlantis Complex felt like the weakest in the series meant I didn’t have high hopes for this wrap-up of the series. Fortunately, the downward trend since the third book did not continue here, and it finished on a satisfying high note.
Perhaps due to this being the last book in the series, the whole “deus ex machina” style of returning everything to normal by the end of the book seemed to go out the window here. This allowed for some truly exciting developments—not the least of which includes the death of main characters. Using not one, but two of the series’ best antagonist was also a smart move to increase the stakes to the highest they’ve ever been in the entire saga. All these things combined into an entertaining ending that reminded me why I kept with this series for so long.
There wasn’t any reason to hold anything back in this book, and Eoin Colfer flawlessly left everything with a satisfying conclusion. Sure, there were some romantic aspects of the titular character’s life that I would have liked to have seen wrapped up slightly differently, but I also understand that this middle-grade series never had that as its strong suit (other than the “will they/won’t they” between him and Holly Short). Ultimately, would I read this series again? Probably not. However, I would pick up a few entries to read again, and this is definitely one of them.
Ending the Artemis Fowl series on a high note, I give The Last Guardian 4.0 stars out of 5.
Casino Royale
Year: 2006
Rating: PG-13
Length: 144 minutes / 2.40 hours
For almost 40 years, the adaptation of the first book in Ian Flemming’s James Bond franchise was a parody of the action movie the Bond films had become. Even with only four movies in the Bond franchise released at the time, Casino Royale (1967) made fun of all the goofy gadgets, girls, and guns that were staples of Flemming’s works. Fortunately, when it was time to reboot the character with Daniel Craig, Casino Royale (2006) received the remake it truly deserved.
Cut down to its base elements and filmed in a more modern style, Casino Royale is a much grittier take on the Bond franchise that lets the action set-pieces and skillful spy-craft take center stage. Sure, there are still Bond girls here, but this time there’s a deeper connection with characters like Eva Green’s Vesper Lynd (which you can take much more seriously than characters named “Pussy Galore”). It then comes as no surprise that Daniel Craig’s version of James Bond feels like a real person with weaknesses and not just some caricature of a successful British spy.
While there is a lot to commend this film when compared to the goofier films in the long-running franchise, it’s not an entirely perfect movie. The overarching plot is thin and the Bond villain (masterfully played by Mads Mikkelsen) is really nothing more than a banker with a menacing scar. And while some people might complain about the re-casting of Bond, M (Judi Dench), and Felix (Jeffrey Wright), I think these actors perfectly capture the essence of their characters. After all, bringing Bond up to modern standards requires some reassessment when it comes to the long-standing tropes that led the first Casino Royale to be made in the first place.
A strong James Bond reboot for the modern era, I give Casino Royale 4.0 stars out of 5.
This film appears in the following posts:
Cinema Connections #307. Card Games
Cinema Connections #308. One-Eyed Villains
Mario’s Picross
Year: 1995
Rating: E
Time Played: 666 minutes / 11.1 hours
For as many Picross games as I’ve played, I figured I should probably go back and play the “original” picross video game, Mario’s Picross. Since most picross (or nonogram) puzzles are merely black-and-white pixelated images, it made sense to put this concept on the monochrome Game Boy. And while there’s nothing significant to write home about in this entry, I can’t help but feel that more recent iterations of picross have spoiled me when compared to the early versions of picross to hit the home console market.
Some of the charm that Mario’s Picross has comes from the artistic style of the puzzles mimicking the “Mario style” (i.e., inanimate objects with elongated eyes). Aside from these puzzles being in-theme for a Mario game, they’re still the fairly basic objects that you’d expect out of a Picross game. I’m sure they crammed as many puzzles as they could into a Game Boy cartridge, but it felt like there wasn’t a lot of content for this game compared to other games that came later. I completed all the puzzles in just over 11 hours, as compared to the dozens of hours I’ve spent on other Picross games.
I know it’s not fair to compare Mario’s Picross to its successor, Mario’s Super Picross since the SNES version has more power in its 16-bits to work with. However, considering how both games came out around the same time, it’s a little disappointing to see how limited the Game Boy version of this concept is when the superior version is clearly on the SNES. Even small animations or secret levels would have given this game a little more to recommend it. Heck, even some puzzles with higher difficulty would have been nice. Instead, it’s about 11 hours of the same kinds of puzzles with only minimal difficulty increases for each of the different modes.
A solid start for Picross video games that was immediately overshadowed by its successors, I give Mario’s Picross 3.5 stars out of 5.
She Said
Year: 2022
Rating: R
Length: 129 minutes / 2.15 hours
After the gripping Best Picture winner Spotlight (2015) brought to light the struggles of journalists to expose systemic sexual abuse in our society, it’s a little sad that the somewhat similar She Said (2022) hasn’t gotten the same amount of attention. And perhaps that’s just highlighting the continuation of the issue at hand: sexual assault rampant throughout the Hollywood film industry. One wonders if this introspective piece would have done better without Spotlight‘s shadow looming over it or the movie industry wanting to continue to silence the voice of these women.
She Said has plenty of gripping moments where women put their entire careers on the line to become named sources to out the deplorable practices of producers like Harvey Weinstein. The trouble is, the whole movie plays out quite similarly to how Spotlight did seven years ago. If you want to see more thrilling investigative journalism that brings to light the abuse of power that continues rampant in this world, this is the movie for you. If you’ve had enough of these exposés that show a problem and only offer a small step toward a solution, then maybe pass on this one.
For what it’s worth, this relatively recent outing of Weinstein (and others) that led to the #metoo movement is more a testament to the bravery of the few who stepped forward to admit something was wrong. It’s difficult to think of a world before people freely spoke up about these abuses, but the cracks in the dam holding back the vile actions of people in power needed to come crumbling down at some point. I’m glad movies like She Said still exist to document these major turning points, even if there’s still plenty to do to remedy the situation.
A #metoo version of Spotlight, I give She Said 4.0 stars out of 5.
Shadows in Flight
Year: 2011
Author: Orson Scott Card
Length: 383 minutes / 6.38 hours
You know how sometimes a series has overstayed its welcome? How, even though the author has wrapped up most of the loose ends, there’s another story afterward that only exists to extend the series even farther than it has already come? The only times I can forgive these extensions is if the story in question isn’t particularly long. For instance, the “epilogue” story in Marissa Meyer’s Stars Above is a great way to show the characters settling into normal life after the main conflict ends. Shadows in Flight is almost unnecessary, but at least it’s short.
Shadow of the Giant was a satisfying conclusion to the Ender’s Shadow saga, so the fact that Shadows in Flight exists is merely to wrap up Bean’s story even if the rest of the world had already reached its peaceful conclusion. After all, one question remained from this series: can those with Anton’s Key be cured of their premature death and still keep their incredible gifts? This story sets out to answer that question and give Bean the (second) send-off he deserved. Fortunately, it’s a relatively short book, since there isn’t much else to say on the matter.
The problem is, there’s nothing particularly new in this book when compared to the other eight books in both the Speaker for the Dead and Ender’s Shadow series. This is perhaps because the three new characters (Bean’s children) were repeated archetypes from their respective namesakes. It’s always nice to have a little more content in the Ender universe, but even I think this feels like a post-it note scribbled on the back of the end of the series.
Wrapping up the final loose ends of the Ender’s Shadow saga, I give Shadows in Flight 3.0 stars out of 5.
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story
Year: 2022
Rating: PG-13
Length: 108 minutes / 1.80 hours
When it comes to biopics, there seems to be a natural attraction to musicians. The rise from obscurity into the descent of the artist via “sex, drugs, and rock & roll” is so ubiquitous, the script practically writes itself. We’ve seen it time and time again with such movies as Bohemian Rhapsody (2018), Rocketman (2019), and Elvis (2022). Because of this (or possibly in spite of it), the parody biopic of “Weird” Al Yankovic, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (2022) hits all the notes you’d expect of these kinds of films, but in a way that’s so tongue-in-cheek, it’s basically poking out the other side.
Having been a fan of Weird Al for some time now (and recalling his first movie, UHF (1989)), it is amusing to see how some elements of truth shine through in this mock-u-drama. Some of the casting choices were quite hilarious, including the cameos played by Rainn Wilson, Dmitri Martin, Conan O’Brien, and Jack Black. And while the overarching plot gets kind of silly with an almost Rambo-esque rescue of Maddona (Evan Rachel Wood), it plays off all the musician biopic beats perfectly to show how ridiculous some of them can be.
My only qualm with the film is that I had to watch it through the Roku channel. Sure, I’m glad it was free to stream, it’s just that the Roku website and streaming interface weren’t that great. My internet might not be the best, but I spent most of my time pausing and buffering the film. Meanwhile, every time it froze, the movie would continue silently in the background until the bandwidth caught up, skipping ahead recklessly and causing me to rewind to catch the part I missed. This frustration ruined a lot of my experience and I can’t wait until it comes out on Blu-Ray so I won’t have to deal with that issue.
A spot-on parody of musician biopics hosted on an unfortunate streaming service, I give Weird: The Al Yankovic Story 3.5 stars out of 5.
Picross 3D: Round 2
Year: 2016
Rating: E
Time Played: 3,310 minutes / 51.17 hours
When I bought Picross 3D, I assumed it was a 3D game for the Nintendo 3DS. While I still enjoyed the three-dimensional gameplay of that Nintendo DS game, I knew the capabilities of the 3DS would easily enhance the puzzles presented in such a game. Fortunately, the developers of the first game came out with a sequel for the 3DS. Picross 3D: Round 2 is basically the same game as Picross 3D, except that you get to see the finished puzzles with the Nintendo 3DS stereoscopic top screen once you’ve completed them.
This sequel has an additional facet to the gameplay that the first game did not possess. While Picross 3D was more or less a standard extrapolation of Picross, this game introduced two colors into the gameplay. Blue blocks are solid, and yellow blocks are corners or other edges that round out the puzzle you’re solving. This allowed for more nuanced puzzles that weren’t nearly as blocky as the ones in the first game. However, I struggled against the control scheme for marking these different colored blocks for a good quarter of my play-through before I finally edited the button layout to be more intuitive to my play style.
Just like my play-through of Picross 3D, I finished all the puzzles at the maximum difficulty—mostly because I reset any puzzle I made an error on so I could get the maximum points for each one. I appreciated the larger multi-puzzle models created by solving several smaller puzzles. And while you don’t actually solve the puzzles on the 3D screen (instead using the natural touchscreen/stylus interface), it was nice to see these puzzles in 3D once I completed them—thus living up to the “3D” in the title.
A great follow-up to the original Picross 3D, I give Picross 3D: Round 2 4.0 stars out of 5.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Year: 2022
Rating: PG-13
Length: 161 minutes / 2.68 hours
As the last film in the fourth phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) proves that there was no plan for this phase other than to clean up the remains of the Infinity War saga. To its credit, though, Wakanda Forever was burdened with finding an in-universe replacement for the titular Black Panther after the untimely passing of Chadwick Boseman. However, considering how most of Phase 4 was passing the mantle from one hero to the next generation, it fits well within this theming.
There’s a line in Avengers: Endgame (2019) where Naka (Lupita Nyong’o) states that Wakanda is aware of an anomaly on the ocean floor near their country and that they were handling it. This throwaway line was likely played for laughs, but it’s peculiar how Wakanda was woefully unprepared for the invasion of their land by underwater enemies, even though they clearly knew about it three years ago. Phase 4 of the MCU has highlighted how difficult it is to maintain continuity in a franchise as huge as it has become.
Even though Marvel has introduced new characters in movies outside their own standalone works since the early Phases, I would have liked something more dedicated to introducing Ironheart (Dominique Thorne) considering how influential Iron Man was to the MCU. I also would have appreciated action sequences that weren’t so dark or hard to follow, because I can’t honestly recall any of them that happened in this movie. Overall, I felt the end of the MCU Phase 4 was average—which aligns with the MCU Phase 4 as a whole. Here’s to hoping the next Phase actually goes somewhere.
Phase 4 MCU’s average movie to end an average phase, I give Black Panther: Wakanda Forever 3.0 stars out of 5.
The Man in the High Castle
Year: 1962
Author: Philip K. Dick
Length: 505 minutes / 8.42 hours
While I haven’t seen the Amazon TV series based on this book, I have had enough awareness of the basic premise going in. An alternate reality where the Allies lost World War II felt like such an interesting concept that I had to read the book that spawned this idea. Of course, I also enjoy Philip K. Dick’s writing for the same reasons: he has novel ideas that he executes well. Unfortunately, I found The Man in the High Castle to be underwhelming.
To Dick’s credit, his world-building for a history where Japan took over part of the United States after World War II felt quite thorough. Little subtle ways that people act, economies based on American antiques, as well as other differences that made sense with such a drastic change to history. The problem is, Dick was so focused on world-building that he forgot to write an actual story. None of the characters really stick out, and the titular Man in the High Castle is a Maguffin at best. I was left disappointed, which is rare for a Philip K. Dick story for me.
Maybe modern action thrillers have ruined this story for me, but when there are vast swaths of text dedicated to counterfeit antiques instead of forced cultural changes for the residents of the United States, a story like this can get boring quite quickly. If I had to pinpoint the worst part about this book, it’s that the ending was not at all satisfying. There should have been something that better explained the book that told of an alternate history, considering how provocative the rest of this book made it seem.
An underwhelming execution for a top-notch idea, I give The Man in the High Castle 2.5 stars out of 5.
One Piece Film: Red
Year: 2022
Rating: PG-13
Length: 115 minutes / 1.92 hours
One challenge of making movies for such a long-running anime series like One Piece is that there are so many characters and aspects of the canon that it’s hard to make a film that includes fan-favorite characters in a way that makes sense with the overall story. With Eiichiro Oda on board for One Piece Film: Red (2022), we finally have a movie that could easily be part of the canon for the series while also having stakes high enough to warrant the characters who appear to save the world.
While I definitely enjoy One Piece movies that string together powerful moves from the best characters, like Stampede (2019) did, most of the time the villains for these movies are so separated from the series as to be completely inconsequential. For Red, including Shanks’ family was a smart way to make the story relevant to the wider One Piece world without having to ret-con much. This also allowed a variety of characters to make appearances, some of which haven’t been seen in the series since their arc ended years ago.
Perhaps the best part about Red is how the threat of the villain achieving their goal is significant enough to put the entire world in danger. We are finally at the part in the mainline series where world-ending events are likely to be common, so stepping this level of significance up for a movie makes sense here. It also allowed powerful characters to make appearances in this movie because the threat was so great—thus making their inclusion something that made sense. Overall, fans of One Piece will probably enjoy this film, and those who aren’t might enjoy the catchy songs included in it.
A One Piece film with significant characters and world-ending stakes, I give One Piece Film: Red 4.5 stars out of 5.
Pistol Whip
Year: 2019
Rating: T
Time Played: 4+ hours
While Beat Saber likely convinced many people to jump into owning a Virtual Reality (VR) headset, it should be noted that it is hardly the only music rhythm game out there. Now, imagine if you mashed the rhythm game portion of Beat Saber with the polygon-person shoot-’em-up action of SUPERHOT. The result is Pistol Whip, a full-body workout with great songs and visceral reactions to being shot (and shooting your enemies). With so much free content released for this game, you’d almost be stupid to not get it—even if you already own Beat Saber.
Before some of the later updates, Pistol Whip had the same problem most VR music rhythm games have: boring or repetitive backgrounds. Each song would play, and you’d only focus on the beats you need to hit to progress to the end of the level. However, with the “western” and “sci-fi” updates, there’s at least some variety in the scenery as you ride the rail and shoot the bad guys. Even if none of the songs are easily recognizable (in the base game or DLC packs), they’re still driving enough to get your heart pounding as they play.
The one aspect of Pistol Whip that I think truly sets itself apart from other music rhythm games is the main gameplay mechanic. Beat Saber has its swords and Synth Riders has its orbs, but the guns in Pistol Whip are resources you need to manage as you play. You have to make your own rhythm with each shot, reload, and (literal) pistol whip instead of having the beats fly at you with a prescribed motion. It’s thrilling, satisfying, and about as close that any average Joe like myself has to being John Wick without actually killing anyone.
The best gun-based rhythm game, I give Pistol Whip 4.0 stars out of 5.
Black Adam
Year: 2022
Rating: PG-13
Length: 125 minutes / 2.08 hours
I find it somewhat bizarre that DC released a successful movie with Shazam! (2019) only to follow it up with this spinoff that didn’t seem to add anything to the DC Extended Universe other than to do a quick introduction of other characters. Other characters, mind you, who were much more interesting than the titular Black Adam (Dwayne Johnson). Instead of letting individual characters have room to build their own lore, this just felt rushed—a common trait of most DCEU movies, to be honest.
As far as the action goes, there are a few really well-done set pieces that are visually entertaining. It’s always fun to watch an overpowered superhero use the full extent of their powers. The real trick, though, is that you’d likely get a similar Marvel movie with The Falcon, Ant-Man, and Doctor Strange as the hero team sent to stop Captain Marvel. This is why DC really needs to focus on the characters themselves and not just their powers—there are too many similarities with their Marvel equivalents that have already proven to be successful. They’ve been trying this copy-and-paste method for years and it’s still not working out.
Overall, Black Adam (2022) is an average superhero film. As far as I can tell, nothing of significance happens that will affect other films in the DCEU. We’ll have to wait for the Shazam! sequel to determine if this movie was completely pointless. What this movie really highlighted is that Dwayne Johnson is not that great of an actor (which might come as a surprise for some). Alternatively, I also think this movie showed that a Doctor Fate (Pierce Brosnan) film would have been significantly more interesting than what we got here.
Another average superhero film in the fumbling DCEU, I give Black Adam 3.0 stars out of 5.
The Heroine’s Journey
Year: 2020
Author: Gail Carriger
Length: 305 pages
When I started writing over a decade ago, I subconsciously modeled my story structures off the stories that I enjoyed. I didn’t go into my first novel with the plan to make it the typical “Hero’s Journey,” and the result was far from it. The stories I was writing seemed to work, even if they didn’t abide by the known structure many authors had used before me. The problem was, I didn’t have a name for the style of story I was writing. After reading Gail Carriger’s book, The Heroine’s Journey, I can finally label the stories I write.
Carriger makes it clear that stories that follow the Heroine’s Journey don’t always have females in the lead role. Instead, the Heroine’s Journey is the antithesis of the Hero’s Journey. Where the Hero’s Journey is about individual achievement and sacrifice, the Heroine’s Journey is more about building community to tackle a problem larger than any one individual. There are a lot of YA works out there that hold to the Heroine’s Journey much more than the Hero’s Journey, which is probably why it can hold its own in today’s society.
As with most books on writing, there are plenty of examples provided in The Heroine’s Journey. This helped me identify where I was using this structure in my writing, since these comp titles correlated with what I had already written. My only qualm with this book is in some of the formatting. There were quite a few moments where I couldn’t tell if the author was trying to emphasize a point, use a quote from one of the books she had written, or just break up the pages of normal text with something different. Still, if you can get past these odd moments, there is a lot of truth within these pages.
A non-traditional story structure with a proven track record, I give The Heroine’s Journey 4.0 stars out of 5.
Amsterdam
Year: 2022
Rating: R
Length: 134 minutes / 2.23 hours
Ever since I saw Silver Linings Playbook (2012), it convinced me that David O. Russell’s films were good. When American Hustle (2013) and Joy (2015) didn’t quite live up to my expectations, I figured it was a fluke. They were OK movies, just not to the caliber I had expected. I was cautiously optimistic about Amsterdam (2022) since it advertised such an all-star cast. Then again, the other movies also had all-star casts as well. Let’s just say that this movie was probably my third strike against seeing any more David O. Russell films.
Now, don’t get me wrong—the acting in Amsterdam was great. These interesting characters were fun to watch, and it’s clear that Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, and John David Washington are all talented actors (along with the many other actors involved, which would take too much space to list them all). The angle of injured military veterans was another element that I hadn’t seen in a lot of movies, so that was another aspect of this film that I thought gave it merit. Unfortunately, the biggest problem with Amsterdam is its plot.
I don’t mind non-linear storytelling, but usually—when a director uses this method—it’s clear what the plot is about. It took way too long in this movie to get to the point. I was watching it and wondering to myself, “What is this movie even about?” all the way until the start of the third act. Sure, trying to play the mystery angle to obfuscate why these characters are involved can work for a whodunnit, but this is not one of those movies. When everything came together in the end, it was a satisfying ending—it just took way too long to make any sense prior to that point.
An all-star cast in a less-than-stellar plot, I give Amsterdam 3.5 stars out of 5.
Walkabout Mini Golf
Year: 2020
Rating: E
Time Played: 4+ hours
It’s funny how Virtual Reality (VR) can encapsulate both the most banal things (a la Job Simulator) and the most fantastic (a la Moss) almost in the same breath. The prime example of this fusion is in Walkabout Mini Golf. Most people have played mini golf, but few have done so on a space station or in a haunted castle. Sure, some better real-world courses work hard to bring that sense of fantasy, but rarely for more than a hole or two.
In Walkabout Mini Golf, the gameplay feels fantastic. Mini golf in VR like this is fun, even if you have to sit through an entire course worth of holes in a particular theme (like a Pirate Island or Arizona). Sometimes, the physics might feel a little frustrating when trying to get a precise shot; but overall, the golf doesn’t feel any worse than the golf mini-game from Wii Sports—which is a compliment. Finding the secret balls for each hole is also fun when they’re easy to spot and maddening when they’re well hidden. If they did not lock only parts of the game behind finding these elusive balls, then I’d be fine with it.
VR is still one of those video game mediums where it pays to have more party games than first-person experiences. I think Walkabout Mini Golf solves both problems by having a huge amount of content for one person to play (with some neat Downloadable Content for those who are interested) while also showing the unique ability of VR to transport players of all types to fantastical places to play a simple game of miniature golf. I’d almost say this is a must-have for any owner of an Oculus headset.
Engaging mini golf in fantastical VR worlds, I give Walkabout Mini Golf 4.0 stars out of 5.
Minions: The Rise of Gru
Year: 2022
Rating: PG
Length: 87 minutes / 1.45 hours
It always felt weird to me that the prequel spinoff series to Despicable Me started with Minions (2015), set well before these yellow tic-tac creatures even met their eventual boss. As a true prequel to the main series, Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022) was the movie the previous Minions movie should have been. And while it definitely lives up to the somewhat immature nature of these films from Illumination, I am constantly in awe of how visually impressive these movies look despite not coming from Disney, Pixar, or Dreamworks.
While definitely still geared toward children, Minions: The Rise of Gru definitely has its moments that parents forced to watch along with their kids will chuckle at. In particular, the names of the villains are puns well above little ones’ heads but are quite amusing for the adults who know (Nun-Chuck (Lucy Lawless) being my favorite). I mean, they even got Jean-Claude Van Damme to voice Jean-Clawed. It’s goofy, and you can turn your mind off to enjoy the flashy colors for almost an hour and a half.
My only gripe is that this movie didn’t quite integrate its A and B storylines that well. Sure, they come together at the end to save the day, but they might as well have been two separate movies: one where the Minions train and one where Gru (Steve Carell) is mentored by Wild Knuckles (Alan Arkin). Still, as far as origin stories go, there are enough references to the main Despicable Me series to explain how everything got started prior to the first Despicable Me (2010) movie. I only hope that this movie marks the end of the Minions spin-off series since there’s really nowhere else to go with it now.
The Despicable Me prequel the first Minions movie should have been, I give Minions: The Rise of Gru 3.5 stars out of 5.
Grave Peril
Year: 2001
Author: Jim Butcher
Length: 378 pages
The third book in the Dresden Files, Grave Peril continues the adventures of Chicago’s resident wizard as he takes on ghosts, godmothers, and ghoulish vampires. While it’s definitely an improvement from Fool Moon, Grave Peril still has some of the misogynistic flaws of the series’ titular character. On the plus side, we finally get to delve into deeper lore for the series. And we get Michael. He’s the best new character in this series and by far my favorite for many reasons—mainly because how he does things differently than Dresden.
I’ll admit that it took me a while to get through this book, which felt odd considering the action was superb, the writing was proficient, and the story was thrilling. For some reason, I didn’t feel the motivation to continue reading and went weeks between picking it up and continuing. I think if I had read it all as quickly as possible, then it might have earned another half-star. I know it’s not this book’s fault for my inability to focus on reading to save my life (thanks to the pandemic; I think). Perhaps there’s something subconscious about this book that prevented me from devouring it, though.
Since the Dresden Files are mainly written through the POV of Harry Dresden, this might be my biggest qualm right now. I absolutely adore all the new characters introduced in this book, but I cringe at all the obvious instances of “men writing women” that have persisted since book one. In fact, I’d almost rather have an entire series from Michael’s point of view, because he seems much more interesting in his denim-wearing, sword-wielding ways. I’ll still continue with this series, but only to see where it takes Michael.
Great new characters and a deeper dive into the lore, I give Grave Peril 4.0 stars out of 5.
See How They Run
Year: 2022
Rating: PG-13
Length: 98 minutes / 1.63 hours
When it comes to certain actors, I’ve enjoyed their previous work enough that I’ll watch them in anything now. Since Iron Man 2 (2010), I’ve liked what Sam Rockwell has done, whereas Lady Bird (2017) felt like Saoirse Ronan’s breakout role for me. Having both these actors together in the same movie was a guarantee that I’d want to see it. Considering how the trailers made See How They Run (2022) look like a fun little whodunnit comedy, I was looking forward to how these actors would play off each other.
Ronan’s earnest police detective paired with Rockwell’s hardened investigator was a fun match-up for this movie. It’s not necessarily laugh-out-loud funny, but it’s cute when it’s amusing. That the “lessons” Rockwell’s character inadvertently gives to Ronan’s up-and-comer end up being the key to solving the case just makes it that much more fun. The other actors that surround this investigative duo do a fine job as well, if not perhaps playing their parts a little over the top. The cross-cutting of scenes was also an interesting artistic choice for this film, making it almost feel like a comic book at times.
As far as mysteries go, this one is more akin to a tangential meta Agatha Christie mystery that evokes The Mousetrap without actually being that play in particular. This, of course, means there’s the classic—almost formulaic—layout of false leads and suspicion of the main character. The meta elements were an interesting touch that made me laugh as they came into focus. Overall, though, See How They Run feels generic, even with the star power behind its leading roles. Good for a smile or two, but not much else.
A cute buddy cop meta whodunnit, I give See How They Run 3.5 stars out of 5.
Genshin Impact
Year: 2020
Rating: T
Time Played: 350+ hours
Having played many free-to-play games, there’s usually a point where you run out of stuff to do and the game ceases to be fun. Usually, this is when the time-based resources run out and you have to wait to keep playing the game. It surprised me how many hours I put into the free-to-play action-adventure game, Genshin Impact before I hit this wall. Even when I reached this point, I still had plenty of diverse activities to do to keep me occupied for hours at a time. With regular story updates, it’s almost overwhelming how much you can get out of this game without paying anything.
Part of Genshin Impact’s appeal is its somewhat Breath of the Wild-like open world and visual style. While it leans a bit more on anime influences for its character designs (of which there are plenty of characters to play as in this game), Genshin Impact‘s world might be even larger than the huge version of Hyrule that appears in Breath of the Wild. There are settings from traditional fantasy to Chinese- and Japanese-inspired realms to geographic locations like a towering icy mountain and dark mine. And while both games have limited basic enemy types, Genshin Impact is always adding new bosses to challenge your skills.
One reason I picked up Genshin Impact was that I could play it on my phone. Synching progress between my brief sessions out and about and the times I’d sit down to play at my computer was nice, but because this game is so incredibly massive, it’s now too big to play on my phone without me having to delete all the other apps on it. Consequently, I now play it less than I used to, even if I have even more story content to unlock now. Still, I enjoy playing this game occasionally and welcome all the free updates it gets every few weeks.
An enormous free-to-play game that evokes Breath of the Wild, I give Genshin Impact 4.0 stars out of 5.
Interceptor
Year: 2022
Rating: R
Length: 99 minutes / 1.65 hours
I heard about this movie from some co-workers and I decided to turn my mind off for a night and watch it. I’m glad that it was on Netflix because I would not have paid money to see this generic action thriller. It felt to me like someone was perusing the internet, trying to find interesting military resources to integrate into an action film. Then they found SBX. While this floating military asset is an interesting place to set an action film, there’s nothing special in the plot to really demand it.
A few things I couldn’t get past in this movie were the motivations of the villains and the accent of the main character, Captain Joanna Collins (Elsa Pataky). I had trouble believing a Captain with such a strong eastern-European accent would be as successful in the United States military as she was. Then there are these random scenes with Chris Hemsworth working in a Best Buy. I still don’t know what that was about. If this movie was trying to be Die Hard (1988) on a floating military platform, it wasn’t unique enough to pull it off.
The thing is, Interceptor (2022) could have been a lot better if it wasn’t about terrorists launching missiles to attack the United States. There are moments that feel like they’re on the edge of discussing some seriously under-addressed elements of military life, but then they just gloss over them and make the lead out to be some manly badass instead of a woman who has endured trauma. What a better movie this would have been if it had adequately fought against sexual harassment of women in the military instead of using it as a cheap plot point that didn’t end up meaning anything.
Generic action with extremely brief hints of something much better, I give Interceptor 1.5 stars out of 5.
The Key House
Year: 2022
Author: Mike Curtis
Length: 227 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM THE AUTHOR***
Growing up, I never read many middle-grade adventure books. I understood the appeal of a series like The Hardy Boys, but I was drawn more to Encyclopedia Brown. Even without this pre-existing knowledge of the genre, The Key House seems to hit all the required tropes for those who want something along the lines of a mystery/adventure. This is both a strength and a weakness of this book, as it feels done before (significant The Goonies (1985) vibes) but is familiar enough for young readers to know what to expect.
The trouble is that the few points where The Key House strays from the middle-grade adventure tropes stick out. Most of these adventures don’t involve parents at all, so it’s not until halfway through the plot that it feels like this story can actually do what it needs to. The characters felt somewhat generic—like they belonged in Leave it to Beaver more than in the mid-1990s. This was a bit jarring when they interacted with a more “modern” world (relatively speaking, considering how it’s set ~30 years ago). Sudden bursts of specific knowledge from the kids (like a European orphan crisis being brought up at dinner) were also out-of-place enough to pull me from the story.
In terms of the moral, The Key House tries its best to have one of its main characters overcome the character flaw of pride. With a few key examples provided in the narrative, it makes some sense that the eldest boy would have trouble with feeling superior to others. However, these moments feel second-hand and this flaw doesn’t play into the plot of the treasure hunt enough for it to be significant. Still, for young readers, this book should be right up their alley.
A middle-grade adventure Goonies fans will enjoy, I give The Key House 3.0 stars out of 5.
The Bob’s Burgers Movie
Year: 2022
Rating: PG-13
Length: 102 minutes / 1.70 hours
Let a television show get popular enough, and eventually, you’ll see a movie get made of it. This is true for older shows like Get Smart (2008) as well as modern shows like Bob’s Burgers. It seems that animated shows have finally “made it” when they get their first animated movie. South Park, The Simpsons, and SpongeBob SquarePants are among the ranks of well-known animated sitcoms that made the leap to the big screen. Now Bob’s Burgers joins their ranks with The Bob’s Burgers Movie (2022).
The challenge for a 30-minute animated show expanding to a feature-length movie has always been the strength of its intertwining plotlines. For this movie, introducing an enormous sinkhole that’s blocking the entrance to the restaurant ups the scale of normal shenanigans, especially on the first day of summer when people are ready to go out to eat. Add to this a murder mystery that the Belcher kids are trying to solve and you’ve got a solid plot on your hands. And since this is Bob’s Burgers, there are a few more songs than in a normal episode, making this a pseudo-musical as well.
Visually, the movie version of this show looks crisp and clean, with shadows adding depth to the normally flat Sunday evening show. The few set pieces are exciting and well-placed to keep things interesting—to the point where I wondered how the Belchers were going to get out of their predicament. Adding in some lore to the Bob’s Burgers canon in this film also made this an enjoyable watch, as it helped develop the characters we’ve known for over a decade. Overall, fans of the show will enjoy the movie, even if it’s cinematic comfort food.
A successful jump to the big screen for Bob’s Burgers, I give The Bob’s Burgers Movie 4.0 stars out of 5.
Pokémon Quest
Year: 2018
Rating: E
Time Played: 105+ hours
There are a lot of games I play that are part of the free-to-play structure. Pokémon Quest was one of them. I say was here because there really was no motivation to complete the Pokémon series slogan of catching them all without finally giving in and paying for the items needed to make grinding for these rare Pokémon much easier. If I had given in and paid for the necessary items to make the game completable, I’d be spending nearly $30, and this is not a $30 game. When a game can play itself without player input, it’s hardly even a game.
Presented in a pixelated Minecraft style, Pokémon Quest is probably closest to the Rumble side series of Pokémon games. With a few limited moves, the Pokémon you play with in this game are sent into different biomes to take down the Pokémon that live there. While there is some amount of strategy for how you set up your team of three Pokémon so that you can let the game play on automatic mode without your Pokémon fainting, once you have the META figured out, it basically plays itself. Often, I’d start a round while watching a TV show, only occasionally glancing down to confirm that the level was complete.
There were times near the late stages of the game when it was legitimately fun, and the challenge was enough for me to take control of my Pokémon for a few levels. Still, the main “capture” mechanic for this game was too random for my tastes. Cooking food in your camp that would attract Pokémon based on the ingredients never felt like something I could control to get what I wanted. Instead, I had to pay for the ability to speed this process up or run it in parallel with multiple pots of food. Since I refused to do so, my Pokédex remains incomplete, even if all the levels were defeated.
A somewhat fun free-to-play game that is not worth the $30 it tries to get you to spend, I give Pokémon Quest 3.0 stars out of 5.
Three Thousand Years of Longing
Year: 2022
Rating: R
Length: 108 minutes / 1.80 hours
When I saw the posters for Three Thousand Years of Longing (2022) at my local movie theater, I couldn’t easily figure out what it was about. A while later, I saw an article headline that told me that George Miller directed it, so I figured I’d give it a chance. I had seen no trailers or ads for it, but I figured the director of Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) and Happy Feet (2006) would have something interesting for me to see.
I found it a little ironic that this movie about storytelling was meandering with its own storytelling. Granted, it had three millennia to cover in less than two hours, but the framing of it felt a little odd. There are so many in-between moments in the hotel room that could have been used to intersperse modern life with ancient tales. I will give credit here to the somewhat unique nature of the plot, as the movies about genies or djinn are so few as to be counted on a single hand. Dealing with magical beings who grant wishes is a topic that felt fresh and grounded in George Miller’s hands.
Visually, plenty of this movie is a treat. If you can get past some of the uncomfortable moments of nudity, that is. The ancient times covered in the Djinn’s (Idris Elba) stories are filled with the fantastic and the grounded. Tying in lore from historical moments was a nice touch with just enough of a twist to make it interesting. Unfortunately, the chemistry between the two main characters didn’t strike me as particularly strong. Considering that most of the movie is about their connection, this is probably why I didn’t care for the “modern” moments of the film.
A pretty good George Miller film that misses the storytelling mark, I give Three Thousand Years of Longing 3.5 stars out of 5.
Pity the Reader: On Writing with Style
Year: 2019
Author: Kurt Vonnegut Jr. & Suzanne McConnell
Length: 721 minutes / 12.02 hours
People will always ask successful writers how they do what they do. What tricks do they have? What techniques make their writing timeless? Kurt Vonnegut is definitely a successful writer, so we’d want to know how he writes so we can apply his lessons to our own work. I picked up this book thinking it was like Stephen King’s On Writing, not initially realizing that this book was released over a decade after his death. Consequently, this book was a disappointment.
I would say that Vonnegut did not actually write any of this book. If he had, I’m sure it would have been much shorter. Instead, we get a pseudo-biography of the man who wrote such classics as Slaughterhouse Five and Cat’s Cradle. This is a book written by Suzanne McConnell. And while she may have been close enough to Vonnegut to glean a few extra writing tips, his writing already contained most of these portions of advice. It’s nice to have them collected here in one place, but they are so diluted by anecdotes from his life as to almost be hidden in this book about how to write.
It’s almost ironic that they titled this book Pity the Reader. I pity any neophyte writers who are looking to one of the greats of American literature for any sage advice. Over a decade after Vonnegut died, this book feels like a cash grab. A flashy bit of literature with his name on it, meant to sell copies to the unwitting weekend novelist or stay-at-home mom who writes on the side. He probably would have hated it, if for no other reason than him not seeing any profits from it.
A misleading book that takes advantage of Vonnegut’s name, I give Pity the Reader 2.0 stars out of 5.
Full Metal Jacket
Year: 1987
Rating: R
Length: 159 minutes / 2.65 hours
As a self-proclaimed film buff, I have to admit that it’s almost criminal that I’ve gone this long without fully watching Full Metal Jacket (1987). After all, I have seen most of Stanley Kubrick’s filmography and I understand the importance of his oeuvre. I think my hesitation is that I’ve already seen most of this film just through the memes that it eventually spawned. That, and doing more of a “straight” take on a war movie after the perfect satire that is Dr. Strangelove (1964) felt like a disservice.
Even though this movie is almost three hours long, it really feels like two completely separate films smashed together. I don’t believe any other film before or since has quite captured that “boot camp” feel that the first half of this movie does. It’s spawned so many quotable lines that it stands on its own without a need to follow up. Then we jump into war and it feels a bit more generic—even if it still contains a few memorable lines as well. By 1987, it felt like we already had plenty of these kinds of war movies that show how all the training goes out the window once you get into the field.
The one thing that definitely redeems the second half (and enforces the whole movie, to be honest) is the subtle way that Kubrick shows mastery of cinematography. It doesn’t bring attention to itself, but the little things stand out as different. Like how everything at boot camp is in focus, highlighting how no soldier is special or deserving of specialized attention. Or how a long one-shot introduces so much exposition about fighting on the front lines of the Vietnam War without saying so explicitly. This is the brilliance of Kubrick, and Full Metal Jacket is not immune to it.
Two different films united by Kubrick’s genius cinematography, I give Full Metal Jacket 4.0 stars out of 5.
Murder by Numbers
Year: 2020
Rating: T
Time Played: 35+ hours
I haven’t played many visual novel games, so it only figures that the first one I fully completed was also a nonogram (or picross) game. Murder by Numbers mixes the point-and-click adventure of a visual novel mystery with the blocky puzzle styling of nonograms. Divided into several “episodes,” the player follows an actress who plays a detective on TV as she solves actual crimes with the help of a mysterious robot known as SCOUT. It’s cute and the characters are pretty fun; however, there are a few things I would change.
The most frustrating part about this game was how close I came to completing it 100%, only to find that I could not go back and find one puzzle I missed in one of the episodes and instead had to go through the entire episode again. Since the game gives you an update of how close to “S Rank” you are for each episode, I was banging my head against the wall trying to find the missing puzzle, eventually resorting to a guide to help me. All the puzzles should be discoverable at the end of each episode to prevent this gameplay flaw.
Aside from this one weakness, I appreciated how the pixelated images that were used as clues in this game were merely the limitations of SCOUT’s visual processing. This helped explain the low-resolution picross puzzles you have to solve. I also liked how these common objects (which are usually the subjects of nonogram puzzles) had an actual context within each episode’s mystery instead of just being some random duck or palm tree puzzle. Finally, despite being part of the flaw I mentioned earlier, I liked searching for clues/puzzles since it enhanced the mystery part of the game.
A perfect blend of mystery visual novel and picross puzzler, I give Murder by Numbers 4.0 stars out of 5.
Stan & Ollie
Year: 2018
Rating: PG
Length: 98 minutes / 1.63 hours
The duo of Laurel & Hardy is one of those classic acts that seems to come up when people talk about comedy. I’d certainly heard of them before, but I would be hard-pressed to tell you what one of their famous bits was. On the flip side, most people know the “who’s on first” bit from Abbott & Costello. Sure, Laurel & Hardy’s comedy was mostly physical, so there’s not a lot of clever wordplay to remember or easily recreate. Until I watched Stan & Ollie (2018), I never knew how hard they really had it.
Focusing on the two comedians trying to gain traction after determining that they were being screwed by the big production companies, Stan & Ollie is funny when these two men (aptly performed by Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly) are in their element. The problem is, it’s heartbreaking to see them try so hard and struggle to get nowhere without the exploitation of the big production companies that originally made them famous. Perhaps that dichotomy is what hits so hard in this film: the knowledge that they were successful, but the inability to capitalize on it by themselves.
While it’s important for films like this to highlight how artists are often marginalized so that others can profit from their success, it makes for a depressing movie. The bits of comedy shown on their tour was fun, but knowing the struggles in the background—and how they kept going despite them—is hard to watch. Additionally, focusing on the difficult downfall of these two comedians doesn’t seem nearly as entertaining as seeing their rise to fame. Still, the poignant moments of this film make it worth a watch for anyone who even remembers who Laurel & Hardy were.
Moments of levity interspersed between heartbreaking artistic struggles, I give Stan and Ollie 3.5 stars out of 5.
Supernova
Year: 2019
Author: Marissa Meyer
Length: 992 minutes / 16.53 hours
If there’s one thing I appreciate about Marissa Meyer’s writing, it’s that she has a conclusive ending in three to four books. The Lunar Chronicles wrapped up everything nice and tight in four books, and the Renegades trilogy does the same thing with the last book, Supernova. After all, I enjoy reading a tight set of three or four books instead of a meandering series with dozens of entries. That being said, I wasn’t a fan of the epilogue in this book, but at least everything else concluded in a way that made sense for the narrative arc of the whole trilogy.
In the first two books of the Renegades trilogy, I had some assumptions about the big questions Meyer presented to the reader. Who really killed Adrian’s mom? How would Nova eventually be found out? Who is Phobia? While Archenemies really hit it out of the park by introducing the moral gray area of super-powered humans, I was a little disappointed with how this book answered the remaining big questions of the trilogy. At least Meyer actually answered them instead of letting them remain mysterious.
While there wasn’t a lot of evidence to back up my theory, I thought that Adrian’s mom would have died accidentally after being exposed to Max’s power. That’s what made sense to me. However, the canon answer for her death definitely works and has a much more meaningful explanation despite it being slightly paradoxical and almost a non sequitur in my opinion. In the end, Supernova completes a fantastic series that asks hard questions about superheroes that other series like Invincible and The Boys have managed to do in their own right.
Answering the questions of the Renegades trilogy while also faltering in the epilogue, I give Supernova 4.0 stars out of 5.
Bullet Train
Year: 2022
Rating: R
Length: 127 minutes / 2.11 hours
There’s something inherently exciting about being trapped on a train with a murderer. It’s why Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express has done so well for almost 100 years. In this more modern take, Bullet Train (2022) fills this titular high-speed form of transportation with a half-dozen unique killers with ties to a mob boss known as “The White Death.” Ridiculous at times, Bullet Train is fun and full of action while also being the repeated poster child for the literary concept of Chekhov’s Gun.
With Brad Pitt in the leading role as the “unlucky” assassin with the codename “Ladybug,” a lot of the comedy comes from the coincidental alignment of particular circumstances that pull Ladybug further into the conflict. There are almost Mr. Bean levels of close calls for Pitt’s character as he finds himself tangled up in the parallel plans of his fellow assassins. Of course, the number of mistaken identity tropes in this film almost qualifies it to be Hitchcockian in nature. Because what good story on a train doesn’t have at least a little mystery involved?
Where Bullet Train excels is in the way it shows the audience things that become important later in the story. Sure, there are a lot of little things that might not seem important, but it wasted none of these moments. This may also be with the way this movie was filmed, with the hand-to-hand combat being John Wick (2014)-like and the big action set pieces focusing on those Chekhov’s Guns just before it used them for their ultimate purpose. Granted, with so many unique characters, it was a little difficult to keep everything straight at times. But when things lined up, the result was often satisfying.
Fun action with dozens of telegraphed moments, I give Bullet Train 3.5 stars out of 5.
Picross 3D
Year: 2010
Rating: E
Time Played: 4,199 minutes / 69.98 hours
By now, I’m entirely on board with the whole concept of nonogram puzzles. Often referred to as “picross,” I have had better experiences with these games using a touchscreen and stylus, which was why I picked up Picross 3D for the Nintendo DS. The few other picross games I played on the DS were definitely enhanced by the fact that I could use the stylus to select the blocks I wanted to mark. The third dimension is what sets this game apart from regular picross games.
While Picross 3D still suffers from the puzzles common to picross (mainly everyday objects and things), by making the puzzles three-dimensional, there was just enough novelty to make the game interesting to play. Instead of selecting boxes to fill in to create a black-and-white image, Picross 3D has the player chisel away at a box, eventually revealing a 3D model if everything is chosen correctly. Granted, these models are still relatively “low resolution” like most picross puzzles are. Even some of the larger puzzles can’t escape their blocky appearance, which is fine given what this game is.
This game is good for a mindless puzzler, even if sometimes the touchscreen controls can be frustrating when you accidentally select the wrong box and have to start a puzzle over. After all, it was easier to just restart a level to get the perfect score instead of just finishing it after taking the penalty for the error. Even so, the controls are simple to pick up and learn and the way of thinking three-dimensionally eventually becomes second nature by the later puzzles of the game. I 100% completed this game, and it surprised me to learn I had spent 70 hours on it, playing regularly every night for a few weeks.
An innovation to the standard picross formula, I give Picross 3D 4.0 stars out of 5.
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
Year: 2021
Rating: PG
Length: 90 minutes / 1.50 hours
The documentary format is so ingrained as a genre of film that it can be quite easy to take the same visual style and plot structure and apply it to something that doesn’t actually exist. In the case of Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (2021), the audience gets a glimpse into this peculiar little creature named Marcel (Jenny Slate) who lives in an Airbnb with his grandmother—both of which are shells that have shoes and can talk. Equally charming and meta, this film is a cute piece of fluff.
While I never saw the short films this movie was based on, they must have been significant enough at the time (roughly a decade ago) for me to feel like this was a familiar piece of media that I had somehow missed from my childhood. The stop-motion style of these small creatures helps to show the challenges they face in a world that is suited to creatures much larger than they are. It’s amusing to see the solutions Marcel and his grandmother created just to live their lives in this Airbnb.
Plot-wise, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On gets a little meta with the 60 Minutes angle. What’s more frustrating is how the ending doesn’t really carry much of an impact because it begs the question of how thoroughly the humans actually tried to help Marcel find his family in the first place. Of course, this is also on top of the “get a divorced couple back together” subplot that feels played out in this day and age. Still, regardless of these flaws, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is a cute little movie that any fan of mockumentaries should watch.
A cute mockumentary with a fairly basic plot, I give Marcel the Shell with Shoes On 4.0 stars out of 5.
Blood Ties
Year: 2015
Author: Quincy J. Allen
Length: 322 pages
While I haven’t read many steampunk stories, the genre is intriguing to me for a variety of reasons. Mostly, the aesthetic is a way to combine genres typically set in historical eras with other elements of science fiction or fantasy. In Blood Ties, steampunk is the overlay on a western, but with fantasy elements mixed in for a distinct flavor I haven’t read before. And while its unique elements are its strengths, there were a few parts of Blood Ties that felt unfinished—or at least written in a way to force the reader to pick up the next book in the Blood War Chronicles.
I appreciated that this book addressed some of the logistical challenges of steampunk. Metal is often heavy, so the fact that the main character had to ride something sturdier than a horse was a welcome detail. The zeppelin ride also seemed to take up much of the book’s length, which is likely an accurate portrayal of how long it would take to travel from Colorado to California. I also thought that the unique language used for the “secret code” was a nice touch since most books end up using a common language that any well-read individual can easily decipher.
There were a few qualms I had with this book which were minor, but there were enough of them that added up. I felt it was difficult to separate Jake and Cole as distinct characters, mostly because many other characters had such unique personalities. I also wasn’t pleased about how the beginning of the book teased this “magic,” but then rarely (if ever) showed it in action again—likely to tease me into reading the next book. Finally, there were quite a few instances of “men writing women” that made me roll my eyes, even if it’s obvious the author wrote this book for men.
Some smart steampunk with a collection of minor issues, I give Blood Ties 3.5 stars out of 5.
Thor: Love and Thunder
Year: 2022
Rating: PG-13
Length: 118 minutes / 1.97 hours
As someone who has not read the comics these superhero movies are based on, it’s interesting how I picked up plot points from some of the recent comic arcs prior to their cinematic debut. Case in point, I knew for a while that Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) became Thor for a while for medical reasons. In Thor: Love and Thunder (2022), this somewhat recent plot line from the comics combines with the modus operandi of Phase 4 of the MCU: wrapping up the loose ends from Phase 3 of the MCU.
Doing a victory lap after his well-received Thor: Ragnarok (2017), Taika Waititi still brought his trademark comedic sensibilities to this movie but seemed to falter a bit with the much heavier themes of the God Killer (Christian Bale). In fact, I was expecting a bit more out of Bale, considering how dedicated he is to his roles. Don’t get me wrong—there were still a bunch of really great action sequences in this movie, and the revelation of a council of gods is a profound theological can of worms that I’m sure will come into play in future films.
The real problem with this movie was its lack of focus. Sure, it tied up the Jane Foster storyline from the first two Thor movies, but the only thing it really set up was a potential addition to the “Young Avengers” that Marvel keeps hinting at but not confirming is coming. Without knowing what this enormous Phase 4 of the MCU is headed toward, it’s difficult to justify movies like this. Still, Love and Thunder was a fun action comedy to turn your brain off to for a few hours.
A fun movie that lacked focus, I give Thor: Love and Thunder 3.5 stars out of 5.
Baba Is You
Year: 2019
Rating: E
Time Played: 1,604 minutes / 26.73 hours
Every once in a while, a puzzle game comes along that is so unique in its presentation and gameplay that you almost wonder why nobody else has done something like this before. Most puzzle games—especially puzzle platformers—rely on some amount of “programming” where the user changes part of the environment to get to the end of each level. While using a top-down view (and thus removing the “platforming” aspect), Baba Is You‘s, core gameplay mechanic is programming. It’s such a simple and well-executed concept that is as elegant as it is mind-bendingly frustrating.
The goal of each level of Baba Is You is to reach the flag to win. The trick is, you can move around various word blocks to create programming statements. For example, “BABA IS YOU” defines the variable “BABA” as the player character, “YOU.” Using modifiers to other program statements located in the level, rocks can become flags, water can move, and skulls can float. The map system is flexible enough to allow you to explore lots of different puzzles in case one of them stumps you. The trouble is, sometimes all the available puzzles are hard enough to stall forward progress.
Learning curves are often a staple of puzzle games. What you learn at one level, you can apply in future levels. In Baba Is You, you are given everything you need to know from the get-go, and you aren’t given much guidance on how to combine the words other than through trial and error. Sometimes, the solution is so ridiculously out of the box that you have to laugh at its simplicity or growl at its complex obtuseness. I definitely had to use a guide to get past some of the last levels, and there are still levels I haven’t bothered to complete. Still, it’s a fun and cute game with a relaxing atmosphere that everyone should try.
A pure programming puzzle game, I give Baba Is You 4.5 stars out of 5.
Elvis
Year: 2022
Rating: PG-13
Length: 159 minutes / 2.65 hours
Elvis Presley is one of those notable public figures that I couldn’t quite wrap my head around. How could this singer not only cause teenage girls to lose their minds when he shook his hips but also have a military career while making Holywood movies, only to end up performing in Las Vegas until he died? It almost seemed like these were three separate individuals when, in reality, Elvis really did it all. I wasn’t aware of the unfortunate relationship he had with his manager, Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks), but Elvis (2022) helped piece all the parts of Elvis’ life together in an entertaining package.
I don’t think there is any director who was better suited to bring this story to the big screen than Baz Luhrmann. His tendency to create musical mashups blended so well with Elvis’ background in both Gospel and Blues. Seeing this popular white man using his clout to highlight the African American roots of his music was commendable, considering the era when he gained his popularity. It helped that Austin Butler is basically a dead-ringer for Elvis. Any other casting decision just seems wrong in hindsight. I think he’s likely to get some acting nods when awards season rolls around.
While I didn’t particularly care for the focus of this movie being framed around Elvis’ manager, I can concede that it was the best way to show how these vastly different parts of Elvis’ career came into being. It’s almost an understatement to say that Elvis was a trailblazer in so many aspects of music that we might even take for granted today. The fact that he needed drugs to keep doing what he loved—performing on stage in front of crowds of adoring fans—just showed how serious burnout can be.
An expertly cast biopic about the most famous singer, I give Elvis 4.5 stars out of 5.
The Atlantis Complex
Year: 2010
Author: Eoin Colfer
Length: 458 minutes / 7.63 hours
While I have certainly enjoyed the Artemis Fowl series, I knew the time-travel plot of The Time Paradox was the writing on the wall for this teenage genius criminal. The Atlantis Complex merely enforced my opinion, as it completely removed the elements that made the titular character himself. At least in the previous book, the author contrasted the character’s growth against a younger version of Artemis. Here, it just feels off. Unmemorable and going through the motions, The Atlantis Complex is underwater in more ways than one.
I get that YA series will often lean on the formulas that made them successful, but seven books into this series and it has become quite stale. Having read this book about six months before writing this review, nothing stuck with me other than the potential for an eventual development in the “relationship” between Artemis and Holly. Everything else faded into the background as just another Artemis Fowl story as the main character tries to save the day despite some odds against him. This time, the handicap was a mental illness, which modern sensibilities might see as poor taste.
Sure, introducing Orion as a different form of Artemis was an amusing way to add some humorous moments into this book that weren’t caused by something to do with Mulch’s body. Still, I’m glad that this series is ending in the next volume because there’s only so long that this decline in quality can continue before it’s just a copy-and-paste, crisis-of-the-day adventure with these same bland characters that have shown little development since book one. It was fun while it lasted, but sometimes you have to know when to say goodbye.
Another drop in quality for the Artemis Fowl series, I give The Atlantis Complex 2.5 stars out of 5.
Enemy
Year: 2013
Rating: R
Length: 91 minutes / 1.52 hours
My first introduction to Denis Villeneuve was Prisoners (2013). This was an intense film, but even after seeing Sicario (2015), I didn’t get hooked on his directing until Arrival (2016). What’s interesting is that another Villeneuve film from 2013 evaded my radar until now. My film-loving friends made me aware of Enemy (2013), but I didn’t get around to watching it until now. I’m glad I did. Seeing Villeneuve in the early stages of defining his style is fascinating, and Enemy certainly is more stylistic than Prisoners ever was, even if it felt like a student film at times.
Of course, being one of Villeneuve’s earlier films, Enemy has some rough edges. It’s difficult to tell whether the source material influenced some of this film’s weird choices, but it’s the one thing that really prevents me from giving it a perfect score. Maybe cutting out the spider bits would have made Enemy more cohesive, but then it might have suffered from being almost too generic. The shocking ending definitely places it up there in the list of all-time “WTF” cinematic moments. Was it necessary? It’s hard to tell. Was it memorable? Absolutely.
With such a small cast of characters, Enemy‘s success is not entirely because of Denis Villeneuve’s directing. Jake Gyllenhaal practically carries this movie…twice. His portrayal of two drastically different characters who look alike is part of the charm of this movie. It’s almost a modern interpretation of “The Prince and the Pauper,” but with enough tweaks to make it feel original. Of course, the two love interests of Gyllenhaal’s characters sold this movie for me. Mélanie Laurent was great, but Sarah Gadon’s performance as the wife of a movie star who “traded up” was so smartly done.
Early Villeneuve style with a few odd plot choices, I give Enemy 4.0 stars out of 5.
Under the Skin
Year: 2013
Rating: R
Length: 108 minutes / 1.80 hours
When someone describes an “artistic” film, what comes to mind? For me, minimalism is often an easy way to identify a movie with the “artistic” descriptor. Under the Skin (2013) is perhaps the most minimalist movie I have ever seen. Minimal dialogue. Minimal plot. Minimal clothes. It’s a bit of a rough watch, but I still consider Under the Skin one of those movies you have to see at least once. You know, for its minimalist artistic qualities.
I always appreciate it when a movie can tell a story with minimal dialogue. While not nearly as impressive as the 3.5-hour long Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975), there’s an unsettling amount of plot that was communicated in this movie without speaking a word. Chalk it up to Scarlett Johansson’s stoic performance, but these moments of no dialogue really highlighted what makes us human. Choosing not to talk or not to help those in need might not have even been a choice for her character, but it spoke volumes about those of us who mimic those choices—whether consciously or subconsciously.
While Under the Skin is certainly thought-provoking—especially when the tables are turned—its minimalism sometimes contributes to its slow pacing. The first half of the movie felt repetitive, and it probably could have trimmed up a few of these segments to keep it moving toward the first big twist. The ending was also somewhat unsatisfying, but understandable considering what led up to it. It’s also easy to fault this film for some of the other “artistic” cliches—like nudity and sexual assault. Still, if you’re in the mood for an uncomfortable Zen experience, this film fits the bill.
An artsy and Zen film that leans into its minimalism, I give Under the Skin 3.5 stars out of 5.
Save the Cat! Writes a Novel
Year: 2018
Author: Jessica Brody
Length: 320 pages
I had already written a dozen manuscripts by the time I read Save the Cat! Writes a Novel. Most of my plots had come fairly easily to me, but as a father, I now have less time to spend on planning novels. The plot of the last trilogy I drafted felt unfocused, so I knew I needed some way to re-structure my unedited and unwritten novels from here on out. When I asked my writer friend to suggest a few books to help me, she gave me this one to read. I am now a changed man.
I had already heard of this book from a few other writers who use its method, but now I truly understand the appeal. Looking back on the books I had written, I was already using parts of the Save the Cat structure subconsciously. Fortunately, now that I had the full picture of this writing technique, I easily outlined a few novels that were banging around in my head. Save the Cat helped me figure out the climax of a third act. It also helped me realize the spot where I wanted to start a book was actually the start of Act 2.
Save the Cat is good for diagnosing why a plot isn’t working as much as it is to guide a new plot into a strong outline. There are plenty of examples included in this book (maybe too many, all things considered) that are mostly from books that any avid reader of popular literature has already read. Yes, following Save the Cat might give your plot a “formulaic” feel, but it’s a formula that has clearly worked for decades.
A useful method to diagnose and build plots, I give Save the Cat! Writes a Novel 4.5 stars out of 5.
Jurassic World: Dominion
Year: 2022
Rating: PG-13
Length: 147 minutes / 2.45 hours
It’s amusing to me that Director Colin Trevorrow thinks that there should have only been one Jurassic Park (1993), even after directing two of the sequels in the Jurassic World franchise. I mean, he’s not wrong. Spielberg’s film is a perfect blend of practical effects that helped bring the horror of rampaging dinosaurs to life. I’d forgive any of the sequels if they actually did anything interesting with the concept past what the original did. As it stands, even bringing back three members of the original cast for Jurassic World: Dominion (2022) just highlighted how repetitive this franchise has become.
At the end of Fallen Kingdom (2018), there was a whole wide world of dinosaurs to explore, but the Park and World crews instead team up to go to yet another island filled with resurrected dinosaurs. Sure, some of them have feathers this time around, and we get a few “new” dinosaurs fighting old favorites, but it’s literally the same plot as ever. Even Jeff Goldblum’s character is literally lecturing this fact to the residents of knock-off Apple island. Also, the irony of literal man-eating dinosaurs roaming the world and the human population being more concerned about “rEtUrNiNg tO tHe bEaCh” had such strong Jaws (1975) vibes that echo true today.
Now, in my opinion, Dominion isn’t terrible. It has its fun moments and wraps up some storylines from previous films in the World franchise. The bits in the “real world” were a great way to show some moments of potential peaceful human/dinosaur scenarios—which is rare in this franchise. I also found the new character of Kayla Watts (DeWandaWise) to be an extremely interesting individual, both in her background and in sheer awesome character design. More of her, please.
More of the same, starring more of the same, I give Jurassic World: Dominion 3.0 stars out of 5.
The LEGO Movie Videogame
Year: 2014
Rating: E10+
Time Played: ~10 hours
Growing up with Legos, I definitely enjoyed The LEGO Movie (2014) when it came to theaters. Sure, it may have just been a knock-off of The Matrix (1999), but there were enough humorous bits and meta references for me to enjoy myself. Considering how Lego had been adapting several film franchises into Lego-themed video games for quite a few years prior to this movie’s release, it just made sense that they would then turn their first arrival on the big screen into a Lego video game as well.
Of course, by now the “Lego video game” had become somewhat of a tired formula. Even if I could play through the events of the movie, the almost mind-numbing action wasn’t much different from any of the other Lego video games I had already played. It’s no wonder that I felt burned out from these games after playing through this one. You definitely get the same experience, but that predictability can only last for so long without key changes to improve (or modify) the gameplay. And maybe the fact that this game felt so self-indulgent was one reason it didn’t stick with me as well as, say, Lord of the Rings, or Star Wars.
And while it was a little disappointing to not have the original voice actors from the movie during the actual gameplay, it was nice to have cut scenes from the film to string together the levels. Then again, the voice actors they hired to provide the voices for these characters often did a good enough job that I could hardly tell the difference between the two. Unfortunately, while superb voice acting and actual movie clips were nice, they weren’t improvements to the core gameplay mechanic.
Somewhat self-indulgent but consistent Lego video game gameplay, I give The LEGO Movie Videogame 3.5 stars out of 5.
Lightyear
Year: 2022
Rating: PG
Length: 100 minutes / 1.67 hours
One of my favorite bits from the Toy Story saga was the opening sequence from Toy Story 2 (1999). Seeing Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) in his element, fighting to save the galaxy, was an exciting start to one of the best Pixar films to hit the big screen. I have some strong nostalgia for the characters from Toy Story, which is why I had high hopes for the Lightyear (2022) spinoff. After all, Pixar rarely does science fiction—with WALL-E (2008) being the most notable example of what they can do with the genre—so I can appreciate them adding more sci-fi to their filmography.
As a sci-fi movie, Lightyear is fine. It hits a lot of good tropes that are common to the genre. Visually, the efforts of Pixar look stunning as always. The problem I have here is with the characters and the plotline surrounding Buzz Lightyear’s (Chris Evans) stubbornness. It’s exhausting to watch a character just not “get it.” This always leads to the standard character growth plot where they have to confront their prejudices head-on before they finally accept the world the way it is. Sure, there’s a pretty good reveal near the end with Zurg that I wasn’t expecting, but it only reinforces my point.
For a movie that’s only 100 minutes long, I didn’t feel like there was nearly enough time spent getting to know the minor characters. Heck, the one bit of controversy is almost a “blink and you’ll miss it” moment. Granted, when dealing with time travel, it’s difficult to keep the minor characters around long enough to develop them into something more. My last qualm is that I wish there wasn’t the small bit of unnecessary framing at the start of this film that tells the audience that this was the same movie that came out in 1995 that inspired a kid named Andy to ask for the Buzz Lightyear toy for his birthday.
A great-looking Pixar sci-fi movie with a somewhat boring plot, I give Lightyear 3.0 stars out of 5.
Archenemies
Year: 2018
Author: Marissa Meyer
Length: 877 minutes / 14.62 hours
There’s a trope in comic books about how supervillains’ schemes sometimes make sense. Maybe they want to solve some systemic problem with society, but the way they go about it is all wrong. There’s often a leap of logic between “let’s solve global warming” and “I want to build an ice ray to freeze the entire planet.” Because this trope falls apart in the cartoony logic that graces the pages of comic books, it’s refreshing to see some truly fantastic moral ambiguity between villains and heroes (all with quite unique powers and abilities) in Marissa Meyer’s Archenemies.
While there were a few moments of illogical villains in Renegades, this sequel really delves into these characters who think they’re doing the right thing—from both sides. I love how there are heroes who take their “we are justice” ideology too far, while there are also villains out there trying to improve the broken society that favors the heroes’ worldview. The “who are we to judge?” theme that keeps coming back in this book really highlights the entire problem with the superhero genre. This brilliant handling of the concept of true justice should be the best reason to pick up and read this series.
On top of this, there’s the heart-pounding thrill of Nightmare continuing to infiltrate the world of the heroes. She takes calculated risks to accomplish her goal, but there’s also tremendous character growth when she realizes that maybe being a hero might be better than getting her vengeance. Of course, these doubts creep in as she develops deeper feelings for Sketch—who also has a lot of “secret identity” antics that made the whole thing entertaining to read.
A shining example of the moral ambiguity of superheroes, I give Archenemies 5.0 stars out of 5.
Cars
Year: 2006
Rating: G
Length: 117 minutes / 1.95 hours
In terms of early Pixar films, I always felt Cars (2006) was a bit of a step backward for the animation company. I’ve never been much of a “car guy” and I find NASCAR racing a bit silly. Still, Pixar’s focus on the story helped make this a solid sports movie. After all, the timeless “mentor teaching a cocky up-and-comer” narrative works for a reason. And while I’d love to see other Pixar franchises get as much love as this one, I can see why it’s done so well for its target demographic.
Cars is an excellent movie for freeze-frame analysis for the number of puns and visual gags alone. Granted, there are also a lot of disturbing extrapolations if you spend a significant amount of time thinking about this universe of sentient vehicles. Still, the growth of these characters helps make this movie into something more than just a vehicle (har har) for selling toys to kids. Unfortunately, these characters can also be quite annoying. The bravado of Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) is only slightly bearable when compared to the unabashed stereotypes of the other vehicles who live in Radiator Springs.
Perhaps the best compliment I can give a movie like Cars is that it made me care about the outcome of a NASCAR race. While McQueen might have been a victim of his own hubris, the villain characters were definitely worse. For an early Pixar film, the personification of vehicles still feels a little weird to me, but the advancements in CGI lighting and reflections were definitely on full display in this animated movie. In the end, regardless of my feelings about this movie, my toddler likes watching the “car movie,” and who am I to say no to her?
A classic “sports movie” framework with some Pixar charm, I give Cars 3.5 stars out of 5.
“Weird” Al Yankovic – The Unfortunate Return of the Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour
Date: September 6, 2022
Despite owning every one of “Weird” Al Yankovic’s albums and knowing every one of his songs, I had never been to a Weird Al concert before. Well, technically I went to a Weird Al concert in 1985…in utero. And my parents wonder why I turned out the way I did. This time, I was conscious enough to remember it. After enduring a few years of not going to concerts (thanks to COVID and toddlers), this was a welcome change and a show I enjoyed because I finally got to see Weird Al in concert. My wife still had a good time, but this show was definitely for the super fans.
I had no other Weird Al concerts to compare this one to, but I was not disappointed. After all, I could sing along to these songs since I knew them so well. Sure, there weren’t any of his “most famous” parodies played during the set, but there are still so many fun songs in his repertoire that it’s hard to find one that’s objectively “the worst.” If the goal of this tour was for more intimate engagements, then this concert delivered on this promise. It almost felt like we were just hanging out with Al and his band as they jammed for a few hours.
Emo Phillips’ opening act was quite funny, and his comedy style had me laughing hard. It was also amusing how Yankovic mentioned that many of his songs are surprisingly dark before playing yet another one about “taking care of” a bully (“I Remember Larry”). Despite most of the setlist being composed of Yankovic’s obscure songs, he played many of my favorites, including “I’ll Sue Ya” and “Your Horoscope for Today.” The “Albuquerque” finale was definitely worth the price of admission, especially with the few moments of commentary or additional ad-libbed lyrics that made it go on for almost a half hour.
Lego Marvel Super Heroes
Year: 2013
Rating: E10+
Time Played: ~23 hours
In 2013, you would have been stupid to not cash in on the phenomenon that was the up-and-coming Marvel Cinematic Universe. A year after The Avengers (2012) showed what could be done with a handful of movies, and suddenly everyone is into Marvel superheroes. It then makes sense that Lego would release the Lego Marvel Super Heroes video game in 2013. What’s even better is that the muddled movie rights for Marvel IP don’t apply to video games, thus making this game a smorgasbord of superheroes to play with.
I can appreciate how this game incorporated some of the popularity of the MCU (I mean, look at the characters front and center on the cover), but didn’t completely need to adapt to the movie versions of these heroes. The voice-acting work for these characters was top-notch and really brought the quality of this game above the various grunts and cheers of the playable characters present in earlier Lego video games. Having New York City as an open-world hub to explore between levels was also a great way to present the game (similar to how Lego Lord of the Rings did it).
Perhaps I had become burned out on Lego video games by the time I got to this one, but I found some challenges to be harder than I would have liked—even for a game aimed at children. I understand there needs to be some challenge here to not make completing the game 100% a walk in the (Central) park, but race courses and RC car mini-games end up being frustrating when they don’t control as smoothly as I’d like. If there were some upgrades I could buy with studs to make these challenges easier in the late game, then maybe I would have been more inclined to complete the game 100%.
Another top-notch Lego game with an almost-complete roster of Marvel heroes, I give Lego Marvel Superheroes 4.5 stars out of 5.
Top Gun: Maverick
Year: 2022
Rating: PG-13
Length: 130 minutes / 2.17 hours
The COVID pandemic delayed the release of Top Gun: Maverick (2022) for a few years. Having only watched the original a few days prior to seeing this in the theaters, it was definitely worth the wait to see something like this on the big screen. The trailers only hinted at the spectacle that could be achieved over 35 years after the original wowed audiences with great fighter jet footage. That’s not to say that this film doesn’t lean heavily on its nostalgia—or plots that come strikingly close to other famous franchises.
Part of the appeal of Top Gun (1986) was all the footage of fighter jet acrobatics. Most civilians never get to see these things outside an occasional air show, so there’s an amount of awe involved when seeing what these marvels of modern engineering can do. Over three decades of advancements in cinematography allowed this sequel to surpass the original. Cockpit footage of these actors actually in these fighter jets, combined with high-definition shots of amazing maneuvers, made this movie quite exciting to watch. These scenes shown in the trailers made me—a Top Gun skeptic—want to see this film. I was not disappointed.
Plot-wise, Top Gun: Maverick felt slightly more developed than its predecessor. My favorite part by far was the experimental aircraft test at the start of the movie. However, the rest of the film’s plot felt familiar, but not in a good way. About a third of the way through, I realized, “Wait a minute. This is just Star Wars (1977).” Don’t get me wrong, Star Wars‘ climactic battle against the Empire is a cinema-defining moment. It just felt weird packaged in this way. Add to that a few moments of blatant nostalgia and it was clear this movie was at least in part made for fans of the original.
Improving on the visuals and story of its predecessor, I give Top Gun: Maverick 4.0 stars out of 5.
All Systems Red
Year: 2017
Author: Martha Wells
Length: 199 minutes / 3.12 hours
Sentient artificial intelligence is a topic that science fiction has covered for decades. Somehow, in all that time, I haven’t really come across many stories from the perspective of the newly sentient AI. All Systems Red scratches that itch in a way that’s intriguing but merely feels like a prologue to something much more interesting. Perhaps I’m just used to longer-form stories that explore such a complex topic like this. Still, to so densely convey what it’s like to be a robot now in control of its destiny takes a certain level of skill.
The problem is, it’s been about six months since I listened to this audiobook and I can’t recall much about it other than it’s in first person via the “Murderbot” point-of-view. I guess there was some humor involved with this robot describing things that we as humans almost take for granted—using the external observer to point out the quirks in our species. And maybe the bigger reason it hasn’t stuck with me very much is that the titular Murderbot decides to be a lazy human with its freedom.
I understand that this novella is still early in the series, so I haven’t read far enough to get invested yet. I just wonder if it would have worked better as a “book one” in a combined volume of three or four novellas. Once I can get my hands on the other “Diaries” in this series, I might change my opinion about this first entry. As it stands right now, it’s short enough that I think others should read it for the unique point-of-view, regardless of how deep it gets into the larger story of the series.
A short but interesting take on an AI who gained their sentience, I give All Systems Red 3.5 stars out of 5.
Top Gun
Year: 1986
Rating: PG
Length: 110 minutes / 1.83 hours
Top Gun (1986) was one of those movies I actively avoided watching for years. I’ve never been too keen on the military, and this movie just screamed military propaganda to me. Sure, there were enough memes spawned from this movie (before memes were really a thing) that I felt I understood the movie well enough without having seen it. When the sequel came out this year, I figured it was probably time I give the original a chance before I went to the theater to see the summer blockbuster of 2022.
For its time, Top Gun certainly used the best special effects it could to make it seem like Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, and Anthony Edwards were actually flying these fighter jets. These effects stand up pretty well to time, but mostly because the cuts where we see the actors are so close in that you can’t even tell what’s going on around them. I’m sure if you cut out those close shots and just showed the bits with fighter jets doing all their fancy acrobatics with actor voiceovers, you’d still get the same effect.
It’s no wonder that recruitment for the Navy skyrocketed after Top Gun came out. Tony Scott expertly filmed these action sequences, showing the amazing capabilities of American fighter jets and their skilled pilots. The characters—Tom Cruise’s “Maverick” being the key role here—oozed machismo in a way that guys of this era wanted to be exactly like them. Of course, the standard 80s action film plot always had this quality to it, so it didn’t really matter what the rest of the story was about. But people don’t watch 80s action films for thought-provoking plots anyway, so at least it was entertaining.
The best-looking Navy propaganda 1986 had to offer, I give Top Gun 3.5 stars out of 5.
Lego Pirates of the Caribbean
Year: 2011
Rating: E10+
Time Played: ~25 hours
I have to give props to Lego for making perhaps the best movie franchise video games that have ever existed. Sure, there were a few good Disney games for the SNES back in the day, but the scope of Lego’s video game adaptations of famous film franchises makes any official video game adaptations of these movies pale in comparison. Sure, it’s basically the same game over and over again with a different skin, but if it’s a fun formula, why change it?
Lego Pirates of the Caribbean may only cover the first four films in the franchise (which I’d consider a good thing), but it’s certainly enough content to enjoy a solid playthrough. These games are fairly easy to get 100% completion on, and this one is no different. Gameplay is still the standard “collect items in each level” and “unlock upgrades and characters with studs” that most Lego video games had perfected by the early 2010s. If you’re looking for mindless destruction and fun little building puzzles along the way, this entry in the Lego video game franchise will not disappoint.
Visually, I found this game had graphics that were almost too good to be a Lego game. It probably helped that I was playing on an HD system like the PlayStation 3, but it’s something that definitely stuck out when I played it. The adherence to the visual style the movies had already established helped make it feel like I was playing through the movies instead of playing through a Lego game. In the end, fans of either Lego or Pirates of the Caribbean are likely to have a good time with this video game.
A visually impressive Lego video game adaptation of Pirates of the Caribbean, I give Lego Pirates of the Caribbean 4.0 stars out of 5.
Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers
Year: 2022
Rating: PG
Length: 97 minutes / 1.61 hours
Nostalgia can be tricky to balance. There’s nostalgia that feels pandering, even to the demographic it’s aimed at. Then there’s nostalgia that’s so meta that only those deep scholars of the source material would get the inside jokes. As a Millennial, I found Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022) scratched an itch for balanced nostalgia I didn’t even know I had. It’s a shame that Disney tossed it onto Disney+ instead of getting a wider theatrical release because the comedy in this movie was top-notch.
This movie was so smartly written that I laughed out loud more often than not. All the brief references it hid in plain view, but without drawing a cringey, eye-winking nod to it, was a welcome change to how most movies handle nostalgia reboots. Even modern references like Ugly Sonic were hilarious, mostly because they “went there.” Of course, the movie still brought attention to it via the meta examination of nostalgia references, which somehow made it OK. I think they could have perhaps done a little better at the roto-scoped/cel-shaded style of some characters, but perhaps it was the easiest way to get this movie out into the world.
I grew up watching the Chip ‘n Dale show on TV, so I was already familiar with the dynamic of the characters. What this film didn’t prepare me for was the meta-analysis of a world similar to Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988) where animated B-list television stars try to remain relevant through the changing times. This film really hits the nail on the head by critiquing the child star meat grinder—as well as Hollywood’s incessant desire to use endless nostalgia to reboot properties—all while still being appropriate for children.
A hilarious meta-analysis of nostalgia and reboots, I give Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers 4.5 stars out of 5.
Renegades
Year: 2017
Author: Marissa Meyer
Length: 1,018 minutes / 16.97 hours
After having finished Marissa Meyer’s Lunar Chronicles, it pleased me to learn that her next major series was about superheroes. After all, the fairy tale sci-fi retelling was great, but its source material always felt like it was for girls. Just like getting the choice of a girl’s toy or a boy’s toy in a Happy Meal, Renegades felt like it was meant for the guys. Obviously, I’m being a little facetious, as both series are definitely for all genders. The twist with this book is that the main character is a villain in a world filled with superheroes.
Renegades feels like the pendulum swing away from the superhero purism that saturated the market with the rise of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Shows like The Boys and Invincible—both of which started as comics themselves—bring up interesting thought experiments when questioning the legal and moral repercussions of superheroes in the real world. Renegades does this by following Nightmare and her desire to take down the superheroes who were supposed to protect her family but didn’t. The questions Renegades asks are important when the status quo of a society revolves around superpowered humans.
While the execution of this book is nearly flawless, the crux of the climax felt off to me. I get that not all villains would be logical in their actions—some may even suffer from mental health issues—but the big twist seemed like it went against what all the villains wanted to accomplish. Sure, it pushed Nightmare to make some tough decisions about where her loyalties lay (which is a continuing theme throughout this trilogy), but there could have been a better way to go about it. Regardless, this was an extraordinarily strong start to another classic series by Marissa Meyer.
An excellent superhero book told from a villain’s perspective, I give Renegades 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms
Year: 2018
Rating: PG
Length: 99 minutes / 1.65 hours
A staple of the Christmas season, The Nutcracker is recognizable in many formats. Whether it’s the ballet, the music, or just the story itself, most people have probably encountered a portion of The Nutcracker at some point in their lives. While most of these recognizable bits are classic representations of this work, these are the bare minimum used in crafting the Disney adaptation, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018). And I use “adaptation” fairly loosely here.
Some things remain untouched, like a girl named Clara (Mackenzie Foy) being transported to a magical realm filled with toy soldiers, rats, and fairies. The trouble is that someone at Disney churned this familiar story through a “YA filter” that makes the whole thing feel like a generic adventure. Sure, there’s some great visual storytelling in these four magical realms, but the narrative mostly follows the same “fight villain to learn about the twist villain so the main character can return home” plot that you regularly see in this genre. Kids should find it entertaining enough, but the parents have likely already seen it before.
I think if The Nutcracker and the Four Realms leaned closer to adapting the original source material, some of these issues might have been resolved. More Tchaikovsky. More dancing. Heck, even more Morgan Freeman, who seemed like such an interesting character in the promotional material yet only appears for a handful of minutes in this already slight run-time. The elements that made The Nutcracker successful for centuries should have been kept to give this film a fighting chance. As it stands, the whole thing is forgettable, even if it’s pretty to look at.
A light adaptation of The Nutcracker as told via a fantasy adventure, I give The Nutcracker and the Four Realms 3.0 stars out of 5.
LEGO Batman: The Videogame
Year: 2008
Rating: E10+
Time Played: ~30 hours
LEGO Batman: The Videogame is a little bizarre because it came out well before The LEGO Movie (2014), where Will Arnett made LEGO Batman his own meme-able character (and eventually starred in his own movie spinoff). It also came out the same year as The Dark Knight (2008), which is arguably the best Batman movie in existence. However, this video game came early enough in the LEGO movie adaptation run in the late-2000s that it still had some of the rough edges that they hadn’t smoothed out by later games in the series.
This video game doesn’t quite fit in the “movie adaptation” formula LEGO had created with hits like LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga. Instead, they seemed to pull from the iconic Batman the Animated Series for the game’s episodic structure. We can all be grateful that the Tim Burton Batman films influenced this game much more than the Joel Schumacher ones did. After all, Danny Elfman’s recognizable score is indelibly tied to the Batman franchise in my mind. And, as a game aimed at children, the darker tone of Christopher Nolan’s films wasn’t as appropriate as some of the more campy Batman representations.
In terms of gameplay, there’s definitely plenty to do, especially if you want to reach 100% completion. There wasn’t anything that particularly drew me to complete this game 100%, other than it was fun to play. Unlocking abilities to find more of the hidden items helped make the game enjoyable, especially since levels had to be re-played a few times to find everything. The characters are also colorful and fun to control, especially in combat (which would have been better if it had the 60s “BIFF” and “SOCK” effects added in).
A fun Batman game that’s appropriate for children, I give LEGO Batman: The Videogame 4.0 stars out of 5.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Year: 2022
Rating: PG-13
Length: 126 minutes / 2.10 hours
It’s a sobering thought that Spider-Man (2002) came out 20 years ago, cementing the age of the superhero movie in a time before the Marvel Cinematic Universe even existed. Sam Raimi’s distinctive visual style worked for that movie and its two sequels (Spider-Man 2 (2004) of course being one of the best ever made). This is what makes Raimi’s return to the superhero genre exciting in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022). Nostalgia is a heck of a drug, after all.
What was interesting with this Doctor Strange (2016) sequel was how Marvel allowed Raimi to connect to more of his roots in the horror genre. The scariest scene in the original Spider-Man trilogy was in the operating room with Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina). In contrast, the amount of horrific things shown in this movie creeps closer to his Evil Dead trilogy. Nothing so bad as to earn an R-rating, but still pretty intense for the MCU. Ultimately, he was the right director for this film, considering how much evil lies just outside the boundaries of Doctor Strange’s powers and influence.
While I’m a moderate fan of Marvel, having seen a lot of the 90s TV shows, but read none of the comics, Multiverse of Madness feels like it’s showing the cracks in the MCU. Cameo appearances are great since they hint at what Marvel can do in future movies now that they own more of the rights to these characters. However, connecting the motives of this film’s villain to a TV show that’s effectively behind a paywall is likely frustrating for fans who feel like they’re potentially missing out on key MCU story beats. And the only story this movie brings to the table is the potential for more stories. That’s it.
A great return to form for Sam Raimi despite exposing flaws in the MCU, I give Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness 3.5 stars out of 5.
Public Works Steampunk presents Jane Eyre
Year: 2021
Author: R.A. Harding and Charlotte Bronte
Length: 941 minutes / 15.68 hours
I heard about this book during a convention I attended earlier this year. Jane Eyre was required reading for one of my High School English courses, so it intrigued me that someone would make steampunk additions to this literary classic. The original book naturally fits into the steampunk timeframe, so I’m a little surprised this mash-up hasn’t been done before. Unfortunately, because Jane Eyre is so compatible with steampunk, it didn’t feel like Steampunk Jane Eyre added anything to the narrative.
Perhaps my expectations were skewed for this modified classic from my experience with the “Classical Literature Monsters” series from Quirk Books. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies or Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters only add a little eldritch horror to a mostly unmodified book that’s in the public domain. However, these minor changes make a significant shift in tone that ends up creating a fresh experience that’s different from the original. With Steampunk Jane Eyre, the additions don’t stand out that much, and when they do it’s because they clash with the context of the original (e.g., why is there a need to teach Hindi when there’s such an emphasis in this version on Christian-Hinduism?).
I listened to this book through a combination of Apple Podcasts and downloads from the book’s website, which was only necessary because there were some re-uploaded tracks on the Podcasts app. The narrator was excellent, but there were a few moments where it was obviously different audio spliced into the original take. I can’t honestly complain, though, as I could listen to this book for absolutely free. Overall, Jane Eyre is still a powerful story, and if this is the way someone wants to listen to it, I say go for it.
Some light steampunk additions to a classic that could easily adapt to them, I give Steampunk Jane Eyre 3.0 stars out of 5.
The Bad Guys
Year: 2022
Rating: PG
Length: 100 minutes / 1.67 hours
I honestly love that computer technology has improved so much that animated movies like The Bad Guys (2022) don’t have to use super-realistic visuals and can instead have a stylized animation that gives it a lot of personality. What’s a little astonishing to me is how this film is the first animated movie I can think of that takes the “heist” genre and runs with it. I love a good heist, after all. And while the twists are a bit obvious and the moral is a bit hokey, The Bad Guys is still a lot of fun.
There’s no reason to blame The Bad Guys for making a movie that children can figure out. It’s loosely based on a series of children’s books, so I get that some twists are going to be obvious to the adults in the audience. The thing that strikes me weird is that all the characters that had any significant role in the movie were animals, but everyone else in this universe is human (with the Chief of Police (Alex Borstein) being the exception to this rule). I guess it’s difficult to do a full animal world like Zootopia (2016).
Surprisingly enough, even for an animated movie for kids, The Bad Guys only had a few moments that fit the low bar of comedy for the genre. Even these occasional fart jokes actually mattered to the plot, which was quite astonishing considering their standard comic relief status. Instead, The Bad Guys was full of excellent voice acting, exciting action sequences, and well-developed characters. This movie clearly learned from great heist films like Ocean’s Eleven (2001) on how to be smart, cool, and badass in one tight package.
The best animated heist film I’ve ever seen, I give The Bad Guys 4.0 stars out of 5.
LEGO The Lord of the Rings
Year: 2012
Rating: E10+
Time Played: ~15 hours
In the early 2010s, the one franchise I could trust to create faithful adaptations of movies into video games was none other than LEGO. Their formula of action, puzzle solving, and exploration worked for other franchises like Star Wars and Indiana Jones, so when it came time to adapt what is arguably one of the best cinematic trilogies to grace the big screen, I was all on board for the LEGO The Lord of the Rings video game.
Following the events from the three films that came out a decade before this video game, LEGO The Lord of the Rings captures the feel of those movies in the individual level segments that follow the plot. As per usual, you need a variety of characters to reach all the collectibles in each level, which sometimes necessitates re-playing levels after beating them the first time. Using these collectibles, they can buy upgrades that make the game slightly easier—although not a complete pushover. Overall, there’s nothing too incredibly new in this game compared to other LEGO movie adaptations.
Where this game excels is in its open roam section. I don’t even remember most of the individual levels in this game because I spent so much time getting lost in the world of Middle Earth. This “hub world” is its own adventure, and you can literally “walk to Mordor” in this game. This single innovation made all the difference in how this game played. Of course, with such excellent source material, including the fantastic score by Howard Shore, I would say this is the definitive LEGO video game adaptation for any movie ever.
The absolute best way to play through the events of The Lord of the Rings, I give LEGO The Lord of the Rings 5.0 stars out of 5.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Year: 2022
Rating: PG
Length: 122 minutes / 2.03 hours
It’s amazing to me that the original Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) movie pulled out a passable film despite decades of sub-par video game movie adaptations. While it didn’t dive into much of the lore other than the conflict between Sonic (Ben Schwartz) and Doctor Robotnik (Jim Carrey), it set the stage for something better in its sequel, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022). With nostalgia being a huge factor in this franchise, it pleasantly surprised me that this film knew which moments would achieve that intended effect.
At first, I was worried that Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was lumping too much new material together with the introduction of both Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey) and Knuckles (Idris Elba). Still, the combo—along with Robotnik’s traditional video game look—really gave the impression that this movie cared about its source material. The huge action set pieces were the highlights of this film and I was grinning from ear to ear at the excitement of seeing such scenes play out that had (until then) been merely 16-bit representations on a video game screen. Again, the feel of the games shone through in this sequel.
That’s not to say that Sonic the Hedgehog 2 doesn’t have any weaknesses. As a carry-over from the first movie, there is a lot of human drama that’s mostly played for laughs against the “fish out of water” Sonic. I honestly think they could have easily cut 30 minutes of run-time by excluding the Hawaii marriage, which would have made a much tighter and more action-packed movie. After all, I didn’t come to see a Sonic movie expecting the slapstick humor of the humans to be the pinnacle of its comedy. Even with these weaker sections, this sequel was quite the improvement over the original.
A movie loyal to the feel of the video games but with some unnecessary humor mixed in, I give Sonic the Hedgehog 2 3.5 stars out of 5.
City Monster
Year: 2020
Author: Reza Farazmand
Length: 112 pages
I’m not sure when I started reading Reza Farazmand’s Poorly Drawn Lines webcomic, but I have enjoyed his simple art style and humor for quite a while. City Monster is a graphic novel in this same, simple style with a plot that’s quite a bit longer than the handful of panels he uses to tell a joke in his webcomic. With all-new characters that don’t regularly appear in the webcomic, it was nice to see something different than just another adventure with bird, mouse, turtle, and maybe Kevin. Even at 112 pages long, it’s a quick read, and the ending is satisfying. Still, City Monster has a few minor flaws.
Again, I love Reza’s simple drawing style. However, there’s a danger in making something look simple because some might think this book is appropriate for children. The occasional strong language might put some people off, mainly because it feels a little out of character and is added for shock value. Granted, those who have read Poorly Drawn Lines would already be prepared for this. It’s just that when a book like this could easily be made PG by taking out the language, it seems unnecessary.
While this book is a bit longer than the roughly four panels of webcomic I normally read online, there seemed to be a lot of fluff added in to make it over 100 pages long. Yes, there is a fully formed mystery the characters try to solve, but so much of the book just felt like them walking around aimlessly. Sure, it’s on-brand, but it just felt like a graphic novel was a stretch from a creator who excels at short-form content. In the end, I’m glad I picked it up because it gave me more of the fix I get from reading Poorly Drawn Lines.
A cute mystery that could have been much shorter, I give City Monster 3.5 stars out of 5.
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
Year: 2022
Rating: R
Length: 107 minutes / 1.78 hours
One of the best bits in the television show Community was Abed’s exploration of Nicolas Cage’s career. Is he a genius? Is he a hack? There is an almost equal amount of evidence to suggest either side. When I first saw the trailers for The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022), I thought the meta take on Nicolas Cage’s career would be a fun trip. However, which version of the actor would we get? Genius or hack?
The fundamental problem with The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is that it doesn’t go far enough into the meta. It felt like someone just opened up IMDb and chose the top ten Nicolas Cage blockbusters to name-drop throughout the movie. We don’t get Moonstruck (1987). We don’t get Leaving Las Vegas (1995). We don’t get Adaptation. (2001). As a result, this film mostly focuses on his action-oriented movies, which typically aren’t his best work. You’d think that at least mimicking movies like The Rock (1996), Face/Off (1997), and Con Air (1997), this movie would have some great action sequences. Instead, it reminds us that this is Nicolas Cage the actor, and not Nicolas Cage the character.
It truly is unfortunate that this movie wasn’t better. There were elements that could have made it great—namely the Nick Cage de-aged deep fake bits. Instead, it seemed more focused on patting itself back on how clever it could be to name movies from Cage’s past work. “Remember Guarding Tess (1994)?” it asks, all the while winking. Usually, I like movies that are about themselves, but this one pulled too many twists at the end and it resulted in a confusing and unsatisfying conclusion.
A meta film that’s more “unbearable” than “talent,” I give The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent 2.5 stars out of 5.
Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures
Year: 2008
Rating: E10+
Time Played: ~20 hours
Indiana Jones is one of those franchises that I enjoyed growing up, but was probably a bit too adult for me. Considering the amount of graphic violence that popped up in these films, it was easy to just “look away” during these intense moments. Heck, I hadn’t even seen Temple of Doom (1984) until I had moved out on my own. It then seems weird to me that there would be a Lego video game based on this trilogy that’s aimed at older children when the movies themselves probably should have been PG-13.
In terms of gameplay, Lego Indiana Jones is still the same fun, simple, and mindless kind of game that encourages multiple play-throughs of the levels to collect all the items from three movies’ worth of plot. This felt a bit more tedious in this game when compared to the six-film collection in Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga. It also felt like there weren’t nearly as many unique characters to choose from in this game compared to the Star Wars one that only came out a year prior.
Was this game fun? Sure, but I probably didn’t need to suffer through completing the whole thing. The fact that there was a sequel that came out a year later and only added The Crystal Skull made this game feel less necessary. Graphically, I also found this game to be lacking, even though I played it on a PS3 and the Star Wars game on a Wii. Still, if you have a young boy who has loved watching the parts of the Indiana Jones movies that aren’t too scary, this game should be right up their alley.
A little lacking compared to other Lego video games, but still fun, I give Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures 3.5 stars out of 5.
Everything Everywhere All at Once
Year: 2022
Rating: R
Length: 139 minutes / 2.32 hours
Multiverse stories are all the rage right now. While most of them seem to be relegated to comic book adaptations (like Loki, Spider-man: No Way Home (2021), and Dr. Strange and the Multiverse of Madness (2022)), by far the best one to emerge from this pile of parallel universes is Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022). It is the most bizarrely funny movie I’ve seen in some time, which just goes to show how films released by A24 are of a higher caliber than anything else.
Most multiverse movies play it pretty safe when exploring branching paths of the known universe. Everything Everywhere All at Once throws literally everything at the audience, and the result is hilarious. Office equipment mechas, Human Ratatouilles, Rocks, Bagels. I honestly can’t come close to describing the rapid-fire series of absurdist realities. Some moments were straight laugh-out-loud funny to me, and others were…a bit more adult in their ridiculousness. I definitely suggest going in sober for this film, as you’ll need all your mental faculties to absorb it.
At its heart, Everything Everywhere All at Once is a movie about family. Mothers and daughters. Spouses. Grandfathers. The only reason I don’t give this movie a full five stars is because the core of the movie is a little lost by the end. After all the weird stuff thrown on the screen in two hours, coming back to a semblance of a normal reality felt hollow, even if it was necessary to tie everything from everywhere back to the plot that started the movie. Yes, it is a heartfelt ending, but it’s difficult to take it seriously after dildo fights and hot dog fingers.
The best multiverse movie to come out in ages, I give Everything Everywhere All at Once 4.5 stars out of 5.
The Hands We’re Given
Year: 2018
Author: O.E. Tearmann
Length: 350 pages
This book was not what I expected. First, the cover makes it look like it’s some kind of heist/hacker book, which it’s not. Instead, I got a military sci-fi with heavy LGBTQ+ themes. Second, even if you picked up this book for its gay/trans romance, the only reason it’s a “slow burn” is because it starts in the wrong place. Third, even within this post-apocalyptic setting, I had so many moments where things made little sense. It also didn’t help that one of the most annoying characters I’ve read maintained her annoying personality for much too long until they rectified it. Ultimately, this book was not for me.
All this being said, The Hands We’re Given is the first book I’ve read that appears to convey the struggles of a female-to-male transition somewhat accurately. Granted, I’m still confused about the main character’s sexual attraction, since it would normally be considered “straight” before their transition, but is now “gay” during/after the transition. This is likely due to my limited understanding of these issues. Still, the sex scenes were probably a bit too spicy for me anyway, regardless of the genders of those taking part in them.
Unfortunately, many other aspects of this book didn’t make logical sense. Why does the new commander have such anxiety with these “outcasts” accepting him when he already considers himself an outcast from the society they’re fighting? Why don’t these outcasts have a bigger grudge against the boyfriend who is clearly from the “genetically superior” society? Why did they always seem to be surprised by common issues like hailstorms? How is it so post-apocalyptic everywhere but in the corporate-controlled cities? In the end, I had too many questions that the book didn’t realize it was asking.
A gay/trans romance that tries to be a military sci-fi, I give The Hands We’re Given 2.0 stars out of 5.
Turning Red
Year: 2022
Rating: PG
Length: 100 minutes / 1.67 hours
I’ll give Pixar credit for taking on a challenging subject like puberty. Of course, they also played it safe by making it modern enough that there are computers and cell phones, but not so modern that social media is a big issue. Oh, to long for that early 2000s nostalgia. While I couldn’t relate to the gender issues presented in this movie, I definitely experienced late puberty around the film’s timeframe. And perhaps that’s why I found Turning Red (2021) so funny: they nailed a lot of the popular cultural elements.
Also, as a guy, I actually found a lot of the “period humor” to be hilarious as well. Perhaps because it’s somewhat embarrassing, but also a totally natural part of growing up, these jokes had me laughing out loud. Or, maybe my humor is just a bizarre combination of memes and puns. Probably the latter (gotta love all the multiple meanings of “Turning Red”). Still, this movie is a good jumping-off point for talking to my children about these changes that will eventually happen. Anything to aid in these inevitable conversations is a welcome addition in my book.
Visually, it is interesting to see a CGI movie like this use a style that’s grounded in a more 2-dimensional aesthetic. The CalArts “jellybean mouth” style of animation has been around for many years (with a notable example being Adventure Time), but its cartoony look clashes a little with the extremely realistic settings that Pixar can produce. Plot-wise, Turning Red is a bit simple, relying on Asian parent and child stereotypes just enough to get the point across. Ultimately, Turning Red has a lot going for it, but other movies have also done this kind of “coming of age” bit as well.
Some funny early 2000s nostalgia fused with a potentially taboo subject, I give Turning Red 3.5 stars out of 5.
Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga
Year: 2007
Rating: E10+
Time Played: ~40 hours
Back in the day, this game was an intersection of many of my interests. Not only was it based on Lego, but it had a Star Wars theme and was a playable video game. The trifecta. My younger brother bought one of the earlier games in the series, which convinced me that I needed to buy it myself. Fortunately, I only had to wait a few years for Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga to be released since it contained gameplay from all six of the (at the time) Star Wars films in Lego video game style.
Split into a handful of levels that represent the plot from each of the Original and Prequel trilogy films, most of the gameplay is fairly simple. Break blocks, build things, collect items, and overcome obstacles. It can get a little chaotic—but that’s when it’s the most fun. With an enormous roster of playable characters, there were only a few that I used to play the entire game (General Grevious was my favorite). The two-player co-op is a little less fun than just playing with an AI you can switch between, but that’s also up to the skill of the other player.
As one of the few games I have completed 100%, it was a bit of a slog to get to that golden achievement. Fortunately, there are upgrades and systems in place that make it easier to find all the collectibles. I realize this game is now somewhat outdated now that they’ve released the sequel trilogy (and resultant “Skywalker Saga” Lego video game), but there is a special nostalgia spot in my heart for this game.
A high standard for movie-themed Lego video games, I give Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga 4.5 stars out of 5.
Redline
Year: 2009
Rating: Not Rated
Length: 102 minutes / 1.70 hours
Redline (2009) is one of those films that I saw a few clips of and decided it looked interesting enough to sit down and actually watch the whole thing. After all, I enjoy a good anime, and if I don’t have to get invested in a multi-season show, all the better. Of course, anime can also be quite weird. As long as it looks cool, though, it doesn’t really matter. Sometimes, the more stylized an anime movie is, the more entertaining it is to watch. And Redline is certainly a stylized anime.
Produced by Madhouse, Redline has a distinct visual style that aligns with their other works. I’d probably say it’s closest to Trigun in terms of overall feel, but that’s likely because Trigun was one of the first anime I watched while growing up. There’s an almost manga-like quality to the visuals here. Plenty of hard black outlines and shadows, but with room for its bright colors to dazzle. The character designs are also decidedly unique, giving off a wholly science fiction vibe to match the high-octane race plotline. Redline is almost like someone took speed and watched Speed Racer.
I probably wouldn’t put Redline up there with some of the great anime films like Akira (1988) or Princess Mononoke (1997), but I would consider it entertaining. It’s flashy and fast-paced, and I don’t expect to get anything more out of it than to sit back and chill for an evening. Of course, the target audience is definitely male, with all the blatant fan service and action-packed machismo. These are things that are often hard to avoid in this genre of animated films, but at least I was the target audience, so I didn’t mind too much.
A uniquely stylized and entertaining anime film, I give Redline 3.5 stars out of 5.
Project Hail Mary
Year: 2021
Author: Andy Weir
Length: 476 pages
The strength of Andy Weir’s hard sci-fi storytelling was evident in The Martian. He sets up a problem, shows us a solution, then does everything in his author-ly power to prevent the main character from achieving that solution. His scientific explanations might get a little dry, but they are necessary to understand the situation without diving too deep into details. While his sophomore effort with Artemis showed me he struggles with writing women, he came back to his roots and knocked it out of the park with Project Hail Mary.
There are many similarities between The Martian and Project Hail Mary, which is probably why I like both books equally. Sure, the stakes are higher in Project Hail Mary—with the survival of humanity on the line instead of just one astronaut—but the explanation of the science follows the same format he used in The Martian. Specifically, a problem derails all the progress made so far, and it requires more science (often jury-rigged) to fix. The twist that gives this book a slight edge over The Martian is how science is a universal concept.
I came into this book blind, which helped me fully appreciate the “buddy” dynamic between the two main characters. The flashbacks felt a little like an exposition cop-out due to Ryland Grace’s amnesia, but they were necessary to ground the motivation of his character. Without Ryland’s “friend” that he found on the journey, it’s difficult to know if the result of the last-ditch effort to save Earth would have had the same outcome. There are strong comparisons to Ted Chiang’s short story, Story of Your Life (and its film adaptation of Arrival (2016)) here, which just shows how well-thought-out this book was.
Another perfect hard sci-fi adventure by Andy Weir, I give Project Hail Mary 5.0 stars out of 5.
The Batman
Year: 2022
Rating: PG-13
Length: 176 minutes / 2.93 hours
I am glad that society has reached the point where every new reboot of a comic book franchise does not require repeatedly rehashing the same origin story. Spider-man: Homecoming (2017) did this, and now The Batman (2022) can join its ranks. It’s a good thing, too. At almost three hours long, The Batman takes its time exploring a side of Batman we rarely see: the detective. Perhaps now that he’s solved this case, he can figure out where all the lights in Gotham City went? Either way, the aesthetic and style of this Matt Reeves reboot had me skeptical at first, but won me over by the end.
After rolling my eyes at yet another reboot of a comic franchise that has seen five reboots since I’ve been born, I have to admit that this film felt the closest to being realistically feasible. The characters (brilliantly acted by Robert Pattinson, Jeffrey Wright, Colin Ferrell, and Zoe Kravitz) feel like real people instead of caricatures pulled from a brightly colored page. And while the scope of this film was ambitious (perhaps needing a sub-plot or two trimmed), running it more like a mystery than an action film was a fresh take that I readily welcomed.
The Riddler (Paul Dano) has been a criminally underutilized character from the Batman canon—until now. Sure, Jim Carrey was fun as The Riddler in Batman Forever (1995), but this one has full Zodiac killer vibes that perfectly match the enigmatic rhymes he leaves for the detectives. There’s a desperation in Pattinson’s portrayal of Bruce Wayne that reveals how tired he is of trying to solve The Riddler’s (and the world’s) problems the only way he knows. While I had to groan at the hints to the villain for the sequel, I am interested to see where this new version of Batman takes us in the future.
The first “detective” Batman movie to grace the big screen, I give The Batman 4.0 stars out of 5.
Pokémon Ultra Moon
Year: 2017
Rating: E
Time Played: 1,972 minutes / 32.87 hours
In each Generation of the Pokémon franchise, the “second set” of games released were often the same game, but with a few notable enhancements. For example, Pokémon Yellow would allow a player to obtain all three of the original starter Pokémon—a feat that would normally take multiple restarts with two cartridges of Red and Blue. When Generation V introduced “sequels” instead of a third enhanced game, these second games lost some of their appeal. Pokémon Ultra Moon carries on this legacy that eventually became the DLC approach we saw in Pokémon Sword.
The unfortunate side effect of these sequel games, which feels more evident in Ultra Moon than in previous Generations, is that the first games in a Generation (in this case, Pokémon Sun) feel unfinished. After all, the “Ultra” games came out only a year later, so one wonders why anyone would want to purchase both the original and the “enhanced” games if they’re about 95% similar content. The story isn’t considerably different, even if the post-game is more interesting (especially when obtaining the ultimate Necrozma form).
As was the case for my play-through of Pokémon White 2, I enjoyed the same game I had played when I completed Pokémon Sun much more when I used the Mystery Gift Pokémon I got using promotional codes and cards. Even if I tried to play this game the way it was intended, once I hit the “grinding wall,” I used the resources at my disposal to bypass the part of the game I had already beaten once before. The game then became fun again once I entered the post-game portions, since it was something different and new. Catching all the previous legendaries felt like a tedious process, though, so I played little more than that.
The “full” game of Generation VII, I give Pokémon Ultra Moon 3.5 stars out of 5.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife
Year: 2021
Rating: PG-13
Length: 124 minutes / 2.07 hours
Hollywood nostalgia is a huge moneymaker for my generation. Movies we grew up loving like Star Wars (1977), Jurassic Park (1993), and Ghostbusters (1984) have all received “requels” in The Force Awakens (2015), Jurassic World (2015), and Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021). These movies act as sequels, reboots, and remakes that take advantage of years of movie-making technology that weren’t available when the originals came out (even if the originals created amazing spectacles without excessive CGI). The question is: are these requels still entertaining? For Ghostbusters: Afterlife, I think it certainly did a better job than Ghostbusters (2016) did.
While these types of films rely heavily on call-backs and recycled plots from the movies that came before them, that’s part of what makes them fun nostalgia-fueled flicks. New characters can give a spark of something different, even if the story beats are still the same as before. Case in point: I absolutely loved Paul Rudd’s and Logan Kim’s characters in Afterlife, as they were the right balance of straight-man and comedic timing. Still, there’s something special about a movie like this paying tribute to the actors and directors we’ve lost since the first film became a hit.
I appreciated that there were enough plot points that differed from the original Ghostbusters to make this movie that added to the lore from the previous films. Jason Reitman clearly honored his father Ivan’s legacy by directing a film that took itself seriously. Even with moments of comedy sprinkled throughout, the laughs weren’t forced (like in 2016). After all, the original had brilliant dead-pan delivery that made it funny because the characters were taking the existence of ghosts seriously. I hope this movie gets a sequel so it can explore something different from the first plot in the series, but if this is all we get, it’s a pretty good consolation prize.
A requel that honors the source material, I give Ghostbusters: Afterlife 4.0 stars out of 5.
Wolves of the Calla
Year: 2003
Author: Stephen King
Length: 1,563 minutes / 26.05 hours
There comes a point when you’ve consumed enough stories that you notice similarities. Sure, there are common tropes applied to plots that make them seem similar, but what I’m talking about is when you’re reading a book and immediately, you’re like, “This is exactly like [FILL IN THE BLANK].” For me, the fifth book in the Dark Tower series, Wolves of the Calla, laid out its premise, and I instantly thought, “This is exactly like Seven Samurai (1954).” Fortunately, there was more to this book than this classic tale of villagers defending themselves with the help of skilled warriors.
I will give credit to Stephen King for taking a well-known plot and adding enough sub-plots to distract from the fact that this book is the Dark Tower equivalent of The Magnificent Seven (1960). This is probably because these sub-plots are the driving force behind the main story arc of the series. As such, the Father Callahan/Black Thirteen thread was a welcome distraction from the training sequences that plague stories that follow the A Bug’s Life (1998) formula. It was this sub-plot that makes me excited to read the rest of this series.
All jokes aside, Stephen King’s use of the “hired warriors” trope was well written in Wolves of the Calla. It used the already-established western tropes present in the Dark Tower series to present a familiar conflict. It felt fresh and unique despite having seen many iterations over the years. I especially liked the “skilled plate throwers” as it helped enforce the ease at which Gunslingers can adapt to different styles of projectiles with deadly accuracy. It’s rare to see a book this late in the series have such a solid plot, but I suspect it is due to this tried-and-true plot.
The Seven Samurai of the Dark Tower series, I give Wolves of the Calla 4.0 stars out of 5.
Nightmare Alley
Year: 2021
Rating: R
Length: 150 minutes / 2.50 hours
I appreciate Guillermo del Toro for his sense of artistic style. His genius usually comes out in movies set in the 1940s and 1950s, with such hits as Pan’s Labyrinth (2005) and The Shape of Water (2017). And while there are fun popcorn flicks of his that I enjoy (like Hellboy (2004) and Pacific Rim (2013)), I feel Nightmare Alley (2021) is my favorite work he has done to date. After all, his best work comes from showing the audience that humans are the actual monsters of the story.
A story told in a solid three acts, Nightmare Alley is a beautiful uroboros of fame and hubris. The all-star casting of Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Toni Collette, and Willem Dafoe helped to sell the story of a grifter who gets too greedy for his own good. The twists and turns are exciting, if not wholly predictable, but that’s part of the fun of it. With no “monsters” like vampires, demons, or sea monsters shown during the whole of Nightmare Alley, del Toro really sells the sickening human condition that drives us to these highs and lows.
Of course, being a del Toro film, there are other elements of his style that always make me cringe. Certain aspects of his oeuvre almost mandate that there are a half-dozen moments of body horror sprinkled throughout this film—some of which can be quite jarring. I think, as long as you prepare yourself for these brief, gory scenes, it’s not so bad. They’re never quite over the top, but they made me cringe when they happened. Still, for as entertaining as the rest of this film is, it’s worth enduring them for the greater whole.
Classic Guillermo del Toro that shows the horrors humans are capable of, I give Nightmare Alley 4.5 stars out of 5.
Pokémon White Version 2
Year: 2012
Rating: E
Time Played: 2,857 minutes / 47.61 hours
With the “soft reboot” of the Pokémon franchise in Generation V, a lot had changed about these games. Black and White were harder than before, and a whole new set of 150 Pokémon left some long-time fans (like myself) wondering when any of our favorites would appear in the game. The expectation for “enhanced” versions for each Generation was cemented by Pokémon Yellow, Crystal, Emerald, and Platinum. To then get a two-game split sequel in Pokémon Black and White Version 2 was a bit of a shock.
Released only a year after its predecessor, White 2 learned a bit from the original White. Classic Pokémon had returned to Unova and weren’t locked behind the post-game content. These games still had enhanced features like being able to catch legendaries from previous games—a welcome inclusion that has remained to this day. And while I had just played through White when I started this game, it was just different enough to get me to the battle with fused Kyurem. Unfortunately, that’s when the “grinding” to overcome this challenge made me put it down for a few years.
What eventually motivated me to finish this game was finding out about the DNS Mystery gift exploit. This allowed me to “legitimately” get some of the rare legendary and mythical Pokémon that were released during its original run. With these powerful Pokémon in my party, I easily beat the rest of the game and had more fun in the post-game than if I had suffered through the level grind to get a team powerful enough to do so naturally. Sure, some may consider this “cheating,” but I felt this enhanced my enjoyment of the game. After all, I had already played through White once, so anything to make White 2 more different was a welcome addition.
A lightly enhanced Generation V sequel, I give Pokémon White Version 2 4.0 stars out of 5.
Drive My Car
Year: 2021
Rating: Unrated
Length: 179 minutes / 2.98 hours
There are movies made to be entertaining, then there are movies that gaze into the soul of human existence and dare us to blink. Drive My Car (2021) is the latter. Grief is such a complex topic that few have successfully tackled it meaningfully or with the depth that this film does. It’s slow, steady, and meandering through various subplots, but it eventually gets its point across in the most stoic ways possible. After all, it’s challenging to grieve for someone who you know has wronged you.
I am no stranger to three-hour-long foreign films, but even this one pushed my limits. The problem is, I’m not entirely sure what I would have cut from it to make it any shorter (although, they probably could have ended this film a little earlier since the last scene made little sense to me). All the subplots combine to make a meaningful statement of the multi-faceted approach to grieving. And perhaps having this movie be three hours long drives home the idea that grief and patience are inexorably linked—that it’s not an instantaneous process.
Overall, Drive My Car lacks big emotions for such a painful subject that many of us have to experience at least once in our lives. It takes it a step further by also fusing the bereavement of the main characters with a healthy dose of forgiveness—which is perhaps the most powerful element of this film. I also appreciated how Drive My Car touched on the desire for people to find replacements for the loved ones they lost. Our desire to fill the hole left by those close to us is strong enough to make us eventually realize we have moved on.
An almost too thorough examination of grief, I give Drive My Car 4.0 stars out of 5.
How to Talk to Your Cat About Gun Safety
Year: 2016
Author: Zachary Auburn
Length: 144 pages
I had seen this book cover on the internet a few years ago and found it to be an amusing concept. When I ran across the paperback version of this book at a thrift store, I bought it and gave it a read. Presented by the fictional “American Association of Patriots,” How to Talk to Your Cat About Gun Safety is a satire parody of right-wing and evangelical pamphlets that seek to inform readers of the “right” way to do something. In this case, talk to your cat about gun safety.
This book is actually a collection of a few different pamphlets that cover a variety of topics, including safety for guns, sex, online, and the apocalypse. To its credit, if you didn’t realize this was satire, you’d think this book was being serious. Perhaps this is more an indictment of how crazy some people have become since 2016. Unfortunately, this is one of the only gimmicks this book has, and it does it to death. I’m impressed that most of the advice is actually accurate, but that’s because it almost reads like a pamphlet you’d hand parents trying to talk to their teenagers and just did a find-and-replace to change “teen” to “cat.”
I enjoyed the humor for the first few chapters, but by the end, I was mostly skimming, trying to get through it. There seemed to be a quota of cat puns the author tried to force into this book, with at least one or two of these eye-rolling jokes occurring per page. Since this is the other gimmick this book has, there isn’t much more to it than the amusing title and concept.
An amusing satire gimmick, but not much else, I give How to Talk to Your Cat About Gun Safety 2.0 stars out of 5.
Eternals
Year: 2021
Rating: PG-13
Length: 156 minutes / 2.60 hours
With two competing comic book companies making movies, it’s interesting to see how a movie like The Avengers (2012) works, but Justice League (2017) doesn’t. You would think that Marvel would have the wisdom to learn from DC’s mistakes, but instead, we see many of these same errors cropping up in Eternals (2021). Perhaps this is a side-effect of an extremely intertwined cinematic universe that requires each player in a larger multi-movie arc to receive an “origin story” movie before being brought into a larger cast of characters (much like Shang-chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)).
Part of what made Justice League fail was how it introduced too many characters at once. In Eternals, there’s a group of superheroes whose numbers rival later Avengers casts, but with no time to get to know any of them significantly well in an already long runtime. That the Snyder cut of Justice League spent four hours to remedy this indicates the problem here. Furthermore, Eternals feels disconnected from the MCU. They could have easily connected a few moments to Infinity War (2018) but glossed over these plot holes without so much as a shrug.
I will give Marvel credit for trying something a little more artistic here. Choosing Chloe Zhao—of Best Picture-winning Nomadland (2020) fame—to helm this project was a bold move. The spacious visuals almost feel alien despite these events taking place on Earth. The scale of the action demands this approach, which works well considering how easily they can be ignored in other MCU movies to come. And while some might fault this movie for being “inclusive,” I appreciated how such a diverse set of people weren’t so homogenous as to remove any internal group friction or drama—which would definitely be present with so many cultures represented here.
An ambitious project that didn’t learn from its competitors, I give Eternals 3.0 stars out of 5.
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
Year: 2014
Rating: E10+
Time Played: 1,288 minutes / 21.47 hours
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS was the system seller for me. I held out and didn’t buy any version of the Nintendo DS or 3DS until this game (and the New Nintendo 3DS XL) came out. I bought the bundle that included this game and couldn’t have picked a better one to start my experience on the 3DS. Since the start of this fighting game series, I’ve enjoyed playing each iteration of Super Smash Bros. and now I could play on the go.
This was a fun game to play by myself, but this was also one of its weaknesses. I’m the type of gamer who likes to play through the different individual characters in story mode and unlock all the little trophies and trinkets. Unfortunately, I also like the couch multiplayer that previous iterations of this series thrived on. The concept of online play never appealed to me, even if I could choose to play “for fun” instead of facing off against try-hards in the “for glory” mode. If I had another person in the room and we were playing against each other, then that might have satisfied my multiplayer need, but those conditions were rare, if not almost nonexistent.
One reason I wanted to pick up this game was the roster of playable characters. I loved how they included retro icons like Mega Man, Pac-Man, and Duck Hunt made their debut, along with newcomers like Villager, Greninja, and Rosalina. I debated getting the DLC characters but decided against it. The 3D effects were neat, even if the small screen made it hard to see where the players were on the stage when it was zoomed out. In the end, I enjoyed playing this Smash Bros. game, but it felt like it was missing some of the core elements that made the others successful.
A great solo Smash Bros. experience that misses the mark on multiplayer, I give Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS 3.5 stars out of 5.
King Richard
Year: 2021
Rating: PG-13
Length: 144 minutes / 2.40 hours
It’s a little surprising to see two critically acclaimed movies about talented children released in the same year. While CODA (2021) shows us what it’s like to have a family who doesn’t initially support a child’s talents, King Richard (2021) highlights the amount of effort and sacrifice that dedicated parents give to their children when they recognize their talent early on. Granted, not every talented child with parental backing grows up to be extremely successful, let alone having this happen twice. And yet, Venus and Serena Williams are proof that it can happen.
I found it odd how a movie that follows the early success of the Williams sisters focused so much on their father, Richard Williams (Will Smith), who made it happen by sheer determination and will. It makes sense considering how young these two prodigies were, but there’s still a little sour taste to it, considering how their success was always part of Richard’s “plan” to pull them up out of their poverty in Compton. I mean, talk about pressure on two young girls to succeed. I only hope other helicopter parents won’t take this movie to heart and push their kids to succeed past their limits.
At its core, King Richard is an underdog story. It’s nerve-wracking watching these girls go up against players who are well above their playing level on paper. You get a flutter in your chest when you want a better coach to take a chance on these nobodies. You want to root for Venus because of all she’s been through. This movie plays out a lot like many other sports movies for these reasons, but if the formula isn’t broken, don’t fix it.
A case study for successful, engaged parenting, I give King Richard 4.0 stars out of 5.
Thinking, Fast and Slow
Year: 2011
Author: Daniel Kahneman
Length: 1,202 minutes / 20.03 hours
We all make choices. Every day, from the banal to the life-altering, we can break these choices down into two different ways of thinking. It’s amazing to me how this psychological subject presented in Thinking, Fast and Slow is so intuitive, but so difficult to control. Daniel Kahneman does a superb job bringing this topic down to the layperson level with plenty of examples and quizzes to show the reader how we can literally change an impulsive decision into a logical one.
Thinking, Fast and Slow opened my eyes to the two systems that influence every decision I make. The quick-thinking “System One” runs on emotions, whereas the slower “System Two” takes time to examine a situation thoroughly before deciding. The amazing thing about these systems is that sometimes the intuitive System One is correct—meaning that it can sometimes be easy to overthink a problem. What’s even more fascinating is seeing how easy it is to switch our thinking from System One to System Two when we need an answer from the brain instead of the heart.
If I find this book at a used bookstore, I’ll likely pick it up as a reference. I read it as an audiobook, so I could not do many (if not all) of the exercises detailed in it. This is yet another case of a non-fiction book being better in a physical format. Still, I gleaned a ton of useful information from it for the 20 hours I spent listening to its concepts. Even if you’re not interested in psychology, I’d recommend reading this book merely for the insight into how you (and those around you) come to decisions.
An eye-opening look into the psychology of decision making, I give Thinking, Fast and Slow 4.0 stars out of 5.
Ron’s Gone Wrong
Year: 2021
Rating: PG
Length: 107 minutes / 1.78 hours
Let’s face it: social media is a challenge for parents trying to raise kids in an increasingly tech-savvy world. Adults all know the dangers of it because we were the test subjects. Now it’s exposing our children to the addicting and potentially dangerous concept of trying to “go viral” by any means possible. While documentaries like The Social Dilemma (2020) reveal how these dark systems work, there aren’t many movies directed toward kids that show these dangers in a way they can understand. Ron’s Gone Wrong (2021) attempts to fill this gap.
The problem with how this movie goes about teaching its lesson is that the premise requires a large amount of suspension of disbelief. In this universe, parents are completely oblivious to the dangers of giving their children AI robots who act as their gateway into social media via pranking videos or TicTok beauty clips that get tons of likes. Sure, there are “safety measures” in place, but there honestly should have been loads more restrictions considering the negative consequences. I appreciate how these facades are stripped back at the end of the second act, even if they return to the status quo at the end of the movie.
While the animation here isn’t anything to write home about, it conveys what it needs to for the target audience (also by parodying Apple pretty hard). Hopefully, parents should watch this movie with their kids so they can start a discussion about social media and how it isn’t necessary to have a social life. It’s not a perfect representation of some of the more nefarious dangers, but it touches enough on FOMO, cyberbullying, and like-fueled dopamine hits to give parents the opening they need with their kids.
An OK movie to start a conversation about social media with kids, I give Ron’s Gone Wrong 3.5 stars out of 5.
BoxBoy! + BoxGirl!
Year: 2019
Rating: E
Time Played: 511 minutes / 8.52 hours
While I was aware of the BoxBoy! series of games on the Nintendo 3DS, I didn’t try any of them until BoxBoy! + BoxGirl! released on the Switch. As a puzzle platformer, this game uses the most simple of mechanics in a variety of interesting ways. The cute little box characters were fun to control and none of the puzzles were ultimately impossible. The challenges definitely kept me playing all the way until the end, providing just enough mental stimulation to re-play levels immediately after clearing them.
I rarely finish games completely anymore, but BoxBoy! + BoxGirl! had just enough in-game motivation for me to reach 100% in a mere 8.5 hours. It might lean heavier on the “puzzle” side of “puzzle platformer” but this just meant I had to think outside the box (ha ha) if I wanted to solve each level with the minimum number of blocks. I was glad that about halfway through playing this game, I realized I didn’t have to achieve both the minimum block challenge and the crown collecting challenge in the same level playthrough. This meant I could focus on one challenge and merely replay the level to finish the other one.
These challenges made the levels re-playable for me. It also helped that each level didn’t take too long to complete—most only lasting a few minutes. Even though the different “modes” in this game are more of the same style of gameplay, they were unique enough to be fresh as I dove into them, but not so long as to become a burden to complete. Now, given that I completely finished the game, it will probably be some time before I pick this game up again.
A cute, approachable, and simple puzzle platformer, I give BoxBoy! + BoxGirl! 4.0 stars out of 5.
Belfast
Year: 2021
Rating: PG-13
Length: 98 minutes / 1.63 hours
It seems a little odd to me that there are so many films that focus on historic events, but this is the first one I’ve seen about “The Troubles” in Ireland. I was loosely aware of the conflict between Catholics and Protestants in late-1960s Ireland, but Belfast (2021) felt like the first time anyone brought this topic to the big screen. It’s clearly a personal story for director Kenneth Branagh, which is likely how it gained its notoriety in the lead-up to awards season. The problem with Belfast, though, lies in some of its inconsistencies.
I understand that Schindler’s List (1993) can get away with incorporating moments of color in an otherwise black-and-white film. However, when it happened in Belfast, it completely pulled me out of the story. It would have been much better to just keep the monochromatic aesthetic throughout instead of trying to be artistically edgy. I don’t consider 1969 as a “black and white” era, which brings its own issues for this stylistic choice, but at least I could roll with it for most of this film. It certainly aided some of the excellent cinematography present in this “small” setting.
For such a significant part of Ireland’s history, this plot felt a little light. Clocking in at a scant 98 minutes, Belfast only focuses on the struggles of an individual family affected by The Troubles. This makes a few set pieces have more emotional heft to them but isn’t quite enough to flesh out both sides of the conflict. And maybe that’s the point? Many conflicts in this world boil down to differences between two groups of people, but the only difference between the Catholics and Protestants was which sect of Christianity they followed. Then again, people usually fight civil wars on ideological issues, so it makes sense. Belfast could have brought more depth to it, though.
A somewhat shallow and simple representation of The Troubles, I give Belfast 4.5 stars out of 5.
Abaddon’s Gate
Year: 2013
Author: James S. A. Corey
Length: 1,182 minutes / 19.7 hours
I’ll admit that watching the Expanse television show spoiled this book for me. I already knew what was going to happen, so there weren’t too many surprises in this book because the show kept close to the source material. Even with this a priori knowledge going in, I found Abaddon’s Gate to be my favorite book of the series so far. The plot felt like it was actually getting somewhere instead of just dancing on the edges of the important series arc that finally solidified in this book.
Some of my favorite moments of the series were retained in the written form of this book, including the description of the first “sudden stop” when someone tried entering the alien portal. The human drama was also interesting because it wasn’t entirely geopolitical but wove in elements of religious beliefs as well. It helped that the crew members of the Rocinante are fully fleshed out characters by this point in the series, since these books really are about how they react to being in the middle of this interplanetary (and now intergalactic) alien conspiracy. And while it might be nice to have the “character of the day” stick around for more than one book, I understand the decision to only focus on the Rocinante throughout the series.
As with previous books in the Expanse series, Abaddon’s Gate excels in its depiction of realistic science in a fictional setting. Unlike more traditional hard sci-fi, this book uses these moments of real science sparingly to drive the plot forward instead of stopping at every instance and lecturing the reader as to the mathematical physics behind what is happening. This is so effortless in its execution that it never distracts from the action, which keeps the pacing at a nice, brisk action-based pace.
An exciting turning point in the Expanse series, I give Abaddon’s Gate 4.0 stars out of 5.
Licorice Pizza
Year: 2021
Rating: R
Length: 133 minutes / 2.22 hours
Paul Thomas Anderson is an acquired taste. Unfortunately, I don’t think I’ve completely acquired it yet. I absolutely loved There Will Be Blood (2007), which was my first exposure to this director. I saw The Master (2012) after that and was so confused that I stayed away from Inherent Vice (2014). Maybe the magic came with Daniel Day-Lewis, which is why I gave Phantom Thread (2017) a shot. Still weird. With Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest, Licorice Pizza (2021), the odd name prepared me for more weird, which it delivered.
By “weird” I don’t mean something filled with bizarre drug-induced visuals. It’s more like the setting and plot ground it to reality, but the characters act strangely throughout. They’re almost illogical. Luckily, most of these “weird” characters (like the ones portrayed by Sean Penn and Bradley Cooper) are minor distractions from the primary plot of the film. Still, having a child star who is still a minor pursuing a romantic relationship with a woman seven years his senior is weird, and I kept having to do math in my head to figure out when he’d be old enough for any of this to be even close to appropriate.
I’m thinking Paul Thomas Anderson’s appeal is more in the way he conveys the feel of an era. Licorice Pizza seems to nail that mid-1970s aesthetic. Using historic events to bound this story to a specific timeframe is a great technique, especially when it affects the characters in a way that requires them to change. For example, the gas crisis leads to perhaps one of the best and most intense driving sequences I’ve seen since The Wages of Fear (1953). However, such singular set pieces aren’t enough for me to get past the weird moments in this movie.
Well-grounded in the 1970s, but filled with weird characters, I give Licorice Pizza 3.5 stars out of 5.
Virtual Virtual Reality
Year: 2019
Rating: T
Time Played: ~3 hours
The one qualm I have with many VR games is how many of them fail to include any kind of story into their gameplay. It’s mostly, “Here’s this thing you can do in an immersive environment,” and that’s it. The ones that have a story (like Shadow Point or Moss) sometimes don’t lean into the VR nearly as much—mostly being games that could be played in first- or third-person without VR. Virtual Virtual Reality, though, is the best of both worlds, combining VR interactions with a great story.
Placed somewhere between the meta Accounting+ and interactivity of Job Simulator, Virtual Virtual Reality takes the Portal approach to gradual storytelling. There are a lot of parallels that are hard to miss here. At its core, this game’s story revolves around a cheery yet malevolent AI who tries to get the player to perform odd jobs for a variety of requestors. However, when you peel back the curtain to see the horrors behind the scenes, the AI strips the layers of VR away and chastises you for getting out of bounds. Even if you obtain many details via narration, the story is still profound.
Virtual Virtual Reality might be slower to get through than other VR games, but I think that helps with the story’s pacing. You don’t just get snippets of plot between puzzles; you get a motivation to keep going. And the immersive nature of most of these loosely interconnected worlds helped keep me in the story, too. In fact, I had some legitimate jump scares in this game as VR headsets flung themselves onto my face. I also appreciated that I could go back and visit a few of the branching plot levels I missed in my playthrough once I got to the end.
Immersive and meta with a great story, I give Virtual Virtual Reality 4.5 stars out of 5.
CODA
Year: 2021
Rating: PG-13
Length: 111 minutes / 1.85 hours
Every once in a while, a movie comes along that’s surprisingly unique. Like, you would have thought such a plot would have existed a dozen times already, but Hollywood has only remade it once from a version that was initially in French. CODA (2021) is such a film. Sure, it has elements that are common to other dramatic films—like fishers, singers, and family dynamics. The combination of these things makes CODA stand out as unique to me. Not only does its double-meaning title elevate it above other movies, but its heartfelt content is something we need more of in this depressing world.
CODA‘s take on the “my family doesn’t understand my talent and is holding me back” cliche hits differently in this scenario. It’s not that Ruby (Emilia Jones) has a family that ignores her obvious talent for singing, it’s that they literally cannot understand how much better she is at singing than the average person. Since she is the only one in their family fishing boat who can communicate with others at the docks, they have placed an over-reliance on her ability, which traps her in the tough position of supporting her family versus pursuing her talent.
With so many movies focusing on broken families and people, CODA is a refreshing change of pace. Even with everyone else being deaf, Ruby loves her family, and they all love each other. Their struggle is not within their disability, but against the systems that attempt to hold them back. There’s deep emotion in having to choose between your family and your obvious talent, and CODA does this incredibly well by pushing Ruby to make this choice at every twist and turn of the plot. Funny, charming, emotional, and wholesome, CODA is an instant classic.
A fantastic and unique take on the “talented family member” trope, I give CODA 5.0 stars out of 5.
Waking Gods
Year: 2017
Author: Sylvain Neuvel
Length: 336 pages
When I read Sleeping Giants, the narrative technique used to tell this story blew me away. I was hooked, and it pleased me to learn there were two more books in this Themis Files trilogy. Sure, I still had some qualms with the first book, but it was mostly from an “omniscient exposition dump.” It took me a while to get back to this series, but I was looking forward to reading the second book, Waking Gods. In that time, something changed, and I did not enjoy this book.
Despite loving this indirect narrative approach in the first book, the technique showed its cracks as it reached past its limitations in Waking Gods. Interviews and recording transcripts can only show so much, and it’s difficult to get into the characters when they’re at arm’s length. And perhaps this was the other thing I didn’t like about this book: the characters. None of them are particularly likable or logical—especially the main character of Dr. Rose Franklin. The odd twist that was introduced at the end of the first book didn’t help either. None of the characters could catch a break, save one mistake that led to the twist ending that propels the reader into book three.
Maybe all these weaknesses were in Sleeping Giants, but the excitement of finding an extra-terrestrial robot distracted me too much to care. In Waking Gods, there were more questions than answers. It didn’t help that the plotlines that had the most focus were the ones I didn’t feel added anything to the story. I can still appreciate the science fiction in this series, but I’m only going to continue to the last book in this trilogy just to see how it all ends.
A significant downgrade from its predecessor, I give Waking Gods 2.5 stars out of 5.
West Side Story
Year: 2021
Rating: PG-13
Length: 156 minutes / 2.60 hours
I absolutely adore West Side Story (1961). When I heard it was being remade 60 years after it dominated the Academy Awards, I was skeptical. Why mess with perfection? Even with Steven Spielberg directing, I had my doubts. Then I watched the first trailer and had chills of nostalgia. Maybe it wouldn’t be as bad as I thought. After finally watching West Side Story (2021), I had to admit that this remake mostly recaptured most of the magic of the original. It even had some improvements, which I appreciated.
The qualms I had with this version of the hit Broadway musical were relatively minor. First, Spielberg has a visual style that sometimes went a little overboard on the lens flare. We aren’t talking J. J. Abrams-levels of lens flare, but it was enough to be distracting. Second, the choice to have more of the Puerto Rican characters speak Spanish really helped sell the immersion. Even when I knew what was going on, it was hard to follow without subtitles (and I’ve been practicing my Spanish for over a year). Perhaps this is easily fixed by turning on subtitles when watching at home, but it was a challenge when I saw it in theaters.
The choice to go with a cast filled mostly with unknowns was bold, but it worked out spectacularly. The only one I recognized (aside from the Rita Moreno cameo) was Ansel Elgort (of Baby Driver (2017) fame). I think it helped focus on the singing and choreography—both of which were equal to (if not better) than the 1961 version. Spielberg definitely improved the cinematography, as it made the movie feel like it took place in an actual location instead of on a stage. Finally, there was much more context to the characters’ backgrounds and motivations, which made some songs (like “Cool”) make much more sense than their 1961 counterparts.
A visual and contextual improvement on the original with only a few minor issues, I give West Side Story 4.0 stars out of 5.
Accounting+
Year: 2017
Rating: M
Time Played: ~2 hours
A lot of VR games lean into the gimmick by providing an immersive and interactive experience. Sometimes, this experience is through stereoscopic 3D, which is easily achieved in a VR headset. Other times, these games use the medium to place the user in settings that are not possible in real life. For the most part, though, each VR game sticks to a single concept or setting. Accounting+ is hard to describe because it goes in so many directions, each of which relies on the “meta” nature of virtual reality to work.
There isn’t a lot of cohesion between the different “levels” of Accounting+, other than interacting with the characters and environment to find the next VR headset to warp into the next world. As a comedic game, it has its funny moments if you can get past some of its more crass humor. Other portions are a bit gruesome as well, depending on how cartoony the setting for that particular level is. Still, the writing and voice acting are top-notch here and it deserves a playthrough for anyone looking for unique VR experiences.
I would have appreciated a little more cohesion between each of the levels in this game. As it stands, there are a lot of interesting ideas in Accounting+, but it’s almost a mixed bag for what scenario you get next. A few storylines span different levels, but these are rare. It almost feels like the developers sat in a room and brainstormed a bunch of different ideas and put every single one of them in this game. Unfortunately, I found it difficult to find the other levels or branching paths in this game, making it something that I played once and didn’t pick up again after that.
A bizarre and meta VR gaming experience, I give Accounting+ 3.5 stars out of 5.
Last Night in Soho
Year: 2021
Rating: R
Length: 116 minutes / 1.93 hours
In the last five years, it’s been interesting to see director Edgar Wright move further from the comedies that helped put his name on the cinematic map. Most know him for his British comedies like Shaun of the Dead (2004) and Hot Fuzz (2007), but stylistically I don’t think you can go wrong with Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010). This kind of cinematography drew me to his more serious film, Baby Driver (2017), and the even more serious Last Night in Soho (2021).
It is a little odd to see Wright step out from his comfort zone just because he’s so good at comedic writing (having also written Ant-Man (2015)). While I liked the music-themed mayhem in Baby Driver, there wasn’t much in Last Night in Soho that was artistically interesting. Sure, the whole mirror-image special effects were neat and occasionally a little mind-blowing, but the biggest problem with Last Night in Soho is that it didn’t get good until its third act. By that point in the film, I wasn’t nearly as invested as I should have been.
Edgar Wright has a distinctive style to his films that keep me coming back, and I did like the portions of this movie that leaned into that style of cinematography. Even the twists in his films are good enough to be eyebrow-raising (but not so distinctive as to elicit M. Night Shyamalan comparisons). Last Night in Soho is still a Wright movie, even if the elements that retain his distinctive style are subdued. I can appreciate that he’s trying to branch out from his core strengths, but sometimes it’s difficult to swap to drama from comedy and fully keep that success.
A subdued version of Edgar Wright’s style with a killer third act, I give Last Night in Soho 3.5 stars out of 5.
Earth Awakens
Year: 2014
Author: Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston
Length: 896 minutes / 14.93 hours
Having read most of Orson Scott Card’s Shadow series that follows the events of the rest of the cadets after the events of Ender’s Game, it’s clear to me he has a skill in describing geopolitics. This skill is also on display in the third book of the First Formic War series, Earth Awakens. Acting as bookends to the Ender Saga, these two series give a plausible look into the world before and after the alien invasion of Earth.
There’s a challenge with prequels, though. How much does the author leave unsaid between the end of the prequel and the start of the original lore? I can appreciate how Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston wrapped up many of the threads in this trilogy, but there were also too many things left unresolved that the reader must assume wrap up between the end of this book and the start of Ender’s Game. I was a little surprised this book was the end of the prequel series because there was so much that hadn’t been resolved and I would have liked another book to wrap those plot points up.
Still, there’s plenty of action, most of which revolves around what this rag-tag group of humans is going to do about the alien threat. It feels a little like Star Wars in sections, mostly because the politics of Earth continually impede saving its inhabitants. It’s frustrating to read, also because it reflects reality so closely. Billions of people have to rely on a secret mission run by an independent entity with several untrained individuals. It’s fun to root for this underdog faction, but it honestly shouldn’t have been up to them to save the world.
An adequate end to a prequel series that left a few too many open ends, I give Earth Awakens 3.5 stars out of 5.
The Power of the Dog
Year: 2021
Rating: R
Length: 126 minutes / 2.10 hours
Every once in a while, a movie comes along and gets a lot of award buzz. Often, these movies exhibit some traits of highly lauded films that came before them. Critics often think these latter films can “make up” for snubs of previous movies that they think should have won awards but did not. The Power of the Dog (2021) seems to fit this bill as the spiritual successor to Brokeback Mountain (2005) with its heavy tones of homosexuality in the lonely and harsh setting of the west.
The problem I have with The Power of the Dog is how the main character, Phil Burbank (Benedict Cumberbatch) is a prime example of toxic masculinity—to the point where it’s almost parody. Sure, the audience wants to see him get what’s coming to him, but we also have to sit through two hours of him being an incredibly manipulative and abusive person to those around him. There is no subtlety here. It also doesn’t help that this movie basically smashes the homosexual undertones of the old west into our faces, giving the audience the same winking nods to a male-dominated portion of our history that has been alluded to for decades.
It’s too bad that I really don’t like this movie because the acting in it is quite exemplary. Sure, Benedict Cumberbatch plays a convincing asshole, but it only works with the contrast to the characters played by Kirsten Dunst and Kodi Smit-McPhee. The setting was beautiful (despite not really looking like the area it was supposed to be) and the cinematography worked well to convey the story. I have to appreciate films like these for their artistry, even if I heavily sigh at their heavy-handed approach to their themes.
Overt toxic masculinity presented to an audience weary of it, I give The Power of the Dog 3.0 stars out of 5.
Shadow Point
Year: 2019
Rating: E
Time Played: ~7.5 hours
One of the most underappreciated kinds of virtual reality games are the ones that both tell a great story and have interesting gameplay mechanics. In Shadow Point, the story follows a lost girl who finds herself trapped in a parallel universe and enjoying the freedom this bizarre world gives her. Its gameplay centers on a form of “shadow puppets” that the player creates using light and a variety of found objects. There is enough content in both portions of this game to be entertaining right up to the end of the emotionally gripping climax.
With narration provided by Patrick Stewart, Shadow Point jumps along the young girl’s timeline with each subsequent world explored via the observatory “hub world.” As she grows up fending for herself, the initial excitement involved with exploring this new world gradually fades. Her voice actor expertly captures this change as the game progresses, eventually leading to one of the most emotional moments I’ve had playing a VR game. While the story strings the narrative of the gameplay along through the disparate worlds, it really strengthens the overall experience of solving puzzles by making shadow puppets.
In terms of the core gameplay mechanic, Shadow Point uses a variety of techniques to keep the puzzles fresh with each iterative world. Using mirrors, altered gravity, and awareness of the player’s surroundings, the shadow puzzles never felt so difficult that I couldn’t eventually figure them out. The optional “bonus” puzzles ramp up their difficulty as the game progresses, leading me to stop trying to find these bonus puzzles as the story was engaging enough that I didn’t want to stop and explore. The one qualm I have with this game is how often it crashed on me. I didn’t feel like I was trying to push the limits of the game, but there were far too many times when it couldn’t handle what I was doing and completely froze.
A great story with innovative gameplay mechanics, I give Shadow Point 4.0 stars out of 5.
Shutter Island
Year: 2010
Rating: R
Length: 138 minutes / 2.30 hours
Over time, it becomes difficult to avoid spoilers for twist endings in movies. While it took me over a decade to watch Martin Scorsese’s Shutter Island (2010), I had already heard about the twist a few times and had prepared myself for it. Of course, only the best films like Shutter Island can have this twist spoiled and still provide enough subterfuge to hide this revelation for most of its runtime. I knew it was coming, and it still blindsided me.
Of course, knowing the twist of Shutter Island made me watch it with a modicum of awareness as I tried to spot the cracks in the narrative that would hint at this revelation. Part of how this film expertly hides this twist is by following Edward “Teddy” Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) and showing the audience what he thinks is happening. It’s not until near the end of the film that we get a view of the reality of the situation from another character’s perspective, and by then the whole facade has come apart for Teddy. I had to keep guessing what was real and what wasn’t for much of the movie, which just shows how well executed it is.
Of course, also knowing the twist of the movie made me question a few of the early portions of the film, as they didn’t seem to make sense considering the whole narrative. The ending addressed most of the inconsistencies, but there were still a few moments that made me think, “Huh?” It’s clear Inception (2010) overshadowed Shutter Island, but it still deserves a watch for being another well-directed and acted psychological thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio that came out in 2010.
A psychological treat that hides its twist even if you know about it, I give Shutter Island 4.0 stars out of 5.
Earth Afire
Year: 2013
Author: Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston
Length: 924 minutes / 15.40 hours
It’s odd how the main ideas presented in the original Ender Saga have almost no depictions of combat or war in them at all. It is then appropriate that the second book in this prequel trilogy pulls out all the stops and shows what a horrific battle against ant-like aliens would be like in the not-to-distant future. After all, war is hell, and the atrocities committed by a species trying to terraform Earth to their specifications are quite gruesome.
Fortunately, Earth Afire does not focus too much on the gory details of war. There are still subplots being explored that bring realism to this doomsday scenario—like needing to go against orders and bureaucracy to save people. The reader finally gets to spend some significant time with Mazer Rackham, who is absolutely the most interesting character in this prequel trilogy. His story is where Earth Afire really shines. Sure, there are still some leftover characters from Earth Unaware who stick around to continue their plotlines, but the events happening on the ground are much more interesting than outer space sabotage.
While I feel Earth Afire has some strengths over its Earth Unaware, ultimately it’s the downbeat middle book in a trilogy that focuses on the destruction of Earth. There is still hope for humanity with a few last-ditch efforts, but it’s clear the Formics have the advantage on so many levels. Also, being a prequel book, Earth Afire suffers somewhat from the fact that we know what will happen to some of the main characters. They can’t be killed off because they must ultimately win the day and stall the Formics long enough for Earth to launch their own counterattack.
A visceral image of alien war on Earth, I give Earth Afire 4.0 stars out of 5.
Tick, Tick…Boom!
Year: 2021
Rating: PG-13
Length: 115 minutes / 1.92 hours
I have never seen Rent. I’m loosely aware of what it’s about, and I know it’s one of the most highly regarded musicals to have ever been created, but I’ve never seen it. In fact, I don’t think I could tell you the title of any song from Rent. Before I watched Tick, Tick…Boom! (2021), which seems to align with Rent‘s 25th anniversary, I was loosely aware that this movie was about the creation of this iconic musical. Except, that’s the thing: it’s not.
Perhaps I was expecting a musical-style Shakespeare in Love (1998) that puts Jonathan Larson (Andrew Garfield) through the story beats to create Rent. Instead, there are only hints of Rent in this movie that focuses on Larson’s desire to create something important before he’s 30 (as a 36-year-old, may I say…”ouch”). Sure, there are musical bits in this movie, but another thing I was unaware of with Rent is how the songs are mostly just talking. The actors don’t sing the songs, rather just rhythmically reciting them to the audience. I get that technique was revolutionary in the mid-90s, but it’s still a bit jarring when I was expecting a more traditional musical.
For a movie taking place in the early to mid-90s, I had to cringe at the cultural aesthetic. Since I grew up in this timeframe, this movie made me realize how ghastly the fashion and interior decoration really was. Tick, Tick…Boom! really nails the realism of this decade’s look, but it makes me wonder if Gen-X or Baby Boomers have similar movies that make them recoil from the stark reality of the design choices for their time. At any rate, this movie wasn’t what I had expected, but I enjoyed Andrew Garfield’s standout performance, and perhaps for people who really like Rent, they’ll get a kick out of it too.
A Rent musical prequel that’s not entirely about Rent, I give Tick, Tick…Boom! 3.0 stars out of 5.
Vader Immortal
Year: 2019
Rating: T
Time Played: ~3 hours
One perk of virtual reality is the ability to experience universes different from our own. The ability to interact with the Star Wars universe fulfills the dreams of many who want to feel what it’s like to shoot a blaster or wield a lightsaber. In Vader Immortal, you get to experience exploring Mustafar while also using the Force in a few key moments. While the story is relatively shallow—far too shallow to split into three parts—it’s disappointing that this experience suffers from somewhat janky VR controls.
For a Star Wars game, the setting and characters are definitely the selling points of this experience. VR’s immersive nature made me feel like I was really there, even if the environment didn’t always react to my Force powers as consistently as I would have liked. What is most telling about Vader Immortal is that the lightsaber dojo (which is unlocked with only one part of this three-part game) is the most re-playable portion of the game. You don’t even need to play through the story to fight through a gauntlet of training droids, flinging your arm around wildly as you wield a simulated lightsaber.
Most people who get a VR headset will probably purchase this game just on the Star Wars name alone. It serves a purpose as a tech demo and as an easy entry point for anyone new to virtual reality. I wish that such VR games wouldn’t artificially include “breakpoints” by splitting them up into three separate applications—forcing the user to stop playing after about 45 minutes to reduce eyestrain and physical fatigue. This was also a sneaky way to make a relatively cheap $10 purchase balloon into $30 to experience the full game that clearly isn’t worth $30.
A visually immersive Star Wars game that lacks a solid story and VR controls, I give Vader Immortal 3.0 stars out of 5.
The French Dispatch
Year: 2021
Rating: R
Length: 107 minutes / 1.78 hours
Wes Anderson’s films are immediately recognizable for their aesthetic, pacing, and ensemble casts. The dark subject matter of these movies is often glossed over through the application of bright colors, symmetry, and ho-hum characters. The French Dispatch (2021) is basically a “greatest hits” of Wes Anderson’s oeuvre, both in its stylistic visual choices and its vast cast of common collaborators. There’s not enough content for a full movie here, so instead, we get a glimpse into four shorter films tied together via the eponymous “French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun.”
Over the last few decades, Wes Anderson has explored a variety of different film techniques through his movies. From stop-motion (like in Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) and Isle of Dogs (2018)) to small-scale models (like in The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)), Anderson builds upon his distinctive style with each successive project in his filmography. Perhaps this is what is a little disappointing in The French Dispatch: there isn’t a significant upgrade to his style here, as he mainly rehashes stuff that’s worked in the past. That being said, there is an increase in the scale of these techniques (the “frozen” prison sequence comes to mind) that makes up for the lack of a new style.
While the dry Wes Anderson humor is present throughout The French Dispatch, the four segments definitely don’t have the same quality. If I were to rank them, I liked the Owen Wilson bit the best (which is unfortunate, given its short length), followed by the last segment with Jeffrey Wright (he gives Morgan Freeman a run for his money in terms of narration, and the music is extra-catchy here), then the second segment with Benicio del Toro, and finally the third segment with Timothée Chalamet. They’re all distinctively Wes Anderson pieces, just some are better than others.
A collective homage to Wes Anderson by Wes Anderson, I give The French Dispatch 3.5 stars out of 5.
Earth Unaware
Year: 2012
Author: Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston
Length: 839 minutes / 13.98 hours
Prequels sometimes get a bad rap because they often feel unnecessary. If the story was important enough to start at the very beginning, then that’s where the series should have started. Still, there is a comfort in prequels that comes from knowing what will happen. Little details that the reader knows will become important for the main part of the series act as subtle nods in the early stages of the series’ lore. Earth Unaware is the first book in the Ender’s Game prequel trilogy and flawlessly introduces the events that lead to the Earth’s drastic response.
Orson Scott Card co-wrote Earth Unaware over a decade after publishing the first books in the Ender Saga. In that time, science advanced to the point where a near-future scenario like the one presented in Earth Unaware could be plausible. All the reader ever knew about the first Formic War from the original series was that the Formics invaded our planet without warning. The beautiful twist in this book is how a few miners out in the Kuiper Belt knew this threat was coming but had unexpected challenges that prevented them from warning Earth.
Unfortunately, the most realistic parts of this book had to do with corporate greed and an ignorant public (much like the plot for Don’t Look Up (2021)). The action is certainly exciting and the stakes are quite high since Ender’s Game already lets us know what will eventually happen. The only thing I’m disappointed in with this book is how little Mazer Rackham was involved. It was like the authors only mentioned him in passing to introduce him, even if he’s arguably the most interesting character out of all the lore presented in Ender’s Game.
A plausible, action-packed start to the Ender’s Game prequel trilogy, I give Earth Unaware 4.0 stars out of 5.
Don’t Look Up
Year: 2021
Rating: R
Length: 138 minutes / 2.30 hours
I’ve only recently come to appreciate Adam McKay’s films. Granted, this is a statement about the movies he’s made after 2014—mainly, The Big Short (2015) and Vice (2018). His cynical and satirical take on complex topics like the 2008 mortgage crisis or former vice-president Dick Cheney positioned him for the “fictional” dark comedy of Don’t Look Up (2021). This pointed examination of an apocalypse scenario is strangely possible despite all the bizarre turns the plot ultimately takes. While I can understand how this movie is polarizing, I am in the camp who thought it was one of the best expressions of our current global situation.
As a Millennial, Don’t Look Up speaks to the frustration many of us have with the current political and societal system. We can’t change anything in United States politics because politicians surround themselves with nepotism and sniveling “yes men” who made significant donations to the politicians’ campaigns. Similarly, the politicians aren’t actually in power. Instead, they’re being controlled by the billionaires who are looking to exploit every aspect of human existence. To top everything off, they feed society a constant stream of “news” stories that amount to nothing more than gossip, covering up the important developments in favor of obsessing about celebrities’ personal lives.
While this heavy-handed allegory for climate change and/or COVID-19 has a few weak spots, it resounds with the sentiment of many who see this parody as a harsh reflection of our current world. It feels hopeless trying to inform people who do not want to be informed—which is why I think McKay took such a blunt approach here. The one glimmer of hope comes in the lesson that we should all spend our time focusing on those close to us. Ultimately, if we can’t change others, at least we can spend some time with our friends and family before the world ends.
A hilarious depiction of Millennial frustration, I give Don’t Look Up 4.5 stars out of 5.
The Stanley Parable
Year: 2011
Rating: NR
Time Played: ~2 hours
The Stanley Parable is one of those odd video games that defies definition. Is it a walking simulator? Is it a choose-your-own-adventure? Is it a meta examination of itself? In the end, it truly is a combination of all three, but it’s also so much more than that. While most video games have an objective you’re trying to accomplish, The Stanley Parable is content with giving you the illusion of free will, then smirking as everything unravels in hilarious fashion.
On my first playthrough of The Stanley Parable, I let the narrator guide me all the way to the end of the story. It was an uplifting ending that the narrator’s voice prescribed, seeing as he told me what to do the whole time. However, there were no end credits after reaching this ending. Teleported back to the start of my journey, I progressed through this liminal space again, except now I knew what would happen. As soon as I deviated from the narrator’s path, the comedy began. If I went ahead of the narrator’s script, he’d let me know about it. The snarky quips that attempted to drive me back to the main narrative amused me for another few playthroughs.
Then things went wrong. I laughed as the narrator forcefully tried to fix the scenario I had broken so many times before. In these later runs of the game, I did finally find the end credits—integrated into the game itself. I’m fairly certain I haven’t seen all the iterations the game offers, but it thoroughly entertained me for the few hours I played it. While your experience with this game may vary, it’s still worth sitting down and playing for an evening. At the very least, you’ll get a good chuckle from its meta choose-your-own-adventure gameplay.
A hilariously meta walking simulator, I give The Stanley Parable 5.0 stars out of 5.
The King’s Man
Year: 2021
Rating: R
Length: 131 minutes / 2.18 hours
One benefit of the rise of superhero movies over the years is the adaptation of other comic books to the big screen. Some are serious examinations of society, like V for Vendetta (2005), but others often keep the silly action-packed novelty of their comic origins, like The Losers (2010). Considering Matthew Vaughn’s previous works like Kick-Ass (2010), the Kingsman franchise easily falls into the second category of comic book adaptations. The latest in this series, The King’s Man (2021) has some fun with history while still keeping the flashy action sequences that made its predecessors successful.
I love a good alternate history. They might be campy, but films like Inglorious Basterds (2009), Watchmen (2009), or Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012) are more fun to watch because they take a basic knowledge of common historical figures and events and spins them into an entertaining alternate explanation of what really happened. In The King’s Man, we not only see a different version of World War I, but also a few key historical figures like King George, Kaiser Wilhelm, Tsar Nicholas (all portrayed by Tom Hollander), and Grigori Rasputin (Rhys Ifans). Considering how Rasputin is one of my favorite historical figures, I found his story arc to be quite satisfying in this film.
Of course, while I appreciate Vaughn’s ability to direct great action sequences, most of his films have a bit that’s more uncomfortable than the rest of the movie. The King’s Man does not differ from the two movies that came before it, both of which contained some sexual scenes that were questionable at best. Still, if you can forgive these momentary lapses, as well as a fairly obvious twist that reveals itself a smidge too early, The King’s Man is an excellent prequel that establishes the Kingsman universe.
An action-packed alternate history that retains some of the camp of its comic book origins, I give The King’s Man 4.0 stars out of 5.
Neverwhere
Year: 1996
Author: Neil Gaiman
Length: 828 minutes / 13.80 hours
Neil Gaiman has written a lot of different books. His writing has been hit-or-miss for me, but nothing that’s truly middle-of-the-road average. That was until I listened to Neverwhere. I appreciate how Gaiman narrates most of the audiobooks of his works that I’ve listened to so far, and Neverwhere was in line with the narration quality I expect from him. However, the content felt so mediocre that I honestly wouldn’t have been surprised if it came from any other different British authors like Terry Pratchett or Douglas Adams (both of which are talented writers, mind you).
There’s a distinct flavor of British comedy that comes through in the absurdist naming of characters and places in Neverwhere. Perhaps it’s why I felt this book was so generic. It’s your classic “Institutionalized” story where a man has (what seems to him) a stable life, only to have this life upended by a fantastical parallel world introduced by a character he eventually ends up falling in love with. While his interaction with this “London Below” made the main character invisible to his old life, he takes far too long to realize that the status quo he seeks is no longer desirable to him.
Maybe it’s that I don’t connect with these kinds of stories. They just seem so “meh” with bland characters trying to go back to their bland lives that it’s always so obvious to the reader their life would be so much better in this new reality. Of course, I probably wouldn’t pursue this fantastical new reality given the choice in my own life, but that’s beside the point. Neverwhere contains all the trappings of this type of story, which is certainly entertaining for a bit but gets annoying the longer the main character refuses to change into their new selves.
An average institutionalized story with average British humor, I give Neverwhere 3.5 stars out of 5.
Encanto
Year: 2021
Rating: PG
Length: 102 minutes / 1.70 hours
As Disney hits all the cultural checkboxes across the globe, Encanto (2021) follows in the footsteps of Moana (2016) and Coco (2017) to expose audiences to the culture of Columbia. With catchy songs by Lin Manuel-Miranda, Encanto is full of fun and color in a way that doesn’t seem disrespectful to the culture it’s representing. And while I know little about Columbian culture, I know enough about Latin America to realize that the foundational lesson in Encanto is important for everyone, regardless of their culture of origin.
On its surface, Encanto is about a family with magic powers that live in a magic house. Everyone in the family except Mirabel (Stephanie Beatriz). Normally, the story about Mirabel trying to figure out why she didn’t receive magic powers would be enough for this kind of movie. Encanto, however, digs deeper and addresses the significant pressure that can come from an individual’s family to live up to the family’s expectations. Other films are more overt with this lesson, but Encanto pairs it with magic to hide the deeper moral of the story: your family should not define who you are.
It’s easy to gloss over Bruno’s (John Leguizamo) exile from the family for his “unattractive” magical power or Luisa’s (Jessica Darrow) struggles with trying to “do it all” when there are catchy ear-worm songs playing over their very real plights. I know in a movie aimed at children, it’s difficult to be more direct with these harsher truths of human existence. If anything, this movie should help any Gifted Kid™ realize that they should pursue what makes them happy, and not what their parents or grandparents want them to pursue. Living vicariously through children and grandchildren does not set up future generations for success.
A deeper lesson hidden in bright colors and songs, I give Encanto 4.0 stars out of 5.
Superliminal
Year: 2019
Rating: E
Time Played: ~2 hours
I can appreciate it when a game tries to do something different. In Superliminal, the main gameplay mechanic revolves around the idea of forced perspective. Something small can appear large if you hold it up to your eyes, and vice versa. Superliminal fully explores this concept in the psychologically unending liminal spaces of an individual trapped in a dream. Unfortunately, it attempts to be witty about this setting in a way that (as with many indie first-person puzzle games) tries too hard to be Portal 2.
What Superliminal does well is its puzzles. Not only is it satisfying to shrink and grow items using forced perspective, but having to align items in just the right way to match with the background uses the right amount of brainpower to be engaging. Most of the puzzles are fairly straightforward and I only struggled with a few of them that suffered from dim lighting (for ambiance/tone’s sake). Each puzzle naturally led to the next one in the game, which kept me playing for so long that I basically completed the entire game in a single sitting. Truly, the gameplay in Superliminal is captivating.
Of course, as with most indie first-person puzzle games, the puzzles can’t stand by themselves. The puzzles need the plot to compel the player to do what they were going to do anyway: finish the puzzles. I appreciate how the eerie liminal setting gave me shivers in a few spots, usually when the lighting was not the best. However, the narrator that occasionally spoke up through the radios scattered throughout the levels felt a little forced. I would have liked if there was a more natural way to convey this information through the puzzles (like through the “déjà vu” section) instead of having the narrator give exposition dumps.
A clever visual gameplay concept that exposition dumps a little too much of its plot, I give Superliminal 4.0 stars out of 5.
Spider-Man: No Way Home
Year: 2021
Rating: PG-13
Length: 148 minutes / 2.47 hours
First off, if you haven’t seen this movie yet, I want to warn you that there are spoilers in this review. There’s no way I can talk about this movie freely without divulging key plot points. With this out of the way, I want to recognize that nostalgia played a big part in the hype for this third entry in the Tom Holland Spider-Man series. No Way Home is the kind of film that I figured could never be made due to all the different rights needed (much like Ready Player One (2018) and all its nerdy references). That Marvel and Sony pulled this off is testament to their ability to make the impossible happen.
I was glad that this latest reboot of the Spider-Man franchise forewent the “origin story” in Homecoming (2017). Little did I know, they’d pull the same trick that Skyfall (2012) did with the James Bond franchise by putting the origin story in the third film. However, No Way Home had a lot of baggage to carry from the previous Spider-Man movies that either fizzled out or failed to be made. Bringing back villains from these previous entries was a genius move, even if it didn’t fully complete the “Sinister Six” grouping that fans would have liked.
With Marvel’s introduction of the multiverse into their cinematic canon, they primed No Way Home to bring all three Spider-Men together to find the redemption they failed to obtain in their respective series. Unfortunately, the one reason I have to take a star away from my review of this movie is that they spend far too much time merely wallowing in nostalgic references. Like, I get it, these Spider-Men want to show how their experiences match, but when they’re literally spending minutes on screen just quipping back-and-forth moments from the previous movies, it got me rolling my eyes and waiting for it to end. Ultimately, though, this was a strong demarcation for the Tom Holland era of the franchise, and a great action-filled movie as well.
An excellent and well-thought-out cash-in on 20 years of Spider-Man nostalgia, I give Spider-Man: No Way Home 4.0 stars out of 5.
Shadow of the Giant
Year: 2005
Author: Orson Scott Card
Length: 746 minutes / 12.43 hours
I’m glad Ender Wiggin’s crewmates had this side series to explore their identities. While most of these characters were in the background of the Shadow series until now, Shadow of the Giant finally gives them time to shine on their own. After all, after three books focusing on Bean, it’s nice to see the geopolitical drama unfold between these young tactical geniuses. I can definitely appreciate the storytelling that fills in the gaps between Ender’s Game and Speaker for the Dead.
With Achilles being killed off in the previous book, Shadow Puppets, the principal antagonist of the series left a vacuum on the world stage that was inevitably going to be filled by Ender’s Jeesh. And while these individuals had aged to the point of young adulthood, I can’t deny the clever game they played with entire nations so they could position themselves in stations of power. It’s entertaining to read about these military and political maneuvers in a fictional context, mostly because things would probably play out similarly in the real world if the situations presented themselves.
Still, Shadow of the Giant needs to include a side-plot with Bean. There’s not much to say here other than it was an adequate stringing along that left room to conclude the series in the next two books. That being said, everything else about this series was so well wrapped up by the end of this volume that I’m sure Shadows in Flight won’t have the same feel as the previous entries in this series without including Ender’s Jeesh and Peter Wiggin’s rule as Hegemon. If you want to stop reading the series here, I wouldn’t blame you.
A great wrap-up of global affairs with room to continue Bean’s story, I give Shadow of the Giant 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Summit of the Gods
Year: 2021
Rating: PG
Length: 95 minutes / 1.58 hours
As the tallest mountain in the world, there are more movies about Everest than any other mountain in existence. A good chunk of these movies are documentaries, and even the “Hollywood” movies are about actual events (like Everest (2015)). From my own experiences climbing mountains, there comes a point where movies about mountain climbers end up all looking the same…especially when the mountain they’re climbing is the same. Fortunately, The Summit of the Gods (2021) takes a novel approach to this repetitive type of story: by using animation.
Based on the manga of the same name, The Summit of the Gods has a story to tell that’s much more interesting than the adrenaline junkies who feature in other mountain climbing movies like Meru (2015). Sure, there’s still the link to actual people and events, but The Summit of the Gods uses animation to its advantage to tell a story that can be difficult to tell in live-action form (and yes, I realize there was a 2016 live-action adaptation of the manga). There are certain aspects of extreme mountaineering that this version of The Summit of the Gods conveys better than any other mountaineering movie I’ve seen.
In the end, this film shares the same focus on the main character’s obsession that other mountaineering movies use as their premise. However, the fact the obsession isn’t about climbing the tallest mountain in the world makes it much more human and less about bragging rights. Seeking truth and being obsessed with uncovering what really happened on this deadly mountain almost a century ago. There’s also humility in the realization of these climbers that have bonded with the mountain and how they have dealt with the deadly realities of this pursuit of the highest altitude.
An amazing animated story of Everest that has more heart than most mountaineering films, I give The Summit of the Gods 4.5 stars out of 5.
Manifold Garden
Year: 2019
Rating: E
Time Played: 5+ hours
I first saw the trailer for Manifold Garden on a Nintendo Switch indie showcase. The visual style and gameplay mechanic were interesting enough for me to download this indie first-person puzzle game. I had seen nothing like it before and its infinitely repeating, fractal-like world appealed to the mathematician in me. Still, there’s only so much you can do with a concept like this, so it’s a good thing Manifold Garden didn’t overstay its welcome.
It’s difficult to avoid comparisons to other first-person physics puzzle games. You might have a hit like Portal 2 or a pastiche of Portal 2 like Q.U.B.E. 2. Manifold Garden, fortunately, doesn’t lean too heavily on Portal 2‘s mechanics. Instead, it uses the “rotate” feature to modify gravity, thus manipulating the elements needed to solve each puzzle. Plus, the cel-shaded and monochromatic color-coded visual style (similar to Gris) easily helps the player to know how the environment is currently oriented. I also appreciated how shortcuts opened up as I solved each puzzle, thus making traveling around this world simpler as the game progressed.
While this game lived up to my expectations, there were a few points where I found the next step in the puzzle to be far from obvious. Normally, this wouldn’t bother me so much. However, with infinitely looping levels, I spent way more time fumbling around, trying to figure out what to do next. Not only did I have to try everything at my disposal in one gravity setting, but I had to do this for five other gravity settings as well. When I finally broke down and looked up a walkthrough, I felt stupid for how obvious the solution was in hindsight. I wish this only happened once in this game, but it happened at least two more times before I reached the end credits.
A visually interesting take on the first-person gravity puzzler, I give Manifold Garden 4.0 stars out of 5.
Dune: Part One
Year: 2021
Rating: PG-13
Length: 155 minutes / 2.58 hours
Adaptations of beloved books can be a challenging endeavor. It’s not impossible, as we’ve seen with The Lord of the Rings (2001-2003), Harry Potter (2001-2011), or The Hunger Games (2011-2015) but there are certain traps that can doom a film version of a story to be hated by the community that loves the book. While Dune (1984) attempted to give this story life on the big screen, the special effects at the time and your opinion of David Lynch’s filmmaking may have tainted an otherwise “impossible” adaptation. When a new adaptation of Dune came along with Denis Villeneuve as its director, I had hope that he would honor the source material.
Villeneuve has proven himself to be a fantastic sci-fi director. From Arrival (2016) to Blade Runner: 2049 (2017), he has shown that he understands stories as much as aesthetics. The best way to honor Frank Herbert’s legacy in this adaptation of his seminal work was to split Dune (2021) into two parts. This gave 2021’s “Part One” enough room to establish the feel of Arrakis and the struggle of the main character of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) without needing to cram the entire story into a single film.
The fatal flaw of the two-part movie is that it ends with no fulfilling conclusion. Sure, there’s a natural breakpoint here, but then it feels like “Part One” is only a precursor and setup to a much more exciting “Part Two.” And that’s saying something because this movie has plenty of excitement. The special effects and storytelling are also superb enough for this movie to deserve its Best Picture nod (even if they snubbed Villeneuve for Best Director). Ultimately, Dune: Part One shows how to adapt a beloved sci-fi book correctly, even if it would have been better to create a four-hour long film with an intermission instead.
A superb effort by Denis Villeneuve to adapt the beloved Frank Herbert novel, I give Dune: Part One 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: Big Squirrels Don’t Cry
Year: 2020
Author: Ryan North
Length: 288 pages
In this second collection of Squirrel Girl comics, you’ll once again find Doreen Green trying to balance her life as Squirrel Girl and as a computer science student at Empire State University. This can be quite the balancing act, especially when you have a huge fluffy tail that you have to hide when you’re in your civilian persona. While other superheroes have origin stories that explain their tremendous powers, Squirrel Girl is…Squirrel Girl.
Doreen’s “unbeatable” title continues to be tested as she uses both her skills as a squirrel person who can communicate with and control squirrels and as a computer science major to defeat villains who terrorize New York City. The fact that she’s a superhero who can talk to and control squirrels is just amusing enough that fans of the first collection will likely enjoy this one. However, I wasn’t prepared to read a Howard the Duck crossover in this collection, so know that it’s not necessarily a volume completely dedicated to Squirrel Girl.
Once again, I enjoyed Ryan North’s writing (there’s a lot since Dorreen rarely resorts to violence to solve her problems). I haven’t read many comic books, so I’m still getting used to the art styles, especially since they are distinctly different between the Unbeatable Squirrel Girl issues and the Howard the Duck issues. And while this volume was entertaining, there is a certain limitation that comes with a superhero whose only abilities revolve around squirrels. Doreen can use only so many iterations of these powers before they become repetitive.
More Squirrel Girl action with a Howard the Duck crossover, I give The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: Big Squirrels Don’t Cry 3.5 stars out of 5.
Finch
Year: 2021
Rating: PG-13
Length: 115 minutes / 1.92 hours
As time goes on, one starts to wonder if all the best post-apocalyptic stories have already been told. With the current state of the world looking more depressing with each passing year, many visions of dystopia from years past are coming true, while stories of our near future are looking a lot more post-apocalyptic. Finch (2021) fits into this latter category but only has a few newer twists to this common problem: how do humans survive on a planet that is no longer hospitable toward life?
Visually, I was most impressed by “Jeff” (Caleb Landry Jones), the humanoid robot Finch (Tom Hanks) builds to ensure his dog Goodyear has a caretaker. Of course, movies like Chappie (2015) have shown that CG artists figured out how to do this well over five years ago. Regardless, it’s still a visual feat and treat to see realistic-looking CG robots in movies like this. I can also appreciate that Finch shows the creation of a self-sufficient Artificial Intelligence. Many sci-fi films gloss over this portion of AI development, but Finch emphasizes that it’s not as easy as just uploading all of human knowledge into a machine and pressing the “on” button.
While the ending seems a little obvious from the outset—which somewhat lessens its emotional impact—it seems unnecessary, given how long humans and animals can live on such a desolate version of Earth. Furthermore, the whole “Earth is a desolate wasteland” sci-fi trope seems so tired and overdone at this point. I’d much rather see characters overcoming the impossible odds of being stranded on alien planets, like in The Martian (2015). Sure, this movie has Tom Hanks in it, but if it’s the same dystopian survival narrative that’s been given to us dozens of times by now, does it really matter?
Tom Hanks in the same old Earth environmental dystopia, I give Finch 3.5 stars out of 5.
Tetris Effect
Year: 2018
Rating: E
Time Played: ~10 hours
While most virtual reality games attempt to immerse the player in an interactive environment, Tetris Effect is best played sitting completely still. Tetris is Tetris, but Tetris Effect takes this classic formula and adds just enough new mechanics to it for the entire game to feel fresh and engaging. I’ve played this game both on my PC and on my Oculus Quest, and I have to say that I prefer the Quest version because of how immersive it is. There are no distractions. It’s just you and Tetris.
Since I recently trained myself on Tetris 99, I still found some levels in Tetris Effect‘s story mode to be quite difficult. Of course, as a single-player game, Tetris Effect had little to offer past this story mode. That was until they added the “Connected” mode that introduced online multiplayer. The 3-versus-1 mode is some of the most innovative Tetris I’ve ever played. With the multiplayer aspect added to Tetris Effect, it truly is the best version of this game. My only caveat is that it can take an uncomfortably long time to get enough players in multiplayer, which usually results in me stopping playing the game altogether.
Playing Tetris Effect in VR is an experience unto itself. Each time you move a piece, the music adapts to how you play the game. Additionally, the evolving backgrounds help to emphasize your progress in each level. There are moments when I’m playing this game when it feels calming, like a meditation, but then it can quickly shift into a frenzied attempt to clear as many lines as possible during the “zone” mechanic. Even if you’ve played Tetris before, you haven’t truly experienced it until you’ve played it like this.
The most immersive version of Tetris ever created, I give Tetris Effect 4.0 stars out of 5.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Year: 2021
Rating: PG-13
Length: 132 minutes / 2.20 hours
With the end of the Infinity Saga in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there is a lot of room for new franchises to fill in the gaps left by the likes of Iron Man and Captain America. However, this means lesser-known properties like Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) get their chance to shine. And while lesser-known franchises like Guardians of the Galaxy are now household names, I think it remains to be seen if Shang-Chi can truly develop its own integrated identity within the MCU.
Having somewhat botched the introduction of the Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) in Iron Man 3 (2013), Shang-Chi attempts to ret-con this by insisting that the Ten Rings organization is a genuine threat to world peace. However, Marvel wants to have its cake and eat it too by including the “Mandarin” in this film. There are a few other loose connections to the larger MCU in this film, but they are more cameo call-outs than anything significant. Overall, Shang-Chi is its own story.
The fact that a good portion of this film’s climax takes place in a mythical hidden kingdom made it feel disconnected from the MCU as a whole. Sure, other franchises within the MCU have their origin stories. Still, I felt they made it clear how they contributed to the “whole” of the larger arc by either introducing characters or concepts in prior MCU movies. Shang-Chi excels in its action and choreography but feels generic in the grand scheme of things as a standalone film. I’d almost wager that its sequel will be much more interesting and that those not already committed to the MCU can probably give this one a pass.
A standalone ret-con of previous MCU mistakes, I give Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings 3.0 stars out of 5.
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: Powers of a Squirrel
Year: 2019
Author: Ryan North
Length: 184 pages
I was first made aware of this somewhat obscure Marvel superhero because I am a regular reader of Ryan North’s Dinosaur Comics webcomic series. While I sat on the knowledge of Squirrel Girl’s existence for some time, I finally broke down and bought the two-volume collection of North’s imagining of the hero. In this first volume, Powers of a Squirrel, we get to know Doreen Green (aka Squirrel Girl), a computer scientist student studying at Empire State University.
As a much more comedic superhero compared to the likes of Iron Man or Captain America, Squirrel Girl’s claim to fame is the fact that she is “Unbeatable.” This includes defeating some of Marvel’s most fearsome and powerful villains in unique ways that don’t involve violence. Sure, sometimes Squirrel Girl has to get her paws dirty, but the more amusing storylines are the ones where she saves the day using unconventional squirrel-based techniques. That being said, it’s a funny gimmick the first few times, then it gets repetitive near the end of this volume.
The art for this comic was decent, but the writing was certainly worth the price of admission. Even the little author notes at the bottom of the page were fun to read, despite being in a minuscule font that my 35-year-old eyes had trouble reading. There’s a lot of suspension of disbelief in this collection of the first eight issues of Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, but honestly, what superhero comic book doesn’t have some amount of this? And while Squirrel Girl is a bit more quirky than other superheroes, I do hope that she’ll get her own MCU movie in the future.
A quirky and fun Marvel super hero, I give The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: Powers of a Squirrel 4.0 stars out of 5.
Mulan
Year: 2020
Rating: PG-13
Length: 115 minutes / 1.92 hours
In Disney’s ever-ouroboros-like handling of its back catalog, the continuation of live-action adaptations of its animated classics claims another victim. This time, Mulan (2020) seems to miss the point of what made the original so beloved. Of course, you can probably say that about other live-action adaptations as well (especially The Lion King (2019)). If anything, Mulan is a parody of its source material and Chinese culture overall. Everything about this adaptation felt flat and uninspired—like Disney is just running all their previous animated classics through the live-action machine to see if anything good comes out the other side.
Don’t get me wrong; I think Disney has had a few live-action successes. I think The Jungle Book (2016) improves on its source material. It’s just when you adjust the way you tell a certain story too much, it no longer contains the elements that made the original fun and exciting. By making Mulan (Yifei Liu) this incredibly acrobatic and talented fighter from the start, it removes the challenge a young woman would face when not only hiding her gender but also training to be as good as (or better than) her male counterparts.
Sure, removing some of the more cartoonish elements like the songs and Mushu makes sense in this “edgy action-adventure.” Still, when the only thing this new version has going for it is a few fancy camera movements and lots of choreographed fight sequences right out of the B-roll of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), it loses its individuality and its vision for the story the original was trying to tell. It also didn’t help that none of the characters aside from the sole female leads—Mulan and Xianniang (Gong Li)—had any character development or traits that would make them stand out or be important to the story at all.
A faded live-action pastiche of a beloved Disney classic, I give Mulan 2.5 stars out of 5.
Tetris 99
Year: 2019
Rating: E
Time Played: 125+ hours
The “Battle Royale” genre of video games took the world by storm a few years ago. While most of these games were shooters like Fortnite, one odd entry resonated with me. Tetris 99 takes the versus mode of this classic video game and pits you against 98 other players to see who has the skills to be the best for that round. I never played much “competitive” Tetris before I picked up this game, so there was a bit of a learning curve. Still, I eventually trained my playstyle to survive long enough to achieve the title of “Tetris Maximus.”
With over 125 hours clocked in this game, I found it easy to pick up and play. After I rose to the top of the 99 players, I could play in the “Invictus” mode, only for players who had become Tetris Maximus at least once. I usually play in Invictus mode for the challenge, but I’ll often do regular rounds of Tetris 99 to earn a new skin. The other DLC modes like CPU Battle and Marathon have some merit for their slightly different takes on the formula, but honestly, the free Tetris 99, Invictus, and Team Battle modes are all most players will ever need.
That Tetris 99 is so addicting is interesting, considering how simple this puzzler is. I enjoy the competitive aspect, and there is something about reaching the top tiers of a round and feeling either the euphoria of being the best or the motivation to immediately try again. Still, after about 100 hours of this game, it feels more like a chore. I’m trying to fill out more achievements, but I know some are likely always out of my grasp. However, for a free game that comes with the Nintendo Switch Online service, it’s worth playing at least long enough to claim that #1 spot.
An addicting battle royale puzzler, I give Tetris 99 3.5 stars out of 5.
Venom: Let There Be Carnage
Year: 2021
Rating: PG-13
Length: 97 minutes / 1.61 hours
A lot of critics of the superhero genre say these movies contain no substance. They claim that there’s nothing in them other than quippy one-liners and hard-to-follow action. Most days, I might defend the superhero genre for its flashy set pieces or subtle character development. After seeing Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021), I cannot hold the same defense against the critics here. It is unfortunate that such a good villain from the Spider-man franchise would be in such an awful movie.
The first Venom (2018) movie was tolerable, if for the only reason that Spider-man 3 (2007) botched the casting of Eddie Brock so badly. Tom Hardy certainly has a better physique for the role, and the original Venom film had some fairly decent “buddy dialogue” between Brock and Venom that made it entertaining. Flash forward to the sequel, and these two characters need couples’ therapy like nothing else. The fact one of the in-movie characters mentions this proves how egregious their bickering is. It also didn’t help that the entire plot of the movie was avoidable because Brock didn’t need to be physically present (or at least not directly next to) Cletus (Woody Harrelson) to interview him.
Seeing as this movie is the first big-budget film directed by Andy Serkis, it shows how new he is to this role in moviemaking. At a scant 97 minutes, the movie felt rushed, like there wasn’t time to explain anything or develop any of the characters just so the audience could get to the “a-ha!” end-credit scene that ties everything together (which itself didn’t really pan out that much or in a way that felt satisfying). Additionally, anyone who has seen the first Venom or even Spider-man 3 could see how this movie was going to end before they even displayed the title of the film.
A predictable, rushed, and irritating superhero movie, I give Venom: Let There Be Carnage 2.0 stars out of 5.
The Core
Year: 2017
Author: Peter V. Brett
Length: 1,778 minutes / 29.63 hours
While it took me a while to finally get around to the last book in the Demon Cycle series, I’m glad I put the time in to complete it. The initial concept laid out in The Warded Man was so interesting that I had to see it play out to the end. The Core wraps up this series with an ending that was mostly inevitable while also managing to add more subplots that merely padded out an already large conclusion to this series.
Overall, my main qualm with the Demon Cycle series is that it is a prime example of “Men Writing Women.” This trope is evident in many places across this series but seems most egregious in The Core with its depiction of childbirth (especially the one at the beginning). I understand that many fantasy worlds are based on medieval Europe, but that doesn’t mean the writer has to be so heavy-handed with sexism and misogyny. The fact that Leesha’s character was written as a counterpoint to this doesn’t hold up very well when she also eventually falls into these tropes.
Ultimately, The Core delivers on the “grand battle” between humans and demons that could only come about after the humans stopped killing themselves long enough to create an alliance against the demons. Even with a well-written climactic battle, it felt so delayed and crammed near the end of the book that it was almost a disappointment. However, the strength of the worldbuilding carried this book along, as it did in the previous books in this series. If you can ignore some of its rough edges, I recommend the Demon Cycle for anyone looking for dark adult fantasy.
An action-packed ending to a series with some “Men Writing Women” issues, I give The Core 4.0 stars out of 5.
Old
Year: 2021
Rating: PG-13
Length: 108 minutes / 1.80 hours
Say what you will about M. Night Shyamalan’s films, but I think he’s truly returned to form since 2016’s Split. And while Glass (2019)—the conclusion of the Unbreakable trilogy—was a little unsatisfactory, his latest film, Old (2021), is another win in my book. I appreciate when filmmakers fully explore an idea in their movies, and Old is precisely that. Shyamalan imagines all the different permutations of the concept of rapid aging and fits them into a scenario and his trademark plot twist that works incredibly well.
Part of the fun of Old is how the characters slowly discover that they are trapped on a beach where time moves much more rapidly than they are used to. The problem-solving and conflicts that arise from this unsuspecting group of victims are fun to watch as they realize that their lifespans are a ticking clock that limits how long they can stay there. I appreciate that most of the cast in this movie aren’t incredibly famous (with perhaps the exception of Rufus Sewell), so it didn’t distract me with a bunch of A-list celebrities when the concept of rapid aging is the star of the show.
Yes, I will grant that there is an amount of suspension of disbelief in this movie. I will also admit that many sub-plots were crammed into this concept. These sub-plots are only explored for a moment before moving on to other things. Still, I feel the twist ending truly enhanced this concept of rapid aging, and it helps to explain so much of this film’s coincidences. Others might find endless amounts of things wrong with this movie, and I’ll agree that it’s not perfect. However, it’s a fun thriller that I truly enjoyed watching.
A full and entertaining exploration of the concept of rapid aging, I give Old 4.5 stars out of 5.
SUPERHOT
Year: 2016
Rating: T
Time Played: 4+ hours
When I started playing PC games a year ago, I recalled being intrigued by a game where time only moves when you do. The game? SUPERHOT. Don’t let the low-polygon count and high-contrast graphics distract you from how fun this game is to play. The core gameplay mechanic is so excellent that this aesthetic works to its advantage. After all, there’s something satisfying about watching your enemies shatter into thousands of pieces in slow motion.
While the function of this first-person shooter is like SUPERHOT VR, they are two different games. I found the VR version easier to pick up and play, mostly because I haven’t played many first-person shooters on the PC. I eventually trained myself to adapt to the tighter keyboard and mouse controls to make it to the end credits. Additionally, I have played through SUPERHOT on the Nintendo Switch, which is somewhere in-between the ease of the VR version and the two-handed approach of the PC version. In either version of the game, the fact that you have some time to think about your moves and attacks helps get you used to the controls.
This version of SUPERHOT had a better plot, even if it was merely a vehicle for you to play through a set of first-person shooter puzzles. I enjoyed seeing each level’s “real-time” footage after I beat it in slow-motion since it made me look like I knew what I was doing in a pseudo-John Wick action sequence. While I think everyone should play a version of SUPERHOT, I still wish any of these versions were longer in playtime. After all, this game is more about surviving in this time-warped world than taking out as many enemies as possible, even if it takes multiple attempts to do so.
A time-warp first-person shooter that’s worth playing at least once, I give SUPERHOT 4.0 stars out of 5.
Evangelion: 3.0+1.01 Thrice Upon a Time
Year: 2021
Rating: R
Length: 154 minutes / 2.57 hours
One of the classic series of anime, Neon Genesis Evangelion, is both exceptional spectacle and moments of “WTF?” It balances the line between post-apocalyptic survival and psychological horror. While it’s always exciting to see large “robots” fighting alien creatures, a lot of Evangelion‘s appeal comes from the struggles of its characters. Sure, there’s plenty of fan service (which is a staple of the series), but there is also an equal amount of philosophy that makes you question what it means to be human.
Evangelion: 3.0+1.01 Thrice Upon a Time (2021) is the last movie in the Rebuild of Evangelion series. This series has attempted to bring the flashy 1990s action anime into stunning HD while also attempting to fix some of the original’s more confusing aspects. It’s difficult to pin down Evangelion’s “true” version. Still, I think the Rebuild series does a fine job of maintaining some of the original’s strengths while also pivoting into a much better conclusion. Thrice Upon a Time has its slow moments early on to provide character development while going all out in the ending.
Perhaps what makes Thrice Upon a Time work better than the original ending is how it has a clear antagonist. Sure, the “angels” of the original worked to move the plot along, but when the rest of the plot centers on Shinji’s mental collapse into madness, it’s difficult to connect to the story as a viewer. Some might claim that this film has a bit of a cop-out in its ending, but at least it came to an understandable conclusion. Unfortunately, this film is only streamable on Amazon Prime, but if you want to experience the best version of Evangelion, I recommend you give it a try.
Perhaps the best ending to an imagining of Evangelion, I give Evangelion: 3.0+1.01 Thrice Upon a Time 4.0 stars out of 5.
Stars Above
Year: 2016
Author: Marissa Meyer
Length: 581 minutes / 9.63 hours
Something I feel is underappreciated in book series is when authors don’t try to cram in as much material and side stories as possible to pad each of the books to be longer than they should be. Keeping the core books of a series concise helps drive the main plot forward without requiring larger and larger volumes to tie up all the loose ends introduced along the way. The Lunar Chronicles excels in this. Look no further than the “prequel,” Fairest, and the collection of short stories and epilogue that is Stars Above for proof of this restraint.
I can appreciate that worldbuilding will often create so much content that it doesn’t always make sense to include it in the actual storytelling. Still, some origin stories might seem interesting, only to find out that most of these moments of exposition happened along the way as the character’s motives are revealed to the reader. Ergo, some stories don’t need to be told. Stars Above has some stories like this, but it also contains a few worth reading, the best of which is the pseudo-epilogue to the Lunar Chronicles.
With so many different fairy tales to pull from into the Lunar Chronicles, I’m glad that Marissa Meyer had some restraint in recognizing when some of them wouldn’t work with the main narrative of Cinder’s rise to claim her rightful throne. The “Little Mermaid” story in this collection works on its own, but I would find myself hard-pressed to see how it would add anything to the overarching plot of the Lunar Chronicles without reworking the whole thing. Even so, it’s a good story that any fan of this series will likely enjoy.
Some necessary (and not so necessary) short stories that round out the Lunar Chronicles, I give Stars Above 3.5 stars out of 5.
Die Hard with a Vengeance
Year: 1995
Rating: R
Length: 128 minutes / 2.13 hours
It’s interesting to go back and see certain points in a movie franchise where you could tell that they were already running out of ideas. I still think Die Hard (1988) is a fantastic action movie, and it’s almost its own genre of action films. Movies falling into the “Die Hard on a/in a [BLANK]” category have since cemented its cultural significance. As of right now, the only Die Hard I haven’t seen is Die Hard 2 (1990), but Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995) marks where the franchise departs from its roots.
I will say that the casting for this movie was quite delightful, with excellent performances by Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, and Jeremy Irons. I can also appreciate how this film tried to tie back to the original by using the original director and the fantastic work of Irons’ antagonist. Action-wise, it’s what you’d expect from a movie in the Die Hard franchise. A few adequate set pieces and an OK plot round out the positives for this movie. Of course, the franchise started leaning in on the ridiculous nature of these scenarios in this movie, and it shows.
Some may say this movie was where Die Hard jumped the shark. Others likely point to its PG-13 sequel that came out a decade later—Live Free or Die Hard (2007). I’d point out that the first two Die Hard movies (or what I know of the second one) have very singular locations. Either John McClane is trapped in an office building or on a plane, not running around New York or Washington D.C. trying to single-handedly save the day (with the help of a one-time sidekick, of course). Ultimately, Die Hard with a Vengeance marks a shift to larger settings to match its increased budget but at the cost of forgetting its roots.
A well-acted Die Hard movie that adjusts the series’ formula, I give Die Hard with a Vengeance 3.5 stars out of 5.
Q.U.B.E. 2
Year: 2018
Rating: T
Time Played: ~5 hours
Q.U.B.E. 2 is one of those random games that I decided to play on a whim. Fortunately, it was free to me as a perk of having Amazon Prime. After completing this game, I don’t think I would have paid for it otherwise. I knew nothing about this game going in, but it was at least interesting enough for me to see it all the way through to the end. That being said, it’s a bit derivative of other first-person physics puzzle games that came before it.
The more first-person physics puzzle games I play, the more I realize that Portal 2 is the definitive game in this genre. This is mostly because other games tend to rip off on Portal 2, and Q.U.B.E. 2 is one of these ripoffs. While Q.U.B.E. 2 takes itself seriously in the narrative it runs through the game (as compared to Portal 2‘s occasional humor), the stakes never seem to match the vibe the game is trying to produce. Perhaps it’s trying to be brooding like Control, but the fact that it’s just a physics puzzle game means that its goal is to just string together a series of puzzles until the end of the game.
In terms of difficulty, Q.U.B.E. 2‘s puzzles were never too hard to complete. A few definitely required me to perform a few attempts before figuring out the gimmick, but then that gimmick would be re-used at least four more times. If anything, the repetitive nature of the puzzles is what wore on me after a while, even if the environment changed a few times during the gameplay. The fact that I kept having to “unlock” the next area by completing a quartet of different puzzles was boring after the third or fourth area.
A generic physics puzzler that takes itself too seriously, I give Q.U.B.E. 2 3.0 stars out of 5.
John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum
Year: 2019
Rating: R
Length: 130 minutes / 2.17 hours
When the first John Wick (2014) came out, I thought it was just another action movie and paid it no attention. After a friend finally convinced me to see it, I was in awe of the “gun-fu” action sequences. Having a steady camera with amazing choreography made this series stand out enough that I saw the sequel in theaters. Unfortunately, I wasn’t as impressed with Chapter 2 (2017), as it leaned heavily on developing the lore of The Continental. To add insult to injury, it also fell into the Trilogy Conundrum: a fantastic standalone movie with a sequel that requires the third installment to wrap up the plot (e.g., The Matrix (1999)).
While I praise the simplicity of the first movie in this series, things have gotten ridiculous by Chapter 3 (2021). Yes, there are still some action sequences that maintain some of that excellent choreography. However, there were too many fight scenes with some gimmick that merely made me roll my eyes. Whether it was a fight on a horse against motorcycles, a fight with a pack of dogs, or a swordfight in a glass maze, I longed for fights that were more…stationary.
Additionally, Chapter 3 also ended in such a way that demands a fourth entry in the series. At this point, I’m more confused about what The Continental is, who runs it, and what rival factions are out there than when I started this series. Sure, a guy getting revenge for someone killing his dog is silly in hindsight, but at least it wasn’t endlessly complicated. I can only hope that Chapter 4 (2022) finally answers some questions because Chapter 3 did a poor job of tying up any loose ends.
A series devolving into ridiculous action set pieces, I give John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum 3.0 stars out of 5.
Winter
Year: 2015
Author: Marissa Meyer
Length: 1,384 minutes / 23.07 hours
If there’s one thing I appreciate with a series, it’s when all the loose ends are tied up by the end. In the fourth and final installment in the Lunar Chronicles series, Marissa Meyer manages to wrap up all the disparate parts of the story that had been running in parallel for three books. Not only does this series have a satisfying ending, but there’s even enough time to flesh out the titular character, Winter, so that her presence makes sense in the context of the whole series. Still, even if the backstory for Levanna in Fairest isn’t directly needed to understand more of Winter’s character in this book, it certainly helped that I had already read it going into this final chapter of the series.
While my standard qualms with the “teenage girl” style of characterizations remain for this book (as it has for the entire series), the dialogue feels very natural (as it has for the entire series). Ultimately, though, it feels like the ending takes forever to arrive, especially since the audience has already known for some time that Cinder is the true heir—a fact that only became apparent to her in the last few books. Plus, there’s the almost constant sexual tension that runs through these books as well. I’ve never wanted to scream at fictional characters, “Kiss already!” so much in my life.
I will say that the sci-fi fairy tale reimagining Meyer does in the Lunar Chronicles is unique in its interpretation while also remaining relatively close to the source material’s references. And while there were moments where the characters might have been annoying, all of their motivations were clear and drove them to make decisions that felt logical based on their background. Overall, I think this has become one of my favorite series lately, and I’m now looking forward to reading more of what Marissa Meyer has to offer.
A satisfying ending to the best series of sci-fi fairy tale reimaginings, I give Winter 4.0 stars out of 5.
No Time to Die
Year: 2021
Rating: PG-13
Length: 163 minutes / 2.72 hours
Daniel Craig is my James Bond. I was too young for the Pierce Brosnan version of the secret agent, so when a re-do of Casino Royale (2006) came out, I was impressed that this decades-old franchise could take some cues from recent successful action films like The Bourne Identity (2002). Having seen a smattering of other Bond films over the years, the five-movie quintet that ended with No Time to Die (2021) felt bittersweet. Even if there were constant rumors that Daniel Craig was done with the role after Spectre (2015), I’m glad he stuck the landing with this movie.
Now, I’m fairly biased when it comes to Bond films. I think Skyfall (2012) is the peak of the franchise. Not only did it cover Bond’s backstory, but it also pulled a huge twist right at the end to connect it to every previous Bond film, which had me exclaiming in the theater. With this in mind, I appreciate how the five Daniel Craig Bond films have kept a sense of continuity between themselves and weren’t just one-offs with “Deus ex Machina” results. What’s great about this approach is how perfectly No Time to Die wraps up all the loose ends.
I can also appreciate how No Time to Die subverted the standard tropes of Bond films. This ties directly to how all actions in this sub-series of the Bond franchise have consequences. I don’t want to get into too many details so as to not spoil anything, but this movie showed that adapting to modern sensibilities would not be the end of the world. After all, a character like James Bond isn’t the role model he once was in the misogynistic 1960s.
A fitting end to Daniel Craig’s tenure as James Bond, I give No Time to Die 4.5 stars out of 5.
Axiom Verge
Year: 2015
Rating: E10+
Time Played: 843 minutes / 14.05 hours
As I play more and more video games, I’m finding that I enjoy Metroidvanias. Something about exploring and upgrading a character to unlock more parts of a map (for more exploration) feels satisfying to me. Axiom Verge adheres to many of the tropes that make a Metroidvania great, including mimicking the pixelated 16-bit style of one of the genre’s founders, Super Metroid. The fact that a single person created the entirety of this game is astounding, even if its edges show in a few spots.
Even though I enjoy playing through a Metroidvania like Axiom Verge, I also found myself struggling to beat the final boss of the game. Much like how I had to take a break before finishing off Hollow Knight, I found myself just barely able to keep up with Axiom Verge‘s final boss. It turns out I had missed picking up one of the game’s best weapons because it was hidden deep in a secret area that required extensive secret codes to obtain. The amount of backtracking I had to do in this game was probably more than most Metroidvanias I’ve played, and it’s why I’ve knocked a star off this review.
Despite its difficulty being unforgiving at times, Axiom Verge does have a lot going for it. The glitchy pixel art style was an interesting way to accentuate the narrative, and the music was hauntingly atmospheric. I did like the variety of weapons that I could obtain, even if I basically only used one or two of the dozen I collected during my playthrough (along with the flamethrower that I got in the endgame). The fact that a legitimate narrative runs through this game is also why I think it’s a must-play for people who also enjoy Metroidvanias.
An impressive Metroidvania with a great story, I give Axiom Verge 4.0 stars out of 5.
Cruella
Year: 2021
Rating: PG-13
Length: 134 minutes / 2.23 hours
It seems the latest trend in the last few years is to take well-known villains and make them relatable through tragic backstories. While Maleficent (2014) seems to have started this string of villain-centric movies, Cruella (2021) does an adequate job of showing this villain’s transformation while also making you want to root for her. However, the problem with idolizing someone like Cruella De Vil (Emma Stone) is that her eventual crime against the 101 Dalmatians (1961) is the desire to kill every single one of them in the name of fashion.
While the plot pulls elements from Oliver Twist and All About Eve (1950), there are enough twists at the end of this film that make it worth the watch. Even if one of these moments had me laughing at how ridiculous it was, it all paid off because of Emma Stone’s excellent acting throughout. Of course, it also helped that the flamboyant fashion Cruella designed was a legitimate shake-up of the industry of the time. I would be surprised if this film doesn’t get a costuming nod at the next Academy Awards.
Even though Cruella does a good job of making the audience sympathize with a known villain, there’s nothing new here. A lot of the tropes seemed overused or forced. Trying to tie her traumatic upbringing to a hatred of dogs (particularly dalmatians) felt more like a knowing wink than an actual plot device. After all, it wasn’t that the villain from the 1961 film hated the dogs; it was more that she needed their fur for her fashion statements. This disconnect to the source material felt off to me, even if the rest of the film showed how Cruella would do whatever was needed to get what she wanted.
An adequate villain backstory with some incredible costuming, I give Cruella 3.5 stars out of 5.
Fairest: Levana’s Story
Year: 2015
Author: Marissa Meyer
Length: 392 minutes / 6.53 hours
I’m not sure when it happened, but somewhere in the last decade or so, the idea of “redeemable villains” took off. So many stories had antagonists that had their heinous acts justified by some past trauma that somehow made them more human and understandable. While I appreciate flawed characters and the bad decisions that eventually led them down the dark and evil path, I don’t think it’s always necessary to make villains redeemable. That is unless it’s done well. Fairest does it well.
Right from the first pages of Fairest, the reader understands that Levana was the runt of the family. The amount of teasing and hypocrisy that formed this young girl into the evil queen she would eventually become is understandable. However, the real brilliance of this story comes in when Levana tries to solve her problems the only way she knows how: by manipulation. It’s not entirely her fault, as the royal family seemed to be built on this foundation of getting what they want by any means necessary—still, it doesn’t excuse what she did.
Even if Fairest is only a side-story for the Lunar Chronicles series, I think it’s required reading to understand the series’ main antagonist fully. If you want to read it chronologically (before Cinder), it’s a good amount of backstory that will help bring you up to speed, even at the expense of being spoiled by some of the (albeit obvious) twists of the series. If you read it after Cress and before Winter, then it stands as a much-needed flashback before the conclusion of the series. At the very least, I’m glad that this story wasn’t crammed into the other books and was given the room to be its own story.
The best “understandable villain” I’ve ever read, I give Fairest: Levana’s Story 4.0 stars out of 5.
Uncut Gems
Year: 2019
Rating: R
Length: 135 minutes / 2.25 hours
Much like The Lighthouse (2019), Uncut Gems (2019) was one of those films that gained a lot of buzz around the award season for the performances of their lead actors. However, neither of these films was nominated for Best Picture, and now I understand why. It’s nice to see Sandler branch out from his standard comedy niche, but ultimately it didn’t feel like he was “acting” that much by being a Jewish jeweler with a gambling problem since being Jewish is often a part of his schtick.
I wanted to like this film more, but many things just annoyed me about it. I can understand the desire to create “realism” in the dialogue by having twenty people yell over each other. Still, it mostly just made it hard to understand anything that any individual said. It’s the same reason I don’t care for the films of John Cassavetes. On top of this, Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler) had few redeeming qualities and was just kind of a scumbag throughout the whole film. Maybe if he had some amount of character growth, it would have been tolerable.
All this being said, I can see the artistic appeal of Uncut Gems, even if it starts by showing the audience the known universe only to end up on the wrong side of a colonoscopy camera. Unfortunately, Uncut Gems also follows many of those “artsy” tropes that gain awards buzz but don’t have much substance past their cultural zeitgeist. This includes (but is not limited to) its sudden and somewhat unsatisfying ending. In the end, I get why Uncut Gems has its fans, but it’s just not for me.
An artsy Adam Sandler film that was more annoying than thoughtful, I give Uncut Gems 3.0 stars out of 5.
Abzû
Year: 2016
Rating: E
Time Played: ~2 hours
After years of obtaining the free game from the Epic Games store, I’m finally working my way through many of them. I’m not doing them in any particular order, but I saw Abzû and thought it looked relaxing. Once I got into it, I found that it was basically an underwater version of Journey. While I loved the narrative nature of Journey, I felt Abzû had less of an emotional impact by the time its short playthrough concluded.
While Abzû is incredibly derivative of Journey, I do have to admit that the visuals were quite stunning. Everything was rich and colorful—even in some of the darker levels. There was a lot of care given to the underwater environments and it was clear that the game developers had done their research to recreate these beautiful underwater environments. Unfortunately, the underwater gameplay is also something I struggled with in this game. I constantly found myself struggling with the controls and having my character not go where I intended. Of course, games that don’t have normal gravity physics seem to all have this problem, including Flower (which was also from Journey‘s developer).
One of my qualms with Journey is that it was too short, which also applies to Abzû. I’m all for artistic video games, but I’d like a little more substance than what I get in titles like these. Then again, if you absolutely loved Journey, then Abzû is a must-play because of all of its similarities. You can easily play through both in an evening and can relax in these non-confrontational environments. Sure, there’s still some danger involved for the player character, but there’s no way to violently react to this danger. In the end, enjoy Abzû for its ambiance, even if it’s a short Journey (har har).
An underwater Journey clone, I give Abzû 3.0 stars out of 5.
Army of the Dead
Year: 2021
Rating: R
Length: 148 minutes / 2.46 hours
Some of the most original movies I’ve seen have mixed genres to create something new. Movies like Cowboys & Aliens (2011) combine the western and sci-fi genres, while movies like Army of the Dead (2021) work by fusing zombie movies with heist films. The tropes of these genres can often accentuate each other and can fuel character development or drive the plot. The premise of Army of the Dead might be a weak reason to motivate the characters to risk their lives in the first place, but as long as the result is a Las Vegas-themed zombie apocalypse, it works.
While I’m not generally a fan of “serious” zombie films, I can appreciate the level of depth put into the undead in this movie. Generally, “smart” zombies are much more interesting than those that mindlessly wander around and wait for someone to make a noise. I also loved the tongue-in-cheek use of “Viva Las Vegas” for the opening credits, which set the tone of the whole movie. Unfortunately, with such a huge cast of characters for this heist, I only found Dieter (Matthias Schweighöfer) and Marianne Peters (Tig Notaro) entertaining and criminally underused.
Even though mixing genres can use tropes to strengthen weaknesses, it can also accentuate the glaring holes in these genres. For Army of the Dead, it tries to rely on the “small crew” of a heist film but then needs to bloat that crew so that the threat of zombies can also be overcome. As a result, there were a lot of characters (even main ones like Scott Ward (Dave Bautista)) that I didn’t fully understand their motivations. In fact, I was confused with a lot of this movie as it tried to add backstory to characters I knew were going to die anyway.
An interesting genre mixture but with some faults of both genres, I give Army of the Dead 3.5 stars out of 5.
Cress
Year: 2014
Author: Marissa Meyer
Length: 941 minutes / 15.68 hours
Anyone who has spent a considerable amount of time with me will know that one of my top three favorite movies is Tangled (2010). It then comes as no surprise to me that the third book in the Lunar Chronicles series that adapts the Rapunzel fairy tale into this sci-fi retelling would be my favorite of the set. It wasn’t until I was reading original fairy tales to my daughter that I realized how close Cress came to representing the story it was based on instead of just relying on the familiar accouterments of the fairy tale.
While I didn’t appreciate as much of the split storylines in Scarlet, I felt they improved the greater story arc of the whole series here. Cress explored much of the inner workings of the antagonist faction of Lunars that had been missing up until this point of the series. As such, I was able to gain a greater emotional attachment to the rag-tag group of rebels. It also helped that there was clear character growth in some of the minor characters like Carswell Thorne and Cress through the challenges they had to overcome.
Perhaps the best reason this was my favorite book of the Lunar Chronicles series is that it truly was building toward the climax of the series as a whole. Watching all the different pieces fall into place to set up the final book of the series was what had me hooked on this story all the way through. And sure, it still had that “teenage girl” quality to its prose, but at least it helped make the characters realistic—even if it was to adhere to the tropes of the Young Adult genre.
The sci-fi Rapunzel retelling I didn’t know I needed, I give Cress 4.5 stars out of 5.
Free Guy
Year: 2021
Rating: PG-13
Length: 115 minutes / 1.92 hours
This pandemic has messed with my sense of time. I could have sworn that Free Guy (2021) had already come out, but it had just been endlessly delayed until this year. As someone who enjoys video games, I was hesitant to watch this movie because it could be filled with too many references that would immediately date it. Fortunately, I was surprised by the few glimpses of a deeper plot hidden behind Free Guy‘s goofy exterior. Of course, Ryan Reynolds makes this movie work with his best PG-13 Deadpool impression.
Within the first three minutes of this film, I thought to myself, “Oh, this is just The LEGO Movie (2014).” A non-player character (NPC) named Guy (Ryan Reynolds) breaks out of the mundanity of his existence to go on a great video game adventure. It wasn’t until much later in the film that I realized the major plot points of The Truman Show (1998) were influencing the climax. Still, using a Grand Theft Auto-like video game to explore what it means to play (or live life) without violence is perhaps too subtle to be noticed by most.
The few qualms I have with this movie come from how video games are created and run. I felt the “big ticking clock” that drives the plot is completely bogus because video games don’t cease to work when a sequel comes out. Sure, there might be a dip in the number of players of an online game, but there are still users of previous versions of a franchise, regardless. Despite this huge and glaring plot hole, Free Guy was a fun movie filled with just enough video game references (a la Ready Player One (2018)) not to be dated but also pay homage to its origins.
A fun movie about video games with some extremely subtle and powerful messages, I give Free Guy 4.0 stars out of 5.
Flower
Year: 2009
Rating: E
Time Played: 2 hours
Video games are truly a unique form of interactive art. While many of the medium’s detractors will point to the excessive violence present in many triple-A titles, many counter-examples show how peaceful the medium can be. Take indie developer, Thatgamecompany, for instance. The beautiful narrative format they used in Journey had me in tears by the end, and the only things I could do in that game were move, jump, and make a sound with my character. One of their previous works, Flower, goes so far as to remove jumping and interacting from the equation.
In Flower, you play as a single flower petal that activates other flowers that add additional flower petals to the player’s entourage. A level system breaks up the narrative a little and allows me to see if there were secret areas I had not yet found in each portion of the game. These standard video game conventions—along with defeating the “big bad evil”—are needed to give Flower some structure. However, the unique aspect of Flower is its control scheme. I had to use gyroscope controls in conjunction with the controller’s joysticks to control the flower petal.
While the controls in Flower took a little getting used to, I eventually was able to get the hang of it. Unfortunately, while these controls felt like they accurately conveyed trying to control a flower petal, this was the main issue I had with the game. Flower petals are flighty and are not prone to be easily controlled. There were plenty of instances where I’d get stuck or couldn’t control the flower petal fast enough to get it to go where I wanted. In the end, the game wasn’t that long, and I didn’t feel motivated to go back and replay previous levels to find all the secrets. Still, it was a unique experience that stuck with me.
A unique gameplay gimmick that’s a little difficult to control, I give Flower 3.5 stars out of 5.
Over the Moon
Year: 2020
Rating: PG
Length: 95 minutes / 1.58 hours
Over the Moon (2020) snuck under my radar until it was nominated for Best Animated Feature. At that point, I figured I had to check it out. I appreciate that there is enough room in the entertainment industry for CGI animated films not made by Disney/Pixar, Dreamworks, or *shudder* Illumination. Over the Moon is certainly unique, even if it’s geared toward Asian cultures that I know little about. And perhaps that’s my issue with this film: I’m not its target audience.
While Disney wrote the book on adapting Euro-centric fairy tales into animated films, there are plenty of other cultures in this world that have their own rich lore from which we can extract interesting stories. However, because I haven’t grown up hearing these stories, their adaptations seem strange to me when they’re in a modern context like Over the Moon. What’s worse is that some elements I know about Chinese culture (like ping pong) seem stereotypical when presented in this manner, even if they’re trying to be respectful. Overall, my ignorance hindered my full enjoyment of this film.
Don’t get me wrong, though: Over the Moon had its moments. The rocket building montage and the ping pong match were some of the best sequences. I was a little surprised that this was a musical, though, as the songs seemed to take a back-seat once the first act finished. Again, the ping pong match was my favorite scene, mostly due to the song they used. Unfortunately, none of these songs were catchy enough to remain lodged in my brain, even days and weeks after watching this movie for the first time. Furthermore, the overarching plot of dealing with loss felt unremarkable (as it has been done to death many times before).
A cliche plot tied to a heavy influence of Chinese culture, I give Over the Moon 3.0 stars out of 5.
The Three-Body Problem
Year: 2006
Author: Liu Cixin
Length: 806 minutes / 13.43 hours
A few years ago, someone suggested that I read the Remembrance of Earth’s Past series, so of course, I added it to my Overdrive wish list so I could eventually listen to the audiobook. I’m usually down to read some hard sci-fi since it’s a niche genre I enjoy. I was intrigued that this book came from China because I don’t usually think of hard sci-fi when I think of that country. In fact, I hardly think of literature that wasn’t written hundreds of years ago.
It’s been about five months since I read this book, so this review is a long time coming. I still vaguely know what this book was about and what science was explored within its prose, but that’s about it. Nothing stuck with me other than the sense that it was a bit of an Ender’s Game ripoff. I would have liked to connect with the characters a bit more, but The Three-Body Problem seemed too bogged down in trying to get its complex science across to spend enough time creating characters that I liked.
Ultimately, much like the Broken Earth trilogy, I can understand the hype this book had received, even if it didn’t fully grab me when I listened to the audiobook. I’ll continue this series if for no other reason than it presented an interesting idea that I’d like to see to completion. Perhaps the fact that I’m listening to a translation of the original Chinese story is what’s reducing some of my enjoyment of this book, which isn’t necessarily the book’s fault. I think the world is big enough for other non-Anglo cultures to tell stories like this, and for this reason alone, I would recommend fans of hard sci-fi at least give The Three-Body Problem a chance.
Interesting hard sci-fi concepts from China, I give The Three-Body Problem 3.5 stars out of 5.
The Suicide Squad
Year: 2021
Rating: R
Length: 132 minutes / 2.20 hours
I don’t mind superhero films. I think they’re fun and flashy, and I can turn my mind off for an hour or two. What I do mind is endless reboots of franchises. The fact that I saw three separate Spider-Man reboots in 15 years accentuates my point. Now, I understand that The Suicide Squad (2021) is allegedly a sequel to Suicide Squad (2016). Still, it felt more like a reboot since Amanda Waller (Viola Davis), Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman), and Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) were the only recurring characters. And, let’s be honest, they can’t cast Harley Quinn with anyone other than Margot Robbie now.
For those who thought that having a great director like James Gunn on board would make this film better than its predecessor, you’re partly right. Sure, there’s a bit of his style of humor that is on display. Still, it’s essentially the same plot as the previous iteration in this series, with different characters filling the main roles. Granted, some of the storytelling is better, even if it felt like the character introductions seemed to drag on forever. At least they sped through the whole “this is what the Suicide Squad is” spiel in the first 10 minutes.
To its credit, The Suicide Squad has a couple of great set pieces (which most well-done superhero films have anyway), even if one of them is an obligatory Harley Quinn sequence. I can also appreciate how this film didn’t try too hard to tie into the greater DC Extended Universe since it’s clear now that they can’t get their act together as Marvel did. In the end, The Suicide Squad is a fun, R-rated superhero romp that improved on its formula with the help of a better director with more creative control.
The same plot as five years ago, but with some improvements, I give The Suicide Squad 3.5 stars out of 5.
Mario’s Super Picross
Year: 1995
Rating: Not Rated
Time Played: 3,898 minutes / 64.97 hours
It’s a little odd to me that Picross (or Nonograms) never took off as a puzzle genre outside of Japan. Sudoku and (my personal favorite) Kakuro eventually found popularity in the United States in the 2000s. This was likely due to the ease with which these puzzles could be printed. While Nonograms have the novelty of producing a pixelated two-tone image, they sometimes take up to 30 minutes to solve (especially for the more detailed puzzles). Pokémon Picross introduced me to Picross games, and it has the advantage of a stylus and touchscreen. The Japanese-only release of Mario’s Super Picross does not have this advantage.
Mario’s Super Picross became available on the Super Nintendo Virtual Console for the Switch, which is what allowed me to finally play this game. While the controls take a little getting used to, this game’s one novelty is the little animations that play when solving the puzzles. Unfortunately, most of the puzzles you need to solve are random objects and scenes, which is a weakness of the Nonogram format. However, what Mario Super Picross has going for it is its vast amount of content. Just when I thought I had beaten the game, then another mode was added. Then secret stages.
After almost 65 hours of playtime, I was able to 100% complete the game. The fact that I even went to finish the entirety of this game should tell you how I managed to overcome some of its technical limitations. Fortunately, because I played on the Virtual Console, I could use save states and rewinds to erase some of my mistakes and complete the more complicated puzzles without issue. I did have to look up one or two solutions near the end, but overall it was an approachable puzzle game. I would recommend people with the Switch Online service try Mario’s Super Picross.
A hidden puzzle game gem for the Super Nintendo, I give Mario’s Super Picross 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Social Dilemma
Year: 2020
Rating: PG-13
Length: 94 minutes / 1.57 hours
I joined Facebook in 2005. Before that, I was on MySpace. As someone who started heavily using the internet when the concept of social media started taking off, I honestly feel that I managed to avoid a lot of its pitfalls. My introverted self loved getting updates on people’s lives without having to cultivate all those relationships intentionally. Of course, the system only works if people post updates of their lives. What The Social Dilemma (2020) brings to light is that programs meant to keep us connected have since been tainted by dangerous technology that keeps us coming back for more and getting little in return.
While The Social Dilemma is inherently about how damaging social media can be, the greater lesson here is how artificial intelligence was created to handle these enormous datasets. Unfortunately, because these AIs were created to maximize ad revenue, they break us down to our psychological building blocks and manipulate us in ways we don’t even realize. Even though I don’t use social media as much as I once did (having a toddler will do that), I do find it frustrating as an independent artist that it can be difficult to break the “algorithm” to reach people who might want the art I create.
Overall, I think The Social Dilemma‘s heart is in the right place by interviewing the people who built these social media giants and explaining how they purposely put these AI systems in place. My one qualm is the fictional side story meant to act as an example of how social media can go wrong. It felt a bit too much like an after-school special, even if it was a likely scenario for many young people. I almost would have preferred 90 minutes of the experts talking about what they created.
A lesson on the importance of properly programmed AI, I give The Social Dilemma 4.0 stars out of 5.
A World Out of Time
Year: 1976
Author: Larry Niven
Length: 474 minutes / 7.90 hours
I’m starting to realize that science fiction in the 1970s might need to stay there. While there was a lot of progress in the genre past the golden era of the 1950s, many of these books are unfortunate snapshots of a time that has not aged well. Similar to Ringworld, I found A World Out of Time to rely heavily on the sexism that runs rampant through 1970s sci-fi. Additionally, while the hard science presented in this book was generally plausible, the way it was presented was so dry and dense as to make it more of a Ph.D. thesis than an entertaining read.
On the plus side, A World Out of Time explores many scientific ideas that were well ahead of its time. Aside from the normal sci-fi tropes of mind implants and artificial intelligence, this book also deals with climate change in a way that hasn’t been felt until now. Granted, it blames this extreme change of the Earth’s environment on the sun and less on the humans who inhabit it, but the thinking about what would happen to our planet if such a thing were to happen was thorough enough to be believable.
Despite these forward-thinking ideas, A World Out of Time treats sex and drugs as inconsequential parts of life in the future. It’s clear the culture of the 1970s influenced this part of the book, but it feels so outdated compared to today’s standards that it was difficult to read without rolling my eyes. Sure, it’s probably less prominent than the pulpy science fiction stories that came before it, but the fact that the author felt these things needed to be included tells me more than I need to know about him.
A dry hard sci-fi novel that hasn’t aged that well, I give A World Out of Time 2.0 stars out of 5.
Mr. Right
Year: 2015
Rating: R
Length: 95 minutes / 1.58 hours
When Mr. Right (2015) came out, it looked like a fun little action rom-com film. I was interested in seeing it because I had found Sam Rockwell’s performances in Iron Man 2 (2010) and Seven Psychopaths (2012) to be quite engaging. Plus, Anna Kendrick is cute in a “doesn’t really smile” kind of way. For whatever reason, I never got around to seeing Mr. Right when it was released six years ago. After finally sitting down and watching it on Netflix, I’m kind of glad I saved the money.
It was clear to me almost from the start that Rockwell was phoning it in on this movie. Sure, he was charismatic as an assassin who kills the people who hire him to kill other people. The fact that he doesn’t lie about his lifestyle to Martha (Anna Kendrick) made him amusing if only for the fact that after the third or fourth time, it should have been obvious to Martha that he wasn’t sarcastic. And while some of the action sequences looked neat overall, it was clear they pulled out all the stops to disguise the fact that none of the actors were doing any of it.
Perhaps the biggest turn-off for this movie for me was Anna Kendrick’s voice. It felt so high-pitched and whiny with an almost “high school girl” cadence to it that I honestly tuned out within the first 10 to 20 minutes. I’m not sure what this movie was trying to do, but I’m pretty sure they failed at it. Perhaps they were hoping to mimic True Lies (1994)? Who knows. In the end, there were too many things that made Mr. Right wrong that I’m glad I’ve only recently wasted my time with it.
A mess of a movie that tries to be funny but fails, I give Mr. Right 1.5 stars out of 5.
Hollow Knight
Year: 2017
Rating: E10+
Time Played: 2,712 minutes / 45.20 hours
Every once in a while, I come across a game that hooks me right out of the gate. The music, ambiance, and gameplay mixed in a perfect combination that encouraged me to keep playing. Despite the sharp difficulty curve I encountered for the main bosses, the stakes made me continue the journey all the way to its conclusion (at least one of the few different endings, that is). There is nothing more rewarding than feeling so close to defeating a boss, only to mess up and need to try again and finally succeeding.
For an affordable indie game, Hollow Knight is filled with content. Even if I found myself stuck at a particular junction, I could merely explore some other facet of the gigantic map until my skills improved to the point where I could defeat the roadblock in my way. All the while, I marveled at the unique visuals for each area and got chills at Christopher Larkin’s soundtrack. Sure, there are still some parts of the game I haven’t even attempted yet (I only have a ~104% complete game file), but I’ve spent enough time in Hollownest to truly enjoy the experience.
Some may fault this game for its “Souls-like” difficulty, but I think that’s part of its appeal. Sure, if it was easier, I might have finished it sooner. As it was, I had to let it sit for a few months before finally confronting the eponymous Hollow Knight (I didn’t feel confident enough to face the “true” final boss). Once the controls were ingrained in my muscle memory, it became a truly immersive experience as I started to memorize all the enemy attack patterns and load my charms to give the little Knight the best chance at survival. If you haven’t played this game yet, you are missing out.
An immense and satisfying Metroidvania, I give Hollow Knight 5.0 stars out of 5.
Wrath of Man
Year: 2021
Rating: R
Length: 119 minutes / 1.98 hours
Back in the early 2010s, I found myself drawn to Guy Ritchie’s films. Lately, though, I’ve been disappointed in what I’ve gotten. I can probably pinpoint the downturn with King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017). While Aladdin (2019) mostly worked due to its source material, films like The Gentlemen (2020) felt off. There’s a visual charm to a Guy Ritchie film that has been missing as of late. Of course, visuals are only half of what made his early films great. It’s that “can’t take yourself too seriously” attitude that seems to have been lost since then.
While it’s great to see Ritchie working with long-time collaborator Jason Statham again, I had the distinct feeling that I had seen Wrath of Man (2021) before when I rented it from Redbox. When the first 30 minutes of the film can be succinctly captured by a 2-minute trailer, then we have a problem. The fact that this same heist is repeated three times from different points of view made this almost 2-hour movie seem endless. Sure, I liked the little twists that revealed H’s (Statham) motivations, but overall it felt too repetitive for me to care.
In fact, while the action was quite entertaining (especially once we got past the heist), the motivations of some of the characters felt a little too on-the-nose for a post-January 6th world. Unfortunately, because of these revelations throughout the film, it always has to take itself so seriously. Long gone are the goofy little bits like in Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) that made a Guy Ritchie film fun to watch instead of a slog to get through. But at least the visuals are starting to return to some of his previous, flashy stylings.
A mediocre Guy Ritchie heist film, I give Wrath of Man 3.0 stars out of 5.
Stories of Your Life and Others
Year: 2002
Author: Ted Chiang
Length: 623 minutes / 10.38 hours
After reading Exhalation, I found myself in search of more stories by Ted Chiang. This led me to Stories of Your Life and Others. Partly because this collection included many of Chiang’s earlier stories, not all of them were great pieces of literature like the ones in Exhalation. I could tell that Chiang was still trying to find his voice as a writer as he explored many science fiction topics common to the genre. While not all of the stories are fantastic, there are enough good ones to warrant reading this collection.
What’s a little disappointing is how some of the ideas Chiang explores in this book are truly interesting topics, but the execution of these stories feels a little too erudite for the common reader. I appreciate Chiang’s later ability to humanize these ideas (as shown by my love of Exhalation), but he just wasn’t quite there yet with these early works. Still, there are a handful of award-winning stories in this book, including “Tower of Babylon” and “Hell Is the Absence of God.” Chiang’s ability to combine science and religion is second to none, and these stories prove as much.
One story in this book stands out from the rest. It makes sense that “Story of Your Life” was the titular choice for this book. For those unaware, the movie Arrival (2016) is based on this short story (and is a pretty close adaptation). Even if you only read “Story of Your Life,” I think you’ll get something out of this collection. It is by far the most approachable of these stories, and it deserved all of the awards bestowed upon it when it was originally published in the late 1990s.
A good collection of Ted Chiang’s early works that contains a few sparkling gems, I give Stories of Your Life and Others 4.0 stars out of 5.
Luca
Year: 2021
Rating: PG
Length: 95 minutes / 1.58 hours
It’s interesting how computers continue to become more powerful, just so they can make 3D CGI look more like traditional 2-D animation. Granted, this usually applies to the characters, as textures and settings are becoming so realistic as to be nearly indistinguishable from the real thing. While I’m sure we could probably jump the uncanny valley by now, Pixar chooses to play to its more “cartoony” roots in perhaps the most charming way possible. Their latest film, Luca (2021), oozes charm in a way that a small story like this can only achieve.
Set in what appears to be early to mid-1960s (at least by the movie posters hung on the town’s walls), Luca is another coming-of-age tale like Onward (2020) but with less emphasis on family bonds and more emphasis on personal independence. And while I appreciated the “big brother” narrative of Onward, I think Luca‘s format worked a little better since not everyone will have the blood relation they can look up to. Still, most everyone has that close older friend they idolize. At the very least, Luca is charming in its message and clear in its characters’ motives.
As always, Pixar blows me away with the realism of their visuals. At this point, I don’t even care if they haven’t focused on the plot and story as much as they did in their formative years. I’ll still sit down to watch their films to see how much closer they are to simulating the real world. Even if the fact that they still need to appeal to families means the characters will always have that cartoon feel to them, then it’ll be interesting to see how far they can take that aesthetic to break away from the standard “Disney look” of the CGI characters and create something unique each time.
A visually dazzling and cute coming-of-age story, I give Luca 4.0 stars out of 5.
Sayonara Wild Hearts
Year: 2019
Rating: E10+
Time Played: 1+ hour
Another game I picked up during an “indie game” sale on the Switch, Sayonara Wild Hearts looked interesting mostly on the strength of its visuals. When I actually sat down to play it, I found an experience I wasn’t expecting. Sayonara Wild Hearts manages to be many different games, all covered by the low-poly style and catchy soundtrack that drives its action. At its base, Sayonara Wild Hearts is mostly a rhythm game. However, its multi-genre approach made it feel like a rail-shooter more often than not.
Unlike the normal music-rhythm games out there (like Guitar Hero or Rock Band), Sayonara Wild Hearts allows for some mistakes but brings the action to a halt unless the player performs certain actions needed for quick-time events. Even if it’s forgiving in allowing the player to eventually memorize what needs to happen, the result is that the player’s ranking for the level suffers. That being said, I couldn’t discern what the point of the ranking system was, as it didn’t tie to any gameplay element other than to say how well I had matched beats or hit the necessary quick-time events.
Aligning with a trend I’m not wild about, Sayonara Wild Hearts is an incredibly short game. I played through all 23 levels in about an hour. I could have continued to re-play levels for higher scores, but I didn’t see the point. Sure, maybe I missed out on some unlockables, but I don’t think they would have made any additional playthroughs any different. After all, games like this rely heavily on how well the player can memorize what to do. Once that’s achieved, there’s nothing else to do. Still, this game is worth at least an hour of your time for the visuals and soundtrack alone.
Incredibly short but flashy and catchy, I give Sayonara Wild Hearts 3.5 stars out of 5.
The Big Lebowski
Year: 1998
Rating: R
Length: 117 minutes / 1.95 hours
In the last year or so, I’ve tried to watch a few cult classics that had escaped my purview. I’m familiar with their cultural significance, and I can understand why they are beloved by many, but they aren’t necessarily perfect films by any means. Movies like The Goonies (1985) and Mean Girls (2004) are mostly known via their memeable moments. This was why I already understood the gist of these movies before actually sitting down and watching them. The Big Lebowski (1998) was yet another cult classic that had these same strengths and weaknesses.
First off, Jeff Bridges is “The Dude.” If he didn’t provide such a solid performance, I doubt this movie would have become nearly as memorable. However, what people might forget about this film is how weird it is. Many sequences left me scratching my head and wondering what the heck was going on. And perhaps it’s this kind of “stoner appeal” that led it into its cult status. Then again, I have to remind myself that the Coen Brothers toe that line between serious drama (Fargo (1996), No Country for Old Men (2007), and True Grit (2010)) and comedy (The Hudsucker Proxy (1994), Burn After Reading (2008), and Hail, Caesar! (2016)).
Of course, the comedy the Coen Brothers bring to the table is definitely of the dark variety, and The Big Lebowski has enough of it sprinkled throughout its plot that you have no doubt it’s a Coen Brothers movie. And while it’s fun watching The Dude piece together the predicament he finds himself in, the plot pivots and turns so hard and fast that it’s hard to keep up at times. Ultimately, The Big Lebowski is an entertaining film and probably contributed to an increase of people ordering White Russians at bars for years to come.
Another Coen Brothers cult classic, I give The Big Lebowski 4.0 stars out of 5.
Augie and the Green Knight
Year: 2014
Author: Zach Weinersmith
Length: 219 pages
While I’m slowly getting into the deep and thorough lore of the Arthurian legend, one story that seems to be popular in the cultural zeitgeist is the one about the Green Knight. I haven’t seen the recent The Green Knight (2021) movie adaptation yet, but I’m definitely aware of its overarching story due to the middle-grade book Augie and the Green Knight. It’s clear from some of the review snippets I’ve seen for the movie that the logic of the tale doesn’t hold up to today’s standards, an issue that Augie and the Green Knight thoroughly explores.
This book follows Augie, a precocious girl who is definitely smarter than her years—even at the cost of the credulity of the story. When she finds herself transported into the mythical world of the Green Knight, she is unfazed by the peculiar world. The plot unfolds as it always does in this story, except that Augie tries to use logic to help save Sir Gawain. The progression of the “rules” that Augie puts in place to create a civilized society gets some pushback from the Green Knight, who has a logic all his own, often to comedic effect.
As a middle-grade book, Augie and the Green Knight is a fairly easy read. However, it still contains a few extremely complicated logic puzzles that even adults might have trouble comprehending. The illustrations contained in this book are top-notch and definitely capture the essence of these characters. Still, the common failings of this genre are present in this book, including bathroom humor and a few too many self-aware winks at the parents who are likely reading this to their children. Overall, though, Augie and the Green Knight is a cute take on an inherently violent legend.
An attempt to fix the logic of the Green Knight legend, I give Augie and the Green Knight 3.5 stars out of 5.
Black Widow
Year: 2021
Rating: PG-13
Length: 134 minutes / 2.23 hours
After the events of Avengers: Endgame (2019), it was difficult to perceive where a Black Widow movie would fit in the overall Marvel Cinematic Universe. Fortunately, even though there are over 20 films in this cinematic juggernaut, there is still room to fill gaps in the overall story. Taking place after the events of Captain America: Civil War (2016), Black Widow (2021) follows Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johannson) as she takes some “personal time” to put to bed the demons from her past. It’s a little weird to have such a standalone film in the MCU, but it’s the only way something like this could work.
Almost a decade after the “Budapest” incident was first mentioned in an offhand remark in The Avengers (2012), Black Widow finally shows us the details of this significant event—even if it was played as a joke in previous films. Natasha’s past was brought up in other parts of various MCU films, but this movie finally stitches them all together into a coherent narrative. Of course, while it does give some much-needed background to one of the franchise’s most secretive characters, it feels a little like a moot point by now.
Regardless of its relevance to the MCU as a whole, two performances stand out in my mind. David Harbour makes the film endlessly entertaining as he chews the scenery, but Florence Pugh nails it with the back-and-forth comedy between the two “sisters.” It’s no wonder that I have enjoyed her acting as of late (especially in Little Women (2019)). And while most of the MCU movies that bookend this film’s chronology explain what happens afterward, it’s the post-credits scene that made me roll my eyes as Disney tries to push more of their Disney+ programming into the greater MCU framework.
A fairly standard MCU film that stands by itself, I give Black Widow 3.5 stars out of 5.
Job Simulator
Year: 2016
Rating: E10+
Time Played: ~2.5 hours
While I didn’t know it at the time, one of the first Virtual Reality games I ever encountered was none other than Job Simulator. Many years later, I bought this game for my Oculus Quest and immediately understood the appeal. Sure, the graphics aren’t top-notch, but that’s not the point of Job Simulator. If anything, it’s an easy introduction into the world of VR that allows the user to play around in a variety of “job” environments. The comedy in this game is quite amusing; however, its replay value is fairly limited.
Set in the far future, Job Simulator pokes fun at several professions, including Auto Mechanic, Gourmet Chef, Store Clerk, and Office Worker. Anyone who has experienced any of these jobs will likely get a chuckle out of its tongue-in-cheek satire. As a single-player game, it only takes a few hours to complete all four campaigns. And while the tasks are the same on repeat playthroughs, there is the option of an “endless” overtime mode that continues these tasks randomly until the player is ready to quit.
Aside from the options for adjusting the game’s physics, there’s not much else to do in Job Simulator than, well…jobs. Despite one person being unable to enjoy multiple playthroughs, I rate this game so highly because it is great for parties. Introducing people to VR can be a challenge, but Job Simulator makes it approachable and fun as you watch people try to navigate these occupations in a virtual environment. The fact that this was the first VR game I ever encountered speaks volumes of its lasting presence in the VR space. While you might not play it regularly, it’s definitely a must-have for any VR headset owner’s library.
An amusing introductory experience for VR, I give Job Simulator 4.0 stars out of 5.
El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie
Year: 2019
Rating: R
Length: 122 minutes / 2.03 hours
While the television show Community always joked about getting “six seasons and a movie, Breaking Bad actually accomplished the feat with only five seasons of the best heart-pounding drama ever to be seen on the small screen. As an epilogue to this fantastic series, El Camino (2019) wraps up the one remaining loose end that remained from the series finale: what happened to Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul)? While El Camino is basically two episodes of Breaking Bad used to tie everything up into a nice little bow, it was nice to finally have that final bit of closure.
As is the case with a lot of Breaking Bad‘s best episodes, there are moments in El Camino that are hard to watch. Jesse’s slavery really hits home in this film as the viewer grapples with the intense psychological punishment that can break down a man and steal his motivation to find his freedom. While the film focuses on Jesse’s redemption, it does so in the masterfully crafted way that only Vince Gilligan can do. The art of each shot and scene is so reminiscent of everything else in the Breaking Bad universe that it almost made me want to go back and watch the whole series again.
Even though it was necessary to have flashbacks of Jesse’s imprisonment in this movie, it felt like these segments basically made up half of the film. Sure, the context was nice for the ultimate arc of redemption, but there were at least a few times where I had trouble figuring out if the scene was in the present or the past. Despite the satisfying ending, the end of this epic series felt a little repetitive to what we had already seen. Still, more Breaking Bad isn’t a bad thing.
The artful epilogue of the Breaking Bad saga, I give El Camino 4.0 stars out of 5.
Caliban’s War
Year: 2012
Author: James S.A. Corey
Length: 1,190 minutes / 19.83 hours
One of the things I like about James S.A. Corey’s Expanse series is how these books focus on the crew of the Rocinante. Many hard sci-fi writers try to show how smart they are by making it obvious how much math they did to explain how their sci-fi universe works. While The Expanse certainly has these moments, they’re fit in between the human drama that follows James Holden and his crew. Trouble seems to follow them wherever they go, and in Caliban’s War, they’re pulled into a political conflict that spans the solar system.
I appreciate how an overarching plot with the protomolecule connects Leviathan Wakes to Caliban’s War. While the first book in the series took some time ramping up into having a cohesive collection of characters, Caliban’s War uses all four members of Rocinante’s crew in a new way that felt more interesting. Of course, this book also contains my favorite “character of the day” with Chrisjen Avasarala as the U.N. ambassador. Her calculated political ambitions were fun to watch as they unfolded, and she tried to keep on top of all the chaos that was happening.
Caliban’s War also benefits from plenty of action and tense moments. What could easily be confusing and hard to follow was well written and engaging. My heart was racing as these exciting sequences took the political drama and made it explode in a way that was both expected and fun to read. Ultimately, the emotional connection to the characters—both continuing from book one and exclusive to this book—is what made everything click for me in this novel. Granted, I would have liked a little more continuity between the two books by bringing over more characters from Leviathan Wakes. Still, sometimes a long-running series has to focus on bite-size stories instead of carrying a huge and unwieldy plot throughout.
An exciting, political, and action-filled hard sci-fi gem, I give Caliban’s War 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Lighthouse
Year: 2019
Rating: R
Length: 109 minutes / 1.82 hours
When Oscar season rolled around a few years ago, I heard a lot of buzz about an artsy film known as The Lighthouse (2019). Years later, I finally found the time to sit down and watch it on Amazon Prime. Now I understand why the Academy didn’t nominate this film for Best Picture. It’s weird. I legitimately tried to figure out what was going on but gave up when things just spiraled into chaos. I have a suspicion that a key moment in the film resulted in a character’s death and that the remainder all takes place in some sort of purgatory, but that’s the best explanation I can give at the moment.
For a film that features two actors for almost the entire runtime, I have to say that Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson make this movie something to see at least once. In fact, I’m still half-certain that Willem Dafoe wasn’t even acting in this movie, as his portrayal of a crazy lighthouse keeper was too on-the-nose to be anything but authentic. Pattinson’s performance was a perfect counterpoint to Dafoe’s, even if both were ultimately disturbing.
I understand that not every movie needs a comprehendible ending that wraps everything up into a nice little conclusion. Still, a little more of something would have been nice given how everything collapsed into a quagmire of insanity. And perhaps that was the point. As many of us have experienced over the last few years, isolation is a hell of an existence. When there’s no way out and no way to know when the isolation will end, things are bound to get crazy. Just not H.P. Lovecraft-style crazy.
Some excellent performances in a total “what the heck?” film, I give The Lighthouse 3.5 stars out of 5.
A Short Hike
Year: 2019
Rating: E
Time Played: ~2 hours
I’m starting to like the open-world format of some video games. Sure, there’s a broad goal the player is trying to accomplish, but sometimes the most fun comes from the little sidequests that you encounter along the way. Of course, the best sidequests help the player ultimately achieve the game’s goal by rewarding a useful item or ability. A Short Hike is a prime example of how to do the open-world format. As an indie game, the big-name developers should take notes here.
While the “low quality” visuals initially put me off, you eventually get used to them. This is basically my only gripe with the game, as it’s clearly hiding some of the cut corners of its development. As someone who enjoys hiking to the top of mountains, I liked the gameplay with a somewhat loose motivation to get to the top of this island mountain. Sure, the plot is touching when you get up there, but it’s almost an afterthought. After all, there’s so much to do on this island, and I rarely came across a task that I had to ignore to focus on the plot.
If you’re looking for a relaxing game with some sidequests that might seem at home in an Animal Crossing game, A Short Hike definitely fits the bill. It was fun naturally encountering a sidequest and completing it after a few minutes of dedicated gameplay. Even if I found the task of the sidequest too difficult, there were a half-dozen other quests nearby that I could switch over to so I could gain the necessary feathers to climb the mountain. There’s no need to complete this game 100%, but definitely have fun with it for as long as you want before making your way to the summit.
A relaxing open-world game with plenty of sidequests along the way, I give A Short Hike 4.5 stars out of 5.
Song of Love
Year: 1947
Rating: Approved
Length: 119 minutes / 1.98 hours
Anyone who has spent a significant amount of time with me will know that I absolutely love the story of Clara and Robert Schumann. She was such an inspiring woman and well ahead of her time in terms of her independence. In researching her life for a future historical fiction novel I plan to write, I found that Katharine Hepburn had portrayed Clara Schumann in Song of Love (1947). I already knew the story beats of the life of Robert and Clara (with some of the drama Johannes Brahms (Robert Walker) introduced), but Song of Love misses the point almost entirely.
While there were some scenes in this movie that spoke to the situation of Robert and Clara’s tragic love story, they were completely lost in what I can only describe as “1940s sitcom schtick.” These scenes added nothing to the narrative of the implied love triangle between Clara, Robert, and Johannes. Instead, the film focused on banal comedy, like having the maid quit but still needing to figure out how to cook a chicken for dinner. The focus of these scenes early in the film turned me off to the eventual heart of the movie.
Song of Love felt like it was pandering to the lowest common denominator instead of highlighting this real-life story of love and loss. The amount of drama that should have been portrayed paled in comparison. If this film is to be believed, Brahms basically became a live-in maid for the Schumanns without showing how desperately he loved his mentor’s wife. We do get the sense that Clara was eternally devoted to Robert in this film, both as a wife and a mother of multiple children, but it becomes so boring by then that it’s hardly worth noting.
A disappointing representation of a fantastic love story, I give Song of Love 2.5 stars out of 5.
The Stone Sky
Year: 2017
Author: N.K. Jemisin
Length: 862 minutes / 14.37 hours
I have to say I’m a bit disappointed with The Stone Sky. It took me some time to get used to the way the author wrote the Broken Earth trilogy, but by the end of the second book, The Obelisk Gate, I had bought into the premise. The fact that this book had a lot to live up to with the foreshadowing presented in the second book might be why I’m disappointed with the result. After all, I was looking forward to some epic moments involving the moon, which didn’t seem to materialize for me.
Now that I’ve finished this trilogy, I’m starting to wonder if the reason it didn’t quite fully click for me was because I was reading it via audiobook. There seemed to be a lot that I missed that would leave me confused about who the characters were, what they were doing, and why they were doing it. Perhaps if I had dedicated time to focusing on these audiobooks instead of listening while I was doing other things, I would have liked the series more. As it stands though, I probably couldn’t tell you what the point of this book was without going back and rereading it.
Ultimately, the Broken Earth trilogy is well written. The language might be a little too poetic at times and the fantasy setting introduces a lot of terminology that was difficult to keep track of, but I can see the appeal of it. The magic system is truly unique, even if the explanation for its origins made less sense than if it was just an unexplainable magic force. I do appreciate that most of the loose ends were wrapped up and either explained or made into moot points by the series’ conclusion. And while the resolution of this trilogy felt a little cliché, at least it provided an ending that most would come to expect from this type of sub-genre.
A pretty good trilogy wrap-up that might need a second read-through, I give The Stone Sky 3.5 stars out of 5.
A Quiet Place Part II
Year: 2021
Rating: PG-13
Length: 97 minutes / 1.61 hours
I’m not usually a fan of horror films, so when A Quiet Place (2018) came out, it was a unique enough concept to pique my interest. While I appreciated the original concept, which played off the audio-visual nature of movies, the cliffhanger ending left me wanting more. Fast forward three years, and I finally got to see the sequel. It was…disappointing. I think I had gotten my hopes up after the first movie wowed me with its suspense and PG-13-level horror but A Quiet Place Part II (2021) was basically just more of the same.
What’s perhaps the most frustrating thing about both these movies is that they could have easily been combined both films and still kept the run-time below three hours. With each movie being around 90 minutes long, there could have been a tighter story between the two entities if some repetitive scenes were cut out of the sequel. The fact that it’s clear they want this franchise to keep going is frustrating because the sequel’s plot felt like a beat-for-beat repeat of the first movie while introducing more questions than it answered.
I can still appreciate the sound design that goes into this kind of horror-thriller, but that’s all it really has going for it. They didn’t learn anything new about the aliens, they didn’t develop any new ways to kill them, and they ended up copying the same cliffhanger ending from Part I. I’d love to see a re-cut of both of these movies together, perhaps even in chronological order so the alien invasion flashback that started this film off would have set the stage for the combined film. In the end, I’ll still probably see Part III (2023), but there need to be some significant improvements.
More of the same without advancing the larger plot significantly, I give A Quiet Place Part II 3.0 stars out of 5.
Donut County
Year: 2018
Rating: E
Time Played: ~2 hours
Most indie games these days make up for their limitations with stylized visuals and tongue-in-cheek humor. One of the current visual styles favored by developers is the cel-shaded look that gives us games like Untitled Goose Game, What the Golf? and Donut County. While Donut County predates those two other games, it definitely has its moments of humor that likely inspired its predecessors. It might be a bit goofy at times, but Donut County is fun for a few hours of gameplay. There’s not much to keep you playing past the end credits, though.
The basic gameplay premise of Donut County is similar to Katamari Damacy, wherein you have to make a hole big enough to swallow up larger and larger objects until nothing is left. There’s a bit of a puzzle element to some of the levels, where you have to use consumed items to trigger other parts of the level so you can swallow everything with your hole. Unfortunately, some of the later levels needed some precision that was frustrating enough to make me pause my play-through for a day or two.
On the Switch, Donut County uses the touchscreen for its controls, making it feel a bit like a mobile game (of which there are a few free ones out there with a similar gimmick). And while there was a loose plot tying everything together, I generally glazed over those cut scenes between levels, especially early on. Fortunately, skipping those sections didn’t affect the gameplay. My biggest gripe, though, is that there are only a few hours of content here. For a game that’s $13, this feels a little too expensive for how much I got out of it, and I even managed to snag it on sale (likely around $6.50). I definitely wouldn’t pay $60 for the physical version.
A cute indie game that’s perhaps a little too pricey, I give Donut County 3.0 stars out of 5.
Raya and the Last Dragon
Year: 2021
Rating: PG
Length: 107 minutes / 1.78 hours
For a studio that built itself on Euro-centric fairy tales and stories, I can appreciate how Disney is (finally) trying to make movies that explore other cultures of the world. While not necessarily based in any lore from Asian countries, Raya and the Last Dragon (2021) pulls enough aesthetic influence from these cultures to be a nice homage. As always, I’m stunned at the visuals Disney can produce with CGI, and Raya and the Last Dragon is no exception to this rule. Add to this the incredibly well-choreographed fight sequences, and this film certainly had its moments.
However, what’s weird about Raya and the Last Dragon is how parts of it felt done before. Kung Fu Panda (2008) might not have had realistic humans using martial arts techniques. Still, the choreography for this kind of animated movie was already there more than a decade before Raya came along. Similarly, the “collect all the pieces of a thing” storyline is such a common trope among fantasy stories that it seemed a little uninspired. This, combined with the “unintentionally gather a rag-tag group of individuals” flow of the story made me check out about halfway through.
While most of these side characters were quirky, I found the titular “last Dragon” Sisu (Awkwafina) to be a bit annoying. Granted, I realize most of these characters are trying to appeal to children, but something about how her character acted made it feel like an anachronism of the era. This probably contributed to my lack of emotion at the moments that would have called for it. Then again, the predictable story beats didn’t help with this either. Still, I’ll watch movies like this for the visual spectacle alone, so the fact that not everything worked for me is fine.
Another visually stunning Disney movie that attempts to tell an Asian-inspired story, I give Raya and the Last Dragon 3.5 stars out of 5.
Mortal Kombat
Year: 2021
Rating: R
Length: 110 minutes / 1.83 hours
In the last few years, it feels like Hollywood has finally come to grips with adapting video games into movies. There has been such a sour taste from the initial wave of video game-inspired movies from the mid-90s that it’s taken 25 years to finally delve into this genre again. As these movie franchises are being rebooted, it’s nice to see that the writers and directors (mostly) understand the appeal of the source material and can translate it to the big screen. It also helps that CGI technology has advanced to the point where the special effects in these films aren’t nearly as campy.
While the original movie version of Mortal Kombat (1995) was OK, there were definitely a few odd choices in its production (inducing casting and some script issues). For the reboot, I felt Mortal Kombat (2021) nailed the aesthetic and the characters with just enough plot to make the reason for these brutal fights plausible. There were just enough classic characters to draw in the nostalgia factor while also providing lesser-known newer characters from the series that added a “cool factor” that makes me want to try some of the more recent installments of the video game franchise. Of course, there has likely been over 20 years of lore to draw from to help make a violent fighting game into something that makes sense.
Those of us who grew up in the era of this video game can appreciate that the movie’s staples are intact, even if they are references that heavily wink at the audience. Catchphrases and extremely brutal fatalities were sprinkled throughout and somewhat distracted from the overall flow, even if they were necessary to tie to the original games. In the end, though, Mortal Kombat was a fun ride and an entertaining bit of nostalgia that was improved by “better graphics” of today’s CGI.
Another example of a video game adaptation done correctly, I give Mortal Kombat 4.5 stars out of 5.
Florence
Year: 2018
Rating: T
Time Played: ~30 minutes
Video games as a medium are changing. Technology has advanced to the point where storytelling isn’t just confined to books, movies, and televisions shows. Sure, there are “cinematic” triple-A titles that have exciting gameplay and dramatic twists. Then there are the indie titles like Florence that make a heartfelt story interactive through video games. It’s a cute game that doesn’t have much replay value but is worth checking out at least once if you have a little time to kill.
It’s odd how such a simple game can pack an emotional punch with such a short story, but that’s where Florence succeeds. The player is engaged in portions of the story through a series of minigames that don’t necessarily change the plot in any significant way (which might have been an interesting way to increase its replayability). However, these little interactive bits are great at expressing the wordless emotions of the characters as they try and figure out this thing called life. After all, there are highs and lows and messy bits that we have to deal with, and Florence gives the player a chance to experience these moments in the titular character’s life.
While I did truly enjoy the story, I have to reiterate that it is quite short. I think it took me about a half-hour to play through the storyline, which itself doesn’t change if you want to get your money’s worth. And for $6 on the Switch, I was glad I got it on sale for half that price because even $6 seems steep for as much content as you’re getting. So, if you’re looking to try this game (and I suggest you do), try and wait for it to go on sale before enjoying its heartfelt story.
A little pricy for an emotional, interactive story, I give Florence 4.0 stars out of 5.
Godzilla vs. Kong
Year: 2021
Rating: PG-13
Length: 103 minutes / 1.72 hours
When the theaters were opening again, I knew this was one of the movies I wanted to see on the big screen. I had missed Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)—having watched it at home well after it had come out—and wanted to be sure that I experienced all this movie had to offer. And while I waited a little too long and was spoiled a little before going to finally see it, Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) delivered on its promise to show me two large animals fighting.
The trouble with the MonsterVerse franchise is that ultimately, the humans surrounding these titans are insignificant. Sure, they may drive some plot here and there, but mostly they’re present for exposition as to why these giants are even fighting in the first place. In previous entries, I usually let it slide. However, I found the addition of conspiracy theorist Bernie Hayes (Brian Tyree Henry) to be a bit too obnoxious for my tastes and almost wished they had just left Madison Russell (Millie Bobby Brown) to do her own thing; regardless of these “conspiracies.”
Aside from the human element, how do the fights stack up? While they are certainly visually stunning, they mostly felt too short. Considering the movie is about these two beasts facing off, I was surprised the fights weren’t a more significant part of the runtime. However, I did appreciate the introduction of a third character (that will remain nameless to prevent spoiling it for you), if for no other reason than I liked to see the modern take on this classic monster. Overall, though, I was a little disappointed in this movie after all the hype it garnered.
A monster movie that delivers on its premise at the bare minimum, I give Godzilla vs. Kong 3.5 stars out of 5.
A Climate of Doubt
Year: 2018
Author: Russell F. Moran
Length: 250 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM THE AUTHOR IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW***
Most people don’t take thrillers seriously. These types of books are meant for silly entertainment and often have a plot similar to campy B-movies. If you’re into that kind of book, A Climate of Doubt is right up your alley. I was actually a little surprised at how well it handled most of its female characters for the genre (despite all of them being married and tied to their husbands at the wrists and ankles). Even though A Climate of Doubt deals with serious scientific subjects, you can turn your brain off and enjoy the mayhem that wild swings in weather will bring upon a planet. Of course, I partly say this because A Climate of Doubt exists in a logical sphere separate from our known universe (i.e., the secondary and tertiary effects of such drastic changes are not addressed or are merely mentioned after the fact).
A Climate of Doubt suffers from a lack of research to create a believable narrative. Subjects like meteorology, weather disasters, solar panels, treason, and how the government actually works (among other topics) should have been researched more thoroughly than they were here. For example, the “weather experts” provide no alternative explanations—like polar vortices—or even attempt to describe what is happening other than calling it “drastic climate change.” Even the chosen method of this extreme weather is completely implausible. If the constellation of satellites had solar panels as large as football fields, they would only be able to adjust 0.000000084% of the light that hits the Earth’s surface. I’m not even going to touch the huge amount of weather effects that were completely ignored in this scenario (or used hand-waving to ignore, like during space launches), as it would make this review much too long.
While this book suffers from many flaws of self-published books (i.e., proofreading, grammatical, and formatting errors), there were fewer than most I’ve seen. Perhaps I didn’t notice these errors as much because so much of this book was redundant or unnecessary. Writers are often told to “kill their darlings,” but this book left every single one of them intact. Many chapters could have been cut completely, their content adding nothing to the story (including a groan-inducing, fourth-wall-breaking self-insert of the novelist husband). Considering half of the pages of this 250-page book were only partially filled, it won’t take you much time to get through it if you want to endure 125 pages of blunt-force exposition through endless “As you know, Bob” dictations.
A redundant and poorly researched thriller, I give A Climate of Doubt 2.0 stars out of 5.
Wonder Woman 1984
Year: 2020
Rating: PG-13
Length: 151 minutes / 2.52 hours
1980s nostalgia is hot right now, which is likely why this movie exists. After all, most Millennials are now earning enough to be the target demographic for Hollywood. The success of Stranger Things and other ’80s throwbacks makes this decade overdone at this point. And while Wonder Woman 1984 (2020) doesn’t really lean in too much to the ’80s—other than some jokes and fashion choices—the fact that this movie could have taken place in any decade is testament to its generic feel.
When I saw the first trailers, I had no idea how they could bring back Chris Pine’s character, after his fate in Wonder Woman (2017) was pretty final. I didn’t particularly like how they brought him back in this film, other than to have him play off Gal Gadot’s titular superhero. In fact, I felt the whole “Diana is lonely” plotline was a bit overdramatic considering she had 40+ years to get over him. Then again, what woman wouldn’t “pine” for Chris Pine? At the very least, Diana got the closure she needed, even if it was all fake.
For a popcorn action flick, Wonder Woman 1984 certainly delivers. As is the case with most superhero sequels, the titular character is confident and shows new abilities that are fun to see in action. However, it was hard to tell just who the main villain of this film was. While there was a clear plotline for Kristen Wiig’s Barbara Minerva being the villain, she and Diana rarely shared enough screen time for the hero to realize that she had an antagonist to fight. Additionally, the “true” villain was technically just a magic rock that was out of control, which is why there wasn’t much personality to it other than what Pedro Pascal could provide.
A fairly standard superhero film that doesn’t lean into much of its era or characters, I give Wonder Woman 1984 3.0 stars out of 5.
Dead Cells
Year: 2017
Rating: T
Time Played: 10+ hours
For years, I saw many people praise Dead Cells for its flashy, fast-paced gameplay. I stayed away from it for a long time because I wasn’t used to playing roguelike games and didn’t like the idea of losing all my progress when I died. Eventually, Dead Cells went on sale on the Nintendo eShop, and I picked it up. Then I didn’t put it down again for days. It turns out the right roguelike structure is an addicting combination of steady progress and mastery of the gameplay.
The fact that you “lose progress” in Dead Cells is a bit of a misnomer. I appreciated the upgrade system that allowed me to eventually win enough times to get all the way to the end boss and defeat him, thus unlocking even more of the game. Of course, I had to grind for a while to “get gud” before I could even finish the first level (at which point I could spend my cells on upgrades). From that point onward, I began to remember the enemy patterns in later levels, which led to my one, ultimately fulfilling run to the end.
Of course, as is the case with roguelikes, RNG can make or break a run. If I find one of my favorite (or overpowered) weapons or assist items early on, it can carry me quite far through the dungeon. I appreciate the rewards for killing a ton of enemies or progressing quickly through the dungeon, as they were the main reason I could collect enough cells to upgrade my equipment. Fortunately, the slightly retro-styled visuals are fantastic, and the gameplay is fun enough that I kept coming back for more—one more run to see if I could progress further out of the dungeon.
An addicting and visually flashy roguelike, I give Dead Cells 4.5 stars out of 5.
Escape Room
Year: 2019
Rating: PG-13
Length: 99 minutes / 1.65 hours
For all the Young Adult clones that The Hunger Games (2012) spawned in Hollywood, it’s interesting to see something that takes the elaborate death traps present in that series and applies them to the horror genre. While I’m sure the Saw series likely did this kind of thing already, I haven’t seen any of those films to know (too bloody for my tastes). This is where Escape Room (2019) takes an interesting premise and makes it feel like a generic Hunger Games knock-off while remaining a PG-13 horror film.
At first glance, Escape Room is a smart thriller that forces its “players” to solve these rooms and eventually escape alive. Some of these set pieces are quite well done, including an oven and an upside-down bar. The reason these people were trapped in a series of escape rooms was also somewhat interesting, even if it wasn’t explained very well. However, as is the case with most horror films, the problem is that none of these characters stick around long enough to give a lasting impression. This becomes apparent early on, which didn’t give me an impetus to invest in any characters.
Ultimately, Escape Room suffers from some fairly glaring structural flaws. Not only is there a fakeout from the get-go, but the ending is left so incomplete that I can’t even comprehend what was accomplished or what the escape room designers had planned to do. Now that I learn there’s an Escape Room sequel that is very much like Catching Fire (2013), I can’t help but draw more parallels to the Hunger Games series. Overall, the premise didn’t feel like it was properly explored, or at least it was explored in too many iterations to whittle down the characters to a manageable level.
A Hunger Games knockoff that focuses on elaborate deathtraps, I give Escape Room 2.5 stars out of 5.
Neither Here Nor There: Travels in Europe
Year: 1991
Author: Bill Bryson
Length: 338 minutes / 5.63 hours
Over time, I’ve found Bill Bryson’s books are hit-or-miss for me. I enjoyed his memoir about childhood, The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid, and it was A Walk in the Woods that introduced me to Bryson in the first place. However, since then, I’ve struggled to find something that’s lived up to those two books. At Home came close, but I was really turned off by I’m a Stranger Here Myself. Ultimately, I hoped Neither Here Nor There would fit the bill, but it disappointed me once again.
Perhaps Bryson’s travels in Europe weren’t interesting to me because I haven’t been over there myself. Most of the details in this book felt like they would only be understood by someone who knew what Bryson was talking about because they had experienced the same thing. I did appreciate the dueling retrospective look at Bryson’s life between his younger days to when he was older and wiser, but most of the focus seemed to be on remembering when he was a young man (and all the negative foibles that come with it).
In the end, Neither Here Nor There doesn’t really have anything to say. The author went to Europe and visited the same places twice. That’s it. For those looking for some deep philosophical examination of Europe or a comparison of how it’s better/worse when compared to the United States, you might end up being disappointed. Sure, there’s some of that in here, but it’s so light that it merely glances off the main plot of the literal traveling of Europe. It probably doesn’t help that much of the humor in this book hasn’t aged well either.
Bill Bryson’s travel log from his trips to Europe, I give Neither Here Nor There 3.0 stars out of 5.
Wolfwalkers
Year: 2020
Rating: PG
Length: 103 minutes / 1.72 hours
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I sat down to watch the third installment in Tomm Moore’s “Irish Folklore Trilogy.” The Secret of Kells (2009) was a unique animation style that also carried over to Song of the Sea (2014). Wolfwalkers (2020) continues this “rough” visual style but perhaps has the strongest story of all three films. That’s not to say its predecessors don’t have interesting stories, it’s more that Wolfwalkers builds upon the foundations established by these previous entries of this loose trilogy.
As is the case with these films, Wolfwalkers follows a young girl (Robyn Goodfellowe (Honor Kneafsey)) who encounters the fantasy of the world adjacent to her own. Shapeshifting wolves and disappearing forests are more complex than she first realizes. Many stories based on ancient lore are meant to teach lessons to children, and this movie is no different. Granted, there are quite a few cliches in how the plot progresses, being quite predictable at times. Still, the story is engaging enough to warrant a viewing.
This movie first came to my attention when I saw it tied to advertisements for Apple TV+. As this is yet another streaming service on top of the ones already well established (and with significantly more content than Apple TV+ has), I was disappointed that such a marvelous, Oscar-nominated film like Wolfwalkers was basically trapped behind a paywall. I don’t know if this movie will ever be released on Blu-ray, but for right now I’d suggest dipping your toe into Apple TV+ with a free trial just to watch this one piece of content.
Perhaps the best entry in the “Irish Folklore Trilogy,” I give Wolfwalkers 4.5 stars out of 5.
Moss
Year: 2018
Rating: E
Time Played: ~4 hours
As gaming advances into an era with an option for virtual reality, I’m glad to see some games embrace this technology in ways to bridge the gap between traditional gaming and VR gaming. For example, it’s too easy to merely adapt a first-person shooter like SUPERHOT into the VR space since the platform is basically made for the first-person perspective. But what about platformers? Adventure games? Moss shows how games in these genres can still work in virtual reality while also making the interactivity of the medium part of the gameplay.
I have to say there’s a bit of a challenge in controlling the player character while also using these controllers to modify the environment. This multitasking takes some time to get used to but ultimately is interesting enough to not be completely frustrating. Sometimes, the next step in a particular room isn’t readily apparent, which led me to look up the solution to advance the story. It turns out I was doing everything right, but the VR system wasn’t necessarily triggering the next part of the game. Either way, I did far too much backtracking for my liking during one small portion of the game.
Of course, one of the qualms I’m having with VR games is their length. I was completely entranced in the fantasy world of Moss, but I could also tell it was not designed to be beaten in one sitting since you’re not supposed to play for extended amounts of time. That being said, the story was a bit too short, especially since they teased at more of the plot to come (that I hope is in a free update, considering the price). Either way, I hope more platformer adventure games take note and build upon the headway Moss created in VR.
A short but interesting third-person VR adventure game, I give Moss 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Mitchells vs. the Machines
Year: 2021
Rating: PG
Length: 113 minutes / 1.88 hours
After Sony Pictures Animation released the visually stunning, Oscar-winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018), I awaited their next project with great interest. Eventually, they put out a trailer for a movie titled Connected, which seemed to be exactly what I was looking for. Then the pandemic hit. Netflix grabbed the rights, renamed the film, and released The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021). Ultimately, it was a fun movie, even if it followed many tropes of the family road trip.
Visually, I’m finding the new style of 3-D animated movies that look closer to the traditional 2-D animated films to be an intriguing middle ground. There are benefits from both styles, and this movie takes advantage of them. Ultimately, though, I think this kind of movie knows its demographic is millennials and does its best to pander to some of our absurd humor (like a fantastic scene with Furbies) as we find ourselves coming into our life as parents faster than we want to admit. Sure, there’s still some humor that appeals to the younger generations (it is an animated film, after all), but it kind of hit that sweet spot for the millennial in me.
I definitely found the frenetic action of this film on par with The LEGO Movie (2014)—which itself had a unique visual style and humor that parallels this movie. All this being said, The Mitchells vs. the Machines felt unfocused. It tries to cram two full plots into a single movie, which made it feel a little bloated (at almost 2-hours long) and some of the emotional moments tacked on for the sake of completeness. For my money, I’d much rather watch Lady Bird (2017) for the “daughter leaving home to pursue her dreams in college” plot—especially since jobs in the film industry are quite lucrative.
Another visually unique animated film from Sony Pictures Animation, I give The Mitchells vs. the Machines 4.0 stars out of 5.
Alamo Tree
Year: 2020
Author: Tana S. Holmes
Length: 29 pages
As a new father, I can appreciate when picture books try and approach complex subjects. I’m already tired of learning about zoo animals and colors, so a book like Alamo Tree is a nice reprieve from the monotony. Granted, I don’t think my child is old enough yet to have the attention span to read this book, but it’s nice to know I have it when that time comes. Of course, I’m not sure when I’ll need to teach my child about the Alamo either.
Told through the perspective of a tree located at the Alamo site, Alamo Tree tries to make the tragedy that happened at the Alamo relatable to children. Unfortunately, this means it cuts out quite a bit of context that kids might miss and wouldn’t be appropriate for them anyway. Despite this, I’d consider Alamo Tree a good primer to gauge a child’s interest in American history (even if it’s a small, localized part of it). Perhaps if a child wants to learn more, then the parent can start looking for more comprehensive books about the topic or wait until they are older to expand their learning.
While the illustrations were passable, I think the one thing that really detracts from this book is the font. I understand that the font should appeal to children, and perhaps the sections where the words are directed toward these young readers are fine. However, this font is extremely hard to read in smaller sizes, which is where all the details about the Alamo are kept for adults to then expound to their children if needed. It might have been better if there was greater contrast between the font color and the background, but as it is, be prepared to muddle through it.
A history primer for children that needs its font reworked, I give Alamo Tree 3.5 stars out of 5.
Hamilton
Year: 2020
Rating: PG-13
Length: 160 minutes / 2.67 hours
I’ll admit I’m late to the game on this musical. Luckily, Disney+ helped give me the option of seeing this modern masterpiece. Granted, I know it’s not the same experience as seeing it in the theatre (aside from the modifications to allow it on Disney+), but I’m glad I had the opportunity to see it nonetheless. While Hamilton (2020) is not the first musical about the early United States I’ve heard, it certainly taught me way more about this time period than I had previously thought possible.
A word to the wise: be prepared for almost three hours of fast-talking politicians. Subtitles might help, but it’s awe-inspiring to hear these rhymes fly through the air at a frenetic pace. I was a little exhausted after I finished watching this since I felt it crammed a six-hour history lecture into less than half the time. It helped that the artistic license Lin-Manuel Miranda had with the material made for some catchy songs and entertaining characters (my personal favorites were King George (Jonathan Groff) and Thomas Jefferson (Daveed Diggs)). Not every song was memorable—which is to be expected—but maybe it might have solved this issue if it was structured closer to a traditional musical instead of an opera.
While most people find the acting and songs to be the best part of this musical, I was more impressed by the set design and lighting. For a minimalist production, the crew maximized the use of the rotating stage to create a space that felt larger than it was. Having performed in amateur theater before, I can attest to the immense challenges of such an endeavor—despite how simple they might seem at first glance. Overall, though, Hamilton is the whole musical package conveniently available through modern streaming.
A dense musical that deserves its place in the pop culture zeitgeist, I give Hamilton 4.0 stars out of 5.
Hyper Light Drifter
Year: 2016
Rating: T
Time Played: 524 minutes / 8.73 hours
As a gamer who grew up on the pixel art graphics of the 8- and 16- bit eras, I can appreciate when a game comes along to try and replicate that aesthetic. Granted, it can be challenging to pull off correctly while also adapting modern gameplay elements. However, there are definitely games that have successfully created an homage to these earlier times (like Shovel Knight). Then there are games that expand upon their predecessors to create something that the original gaming systems couldn’t possibly handle. Hyper Light Drifter is beautiful in its aesthetic while never sacrificing its vision or its challenge.
Early video games had the flaw of being difficult for the sake of drawing out how long you played them. As a result, some were unfairly hard—to the point where I never wanted to get good enough to beat them. Hyper Light Drifter certainly had a bit of a learning curve for me, but once I got the mechanics down, I had to get to the end credits. Granted, some of this learning curve came from how the visuals often made it difficult to determine if there was a secret path or if I was merely dashing off a cliff into oblivion.
Fortunately, once I got the hang of the game (after about the first full “dungeon”), the forgiving death system always put me close to where I failed and allowed me to continue—having learned from my mistakes. This is likely what kept me playing through some of the most difficult bosses I have ever faced in a video game. Some bosses I probably faced 100 times before finally memorizing the patterns and being able to actually do enough damage to defeat them. After a while, I was slashing through bosses and clearing out the story at a startling pace. It was definitely a well-done story, merely enhanced by its pixelated style.
Visually interesting and addictively difficult, I give Hyper Light Drifter 4.5 stars out of 5.
My Octopus Teacher
Year: 2020
Rating: R
Length: 113 minutes / 1.88 hours
Nature documentaries are perhaps some of the most educational movies ever made. Sure, there are documentaries about extreme sports (like Senna (2010)), historical events (like The Look of Silence (2014)) or people (like Won’t You Be My Neighbor? (2018)) but nature documentaries usually leave me with a sense of awe. This feeling comes from learning something about Earth that has been that way for millennia and will continue to be that way for millennia to come. There are so many amazing things to learn from nature that I can’t help but be amazed by it. My Octopus Teacher (2020) is just the latest in a long line of nature documentaries that have wowed me with the new knowledge I gained.
Being from a landlocked state, I don’t have a lot of experience with aquatic life. I’ve occasionally seen something about octopuses being a little peculiar but never fully understood the full extent of their short lifespan. Of course, where My Octopus Teacher excels is in giving the audience a personal connection to this singular octopus. Sure, it may act somewhat different from how most octopi are supposed to act but observing how intelligent it is was truly inspiring.
Of course, I have to fault nature documentaries like this for manufacturing some of this emotional connection to the octopus. It’s basically a trope to show how human-like this octopus is, only for its life to come in danger. Although, I must admit that I did become emotionally invested in this octopus. This was partly due to the stunning underwater cinematography, which itself should have also won an award alongside the Best Documentary Feature Oscar. I always find myself awestruck that someone would have the forethought to capture these moments on camera so that such a movie could be made, but in this case, I’m certainly glad they did.
A beautiful underwater lesson on the life of an octopus, I give My Octopus Teacher 4.5 stars out of 5.
Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself
Year: 2007
Author: Alan Alda
Length: 361 minutes / 6.02 hours
After reading If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face?, I decided to add some other Alan Alda books to my reading list. Months later, I finally got around to listening to the audiobook for Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself. I appreciate that Alda was the narrator, as he already has such a great voice for narration. That being said, there are a few aspects of this book that were likely lost in the translation to audiobook format.
As a celebrity, Alan Alda was invited to speak at many graduation ceremonies for many decades. This book is a collection of some of the speeches he gave at these events. While there are certainly gems of wisdom spread throughout this book, many of the same points are reiterated from speech to speech, making it slightly repetitive after a while. Also, if you don’t happen to agree with some of his political views, you might not find some of the speeches particularly interesting. Despite all this, if you can glean some useful advice out of these speeches, then it was worth the read.
One thing I had trouble distinguishing in the audiobook version was where the speeches started and ended and where Alda’s reflections and asides started. I would occasionally notice an echo in the recording, which likely indicated that it was one of his speeches. I think the echo was trying to replicate the sensation of listening to Alda in a large space (like the ones used for graduations), but it was so faint as to be indistinguishable from the rest of the book. I appreciate the attention to detail, but it could have been a little stronger.
Some useful graduation advice from Alan Alda, I give Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself 3.5 stars out of 5.
Icarus
Year: 2017
Rating: R
Length: 120 minutes / 2.00 hours
Some things in this world don’t really need an explanation. If you’ve been around long enough, you can be fairly certain some things are true without requiring evidence. After all, we can usually extrapolate a reason for something if we know how the systems around it work. Even if there are barriers to keep these things from happening, we always have a hunch they’re happening. For example, Icarus (2017) exposes the doping of Russian athletes for basically the entire time that Russian athletes have existed. This, of course, is not a surprise to anyone.
While we can certainly blame the Cold War for Russia’s obsession with winning at sports (and especially the Olympic Games), it is a little unsettling how far and how thoroughly the Russian government went to make sure their athletes were the best. The exposé Icarus provides is enthralling as it is revealed just how far up the oligarchy this conspiracy goes. Learning how they overcame the numerous methods in place to ensure their athletes weren’t doping is as astonishing as it is despicable. Again, I wasn’t surprised that Russia was doing this, but seeing the mounting evidence against them was hard to ignore.
My only qualm with this film was how the first act felt a little out of place. Sure, it was a lead-in to learning how to beat the anti-doping systems that Russia had perfected over decades of research. Still, I almost feel the movie would have been a little tighter if it focused solely on the scandalous revelations from Grigory Rodchenkov, the leader of a Russian anti-doping lab. The fact that the rest of the movie plays like a tight thriller as Grigory exposes the truth of Russia’s athletic lies made me almost completely forget how this film started.
An astonishing amount of evidence revealing Russia’s athletic doping, I give Icarus 3.5 stars out of 5.
Kirby Star Allies
Year: 2018
Rating: E10+
Time Played: 5+ hours
I enjoyed the Kirby games growing up. They’re probably the first games I ever beat. They may have been simple, but they were fun. I still have fond memories of Kirby’s Adventure on the NES, which cemented the series formula in my head: eat enemies and steal their powers. The platforming was never too difficult, but the boss battles provided enough challenge to satisfy me when I eventually defeated them. I was also equally engaged with finding all the hidden areas until I reached 100% completion. The latest in the Kirby series, Kirby Star Allies, doesn’t stray far from this formula.
While I only picked up the occasional Kirby game since my NES days, I knew the “partner” mechanic had been around for some time. Kirby Star Allies doesn’t necessarily reinvent anything with this game mechanic as much as it does tweak it slightly to allow four players simultaneously. However, I did appreciate many of the “combo” attacks present in this game, even if their animations became tiring by the end. I also found the visuals for Kirby’s first game on the Switch to be quite stunning. It was a fun playthrough, even if it didn’t provide any challenge.
Perhaps this was my main issue with Kirby Star Allies: it was too easy. Granted, I understand this game is targeted at a younger demographic. However, once I beat the game (at 78% completion for a single play-through), I had no motivation to find the remaining secrets or to try out the “difficult” modes, as I felt I had experienced all the game had to offer. And perhaps that’s just how this game is. It’s likely an introduction for new fans of the franchise who haven’t grown up with the same gameplay for decades.
A visually impressive, albeit extremely easy game, I give Kirby Star Allies 3.0 stars out of 5.
Flora & Ulysses
Year: 2021
Rating: PG
Length: 95 minutes / 1.58 hours
After months of holding out, I finally managed to gain a Disney+ subscription. While this has allowed me to watch plenty of excellent original content like The Mandalorian, I also have options like Flora & Ulysses (2021). I never paid for cable before, so I missed out on a lot of Disney Channel original movies, which now inhabit a section of Disney+ that I don’t think I’ll be revisiting any time soon. Of course, I realize this movie wasn’t made for me, but that doesn’t excuse many of its flaws.
It’s a little weird to me that after decades of the same type of after-school specials, the plots haven’t changed that much. Sure, Flora & Ulysses was originally a book, which doesn’t excuse its treatment here as just another story about a child coping with their parents’ separation through some fantastical element (in this case, a “superpowered” squirrel). The fact that the squirrel doesn’t seem to have any superpowers other than some clever camera work is perhaps a fault of not thinking big enough when it came to the list of potential superpowers. “Flight” and being able to communicate? Really? Not laser eyes or retractable metal claws?
Added to the less-than-fantastic exploits of this squirrel are the unbelievable characters. The worst offenders are the parents, both of whom separated for the stupidest reason. Let’s also not forget that a newspaper reporter came to write about a struggling author in a small town as if there was literally no other news of significance or import to print that day. In today’s publishing climate, if an author can’t churn out regular hits, they’ll be homeless in no time at all. Overall, so much of this movie broke my suspension of disbelief, which was probably why it never made it to theaters.
A sub-par “Disney Channel”-type movie, I give Flora & Ulysses 2.0 stars out of 5.
RELIGION: Ruining Everything Since 4004 B.C.
Year: 2015
Author: Zach Weinersmith
Length: 261 pages
Much like SCIENCE: Ruining Everything, RELIGION: Ruining Everything is another collection of webcomics from “Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal” (SMBC). Basically, these two topics cover the vast majority of Zach Weinersmith’s comics. This book can act as a primer for anyone who wants to start reading this webcomic but happens to not have the internet (for some reason). This printed collection of webcomics still manages to capture the humor and hidden jokes present in the online versions of these same comics, but with a few extras sprinkled in to make long-time readers pick it up as well.
While not nearly as biased as The Holy-Bible Unabridged, no religion is safe from being the butt of Weinersmith’s jokes in this collection. It did help that the distribution of jokes about these different religions seemed to be fairly well balanced in this book. And even as someone who considers themself a Christian, I could laugh at how ridiculous some of our beliefs would appear to outsiders. However, not being as well-versed in other religions, I don’t know if the jokes aimed at them were similarly self-aware.
When compared to SCIENCE: Ruining Everything, I feel RELIGION: Ruining Everything is more approachable for those who want to start reading SMBC comics. Perhaps this is because most people can relate to the jokes contained in this book instead of needing specific scientific knowledge to understand why the comic is funny. Of course, I’m sure some people might be offended by these comics, but then this collection probably isn’t for them anyway. I feel being able to laugh at irreverence is not the same as endorsing blasphemy. If anything, understanding the jokes in this book means you’re fairly well-read in your religion already.
A humorous collection of religious jokes that doesn’t pull its punches, I give RELIGION: Ruining Everything 4.0 stars out of 5.
Happy Feet
Year: 2006
Rating: PG
Length: 108 minutes / 1.80 hours
Very few movies have pivoted so hard on me like Happy Feet (2006). I vaguely remembered the trailers for this film back in the day but wasn’t too interested in it because it wasn’t from Disney or Pixar (I might have also confused it with Surf’s Up (2007)). However, the fact that it won Best Animated Picture for that year should have told me there was something special here. However, my expectations for Happy Feet were much different than the plot twist that I hadn’t seen coming.
Since I was coming in cold to this film (har har), I had expected it to be the standard “individual is unique, but doesn’t fit in with the status quo” type plot. After all, the main character (voiced by Elijah Wood) is the odd-one-out in a community of penguins by being unable to sing. However, this inability to sing is overshadowed by Mumble’s extraordinary ability to dance. The singing and dancing choreographed in a way that only CGI animation can is merely one reason to watch this film. I was also somewhat surprised at how realistic these penguins looked, even for 2006 graphics. Perhaps they had a lot of source footage from March of the Penguins (2005).
Of course, I wasn’t expecting this movie to be about climate change and how humans can be terrible when it comes to animals. Granted, this was after the standard “journey of self-discovery” that I knew was going to happen, but it still was a hard turn from a fairly predictable plot up to that point. Overall, despite changing its focus in the third act, Happy Feet is an entertaining movie. However, it has something to say and still manages to say it, even if it felt a little shoehorned in at the end.
A well-done animated musical that fits in a moral in its third act, I give Happy Feet 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Year: 2017
Rating: E10
Time Played: 90+ hours
I’ve been a fan of the Legend of Zelda series for a long time. While Ocarina of Time started my love of the series, I looked forward to each new iteration to see how the items, puzzle-solving, and combat would satisfy my need to visit Hyrule. Consequently, while Breath of the Wild snuck under the radar for me (in part because I didn’t own the consoles it released on at the time), I almost have trouble going back and playing the older Zelda titles because of its mold-breaking success. Needless to say, this game was what impelled me to finally buy a Switch a few years ago.
I could continue to sing the praises of this game heaped upon it by other reviewers. But, instead, I’ll point out that it’s a game I’ll still occasionally pull out and play, even when I have newer titles that I haven’t even played yet. Part of this is because, while I did eventually beat the game (at my own pace and on my own terms), I still have bits of the DLC to accomplish that challenge my skills. Plus, the VR mode with the Nintendo Labo add-on is a neat addition, and I found myself more fully immersed when I played that way.
As Breath of the Wild was my first introduction to games that were more “open-world” than the standard linear Zelda format, I’ve found that I enjoy this genre and have even jumped into games like Shadow of the Colossus and The Witcher 3 as a result. The fact that I want to start a new game of Breath of the Wild to experience all the little things all over again speaks volumes of its greatness. Granted, it’s not entirely perfect, with some mechanics and content feeling flawed or lacking, but I can’t wait to see what the sequel has in store as a result.
The mold-breaking, definitive Zelda experience, I give The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 4.5 stars out of 5.
Capone
Year: 2020
Rating: R
Length: 103 minutes / 1.72 hours
To give you a sense of the quality of this movie, I received a copy to own Capone (2020) for free from Redbox. The fact that Redbox was the distributor for this movie should have been the first indication of how bad it was going to be. At first, I figured, “Oh, a movie about Al Capone. That should be interesting, right? And Tom Hardy is in it? He’s done some great stuff.” How wrong I was. Now it’s my job to warn you about it.
Perhaps the director, Josh Trank, was to blame for this mess of a movie. Sure, his first film, Chronicle (2012), was pretty good, but Fantastic Four (2015) showed this to be a fluke, and Capone put the last nail in the coffin for his career. I mean, how can you take such an interesting historical figure like Al Capone (Tom Hardy) and focus on all the wrong parts of his life? On the other hand, maybe the goal was to humanize him by making the audience aware of the bodily failings of an older man? Whatever the case, the result was mostly just gross, confusing, and ultimately unentertaining.
I can recognize that choosing to document the end of Al Capone’s life is a bold choice. However, unless there are snippets of his illustrious past sprinkled throughout the film (in the form of flashbacks or other storytelling methods), it forces the audience to sit through the boring parts of this man’s last days. And perhaps, that was the point? We can sometimes idolize villains like Al Capone, so watching his steady deterioration toward death can bring him down from the cultural pedestal we have collectively placed him on. Unfortunately, regardless of what was trying to be done here, it failed miserably.
A mess of a biopic that focuses on the wrong parts of Al Capone’s life, I give Capone 1.5 stars out of 5.
SCIENCE: Ruining Everything Since 1543
Year: 2013
Author: Zach Weinersmith
Length: 266 pages
One of the webcomics I regularly enjoy is none other than “Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal” (or SMBC for short). SCIENCE: Ruining Everything Since 1543 is a collection of some of the best science-related comics from SMBC that Zach Weinersmith has created over the years. Of course, much like his “Abridged” series—especially Science Abridged Beyond the Point of Usefulness—there are concepts presented in this book that go way over my head. Even as a mechanical engineer, there are still lots of scientific jokes that I didn’t understand in this book.
I do find it interesting how certain webcomic artists adapt to the printed page. Weinersmith’s comics vary in length so much that it can be challenging to contain these comics in such a limited space. Still, even the little secrets and jokes that hide on a webpage format find their way into this book in a way that works. Of course, another benefit of this collection is the inclusion of some comics that never made an appearance on the web. Sure, these comics were even more intellectually esoteric than the standard SMBC fare, but the ones I understood were certainly funny.
For those looking to start reading SMBC, this is a good primer for what to expect. No topic is off-limits here, and its irreverent take on science is definitely humorous for those who understand the joke. Since I had already read most of these comics before, I had already spoiled the jokes for myself. However, someone new to these comics will definitely find something to laugh about. If anything, even at 266 pages, it’s a quick read if you want to have a chuckle when there’s nothing else to do.
A good SMBC collection with some great jokes mixed in with some new comics, I give SCIENCE: Ruining Everything 3.5 stars out of 5.
Oldboy
Year: 2003
Rating: R
Length: 120 minutes / 2.00 hours
Some storylines are so timeless; they can’t help to be made into something modern—thus becoming timeless in the process. Oldboy (2003) can easily draw comparisons to The Count of Monte Cristo in its structure but adds depth and layers to a wild ride that unfortunately could not be even closely matched in its American remake in 2013. As it stands, Oldboy is one of the pillars that shows how culturally significant South Korean cinema has been and how its predecessors like Parasite (2019) and Minari (2020) stood on its shoulders to achieve greatness.
Oldboy is a lot like Memento (2000) in that it demands a second viewing, often right after reaching the end credits. Many of the plot’s twists and turns readjust the viewer’s understanding of previous events—to the point where you’ll have to watch it again with this new knowledge fresh in your mind, thus opening up a whole new experience to the film. Revenge is piled upon revenge, but the motivation of these characters is always clear, even if it is uncomfortable at times. Oldboy certainly doesn’t pull its punches when it comes to sex or violence, but don’t let that distract you from the engaging story.
In fact, I would hope that anyone who likes well-done action sequences will take the time to watch this movie. Without spoiling it, I can honestly say there is a moment with a hammer that is as hilarious as it is disturbing. And sure, it might be a bit over-the-top at times, but what action film doesn’t land in this pitfall and still manage to entertain? Either way, by the end of the movie, both the characters and the audience are ultimately changed by what they just learned and saw, respectively.
One of the best South Korean action films ever made, I give Oldboy 5.0 stars out of 5.
This movie is contained in the book, Cinema Connections: a never-ending “6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon” and is connected to The Boondock Saints (1999) and The Housemaid (1960)
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
Year: 2011
Rating: E10
Time Played: 16.95 hours
When I was cataloging my video game collection a few years ago, I realized how I seemed to have a lot of Nintendo console games that I also had in a Game Boy version. While this seems to indicate I was the prime market for the Switch decades before it came out, I never considered the “portable” versions of these games to be that good. With the recent uptick in remakes and re-ports to newer hardware, I can’t claim that I appreciate buying the same game I already own and can still play on an older system. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D is the exception to this.
While it had been some time since I played Ocarina of Time, it was one of the first Zelda games I actually completed when I was growing up. So, with a bit of nostalgia tinting my play-through of the 3D version, I came to realize some of the weaknesses of the original. In fact, I’d almost say that the 3D version should be the definitive play experience for several reasons. Firstly, the 3D graphics (and improved textures) are gorgeous. Secondly, being able to use the gyroscope to aim the slingshot and bow is something I didn’t know I needed so badly. Thirdly, climbing speed, touchscreen inventory, and tweaks to the Water Temple made this play-through so much more enjoyable.
Some will argue that this is the best Zelda title prior to Breath of the Wild, and I’d agree with them to a point. Compared to its predecessors, Ocarina of Time was leaps and bounds ahead in how cinematic it felt. That being said, there is a lot of hand-holding and linearity to the story that forced me to play a certain way instead of exploring the world the way I wanted to (a la A Link to the Past or Breath of the Wild). It’s still a game worth experiencing, though, and even more so on the 3DS.
The definitive version of one of the best games of all time, I give The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D 5.0 stars out of 5.
Judas and the Black Messiah
Year: 2021
Rating: R
Length: 126 minutes / 2.10 hours
Isn’t it funny how I only had a passing understanding of the Black Panther party until this last year, when it featured in two Oscar-nominated movies? Granted, it was more of a secondary plot point in The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020), so the movie where it was the star of the show was none other than Judas and the Black Messiah (2021). But, regardless of the coincidence, I did learn a lot about the Black Panther party through this movie and continue to hate the past that straight white males have created for others.
Judas and the Black Messiah‘s title is quite fitting considering the unification that Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya) managed to create in Chicago in the late ’60s. I was shocked to see some of the groups of people he managed to bring together, even if it made sense for them to rise up against the system of white privilege that had kept them oppressed for so long. But, of course, the “insider mole” plot has been done to death before, so even if this was how it really went down, it felt too reminiscent of other movies that came before it.
Overall, though, Judas and the Black Messiah is an engaging film with some moments of great tension and great anger at injustice. One of my other qualms, though, is how I felt it wasn’t easy to understand what many of the characters were saying because their dialects were so thick. Some subtitles might have been useful. Additionally, the movie didn’t really feel like it was about Fred Hampton, but rather about the people around him, like Bill O’Neal (Lakeith Stanfield) and Deborah Johnson (Dominique Fishback). As such, it felt distracted in these side plots when it should have been a little more focused.
An eye-opening history lesson on the Black Panther party, I give Judas and the Black Messiah 3.5 stars out of 5.
The Lost Colony
Year: 2006
Author: Eoin Colfer
Length: 504 minutes / 8.40 hours
A good fantasy series knows that it needs to keep building its lore as it progresses past its first few volumes. Some might start to sag around the fifth volume, but The Lost Colony doubles down and introduces a whole new species into its universe: demons. The fact that these creatures are both tied to the fairies that have comprised the series up to now and have their own set of rules that tracks with traditional demon lore is a testament to the research that went into this series.
Of course, introducing demons into the series this late in the game isn’t necessarily what makes The Lost Colony good. Rather, it’s the introduction of a rival for Artemis—who also has the potential to be a rival in love against Holly Short. The last few books in the Artemis Fowl series felt like an episodic “deus ex machina” that didn’t change much in the grand scheme of the main character’s life. The Lost Colony recognizes it’s time for Artemis to grow up and pushes a surprising ending with the potential for character growth in subsequent books.
I’m actually a little surprised that it took five books to get to this point. Most of the character development had been simmering beneath the surface for quite a few books before this one. However, introducing a new character in the form of a demon imp certainly helped keep the focus on more interesting things while also minimizing some of the more childish moments (which are still there, as this is a series for children). Overall, The Lost Colony seems to be a turning point in the Artemis Fowl series, and I look forward to where it goes from here.
Fresh worldbuilding and character development for the Artemis Fowl series, I give The Lost Colony 4.0 stars out of 5.
Minari
Year: 2020
Rating: PG-13
Length: 115 minutes / 1.92 hours
One has to wonder if last year’s Best Picture, Parasite (2019), helped pave the way for Minari (2020). While both are quite different films, the acceptance of South Korean cinema has been a long time coming. However, one thing both films share is their sense of foreshadowing. The subtle phrasings and actions of the characters seem inconsequential at first but evolve into hard-hitting plot points as the movie progresses. These story beats hit hard even with a relatively simple plot and left me emotionally devastated with each twist and turn.
Set in 1980s America, Minari speaks into the evolution (or, some would say, death) of the American Dream. The belief that anyone from anywhere can come to this land of opportunity and make a living doing what they want to do is the strongest in the immigrants who came here hoping to capitalize on the United States’ freedom. But, unfortunately, it’s not as easy as finding an empty field and successfully starting a farm. Just when you think the Yi family can catch a break, something else breaks. Hardship rears its ugly head with every setback, pushing the dream just out of reach every time.
The core of Minari is in the family unit, which includes bringing Grandma Soon-ja (Youn Yuh-jung) in to help. And while she is by far the best character in the film, it’s only because she plays off the children so well. My only qualm with Minari is its portrayal of Christians, even though I’ve come to accept that these stereotypes are the norm for people of the faith. In the end, though, Minari is about perseverance and grit, two qualities we could stand to have more of in this modern society.
An examination of the American Dream through an immigrant family’s struggles, I give Minari 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
Year: 2013
Rating: E
Time Played: 895 minutes / 14.92 hours
While I bemoan remakes of games that are just straight ports from their original system, I can appreciate remakes that add a little something to make it worth playing the same story over again. That was definitely the case with The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds. Basically a 3D re-skin of A Link to the Past, A Link Between Worlds modifies the mechanics and story just enough for me to consider it a moderately unique entry in the Zelda series. In fact, I think I like this game more than I do the game it was originally based on.
This game’s stereoscopic effect really adds to that top-down visual style that defined the earlier Zelda titles. So, while everything looked gorgeous in its reimagined 3D form, the game already lent itself to this technological feature. I also appreciated how open this game was, as it allowed me to acquire all the items that would have normally been trapped in dungeons whenever I wanted, thus giving me the freedom to explore the world of Hyrule the way I wanted to. Plus, the new mechanic introduced in this game had plenty of clever little uses throughout the play-through.
Partly because of the openness of its exploration, there was never a point where I really felt stuck or at a loss of what to do next. If I came across a stumbling block, I’d warp over to a different part of the map or tackle another one of the many dungeons and see if it was any easier. Being able to upgrade the items the way I wanted to was also just as nice as having them be easily accessible on the lower touchscreen. Overall, Nintendo took a classic from their Super Nintendo inventory and improved it more than I thought could be possible.
A superior adaptation of a Nintendo classic, I give The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds 5.0 stars out of 5.
Promising Young Woman
Year: 2020
Rating: R
Length: 113 minutes / 1.88 hours
There was a time when a movie like Promising Young Woman (2020) couldn’t be made because it deals with a difficult subject. However, in the wake of the #metoo movement, the narrative has shifted and allowed space for this eye-opening masterpiece to exist. Rape is never an easy topic to cover, but Promising Young Woman handles it with such blunt-force precision as to make itself required viewing, despite being difficult to watch. If it makes you mad, you should check to make sure it’s making you mad for the right reasons.
Of course, this film wouldn’t work were it not for the excellent performance of Carey Mulligan. Mulligan has come a long way as an actress since An Education (2009). Her worn-out and tired portrayal of Cassie Thomas captures the essence of a woman who has made it her personal mission to teach men everywhere about consent. Equally strong performances from Bo Burnham and Alison Brie merely help to accentuate how solid Mulligan’s acting is in this movie. Some may claim the deadpan acting is easy to pull off, but this context demands such an emotionless response that it couldn’t have been done any other way without lessening its message.
In the end, the message of Promising Young Woman speaks the loudest. Every excuse in the book is dragged out into harsh daylight to show how ridiculous they are. This is almost Monte Cristo levels of revenge here to show that, until rape happens to someone you love or care about, the weak excuses thrown about always protect those at fault and have no empathy for the victim of this heinous crime. The fact that Promising Young Woman goes to the lengths it does to debunk these claims should make us all think twice before denying justice for the victims of rape.
A difficult but necessary destruction of the excuses of lack of consent, I give Promising Young Woman 4.5 stars out of 5.
Scarlet
Year: 2013
Author: Marissa Meyer
Length: 679 minutes / 11.32 hours
I continue to be impressed with Marissa Meyer’s ability to weave a compelling narrative based on common fairy tale themes but set in a sci-fi framework. A continuation of the story that started in Cinder, Scarlet felt a little distracted as it added in elements from “Little Red Riding Hood” and split its time between the new characters—mainly Scarlet and Thorne—and advancing the plot of Cinder to its next logical step. As long as you realize this series centers around Cinder and her rise to the Lunar throne, this book should provide some great entertainment.
Perhaps what I enjoyed most about this book was how it seamlessly integrated with the lore already established in the previous volume while also being true to its source. Nothing strays too far from the themes of wolves/werewolves, so it’s a bit of an obvious connection to make in a series that’s titled the Lunar Chronicles. Still, the thought put into constructing a plausible plot from the pieces of a short fairy tale is something that must be applauded. Even so, Scarlet does have some weaknesses that have carried over from its predecessor.
The charm of the characters in this series comes from how realistic they seem. Granted, most of the characters are teenage girls, so there are many quirks that are amusing at first but become irritating over time. In particular, Scarlet seems quite stupid. Her logic is clearly flawed, and it’s obvious to the reader that she’s going about things all wrong for far too long until she finally “gets it.” And—of course—she’s going to be attracted to the “Wolf.” The other new character, Thorne, seemed underdeveloped as well, but I’m sure we’ll see more of him soon.
A somewhat distracted but still excellent follow-up to Cinder, I give Scarlet 3.5 stars out of 5.
Sound of Metal
Year: 2020
Rating: R
Length: 120 minutes / 2.00 hours
Movies have the power to give a perspective we might have no ability to understand. Much like the fantastic The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007) gave viewers a chance to experience life through the eye of a paralyzed man, Sound of Metal (2020) was a revelation into the life of a musician who suddenly goes deaf. There are so many aspects to sudden deafness that Sound of Metal provided insight to that opened my eyes to the struggles of this particular disability. Of course, while this is the obvious takeaway from this film, the meaning is much deeper than that.
Ultimately, the twist Sound of Metal gives to the deafness narrative is the power of addiction. It’s encouraging to see positive handling of previous addiction through accountability, but it’s even more striking to see how addictions can take many different forms. Whatever gives us dopamine, we can become addicted to. While not as in-your-face as Requiem for a Dream (2000) is with the dangers of addiction, Sound of Metal is subtle with the lesser-known addictions. I never knew someone could become addicted to a person, let alone to the simple ability to hear.
Of the Oscar nominees this year, Sound of Metal is certainly the most artistic. The cinematography was very deliberate to show the moments of quiet, but the sound design made all the difference in delivering the emotional impact of hearing loss. You don’t realize how much hearing affects your life until you can watch a man struggle with not having that input while also “hearing” what he does (which isn’t much). If Sound of Metal has one fault, it’s that the focus on the art meant the story was a little simple. Sure, there are layers to its moral, but they all end up focusing on the same thing.
A revelation into the life of someone who suddenly loses their hearing, I give Sound of Metal 4.5 stars out of 5.
The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
Year: 2009
Rating: E
Time Played: 21.13 hours
For many years, I was never a fan of the dual-screen (DS) line of Nintendo’s handheld systems. I grew up on the standard D-pad and action buttons, so having to transition to a touchscreen was quite the adjustment. I had already played through Phantom Hourglass, so I was prepared to face the less-accurate combat system implemented for the DS Zelda titles. Still, this didn’t prepare me for how frustrating everything else about Spirit Tracks would be.
I get that the Zelda games can be a little repetitive. At least the different “biomes” of Hyrule help create differences between the dungeons that make the gameplay interesting. However, Spirit Tracks does little to distinguish between these dungeons, with each one feeling so similar to the last that I can’t honestly remember what made any of them unique. The fact that the story was so repetitive as to be the same sequence of events for the five different regions didn’t help. But that’s not even the worst part about this game.
What struck me with this game was how tedious it was. While the music in the overworld was the best thing about this game, I spent most of my time on the train tracks schlepping back and forth across the entire map for fetch quests, which weren’t nearly as bad as when I actually had a passenger who required me to conduct the train as if I was a grandmother driving to church. There’s a reason why I’m sure there were tons of sidequests (too many, really) that I never even knew about and don’t ever want to complete. Then, there’s Zelda. For a game where you finally get to play as her (kind of), the fact that Spirit Tracks leans heavily into the “escort mission” mechanic really ruined the whole experience.
The worst Zelda game in the franchise, I give The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks 2.0 stars out of 5.
Nomadland
Year: 2020
Rating: R
Length: 107 minutes / 1.78 hours
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a psychological structure that explains how people will obtain their basic needs before attempting to fill psychological and self-fulfillment needs. In the current American culture, these basic needs of food, water, warmth, rest, and safety are usually met by living in a house. Of course, there are plenty of strings attached to household living—such as a steady income through employment. While this is the most common way to reach self-fulfillment, people out there manage to achieve it without living as part of the standard American structure.
Nomadland (2020) is an intimate look into the society of people who—for lack of a better term—are houseless. Part of me was jealous of the amount of freedom these people have to live the lives they want, experiencing much of the natural beauty of the middle of the United States. Much in the same way that Nebraska (2013) captured the realities of the flyover states, Nomadland presents a part of the country that most who live on the coasts rarely get to experience. In fact, it does such a good job of representing this region that I’d almost consider Nomadland to be a pseudo-documentary.
As someone who has chosen the standard route of buying a house and working a job until I retire, it is somewhat frustrating watching some of these people try to survive when the simple answer is to settle down. That being said, the hidden message in Nomadland paints a picture of a healthcare system that sometimes forces individuals into these kinds of situations. Settling down isn’t so simple when there are extenuating medical circumstances. And despite the isolation of these nomads, their community seems tight enough to overcome the loneliness that must accompany them with their freedom.
A pseudo-documentary of living life without a house, I give Nomadland 4.0 stars out of 5.
A Darkling Plain
Year: 2006
Author: Philip Reeve
Length: 931 minutes / 15.52 hours
With the way Infernal Devices ended, I immediately knew there had to be a fourth book to finish this unique series. Few books resolve their respective series as well as A Darkling Plain does, which I can appreciate. In fact, the final epilogue was as beautiful as it was tragic. Along the way, the little loose ends tie up nicely so that all the characters are given some closure—whether or not they deserve it.
I wasn’t wild with the time-skip tactic that Infernal Devices used since it basically split this series into two larger stories. Mortal Engines and Predator’s Gold covered Hester and Tom’s relationship, while the last two books covered their daughter’s adventures. Of course, I was shocked with the ending of Infernal Devices, which did get an explanation in this book, even if it lessened the impact of that plot twist. That being said, some of the characters’ fates were foreshadowed well ahead of this book, which left their ultimate fate somewhat anti-climactic.
Overall, I enjoyed how the idea of mobile cities eating each other in an evolutionary survival of the fittest came to its logical conclusion in this book. It’s such a peculiar concept that was thoroughly explored in the previous three volumes so that this book could wrap up this phase in the post-apocalyptic timeline with enough room to give some hope for a future. After all, I have yet to run across a science fiction series that combines so many tropes so well and manages to conclude its complicated plotlines in such a satisfying way.
A satisfying ending of a unique series, I give A Darkling Plain 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Father
Year: 2020
Rating: PG-13
Length: 97 minutes / 1.62 hours
The failing mental health of an elderly parent is a perennial topic for critically-acclaimed movies. Most of the time, the focus is on how their supportive family watches them steadily deteriorate until they can do nothing else. The Father (2020) is one such film, but with a unique twist that makes it hit a lot harder than the standard Alzheimers fare. While attempting to present this disease from the aging parent’s perspective is a bold choice, The Father leans into some radically artistic choices that might leave some viewers more confused than enlightened.
I’m trying to avoid discussing the avant-garde method The Father uses to induce the kind of confusion that comes with Alzheimer’s, mostly because I don’t want to spoil the effect for anyone who hasn’t seen this film yet. Needless to say, things make sense…eventually. The point isn’t to understand it; it’s to empathize with the main character. Of course, with the current era being what it is, even this fails to break through the dislike of the entitled, old white guy who ends up making things difficult for everyone around him.
Anthony Hopkins certainly nails this role (especially at the end), and all the supporting characters are equally as strong in their performances. It’s just that the role of an elderly white man is played almost too well. The stubbornness that Hopkins’ character exudes is so frustrating as to make him entirely unsympathetic. If anything, I almost relate more to Paul (Rufus Sewell), who sees the detrimental effect Anthony is having on his daughter, Anne (Olivia Colman). I can only hope that I don’t suffer from the same stubbornness when I get to the age where my mind is failing because it is not a good look on anyone.
A confusing but ultimately enlightening look into Alzheimer’s, I give The Father 3.5 stars out of 5.
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
Year: 2007
Rating: E
Time Played: 19.78 hours
Just like Ocarina of Time influenced the style and lore of the Oracle games, the Zelda series’ first foray into the DS system took its cues from The Wind Waker—perhaps even too much. Additionally, as there were plenty of new features in the Nintendo DS that were not present in previous Nintendo systems, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass decided to take advantage of almost all of them. Again, perhaps to its detriment. Still, for the limited graphics and repetitive sections of the story, Phantom Hourglass is a fairly good Zelda game.
Even if it took a little bit to get used to the stylus-based combat system, I did eventually find it to be a neat alternative to the standard button configuration for a Zelda title, even if it didn’t behave as I wanted all the time. There were also limitations to how accurate the stylus inputs were when I needed to draw specific shapes to progress. In fact, there were plenty of times where I was stuck, only to realize that I needed to close the lid of the system or blow on the microphone. These actions thoroughly used the hardware’s capabilities and were quite ingenious, but at the cost of breaking the fourth wall a little bit.
Phantom Hourglass still plays like your standard Zelda title for all its innovations (much like how Ocarina of Time 3D was a tech demo for the stereoscopic technology). Granted, the upgrades via items or enhancing the Master Sword were the better parts of the game, even with the need to go to the same temple every time I wanted to progress. Still, for its unique playstyle, I’d suggest that others at least give it a try to experience what the DS has to offer.
A great DS tech demo and fairly OK Zelda game, I give The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass 3.0 stars out of 5.
The Prom
Year: 2020
Rating: PG-13
Length: 130 minutes / 2.17 hours
I enjoy a good musical like the rare heterosexual man I am (played in the movie by Keegan-Michael Key), and The Prom (2020) scratched that itch for me this year. I enjoyed its self-aware first act, even if the overall plot seemed like it was about 10 years too late to be relevant. And while many of the story beats were either predictable or cliche, there were a few moments of rare depth that felt genuine, even if they broke the facade of the whimsical characters that had filled the first two acts.
There’s something about narcissistic Broadway types having to interact with the midwest that was entertaining to me. Much of this film’s humor revolves around how out-of-step with the rest of the country these east coast elites are—even if it’s far from realistic (I hope). Of note, a few of the songs are quite exceptional, including “It’s Not About Me” and “Love Thy Neighbor,” the latter of which certainly hits a chord in this post-Christian era. Unfortunately, for a musical filled with plenty of songs, those were the only two that stuck out to me.
While I understand film adaptations of Broadway musicals lag by quite a few years, this story’s overarching moral seemed dated, even by 2020 standards. I’m sure these problems still plague high schools in the midwest, but there have been better movies to present this kind of story in a deeper way that didn’t feel quite like an after-school special. Perhaps the reason for this out-of-touch feel is how hard The Prom leans into LGBTQ+ stereotypes to get their point across. I think the audience would have appreciated a little more nuance, even if it could have diverged from the original musical.
Fun and catchy, even with a dated moral lesson, I give The Prom 3.5 stars out of 5.
The Last Wish
Year: 1993
Author: Andrzej Sapkowski
Length: 617 minutes / 10.28 hours
Those of us who have seen Netflix’s adaptation of The Witcher will find this collection of short stories quite familiar. The first book in the series, The Last Wish introduces the titular Witcher, Geralt of Rivia, as he goes about his job ridding the world of dangerous supernatural creatures. It’s no wonder the TV series felt a little disjointed, as it had a series of short stories that were loosely connected via Geralt to work with. Still, these stories are solid and help flesh out the world where humans and creatures live together, rarely in harmony.
Told in a somewhat chronological manner, these bite-size stories often carry over and blend into each other in a way that feels natural. Actions in one story may influence the characters in another, so there is something deeper here than just a collection of short stories. While this technique is rarely used, I can appreciate how each story has a purpose in advancing the main character’s overall story. That being said, not every story is as enthralling as trying to save a noble’s daughter from a curse (which was one of the best in the set).
Part of why I like this method of storytelling is how simple it is. There’s no huge overarching and complex series of events here. The only character that matters is Geralt and how he reacts to the people around him and the jobs he takes to pay the bills. While additional characters like Yennefer or Ciri help to round out the series, focusing on the series’ namesake is important for building a foundation for world-building. I almost wish more series would take this route, as it helps establish the lore before diving into the first “official” book’s main plot.
Great character foundation through multiple short stories, I give The Last Wish 3.5 stars out of 5.
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Year: 2020
Rating: R
Length: 129 minutes / 2.15 hours
For decades, Aaron Sorkin has written some of the best films ever created. Classics like A Few Good Men (1992) still stand up, and modern masterpieces like The Social Network (2010) and Moneyball (2011) are starting to become timeless as well. And while he’s mostly been the writer of these films, The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020) is his sophomore effort as a director. Somehow, the ability to accurately translate his words into the actors’ performances created—in my opinion—the best film of 2020.
It’s clear Sorkin cut his teeth long ago with courtroom dramas, but this movie is by far the most intricately-crafted exposé of the corruption of the American justice system I’ve ever seen. The fact that the parallels to 50-years later are shockingly similar actually makes me sick, but that’s perhaps why this film works so well right now. It doesn’t give me hope that these systems will ever be broken or fixed any time soon. While this is a depressing thought, it’s what makes The Trial of the Chicago 7 so impactful. If this doesn’t open your eyes to the reality of injustice, then I don’t know what will.
With an all-star cast including Sacha Baron Cohen (in perhaps his best performance ever), Eddie Redmayne, Mark Rylance, Michael Keaton, Frank Langella, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, the thing that makes this movie really work is how the details of the riot are gradually revealed—including a shocking twist that is both thrilling and heartbreaking. I’d consider this movie right up there with some of the best films of all time, like To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) and 12 Angry Men (1957); it’s that good.
Aaron Sorkin’s masterpiece and a grave reminder of the American injustice system, I give The Trial of the Chicago 7 5.0 stars out of 5.
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
Year: 2005
Rating: E
Time Played: ~16 hours
The almost forgotten title in the Zelda franchise, Minish Cap has a subtle nod to its portable system in the way that Link can shrink down to engage with the world on a smaller scale. It’s a shame we didn’t see more unique titles in the Zelda series for the Game Boy Advance, as Minish Cap was a charming adventure that added to the developing lore of the franchise. While the visuals and controls were quite good considering the Game Boy Advance’s limitations, the length of this game left me wanting more by the time I completed it.
As a unique entry in the portable Zelda games, Minish Cap has a surprising amount of depth regarding the characters, plot, and overall game mechanics. Each step in restoring the Minish sword revealed a little more about the lore, which caused me to keep playing to find out what would happen next. I also found it amusing how weaker enemies that I had become used to blasting through in other entries in the series were different beasts on a smaller scale. Just like Oracle of Ages used the time travel mechanic to its greatest effect, the size change mechanic in Minish Cap felt fully fleshed out.
In terms of challenge, I never found myself banging my head against a wall to defeat a boss or solve a dungeon. The ease of this game could be part of what contributed to its shorter length, but at least I never became frustrated enough to look up exactly what to do or where to go next. For a portable title, there was always a little something I could do to progress through the game, even if I had to conquer the dungeons in single sittings to ensure I wouldn’t have to retrace my steps to arrive back at the place where I stopped.
The gem of portable Zelda titles, I give The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap 4.0 stars out of 5.
Mank
Year: 2020
Rating: R
Length: 131 minutes / 2.18 hours
When I first saw the trailers for Mank (2020), the premise intrigued me. As a “behind the scenes” look at the screenwriter for Citizen Kane (1941), I was interested to see his process in penning one of the most famous screenplays of all time. On top of that, I’ve generally enjoyed David Fincher’s work and wanted to see this movie based on this fact alone. However, despite all it had going for it, I was ultimately disappointed in what Mank had to offer.
Perhaps the most jarring part of this movie was how it tried to emulate the style of the films from the 1940s while also using more modern cinematography techniques to tell its story. At times, this juxtaposition made me wonder if this was filmed in the ’40s or if it was merely a black-and-white modern film. Additionally, there’s a particular visual style for Fincher’s films distinctly lacking here—which may have been in part due to the monochromatic approach. I’m more familiar with the darker and nuanced movies in his repertoire like Gone Girl (2014), The Social Network (2010), and Seven (1995), and Mank hardly fit my preconceived notions for a Fincher film.
Don’t get me wrong; there was still plenty of good acting here. Gary Oldman seems to play the lush well, which made his performance in the title role feel like a repeat of his Churchill from Darkest Hour (2017). And while I understood some of the background of Citizen Kane‘s origins, even my in-depth knowledge of the Hollywood players of the 1940s had some gaps in it. In the end, it dragged in far too many places, which I should have guessed when it decided to jump around the timeline instead of proceeding chronologically. After all, who wants to watch all that excitement, followed by 30 minutes of an injured drunk penning the greatest scrip ever?
A slightly disappointing film considering the film that it’s about, I give Mank 3.5 stars out of 5.
Working with Difficult People
Year: 1990
Author: Amy Cooper Hakim and Muriel Solomon
Length: 475 minutes / 7.92 hours
Occasionally, I come across a book that doesn’t really work as an audiobook. Working with Difficult People is certainly a must-have for any working-class bookshelf. Still, it was difficult to follow the thread of different difficult personalities when it was being read aloud. Sure, there were useful descriptions of the types of people you’ll encounter in the workforce, but there were at least a few of them where I wanted to slow down and read through those archetypes again to better understand the people who irk me in life.
Of course, going in, I was hoping I could read this book and understand how to handle people who I find difficult to work with. Instead, I kept listening to these people’s descriptions and finding individuals who nearly matched them in my life. This was my main qualm with the book: people are more complex than a single difficult personality type. They often have two or three of these attributes combined in varying amounts to create their unique level of challenge. Alternatively, I also listened to this book and tried to identify where I fell in the “difficult people” spectrum. It can be a bit of an eye-opener when you realize, “Oh, I do that. That difficult person is me.”
I may still want to get this book in physical form, not only to appreciate its handbook format but to use it as a writer resource. I do try and strive for an amount of realism in the villains I write, so using this book as a structure for why certain difficult people (read: antagonists) are the way they are can help me create more meaningful and relatable villains and should help me avoid the standard supervillain archetypes that paint an antagonist as “purely evil.”
A simple resource for classifying difficult people, I give Working with Difficult People 3.0 stars out of 5.
Godzilla: King of the Monsters
Year: 2019
Rating: PG-13
Length: 132 minutes / 2.20 hours
Despite the cult following of the original Godzilla films, the special effects were definitely limited at the time. While the American version of Godzilla (1999) had too many flaws to be noteworthy, the recent reboot of Godzilla (2014) into its own cinematic universe with King Kong is something I look forward to, if for no other reason than huge monsters dueling it out on the big screen. I’d be over the moon if it ever combined with the Pacific Rim (2013) franchise, but that’s probably asking for too much. As it stands, though, Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) is a great sequel that amps up the action.
When I go to see a Godzilla movie, one thing I want to see is large monsters. King of the Monsters has these in spades. Even if you have a passing knowledge of Godzilla monsters, you’ll likely recognize names like Rodan, Ghidorah, and Mothra. While the plot is a little lacking in why these monsters are fighting, the result is satisfying. The scale of these battles is entertaining, if for no other reason than to view the mayhem these titans create when they clash.
While I’d love nothing more than watching these monsters battle it out, I felt that this movie’s human aspect was a bit overdramatic. It’s almost cliché with the divorced parents trying to keep their child safe while skyscraper-high lizards destroy the entire world. Sure, it’s a vehicle for advancing the “Monarch” thread that links all these movies together, but it probably could have had a little more polish to focus on the monsters instead of the people who (for whatever reason) want to release them all at once. At the very least, I look forward to the upcoming Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) that was heavily hinted at throughout.
Entertaining monster mayhem, I give Godzilla: King of the Monsters 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages
Year: 2001
Rating: E
Time Played: ~30 hours
As the second half of the “Oracle” games in the Zelda franchise, Oracle of Ages takes more of its cues from the wildly popular Ocarina of Time than its sister game, Oracle of Seasons, did. While Oracle of Seasons had a fairly unique mechanic (albeit not fully realized), Oracle of Ages had the benefit of its Nintendo 64 predecessor to help craft some of the puzzle-solving that needed to happen throughout its gameplay. And even if I played through using a linked account, giving me quite a few advantages—Oracle of Ages still suffers from some of the Game Boy Zelda titles’ limitations.
Even if the story in Oracle of Ages isn’t that strong compared to the Nintendo 64 games, it’s at least more fleshed out in terms of characters and their motivations when compared to Oracle of Seasons. The end boss wasn’t nearly as difficult in this game, but at least I had seen her a few times leading up to the final fight. I understood the villain’s motivation in this game, which was more than I could say about the antagonist of Oracle of Seasons. That being said, it wasn’t too difficult to surpass Seasons when it came to its story.
While there were still moments that weren’t quite intuitive on how to proceed, I did appreciate how easy it eventually became to switch between the old and modern ages (something that the limited ability to change seasons in Oracle of Seasons never fully overcame). Additionally, playing through with a linked account added an additional set of bosses that rounded out the experience and almost shoehorned both games into the Zelda canon. In the end, it’s not like these bosses added much other than maybe an extra hour or so of gameplay.
A slightly better story to Seasons but with a few remaining weaknesses, I give The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages 3.5 stars out of 5.
Hunt for the Wilderpeople
Year: 2016
Rating: PG-13
Length: 101 minutes / 1.68 hours
After enjoying films like Thor: Ragnarok (2017) and Jojo Rabbit (2019), I decided to watch some of director Taika Waititi’s previous films. First up is Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016), a humorous outdoor adventure that doesn’t hide many of its influences, which ends up being a good thing. The plot and style are somewhat reminiscent of Moonrise Kingdom (2012) but takes advantage of New Zealand’s wilderness to tell its own story. There is plenty of character development, and the two leads—played by Sam Neill and Julian Dennison—work well together to create a meaningful connection.
Anyone who has seen other New Zealand comedies are likely to enjoy the specific cultural brand of humor here that feels like an evolved version of the classic British humor of the 1960s. Hunt for the Wilderpeople uses its minor characters to deliver its humor, with Rhys Darby carrying an exceptionally funny sequence. It’s this irreverent humor that hints at what Waititi’s future works would become. There were plenty of instances where I could see how this film eventually influenced films like Jojo Rabbit. Sure, there are still some rough edges here, but it’s nice to see what Waititi could do with the raw elements at his disposal.
Some of the musical and directorial choices here feel like an homage to Wes Anderson’s style, which I certainly am not complaining about. There are still fantastic, uniquely Waititi bits, though, including a montage that seems to be shot in one continuous pan across the scenery. One can only wonder if this plot would have suffered were it not for Sam Neill and his best Harrison Ford impression, though. The vulnerability in this tough-guy façade made the adoptive father/son dynamic work well enough that it carried the whole film.
A fantastic earlier work by Taika Waititi, I give Hunt for the Wilderpeople 4.0 stars out of 5.
Good Omens
Year: 1990
Author: Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
Length: 753 minutes / 12.55 hours
Perhaps I’m in the minority here, but I only thought Good Omens was just OK. You’d think that the combination of two of the best British writers would create an incredible story, but I felt it was mostly disjointed, un-climatic, and full of that British humor that tends to be more random than based in actual jokes. Granted, most books by Terry Pratchett or Neil Gaiman that I’ve read have been hit or miss, depending on how peculiarly random the subject might be. Sure, there are elements of a great story here; it just felt distracted from its main purpose half of the time.
The core of Good Omens is split into two parts: following the actual Antichrist who is unaware of his theological significance/role in the end of the world and the journey of an angel and a demon who happened to lose said Antichrist. This idea’s strength is enough to give the story some merit, but the execution seemed flawed to me. Too much time was spent in random and meaningless interactions that didn’t add to the story other than to be “humorous” for their pure obscurity. If anything, this type of humor is standard for Pratchett, so I’m not surprised it was there, just disappointed that it seemed to play such a large part of the story.
I’m sure most people loved the relationship between the angel and the demon, but I almost found the actions of the unaware Antichrist to be much more interesting and would have liked that those parts of the book played more in the plot than just being a side story. I know Amazon made a television show of this book, so maybe I just missed something that the show might be able to reveal to me as to why this book was so popular. As for me, it was just kind of “meh.”
An interesting plot that suffers from British humor, I give Good Omens 3.0 stars out of 5.
Hello, Dolly!
Year: 1969
Rating: G
Length: 146 minutes / 2.43 hours
In WALL-E (2008), the one surviving movie in this post-apocalyptic future was a VHS version of Hello, Dolly! (1969). Does this mean Hello, Dolly! is any good? Hardly. It’s merely the only movie to survive. If anything, Hello, Dolly! is your standard 1960s musical. There are many superior musicals from this decade, and it’s clear that this one is on the tailing end of the fad. Sure, it has its moments, but it’s so cookie-cutter in its plot that the only thing special about it is Barbra Streisand’s performance.
It’s no surprise that the few musical numbers that made it into WALL-E were some of the better ones in this movie. “Put on Your Sunday Clothes” is endlessly catchy, even if “Love is Only Love” is your standard love song. Of course, the title song, “Hello, Dolly!” works and is a bit of a bookend to the musical’s start with “Call on Dolly.” As I mentioned before, Streisand’s performance in this musical is notable, likely due to her musical background. She definitely occupies the role, and I don’t know if I can think of anyone else as Dolly.
Unfortunately, the plot leaves something to be desired. I’m not wild about the crotchety old man, Horace (Walter Matthau), being handed a marriage just because that’s how musical comedies need to end. There was no chemistry or natural character growth that would have produced this result. And while the “poor yokel” side-plot is humorous at times, it feels copied and pasted from elsewhere. I will say that the dance numbers are pretty good, but hardly up to the standard that I would expect from director Gene Kelly. Then again, he didn’t have anything to do with the choreography, which likely explains the lackluster quality.
A painfully average ‘60s musical, I give Hello, Dolly! 3.0 stars out of 5.
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons
Year: 2001
Rating: E
Time Played: ~30 hours
When video games started splitting off into “two-part” versions in the mid-90s, my brother and I would always split who got which game. As a result, I realized that I had never played The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons, as I had the Oracle of Ages version. After finishing Link’s Awakening DX, I decided to remedy this situation. While it was evident that this game used a lot of the same assets from Link’s Awakening, there was also ample evidence that the Zelda games on the Nintendo 64 influenced these handheld games.
The base mechanic of Oracle of Seasons uses the four different seasons to solve a variety of puzzles in the over-world to progress to each of the eight dungeons. While this sticks to the core Zelda formula, this game’s unfortunate aspect is how lackluster the story is. This was weird because of how the Nintendo 64 titles really emphasized their stories. Still, this handheld title was basically telling me to explore eight dungeons with no significant reason as to why I should. The only reason I continued was to see what new item I would gain by beating each area.
While I did appreciate the modifications to Link via the ring system—and how I accidentally stumbled upon the L-2 sword—Oracle of Seasons also shares some of my frustration that I experienced when playing through Link’s Awakening DX. Partly because the story didn’t flow smoothly, I found myself at a loss of where to go or what to do next. I understand that the game being less intuitive forces me to explore more. However, with such a large map (at least for a Game Boy title) to explore, it became tedious trying to puzzle out the solution to get to the next dungeon.
An adequate Zelda title that lacks a significant story, I give The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons 3.0 stars out of 5.
Fantastic Four
Year: 2015
Rating: PG-13
Length: 100 minutes / 1.67 hours
For a movie with “fantastic” in its title, it’s anything but. It’s difficult to make a movie that’s worse than the original that was released a decade earlier, but here we are. I understand the need to reboot a franchise so the owners of the rights can continue to hold onto those rights, but this is just a sad excuse for a movie. I only hope—now that Disney owns this franchise—that the next reboot of the Fantastic Four doesn’t spend any time on its origin story (which we’ve seen twice now).
While the casting for the main characters was technically proficient, if not a little young, I was stunned to see such wooden and emotionless acting from absolutely every actor on the screen. If I didn’t know any better, they replaced these actors with CGI robots who state their lines instead of, you know, acting. Additionally, there didn’t seem to be any stakes in this film for the main characters to have any reason to do what they did. Things just happened, and they were merely in the right place at the wrong time.
It was also surprising how obvious the CGI was. Certain scenes stuck out as clearly CGI, even if they didn’t have to be. Let’s not even get into the “look” of Doctor Doom (Toby Kebbell). Sure, it had its moments, like the look of Ben Grimm (Jamie Bell), but overall it pulled me out of the story. Of course, I glanced at the clock and found that two-thirds of the film had passed before anything even remotely resembling a conflict emerged. Knowing full well who the villain would be, I had no idea what his motivation was right up until he stated it (basically straight to the camera). Overall, save yourself 100 minutes and don’t ever watch this film.
A reprehensibly bad reboot, I give Fantastic Four 1.5 stars out of 5.
Exhalation
Year: 2019
Author: Ted Chiang
Length: 682 minutes / 11.37 hours
My librarian uncle introduced me to Ted Chiang recently, and I was so intrigued by such an award-winning author who wrote exclusively in short stories that I had to check out one of his books. Exhalation is a collection of these stories, and I can see why Chiang is lauded as a writer. It seems that modern science fiction is too focused on new technologies and how they can lead to utopias or dystopias. In Chiang’s stories, I saw some stark realism that took well-tread topics of the genre and examined them through a lens that was extremely realistic to how society would function with such advancements.
It was refreshing—a sigh of fresh air, or exhalation, if you will—to read stories about parallel universes, artificial intelligence, and time travel that didn’t stick to the same tropes that have made science fiction almost boring in comparison. In the end, Chiang is so concise with his language as to create these universes anchored in our reality and uncover all the intricate ways in which new technologies would change it without delving into the fluff of a full-blown novel. And perhaps that’s what makes these short stories work: focusing on how people interact with new technology, instead of just society at large.
These stories’ personal nature hits home, mostly because they were pulled from current technologies and extrapolated into the fringe sciences that are on the cutting edge. For instance, we already record much of our days, so how does our memory change if we have a perfect record of the past? Additionally, how many technologies are made widely available as entertainment first, and how many interest groups pop up as fans of these technologies until they are eventually made obsolete? These and many other thoughtful topics are only some of the reasons I would recommend any fan of true sci-fi read this book.
A collection of some of the best sci-fi stories I’ve ever read, I give Exhalation 5.0 stars out of 5.
Cars
Year: 2017
Rating: G
Length: 102 minutes / 1.70 hours
I’m usually a huge fan of Pixar films. However, I’m not wild about the Cars franchise. Something about these anthropomorphized vehicles is a little too cartoonish for me. Granted, the first movie in the series was the only film to make me care about the outcome of a NASCAR-type race. While the visuals are definitely improved in the 11 years since the original film came out, this end cap of the trilogy feels like a rehash of what worked before.
Distancing itself from the trilogy’s black sheep, Cars 2 (2011), this third part of the trilogy felt all too similar to the plot of Cars (2006). Sure, some of the roles were swapped around to show the “full circle” narrative from student to mentor. Still, ultimately it was about a car finding its racing mojo and utilizing well-known driving techniques to defeat its opponents. Ultimately, though, I don’t care for the main character. Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) has always felt a bit narcissistic in these movies, even if he eventually realizes how his fault affects others.
I will admit that I liked this entry in the trilogy because it minimized screen time dedicated to Tow Mater (Larry the Cable Guy). Say what you will about the self-absorbed Lightning McQueen, but the redneck stereotype present in Mater is only played for cheap laughs. And yes, I understand these movies are meant for children, but sometimes the adults have to sit through them too. Additionally, it was nice to see more female representation, considering cars don’t actually have genders. Of course, considering how male-dominated anything car-related is, it might have fallen on deaf ears.
Same old plot with some notable improvements, I give Cars 3 3.5 stars out of 5.
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
Year: 2019
Rating: E
Time Played: ~10 hours
I’m not a huge fan of HD remakes of older games. After all, it’s basically putting a new skin on the same game and asking modern prices for the privilege to play it. When I eventually picked up the Switch version of this classic Game Boy game, I was only partly justified in my skepticism. Sure, I didn’t pay full price for these—albeit absolutely gorgeous—updated visuals, so I feel I still got my money’s worth out of the game (which I still don’t consider to be worth $60).
Having only recently completed the DX version of this game for the first time, I found navigating through Link’s Awakening (2019) was a lot easier the second time around. This was partly due to my memory of the game and my ability to easily complete some of the game’s plot points that weren’t as intuitive in my first playthrough. That being said, there were still a couple of spots near the end of the game that had me scratching my head on how to progress. I worked through them with a glance at a guide (for the “oh, duh” moments), so it’s still completely beatable without help.
The reason why I’m willing to give an extra half star to this game—which already held up after 20 years in its DX version—is the minor improvements to the game that made it much less tedious. Mapping certain controls like the sword, shield, and pegasus boots to the larger array of Switch buttons helped with the pacing. I wasn’t constantly going into the menu to switch out the sword for the one item I needed to perform a specific action. Plus, seeing more of the map other than the singular square of that area also helped keep me from getting as easily lost as I did in my first playthrough.
Stunning HD visual and gameplay update to a game that still holds up, I give The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening 4.5 stars out of 5.
Meru
Year: 2015
Rating: R
Length: 90 minutes / 1.50 hours
Having done my fair share of hiking in the Colorado mountains, I know how deadly these rocky monuments can be. Meru (2015) highlights this in spades as it documents the conquering of one of the last untouched routes in professional mountain climbing. It’s no wonder such a daunting spire of rock remained un-summited from this approach, and this film highlights all the challenges that combine to make Meru as difficult as it is. Of course, because it’s a mountain climbing documentary, it follows most of the tropes and cliches common in the genre.
One of my biggest qualms with the mountain climbing genre of documentaries is how they all tend to be about the same progression of events. There’s always some storm that prevents the team from summiting. Somebody always gets injured. Success is always just out of reach. It also doesn’t help that there’s no way for the uneducated viewer to tell this slab of rock and ice apart from any other footage of rock and ice. Meru does manage to have a few moments to show the context of the climbers’ progress, even if they are few and far between.
I will admit that the achievement of these climbers is quite commendable. The task of ascending Meru’s “Shark Fin” seems like a fool’s errand, considering there must have to be easier routes to the top. The fact that this peak has been summited probably less than a dozen times since it was first climbed in 2001 does make this film that much more impressive. Not only did these guys climb the Shark Fin in less-than-ideal conditions, but they did so while also filming the incredible untouched beauty of the mountain.
A standard mountain climbing documentary about an insanely difficult route, I give Meru 3.5 stars out of 5.
Cinder
Year: 2012
Author: Marissa Meyer
Length: 602 minutes / 10.03 hours
For years, I had heard of The Lunar Chronicles and thought people were referring to the two Sega Saturn video games, Lunar: Silver Star Story and Lunar 2: Eternal Blue. However, seeing as most people haven’t heard of these video games, I eventually figured out that they referred to the Young Adult series of books. While 2012 was definitely around the height of the re-imagined fairy tale craze, I do have to admit that this science-fiction take on these classic stories is a fresh new way of adapting the plots that we all grew up with through Disney movies.
The first book in the series, Cinder, takes Cinderella’s down-and-out heroine and updates her to a cyborg unaware of her royal origins. What made this story engaging was figuring out how the standard trappings of the Cinderella story would be adapted to this futuristic setting. Granted, this made some of the plot points more than obvious well before they happened, but I usually ended up smiling at the bits of homage that Cinder paid to its origins—such as a “pumpkin” of a car and the leaving behind of certain footwear.
While the plot was mostly predictable, I appreciated the awkward “teenager” dialogue of the titular protagonist but only to a point. I’ll admit that YA books have a kind of frenetic style that matches their main characters’ emotional turbulence, and Cinder certainly reads like a teenage girl replete with the insecurities, slang, and missed steps that a full-grown adult wouldn’t necessarily have as character quirks. The problem is that having to follow such a snarky young individual for so long through the story makes it eventually grate on my nerves, especially when the path she needs to take in her life is so obvious. Then again, perhaps I’m just a crotchety old man who isn’t in-tune with the youth anymore.
A great sci-fi Cinderella retelling, I give Cinder 4.0 stars out of 5.
Artemis Fowl
Year: 2020
Rating: PG
Length: 95 minutes / 1.58 hours
When I first saw the trailers for Artemis Fowl (2020), I was intrigued enough to pick up the book and read it. With its continual delays, I was able to also read through the first five books in the series. This may have helped me understand what Disney was trying to do with this, but it doesn’t excuse their butchering of the source material. I can only imagine how confused people who hadn’t read a single word of the books would be, and I was right on the verge with them.
What gets me is that, as a fairly short book, Disney could have made a perfect adaptation in a scant two hours. Instead, they decided to cram so much “sequel potential” into 95 minutes to lose focus on any of the stories they were trying to adapt simultaneously. I also understand how the movie version is inclusive of all races and genders, but sometimes holding to how the characters were written in the book is the best route. After all, Judi Dench is a fine actress, but I was expecting a cigar-chomping man for Root, and not her.
While there are many neat scenes in this movie, some of which are in the books, they’re so disconnected that I lost interest fairly quickly. Overall, it’s just kind of “meh,” which might also be the source material’s fault. Sure, militarized and futuristic fantasy creatures is a neat idea, but if that’s all there is, then that’s all there is. I will give props to Disney for cutting some of the bathroom humor that the middle-grade book chose to include for humor purposes, but now they’re left with another sub-par adaptation of a beloved children’s book.
A jumbled mess that tried to do too much in too little time, I give Artemis Fowl 2.5 stars out of 5.
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX
Year: 1998
Rating: E
Time Played: ~16 hours
With the recently-released Switch remake of this game, I realized I never actually managed to play through the original Link’s Awakening. Perhaps one of the first Zelda games my family-owned, I decided to pull out my copy of Link’s Awakening DX and play through it (and thus, save me the $60 on a “new” game). While I played for a bit on the Super Game Boy to get that “big screen” feel, the colors I experienced on the Game Boy Advanced made playing in a handheld mode that much more enjoyable, if not more intimate.
After running through the first few dungeons, it became evident to me that I never made it very far in this game when I was 20 years younger. I was content just exploring what I could at the time. However, this also highlights how there were some moments where the next step in completing the game wasn’t entirely intuitive (even with the hints from the owl). Still, with a little help from the internet, I was able to complete the game and even gain a few of the top-tier items (like the boomerang) in the process.
Even if I was spoiled to the twist ending (the game came out in the mid-90s after all), it made the interactions with Koholint Island residents that much more poignant. What’s perhaps even more impressive about this game is how it holds up over 20 years after it was released. The Game Boy was a limited piece of hardware, but Link’s Awakening DX fully utilizes the small screen and chip-tune sounds to provide an experience that I think any fan of the Zelda series should experience at some point. I’ll still probably pick up the Switch remake of this game (it looks gorgeous), but I can wait until it goes on sale to do so.
An impressive adventure on somewhat limited hardware, I give The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX 4.0 stars out of 5.
Soul
Year: 2020
Rating: PG
Length: 100 minutes / 1.67 hours
I’ll give Pixar credit: they know how to make trailers that give away almost nothing about what the plot is. Sure, I could roughly gauge what Soul (2020) was about, but I could never have guessed it would be this deep. Of course, when dealing with concepts as heady as the afterlife, Pixar had to really balance the line between adhering to any particular religious belief. Be prepared to tear up at least a few times because Soul can hit hard when it comes to life itself.
As is the case with any Pixar film, I usually watch for CGI modeling/technology advancements. In Soul, they took the time to perfect the look of some of the most difficult hair to animate, and it shows. This isn’t to say that we’re getting closer to jumping the uncanny valley (of which they can probably do by now) because this would also ignore the mind-bending “architects” who seem equally 2-D and 3-D at the same time. It was also fascinating to see an actual real-world city brought to life through CGI since it almost felt like the real thing.
Admittedly, I didn’t have this movie high on my “to watch” list. Tina Fey’s character seemed annoying, and Disney’s choice to push it to Disney+ instead of going to theaters (even simultaneously) felt like a move to quell a film they didn’t think was that great. I was glad that I took the time to watch it, though. I appreciated the little plot details that connected everything and made logical sense. I also thought the core plot revolving around raison d’etre was a bold move that made me really contemplate the whole idea of a “life’s purpose.”
Pixar’s most philosophically deep film to date, I give Soul 4.0 stars out of 5.
Autonomous
Year: 2017
Author: Annalee Newitz
Length: 627 minutes / 10.45 hours
Science fiction often seeks to answer the moral and ontological questions that we’ll soon face in future technological landscapes. When I picked up Autonomous, I was expecting an examination of artificial intelligence and the ability for robots and machines to eventually become sentient. Unfortunately, that was only about half of the book that I ended up reading. The fact that there were two dueling scientific topics in this book made its message muddled, let alone misleading. It really should have been branded/titled as a book about pharmaceuticals and the patent system that holds the healthcare system hostage.
While I’m sure the pharmaceutical elements of this story are accurate (at least in a fictional context), this wasn’t the reason I wanted to read Autonomous. Granted, telling two parts of the story—from the POV of the pirate chemist and from the POV of the law enforcement sent to catch her—was a good way to reveal the plot so that each POV doesn’t know what the other side knows. That being said, the AI element of this story seemed to be relegated to a sub-plot in the law enforcement POV that ended up being disappointing to me.
I’ll grant that realistic characters may not be likable characters, but in the end, I was not too fond of any of the characters in this book—with the AI being the one exception. I didn’t care for the chemist’s messy past just as much as I didn’t care for the clearly homophobic law enforcement officer. Would the “romance” in the story have been different if the AI’s origin was different? Sure, creating morally gray characters makes the story more real, but it ultimately just made me irritated with these individuals. And since the story didn’t know which scientific concept to pursue, the whole idea of the AI being “autonomous” could have been cut, and the plot really wouldn’t have changed at all, leading me to my initial statement that the title of this book is misleading.
A misleading title for a book about pharmaceutical piracy, I give Autonomous 2.5 stars out of 5.
I’m Thinking of Ending Things
Year: 2020
Rating: R
Length: 134 minutes / 2.23 hours
Perhaps I should have learned my lesson from when I watched Synecdoche, New York (2008). I have appreciated plenty of Charlie Kaufman’s films, but only when he’s the writer. Not the director. Or maybe this is a more recent change, as some of my favorite Kaufman films were released before 2005. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) and Being John Malkovich (1999) are some of my favorite films, with Adaptation. (2002) being at least something that I understood (despite its extremely meta nature).
I’ll admit that I thought I’m Thinking of Ending Things (2020) was initially about suicide by its title. As I started to watch, I thought I would be getting a thoughtful look at the midwest’s mundane nature (a la Nebraska (2013)). Then a bandage switched sides on a character’s forehead. From that point, everything became much more bizarre—to the point where I stopped even trying to make sense of it all. Was it an indictment of nostalgia and apathy? Was it the daydreaming hallucinations of a janitor? I honestly don’t know, and I don’t care to figure it out.
What’s disappointing to me is that I appreciated the car ride’s intimacy and the poetry of the nothingness that one has to traverse to arrive anywhere in the midwest. Jessie Buckley definitely makes the film work, and now I finally have a movie where Jesse Plemons is his own actor instead of being a Matt Damon look-alike in my head. I’ll usually forgive films trying to be “artsy” if there’s a point to it all. Instead, movies like I’m Thinking of Ending Things make me so confused as to miss the point completely.
A bizarre film that mostly goes downhill, I give I’m Thinking of Ending Things 2.5 stars out of 5.
Pokémon Shuffle
Year: 2015
Rating: E
Time Played: ~824 hours
Considering how much time I’ve sunk into this game, I should probably give it a review. While on its surface, Pokémon Shuffle is merely a branded version of a “match three” puzzle game, the mechanics it adds to this genre gives the game an amount of strategy that is clearly addicting. As a free-to-play gamer, I haven’t put a single dollar into this game (on either the 3DS or mobile versions). Consequently, it takes a very long time to get anything done in this game, at least when it comes to maxing out the stats on the best Pokémon to use.
While the game has finally entered a regular cycle of events and specially available Pokémon, there was a time when I was excited to open up the game on Tuesdays to learn what new Pokémon I could catch/power-up each week. At the very least, with the normalization of events, I know I won’t have to wait an undetermined amount of time before a rare Pokémon comes back to the game. Unfortunately, as a free-to-play game, I needed to accomplish plenty of grinding to advance. Some levels are quite difficult, to the point where even using a full slate of items isn’t enough to win (not a cheap option, considering the in-game currency).
Having beaten and caught all the special “S-rank” Pokémon and made my way half-way through the UX levels, at this point, I’m a high enough level that I can get some fairly good rewards from the bi-weekly competitions. And even if I haven’t managed to beat the Survival Mode itemless, I still find the grinding of Pokémon levels and skills to be enjoyable enough for me to keep playing every day. Because, in the end, these special abilities make Pokémon Shuffle more than just a “match three” puzzle game.
A unique take on the “match three” puzzle genre, I give Pokémon Shuffle 4.0 stars out of 5.
Barry Lyndon
Year: 1975
Rating: PG
Length: 185 minutes / 3.08 hours
As someone who appreciates classic films, perhaps I had my hopes set a little too high for Barry Lyndon (1975). Going in, I already knew the technical challenges director Stanley Kubrick had to overcome to film indoors and by candlelight with no extra lighting. Of course, if that was the main thing I knew about this film before I actually sat down and watched it, that should have told me something about how boring the plot would be. Then again, even a master of cinema like Kubrick can only do so much with mediocre material.
I will give some credit where it’s due, though. Most of this movie did contribute to the tension of the climax. If certain events hadn’t transpired in the way they did, Barry’s (Ryan O’Neal) life would have been much different. Then again, the whole “rags to riches” storyline seemed overdone, even for the mid-1970s. And sure, duels can be exciting—with the honor and lives of men on the line—but I found this film had more duels than a Yu-gi-oh episode. This contributed to some of my boredom.
That’s not to say that Barry Lyndon isn’t completely unwatchable. Like I alluded to earlier, the cinematography looks fantastic. Most scenes could have easily been oil paintings hanging in museums (probably why the pacing felt so slow). The costuming and music were also exemplary, as would be expected of a period piece like this. I could definitely see where future films (like The Favourite (2018)) drew their inspiration. And while Kubrick’s versatility certainly makes this film a good part of his repertoire, I don’t think I could place it in my top five favorite Kubrick films.
A technical achievement that drags a bit in places, I give Barry Lyndon 3.5 stars out of 5.
White Fragility
Year: 2018
Author: Robin DiAngelo
Length: 381 minutes / 6.35 hours
With race relations as challenging as they currently are in the United States, a book like White Fragility is required reading for both opponents and allies of racial unity. Racism is a huge problem, and it’s difficult to tackle something this large without first understanding the foundation on which it was built. It can be easy to simply address the problem’s symptoms instead of digging out the root and identifying where many secondary and tertiary issues originate. As a straight white male, I was first hesitant to read such a book, but now I think it should be required for all of us straight white males.
The only qualm I have with this book is that it almost exclusively addresses the racism toward the black community. While I understand this is the most volatile and pressing facet of racism right now, I would have appreciated a chapter about applying the tools presented in this book in other interactions with people of color or indigenous peoples. Depending on how open you are to changing your view of this nation’s racial status, you may find this book hard to swallow. I know it has helped me face the racist blind spot brought to my attention earlier this year and take steps to address it in my life actively.
Perhaps the biggest eye-opener in this book was how invasive racism is in the system that makes it possible. Sure, there are racist people, but they aren’t nearly as harmful as the system that supports them and oppresses BIPOC. It was also useful to see how the “allies” aren’t helping by being overly emotional or saying that they “don’t see color.” While these allies might think they are empathetic, they are actually making the system worse by making themselves the center of attention, as they have been taught to do in a white male-run society.
A challenging but eye-opening book and required reading for all white people, I give White Fragility 4.0 stars out of 5.
Song of the Sea
Year: 2014
Rating: PG
Length: 93 minutes / 1.55 hours
In perusing Netflix a while ago, I came across Song of the Sea (2014), a nominee for the Best Animated Feature Oscar that had completely gone under my radar. At first glance, this film seemed to be by the same people who had done The Secret of Kells (2009). I appreciated the 2D style of the animation from Kells and looked forward to additional stories that could be told in that style. I was not disappointed in the visuals, but I was confused, perhaps more than I should have been with the plot.
Don’t get me wrong: the plot is pretty simple. I certainly was able to understand the story of a brother and his mystical mother and sister. Some of the plot points seemed pretty cliche, all things considered. What I had trouble with was some of the Irish folklore that ran throughout this movie. Perhaps it was all part of a singular “fairy” portion of their lore that tied it all together, but it seemed to jump around from glowing seals to stone singers to owl grandmothers with little connection between them.
Despite my lack of understanding of Irish folklore, Song of the Sea is still a touching film. There’s genuine emotion in these animated characters, and I could really relate with the father (Brendan Gleeson), as well as with Saorise (Lucy O’Connell). The visuals and fantastical elements do work well for the animation style, and I can’t wait until I can watch the next film in this “trilogy,” the most-recent Wolfwalkers (2020). I always appreciate foreign animated films, so I would highly suggest that people who are tired of the same kinds of animated movies put out by American studios give movies like Song of the Sea a watch.
Unique animation steeped in Irish folklore, I give Song of the Sea 4.0 stars out of 5.
Pokémon Picross
Year: 2015
Rating: E
Time Played: ~78 hours
I’ve never been much of a fan of picross-type games. Mostly, the user interface for them required the use of a D-pad, which made solving each puzzle a slow endeavor. Additionally, most of the pictures created via these picross puzzles were not that interesting. This was why I was surprised to find that I enjoyed Pokémon Picross so much. Sure, it might be a picross game at its core, but the addition of the Pokémon brand made it much more entertaining to play than any other picross game I’ve come across. Additionally, the 3DS touch screen and stylus made completing puzzles that much easier than using a D-pad.
While the Pokémon content and stylus controls were two reasons I ended up completing this game, I admit that it has one annoying flaw: paywalls. Granted, Pokémon Picross is a free-to-play game, but there are a few points early on where you need a certain amount of in-game currency to unlock the next section of the game. Since there are not enough rewardable tasks this early in the game, you basically have to log in to get the daily rewards for quite a few weeks before you gain enough to break through this artificial barrier.
Of course, once I got past the paywall, I didn’t have this problem again for the rest of the game. This was great because then I was able to play to my heart’s content, taking full advantage of the unique system of abilities that the “caught” Pokémon would bring to each level I completed. And while the post-game merely consisted of the same levels with much more difficult criteria attached to them, I was fine with just finishing all the puzzles in the main game. So if you’re looking for a semi-unique take on the picross genre, Pokémon Picross might be just the game for you.
A great way to play picross, despite an annoying paywall, I give Pokémon Picross 3.5 stars out of 5.
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
Year: 2020
Rating: R
Length: 95 minutes / 1.58 hours
Over the years, I’ve found two types of people: those offended by the original Borat (2006) film and those who find it funny. I’m probably in the latter camp, mostly because I can appreciate how politically incorrect comedy can be “safely” created by introducing a cultural/language barrier. 14 years later, and I’m certain that the people who didn’t find the original Borat funny won’t find the humor in Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (2020).
As an American, it’s amusing to see our foibles pulled out as the butt of the joke in this film, especially after we’ve made fools of ourselves through the last decade of partisan politics and recent refusal of science and common sense. And while Borat Subsequent Moviefilm still relies on physical and sexual humor that is awkward to watch, there are moments of pure genius that I felt improved upon the original formula. Sure, there seemed to be less “unscripted” bits than before, but that’s probably why this sequel works better.
In fact, while the “shock value” is still there in moments of backward cultural standards, this actually allowed for some fantastic character development. Plus, if you want a movie that captures this unique slice in time that is 2020, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm is it. I don’t want to give away too much, but the ending is absolutely perfect and navigating the political and pandemic landscape this smartly could only be done by Borat (Sacha Baron Cohen) himself. Future films may be forced to incorporate this peculiar scenario in human history, but Borat ran with it and hit a home run.
A surprisingly effective mockumentary about 2020, I give Borat Subsequent Moviefilm 4.0 stars out of 5.
Infernal Devices
Year: 2005
Author: Philip Reeve
Length: 607 minutes / 10.12 hours
Wow. OK. Maybe this series isn’t for children as much as I thought it was. Sure, a post-apocalyptic world has many subjects that can be considered dark—death being the main one—but Infernal Devices certainly went all in here and pushed the ugliness of humanity to the forefront of the plot. Of course, one wonders if the POV change to focus on the progeny of the two characters who comprised the first two books is part of why the tone of this book changed so drastically. Sure, there was violence in the previous two books; it just didn’t seem so gratuitous then.
Aside from all the killing, which I suppose was meant to signify Hester’s character development, there wasn’t too much new in terms of world-building in this book. I appreciated all the developments in Mortal Engines and Predator’s Gold, but the addition of the African and Middle Eastern cities didn’t expound the “city-eat-city” world that much. Sure, there was more exploration of the Lost Boys concept, but it didn’t necessarily go any deeper than the basic idea presented in Predator’s Gold.
Despite the huge time gap between book two and Infernal Devices, I did find a few things to stand out in this part of the series. First was the epic battle between automatons. I felt the action in this scene, along with the other action scenes in this book, were well-described. Second, I don’t want to give away too much, but the twist ending was a bit of a shock—even if it made complete sense. For a series that usually hits many clichés and tropes of relationships, I was honestly shocked that the author went for this ending. Of course, the ending also leaves things unresolved enough to require another book, so there is that aspect to it which I can understand.
A jump ahead in time and the amount of violence, I give Infernal Devices 3.0 stars out of 5.
Guns Akimbo
Year: 2019
Rating: R
Length: 98 minutes / 1.63 hours
Perhaps you’ve seen the meme? Daniel Radcliffe is out in public in his boxers and a robe and gesticulating wildly with two pistols in his hands. That meme comes from this movie. Guns Akimbo (2019) is the kind of movie you think it is: ridiculous and gratuitous. Going in, I knew I couldn’t take this film seriously, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. I was expecting something along the lines of Shoot ’em Up (2006) and got what I wanted out of it.
Sure, the premise is flimsy, and the characters are one-dimensional, but I came to have fun, and I certainly laughed quite a few times during this movie’s short runtime. I think if this film took itself more seriously, it wouldn’t have been the fun popcorn flick it turned out to be. That being said, I can appreciate how it is self-aware enough to recognize some of the challenges of having two guns bolted to your hands, let alone occasionally mentioning how it’s probably a serious medical problem that would need immediate hospitalization to solve.
What gets me is how Guns Akimbo could actually be something really great if it took a little effort and ditched the comedy. The moments before the credits roll gave a glimpse of a plot that would be interesting as a serious sequel. Even some of the subplots between the minor characters had some heft to them and almost seemed to be included to ground this film in the action genre before it would go off the rails with an insane set-piece moments later. Of course, this premise is so ridiculous that there’s no way it could be made without the self-aware comedy that runs throughout.
Ridiculous, violent fun, I give Guns Akimbo 3.0 stars out of 5.
Pokémon Platinum Version
Year: 2009
Rating: E
Time Played: 88.65 hours
Even though I was a fan of the Pokémon series growing up, when the main-line games transitioned over to the Nintendo DS, I couldn’t justify buying the new system at the time. I felt the dual-screen/touch screen format was a bit of a gimmick (which I still do, to an extent). However, fast forward a good decade or so when I finally gave in and bought a New Nintendo 3DS. This now meant I could play a sizable back catalog of games, including the Pokémon games I had missed since the change over to the DS.
Fortunately, because I had waited so long, I could jump right into the 4th Generation games with the more complete Pokémon Platinum Version. Having now played at least one game from each Generation all the way through (I’m still working on Gen. 8, though), I think Pokémon Platinum provides the best experience of any Generation. Not only was I able to catch all three of the legendary mascot Pokémon, but there were so many classic and new Pokémon to catch that I was never bored with the gameplay. Plus, I enjoyed the time and space storyline presented in this Generation.
And while there have been graphical and slight gameplay changes since Pokémon Platinum, the challenge holds up over time. I felt truly accomplished after defeating Cynthia, and the post-game content (especially the Heatran storyline) was vast enough to keep me playing well after my name was etched in the hall of fame. Sure, some of the connectivity to play/trade with others no longer exists, but the base game is so expansive as to make this almost a moot point for me. It’s only a shame that it takes such gymnastics to get my favorite Pokémon from this game all the way up to the current games.
Probably the best Pokémon game to date, I give Pokémon Platinum Version 4.5 stars out of 5.
Klaus
Year: 2019
Rating: PG
Length: 96 minutes / 1.60 hours
It’s weird to me how many Christmas movies there are out there, and how few of them are any good. Fortunately, we now have a little gem with Klaus (2019). Animated in a beautiful 2D-esque style that uses 3D CGI as its base, Klaus works backward from what we understand as the current lore surrounding Santa Claus and develops a heartwarming story to explain all the little impossibilities that tie to the Yule tradition. And while it hits mostly predictable story beats, certain moments had me tearing up.
What makes Klaus different from the rest of the Christmas-themed animated fare is that there seems to have been plenty of care devoted to the artistry of the visuals. It seems like most modern animated Christmas movies skimp on quality just to get something out to cash in on the holiday. The characters and character designs are unique and fitting to the story this movie is trying to tell. I don’t want to throw around the term “instant classic” too much, but Klaus feels like the kind of movie I’d want to re-watch with my children as part of some annual Christmas tradition.
In the end, the plot does an excellent job of displaying character growth across all characters. Granted, this is how all Christmas movies usually play out. However, the fact that the most significant changes in the worst town were all started by children goes to show how children aren’t just our future; they’re the fresh vision that looks at the status quo and can change it. I will admit there is a slight taint to the motives of most of the characters, as none of them are that altruistic. That being said, in cases like the one presented in Klaus, the ends can justify the means.
A quality Christmas classic, I give Klaus 4.5 stars out of 5.
Predator’s Gold
Year: 2003
Author: Philip Reeve
Length: 580 minutes / 9.67 hours
Taking place a few years after the events of Mortal Engines, I was aided somewhat in my read-through of Predator’s Gold by the fact that I didn’t have a movie to compare against. While the first book in this series helped set the stage, I felt the real story didn’t start until book two. After all, this series really is about the relationship between Hester and Tom. In Mortal Engines, they had only just met; in Predator’s Gold, we see how far they’ll go for each other, even if most of the story beats are somewhat predictable.
I appreciated how thoroughly real this ridiculous concept of monstrous towns roaming the world and devouring each other seems in this book. This post-apocalyptic setting felt thought-out by adding the main setting of Anchorage and the introduction of a charlatan author who cons everyone around him for his sole benefit. So often, an additional concept is added to the world-building, and I’d think, “That makes sense in this context.” I also appreciated how previous ideas were integrated into this story, showing how nothing is a “throwaway” idea.
Despite the excellent world-building, the root of this story is Hester and Tom’s relationship. While the more “romantic” elements were merely alluded to—as this is a series meant for children, after all—I was slightly annoyed with how stubborn these two characters were. If they’d been together for a few years, you’d think they’d have figured out some of these simple relationship issues before they become lynchpins tied to the survival of entire cities. I also felt the “will of God” was in a lot of the plot developments, as these two characters always seemed to be brought to the right place at the right time so they could continue to be together.
Excellent world-building with so-so character relationships, I give Predator’s Gold 3.5 stars out of 5.
Bill & Ted Face the Music
Year: 2020
Rating: PG-13
Length: 91 minutes / 1.52 hours
One thing I hate about trilogies is that sometimes movies don’t need to be trilogies. If everything has been covered in the previous two movies (or even the first movie), the only reason for any additional films in the franchise seems to be for the sole purpose of making money. What’s worse is franchises that release their third movie long enough after the first two that it’s more of a nostalgia trip/reboot than anything that adds significantly to the lore.
What’s perhaps most disappointing about Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020) is how I had high hopes for it. Granted, my nostalgia for Excellent Adventure (1989) and Bogus Journey (1991) mean that I hoped there would be a significant shift in Face the Music that would explore something new that might have developed in the last 30 years. Instead, Face the Music treads all the same territory from the first two films—basically acting as a refresher and a gender-swapped reboot all in one. Sure, Face the Music has a certain logic to its premise, and I liked being able to revisit this franchise, but the execution was more of the same.
Perhaps the fact that I’ve grown up since the first two films is the reason why this one didn’t click for me. There was a lot of comedy that made the previous movies click but fell flat in this iteration. Most of the new characters to the series felt uninspired (like the theoretical physicist rapper—a straight pull from Futurama‘s Harlem Globetrotters) or just plain awkward (like the android sent from the future). Honestly, while I felt the collection of famous musicians would have been a better way to extend the themes from Excellent Adventure into Bogus Journey, it seemed like too little too late to save this aging franchise.
A disappointing end to a trilogy, I give Bill & Ted Face the Music 3.0 stars out of 5.
Pokémon White Version
Year: 2011
Rating: E
Time Played: 61.88 hours
As I worked through the back catalog of Pokémon games I had missed between Generation 3 and 7, I had always heard that the Generation 5 games were the most difficult. Having completed Pokémon White Version, I can say that there is a definite challenge spike when compared with previous entries in the series. This doesn’t mean it’s an impossible game, just that it took a little more work and a little more grinding to be able to defeat the final bosses. Since grinding isn’t necessarily that enjoyable, this made the gameplay suffer slightly as a result.
I was quite surprised to start up this game and find that all the Pokémon I was used to were nowhere to be found. Granted, they did show up after I beat the game, but by then, it was clear that this Generation of games was a reboot of the series formula. With a whole bunch of new Pokémon—many of whom had distinct corollaries to Generation 1 Pokémon—I had to spend quite some time figuring out what Pokémon were worth training and which ones were stronger than others (both stats-wise and type-wise).
The story of this game was mostly forgettable, which was a bit of a shame. I also found the seasons mechanic a neat twist, but with an annoying timeframe. I didn’t want to keep playing this game over four months to experience what each season had to offer, and there weren’t any significant changes to the gameplay when playing from month to month (a weekly change would have perhaps been a better way to handle this). Still, I did find the actively-animated Pokémon sprites to be a visual treat compared to the static counterparts from previous Generations.
A Pokémon reboot for slightly more hardcore players, I give Pokémon White Version 3.5 stars out of 5.
Mewtwo Strikes Back: Evolution
Year: 2019
Rating: PG
Length: 98 minutes / 1.63 hours
Growing up with the Pokémon franchise during the peak of its fervor, I definitely remember going to see the first movie when it came out in theaters. Consequently, there is an amount of nostalgia that I associate with this first forray of the franchise onto the big screen. When I saw that Netflix had recreated the 2D anime of my childhood with their style of CGI animation, I was intrigued enough to check it out.
Much like in the recent CGI version of The Lion King (2019), just because a movie was faithfully recreated using newer animation technology does not make it a better movie. Additionally, I believe the fact that I had aged since I first watched this movie made it so I could see it through a more objective lens. What I found was that the story was incredibly light, and the only thing that made it worth watching in the original was the fact that the Pokémon I had seen on the small monochromatic screen of my Game Boy were on the enormous screen of the movie theater.
I do have a feeling that Netflix has a certain style for their CGI anime reboots, and I don’t know if I entirely like it. For example, the Knights of the Zodiac CGI reboot they did looks really sharp, but has a few weaknesses when it comes to the human characters. This weakness was even more pronounced in this Pokémon movie because they tried to retain the same animation style of the humans from the original, which made them look really weird. My eyes were amazed at all the inorganic textures—like rocks and water—but the human characters were well within the uncanny valley for me and made it difficult to watch.
A nostalgia-filled remake that fell into the uncanny valley, I give Mewtwo Strikes Back: Evolution 2.5 stars out of 5.
The Lion King
Year: 2019
Rating: PG
Length: 118 minutes / 1.97 hours
Many years ago, I learned that The Lion King (1994) was basically the plot of Hamlet reenacted with animals. And while many people consider the original 2D animated version of this story to be one of the greatest Disney movies ever created, I never really cared that much for it. Fast forward to 2019, and the new “live-action” version of The Lion King is released. Again, I wasn’t really wowed by anything in it because I was ambivalent to the whole story anyway. I did find it odd that they marketed it as “live-action” when it was completely CGI. It was an animated remake of an animated movie.
Perhaps my biggest issue with this new version of The Lion King was that they didn’t really change anything. It felt like the 1998 version of Psycho (1960) that recreated the whole movie shot-for-shot in color. While it was technically as close to the original movie as possible, it proved that a copy does not have the same amount of magic that makes the original a special piece of art. For the CGI version of The Lion King, there were no embellishments that other live-action remakes like Beauty and the Beast (2017) and Aladdin (2019) called upon to enhance the story.
Another issue with this CGI version is what elements were prioritized in its visuals. While many animals do have fairly expressive behaviors, they are not nearly as expressive as the exaggerated emotions present in the 2D version. As such, this version felt flat and more like the voice actors were just talking over footage from a wildlife documentary. If anything, this is a testament to the power of today’s computers, as they are able to create animals that look as lifelike as possible—not that it helps tell an emotional story that well.
Technically proficient, but lacking the magic of the original, I give The Lion King 2.0 stars out of 5.
Pokémon X
Year: 2013
Rating: E
Time Played: 36.37 hours
When I finally bought a 3DS, one of the games I had missed (that I quickly rectified) was Pokémon X. I appreciated all the legendary Pokémon given out as part of the 20th anniversary of the Generation 1 games. Still, I didn’t get around to playing through this game until after Pokémon Sun came out. For the first game in the series to be fully 3D, I certainly enjoyed the look and polish of it, even if the stereoscopic abilities of the 3DS weren’t used as much as they should have been. After all, with everything rendered with 3D visuals, I want the full game to use the ability of the hardware to display in 3D.
After playing the much more difficult Generation 5 games, I did enjoy how much easier they made Pokémon X. Granted, they kind of overdid it with the sharp drop in difficulty. Still, I also think they were trying to regain the younger audience to the franchise after people like me grew up and grew out of it (although, obviously not entirely out of it). Plus, I liked the new Mega Evolution mechanic in this game and was sorely disappointed when most of the items used for Mega Evolution were locked in the post-game.
I forgave a lot when playing this game, just by the very nature of its stunning visuals. Even if it was easy, it was gorgeous to look at. Unfortunately, partly because it was so easy, I found no reason to stick around for the post-game. Even if I could have eventually found the Mega Evolution stones and caught Mewtwo, I read through what to do to accomplish this, and it seemed like such a hassle—especially when I had other games to play.
A fantastic jump into 3D at the cost of difficulty, I give Pokémon X 4.0 stars out of 5.
Enola Holmes
Year: 2020
Rating: PG-13
Length: 123 minutes / 2.05 hours
When a character like Sherlock Holmes is already written, you do the next best thing: write fanfiction. Enola Holmes (2020) feels like an author-insert fanfiction of the famous detective stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. While this would be a mark against any other story, it works here and creates an amusing plot that was fun to watch. Sure, the mystery wasn’t at the level Sherlock Holmes would normally solve, but Enola isn’t necessarily Sherlock. Of course, I don’t know if this story would have worked as well if there wasn’t the tie-in to Sherlock Holmes.
As for the actors, no doubt on retainer from their other Netflix projects, Henry Cavill (The Witcher) is a passable Sherlock but wasn’t given quite enough screen time to really show his talents. The star of the show is definitely Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things), who has certainly shown that she’s not only good at playing a teenager with psychic powers. I could have done with quite a bit less fourth-wall-breaking in this film, though, as I wondered if I was watching a Deadpool movie more often than should be prudent.
While Enola Holmes seems to be the start of a franchise, I wonder if future installments will continue with this movie format or if they’ll start to take after the BBC’s Sherlock format with movie-length episodes. At the very least, Enola Holmes is a cute and charming movie that can stand by itself. That being said, I still have many unanswered questions regarding Enola’s mother. It felt her character arc was incomplete—or at least it could have been better integrated into the story presented here to provide answers linked to the overarching plot.
A charming and fun fanfiction-like story in the Sherlock Holmes universe, I give Enola Holmes 4.0 stars out of 5.
Blood of Elves
Year: 1994
Author: Andrzej Sapkowski
Length: 655 minutes / 10.92 hours
I’ll admit that I had a bit of a head start understanding the Witcher universe when I picked up this book. I’ve played a few hours of The Witcher 3 on my Switch, and I watched the first season of the show on Netflix. Would the lack of this prior knowledge have hurt my chances of understanding this high fantasy? Not likely. Arranged as a series of vignettes, Blood of Elves reveals its characters and setting based on a collection of almost everyday scenarios. While this approach made understanding the overarching goal of the series difficult to discern, it did make the characters quite a bit more realistic and relatable.
When it comes down to it, this book is about its characters. Geralt, Ciri, and Yennefer all stood out to me as unique and well-rounded individuals who each had their own stories to tell and plotlines to follow. And while their interactions are all intertwined in some way, their individual journeys allow them to shine in their own way. Perhaps this is why I enjoyed listening to this audiobook: it wasn’t so focused on building the world where these characters lived (like most Tolkein-esque high fantasy). Instead, this book made sure I understood who these characters were and what challenges they have faced and will face in the future.
Two scenes/stories stood out to me in this book that I feel need special praise. First, I have never before read a book that had an entire fight/training sequence performed exclusively in dialogue. There were no character actions other than what was described through what the individuals said to each other. To be able to do this so well is an achievement in writing in and of itself. Secondly, I found the story where Geralt meets a monster “expert” to be incredibly humorous. This bit of levity helped to keep the book from getting too dark and morose, which was welcome considering some of its content.
A fantastic character-based high fantasy, I give Blood of Elves 4.5 stars out of 5.
Sonic the Hedgehog
Year: 2020
Rating: PG
Length: 99 minutes / 1.65 hours
As someone who grew up with the original Sonic video games, I was highly skeptical of this film adaptation. There’s not much plot behind a game that’s basically: move right as fast as possible and defeat a robot-making madman. Granted, Sonic has developed a little more depth to its lore over the years…but not much. The appeal of the character in the ’90s was his attitude, and I have to admit that his movie does capture that attitude quite well.
For a video game adaptation, Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) isn’t terrible, which is saying something. I can only imagine the nightmare-inducing original design for Sonic, though. However, it’s still not the greatest movie ever for the genre of video game adaptations. I did appreciate the little “slow-motion” moments, as well as the practical use of the rings as teleportation devices. Jim Carrey’s Dr. Robotnik was passable, if not a little too goofy/sinister at times. This movie probably won’t age well, though, as there are plenty of cultural references included in it—not all of which are directly linked to the source material.
What really gets me about this film was how generic it felt. All the major plot points, characters, and jokes felt like the same tropes I’d expect of any other “an alien coming to Earth and learning to live with/save its inhabitants” plotline. For my money, I’d probably watch Bumblebee (2018) again instead. Of course, many of these problems stem from the “origin story” trope that all these franchises feel they need to produce to get those who aren’t “in the know” to understand their franchise moving forward.
A standard origin story with generic characters and jokes, I give Sonic the Hedgehog 3.0 stars out of 5.
Pokémon Sun
Year: 2016
Rating: E
Time Played: 115.37 hours
While I grew up with the original 1st Generation Pokémon games, I had lost interest in the series just after Gen. 3. This was around the time I headed off to college, so I didn’t have as much time for video games as I did while in high school. Fast forward to the 20th anniversary of Pokémon and the release of Pokémon Sun and Moon. There were plenty of legendary Pokémon being given out at the time, so I found it was as good a time as any to get back into the series.
A lot had changed since I left, and Pokémon Sun carried over plenty of these changes. I appreciated a lot of these tweaks, including the removal of HMs and unlimited-use TMs. And while adjusting the “experience share” to give experience to all the Pokémon in my team made the game a little easier, it also reduced the amount of grind that I’d need to perform to progress. Additionally, the online capability of these newer games meant that I could easily fill out my Pokédex without having to track down a friend who had all the Pokémon I was missing. I’ll also admit that the “Alola variant” of many Gen 1 Pokémon was a nice touch of modified nostalgia.
However, there were some things that I found a little lackluster or irritating. While the story was pretty good, there wasn’t much to do after I completed the game, other than to complete the Pokédex. The fact that there wasn’t some form of a National Dex for all the legendaries I had gained through gift codes was a bit disappointing, as there was no impetus for me to truly “collect them all.” And while the Z-move mechanic was a neat and flashy addition, having to sit through the animation for them each and every time I used them became tedious by the end.
An enjoyable adventure, despite a few minor weaknesses, I give Pokémon Sun 4.0 stars out of 5.
Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)
Year: 2020
Rating: R
Length: 109 minutes / 1.82 hours
I will admit: Margot Robbie is perfectly cast as Harley Quinn. The fact that she even got her own movie after her debut in Suicide Squad (2016) is a testament to this. That being said, she’s a bit of a shallow character past being “Joker’s girlfriend.” Look no further than Birds of Prey (2020) to see what I mean. If it were truly a Harley Quinn standalone film, it wouldn’t have needed the sub-plots of a handful of other characters to make the running time long enough.
As it stands, Birds of Prey is meant as a sort of “origin story” for this titular team of female heroes. The fact that it needed Harley Quinn to make it marketable is a bit of a disappointment in the ability of the writers to create a story that would give these women agency without resorting to a tedious series of events that center around Harley surviving her vast list of enemies and people out for revenge. Unfortunately, none of the other characters stand out enough to make this movie as entertaining as it could have been.
Perhaps the overabundance of tropes and stereotype characters is what made this movie not work for me. None of the motivations of the characters are really that interesting or unique to them. It’s almost like these characters were purposely chosen never to come close to taking the spotlight away from Harley Quinn, which hurts the overall film in the end. I’m certainly glad that I used a free Redbox rental for this movie, as I wouldn’t want to spend any money on it.
Another good Margot Robbie performance filled with flat and uninteresting side characters, I give Birds of Prey 2.0 stars out of 5.
Ringworld
Year: 1970
Author: Larry Niven
Length: 675 minutes / 11.25 hours
It can be difficult to judge a book, especially one as critically acclaimed as Ringworld, with 50 years of scientific and societal progress between when it was written and today. On the one hand, there are many scientific concepts explored in this book that we almost take for granted in modern sci-fi. On the other hand, the stink of 1970s misogyny doesn’t age very well, and this book is a prime example. Even today, sci-fi authors are still trying to dig out from the sexist tropes that books like this perpetuated throughout the genre. It’s a complicated, uphill battle, but we’re trying to be better than this.
For 1970, I do have to admit that the science presented here is relatively revolutionary. Unfortunately, the descriptions were occasionally a bit dry and felt more like reading a textbook than a sci-fi adventure. I could appreciate how Niven described the indescribable scale of something as massive as the Ringworld. Additionally, the alien races were well-rounded and had complex physiologies and backstories that made the group dynamic entertaining to read. However, the only thing well-rounded about the women in this book were their bodies.
Aside from the considerable age difference between the two romantic leads being an acceptance of pedophilia, it’s clear that Niven only thought of women as objects. This is disappointing because the story could have been more interesting if the female characters had any agency other than being driven by pleasure or luck. I have to recognize that this book is still a snapshot of its temporal circumstances, but that doesn’t necessarily excuse it in today’s society. Acknowledging that it’s from the 1970s, modern works should be more aware of these flaws when using such a pivotal science fiction book as a base for today’s books.
Some great science with not-so-great misogyny, I give Ringworld 3.0 stars out of 5.
V for Vendetta
Year: 2005
Rating: R
Length: 132 minutes / 2.20 hours
It’s a little weird watching a dystopian movie like V for Vendetta (2005) in 2020. I watched this film each year around the 5th of November, but life eventually got in the way and made it difficult to continue the tradition. At the time, I enjoyed the “underdog” of V (Hugo Weaving) protecting art and freedom of thought from the tyranny of an oppressive government. Having gone back and re-watched it in the current global climate, I’m honestly shocked at how prescient it was in predicting a lot of our future. Hopefully, things don’t become worse to the point of completely fulfilling this prophecy.
I think part of the reason this film remains timeless—other than the flawless performances of Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving—is how it shows the amount of freedom people in society give up in the name of “safety.” Fear-mongering is a common political tactic to get individuals to vote for a particular party. All we have to do to be “protected” is to allow those in power to do what’s in “our best interests.” Except, rarely are the actions of leaders in the best interest of their constituents. After all, absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Fortunately, V for Vendetta provides a glimmer of explosive hope. Where tyranny is exposed, the one force that can stand up to it is the Populus’s combined force. No political system is perfect, but the will of the people—if unified—can overcome great oppression. People die; ideas live forever. Now, whether or not our current global situation can garner enough unity to shatter this broken system without resorting to V’s explosive measures is an exercise left up to the reader.
An eerily prescient indictment on the trade between safety and freedom, I give V for Vendetta 4.0 stars out of 5.
This movie appears in Cinema Connections: a never-ending “6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon.” Order your copy to see how it links to Pay it Forward (2000) and The A-Team (2010).
Pokémon Sword
Year: 2019
Rating: E
Time Played: 92.03 hours
As with any new iteration of a long-running franchise, it’s equally interesting to see how the formula is changed to make things interesting while also cutting out some of the tedium present in previous installments. While Pokémon Sword has certainly improved some of the quality of life issues present in the franchise, some of the newer features still need a bit of work to be fully enjoyable. That being said, for the first time in many generations, I was able to (almost) completely fill my Pokédex (even with the DLC Pokémon, having not actually bought it) while playing entirely by myself. I still have a few evolutions I need another friend for, but they account for ~1% of the total.
I was somewhat pleased with the introduction of the “Gigantamaxing” mechanic, even if it was essentially a combination of Mega Evolution and Z-Moves from Generations 6 and 7, respectively. The annoying thing about these special Pokémon was that I had to use the Y-comm to catch them in Max Raids. The refresh rate on the available battles needs to be fixed since more than 50% of the time, the battle wasn’t available. Additionally, it would be nice to make trades with strangers in-game instead of relying on Pokémon Home to get the Pokémon I wanted.
While it’s a bit of a pain to join Max Raid Battles, the variety of events that gave me opportunities to catch rare (for my game) and highly-evolved Pokémon make this entry stand out amongst its predecessors. I also appreciated the Wild Area since I spend most of my time there. The fact that Pokémon in the Wild Area scale in level based on your progress through the game made gaining levels much easier than in the past. The XP crystals were also lifesavers from the monotony. I also appreciated the “visible” Pokémon that carried over from Let’s Go Pikachu/Eevee, as it allowed me to choose who I wanted to battle. Overall, despite a few weaknesses, the improvements to the series made this a great game in the franchise.
Some fantastic quality of life improvements, but with a few features that still need fixing, I give Pokémon Sword 4.0 stars out of 5.
Poltergeist
Year: 1982
Rating: PG
Length: 114 minutes / 1.90 hours
Some movies have spoilers, and then some movies have so deeply-ingrained themselves in the popular culture zeitgeist that it’s nearly impossible to not have some knowledge of them before actually sitting down and watching the film itself. Poltergeist (1982) is just such a film for me. I’ve seen it referenced on many different lists and other places that claim it to be a great horror film. I’ve also seen it referenced and parodied in several places (like The Simpsons). The combination of its notoriety and its parody meant that I had pretty much already seen this film before actually watching it.
Since I already knew the “big reveal” that caused the main characters’ house to become haunted, I had to watch this movie with a slightly different focus. Mainly: how and why has this film stood the test of time? Sure, it dates itself sometimes with its early-1980s style; however, the special effects for its time were particularly top-notch (all things considered). While only one of these special effects doesn’t seem that realistic by today’s standards, the rest of them make me wonder how they pulled them off at the time.
What’s refreshing with Poltergeist is its ability to be scary (albeit in a family-friendly way, ironically enough) but not resort to jump scares or gore like modern horror. Of course, its two sequels and 2015 remake apparently never lived up to its original creativity or timelessness. Still, while it’s been referenced to death (har har) in popular culture, I can now honestly say that I’ve seen this movie all the way through. Although this also means that I don’t likely need to watch it again.
Classic horror with notable special effects, I give Poltergeist 3.5 stars out of 5.
Fool Moon
Year: 2001
Author: Jim Butcher
Length: 607 minutes / 10.12 hours
I haven’t read a lot of the urban fantasy genre, but series like Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files is what I’ve come to expect. There’s a certain amount of logic that goes into combining fantasy elements into modern settings, and—if done well—can bring a story to life. Fool Moon (a delicious play on words, if I do say so myself) continues to take the noir twist from Storm Front and applies Harry Dresden’s magical skills against werewolf foes. Perhaps Storm Front wowed me with the concept of a detective magician so much that I thought Fool Moon was slightly weaker in comparison.
For starters, I felt there were too many factions to keep track of in this book. Half the time, I was trying to remember if the werewolves in question were the good guys or the bad guys. Granted, the ambiguity of the factions’ intent helped drive the plot, but they all felt so similar that I had difficulty telling them apart from each other. I was also somewhat confused with what was happening in the climactic battle, even if it eventually made sense. Additionally, there was a scene in this book that basically forced Dresden to make some obvious connections without it having to come quite as naturally as I would have liked.
All this being said, I did appreciate how the story integrated most of the common lore surrounding werewolves. Nothing was entirely cliché, but it was comforting to be able to see how certain well-known elements of how werewolves work helped to maintain the fantasy continuity. If specific topics like werewolves were handled this well by Butcher, I cannot wait to see how other fantasy elements are seamlessly integrated into this alternate Chicago.
An excellent fusion of fantasy and modern setting with a few weaknesses, I give Fool Moon 4.0 stars out of 5.
50 First Dates
Year: 2004
Rating: PG-13
Length: 99 minutes / 1.65 hours
I don’t particularly care for Adam Sandler’s comedies. Most of them are crass and pull their jokes from bodily humor or the uncouth main character (usually played by Sandler). There are two exceptions to this: The Wedding Singer (1998) and 50 First Dates (2004). Since this is a review of the latter, I won’t go into the details of why I like The Wedding Singer. Instead, let’s talk about what works in 50 First Dates for me to recommend it. Yes, I’m not necessarily giving this a perfect “5-star” score, but I do think its story has enough merit that you should watch it.
As mentioned above, I don’t give this film a perfect score, mostly due to Adam Sandler’s comedy style. This is mostly exhibited in the first act of the plot, where we meet a reprehensible man, Henry (Adam Sandler), who basically only has sex with tourists so that he doesn’t have to deal with commitment. This could be an eye-rolling character flaw that we’d see ironed out at the end of the film if it weren’t also for the gross-out humor involved in this section. I’d almost be curious to see a re-cut version of this film that dispensed with this type of “comedy” and stuck to the parts of the plot that worked.
Much like Memento (2000) followed the life of a man with a special type of amnesia, 50 First Dates looks at Lucy’s (Drew Barrymore) amnesia from the perspective of the outsiders who have to watch her re-live the same day over and over again. There is a certain amount of Groundhog Day (1993) charm involved with Henry trying to break through her amnesia. Sure, a scumbag like Henry isn’t someone who I’d usually root for, except that he learns the value of commitment for something (or someone) greater than himself. The emotions involved in this setup are heartbreaking, and I still cry when I watch it.
Two watch-worthy acts in a three-act Adam Sandler comedy, I give 50 First Dates 3.5 stars out of 5.
SUPERHOT VR
Year: 2016
Rating: T
Time Played: 2 hours
The concept: time moves when you do. The challenge: survive. I had already played a few hours of the regular SUPERHOT game on my PC, but SUPERHOT VR is an experience on a whole other level. Sure, there’s not as much of a plot in this version of the game (they are two entirely different games), but it’s compensated for by being one of the most immersive experiences I’ve had on my Oculus Quest. In fact, it’s likely one of the titles that caused me to get the Quest at all.
What’s interesting about this quasi first-person shooter is how it’s more like a puzzle game than anything else. When you have to figure out the best way to avoid being “reset” in each scene, you start to think strategically about where you are and what items are nearby to use. Sure, the violence of gunning down humanoid shapes is lessened by them being bright red polygonal figures made of glass. Still, I’ve been startled on many an occasion by the stray bullet I had not accounted for or rogue enemy that made it close enough to attack me.
While I recommend that everyone with a VR headset should have this game in their library, I do have to admit that it is relatively short. I only spent a few hours finishing the primary campaign. That being said, the experience was so engaging that I came back to play more and try to unlock a few more achievements. Its re-playability is one of SUPERHOT VR‘s strengths, even if I’m not sure how long I’ll be able to retread the same locations and sequences of events. Fair warning, though: SUPERHOT VR is a workout. My legs are regularly sore after an intense session dodging projectiles in “bullet time.”
A unique puzzle game that had me coming back for more, I give SUPERHOT VR 4.0 stars out of 5.
To Be or Not To Be
Year: 1942
Rating: Passed
Length: 99 minutes / 1.65 hours
I don’t know about you, but I’ve found that World War II movies were released closer to the end of the war have a certain amount of emphasis that has seemed to fade with time. In fact, I’d almost wager that the comedies produced during the war are some of the most poignant films I’ve ever seen on the subject. Sure, making fun of Nazis is easy when you’re not affected by them—but when the threat is still real, there’s an amount of satire that can both entertain and thrill.
Much like Charlie Chaplin’s The Great Dictator (1940) that came before it, To Be or Not To Be (1942) works off a bit of mistaken identity and farse to make the jokes that much funnier. The comedy in this film is expertly carried by a young Jack Benny—who manages to gnaw on every piece of scenery in every shot where he’s allowed to work his comedic magic. What’s more impressive in this movie is how the thrilling dramatic tension that acts as a counterpoint to the comedy is so expertly woven together to make the two sides of this narrative ebb and flow with nail-biting suspense and laugh-out-loud jokes.
Considering that the war was still going on in 1942, it’s interesting how our hindsight colors our interpretation of To Be or Not To Be. If the Nazis had won the war, I don’t think they’d have looked at this particular creative product with any lenience. The bold realities of those in Poland may have come as a surprise to the movie-goers in America who might not have been aware of what the Europeans were dealing with at the time. Sure, Jack Benny brings in the laughs, but the plot considers the plight of millions. Consequently, this isn’t a perfect film, but it certainly comes close.
An expert mixture of comedy and suspense, I give To Be or Not To Be 4.5 stars out of 5.
Real Artists Don’t Starve
Year: 2017
Author: Jeff Goins
Length: 346 minutes / 5.77 hours
I’m a little conflicted with this book’s message, mostly because it downplays its definitions at the beginning of what an “artist” really is. It would be nice to make a living on my writing, but this book isn’t about how to do that. In fact, I’m already the artist that this book describes: someone who sells their creative hobby while pursuing it on weeknights and weekends. I have a full-time job, so my art isn’t my primary profession like the term “starving artist” is meant to invoke. Sure, there are bits of useful advice sprinkled throughout this book, but it wasn’t anything I hadn’t already picked up by now.
Perhaps the audience for this book is the individual who is thinking of taking a considerable risk and quitting their job to jump wholly into being an artist? Any more, the current Millennial mindset of “hustles” makes this an old way of thinking. We don’t have just one job: we have many, which we also juggle with our relationships and our hobbies. Furthermore, with online communities bringing together like-minded creative individuals with no limitations of geographical separation, some of the advice in this book is already dated three years after it was published.
Even if I already knew a lot of the advice in this book, it was encouraging to know that I’m on the right track for the artist I want to be. There are plenty of examples of successful artists in this book that give me hope that I’m doing the right things to advance my artistic career. It even filled in a few gaps that connected pieces of information I had learned but hadn’t put together yet. In the end, being an artist is a mindset, and it’s not a binary “all or nothing” that we used to consider it. Hopefully, we can soon retire the “starving artist” moniker because many artists don’t make a living on their art.
Fairly evident advice for a redefined group of artists, I give Real Artists Don’t Starve 3.0 stars out of 5.
Tenet
Year: 2020
Rating: PG-13
Length: 150 minutes / 2.50 hours
I’ll admit: I probably have to watch this movie again. I’m usually pretty good at unraveling a Christopher Nolan movie when I watch it for the first time. Not since Memento (2000), have I had such a difficult time piecing together the intertwining timelines. At least with Memento, I was aided by the black-and-white sections. In Tenet (2020), time moves in both directions in the same scene. Sure, this is a visually-stunning feat, but it’s often a slap in the face of the Grandfather Paradox, which Tenet simply waves away with a shrug and a “don’t worry about it.”
What’s interesting is how moments of foreshadowing in this film triggered my “lightbulb reflex” each time the corresponding portion of the plot came into focus and gave me the “aha moment.” I’m sure I’ll pick up more of these when I watch it a second time. As it stands after a single viewing, my mind was exhausted by the end as I tried to keep track of everything that was happening. Sure, it helps when the movie revisits a few key scenes in forward and backward time (thus giving the audience more time to piece together everything).
I think the main issue I had with this film was how it was trying so hard to sell the “time travel” concept within the standard action film framework. Why did the antagonist want to destroy the world? Narcissism, probably—which isn’t that strong of a motivator in my book. I’m sure this would be the type of film Nolan would make if he tried his hand at the James Bond franchise. As it stands, I feel there are some logical plot holes that weaken the movie as a whole. Sure, I love the amazing Inception (2010)-like visuals but unraveling such a complex idea like this only caused me to ask more questions.
Visually stunning, but mind-numbingly complex, I give Tenet 4.0 stars out of 5.
What the Golf?
Year: 2019
Rating: E10+
Time Played: 5.27 hours
It seems to me that modern indie games fall into two categories: art and humor. While games like Journey and Gris trend toward the art, games like Untitled Goose Game and What the Golf? are solidly in the humor category. Of course, the humor in What the Golf? is best appreciated by those who are familiar with a wide variety of video games. Just off the top of my head, this game references Super Mario Bros., Angry Birds, Superhot, Portal, Metal Gear Solid, and Super Meat Boy. Even without this referential humor, What the Golf? does have enough amusing moments for anyone to enjoy.
The biggest problem I found with this game is its difficulty and replay value. Granted, I haven’t found someone to explore the co-op mode on the Switch version, but I completed the base game in just over five hours. Since I also took the time to collect some of the “crowns,” I have already completed 77% of the game in this first play-through. The basic holes were reasonably straightforward, but the additional “challenges” for each hole are either equally as easy to accomplish or are too difficult to spend any more time completing.
While I’ve heard that this game will be receiving free DLC in the future, I think it’s currently too short for its full-price status. It’s maybe worth about $10, so if there’s a sale, certainly pick it up for a few laughs. Nothing was uproariously funny, but most puns and references made me go, “Ha!” If anything, this game was good at showing how many different gimmicks it can include in a single experience (likely due to how many other games it alludes to). Will I ever complete this game 100%? Probably not. It felt like a “one and done” and gave me some entertainment for a few hours.
A referentially humorous take on golf, I give What the Golf? 3.5 stars out of 5.
The Goonies
Year: 1985
Rating: PG
Length: 114 minutes / 1.90 hours
Cult classics are intriguing films. I feel there is a lot of nostalgia tied to a movie that hits a generation of individuals at just the right time for them to be memorable to these people. Sometimes, these cult classics are movies that I didn’t get around to seeing—especially when they were relevant to my friends. For whatever reason, The Goonies (1985) has eluded me for 35 years. I can certainly see its appeal, but I mostly just watched it and wondered why people thought it was so great.
I will say that this film is a trip down memory lane in the sense that I don’t think I’ve ever seen a movie with either Sean Astin or Josh Brolin as young as they were in this one. The fact that many meme-able moments from this film have lasted in the popular culture zeitgeist for so long is a testament to its powerful nostalgia. Having never seen The Goonies until now, I already knew it was about pirate treasure and the adventure a rag-tag group of kids embarks on to recover it.
All this being said, The Goonies is weird. I felt like its first act dragged along, and it didn’t get interesting until about half-way through (when it entered its Indiana Jones phase). Plus, there were almost too many subplots that seemed to be included to pad the run-time on an already light plot. Sure, each of the kids had their own adventure along the way, but did it need to include “Sloth” (John Matuszak)? If anything, I found The Goonies to be a bit insensitive to the disabled, as well as to Asians—with the Asian stereotype being played for laughs more often than not.
A cult classic that I couldn’t get into, I give The Goonies 3.0 stars out of 5.
Mean Girls
Year: 2004
Rating: PG-13
Length: 97 minutes / 1.61 hours
With the theaters opening back up again, I took advantage of a few “comeback classics” showings to see a movie that I had missed the first time it came around: Mean Girls (2004). I’m familiar with the numerous memes that this movie spawned, so it was a little weird seeing these little references in their original context. Of course, I’m also not necessarily the target demographic for this movie, as I am not (and have not been) a high school girl. Sure, it gave me an appreciation of the cutthroat and somewhat petty social hierarchy involved with female relationships in high school—in the sense that I didn’t have to put up with it.
I can appreciate the ability of Mean Girls to create a situation where the audience learns about this “wild” world of high school by introducing a homeschooled student into the jungle that is the teenage learning environment. The fact that Lindsay Lohan’s character goes through an ugly transformation (both internally and externally) a la All About Eve (1950) was quite fascinating in how slowly it happened—to the point that it almost went unnoticed until it had gone too far.
Interestingly enough, two things stood out for me in this film, and neither had to do with the main thrust of the movie. First, Tim Meadows’ character was fantastic. I’d watch a movie just about that principal—since he was incredibly humorous in his performance. Second, there’s a superb bit of foreshadowing that I could see coming to fruition just moments before it happened. It is quite sudden, but I also laughed out loud for how telegraphed it had been from the start of the film. Overall, though, I can see the appeal of Mean Girls, and I only hope that I can use it as a cautionary tale for my daughter when she’s old enough to encounter these things in the real world.
The corruption and redemption of a high school girl, I give Mean Girls 4.0 stars out of 5.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Year: 2020
Rating: E
Time Played: 195+ hours
I’d never had any interest in the Animal Crossing series before New Horizons came out. I didn’t get the point of it. There didn’t seem to be any objective other than paying off a loan to a capitalist raccoon. That being said, when I saw the first trailer for New Horizons, my interest was immediately piqued. While the graphics were sharp and adorable, the crafting and terraforming mechanics seemed to give me the flexibility I’d want in such a simulation game. And while there is plenty to do in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, at a certain point, it becomes a repetitive chore.
By now, this game is my most-played on my Switch. I’ve put in the time and effort to build a 5-star island and have long paid off my house (thanks to a fortunate week in the “stalk market”). I have orchards full of the different varieties of trees, flowerbeds on their way to be able to breed rare flower colors, rocks regenerated in the six locations where I want them, and the full complement of fossils donated to the museum. I consider my play-through of the game “complete” because there aren’t any large-scale projects I’m trying to accomplish.
Sure, there are still seasonal events, and the monthly rotation of new bugs and fish to catch…but does that mean I need to play every day? Not likely. My long-term goal is to collect all that there is, but I don’t spend much time each day doing so. The fact that the tools break so easily and the sturdier versions aren’t available until well into the endgame makes it a little frustrating to have to keep crafting a new ax or shovel if I want to farm something. Don’t get me wrong: New Horizons is the right kind of Zen that comes with menial tasks. However, at a certain point, these tasks become pointless.
A cute life-sim game that has plenty to do to occupy your time, I give Animal Crossing: New Horizons 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Lives of Others
Year: 2006
Rating: R
Length: 137 minutes / 2.28 hours
Quantum Physics holds to a belief that you can never truly observe something without affecting it. The mere act of observation alters the state of the thing being observed to the point where we can never be sure of the accuracy of the observation. I say all this to set the stage for the wildly tense and enthralling Best Foreign Film Oscar-winner, The Lives of Others (2006). There’s this weird dichotomy between voyeurism and being able to play God that makes this film so entertaining to watch, especially in the modern, surveillance-heavy society in which we live today (of which Person of Interest does an excellent job of exposing).
Set in one of those rare historical moments right before the fall of the Berlin Wall, The Lives of Others hinges on the superb performance of Ulrich Mühe as the audience is never quite sure what he’s going to do with the information he gleans from the individuals living beneath his surveillance station. There are vibes of Rear Window (1954) and Doctor Zhivago (1965) in The Lives of Others. The former speaks to the voyeurism and what one can do if they see or hear something that shouldn’t be seen or heard. The latter dives into revolution and how entangled romantic and artistic lives can become with it.
Aside from some fantastic and almost heartwarming plot twists, the suspense in this film is palpable. This suspense is only heightened by the incredible soundtrack that amps up the intensity when the audience knows what the people under surveillance do not. In the end, though, stories like this help emphasize the importance of individuals who see what’s wrong with a regime and comply with the rulers…up to a point. Like Schindler’s List (1993) before it, some of the true heroes of revolutions are those who are employed by the enemy and make it a point to be a force for good.
An expertly filmed exposé on state-mandated voyeurism, I give The Lives of Others 5.0 stars out of 5.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane
Year: 2013
Author: Neil Gaiman
Length: 348 minutes / 5.80 hours
It’s nice to know that Neil Gaiman can write engaging, modern fairy tales that are longer than the short story format. The Ocean at the End of the Lane was a delight to read, and I can see some parallels to other famous middle-grade fantasies (the Narnia series came to mind here and was mentioned in the book). Everything about this story made sense, and the character and the world-building were top notch—which I’ve just come to expect from Gaiman’s work. Truly, he continues to be the modern fairy tale maestro.
One of the unique aspects of this story was how it seamlessly integrated the magical and the mundane. So often, these types of fairy tales transition to a world of magic and leave the boring, ordinary world behind. Not so in The Ocean at the End of the Lane. If anything, using the supernatural to explain some of the challenges of our childhoods helps sell the storytelling here. Sure, there are moments in magical places, but the majority of the book has cleverly-hidden magic present in the real world. It’s easy to have everything in a realm be magic; it’s much more challenging to mix the two.
I will warn those who would want to read this to their children that perhaps the children should be a little older, or you should be prepared to explain some of the content in it. Nothing is graphic, per se, it’s just better to know how to answer any questions when adult situations are described through the lens of a young boy’s experience. Of course, anyone who’s read any amount of Gaiman would know that his fairy tales are more on the “adult” side of things. However, if you haven’t dipped your toes into Gaiman’s writing before, this is an excellent place to start.
A wonderful fairy tale mixing of fantasy and reality, I give The Ocean at the End of the Lane 4.5 stars out of 5.
The Look of Silence
Year: 2014
Rating: PG-13
Length: 103 minutes / 1.72 hours
It’s weird how a documentary can make something as deplorable as killing another human being a chilling experience. If the killings that happened in Indonesia were shown on the screen in all their gory detail, there’s a certain point where a viewer’s mind just shuts off from all the violence. It’s almost too much to watch, which is why interviews with those who did the killings is a different and almost more horrifying way to go about exposing this barbaric event. The Look of Silence (2014) is a tough movie to watch, but it is crucial for understanding how anyone could do something so vile.
Put in the framing of an optometrist trying to confront his brother’s killers, The Look of Silence has this quiet, stoic energy about the horrific killings in Indonesia. I was in shock when these men talked so candidly, openly, and unabashedly about the atrocities they did to other people. There was no shame in what they did. They were either following orders or felt that it was their divine right to rid the world of these people in the most violent ways imaginable. The things they did to “remain sane” were just as gruesome.
The cinematography of these series of interviews was quite stunning, even if some shots hold on for too long. I was also in awe of the calm and collected nature of the interviewer, as he was talking with the very people who had brutally killed his brother. He didn’t want retribution or revenge. I think he just wanted closure, or at least for these men to start to realize what they had done. Perhaps these men were only part of an older generation who thought that the killings they did were acceptable acts. By modern sensibilities, I hope people like this never come to power anywhere ever again.
A horrifying examination of killers who didn’t know they were wrong, I give Look of Silence 4.5 stars out of 5.
Poochy and Yoshi’s Wooly World
Year: 2015
Rating: E
Time Played: 11.35 hours
It’s weird to think that it has been 20 years since Yoshi split off into its own franchise. The sequel to Super Mario World, Yoshi’s Island established the franchise’s game mechanics and the titular character’s movements back in 1995. Since then, there haven’t been too many entries in the core series. Yoshi’s Story rehashed some of the gameplay a little over a decade after Yoshi’s Island, just like Poochy and Yoshi’s Wooly World managed to do a decade after that. Part of the problem with this is that the visuals always get an update, but nothing else changes significantly with each iteration.
Somewhat in the same universe as Kirby’s Epic Yarn, Yoshi’s Wooly World has a tactile and charming aesthetic that revolves around yarn and other fabric crafts. While Yoshi can launch balls of yarn—much in the same way that eggs were used in previous iterations of the franchise—one of the goals of this game is to collect skeins of yarn to create Yoshis of varying patterns and themes. These Yoshis don’t have any special abilities based on their looks; they just have different skins that the player can choose. I think this was a missed opportunity, as the special “skills” were instead relegated to purchasable upgrades.
The difficulty curve for Yoshi’s Wooly World is about right for a game geared toward children. In fact, the ability to play on an even easier mode will help younger gamers who haven’t quite mastered Yoshi’s unique playstyle yet. Without collecting everything it had to offer, I was able to chip away at this game over a few months, eventually beating the final boss. Since there doesn’t seem to be any benefit to collecting all the collectibles from the levels, there isn’t much of a post-game to speak of here.
The same Yoshi formula, but in a cute yarn-themed world, I give Poochy and Yoshi’s Wooly World 3.0 stars out of 5.
A Separation
Year: 2011
Rating: PG-13
Length: 123 minutes / 2.05 hours
Regardless of where you live on this planet, plenty of scenarios are just as likely to happen in Tehran as they are in Toledo. This is where A Separation (2011) pulls its strength. Set in a mostly modern Iran, A Separation is a series of dramatic twists that could probably happen to anyone. After all, tons of people have to deal with elderly parents with Alzheimer’s. There are plenty of divorces for trivial and non-trivial reasons. Good help is hard to find and even harder to afford. The combination of these things results in a gripping narrative that’s only given a distinctive Iranian flavor by its cultural limitations.
If anything, A Separation shows how difficult it is to be a woman in a Muslim country. It’s not impossible, but certain limitations become evident when the strict religious rules of the Quoran come into play. It was nice to see a more liberal version of Islam represented in this film, as it felt closer to a society I could understand as someone who is not part of that religion. That being said, I found the amount of time spent in the court system in this movie was a bit much, even if it was necessary to get to the bottom of what happened.
The drama in A Separation is quite intense, with allegations of theft, murder, and neglect flying between the main characters. Making these things seem natural and realistic was a triumph and likely why this film won the Best Foreign Film Oscar for that year. The visual style felt very intimate, almost like it was a reality show or a documentary. Perhaps this style is what lends itself to the everyday struggles of A Separation’s characters and how universal they are across the borders of all countries in the world.
A universal family drama with an Iranian twist, I give A Separation 4.5 stars out of 5.
Blue Jasmine
Year: 2013
Rating: PG-13
Length: 98 minutes / 1.63 hours
After the critical success of Midnight in Paris (2011), it seems that Cate Blanchett followed in Owen Wilson’s footsteps by providing her best Woody Allen impression in Blue Jasmine (2013). Of course, this is no coincidence, considering that pretty much all of Allen’s films are distinctly in his neurotic New Yorker style. After all, he writes and directs his films, which allows him to be on the screen, even if it’s not him directly acting on it. Still, Blue Jasmine falls into that happy medium of being a commentary on society as well as an examination of the mental illness it creates.
There’s plenty of dark humor present when Jasmine (Cate Blanchett) comes to stay with her poorer sister, Ginger (Sally Hawkins). The culture clash of the New York elite and struggling-to-get-by is exemplified in Jasmine’s inability to adapt to a life of poverty after having lived in a life of luxury for so long. There’s a certain tone in her voice that easily conveys that “look down your nose” mentality that constantly judges others who she feels are beneath her. Some of the comedy here comes from being smacked in the face with the reality of the working class.
While the “fish out of water” plot is funny at times, Blanchett nails Allen’s neurotic main character. The fact that it’s not an adorable quirk, but rather a severe mental condition, speaks to the growth and maturity of Allen’s writing. Blue Jasmine could have played this condition for laughs, but instead decides to show the ramifications of a nervous breakdown in its uncomfortable moments. Even if I doubt this sparks any conversation about the state of the healthcare system to deal with mental health adequately, it’s an excellent introduction to a world that most people (fortunately) never experience.
Cate Blanchett in her best Woody Allen impression, I give Blue Jasmine 3.5 stars out of 5.
Mega Man Star Force: Pegasus
Year: 2007
Rating: E
Time Played: 17.30 hours
I have fond memories of playing the Mega Man Battle Network games in high school. I liked the RPG/Action/Card mechanics of this series and always wanted more. When the pseudo-spin-off series, Mega Man Star Force, arrived on the Nintendo DS, it seemed like a good evolution of the formula. However, I resisted buying a DS for so long that eventually, I had to come back and play these games a decade after they came out. With this amount of hindsight, I don’t know if I was viewing a series I never played through nostalgia or the evolved gaming landscape of today.
Since I had watched the anime based on these games, I was already familiar with the basic story and plot structure. Additionally, not much had changed since the Battle Network games, other than a slight perspective shift and some modifications to the chip system. Even with this familiarity, I found myself stuck and backtracking through areas far more often than I would have liked. Perhaps I wasn’t paying attention to the cues the NPCs were giving me, but plenty of moments didn’t feel intuitive or were just plain tedious to accomplish.
It’s also unfortunate that certain aspects of the chip system from Battle Network didn’t transfer over into the Star Force games. One of the strategies of building a strong chip deck was to factor in which chips could trigger combination attacks, which were powerful game-changing techniques that often saw me through plenty of fierce battles. Star Force didn’t have this combo potential, so there wasn’t much strategy other than including whatever most powerful chips I had at my disposal. Despite all this, Star Force still satisfied my itch for another Battle Network-like game even if it felt like a step backward.
A slight step backward from the Battle Network games, I give Mega Man Star Force: Pegasus 3.0 stars out of 5.
Doubt
Year: 2008
Rating: PG-13
Length: 104 minutes / 1.73 hours
Years before Spotlight (2015) won the Oscar for Best Picture, Doubt (2008) took a hard look at the scandals that have been in the Catholic Church for some time and presented a gripping parable of gossip versus evidence. Aside from this central point, I found Doubt to be a fantastic movie filled with contrasts. The differences between male and female leaders in the Church only heightened the fundamental conflict between Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman’s characters. Add to this the hardline stance of Streep’s Sister Aloysius, who has no flexibility for rules that aren’t actually in the Bible, and the result is an incredible look into changing times.
Aside from Streep and Hoffman, Amy Adams and Viola Davis also gave superb performances full of raw and heartfelt emotion. In fact, I’d recommend everyone watch this film just for the career-defining roles of these individuals. Even among these, the intense ambiguity involved with Doubt’s core premise is a testament to the excellent writing present within its screenplay. The fact that the cinematography used Dutch angles and other film techniques to sow discord and unease to such a significant effect enhances the source material even more than the stage could ever produce.
While there are no direct answers or consolations for the turmoil of the Church in this movie, it is slightly disheartening to see any doubt arise amongst the Church’s leaders in the first place. Sure, there is a need to break into the modern world and reach modern people, but if this is at the cost of looser morals, do the ends justify the means? It’s disheartening to live in a time where trusted leaders in a community will always have the squinted eye of suspicion because of others who have abused their power. Then again, to sin is to be human, so nobody should be above suspicion in this fallen world.
An acting tour-de-force with thrilling ambiguity at its core, I give Doubt 5.0 stars out of 5.
The Dark Talent
Year: 2016
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Length: 348 minutes / 5.80 hours
There’s foreshadowing; then there are five books of foreshadowing. In The Dark Talent, Brandon Sanderson starts wrapping up this amusing middle-grade series by finally reaching the part of the story that was alluded to so many books ago. While this could easily be the final book in the series, I believe there’s enough left unconcluded that another volume should be written to wrap these remaining subplots up into satisfying conclusions. By this point in the series, the Alcatraz formula has been thoroughly explored, and it almost seems to be running on autopilot*. Granted, this was after four books of character and plot development, but there’s still an amount of “been there seen that” here.
I am always in awe of Brandon Sanderson’s world-building, and the Alcatraz series is no exception. Breaking into the Library of Congress was such a natural extension of the “Librarian” motif that I’m a little surprised it took this long to get here. The magic system with lenses and glass is also well thought out and makes sense with each ridiculous use of its numerous lenses (embarrassment = explosions? Why not!).
Once again, I have to remind myself that books like The Dark Talent are geared toward younger minds. Sure, the plot twist/reveal helped drive the story forward, but it was so telegraphed that I had it all figured out as soon as this individual character was introduced. Still, for younger readers, this revelation may come as a surprise. And while the main character’s writing style is constantly on the caricature side of the spectrum, we do get to see some brief moments of vulnerability in the main players. Even if the main character can get a little grating at times, the first person narrative device works well for this middle-grade fantasy.
A fulfillment of four books of foreshadowing, I give The Dark Talent 4.0 stars out of 5.
*Footnote: I did like the amusing use of footnotes.
The Player
Year: 1992
Rating: R
Length: 124 minutes / 2.07 hours
Those who are aware of Robert Altman’s other films are sure to recognize the themes that permeated his oeuvre. He always seemed to find a way to satirize something in a way that underscored how broken the system is. From the military in M*A*S*H (1970) to the music industry in Nashville (1975), Altman had a keen eye to bring the ridiculous nature of these anthropological machines into the spotlight. Clearly, his time in the movie industry helped him adapt Michael Tolkin’s novel into The Player (1992). In a weird and meta way, nothing has changed since its early-90’s release.
If you’re playing the “6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon” game at home, this film is literally a “who’s who” of actors and movie personalities (many of whom appear “as themselves”). Unfortunately, this film does suffer from its early-90’s aesthetic, often highlighting how far we’ve come in terms of fashion and technology in nearly three decades. Weirdly enough, though, many of the pitches for movies given in this film are exactly how I imagine these kinds of projects get made, even today. There’s almost a timeless quality to how Hollywood works, and it’s on full display here.
Of course, the satire here is that Hollywood is an industry. Films will often start as good ideas, but are crammed into the mold of the “successful” formula to ensure the studio gets the most bang for its buck. Initially, I felt that The Player was a so-so story with an almost absurd murder mystery running alongside the usual Hollywood hustle and bustle. Then I got to the end. It’s stunning how a movie about making movies by cramming them into boxes for maximum audience returns also seems to abide by these same rules, thus making it look much more “woke” when the twist at the end hits.
An incredibly meta examination of the Hollywood formula, I give The Player 4.0 stars out of 5.
Mega Man ZX
Year: 2006
Rating: E
Time Played: 5.32 hours
Much like how Mega Man Star Force expounded upon the Mega Man Battle Network formula, Mega Man ZX evolved the platforming and action of the Mega Man Zero series. While this meant the visual style and difficulty carried over from the Zero series, ZX added just enough modification to the player character to make it more reminiscent of the original Mega Man series. Given how I’d developed some of my skills via the Zero games, I was easily able to jump right in and start playing ZX without too much difficulty.
Part of the problem with this game was the slightly “open-world” style of the overworld. I’ve been so used to playing Mega Man games that immediately transport you to the level you want to play. I’m so used to this formula that having to navigate a labyrinthine home base just to get to the next area was frustrating at times—if only for the sheer amount of backtracking I had to do to finally find the right spot to progress forward in the game. On top of this, some of the player character’s sound effects became quite irritating over time, depending on which gender you choose at the beginning.
Much like how Star Force scratched my itch to play Battle Network again, ZX was a good spiritual successor to the Zero series. Sure, I’d get beaten by a boss easily on my first few tries, but after learning the movement and attack patterns, I could eventually defeat these enemies. There is still a certain thrill about defeating a challenging boss that I can recall months and years later, and the final boss of this game certainly fits this bill. So while ZX managed to try a few new things with the Zero formula, it didn’t do anything too drastic to justify a whole new series.
A good spiritual successor to the Mega Man Zero series, I give Mega Man ZX 3.5 stars out of 5.
Once Upon a Time in America
Year: 1984
Rating: R
Length: 229 minutes / 3.82 hours
Nobody doubts Sergio Leone’s talent as a director. While he’s best known for his Spaghetti Westerns, he did make a few films like Once Upon a Time in America (1984). One does wonder if Leone was given free rein with this film, as it was probably an hour longer than it needed to be and included a lot of situations that could have been cut out, or at least trimmed down. If anything, it’s clear directors like Quentin Tarantino were influenced by movies like this, considering some of the similarities between it and Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood (2019).
I will admit that most of the scenes in this fractured timeline of a story were necessary. Something that was shown early in the film would inevitably come into play near the end. However, I don’t think this excuses the numerous (and gratuitous) sex scenes included in this film. With a run time of almost four hours (including an intermission to boot), at what point does the audience understand what’s happening while the movie continues beating a dead horse. Granted, when a film like this is basically three separate movies with these characters at three different times in their life, it can mostly justify being this long.
While Once Upon a Time in America is a distinct piece of Americana (read: Jewish mobsters in New York), I can’t help but recognize its notoriety due to its actors. With big players like Robert DeNiro, James Woods, and Jennifer Connelly involved, it’s no wonder why it remains one of Sergio Leone’s best films. Of course, I still consider his “Dollars Trilogy” to be better, if for no other reason than for the setting and cinematography. However, there were plenty of film techniques (like the numerous crane shots) that make Once Upon a Time in America a master class in how to shoot a film.
An overly long Sergio Leone epic, I give Once Upon a Time in America 3.5 stars out of 5.
1/2
Layer Cake
Year: 2004
Rating: R
Length: 107 minutes / 1.78 hours
I always find it interesting to go back and watch breakout films by directors who would come into their own years later. In the case of Matthew Vaughn, I have enjoyed his work, which includes Stardust (2007), Kick-Ass (2010), X-Men: First Class (2011), and the Kingsman franchise. With Layer Cake (2004), I could see the kind of filmmaker he would become—with plenty of neat visual tricks—but there’s so much that’s lacking polish that I’m not even sure what happened in this movie. I kind of got the general sense of the plot, but I found myself lost by what was happening by the end of it all.
Perhaps part of my problem is that the action is quite loud, but the dialogue is all quiet. I kept having to adjust the volume on my surround sound as a result. Maybe I should have put subtitles on because I had trouble understanding what most of the characters were saying through their thick English accents. Still, this movie had a lot of scenes that were—for lack of a better term—just there. I hate any movie that does close-up camera work of someone sloppily eating with their hands, even if that character receives their comeuppance in a randomly violent event only minutes later.
I will attest that Daniel Craig’s performance was quite exemplary, and is likely the reason why he was cast as James Bond 15+ years ago. If anything, Layer Cake should be seen as Craig’s resume for the iconic Bond character. In the end, this film isn’t wholly un-redeemable; it just felt unnecessary. Sure, every director should start somewhere, but maybe we don’t always have to go back and see where they started. We might end up disappointed with the result since we expect the refined work that drew us to these directors in the first place.
Hints of Vaughn’s and Craig’s future successes, I give Layer Cake 2.0 stars out of 5.
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero
Year: 2016
Rating: T
Time Played: 7 hours
After playing through Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse on my 3DS, I was looking forward to experiencing the next game in the series on the big screen. I picked up Shantae: Half-Genie Hero on sale from the eShop, and I believe I got what I paid for. While there seems to be a lot of extra content locked behind DLC barriers, it doesn’t look like any of it adds to the core experience of this game. As far as I can tell, Half-Genie Hero hearkens back to the original Shantae game, relying more on transformations instead of items to uncover the secrets contained in the handful of colorful levels.
While the higher definition graphics were great on the Switch, I felt that Shantae handled worse than she did in Pirate’s Curse. Often, I’d find myself trying to perform some action, and the game wouldn’t let me do it (the flying fortress level is of particular note here). Additionally, trying to find the required items to progress the plot wasn’t as intuitive as I would have liked. I had to re-play past levels multiple times, not always finding the secret path or hidden area needed to find the required items. This became tedious the longer I played.
I’m sure the extra DLC might have extended this game’s playtime, but even with the need to replay levels multiple times, it still felt like a short game. Granted, it was still reasonably fun to play with an adequate amount of challenge. Stylistically, Half-Genie Hero looks great and on par with other games in the series. However, the story and gameplay didn’t seem to be anything to write home about. Then again, with a “T” rating, I doubt story and gameplay are the reasons why many individuals picked up this game.
Improved graphics on re-hashed gameplay elements, I give Shantae: Half-Genie Hero 3.0 stars out of 5.
Winter’s Bone
Year: 2010
Rating: R
Length: 100 minutes / 1.67 hours
It feels like so few films deal with the actual consequences of poverty. It’s probably why Winter’s Bone (2010) seems like a raw and unflinching examination of what happens when a family is on the edge of homelessness. In fact, while I’m sure there are some inaccuracies, I almost saw this film as a documentary of life in rural Missouri. The handheld camera style was intimate and present as it followed Jennifer Lawrence in one of her breakout roles, investigating where her father disappeared to in order to save her struggling family.
I didn’t understand why so much of the community around Lawrence’s character didn’t come to help and support her in a time of need. Sure, her father did some pretty terrible things, but why punish his family because of it? Perhaps this is just an aspect of the dog-eat-dog world of rural poverty that seems so illogical to me. In the end, they eventually came around, but not without plenty of trouble for the teenage girl just trying to find her deadbeat dad. The amount of courage and fortitude that this young woman had to keep her family afloat speaks volumes about her character.
Because there was this realism in the way Winter’s Bone was filmed, the violence felt much more visceral than in some gory action or horror flick. Even the scene at the lake seemed excessive, even if nothing was shown on camera. What made it more impactful was that none of the violence was necessarily gratuitous (with perhaps the lake scene being an outlier). It was all there for a reason, even if that reason was that people are terrible to each other. Still, this gripping film deserves a watch, if for no other reason than Jennifer Lawrence’s superb performance.
An unflinching look at the effects of rural poverty, I give Winter’s Bone 4.0 stars out of 5.
Leviathan Wakes
Year: 2011
Author: James S.A. Corey
Length: 1,264 minutes / 21.07 hours
For years, my co-worker has been suggesting that I read the Expanse series of books. Before I finally got around to the audiobook for Leviathan Wakes, I took a slight shortcut and watched the television series on Amazon. This came in handy because I was able to pick up this book and immediately be able to visualize what was happening and who the characters were. Sure, the actors cast in the show are slightly different from their literary counterparts. Still, overall there was a lot in this book that I had already experienced with the television show.
I will applaud this book for being a hard science fiction story, but not shoving the calculations in the reader’s face. Sure, The Martian did an excellent job of explaining all the scientific challenges of interplanetary travel. However, Leviathan Wakes took this a step further and created a universe that’s still controlled by the same physical laws we encounter in the real world. Unless you know what you’re looking for, you’d never realize that the little ways to make life livable in outer space would manifest in the forms presented in this series. Basically—to quote the title of a Heinlein book—Gravity is a Harsh Mistress.
And while the television show had lots of different plotlines to follow through its four seasons, I do like how Leviathan Wakes focused on just two main characters and the discovery of the Protomolecule. Although—even though both characters came from different backgrounds—I would have expected their reactions to situations would have been more drastically different than they were. Still, even if both Miller and Holden felt like very similar characters, they were both written well enough that it was an entertaining ride, nonetheless.
A perfect blending of story and hard sci-fi, I give Leviathan Wakes 4.0 stars out of 5.
Logan’s Run
Year: 1976
Rating: PG
Length: 119 minutes / 1.98 hours
In today’s landscape of CGI and superb practical effects, it’s a little difficult to watch movies like Logan’s Run (1976). Sure, there are a few good bits (like dissolving bodies), but there are a lot of effects that look low-budget by today’s standards. Wires clearly hold up flying people, a robot is obviously a man in a boxy costume, and a futuristic society seems to be housed in a mid-1980s shopping mall. About the only reason I don’t necessarily deem Logan’s Run a B-movie fit for a Mystery Science Theatre 3000 ribbing is because it was the best technology they had at the time.
Of course, I say this was the best special effects of the day, knowing full well that Star Wars (1977) would come out a year later. If anything, this movie shows the enormous leap in special effects that Star Wars provided the film industry in comparison. And while the plot of Logan’s Run is relatively simple, certain elements appear to be pulled from Planet of the Apes (1968). Both seem to show how the future bodes for our society and, more specifically, one that settles on killing anyone over 30 years old.
Despite how poorly it has aged, Logan’s Run is still a pop culture reference that appears from time to time. From direct references in The Simpsons and Family Guy, the idea of an age limit was also adapted in a slightly different way (to middling success) in In Time (2011). There’s no denying its hedonistic appeal, if for no other reason than its ability to show that perhaps we shouldn’t trust everything a computer tells us. Of course, the utopian/dystopian dichotomy will always be present in media, but Logan’s Run has a reasonably good take on the theme for what it is.
The best special effects of 1976, I give Logan’s Run 3.0 stars out of 5.
Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse
Year: 2014
Rating: T
Time Played: 562 minutes / 9.37 hours
A couple of years ago, I started hearing about a cult classic Game Boy Color game known as Shantae. While this game released near the end of that handheld’s life cycle, there was plenty of buzz about how it was a solid platformer with plenty of potential. Fast forward eight years and the first sequel, Shantae: Risky’s Revenge, made its appearance as a virtual game on the DSi. I happened to jump into this series with the 3DS virtual title, Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse and I certainly enjoyed the pseudo-Metroidvania approach that WayForward took with this franchise.
While I would have liked to have found a cartridge version of this game, I eventually settled on buying it from the eShop. I’m glad I did, as it allowed me to play the game instead of just thinking about it. Overall, it’s a solid action platformer with plenty of upgrades that lend themselves to re-exploring some of the areas that I had already beaten to find secret areas and items. And while it was a pretty short game in my experience, the world and the characters were well-defined (in more ways than one) and entertaining enough to keep me progressing through the story.
Of course, one of the facets of this franchise is some amount of fan service (which is mostly why this has a “T” rating). While there’s nothing too explicit, you might want to know who you’re playing around in case they catch a glance of your screen out of context. Still, I did find the 3D effect on the 3DS to be visually attractive, even if it was only used to its full extent a handful of times (again, most of them being of the “fan service” variety).
A fun action platformer with a unique protagonist, I give Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse 3.5 stars out of 5.
Professor Challenger: The Serpent of the Loch
Year: 2018
Author: Lou J Berger
Length: 30 pages
Some days, I wonder what amazing new stories we could read if more intellectual properties were allowed to enter the public domain. Even if there is a wealth of characters who might continue to have adventures long after their authors have passed away, we can enjoy some of these expanding stories with today’s public domain works. Case in point, this short story that adds to the lore of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Professor Challenger character, The Serpent of the Loch. Even if you’re not familiar with the characters Doyle created, this story is well worth your time.
While I’ve only read The Lost World and was familiar with Doyle’s style via a handful of Sherlock Holmes stories, I can say that Berger has done well to replicate the former author’s style. There were plenty of moments where I had to remind myself that this was written almost a century after the original stories were published. In fact, the fusion of Professor Challenger and the nearby Loch Ness monster was such a natural combination that I was surprised Doyle hadn’t written it himself. I, for one, am glad that Berger has filled this grievous omission in the Professor’s adventures.
I also have to applaud Berger for his pacing in this story, as I was immediately enthralled and barely looked up the entire time I was reading. The one fault I will place on this story is that its conclusion is a bit predictable, if not cliché. I’ve seen similar storylines play out in plenty of other books and movies, so it’s not entirely original in how it plays out. Even so, I don’t think the story would work any other way than how it was written. In conclusion, whether you’re a diehard fan of Professor Challenger or you’ve never read a single line of Doyle’s writing, you owe it to yourself to read this short story.
A perfect addition to the legacy of Arthur Conan Doyle, I give Professor Challenger: The Serpent of the Loch 4.5 stars out of 5.
About a Boy
Year: 2002
Rating: PG-13
Length: 101 minutes / 1.68 hours
It’s challenging to define the aesthetic of the early 2000s, but I think About a Boy (2002) is about as close as it comes. From the music and style to themes and plot, About a Boy is a solid little romantic comedy that probably hasn’t aged as well in the time since its creation. Although it is a rare sight to see Nicholas Hoult in one of his earlier film roles, knowing the kind of actor he has become (for such movies like X-Men: First Class (2011), Warm Bodies (2013), and The Favourite (2018)).
I’ll admit that Will (Hugh Grant) is a bit of a creeper for going after single mothers as a way to hook up and get dumped without the guilt being on his side of the equation. However, the independently-wealthy status he has based on royalties from a single one-hit-wonder seems a little implausible. Still, maybe it was possible back at the start of the millennium. The real core of this film is how Will is able to grow up a bit and show some significant character development brought about by Marcus (Nicholas Hoult).
In the end, there’s a bit of fun here and there, and the story is certainly unique enough not to be comparable to anything else out there in the genre. It’s not necessarily great cinema, but it’s not entirely bad either. It’s entertaining, and that’s definitely something if you want to pass the time. Despite some of the predatory ways Will pursues women, the film still holds up reasonably well almost two decades later. The music is catchy, and the writing is superb (helped out by the talent of Peter Hedges). For some reason, I’ve had this movie on my watch list for a long time, and I’m glad I finally got around to seeing it.
A fairly unique romantic comedy that screams early-2000s, I give About a Boy 3.5 stars out of 5.
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Year: 1958
Rating: Not Rated
Length: 108 minutes / 1.80 hours
While I understand the ease of adapting stage plays into movies, the result still feels a lot like watching a stage play on the big screen. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) is no exception. Adapted from the Tennessee Williams play of the same name, this movie boasts a few big names like Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman. I think this movie probably wouldn’t have been as notable unless it had these names tied to it in some way. After all, there’s a reason why we still remember these writers and actors today.
Even if Cat on a Hot Tin Roof starts slow, the increasing amount of twists and reveals makes for an entertaining movie. I think part of my issue with the slow start might be with Elizabeth Taylor’s acting. It felt to me like she was reading memorized lines and didn’t put much emotion or effort into her performance. This wooden eventually turned around, but the damage had been done. On the flip side, a very young Paul Newman gave an exemplary performance, even if it’s not that difficult to act drunk and disillusioned about a past life that can no longer happen.
In the end, a lot of plays cover topics that relate to the human condition. Our ability to handle legacy, death, and new life can come in many forms. Sure, there’s something to be said about apathy, anger, or anxiety when facing these topics, but the real character growth comes from acceptance and a willingness to move on. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof provides an ugly set-up that allows the characters to grow into acceptance of their situations, so its entertainment comes in watching them “therapy it out” throughout its run time.
A chance to see a young Paul Newman at his best, I give Cat on a Hot Tin Roof 4.0 stars out of 5.
Super Mario Odyssey
Year: 2017
Rating: E10
Time Played: 20+ hours
As is the case with many Nintendo systems, Super Mario Odyssey marked the mustachioed plumber’s arrival on the Switch, much like Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy did for the Nintendo 64, Gamecube, and Wii, respectively. Taking cues from all its predecessors, Super Mario Odyssey is a gorgeous platformer with plenty to do, almost to its detriment. It’s clear a lot of attention to detail went into this game, but it’s also evident that Odyssey is a celebration of Mario’s history as Nintendo’s de facto mascot. The fact that you can now play as many of Mario’s enemies is a fantastic mechanic that is as unique as it is timeless.
Odyssey uses the improved graphics on the Switch to create stunning worlds that are just itching to be explored. The music as well is perhaps some of the best in the franchise, with the theme to the Wooded Kingdom being my absolute favorite. Additionally, while I usually like to play with a pro controller, Odyssey’s advanced motion controls (likely inherited from the Galaxy games) give Mario that much more mobility and versatility. The diversity of the different worlds was also a welcome change from the more streamlined beach- and space-themed levels from Sunshine and Galaxy, hearkening back to a style reminiscent of Super Mario 64.
While I do appreciate that I can pick up the game at any time and find a few moons that I missed the first time around, the massive amount of collectibles didn’t urge me to fully complete the game. Sure, there are some expensive costumes that I’d like to get eventually, but the amount of effort to find everything—including earning some quite difficult power moons—pushed me away to play other games. After all, once I explored each of the different worlds to satisfy my curiosity, the game had not much more to incentivize me to play past the post-Bowser credits.
A fun gameplay mechanic with plenty (almost too much) to explore, I give Super Mario Odyssey 4.0 stars out of 5.
Shakespeare’s Sonnets: Abridged Beyond the Point of Usefulness
Year: 2018
Author: Zach Weinersmith
Length: 101 pages
The third (and currently last) book in Zach Weinersmith’s “Abridged” series, Shakespeare’s Sonnets: Abridged Beyond the Point of Usefulness is by far the best of the set. While Holy Bible: Abridged was quite rough, and Science: Abridged showed promise, Shakespeare’s Sonnets: Abridged is wholly focused on its subject matter—and it shows. To top everything off, Weinersmith cleverly sums up each of Shakespeare’s sonnets in his own rhyming couplet, adding to the overall experience and maintaining some semblance of the poetry involved with the source material. If anything, reading all the truncated sonnets together helped paint the picture of what Shakespeare was trying to accomplish.
Having never delved into Shakespeare’s Sonnets before, this book was a handy summary of the different “phases” of these poems. Adding context to the flowery language helped to paint a much different picture than most people consider when thinking about Shakespeare’s Sonnets. This book was certainly a revelation to me, as I always thought these poems were supposed to be the pinnacle of romantic writing. Instead, it sounds like ol’ Bill Shakespeare was just as horny as we are today, and bitter when things don’t go his way (again, showing how humans haven’t changed much in their social interactions).
Gaining the 10,000-foot view of all the Sonnets together is a useful exercise for anyone who might focus on the particulars of comparisons to summer days. While Shakespeare’s adherence to iambic pentameter is admirable in the context of poetry in general (especially for so many sonnets), the words themselves show his wit—if in no other way than to make complaining seem like an art form. I definitely find irony in this book, though, as the abridged nature of all Shakespeare’s Sonnets was far from being useless to me.
An extremely handy overview of famous poems written in its own poetic way, I give Shakespeare’s Sonnets: Abridged 4.5 stars out of 5.
Synecdoche, New York
Year: 2008
Rating: R
Length: 124 minutes / 2.07 hours
I knew going into Synecdoche, New York (2008), that it was a Charlie Kaufman film. I knew his material could get weird (like Being John Malkovich (1999) and Adaptation. (2002)) but movies like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) had enough heart that I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. Except nothing could have prepared me for the madness of Synecdoche, New York (2008). I mean, there are meta films like Adaptation. then there are meta films of a whole different level like Synecdoche, New York. In the end, I think the story suffers due to its insistence on the artistic.
I’m all for “smart” films that make the audience think. However, I am not a fan of movies that are so intellectually up their own behind to obscure every piece of meaningful plot and character development behind metaphor and “art.” There is a point where the plot gets so convoluted that it’s practically incomprehensible. Sure, I could probably watch through this movie again and try to piece it all together; but after this first viewing, I don’t think that’s worth my time. And if there’s anything that this movie taught me, it’s that time is important.
Despite the confusing mess that this film possesses, there are occasional glimpses of heart and brilliance. They’re almost poetic in their simplicity and clarity. Moments like walking through the empty streets of an enormous theater set while an inner-ear soliloquy pontificates about the fleeting nature of life and our desire to find meaning in ourselves and our relationships with others (or something like that…since it was hard to follow at times) are almost worth it. If you enjoy films that consider themselves “high art,” then this movie is probably for you. If not, save yourself some time (and confusion) and stay away.
Art for the sake of art and at the detriment to sense, I give Synecdoche, New York 2.5 stars out of 5.
The Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountains
Year: 2010
Author: Neil Gaiman
Length: 83 minutes / 1.38 hours
As I’d realized in previous works of Neil Gaiman’s that I’ve read, he excels at (at least) two things: short stories and fairy tales. One could argue that the latter is a subset of the former, but longer works like Stardust cause me to separate the distinction. Perhaps this book was made all the more magical by its audiobook production. Not only did the author himself read it, but it was accompanied with some great atmospheric music to enhance the mood produced by Gaiman’s words. I missed the illustrations this book sports, but I think the words can speak for themselves.
In terms of a fairy tale, The Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountains manages to contain the usual flare of morality and truth against a backdrop of riches and mysterious wonder. I’m almost surprised there aren’t more authors writing modern fairy tales as Gaiman has since there is a precise formula here that Gaiman has consistently used to create these fantastical narratives. After all, most fairy tales are trying to teach something intrinsically human, and this one touches on the oft-repeated moral of greed versus the consequences of obtaining wealth.
Of course, much like Gaiman’s other “fairy tale” works, this story is intended for adults. Sure, traditional fairy tales are gruesome and are used to scare children into submission. Regardless, the lesson contained in this story is something most adults need to hear. We all love the idea of the “get rich quick” scheme, but there are often secondary effects that we overlook when we head out to seek our fortunes. Perhaps if the more adult aspects were toned down a little, it could be used to teach children about these moral pitfalls before they encounter them, instead of after the fact.
Another superb adult fairy tale, I give The Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountains 4.0 stars out of 5.
Strangers on a Train
Year: 1951
Rating: PG
Length: 101 minutes / 1.68 hours
It’s a wonder after all these years that a Hitchcock film like Strangers on a Train (1951) escaped me until now. Sure, Hitchcock used trains in many of his films, but the premise here is so diabolically intriguing that it demands a viewing. After all, there’s an amount of logic involved with two strangers swapping the murders that they would like to happen to those tormenting them. And yet, Bruno Antony (Robert Walker) is so unsettling in his ability to follow through that the suspense of the rest of the movie practically films itself.
Several camera tricks that Hitchcock uses adds his signature flair to this movie. From a punch to the face to a tension-filled series of shots at the bottom of a storm drain, the cinematography in Strangers on a Train is yet another reason why people need to watch this film. This being said, the ending (despite being semi-ridiculous on an out-of-control carousel) is a little weak and wraps things up almost a little too cleanly. But considering that’s basically my only complaint about the film, there are enough things that it does right that lead me to recommend it.
I do find it a little curious how this movie didn’t rise to the ranks of Hitchcock’s best, though. True, it probably isn’t up to the level of Psycho (1960), North by Northwest (1959), or Vertigo (1958). Perhaps he was still in the early stages of figuring out his oeuvre (which likely solidified by Rear Window (1954)). He’s always been a filmmaker who advanced the technique of cinema. Perhaps Strangers on a Train didn’t progress the state of the art as much as his other films did, thus leaving it in semi-obscurity. If anything, this movie is a good stepping-stone between mediocre thrillers and the genius of Alfred Hitchcock.
A lesser-known gem of Hitchcock’s career, I give Strangers on a Train 4.5 stars out of 5.
Undertale
Year: 2015
Rating: E10+
Time Played: 5+ hours
By the time I had the chance to play Undertale (on the Nintendo Switch, no less), most of the surprising revelations about its battle system were already spoiled for me. Regardless of knowing the unique playstyle for this game, I tried my best to play by the counterintuitive methods that set this game apart from others of its genre. And while I didn’t get the true pacifist ending for some reason, it was still an enjoyable and humorous game. Despite its somewhat shorter length, I still think making it any longer would have ruined the tight storytelling.
Now, Undertale is by no means a perfect game, and I’m sure the diehard fans of this franchise will hate me for saying this. The visual style was pretty good for a retro throwback, but it felt inconsistent from place to place, almost like it didn’t know if it wanted to be 8-bit or 16-bit. Similarly, the fantastic music and audio didn’t fit this visual aesthetic for most of the game, which always seemed to throw me. I guess I would expect all the game elements to be aligned somewhat, much like Shovel Knight stuck to its retro roots in every aspect.
Of course, I can forgive plenty of these inconsistencies with the understanding that only one person made the whole game. The fact that such a genre-bending game like this could come out of the efforts of one man says something about how revolutionary it is. Having also played the first chapter of the sequel, Deltarune, I can see that a little bit of polish can go a long way to improving the base concept that Undertale created. Plus, how often do you play a video game where there is even a choice not to fight at all? The ubiquity of violence across almost all genres of video games makes Undertale an odd little gem that’s worth playing at least once.
A unique genre-bender that needed just a touch more polish, I give Undertale 4.0 stars out of 5.
Science: Abridged Beyond the Point of Usefulness
Year: 2017
Author: Zach Weinersmith
Length: 60 pages
Another in Zach Weinersmith’s “Abridged” series, Science: Abridged Beyond the Point of Usefulness is another tongue-in-cheek examination of topics that require much more than a few witty summations to understand completely. Unfortunately, much like his Nerd Disses book, only those who have extensively studied all of these scientific disciplines will understand every joke. As an engineer, I could understand a lot of the humor here, but even I was ignorant of some of the more obscure (or more social) sciences. That being said, he nailed the abridged version of engineering, which makes me think the other sciences received the same treatment.
While not nearly as borderline sacrilegious as The Holy Bible: Abridged, Science: Abridged does get its cheap shots in where it can. I’m sure those who extensively study these sciences will laugh at the sardonic tidbits contained in this book, understanding how ridiculous their chosen field may appear at times. Others might groan with how “close to home” some of the jabs come to exposing the weaknesses in their particular areas of study. I’m sure it’s all written in good fun and without any malice intended toward its audience.
Even though this is a short book that I’d assume would be best suited as a decorative item on a coffee table, end table, or toilet tank, I would have appreciated an appendix or “further reading” section for those people who happened to have their interest piqued with the brief summations of these scientific studies. Of course, having an extensive bibliography would somewhat defeat the purpose of a book that touts its abridgment cuts the source material down to mere uselessness.
A funny book for those who know what’s funny about it, I give Science: Abridged 3.0 stars out of 5.
Bathtubs Over Broadway
Year: 2018
Rating: PG-13
Length: 87 minutes / 1.45 hours
To some, the idea that there were whole musical productions that were practically enormous advertisements for companies seems absurd. Since I grew up listening to Stan Freberg, I already knew that musicals could sell products (take his “Omaha” musical, for instance, since it was basically a 15-minute radio ad for Butternut coffee). At any rate, Bathtubs Over Broadway (2018) explores these oddities that most people never realize existed up until only a decade or two ago. It’s a little sad to see these ridiculous odes to corporate marketing go by the wayside…but it also makes sense as well.
If there’s anything that Bathtubs Over Broadway gets across, it’s that these musicals were serious business, even if the companies they were selling weren’t. There were songs about bathrooms—repeated throughout its runtime—if that gives you an idea of the content. It is a little awe-inspiring to see famous names tied to these theatrical productions. One wonders how many legendary songwriters, producers, and actors got their start on the “advertising circuit” before breaking through to more significant (and more publically-available) roles.
While this documentary follows one of the most avid collectors of these musicals, it felt a little too long to be a full-length feature (albeit just barely, only clocking in at 87 minutes). Consequently, a number of the sequences felt repetitive as it drove home the point of how ridiculous these musicals were. It probably would have worked better as a documentary short, at least to keep it focused on the main idea (marketing musicals). Instead, it ballooned out of scope to include its own original song and dance number—which itself is a little cringe-worthy as well. In the end, I have a feeling this documentary might remain as obscure as the musicals it uncovered.
A curious look into the quirky world of “marketing musicals” that’s just a bit too long, I give Bathtubs Over Broadway 3.0 stars out of 5.
The Founder
Year: 2016
Rating: PG-13
Length: 115 minutes / 1.92 hours
I hate to admit it, but many of these biopics about successful individuals all come off as the same story. Some down-on-his-luck guy stumbles across an idea that he steals (or has stolen from him) and makes his own to enormous success, betraying his friends and family along the way. We saw it in The Social Network (2010), Jobs (2013), Joy (2015), and The Greatest Showman (2017). The Founder (2016) is just another in this almost cookie-cutter genre that covers the origins of the McDonald corporation we know today.
That’s not to say that The Founder isn’t entertaining. As an engineer, I was fascinated at how the McDonald brothers were able to be successful by creating efficiencies and eliminating waste in the process of selling hamburgers and other fast food. The trick is that the titular character, Ray Kroc (Michael Keaton), is half protagonist (the one you want to root for) and half antagonist (the one you realize is a complete slimeball). I’m all for celebrating enormous success. However, these films often paint the picture with the subtitle of, “but at what cost?”
Perhaps that’s the moral of the story for these films: complete power corrupts completely. You don’t truly know the mettle of a man until he claws and scrapes and moves all the way up the ladder of success. Money changes people. Success changes people. There’s certainly an aspect of ego that factors in here, with humility vanishing away as the individual starts to realize that people are beginning to seek him out, instead of the other way around. In the case of The Founder, there’s pretty much straight-up theft of intellectual and marital property that puts a sour taste in my mouth like a milkshake that isn’t made with milk.
A cookie-cutter corporate success story with all its ugly edges, I give The Founder 3.5 stars out of 5.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Year: 2017
Rating: E
Time Played: 5+ hours
Just like how Mario Kart 7 expanded on the core gameplay mechanic of the Mario Kart series by adding gliding and underwater features in its tracks, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe goes a step further and removes the confines of gravity from the franchise. This core change to the Mario Kart formula results in a lot of genuinely unique courses that couldn’t have been possible in previous games. To top everything off, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is presented in gorgeous high definition while also including all the downloadable content from the Wii U version at no additional cost.
With a variety of new courses, as well as classic racetracks enhanced to the Switch’s advanced graphical capabilities, I was glad to finally see some representation in this franchise from characters outside the typical Mario franchise. Representative characters and courses from the Zelda, Animal Crossing, and Splatoon franchises felt like welcome additions and perhaps even the first steps toward making the Mario Kart franchise more in line with the celebration of video games that Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has become. Of course, the nostalgic tracks are pretty to look at but don’t hold any new secrets to discover in this iteration.
Even if you need online access to play multiplayer across the internet, the Switch’s portability and a multitude of controller options make Mario Kart 8 Deluxe an easy game to bring with you anywhere you go and set up a multiplayer race on a moment’s notice. And while there are tons of characters, karts, wheels, and gliders to choose from, there isn’t much incentive to explore the other options in this game other than when a friend picks the character you usually play as and you’ll have to find someone new on the spur of the moment.
Advancing the Mario Kart series with anti-gravity, other franchise inclusion, and gorgeous visuals, I give Mario Kart 8 Deluxe 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Holy Bible: Abridged Beyond the Point of Usefulness
Year: 2015
Author: Zach Weinersmith
Length: 72 pages
Satire is a fine line between comedy and offense. While I can’t fault The Holy Bible: Abridged Beyond the Point of Usefulness for being precisely what it says—abridged beyond the point of usefulness—there’s definitely a bias present in its scant 72 pages. I can take a joke about my faith pretty well, mostly because I understand the reference being made and can identify what’s funny about it. Sure, The Holy Bible: Abridged has a few amusing bits in it, but there are almost too many portions that feel too irreverent to be funny.
The Bible is a long book, and I know most people probably haven’t read through the entire thing. This book tries to remedy this situation by providing a brief comedic sentence about each book in the Bible. Sure, it gets the point across quite succinctly sometimes, but it misses the point in many of its summaries. I think what it fails to capture is the overall story of the Bible, which itself cannot be adequately represented in 66 witty sentences.
To be honest, I’m not entirely sure who this book is for. Is it for people who believe the Bible (and have probably already read it) looking for a few cheap laughs? Is it for people who are against what the Bible says, looking for a few pointed jabs at Christianity? I have a feeling it’s probably the latter, but it’s at least a somewhat amusing exercise in trying to condense down a notoriously complex topic into highly abridged summaries. In the end, it’s a short book, and I welcome others to form their own opinions of it. For me, I found it kind of “meh.”
A complex book abridged down to uselessness; I give The Holy Bible: Abridged 2.5 stars out of 5.
The Magnificent Ambersons
Year: 1942
Rating: Not Rated
Length: 88 minutes / 1.47 hours
Some films are timeless classics, like Citizen Kane (1941), then some are doomed to live in their shadows like The Magnificent Ambersons (1942). It’s easy to see how a success like Citizen Kane would incentivize studios to let Orson Welles direct another film in the hopes that he’d surpass himself. Unfortunately, I don’t feel The Magnificent Ambersons ever achieves that level of cinematic notoriety, merely acting as a footnote to much more famous films. Consequently, this movie hasn’t necessarily aged as well as its 1941 counterpart.
I’ll still give credit where credit is due and say that The Magnificent Ambersons contains the visual charm and bold style that defined Orson Welles’ films. If only the story and characters were memorable enough to care about, then we might have a good movie on our hands here. As it stands, I didn’t care for any of the characters, nor did I even feel invested in any of their stories or motivations (such as they were). Mostly, it seemed like drama for drama’s sake (somewhat similar to how I feel about East of Eden (1955)).
At the time, I’m sure the irony of individuals who didn’t buy into this whole “automobile craze” looked silly to those who drove to their local theater in their car. Almost 80 years later, this conflict seems even more stupid, which is unfortunate considering how integral it is to this “riches to rags” story. Sure, The Magnificent Ambersons has received some accolades over the years, but I guess I’m probably in the minority of film critics who didn’t care for it. Although, if I were able to see Orson Welles’ uncut version, perhaps my opinion of it would be much improved.
A sub-par Welles film that hardly comes close to Citizen Kane, I give The Magnificent Ambersons 2.5 stars out of 5.
Milk
Year: 2008
Rating: R
Length: 128 minutes / 2.13 hours
It seems like there are biopics for almost every notable person who has done anything significant in the last 50 years. In the case of Milk (2008), we get a peek into the personal, professional, and political life of gay rights activist Harvey Milk (Sean Penn). Unfortunately, as is the case with most biopics, I have found that the titular character is good at enacting societal change but at the cost of their relationship with a significant other. To me, I generally throw my hands up in the air and yell, “Come on!” when this happens since it seems to be ubiquitous with the genre.
While I don’t mind watching a film about the activism behind gay rights, I do mind having to watch Sean Penn and James Franco make out. What struck me as odd was a portion of the film where people were encouraged to come out as being homosexual, which a majority of these characters probably never had to do because they were so flamboyantly gay as to erase any suspicion. Still, it was weird to see a time when these individuals weren’t accepted for who they were, even in the now-famous/infamous town of San Francisco.
I can appreciate that this movie shows the long process that Milk took to gain the recognition and power to affect change. The fact that a martyr was used to push these efforts over the edge is a bit sad, though. Still, just once, I’d like to watch a biopic where the main character remains faithful to their significant other, especially with all the help they usually receive from them when they’re starting out. If anything, this character flaw might humanize these people, but at the detriment of the message they’re trying to get across to the audience.
A reasonably standard biopic about a critical figure in the gay rights movement, I give Milk 3.0 stars out of 5.
Mario Kart 7
Year: 2011
Rating: E
Time Played: 2.35 hours
One of the challenges of long-running series like Mario Kart is how to maintain the core gameplay mechanic while also continuing to innovate. Previous iterations in the franchise played with having two characters in a Kart (Double Dash on the Gamecube) before reverting to the traditional formula (Mario Kart Wii). Furthermore, with the limitations present in portable and handheld consoles, there’s a point where the experience isn’t quite the same as it would be on a television screen. Fortunately, Mario Kart 7 seems to have struck a good balance between new ideas and embracing nostalgia.
Even if I didn’t use the online mode for racing against other individuals (one of the core attractions of the Mario Kart series), I did find that each race in Mario Kart 7 was just long enough for me to play through in a single sitting. If I had more time, the option to race through a series of tracks in one the various “cups” was also doable if I was waiting longer than usual (like at an airport). And while I did like the stereoscopic visuals on the 3DS, the handheld system still has some graphical limitations when compared with playing on a big screen.
As is the case in any new Mario Kart entry, I do appreciate the nostalgia induced by including tracks from previous iterations of the series. That being said, though, part of me would almost rather have an entire set of entirely new tracks to experience instead of racing around the same circuits I’ve played for years. At the very least, Mario Kart 7 introduced some new features that helped to elevate it beyond just being stuck to the road. The gliding and underwater mechanics seem so natural that I wonder why Nintendo didn’t include them in earlier iterations. Now, they almost seem ubiquitous with the franchise.
A good game for bite-size play and Mario Kart nostalgia, I give Mario Kart 7 3.5 stars out of 5.
2⁷ Nerd Disses: A Significant Quantity of Disrespect
Year: 2013
Author: Zach Weinersmith and Philip Plait
Length: 31 pages
Have you ever been in an argument and had a stinging zinger of a remark that would have left the other party completely devastated? I’m sure plenty of socially-awkward nerds have been in this situation, which is probably why this book exists in the first place. 27 Nerd Disses is a small collection of witty comebacks that cover a variety of brainy topics. From economics to mathematics, all 128 of these insults require some amount of knowledge of their source material to get the joke they’re trying to make. Unfortunately, this book contains some knowledge at levels higher than a basic college education.
While I understood a good majority of the nerdy references in this book, the parts of these disses that I had trouble with were the references that the uncultured masses were likely comparing these heady subjects to. This ends up being the problematic crux of this book: to get the joke, you have to know the nerdy reference and the common confusion related to its naming. A lot of the times, I completely missed the low-brow part of the joke, and the appendix that explained all the geek speak of the jokes hardly ever broached these misunderstandings.
Furthermore, the fact that there needs to be an appendix on a book of jokes that explains them defeats the purpose of the jokes in the first place. It doesn’t help that the explanations don’t do their subject matter justice. Many of them felt like “Oh, you didn’t get this joke about some principle in physics? Well, the joke is that this is a principle in physics and not some homophone.” I’ll admit that at least a few of these disses were clever, and at least one made me laugh out loud, but overall this was probably a book that didn’t need to be written.
A book full of jokes most people wouldn’t get, I give 2⁷ Nerd Disses 2.0 stars out of 5.
The Little Prince
Year: 2015
Rating: PG
Length: 108 minutes / 1.80 hours
I understand there are limitations when it comes to adapting picture books into feature-length movies. The amount of content present in these books isn’t even enough to cover a few minutes just reading it aloud, so extending it out over 100 minutes requires a bit of framing and exposition. While movies like Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009) took the approach of explaining why there was giant food falling from the sky, The Little Prince (2015) framed its iconic story with your standard “overbearing parent wants their child to succeed at the detriment of said child’s childhood” sub-plot.
When I was growing up, I never encountered The Little Prince in all the picture books I read. Even without this prior knowledge, I could get a sense that the entirety of the book’s content was contained in the stop-motion sections of this movie. I felt there was a missed opportunity to do the whole film in this style. Animated films seem to rely so heavily on CGI animation these days, that something which had a different visual aesthetic would have been a welcome change to the monotony. Granted, in splitting the animation styles, it allowed both stories to progress with little hindrance in understanding which plot was being followed.
And while I understand the importance of children being allowed to play and have fun, the adult in me finds these anti-corporate/anti-job plots a bit tiring. Yes, we should all pursue our fun and creative passions, but how many of them pay enough to make a living? An individual’s level of comfort will inherently dictate their compliance with the corporate structure. Sure, there are plenty of people who make a living on a meager artist’s wage, but it’s honestly not for everyone. Demonizing jobs and work does no good for children who will eventually have to grow up and provide for themselves.
Some interesting visuals with a worn-out anti-job message, I give The Little Prince 3.0 stars out of 5.
Peter Pan
Year: 1911
Author: J.M. Barrie
Length: 302 minutes / 5.03 hours
I didn’t grow up with Peter Pan as a child. The fact that I’m reviewing this book when I’m 34 merely highlights this oversight. I didn’t even get into this story through the animated Disney version. Again, another oversight. About the only reason I know anything about Peter Pan is through the 1991 movie Hook—which I remember quite fondly. At this point, finally getting around to reading the source material was refreshing even if I already picked up most of the pop culture references this book inspired.
While I didn’t grow up with Peter Pan, I can see its merit. I’ll probably even read it to my daughter when she’s old enough to understand it. What’s perhaps the most notable quality of this book is how its randomness almost makes sense. Do you know how kids make stuff up but have a logical sense about their creations? Well, Peter Pan has plenty of elements that seem random but somehow work to build a coherent and cohesive narrative. I’m almost more surprised how close Hook and the Disney adaptation held to the source material. The fact that the ideas presented in Peter Pan are so unique and have yet to be fully replicated in any other story says something about its timeless quality.
That’s not to say that Peter Pan is perfect—even if it gets close. Sure, it’s charming, but it also hasn’t aged too well either (which is also present in the Disney adaptation). 100+ years after this book was written, the world is a different place. These small qualms can be glossed over fairly easily if a parent wants to do a little censorship when reading to their child (they don’t necessarily add to the plot).
A unique and creatively random children’s story that just works, I give Peter Pan 4.0 stars out of 5.
Mary Poppins Returns
Year: 2018
Rating: PG
Length: 130 minutes / 2.17 hours
While it’s a somewhat rare occurrence, it usually doesn’t take Disney over five decades to release a sequel to a critically-acclaimed movie (like how Fantasia 2000 (1999) came out sixty years after Fantasia (1940)). The original Mary Poppins (1964) was a triumph in live-action for a studio known for its animation—which also makes an appearance. It raked in the Oscar Nominations, even gaining a nod for Best Picture. As far as sequels go, Mary Poppins Returns (2018) is a sharp and polished upgrade compared to the original but hits most of the same beats for the sake of nostalgia.
Emily Blunt was more than passable as the title character, even if her representation seemed a bit more on the sarcastic and irritated eye-rolling side of the spectrum from Julie Andrews’ measured patience in the original. The songs in Mary Poppins Returns were certainly catchy—a trait undoubtedly inherited from Lin Manuel-Miranda—but didn’t seem to have quite the timeless quality that keeps us singing the songs from the original. I did find the choreography, especially with the lamp-lighters and bicycles to be quite excellent, and an improvement from dancing on rooftops with chimney sweeps.
If Mary Poppins Returns didn’t have the original to compare to, it would still be a fantastic movie in its own right. This film shows how incredible the special effects were back in 1964. That being said, I loved a lot about this movie. The sequence in the bowl was particularly dazzling, both in its cel-shaded visuals and in its physics. It was also fun to see a cameo appearance from Dick Van Dyke, the one actor who carried over from the original, albeit in a different role. Overall, this movie felt very modern in its visual representation, but also maintained a fair amount of respect and loyalty to the source material.
A visually-upgraded and loving tribute to the original Mary Poppins, I give Mary Poppins Returns 3.5 stars out of 5.
Metroid II: Return of Samus
Year: 1991
Rating: E
Time Played: 7.5 hours
The forgotten child of the original Metroid trilogy, Metroid II is that weird transition between a neat idea and a video game masterpiece. Relying on most all of the same concepts that made the original Metroid on the NES popular, Metroid II suffers from the innate limitations of the Game Boy hardware. Color certainly helped delineate the different areas in the NES game and made the follow-on Super Metroid that much more vivid and haunting, which is why the lack of it in this game poses several problems. Still, it is a solid Metroid game at its base, despite its few flaws.
One of the flaws of this game is its lack of a map. Another weakness is the ability for the player to know what exactly changed when the screen shows a rumbling vibration. I spent way too long going back over the same areas, only to learn later that I had to backtrack a long way to access the new space that had opened up. I understand that most Metroidvanias reward some amount of exploration; still, when there isn’t much more to explore in an area until heading back to these unlocked regions, it becomes an exercise in frustration.
The controls and the challenge of the enemies were well balanced for a small portable game like this. A few spots were a bit tougher, but they were far enough along in the game that I expected the difficulty spike to stall my forward progress. And while the graphical limitations didn’t help navigate the maze-like world, they did a relatively good job of representing Samus and the iconic Metroid in a way that still maintained the base feeling of the series. So, while not an entirely bad game, it is easy to forget that it exists when Metroid and Super Metroid are better experiences.
A passable Metroid game for the Game Boy, I give Metroid II 3.0 stars out of 5.
Red Rising
Year: 2014
Author: Pierce Brown
Length: 400 pages
It is difficult to review a book like Red Rising without noting the heavy comparisons to The Hunger Games. Perhaps this speaks to the strength of The Hunger Games’ format, but there are almost too many parallels to ignore. Dystopian class-separated society? Check. A skilled lower-class individual who defies the odds? Check. Violence and a romantic subplot? Check and check. About the only difference between the two is that Red Rising takes place on Mars and over a few years instead of a week or so. Of course, it’s hard to tell the timespan since important details always seem to be missing from the first-person narrative.
If anything, I’d peg Red Rising as the gritty, over-violent, and over-sexualized version of The Hunger Games. If The Hunger Games appeals to girls and women, Red Rising should appeal to boys and men. A lot of the content in this book felt a bit over the top and unnecessary to the plot. Granted, the action was pretty well written, and at least a few of the characters seemed to have their distinct personality. I didn’t care for the more “aware” portions of the prose, as they seemed out of place in a “look how flowery I can write this simple scene” sense.
Another split from The Hunger Games comes in the form of the main character. While Katniss subjected herself to the brutality selflessly and sacrificially, Darrow was solely focused on a simple-minded goal: vengeance. Consequently, while I could understand Darrow’s motivation, it failed to have many nuances. It ended up being so repetitive that I rolled my eyes every time he brought up his past. Still, there were a few good twists and some great character development through this volume. There’s enough of setup at the end of this book that I’m curious where Golden Son takes the story.
A male-oriented knock-off of The Hunger Games, I give Red Rising 3.5 stars out of 5.
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Year: 2019
Rating: PG
Length: 109 minutes / 1.82 hours
There’s one quote in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019) that sums up the entire movie. “This isn’t really about Fred Rogers.” Considering this film was based on the magazine article that is central to the plot, it’s no wonder that Fred Rogers (Tom Hanks) is merely an ancillary character to the events that happen in Lloyd Vogel’s (Matthew Rhys) life. While Mr. Rogers’ gentle influence is undeniable, I can’t help but think that the recent documentary, Won’t You Be My Neighbor? (2018), is a better examination of his life’s work overall.
I do have to give kudos to Tom Hanks for taking on a challenging role that has many fond memories for tons of people. Hanks captured Fred Rogers’ soft-spoken demeanor and gentle mannerisms as best as only he could. Part of the trouble, though, is that Tom Hanks is so recognizable, that half the time I thought I was watching Fred Rogers, while the other half I couldn’t shake the fact that I was watching Tom Hanks acting. I’m not sure how to get around this, since Hanks’ star power is part of what sold this movie, and finding someone who looks more like Mr. Rogers and teaching them to act the role would have been much more difficult.
In the end, the main plot of a man overcoming family drama isn’t that spectacular of a story. It’s almost so commonplace as to be “ho-hum.” The meaningful crux of this film is definitely how Fred Rogers’ Christian values were able to show how the right thing to do isn’t always the easiest. The human condition often wants us to remain angry at those who have wronged us. This is why forgiveness is such a difficult concept to put into practice. Then again, Mr. Rogers was an expert at handling difficult concepts at a level that even children could understand them.
A movie not really about Mr. Rogers, I give A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood 3.0 stars out of 5.
Rocketman
Year: 2019
Rating: R
Length: 121 minutes / 2.02 hours
After the critical success of Bohemian Rhapsody (2018), it felt like the market was ripe for another movie about a homosexual piano-playing musician. Enter Rocketman (2019), a biopic about Elton John (Taron Egerton) that didn’t quite know what to do with itself. Was it supposed to be the greatest hits of Elton John songs, like Mamma Mia! (2008) was for ABBA? If it was intended as a straight biography of Elton’s life, it falls into all the tropes that seem to be requirements for the genre. There didn’t seem to be anything original here other than sex, drugs, and rock and roll.
One aspect of Elton John’s rise to stardom that I found interesting was his ability to pick up and play any song after hearing it once. This skill is quite a rare trait, and I almost wished this film played up that aspect a little more. I also was intrigued to learn that, while Elton was great at playing the piano, he needed someone to come up with the lyrics for him. Again, it is a great talent to be able to put words to music, which felt like a missed opportunity that was set aside in favor of focusing on Elton’s homosexuality and drug abuse.
I understand that whitewashing these issues doesn’t help tell the “tortured artist” narrative. Still, when the songs themselves don’t integrate well into the story, I felt that Rocketman was too disjointed to make any sense. If you took the songs as well-choreographed music videos, then they’d be great to watch individually. However, they usually stray from the main point of the story when they start, and they don’t seamlessly work themselves back into the plot without some sort of clunky transition. Still, like how Yesterday (2019) was a bland realization of a great idea, at least it and Rocketman contain some excellent musical scores.
A disjointed biography that checks off all the tired tropes, I give Rocketman 3.0 stars out of 5.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Year: 2018
Rating: E10
Time Played: ~45 hours
I grew up playing the original Super Smash Bros. on the Nintendo 64. I loved being able to play as a variety of characters across some well-known (and perhaps less well-known) Nintendo franchises. With each iteration of the series, I’ve enjoyed seeing new characters representing new and classic games join the roster. However, even if I can understand cutting some characters as the series moved forward, it was still a disappointment when I couldn’t play as my favorites in subsequent entries in the franchise. This is why I was hyped up for the release of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
For the first time, I was able to play as a staggeringly large number of characters. The fact that (almost) everything from previous games made it into this one made it feel like this was a celebration of the history of video games and not just a party brawler. And while I didn’t bother with the DLC for the 3DS version of the series, I jumped right in and got the first DLC fighter pack when it was released. This speaks to how Super Smash Bros. Ultimate appeals to me in that I want the fullest experience of the game that already had a pretty full experience.
And while I appreciated the “World of Light” single-player campaign and the “Spirits” that can be used to enhance the player characters, the amount of unlocking I needed to do so I could play as my favorite (or some of the newer) characters felt a bit tedious at times. Plus, with so many characters to choose from, there is a bit of choice paralysis that has prevented me from completing most of the single-player story modes with these characters. Still, the game remains approachable for all skill levels, especially if you want to play by yourself.
A party brawler that’s Nintendo’s love letter to the history of gaming, I give Super Smash Bros. Ultimate 4.0 stars out of 5.
Cartwright’s Cavaliers
Year: 2016
Author: Mark Wandrey
Length: 473 pages
I don’t generally read military sci-fi, but I picked this book up for free and thought I’d give it a try. Cartwright’s Cavaliers certainly has its strengths. The action sequences are well-described, and the origin story of the main character was a unique setup that seems like it would be uncommon in the military sci-fi genre. That being said, Cartwright’s Cavaliers has a strong start but bumbles along to the point of being cringe-inducing by the end. It’s unfortunate, considering how it could have been better if it had stuck to some of the more common tropes of the genre instead of focusing on a (mostly) unlikeable protagonist.
Aside from a sprinkling of typos and proofreading errors, my main qualm with this book is the main character: Jim Cartwright. About one-third of the way through the book, he is revealed to be a fan of an animated series that was popular with men of his body type and disposition, and the cringe-inducing moments just build from there. I’ll grant that giving the main character these characteristics is a bold and seldom-seen move, but there’s also a reason why extreme nerds aren’t usually presented as heroes. The scenarios that play out from there broke my suspension of disbelief over and over again. After all, if this is set in the future, then someone like Jim would be equivalent to a 20-year-old man from 2020 who obsesses over flappers and the films of Charlie Chaplin.
The writing is also passable, with a pace the moves the story along. However, the writing style seems more suited for a comic book than a novel. Many of the actions of the main character might get a laugh if they were illustrated but come across more like an immature man-child who manages to bumble his way through life, getting lucky at every turn. In fact, the moment the book introduces his “girlfriend,” I had to throw up my arms in frustration because, of course, she’d be super attractive and totally into him without any solid logic or reasoning as to why.
A cringe-inducing main character in a pretty great military sci-fi, I give Cartwright’s Cavaliers 2.5 stars out of 5.
Terminator: Dark Fate
Year: 2019
Rating: R
Length: 128 minutes / 2.13 hours
I’ll admit that Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) was a difficult movie to follow. Basically the perfect sequel, this film is generally what we associate with the Terminator franchise. From its plethora of meme-able moments to its fantastic action and visual effects, Terminator 2 set a high bar for any film in the franchise to follow it. While Terminator: Rise of the Machines (2003) tried to tie up the first three movies into a neat little trilogy, most felt unsatisfied with its ending. This is why, almost 20 years after Terminator 2 released, we’re still trying to find that satisfying bit of closure.
Compared to its predecessors, Terminator: Dark Fate (2019) certainly came the closest to achieving this closure. After all, we’ve seen the effects of time travel in the future with Terminator: Salvation (2009) and an alternate reality with Terminator: Genisys (2015). As a direct sequel to Terminator 2, Dark Fate has all the required accouterments of a Terminator movie, including fantastic action set pieces, un-killable antagonists, and a “fast and loose” interpretation of time and the future. Plus, as seems to be the case with every iteration of this franchise, Dark Fate updated the technological apocalypse to be more in-line with what we’d expect based on the technology we currently have at our disposal.
Unfortunately, while Dark Fate is an excellent film in the franchise, it felt a bit like it was making a movie based on a checklist. Re-using memorable lines? Check. Older versions of classic characters? Check. New, advanced Terminator technology? Check. I will give this movie some props for nailing the Bechtel Test, though. Of course, the end of the world isn’t the time to be thinking about romantic relationships with men, so these ladies certainly had their priorities straight. Additionally, moving the rating of this film back up to R felt like the right choice based on the franchise’s origins and likely helped make some of its flashier fight sequences that much better.
The closest we’ll come to Judgment Day closure, I give Terminator: Dark Fate 3.5 stars out of 5.
The Final Empire
Year: 2006
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Length: 1,480 minutes / 24.67 hours
Having already read a few of Brandon Sanderson’s later works, I knew I eventually wanted to tackle his Mistborn series. While he has a consistent style that makes his world-building a bit predictable, the concise nature of his magic systems and fantastically-written fight sequences deliver time and time again. After all, if it works, why change anything? In The Final Empire, the source of the magical superpowers is a set of metals utilized by “allomancers,” much like color was for Warbreaker and the energy of storms for The Way of Kings. I’m always in awe of the complexity of his magic systems, but with such simple concepts that I wonder, “Why didn’t I think of that?”
If Tolkein’s The Lord of the Rings is the standard for high fantasy and George R.R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire series is the baseline for “realistic” fantasy, I can already tell that Sanderson’s Mistborn series is the definitive “entertaining” fantasy. While not as heavy in lore as The Fellowship of the Ring or as gritty in its content as A Game of Thrones, The Final Empire excels in superb plot twists, likable and relatable characters, and action-packed pacing that made me hungry for more.
Sanderson is truly master of his craft in this book. It’s no wonder why he was chosen to finish Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series with such strong writing as is present in The Final Empire. And while everything was wrapped up pretty well by the end of this book, I can see where the series is likely headed in the next few volumes. I’ll certainly miss certain characters going forward, and I was surprised how fast the main character progressed toward fighting the “final boss” of this world. Still, these things just make me wonder how much better the next books will be if The Final Empire has already covered such important ground.
The definitive “entertaining” fantasy book, I give The Final Empire 5.0 stars out of 5.
The Gentlemen
Year: 2020
Rating: R
Length: 113 minutes / 1.88 hours
I’ve enjoyed a good portion of Guy Ritchie’s filmmaking. While many of his more recent movies rely on franchise appeal (Sherlock Holmes (2009), The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015) and Aladdin (2019) are of note), I usually associate his style of filmmaking with the British heist film (like Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) and Snatch (2000)). Consequently, I was looking forward to seeing his recent film, The Gentlemen (2020), as it seemed to be a return to the kind of filmmaking that attracted me to Guy Ritchie films in the first place.
Unfortunately, it seems Ritchie has been away from his core movies for so long that he’s almost forgotten how to make them. The meta framing with Hugh Grant and Charlie Hunnam was clunky enough that even Hunnam’s character was getting bored with the “telling” in the exposition provided by Grant’s character. Sure, there were a few neat twists here and there, but it was trying so hard to be a meta-movie like Seven Psychopaths (2012) or The Player (1992) that it lost its focus. In the end, it spent too much time trying to interweave the narrator’s narrative and the story narrative, and all it ended up with was a jumbled mess of a movie.
I didn’t feel like the action or cinematography (two elements that defined Ritchie films in the past) was lacking. This was mostly because so much of this movie is told to us via Hugh Grant. Perhaps this was also because the meaningful action didn’t even end up being real, but rather the imagined “movie version” of events that played so counter to the characters and how they would act as to break the suspension of disbelief. I’d forgive doing this once, but it seemed to happen on more than one occasion, resulting in an annoying “just kidding” wink from the narrator far too often. At the very least, The Gentlemen does show the difference between boys trying to be tough and men who are actually tough.
A Guy Ritchie film that tries, and fails, to reignite the magic from his first movies, I give The Gentlemen 2.5 stars out of 5.
Nintendo Labo: VR Starter Set
Year: 2019
Rating: E10
Time Played: ~5 hours
With the increasing number and availability of virtual reality (VR) headsets, I figured it was only a matter of time before Nintendo jumped in on the craze. I always felt the Switch would be ideal for VR, as it has a gyroscopic screen with detachable controllers that have an equal amount of finesse in their movements. It is then no wonder that Nintendo decided to pursue the VR space with its line of experimental cardboard toys: Labo. While I didn’t have too much interest in the previous Labo sets, the fact that the VR Labo could also be used on other games for a VR effect is what pushed me to purchase the starter set.
Putting together the cardboard for the VR goggles and blaster accessory took me a long evening to assemble. I appreciated the user interface for the instructions, as it made the whole process easy and basically idiot-proof. Of course, now I have a large cardboard blaster (and other cardboard accessories) with no simple place to store it/them. At least I don’t also need other equipment to use the VR, as the Switch and Joy-Cons are the only pieces of electronics required to enjoy the experience.
Now, it would be nice if the resolution was better (it has the “screen door” effect), and I would have appreciated a head strap so I could play games like Breath of the Wild comfortably. Granted, the Labo VR is perhaps the cheapest way to experience VR on the market (with the base Switch system and Labo Kit only setting you back less than $350 total). And while the starter set doesn’t come with the additional four kits for the full VR experience, the Blaster at least makes for a fun time with what it offers. Plus, the ability to program your own VR experiences (or download demos for free) does mean this set has (almost) endless possibilities.
The best VR experience for the lowest price, I give Nintendo Labo: VR Starter Set 3.0 stars out of 5.
Breach
Year: 2018
Author: W.L. Goodwater
Length: 368 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM THE PUBLISHER***
It’s always interesting to see an alternate take on history where fantastical elements can help explain some mostly banal events and activities. In Breach, the reader is offered a glimpse into the top-secret realm of magicians in military espionage. Most of my knowledge of Cold War Berlin is based on pop culture representations, so there wasn’t anything too out of the ordinary here that would scream of historical inaccuracies. If anything, Breach almost felt like it could have been an extension of the Harry Potter/Fantastic Beasts franchise with how well it integrated history and magic.
While there was perhaps a bit too much browbeating over women’s role in society during the Cold War, the pacing, twists, and characters were excellent. It was a little difficult to tell the timeframe of this book, but I assumed it was probably in an alternate 1950s, based on the context clues. Of course, with the pacing of a modern thriller, Breach seems to get away with fully explaining the details of many of its characters’ motivations. I was sucked into the story enough that I didn’t care too much, but it was a nagging that gnawed at the back of my mind as I read.
For a first book, author W.L. Goodwater certainly put forth an admirable effort. The way plot points are set up and revealed was very entertaining, even if some of the finer points of the plot seemed to be repetitive to make sure the reader understood them. There was a lot of thought put into the magic system in this book without spending tons of time in exposition going over how it works, which I appreciate. There was also some solid character growth for both major and minor characters throughout this book, which is yet another reason why I think people should read this book.
A thrilling alternate history fantasy adventure, I give Breach 4.0 stars out of 5.
Shadow Puppets
Year: 2002
Author: Orson Scott Card
Length: 646 minutes / 10.77 hours
It’s odd for me to read the third book in a series and be confronted with problems that I usually see by the fourth book. So far, I’ve been on board with the whole Shadow series as it focuses on an interesting character in the form of Bean. For two books, I’ve read about Bean’s survival, made all the more thrilling by the antagonist Achilles. Of course, during Ender’s Shadow and Shadow of the Hegemon, the series picked up plenty of side stories and sub-plots. This is what ruined Shadow Puppets for me: the focus wasn’t on Bean and Achilles, but rather on advancing the story of all these sub-plots.
Now, don’t get me wrong, Shadow Puppets has a lot of interesting events. It’s just that it was so entertaining to read about Achilles in the previous books, and he’s relegated to a bookending motif for this book. We don’t get to see him directly interact with others, instead of having the main characters always wondering how he’ll react to their attempts to trap him. This kind of “telling” instead of “showing” really rubbed me the wrong way and made the climax of this story (let alone the first three books) feel quite anticlimactic.
I do appreciate some of what Card does with these well-rounded characters, and I want to see what happens next with a world in such turmoil and turnover. And yet, with how unfocused this book was, I don’t know if I want to get my hopes up for the next books in this series. After all, the central conflict of the previous two books is now behind Bean, which makes me wonder what could replace such a heart-pounding game of cat-and-mouse. There are plot threads to follow into the next book, but I could probably predict what happens just based on the foreshadowing contained in this book.
An unfocused and slightly anticlimactic conclusion to one of the best antagonists, I give Shadow Puppets 3.0 stars out of 5.
I Lost My Body
Year: 2019
Rating: R
Length: 81 minutes / 1.35 hours
Some movies can only be done with animation. Whether it’s the fantastical or alien nature of the content or the visual aesthetic trying to be achieved, animation is pretty flexible with what it can do. Enter I Lost My Body (2019), which is a prime case study in the power of animation. Sure, this could have been done up in realistic CGI, but then it would probably be more in line with the horror genre than the “slice of life” (har har) we have on display here. Either way, I have never seen an entire movie centered on a severed hand trying to get back to the body that lost it…until now.
With hints of Homeward Bound (1993) and The Addams Family (1991), I Lost My Body plays out in parallel with the strangely-relatable severed hand and the flashbacks of the whole body, Naoufel (Dev Patel). At times heartfelt (even in the severed hand timeline), this film’s visual style is its main selling point. There’s a roughness to the animation that is fluid and full of life, but with enough accuracy that it never veered into the absurd—which would be easy to do considering the subject matter.
While never too gross (it is a movie about a severed living hand after all), this movie is just a bit too weird to be able to appeal to everyone. Sure, it has some excellent character moments—the scene with the lobby intercom being one of the best I’ve seen—and its tension is palpable in places. Still, the ending feels a bit soft, considering everything the audience sat through until then. Granted, the flashback portion of the film concluded (in a way I’d expect Arrested Development fans might chuckle at) so there wasn’t much the severed hand storyline could do after that.
An animated film with distinct style and subject matter, I give I Lost My Body 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Obelisk Gate
Year: 2016
Author: N.K. Jemisin
Length: 799 minutes / 13.32 hours
I’ll admit that reading The Fifth Season had a bit of a learning curve for the Broken Earth series. Not only did I have to learn about the vastly powerful magic system based on rocks (and other rock forms), but I had to get used to a second-person point of view (POV). Jumping between timelines with similar characters who had different names was a bit confusing, but I was able to figure it out by the end. Fast forward to the sequel, The Obelisk Gate, and most of my qualms with the first book were smoothed over or solved outright.
One of the things I enjoyed about The Obelisk Gate was the increase in the scale of the magic system. Including the moon in these calculations makes perfect sense considering the nature of the orogeny magic. I also appreciated how the story seemed to focus on a single POV, which made for a more intimate experience as we followed only one or two individuals instead of four. Now that I was used to the second-person writing style and the character it described, it didn’t bother me as much as when I read The Fifth Season.
While The Fifth Season set up the world-building for this trilogy, The Obelisk Gate’s only weakness is that it finally set up the climactic plot for the third book. Sure, there was plenty of character development and intriguing twists in the plot in The Obelisk Gate, but they all seemed to be hinting at something much more significant that wouldn’t take place in this book. I do appreciate an excellent three-act structure, so this slight weakness can be seen as merely an artifact of the second book in a trilogy. In fact, because it was more focused, I liked this book more than its predecessor. After all, it’s a strong concept with solid execution.
A focusing and foreshadowing of the Broken Earth series, I give The Obelisk Gate 4.5 stars out of 5.
Onward
Year: 2020
Rating: PG
Length: 102 minutes / 1.70 hours
I always look forward to Pixar films, mostly to see how visually stunning a movie created entirely in a computer can look with each passing year of technological and programming advancements. The other reason I will always go to see a Pixar movie is their dedication to a good story. Sure, there have been some missed steps over the years (The Good Dinosaur (2015) being the latest example), but their track record has been good enough to warrant me seeing their films in the theater. While I was looking forward to this year’s offering of Onward (2020), the result felt a little lackluster overall.
Choosing to explore a storyline with a deceased parent was odd in that it felt like something that had rarely been addressed in movies geared toward children while also having a strong “after school special” vibe to it. Either way, putting it in a pseudo-Monsters, Inc. (2001) fantasy world was a fun way to deliver this tale of two brothers on a road trip to find a way to bring their father back for a single day. I laughed out loud at the freeze-frame jokes that I picked up on (my favorite being the “Mountain Doom” soda can), and I’m sure I’ll have to pause it a bunch of times if I pick it up to own at some point.
While the “coming of age” story felt a little weak overall—having been done a ton elsewhere—the emotional impact of the last 10-15 minutes had me ugly crying in the way that Pixar films always do. I liked the climax of this film, but there were times where I thought the focus of the action completely forgot about the father’s legs (which themselves were the source of plenty of superb visual gags). Is this Pixar’s best film? Probably not. Is it better than the other CGI animation out there? Most definitely.
A somewhat standard coming of age story with Pixar’s usual charm, I give Onward 3.5 stars out of 5.
Shovel Knight
Year: 2014
Rating: E
Time Played: 27.33 hours
I grew up in the era of retro video games. My favorite was the Mega Man series, but I appreciated what games like Super Mario Bros. 3 and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link were trying to accomplish. While Shovel Knight isn’t a spiritual successor to any one game, it lovingly paints the pixelated beauty of classic video games in vibrant homage. I played through this game and all three of its free DLC add-ons on the 3DS, and I found the stereoscopic effect to be just as mesmerizing as the stunning visuals it used to create the effect.
Shovel Knight managed to create a world filled with lore and unique characters that far surpasses anything programmed on the NES. Granted, there was a bit of a cheat in not being wholly constrained to NES graphics or audio, but I’d rather have a great game that fudges some nostalgia than one that suffers because of it. Additionally, I think the soundtrack for this game is the height of the chip-tune style. I regularly find myself jamming out to any number of the songs as they rotate through my shuffled music collection (I’d list my favorites here, but the list would be too long).
While the 3DS version does not contain the additional Shovel Knight Showdown included in other versions of Treasure Trove, I don’t feel too put out by it. After all, I thoroughly enjoyed all four campaigns contained in the base game, taking my time to learn each new character’s movement quirks and play-style. And while the concept of a knight wielding a shovel seems ridiculous, Shovel Knight takes itself very seriously with a healthy dose of tongue-in-cheek. Even if you never grew up with the games Shovel Knight drew inspiration from, I suggest you pick it up and play through it, regardless.
A brilliant and vibrant homage to classic video games, I give Shovel Knight 5.0 stars out of 5.
The Simpsons and Their Mathematical Secrets
Year: 2013
Author: Simon Singh
Length: 253 pages
My wife picked up this book for me from the library because she thought I might like to read it. To her credit, I am a huge fan of The Simpsons (and Futurama), and there are plenty of interesting mathematical concepts that I’ve loved reading about over the years. Clearly, I would be the target demographic for this book. Except, after reading through it, I’m clearly not. In fact, I’m not even sure who the target audience for this book is. Fans of Matt Groening’s work will already know the episodes and scenes that are re-described here. Fans of mathematics will already know about prime numbers, Fermat’s last theorem, and Klein bottles.
In short, this book felt like a mathematician trying to make math seem interesting by pointing at freeze-frame gags in a popular TV show and waggling his eyebrows as if to say, “See how smart the writers of this show are?” Unfortunately, focusing on these freeze-frame gags defeats the point of the joke by 1. Describing in detail why it’s funny and 2. By bringing attention to something that the writers themselves were conscious about not distracting from the plot of the episode. Plus, most of the explanations of the mathematical “jokes” had me thinking to myself, “So what?”
Either the math was so basic that anyone with a college education would already know the reference (hardly the titular “secrets”), or it was so obscure that I wondered why anyone would care at all. I found myself glazing over (a donut pun, get it?) when I was reading about all of this math, most of which was repetitive from previous already explained gags. Add to this the fact that there wasn’t even enough material for a full book based on The Simpsons, as the last portion of this book covers the much more obvious delivery service for math- and physics-based jokes, Futurama. This book should have been titled Matt Groening’s Mathematical Milieu.
A book neither for fans of mathematics or The Simpsons, I give The Simpsons and Their Mathematical Secrets 2.0 stars out of 5.
The Opal Deception
Year: 2005
Author: Eoin Colfer
Length: 449 minutes / 7.48 hours
As a fan of the three-act structure that trilogies can provide, I’ve found over the years that the fourth book in a series generally determines what the style of future books will be. Plenty of series have strong plotlines and character arcs that span multiple volumes, but some series settle into a tried-and-true formula that works for them. For The Opal Deception, the fourth book in the Artemis Fowl series, it’s the latter. Granted, the series is meant for grade-school readers, so it’s not entirely surprising that the series has become formulaic.
There was an amount of status quo (and returning to it) that had to happen after the events in The Eternity Code, which is where The Opal Deception came in. It honestly feels a little like a half-step backward for the series, or at least a realignment to get the characters all back together to continue on future adventures. By now, these adventures all seem to have the same checklist of events that need to happen. Artemis needs to be clever and smart. Mulch needs to be gross and flatulent. Holly needs to come in and save the day in her magical way.
About the only thing that was different from previous books in the Artemis Fowl universe was the titular villain: Opal Kobol. Of course, this antagonist gave more of a Bond villain vibe than any of the previous ones. This makes me think the series will be progressing with this kind of James Bond formula, which contained singular villains, fancy spy technology, and almost ridiculous action sequences. In fact, I’d almost peg the Artemis Fowl series as a teenage version of James Bond with a heavy dollop of fantasy thrown in to keep kids entertained.
A formulaic stabilization of the Artemis Fowl series, I give The Opal Deception 3.5 stars out of 5.
Marriage Story
Year: 2019
Rating: R
Length: 137 minutes / 2.28 hours
Marriage Story (2019) isn’t a movie about divorce so much as it is a movie about the east coast vs. the west coast. While I’ll admit that there were some pretty good performances in this film (notably, Laura Dern was spectacular), there wasn’t anything new here that other movies like Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) hadn’t covered. Additionally, it was a bit difficult to separate the two leads (Scarlett Johannsson and Adam Driver) from their other famous movie roles, which made it difficult to commit to the premise fully. Plus, movies like Marriage Story are just uncomfortable looks into lives in shambles that probably hit too close to home for some people.
It’s weird how so many successful elements didn’t come together cohesively for me. Randy Newman’s score sounded great, but it made the film sound more like Toy Story (1995) than Marriage Story. Likewise, with the famous acting talent present: they had exemplary performances, but it didn’t seem to gel with the movie as a whole. I will concede that the opening scenes where the characters narrate what they love about their partner felt almost eerily familiar to my own life and its quirks, but perhaps that’s just being able to codify the male and female conditions.
If I were to pinpoint one of the biggest things wrong with Marriage Story, it’s the awkward moments. Most of these scenes seem to go on too long (like Adam Driver singing) or play to laughs or pity that made me cringe more than produce the desired effect. Additionally, one of the most shocking scenes was an incident near the end that felt like it would have had some lasting impact on the plot but was never mentioned again (despite its dire circumstances). I’m not going to spoil what that scene is, but you’ll know it when you see it.
A wannabe Kramer vs. Kramer without the heart, I give Marriage Story 3.0 stars out of 5.
Hearts, Keys, and Puppetry
Year: 2010
Author: Neil Gaiman
Length: 106 minutes / 1.77 hours
I’m all for interesting ways to write books, but using a game of “Twitter telephone” is a new one for me. In fact, can we even call this book written by Gaiman at all? Sure, he’s great at these types of modern fairy tales (like Stardust, for instance), but he only got the ball rolling on this story and let the internet write the rest of it. Granted, he was the one who chose which segments to include next, to help guide it into some limited form of coherence, so maybe he “wrote” it after all?
It’s not that Hearts, Keys, and Puppetry isn’t an utterly incoherent story; it’s that it lacks focus at times. Plenty of interesting subplots could have been explored but were quickly abandoned as the story switched over to a different writer. I’m almost glad this book was as short as it was because otherwise, I don’t know how much more of the plotline whiplash I could take. Perhaps it’s a good thing for readers everywhere that stories aren’t normally created 140 characters at a time. Not that it can’t be done, but that the longer scope of the project is lost in the changing points of view.
If anything, this book reminds me a bit of Forum Role-Playing stories. Each individual controls a character, and everyone writes a segment at a time to advance the plot. The problem with this approach (other than people not committing to contributing) is that each individual has an idea in their mind of where the story should go. Rarely do those ideas match with the rest of the group. If this story were edited down to a few base ideas that Neil Gaiman would then use to create a longer-form and coherent story, then maybe this experiment would have merit. As it is right now, Hearts, Keys, and Puppetry displays the true randomness of the internet.
A crowd-sourced story that has all the problems of a crowd-sourced story, I give Hearts, Keys, and Puppetry 3.0 stars out of 5.
Ford v Ferrari
Year: 2019
Rating: PG-13
Length: 152 minutes / 2.53 hours
Full disclosure: I’m not a “car guy.” Sure, my education was in Mechanical Engineering, and I can appreciate well-crafted machines, but I see cars as mere tools to get from point A to point B. Consequently, I don’t have much interest in car racing and didn’t initially want to see Ford v Ferrari (2019). Luckily for me, this film was chosen as one of this year’s nominees for Best Picture. After watching it, I can clearly see why. For someone who isn’t into cars or racing, I was completely enthralled and entertained by Ford v Ferrari.
This movie is a tour de force when it comes to several filmmaking aspects. It expertly used its sound design, music, and cinematography to give the raw tension of racing highly-engineered machines meant for one thing only: to go fast. In fact, I only had two qualms with this movie on the whole. First, the “marketing guy antagonist” seemed a little cliché, even if I’m sure there was plenty of truth in what happened. Second, there are only so many racing sequences I can take before they all start looking the same. I understand there were a lot of individual races—many of which lasted for an eye-watering 24 hours—but it almost becomes tedious to see the same portions of the racetrack again and again.
As for the acting, I felt Christian Bale and Matt Damon hit it out of the park with their performances. I felt emotional connections to their motivations and their frustrations with being unable to accomplish the impossible. Overall, the story is gripping and intense, with a fantastic twist near the end that I won’t give away because it was such a gut punch. I’m glad that I had the chance to see this movie in the theater just for the pure spectacle of it on the big screen with the power of the sound system bringing every rumbling engine to life.
An almost perfect movie about the synergy of competitive man and engineered machine, I give Ford v Ferrari 4.5 stars out of 5.
Gris
Year: 2018
Rating: E
Time Played: 3+ hours
Much like Journey, Gris is an incredible fusion of art and video game. Taking a watercolor aesthetic and hauntingly beautiful music in stride to tell a subtle story of loss and recovery, Gris ended up being a relaxing trot through its geometric world for me. Unfortunately, much like Journey, the amount of effort that goes into making this game look beautiful was also probably why it ended up being so short. Even if I broke up the platforming gameplay into a few hour-long sessions, I could easily complete it in a long evening.
In the end, the platforming of the game is relatively simple. There’s a couple of puzzles that took me a moment to figure out, and I still haven’t found all the hidden items, so I might come back and do a second play-through to complete it fully. The fact that I wanted to play it again shortly after reaching the end credits is a testament to the effect it had on me. Mostly, I just wanted to immerse myself in the visuals all over again. They were that good. They were so immersive that I thought I was controlling the character when some of the cut-scenes were occurring.
While Gris was a little longer than Journey, I still think it would have benefitted from a bit of a Metroidvania style of exploration. As it stands, the character learns a new skill, works her way through the quadrant of the world that is associated with that skill, then moves on to the next quadrant. If I could go back and explore (and perhaps find those missing and hidden pieces) with the full suite of abilities, then maybe I would have held off on reaching the final ascension to the end credits.
A hauntingly beautiful platformer that could have been longer, I give Gris 3.5 stars out of 5.
How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems
Year: 2019
Author: Randall Munroe
Length: 307 pages
I’ve been a fan of Randall Munroe’s work for quite some time. This artist of the xkcd webcomic certainly has a sense of humor that I appreciate, so I looked forward to his latest book, How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems. While his previous book, What if? covered hypothetical scenarios asked by the users of the internet, How To takes a somewhat opposite approach by using extreme science to do the most basic things imaginable. If you’re looking for simple answers, this isn’t the book for you.
While it’s fun to think of the most complicated way to (for example) be on time, often the joke goes on a little too long as the exact science behind the absurdity is explained. There were times I felt I was reading a textbook instead of a humorous treatise on how to cross a river. Even though I do enjoy some extreme aspects of science, there is a limit to this enjoyment. And perhaps this was because most of the science explained in this book felt fairly rudimentary. Back of the envelope calculations can work for these hypothetical situations, so it’s not like we needed the exact distance George Washington could fling a silver dollar.
Despite its occasionally dry scientific explanations, the writing and illustrations often had me laughing out loud. Many of the footnotes were particularly hilarious. So while the content often felt like it was being taken quite seriously, the slight tinge of humor always reminded me that the whole exercise was to be as tongue-in-cheek as possible. If anything, this book should give any reader a good sense of how we shouldn’t take the simple solution for granted. After all, it’s probably much less radioactive.
Some dry science covered in healthy layers of humor, I give How To 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Man Who Was Thursday
Year: 1908
Author: G.K. Chesterton
Length: 355 minutes / 5.92 hours
On the surface, The Man Who Was Thursday has all the markings of a witty thriller satire. Unfortunately, as the subtitle of this work is “A Nightmare,” things don’t necessarily stay coherent to the end. It’s not that The Man Who Was Thursday is terrible, but rather that it loses focus and becomes absurd the longer it continues. And perhaps that’s the greatest tragedy of this book: that it could have been a solid story if it didn’t devolve into a nightmare at the end.
I certainly liked plenty of aspects of the early parts of this book. Infiltrating an anarchist society with day-of-the-week codenames. The revelation that few members of said society were actually who they said they were. The conspiracy and twists as the protagonists and antagonists get flipped on their heads. Of course, this last bit is when things started going downhill. Perhaps it’s that odd British humor that influenced the weird bits, but the story probably could have done without all the randomness near the end. In fact, making the whole thing into a nightmare lessens the overall impact of the story, since there is doubt that any of it happened at all.
I’m sure that books like The Man Who Was Thursday require extensive footnotes and analysis to understand. I’m sure this book is assigned to English classes as an example of deep and thoughtful prose. The problem is that I’m mainly reading for entertainment. I don’t have the time to sit down and pore over all the analysis of a book like this. For my money, I think I’ll stick to the James Bond series for spies with code names infiltrating secret societies. At least then, I know the result is closer to reality than whatever this book contains.
A weird book that could have been an excellent thriller satire, I give The Man Who Was Thursday 3.0 stars out of 5.
Parasite
Year: 2019
Rating: R
Length: 132 minutes / 2.20 hours
If you haven’t discovered South Korean cinema yet, Parasite (2019) is a fantastic introduction for the uninitiated. Director Bong Joon-ho has been hard at work over the last 20 years, helping craft films that are thoughtful and horrifying. Movies like The Host (2006) and Snowpiercer (2013) give a sense of his artistic style. Parasite merely takes his ability to shed light on class conflict and molds it into a masterpiece that’s half heist-comedy, half horror-drama, and all suspense. If it weren’t for the somewhat lackluster ending, I’d give this film the full five stars it deserves.
At the base of Parasite is a conflict between the impoverished and the rich. This theme could be easily applied to any country with a wide income disparity, which is probably why it works so well in the United States as well as in South Korea. To survive in these environments, the poor must do their best to polish their image enough so that the rich will hire them. Sometimes, this requires an elaborate series of prepared and practiced cons to break into financial success. Of course, the threat of being uncovered as charlatans is what drives the comedy and suspense of Parasite.
My only qualm with Parasite is the uncertainty of its ending. There’s a point during the climactic incident where I thought the movie could end, and it would be a perfect kind of ambiguity (mostly because there was a finality to it). Instead, there’s a little bit tacked on that covers the “where are they now?” which—while being an adequate way to show the cycle of dependency continuing—still doesn’t give a wholly satisfying conclusion. Regardless of this, I found Parasite to be a fantastic piece of cinema and one that I believe will stand the test of time like other South Korean films like The Housemaid (1960) and Oldboy (2003) have.
A nearly perfect heist/comedy/horror/drama hybrid that is a testament to South Korean cinema, I give Parasite 4.5 stars out of 5.
Wizard and Glass
Year: 1997
Author: Stephen King
Length: 1,656 minutes / 27.6 hours
When I started reading Wizard and Glass, it became abundantly clear why The Waste Lands ended with a cliffhanger. While it would have been nice to have a short conclusion at the end of The Waste Lands, Wizard and Glass needed a small amount of framing. That way, it didn’t become a book entirely devoted to a flashback. Granted, the large majority of this book is a flashback, even to the point that I’d consider it to be a prequel. Fortunately, Roland’s backstory was something that desperately needed to be expounded upon in this series.
I know most writers are discouraged from using flashbacks, but in the context of a more extensive series, Wizard and Glass is an integral part of understanding how the Dark Tower universe works. Plus, Stephen King can get away with a lot since he’s so well established. In the end, this book works well because it is relational. Understanding Roland’s past and how he had loved and lost helped to make him not only more relatable but more human as well. Up until now, he was this stark, emotionless gunslinger whose only drive in life was to get to the Dark Tower.
While Wizard and Glass is undoubtedly one of the stronger books in the series, I felt there were a few elements that I didn’t like as much when compared to say, The Drawing of the Three (my current favorite in the series). There was plenty of sex in this book that, while somewhat necessary to the plot, was a bit over the top at times. Additionally, for a book that was as long as it was, I would think that more would have happened in it. As it is, there was a lot of talk about stuff happening, but no real action about it until near the end of the book. Still, I look forward to what will happen next.
A much-needed flashback/prequel for the Dark Tower series, I give Wizard and Glass 4.0 stars out of 5.
Jojo Rabbit
Year: 2019
Rating: PG-13
Length: 108 minutes / 1.80 hours
When I first saw the trailers for Jojo Rabbit (2019), I thought this movie looked like a fun and satirical romp through Nazi Germany. With the director (Taika Waititi) portraying an imaginary Adolf Hitler, the comedy was in full display during the trailers. After all, Waititi directed Thor: Ragnarok (2017), which is arguably one of the funniest films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Plus, Jojo Rabbit seemed to focus on a 10-year-old boy (Roman Griffin Davis) in the Hitler Youth, which gave some strong Boy Scout vibes that I could potentially relate to.
Unfortunately, I was somewhat disappointed to find that the trailers contained all the comedy in Jojo Rabbit. This wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, as the remainder of the film gave some amount of cynicism and reality to the fanatical enthusiasm of Jojo and the other members of the Hitler Youth. In fact, there’s a significant scene that really hits home with the constant theme of tying shoelaces leading up to (and after) this emotional moment. At its base, Jojo Rabbit also has to show the ugliness of war. It highlights the contrast between the nastiness of the real Hitler and the silliness of an imaginary Hitler.
While it wasn’t entirely what I expected, Jojo Rabbit did deliver in a few key areas. First off, the feel of the whole film seemed reminiscent of Moonrise Kingdom (2012), which is one of my favorite Wes Anderson films (again, see my connection to the Boy Scouts). Add in heavy doses of The Diary of Anne Frank (1959) and All Quiet on the Western Front (1930), and the result is this unique take on life in Germany during World War II. It might not have been entirely what I had expected (toning down and trimming a lot of the aspects from the book, Caging Skies), but it was entirely what I needed to see.
A funny and poignant view of WWII from the eyes of a German boy, I give Jojo Rabbit 3.5 stars out of 5.
Journey
Year: 2012
Rating: E
Time Played: ~2 hours
As someone who enjoys movies and video games, I appreciate how cinematic video games have become over the last decade. Additionally, since many films can be “artsy,” there’s no reason why video games can’t follow the same style. Journey definitely fits this definition, and I’d almost go so far to say that it’s interactive and collaborative art. The story is pretty simple, but the execution of it gave me shivers as I finished and watched the end credits. The visuals and music add to the ambiance that engulfed me for the short time I spent playing this game.
Perhaps my only qualm with Journey is the same qualm I have with any artistic video game: its length. I would have loved to spend more time in this world, but as it stands, I can easily complete it in a single sitting. Which I suppose is how it should be when you consider that the “partners” along the titular journey are other players connected to your game via the internet—an amazing fact I didn’t even realize until I finished the game. And while there is some freedom of movement of the player character, I wasn’t able to explore as much as I would have liked were this more of an open-world setup.
I will give my review for this game an additional half star for the Collector’s Edition I played, as it also included previous games from thatgamecompany: Flower and flOw. Both were equally as short but maintained a narrative and unique gameplay mechanic that had me entertained for an hour. I’m not sure how to balance the amount of effort that goes into making an artistic game look and feel good while also providing a more extended playtime, but for what it’s worth, Journey is an experience I won’t forget anytime soon.
A short but chilling piece of interactive art, I give Journey 3.5 stars out of 5.
Mist
Year: 2013
Author: Susan Krinard
Length: 384 pages
My knowledge of Norse mythology is passable at best. Granted, much of it I “learned” from movies like Thor (2011), so I understand that there’s an amount of fictionalization to my knowledge. That being said, Mist seemed to take this pop-culture understanding of Norse mythology and transplant it into modern-day San Francisco. While solidly in the New Adult genre (there is plenty of sex and allusions to it here), I can’t say that anything is interesting here in terms of story. Sure, there are a few things that happen, but they all seem to be alluding to much more exciting developments that won’t happen until later in the series.
One of my biggest qualms with this book was that I didn’t connect with the main character. Mist felt very “Mary Sue” to me. I found the more common elements of her existence (e.g., her employment, grocery shopping, laundry, etc.) were mentioned in passing but never given much weight to ground her in the reality of San Francisco. Additionally, there were plenty of illogical or unexplained actions that she took that I only assumed were to progress the story in the way that it was supposed to happen.
As for the action in this book, it is certainly hectic. At times, it’s also confusing as to what is precisely going on, even to the point of being action for action’s sake. Sure, it’s paced pretty well throughout, and it helps show the growth of the titular character, but I started skimming over these sequences after a while. In the end, maybe Norse mythology isn’t for me. Or at least I am not really into the modern-setting Norse mythology presented in books like this. It’s an interesting concept, but it feels too constrained to the urban and doesn’t allow more of the fantasy to shine through.
A passable New Adult Norse urban fantasy, I give Mist 2.5 stars out of 5.
Caging Skies
Year: 2004
Author: Christine Leunens
Length: 628 minutes / 10.47 hours
When I saw Jojo Rabbit (2019) nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay, I decided to give Caging Skies a read to see how close the adaptation came. After finishing this book, I can see why Taika Waititi ended his movie at the half-way point of the plot. This is mostly because this book only has half a plot. I can forgive a bit of blind enthusiasm of Austrian children who thought the Nazis were great, but I can’t forgive a teenager that gaslights (and, let’s be honest, rapes) a captive girl and tries to come off as the victim.
While taking a much more serious tone than the one presented in Jojo Rabbit, Caging Skies does a reasonably good job exploring themes of war, disability, and the sacrifices it takes to do what is right. Unfortunately, a lot of the lessons presented by the main character’s parents are entirely lost by the half-way point of the book when the war ends. Instead, we get a sick, overly sexualized, and outright twisted look into the head of a teenage boy who doesn’t realize the reason he’s keeping his victim hostage is exceptionally different from the reason his parents took her in to begin with.
I get that this book is supposed to be a bit more “literary” than something I’d pick up to read for entertainment. However, I found it weird how the story—told through the eyes of a teenage boy—never sounded like a teenage boy wrote it. Sure, there’s plenty of hormones on display as he grapples with having a hidden girl in his house. However, that’s more in the theme of the story instead of how the story was worded. Plus, any sympathy I would have had for the main character immediately evaporated when he chose to lie to the girl for far too long and keep her freedom from her, only managing to whine and complain how his freedom was limited by having to hide her from everyone.
An OK story that’s ruined by its second half, I give Caging Skies 2.0 stars out of 5.
Frozen II
Year: 2019
Rating: PG
Length: 103 minutes / 1.72 hours
After the cultural phenomenon that was Frozen (2013) had cooled off a little, a sequel was an inevitable conclusion. The trouble with such sequels is multi-faceted: how do you recapture the magic of the first movie while also creating something new that advances the story? Unfortunately, Frozen II (2019) falls into the trap of focusing on what made the first so successful that it almost feels like it’s mimicking its origins. To top it off, the new elements introduced in this film are either predictable plot points or over-done tropes. But hey, it’s Disney, and it looks absolutely gorgeous, even if some of the main characters seemed slightly more exaggerated in their presentation (perhaps starting to edge closer to the uncanny valley).
While the songs all hit similar beats to their predecessors, most of them seem to fall short or were emphasized in the wrong places. Case in point, I found “Show Yourself” to be a stronger corollary to “Let it Go” than “Into the Unknown” was. Although, I did find “When I Am Older” to be pretty funny and the rock-ballad “Lost in the Woods” to be hilarious, if for no other reason than it doesn’t fit the fantasy aesthetic. Don’t get me wrong, the songs are all still catchy, but a lot of them didn’t seem to serve narrative purposes that were as strong as before.
I did appreciate the new character of the fire salamander (and the mythological ties it has), as he was a cute addition. Similarly, being able to address the themes of grief and depression was a little out of left field, but handled well. In fact, there were a lot of plot points that just sprung out of nowhere without much explanation. This was a shame considering how well this film expanded the backstory from the first movie. I almost see this film as the second half of Frozen, as if there were an intermission between the two, and they’re both just part of a larger movie.
Plenty of the same beats as last time, but with a new coat of paint, I give Frozen II 3.5 stars out of 5.
The Eternity Code
Year: 2003
Author: Eoin Colfer
Length: 414 minutes / 6.90 hours
After the last two adventures in the Artemis Fowl series helped to reunite the titular character with his family, it was entertaining to watch him strike out on his own. This was for no other reason than to prove he has the criminal chops his family name is known for. While decidedly middle-grade to young adult in tone, The Eternity Code is still an entertaining read. One might need to have read the previous two volumes to know who all the main players are, but at least the story is strong enough to carry the reader through to the conclusion without too much hassle.
While I appreciated the “on top of it” style Artemis had in Artemis Fowl, I could also enjoy the cracks of vulnerability in his façade present in The Eternity Code. After all, Artemis is merely a teenage boy, and it helps to ground him in reality when the chips are down, and his plans don’t succeed from the start. Perhaps my favorite part of this book was the increased presence of Juliet, who seemed to break as many stereotypes as kneecaps (this is also partly because she reminded me of Bastille from Brandon Sanderson’s Alcatraz series).
As I mentioned earlier, the tone of this book is decidedly aimed at children. This was likely why a lot of the bathroom and “gross-out” humor played a more substantial part in this book than in previous entries of the series. And while there were a few new and interesting characters, they almost seemed to be forgotten for most of the book after being introduced early on. Perhaps they play more significant parts in future books in the series because, in this singular book, it felt like they were woefully underutilized. Even with a somewhat definitive ending, I look forward to the next adventure the Artemis Fowl series has to offer.
An entertaining military fantasy heist, I give The Eternity Code 4.0 stars out of 5.
Little Women
Year: 2019
Rating: PG
Length: 135 minutes / 2.25 hours
After the success of Greta Gerwig’s debut film, Lady Bird (2017), I was pleased to find her directing again with a tried and true classic, Little Women (2019). This movie isn’t new or its content original by any means (this is the seventh film adaptation after all). However, Gerwig has managed to give it a poignancy and relevance to today’s issues while still maintaining an apparent loyalty to the period. It probably helped that Gerwig had tons of acting talent along for this film, including collaborators from her last film: Saoirse Ronan and Timothée Chalamet. In the end, I found this to be perhaps my most favorite adaptation of this classic piece of literature.
Where Gerwig shines in this film is her ability to use flashbacks and dueling timelines to show the contrast and growth of the characters in stark moments of brilliance. My one qualm is that this technique was perhaps used a little too liberally, which meant I lost track of which timeline was which a few times. Otherwise, the moments that paralleled the lives of these four girls from Massachusetts were played to maximum effect and done with cinematic artistry that should make this version the standard.
I also appreciated the slight meta nature of the framing of the story, the superb classical music, and the beautiful set design. Still, it all pales in comparison to the actors. Aside from the ones already mentioned, there were standout performances by Florence Pugh (my favorite), Laura Dern, Emma Watson, Chris Cooper, and Meryl Streep (doing what Meryl Streep does). The best moments are the soliloquies about how successful writing isn’t necessarily good writing, the economics of marriage, and the struggle to be an independent woman when it’s also necessary to be wanted and loved by someone else.
Greta Gerwig proving she’s a master director, I give Little Women 4.5 stars out of 5.
Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu
Year: 2018
Rating: E
Time Played: 23 hours
I hesitated to pick up Let’s Go Pikachu for the sole reason that I already had bought this game decades ago in the form of Pokémon Yellow. I couldn’t justify spending $60 for a re-skin and decreased difficulty to align it with the Pokémon Go-style of catching. That being said, I was able to pick this title up for $20 as a part of Redbox’s video game sale, and I’m glad I did. Sure, the game is the same as before, but there are a few things I still enjoyed about it as I reveled in the nostalgia it brought to me.
First off, the visuals are stunning. I think we often forget how limited the Game Boy’s graphics were, but seeing all these classic Pokémon in full HD on my big screen was an experience. I also appreciated how they removed HMs in favor of special techniques for Pikachu to use, which could also be taught as battle moves (themselves helping to even out Pikachu’s inherent weaknesses). Perhaps the best feature in this game was being able to see what Pokémon were in the tall grass and being able to encounter the ones I wanted to.
While the Pokémon Go catch mechanic made grinding for levels incredibly easy, I also liked how I could transfer Pokémon to this game to complete the Pokédex. Basically, any Pokémon that weren’t present in this game (either natively or being locked behind a trade) could transfer in using another game I was already playing regularly. Being able to complete the Pokédex by myself was quite fulfilling. In the end, I played the whole game using only Pikachu in battles—thus highlighting its decreased difficulty. Still, it was a fun trip down memory lane that could be accomplished in a weekend.
A visually improved beat-for-beat remake with some improved features, I give Let’s Go Pikachu 3.5 stars out of 5.
Lightless
Year: 2015
Author: C.A. Higgins
Length: 304 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM THE PUBLISHER***
There seem to be a few cardinal sins most writers are cautioned to avoid at all costs. Two of these sins are exposition dumps and “show, don’t tell.” While the entire book doesn’t necessarily fall into these pitfalls, Lightless spends a big chunk of its 300 pages in telling the reader about all the exposition to the story that’s currently playing out. Instead of reading an interrogation, I would have much rather seen the events that led to the current state of the solar system. On top of all this, I failed to care about any of the characters or their plights because this method of storytelling was so impersonal.
I’ll admit that I almost gave up reading this book right before it became interesting again. The ending does a pretty good job of re-invigorating the plot, but it might be a case of too little too late. Furthermore, not only were there plenty of weird logical leaps, accents that were told to the reader but not shown in dialect, and actions that didn’t make much sense, but there was almost too much coincidence in the appearance of certain characters. The fact that I thought it would have been a more interesting story if the System interrogator was the terrorist all along, coming to tie up loose ends, says something about the standard nature of the plot.
In the end, this book suffers from being the first of an intended trilogy, as well as being this author’s first work. The amount of exposition crammed into this book is merely a setup to something that’s likely more interesting to read, not that I’ll continue with this trilogy. Additionally, there were quite a few times where the awkward wording of a sentence or the repetition of a particular word pulled me out of the narrative. Finally, I felt it took way too long for the computer specialist to figure out what the problem was. The clues were evident almost from the start, but she only “got smart” about it when the plot demanded it.
An interesting climax that required an expositional slog to get to, I give Lightless 2.0 stars out of 5.
Storm Front
Year: 2000
Author: Jim Butcher
Length: 482 minutes / 8.03 hours
The first book in the Dresden Files series, Storm Front is the fusion of urban fantasy and detective noir that I didn’t know I needed. As a wizard for hire, Harry Dresden gets a lot of weird cases that only a wizard could deal with, but it’s done in a way that hearkens back to Sam Spade and other detectives just trying to make a buck investigating mysteries that show up on their doorstep. Perhaps I just haven’t read any modern noir (most of it supplanted by the “thriller” genre), but Storm Front is a refreshing return to a classic form of storytelling.
Of my two qualms, only one has to do with the book itself. The narrator of this audiobook had a bit too much breathing, sniffling, and other noises that—while being somewhat infrequent—pulled me out of the story far too often. And while I liked how there was always something for Dresden to do, the multitude of different storylines left me a little confused at times. Still, each of these storylines inevitably contributed to some part of the plot as a whole, so I can forgive the multitude of spinning plates.
As for the fantasy aspect, I could tell a lot of thought was put into how magic works in the real world—or at least in Chicago. Translating something usually confined to sweeping pre-industrial landscapes into a modern equivalent is no easy task, and Jim Butcher did an excellent job of making everything seem logical and natural. For the first book in a series, Storm Front is a strong step forward into any number of interesting stories. The foundation is set, and I look forward to seeing how Butcher builds upon it in subsequent volumes of the series.
The detective noir urban fantasy I didn’t know I needed, I give Storm Front 4.5 stars out of 5.
1917
Year: 2019
Rating: R
Length: 119 minutes / 1.98 hours
While there have been movies filmed to look like they’re one long take (the Best Picture winner, Birdman (2015) comes to mind) and movies that revolve around key moments of retreat during war (Dunkirk (2017) comes to mind), never before have the two been so masterfully combined. 1917 (2019) is a rare piece of cinema that tackles the less-popular World War I as its subject matter, but doing so in a way that’s personal, gruesome, and tense. Those viewers who might be put off by the gore of this film might come to realize that cinema has been censoring the ugly side of war for far too long.
None of the violence seems out of place in 1917. Its moments of horror highlight the ugliness of war that results in constant and ever-present death. Fortunately, there are enough moments of peace and rebuttal between these intense sequences to let the audience catch their breath. Because, after all, the one-shot style of this film is breathtaking all on its own. The ability to pull something like this off, with brilliant peaceful bookends encapsulating intense action, makes 1917 a generation-defining movie that will likely remain as a landmark of cinema for years to come, regardless of the awards it does or does not win.
Sam Mendes’ career is just as varied as that of his contemporaries (Christopher Nolan comes to mind). After winning Best Picture with his breakout film, American Beauty (1999), Mendes has dabbled in almost every genre, including comedy (Away We Go (2009)), period drama (Road to Perdition (2002)), and franchise success (Skyfall (2012)). It’s a testament to his skills as a director to show how far he has come in 20 years. Sure, American Beauty was good for its time, but I think 1917 is excellent beyond any annual awards cycle. It could be the kind of film you only see once in 202 years.
A generation-defining film that pulls no punches, I give 1917 5.0 stars out of 5.
A Darker Shade of Magic
Year: 2015
Author: V.E. Schwab
Length: 694 minutes / 11.57 hours
A co-worker of mine suggested I check this book out, and I have now finally gotten around to it. While he gave this series of books a glowing review, I can only hope that the other books in this trilogy fare better than this one. For what it was worth, A Darker Shade of Magic didn’t seem to be original enough for me to care much about what happened in it. It’s filled with so many fantasy and YA tropes that I could almost swear I’d read the same book somewhere else before.
Perhaps part of my problem comes with the audiobook production of this story. I generally liked Lila, except when she was particularly annoying. There were quite a few times the narrator made her sound like Audrey Hepburn in the early part of My Fair Lady (1964), and that’s not much of a compliment. Overall, though, I can understand how the first book in a series can be dry just based on the fact that it has so much exposition and world-building to do to lay a foundation for the next books.
And maybe the “generic” feel of this book comes from the logical nature of a magic system closely tied to blood? I like the concept of the parallel Londons, and the action sequences near the end were reasonably exciting, so there is some merit to this book. It’s more that everything felt so flat and uninteresting, even with a compelling topic like blood magic tying everything together. While I wasn’t necessarily impressed with this book, I’ll continue to be my stubborn (or perhaps masochistic) self and continue with the rest of the series to see what all the commotion is about.
A generic YA fantasy with a few shining moments, I give A Darker Shade of Magic 3.0 stars out of 5.
The Irishman
Year: 2019
Rating: R
Length: 209 minutes / 3.48 hours
At almost three-and-a-half hours long, The Irishman (2019) might seem like a daunting movie to sit through. However, much like Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood (2019) gave Quentin Tarantino the space to make the movie he wanted to, Netflix seems to have allowed Martin Scorsese to create the film he wanted with little-to-no interference. Consequently, the 3.5 hours of this movie could have probably stood a bit of a trim, but the pacing is so well done as to make the time fly by (similar to another movie of epic proportions, Lawrence of Arabia (1962)).
One of the most significant strengths of this movie appears to be its de-aging technology. While it’s still a bit on the edge of the uncanny valley, the main actors did look significantly younger than their current ages during the flashback sequences. Instead of relying on look-alikes and teaching them the mannerisms of these incredibly talented actors, Scorsese took a more technical route that could fully use De Niro, Pacino, and Pesci to their fullest potential. After all, these three actors make the film what it is. I only wonder if it took this long for Scorsese to release this film because of this technical achievement.
In the end, this is a Scorsese film. He’s so intertwined with the mobster genre that I’m surprised The Irishman wasn’t released sooner. After all, most people have a passing knowledge of Jimmy Hoffa but know that the mafia in the United States was undoubtedly a real influence on politics in more ways than we’re likely to admit. If anything, The Irishman is a return to form for Scorsese and his mafia films that cemented his name in the zeitgeist of cinema decades ago. There’s certainly a lot in this movie that can act as Oscar bait, but the strength of the narrative and the performance of the actors help elevate it to an instant classic.
The mafia movie Scorsese always wanted to make, I give The Irishman 4.0 stars out of 5.
Untitled Goose Game
Year: 2019
Rating: E
Time Played: 2+ hours
The indie breakout hit of the year, Untitled Goose Game, has a lot going for it. The action-synched music, the visual aesthetic, and (most of all) the ability to play as a modern-age dinosaur. While most of the geese I’ve interacted with in my life have been of the Canadian variety, the controls and feel of this British goose are accurate enough for me to become lost in moments of hilarity at the hands of this foul waterfowl. However, for $20, I can’t recommend anyone pay that much for what amounts to a polished tech demo.
Despite all it has going for it, Untitled Goose Game is incredibly short. I was able to play through the four main areas in only a few hours, not bothering to complete the expanded list of tasks as most of them were minor variants of the things I had already done. Additionally, while the game seems open-world at a glance, I found my progress forcibly directed through the checkpoints that the game wanted me to follow. Perhaps the post-game is more open, but I would have liked it all to be accessible from the start, to allow me to choose how to go about terrorizing the villagers.
While I certainly had a few laughs during my play-through of Untitled Goose Game, I’m not sure how replayable it is. I might pick it up to show someone later on, but I felt like I accomplished all I wanted to with it, and now it’ll sit in the data storage of my Switch while I move on to bigger games. Perhaps if the developer of this game releases free updates to expand the game, I’ll come back to it (like was done with Shovel Knight and Hollow Knight). As it is right now, I’d certainly wait for a sale before picking up this little gem.
A bit overpriced for a honking good time, I give Untitled Goose Game 2.5 stars out of 5.
Shadow of the Hegemon
Year: 2000
Author: Orson Scott Card
Length: 365 pages
It’s almost fitting how the follow-on book in the spin-off series to Ender’s Game takes the same tactic as Speaker for the Dead and transforms itself into a completely different genre. While Speaker for the Dead and its sequels still maintained a level of science fiction for the Ender saga, Shadow of the Hegemon pivots into a political thriller with almost no hints of sci-fi to be seen. The strength of the characters helped make this transition relatively smooth, but it still highlights how these child-aged individuals hardly have any child-like qualities.
While the Shadow saga certainly needed to start out focusing on Bean, I did appreciate how Shadow of the Hegemon developed many of the supporting characters. For the first time in both series, I felt like the reader was able to know Petra and Peter while also seeing what Achilles was capable of accomplishing. The results of bringing back children war heroes to Earth had a logical feel to its progression, even if I didn’t really care much about southeastern Asian politics to really engage with the politics of the plot. That’s not to say the whole “cat and mouse” between Achilles and Bean wasn’t interesting; it just wasn’t what had brought me to this series in the first place.
Of course, having read the Ender saga first, I can already see the early ripples of how this side-series will start to wrap up. Now that Ender is less of a presence in the Shadow series, other characters finally have a chance to show what they can do. While I’ll reserve my predictions might change with what actually happens, I get the sense that Peter’s tenure as Hegemon changes the world just as Bean changes into some super-intelligent giant. I will admit that some of Orson Scott Card’s predictions from 2000 still seem plausible today, given the political climate, it’s clear that the author did his research before playing with the ever-important sci-fi “what if” scenario.
A political pivot from a well-known sci-fi series, I give Shadow of the Hegemon 4.0 stars out of 5.
Schumann: The Faces and the Masks
Year: 2018
Author: Judith Chernaik
Length: 773 minutes / 12.83 hours
When it comes to biographies of famous artists, it can be difficult to separate their life from their life’s work. It is fascinating to understand the influences of an artist, especially when in the context of their creation. However, much of the ability to talk about the artist’s life depends on common knowledge of their artistic portfolio. For slightly more obscure artists, finding the balance between discussing their personal life and providing an explanation of their art can be a challenge. Schumann: The Faces and the Masks attempts to cover both Robert Schumann’s life and his musical pieces.
While revealing some of the more interesting secret codes in Schumann’s music in this book, the moments discussing the songs in detail seem to derail the whole narrative of the biography. Schumann’s life was fascinating enough as it was, with the drama involved in his marriage to Clara Wieck, as well as his involvement with several other famous musicians (like Mendelssohn and Brahms). Bringing in sections that basically amount to music theory might have been better suited in an appendix instead of fusing with the story as it progressed through his life.
Despite these jarring asides, Schumann’s life story is still interesting enough that I suggest anyone who is interested in Romantic composers, or even music in general, should give this book a read. The author does an excellent job of highlighting the ups and downs of this creative individual who suffered for his art almost as much as he suffered from his various conditions (an STI and a clear case of bipolar disorder). The fact that he had such a talented and devoted wife in Clara throughout his life is merely a testament to how forward their relationship was and how transformative she was on his life on the whole.
A fascinating biography with jarring bits of music theory, I give Schumann: The Faces and the Masks 3.5 stars out of 5.
Knives Out
Year: 2019
Rating: PG-13
Length: 130 minutes / 2.17 hours
One of the most under-utilized genres to date, a good mystery movie is hard to find these days. This is partly why Knives Out (2019) is such a joy to watch. With plenty of twists and turns—and a murderer that subverts all the numerous tropes of the genre—this film is almost on the edge of self-aware satire of mysteries on the whole. This is partly why I found Knives Out to be delightfully amusing: the absurd nature of some of the genre’s most tightly-held motifs were playfully subverted for a couple of genuine laughs.
Of course, part of the problem of Knives Out being so self-aware is that it is inevitably predictable at several key moments. Depending on how far ahead a viewer can deduce the solution to a critical piece of evidence might determine how predictable it is for them. I did appreciate that there was always one piece of the puzzle that remained unsolved to keep the plot moving along, but there were also enough clues that helped make some of the twists a bit more evident than they probably should have been.
In terms of the cast, Knives Out sports a veritable “who’s who” that will make the “6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon” game much easier in the future. Some individuals, like Jamie Lee Curtis, were woefully underused, but Michael Shannon and Chris Evans stand out as exemplary roles in this film. Of course, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Daniel Craig, who seems to be having fun distancing himself from his iconic James Bond role. While his performance is undoubtedly one of the reasons you should watch this film, I was slightly distracted by his choice of accent, which just sounded odd at times.
A refreshing take on the mystery genre, I give Knives Out 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Crystal City
Year: 2003
Author: Orson Scott Card
Length: 690 minutes / 11.50 hours
With the end of this series in sight, it seems that the focus of The Crystal City is back on track. That being said, there are a few curious omissions that made it somewhat frustrating to read. I understand that some stories aren’t meant to be part of full books, but when these side short stories sound much more interesting by their mere inference, then I wonder why they weren’t included in the main storyline to begin with. Still, there were enough exciting developments in The Crystal City to keep me wondering what the conclusion will bring in the next book.
While I appreciated the historical name dropping earlier in the series, now they seem to be coming left and right, with little-to-no impact on the story other than to say, “Look! Here’s someone you should know, and here’s how they’re different now!” Part of this is due to the short stories that introduced interesting characters like Jim Bowie and Steve Austin. It could be the fact that the altered timeline is so far away from known history that figures like Abraham Lincoln don’t seem to have nearly the same impact as they did in our current understanding of history.
It was nice to see some character development, especially in Arthur Miller, who up until now had felt more like a sidekick and shadow to Alvin and not necessarily a full character in his own right. I also appreciated some of the more grandiose events, like the eruption of a volcano, even if it felt a little like cutting off another sub-plot that could have had some incredibly interesting outcomes. In the end, it is nice to see some of the loose ends starting to be tied up, even if I don’t enjoy these books nearly as much as when I started six books ago.
A foreshadowing of the end of the series, I give The Crystal City 3.5 stars out of 5.
X-Men: Dark Phoenix
Year: 2019
Rating: PG-13
Length: 113 minutes / 1.88 hours
I’m all for more faithful adaptations of stories into film. However, in long-running series like the X-Men franchise, I can’t help but wonder if efforts could have been spent on different storylines instead of trying to fix past mistakes. I know the “Dark Phoenix” saga is one of the best in the X-Men series, but after X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019) tried to fill the gap of X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) created by the ret-con in X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), I can honestly say I preferred the version in The Last Stand.
Up until now, I’ve been okay with the “First Class” set of prequels. They have taken an alternate history approach to lay out the lore of the X-Men, which I like. The problem with Dark Phoenix is that—after covering three decades in the last three films—the timeline finally caught up with the original trilogy. It was fun to see alternate history JFK or Richard Nixon deal with the threats of the mutants, but there are no historical trappings of Dark Phoenix to tie anything to. It’s just a generic “in the not-to-distant past” that could have taken place at any time and any place.
While certain characters like Professor Xavier (James McAvoy), Hank McCoy (Nicholaus Hoult), and Magneto (Michael Fassbender) are still great interpretations, it was apparent that the rest of the cast was phoning it in. It was almost like they knew it was the last in the series, and they wouldn’t have to play these roles anymore (Jennifer Lawrence as Mystique really gave off this vibe). Additionally, the underutilized Quicksilver (Evan Peters) was a crying shame, considering his sequences in the previous two films (Days of Future Past, especially) were the best parts of those movies.
A rebirth of a storyline that should have stayed dead, I give X-Men: Dark Phoenix 2.0 stars out of 5.
Dr. Fixit’s Malicious Machine
Year: 2018
Author: Jessica Crichton
Length: 260 pages
While I’m a bit older than the target demographic, I’m not sure I was ever a fan of the kind of “gross-out” tropes that seem to permeate the middle-grade genre. My main problem with Dr. Fixit’s Malicious Machine is that it relies on this trope in spades. At the very least, it takes this slightly “uncultured” format and takes it to its logical extremes. After all, the amount of accented pidgin adds flavor to this parallel universe, even if it sacrifices some readability. In the end, though, it’s still a pretty good story even if the plot points felt pretty standard for the genre.
Aside from some of the content being gross, there were several proofreading errors scattered throughout this book. Not enough to be distracting but enough to be noticeable. I’m also not sure the more complicated “twist” near the end is understandable for the target age range, considering the scientific knowledge needed to understand what was being explained. The attempt was certainly there to bring it down to a middle-grade level, but I think there’s a loss of a lot of the nuance of this adult technology in favor of covering up a few plot holes.
I picked this book up and read it in fits and starts and was always able to remember vaguely what was happening and who the characters were, so there is some memorability to it. The trick with the twist ending is that everything leading up to it almost felt like filler. Sure, a few key events needed to happen to get there, but there seemed to be a lot of time spent chasing or being chased that didn’t add much in terms of plot development (there was a bit of character development, so it wasn’t entirely wasted).
A “gross-out” middle-grade for those who are into it, I give Dr. Fixit’s Malicious Machine 3.5 stars out of 5.
Heartfire
Year: 1998
Author: Orson Scott Card
Length: 728 minutes / 12.13 hours
It’s been a while since I read this far into a series, and I can start to see why I like trilogies and stand-alone books. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think this series had evolved into a courtroom drama instead of a historical fantasy. At this point, the whole premise of this series seems to have veered off course and has lost its focus to tackle unrelated issues that were somewhat prominent at the time. Or, at least it’s merely acting as a chance to name drop historical figures and take the side of history against well-known issues that haven’t aged well over time.
If anything, Heartfire could have easily been the fourth book in the series, since Alvin Journeyman added nothing to the story. Even so, Heartfire didn’t feel as strong as earlier books in the series. It almost seems like there’s more of a focus on world-building. There is less focus on actually progressing the story—like the path toward the Crystal City. Certain plot elements were almost entirely forgotten as well, even if there was a whole legal battle in the last book to re-hash how Alvin came into possession of a sentient golden plow (which itself is still unclear why it’s important).
By now, I’m merely reading the series on autopilot just to see if there is any conclusion to the alternate history presented here. I still think there are clever takes on historical figures, but by now, they seem added in as a heavy winking nod to the reader, most of whom will already know the referenced individual. Perhaps the lack of overall character growth in this book is what made it such a so-so read for me. Sure, there were baby steps toward some redemption arc, but in the end, nothing ended up changing the drive of the overarching story.
Another weak link in the Alvin Journeyman series, I give Heartfire 3.0 stars out of 5.
Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker
Year: 2019
Rating: PG-13
Length: 142 minutes / 2.37 hours
Full disclosure: I’m not a die-hard Star Wars fan by any means. Sure, I like the original trilogy, but Return of the Jedi (1983) is my favorite of that set (take that how you will). In the end, I don’t look at this franchise through the lens of the expanded universe or all the lore tied to it. I just see them as movies. Are they entertaining? Sure, they have their moments. Are they groundbreaking? Not since A New Hope (1977), in my opinion. So, while The Force Awakens (2015) felt like a rehash/reboot, I did appreciate how The Last Jedi (2017) took some risks in terms of character development.
So, how does The Rise of Skywalker (2019) fare? First of all, the plot moves at a hyperspace-clipped pace. There seemed to be so many loose ends to tie up and nostalgia to fit in that there wasn’t much time to spend on any single sub-plot. I did appreciate how the character development of Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) reached its penultimate conclusion, showing the audience the extreme abilities of what the Force can ultimately do. I also found the action sequences to be quite spectacular as well. This isn’t your father’s original trilogy when it comes to special effects.
For a conclusion to a nine-film franchise that spanned more than four decades, it’s a little unfair to saddle The Rise of Skywalker with anything more than resolving the questions that arose from this sequel trilogy. I think it did a pretty good job, even if the whole trilogy could have been slightly more coherent with some better planning from the start. In the end, while the plot and even some character development (like the revelations into Poe’s (Oscar Isaac) past) seemed rushed, the set pieces were amazing and worthy of the conclusion to the Skywalker saga.
A fitting end to a somewhat troubled sequel trilogy, I give Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker 3.5 stars out of 5.
An Education
Year: 2009
Rating: PG-13
Length: 100 minutes / 1.67 hours
I’m not sure how I missed this film when it first came out. I suspect it was because I hadn’t started making a point to see all the Oscar-nominated films of that year—and 2009 bumped that number up significantly from five to ten. At any rate, I’m glad I eventually came around to it as it was a delightful—if not mostly generic—coming-of-age story. The only modern and recent example I can think of that equates to An Education (2009) is Lady Bird (2017), and I loved that film for similar reasons.
As someone who generally grew up feeling “older” than his peers, I could relate to Jenny (Carey Mulligan, in her best Audrey Hepburn impersonation). There’s a point when some teenagers like Jenny think they’ve figured out the “rules” of life and are therefore ready to jump into adulthood with both feet. This is definitely where the titular “education” comes in. It’s both a statement of learning how life can be cruel and the protagonist’s reluctant motivation to attend Oxford at the behest of her parents (with Alfred Molina somewhat reprising his role in Chocolat (2000)).
While I’m still not entirely comfortable with the statutory aspect of this film (similar to my feelings on Call Me By Your Name (2017)), the largest qualm I have with it is the twist near the end that veers almost all the way into trope territory. It’s no wonder that men get the bad rap they do with these kinds of characters being portrayed on the big screen. Sure, it’s a critical incident that pushes Jenny into a healthy mindset of enjoying her childhood while she still can, but I almost wonder if there could have been a different way to go about it.
A somewhat generic—but still incredibly charming—coming-of-age film, I give An Education 4.0 stars out of 5.
Hugo
Year: 2011
Rating: PG
Length: 126 minutes / 2.10 hours
Enchanting. Charming. Magical. After re-watching this film again, I can still confirm Hugo (2011) legitimately earned all its technical Oscars, even if it didn’t end up winning Best Picture. Ironically enough, this American movie about the origins of French film lost out to a French movie about the origins of American talking pictures (i.e., The Artist (2011)). Of course, the more surprising aspect of this film was how Martin Scorsese was able to make such an entertaining (and family-friendly) film that didn’t involve the mafia at all.
Personally, as an avid lover of classic films, I enjoyed the romanticism related to the earliest of film magicians. Scorsese’s love letter to the origins of cinema—and the masters of their craft like Georges Méliès (Ben Kingsley)—is a stark reminder of how much we’ve lost of cinema’s heritage due to external events that forced the artistic community to abandon their art. The amount of experimentation and inventive special effects at the turn of the 20th century are still awe-inspiring, and Hugo gives a brief glimpse behind the scenes for how artists like Méliès achieved them.
Of course, the Méliès storyline is only half of this film, as the other half is filled with plenty of amusing sub-plots that swirl around the titular Hugo Cabret (Asa Butterfield). Inevitably, it’s the people of the train station, whose lives intertwine with the numerous passengers just passing through, who gives this movie its heart. All this being said, I’d almost recommend watching this film back-to-back with Méliès’ A Trip to the Moon (1902), along with several other classic silent films that make brief appearances like Intolerance (1916), The Kid (1921), Safety Last! (1923), and Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928).
Scorsese’s love letter to classic, silent cinema, I give Hugo 5.0 stars out of 5.
Pandora’s Lab
Year: 2017
Author: Paul A. Offit
Length: 471 minutes / 7.85 hours
Science is an interesting realm. The public would sure like to think that all scientists are dedicated to finding the purest form of some scientific concept and modifying it to benefit society. However, some things become readily clear: not all societies are the same, and science can be abused. If anything, some of the worst scientific discoveries of the last few centuries were made with the best intentions. Unfortunately, more often than not, the full science wasn’t brought to the table, and plenty of people suffered because of it. Enter Pandora’s Lab, a selection of a few of the worst scientific discoveries and the stories behind what made them go awry.
Each of the scientific discoveries covered in this book had slightly different negative impacts on the world, but the reason why they became so notorious is almost ubiquitous. Science is no place for emotion, so finding quick fixes for something by using science can create worse problems than the ones that were initially there. Scientific rigor is also of utmost importance. Even if many of these horrific discoveries received Nobel prizes, hindsight showed skewed results from the start. Every new and fantastic technology created from scientific research should be scrutinized with a heaping of salt to ensure it can’t be abused.
On the flip side, ignoring sound scientific facts or not considering the full, worldwide implications of a discovery is just as dangerous. Ignorance is bliss, as long as the consequences don’t directly impact you. While we do have the benefit of hindsight, it’s essential to use the lessons presented in this book. We need to examine the science and technology being developed today and do our due diligence to make sure that they don’t inspire genocide or doom all of humanity to an unsustainable new way of life.
A grave lesson about the consequences of bad science, I give Pandora’s Lab 4.0 stars out of 5.
East of Eden
Year: 1955
Rating: PG
Length: 118 minutes / 1.97 hours
East of Eden (1955) is one of those films that are famous only for who is in it and who originally wrote it. If this wasn’t one of the few roles James Dean had before his unfortunate death, I’m not sure I’d have watched it. Even if it’s based on a Steinbeck book, I think I’d prefer The Grapes of Wrath (1940) or Of Mice and Men (1939) to this. Still, there is some artistic merit to this film, even if it didn’t cover the entirety of the source material. It just goes to show how a movie can have staying power just from the people tied to it.
Notably, I did enjoy pieces of the cinematography in East of Eden. In particular, when James Dean’s character is on the porch swing, that scene was shot in such a way that I haven’t seen done before or since. And while Dean’s performance certainly starts whiny and annoying, it was enjoyable to see him pull out his acting chops by the end of the film, even if they weren’t used for long. It’s still not his best performance over his short career, but it’s still worth mentioning nonetheless.
As for the plot, nothing stands out to me other than its “love triangle” aspect. It was really the only interpersonal conflict present in the film, with the other critical elements merely being the characters’ poor decisions—and the consequences of them. A lot of the plot seemed like drama for drama’s sake, and I felt it didn’t have anything substantial to say like some of Steinbeck’s other works. Perhaps this was due to the book being cut down significantly to fit in the movie, but it just felt like half of the story wasn’t even there.
An OK film with one of the few James Dean performances in it, I give East of Eden 3.5 stars out of 5.
Record of a Spaceborn Few
Year: 2018
Author: Becky Chambers
Length: 696 minutes / 11.6 hours
Considering that A Closed and Common Orbit was only loosely related to the first book in the Wayfarers series, I knew that I shouldn’t expect the third book in this series, Record of a Spaceborn Few, to have any significant connection to the previous books. Unfortunately, even the several different storylines in this book were hardly connected, seeming more like a series of short stories that were inter-cut between themselves. While Chambers’ world-building and dialogue are still top-notch, there isn’t anything in this book other than some boring characters living their boring lives.
I understand that any author worth their salt will develop vast amounts of details about the universe they create. However, most authors leave the aspects of the minutia and banal day-to-day lives out of their writing in favor of an actual plot with actual conflict. Instead, this book is filled with the details of world-building and nothing else. If these characters were better connected, or there was a stronger plot driving their stories, it would have maintained my interest. Unfortunately, most of the stories of these characters’ sub-plots are too generic and trope-like for me to care about any of them.
About the only reason I’m giving this book as high a rating as I am is due to the aforementioned writing on the part of the author. The actions and consequences are clearly thought out, and there is a realism to the dialogue that continues from the previous two books (but by this point makes a lot of the characters sound the same). If anything, this book should have been the first in the series. It should have introduced the universe and the stakes that anyone who ventures out into space is sure to face. The fact that it’s (in my opinion) the weakest in the series is probably why more exciting adventures were written for books one and two.
A disappointing and boring record of space, I give Record of a Spaceborn Few 2.5 stars out of 5.
One Piece: Stampede
Year: 2019
Rating: PG-13
Length: 101 minutes / 1.68 hours
It’s interesting how different Japanese franchises handle their 20th-anniversary movies. In the case of Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You (2017), a nostalgia tactic was used to bring in those viewers who might not have seen a Pokémon movie since the anime started airing back in 1997. Two years later, and another well-known anime (or at least it should be well known) has a movie that celebrates the 20th year of its animated series. One Piece: Stampede (2019) takes a somewhat different tactic here and embraces everything that turned it into what it is today.
While anime movies rarely interact with the canon of the series they’re based on, it is essential to note that the author of the original manga did help create the story for Stampede. The reason why this is important is that this movie was able to bring together 20 years’ worth of extraordinarily overpowered and unique characters in a way that still somewhat made sense. Furthermore, it still somewhat tied to what One Piece is all about: finding Gol D. Roger’s treasure. Sure, there isn’t quite enough run-time to fully explore the characters or concepts, but the movie is betting that anyone coming to see it will already know who everyone is.
Extremely light on plot, Stampede takes advantage of its vast cast of characters to do what One Piece does well: over the top battle sequences. If these movies don’t have elements of fan fiction—which explores what would happen if characters from vastly different parts of the story came together—then what’s the point of even watching these movies at all? Some of the most unlikely partnerships can be seen in this film, and the results are epic in scale and power. I can’t imagine how the producers of such a work could top themselves after this movie, and I’m not sure they ever could.
An anime movie that embraces 20 years of uniquely overpowered characters, I give One Piece: Stampede 4.0 stars out of 5.
Tongues of Serpents
Year: 2010
Author: Naomi Novik
Length: 355 pages
Up until now, I had only read one other book by Naomi Novik. I had loved Spinning Silver and the unique take on a classic fairy tale it presented. While I understand Tongues of Serpents is the sixth book in the Temeraire series, I found it to be inferior to Spinning Silver in many ways. I will also grant that I’m not necessarily the target audience for this genre of historical fantasy when it takes a more nautical tilt (like Far Side of the World does). Still, there was enough of a standalone element to Tongues of Serpents that I was able to pull a story out of it and write a review of it.
Some things I had trouble getting used to in this book were the fact that the dragons all spoke in the same English as the human characters. I had a tough time identifying which characters were dragons and which were humans, and I didn’t know why they sounded so similar (I’m sure a previous book explains this). Additionally, I eventually gained a slight sense of the overarching goal of the series (I think it’s to get to China), but I didn’t feel like the characters’ motives were very clear in this book.
I almost gave up reading this book until the end of part one when something interesting happened, but even that sub-plot felt like it never went anywhere and was only an excuse to use a lot more words to describe very few actions. In the end, there was a lot of fluff in this book, and I’ll chalk it up to the way authors write these historical nautical books. Perhaps if it were slanted more toward fantasy or more tied to history (like in the Alvin Maker series), I would have enjoyed it more. As it was, I just kind of skimmed through it and donated it to the next person who might like to read about dragons in Australia.
A historical fantasy that was too light in both history and fantasy, I give Tongues of Serpents 2.5 stars out of 5.
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking
Year: 2012
Author: Susan Cain
Length: 639 minutes / 10.65 hours
While it’s taken me a long time to finally get around to reading this book, most of what Quiet presented was what I had already known by living my life as an introvert. I will applaud this book’s ability to help society realize how ubiquitous the introverts that comprise the population are. Quiet also helps show what our needs are in this world that prizes the traits of extroversion over anything else. Even if there are many times where I have to put on my “extrovert suit,” it helps to know that there’s nothing wrong with being an introvert.
Perhaps my only qualm with this book is how anecdotal the evidence is. Whether it’s stories about famous introverts (which can be inspiring) or younger introverts who are being brought up by parents who don’t quite understand the strengths of the introvert type, Quiet uses a lot of case studies to show how out of place introverts are, especially in the United States. I understand it can be challenging to study a personality type that’s so broad, but a few more references to scientific studies would have been helpful.
What struck me in Quiet was the background it provided on why society evolved to value the extroverts and deem the introverts as “problems.” I still see the effects of this emphasis today. Sure, I put up with being an introvert in an extrovert’s world, and I have made adaptations in my life to survive and thrive in it. I can empathize with the introverts who cannot cope, though, and hopefully, this book can continue to help introverts claim this personality type and own it as I have over the years. Even if we’re different from the perceived norm, we still provide value to a world that insists that louder is better.
A great anthem for those introverts who feel out of place in a gregarious society, I give Quiet 4.0 stars out of 5.
Hero
Year: 2002
Rating: PG-13
Length: 107 minutes / 1.78 hours
After the success of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) in most of the worldwide markets, it’s no wonder that a film like Hero (2002) would make an appearance. Capitalizing on the choreography and visuals that brought Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon success, Hero takes these acrobatic battles to the next level, even to the point of them becoming ridiculous and semi-cartoonish. Add to this the deliberate color theming for each of the film’s different sections, and Hero almost becomes a piece of art in its own right. It’s almost a shame that there haven’t been more movies like this in the years since.
While some of the CGI hasn’t aged well since 2002, and the acting can sometimes be too flat or too over the top, the story is still entertaining. The language barrier did make it slightly confusing at times, but the twists were top-notch. It did help to have the “framing” of the throne room to not only show the progression of the story but as a separation between the different colorful acts. If anything, it also added to the conclusion of the plot and the surprising ending that I didn’t quite see coming.
Partly because I watched this film in its original Chinese, I found the visuals to be so beautiful to the point of almost being distracting. How often was I watching some visual spectacle, only to realize I wasn’t entirely sure what the characters were talking about during the scene. It does help that the plot is simple enough to pick up the missing pieces and understand what’s generally happening. In the end, though, Hero is a visual treat in many regards, and it should be held as a high standard for what visual art can be in the hands of those who understand it.
A visual masterpiece of color and choreography, I give Hero 4.0 stars out of 5.
First King of Shannara
Year: 1996
Author: Terry Brooks
Length: 1,155 minutes / 19.25 hours
While this prequel to the original Shannara trilogy was written well after completing the first three books, First King of Shannara failed to re-capture the magic that made me adore Wishsong of Shannara. If anything, this book seemed unnecessary. It told a story that already had a fixed ending as described in the exposition of The Sword of Shannara (which itself had a pretty un-climactic ending if I remember correctly). Sure, there’s a lot more world-building in this book, but only avid fans of the series will find any of it interesting.
Perhaps my main gripe with this book is how I failed to care for any of the characters. Most of their interactions felt cliché and trite, and there was a smidge too many of them for me to want to take the time to know who they were. If anything, the characters were flat stereotypes with no personality. This was also not helped by the plot, which most of the time sounded like a condensed and bulletized list of events instead of an actual story. Sure, the writing may have been more polished since The Sword of Shannara, but this book merely highlighted elements of the series I never really liked to begin with.
I think some of the navel-gazing that occurs in these high fantasy series is what turns me off from exploring the huge tomes filled with so many words but signifying little. Some of the action (including the war at the end) was exciting, and some of the descriptions of certain events (like the forging of the sword) was creative and flowery, but these few bright points do little to distract from the fact that a lot of the book was bloated word count for inflated word count’s sake.
An unnecessary prequel, I give First King of Shannara 2.5 stars out of 5.
Senna
Year: 2010
Rating: PG-13
Length: 106 minutes / 1.77 hours
I’ve never been much of a fan of NASCAR racing, mostly because I knew that Formula-1 existed. While I haven’t paid much attention to Formula-1, it was interesting to watch the documentary on Ayrton Senna, especially with how it was put together. Most documentaries will intersperse interviews and other pieces of ancillary information to support the main narrative. Not Senna (2010). Consisting almost entirely of video clips recorded at the time he was racing, Senna is a fascinating look into this racer’s life that benefits from hindsight to piece the video clips together and the full story.
The sheer amount of skill and mechanical prowess it takes to race Formula-1 cars at top speeds is what gives this film its initial entertainment value. Added to that, we have the charismatic personality of Ayrton Senna, whose whole goal in life was to be the fastest driver around. He didn’t care about the politics of the racing circuit or what others thought of him. He just cared about being the best, whatever that took. He knew his strengths and played to them at each opportunity that presented itself to his benefit.
As with any sport, purists like Senna resisted the advancement of technology to help reduce the inherent dangers of the game. Basically, even if something can contribute goodness to the sport, it doesn’t mean that it’s at the right maturity to integrate in without some serious hiccups. Once again, the hindsight of events helped to stitch together a visual narrative that would ultimately result in tragic circumstances. By the end of the film, it becomes obvious why it was comprised entirely of old footage of these F-1 races.
A fantastic documentary of a fantastic F-1 racer, I give Senna 4.0 stars out of 5.
Weapons of Math Destruction
Year: 2016
Author: Cathy O’Neil
Length: 383 minutes / 6.38 hours
I love data. I love what it can show us as individuals and what it can show as society changes from year to year. Being able to trend my spending is just as useful to me as knowing how many people are participating in my National Novel Writing Month region. Because I’m always interested in seeing what pure numbers can show me about the world, I was intrigued to find this book, Weapons of Math Destruction. While I had already heard many of this book’s conclusions, it was interesting to read about the algorithms that work silently behind the scenes of our society and how nobody can really control or change them.
I’ll agree that it’s terrifying to have decision-making boiled down to a number popped out of an algorithm that decision-makers just blindly trust without understanding the rules of causality or correlation. People are messy, so I understand how finding a single aggregating number to represent an individual is a simple solution. However, I agree with the author’s outrage that these numbers are putting the disenfranchised into a toxic and harmful feedback loop. It’s difficult enough to survive out there without an arbitrary number determining your fate and you having little to no ability to change it. Of course, this point is pounded home about one or two times too many in this book.
From personal experience, I have received a brief glimpse behind the curtain into how these algorithms work. When I got married, I moved from one zip code to another in the same town. At that point, my car insurance premiums suddenly went up. Why? Because I was in a zip code filled with people who were “bad drivers.” Despite nothing about me or my car changing, now I was suddenly a bad driver. I do think there are some substantial reforms needed in these algorithmic systems. Still, I don’t necessarily think the solutions provided by the author are the right answer (they seem mostly based on the author’s personal opinions and biases).
A repetitive look into the dangers of blindly trusting algorithms, I give Weapons of Math Destruction 3.5 stars out of 5.
The Current War: Director’s Cut
Year: 2017
Rating: PG-13
Length: 102 minutes / 1.70 hours
I’ve known for some time about the “war” between alternating and direct current. It was such an interesting battle of egos between some famous names that are still known today. Heck, I even included elements of it as a sub-plot in my second book. Of course, I always thought the conflict was between Nikola Tesla (Nicholas Hoult) and Thomas Edison (Benedict Cumberbatch) and not being mainly between Edison and George Westinghouse (Michael Shannon). At any rate, I found The Current War (2017) to be an entertaining examination of the events that led the world to finally accept one of these currents as the de-facto way to distribute electric power.
Stepping back for a moment to the presentation of this movie, I appreciated the cinematography and the driving music that helped ratchet up the tension between these famous engineers and entrepreneurs. Additionally, the actors chosen to play their respective roles fit quite well. I also appreciated how the women in the lives of these men also played into the narrative. Overall, I found the movie to be a solid piece of cinema, and not just because I also appreciated its subject matter. I’m just glad that it finally was released to theaters so I could see it.
What also draws me into this movie is the timeframe in history where it sits. It’s incredible to think that it only took approximately 30 years to go from no electric light to having it accessible across the United States. The amount of technological advancement that happened at the end of the 19th century is so astonishing when you stop and really think about it. These 30-year spans seem to come in cycles, and I’m curious if 2020 is the end of the advancement of the internet era or if it will be the start of the next, bigger technological war.
An excellently filmed adaptation of one of my favorite scientific achievements, I give The Current War 5.0 stars out of 5.
Cribsheet
Year: 2019
Author: Emily Oster
Length: 642 minutes / 10.70 hours
As a new parent and an engineer, I am skeptical when so much advice about raising a baby comes from hearsay or anecdotal evidence. So many controversial topics abound in the early years of a child’s life that I wanted to make sure I was basing my decisions off the scientific data instead of mere wives’ tales. Fortunately, Cribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting, from Birth to Preschool exists. Unfortunately, it has merely proven to me that there haven’t been enough rigorous studies to show any causal relationships to make my parenting decisions any easier.
Similar in the tactics of Zero to Five (whose author was a science journalist), Cribsheet takes the experience of an economist and pits it against the studies that have been performed to determine which of them are legitimate enough to be trusted. In most cases, it seems that plenty of research into the benefits and detriments for children (and parents) merely comes down to broad Gaussian distributions. That is, there are no correlations between two drastically different approaches on the outcome of the child’s health or future behavior. This is undoubtedly a relief to know, if for no other reason than to give me free rein to parent as I see fit (with my wife’s input, of course).
One mantra that Cribsheet seems to reiterate is that—even if data supports a beneficial outcome—if the parents’ mental health issues and/or anxiety increase because their lifestyle cannot support it is not worth the small percentage points of benefit to the child. Basically, the studies that do support something like breastfeeding show that these desired outcomes are in the short term and won’t harm the child if this particular parenting method isn’t chosen. While the data absolutely supports one or two items of interest, everything else is so loosely researched as to prove nothing in one way or another.
A great book about statistical rigor in childhood studies, I give Cribsheet 4.0 stars out of 5.
Blood Diamond
Year: 2006
Rating: R
Length: 143 minutes / 2.38 hours
For years, I had heard about Blood Diamond (2006) from a variety of different viewpoints. Many friends would mention it about either Leonardo DiCaprio’s accent, the tense action, or the diamond industry as a whole. After a while, I made it a point to eventually see this film, even if I wasn’t sure when that would be. It took a while, but I did eventually have this chance, and I’m glad that I took it. Sure, Blood Diamond is a little difficult to watch in the sense that there are aspects of the African diamond industry that are straight-up human rights violations. However, it is important to know these things are going on to become informed about our world.
The fact that there have been (and likely still are) child soldiers being brainwashed by ruthless rebels to overthrow the governments in Africa is a sobering thing to watch and a heartbreaking realization when you see how it plays out when a father and son are separated. Much of the problem comes down to the diamond industry forcing a high value on these objects that are a manufactured scarcity by the companies profiting off the bloodshed and destruction of these African nations.
While Blood Diamond isn’t entirely perfect (it has its fair share of clichés and tropes), it is something I think most people in the United States should watch. Sure, the 1999 setting might be a little out of date 20 years later, but how are we to know that these conditions still don’t exist over there? Some laws may have been passed to help stem the flow of blood diamonds into the system, but there are plenty of ways around these restrictions. Both legal loopholes and opportunistic individuals who want to make some money off the suffering of others have perpetuated this problem.
A difficult film to watch, but one people should definitely see, I give Blood Diamond 4.0 stars out of 5.
Sleeping Giants
Year: 2016
Author: Sylvain Neuvel
Length: 307 pages
After my slight disappointment with Mecha Samurai Empire, I was pleased to find that a book that actually knows how to do “mecha” right already existed years before Mecha Samurai Empire was released. Taking a somewhat unique approach in its narrative structure, Sleeping Giants uses a series of interview transcripts to tell the story of discovering the parts of an ancient, giant robot and learning how to pilot this unique piece of equipment. There aren’t any dialogue tags. There aren’t any direct action sequences. There are just words describing the events as they happened. Somehow, it totally works.
I seriously couldn’t get enough of this book and basically devoured every word. I was a little disappointed with the semi-cliffhanger ending, though. Just as everything was starting to finally come together, it just kind of ends. Sure, many of the large plot movements reached a momentary conclusion but now I really want to know what happens next. My only other qualm was the “exposition character” who was dropped into the narrative about half-way through to explain all the unexplainable bits of the story. It seemed like a cheap way to give information that wouldn’t have been naturally revealed.
What’s perhaps the most interesting with the minimalist way the story is written in Sleeping Giants is how strong the characters come across. Even if it’s only interview transcripts, the pauses, snark, and other personality traits are just as obvious as if I could see them talking across the table from me. Judging by the acknowledgments section of this book, I certainly can’t wait for this to be made into a movie. I’m sure it will be just as exciting to see everything on the big screen as it was to read about it line-by-line.
A unique narrative method that had me ravenously reading, I give Sleeping Giants 4.5 stars out of 5.
Assignment in Eternity
Year: 1953
Author: Robert A. Heinlein
Length: 520 minutes / 8.67 hours
Back in college, my first introduction to Heinlein was Stranger in a Strange Land. I had to read this book for my “Science in Literature” course, and I found it moderately interesting. Since then, I’ve read other Heinlein books like Starship Troopers and The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, but I didn’t realize how dedicated Heinlein was to some of his “supernatural” themes until I read Assignment in Eternity. Sure, most authors will have some concept or idea that they like to revisit. Still, the fact that a majority of Assignment in Eternity ’s included short stories deal in some way with “superhumans” must mean something.
The whole concept of ESP and “evolved” humans isn’t interesting to me since I don’t think there’s much that can be done with the concept. While Stranger in a Strange Land covered most of the bases, Assignment in Eternity doesn’t really expand the ideas any further. If anything, Stranger in a Strange Land was the culmination of Heinlein’s obsession with this topic. I think, in the end, the whole idea of telepathy and other mind powers isn’t science fiction as much as the ideas explored by Ray Bradbury or Isaac Asimov.
Because Heinlein could fill a book with short stories mostly centering on this theme speaks volumes about the overall topics in his writing. If you’re into this kind of story, then Assignment in Eternity is an excellent addition to the classic that is Stranger in a Strange Land. If anything, Heinlein is consistent in his style, even if it makes short stories like this somewhat repetitive to the other stories and books he’s written. Like other short story collections, I would have liked to see some more variety in what was presented here, but I suppose beggars can’t be choosers.
More of the same Heinlein, just in smaller chunks, I give Assignment in Eternity 3.0 stars out of 5.
City of God
Year: 2002
Rating: R
Length: 130 minutes / 2.17 hours
About a decade ago, I saw a clip from City of God (2002) in my Film Studies course at college. One of my classmates brought it to show everyone how realistic the acting appeared during a scene where young children were initiated into a gang. I had to admit that the acting seemed authentic. However, I didn’t consider it as part of the whole movie until recently, when I had a chance to sit down and watch the entire thing. While I’ll agree that this short clip was a good example of what the film had to offer, I was more in awe of plenty of other aspects it brought to the table.
First off, the beginning of this movie wowed me with its cinematography. The whole “chicken chase” sequence is perhaps one of the best I’ve ever seen. City of God still manages to maintain some exquisite subtlety in showing the audience what it wants to throughout the rest of the film. That being said, this setup from the start sets the tone for the observant viewer to appreciate. Aside from the camera work, the little “act title” bits were also done in a way that helped to drive the plot forward with plenty of foreshadowing.
Overall, I found the story to be engaging, but the main character/narrator’s arc was a little undeveloped (har har). There’s this framing that focuses on his photography, but the audience only ever sees it come to play in the plot close to the very end of the film. I’m sure this was to hold closer to the “true story” it was based on (which is another aspect I found fascinating). And yet, it also felt like a missed opportunity along the way. In the end, the actors’ performances did feel very authentic in a way that it almost seemed like I was watching a documentary. The only reason I knew I wasn’t was for the fact that the camera kept moving in creative and artistic ways.
Spectacular cinematography for a gritty “true story,” I give City of God 4.5 stars out of 5.
William Shakespeare’s the Force Doth Awaken
Year: 2017
Author: Ian Doescher
Length: 123 minutes / 2.05 hours
As I’ve been working my way through Ian Doescher’s Shakespearean adaptations of pop culture movies, I think I’ve hit the point where the novelty has worn off. For whatever reason, I didn’t feel like The Force Doth Awaken had the same charm as other entries in this quirky mash-up series. I have a sneaking suspicion that this may be due to one of two factors: 1. The newer movies have more “modern” dialogue that seemed as if it was directly plopped into the Shakespearean format, or 2. The original trilogy had more time to be ingrained in my psyche, and the translation to Shakespearean felt appropriate.
I don’t want to downplay the novelty of this adaptation, though. The voice acting is still superb, and the sound effects add a little something extra that immersed me as I listened to this audiobook. Plus, it’s not like these books are that lengthy anyway. If anything, I’m out a little over an hour of my time to listen to it (since I listen at 2x speed). I did appreciate that Chewie finally received the internal monologue that R2-D2 originally had since these un-translatable individuals still have something to add. I was, however, disappointed that BB-8 didn’t have the same treatment.
One of the other factors with this “translation” that I wasn’t too keen on was the meta aspect that kept winking at the reader and saying, “See? Do you get that reference?” I understand that everything exists in the Star Wars universe, but I think most people who will pick up this book will already know those references anyway and don’t need the coy allusions to other parts of the series. Of course, I’ll still end up listening to the rest of these when I can get them from my library, but The Force Doth Awaken felt like a low point (at least until I get into the prequels).
An almost too modern and meta Shakespearean adaptation, I give The Force Doth Awaken 3.5 stars out of 5.
Zombieland: Double Tap
Year: 2019
Rating: R
Length: 99 minutes / 1.65 hours
It’s a little weird to me that it’s been a full decade since Zombieland (2009) came out. While I thought the original film was goofy and fun, it has since gained a bit of a cult following. What’s weirder to me is how—in the years since the original—many of the cast of this franchise have gone on to be nominated for (and in some cases won) Oscars for their acting talent. It’s no wonder the advertisements for Zombieland: Double Tap (2019) have picked up on this fact and used it to promote another ridiculous foray into the self-aware satire of zombie films.
While I do admit that Zombieland: Double Tap does require having seen the first film to pick up on its numerous references, I also knew that its comedy would be as smart as its predecessor. I appreciated this wit, especially with a few literary references thrown in (like to Of Mice and Men). However, even if its dialogue is smart and snappy, the characters themselves are relatively one-dimensional and flat. Sure, putting a couple of different stereotypes together in an “end of the world” scenario is fun to watch. However, there isn’t much substance there past the tropes—even to the point where another identical set of characters comes along to show how crazy the team-up is.
Despite not trying anything significantly new, Zombieland: Double Tap does seem to improve on its predecessor, even if it’s in predictable ways. After all, it’s still the same “road trip” movie wrapped in the skin of the living dead. There isn’t much explanation of the zombies (either how they got there, or why they were evolving). Instead, new stereotypical characters are brought on board to mix up the inter-character dynamic from the first film in a way that seems logical in its progression from the first movie to the next. At this point, I’m expecting whatever the third installment of this series is to include some sub-plot about pregnancy; it’s that predictable.
Another fun romp in a world filled with creative, floating text, I give Zombieland: Double Tap 3.5 stars out of 5.
The Skull Throne
Year: 2015
Author: Peter V. Brett
Length: 1,509 minutes / 25.15 hours
You’d think a book with (what I assume is) Renna Bales (nee Tanner) on the cover would follow her and the group of people she’s traveling with. You’d think a book titled “The Skull Throne” would spend a lot of time addressing the now-empty Skull Throne. Instead, we only got brief mentions of these two sub-plots. While I’m happy that the latter didn’t have many pages dedicated to it, I’m disappointed that the former was addressed for only a few scant sections at the beginning and end. Instead, the majority of this book spent time in places that didn’t advance the overall story at all.
Having read all the books (and the “3.5” novella) up until now, my concerns that arose during Messenger’s Legacy seem to have materialized. Sure, I do enjoy following the three main characters from The Warded Man, but there were certainly moments where I thought I was reading something from the Song of Ice and Fire series than The Demon Cycle series. This might be high praise for some, but I felt George R.R. Martin’s series was a little bloated and too concerned with relationship drama than actual dragons.
Additionally, I’m still having trouble caring about the Krasians. The fact that there are so many terms and titles for everyday things and people makes it confusing to follow at times. I understand its origins in Middle-eastern culture, but at some point, it goes too far (xkcd had a comic about the number of made-up words in a fantasy book reducing its quality). The culture clash between the Krasians and everyone else has persisted for three books now, and it’s quite tiring to keep highlighting how different and backward their thinking it sometimes. I can only hope we get to see some demon battles in The Core since this book left me unsatisfied.
A weak link that could have spent more time on more exciting subplots, I give The Skull Throne 3.0 stars out of 5.
Yesterday
Year: 2019
Rating: PG-13
Length: 116 minutes / 1.93 hours
When I saw the first trailers for Yesterday (2019), I had some high hopes for this movie. The premise of only one person remembering The Beatles in a world where this famous band didn’t exist was intriguing enough by itself to warrant a watch. Plus, with Danny Boyle directing, I had perhaps anticipated more than what I actually got. It’s hard to hate a movie with such a great soundtrack full of Beatles songs, but the execution of the entire idea left me wanting a bit more and breaking my suspension of disbelief on more than one occasion.
Back in high school, I had a history assignment to perform a thought experiment similar to Yesterday: what happens if The Beatles didn’t exist? Instead of just being a weird gap in the cultural zeitgeist, I think this movie would have done better to see the amount of influence the band had throughout the music industry. Sure, some moments highlight how The Beatles wouldn’t be able to do what they did back then in today’s music recording environment, but I don’t think this went far enough to show how revolutionary they were.
On top of everything else, other loose ends seemed to be added in with no real explanation or reason. I would have been fine with just one person remembering the Beatles, but the movie thought otherwise. Similarly, why are several other famous brands and pop culture items missing from this world? These seemed to distract from the main thrust of the film, which should have been exclusively about The Beatles. I also didn’t appreciate the hackneyed romantic subplot that was so far from realistic as to be an insult to all relationships everywhere. In the end, I was disappointed with the result of a great idea that was never fully explored.
A disappointment with a killer Beatles soundtrack, I give Yesterday 2.5 stars out of 5.
Mortal Engines
Year: 2001
Author: Philip Reeve
Length: 541 minutes / 9.02 hours
In yet another case of watching a movie first before reading the books, I finally got around to reading Mortal Engines after absolutely loving the 2018 movie. While I understand middle-grade or Young Adult readers are the intended audiences, it left me wanting in its presentation. Sure, most of the elements that made it into the film were there (with some less-than-necessary parts being cut from the screenplay for obvious reasons), but the way it was written felt a bit too flowery for my tastes. In fact, the engineer in me would have loved a lot more world-building than I got in this short volume.
I did still appreciate the post-apocalyptic steampunk world of Mortal Engines—if for no other reason than its ridiculous premise. The idea that whole cities would transform into moving monstrosities that devour lesser towns in a “predator and prey” relationship is such an intriguing notion that I had to give it a chance. Even if I don’t expect there to be movies to finish out the adaptation of the quartet of books, I can definitely look forward to exploring the rest of this series to have my world-building needs satiated in the next volume.
While the young protagonists were flat and singularly minded, some of the adults had enough meat on them to make their actions reasonable and realistic. Sure, there are always going to be clichés in stories meant for younger audiences. However, I don’t usually tolerate character-based clichés as much as I do plot-based ones. And while the writing certainly had a creative bent to its vocabulary, it became tiresome having to sit through it for a whole book. Purple prose is good in short bursts, but too much of a good thing can ruin the immersion of the reader.
A fantastic idea with semi-flat characters and far too flowery language, I give Mortal Engines 3.5 stars out of 5.
Joker
Year: 2019
Rating: R
Length: 122 minutes / 2.03 hours
With the saturation of superhero movies between Marvel and DC at all-time highs, it was only a matter of time before a movie like Joker (2019) would come along. If anything, the current socio-political environment in the real world is ripe for this kind of story. While superhero films are appealing to show how individuals with exotic abilities can do battle in CGI-heavy fight sequences, there is a certain amount of horror involved with Joker in the sense that it could realistically happen. There aren’t any radioactive spiders. There isn’t any high-tech gadgetry. There’s only mental illness.
I applaud the team behind Joker for not resorting to hackneyed comic book origin stories like chemical spills or “tit for tat” vendettas (even if we had to watch one of the same origin stories again near the end). The casting of Joaquin Phoenix was initially an odd choice, but he nails the role. His type of methodical acting almost humanizes one of the worst villains in the DC universe. And I think that’s how this movie works so well: villains aren’t evil “just because.” There is a logic in the madness of Arthur Fleck, and the fact that the system failed him is only one of the reasons why he became the Joker.
The fact that this movie could stand by itself with no strong association with anything related to comic books makes it a triumph in itself. I kept thinking that a film like this could just have easily been about John Wayne Gacy, Jr. instead of a fictional serial killer clown. Using the perspective of Arthur Fleck to show the undulation between the real and the insane was a bold move that might confuse some viewers but will likely become clearer with each repeat viewing. And with only a handful of truly violent scenes, Joker demands repeat viewings.
A masterpiece of mental illness, I give Joker 5.0 stars out of 5.
Ender’s Shadow
Year: 1999
Author: Orson Scott Card
Length: 469 pages
Those who have already read my reviews of the Ender Saga know I hold this series in high esteem. While this original series follows a format more similar to The Lord of the Rings—in that it starts with a singular prequel then advances into a three-book main story—approaching the first book in the series from another character’s point of view is a compelling tactic. Despite already knowing the outcome of most of the plot of Ender’s Shadow (via Ender’s Game), it was interesting to see how Card had improved his writing in the years since the original book in the series was released.
While Ender’s Shadow could stand on its own, the shocking reveal in Ender’s Game is something that I felt lacked the impact it had in this book. Additionally, there was an unusual amount of nudity, even if it was markedly non-sexual. In the end, though, Ender’s Shadow is an excellent setup to a true sequel series instead of having to endure the “time gap” that separates Ender’s Game from Speaker for the Dead. It helps that there’s an interesting character to follow with Bean and his unique upbringing and talents.
I did find it challenging to remember that Bean was only a kid during this book since he was basically written as an adult. Granted, there’s a logical explanation for this, and it fits the character. However, I caught myself more than once realizing that he’s only four years old for parts of this story. Of course, I also liked the precociousness of Bean, which is at least one of the reasons I look forward to reading the next book in this spinoff series.
A nearly perfect spinoff to one of the greatest sci-fi books of all time, I give Ender’s Shadow 4.5 stars out of 5.
Alvin Journeyman
Year: 1995
Author: Orson Scott Card
Length: 902 minutes / 15.03 hours
With this fourth book in the Alvin Maker series, I’m starting to see why a lot of writers like to stick to trilogies. If anything, I think most readers can probably skip this volume and move on to the next one because there wasn’t anything too new or interesting that happened in it. If anything, it was a re-hash of events in the previous book with a few new characters added to it. I will concede that Alvin Journeyman did finally develop a fitting antagonist for Alvin. Still, so few pages were dedicated to this sub-plot that I’m wondering if it should have just been pulled out and made into its own novella that would span the gap between book three and book five.
Once again, the strength of the series as a whole carries through here, and some loose character arcs are tied up before moving on to more important things. However, spending the majority of the book hashing over what astute readers (or even readers who were moderately paying attention in the last few books) already knew as truth just to confirm to the rest of the characters around Alvin that he wasn’t lying seemed like a waste of words.
If anything, using the delay in Alvin’s journey to develop Calvin’s “making” abilities did provide a bit of contrast between the two and will likely pay off when the forces of good and evil clash in future volumes. I still appreciate the way Orson Scott Card integrates actual history with a fantasy explanation, though. Despite the missed step here, I’ll continue with the series to see how it resolves. At the very least, volumes like this show me why it’s not as notable as the Ender Saga, which was a solid four book set (that’s really just three books with the third split into two parts).
A weak link in the Alvin Maker series, I give Alvin Journeyman 3.0 stars out of 5.
Ad Astra
Year: 2019
Rating: PG-13
Length: 123 minutes / 2.05 hours
I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect with Ad Astra (2019). The trailers I had seen made it seem like it was an action-filled space adventure akin to Interstellar (2014) or Gravity (2013). While it did handle all the outer space issues in a somewhat scientifically accurate way, Ad Astra was a much slower movie than I thought it would be. In fact, I’d probably compare it more to films like 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) for its almost plodding pacing. The real trick is that the plot of Ad Astra is basically an outer space version of Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, of which Apocalypse Now! (1979) is perhaps the most notable movie adaptation.
Ad Astra does get credit for the beauty of its outer space environment. The settings felt massive in scale and intimate in their proximity. Each portion and waypoint of the journey seemed precisely how I would picture them eventually occurring in our not-to-distant future. Even if some aspects of the film were somewhat confusing in their “artsiness,” they still were neat to observe. Additionally, Brad Pitt’s performance was subdued but had the emotional weight to accompany the main character’s growth throughout the film.
Considering that Ad Astra is basically a mashup of 2001: A Space Odyssey and Apocalypse Now! , I’m a little disappointed that it didn’t take more cues from its scientifically accurate brethren like (a notable example being The Martian (2015)). More than once, I questioned the logic behind certain actions and wondered why bits of the most important science was mostly ignored to make the plot move forward. Concepts like antimatter, communication time latencies, and the effects of prolonged space travel were either explained with hand waving, a montage or never addressed at all.
An outer space Heart of Darkness adaptation with some pacing issues, I give Ad Astra 3.0 stars out of 5.
The Fifth Season
Year: 2015
Author: N.K. Jemisin
Length: 927 minutes / 15.45 hours
It’s been a while since I’ve read a fantasy book with such a unique magic system in place. I truly enjoyed the amount of thought that went into a world where the main source of power was that of the earth itself. From magma to solid obelisks, the ability to control the vibrations of the planet (either to amplify or dampen) had an interesting and logical follow-through in its characters and storyline. I’m honestly looking forward to eventually starting the next book in the series since the world was built so well. It’s no wonder that it ended up winning the Hugo Award for that year.
While I suppose The Fifth Season is also partly a pseudo-post-apocalypse story, it was only shown in small snippets and references here and there. Consequently, this would make this story almost “modern fantasy” in comparison to some of the classics. Additionally, this would explain some of the character elements added with little to no explanation or relevance to the plot. It sometimes seems like the sexual encounters and fluid genders of these characters are included to merely hit a checkbox of “inclusivity.” Sure, people who relate to these characters feel like they’re represented, but if these traits don’t affect the plot, then it doesn’t matter about their sexuality at all.
I also found the bold choice of second-person POV to be a bit jarring when it spliced in the more traditional third-person narrative. Initially, I thought these segments were striking in the way that it pulled me into the story. That was until I was given a name and a purpose and any number of other traits that made the “you” in the story into a character that was basically repeated throughout. I get how these different characters interacted to tell a much broader story (which is again, part of the book’s strength) I just didn’t care for the reader’s identity to be given to them via the second person POV.
A uniquely written and crafted fantasy with one or two minor flaws, I give The Fifth Season 4.0 stars out of 5.
Cave of Forgotten Dreams
Year: 2010
Rating: G
Length: 90 minutes / 1.50 hours
Every once in a while, ideal conditions align to preserve a piece of ancient human history. Time and the march of civilization have destroyed plenty of important artifacts of our past, but occasionally something happens that protects this history for future generations to find. In Cave of Forgotten Dreams (2010), the audience gets a breathtaking look into an amazing discovery that has a cultural impact stretching back eons to the origins of our species. It’s a shame that most will never be able to visit this cave, but this documentary is practically the next best thing.
Interspersing first footage and high-quality video of the cave, the music and narration in this film create a mesmerizing quality as we are introduced to cave drawings and other artifacts that haven’t been seen by human eyes in a very long time. The expansive nature of the art and the level of preservation are quite awe-inspiring. I was also impressed by how careful the archeologist teams were in documenting this monumental find. It’s clear that they wanted to study as much of it as they could while also keeping it as pristine as possible in the process.
My only qualm with this documentary is that it failed to give some additional context to the find. Where else have we found these drawings? What other cave discoveries have led to similar finds? How rare was this discovery? Sure, Cave of Forgotten Dreams does manage to thoroughly explain the discovery and what we’ve learned from it. However, sometimes it gets so caught up in itself that it doesn’t take as much time to pull back and show how unique it is. In the end, it’s still worth a watch for the beauty of nature and the awe of how far we’ve come as a species.
A mystically beautiful examination of an extraordinary cultural discovery, I give Cave of Forgotten Dreams 4.0 stars out of 5.
William Shakespeare’s Get Thee…Back to the Future!
Year: 2019
Author: Ian Doescher
Length: 215 minutes / 3.58 hours
Having already listened to the audiobooks for the Shakespearean versions of the original Star Wars trilogy, I was curious to see how another beloved pop culture film would fare with the treatment. Get Thee…Back to the Future! had a bit more of a challenge when compared to the Star Wars stories. First, as the plot is set in (relatively) modern times, much of our technology had to be “explained” in Shakespearean format (e.g., a car is “a horseless carriage born on fumes of gas and flame”). At least the Star Wars stories seemed to fit in the Shakespearean timeframe a little better.
Despite this clash of modern and medieval, the transformation into Shakespearean form does end up working. I’d probably compare this to some of his comedies like Taming of the Shrew, 12th Night, and Much Ado About Nothing, if for no other reason than the comedy of errors involved with Marty being hit on by his mother. I did appreciate some of the more heady references that were thrown in to make it seem more akin to something from Shakespeare’s era (the constant oedipal references were foremost among them).
One thing that seemed to be missing from the audiobook version of this was the sound effects and music that helped accentuate the Star Wars stories. Granted, Back to the Future didn’t have much in terms of sound effects. However, the music is iconic enough that it would have made a welcome addition. And by music, I mean Alan Silvestri’s score, since all the “pop songs” were addressed in the narrative and motif. Either way, it’s a short read and a fun little experiment to see how the “father of modern drama” can enhance (or ruin, depending on your tastes) our modern favorite films.
The Shakespearean comedy I didn’t know I needed, I give Get Thee…Back to the Future! 4.0 stars out of 5.
Secondhand Lions
Year: 2003
Rating: PG
Length: 109 minutes / 1.82 hours
Making a family-friendly film is perhaps one of the most difficult tasks in cinema. Not only does it have to appeal to children, but it also has to avoid plenty of material that might not be appropriate for younger audiences. If families can get a powerful life lesson out of it as well, all the better. While modern fare tends to resort to the crass and focuses on bathroom humor for laughs, there are those rare few films that manage to tell a tight story. With legitimate laughs and a heartfelt conclusion, Secondhand Lions (2003) is just such a movie.
The two strengths that make this one of my favorite family-friendly films are its characters and its plot. All three of the main characters show some amount of significant character growth by the time the end credits roll. Besides, with acting talents like Robert Duvall, Michael Caine, and Haley Joel Osment, you really can’t miss here. In terms of plot, the pacing holds at a steady clip that drives the flashbacks and revelation of two lives lived to the fullest extent possible. On top of everything, this movie is relatable to boys and men of all ages.
While there are moments that will make you laugh and others that are heartfelt and earned, the core of this movie deals with manhood. Even back in the timeframe of this movie, there was a distinct separation between the “modern” man and the values of the greatest generation. The comparison between the guys who think physical strength makes them men and the actual men who know that strength comes from character is a timeless lesson that is still relevant and will remain relevant for decades to come. Perhaps the rarity of these character-driven men has put society into the state it’s in now.
A true family-friendly film about the importance of authentic manhood, I give Secondhand Lions 5.0 stars out of 5.
This film appears in the following posts:
Cinema Connections #293. Lions
Cinema Connections #294. Haley Joel Osment
The Green and the Gray
Year: 2004
Author: Timothy Zahn
Length: 560 pages
I’ll admit that The Green and the Gray is an interesting concept. Two factions of humanoids living in secret in New York, holding on to a tenuous peace because a war would devastate their respective families. Baking this into a bit of urban fantasy was interesting for a while (the action helped). However, there’s so much filler in this book that makes me wonder if authors who write in this genre are required to hit a specific word or page count to even be published. Perhaps I’m just used to snappier action and less retreading of facts that the reader knows, but the characters don’t.
There’s certainly a lot of mystery that needs to be solved and a lot of world-building that needs to happen for The Green and the Gray to make sense. As with any standard story of this type, certain aspects of the strange events and people fuel the first part of the intrigue. That is until some of the connections and revelations become obvious before their reveals to the characters. Sure, the fantasy elements eventually have logical explanations, but sometimes just having a suspension of disbelief is enough without having to go into all the details of everything.
What strikes me the most with The Green and the Gray is how textbook and cliché the plot plays out. Of course, judging by the cover and the title, this book was probably meant to be more on the “pulp” side and not to be taken as seriously as other high fantasy books. Considering how it’s just another Romeo and Juliet (albeit very loosely related to the Shakespearean source material), I’m surprised there wasn’t more drama involved. Then again, using normal humans to tell the story lessened some of the impact of the cultural differences between the two groups. This couple drove the story, but because of this, it felt forced most of the time.
An overly wordy urban fantasy but not without its merits, I give The Green and the Gray 3.0 stars out of 5.
The Waste Lands
Year: 1991
Author: Stephen King
Length: 1,090 minutes / 18.17 hours
Before I got into reading the Dark Tower series, I saw the movie adaptation. It’s honestly what inspired me to get into the books. While I was a little disappointed with The Gunslinger, The Drawing of the Three showed me the series’ true potential. Moving on from my favorite book in the series, we have The Waste Lands. It’s sort of a mash-up of the two earlier books in terms of characters and plot points. However, it’s ultimately less than the sum of their parts (and that’s mostly due to the ending). What strikes me with The Waste Lands is how it could have been better than it was.
Those who have seen the movie version of The Dark Tower will recognize a lot of scenes, if not a huge chunk of them. I can see why they cut the two most interesting characters from the film, especially since everyone ends up splitting off to go on their own journeys almost as soon as everyone finally comes together. And while I did appreciate the weird “robot animals” and the riddle motif, I was ultimately frustrated that this core group of four characters didn’t have more time to show what their inter-personal dynamic would evolve into.
At the very least, the strength of the overall series and the thorough and vivid descriptions of this fantasy world were enough to overcome my misgivings about this book. It’s still well done on a technical level, even if some of its better moments are likely to be explored in future volumes. The cliffhanger ending was a bit of a bummer, though, especially since it might be a while before I can get the next book in the series from my library any time soon. I’ll still read it eventually, though, if for no other reason than to see how these characters fare in their travels.
A great book with some wasted potential, I give The Waste Lands 4.0 stars out of 5.
Chocolat
Year: 2000
Rating: PG-13
Length: 121 minutes / 2.02 hours
Chocolat (2000) is one of those movies that I was aware of but hadn’t watched until recently. While it received a Best Picture nomination, I don’t think it was up to the level of the winner for that year, Gladiator (2000). Nevertheless, Chocolat is a charming story that lies somewhere between Footloose (1984), Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971), and Babette’s Feast (1987). What’s maybe a little odd to me about this movie is how I thought Johnny Depp would have a more prominent role in it, since he covers almost half the movie poster. Instead, it’s more a bit part that comes in about half-way through the film.
While the conclusion of Chocolat is practically telegraphed from the start, it was still entertaining to watch the townspeople warm to the newly arrived chocolatier. Despite most of the characters might feeling a little one-dimensional, they are so fully fleshed out in the one or two qualities that make them distinguishable that you can’t help but enjoy watching them react precisely the way you expect them to. Perhaps this predictability helped me appreciate this film since I didn’t have to spend too much effort trying to figure out what was happening.
Of particular note, I have to say that Alfred Molina and Judy Dench were perhaps some of my favorite characters in this film overall. They were practically two different ends of the spectrum when it came to the chocolate shop, but their performances rather balanced each other out in their own entertaining ways. If I were to choose a favorite, it would definitely be Molina’s Comte de Reynaud. Even if his portrayal of religion-based Christianity (instead of relationship-based Christianity) was a bit of a stereotype when movies need a villain who opposes anything “fun.”
A charming, if not wholly predictable movie, I give Chocolat 4.0 stars out of 5.
Messenger’s Legacy
Year: 2014
Author: Peter V. Brett
Length: 172 minutes / 2.87 hours
In a series that’s full of exposition and backstory, I found it a little odd that these extraneous details weren’t relegated to side-story novellas so the plot of the main series of books could focus on the current action. What’s even more curious is that Messenger’s Legacy, a side-story novella in this series, doesn’t explore anything new or interesting that hadn’t already been covered in the main books. The only new information I learned in this novella was slightly more detail about bog and swamp demons, which seems unnecessary with all things considered.
Following somewhat minor characters from The Warded Man (who haven’t appeared in the series since), Messenger’s Legacy shows it is easier to survive in demon-infested nights than the series initially indicated. While I’m not sure if any of these details will come into play in the main-line books, it does help expand the world-building just a little bit more than if this story hadn’t been included at all. As always, the demon-infused action is exciting and a strength of the author’s writing.
I’m sure there are much more interesting backstories and side-stories to tell in this series, so it’s curious that this one was written about at all. I’d much rather read about the original Deliverer or the society that crumbled away in the desert (leaving behind powerful wards in the process). Sure, there’s some personality explored in this story that helps pull the reader back to less god-like individuals and their struggles against the demons. However, with so many more interesting stories to tell, I’d suggest that anyone reading this series can skip this novella and not miss anything important.
A curious side-story that doesn’t add anything to the series, I give Messenger’s Legacy 2.5 stars out of 5.
Anvil! The Story of Anvil
Year: 2008
Rating: Not Rated
Length: 80 minutes / 1.33 hours
Anvil! The Story of Anvil (2008) is one of those movies I sat down to watch because it’s on the 1,001 Movies You Must See Before You Die list. Before watching this film, I honestly had never heard of this Canadian heavy metal band, and it soon became apparent why. What immediately struck me was how similar the premise was to the 1984 mockumentary, This is Spinal Tap. It was difficult to separate this real-life story of the rise and fall of a heavy metal band with the Rob Reiner comedy since so many of the beats of the plot seemed to match up.
Still, it was somewhat engrossing to see how Anvil! followed the progression I’d already seen in Spinal Tap. At first, I thought, “Is this for real?” This was before I realized that perhaps the reason why Spinal Tap worked so well was because that’s just how the music industry functions and has functioned for over 30 years. Granted, some of the interpersonal elements of this movie felt a little overly dramatic—like a reality television show. Of course, this also gave the film quite a bit of heart. It was clear the band wasn’t really in it for massive success, but because of the fans and because they enjoyed playing the music.
The fact that the ending of Anvil is slightly different from Spinal Tap should give fans of the latter reason to watch this movie. If anything, the ridiculous nature of the heavy metal community is entertaining to watch. Adding in Canadian elements to the heavy metal band formula was also amusing as well, considering how harsh the heavy metal sound is when compared to the stereotypical kindness of the Canadian people. In the end, Spinal Tap might have done this story better decades ago, but Anvil! makes it real.
A real-life version of This is Spinal Tap; I give Anvil! The Story of Anvil 3.5 stars out of 5.
The Daylight War
Year: 2013
Author: Peter V. Brett
Length: 1,607 minutes / 26.78 hours
I’m glad to see that it only took two books for Peter V. Brett to cut down on some of the extraneous flashbacks and exposition in the Demon Cycle series. While whole chunks of The Warded Man could have been cut with nothing significant lost in the process, and The Desert Spear had what appeared to be an unrelated storyline that weaved through the narrative, The Daylight War has a minimal amount of this “fluff.” Granted, there is still some amount of world-building that helped to explain yet another aspect of this setting, but it’s minimal in comparison to its predecessors.
Additionally, I already knew this series was an adult fantasy from my experience with The Warded Man and The Desert Spear. These are tame when compared to the third entry in the series. The sex in this book made the previous two look like nuns in comparison. Sure, it could be argued that it “adds to the plot” in a few spots, but I’m just used to it at this point. At any rate, the differences between the two different cultures hearken back to the European and Middle-eastern cultures that undoubtedly influenced them, which also would explain the adult nature of these books.
As for the plot, the first two books seemed to set up the far superior plot in this book. While The Warded Man followed one deliverer’s path, and The Desert Spear explored an equally-gifted deliverer from a different culture, The Daylight War revealed how similar—and how different—these two men are. I don’t know if I liked the “mindreading” aspect of these individuals’ new power, as it seemed a little like lazy writing at times, but the addition of the warded skills to take on a severe threat from the demons was entertaining as always.
An adult fantasy that has finally cut a lot of the fluff of its predecessors, I give The Daylight War 4.0 stars out of 5.
Heat
Year: 1995
Rating: R
Length: 170 minutes / 2.83 hours
It’s interesting to go back and watch something by Michael Mann after seeing his later work. I enjoyed Collateral (2004) and considered it to be a well-directed film. Of course, there’s deliberate pacing and acceleration of Collateral that drew me in. Unfortunately, this biased me somewhat when I sat down to watch Heat (1995). Stylistically, both are fairly similar and use similar locales. However, at almost three hours long, some of the pacing in Heat made me think that it could have used a bit of a trim in the first half.
I understand the deliberate nature of the buildup of the first half, with each event introducing some core tenet of the main characters that come to fruition by the end of the film. It helps that there’s a good bit of action early on, but until the twist that happens about half-way through occurs, the comparison to the pacing of the second half makes the early part of this movie feel like molasses. Heck, I’d probably just show the action scene that starts the film, then jump to the twist and have the rest proceed as normal. That way I’d trim the running time down by a good 30-45 minutes and tighten the pacing.
Fortunately, with actors like Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino (with perhaps one of the best lines he’s ever yelled residing in this film), Heat is a great action film with huge payoff. The shootout mid-way through the film is perhaps one of the best I’ve ever seen committed to film. Additionally, the ending is a tour-de-force that pulls the trigger on all the little bits of foreshadowing to create a satisfying conclusion by the time the credits inevitably roll. Maybe Heat is no Collateral, but it’s certainly worth the time to watch, regardless.
An excellent 2-hour action film set within a nearly 3-hour movie, I give Heat 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Drawing of the Three
Year: 1987
Author: Stephen King
Length: 766 minutes / 12.77 hours
While it took me a while to get used to The Gunslinger, I was able to dive right in with The Drawing of the Three as I continue reading this Dark Tower series. Personally, I think the simplicity of the story and the immediacy of the danger helped to hook me from the start. Unlike the first book in the series, The Drawing of the Three has a solid set of relatable characters that are introduced just fast enough to get used to their unique personal challenges. If anything, these individuals piqued my interest, and I’m curious to see where their story goes from here.
One aspect of this book I found to be extremely entertaining was the action sequences. When there were stakes on the line, and things had to happen, the resulting action in these plot-moving points was both intense and hilarious. Generally, I am not much of a fan of the “fish out of water” approach to characters, but King makes it work here with The Gunslinger traveling back and forth between the worlds to take advantage of our modern wonders that help him survive in the fantastical world of the Dark Tower.
I also have to give kudos to the narrator of this work, Frank Muller, as his voice acting brought every character to vibrant life via their accents and verbal tics. I had no doubt who was speaking as he wove the story through his reading. Although, the one qualm I had with this book was that one of the characters was a bit grating on the nerves. While this added some excellent conflict to the story, it was annoying having to hear their manic voice for as long as I had to. I’m just glad that they weren’t the first character pulled into the Gunslinger’s world. Otherwise, I don’t know how I could have kept listening.
A superior and straightforward story in the Dark Tower series, I give The Drawing of the Three 4.5 stars out of 5.
As Good as it Gets
Year: 1997
Rating: PG-13
Length: 139 minutes / 2.32 hours
I’m not sure how it’s taken me this long to sit down and finally watch this movie. I’ve enjoyed other films by James L. Brooks, like Terms of Endearment (1983) and Broadcast News (1987). If anything, As Good as it Gets (1997) is almost like the end of the trifecta of Brooks films, considering how well-received by critics they are. When it comes right down to it, the appeal of these movies is the characters. There’s a heart and realism rarely seen in comedies (most of which resort to stereotypes and fart jokes to get a laugh).
As a more intellectual comedy, As Good as it Gets manages to bring together three unlikely people and push their boundaries to grow as characters. Of course, it’s somewhat easy to do this with abrasive characters like Melvin Udall (Jack Nicholson). After all, actively trying not to be a jerk is great growth potential. Additionally, other characters grow through their tragedy, but their comedy comes from having to rely on someone who doesn’t have the social skills to be friendly or tactful. Sure, these character flaws are easy to explain away by Melvin’s condition, but they’re still funny, nonetheless.
Aside from some cringe-worthy moments involving Melvin (which haven’t aged well over 20+ years), my only other qualm with this film is the age gap between him and Carol Connelly (Helen Hunt). It seems a little too large (~26 years, by the way) to be believable in these romantic situations. Still, despite some technological and fashion elements that date this film, the core content is relatively timeless. I’d consider it at least on par with Brooks’ other successful films at the very least.
A James L. Brooks classic for fans of Terms of Endearment and Broadcast News, I give As Good as it Gets 4.0 stars out of 5.
Mecha Samurai Empire
Year: 2018
Author: Peter Tieryas
Length: 447 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM THE PUBLISHER***
For a genre that’s usually associated with Japanese anime and manga, I haven’t seen many “mecha” novels (or movies, for that matter, with Pacific Rim (2013) being the only notable example). Consequently, when I received an advance reader copy of Mecha Samurai Empire, I was looking forward to reading it. While there were still a few grammatical and proofreading errors in this book—of which I’m sure have been fixed in the final version—portions of the plot didn’t sit well with me. My main qualm is the main character who really isn’t good at anything but still gets to pilot a huge and complicated piece of machinery just because he wants to.
A clear and obvious mix between The Man in the High Castle and Neon Genesis Evangelion, the few strong elements of this book were in the mecha battles themselves. The problem is that the references sprinkled throughout are so obvious (I had to roll my eyes at the Mega Man 2 reference) as to distract from the story. I don’t mind if other stories influence writers, but at least make their influence less obvious when crafting something “new.” At its worst, Mecha Samurai Empire holds to all the tropes and clichés present in mecha anime and manga. If you’re into that kind of thing, this probably isn’t a problem.
While I still enjoy the spectacle of giant robots fighting, a good story needs to come down to its characters. Since I didn’t particularly like the main character, I tried to grab onto some of the minor ones. Unfortunately, while some of the character arcs were highly predictable, most of the minor characters didn’t stand out either (and the one that did was super annoying). Just like Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018) made me lose faith that we’ll see live-action adaptations of mecha anime like Evangelion or Gurren Lagann, Mecha Samurai Empire shows we still have a way to go before novels of this genre are prevalent.
An obvious mashup with pretty good action, I give Mecha Samurai Empire 3.0 stars out of 5.
Roadwork
Year: 1981
Author: Richard Bachman (aka Stephen King)
Length: 577 minutes / 9.62 hours
I wasn’t aware of Stephen King’s Richard Bachman pseudonym until I picked up this book to read on a whim. While it’s clear all of King’s technical prowess is still present in Bachman’s work, the “king of horror” gained a chance to write outside his genre. Of course, King has done this before with a few different books (like Hearts in Atlantis, The Green Mile, and The Dark Tower series), but writing under a pseudonym seemed to unleash an amount of cynicism I’ve hardly seen in King’s writing before.
Written in the early 1980s, Roadwork exhibits all the identifying marks of a cynic who has been over-saturated with consumerism. The need to have a job to support a family by buying a house that needs to be filled with the accouterments of modern living is a bit too much for some people. This is especially true for those who don’t quite meet the standard of the “American dream” in their own mind and have no other course other than to wallow in self-pity. By now, it’s practically a tale as old as the industrial revolution. Unfortunately, this means Roadwork doesn’t stand out much in my mind as an original story.
Perhaps Roadwork was one-of-a-kind back when King wrote it, but I doubt that was the case. Heck, the beat poets of the ‘60s and ‘70s certainly wrote about separating themselves from the toxic consumerism shoved down their throats. Roadwork almost felt like a “paint by number” novel that covered all the basic items in a story of this kind, checking each box until it reaches its obvious and inevitable conclusion. While it was nice to read something by Stephen King that wasn’t necessarily beholden to the fame of his name, I’m not sure if I would have read it if he wasn’t attached to it at all.
A so-so cynical work that is hardly original enough to mention, I give Roadwork 2.5 stars out of 5.
Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood
Year: 2019
Rating: R
Length: 161 minutes / 2.68 hours
Quentin Tarantino has changed. While I loved Inglorious Basterds (2009) for its alternate history, and Django Unchained (2012) was another strong showing, it seems like he’s just getting out of his western phase. For his latest film, Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood (2019), Tarantino seems to have continued his trend of making very long movies but chose to condense his trademark graphic violence down into an intense sequence that only lasts a few minutes at most (like The Hateful Eight (2015)). Perhaps he has matured as a director, but that’s what makes this film so jarring compared to his previous work.
Anyone familiar with the Tarantino aesthetic knows that he’s particularly fond of the pop culture of the ‘60s and ‘70s. Consequently, it’s interesting to see how real he’s made this era feel on the big screen. That being said, some of the “fake” movies appearing in this film are shot in a more modern style, which felt off when compared side-by-side to the likes of The Great Escape (1963) or The Wrecking Crew (1968). I will give kudos to the CGI that put Leonardo DiCaprio in these classic scenes, though, as it gave me a double-take. Of course, DiCaprio was a joy to watch as well, and I wonder if Tarantino was channeling some of his feelings into the character.
For a film allegedly about the Manson family murders, there’s a lot of exposition put down before anything happens. As someone who was only peripherally aware of the details of this heinous act, I kept putting pieces together until the surprise twist ending subverted everything. At least there’s a pretty great Chekhov Gun included in the conclusion. This was probably the only thing I found amusing about it (too much shrieking for my taste). In the end, it seems Tarantino had full reign to make the movie he wanted to make, and he certainly made it.
Not your everyday Tarantino film, I give Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood 3.5 stars out of 5.
BlacKkKlansman
Year: 2014
Author: Ron Stalworth
Length: 352 minutes / 5.87 hours
As someone who lives in Colorado Springs and calls this town my home, I was intrigued by Ron Stalworth’s story after watching the 2018 Spike Lee movie based on the undercover investigation into the local Ku Klux Klan. Sure, I didn’t live in the Springs during the period covered in this book, but I did have enough understanding of the town to know the locations referenced throughout. To think that I live close to some of the areas that could have been affected by cross burnings or other Klan events is a little eerie to me, mostly because it’s something I rarely think about.
For those who have seen the movie first, this book covers everything that made it to the big screen but also adds some details about other events not directly linked to the Klan (but were still relevant to the discussion of race in the area). I’ll admit that Colorado Springs is pretty white when it comes right down to it. However, there’s still plenty of diversity in this town due to the large military population that occupies Colorado Springs’ five military installations. I know some residents were offended that such a story about the Springs could exist, but the book puts quite a bit of it into perspective (the Klan only had a few dozen people in town).
Admittedly, this book was more of an eye-opener to how the Klan evolved from the violent organization from the reconstruction era of the Civil War to the “political” party that it is today. Sure, they are trying to make the focus more on racial segregation than straight-up genocide like they used to endorse, but it really comes down to old thinking in a new world. It’s like mixing different colors of Play-do: once they’re mixed together, they aren’t going to separate back out to the individual colors.
An eye-opening look into the evolution of the Klan, I give BlacKkKlansman 4.0 stars out of 5.
L.A. Confidential
Year: 1997
Rating: R
Length: 138 minutes / 2.30 hours
There are police dramas, and then there are police dramas set in Los Angeles. Something about this town makes the crimes that much more interesting. Maybe it’s the intersection of fame and criminal activity. Perhaps it’s that the crimes are so much more grandiose due to the wealth of the area. Whatever the reason, L.A. Confidential (1997) is a fantastic film that manages to show different perspectives of the seedy underbelly of the glamor and glitz that makes the town so successful. If it weren’t up against Titanic (1997), it probably would have won a lot more awards than it did.
It’s almost surprising how many famous actors are in this film. Sure, some of them were unknowns at the time. Even within three years, we’d see Guy Pearce in Memento (2000) and Russell Crowe in Gladiator (2000), both rising into their stardom. This is not to mention the fantastic performances by Kevin Spacey, James Cromwell, Danny DeVito, and Ron Rifkin. I’d be amiss to leave out Kim Basinger’s Oscar-winning performance as well. Of course, with so many great actors in this film, it can be a little challenging to determine what storyline to focus on. This is my only qualm.
Maybe these stars made the 1950s L.A. drama more entertaining, or perhaps the whole mystery and corruption surrounding the police department were enough to drive this movie forward. The twists were foreshadowed a bit, but were still shocking and made absolute sense. I particularly enjoyed the action sequence at the end. The three police officers involved with this case (Pearce, Crowe, and Spacey) had different perspectives about how to serve the community, and the epic conclusion brought these disparate views together in a satisfying way.
A hidden gem of a movie filled with fantastic characters and moments, I give L.A. Confidential 4.5 stars out of 5.
Prentice Alvin
Year: 1989
Author: Orson Scott Card
Length: 830 minutes / 13.83 hours
As I’ve been reading through the Tales of Alvin Maker series, I have found it interesting to see what big societal issues have been covered so far. While Seventh Son tackled religion and Red Prophet delved into politics and war, Prentice Alvin bit off a big chunk of racism and tried to address it in a way that’s half fantasy and half historical fiction. Sure, there’s still some semblance of the religion content present in this book that informs the racism dialogue. Still, these large issues end up taking a back seat to the more fascinating aspects of the titular character learning how to control his incredible powers.
In fact, this might be my favorite book of the series so far. It’s always more entertaining to watch a character come into the depth of their abilities, and Prentice Alvin has this in spades (both metaphorically and literally). While there weren’t many instances of Alvin directly being affected by a conflict that would require him to grow as a character, there were enough inevitable plot points that made me wonder how he would handle the situation. These twists helped to enforce the world-building that Orson Scott Card has excelled at for some time.
Perhaps the reason why I like this book as compared to its two predecessors comes down to how it focused more on the “magic” of this alternate history and less on the similarities to the American historical context. I’ve never been much of a fan of historical fiction, but I do appreciate explaining the events of the past through the lens of magical realism or fantasy. It’s likely why I’ll keep reading this series for the time being. At the very least, I’m curious how Alvin will grow from here, as he’s developed into a strong character who can basically do anything he wants.
A magical take on addressing the racism of America’s past, I give Prentice Alvin 4.5 stars out of 5.
Spider-man: Far from Home
Year: 2019
Rating: PG-13
Length: 129 minutes / 2.15 hours
After the events of Avengers: Endgame (2019), there were still plenty of questions that remained. While still part of Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Spider-man: Far from Home (2019) attempts to grapple with the outcome of such a pivotal film in the superhero franchise. As was the case with its predecessor, Spider-man: Homecoming (2017), Far from Home shows the audience the impacts of the other films in the MCU in a way that’s personable and relatable. After all, it’s easier to connect with a “friendly neighborhood Spider-man” than with a multi-billion dollar playboy.
I did appreciate the emotional depth of this movie, especially considering how Tom Holland handles the role of Peter Parker. From grieving over the losses of Endgame while also trying to move forward with his life, Peter has plenty of growth opportunities throughout this film. That being said, Far from Home seems to hit almost all the same beats that Homecoming did, only in Europe instead of Washington D.C. Though I did feel the villain of this film was something that could only be possible via today’s technological advancements, his origin story felt derivative of both Homecoming and Iron Man 3 (2013).
Still, the visual effects (for obvious reasons) were incredible in this movie. The little Easter eggs that hint at the future phase of the MCU give me hope that there are still stories to tell in this superhero franchise. Even if Far from Home seemed repetitive, I am still glad there are new villains to explore in the Spider-man universe (considering how many have been covered in previous instantiations of the franchise). And with Spider-man as a somewhat newer member of the Avengers, I look forward to his involvement in the future, large-scale battles to come.
More of the same great Spider-man action, but in Europe, I give Spider-man: Far from Home 4.0 stars out of 5.
Origin
Year: 2015
Author: Dan Brown
Length: 1,090 minutes / 18.17 hours
When it comes to Dan Brown’s Robert Langdon series of books, I have appreciated his ability to mold art and symbology into a tight and thrilling narrative. His works have not been without controversy, the main perpetrator, of course, being The Da Vinci Code. In Origin, Brown leaves the world of classical art for the modern pieces that are still filled with meaning and symbology, just not in ways that lend themselves to uncovering ancient mysteries. While there is plenty of interesting plot points and twists along the way, Origin seems set to stir the pot of controversy more than tell an interesting story.
It’s been quite some time since the last Robert Langdon book released, so this book needed to advance its technology to be able to keep up with the modern times. If anything, I felt the inclusion of artificial intelligence down-played why Langdon was even involved at all, since he was mostly the “answer man” who knew the information to advance the plot. Sure, Langdon still needed to be there to interact physically with the surroundings, but all he was tasked with finding was a password to a computer, and that was it. Even some of the headier symbology that he’d usually bring to the table was reduced to basic, common knowledge tidbits.
Perhaps the overall story was weak to begin with, because I found the narrative in Origin to be distracted at best. The focus jumped around a lot, which I recognize has happened in previous books in the series, but it was almost like three different stories were being told here, and very rarely did they intersect with each other. Even the eponymous “origin” wasn’t that great of a reveal, merely acting as a McGuffin to drive the conflict.
Hardly one of the best of the Robert Langdon series, I give Origin 3.0 stars out of 5.
Toy Story 4
Year: 2019
Rating: G
Length: 100 minutes / 1.67 hours
After the Toy Story “trilogy” ended in 2010, I was honestly a little confused and irritated that Disney/Pixar would open up this franchise again for a fourth entry. That being said, I now see the entire “story” was not complete at that point. There was still some amount of finality that the franchise had not reached. Of course, now I’ll be mad if they decide to make a Toy Story 5 since Toy Story 4 (2019) wrapped everything up so nicely and conclusively. Then again, maybe the next entry in the series will finally explain the odd rules about toy sentience.
By far, the most striking thing about Toy Story 4 is its visuals. I was ten years old when Toy Story (1995) came out. Even in the four years between it and Toy Story 2 (1999), I could see massive improvements in what computers could create in terms of CGI imagery. With Toy Story 3 (2010) having just over a decade to improve its visuals, the technical progress and prowess shown on the screen were breathtaking. Add almost another decade to the last movie, and I was blown away with how realistic this film appeared. In particular, the plastic texture of Woody’s (Tom Hanks) skin seemed much more “toy-like” than usual.
As for the plot, there was plenty to cover in a limited 100-minute run-time. However, it felt like that was all the time needed to explore the final pieces of this world of toys. After all, Toy Story dealt with the concept of the popularity of toys, Toy Story 2 handled toy stores and toy collectors, and Toy Story 3 took a darker turn into the world of “shared” toys at daycare. Toy Story 4 is the logical conclusion of toys that are lost or left behind, along with the toys relegated to the dusty shelves of an antique store. There’s not much more to explore in the world of toys after that. At least this one went out with plenty of humor (Key and Peele’s stuffed animal characters were a solid highlight) and heart that inevitably left me in tears by the end.
The true—and ultimately fitting—end to the Toy Story saga, I give Toy Story 4 5.0 stars out of 5.
How to Tell Fate from Destiny: And Other Skillful Word Distinctions
Year: 2018
Author: Charles Harrington Elster
Length: 320 pages
I’ve written blog posts and recorded vlogs about writers who seem to rely on spell check to make sure they’re using the right word. Most of the time, they probably didn’t have an adequate editor to review their manuscript and thus didn’t check whether or not they were using the right word (even if the wrong word is spelled correctly). With the state of the printed word slipping year after year, a book like How to Tell Fate from Destiny should be a standard reference on any writer’s desk. Although, many of the words covered in this book are slowly changing due to idiomatic circumstances.
It is slightly encouraging to see examples provided in this book from reputable sources (like well-known newspapers and magazines) that still have these common errors in their writing. If anything, these examples prove how difficult it can be to distinguish the correct word usage over the more familiar word usage. Granted, many of the “correct” words don’t sound right to the common ear. However, those who want to show they are professional via their writing need to hold to these steadfast style guides and usage manuals (many of which are referenced throughout).
One of my qualms with this book is the large amount of semi-obscure vocabulary it covers. There were plenty of pages filled with words I had never seen and will likely never use in my writing. Perhaps this book is best used by those who consider themselves “literary” writers and thus end up using words that sound much loftier than they are. If anything, this book proves that professional writing abides by the idiom of “keep it simple, stupid.” Many of the Mark Twain quotes contained in this book say as much.
A useful resource for writers, especially those with a grandiloquent vocabulary, I give How to Tell Fate from Destiny 4.0 stars out of 5.
Red Prophet
Year: 1988
Author: Orson Scott Card
Length: 733 minutes / 12.22 hours
Continuing from the previous book in the Alvin Maker series, Red Prophet flashes back and shows certain events from a different point of view before driving forward into some fascinating alternate history. I continue to enjoy the fantastical elements brought into American history, even to the point of explaining how certain famous historical figures were the way they were. Although, if you know enough history, you’ll realize the fates of some of the characters presented in Red Prophet (William Henry Harrison, for instance) might not need the foreshadowing missing from this text.
While Seventh Son managed to set up this alternate history and establish some of its rules, Red Prophet delves into the action and excitement that comes from some of the more “kinetic” talents of these characters. Once the plot catches up with where Seventh Son left off, I was hooked. The interactions between Alvin and the Native Americans were quite interesting, and I found everything up until the climactic battle to be top-notch storytelling. Sure, it took a little while to get there, having to first set up the eponymous “Red Prophet” and his powers of observation, but it was worth it in the end.
My one qualm with this book lies in some of its more peculiar metaphor, allegory, and allusion. Near the end of the book, several scenes and sections feel entirely disjointed from the narrative. Perhaps they were to serve some “higher purpose” to lay out the moral of the story—or even the series as a whole. These scenes had characters who suddenly were ripped out of their normal behavior and put into a completely different context. And for what? To show that the history of the Native Americans is rich and varied while also infused with war and darkness? There had to be some other way to convey this than the way it was done here.
An action-packed follow-on to Seventh Son that gets a little too “heady” at times, I give Red Prophet 4.0 stars out of 5.
Aladdin
Year: 2019
Rating: PG
Length: 128 minutes / 2.13 hours
When the animated version of Aladdin came out in 1992, I was seven years old. As a young boy, I could finally relate to the titular character since the focus of this Disney film wasn’t as much on the “princess” as it was on “Prince Ali.” Consequently, this film has remained one of my favorite Disney films over the years and is one I have mostly memorized after repeated viewings in my childhood. As such, I was partly looking forward to this live-action adaptation due to my love of the original. The other part of my anticipation was because Guy Ritchie was directing it (and I’ve loved plenty of his earlier works).
Having now seen this version of the rags-to-riches tale, I’m in this weird “uncanny valley” of storytelling. Because I have the original memorized, this version of the story was close enough to be predictable but not a word-for-word re-enactment, which is what I found to be slightly jarring in my personal experience. This also extended to the songs, most of which felt a little flat (both tonally and energy-wise), with the notable exceptions being “A Whole New World” and the new song sung by Jasmine (Naomi Scott)—which was likely an opportunity to cash in on the popularity of “Let it Go.” If there were no animated precursor to this film, maybe I wouldn’t have had this reaction.
While there were a few scenes that had the Guy Ritchie visual charm, overall it was a passable film. I did appreciate the realism in the settings and dress of the characters, as well as the additions of the handmaid (Nasim Pedrad) and Arabic text on most of the documents shown on screen. I also could accept that the minor changes to the plot were made to make the story slightly more modern, while also filling in plenty of the logical gaps that were present in the original. Even though Robin Williams’ Genie was a tough act to follow, Will Smith’s performance did eventually grow on me to the point where it felt natural in this version.
A passable adaptation that does its best to improve on the original in spots, I give Aladdin 4.0 stars out of 5.
Ideas, Influence, and Income: Write a Book, Build Your Brand, and Lead Your Industry
Year: 2018
Author: Tanya Hall
Length: 214 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
I’ll admit that I initially thought this book was for all kinds of writers, to include fiction authors. I was looking for a few good ideas to push my brand out of the mires of obscurity, and this book seemed like it would help. While Ideas, Influence, and Income is focused mainly on those people who might not even consider writing a non-fiction book, there’s still plenty of advice for authors of all stages. The insight the author brings to the table here is a little intimidating, though, and not for the weak of will.
As far as I could understand it, this book caters towards individuals who are “trendsetters” or “influencers” who could turn their original idea into a brand that could support a book, speaking engagements, and other social media content pieces. Because of this, I didn’t find much use in these sections from the perspective of a fiction writer. I’m not selling ideas on how to change people’s lives, but rather ideas to entertain the masses. A few tidbits here and there were useful, but mostly just highlighted that I’d need to sink a lot more money and resources into my books if they are ever to be successful.
One could fault this book for its frank and honest look at the publishing business. It could potentially scare away writers who might find their idea of publishing a book (especially the traditional way) requires many more people and timelines that are usually ignored in the stages before actually writing the book. As I’m going about and querying one of my manuscripts for traditional publication, after reading this book I’m not sure I want to go down that path anymore. At this point, I’m content with self-publishing because the alternative seems like a day job that I don’t have the time for.
An honest look at publishing a non-fiction self-help book, I give Ideas, Influence, and Income 3.5 stars out of 5.
Seventh Son
Year: 1987
Author: Orson Scott Card
Length: 547 minutes / 9.12 hours
Having loved Orson Scott Card’s Ender Saga, I decided to start into another of his series, Tales of Alvin Maker. I was used to his science fiction writing, so I thought it would be interesting to see how he handled semi-historical fiction. For the first book in a series, Seventh Son certainly has its strengths and weaknesses. It’s clear this book came on the heels of the Ender Saga, as there are a lot of parallels between characters and motifs that I just couldn’t ignore. Not that that’s necessarily a bad thing by any means.
While the history of colonial America is the setting of Seventh Son, the fantasy elements added to it made for an interesting read. I did appreciate the distinctive “good vs. evil” conflict between the Makers and the Unmaker, even if it’s a little too tried and true. At the very least, while the religious characters had some amount of strawman characterization set against them, they were well rounded enough not to make the whole story seem too anti-Christian. They weren’t necessarily the enemies, but their ignorance factored into the enemy’s tactics.
Perhaps the little snippets of American history sprinkled throughout this book were what intrigued me the most. Sure, the superstition and “magic” involved in creating an alternate timeline of history made quite a bit of sense. However, without at least a cursory knowledge of these events and historical figures, then readers could potentially miss a lot of substance. As with the Ender Saga, Card uses his writing to dive into different theologies and philosophies that do more than merely entertain. The fact that books like this can be thought-provoking through solid characters is a testament to his talent as a writer.
An adequate start to a series with plenty of potential, I give Seventh Son 4.0 stars out of 5.
Captain Marvel
Year: 2019
Rating: PG-13
Length: 123 minutes / 2.05 hours
Captain Marvel (2019) fills this weird space that essentially exists between the “Part 1” of Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019). While Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) also explained some of the events and plot points that would need to happen before Endgame, Captain Marvel took a slightly different approach by essentially acting as an origin story and prequel for a lot of loose bits of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Needless to say, I didn’t miss much by passing on this film and seeing Endgame first.
I knew I was taking a risk with watching these movies out of order—especially considering how pivotal Black Panther (2018) was in setting the stage for Infinity War. However, there were key moments in this movie that made me go, “Huh. That explains that little bit from Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) or Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014).” The fact that Captain Marvel was needed to fill in some of the gaps of the MCU seems like a disservice to arguably the most powerful character in the franchise. In the end, though, I didn’t need to know Carol Danvers’ (Brie Larson) powers that well to understand how she played a role in Endgame.
On the technical side, I was blown away by the “digital fountain of youth” Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury went through for this film. In my head, I knew he didn’t look that young. However, on the screen, it was difficult to spot the difference (Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) was quite a bit more obvious, though). As a kid who grew up in the 90s, I certainly appreciated all the references to pop culture, even if some of them were downright depressing (R.I.P. Blockbuster and Radio Shack). In the end, I’m more curious if this movie is the jumping off point for more MCU sagas to come.
A backstory filler for much of the MCU, I give Captain Marvel 3.5 stars out of 5.
Ember Falls
Year: 2016
Author: S.D. Smith
Length: 234 pages
Being a fan of children’s series like The Chronicles of Narnia, as well as a lover of rabbits (owning two Flemish giants as pets), I was glad to get back into the Green Ember series with the second book, Ember Falls. Obviously, as this series is mainly geared toward children, there were a few points of the plot of this second book that I either predicted from the start or could see coming from a mile away. In any case, the world building that continued with this book was top notch, despite certainly feeling like a “linking” part of the series.
While The Green Ember could stand on its own and laid the groundwork for the books that came after it, Ember Falls certainly needs its predecessor to make sense. It also seems to rely on the next book in the series to reach some conclusion. This is an issue that often arises in book series. The saga of the story as a whole (across numerous books) is prioritized over focusing on a complete plot for each book. Don’t get me wrong: I still want to see where this series goes; however, it’s a little infuriating when I don’t have access to the next book in the series yet.
Ember Falls inherits a lot of what I liked and disliked about The Green Ember. This is likely going to be the case for the series as a whole. The individual characters are well-rounded and have clear motivations. However, the fact that they are rabbits seems to be often overlooked. These characters mostly act like ordinary people and only occasionally use their unique lagomorph attributes to advance the plot (same goes for the enemies as well). Other than that, this is certainly a series I’ll be reading to my children someday.
An adequate progression of the Green Ember series, I give Ember Falls 4.0 stars out of 5.
Micro
Year: 2011
Author: Michael Crichton and Richard Preston
Length: 833 minutes / 13.88 hours
I liked Michael Crichton’s writing. And what I mean by this is that I liked Jurassic Park (and to a lesser extent, The Lost World). Recently, I’ve been delving into a few of his other works, like Timeline and Micro. I understand that authors like Crichton excel in their genre—in this case, the technological thriller—but at what point does it just become the same old song and dance? Sure, I know a different author completed Micro and released posthumously. However, it mostly just felt like another re-hash of Jurassic Park mixed with Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989).
To Crichton’s credit, I feel his exploration of complex scientific principles in his writing are easy to understand and mostly accurate. For Micro, each bit of information that drove the plot seemed to make sense from a scientific standpoint. This was a plus considering how often the “shrink ray” sci-fi trope is done incorrectly. Of course, most places were pretty obvious where the science was being inserted since they didn’t necessarily flow as well as the other parts of the book.
My main qualm with Micro, aside from it containing all the standard Crichton tropes (e.g., “evil corporations”), is how the characters were practically indistinguishable from each other. The fact that they all primarily came from the same scientific laboratory and were thrust into the dangerous world of the microscopic didn’t help to keep track of who died and who lived. It was almost as if the author needed a large group of faceless characters to feed into the “drama” of trying to survive and return to standard size. None of their demises stuck with me other than being particularly grotesque and cringe-worthy.
A semi-unoriginal mashup of Jurassic Park and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, I give Micro 3.0 stars out of 5.
Shazam!
Year: 2019
Rating: PG-13
Length: 132 minutes / 2.20 hours
As far as self-aware movies go, I think Shazam! (2019) is the best example from the genre of comic book heroes. Deadpool (2016) might have been more “meta,” but Shazam! hits all the bits that make comic books popular to kids, especially young boys. As a fan of self-aware films, I would have seen this movie anyway. However, with Zachary Levi in the lead role, I absolutely had to see it. I’ve generally been a fan of his work from Chuck and Tangled (2010), so seeing that he still has his comedic timing in shows like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and movies like Shazam! is encouraging.
In terms of plot, the premise is somewhat weak, but the pitch is something akin to “Big (1988), but as a superhero film like Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017).” In fact, there’s at least one scene in a mall that winks so hard at this reference, I was afraid it would strain its face. Additionally, I did find the incorporation of a foster family into the narrative was something I have rarely seen in movies, let alone superhero films. I mean, considering how many orphans end up becoming superheroes, it only makes sense that some of them would end up in the foster care system.
Even with being a stunningly warm advocate for foster families, Shazam! is basically unadulterated fun (har har). I did appreciate the references to other parts of the DC Cinematic Universe, and it’s a little funny to think that this comedy is one of its better entries. Sure, it employs plenty of tropes along the way, most of which have to do with a teen finding himself in the body of a man. If you don’t take it too seriously, you’ll probably end up being entertained at the very least.
Big meets Spider-Man: Homecoming, I give Shazam! 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Baby Owner’s Manual
Year: 2003
Authors: Louis and Joe Borgenicht
Length: 226 pages
You might be shocked to learn that some men do read the instructions. There have been numerous products that I have purchased over the years which necessitated a read-through of the instructions provided. Usually, these were items of extreme complexity or of thorough interest to me to require fully understanding the items before beginning to use them. The Baby Owner’s Manual might seem like a humorous fusion of a parenting book with a repair manual for a vehicle, but somehow the fusion of these two works better than I would have ever expected.
Published by Quirk Books (who have created other genius mash-ups like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and Shakespeare’s Star Wars), The Baby Owner’s Manual takes the complicated and frightening task of keeping a newborn alive and presents the necessary information in a format that any guy can understand. In fact, aside from a few choice substitutions that make a baby seem more like a car than a human, I’d probably keep this book as a useful reference any time something I don’t know how to handle comes up. This will likely be often considering my first child is due near the end of the year.
The only qualm I might have with this book is that some studies have come out since 2003 that have changed a few suggestions the book gives these new parents. Of course, any well-prepared parents will probably be able to pick these inconsistencies out and follow the more current recommendations. In the end, though, the direct and straightforward method this book uses to convey its information makes it far more useful than just as a gag gift (I’m looking at you, How to Traumatize Your Children).
An instruction manual every man should read, I give The Baby Owner’s Manual 4.5 stars out of 5.
Nightflyers
Year: 1985
Author: George R.R. Martin
Length: 247 minutes / 4.12 hours
Those who are familiar with George R.R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire fantasy series may be lamenting the end of the semi-faithful Game of Thrones television show. In the time we’ll all have to wait until the next Song of Ice and Fire book comes out, there are other little stories from this author to satiate our appetite. Nightflyers is a short novella by Martin that also seems to be hinging itself on the success of Game of Thrones, albeit in the science fiction genre instead of high fantasy.
Considering how verbose Martin can get with his works, it was almost refreshing to read a story that was so focused and short. Granted, even though Nightflyers is science fiction, all of the notable George R.R. Martin elements were present: mainly, sex and violence. Depending on your tolerance of these elements, I can say that they’re at least naturally integrated with this novella. Martin certainly seemed to have an adequate grasp of sci-fi to give this story a satisfying twist that drove the plot into the denouement.
Without giving too much away, I did appreciate the science (and pseudo-science) that was used to create an interesting story. Or, at least, the story was written in such a way—with a dash of horror sprinkled in to engage the reader—that prevented me from being bored with it. If it had been expanded out into a full-size book, I’m sure I could see where plenty of fluff could have been added in to reach the required word count. In the end, I’m glad that Martin kept this short, which works primarily to the story’s benefit.
A quintessential George R.R. Martin sci-fi novella, I give Nightflyers 4.0 stars out of 5.
Detective Pikachu
Year: 2019
Rating: PG
Length: 104 minutes / 1.73 hours
The transition of nostalgia into live action can be a tricky business. Plenty of franchises have faltered in this aspect, so it was interesting to see Pokémon approach it from a side angle. Instead of adapting the core series of games or anime to a live-action adaptation, they instead used a spinoff game as the framework to create this movie. Despite my initial skepticism, I can honestly say that Detective Pikachu (2019) works much better than any video game franchise adaptation before it. It’s not entirely perfect, but it came a lot closer than any of its predecessors.
On the plus side, the “realistic” Pokémon were enthralling—if not wholly terrifying (I’m looking at you, Ludicolo)—to see in a real space interacting with humans. I already had a bit of a visceral reaction to seeing realistic fur, skin, and feathers on Pokémon when I played Pokken Tournament DX. At least they certainly seemed to be at home in this world that the filmmakers created. Nothing seemed out of place, which was a testament to the team who managed to remain reasonably faithful to the source material of the franchise. I was almost frustrated with how fast some scenes zipped past, as I wanted to pause and see if I could identify all the Easter eggs and references.
While this certainly satiated my nostalgia, some moments reminded me, “Oh, yeah . . . this is a movie for kids.” Sure, Ryan Reynolds gets a few lines in that the parents in the audience will laugh at, but there was this weird in-between space where I could identify with the main character even if the plot was simplified so the youngsters could understand it. I know they’re going to try and appeal to the broadest demographic possible, which just so happens to have a wide age range due to the fact that Pokémon is still a relatively strong franchise today as it was over 20 years ago.
A surprisingly faithful franchise adaptation into live action, I give Detective Pikachu 3.5 stars out of 5.
Owlboy
Year: 2018
Rating: E10
Time Spent: 5+ hours
I had seen a video of some Owlboy gameplay a while ago that made the game look interesting enough to buy. The retro 16-bit-style graphics were what drew me to this adventure platformer. Now that I’ve played through it, I found it to be somewhat…disappointing. Sure, the visuals are quite striking, and each location certainly has some elemental charm to it. Additionally, the story is relatively simple but also charming in its own way. In the end, though, I don’t think I’ll give this game an additional playthrough. This is mostly because—without trying—I collected almost everything in the game in my first go.
First off, this was a fairly short game, which I should come to expect from independent game developers. After all, Cave Story and Undertale weren’t terribly long, but perhaps I’ve been spoiled by games like Hollow Knight. Secondly, even up until the last boss, I could never quite get the hang of the controls, which was more of a dull irritation than anything else. I did appreciate the frequency in which it autosaved, but this also made boss battles a little more challenging if that’s where I stopped playing before picking it up again. Although, the boss battles weren’t difficult either.
In fact, most of the bosses were fairly simple to figure out their attack patterns in a few tries, most of the difficulty coming from my inability to use the right button at the right time (as mentioned above). I’d almost have preferred a more challenging final battle, though, which the game certainly could have given me. I chipped away at this game for probably about six months. I played when I could or when I was between other games, and it felt good to finish it, if for no other reason than to move on to the next game in my queue.
Some great retro visuals in an otherwise “light” game, I give Owlboy 2.5 stars out of 5.
Flight of the Kikayon: A Space Opera Novelette
Year: 2013
Author: Kary English
Length: 25 pages
As an avid reader, I am aware that there are different lengths to stories. Novels are usually the longest, followed by novellas and short stories, which are each shorter than the last, respectively. Up until now, I had never heard of the “novelette,” which seems to sit somewhere between novella and a short story. Considering Flight of the Kikayon only took me about a half-hour to finish, it was definitely shorter than a novella. I’m just not sure if defining a new term for short story is necessary. In either case, there were some details that I think could have easily been added to make this a fully fleshed-out novella.
What starts as a story that could have been an exciting look into surviving on an alien planet pretty quickly pivots into a flashback. I’m not sure this backstory was entirely necessary, especially since the main antagonist seemed like a one-dimensional “husband villain” that is practically a cliché by now. Sure, it explains how the main character got into this predicament, but getting out of these situations tends to be the more interesting story in these cases. Then again, perhaps that’s just my preference.
I will give credit to the world building accomplished in such a short page count. The universe seems to be fleshed out, and the necessary details of some of the politics and technologies were sufficiently explored. It could have used some more depth here and there, but if there was a word count limit, it might have precluded exploring them. I’m also not entirely sure if this is merely part of a bigger story (like the story of survival), and it’s only purpose is to provide some semi-relevant background for it. By itself, it works well enough, though.
An amusing ride if you have 30 minutes to kill, I give Flight of the Kikayon 3.0 stars out of 5.
William Shakespeare’s The Jedi Doth Return
Year: 2014
Author: Ian Doescher
Length: 204 minutes / 3.40 hours
Of the original Star Wars trilogy, Return of the Jedi has been my favorite for as long as I can remember. I enjoyed how there was some finality to the stories started back in A New Hope, and Empire Strikes Back. Plus, there were a ton of neat creatures (like the Rancor and Sarlacc) and machines (like the Speeder bikes and AT-STs) that grabbed my attention from a young age. Sure, I can understand the depth of Empire Strikes Back now that I’m an adult, but Return of the Jedi always holds that element of nostalgia for me.
So, how does the Shakespearean version of my favorite Star Wars story stack up? If anything, Shakespeare’s The Jedi Doth Return is consistent with its predecessors, Verily, a New Hope and The Empire Striketh Back. I enjoyed the voice acting and the little changes that made the audiobook more than just a Shakespearean reading of the screenplay. Of course, having listened to three books of this fantastic mashup, it has almost overstayed its welcome. Almost. I still think it’s a genius fusion of two pop culture masterpieces, but at what point does it lose its originality?
Sure, The Jedi Doth Return adds some new bits like songs (which land just about as well as the “added” songs in the 1997 Special Edition re-release). Overall, though, I was a little taken aback at how little dialogue there was in it. Most of the action was described either in chorus or soliloquy, which merely highlighted how much action was present in the original movie. This is great for an action-packed conclusion on the big screen, but it doesn’t land quite as well on the printed page (or audiobook). Despite this, I still think fans of either Star Wars or Shakespeare (or both) should give it a read.
Another consistently funny mash-up of archaic speech and futuristic sci-fi, I give Shakespeare’s The Jedi Doth Return 4.5 stars out of 5.
Missing Link
Year: 2019
Rating: PG
Length: 94 minutes / 1.57 hours
It’s been about a decade since I started loosely paying attention to the works of Laika Entertainment. With so few studios committing to stop-motion animation, I’m always intrigued by a movie that isn’t just straight up CGI animation. For the most part, Laika’s films have been entertaining, but not incredibly extraordinary. Movies like Coraline (2009) and ParaNorman (2012) were certainly high points, but my personal favorite was definitely Kubo and the Two Strings (2016). Initially, when I saw advertising for Missing Link (2019), I didn’t realize it was a Laika film. Once I learned that it was, I made sure to see it.
Unfortunately, while I would have liked another film along the lines of Kubo, Missing Link was more like The Boxtrolls (2014) in terms of its humor and presentation. I understand these films mostly target children, but the amount of crude humor mostly turned me off. That’s not to say that the technical achievements of Laika’s stop motion aren’t on full display here. With the advent of 3-D printing, I’ve noticed a marked improvement in the quality of the animation, and Missing Link is no exception. There were even moments where I had trouble distinguishing that it was even stop-motion at all.
Plot-wise, Missing Link doesn’t seem too original. Sitting somewhere between Around the World in 80 Days (1956) and E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982), Missing Link excels as a travel movie and a buddy movie. A few action sequences were exceptional, the best being a chase sequence on a boat and the worst being an unbelievable sequence of events near the end. Fortunately, the pacing was fast enough to keep everything moving and completed without wasting too much time. Considering how long stop-motion animation takes, it’s no wonder why no scene was wasted.
An average story with great Laika visuals, I give Missing Link 3.0 stars out of 5.
How to Traumatize Your Children: 7 Proven Methods to Help You Screw Up Your Kids Deliberately and with Skill
Year: 2007
Author: Knock Knock
Length: 144 pages
A friend of mine loaned me this book to help prepare me for the joys of parenting by using a slightly humorous slant on the standard parenting books that hand out helpful advice for parents to be. While I chuckled at some of the pages as I flipped through the book, once I sat down to read it, I almost immediately became depressed. Sure, How to Traumatize Your Children is tongue-in-cheek, but that only lasts through the first few chapters. Overall, it’s virtually a traumatizing look into actual bad parenting instead of a comedic take on it.
The moment that it hit me how real these “methods” are was when I started to realize many parents inadvertently use them to their children’s disadvantage. From my own experience, and observing the experiences of others, this book presents each one of these methods in somewhat horrifying detail. The only way this book gets away with it is by humorously implying that these parents and parents-to-be are purposely choosing to pursue these paths for rearing their children. It was amusing at first, but the effect quickly wore off. Perhaps if the suggested actions in this book were more extreme—so as to be considered ridiculous—then the humor might have lasted.
In the end, this book is still useful in the sense that it paints a cautionary tale for parents to heed in raising their children. As a kind of “opposite guidebook,” this book manages to highlight the ways that we can do a disservice to our children. Parents can fail their children in numerous ways, but being aware of these methods can certainly help stave off some of the needed therapy in the child’s future. So, while this book’s humor might fall flat in the first few pages, it still contains relatively relevant information for parents.
Surprisingly useful information, even if the humor doesn’t last, I give How to Traumatize Your Children 3.0 stars out of 5.
William Shakespeare’s The Empire Striketh Back
Year: 2014
Author: Ian Doescher
Length: 205 minutes / 3.42 hours
I said it for my review of Shakespeare’s Star Wars, and I’ll say it again: this combination of old verbiage and meter with popular science fiction is a match made in heaven. The follow-up to the first part of the original trilogy, Shakespeare’s The Empire Striketh Back continues to be an amusing exercise that anyone who loves Shakespeare and/or Star Wars will enjoy. Some consider Empire to be the best part of the original trilogy, and its adherence to the plot won’t disappoint. Additionally, the audiobook version continues to use music, sound effects, and voice acting to recreate an experience as close to the source material as possible.
While the audiobook did provide a robust experience of the text (especially the voice actors who recreated Han Solo and C-3PO’s speech patterns), the author’s explanation at the end made me realize there were some aspects that weren’t quite as clear as they would have been if I had just read the book normally. For instance, Yoda’s typically backward speech wasn’t as backward as I would have thought—mostly because the Shakespearean cadence sounds a little backward. Instead, Yoda spoke in haiku, which I’m sure would have been more evident if I was reading the words on the page.
As I mentioned above, Empire is the favorite of many Star Wars fans. However, I’m one of the rare few (like the author) who find Return of the Jedi to be their favorite of these first three films. Consequently, since this book held close to the original plot, it seemed to sag a little between the opening act on Hoth and the third act in Cloud City. At least the added soliloquies from ancillary characters like the AT-AT walkers, random Stormtroopers, and the dangerous creatures of the universe added in some humorous elements to the narrative that weren’t strictly canon.
A fantastic audiobook that still might require a read-through, I give Shakespeare’s The Empire Striketh Back 4.5 stars out of 5.
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
Year: 2019
Rating: PG
Length: 104 minutes / 1.73 hours
I haven’t always been a fan of DreamWorks movies, but the How to Train Your Dragon series is, in my opinion, perhaps the best they’ve ever created. Of course, I’m probably a little biased because each entry in the series came at a time in my life where I was reaching a milestone. How to Train Your Dragon (2010) came out as I was settling into my life as an independent adult. How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014) followed me from dating into marriage. Now, the final chapter in the series, How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019) is on the cusp of my transition into parenthood.
Consequently, I had high expectations for the end of this trilogy. I wanted it to go out with a grand finale like Toy Story 3 (2010) did (before they even decided to make Toy Story 4 (2019), that is). Unfortunately, I did not find this to be the case. While the first movie set the stage with dragons being the enemies, the second movie evolved the conflict into a difference between slavery and collaboration. The Hidden World didn’t add anything that hadn’t already been explored in the first two films. Sure, it tied up a few loose ends, but they probably only needed a 30-minute extended cut of the second film to be resolved.
I found the main antagonist of The Hidden World (and his motivations) to be too similar to the villain in the second movie, and perhaps even more cartoonish in design than I was willing to accept. This is even to the point where this whole society of dragon hunters just seemed to pop up out of nowhere. Like, who were those other generals who interacted with the villain? Were they important? I have a feeling some of these things might have been explained in the TV show spinoffs, but I shouldn’t have to watch those to be able to understand the main series of movies.
A sufficient end to a series that could have used some more “meat” in its plot, I give How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World 3.0 stars out of 5.
The Far Side of the World
Year: 1984
Author: Patrick O’Brian
Length: 406 pages
Nautical historical fiction is a rare genre for me to read. The last one I read—and that most people would be able to recognize—was Moby Dick, and that was probably 15 years ago. Needless to say, I found myself in brief possession of The Far Side of the World and decided to give it a read. Of course, this was mostly because of the movie of the same name released in 2003 that earned many Oscar nominations (only winning in two). While the plot of both is slightly different in a few key areas, I wasn’t disappointed with having read this book.
First, as a historical look into the realms of sailing and whaling at the time, The Far Side of the World does a fantastic job of informing and educating the reader without necessarily resorting to huge exposition dumps. Sure, a few moments were a little obvious that the author was trying to get information across as quickly as possible, but these were rare. Secondly, this book seemed to include an exhaustive amount of problems that you’d encounter when sailing the seas. This meant that each page of each chapter had something the crew was trying to overcome, even if this seemed like a distraction at most times.
While the main thrust and driver of the plot of The Far Side of the World was clear from the start, my one qualm with this book was its inability to transition from one thought to the next. It sure had a steady pace, like a ship cutting through calm waters. Sometimes, though, the different topics would come in a choppy way that made me double back and re-read a page to make sure I didn’t miss some crucial transition (which were rarely there). Perhaps this adds to the realism of the “things happen without expecting them” element of sailing. Far too often, I found myself trying to figure out why this minor sub-plot mattered before it changed to something else entirely.
A thorough and steady-paced nautical historical fiction, I give The Far Side of the World 3.5 stars out of 5.
The Desert Spear
Year: 2010
Author: Peter V. Brett
Length: 1,573 minutes / 26.22 hours
The second book in the Demon Cycle series, The Desert Spear practically proves my point that its predecessor, The Warded Man, started in the wrong place. In fact, if there weren’t an awesome battle sequence at the end of The Warded Man, I’d suggest just skipping to The Desert Spear since all the key moments from the first book were referenced in this sequel. That being said, this book has some of its own issues, some of which are gripes I continue to have about this series—which makes me think this is just the way these books are going to be.
Before I get too far down the criticism hole, I do want to say that I truly enjoy the magic system in these books. The Desert Spear doesn’t necessarily do anything new with it, but there’s at least a little more world building that happens in terms of the demons that I would have liked to see integrated more fully into the story. I like the idea of wards essentially being “computer programs” in a fantasy space, which is probably why I’ll continue to read this series. I’ll also say that the depth of the cultures presented in this book are top-notch and the action is expertly-described.
All this being said, there’s a lot of fluff in this book. The entire first third was practically a prologue to the meeting of the “desert” forces and the “forest” people, most of which could have easily been condensed. Even what I thought was a side story seemed to be only added as a way to integrate a short piece of essential plot near the end of the book. Despite being wordy, these moments were slightly necessary. Additionally, the “modern” sensibilities of Leesha are admirable for a woman in a fantasy setting but most of the time just pulled me out of the story because they didn’t necessarily match the timeframe where it was set.
A book that continues with great world building but in far too many words, I give The Desert Spear 3.5 stars out of 5.
Avengers: Endgame
Year: 2019
Rating: PG-13
Length: 181 minutes / 3.02 hours
With last year’s semi-cliffhanger, Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Avengers: Endgame (2019) had a lot of ground to cover to reach a satisfying conclusion of over ten years of filmmaking. It’s no wonder that it’s just a smidge over three hours since there’s a lot of ground to cover here. I’ll admit that the only instantiations of these superheroes that I’m familiar with is via the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Still, it was probably better to go into the finale this way, having no preconceived notions of how the characters should act or the lore they’re connected to in the comic books.
For a three-hour movie, Endgame moves at a steady pace that accelerates toward the inevitable conclusion. Following a standard three-act structure, Endgame benefited from bringing all the heroes together in Infinity War and establishing a baseline to work from and a goal to work toward. It was nice to see how each of these characters handled such a dramatic universal event. This is even to the point where some of the character transformations were quite hilarious (Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/Hulk is still a gem of the series). With the stakes already established, the collection of heroes felt like they were actually fighting for something instead of just reacting to actions thrust upon them.
While this film lived up to my expectations, a few scenes were far from perfect. In particular, a scene or two felt like it was pandering to the audience and saying, “Look how progressive we are!” Sure, it was a neat bit and combined somewhat well with all the other amazing bits around it, but I almost had to groan at how forced it seemed. At the very least, Endgame wrapped up a ton of loose ends that have spanned a multitude of movies and left a definitive conclusion to the most ambitious filmmaking event of a generation.
A fitting and almost perfect end to an epic saga, I give Avengers: Endgame 4.5 stars out of 5.
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die: 5th Edition
Year: 2008
Author: Steven Jay Schneider
Length: 960 pages
As a movie aficionado, it was only a matter of time before I picked up this book. At the time, the 5th edition covered most of the films that were out at the time, but I do realize there are more recent versions of this book that include some of the latest hits of the last decade. Not one to use this book as a simple desk reference, I took the time to sit down and read through the reviews of these 1,000+ movies. In the time since buying this book, I’ve managed to increase my percentage of films seen, but there’s still a long way to go.
Even before I started reading this book, I had already seen a good portion of the movies mentioned, many of which won critical awards for their achievements. With a concerted effort, I’m now sitting at 42% of these 1001 movies seen in my short lifetime. Having read the reviews of the rest of them, I can honestly say there are still plenty of films out there that pique my interest. Many of these cinematic masterpieces are merely unwatched because I haven’t gotten around to them yet, despite their cinematic accolades.
Overall, though, there were times where I’d watch a movie contained on this list and wonder, “why is this here?” 1001 films is a lengthy list, so there was undoubtedly going to be “filler” on this list. Then again, everyone’s tastes are different. While I feel movies were missing from this edition (likely removed from previous versions to make room for newer ones), it’s still a robust set. Not everything is “artistic” or “award-winning,” which is fine because, as the book mentions, “Sometimes you want a nice steak, and sometimes you just want a greasy hamburger.”
A robust set of cinema, I give 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die 4.0 stars out of 5.
Isn’t It Romantic?
Year: 2019
Rating: PG-13
Length: 89 minutes / 1.48 hours
I generally enjoy “self-aware” movies. Those films that know which genre they’re in and make fun of it the entire time. While it’s entertaining to see all the various tropes of a particular genre exposed in this method, these films still have to abide by these rules as well. This has been done to varying levels of success for action movies (Shoot ‘em Up (2007)), Disney movies (Enchanted (2007)), and superhero movies (Deadpool (2016)). Filling the hole of the self-aware romantic comedy is none other than Isn’t It Romantic? (2019). Despite not being terribly into romantic comedies, this self-aware film piqued my interest.
Isn’t It Romantic? doesn’t necessarily fully commit to the self-aware theme. Instead, it encapsulates the ridiculous romantic comedy bit in the framing of a coma. The main problem I had with doing it this way was that Natalie—the main character played by Rebel Wilson—realizes she’s in a romantic comedy fairly quickly. However, she still seems surprised at each of the clichés she encounters along the way. This, despite the fact Natalie’s clearly an expert on all these tropes from years of hating the genre. Maybe that’s the other flaw: the main character hates the fact that she’s in this ridiculous predicament.
Even though this movie does eventually check all the boxes of a romantic comedy (both in the coma and in real life), I do have to say that the one significant aspect I appreciated in Isn’t It Romantic? is its eventual concluding realization. In this world filled with social media likes and approval, it’s essential to recognize the true center of a person’s love life has to start somewhere other than from the perspectives of other people. This is a quality rarely exhibited in romantic comedies, so its inclusion was quite refreshing.
A self-aware romantic comedy that nails its central point, despite hating itself along the way, I give Isn’t It Romantic? 3.0 stars out of 5.
Expeditions of the Mantis
Year: 2019
Author: Jim Henderson
Length: 260 pages
Sequels are interesting creatures. While the onus of the first book of a series is to lay out some ground rules of the universe and introduce us to the main characters, any follow-on books should dive a little deeper into the characters and explore some of the conflicts that drive the universe. Expeditions of the Mantis attempts a bit of the latter when compared to Jaunts of the Mantis, but ends up falling into old patterns by the end of the book. If anything, I have more questions about this universe now than when I started, since Expeditions of the Mantis only scratched the surface of some fascinating topics.
Unfortunately, while the crew of the Mantis was the most interesting aspect of Jaunts of the Mantis, the dynamic didn’t work as well in this sequel. If anything, the inability to add in a strong “third character” (a role held by the preacher in the previous book) highlighted how one-dimensional these characters were. For instance, I thought the android Peter didn’t have much of a personality to make him stand out as a member of the crew. Additionally, the rules about “robot discrimination” seemed to be inconsistent and were almost jarring when they whipped into the forefront of the plot.
While the concept of an intergalactic war seems like it would be an exciting backdrop for the crew of the Mantis, I would have appreciated slightly more foreshadowing of it in the first book. This semi-main plotline almost seemed to be forgotten entirely about mid-way through this book, or at least it wasn’t more fully ingrained in the story for it to feel like it affected anything other than what the crew was already doing. Perhaps this muddled the waters of each “jaunt” here, as each chapter didn’t necessarily hold to a singular purpose and often seemed distracted by other topics. Considering how quickly this sequel came out after the first book, and how the proofreading errors and typos remain, I’d suggest the author take a little more time in preparing the next book in the series.
A sequel that skips around the edges of anything deeper, I give Expeditions of the Mantis 2.5 stars out of 5.
William Shakespeare’s Star Wars: Verily, a New Hope
Year: 2013
Author: Ian Doescher
Length: 209 minutes / 3.48 hours
Much like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies took a classic and fused it with something entirely opposite from its original intent, William Shakespeare’s Star Wars: Verily, a New Hope manages to take something modern and combine it with the classic styling of William Shakespeare. It’s no wonder these two kinds of books are both from Quirk Classics. While Pride and Prejudice and Zombies essentially forces the reader to read Pride and Prejudice, but with zombies added in, Shakespeare’s Star Wars is the re-telling of the original Star Wars (1977) screenplay, but in iambic pentameter.
To be honest, if someone were to stage this version of Star Wars, I’d pay to see it in a heartbeat. Not only does the basic plot from the movie transfer over almost flawlessly, but the addition of the Shakespeare dialogue and verbiage made this way more entertaining than it had any right to be. I particularly enjoyed the soliloquies presented by many of the characters, my favorite being that of R2-D2 and what was going through the functionally-mute droid as the events unfolded.
I think part of what added to my enjoyment of this book was listening to the audiobook version. Not only were the various voice actors perfect for their roles—as they were able to match the cadence of Shakespeare, but also of the original lines as well—but the added sound effects immersed me in the Star Wars experience. Those who find Shakespeare to be a bit tedious might discover that this adaptation doesn’t help much, as the Shakespearean style lasts throughout the book. However, for fans of both Shakespeare and Star Wars, this is a perfect match made in a galaxy far far away.
A peculiar but quite fantastic mash-up, I give Shakespeare’s Star Wars 5.0 stars out of 5.
Vice
Year: 2018
Rating: R
Length: 132 minutes / 2.20 hours
It’s a little weird to me how a director like Adam McKay has gone from directing movies like Anchorman (2004) and Talladega Nights (2006) to entertaining exposés like The Big Short (2015) and Vice (2018). Sure, I can see how his comedy background could lead to the razor-sharp wit used to educate the movie-going public about the 2008 mortgage crisis and the former vice president, respectively. It’s evident the Academy likes his new style as well, as both The Big Short and Vice were nominated for Best Picture. While I liked The Big Short a lot, Vice certainly had its moments.
I’ll give props to Christian Bale for his ability to mimic Dick Cheney’s mannerisms in this role. Sam Rockwell was also pretty great as George W. Bush, but I couldn’t get past Steve Carell as Donald Rumsfeld. I also appreciated the tongue-in-cheek “false ending” in Vice, as it was probably one of the funniest moments in the film. Just like how learning about the mortgage crisis was terrifying, it was equally terrifying learning how these career politicians were able to do whatever they want. Unfortunately, since this movie was played almost more like a straight biopic, it lost the ability for many of its humorous, educational asides and cameos that made The Big Short so enjoyable.
Overall, I liked this movie’s style, and I’m sure McKay has found a niche where he can be successful. After all, how much does the public know about some of these topics? Do we know how much our lives are affected by others focused on greed? These pseudo-documentaries are a great way to entertain and inform us, even if the political bias can occasionally peek it’s head out from behind the veneer of comedy.
Another entertaining exposé from director Adam McKay, I give Vice 4.0 stars out of 5.
Jaunts of the Mantis
Year: 2019
Author: Jim Henderson
Length: 241 pages
Ever since I discovered the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper series, I found that I enjoyed the “down to earth” (metaphorically speaking) stories of space travel. These books added some realism to the science fiction genre by covering some of the details involved with running a ship in outer space. From ship maintenance to inventory management, these stories tended to focus on the close-knit relationships of the crew and their adventures across the universe as they try to make a living. Modern-era equivalents would be stories with people on submarines or shipping barges, but the addition of space travel makes this sub-genre entertaining for me.
Another entry in this genre is Jaunts of the Mantis. Covering a handful of scenarios, the book gets into the adventure reasonably quickly with a minimum of the crew (maybe a few less than might actually be needed). These “jaunts” cover all the standard setups for this kind of book. While these sub-plots aren’t necessarily original, they do deliver the required beats for anyone familiar with stories of this genre. For a new author, Henderson still makes these cookie-cutter jaunts his own by his characters and world building.
Unfortunately, while Jaunts of the Mantis delivers on its premise, the execution still needs a fair amount of work. Proofreading errors and typos are too frequent to miss. Also, the odd way dialogue is written seems to be more in line with how a screenplay would present it than a novel (a liberal addition of the word “said” would likely fix this issue). And while the characters do have one or two defining traits, we never really get to learn much more about them or their history to make them seem like well-rounded individuals.
An admirable, if perhaps standard first novel that needs a little more polishing, I give Jaunts of the Mantis 3.0 stars out of 5.
Foundation and Empire
Year: 1952
Author: Isaac Asimov
Length: 575 minutes / 9.58 hours
One of my qualms with the start of Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series was how different the stories were from each other. Each was set in the same universe but failed to have much of a cohesive narrative that tied them all together. While Foundation covered five different short stories, its sequel, Foundation and Empire managed to whittle this method of storytelling down to two novellas. The result was a clear improvement in clarity and focus as each half of this book only covered a single plot each.
In Foundation and Empire, I finally was able to read a story that stuck with me in this series. Up until this point, I probably couldn’t tell you the premise of any of the short stories in Foundation, let alone the plot of the first half of this book. However, once this book transitioned over from topics that were more in line with science into ones that had a more fictional bend, I found the narrative to be much more enjoyable. It’s almost a shame that the whole book wasn’t an exploration of the universe presented in the second half.
Even if it took a book and a half for me to warm up to this series, I could honestly say that “The Mule” piqued my interest and will likely contribute to my continued reading of the Foundation series. This was probably because this particular half of the book introduced a clear antagonist to the story. It’s not that other stories in the series up until now didn’t have antagonists, it’s more that they weren’t an individual villain up until now. Now things are getting interesting!
A natural evolution of Foundation and an improvement on its predecessor, I give Foundation and Empire 3.5 stars out of 5.
The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part
Year: 2019
Rating: PG
Length: 107 minutes / 1.78 hours
Back in 2014, children at heart everywhere were able to experience the world’s most successful building toy brand on the big screen via The LEGO Movie. With a catchy, Oscar-winning song, this Matrix-like movie was fun and self-aware. Fast forward five years, and the sequel, The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part (2019) released with hardly the amount of fanfare and advertising that accompanied the original. I think this may have been in part due to how the formula the first movie used to great success has been done to death now. With spinoffs like The LEGO Batman Movie (2017) and The LEGO Ninjago Movie(2017) saturating the market, it’s hard to capture the magic of the original.
The real problem with The Second Part comes via the twist at the end of the first movie. Now that we know these toys merely exist in the imagination of a young boy, it’s hard to put that reveal back into the bag and continue watching without your mind being regularly reminded of this fact. Added to this is the somewhat convoluted plot that doesn’t do much more than preach an after-school message about sharing. Sure, it tries to gloss over its weak points by adding plenty of new songs (none of which are particularly memorable). However, all it did was remind me how the first movie was so much better.
Growing up with the classic LEGO sets, I did have to adjust to the realization that the “girl” LEGOs were recent additions and not knockoff brand pieces. Now, don’t get me wrong here; there were still some funny moments. Even if the majority of these moments were self-aware and aimed at the adults in the audience, they still made me laugh. I also really liked the end credits sequence, which looked quite sharp. In the end, though, I was ultimately disappointed that this sequel couldn’t live up to its predecessor’s success.
A so-so sequel partially ruined by the ending of the first movie, I give The LEGO Movie 2 3.0 stars out of 5.
The Point
Year: 2018
Author: John Dixon
Length: 320 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM THE PUBLISHER***
With the rise in popularity of the superhero genre, it was only a matter of time before it leaked into other genres. While some genres like steampunk (like in The Esper Files) make for an interesting twist, others like military YA sci-fi are so similar as to be just one other entry in the zeitgeist. The problem with this is that other, more famous handlings of supernatural superpowers bring much more to the table than books like The Point (which doesn’t necessarily add much to either genre on the whole).
As far as I could gather, there are only three or four different “types” of mutants in The Point: telekinetic, pyrokinesis, super strength, and “other” (like dream manipulation and energy storage, the latter of which was reasonably original). I suppose franchises like X-Men and One Piece, which give each of their unique characters unique superpowers and rarely (if ever) repeat themselves, is what ruined this book for me. This only added to the sense of the faceless military machine presented in this book, as few characters stood out to me at all.
Furthermore, I didn’t like the main character at all. Sure, most YA (and this is mature YA at that—an oxymoron, I know) start with a character who needs to undergo growth by the end of the story. However, I don’t need a main character that’s so fully flawed for so long that I end up hating her before she even learns anything. This, added with numerous questions I had that were never answered, plenty of redundant and boring sections, and the fact that I wholeheartedly agreed with the villain meant that I didn’t particularly like this book.
A book that’s likely trying to cash in on superhero and/or YA trends, I give The Point 2.0 stars out of 5.
Foundation
Year: 1951
Author: Isaac Asimov
Length: 518 minutes / 8.63 hours
For years, people have asked whether or not I have read the penultimate science fiction series that is Isaac Asimov’s Foundation. Up until now, I could not say that I had. While I knew the series by its name, I hadn’t ever heard any comparisons or even knew what these books were about. This probably should have been my first indication of what to expect. I wasn’t expecting anything other than its notable status as a pillar of classic sci-fi. If anything, the fact each “section” of Foundation is its own short story says volumes about the origin of the genre.
Set within the same universe, Foundation follows five different groups across the timespan of a couple hundred years. Asimov explored a few different concepts and spent most of this book in world-building mode. I’ll applaud his ability to remain fairly consistent across these different stories, but the fact that there isn’t much that ties them together is the main issue I have with this book. Because they’re mostly five separate short stories, there’s not too much “action and consequence” between the different sections. This is what I would expect from a book with a standard three-act structure plot.
Additionally, I think the science fiction stories I tend to enjoy lean more on the “space opera” side than where Foundation lies. The fact that Foundation dives so deep into heady—and often controversial—topics like religion, politics, and economics is probably what lost my interest. Sure, there are some neat applications of technology that drives these topics. However, since it felt more like an academic lecture instead of an entertaining read, I glossed over a lot of the details. Maybe the other books in the series remedy this but for Foundation I just kind of felt “meh” about it.
An OK start to a highly-lauded science fiction series, I give Foundation 3.0 stars out of 5.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Year: 2018
Rating: PG
Length: 117 minutes / 1.95 hours
There’s no hiding that Spider-Man is my favorite superhero. My reviews of Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) and Venom (2018) say as much. I grew up watching the 1990s animated Spider-Man show, so when I saw early trailers for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018), I half-thought it would be some direct-to-video movie. After all, everything up until now had been live-action. I was encouraged to learn that it would receive a theatrical release, especially when I started to see more footage of its unique artistic style. Not only does Into the Spider-Verse embrace its comic book origins, but it also does so with a flair and panache that I’d almost like to see in other superhero franchises.
Over the years, I’d only loosely been paying attention to what was happening in the Spider-Man comics. Sure, I knew about Spider-Gwen (Hailee Steinfeld) and Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) but more in the sense that they were departures from the white-male Peter Parker (Jake Johnson) that carried the franchise for so long. It then makes sense that these three were what dominated the first half of this movie. While I adored Peni Parker (Kimiko Glenn) and Spider-Man Noir (Nicholas Cage)—not Spider-Ham (John Mulaney) as much—their extreme takes on the theme could have used a little more screen time, even if they might have distracted from the primary narrative.
In the end, choosing to make Into the Spider-Verse animated helped to open up the creative options available to it in this medium. I could see why it won the Best Animated Picture Oscar this year, as the fusion of classic 2-D comic books and 3-D CGI blended in an endlessly entertaining way. I’m excited that there seems to be a sequel in the works, as my appetite has been whetted with this film and I’m ready to consume more of it as soon as possible. I just hope it lives up to the nearly perfect presentation that this trailblazing movie managed to create.
A visually groundbreaking, laugh-out-loud funny, and overall entertaining superhero film, I give Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse 5.0 stars out of 5.
Kaleidoscope: Keeping the church from becoming a museum
Year: 2018
Author: Kurt Trempert
Length: 226 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM THE AUTHOR***
In Kaleidoscope: Keeping the church from becoming a museum, Kurt Trempert uses the metaphor of the kaleidoscope to examine what an incarnational church looks like when compared to some of the stagnancies arising in the modern American church. This book addresses many issues and criticisms the church faces in the contemporary era. They’re covered in a way that shows not only what’s perhaps behind these shortcomings, but what can potentially be done to fix them. Of course, this then begs the question, who is this book’s audience? Is it for those who run their local church, or the congregation of said churches?
Content-wise, I didn’t have many issues with what was presented here. Most of my qualms had to do with the formatting, including right-align text, the font, and lack of indents. Since it was consistent throughout, I eventually got over it. I would have also appreciated a few section breaks in the chapters to distinguish between different anecdotes and tangential explanations. This was because the topics seem to wander around a bit but still manage to get back to the point eventually. Trempert says as much in the book itself, how sometimes he can lose focus, but those who stick it out will find there’s something poignant to learn.
There are plenty of fantastic points Trempert makes about the modern church. Most of these points revolve around identifying myths we’ve told ourselves about worship, calling, and incarnational living. For so long, these “Christianese” terms have been a part of our lexicon that we don’t realize we’re limiting ourselves in the church. Does worship only have to be on Sundays? Is worship only the musical part of the service? Are those considered “pastors of the church” more holy than the office workers, waiters, and other “secular” professions? In the end, has secularizing (i.e., compartmentalizing) the church in our lives caused us to become a museum instead of a kaleidoscope?
An examination of the modern church and how it could become more “lively,” I give Kaleidoscope 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Wishsong of Shannara
Year: 1985
Author: Terry Brooks
Length: 1,253 minutes / 20.88 hours
One thing that was made clear to me when I read The Elfstones of Shannara was that this trilogy (that started with The Sword of Shannara) didn’t follow the same characters from book to book, per se. Sure, there were characters like Allanon the Druid who managed to span all three volumes, but overall I didn’t find that I needed to have read the previous book in the trilogy to understand what was going on in the story. This was quite beneficial when I started reading The Wishsong of Shannara, as it quickly grew to be my favorite in the series so far.
While I had high hopes for the “main quest” of this book, the fact that it’s put into side-story status almost from the beginning was a little frustrating. Don’t make me follow the journey of the character who needs to grow the most! Show me the thrilling adventures of a magical girl and her Highlander and druid escorts. Regardless, I did find Jair’s journey to be a bit more interesting once it was clear that’s who we were following through the majority of the book. Sure, we touched back with Brin occasionally, and her adventures were neat, too—just not nearly as interesting as Jair’s ended up being.
I have previously complained that The Sword of Shannara seemed like a bit of a Lord of the Rings knockoff. Additionally, The Wishsong of Shannara does have some similarities to The Two Towers. Not necessarily being tied to an overarching story arc did help to make this book quite interesting in terms of what minor characters could be developed to advance the story. This is on top of the excellent growth of both Ohmsfords as they learn the true power of the magic that lies within them. If you’re interested in any of the original Shannara books, I’d suggest you give this one a read first.
A relatively original high fantasy, and my favorite of the Shannara trilogy, I give The Wishsong of Shannara 4.5 stars out of 5.
Aquaman
Year: 2018
Rating: PG-13
Length: 143 minutes / 2.38 hours
Now that Marvel’s 10-year behemoth of its cinematic universe is starting to pay off, it’s becoming more and more obvious that DC is trying desperately to catch up. There’s no doubt that DC has interesting characters, considering how often Superman has been rebooted and how successful Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy was. Even Wonder Woman (2017) had its great moments, despite also feeling derivative influences from movies like Thor (2011) and Captain America: The First Avenger (2011). Aquaman (2018) seems to continue this trend, despite again having a strong leading character (both physically and in backstory/lore).
I will give DC credit for their casting decisions here. For decades, Aquaman has been the butt of the joke amongst many superhero aficionados. The fact that Jason Momoa is a badass, snarky, and overall entertaining actor to watch in the role speaks to their awareness of “image management.” Perhaps featuring him in previous films like Justice League (2017) also helped to get audiences interested in seeing this superhero in a standalone movie. Needless to say, my interest was piqued, and I finally went to see this film. Knowing little to nothing about Aquaman, I was in for an experience.
While the movie overall wasn’t bad, it felt a little too long. I think the Black Manta storyline was a bit distracting, especially as a setup for a future sequel. After all, when there’s this huge Lord of the Rings meets Star Wars conflict going on, there shouldn’t be time for these other plotlines. I’ll also say that the plot felt a little derivative of Black Panther (2018), which only had the advantage of being released earlier in the year. There was also a bit of a Tron: Legacy (2010) aesthetic in this movie that I liked. I did feel the Little Mermaid (1989) nod was perhaps a little too obvious, though.
A Jason Momoa vehicle crammed full of plot and aesthetics from other films, I give Aquaman 3.5 stars out of 5.
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill
Year: 2019
Author: Abbi Waxman
Length: 352 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
I’m not sure if The Bookish Life of Nina Hill is a millennial romantic comedy or a hipster romantic comedy. Either way, I did enjoy reading it, mostly because the formula for this genre is relatively straightforward and predictable. It probably helped that I could relate to the main character, or at least her introverted nature. The supporting characters were a bit quirky and fun as well which just added to the entertaining nature of the narrative. At the very least, I could see something like this becoming a movie, even if it was only released on cable television.
Since the copy of this book I read was an advanced reader copy, I’m sure some of the errata like missing book images at several section breaks and a few backward quotes near the end will be fixed for the final product. Content-wise, I did find the “girl talk” earlier in the book to be a bit more adult than the eventual romance that happens, which I suppose is par for the course with this type of genre: you can talk about it, but leave explicit descriptions in the space between sections. Furthermore, there were many times where the POV shifted back and forth between two characters on a paragraph-by-paragraph basis that left me with a little bit of POV whiplash.
There were plenty of themes and ideas explored in this book that I felt were well done, including descriptions of anxiety and the general feel of Southern California. Even with a large cast of supporting characters, most of the interactions felt natural and advanced the story (with an exception or two here and there). And while I could predict the majority of the ending from about half-way through the book, the few twists and turns leading to this conclusion were satisfying, if not merely delaying the inevitable.
A charming hipster/millennial romantic comedy, I give The Bookish Life of Nina Hill 4.0 stars out of 5.
Glass
Year: 2019
Rating: PG-13
Length: 129 minutes / 2.15 hours
Much like Incredibles 2 (2018) felt like a movie that came out far too late, Glass (2019) caps a trilogy of films that technically started with Unbreakable (2000). Both the original Incredibles (2004) and Unbreakable were genre-defining movies for the practically non-existent superhero films that are all but ubiquitous today. The fact that they took more than a decade to capitalize on this phenomenon is part of the reason why both sequels feel somewhat dated. Sure, they recapture a bit of the charm of the originals, but that’s not enough to overcome what superhero films have evolved into since then.
If anything, Glass owes a debt of gratitude to its predecessor, Split (2016). If it weren’t for James McAvoy’s expert transitions between a dozen different personalities, I wouldn’t have been particularly interested in this final chapter of the trilogy. While Split was a return to form for Shyamalan, Glass seems like a bit of a regression. Perhaps this is due to the heavy burden placed upon Glass to combine two tonally different movies into a cohesive narrative, but the camerawork seemed a little more amateur than usual. Almost as if it wasn’t quite sure which film to imitate. It’s this kind of multiple personalities of the film itself that ends up shooting itself in the foot.
I will admit that the “twist” in Glass is relatively satisfying and wholly unexpected. I also appreciated the conclusive nature of this film as well. It’s pretty clear there aren’t going to be more sequels after this. After all, it’s clear that this film about superheroes is trying its hardest not to be a superhero film. In fact, it almost seems bitter that this genre of cinema exploded into what it is today, and it tries to talk down to those who find them to be pure entertainment (and nothing more).
An OK end to a trilogy of loosely connected films, I give Glass 3.0 stars out of 5.
The 39 Steps
Year: 1915
Author: John Buchan
Length: 234 minutes / 3.9 hours
It’s weird to think that stories like The 39 Steps have only been around for 100 years. Perhaps their ubiquity in modern action thrillers has made me numb to their “man on the run” plotline, but I didn’t find this book to be as interesting as I had expected. Sure, it’s short, but how many of its twists and turns were merely repeating the same way of escaping the main character’s pursuers time and again? And perhaps that’s the main issue I have with this book: the main character seemed to be too skilled at eluding capture for it to be believable.
I know the “wrong man” trope that thrusts an ordinary person into these kinds of circumstances isn’t as realistic as it could be, but when Richard Hannay just happens to know exactly what to do at each instance, I wonder how “ordinary” he really is. Don’t get me wrong, the chase is exciting, it’s just oddly convenient for the protagonist. Of course, maybe I was already ruined by having seen Alfred Hitchcock’s version of this story in The 39 Steps (1935), which added in elements of romance and changed some key plot points.
In the end, The 39 Steps still stands as one of the originators of its genre. Even if the style has morphed and evolved over time, it’s essential to recognize where it came from and what its early influences were. If you’re interested in the history associated with the genre, then this book for you. Heck, if you have a few hours to kill in an airport or waiting room, this book might be the ticket. Just don’t expect much out of it other than some slightly-entertaining distraction.
A basic, if perhaps unbelievable story, in the early action-thriller genre, I give The 39 Steps 3.0 stars out of 5.
Roma
Year: 2018
Rating: R
Length: 135 minutes / 2.25 hours
Don’t get me wrong. I like Alfonso Cuarón’s films. I liked his films before I even really knew who he was as a director. If anything, he’s shown that he’s the master of cinematography, especially in long takes that seem to pan through almost the entire film. He first showed this talent in Children of Men (2006) and continued to impress with this technique in Gravity (2013). While he’s shown he has mastered the long take, his signature style is still on display in Roma (2018) through its numerous pans. That being said, I found the content of Children of Men and Gravity to be much more interesting than that of Roma.
Cuarón pulls us into his Mexican roots in this film, choosing the early 1970s to set this “slice of life” tale. The problem is, while the film looks quite artistic, with the black-and-white aesthetic fusing nicely with the expert camera work (along with that weird costumed singer bit near the middle), there isn’t much substance there. Put in another way: I didn’t care for the characters. In Children of Men, humanity’s survival is on the line. In Gravity, the impetus to return to Earth safely drives the story. In Roma, events just happen, and life goes on.
I understand that there are some broader themes likely present in Roma, but I didn’t particularly care about them, either. Perhaps it was the simplicity of its presentation that failed to grab my attention. Sure, I liked the little visual setups that led to somewhat amusing changes later on in the film. However, these felt more like a famous comedian winking at the audience without saying a word and expecting everyone to laugh. Perhaps I’m just not close enough to the culture represented here, but I didn’t particularly care for this movie, and I instead look forward to whatever Cuarón’s next project might be.
An artistic film that uses Cuarón’s talents to say very little, I give Roma 3.0 stars out of 5.
Nobody’s Fool: The Life and Times of Schlitzie the Pinhead
Year: 2019
Author: Bill Griffith
Length: 256 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
When I was growing up, I occasionally read Bill Griffith’s comic strip, Zippy the Pinhead. While the absurdist humor was a bit above my head at the time, the titular character stuck with me. Fast forward to when I won a giveaway copy of Nobody’s Fool. I thought this was going to be a fake biography about the origins of the comic strip character; I was surprised to start reading and find so many real-life details from the 1930s. I thought it was an odd detail to include a fictional character in a well-known cult classic like Freaks (1932) until I realized that this story wasn’t fictional. It was about the real person who inspired the character of Zippy the Pinhead.
Of course, I didn’t come to this realization until I was about half-way through the book. Griffith’s self-insert around this point helped to confirm my suspicions. While the author’s research was quite thorough—I’d even go so far as to say it’s the most comprehensive study of a somewhat obscure human being—it did seem to be quite repetitive in its narrative. Even if the crisp and fantastic illustrations filling this book’s pages were perhaps the best part about it, I can’t help but think that there are only a few pages of actual written content here if you distill it down to the story itself.
In the end, if you’re interested in Griffith’s art style, or want to learn about the life of a sideshow entertainer, then Nobody’s Fool is a book for you. I’d honestly say that Griffith’s art would be the main draw for this book since the Wikipedia article on Schlitzie contains about 80% of the content of this biography. It’s not that I didn’t like Nobody’s Fool, it’s more that it wasn’t what I was expecting.
A thorough biography about a somewhat obscure circus sideshow attraction, I give Nobody’s Fool 2.5 stars out of 5.
Alcatraz Versus the Shattered Lens
Year: 2010
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Length: 382 minutes / 6.36 hours
After reading through the last two books in Brandon Sanderson’s Alcatraz series, I was hesitant to continue with the fourth book, Alcatraz Versus the Shattered Lens. What I found innovative and hilarious in the first book had become a bit more annoying by books two and three. Book four, however, was a refreshing addition to the series. It helped that the jokes were funny enough that I actually laughed out loud. Moreover, the lore and overall arching plot of the series seemed to coalesce into something that made sense and was actually driving toward a satisfying conclusion.
While I can’t completely disregard the previous two books in the series, I felt that there was probably enough backstory explanation in Alcatraz Versus the Shattered Lens that these other books could be potentially be skipped over altogether. After all, we learn a lot about Alcatraz, his family roots, and the Smedry talents in this book, and I almost wonder if some of these plot points couldn’t have been spread out into previous volumes. It also helped that this book had a clear goal and objective to drive the story toward its various conclusions.
In previous books in this series, Alcatraz has announced that he is awesome or a liar. Here, he admits to being “stoopid,” which adds some humility to the character that had perhaps been missing earlier in the series. There were plenty of other things I liked about this book, including the chapter numbers, the “Shakespearian chapter,” and Alcatraz’s cousin who is really bad at math. The twist near the end also added some realism to both the protagonists and antagonists that I’m now invested and want to see how the series finishes out in the next (and I assume final) volume.
A hilarious return-to-form and vital link for the Alcatraz series, I give Alcatraz Versus the Shattered Lens 4.5 stars out of 5.
Alita: Battle Angel
Year: 2019
Rating: PG-13
Length: 122 minutes / 2.03 hours
With the plethora of successes that the comic book movie has seen over the last decade, it’s a little disheartening to see the Japanese equivalent fail to make much headway. There are just as many interesting and action-packed stories from manga and anime that deserve the treatment given to comic book movies. Instead, busts like Dragonball: Evolution (2009) and Ghost in the Shell (2017) have shown that live-action adaptations are challenging, especially when there’s already an animated counterpart. This was why I was excited to see Alita: Battle Angel (2019).
While many manga/anime film adaptations fail to grasp the feel of the source material, Alita appeared to be a passion project for James Cameron. The fact that Robert Rodriguez directed this movie helped as well, considering how well he brought the graphic novel Sin City to the screen in 2005. Of course, he also directed Spy Kids (2001), which was colorful and full of fun action. In the end, I found Alita to be somewhat of a mix between the two. It had the brutality and violence from Sin City, mixed with the fun cyberpunk aesthetic and action from Spy Kids. The fact that it works at all is a testament to the creative team behind it.
To sum up Alita: Battle Angel in one word, it’s “dense.” Almost every scene is paced at a quick clip and doesn’t spend too much time dwelling on any one topic. This allows it to cover a lot of ground that’s probably condensed down from a few volumes of the manga. It’s great that the story unravels so quickly, but some of the emotional beats aren’t prolonged enough for the audience to develop a connection. I did appreciate that it wrapped up most of its loose ends, but I hope it does well so we can see the clearly intended sequel.
Probably one of the best anime live-action adaptations to date, I give Alita: Battle Angel 4.0 stars out of 5.
Ben Braver and the Incredible Exploding Kid
Year: 2019
Author: Marcus Emerson
Length: 336 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
Once again, I seem to have jumped in on the second book of a series. Fortunately, there was plenty of exposition detailing the events of The Super Life of Ben Braver. Maybe a little too much exposition. This sequel took a little long getting to its own story because of this, along with a bit of heavy-handed foreshadowing as well. Regardless of its slow start, Ben Braver and the Incredible Exploding Kid is a pretty standard middle-grade book that calls upon the success of the superhero genre to package a lesson about pride between action set pieces.
While there are some parallels between the X-Men series, I feel the main character’s arc is perhaps a little more similar to early My Hero Academia. Plus, it wouldn’t be a middle-grade story without a bit of a Harry Potter feel to it as well (i.e., a unique main character with a semi-bumbling male friend and an incredibly smart female friend). At the very least, I found the illustrations sprinkled throughout to be well done. They certainly contributed to the comic book hybrid feel of the story, which is probably what draws the X-Men comparisons.
I won’t fault this book too much for its heavy-handed approach toward the main character’s social faux pas since this book is basically for children. That being said, I did find some of the lore and intricacies of the greater story arc to be perhaps a little elaborate. I’m sure if I’d read the first book, this would be less so, but it still seems slightly overcomplicated at times. In the end, I liked some of the unique (if not sometimes gross) superpowers of these kids, and I’d recommend this series for any children who might want to make the jump from comic books to chapter books, and vice versa.
A comic book/chapter book hybrid with a semi-standard take on superheroes, I give Ben Braver and the Incredible Exploding Kid 3.5 stars out of 5.
The Arctic Incident
Year: 2002
Author: Eoin Colfer
Length: 387 minutes / 6.45 hours
Sequels can be tough. There seems to be a need to incorporate what made the original successful, while also trying out new ideas at the same time. Additionally, the characters need to grow and show that they can handle any new problems thrown their way. In The Arctic Incident, the sequel to Artemis Fowl, I found more of the same military sci-fi fantasy elements present, but with changes to the characters that took away a lot of what I liked about them in the first book. And by characters, I specifically mean Artemis Fowl.
While the first book in this series contained a confident, coy, and conniving teenage super-genius, The Arctic Incident took Artemis Fowl and expanded those brief moments of emotional vulnerability into an entire character. Perhaps this was due to Artemis joining forces with the same magical creatures that he swindled out of their gold in the first book, or maybe it was due to Artemis finally being able to reunite his family. Either way, this main character didn’t seem nearly as interesting to me in this book as he did in Artemis Fowl.
Furthermore, despite containing slightly different enemies and goals, The Arctic Incident pulled out the same tricks utilized in the first book. I did learn a little more about the magical realm contained in this series, but not nearly enough to justify a full book here. I guess when it comes right down to it, I’m not a fan of the Mulch Diggums character since he generally seems like an addition to the series that’s only there for fart jokes. Granted, I know this series is for children, but I also know how quickly this type of humor falls flat for me, especially when it’s practically repeated verbatim from the first book.
A “meh” sequel that lost a lot of what made the first book good; I give The Arctic Incident 3.0 stars out of 5.
Bumblebee
Year: 2018
Rating: PG-13
Length: 114 minutes / 1.90 hours
While I’m nowhere close to being a fan of the Transformers series, I’d occasionally watch the latest installment when it came to the cheap theater in town. I stopped doing this after the third film and only saw the fourth one on Redbox. I never even bothered with the most recent one. Then comes along this spinoff to the main storyline, Bumblebee (2018). For once, I was legitimately interested. The trailers made it seem like a cute little prequel/backstory for the practically mute robot in disguise. In the end, I was not disappointed, as Bumblebee was a fun and charming romp that showed what this franchise could have been like if Michael Bay didn’t direct.
I appreciated how this movie essentially went full-in with its nostalgia. After all, since the Transformers originated in the 1980s, why couldn’t a film take advantage of this timeline to also reference lots of other 80s pop culture? Fortunately, it never went too over the top in these references but kept it to a nice gag every once in a while. It also didn’t take itself too seriously, which almost made it more like an homage to 80s films like Short Circuit (1986) and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982). This also probably helped make the action less nauseating and confusing, but I think this may have also been a factor of its director.
Even though he’s only directed one other film before Bumblebee, I think Travis Knight is quickly becoming one of my favorite directors. After all, his only previous directing credit was for Kubo and the Two Strings (2016), and I adored that film. In the end, if you want an excellent 80s nostalgia trip, Bumblebee is the movie for you. You don’t even have to like Transformers for this film to be entertaining. If you’ve been turned off from this franchise before, I’d suggest forgetting that any of it ever happened and enjoy this film as your first foray into the realm of Transformers.
A charming 80s nostalgia trip, I give Bumblebee 4.5 stars out of 5.
Creating Characters: How to Build Story People
Year: 1990
Author: Dwight V. Swain
Length: 195 pages
Writing advice is generally pretty timeless. Fundamentally, little changes between the classics written hundreds of years ago and the classics written today. Sure, there might be some new way to go about creating plots, or there might be a scientific breakthrough that tweaks a setting or two, but the one thing that remains constant throughout is characters. Complex characters have always been interesting, even if it can be a challenge to create them for a story. This is where Creating Characters: How to Build Story People comes in to help.
While there is plenty of great advice in this book, I did find that it to be somewhat dated in a few spots. We’re now almost 30 years after this book was initially written, so the author’s advice for writers working on radio plays might work for someone doing podcasts, but not much else. Similarly, there are tons of great examples of characters written since 1990, but there were also many examples contained in the book that I had no reference to understand. It didn’t help that most of these examples were rapid-fire lists that didn’t explore the details of what made the character any good.
I would definitely recommend this book to any authors who are starting out and trying to refine their craft. I’ve read plenty of stories that certainly could have used some of the techniques gathered here. Some of these concepts were relatively basic, but if you’ve just picked this book up and only have it for an hour, the absolute best advice contained in it is in the last chapter. I don’t know how many stories I’ve read where I’ve been pulled out of the story because my suspension of disbelief broke. Solving this problem with better characters can do wonders for a writer’s story.
Some solid advice that can help many amateur authors on their craft, I give Creating Characters 3.0 stars out of 5.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Year: 1831
Author: Victor Hugo
Length: 1,136 minutes / 18.93 hours
Victor Hugo is one of those classic authors who I’ve hesitated reading because his stories tend to have a lot of details that don’t necessarily add to the plot. Sure, The Hunchback of Notre Dame is no Les Miserables, but Hugo’s style made this book perhaps a little longer than it should have been. Either way, now I know a lot more about the architecture of Notre Dame Cathedral. Despite all this, the story of The Hunchback of Notre Dame is timeless in many ways, not the least of which centers around its titular character.
While modern stories are vying to be inclusive and diverse, Victor Hugo managed to write a story in the 1800s that not only included a disabled individual but racially diverse characters (at least for France) as well. The fact that both are sympathetic protagonists helps cement Quasimodo and Esmerelda in my mind. They’re both persecuted in their own ways; ostracized from a society that wants homogeneity more than diversity. Sound familiar? Perhaps this is why this book maintains a timeless quality. Even with the slight twist in the ending, the harassment endured by these individuals doesn’t dampen their kind spirits.
For those who might be more familiar with the Disney version of this story, the movie adaptation is more along the lines of a kid-friendly (i.e., sanitized) version of the basic plot. There is quite a bit more violence and “romance” involved in this story—not to mention the obvious absence of talking gargoyles—which I felt made it a little more convoluted than it had to be. Still, Hugo’s way with words was mesmerizing throughout, even if I know that they’ve been through the filter of a translator. If Les Miserables is daunting to you, perhaps try warming up with The Hunchback of Notre Dame, first. You won’t be disappointed.
A timeless classic full of diverse characters and exciting action, I give The Hunchback of Notre Dame 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Fate of the Furious
Year: 2017
Rating: PG-13
Length: 136 minutes / 2.26 hours
I’ll be honest and admit that this is the first movie in the Fast and the Furious franchise that I’ve ever seen. Sure, I’ve been aware of the franchise for years, but it never really appealed to me (I’m not much of a car guy after all). I got a free digital copy of this movie somewhere along the line and decided I might as well watch it since I own it. I had plenty of preconceived notions about this series based on little tidbits I’d picked up over the years, and pretty much every one of them was confirmed with this movie.
I think this movie might be best summed up by one of the lines of dialogue. “What are you, 12?” A lot of the characters’ interactions and dialogue seemed like how a 12-year-old boy who was really into cars would write them. This was especially apparent during Tyrese Gibson’s dialogue, which I assumed was supposed to be funny. The plot itself was so thin that I could practically see the seams that stitched together the big action set pieces. I almost half-expected the camera to pull back and show a 12-year-old playing with toy cars at one point (a la The Lego Movie (2014)).
If this movie has any redeeming qualities, it is in the ridiculous nature of these action set pieces. I’ll admit that they were fun to watch, even if the premise for most of them seemed so out there that they’d never be possible. Most of the characters seemed to work pretty well together, too. Even though I did not know their background or previous adventures, I could pick up on the hints, cues, and references they dropped throughout. I might watch this movie again if there’s nothing else to watch, but that’s probably not likely.
Flashy and ridiculous action written by a 12-year-old, I give The Fate of the Furious 2.5 stars out of 5.
Artemis Fowl
Year: 2001
Author: Eoin Colfer
Length: 281 pages
With the movie adaptation of this book coming out in a few months, I figured the premise of Artemis Fowl looked interesting enough that I’d want to read it before seeing the film. After all, a child genius going up against fantasy forces sounded like it would be entertaining. Overall, this was true. Granted, this book starts one of those classic Young Adult series that’s actually meant for children, so I can forgive a bit of its bathroom humor—but only to a point. Still, I found the fusion of modern technology and fantasy elements to be the strength of this book.
Much in the vein of the science fantasy genre, Artemis Fowl uses scientific principles and concepts to explain the numerous phenomena connected to creatures like fairies, dwarves, and trolls. It only makes sense that these creatures would evolve technologically along with humanity. Being able to explain how these creatures could remain undetected for thousands of years was nearly as engaging as the technology used to find them. The fact that this book only gave me a taste of what’s capable in this universe makes me want to come back and read the rest of the series.
Aside from the aforementioned bathroom humor (and some more adult jokes that probably aren’t for children), my one qualm with this book is that the titular character doesn’t seem to play a huge role in the proceedings. I mean, I get that he’s a criminal mastermind working from the shadows, but I found the character so interesting in the few moments where he appears that I wanted more of him. Instead, many chapters focused on the military-fantasy world of the fairies, and I’m not that into military-based stories anyway.
A classic YA military science fantasy, I give Artemis Fowl 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest
Year: 2007
Author: Stieg Larsson
Length: 1,222 minutes / 20.37 hours
Now that I’ve finished the third book in this series, I realize it falls into the “trilogy conundrum” of having a strong, standalone first part, followed by two sequels that rely on each other to finish out the story. Heck, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest should have just been Part 3 of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo since it completed the story arc started back in book one. I had my suspicions this book would continue from the exact moment where The Girl Who Played with Fire ended. After all, there were a ton of loose ends, and the story ended abruptly.
Part of my issue with this book was that it was primarily tasked with tying up all the subplots from the first two books. However, it still felt like it needed to spend time on new storylines that didn’t add much to the overall plot and were only there because the main character wasn’t able to do anything interesting. I also didn’t particularly like how some of these story elements concluded, as they felt unfulfilling (the resolution of the conflict with Lisbeth’s father stands out in particular). Overall, these two qualms made the book drag on longer than I think it should have.
There were still some positive elements in this book, including the trial of Lisbeth Salander. In fact, this coup de grace was by far the most entertaining section of the entire trilogy. I also appreciated the tension created early on when Lisbeth was in the hospital, as well as the action in the Epilogue that tied up the very last loose end of the trilogy. In the end, I still think this trilogy was a good read. It’s just that its final volume felt a little bloated and distracted at times.
A mostly satisfying conclusion to the original Millennium series, I give The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest 3.0 stars out of 5.
Ralph Breaks the Internet
Year: 2018
Rating: PG
Length: 111 minutes / 1.85 hours
Back in 2012, I was impressed that a movie like Wreck-It Ralph could exist. The amount of licensing agreements needed to bring together so many recognizable characters from famous franchises was a daunting task the likes of which I hadn’t seen since Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988). Similarly, the sequel to Wreck-It Ralph, Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) had the challenge of integrating so many brand names and websites into something that could work as a story without becoming too dated as time marches on. In both cases, I think the balance between brand-name recognition and original content helped to make for an entertaining film.
In the lead-up to the release of Ralph Breaks the Internet, I was concerned that it was going to rely heavily on internet memes for its laughs—taking a somewhat similar tack from The Emoji Movie (2017). I also had concerns that this movie would also focus most of its time on the Slaughter Race sub-plot, which would make it almost too similar to its predecessor (which spent perhaps way too much time in the Sugar Rush game, overall). Fortunately, this film again managed to find the right balance, both in references and in sub-plots.
While Ralph Breaks the Internet is coy in its self-awareness, I truly loved the segments that poked fun at internet culture (like the jittery movements of player characters in Slaughter Race), as well as the number of Disney tropes flipped on their head. I mean, I’d watch a whole movie with just the Disney Princesses interacting in the way that they did (and if Disney isn’t selling the graphic T-shirts they were wearing in this movie, they’re missing out on a massive amount of potential income). I mean, what movie has a “princess song” about wanting to drive in Slaughter Race? Hilarious.
A perfect balance of internet references and self-aware comedy, I give Ralph Breaks the Internet 4.5 stars out of 5.
Clash of Eagles
Year: 2015
Author: Alan Smale
Length: 464 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM THE PUBLISHER***
When I picked up Clash of Eagles, I thought the idea had merit. The Roman Empire remained strong and alive past its original fall and finally managed to work its way over to the North American continent. Just like the Europeans from our history, they encountered the Native Americans who vehemently protected their native land from foreign invaders. Basically: Romans vs. Indians. Since the timeframe for this book was a few centuries after the original fall of Rome, I was expecting a bit more in terms of this alternate history but was ultimately disappointed with the result.
While a lot can change in a few hundred years, the Romans remained mostly the same. Sure, the Native Americans had some impressive new technology, but then the narrative felt pretty one-sided. Since the book focused on the advancing Roman troops, I had trouble latching on to the main character for the first 20% of this book, because none of them stood out. Once one was forcefully given to me, I realized that this book was basically going to be another version of Dances with Wolves (1990) or Avatar (2009). Consequently, that’s when I dreaded having to read this book.
I read a few chapters into Part 2, but then flipped ahead and saw that the three parts of this book covered 25%, 50%, and 25% of the narrative, respectively. This told me the book probably didn’t start in the right place, or at least spent too much time setting up something that ultimately didn’t matter. Maybe this book doesn’t turn into a Dances with Wolves clone, but spending so much of having to decode the Latin and Native American lingo turned off my interest by the time I made it 25% of the way through. I usually finish most books I start, but I didn’t want to force myself through this one.
An interesting concept that fails to execute fast enough, I cannot give Clash of Eagles a rating.
Arlo Finch in the Valley of Fire
Year: 2018
Author: John August
Length: 411 minutes / 6.85 hours
Having already read Arlo Finch in the Lake of the Moon, I decided to go back and read the book that kicked off this series. While I already knew what had happened in Arlo Finch in the Valley of Fire—as the sequel frequently referenced it—I still appreciated reading the details myself. I had a few questions and concerns that I hoped this book would address, and only about half of them were answered to my satisfaction. Still, I did enjoy this Harry Potter and Boy Scouts mashup, even if it is literally that.
In the sequel, I definitely got the Harry Potter vibe, but I fully realized the almost 1-for-1 influence of the J.K. Rowling series on this series when I read this book. Unsuspectingly powerful main character with a unique physical trait? Check. Overachieving female friend? Check. Somewhat bumbling male friend? Check. Different groups categorized via character traits? Check. All I’m saying is that it would have been nice to see something that wasn’t so entirely derivative of the Harry Potter formula. As it is, I’d recommend the Arlo Finch series to anyone who loves the Harry Potter series.
While I also really enjoyed the infusion of the Boy Scout-esque “Rangers” to the Harry Potter formula, I’m still not sure I believe this book’s explanation for why most people aren’t aware of these supernatural happenings. Sure, they can’t be photographed, but when the uninitiated families of these kids are brought together for a Court of Honor where they hand out merit badges for “Wards” and other supernatural activities, I can’t help but think that the parents would get suspicious of what’s really going on in this organization. It’s kind of hard to keep all these magical things a secret when you’re giving out awards for them.
A solid Harry Potter adaptation wrapped in the trappings of the Boy Scouts, I give Arlo Finch in the Valley of Fire 4.0 stars out of 5.
A Star is Born
Year: 2018
Rating: R
Length: 136 minutes / 2.26 hours
If this movie feels like the same old song and dance, it’s because it is. This film is the fourth iteration of the same plot that was nominated for Best Picture back in 1937. While it’s been over 20 years since its last incarnation in 1976, A Star is Born (2018) is surprisingly still relevant. While they’re somewhat touchy subjects, alcoholism and depression are still as alive and well today as they were just over 80 years ago. After all, you can’t be an entertainer without sex, drugs, and rock and roll. That being said, I do appreciate this movie’s overarching theme of “words have power.”
I did find it hard to suspend my disbelief with the casting in this film, though. I mean, even if Lady Gaga is playing some nobody, it’s not like I have to stretch my imagination to think that her character would suddenly become a music superstar almost overnight. Of course, its predecessors also cast famous singers like Judy Garland (1954) and Barbara Streisand (1976), so I can’t blame it for taking the same path. Perhaps part of my disbelief comes from how this movie was filmed more like a Lady Gaga concert with little bits of plot dropped in between the songs. If you’re into that, great, but I’d rather see a concert live instead of via the big screen.
Despite what it is, A Star is Born packs an emotional punch. Since it bangs you over the head with the importance of words, you start to pay attention to what’s said, both in the dialog and in the lyrics of the songs. Plenty of the songs are catchy, and (ironically enough) Bradley Cooper’s song that starts the film off is the one that’s primarily stuck in my head (instead of any of the ones by Lady Gaga).
A retread that’s still somewhat relevant, I give A Star is Born 3.0 stars out of 5.
The Favourite
Year: 2018
Rating: R
Length: 119 minutes / 1.98 hours
What. The. Favourite. For those of us watching all of this year’s Best Picture nominees, The Favourite (2018) is certainly the token “artsy” film of the set. It felt like it was following in the footsteps of last year’s Phantom Thread (2017) in that the set decoration and costume design were exquisite, despite the—let’s face it—weird characters. Regarding the plot, though, I did find The Favourite to parallel the events in the 1950 Best Picture winner, All About Eve. While its art is on full display for all to see, The Favourite is a bit more than how it looks.
Aside from the aforementioned set decoration and costume design, I have to applaud this movie’s cinematography. I’d wager that it’ll win in these three categories, but the cinematography stands out because it’s so different from most films. Heavily utilizing wide-angle fisheye lenses, as well as copious amounts of natural light (perhaps as an aesthetic homage to Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon (1975), which also shares a somewhat similar plot), the continual movement of the camera is both brilliant and jarring. This accentuates the awkward and uncomfortable situations these characters put themselves in for the duration.
While The Favourite is pretty to look at, the characters and their interactions reveal the true “artsy” elements of the film. From tons of lesbian overtones to odd actions and dialogue that is distinctly modern in its vulgarity, some moments definitely made me cringe. All that being said, the nuance and subtlety of the actors’ fantastic performances allowed so much to be said without uttering a word. The Favourite excels in the “show, don’t tell” mentality by also including many parallels and realizations that nothing has changed for these characters. Fortunately, moments of levity, especially with Nicholas Hoult’s character, help to keep this movie from getting too dark.
A striking and considerably “artsy” film, I give The Favourite 4.0 stars out of 5.
The First Five Pages: A Writer’s Guide to Staying Out of the Rejection Pile
Year: 2000
Author: Noah Lukeman
Length: 208 pages
As a writer who is looking to submit to agents soon, I was hoping The First Five Pages would give me some insight into the hook that could lead to the acceptance of my book. Additionally, as an individual who also creates and publishes short story anthologies, I hoped this book would give some useful advice for writers to keep their stories out of the rejection pile. Unfortunately, while this book is almost 20 years old, much has changed since its initial publication. Everyone has computers. Word processors and other tools are in abundance. Nobody prints out manuscripts anymore.
Split into three sections and a total of 19 topics, this book doesn’t so much tell an author how to avoid rejection from agents and publishers as much as how to write. I will say from personal experience that the one topic on formatting is the most important topic to pay attention to, especially since I’ve rejected tons of submissions that don’t follow the guidelines—albeit for additional reasons besides the formatting ignorance. There might be some tidbits in this book that will help an author create a manuscript worth accepting, but they’re buried in so much basic advice that most beginning authors will probably miss them.
This is the crux of the problem with this book: it’s not meant for authors who are ready to submit. There’s no nuance in the examples contained in this book, which doesn’t help anything when the topics are so rudimentary as to make me wonder why anyone who still has these problems with their manuscript is submitting to agents and publishers in the first place. If these writers hadn’t already heard the advice to “show, don’t tell,” then there’s no way they’re far enough in their writing career to be able to create a submittable manuscript.
Basic writing advice for authors who probably aren’t ready to submit to agents or publishers anyway, I give The First Five Pages 2.0 stars out of 5.
The Girl Who Played with Fire
Year: 2006
Author: Stieg Larsson
Length: 1,115 minutes / 18.58 hours
Despite some of its weaknesses, some of which were due to my reading it via audiobook, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a great book. In its sequel, The Girl Who Played with Fire, some of these weaknesses were addressed, but others manifested in their place. Again, these faults might be attributed to the audiobook format, but are fairly minor when considering how fantastic the story is as a whole. In fact, I probably like The Girl Who Played with Fire more than its predecessor. Of course, part of this was how events in the first book carried over to influence the plot of the second.
In the first book of the Millennium series, I didn’t realize just how much sex was in it. This was mostly because of the rape scene that made everything else seem tame in comparison. In this book, the sex is still there, but there’s so much of it at the beginning that it starts to become distracting. At least when book one included it, it was generally through the guise of a budding friendship. This time, it felt more like the author was trying to hammer home the point that the two main characters were sexually liberated. Other than that, it was also a little challenging to keep track of the timeline, since it jumped around a bit when it followed different characters. This is perhaps a limitation of the audiobook format.
Overall, though, the plot of The Girl Who Played with Fire is superb. Uncovering the past of our favorite, titular character was a great way to continue a series that started with such an engaging and enigmatic figure. With less mystery present in this volume, the twists are still believable and entertaining while also focusing more on the action that centers on Lisbeth Salander’s desire to remain as disconnected as possible.
A fantastic follow-up to a great book, I give The Girl Who Played with Fire 4.0 stars out of 5.
Creed II
Year: 2018
Rating: PG-13
Length: 130 minutes / 2.17 hours
While I have only ever seen the original Rocky (1976) and the spinoff/reboot Creed (2015), I’m still aware of some of the details of the Rocky franchise as a whole. I know who some of Rocky Balboa’s (Sylvester Stallone) opponents were over the years, including James “Clubber” Lang (Mr. T) and Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren). Consequently, even though Creed felt like it took the franchise in a new direction by focusing on Apollo Creed’s (Carl Weathers) son, its sequel, Creed II (2018) felt too steeped in the franchise’s history and nostalgia to be anything more than a rehash of Rocky IV (1985).
If anything, having Apollo Creed’s son, Adonis (Michael B. Jordan), face off against Ivan Drago’s son, Viktor (Florian Munteanu), as a revenge match that followed the same plot points as its predecessor smacks of lazy and clichéd writing. I would have been much more interested in this film if, even despite all the training each son endured, the outcome would have been different than before. Pulling out all the recognizable bits from past Rocky movies makes it seem like there’s not many more rounds this franchise can go before falling to the mat.
I will applaud the filmmakers’ restraint for not including that weird robot that was in Rocky IV, but a lot of the sentimentality and overly dramatic sub-plots seemed like they were trying too hard to get an emotional response from the audience. Fortunately, the boxing in this film looks brutal, a testament to both the choreography and training of the actors to make the fight seem so real. It’s probably not anything more special than what Creed had in terms of cinematography, but if you’re looking for a boxing match that doesn’t require pay-per-view, this movie can fit the bill.
An OK sequel that relies way too much on nostalgia, I give Creed II 3.5 stars out of 5.
In Ashes Born
Year: 2015
Author: Nathan Lowell
Length: 310 pages
As someone who enjoyed the core Golden Age of the Solar Clipper series, parts of it seemed rushed in order to focus on the rise of Ishmael Wang to the penultimate title of “Owner.” Along the way, there were characters and sub-plots that I would have loved to see more of but woefully had to settle with focusing almost entirely on Ishmael’s story. From his time at the Academy to whatever happened with his first marriage, I think these moments not contained in the wrappings of ship life would have added a few moments of reprieve between the exciting world of Solar Clippers.
In Ashes Born manages to quench my thirst for more stories set in this universe. It also manages to pull together many of the interesting characters over the core 6-book series and place them on track to have perhaps the most exciting adventure yet. Similar to how Ender’s Game pulled disparate characters together for a final battle against the Formics, In Ashes Born finally collects the best characters of the Solar Clipper series together in a way that’s natural and entertaining. I’m just disappointed I have to wait for the next books in this follow-on series to get to the good stuff.
Of course, as with any long-running series, it helps to have read the first six books before starting in on this one. I do applaud Lowell’s ability to make the finer points and logistics of getting a shipping company up and running, but many of these details require knowledge of the pecking order and inner workings of these vessels to know what’s going on. Additionally, if you don’t care for these kinds of somewhat tedious details, perhaps this series is not for you. For me, though, this book feels like the story that readers of the series have been waiting for all this time.
A promising start to a much-anticipated follow-on series, I give In Ashes Born 4.5 stars out of 5.
Green Book
Year: 2018
Rating: PG-13
Length: 130 minutes / 2.17 hours
Every once in a while, a movie comes along that has the right balance of themes and execution to make it into an instant classic. When I first saw trailers for Green Book (2018), I initially thought it was just going to be an inverse of Driving Miss Daisy (1989). Instead, what I got was so much more than that. Green Book tackles the difficult task of presenting a harsh mirror on our past, with a knowing wink that some of these challenges are still present today. It is more subtle than BlacKkKlansman (2018), but the message still gets across in a heartwarming and wholesome way.
What makes Green Book so engaging is the simplicity that it approaches such a nuanced and complex approach to the topic of racism. The irony that rich white people in the south would hold Dr. Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali) in such high regard as a musician but treat him as less-than-human the second he is not performing for them is stunning and appalling. The strength of the story certainly comes with the repartee between Shirley and his Italian driver, Tony Vallelonga (Viggo Mortensen), in a way that shows all people can change for the better, even if it’s in small steps.
I have to commend the excellent music in this film, merely as a side-note to the fantastic screenplay. So many moments were laugh-out-loud funny or tears-to-your-eyes touching due to their ability to tie together moments that appeared earlier in the movie. Sure, some may call this film predictable or cliché, but it works in a way that’s so engaging that you can’t help but lose yourself in its narrative. It also doesn’t hurt that the cinematography that brings the story to life is top notch as well—utilizing shallow depth of field to masterful effect.
An instant classic that everyone should see at least once, I give Green Book 5.0 stars out of 5.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Year: 2005
Author: Stieg Larsson
Length: 980 minutes / 16.33 hours
For many years, I was hesitant to read this book, mostly due to a few intense sequences that I saw in the David Fincher film adaptation. I wasn’t sure I wanted to be subjected to them in book form any more than I had been already. Fortunately, these scenes were quite a bit more tolerable in the book, mostly because the descriptions weren’t nearly as visceral as watching them on the big screen. I’m only now kicking myself for waiting this long to read such a fantastic book. While the book and the movie diverge in a few spots, I can see the reasoning behind the differences.
When it comes right down to it, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a showcase for its titular character. Lisbeth Salander is tough, smart, and an overall entertaining individual to follow. While it takes quite a while for her to become involved in the main plot, at least the Mikael Blomkvist sections are still interesting enough to carry themselves until that point where the two characters join forces. I did find the distinction between these two characters’ plotlines a little hard to follow early on, but that’s likely an artifact of listening to the audiobook version.
I did find it a little odd that the book essentially starts with the introduction of Mikael’s investigation, only to take almost half the book to start it. Granted, this allowed plenty of room for both Mikael and Lisbeth to be developed as characters, but it felt a little like a sudden realization that the primary focus of the plot wasn’t addressed up until that point. Additionally, I did like the framing of the book around Mikael’s Millennium problems, especially with the much more thorough ending that tied everything up with a nice little bow.
A great book with fantastic characters, I give The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo 4.0 stars out of 5.
Mortal Engines
Year: 2018
Rating: PG-13
Length: 128 minutes / 2.13 hours
If I were to look at Mortal Engines (2018) critically, I’d notice a number of flaws. From fairly flat characters to a string of movies and directors that it tries to imitate, this film should be terrible. And yet, given that I’d already suspended my disbelief by entertaining the idea that an apocalypse would result in cities mounting up on enormous machines and scavenging smaller towns for fuel, I found this movie incredibly entertaining. Perhaps the base plot isn’t too original, but the execution felt fresh and new. Somehow, I was able to turn off my critical brain and just enjoy this movie for what it is: pure, unadulterated fun.
As someone who appreciates film as an art form, there is plenty of it on display here. The look, feel, and aesthetic of Mortal Engines is so bold and consistent that the core concept of the plot naturally follows. The visuals and soundtrack merely accentuate the action and drive it forward in a way that allowed me to lose myself in the fantasy. And perhaps that’s why I liked this film: there have been very few fantasy or sci-fi films that have tried to push that creative envelope. Sure, it’s not a “safe” movie that plays to conventions. It attempts something new and more or less succeeds in bringing it to life.
In the end, I didn’t care that Mortal Engines likely stole inspiration from Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), Snowpiercer (2013), Stardust (2007), Terminator (1984), and an endless litany of Terry Gilliam films. I didn’t care that it was basically the plot from Star Wars (1977). I like all of these movies, so the fact that Mortal Engines was able to combine them all into something that still made sense was a plus. Heck, I appreciated that it didn’t have to explain itself. Sometimes explaining something ridiculous like this ruins the magic of it.
A mold-breaking film that was fun to watch, I give Mortal Engines 5.0 stars out of 5.
The Warded Man
Year: 2008
Author: Peter V. Brett
Length: 453 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM THE PUBLISHER***
For anyone who thinks that fantasy is a childish genre, The Warded Man shows that it can have very adult themes. While this adds an element of realism by including sex and violence, it also means that the intended audience for this book should be mature enough to be able to pay attention. Unfortunately, this book takes a repetitive approach with its character arcs, almost as if writing for children who need the point constantly driven home. In the end, I’m mostly just disappointed at what this book could have been instead of what it was.
I’m not sure if there’s a minimum page count/word count for fantasy books, but The Warded Man seems to be an interesting novella, padded out with tons of unnecessary backstory—or at least backstory that could be covered in a relevant line or paragraph when needed. I did like the concept and the magical system in this book. Heck, I thought the naming scheme for the minor characters was also quite brilliant. I just can’t bring myself to suggest that people slog through over 450 pages of story that could have easily been covered in 150.
If you are interested in a somewhat original fantasy story, you can literally pick up the book at the beginning of Part 3 and read to the end, and you won’t miss much (if anything, you won’t get some establishing details). This was also exacerbated by the fact that at least one of these characters didn’t have an interesting story until Part 3, so it was a bit annoying to have to jump over to his story when I’d much rather read about the other two characters. As it’s written right now, many of the characters’ motivations are repeatedly brought up in similar situations, so all the first part of the book does is delay these three characters’ inevitable meeting.
A great concept for a novella with a ton of backstory tacked on the front, I give The Warded Man 3.5 stars out of 5.
Alcatraz Versus the Knights of Crystallia
Year: 2009
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Length: 406 minutes / 6.77 hours
You know, it’s difficult to review a book that already highlights its flaws in the text itself. Part of me wonders if the reviews from the second book in the series were bad enough to warrant this kind of meta self-awareness. In the end, while Alcatraz Versus the Knights of Crystallia does take the time to address these weaknesses in its story and characters, it still doesn’t excuse the fact that they’re in there in the first place. These winking soliloquies seem to gloss over the fact that the book knows what’s wrong with it, but instead decides to gloss over it with self-reference instead of fixing the root of the problems themselves.
By this point in the series, I have come to terms with its middle-grade silliness and occasional bathroom humor. I loved the rule-breaking first book in the series, only to become annoyed by this constant fourth-wall breaking that happened in book two. By book three—this book—I finally came to terms with the fact that I’m not the target audience for this book, despite how well-written it is and how intricately its fantasy world has been created.
Perhaps due to my acceptance of this series for what it is, I felt the plot and character development were better in this part of the series—even if it did seem to trend toward “after school special” territory more often than not. Not only did we get to see more of Alcatraz’s parents (although, not nearly enough in my opinion), there was a lot more world-building that helped to flesh out this strange land introduced in previous volumes. Plus, the character who was a former librarian was (and is) probably my favorite character in the series right now.
More of the same self-aware silliness from Brandon Sanderson, I give Alcatraz Versus the Knights of Crystallia 4.0 stars out of 5.
BlacKkKlansman
Year: 2018
Rating: R
Length: 135 minutes / 2.25 hours
The idea that an African American could become a member of the Ku Klux Klan is silly enough that it became a joke on Dave Chapelle’s television show. Of course, this movie isn’t a comedy sketch, as it is based on true events. Obviously, there were plenty of elements in this film that were likely fictionalized to make the story more “Hollywood,” but it’s still an interesting story, nonetheless. Part of the trick of this movie, though, is that it treats itself almost like a half-modern documentary of the KKK as well, which makes it seem like there wasn’t enough source material to make an engaging plot.
Another part of me was interested in this movie for its setting. Living in Colorado Springs, it was interesting to me that certain landmarks and places in town were referenced, which merely added realism to the story as it was presented. From NORAD and Fort Carson to an off-handed reference to Nevada Avenue, I could relate with the Colorado Springs of the 1970s, even though much has changed in the nearly 50 years since then. Of course, if the video clips from 2017 reveal anything, it’s that little has changed when it comes to the KKK.
As a white Christian male, this film upset me. Not that it painted white men in a negative light, but rather that it helped expose the bigotry and hatred that has festered in this country from the very beginning. I hate how the KKK uses the church to spread its elitism and message of dominance, instead of the Bible’s message of love and acceptance. The evil that has so twisted these people that still exists today needs to be acknowledged by films like this, but I also think it might work even better as a straight documentary, instead of a slightly fictionalized version of real events.
An amusing, but equally convicting film, I give BlacKkKlansman 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Graduate
Year: 1963
Author: Charles Webb
Length: 366 minutes / 6.10 hours
If I could condense this book down to a single phrase, it would be “What?” It’s not that I didn’t understand this book, it’s more that this single word/question was used for every third line of dialogue. Not only was this incredibly annoying to read—as every character seemed to have hearing problems that required the other speaker to repeat themselves—but it just seemed to pad out an already weak plot. I have no idea how this book became so famous that it led to a much superior film adaptation, but now I know that nobody should bother reading this book because of its inspiration for the movie.
Let’s talk about character motivations next. Nothing ever made any sense. Sure, there’s a bit of existential ennui involved with finishing something you excel in (school, in this case), but the actions of the main character only make sense up until a point. Once we hit the third act, there’s just a series of random actions that aren’t grounded in reality. This is also not to mention that the characters around him, especially the primary love interest, also make illogical decisions that aren’t founded in any sort of reality. At least this book is short enough that you’re not going to waste much time reading it.
Maybe I’m just missing the point of this book. Perhaps it’s an examination of the consequences and realizations that come from living a life that seems to have no meaning. I mean, I get the counter-play between the newly-disillusioned Benjamin and the almost permanently-disillusioned Mrs. Robinson; but when the entire thing is filled with awkward and nervous dialogue that constantly repeats itself, I can’t help but think that there isn’t anything significant there. Even the ending was so abrupt and unfulfilling that I had to thank the movie version for its subtleness in revealing the characters’ realization of what they’ve done.
A truly sub-par story that was made into an above average movie, I give The Graduate 2.0 stars out of 5.
Bohemian Rhapsody
Year: 2018
Rating: PG-13
Length: 134 minutes / 2.23 hours
It’s difficult to hate a film that’s filled with so many great songs. Fortunately for Bohemian Rhapsody (2018), almost all of Queen’s greatest hits are pulled out and strung together to cover a rather large timeframe of 15 years. Of course, like most musical biopics, it does tend to hit the same notes as predecessors before it. Perhaps this is merely due to the “rock and roll” lifestyle, but I couldn’t help but see similar situations in films like De-Lovely (2004), Ray (2004), and Walk the Line (2005).
While the cultural landscape has changed a lot from the 1970s and 1980s until now, some of the film’s “reveals” that would have been a little more shocking (i.e. Freddie’s homosexuality) were perhaps lessened due to the fairly famous end of this talented singer. That being said, some of the lyrics of these well-known songs take on a strikingly more poignant context during the recreated Live Aid concert in 1985. Of course, since most of the movie focuses on Freddie Mercury (an extremely-on point Rami Malek), it was easy to also gloss over the extreme talent of Brian May (Gwilym Lee), Queen’s lead guitarist. Listen to those guitar riffs and tell me he wasn’t just as important as Freddie.
I was a little surprised to find that Bryan Singer (of X-Men (2000) movie fame) directed this film, but his unique style certainly helped bring this band’s tale to life. If anything, this film made me think a little bit more about Queen, and how there really wasn’t a band like them before, and there really hasn’t been a band like them since. Sure, there’s the shoehorned drama and the drugs and sex that inevitably come between band members, but it was still an entertaining ride, nonetheless. And the fact that I learned just a little bit more about these musicians is just icing on the cake.
A pretty standard musical biopic with some extraordinary source material, I give Bohemian Rhapsody 4.0 stars out of 5.
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: How to Edit Yourself into Print
Year: 1993
Authors: Renni Browne and Dave King
Length: 237 pages
Even though this book was published 25 years ago, its advice for aspiring authors is timeless. From those just starting to veterans still polishing their craft, Self-Editing for Fiction Writers is perhaps even more relevant today than when it was initially released. After all, the pre-eminence of self-published authors has spawned a plethora of poorly-written and amateur works that seriously need some form of editing. On the plus side, the more self-published authors who take the advice in this book and put it to good use, then perhaps there will be less of a stigma against them in the future.
Breaking down the editing process into 12 distinct parts, this book shows the reader—through numerous examples—how a lousy piece of prose can be edited into something much more palatable. That being said, there are a lot of examples, some of which take up multiple pages. Occasionally, the errors are shown in bold print, which would probably have been helpful in other sections as well, instead of relying on the reader to pick out the problems they just learned how to fix. It also would have been beneficial if the answers to the exercises were placed immediately after each section instead of in an appendix.
It is encouraging to note that this early-90s book recognizes that writing conventions change over time. While many authors want to write “the great American novel,” the definition of what that is has morphed over time as different forms of media have shaped the landscape. Despite all this, there were certainly many chapters that I was able to use to recognize weaknesses in my writing, as well as techniques that I have since become proficient in, merely to be reminded what my writing used to be like.
An excellent guide for authors of all skill levels, I give Self-Editing for Fiction Writers 4.0 stars out of 5.
A Closed and Common Orbit
Year: 2017
Author: Becky Chambers
Length: 690 minutes / 11.50 hours
After the refreshing sci-fi The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, I was ready to follow the crew of the Wayfarer to their next adventure. Unfortunately, the sequel, A Closed and Common Orbit, decided to take a path more akin to The Godfather Part II (1974). Instead of following the main characters of the first story, this sequel delved into the new life of the AI now known as Sidra, while also interspersing a quasi-related prequel story of one of the new characters introduced in this book. Fortunately, these two stories were well paced against each other.
Even though I feel readers could pick up this book without having read The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, there are certainly a few details about the diverse races found in this universe left out of this book—probably for the sake of brevity. This didn’t necessarily detract from the enjoyment of A Closed and Common Orbit, but having that previous knowledge certainly helped to bring these alien creatures to life in my mind. Still, the main characters are basically humans, so the interactions with the aliens would be the main reason to know how these creatures communicate.
While this book is only tangentially related to the one that proceeded it in the series, the universe the author has created is solid enough to support a few more additional stories like the ones found here. With fewer characters to focus on in this book, A Closed and Common Orbit was able to dive deep into some pretty heavy topics, including child slavery and artificial intelligence. The writing still retains its casual dialogue style that genuinely helped bring these few characters to life. If anything, the author’s writing is what will keep me coming back to this series.
A mostly unrelated, but still expertly written sequel, I give A Closed and Common Orbit 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Year: 2018
Rating: R
Length: 133 minutes / 2.21 hours
The Coen Brothers have a curiously innate ability to be able to create stories that can one moment be comedic and laugh-out-loud funny before taking a dark turn into tragic territory. While their latest work, the Netflix film, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018), looks like it would trend more toward comedy, it basically spends most of its time in the realm of violence and tragedy. Now don’t get me wrong: this doesn’t mean it’s a bad movie. In fact, once the first few “comedic” pieces conclude, the movie really gets into some fantastic stories.
Arranged as a series of six vignettes, the main star of The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is the setting. Filmed on location in a variety of western locales, the beauty of the scenery is on full display in each of the six stories (even if in lesser amounts in the last piece). The cinematography is superb, only barely outperformed by the acting. Whole segments could be performed without a single word spoken, thus emphasizing the vast and lonely space of the west. While some of these segments work better than others, they all bring a different facet of life in the wild frontier to the forefront of the audience’s mind.
For those looking for some classic Coen Brothers’ fare (a la Fargo (1996) or True Grit (2010)), The Ballad of Buster Scruggs should be right up their alley. This film almost seems to be a return to form for the Coen Brothers, especially after their somewhat muddled love letter to classic Hollywood, Hail, Caesar! (2016). While the anthology approach to this film was an interesting choice, I think it allowed this directing duo to really flex their range of storytelling without trying to stitch it all together in a single narrative (which is likely what made Hail, Caesar! not work as well as it could have).
A beautifully scenic and masterfully directed anthology of the old west, I give The Ballad of Buster Scruggs 4.5 stars out of 5.
Here and Now and Then
Year: 2019
Author: Mike Chen
Length: 336 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
I’ve always found time travel to be an intriguing plot device. There are plenty of rules that come along with this phenomenon, but they can be somewhat flexible based on the situation that demands it. In Here and Now and Then (which is a brilliant title, by the way), the “rules” about time travel are reasonably strict, even if there’s a fair amount of hand-waving to explain away any changes made to the timeline. While this leads to a perfectly suitable ending, there were certainly a few alternative endings that I would have liked to have seen as well.
Set in two time periods over 100 years apart, the main plotline follows Quinoa “Kin” Stewart, a time traveler from the future who was stuck in the past with no hope of returning home. Taking some advice from comedian Mitch Hedberg, “If you find yourself lost in the woods…build a house. ‘Well, I was lost, but now I live here! I have severely improved my predicament.’” Unfortunately, the rescue team shows up almost 18 years too late, and now Kin has to shift gears to return to his original life timeline. This proves to be difficult and results in some great character development.
While Here and Now and Then does add some much-needed rules to the time travel trope that make perfect sense, it doesn’t spend too much time dwelling on the science and instead focuses on the relationships and character development. I will applaud the author’s restraint to not necessarily take the most obvious paths in the story, especially as this is his debut work. In the end, there is still an amount of suspension of disbelief, but at least it was an entertaining ride.
An excellent character-driven time travel story, I give Here and Now and Then 4.5 stars out of 5.
The Elfstones of Shannara
Year: 1982
Author: Terry Brooks
Length: 1,400 minutes / 23.33 hours
Back in 2016, I saw advertisements for a TV show adaptation of the original Shannara trilogy, likely trying to cash in on the success of Game of Thrones. While I never watched the show, I remembered enough from these trailers that I was able to recognize that the plot of the first book in the series, The Sword of Shannara, was not the plot of the series. However, when I started reading the next book in the series, The Elfstones of Shannara, suddenly memories of the TV show came to mind. Having finished this book, I can see why the TV show wanted to start here.
I didn’t particularly care for the derivative Sword of Shannara, as it seemed to steal all its ideas from The Lord of the Rings. While The Elfstones of Shannara still appears to take influence from this quintessential epic fantasy, there are enough other fantasy tropes thrown in to make it feel at least somewhat more original. Plus, the strength of the story in this book merely highlighted how unnecessary The Sword of Shannara was, as it basically threw away all the main characters from that book, relegating them to “distant grandfather” status and maintaining the only truly interesting character, the druid, for this book.
The strength of The Elfstones of Shannara comes from its main plotline that finds a boy and girl on a quest to save a magical tree that is dying, thus allowing demons to re-enter the realm. All the other side stories, like the battle/war that was happening, and all the familial and political drama that went with it, I could have done without. Mostly, these minor characters and plots didn’t seem fleshed out enough for me to care. Alternatively, the main story was exciting and had pretty good pacing for a fantasy book that sometimes spends too many words on descriptions and world-building that don’t matter.
A much superior follow-up to The Sword of Shannara, I give The Elfstones of Shannara 3.5 stars out of 5.
Dreadfully Ever After
Year: 2011
Author: Steve Hockensmith
Length: 287 pages
While the original Pride and Prejudice and Zombies was a combination most people never knew they needed, apparently making it into a trilogy was the next logical conclusion. Combined with the prequel, Dawn of the Dreadfuls, Dreadfully Ever After puts the series to rest with a sequel that seems to re-hash a lot of similar ideas presented in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, but with enough connection to the prequel and at least one or two original ideas that helped to round out the characters. These new ideas were logical extrapolations from the events that concluded Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, so they weren’t necessarily shocking, but still entertaining to pull the thread nonetheless.
I think, overall, I prefer the prequel and sequel to the original Austen/monster mashup. It probably helped that both were written by the same author, who was essentially writing fan fiction based on the idea that this romantic classic could be combined with the undead. Dawn of the Dreadfuls had the problem of needing to set up Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, thereby negating any dire threats to the main characters since they would need to appear in the next book. However, Dreadfully Ever After does an excellent job of adding the complexities of marriage in proper English society in the zombie apocalypse to the mixture. Thus, this book expanded the universe instead of just poking around its never quite fully-explained origins.
In fact, one might be able to read the books on either side of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and get a coherent and satisfying story out of it. I, for one, struggled through Austen’s writing, so the more modern style presented in Dawn of the Dreadfuls and Dreadfully Ever After was a welcome change. Plus, with the ability to stray from the source material and add additional characters in both “bookend” books, there is a continuity that is satisfying to conclude in this book. In the end, though, the two books that expand the Pride and Prejudice and Zombies universe don’t ever take themselves that seriously and are a fun and silly read for anyone who had a passing fancy to get into the topic.
A fitting and silly extrapolation of the idea that Jane Austen’s book needed more gore and violence, I give Dreadfully Ever After 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Black Star of Kingston
Year: 2015
Author: S.D. Smith
Length: 160 pages
Immediately after I finished reading The Green Ember, I picked up this short story/prequel and read through it in one sitting. I had become pretty well invested in the world created in The Green Ember and wanted more of it before diving into the sequel, Ember Falls. While The Green Ember mentioned a story of The Black Star of Kingston in its main plot, I have to say that I wasn’t as impressed as I would have hoped. Sure, all the things that made The Green Ember great were mostly present in The Black Star of Kingston, but it felt a little…underdeveloped.
Once again, the strength of the plot and characters helped provide entertainment as I read this story. However, without a more comprehensive understanding of the lore of this series, I wasn’t quite sure where this story fits in with the rest of the canon. I knew it was a prequel because characters mentioned it in the first book, but did these events happen in tangent to the main backstory, or well before the fall of King Jupiter? If they happened before, how far back? It also would have been nice to have at least one setting feel familiar to the ones presented in The Green Ember.
I did also appreciate how this book—much like The Green Ember—used characters who were tradesmen first, and soldiers/sailors second. This was an element of realism that I feel is often missing in these kinds of fantasy stories. After all, people with a profession will have certain skills in battle or at sea that can come in handy. If anything, it helps to teach children that we shouldn’t always focus on war. If war happens, we should step up and fight, but we shouldn’t focus on professions of war as our primary purpose of being.
A pretty good side story that was mentioned in The Green Ember, I give The Black Star of Kingston 4.0 stars out of 5.
Alcatraz Versus the Scrivener’s Bones
Year: 2008
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Length: 425 minutes / 7.08 hours
Earlier this year, I read Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians and absolutely loved it. Consequently, I had high hopes for the next book in this series, Alcatraz Versus the Scrivener’s Bones. While there was still the same amount of self-awareness and humor in this book, it felt a little…off. Perhaps I should have read these two books closer together, but I had some trouble coming up to speed in the beginning and wasn’t entirely sure why the “goal” of this book was to find Alcatraz’s father. In any case, Sanderson’s world-building is still in top form here.
Of course, the “cute” way that this series was self-aware when I read the first book was a bit more annoying this time around. It almost felt like every chapter had to have a soliloquy, even if it didn’t link itself to where the plot was at the time—which often broke the flow of the action. Similarly, while the randomness introduced in Versus the Evil Librarians did seem to have some purpose, it seemed to have less of a purpose in this book. It felt like it was randomness for randomness sake, even if some of it did eventually come into play.
Despite the things that made the first book endearing becoming a little more grating in this book, I did enjoy the magic system, and more in-depth explanations of the lore were explored in this sequel. Things like why the main character is named Alcatraz and a better explanation of the “powers” of his family members helped round out the questions that weren’t necessarily obvious in the first book but still needed to be answered at some point anyway. The action was fantastic (if not against all laws of physics), and I wouldn’t mind seeing how the relationship between Alcatraz and Bastille develops in later books.
An amusing and well-rounded “silly fantasy,” I give Alcatraz Versus the Scrivener’s Bones 4.0 stars out of 5.
Venom
Year: 2018
Rating: PG-13
Length: 112 minutes / 1.87 hours
If I haven’t said it before in my review of Spider-man: Homecoming (2017), I’ll repeat it here: I grew up watching the 1990s animated Spider-man series, which makes the Spider-man franchise one of my favorite. Consequently, most of my knowledge of the franchise comes from the show. In my mind, the symbiote storyline that introduced Venom was one of the best in the series, and I was disappointed when Spider-man 3 (2007) woefully miscast Eddie Brock with Topher Grace. Flash forward a decade later, and the big screen is taking another crack at the Venom storyline in a standalone film…but without Spider-man.
As a long-time fan, I appreciated the mostly faithful origin story in Venom (2018), with a few minor and vital details still retained to make it close to what actually happened. This time around, Tom Hardy was a much better choice for the titular role, even if his mumbling accent was a little distracting at times. While the physique was a match, the character did still feel a little off, mostly because his primary motivation (i.e., revenge on Spider-man) was no longer there. Venom is a pretty brutal villain in the Marvel universe, but for some reason, we can’t have the main character of a superhero film be as sinister as they should be. I blame the misunderstood Thanos from Avengers: Infinity War (2018).
So, despite taking a villain and turning them into a hero, Venom still felt pretty solid, especially with the setup for an exciting sequel. Sure, some of the action was too shaky or dark to understand what was going on, but it was still well-paced. In the end, it was some pretty standard origin story superhero fare, so if you like that, you’ll be satisfied. However, I felt the after/end credits scene completely undid any of the great things this film did by teasing a potentially much better movie that hadn’t come out yet.
A standard hero film that happens to feature a former villain, I give Venom 3.0 stars out of 5.
The Green Ember
Year: 2014
Author: S.D. Smith
Length: 368 pages
On the other end of the spectrum of “fantasy rabbit” stories from Watership Down, we have The Green Ember, the first in a series that probably could have been written without the animal trappings and still been a good story. Where Watership Down had very rabbit-like characters interacting with the human world, The Green Ember has very person-like characters interacting with an animal world. Occasionally, the attributes that make the rabbits unique were used—especially in the battle sequences—but there were often moments when I forgot that these characters were rabbits.
I felt the cuteness of rabbits, and the scariness of wolves and hawks, help reach a younger audience without directly confronting them with the realities of the scary world around them. After all, if it was people vs. people in this book, then the intended audience might miss out on some of the important morals and lessons contained therein. Having a clearly evil force in opposition to the rabbits helped to define who the good guys and bad guys were, while also leaving room for traitorous rabbits—which itself feels a little odd, considering the predator/prey relationship between the two sides.
Despite some of these weaker points, The Green Ember is a fantastic story. There might be a few too many characters at points, all with slightly different names for the same individual, but the complexity of the plot is solid enough that children should be able to follow along and parents will likely also be surprised by the few twists and turns it takes. Clearly the first part in a series, The Green Ember does an excellent job of wrapping up most of the activities and subplots it started, while also presenting a somewhat clear direction for where it will go in the future.
A fantasy adventure perfect for kids and adults, I give The Green Ember 4.5 stars out of 5.
The Red Badge of Courage
Year: 1895
Author: Stephen Crane
Length: 315 minutes / 5.25 hours
War is an ugly thing full of death and destruction. While most books written today bemoan this fact and complain that wars should never start in the first place, what do the individual soldiers handle a war that they didn’t even start? Set in the Civil War, The Red Badge of Courage is perhaps the best representation of the growth of a soldier from a deserter to a courageous fighter. Our intrinsic fear of death is what motivates so many of us to do the things we do to survive. Overcoming that fear and charging headlong into battle does take a measure of courage usually not present in most people.
Stephen Crane does a fantastic job weaving the story of a young man who has to learn what it truly means to earn the titular “red badge of courage.” His prose is almost poetic as he describes the landscapes, battles, and people who were forced to endure this historic war between brothers. There’s realism to the narrative that immerses the reader into the era and the battles that helped to define the war as a whole. In the end, though, this book could almost be set during any period and any war; the themes present within it are that timeless.
While it took me this long to finally sit down and go through this book, I’m glad I finally did. I had started it many years ago but lost interest for some reason. This time around, I was able to appreciate the story based solely on the strength of Crane’s writing. I know this book is usually assigned to elementary school students at some point, but if it has escaped your “read” list as it did for me, then I would urge you to pick it up and give it a read. It won’t take long, and it’s certainly worth the time spent reading it.
A timeless classic that deals with the human side of war, I give The Red Badge of Courage 4.0 stars out of 5.
Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
Year: 2018
Rating: PG-13
Length: 94 minutes / 1.57 hours
Growing up in the late 1980s and early 1990s, I did spend a fair amount of time watching PBS. From Sesame Street to Bill Nye, one of the shows I would frequently watch was Mister Roger’s Neighborhood. Plenty of friends had raved about this documentary, so I finally decided to sit down and watch it. Let me state that most people will probably cry at one point during this movie. After all, there was so much heart present in Fred Roger’s life and profession that you can’t help but be touched by his ministry.
This documentary was a little eye-opening in the sense that it took something from my nostalgia and made me realize how groundbreaking it was. I don’t recall the more “serious” episodes, but watching clips where subjects like assassination, racism, and war are all presented in a fashion that children can understand them is astounding. Fred never talked down to the kids; he merely made them realize that their fears are valid and normal. I also had no idea that he was a man of faith and used his beliefs to influence the shape of the show. Of course, he was incredibly genuine as a person that it makes sense when you think about it.
My one qualm with this film is that it was almost too short. Sure, there was plenty of ground to cover, but it almost felt like it only touched the surface on so many facets of the man and the show. There were certainly moments where I thought, “Oh, I want to learn more about that,” or “I wonder how this was handled,” and the movie never really got into it much. And perhaps the other part of the problem is that there wasn’t that much drama with Fred as a person. He was always this soft-spoken man who preached love and inclusion, never deviating from these Christian tenets for the entirety of his life. Sure, it might be boring, but I doubt anyone could live a life like that now without at least breaking a few times.
A broad look at everyone’s favorite neighbor, I give Won’t You Be My Neighbor? 4.0 stars out of 5.
Arlo Finch in the Lake of the Moon
Year: 2019
Author: John August
Length: 384 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
As a Boy Scout that grew up in northern Colorado, I was a little surprised to read a book like this that was able to combine the supernatural elements that would fit well in the Harry Potter universe with the pseudo-military structure and trappings of the scouting program. Of course, I’m also kicking myself for not writing these books myself first, because the two elements combine so well that the fusion is natural and fun to read. The icing on the cake was having the main character go to a summer camp with a “Redfeather Lake” and a layout that seemed suspiciously similar to the Ben Delatour Scout Ranch that I regularly visited when I was a scout.
Coming in on the second book of this series, I didn’t feel too out of the loop with what had happened in the previous entry. The events were mentioned frequently enough that I could get a sense of the plot of the first book. This was still done in a way that didn’t spend too much time in former exposition and added to the plot of this particular book. Unfortunately, I felt there might have been some explanations included in the first book that left me with unanswered questions by the end of this one. For instance, how do no adults know about these supernatural elements of the Ranger program? Surely there are pamphlets and books that they can obtain/read since their children are participating in the program. I know I’d be a suspicious parent if the Boy Scouts suddenly had an “Invisible Creatures” merit badge.
While I also felt the co-ed nature of the Rangers was approached in a utopian nature, I can understand that the realities of the hormone-fueled teenage years could have made this a more mature book not intended for the middle-grade and younger young adult crowd. Overall, though, there was plenty of mystery, excitement, and creative ideas explored that I wouldn’t mind checking out the first book in this series, let alone any subsequent entries.
A perfect blending of Boy Scouts and Harry Potter, I give Arlo Finch in the Lake of the Moon 4.0 stars out of 5.
Ender in Exile
Year: 2008
Author: Orson Scott Card
Length: 823 minutes / 13.72 hours
When it comes to the Ender saga, I was excited to read the direct sequel to Ender’s Game, Ender in Exile. After all, Speaker for the Dead was set so far after the events in Ender’s Game that there was a distinct division between the first book in the series and the following three (almost like The Hobbit when compared to The Lord of the Rings). And yet, while there was a huge gap between the first two books of the Ender saga, there was enough explanation about what had happened between them that Ender in Exile seemed a little unnecessary.
My biggest problem with this book was that I haven’t started on the Shadow spinoff series, so a lot of the revelations presented in this book essentially spoiled those books for me. If you’re wondering when to read Ender in Exile, I’d suggest reading Ender’s Game, followed by the Shadow saga, and then read this book before continuing to the end of the Ender saga with Speaker for the Dead. I’ll still read the Shadow series, mostly because I want to know the details of these other characters’ lives, but now I have an idea what the twists will be.
Despite telling a story that perhaps doesn’t need to be told, I am still impressed with Orson Scott Card’s ability to write plots that require a lot of tough decisions on behalf of the characters. I also enjoy how strategic Ender and Graff are when dealing with circumstances that I’m sure most sci-fi authors would never think to include in their stories. In the end, while I have raved about the main Ender series, this feels a bit tacked on and only exists to explain away a few continuity errors that were present in the first books before they expanded into the universe they now inhabit.
The direct sequel to Ender’s Game that didn’t necessarily need to be written, I give Ender in Exile 3.5 stars out of 5.
Forrest Gump
Year: 1994
Rating: PG-13
Length: 142 minutes / 2.36 hours
For the longest time, I had only seen pieces of Forrest Gump (1994). After watching it in fits and starts, I finally sat down and watched the whole thing in one go probably ten years ago. Upon re-watching this Best Picture-winner, I realized how it has maintained its cultural appeal for so long. After all, it’s not necessarily a story about a slow southern boy; it’s the story of history and the story of America. That’s not to say it doesn’t have its faults, but they’re relatively minor compared to the impact of the rest of the film.
What’s perhaps the most impressive part of Forrest Gump is the visual effects. From digitally inserting the titular character into archival footage to removing a Vietnam War soldier’s legs, even knowing these computer-aided elements are there doesn’t hinder how real they look. Although, being able to match the visual tone and style of several decades was equally as impressive. It’s almost laughable how one character could be a coincidental part of so many iconic events of the late 1900’s, but I suppose that’s a lot of the charm of this film.
My one qualm with this movie also aligns with the spot in the plot where I generally used to stop watching. When the main character starts running across the country with no apparent supplies (water, food, etc.), my suspension of disbelief was broken. If anything, it was only meant as a chance to show off American geography (and move the timeline forward a few years), whereas the previous two hours was primarily American history. Some might also fault Jenny’s (Robin Wright) poor life decisions as well, but I think it’s merely indicative of what can happen to people who are sexually abused as children.
A charming romp through modern American history, I give Forrest Gump 4.5 stars out of 5.
This film appears in the following posts:
Cinema Connections #004. Robert Zemeckis
Cinema Connections #005. Integrated History
The Astronaut’s Son
Year: 2018
Author: Tom Seigel
Length: 232 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
While the modern landscape for space exploration is expanding in ways that are very exciting, it’s interesting to read a story set in the early 2000’s that actually accomplishes something that hasn’t happened in decades: landing on the moon. And yet, this part of the plot of The Astronaut’s Son takes a minor role when compared with the primary thrust of the story. Sure, I would have thought that there would be plenty of things to occupy an astronaut’s time in the lead-up to a significant accomplishment, but apparently, there’s plenty of free time to explore the validity of a conspiracy theory.
I’ll admit that I never thought that there would be Nazi sympathizers in the space program, but The Astronaut’s Son brings up a few interesting and perhaps semi-plausible ideas. These are explored via the main character’s investigation as to whether his father’s sudden death would was truly due to a health condition that could affect him during his own mission, or if it was due to more sinister circumstances. Despite not ever seeming to deliver straight answers, the journey was still exciting and entertaining. The story may be fictional, but there did seem to be some deep-seated elements that had the possibility of being true, thus helping to suspend my disbelief.
Some of the other subplots, like the birth of a child and numerous characters’ marital infidelities, were interesting for character development, even if I thought they would have affected the main plot more than they did. After all, wouldn’t it be more interesting if there wasn’t even a genetic link between the main character and his father after all? At any rate, I was certainly blown away by this book at first, and it wowed me with its writing and style. However, if you think too much about it, you’ll start to realize there are some holes in it that can’t entirely be covered up, regardless of its entertainment value.
An interesting and perhaps plausible exploration of Germans and Jews in the space program, I give The Astronaut’s Son 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Long Cosmos
Year: 2016
Author: Terry Pratchett & Stephen Baxter
Length: 742 minutes / 12.37 hours
By the time I reached the end of the Long Earth series, I had a revelation. With the bounding conditions of the universe being that there are multiple worlds accessible via stepping and that no iron can pass between worlds, the ideas to explore these multiple worlds are almost endless. My revelation was that this series would have been better as an anthology of short stories from a collection of authors, instead of a handful of semi-disjointed novels that didn’t ever quite know what they were doing. The story never shined through, instead of feeling like a distracted three-year-old who wants to explore the potential of other worlds.
While I felt the series was starting to succeed in telling coherent and solid plots, this book removed that forward progress. When nearly one-third of the first part of the book seems to be comprised entirely of summary and recaps of the last four books, you know there’s not a lot of original ideas present in this one. And while minor tangents like the Johnny Shakespeare side-plot were amusing, they were loosely connected to the main plot at best. Even this main plot didn’t feel like it had enough time spent on it, as the main character of Joshua Valienté seemed to spend most of his time distracted on other worlds with unique trees instead of exploring the Long Cosmos that this book was supposed to be describing.
Even though this book was released after Terry Pratchett’s death, it was clear he still had some of his influence on the plot and characters. Unfortunately, as was the case in the other books of the series, his contributions seemed to be fairly obvious, as they were the ones that didn’t quite fit in with everything else and just managed to be silly in an otherwise scientific exploration of new worlds.
The final book in a series that should have been an anthology, I give The Long Cosmos 2.5 stars out of 5.
First Man
Year: 2018
Rating: PG-13
Length: 141 minutes / 2.35 hours
I’ll admit: I’m already a fan of Damien Chazelle. I’m not sure if it’s because he’s only a few months older than I am, or if it’s how I can personally relate to the subjects of his films. I understand the obsession he covered in Whiplash (2014). I can relate to the dreams of creative individuals he brought to light in La La Land (2016). Now, Chazelle has used his filmmaking talent to cover another topic I have a great interest in: space. First Man (2018) feels like a film that’s been waiting for the right director to come along, and Damien Chazelle hit it out of the park.
Lying somewhere between The Right Stuff (1983) and Apollo 13 (1995), with a little bit of Interstellar (2014) thrown in as well for style, First Man does a fantastic job of showing how dangerous the missions that landed us on the moon really were. There seemed to be an adherence to realism in this film that helped to convey how claustrophobic, terrifying, and risky these few dozen missions were. The fact that we even successfully pulled off the “moon shot” is a testament to the engineers that made the program succeed.
While the segments set in outer space help to define the film’s three-act structure, following Neil Armstrong (Ryan Gosling) from test pilot to Gemini VIII to Apollo 11, they are the breathtaking set pieces that give this movie its strength. Consequently, some of the moments on the ground seemed a little slow in comparison. Granted, these moments felt quite intimate as the audience is shown how private and introverted Armstrong was and how he dealt with the stress of work and family. After all, I think we often forget how the multiple deaths of astronaut co-workers can affect the rest of the team and their families.
A personal, gripping, and realistic look at what got us to the moon, I give First Man 4.5 stars out of 5.
The Invasion of Heaven
Year: 2013
Author: Michael B. Koep
Length: 416 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
Every once in a while, I come across an idea so original that it makes me stand up and take notice. These are the ideas that make me wonder why nobody had thought of it before. While the execution of the concept might be stylistically similar to other authors, the core of it is purely imaginative. For the most part, The Invasion of Heaven is such a book. The idea that art can literally affect a person’s mental and/or physical reality is quite a novel concept. Even if the style might be a little bit toward Dan Brown’s Robert Langdon series, The Invasion of Heaven is still original enough to stand on its own.
While I did mostly enjoy this book, there were a few curious choices that soured my experience. The handful of formatting/proofreading errors aside, and ignoring some of the pacing issues (some chapters were way too long), I wasn’t entirely keen on the framing of the plot. I mean, if we’re reading about someone reading this book, then I would have thought it would have been used more thoroughly than a few spots here and there at the beginning and sparingly (if at all) near the end. The book just doesn’t read quite like I’m reading along with someone’s account of events. I’m also somewhat confused by the double-twist ending as well, and I don’t think it landed quite as well as it could have.
There are numerous strengths to this tome, though, that overcome its few weaknesses. From the handwritten flare included at the start of chapters and in a few spots throughout, to the well placed and somewhat believable twists (aside from the final one, which was telegraphed from the start), The Invasion of Heaven is an entertaining read by any standard. Perhaps the thing that stood out the most, though, was the reasonably accurate depiction of mental illness and what it looks like to outside observers. This is often done in a way that merely uses stereotypes, but this book does it in a way that’s eerily real.
An original concept with almost flawless execution, I give The Invasion of Heaven 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Long Utopia
Year: 2015
Author: Terry Pratchett & Stephen Baxter
Length: 725 minutes / 12.08 hours
After the events that take place in The Long Mars, I was expecting the next book in the series, The Long Utopia, to be about the CEO of the Black Corporation and the settlement he established to help him live longer. Instead, I got a story that had little to no connection to the previous plots. That being said, at least there was a story with a projected conclusion instead of merely a series of random events that eventually led to the sudden destruction of some location (as had been the case up until now).
While I did appreciate some of the back-story for Joshua Valienté, there wasn’t anything in Joshua’s behavior or motivations in any of the previous books that indicated that he was even interested in learning about his past. I also was pleased that some of the “limitations” of this universe were brought back, or at least provided as a reminder to the reader. It honestly doesn’t make sense to me that these parallel worlds would have the kind of technology available to them without the use of iron. The fact that the material workarounds were never explained is probably the most frustrating part to me.
As I mentioned already, the stronger story in this book helped keep me invested in the characters, not only as they tried to figure out what was happening, but as they tried to determine how to stop it. Unfortunately, none of the consequences in this universe seem to hold any weight. Lobsang can “die,” but there are still plenty other versions of him around. The Next can be mostly exterminated, but then the next book just glosses over the attempted genocide. In the end, though, I can’t honestly tell you what the titular “Utopia” of this book was, and that’s disappointing.
A slightly above-average chapter in the Long Earth series, I give The Long Utopia 3.0 stars out of 5.
The Accountant
Year: 2016
Rating: R
Length: 128 minutes / 2.13 hours
When this movie came out a few years ago, I missed watching it because it seemed like just another generic action-spy film. Sure, the main character might be smart, leading to his professional “skills” (in more than one realm), but the trailers never really hinted at the reason for this attention to detail. Having now seen it, The Accountant takes an interesting approach to the action-spy genre while also including a number of twists that were as satisfying to figure out ahead of time as they were to see revealed on the screen.
I will say that the plot of The Accountant was sometimes confusing, but only because I felt like they glossed over some plot holes and leaps in logic. Even if I was asking myself, “Hey, what about . . . ?” I didn’t have much time to dwell on it. The somewhat frenetic pacing of the movie helped to push the plot forward to some well-done revelations that had just enough foreshadowing to be fulfilling. I also wasn’t completely sold that the Treasury Department was functioning more like the CIA in regards to this federal manhunt. Either way, the strength of the rest of the film helped to gloss over these rough bits.
The highlight of The Accountant, I think, is the main character, portrayed by Ben Affleck. In a world that’s trending ever forward toward full inclusion, this character’s particular condition could undoubtedly lend itself to the attentiveness needed for accounting, as well as fast-paced action sequences. I do worry that the representation of this condition might be more along the lines of the stereotypes usually associated with it, but I think it also shows that such a condition can be lived with and used as an advantage. At the very least, it lent itself to a few hilarious moments as the main character didn’t necessarily know how to deal with the people around him.
A satisfying twist to the action-spy genre, I give The Accountant 4.5 stars out of 5.
The Descendants
Year: 2007
Author: Kaui Hart Hemmings
Length: 550 minutes / 9.17 hours
On paper, the plot of The Descendants almost sounds like a bad soap opera. A man who has the deciding vote that could mean wealth for him and his extended family is dealing with an unfaithful wife who is in a life-threatening coma. The execution of this plot, however, brings so much humanity to the forefront that I wouldn’t be surprised if any of these events were real. While I loved the movie adaptation of this book, the first-person narrative of the book helped add so much more depth to the story. It’s difficult to get into the main character’s head when there’s no internal monologue like in the movie.
Of course, with such realistic and vulnerable characters, there were bound to be a few that I didn’t like. Ironically enough, I hated the comatose wife. Sure, her husband was probably a bit of a workaholic, but he always meant well and was practically saint-like in his dealings with her, her family, and her friends after her accident. I think the most significant part of my dislike of the wife was how much she seemed to screw up her kids. Throughout almost the entire book, the main character is trying to control his out-of-control daughters, and it becomes abundantly clear where they got their tendency for poor life decisions.
In the end, I probably wouldn’t like the wife character if I met her in real life, which is why I didn’t like her in this book. That says a lot about the realism of the writing here. To be able to create a character that I reacted to on an emotional level (even if it was a negative emotion), with nothing more than what other characters said or remembered about her speaks volumes to the author’s talent. If anything, the contrast of the main character was heightened because of it and showed how noble and upstanding his actions were in the midst of crisis and significant life changes.
An expertly-written book full of juicy drama, I give The Descendants 4.5 stars out of 5.
Christopher Robin
Year: 2018
Rating: PG
Length: 104 minutes / 1.73 hours
Tell me if you’ve heard this one before: a child from a famous story grows up into a businessman who doesn’t have time for his family but eventually comes to face his lack of work/life balance by revisiting the fantastical world of his childhood. If you thought this was the plot of Hook (1991), you’d be right. Unfortunately, it is also the almost-identical plot to the Winnie the Pooh sequel, Christopher Robin (2018). I’d forgive its unoriginality only if I knew who the audience for it was. Is it a morality tale for overworked parents? Is it a lesson for kids to never take work seriously? I honestly don’t know.
I will say that Disney did a good job bringing the stuffed animals of the original story to life in this live-action adaptation, except that I was pretty shocked to find out that Rabbit (Peter Capaldi) and Owl (Toby Jones) were actual animals, and not of the stuffed variety. I suppose that’s bound to happen when the leap to live-action happens. The musical cues to the original song for Winnie the Pooh were a nice nostalgic touch, even if kids who haven’t seen the original wouldn’t necessarily know the reference.
What was weird to me was how this film was shot. It would probably only take a few hours for a talented editor with a suite of creepy music to turn this movie into a horror thriller (with all the jump scares to go with it). I get that there’s this sense of death after Christopher Robin (Ewan McGregor) was away from the Hundred Acre Wood for so long, but maybe don’t dwell on it so long . . . the children are scared and crying.
An unoriginal and semi-odd take on a beloved children’s classic, I give Christopher Robin 2.5 stars out of 5.
When God Winks at You
Year: 2000
Author: Squire Rushnell
Length: 240 pages
A few months ago, I received an e-mail from my mother that passed along a suggestion from my grandmother that I read this book. While not a long book by any means, my wife and I read a story each night after dinner and finished it in a few months. Basically, this collection of inspiring stories goes so far as to suggest that all the fortuitous coincidences we experience in our lives are evidence of a loving and all-powerful Creator. As a Christian, I did see most of these stories as supernaturally-influenced, even if my scientific mind was skeptical at times.
Separating the coincidental with the God-influenced can be difficult. While some stories seemed like mere coincidence, there were still quite a few contained in this volume that had no other explanation other than God showing off what He can do. Collected into a few different categories, many of these stories had us in tears as they were filled with touching moments that spoke to our ability as individuals to be God’s vessels to impart His timing in the lives of others, either to save their lives or to bring blessing into them.
In the end, the book does highlight how our lives can either be seen as a series of coincidences or as God-inspired plans. If we live our lives with the mindset that any lucky break or prescient reminder is just random chance, then we might miss out on some of the truly spectacular coincidences that have no other explanation than being orchestrated by a higher power. On the other hand, if we recognize even the smallest connections in our lives as God acting through the slightest details, we can be comforted in the fact that He cares about us, even down to the minutia.
A little book filled with inspirational stories, I give When God Winks 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Long Mars
Year: 2014
Author: Terry Pratchett & Stephen Baxter
Length: 723 minutes / 12.05 hours
While the previous two entries in this series seemed to be disjointed in their writing styles, The Long Mars seemed to iron out some of these discrepancies . . . finally. In The Long Earth and The Long War, you could almost pinpoint the sections that Terry Pratchett wrote and the sections primarily written by Stephen Baxter. By The Long Mars, there are still a few moments of Terry Pratchett’s goofiness, but they are few and far between. Consequently, the narrative of The Long Mars seemed a lot more consistent than its predecessors.
Of course, this doesn’t necessarily mean that The Long Mars is absent of problems. While there was plenty of exploration of these parallel universes, the ones that were deemed necessary enough to describe didn’t add anything to the plot. In fact, I felt like this book could have been much shorter if these thought experiments that explored how parallel universes would function were cut out entirely. If these momentary breaks in the action were tied to critical moments or conflicts, then I could see their necessity. As they are right now, you could remove almost every one of them and still have the same basic story.
The scientist in me did like the broader examination of what to do with multiple universes, like easily visiting Mars. These concepts were touched on in the previous books, but now they felt a lot more fleshed out. Similarly, I felt like the characters were a lot more interesting, especially the dynamic between Sally and her father. Sure, there were probably a few too many plotlines to follow, but at least I cared about the characters now. I’m also not sure if the ending was supposed to mimic its predecessors, as that was one of my frustrations with The Long War: an almost identical ending to The Long Earth.
A significant improvement in the Long Earth series, I give The Long Mars 3.5 stars out of 5.
Kingsman: The Golden Circle
Year: 2017
Rating: R
Length: 141 minutes / 2.35 hours
Back when I saw Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014), I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I was familiar with Matthew Vaughn’s previous directorial work (like Kick-Ass (2010)), so I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised at how much sex and graphic violence was involved. I was quite impressed by the church fight sequence, but everything felt so over-the-top and ridiculous that I couldn’t take it seriously. Flash forward to its sequel, Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017). This time, I came in with a slightly different understanding that made me enjoy this movie quite a bit more than its predecessor.
I think the fact that The Secret Service was somewhat derivative of the “coming of age” stories in films like Men in Black (1997) and Ender’s Game (2013) was why I wasn’t necessarily wowed by it. However, with the origin story out of the way, The Golden Circle managed to hit the ground running and proved to be an entertaining romp. Once I realized this franchise is based on the comic books of the same name, I was a bit more forgiving of its cartoonish action and characters. After all, the ridiculous nature of the villains in this series was turned up to the extreme during this outing.
In terms of the action, there were quite a few good set pieces in a similar vein of the church scene and bar scene in the first film, which I appreciated. The addition of a sister organization in the form of the Statesmen was an amusing development, and I enjoyed the numerous cameos by well-known actors, even if most of them felt wasted for how little they were included in this film. In the end, The Golden Circle ramped up the camp and delivered on an entertaining movie that was as hilarious as it was exciting.
A sequel that maximizes the ridiculous elements that worked in the first film, I give Kingsman: The Golden Circle 4.0 stars out of 5.
My Little Ikigai Journal
Year: 2018
Author: Amanda Kudo
Length: 128 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
A few years ago, I had heard a little snippet about Ikigai and thought it was a great way to focus a person’s life. Essentially, Ikigai is the Japanese concept that combines four qualities of a person’s passion and concentrates them into a productive and meaningful life. The four tenets of Ikigai are the things a person loves, the talents where the person excels, the individual’s worldview, and a recognition of where the person can make a difference in the world. At the center of all four of these ideas is the concept of Ikigai.
This book is a handy journal that provides some exercises for the reader to help them consider these aspects of their life and how they can find their Ikigai. Each page either has an encouraging quote that ties to one of the four Ikigai pillars or a question for the reader to fill in an answer that will help them understand their Ikigai a little better. The style and aesthetic of this book is relatively chic, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. While this journal is likely meant to be used on a daily basis, a dedicated reader can probably fill it out in a couple of hours.
My one qualm with this journal is that it didn’t guide the reader toward their Ikigai. I already had a bit of a sense of what my Ikigai was, but since the four parts are a little disjointed, it would be hard to pick it out if you didn’t already know it. I think it would have helped to have a summary after each section to then pick the strongest element of a person’s life that meets the definition of one of the four pillars of Ikigai, so that way the reader could reach the end of the journal and have a reasonably certain understanding of their Ikigai.
An aesthetically chic journal to help the reader find their purpose in life, I give My Little Ikigai Journal 4.0 stars out of 5.
One Hundred Years of Solitude
Year: 1967
Author: Gabriel García Márquez
Length: 844 minutes / 14.07 hours
I’ll admit: I didn’t really “get” this book. I had seen a TED-Ed YouTube video that told me how great it was, and I decided to give it a try. While there were parts that were entertaining, most of this book went over my head. I suppose if I understood Columbian history and the culture of Central and South America, I might have had a better grasp of what was going on. As it was, I felt lost most of the time and kind of wonder what makes it so highly-recommended.
Perhaps my biggest qualm with this book is how its narrative structure is laid out. There’s practically no dialogue, and it’s basically told in the form of a parable or fairy tale. There are a lot of characters, but their names were so similar that I had trouble keeping track of them all. I get they’re all part of the same family, but having to remember so many individuals and the familial connections to each other was a struggle. I also felt a little lost because there wasn’t a strong narrative thread tying everything together other than the fact that it all took place in the same small town.
This is not to say One Hundred Years of Solitude has no merit, though. Some of the elements of “magical realism” were interesting and could have been the solid base of their own stories instead of being jammed together in this book. The pacing of this book was also pretty peppy, as it didn’t seem to linger too long with one character, realizing that it had many generations to cover. Even though it’s considered a classic (much like Ulysses), I’m not sure if I agree, and I am certainly welcome to my opinion as you are welcome to yours.
A much better book for those who are “in the know,” I give One Hundred Years of Solitude 3.0 stars out of 5.
Mission: Impossible – Fallout
Year: 2018
Rating: PG-13
Length: 147 minutes / 2.45 hours
It’s a little weird to think that we’re already on the sixth Mission: Impossible movie, especially considering how far the franchise has come since (what I consider) its revival in Mission: Impossible III (2006). Since then, the action has been consistently impressive and the stunts mind-bogglingly intense. Fallout continues to provide on this franchise’s promise of high-octane action and neat spy tech, even if the latter doesn’t seem to be nearly as impressive as in its previous installments. Ironically enough, one of the problems I had with this movie was how it tried to interweave plot from previous films in the franchise.
I’ll be honest and say that I don’t watch these movies for the plot. Sure, I’ll follow along to see how the team has to accomplish the “impossible” in the form of setting up a ridiculous stunt. From scaling tall buildings in Dubai, accessing computer servers underwater, and hanging above the floor of a highly secure room, these set pieces were always what drew me to this series. The main characters were pretty memorable, but I honestly couldn’t tell you about any of the tangential characters, especially the previous villains or love interests. And that’s where Fallout lost me.
While this film was also jam-packed with action, I also felt there was probably one sequence too many, and each of the action scenes were probably 10% too long. It was a bit exhausting having to sit through almost 2.5 hours of bathroom fights, car chases, and helicopter acrobatics. The stunts do look quite impressive, and it is clear that Cruise does most (if not all) of the stunts here. Although, at this point, I’m wondering if Cruise has it in his contract for this series to have his “running” scenes in these movies, as it seems to be an additional trademark of the franchise.
A Mission: Impossible film that almost has too much action and too much plot, I give Mission: Impossible – Fallout 3.5 stars out of 5.
Beyond the Checkup from Birth to Age Four: A Pediatrician’s Guide to Calm, Confident Parenting
Year: 2018
Author: Luke Voytas
Length: 288 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
While I do not have children yet, I am doing my best to prepare my knowledge for when they do become a part of my life. Consequently, books like Beyond the Checkup seem to be a perfect resource for parents, as it is written by a pediatrician. That being said, I think I’m probably a little biased in wanting an older, more grandfatherly pediatrician writing books like this. After all, a lifetime of experience seems to speak more than just 15-years-worth of it.
Regarding the book’s content, Luk Voytas does a reasonably good job of presenting the big problems that might come up in a child’s first four years. While he does use scientific studies to back up his suggestions, there are some instances where it’s unclear whether or not there is any science behind his opinion, or if it’s his own personal thoughts. I did appreciate the “case studies” in the back of the book, as I could see each of the ailments contained therein being something I’d want to reference in case it would happen with my child.
My only other qualms with this book have to do with the “asides” and the gender of the baby being referenced. Occasionally, Voytas will have a box with a little bit of extra information about a topic, but these boxes will often break the flow of a paragraph and seem to be more in the way than they should be. I also didn’t particularly like how Voytas switched between male and female pronouns to describe the generic “baby” that the reader should have. I’d either say be consistently male or consistently female or at the very least use gender-neutral pronouns to describe the reader’s baby.
An OK reference for parents with or expecting babies, I give Beyond the Checkup 3.0 stars out of 5.
Sideways
Year: 2004
Author: Rex Pickett
Length: 665 minutes / 11.08 hours
When I got into this book, the only things I knew about it were that it was about wine and it was made into a movie of the same name by Alexander Payne. Unfortunately, unlike a good wine, this book doesn’t seem to have aged well. Maybe people were able to put up with buddy comedy sex romps back in the early 2000’s, but the social climate has changed considerably since then. I doubt a book like this would be written today, at least without some outcry from people who find the women in it to be inherently objectified.
Most of my issue with this book comes down to the characters. I’ll give the author credit for creating individuals that made me react to them so vehemently. The problem is that I hated these characters. I hated Jack for being so sex-crazed that he felt obligated to satiate his urges mere days before his wedding. I hated Miles for being the stereotypical alcoholic failing author. If you wanted a template for poor life decisions, I think these two characters would fit the bill. There wasn’t much (if any) redemption in either of their story arcs, and both of them just seemed to enable their worse selves.
In the end, this book is supposed to be a comedy. At least, it’s a comedy in the sense that it ended with a wedding (as most comedic plays and musicals usually do). Sure, it’s filled with witty banter and some good stretches of natural dialogue, but there was hardly any vulnerability of the characters to give them any grounding. One moment near the end briefly pulled away to let Miles reminisce, but I would have liked some more consequences that would have forced both men to change for the better. And maybe that’s the point: real life doesn’t work that way, and I hate that there are real men out there who have these very same faults.
Terrible people in somewhat amusing situations, I give Sideways 2.5 stars out of 5.
Incredibles 2
Year: 2018
Rating: PG
Length: 118 minutes / 1.97 hours
Before we start, I have to say that The Incredibles (2004) is perhaps my favorite Pixar film. Back when superhero films were starting to become successful (albeit, not nearly as lucratively successful as the Marvel Cinematic Universe), The Incredibles artfully blended a superhero film with a family/midlife crisis plot that worked on so many levels. It is then no surprise that I was truly looking forward to its sequel, Incredibles 2 (2018). In the back of my head, I knew that most of Pixar’s talent had switched over to Disney about eight years ago, but I hoped enough of the original team would be around to make this sequel something special.
Unfortunately, time seems to have worked against Incredibles 2. If this had come out ten years ago, it would have enjoyed some of the originality that comes with beating the Marvel behemoth out of the gate. As it is now, I’m not sure if Incredibles 2 is directly referencing these movies (like Watchmen (2009)), or if it’s just stuck in the shadow of its predecessors (like Iron Man 3 (2013)). What’s perhaps more disturbing is that the cartoony aesthetic for the characters established in the first film is now straddling that uncanny valley to the point that this movie almost looks like Dreamworks’ Megamind (2010).
While all the neat bits from the first film made an encore in this movie, it’s a little disappointing that they didn’t build any character development into it. Sure, you could say the Mr. Mom (1983) bit was new, but it still centered around Mr. Incredible’s (Craig T. Nelson) pride like the first film. There was a bit of re-balancing that was nice, including more action sequences and a spot-on score by Michael Giacchino that improves on the original. In the end, I wanted to like Incredibles 2 more, but perhaps my nostalgia is wearing off.
A second outing for The Incredibles that comes a decade too late, I give Incredibles 2 3.5 stars out of 5.
The Bridge
Year: 2018
Author: Jim Frishkey
Length: 240 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
I’ll be honest when I say that I entered the giveaway for this book based on the attractive cover and the premise. Unfortunately, the book delivered on neither (it says it’s a “mystery,” but it had none of that either). There are too many amateur mistakes in this book for me to take any of it seriously. Some of these mistakes are so frustrating that I can’t honestly recommend this book to anyone. It’s a bit sad because a story featuring the spawn of Hitler would probably be pretty interesting. Maybe these interesting stories were in the previous four books, but judging on the errors in this one, I don’t want to read them.
Let’s start with the formatting: it’s a mess. Right-aligned text, odd gaps in the paragraphs, and even some text that’s gray for some reason. Moving on to the proofreading errors, they are sprinkled enough through the manuscript to be annoying when they pop up. Finally, there were quite a few continuity and factual errors that were glaring enough that any editor should have caught them. Overall, this book felt rushed, and it didn’t seem to go through much, if any, editing prior to being self-published.
Despite this, there were even more frustrating aspects to this book. First, the main character just had events happen to him, most of which made no sense unless this is a midlife crisis fantasy. [SPOILERS] “You’re traveling on a bus and stopped for a break? Here, have a puppy!” “You’re a grizzled and quiet former spy? Here, have women half your age sleep with you!” “You just happened to find a secret mercenary group? Here, have a job!” [END SPOILERS] Secondly, while some of the details like travel time were nice to know, they were presented in the “tell” form and not the “show” form. Plus, it almost seemed like the specific brand names of so many things were included for advertising rights purposes. Third, the current president should have just been named outright. If there’s name-dropping of former presidents, then it’s no question which administration is being referenced here (maybe it’s to hide the straight-up slander). Finally, there’s no way that a 65-year old (at least!) daughter of Hitler looks and acts like a 40-something vixen.
A disappointing book that still needs a lot of work, I give The Bridge 1.0 stars out of 5.
Ajax Penumbra 1969
Year: 2013
Author: Robin Sloan
Length: 109 minutes / 1.82 hours
As I said in my review of Sourdough, I absolutely adored Robin Sloan’s debut work, Mr. Penumbra’s 24-hour Bookstore. Since Sourdough didn’t necessarily sate my appetite, I found Ajax Penumbra 1969 to be a light snack that brought me back into the world created by Sloan. Acting as a bit of a short story/novella prequel to the first book, Ajax Penumbra 1969 still maintains the themes common in Sloan’s work: mainly, the combination and juxtaposition of analog and digital technology. In this case, the reader just happens to come across this dichotomy in 1969.
Following the titular character from the first book, Ajax Penumbra 1969 gives the origins of this mysterious character as he searches for answers and eventually ends up in San Francisco at a little 24-hour bookstore. The following mystery and intrigue are what I would expect from such a story, but the inclusion of the budding technological aspects of the late 1960’s helped to show that not only was this character finding his way to an eventual life filled with books, but technology’s infancy already had much potential at this early stage of development.
It’s a little difficult to say much about this short story/novella since it didn’t even take a full two hours to listen to. At any rate, it’s a fun little side story for those who had picked up Sloan’s first work and fell in love with the ideas and characters presented therein. While not necessarily a book that most people would pick up and read without having already read Mr. Penumbra’s 24-hour Bookstore, Ajax Penumbra 1969 is required reading for anyone like myself who has become enamored with Sloan’s writing style over the last few years.
A fitting prequel to the events of Mr. Penumbra’s 24-hour Bookstore, I give Ajax Penumbra 1969 4.0 stars out of 5.
Ant-Man and the Wasp
Year: 2018
Rating: PG-13
Length: 118 minutes / 1.97 hours
I’ll be the first to defend Ant-Man (2015) from its detractors. Once I realized it was supposed to be a comedy (mostly due to Edgar Wright’s early involvement), I knew the superhero aspect would take a back seat to the laughs. That being said, I cannot defend the honor of its sequel. Sure, a lot of the elements that made Ant-Man entertaining are still present in Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018), but it’s really more of a standard superhero film that’s meant to answer questions brought up in previous films.
While this film picks up well after the events of this first film and Captain America: Civil War (2016), not a lot has changed. The main characters are all there, but now Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) also has a shrinking suit. This is no surprise, considering the after-credits scene from the first movie, so it was nice to see her get into the action rather quickly. Similarly, due to the events of Ant-Man, Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) realizes his wife is still alive and sets out to find her and rescue her from the quantum realm. Essentially, this sequel is wrapping up all the loose ends present in the first film.
Part of the problem of this movie being less of a comedy (even with Michal Pena’s awesome “narration bit” again making an appearance), is that it needs to be viewed as a superhero film. Unfortunately, while the new “villain” has a neat power, she wasn’t that compelling. Even the mafia-type villains were mostly there for so-so comic relief. In the end, Ant-Man and the Wasp tried to do too much with three different storylines all competing for screen time. Sure, there was an emphasis of balancing personal life with superhero life (a la Spider-man: Homecoming (2017)), but it all felt flat in comparison to what eventually needed to happen based on the events of Avengers: Infinity War (2018).
A movie that ties up loose ends and not much else, I give Ant-Man and the Wasp 2.5 stars out of 5.
The Interpretation of Dreams
Year: 1899
Author: Sigmund Freud
Length: 736 pages
Years ago, I tried picking up this book and reading it so I could become educated about dreams and their interpretations. Back then, I lost interest within the first hundred pages. This time, as I prepare to write my own fictional series of books about dreams and the parallel world they inhabit, I was much more focused and able to finish this daunting book. While many will say what they will about Freud and his theories, this book was the definitive and groundbreaking work that helped us all understand a little more of what influences our dreams.
Written mostly as an academic examination of the influencing factors of dreams, Freud includes a plentitude of examples from his patients and his own life to help prove his point. This can be a little tedious at times, as it feels like he’s banging the reader over the head with multiple examples that don’t add much to the explanation. Of course, Freud does go on to reference these examples in later sections of the book, which is why they are so heavily weighted toward the front of the text.
While this book isn’t meant to be used as a reference to understand the direct meanings of specific dream elements, it does provide some thoughtful reasoning behind some of the most common ones like falling, appearing naked in public, and the “school dream.” That being said, the more I read, the more I realized we truly know nothing about dreams. Analysts have to rely on the fallible memory of the dreamer, and Freud often tries to explain away inconsistencies by “reversing” the dream’s symbolism. I also found Freud’s penchant to regularly resort to sexual meanings behind dreams seems to be a case of “if you have a hammer/phallus, every problem is a nail/phallus.”
A proper examination of the basics of dream interpretation, I give The Interpretation of Dreams 3.5 stars out of 5.
The Time Traveler’s Wife
Year: 2003
Author: Audrey Niffenegger
Length: 1,058 minutes / 17.63 hours
I find myself somewhat conflicted between two mediums whenever a book is made into a movie. On the one hand, I truly enjoyed The Time Traveler’s Wife (2009) when I first saw it. While the book the movie was based on has a lot more material, it became obvious that a lot of this material could easily be cut for the movie and very little would be lost in the narrative. Despite this material (which I’ll get to in a bit), the book is lavishly and poetically written and was a joy to read.
With a main character who can time travel, I’m having a tough time determining if the foreshadowing in this book was brilliant or just a bit too heavy-handed. I’m also not sure if I even like the main characters themselves since they’re essentially the definition of “white privilege” (with all the trust funds, alcoholism and casual drug use, and “academic” or “artistic” professions to boot). What stood out in this book, though, was the enormous amount of sex. I almost wondered if this was supposed to be erotica. While it was even shocking at times (I’m looking at you, ending), I can’t help but wonder if it’s considered cheating when a husband has sex with his wife at different times in their relationship.
All this being said, the strength of the writing helped to cover up some of its weaknesses. Sure, you could make the argument that this is a study in Stockholm syndrome, but you could also give it credit for creatively handling the science fiction theme of time travel in an interesting and unique new fashion. There are a lot of questions that inevitably pop up with the continuity of a time-traveling character, and I felt that the worldbuilding done to ground this concept was particularly exceptional. In the end, The Time Traveler’s Wife is a descriptive and heart-warming/wrenching tale that at least deserves one read-through.
A romantic book wrapped tightly in a single sci-fi element, I give The Time Traveler’s Wife 4.0 stars out of 5.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Year: 2018
Rating: PG-13
Length: 128 minutes / 2.13 hours
While I have loved the original Jurassic Park (1993) for its ingenious special effects, taut and thrilling plot, and entertaining characters, none of the sequels have been able to live up to its high standard. Sure, all the same elements of the first film are usually present in each subsequent movie, but the magic seems to have been all used up in the first go. Each version is only a slight variation to a story that never ends well.
Now in the fifth installment of this franchise, I’m a little surprised that this storyline hadn’t appeared yet. Sure, we had dinosaurs making their way to the mainland in The Lost World (1997), which was probably why Jeff Goldblum had an extremely minor (and entirely unnecessary) cameo in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018) to act as a framing bookend to the film. Sadly, many of the mostly hidden weaknesses in Jurassic World (2015) came to light in this sub-par sequel. Like I said in my review of Jurassic World, I don’t care about these characters, even if their relationships seem to be written to elicit a response from the audience.
Furthermore, while the plot of Fallen Kingdom seemed like low-hanging fruit (which is probably indicative that they’re scraping the bottom of the barrel for plotlines), none of the twists were surprising or unexpected. Heck, the biggest twist was already obvious almost at the beginning. While I will praise this film as having quite a few neat bits of CGI and special effects, most of them felt like they were part of a demo reel for a college final. It didn’t help that the dinosaur mayhem didn’t even take place until the last quarter of the movie. By that point, I had lost all suspension of disbelief as children were outrunning velociraptor-type dinosaurs with ease. Nobody felt in danger, even if I really wanted the annoying and obnoxious “tech support” character to be eaten as soon as possible (it didn’t help that he only appeared to conveniently move the plot along).
A franchise that once again needs to go extinct, I give Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom 2.0 stars out of 5.
Moonraker
Year: 1955
Author: Ian Fleming
Length: 410 minutes / 6.83 hours
For those of you who have seen the movie Moonraker (1979), push everything you know about this story out of your head. About the only things that the film has in common with the book are the main character, villain, and an enormous rocket. While the film tried to capitalize on the sci-fi that was popular at the time, the original book takes a look at the threat introduced in World War II by the Germans: ballistic missiles. For its time, the book was relevant in a world that hadn’t even been to space yet.
Having now read a handful of the James Bond books, my problem with this book stems from how formulaic it was. Only three books in, and it felt like Fleming was recycling content and would continue to for books to come (like in Goldfinger). I mean, never before has a game of bridge been so exciting, but using card games as exposition to introduce the villain already seems done to death at this point. From here, it’s just a hop, skip, and a jump through the sexual tension with a female counterpart, the villain’s monologue, and the eventual foiling of plans by Bond.
While I did appreciate the slight twist in the ending with Gala Brand, it seemed slightly out of character based on how she acted previously in the story. Perhaps this was because the narrator is practically half-inside Bond’s head, but it still felt a little misleading. While the conclusion of the villain’s plot was exciting, the comic nature of the comeuppance almost had an eye-rolling chuckle tied to it as well. In the end, Moonraker is a James Bond story, so it delivers on all the tropes and clichés of the series. If you like the series, you’re unlikely to be disappointed.
The standard Bond formula in yet another book, I give Moonraker 3.0 stars out of 5.
Jurassic World
Year: 2015
Rating: PG-13
Length: 124 minutes / 2.07 hours
What happens when you genetically splice together a reboot and a sequel? This film. It’s interesting to find a franchise that’s willing to recognize the past material and build upon it, while also adding slightly new elements to it. The idea of training dinosaurs just like pets was undoubtedly the strongest element of this movie, even if the result was the same as it’s ever been. Part of the problem with this reboot, however, is that the characters don’t seem to click, even to the point of the relationships feeling forced.
While there were plentiful nods to the first film that started off the franchise, the plot seemed almost identical to the 1993 classic, but with plenty of cliches and hokey lines to go around. I think sequels like this recognize the elements that made the original great, but almost spend too much time overanalyzing to try and recreate the magic. These films ultimately fall short, mostly due to the synergy and sheer luck that made all the elements of the first movie work in the first place.
All that being said, it was an exciting thrill ride with a bunch of ridiculous dinosaur battles: essentially what you paid for anyway. I mean, the first film in this franchise worked because of the terror that goes with being trapped on an island full of dangerous dinosaurs. This film dispenses these scary moments, but in a way that just seems like a Hollywood action blockbuster (which if we’re honest, it is). It was nice to see the franchise try to return to its roots, but I also think we should have let this franchise go extinct with only the original as its hallmark achievement.
A reboot sequel that is nothing if entertaining, I give Jurassic World 3.5 stars out of 5.
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet
Year: 2014
Author: Becky Chambers
Length: 863 minutes / 14.38 hours
One of the biggest qualms I have with a lot of modern science fiction is that it’s not nearly imaginative enough. I believe most of this stems from the fact that modern sci-fi authors were influenced by franchises like Star Trek and Star Wars, where even the aliens are basically humanoids with different skin color. In The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, author Becky Chambers takes a great leap forward for sci-fi by exploring what it would be like to work on a spaceship with a variety of different species. Needless to say, there are plenty of “cultural” adaptations that one would need to make in such a situation.
Unfortunately, because the characters are so interesting, the main plot takes a back seat for the majority of the book. Instead, the reader is treated to a series of almost “episodic” moments between the crew that act as excellent exposition, but take up most of the space of the book due to the size of the crew. Aside from that, there were a few crewmembers that initially didn’t stand out, and it took me a while to realize they were two different people. I also can see how Kizzy could come across as “cute and energetic,” but I found her mostly to be childish, obnoxious, and annoying (she got on my introvert nerves).
In the end, the inclusion of lots of aliens with different cultures allowed for a simple way to include more non-traditional relationships in the book as well. With plenty of LGBTQ+ referenced in this book, none of it came off as judgmental, but it will still be a little jarring for people who aren’t used to reading books with these themes included in them. Still, the heart of science fiction is exploring the new and unknown, which this book does excellently. Fans of Firefly will probably be the most satisfied with this series, as the eclectic crew presented here seems to mirror that show’s charm and personality.
A sci-fi book that finally includes aliens that aren’t so human, I give The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet 4.0 stars out of 5.
Interstellar
Year: 2014
Rating: PG-13
Length: 169 minutes / 2.82 hours
The first time I saw this film, I was speechless. I knew what to expect from Christopher Nolan, who had been steadily increasing his repertoire for almost two decades. Each of his films outdid the last and built on the already mind-blowing pieces that have gone before them. From The Following (1998) to Memento (2000) to The Prestige (2006) to Inception (2010), I wondered how he could outdo himself with his first foray into hard science fiction. Needless to say, I was impressed by Interstellar (2014) and Nolan’s ability to bring the theoretical and incredible ideas of interstellar travel into an entirely plausible setup.
As was the case with his previous films, Nolan manages to bring together almost disjointed moments into a cyclical narrative. Much like Memento, I wanted to sit down and watch the whole thing again immediately after viewing it for the first time, so that I could catch all the little things that lead to the major reveal at the end. Even with a running time of almost three hours, I’d gladly sit through two back-to-back viewings to fully embrace the impact of this film. This is the power of storytelling that Nolan has shown over the years and still maintains today, regardless of genre.
While some people would fault Interstellar for its loud music, I feel it is the perfect counterpoint to the silence of outer space. The swell of Hans Zimmer’s score matches perfectly with the power and emotion brought out through the characters. There’s nothing more heart-wrenching than watching a father filter through a lifetime of his children growing up before his eyes in mere minutes. The sheer scale of the film is something I have rarely seen in movies. It makes you truly understand how small we are in the universe. When the credits finally roll, you’ll have laughed, you’ll have cried (a lot), and you’ll finally have a chance to catch your breath.
A science fiction masterpiece only Christopher Nolan could deliver, I give Interstellar 5.0 stars out of 5.
Sourdough
Year: 2017
Author: Robin Sloan
Length: 259 pages
Much like Armada to Ready Player One or Artemis to The Martian, I looked forward to reading Robin Sloan’s follow-up to Mr. Penumbra’s 24-hour Bookstore. Unfortunately, much like the follow-up books by Ernest Cline and Andy Weir, respectively, I wasn’t entirely satisfied with Sloan’s Sourdough. I will give credit that Sloan’s quirky and charming style is still in high form here, it’s more that there wasn’t much of a central conflict that would have led to a satisfying ending. It’s almost like too many plotlines got into the mix, and it muddled everything up to the point where it would be too difficult to follow each to their logical conclusion.
Cline has video game references. Weir has accurate, hard sci-fi. If there’s one thing Sloan does well, it’s the fusion of analog and digital. From Mr. Penumbra’s 24-hour Bookstore, it was the appreciation of the printed book in the era of Google searches. In Sourdough, Sloan explores the future of food—which is perhaps the most analog of topics—by including some realistic and relatively soon-to-be-realized technological advances like nutrient gels, robotic cooking, and alternative growing environments. If this was the primary focus of the book, there could have been a great conflict between old and new instead of what felt like a rushed, gulping ending to a book I’d want to sip like great wine.
Sourdough was my “vacation book,” meaning that I was truly looking forward to reading it. I love the style Sloan uses, which is both humorous and light. This book was quite the quick read, but that was helped by the fact that I hardly put it down. It’s a little disappointing that some of the “mysteries” weren’t played up more (I never really did care who Mr. Marrow was), and that the ending felt a little out of left field, but I’m sure I’ll pick up Sloan’s next book, regardless. After all, I was still entertained with this one, even if it didn’t live up to the “Mr. Penumbra” expectation.
Another semi-adequate follow-up from one of my newer, favorite authors, I give Sourdough 3.5 stars out of 5.
Alpha
Year: 2018
Rating: PG-13
Length: 96 minutes / 1.60 hours
I’m not sure what surprises me more about this movie: that nobody had made a film about the domestication of the wolf or that anyone needed to make that film at all. Consequently, Alpha (2018) seems a little unnecessary and highly predictable as the “hero’s journey” plays out. The trailer doesn’t leave much for the imagination, as a lot of the events in this film don’t have any significant twists that the astute viewer wouldn’t see coming. And maybe I’m biased because I’d be more of a cat person than a dog person—despite being allergic to both.
Visually, though, Alpha does provide some fantastic shots of wilderness that one can only find in places like Canada and Iceland. Plenty of the flat silhouette shots of characters traversing huge distances and the stylized slow-motion events made this movie feel a bit like 300 (2006), which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The real trouble is that it takes these characters so long to traverse these distances that there isn’t much excitement in the first half of the film (aside from the inciting incident). If the beautiful scenery can keep your attention, you’ll be fine, though.
A few of my more significant qualms come with the plot of the film, though. Many of the characters’ decisions seem to be merely present to drive the desired plot along, even if they don’t make much sense. Like, I get why these early humans would go out to hunt a huge herd of animals at once, but how are they preserving that much meat? How are they hauling tons of meat four days back to their settlement (I’ve played enough “Oregon Trail” to know there’s a weight limit)? Why isn’t the settlement near this hunting ground? Lots of these plot choices led to the main character’s eventual survival story, but they don’t work if the survival was never needed in the first place.
A scenically beautiful film with a predictable (if not nonsensical) plot, I give Alpha 3.0 stars out of 5.
The Way of Kings
Year: 2010
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Length: 1258 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM THE PUBLISHER***
I’ve only recently started reading Brandon Sanderson’s books, but I’ve liked what I’ve read so far. I started out with Warbreaker, which was a relatively light fantasy novel when compared to the hefty tome that is The Way of Kings. While I loved the moderate pace that Warbreaker moved at, I instinctually knew that most “high fantasy” books are usually bogged down with exposition and world-building. The Way of Kings is certainly a “high fantasy,” which makes me wonder if perhaps Sanderson tried to do too much in this first volume of his newest series.
The Way of Kings follows about three main storylines but could have potentially gotten away with two of them, even if the one that could be easily cut—the Soulcaster theft storyline—had some of my favorite characters in it. I could also see the plotline being pared down to the one following Kaladin (who appears in each of the parts) since a lot of the “royal” plotline mostly just provided the world-building and exposition needed to ground the reality of the setting. In the end, this is just three books intertwined together to make one big book.
Perhaps because of its length, it took me the better part of eight months to finish reading The Way of Kings. Granted, I mostly only read it on my Kindle when I was flying somewhere, but I wasn’t necessarily drawn to keep reading once I returned home. All this being said, the magic system is well-developed, the world is creative and rich with details, and (most of) the characters are incredibly entertaining. Under different circumstances, I’d give my rating an additional half a star, but since reading it felt a bit more like work than entertainment, I’ll leave it where it is.
A creative “high fantasy” that perhaps bites off more than it can chew, I give The Way of Kings 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Currents of Space
Year: 1952
Author: Isaac Asimov
Length: 475 minutes / 7.92 hours
For the first time, it seems that I’m reading a series backward. Of course, it was also written a bit backward, which explains why I’m going about it this way. While Pebble in the Sky was the first book in this series, it actually comes at the end of the narrative. A year later, Isaac Asimov would write the prequel, The Stars, Like Dust, which was then followed by a book that fit between the two. The Currents of Space is that book. Fortunately, there isn’t much tying this book to Pebble in the Sky, other than the universal setting for the events to take place.
It is encouraging that Asimov’s writing was able to improve in two short years between his first ever novel and this follow-on prequel. The Currents of Space has a distinct main character, apparent conflict, and well-timed plot revelations. The focus of this book helps to describe a somewhat interesting and thrilling scenario, even if it’s peppered with lots of clichés that are still present to this day. The “amnesiac expert” is by no means a new or unique storytelling device by today’s standards, but it may have been interesting back in the 1950’s.
Despite the improvement in Asimov’s writing, there were still a few choices that I felt were perhaps due to the weaknesses in Pebble in the Sky. In his first book, it was difficult to grasp everything that was happening. In The Currents of Space, one of the characters does an exposition dump that amounts to a recap of the first two-thirds of the book. While there was some added info to this information that led to the satisfying conclusion of the plot, it still seemed unnecessary if the reader was paying attention up to that point.
An improvement over his previous work in the series, I give The Currents of Space 3.0 stars out of 5.
Ocean’s Eight
Year: 2018
Rating: PG-13
Length: 110 minutes / 1.83 hours
As the gender-swapped spin-off of a remake, Ocean’s Eight (2018) feels convoluted merely based on its heritage. While I love the Ocean’s Eleven (2001) remake, I was curious to see what would make Ocean’s Eight something that would distinctly empower women (which I’m assuming was the point). In the end, it seems like Ocean’s Eight merely highlights the 72% wage disparity when compared to Ocean’s Eleven since most of the tropes and clichés almost felt like they were pandering to the very audience they were trying to lift up.
While I will praise Ocean’s Eight for its ability to be a passable heist film, both with main and “twist” heists, that’s mostly where my adoration ends. Sure, I get the need to move the setting to New York to better align with fashion and other women’s interests, and part of Sandra Bullock’s character introduction after being released from prison was fun, but there were so many problems with the plot and characters that I’m still scratching my head days later thinking, “Wait, what?” I mean, there was no way that these women would have gotten away with this heist, especially considering all the details they had to overcome. They might have stolen jewelry, but they’d certainly be caught afterward.
I suppose when it comes right down to it, the “Ocean’s” franchise doesn’t work outside of Las Vegas. That’s part of the appeal: the flashy razzle-dazzle of the casinos that entice us all to play games of chance to get rich quick. New York may be the city that never sleeps, but that’s because they’re working hard to earn their fortunes. This disconnect—along with the loose connection to the original reboot trilogy—is what disappointed me the most and made me want to go home and watch the 2001 Ocean’s Eleven. It also probably didn’t help that the music, while being great music, was more suited for The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015) than an Ocean’s movie. And yes, I’m aware this composer made the music for The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
A sub-par “Ocean’s” movie on almost every level, I give Ocean’s Eight 2.5 stars out of 5.
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Year: 2018
Rating: PG-13
Length: 135 minutes / 2.25 hours
Most superhero franchises start with an origin story. Sure, sometimes the franchise gets to this foundational plot after its first set of films (a la X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)), but these movies are usually pretty rare. Unfortunately, they’re also hampered by the source material that preceded them. While not necessarily “prequels,” these films need to fit within the canon of the franchise while also telling a story that expands the canon as well. Star Wars is not a superhero franchise, but it has its fair share of prequels and origin stories. Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) is the first to focus on a specific character, though.
With Han Solo being such an iconic and fan-favorite character, there was plenty to pull from to expand out his backstory. Unfortunately, most people will only recognize Harrison Ford as the “true” Han Solo, and this film gives them some ammunition for that. Sure, Alden Ehrenreich does a passable job and looks like he could be a younger version of 1970’s Harrison Ford, but there’s still something missing in his performance. Even Donald Glover’s Lando Calrissian is pretty good but is still just Donald Glover doing his best impersonation. I get that it’s not logical to cast the original actors in these roles, but for fans who grew up with them, there’s a particular power from the nostalgia that’s difficult to overcome.
What also hampers Solo is what I like to call the “prequel checklist.” Essentially, every reference that Han Solo made in the original Star Wars trilogy is packaged up and crammed into this film. From the Kessel Run to how he obtained the Millennium Falcon, each set piece is meant to explain something that had only been a passing mention almost 40 years ago. All this being said, Solo is still a pretty fun film, filled with great visuals, a few original (and entertaining) characters, and a shocking reveal at the end. It’s just that, if you went into this film with no knowledge of the source material, you’d likely be very lost.
An attempt to cash in on an iconic character’s backstory, I give Solo: A Star Wars Story 3.0 stars out of 5.
Bobbie Mendoza Saves the World (Again)
Year: 2018
Author: Michael Fry & Bradley Jackson
Length: 272 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
As can be implied from the title, Bobbie Mendoza Saves the World (Again) is the follow-up to an earlier appearance of the titular character in The Naughty List. One does not need to have read The Naughty List to understand what happened to Bobbie since this book does a pretty good—if not too thorough—re-telling of the events of the first book that would eventually lead her to save the world (again). While I’m sure the previous book was focused on Christmas-related shenanigans, this book opens up the potential for weird, random, and bizarre via the same inter-dimensional portals used previously.
I will say that I was impressed with this book’s ability to seamlessly intertwine verbal narrative with accompanying pictures. It’s not quite a picture-book, but it’s also not a chapter book either. It’s a hybrid of the two. While I’m assuming the illustrations will be a little more polished for the final release (I was given an advanced reader copy to review), the drawings still conveyed the necessary information in a rough and squiggly way that seemed to work well for the type of plot presented here.
Intended for kids in grades 3 through 7, Bobbie Mendoza Saves the World (Again) pulls out all the stops when it comes to the randomness of its comedy. From unicorns to dinosaurs to elves, the silliness of the situations will probably make most children laugh. Parts felt a little immature for 7th-graders, but other sections had words and concepts that were perhaps a little too complicated for 3rd-graders. I’d probably say that this book would be appropriate for grades 4 through 6. Parents might have to suffer through the fart jokes and random plot points (without a strong main point or lesson behind them), but at least it’s a somewhat entertaining book to read.
A book filled with the “random” comedy that appeals to kids, I give Bobbie Mendoza Saves the World (Again) 3.5 stars out of 5.
The Long War
Year: 2013
Author: Terry Pratchett & Stephen Baxter
Length: 828 minutes / 13.80 hours
You think with an inciting incident as extreme as the one at the end of The Long Earth, the follow-on book, The Long War, would be an exciting series of battles. If you thought that, you’d be wrong. Instead, authors Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter take the Speaker for the Dead route by aging the main character of the first book by at least a decade and throwing in heavy doses of non-human racism (speciesism?). For a book that has “war” in the title, there isn’t much war at all. This is disappointing for many reasons.
Sure, there’s still plenty of neat science fiction ideas presented here, but The Long War exhibits the same problems that were present in The Long Earth. First and foremost, the wit and humor of Terry Pratchett is hardly to be seen in this book, only occasionally popping up to add levity to a situation. Secondly, there’s so much exposition that the book “tells” instead of “shows,” that it almost becomes a bore to read. Finally, with so many subplots strung together, it was difficult to know precisely what was going on, who these characters were, or why I should care.
I’ll still probably suffer through the rest of this series since I don’t have to think very hard when I’m listening to the audiobook. The fact that I want to get through this five-book series as quickly as possible says something, though. The real problem is that the ideas and settings presented here could have been great. If the end of the first book had transitioned seamlessly into this one, causing the people who could “step” to rise up against those who would perform the despicable act that affected datum Earth, then we’d actually have a war on our hands instead of . . . this. Don’t even get me started on the ending, which I’m pretty sure had a good paragraph of dialogue copied from The Long Earth.
An overly long book with little to no war, I give The Long War 2.0 stars out of 5.
Isle of Dogs
Year: 2018
Rating: PG-13
Length: 101 minutes / 1.68 hours
A few years ago, I got on a Wes Anderson kick. I practically watched his entire filmography to that point in one long binge-worthy day. After catching up, I felt I truly appreciated his quirky, orthogonal cinematography and deeply complex characters. I’ve essentially been a fan of his since Moonrise Kingdom (2012), so I was looking forward to his latest work, Isle of Dogs (2018). After all, he had proven his skill at stop-motion animation with The Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) and had received nominations for Best Picture and Best Director for The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) since then.
Unfortunately, while Isle of Dogs carries Anderson’s distinct style and charm, it felt a little watered down. Sure, the shots were full of their beauty and symmetry, and the story had its cute moments, but it mostly felt like he was on autopilot. Maybe the PG-13 rating was holding him back? I don’t know. In most fiction, there is a suspension of disbelief, but setting this film 20 years in the future while still holding to the aesthetic of the antique (I doubt there will be nearly that many reel-to-reels in the future) seemed to backfire a little.
I’ll give Wes Anderson some credit, though: he did try something new by including the “language barrier” and adopting the Japanese style as much as he could. It also seems that stop-motion techniques have improved significantly since The Fantastic Mr. Fox, likely due to many of the same 3-D printing technologies used for Kubo and the Two Strings (2016). The mixture of 3-D stop-motion and 2-D animation in Isle of Dogs should also be commended. In the end, I think my main qualm with this film was that it was a smidge too predictable. Perhaps this was due to the standard McGuffin of the boy trying to be reunited with his dog.
Full of Wes Anderson’s charming cinematography but not too much else, I give Isle of Dogs 3.5 stars out of 5.
Spinning Silver
Year: 2018
Author: Naomi Novik
Length: 434 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM THE PUBLISHER***
About seven years ago, there seemed to be a renaissance of fairy tale retellings and reimagining that swept through popular culture. From television shows like Once Upon a Time and Grimm to movies like Snow White and the Huntsman (2012) and Mirror Mirror (2012) to the books of Melanie Dickerson, it seemed that wherever you turned, you could find someone’s different take on classic fairy tales. While perhaps a little outside this bubble of pop culture, Spinning Silver has the benefit of standing out in a field of genre books that seems to have cooled in recent years.
Based partially on the story of Rumpelstiltskin, author Naomi Novik has masterfully combined elements of Jewish and Russian folklore to reimagine this story from a somewhat more modern perspective while also maintaining its fairytale settings and tropes. If anything, her strong and independent female characters highlight how chauvinistic the original fairy tales seem when compared to the culture we’re living in today. I appreciated how smart the story is, taking the concept of “turning silver into gold” from a merely economical standpoint and turning it on its head by adding in fantastical elements more akin to alchemy.
While the point of view of this book jumped around from a few of the characters, I found the interconnectedness of their stories to be incredibly well done. I probably would have left out the old woman’s POV, since it didn’t add anything other than some unnecessary backstory, but other than that, each character’s storyline had its own tone, challenges, and uniqueness to make the entire plot a well-rounded affair. Writing the story in this way helped to humanize antagonists, provide the terror of poverty, and show plenty of character growth throughout the characters. Even the fact that the “simple” solution of the climax wasn’t the best solution for the characters speaks to the depth of thinking that went into this brilliant plot.
An intelligent and well-written fairy tale reimagining, I give Spinning Silver 4.5 stars out of 5.
The Long Earth
Year: 2012
Author: Terry Pratchett & Stephen Baxter
Length: 691 minutes / 11.52 hours
Having read a few of Sir Terry Pratchett’s books before, I am no stranger to the randomness of his writing style. Usually, he has some character or object that just doesn’t fit in a normal narrative, but he manages to work it in with an explanation that’s both natural and makes sense. However, this only works if Pratchett has control over the entire story. Unfortunately, as is the case in The Long Earth, the randomness that Pratchett brings to the table sticks out like a sore thumb from the rest of the mostly sci-fi story. For instance, does an artificial intelligence have to be a reincarnated Tibetan motorcycle repairman? If you want to take the story seriously, probably not.
In the end, this book seems to be mostly written by Stephen Baxter, with only a smattering of Pratchett’s charm thrown in occasionally for levity. I haven’t read any of Baxter’s other books, but I’m not sure if I’d want to, considering how The Long Earth was put together. First off, the entire book seems to be an exposition dump about “stepping,” which is the process wherein people can move from one parallel universe into another. None of the narratives seems dedicated to anything in particular. With no goal in mind, the story will often get distracted away from the main character during little vignettes that explore some of the potentials of the multiverse theory presented therein.
I did appreciate the amount of thought that went into the limitations and peculiarities of stepping between parallel Earths, but when that’s the only focus of the book, it tended to get repetitive. So often, I’d be listening to this audiobook and realize that there wasn’t much dialogue between these characters; they were mostly spewing out more explanation about the Long Earth in a series of expository dumps of information.
A book full of sci-fi exposition, I give The Long Earth 2.0 stars out of 5.
Deadpool 2
Year: 2018
Rating: R
Length: 119 minutes / 1.98 hours
At what point does the fourth wall stop? I only ask this because there’s a point where an audience member will have to know not only the plot of the film that started the franchise, but the subsequent reactions to the film, the complete history of comic books, and the entirety of the lyrics to Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Major-General’s Song” to understand the references. While Deadpool (2016) maintained that sly balance between knowing winks to the superhero genre as a whole and being an actual superhero film, Deadpool 2 (2018) almost went toward both extreme ends in order to maintain its balance.
There were plenty of references and little sight gags that will leave true fans of the franchise pausing their Blu-rays for years to come, and I certainly did appreciate some of the meta-humor, but only to a point. Strangely enough, Deadpool 2 felt more like a superhero film than its predecessor, which seems odd as it seemed to be mainly poking fun at the genre as a whole. Sure, plenty of movies can be “self-aware,” but when you start to realize “oh, they’re serious here,” then the meta gags don’t work as well.
While often crude and gory, I do have to admit that many of the jokes really work in Deadpool 2, much like they did in its predecessor. I was still laughing at the ridiculous situations the X-Force found themselves in, which I felt was the best surprise gag of the movie. Much like Ant-Man (2015), Deadpool 2 works as both a comedy and a superhero film, especially once you realize that its primary purpose is to be a comedy. While the superhero bits distract a little from the comedy in this movie, the action sequences, especially the ones featuring Domino (Zazie Beetz), are top-notch and somewhat make up for it.
A hilarious meta-comedy that’s almost too serious and meta for its own good, I give Deadpool 2 4.0 stars out of 5.
Pebble in the Sky
Year: 1950
Author: Isaac Asimov
Length: 487 minutes / 8.12 hours
As I pulled together some of the information for this review, I became aware that Pebble in the Sky was Isaac Asimov’s first novel. To be honest, that explains a lot. I’d read a few Asimov books before—I, Robot being a personal favorite—so I was a little disappointed with this story. If anything, it showed Asimov’s potential for bigger and better stories, or at least stories that were a little more focused. As it is, Pebble in the Sky provided the groundwork for prequels and some of Asimov’s best writing, but it remains fairly rough in comparison.
Some of the ideas in Pebble in the Sky are certainly noteworthy, including an age limit for humans and telepathic abilities. We also see here the ability of science fiction to address social issues as well. In this case, racism was the topic du jour, which was definitely in the early edges of revolution in 1950. And yet, the political commentary wasn’t nearly as subtle here as it could have been. Furthermore, while the more fantastical ideas presented here had some merit, their execution probably needed a little extra work. It’s a good first book, but it’s far from perfect.
It’s weird to me that I found a book by Isaac Asimov so mediocre, but I suppose that merely accentuates how great an author he eventually became. His future works would subsequently have the greater depth of thought that went into their premises and science, but as Pebble in the Sky shows us, that wasn’t always the case. There almost seem to be too many ideas crammed into this book to allow adequate time to explore each one. Consequently, when it jumps around from one subplot to another, it can be a little easy to get lost in the transition.
Isaac Asimov’s adequate first novel, I give Pebble in the Sky 2.5 stars out of 5.
Rampage
Year: 2018
Rating: PG-13
Length: 107 minutes / 1.78 hours
I didn’t go into this movie expecting much, and it still disappointed me. Seems like every time some Hollywood studio gets their hands on a video game franchise and decides to turn it into a movie, this is the kind of thing we get. I wouldn’t be so mad about it except that nothing in this film seems anywhere close to original at all. In fact, it seems to be cobbled together from summer movie blockbuster clichés and tropes, almost like a CGI-heavy Frankenstein. What’s probably worse is that it could have been somewhat passable if it held to the source material.
There’s a weird kind of disconnect when a movie like Rampage (2018) has an actual arcade cabinet of the game it’s based on in the background of the corporate penthouse suite. Like, did they do this genetic-engineering research and name it “Rampage,” fully knowing that they’d create the exact creatures from the game? In any case, the whole plot is contrived and plays out exactly how you think it would. If only they had Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s character turn into an enormous white ape and destroy half of Chicago, then that’d be something I’d want to watch.
One of the most significant problems with Rampage, aside from its sub-par CGI, is that the whole reason to even get to the point where monsters are destroying buildings (which was the entire point of the video game) was so poorly-thought-out as to be laughable. Like, what did they think was going to happen? Furthermore, once these monsters accomplished their destructive mayhem—the most satisfying part of the movie, by the way—you realize that it took pretty much the entire film to get to a 10-minute segment that lived up to its source material.
Another poorly-executed video game movie, I give Rampage 1.5 stars out of 5.
Modern Suspects
Date: July 3, 2018
Back in 2014, I had the opportunity to see the band formerly known as “Claymore Disco” perform at the Black Sheep in Colorado Springs. Now four years later, this band has reorganized a little and re-branded themselves as “Modern Suspects” shortly after I saw them perform as Claymore Disco. In that time, they have released two EPs and have had moderate success in the Colorado music scene, having even recently headlined a show at the Bluebird in Denver. With four years of experience under their belts, Modern Suspects has evolved and matured their sound from their Claymore Disco days and are now a musical force awaiting to be discovered by wider audiences.
For their 2015 self-titled debut, Modern Suspects have a solid five tracks that show off their musical style and potential. The vocals are distinctly similar to Claymore Disco, mostly because Garrett Myers, the lead vocalist, was the same for both bands. In terms of production quality, there has been much improvement in this first EP, even if it was put out shortly after the disbanding of the previous band. The instruments are well-mixed, and the music is a step above their former efforts, both in lyrics and tone. There are times where Modern Suspects songs sound similar to recent Mutemath tracks (circa the “Vitals” album), with maybe a bit of The Killers mixed in for good measure. If you enjoy Mutemath or The Killers, you’ll likely enjoy Modern Suspects.
In their follow-up EP, entitled “II,” two additional years of continual work on their craft have paid off for the band. While their debut EP was good, it wasn’t entirely perfect. “II” starts very strong with two killer tracks in “Drift” and “Demons in the Night,” the latter of which also has an excellent music video on the band’s YouTube page. The rest of the tracks on this album are certainly in the same catchy style, except for half of “Terrified,” which felt a little off from the rest of the EP. At least the last track, “Just Watch Me” ends on a solid note. If you ever get a chance to see Modern Suspects perform live, they have a good stage presence and are very comfortable in front of an audience. They’re an up-and-coming band that you’ll have to watch in the coming years.
Wish Upon a Sleepover
Year: 2018
Author: Suzanne Selfors
Length: 208 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
While the story of “stone soup” has been around for a long time, and traversed many cultures, apparently it needed another re-telling in the form of this book. Wish Upon a Sleepover is a pretty standard middle-grade book that seeks to teach a number of lessons about judging others while managing to create some interesting characters with unique and modern quirks. It is through these characters—and not necessarily the primary protagonist—that any child who decides to read this book can learn how to interact with others. The irony is that the central protagonist is probably better described as the antagonist of the story.
Even though this book is stated as being appropriate from children from grades 3 to 7, as a result of this somewhat broad range of ages, it seems to be more geared toward the low end of the range, while having characters from the upper part of the range. Don’t get me wrong, there are still lessons there for everyone, but it might not challenge a pre-teen’s reading level and might not be entirely relevant for a 3rd grader. My only other qualm, which usually accompanies media directed toward this age range, is the inclusion of bodily humor. Yes, farts are funny at these ages, but do they need to be included every time?
Despite some of my more technical qualms with Wish Upon a Sleepover, what it lacks in these areas it makes up for in heaping handfuls of heart. As I mentioned earlier, the ancillary characters are unique and interesting, and all have insecurities and anxieties that any child can potentially relate to (many adults can probably see themselves in these characters as well). The skill in which the author spins these storylines together to reach a number of emotional climaxes should be commended. If you’re not crying—or close to it—during one of these moments, then you just aren’t paying attention.
A touching middle-grade book about the importance of not judging others, I give Wish Upon a Sleepover 4.0 stars out of 5.
Piercing the Darkness
Year: 1989
Author: Frank Peretti
Length: 1,250 minutes / 20.83 hours
It’s weird how something that was done so well the first time loses all its magic during a sequel. I absolutely loved This Present Darkness, as I felt it accurately captured the invisible war of the spiritual world while also providing a gripping thriller in the human realm to keep the action moving forward. I was not impressed with the follow-up book, Piercing the Darkness. If it was a separate story with separate characters, I might have gotten into it more, but as it is, the tie-in to the first book seemed sloppy and almost unnecessary.
Almost every part of This Present Darkness that I thought was amazing seemed copied into Piercing the Darkness, but without the stakes or “oomph” to make the plot even semi-interesting. I think the reason for this was that most of the subtlety was gone from the characters. It’s a little more terrifying when you learn that normal, everyday people are being controlled by demons, but when a fully-functioning Satanic cult is your antagonist, it just seems like the author isn’t trying that hard. Of course, there wasn’t much of a reason behind the “evil side’s” plans in this book, other than to ruin a Christian school. At least in the original book, a whole town was at stake.
Perhaps Peretti was pandering a bit too much to his core demographic here, but it almost seemed like all the characters were caricatures, with no ambiguity to make the reader wonder whose side they were on. I won’t even mention the few plot holes I noticed, some of which came to light during the trial portion of the plot since it’s pretty apparent how everything’s going to turn out from the beginning. Good triumphs, evil is defeated, blah blah blah. In short, this book reads more like a sermon. The thrill is gone.
A sub-par follow-up to a fantastic book, I give Piercing the Darkness 2.0 stars out of 5.
The Disaster Artist
Year: 2017
Rating: R
Length: 104 minutes / 1.73 hours
Having seen a few snippets of The Room (2003) via reactionary and review videos, I have become somewhat familiar with how bad the film is without having to sit through all of it. In The Disaster Artist (2017), we get to see what led to this “worst movie ever made.” There’s a lot of lore and memes that have come out of The Room over the years, but the simple fact of the matter is that most serious Hollywood types probably couldn’t create a movie this bad if they had tried (and many certainly do so unwittingly every year).
While James Franco is almost eerily on-point of his portrayal of director/writer/actor Johnny Wiseau, the recreation of specific scenes and setups from The Room isn’t nearly as impressive as I think the makers of The Disaster Artist realize. The side-to-side comparison during the credits was startling in the amount of accuracy, but it’s also not too challenging to recreate a film that seemed to be put together by amateurs in the first place. And perhaps that’s part of the charm: The Disaster Artist shows how, given the ambition (and an almost endless amount of money), anyone can make a movie.
In the end, I think The Disaster Artist works on the concept of schadenfreude. Those moments where the audience plainly sees that things aren’t going as planned or that the characters are making poor decisions are somewhat fun to watch since they aren’t happening to the audience. However, there’s an amount of cringe that goes into these kinds of comedies, which is sure to set some people off. The comedy isn’t in actual jokes or amusing situations, but rather in watching a train-wreck and being unable to turn away from it.
An adequate movie about making the absolute worst movie, I give The Disaster Artist 3.5 stars out of 5.
The City of Brass
Year: 2017
Author: S.A. Chakraborty
Length: 533 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
In S.A. Chakraborty’s debut novel, The City of Brass, we find some of the standard tropes that seem to be the foundation of the Young Adult genre. There are snippets of works like Harry Potter and Twilight that seem to leak through, their influences helping to shape the world that the author has created. However, while some of these tropes might be tired in any other setting, they are used to great effect here, as the author has created something grounded in culture and traditions that helps to enhance the fantasy world that lies just beyond our own.
While I did enjoy reading this book overall, there were a few weaknesses. The start of the story was action-packed and hooked me right from the get-go, but then the section leading up to the second half of the plot seemed to be bogged down with lots of exposition and world-building. It also wasn’t necessarily clear to me why the main character needed to go to the titular “City of Brass,” other than her brief hope that she’d be trained there. I also didn’t get the sense that the journey took months, as the traveling companions didn’t seem to be as exhausted from the trek as I thought they should be.
Despite this semi-minor weakness, the characters and the world were well developed and well thought out. I had to roll my eyes at the “love triangle,” mostly because it’s a cliché of the genre, but the three main characters involved in such romantic entanglements were unique and interesting individuals that made me want to keep reading. This book uses a lot of specific terminologies that took a little bit to pick up, especially from the perspective of a reader who isn’t as familiar with Middle Eastern languages. I was still able to pick it up via context, only needing the glossary at the end to confirm my suspicions.
An excellent debut that pulls from a rich and unique culture to create its fantasy, I give The City of Brass 4.0 stars out of 5.
Pensées
Year: 1669
Author: Blaise Pascal
Length: 771 minutes / 12.85 hours
While I do enjoy and appreciate the ease of which I can listen to an audiobook and absorb the content of a variety of books, there are always a few books that don’t translate well into the format. Sure, I might have my qualms about the narrator’s pronunciation, volume control, or other technical issues. However, this is the first book where the rating I’m giving applies explicitly to the audiobook version, and not necessarily to the book’s contents. The difference here is that the audiobook version of Pascal’s Pensées doesn’t allow the reader enough time to adequately absorb the content.
If I were to classify this book, I’d probably say it’s closer to a listing of complaints/observations that would work better on a multi-year “item-a-day” calendar than in an audiobook format. The majority of Pensées is a series of proverbs by Blaise Pascal, a name that most scientists will recognize. The fact that he so thoroughly analyzed the theology of the Bible and came to the conclusions that he did perhaps speaks volumes about scientific atheists today who have not done nearly as much research on their spiritual beliefs. There are plenty of gems of wisdom in this book; it’s just that the audiobook format doesn’t easily allow the reader to dwell on them for more than a moment.
Perhaps when I have a little more time to fully appreciate Pascal’s Pensées, I’ll sit down and read it. Fortunately, since it’s in the public domain, this book is free to read on Project Gutenberg. Until then, though, I can’t recommend people read the audiobook version of this text. If I manage to physically read this book in the future, I’ll likely give it an adequate rating, but as it is right now, I only have the audiobook version to go off of.
A book of proverbs you should read instead of listen to, I give Pensées 2.5 stars out of 5.
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back
Year: 2016
Rating: PG-13
Length: 118 minutes / 1.97 hours
The follow-up sequel to Jack Reacher (2012), Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016) is almost a warning to the audience in the title alone. I understand how a long-running book series like the Jack Reacher series by Lee Child is advantageous for the author by allowing the reader to pick up any book in the series and not need the background of the previous titles. However, with these self-encapsulated scenarios, Jack Reacher is probably better aligned with a television series than a series of movies. Not everyone can be the James Bond series, which has been able to get away with this for as long as it has.
Don’t get me wrong, I liked the original Jack Reacher movie, as it seemed to channel the “man with no name” / high-plains drifter / Ronin style that was prevalent in Westerns and Samurai films. His skills and calm demeanor unquestionably imply military training, but now that Never Go Back has returned them to those roots, it feels less impactful. Sure, there’s still the requisite fight sequences and car chases, but they just feel like the standard checklist trappings of an action film instead of an exceptional experience.
Having read the first book in the Jack Reacher series, I also have some problems with how the movie’s portrayal of the main character. The first movie did OK in creating this mythical man who always seemed to know what to do and where to go (somewhat along the lines of John Wick (2014)). This movie seemed to add in so many side plots and distractions that I never quite knew what Reacher (Tom Cruise) was going to handle next. Perhaps the dissociation between the book and movie versions of the character also has to do with trying to maintain a PG-13 rating for a character who clearly does R-rated things.
A film series that I will not likely return to, I give Jack Reacher: Never Go Back 2.5 stars out of 5.
This Present Darkness
Year: 1986
Author: Frank Peretti
Length: 520 pages
Back in high school, I had to read this book as part of my Religions class and thought it was pretty good. As I have been preparing for writing The Slumberealm Gambit, I decided to give This Present Darkness another read so I could recall how Peretti combined the fantastical spirit world with the real world. For a book written in 1986, it’s aged surprisingly well, even if the demise of the newspaper and the rise of constant contact via cell phones would make this kind of book set in modern times a hard sell. Even so, I honestly wouldn’t mind if someone adapted this book into a movie, as the plot is thrilling and the action is top-notch.
Strangely enough, one of my qualms with this book is with its formatting and proofreading. There were a few missed typos, and the right-align text didn’t seem as professional as I would have hoped a widely-printed book would be. Regarding content, though, I wonder if the preacher side plot could have either been cut or enhanced so that it would have had the same intensity/focus as the newspaper main plot. Still, by the end of the book, the exciting conclusion is a result of all the pieces being put in place during the somewhat long buildup.
Some people may debate whether angels and demons are real, but this book certainly gives a fantastical look behind the curtain and imagines these beings in elaborate detail. The angels are all quietly patient, while the demons are gruesome and horrifying. The mixture of fantasy imagery and real-world situations is something I hope to soon accomplish in my own writing style, and this book merely reinforced how awesome it was when I read it for the first time more than a decade ago.
An action-filled and thrilling look behind the spiritual curtain, I give This Present Darkness 4.5 stars out of 5.
Mildred Pierce
Year: 1941
Author: James M. Cain
Length: 601 minutes / 10.0 hours
It’s almost uncanny how timeless the story of Mildred Pierce remains to this day. I could easily see a similar story set in 2009, immediately following the housing crash—instead of following the Great Depression. Of course, this also is an unsettling reminder that many societal structures haven’t changed much since the 1940’s. The patriarchal society that existed then still exists to an extent today, which is troubling because of the increased difficulty women have in trying to get ahead in life, especially after something like a divorce or bankruptcy. The fact that the titular character was able to overcome these limitations speaks to her talent as much as to her luck.
The most noticeable differences between the Hollywood version with Joan Crawford and the source material of this book mainly come down to the amount of suggestive/objectionable material within it. This is likely due to the book’s slightly more pulpy origins, combined with the Hays Code that was prevalent in Hollywood at the time. In fact, the plot almost seems modern, despite its 1940’s roots. The women in Mildred Pierce were certainly more in control of their destinies than we’d like to think, given the era in which they lived.
While the basic rags-to-riches story is inspiring and does lead to some interesting character growth, the constant conflict between the main character and her daughter or husband or lover is what really drives the plot along. The only difference between how Mildred acts at the beginning of the book and how she acts at the end comes down to the simple accumulation of life experience. If she had encountered the kinds of problems when she was barely scraping by, she wouldn’t have reacted in the same way as when she had built a restaurant empire on the one skill she had: hospitality.
A story about a strangely modern woman who overcame patriarchal limitations, I give Mildred Pierce 4.0 stars out of 5.
Ghostbusters
Year: 2016
Rating: PG-13
Length: 116 minutes / 1.93 hours
Look, I’m all for giving women a shot in traditionally male-focused franchises, but when all it boils down to is an application of “Rule 63,” then I don’t think we’re doing these women justice. In this remake/reboot, the visuals and weapons get an upgrade, and that’s about it. If they truly wanted to make a “Ghostbusters with women,” then the characters shouldn’t have been so interchangeable with the originals. I understand the need to maintain the parallels to the original, but these characters come off more like men in women’s bodies than women who have their own, unique challenges and approaches to solving problems.
If anything, Ghostbusters (2016) shows how extraordinary the comedy and special effects of the original Ghostbusters (1984) were. While the original usually earned its laughs with a wink, this remake had jokes that mostly relied upon awkward and uncomfortable situations or faux pas. I get that sometimes the improvisational nature of comedy can work for people who got their start on Saturday Night Live (as 3/4 of the cast has). But when it seems like the camera was left on to capture random moments/outtakes/bloopers that made it into the final movie, the 4th wall is broken, and the illusion of the film fails.
Despite all this, the movie itself is mostly entertaining. Even if it heavily borrowed from the original, then it still meant you were watching the original in some form. And the original was entertaining. Some of the plot points were tightened up a bit, and the city of New York felt more like a character than a backdrop, both of which I appreciated. The cameos from the original cast were fun but mostly unnecessary. I can only hope that the sequel (if it is ever made at all) does a better job of taking its women seriously.
An interchangeable and weaker “Rule 63” version of the original, I give Ghostbusters 2.5 stars out of 5.
The Ghost Script
Year: 2018
Author: Jules Feiffer
Length: 160 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
When I received this book in the mail, I opened it up and was suddenly surprised. First, I suppose I didn’t realize this was the third book in a series. Second, I thought the rough sketching of the cover was an aesthetic choice, but it seemed to permeate the entirety of this graphic novel. Since these first impressions took me for a loop, I had to warm up to the idea of this book before I sat down to read it. Even despite my initial misgivings, The Ghost Script is an enjoyable and quick read with a visual style that somehow works, even despite its “rough” characteristics.
Part of me almost wished the book was a little longer, but I suppose if I read all three pieces together, I’d get the length of a book I usually look for in a graphic novel. As it was, I sat down and cranked through this book in a little over an hour. At the very least, the action and intrigue made me keep reading, and seeing how close I was to the end made me finish in a single sitting. Even without the background of the two previous books in this trilogy, I was able to quickly comprehend what was happening and why the characters acted the way they did.
While the visual style almost seems like a first draft that would be polished later, the “roughness” of the illustrations actually kind of work for the noir setting. The subtle gray shadings and loose line drawings convey all the information they need to. No more. No less. There’s almost a natural talent in creating “messy” drawings that still succinctly get the point across at a glance. Perhaps because I wasn’t focused on super-detailed illustrations, I was pulled into the story more. I could also enjoy the art at a glance, which made reading it that much faster as well.
A quick read about a “messy” Hollywood noir, I give The Ghost Script 4.0 stars out of 5.
Timeline
Year: 1999
Author: Michael Crichton
Length: 912 minutes / 15.20 hours
It’s been a while since I read any Michael Crichton. I thoroughly enjoyed Jurassic Park—and to a lesser extent, The Lost World. I enjoyed the action and the science that went into creating these stories, helping to educate as well as entertain (kind of like my own writing style, if I do say so myself :D). For Timeline, the science in question is more quantum in nature, but I felt the explanations given were sufficient to arrive at a time-travel narrative, even if it did require a small amount of scientific hand-waving. Also, a lot of my perceptions about the dark ages were completely flipped around through this book’s meticulous details.
Even though I liked the scientific and historical sections of this book, there were undoubtedly some weaknesses I cannot overlook. First of all, Crichton seems to like hammering home the idea that science as an entertainment business is a bad idea (a la Jurassic Park) but the corporate sub-plot seemed a little less thought out and didn’t play too much into the grand scheme of things. As for the main plot itself, it seemed distracted most of the time, rarely remembering why these characters were sent back in time in the first place. Some of the characters weren’t even that compelling either, which didn’t help.
I wanted to like this book more, but by the end of the narrative, I got the sense that this was more akin to an action-movie screenplay or video game plot than an actual book. The countdown to the climax was a little hard to keep track of earlier in the book, and it didn’t provide the needed tension early on that it did near the end. Plus, the characters were usually the ones calling out the timestamps anyway, making it mostly redundant. In the end, there were some neat ideas regarding quantum physics, time travel, and history that makes Timeline an educational read, even if it is only once.
A Crichton book heavy in action, but light on plot, I give Timeline 3.0 stars out of 5.
A Quiet Place
Year: 2018
Rating: PG-13
Length: 90 minutes / 1.50 hours
I’m not a fan of horror. In recent decades, the “gorenography” surrounding the genre seemed to appeal to the lowest common denominator. Jump scares and excessive on-screen violence were the norms. It seems that films like Get Out (2017) have changed that, judging by how expertly A Quiet Place (2018) still holds to some of the horror tropes but tells a story that’s much more thrilling than seeing a group of people gored to death one-by-one. In the end, A Quiet Place is expert storytelling at its finest, based partly on how adeptly it uses the medium of film to convey its horror.
While there seemed to be a few minor plot holes and curious decisions on the part of the characters, I’m just going to chalk them up to “horror logic” and move on to why I think this film is required viewing, even for people who hate horror movies. What strikes me so much about this film is the raw terror of the characters, which is then passed off onto the audience in a way that dialogue, narration, or reading can’t accomplish. When we take away one of the fundamental things that make us all human—our ability to make noise—then suppressing that natural ability in order to survive ratchets up the tension to epic proportions.
A Quiet Place uses all the tricks in the filmmakers’ toolkit, especially since it goes in with limited audio and full visuals. Great moments of foreshadowing are only surpassed by the cringe-inducing moments when someone screws up and makes a noise. The amount of thought that went into creating a world where making noise could get you killed is in prime form here and is included in even the most subtle details throughout. Sure, there are scary moments in this movie, but the ending is so incredibly satisfying that these moments are completely worth it.
A prime example of expert storytelling, I give A Quiet Place 4.5 stars out of 5.
The Pilgrim’s Progress
Year: 1678
Author: John Bunyan
Length: 324 pages
I distinctly remember my parents reading this book to me when I was a child. Decades later, I decided to re-visit it and read it for myself. I don’t know if it was an abridged version or a simplified re-telling appropriate for kids, but this was not the book I remember from my childhood. Sure, the action bits were still there, like the fight with Apollyon, the Slough of Despair, and the suicide discussion in Vanity Fair, but there was way more dialogue than what I recalled of the story. Not to mention the verbiage/wording seemed more along the lines of a King James Bible than of a fantasy setting.
Sure, I’ll concede that, for 1678, this was a groundbreaking piece of fiction, and perhaps the first piece of successful fantasy ever written, but it hasn’t aged entirely as well over the years when compared to its source material. There are undoubtedly little lessons and morals present here, but they are often buried between and among diatribes from the primary and supporting characters. Furthermore, I was only loosely aware that there was a “Part 2” to the main story of Christian’s journey. After reading the journey of Christiana and her children following in Christian’s footsteps, I can see why I never heard that part when my parents read it to me: there wasn’t much new material in it.
When I picked up this book to read for myself, I was trying to confirm that I could use it as a framework for my Slumberealm trilogy. After reading through it, I realized the apparent references to concepts, ideas, and people is more indicative of the style I used for The Fluxion Trilogy. There’s not a lot of subtlety in the character names or destinations present in The Pilgrim’s Progress. I suppose that’s part of the charm of such an allegory, though.
A groundbreaking piece of fantasy that hasn’t aged well over time, I give The Pilgrim’s Progress 2.5 stars out of 5.
Farside
Year: 2013
Author: Ben Bova
Length: 580 minutes / 9.67 hours
I had never heard of this author before picking up this audiobook to read—I just thought the title and cover looked neat—but apparently he’s been writing science fiction for a few decades now. It shows. While I’m not entirely certain that this 20th part in the “Grand Tour” series connects to any other parts written before it, Farside does stand by itself as a story. Unfortunately, the story’s not that good. It almost seems as though the “old rules” of golden-age sci-fi live on through this author, which allowed for this misogynistic piece of fiction to be written in the new millennium.
Much like Fire with Fire, there seems to be some sort of checklist that authors trying to imitate the pulpy origins of sci-fi are using to create their modern works. These tired tropes need to stop. Especially the tropes that have to do with the blatant sexism. None of the sex in this book had any grounding in reality or common sense: it all seemed to happen merely to check an item off a list. If these stories are allegedly set in the future, then why aren’t the characters acting “more woke” than the people who exist today?
While I did appreciate the interesting scientific ideas presented in this book, the “mystery” that evolved out of it was confusing at best. It didn’t seem clear why the antagonist—who seemed to almost appear out of nowhere—did what they did, thus leading to the peril of the people on the moon. I also found the repetition in this book to be slightly annoying. When I kept listening to the audiobook and wondered if it had somehow skipped back to a previous section when a fundamental concept was repeated, almost verbatim, then there’s obviously a problem with the exposition in the writing.
An artifact of the antiquated and sexist “rules” of golden-age sci-fi, I give Farside 2.0 stars out of 5.
Ready Player One
Year: 2018
Rating: PG-13
Length: 140 minutes / 2.33 hours
Ready Player One (2018) is a rare film for me, mostly because I had read the book well before the movie came out. In fact, I read the book shortly after it was released, and was impressed by the sheer volume of pop culture references. Consequently, I figured such a film could never be made. Just based on the incredible amount of coordination it would take to get rights approvals from so many different places, the legal side of such a film would be a nightmare. If it was made into a film, I imagined it would certainly be a fun and flashy romp through cyberspace. The film version, while not entirely faithful to its source material, certainly lives up to my imagination.
While the book spends paragraphs describing all the pop culture references, the movie does it one better and gives quick, flashing glances of something that fans of pop culture will immediately recognize, or at least be able to pause and scrutinize in the home video release. These subtle nods never distracted from the story since they were mainly visual references. Spielberg, in a return to form that hearkens back to his family films from the 1980’s, managed to find the right balance here and allows us to revel in gooey nostalgia while also reminding us that the virtual and real worlds are distinctly different realms—a good reminder for all of us. In fact, some rude internet behavior was my only qualm with the film, even if it is somewhat accurate of the internet culture.
Regarding the plot discrepancies, I feel the movie helped to smooth out some of the rough edges from the book. The novel had a lot of intriguing ideas, but they seemed slightly disjointed. The movie, however, manages to create a more cohesive narrative from some of the basic building blocks of the book. In much the same way that The Shining (1980) was a distinct and artistically significant work separate from—and linked to—the book it used as its source, Ready Player One (2018) uses its source material to create an equally significant work to its origins.
A fun and polished love letter to popular culture and the internet, I give Ready Player One 4.5 stars out of 5.
Smothered
Year: 2018
Author: Autumn Chiklis
Length: 288 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
Even though I’m a Millennial, I never experienced the embarrassing situation of having to move back in with my parents after college. Of course, my degree was in Mechanical Engineering and not the degree the main character received from Columbia University that left her with no job prospects. If I were to describe the style of awkward comedy presented here, it would be “schadenfreude-esque.” I suppose it’s funny to watch someone fail in the ways presented here, but it’s more of an amusing chuckle than a laugh-out-loud series of situations. In the end, this is still your basic “romantic comedy” where the main character can’t communicate worth a darn and leads her to learn hard lessons about life.
While I did like the interweaving of social media and technology into the narrative, I don’t think it went far enough. Who were the journal entries for? If they were for the main character to vent to herself, why did she need to put distracting footnotes (that jarred the flow of the story) to tell the reader something the character would have already known? It would have made more sense if the journal entries were blog posts instead since they’re already breaking the 4th wall and addressing the reader directly. At least this was a minor qualm when compared to the character herself.
The main sense I got from the main character is that she’s a whiny and privileged child. She procrastinates, is too picky, holds grudges, and just plainly acts like a teenager more than an adult. In fact, there are even a few characters who call her out on these things when she complains about wanting to be treated like an adult without having any proof that she’s putting the effort forth to be one. Of course, her mother is also an obnoxious character who doesn’t have much character growth either, so I suppose it’s a family problem.
A somewhat amusing story about becoming an adult, I give Smothered 3.0 stars out of 5.
Monster
Year: 2005
Author: Frank Peretti
Length: 679 minutes / 11.32 hours
One of the challenges of the Christian author is being able to craft stories and characters that share their beliefs, but without being too heavy-handed about it. In Frank Peretti’s Monster, the author mostly succeeds, providing characters that can easily be identified as Christian, but also exhibiting the traits of normal humans instead of straight-up caricatures. The main plot of this book was only tangentially related to an argument against evolution, so that was also a plus. Still, the way the book was put together, it was clear where the author’s bias was.
While some people might not appreciate the Christian undertones in this thriller, my qualms with it are more structural. Following a few different characters after a woman is abducted by an unnatural beast, the mystery of the disappearances and killings unravels to reveal a semi-plausible explanation. Unfortunately, the man and wife pair that are introduced at the start of the book are more annoying than likable. Ergo, when I followed the woman’s ordeal in captivity, I could not sympathize with her plight because her actions and reactions were so off-putting at first.
In the end, Monster is still a passable—if perhaps boilerplate—thriller. I did appreciate the realistic explanation for the fantastical elements of the story. I also found it somewhat refreshing to show a character who opposed the common scientific view of evolution just because everyone else thought it was true. For an audiobook, the author’s narration was filled with just the right amount of emphasis, which is to be expected. However, with so many short scenes and quick cuts between them, his reading could have stood to have a little bit longer pauses between sections in order to give the listener a better sense that the scene was changing from one character to another.
A passable thriller with semi-subtle Christian undertones, I give Monster 3.0 stars out of 5.
A Wrinkle in Time
Year: 2018
Rating: PG
Length: 109 minutes / 1.82 hours
While plenty of children’s books are imaginative, no amount of CGI can cover up the fact that a faithful adaptation to the source material should be the highest priority. Unfortunately, due to the heavy Christian undertones in the original story, an anti-Christian Hollywood managed to churn out this loose adaptation of A Wrinkle in Time that doesn’t do much more than waste a few hours of your time. Sure, there are hints to such important ideas as faith, but they’re lost in lackluster character development that tries to “modernize” something that has been timeless for decades.
Each of the sequences in this film merely seems like an excuse for gorgeous set design. If anything, the alien worlds and settings are neat to look at, but they don’t do much to distract from the events that just happen without much explanation as to why, or what purpose they serve. For instance, the scene with the identical houses and families all acting in synchronicity (one of the scenes from the trailer) is visited and exited in a matter of moments, and there was no point or moral lesson to teach there. It just was. Then it was not.
Perhaps the most frustrating part of the film was the main characters. When Meg (Storm Reid) was describing all her faults, I had to stop and think: did the movie show us these faults? Some of them were accurate, but most didn’t seem to be obvious character flaws that she was trying to overcome, or at least not ones that were presented earlier in the film. Consequently, all the characters felt as flat as a visit to a 2-dimensional world (which, ironically enough, was a scene from the book that didn’t make it into the movie).
A hollow adaptation with flashy visuals and nothing else, I give A Wrinkle in Time 2.0 stars out of 5.
Killer Thrillers
Year: 2015
Author: Nick Thacker
Length: 899 pages
I was glad I picked this triad of books up for free, as I probably would have asked for my money back otherwise. Consisting of three books, The Enigma Strain (with a bonus few chapters of the next book in the series), The Atlantis Stone, and The Depths, the drastic need for an editor (or beta reader group) became apparent by the end of the collection. I’m almost a little disappointed that there were so many errors in proofreading and logic in these books since I would think they’d be cleaned up a bit from their first publications in order to be compiled together here.
While I did finish these three books, I can probably blame The Enigma Strain for that fact. The first book in this collection, The Enigma Strain was a passable thriller, even if it was a little cliché and stereotypical. I was vastly more disappointed in The Atlantis Stone, which hardly made any coherent sense. With so many ill-defined characters running around, trying to meet an arbitrary deadline, it was painful to read. I hoped The Atlantis Stone was a fluke when I started The Depths, but its scientific continuity errors confirmed that the best book in this collection was the first one, and it all went downhill from there.
Some of the ideas presented in these books seem interesting at first blush, but they’re muddled down in so many other unnecessary things that the plots generally devolve into a race against the clock. Perhaps with some additional research, attention to detail, and revisions, these books could be pretty good. As they are now, they seem thrown together to earn a few bucks from people who throw money at any thriller with a somewhat intriguing cover and title. I’m just glad the only thing I wasted was my time.
Three books that still need some work done on them, I give Killer Thrillers 2.0 stars out of 5.
All the Light We Cannot See
Year: 2014
Author: Anthony Doerr
Length: 962 minutes / 16.03 hours
If All the Light We Cannot See were a movie, I would consider it “Oscar bait.” Set during the most romantic of World Wars: check. Main character with disability: check. Drama, tragedy, and suspense: check, check, and check. It’s then no wonder that All the Light We Cannot See ended up winning a Pulitzer. Sure, it’s filled with plenty of the “award” tropes that we tend to see repeated over and over again—but it works. What helps this book stand out from the rest of the books and movies that try too hard to earn awards is twofold: its characters and its plot.
Before I get too far into my praise for this book, I have to mention that the narrator for the audiobook version seemed to mispronounce a few words early on, which threw me for a loop and made me wonder if I’ve been mispronouncing them myself. Similarly, it was a little challenging to track the timeframes for some of the subplots, but the impact of the book was still the same. The author was able to paint a vivid set of lives set on opposite sides of a global conflict. From the blind French girl forced to survive on her own to the prodigious German boy with a penchant for radios and STEM, their internal and external conflicts were prime examples of gripping and engaging storytelling.
While there didn’t seem to be one primary driving plot in this book, the addition of the handful of subplots worked in concert to create a gem of a story (har har). These subplots were natural to the characters that embodied them, which helped to produce an amount of realism that held everything together. Everything just made sense, and even the semi-tragic ending was a satisfying end that left no subplot or loose end untied.
A beautiful piece of prose worthy of its Pulitzer, I give All the Light We Cannot See 5.0 stars out of 5.
(500) Days of Summer
Year: 2009
Rating: PG-13
Length: 95 minutes / 1.58 hours
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m biased when it comes to this film. In 2009, I experienced my first ever relationship. I also experienced a breakup from said relationship in the same year. Consequently, I can relate to the main character, Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), and his rise and fall brought about by Summer (Zooey Deschanel). Like Tom, I too held the romantic belief of “the one,” based mostly on the movies, books, TV shows, and music that touted this magical someone who would fill the hole in our souls. What (500) Days of Summer emphasizes is certainly closer to reality: not every story has a happy ending.
As for the way the movie is presented, I must applaud the ingenious and artful direction of Marc Webb, this being his directorial debut after years of working on music videos. His previous experience certainly comes through in the music chosen for the film, as well as some of the cinematography to go along with said music. Jumping around the timeline of the 500 days, this film’s fractured storyline helps to show the contrast between the “honeymoon phase” and the downward spiral that leads to a breakup.
My favorite sequence in the film was the “Expectation/Reality” split screen since it was by far the most accurate representation of many of my personal experiences. As a male, I know women can be confusing, but the ambiguity of the relationship in this movie made the vagueness of Summer especially heartbreaking for Tom. Watching this movie again, years later, I appreciated how the personal growth and moment of courage for Tom were the positive results of his failed relationship. The fact that relationships don’t turn out the way we think is probably why I also truly enjoyed La La Land (2016) as well.
An adorable film with some valid points about relationships, I give (500) Days of Summer 5.0 stars out of 5.
This film appears in the following posts:
Cinema Connections #223. Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Cinema Connections #224. Zooey Deschanel
The Depths
Year: 2014
Author: Nick Thacker
Length: 384 pages
The Depths will be the last book I read from this author. While The Enigma Strain was passable, The Atlantis Stone revealed quite a few weaknesses in his writing style. I had hoped The Depths would redeem this author, but unfortunately, that was not the case. There’s too much left unpolished in these books that I cannot recommend people spend their time reading them. In The Depths, the main issues lie more with the scientific accuracy and leaps of logic that don’t make sense. There’s still the problem of too many flat and unimportant characters that were present in The Atlantis Stone, but it’s just slightly better than before.
While I don’t want to give away too much of the plot, I felt the writing seemed to be more “stream of consciousness” than something figured out in advance. There are a few main characters, and a basic idea that eventually becomes the central conflict of the plot, but the actions that lead these characters to the discoveries that drive the plot don’t make sense. They feel forced, almost as if these events/actions have to happen to progress the story. And don’t even get me started about providing detailed backstory for minor characters that cease to be relevant to the story immediately after their flashbacks.
Scientifically, there was too much in The Depths that was unbelievable. Considering the scale of the operation described in this book, there’s no way it could have remained hidden for 30 years, let alone even be created 30 years ago. I’m OK with stretching physics a little bit to provide an interesting story, but so much of this story broke the science, as well as the logic of human interactions. There’s no way a divorced couple would just happen to board a submarine to search for their missing son. I also didn’t understand the need for the investigator side-story, since it had no bearing on the plot at all.
A book that needs a second look from beta readers and editors, I give The Depths 1.5 stars out of 5.
A War of Gifts
Year: 2007
Author: Orson Scott Card
Length: 145 minutes / 2.42 hours
Side stories are a somewhat odd occurrence in the literary world. They’re essentially like the “deleted scenes” from movies: they don’t add to the plot, even if they are interesting by themselves. A War of Gifts is a side story to Ender’s Game that finds the reader back at the battle school during Ender Wiggin’s training period. While Ender’s Game is a tight piece of science fiction, with no room for a Santa Claus sup-plot, A War of Gifts does require some knowledge of the source material in order to understand this sub-plot.
I am always in awe of Orson Scott Card’s ability to take some of the most basic ideas and make them the most profound, most philosophically-intriguing debates. In the case of A War of Gifts, we have a fundamentalist Christian who was taught that the more commercial aspects of Christmas (like Santa Claus, for instance) are pure evil. Butting up against this characters’ beliefs are a few homesick recruits who unwittingly bring his ire upon them for celebrating a holiday in a way that might be construed as “religious.” The conflict comes in defining the activities that do or do not abide by the school’s “no religion” policy.
The debates of both sides are so well-described and thoroughly thought out that such a silly conflict suddenly becomes a multi-faceted problem with no easy solution. The reader also gets to see an Ender Wiggin who certainly has hints of his piercing personality that becomes present in the subsequent installments in the series. The specifics of A War of Gifts don’t lend themselves to being included in Ender’s Game, but it’s a delightful visit back to the world created therein. For fans of the series, they won’t be disappointed. For people who haven’t read the original story, A War of Gifts might be best saved for later.
An engaging side-story in the world of Ender’s Game, I give A War of Gifts 4.0 stars out of 5.
Pacific Rim: Uprising
Year: 2018
Rating: PG-13
Length: 111 minutes / 1.85 hours
I think the trouble with some sequels, no matter how much I loved the original films, is that there’s almost an unspoken meshing of elements that made the first movie enjoyable but can be hard to reproduce a second time. That being said, Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018) does a pretty good job of continuing the story that came to a mostly definitive end in Pacific Rim (2013). Unfortunately, it looks like they also took a play out of Independence Day: Resurgence (2016) and have teased at a further sequel past Uprising.
I will admit that some sequels like Pacific Rim: Uprising have an easier time advancing the plot of the story since most of the exposition has been covered in the previous movie. There was certainly a creative and natural twist that helped bring back the Kaiju so that audiences could see giant robots fight them again. It was also fun to watch these Jaegers battle, much like we all enjoy the clashes between superheroes to see who is stronger (a la Captain America: Civil War (2016)). Even so, there was still something “off” about Uprising, and I think I know what it was.
In the original Pacific Rim, most of the characters were unique and had clear goals and motivations. However, in Uprising, there is certainly less of that. John Boyega’s Jake Pentecost didn’t chew on the scenery for nearly long enough, merely falling into line when the danger became apparent. Scott Eastwood’s performance was also equally distracting, especially with how much he resembles his father. While Mako Mori (Rinko Kikuchi) was an empowering female character in Pacific Rim, Jules Reyes (Adria Arjona) seemed to be merely thrown in for ill-defined sexual tension. I also wasn’t wild with the Ender’s Game-esque addition of teenage pilots either. Still, the promise of Kaiju/Jaeger fights was satisfied.
An adequate sequel that delivers on the action expected of it, I give Pacific Rim: Uprising 3.0 stars out of 5.
The Atlantis Stone
Year: 2013
Author: Nick Thacker
Length: 480 pages
Albert Einstein is often attributed to the quote, “The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.” In that case, The Atlantis Stone, is not creative, as all its sources are plainly on display, jumping from imitations of Dan Brown to imitations of National Treasure, and everything in-between. I wouldn’t mind the obvious homage to better stories if the plot was any good. The Atlantis Stone is not a good story, though. The main reason for this seems to be the characters themselves, but there’s plenty of plot holes to blame as well.
Let’s start with the characters: there are too many of them, and many are entirely unnecessary. The token female in the entire group seems tagged on for the mere ability to provide a few moments of exposition, as well as give the lecherous males something to long for. Her uncle is completely unnecessary, as his research doesn’t require him to actually be at these famous monuments to explain how the Golden Ratio is a thing. There were plenty of other characters who I knew only by name tags but honestly couldn’t remember who they were or why I should care.
As for the plot, it’s pretty obvious early on where it’s going, even if none of the specifics are known. What I don’t get is how these people traveled all over the world and weren’t just knock-out tired from the sudden jet lag. Furthermore, there’s this “timer” that’s counting down to an apocalypse event, but why is it centered on that time zone, and not the time zone of any of the other significant ancient sites? Not that any of it matters, because there’s so much disorienting action that there isn’t any time for character or plot development.
An uninspired mish-mash of more successful ideas, I give The Atlantis Stone 1.5 stars out of 5.
The Gunslinger
Year: 1982
Author: Stephen King
Length: 440 minutes / 7.33 hours
With the recent release of The Dark Tower (2017), I became interested in the book series that inspired the movie. I already knew the books would likely take a different direction from the film, and I was prepared for them. Up until now, I’ve enjoyed many of King’s other works, including The Shining, On Writing, and The Green Mile. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy The Gunslinger; it’s more that most of his books have not been part of a larger series. I still want to know what happens in the next book of the Dark Tower series, so The Gunslinger certainly succeeded in that aspect.
Stephen King’s talent for description is in high form here as he crafts a world unlike our own but still linked to it via the wandering boy, Jake. Considering King’s background in describing all sorts of evil creatures and villains, the calm and calculating “Man in Black” is more terrifying than any violent antagonist, mostly with how psychological he is in his assaults against the eponymous Gunslinger. I also found following the main character of the Gunslinger led to an exciting journey as he overcomes the hurdles that prevent him from accomplishing his goal.
I understand that the first book in a series has a heavy burden to bear. It must introduce the characters and enough of their backstory to understand their motivation. It must also have a hook and be interesting enough by itself to warrant further reading. I probably could have done without some of the flashbacks and/or hallucination/memories, as they almost distracted from the action. I also felt this book didn’t necessarily cover enough ground, but I suppose that’s what the next books in the series will do: flesh out the conflict between the Gunslinger and the Man in Black.
A good foundation for a series that I hope improves over time; I give The Gunslinger 4.0 stars out of 5.
Avengers: Infinity War
Year: 2018
Rating: PG-13
Length: 149 minutes / 2.48 hours
It’s difficult to codify something like Avengers: Infinity War (2018) without including everything that led up to it. In reality, it’s probably more along the lines of the 19th episode of a television series that’s taken ten years to realize fully. Because of the interconnected nature of these previous movies, it’s difficult to view it alone without the backstory tied to it. However, there are enough brief moments of exposition to help most people fill in the gaps as to what is happening. Still, as is the case with many finales for television shows, the epic nature of Infinity War is at a level all its own.
The scale of such an endeavor is daunting, but with as little backstory as possible holding it back, Infinity War moves at a pretty good pace, jumping between a couple of groups of Avengers. Of course, we can’t just directly jump to fighting the main villain, so the “lesser” bad guys stand in the way for a moment, but mostly fill time until the penultimate battles. At least during this waiting period, we get to learn the motivations of the heretofore mostly mysterious Thanos (Josh Brolin), which ends up humanizing this terrifying villain who thinks he’s doing the right thing.
While the action is probably a little too shaky at times, the team-ups are what sell this movie. No longer are there coy little cameos and winking nods to references from other Marvel films (although, there is a somewhat shocking cameo about half-way through), but instead full-blown connections that expertly ties up the disparate parts of the 18 previous films. With an ending as shocking as this one, I’m a little curious where Marvel goes from here, but I have my hunches about what the future will bring.
An ambitious project that deftly delivers on its many promises, I give Avengers: Infinity War 4.5 stars out of 5.
Men and Manners: Essays, Advice, and Considerations
Year: 2018
Author: David Coggins
Length: 192 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
In a world becoming increasingly modern and digital, it’s a little odd to find a book like Men and Manners, especially since its weird page colors make it seem like it was written in the 1950’s. While this book did have some pieces of advice, it seemed to be as specifically tailored (like a high-end tuxedo) to Manhattan, New York, instead of being general advice for men in Manhattan, Kansas. Many of the locations and businesses explicitly mentioned in this book were complete mysteries to me since I don’t live in New York City. These references made it seem like the manners advice wasn’t relevant to me at all.
While I would have appreciated more thorough explanations of why particular manners should exist, this book seemed to be mostly filled with anecdotes from east coast elites about their opinion on certain matters. Sure, some of the people who provided their views were experts in their fields, but it would be better for the target audience (which I’m assuming is young men) to have an explanation as to why your shoe color should match your belt color. From my viewpoint, this book seemed like a lot of young Baby Boomers / older Gen-X-ers subtly complaining about Millennials and their habits/trends.
Despite the apparent bias on the part of the writer(s), this book did contain many pieces of useful advice, even if a lot of it—if not most of it—boiled down to common sense and common decency. Another aspect I seemed to notice with this book is that it is also aimed at the moderately wealthy, especially considering all the expensive hotels, restaurants, and businesses mentioned. I don’t think I’ve ever stayed at a hotel with a doorman. Consequently, it seems that manners are only available to the rich when it’s the less-wealthy among us that often need the gentle nudging toward good manners.
A primer for young men living in New York City, I give Men and Manners 3.0 stars out of 5.
On Stranger Tides
Year: 1987
Author: Tim Powers
Length: 721 minutes / 12.02 hours
Since I knew the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean movie was based on this book, I decided to give it a read to see if it was any better than the so-so extension of the Pirates franchise. Let’s just say that this book was a loose inspiration for the film. About the only elements that survived the transition were Blackbeard and the Fountain of Youth. Of course, even the movie version vastly improved the Fountain. In fact, I think I prefer the Pirates movie of the same name, even if the two don’t share much in common.
I will say that On Stranger Tides does excel in its action sequences. The fights and battles are choreographed and described in such a way that is entertaining to read and comprehensible to understand. Unfortunately, a book full of fight sequences does not a good story make. Events in this book just seemed to happen, almost at random, and with no foreshadowing of what was to come. This made it difficult to follow, especially as the story seemed to jump from character to character, so I had to remember what was happening in each of the plotlines all at once.
I got the sense that this book didn’t know what it wanted to be, mostly because it had so many main characters that it never had enough time to devote to any of them. Some of these characters never had clear motivations, or if they did have goals and ambitions, they weren’t revealed until much later in the book. The magic system could have been a little better fleshed out, as there didn’t seem to be any consistent rules or reasoning behind the effects the magic created. Overall, I was mostly disappointed with what this book could have been.
Some good action sequences drowning in too many subplots, I give On Stranger Tides 2.5 stars out of 5.
Black Panther
Year: 2018
Rating: PG-13
Length: 134 minutes / 2.23 hours
Anymore, superhero films are a dime a dozen. I get that they’re adding up to a greater narrative for Avengers: Infinity War (2018), but a lot of them seem almost indistinguishable from each other. Enter Black Panther (2018). Not only is this superhero not white, but almost all the action takes place somewhere other than New York City. There are a lot of strengths in Black Panther that make it feel like a cut above the rest. From the set design and aesthetic of Wakanda to the well-developed characters (including women warriors and women scientists), Black Panther shows how a superhero movie should be made.
Despite its strengths, there are still a few, minor weaknesses in this film. First, some of the CGI felt a little off in the sense that my mind rejected it when I saw it. These moments were usually pretty rare but were unquestionably obvious. Secondly, one of the tenets of the superhero genre is the action/fight sequences. While these sequences were present and exciting in Black Panther, often they seemed to be jittery and confusing to watch. Perhaps films like John Wick (2014) have spoiled me to the steady camera of a well-choreographed action sequence.
One of the best performances in Black Panther, which is why I think it should come so highly recommended, was that of Michael B. Jordan’s antagonist, Erik “Killmonger” Stevens. The strength of the African accouterments in this film was a cultural foundation that was offset by the oppression of African-Americans. This was made all the more evident by the antagonist’s somewhat noble goal. I don’t know if I’ve seen a more sympathetic villain, and it just made the conclusion feel like a richer sense of justice instead of just vanquishing an evil foe.
A breath of fresh air in a stagnant genre of superhero films, I give Black Panther 4.5 stars out of 5.
The Essex Serpent
Year: 2016
Author: Sarah Perry
Length: 464 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
It’s been a while since I’ve read a book as profound as The Essex Serpent. Perhaps it’s because they don’t write books like this anymore. While written in the last few years, the style of The Essex Serpent is distinctly Victorian. It holds callbacks to the greats of gothic literature, including the physiological studies of Frankenstein and the back-and-forth letter writing of Dracula. All the while, the ever-present gloom of the muddy and foggy Essex shoreline hides the eponymous serpent just outside the reader’s view, providing anticipation of its reveal. Is the Essex Serpent real or is it a figment of so much imagination?
Of course, in staying with the Victorian style, the book does suffer somewhat in readability. The vocabulary and description are certainly more voluminous than modern volumes, but my biggest qualm seems to be more along the lines of the seemingly endless talk that occurs in the first half of the book—perhaps trying to mimic one of Jane Austen’s romances—that only seems to be present for character exposition. There are also a few sub-plots that sound incredibly important, but don’t end up having much sway on the outcome of the plot.
Still, despite having to get used to the style, the characters and their drama is expertly crafted. In particular, the “friendship” between the widow Cora and the married clergyman Will was positively heart-pounding. Cora’s son was delightfully peculiar, as was Will’s wife. If The Essex Serpent was more predictable, I’m sure the ending would have been different. I’ll have to settle for the conclusion as written, instead of having to read a more serious version of Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters. At least, the plot surrounding the Essex Serpent is exciting and was what kept me reading through the muddy first half.
A modern book expertly written in the Victorian style, I give The Essex Serpent 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Pearl
Year: 1947
Author: John Steinbeck
Length: 155 minutes / 2.58 hours
Perhaps one of the lesser-known of Steinbeck’s works, The Pearl still exhibits his concise and emotionally-powerful storytelling. More along the length of Of Mice and Men than The Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck doesn’t waste much time arriving at the central conflict of The Pearl, using realistic characters and settings to weave his story. Some might find the characters in this story to be mere stereotypes, but I would almost argue that they’re the archetypes that have aided good storytelling for centuries. The fact that people today could easily find themselves in similar situations merely speaks to the timeless nature of the story itself.
Somewhat of a deviation from the depression-era settings of some of his previous works, Steinbeck uses the natural beauty of the island setting to contrast the ugliness present in the hearts of its inhabitants. Granted, the antagonists of the story are the inherently-greedy colonialists who are trying to take advantage of the indigenous population, but even a treasure as highly valued as the eponymous pearl can turn an islander’s mind to thoughts of evil. The Pearl is undoubtedly a story about the evils of materialism and wealth, even if a significant amount of money could make a poor person’s problems disappear.
There is palpable tension in the plot of The Pearl, especially as the story progresses toward its heartbreaking ending. The fact that Steinbeck can do so much with so few words merely speaks to his genius that has stood the test of time. If you were forced to read any of Steinbeck’s works for school and were turned off by having to analyze his prose to death, I would suggest you give his writing another try with this story. Even if you don’t like The Pearl, at least you didn’t spend much time reading it.
A tight and expertly-written Steinbeck story, I give The Pearl 5.0 stars out of 5.
The Greatest Showman
Year: 2017
Rating: PG
Length: 105 minutes / 1.75 hours
I can honestly say there aren’t nearly enough musicals in Hollywood anymore. The Greatest Showman (2017) certainly helps to fill in the gaps between these occurrences, and with a subject that easily lends itself to the musical format. I really enjoyed the songs and choreography, as well as its message of inclusion and being unashamed of who we are. All that being said, there was still something a little off when infusing pop music and modern dance moves with the 1800’s. It kind of works, but it also doesn’t immerse the audience in the historical aesthetic.
While the story of P.T. Barnum’s (Hugh Jackman) rise to wealth and fame (or infamy, depending on the viewpoint) was entertaining enough, so much of its presentation seemed to have the “Hollywood coincidence” to it. Events lined up in such a way that I wondered if they really happened or if it was artistic license. This is also not to mention the number of clichés present in the film as well, most of which I can’t get into without spoiling the plot. At the very least, Barnum’s story seemed realistic due to his motivations, and not necessarily due to his humanitarianism.
It might seem like I’m bashing this movie for being too “Hollywood,” but by that same mark, it is an entertaining film. There are enough humor and heartfelt moments to keep the proceedings lighthearted. If anything, the fact that it’s entertaining is merely linked to Barnum’s rise as an entertainer and showman. The songs are catchy enough to get stuck in your head, and the dancing (especially the bit in the bar) was dazzling to watch and would be fun to imitate. The Greatest Showman isn’t your traditional biopic, but it is good for a brief escape from reality.
An entertaining musical that hits all the Hollywood clichés, I give The Greatest Showman 4.0 stars out of 5.
Zero to Five
Year: 2018
Author: Tracy Cutchlow
Length: 247 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
As an INTJ who is preparing to have kids, I’ve found a lot of advice that seems to be hearsay and old wives tales. As a scientist, I don’t particularly care for “tips and tricks” that are based on emotional responses or limited data sets either. Enter Zero to Five, a book that attempts to gather together the scientific research done to identify the positive and negative methodologies used to raise kids from birth to five years old. Some of the results are not what you’d expect. Of course, many of the snippets of advice contained in this book keep reiterating the same points: empathy, communication, and problem-solving.
Early on in Zero to Five, I was engaged with the format and the narrative, but as the book dragged on, the repetition of the same themes became tedious. It also felt like the references to studies and research that were prevalent in the first half were replaced by anecdotal evidence in the second. Maybe they were still there the whole time; they just weren’t as noticeable. I get that this book is a list of topics that would be used as references when needed, but I almost wish it was organized in a way that broke it into the big ideas that need to be grasped and focused on each one of them instead of continually hitting the same notes over and over again.
Despite my qualms with the format, there seems to be a plentitude of useful advice in this book, even if much of it may be difficult to employ in real life. So many of our “instinctual” parenting skills were inherited from our parents, so it can be a challenge to break free from them and try other techniques that might work much better. At the very least, I know I’ll probably want to reference this book when kids enter the picture. I’ll probably have it filled with sticky notes and dog-eared pages by the time any of my kids reach five years old.
A collection of scientific studies and anecdotes to help parents raise better kids, I give Zero to Five 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Green Mile
Year: 1996
Author: Stephen King
Length: 839 minutes / 13.98 hours
While most people might not realize Stephen King wrote The Green Mile, I was completely unaware that the original version of this book was released serially—much like Charles Dickens used to do with his books. The novelty of experimenting with this format is somewhat lost now that the volumes are collected together to create a whole narrative. Even so, King is still the master of his craft, even if there’s minimal “horror” contained within the walls of this prison. At least, it’s an expected horror through the system of capital punishment, and not tied to the terror of the unknown.
Even though I enjoyed this story for its characters and plot, one element stuck out like a sore thumb: the framing via the retirement home. Sure, there’s a neat twist involved near the end, but so often the narrative would pull away from the time period in the prison to show some parallels to retirement living in a distracting way. I don’t think this added much to the story and it seemed to be more of a diversion than a benefit to the plot as a whole. Either way, these moments are few and far between, which helps move the action along.
Overall, King’s descriptive writing brought much of the book to vivid life. His imaginative ideas and foreshadowing give the reader just enough information to figure out the real culprit of the crimes mere pages before the characters themselves were able to. Each of the characters is unique and has their own qualities that causes you to either love or hate them—depending on who they are. Even if you’re not a fan of Stephen King’s other works, I highly suggest you read The Green Mile, regardless.
A fantastic non-horror Stephen King novel, I give The Green Mile 4.5 stars out of 5.
Logan Lucky
Year: 2017
Rating: PG-13
Length: 118 minutes / 1.97 hours
I enjoy a good heist film. No heist is ever a straightforward “grab and dash” situation. When overcoming the barriers for the heist one-by-one, I can appreciate the interlocking elements of the robbery. Since one of my favorite heist films, Ocean’s Eleven (2001), was directed by Steven Soderbergh, I looked forward to his latest heist, Logan Lucky (2017). The trailers made it look like a fun film, and it was, but at the expense of all the best parts being conveyed in the trailer. About the only thing you don’t see in the trailer is the twist at the end, which is to be expected.
When it comes to the setting, I’m not entirely sure if Logan Lucky is embracing or parodying the hillbilly stereotype. From beauty pageants for children to NASCAR races, this film has all the trappings of a West Virginia based on cultural perception instead of actual reality. At any rate, there is a humor and charm in the drawling characters, which were played to significant effect by Channing Tatum, Adam Driver, and Daniel Craig (who was certainly cast off-type from his regular repertoire). The one character that seemed out of place was Seth MacFarlane’s gum-chewing Max Chilblain, mostly because I couldn’t place what accent he was trying to achieve. British? Australian? Some mix of the two?
In the end, Logan Lucky delivers on its promise of a down-home country heist that’s equal parts fun and smart. I know associating the hillbilly stereotype with smart seems odd, but Soderbergh manages to make it happen. Perhaps its strongest trait is the unexpected twist near the end of the film, as a series of flashbacks reveals the “plan within the plan” that helps to end the movie on a somewhat ambiguous note as the characters gather together in the bar run by Clyde Logan (Adam Driver).
A fun heist film and return to form for Steven Soderbergh, I give Logan Lucky 3.5 stars out of 5.
Gaia
Year: 2017
Author: J.A. Darmanin
Length: 296 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, it’s one of those basic Young Adult stories, replete with the clichés like the “normal girl who finds out she’s super-special” and “main character is the only one who can save the world.” However, it also didn’t have the obscenity, violence, and sexuality that as seemed to permeate most YA books of late. Similarly, I found the main characters to be incredibly annoying, but then they were also written as teenage girls . . . so I guess there’s an amount of realism there.
While there are certainly polished elements to this book, including the cover and some of the formatting, there are a few amateur mistakes that reveal that this is the author’s first book. The biggest problem I had was the variety of plot holes present throughout the book. Sure, there were a few moments that came into play later, but then there were others that ended up being utterly pointless after the fact. I also felt there were probably one too many characters in the central trio, but the “third wheel” kept changing between the main character and her best friend (why was the best friend allowed to come to an alien planet, again?).
Gaia is an admirable first attempt, but some serious revision and polish could certainly make it a better book. I mean, the overplayed mind-reading cliché is an author’s cheat to get into the character’s head, but often I found it to be inconsistent in this book, if not wholly unnecessary. Plus, I don’t know many teenage girls who are obsessed with history, especially when the knowledge they convey isn’t anything past a basic understanding. At the very least, there weren’t any apparent hints of a sequel, which was nice.
An adequate first novel filled with clichés, I give Gaia 2.5 stars out of 5.
Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians
Year: 2007
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Length: 414 minutes / 6.90 hours
Never before have I read a book that has been so self-aware . . . and I loved every minute of it. There’s breaking the fourth wall, and then there’s Brandon Sanderson’s Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians. A fun and hilarious read for teens and adults, this book’s premise is as ridiculous as it is original. Of course, while it tends to border on the random (for maximum comedic effect), this book also manages to tie all these random pieces together in the most satisfying way. The comedy in this book is effortless, and the plot is certainly the most interesting thing I’ve read recently.
I think the ability of this book to successfully break norms and fully immerse the reader in the world is due to Sanderson’s talent as a fantasy writer. The details that seem odd, like receiving a bag of sand for your thirteenth birthday, manage to be relevant to the climax of the story. Even the unique “superpowers” present in this narrative are fully fleshed out, and the minutia of how they work makes sense and adds to the depth of the characters. In fact, these superpowers practically define the personalities of the people who wield them.
While this is only the second Sanderson book I’ve finished reading (I’m still working on The Way of Kings), I am quickly becoming a fan of his work. Or, at least I genuinely enjoy the shorter books that he writes, like this one. I can’t wait to pick up the rest of the books in this series, because the characters and the world are so real to me that I want to keep reading to find out what happens next. Who knew that unassuming librarians could make the best villains? Maybe that’s the whole point, though?
A hilarious, random, and well thought-out adventure, I give Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians 5.0 stars out of 5.
Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!
Year: 2017
Rating: PG
Length: 98 minutes / 1.63 hours
Over 20 years after its debut, it seems that Pokémon is not a fad and will be here to stay for the long haul. Of course, considering the mania surrounding the first games in the series back in the mid-1990’s, by now enough time has passed for nostalgia to be a contributing factor to the franchise’s continued success. The children who grew up with Pokémon are now adults in their late-20’s and early-30’s (i.e., “millennials”). In an attempt to cash in on this nostalgia, Pokémon’s latest movie, I Choose You! recounts some of the memorable first moments of the anime, but with a slightly different storyline.
Initially, I was worried that this plot would be a pared-down selection of key moments from the anime, much like what has been done with other anime movies like One Piece’s The Desert Princess and the Pirates (2007) and Episode of Chopper Plus(2008). Fortunately, this film managed to capitalize on some hindsight that ended up linking the first few episodes of the anime to significant plot points introduced in the second generation of games. Granted, this semi-ret-conning diverges from the anime plot (to a point where Team Rocket is completely uninvolved), but at least it provides a more cogent conclusion by the end of the film.
Some have bashed this movie for the controversial decision to give Pikachu an actual voice, but the nostalgia in me (partly from the anime, as much as from the first Pokémon movie) got chills during the climax of this film. That being said, I had trouble getting used to the new voice actors for this movie, which pulled me out of the nostalgia every now and again. In the end, the plot of this film probably follows a lot closer to the actual Pokémon games than the anime ever did, which is probably a plus considering some of the complaints many fans have about the anime.
A nostalgia trip for the millennials who grew up with Pokémon, I give I Choose You! 3.5 stars out of 5.
Factor Man
Year: 2018
Author: Matt Ginsberg
Length: 292 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM THE AUTHOR***
First off, basing an entire book on solving the P=NP problem is a bit of a risky gamble. Most people have limited understanding of advanced mathematics, so describing this conundrum of complexity theory walks a fine line between not enough information and an exposition dump. Fortunately, Factor Man is able to maintain that balance, even if many of its sections and POVs did start to trend into exposition for exposition’s sake. I mean, I understand the reasoning behind the New York Times’ coverage of the lead-up, but each of the articles didn’t read like they would have come from the New York Times.
I will say that the strength of this book lies in its buildup. A lot is riding on the successful execution of Factor Man’s plan, so his meticulous attention to detail to ensure every part of it comes to fruition was entertaining, to say the least. The mystery of Factor Man’s identity helped to drive the story forward, but once he became part of the narrative, much of this mystery vanished. About half-way through the book, the momentum starts to drag as it becomes evident that there will be no twists present all the way to the anti-climactic ending.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I looked forward to the lunch breaks where I could sit down and read this book. The story pulled me in, but there were enough little problems in it that I can’t give it a full five stars. From how the story seems to be distracted by the author’s opinion on a few topics (including steroids and flying on airplanes) to a solid plan that didn’t leave room for surprises, this thriller will get the job done, but it could have certainly been better. However, considering this book was Matt Ginsberg’s first novel, I must give him credit for creating something that was at least unique in its subject matter.
An educational piece about impossible mathematics in the skin of a thriller, I give Factor Man 3.5 stars out of 5.
The Clockwork Dynasty
Year: 2017
Author: Daniel H. Wilson
Length: 650 minutes / 10.83 hours
If there’s anything Daniel H. Wilson is good at, it’s writing about robots. In his latest book, The Clockwork Dynasty, he takes a steampunk approach by setting the book, not in the future, but in the present and distant past. Returning to the origins of robots via the automatons created for the entertainment of the wealthy and royal, Wilson has crafted another workable piece of fiction centered on robots. Unfortunately, as is the case with some of this other writing, I didn’t like a few of his stylistic choices.
The Clockwork Dynasty jumps back and forth between flashbacks and “present era” actions, which can sometimes be distracting, especially if one of the storylines is particularly interesting at the time. I almost wonder if there could have been a better way to focus on the action in the present and to reveal the details of the past in more of a “show” instead of the “tell” provided via flashbacks. Additionally, I get why some of the violence was present in this book, but it (along with the few moments of obscenity or sex) seemed a little unnecessary.
One of my other qualms with this book was with the audiobook itself. Since the individuals reading each of the sections were different between the past and the present, it did help to know where I was in the story. However, the male voice of the past was a little quieter than the female voice of the present. This meant I turned up the volume each time the story was in a flashback, only to scramble to turn it down when the timeframe switched. Some volume leveling would have made this book a little less difficult to listen to, is all I’m saying.
A steampunk story by the modern master of robot stories, I give The Clockwork Dynasty 3.0 stars out of 5.
Darkest Hour
Year: 2017
Rating: PG-13
Length: 125 minutes / 2.08 hours
There are plenty of films out there that claim to be “art” by pushing the boundaries of the medium. These movies often come off as just plain weird. Darkest Hour (2017) is an artfully crafted masterpiece, even if it seems to be a biopic about Winston Churchill at first glance. All the individual elements that go into a fantastic film are in top form here, as we see how lighting, cinematography, music, plot, and acting combine to create something greater than the sum of their parts. Darkest Hour doesn’t have one element that makes it stand out as an incredible movie; it uses all facets of its production to create a masterpiece of art.
The look of this film is incredible. From the overhead shots of battlegrounds seamlessly transitioning into the carnage of war to the heavy contrast of light and shadow emphasizing the “darkness” of the “darkest hour,” the visual spectacle of Churchill’s unconventional rise to power is memorable on its own. When you add in Dario Marianelli’s fitting score to the visuals, the entire movie comes alive with emotion. Of course, this movie would be nothing without Gary Oldman’s Oscar-worthy performance, made all the more impressive by the hair and makeup to transform him into Churchill.
Coupling with The King’s Speech (2010) and Dunkirk (2017), Darkest Hour helps to show how dire the situation for the British was during this pivotal moment in World War II. Despite the substantial stakes, the movie never feels too depressing. In fact, there are plenty of moments that are downright hilarious. These moments are mixed in with poignant scenes that help to bring the humanity of the situation to the audience’s attention. I’m a little disappointed this movie had such fierce competition in the categories it was nominated in, as I’m sure it would have won a lot more of them if it came out in any other year.
An artful piece of history, I give Darkest Hour 5.0 stars out of 5.
If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face?
Year: 2017
Author: Alan Alda
Length: 213 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
While miscommunication might be the source of conflict for romantic comedies, it’s a much more significant problem in the real world. If people aren’t able to efficiently and accurately communicate with their fellow man, then we all have room for improvement. Scientists and doctors are often the worst offenders, even though their ideas need to be communicated to the world for the advancement of society. Alan Alda has spent years trying to figure out why people are unable to communicate, and he has also figured out what we can do to improve this situation. As a scientist and writer, I feel many of his insights have merit.
I grew up watching Alan Alda on Scientific American Frontiers, so I know how often he has interacted with scientists. His conclusions that we can all become better communicators through empathy and understanding of our audience makes sense. I dabbled in improvisational theatre a little in college as I was studying to earn my Masters in Mechanical Engineering. Having first-hand experience of successfully improvising, I always touted its benefits for technical professions. Now I know why. When we synchronize with others, our message has a much better chance of being communicated.
As if to prove his point, this book is not necessarily a scientific account of the research, but merely a personal (and relatable) set of anecdotal stories that should open people’s eyes to the potential communicators trapped within each of us. We all have to communicate on some level, whether it’s orally or written, so if we can all improve our communication skills by learning to empathize with others, maybe society could one day be able to hold civil and vigorous debates without instantly devolving into mud-slinging contests.
A must-read for anyone who communicates (i.e., everyone), I give If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face? 5.0 stars out of 5.
The Carpet People
Year: 1971
Author: Terry Pratchett
Length: 335 minutes / 5.58 hours
Having now read one of Terry Pratchett’s books, I thought it might be interesting to go back and read his very first work. Many authors don’t manage to become famous with their very first book, and I think Terry Pratchett is no exception here. The Carpet People is an amusing book with his standard British charm, but I think it never goes far enough in its exploration of the idea. After all, I was expecting this book to be more along the lines of The Borrowers instead of just a straight-up fantasy with a few references to the fact that these creatures lived in the carpet.
Part of the problem I seemed to have with this book was the incessant need for fantasy books to create new names for objects and creatures that already (mostly) exist. If you took away the carpet setting, I think this book could be practically indistinguishable from any other fantasy book. This is what disappointed me the most. I believe there are plenty of potential moments to highlight the size disparity between creatures that live in the carpet, and the rest of the world we’re familiar with (a la Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)).
Granted, I will give this book some grace considering that Terry Pratchett originally wrote it when he was a teenager. For this reason alone, I do have to say that it should be an inspiration for young writers, just to show that it can be done. Pratchett clearly improved his writing skills over time to become a bestselling author, but it’s important to recognize and realize that he didn’t start out that way. Ironically enough, though, I almost preferred the serialized version of this story that he originally wrote over the more “standard” version that aligns with his later styles.
An amusing book and impressive first novel for a teenage Terry Pratchett, I give The Carpet People 3.0 stars out of 5.
Call Me by Your Name
Year: 2017
Rating: R
Length: 132 minutes / 2.20 hours
Call Me by Your Name (2017) is the latest in a string of LGBTQ+ films nominated for Best Picture. Each year, we seem to see one of these LGBTQ+ films nominated for the highest award, but this year there’s a much more fundamental problem with it. Around the time the definition of marriage was changed by the U.S. Government, many opponents warned of a slippery slope that would lead to acceptance of lifestyles that are currently illegal. Call Me by Your Name is proof that we have proceeded down this slope.
I understand that the themes of “first love” are what draw people to this film, and I’d be OK with that if the theme never entered sexual territory. As it is, this movie glamorizes sexual relations with a minor. This is statutory rape, which is illegal. Even if the parties involved were heterosexual, this would still be wrong. Unfortunately, I think it’s the only reason why this film was nominated in the first place. As it is, the whole thing is quite dull and certainly kept going when it should have ended a few scenes prior to where it did.
Furthermore, Call Me by Your Name just screams white privilege. Lazy summers spent in Italy having numerous sexual encounters with other white people just seems like something that even regular white people can’t relate to. Despite all its flaws, Call Me by Your Name does two things correctly: the beautiful Italian setting and the music. Heck, I’m even willing to add a half-star to my rating because of the father’s monologue at the end of the film. Lord knows I would never have watched this if it wasn’t a Best Picture nominee, and now the Academy essentially endorsed the American Pie (1999) of art-house films.
Hollywood’s steady march down the slippery slope of sexuality, I give Call Me by Your Name 2.5 stars out of 5.
The Silent Invader
Year: 2017
Author: R.B. Thurman
Length: 353 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
I don’t think I’ve ever read a book like this. In this case, that’s not a good thing. As a self-published author, I know how exciting it is to see my writing in print. Being able to hold a physical copy of my work in my hands feels good, but only if I know the content inside is worthy of the printed page. After struggling through The Silent Invader, I’m honestly wondering if I’m the first person, including the author, to read it all the way through (the only other rating so far is from the author, and he’s obviously biased). So much of the use of present tense, repeated word usage, passive voice sentences, and preposition-ended sentences just sound awkward and could easily be fixed if the author were to read this book out loud.
Unfortunately, the grammatical errors that plague this book aren’t the only problem with it. As the first book in the Chronicles of the Final Tyberian King series, I was expecting a fantasy book. Nope. Thinly-veiled Star Trek fanfiction. What frustrated me most about this sci-fi was how inconsistent it was. It’s obviously set in a future that has faster-than-light travel, but people still use point-and-shoot cameras and laptops. Even the faster-than-light travel was never adequately explained. Sometimes the journey is said to take up to 36 hours, but then the crew is immediately there. Everyone seems to speak English, and alien races name their children “Richard” and “Rebecca.” So much of this universe doesn’t make sense, mostly because the details added are either unnecessary or inconsistent. Speaking of inconsistencies, don’t even get me started on how out-of-character the main character’s wife was about half-way through the book. She wasn’t the only one to be out-of-character, either.
In the end, this book was an adequate first draft, but it seriously needs an editor. Practically all the characters are dull and uninteresting, if not outright annoying. Huge exposition dumps run rampantly throughout the fourth-wall breaking “Captain’s Logs.” These moments with the audience should not be so informal (they should be considered part of the official record). None of the actions of the characters or how they got into their predicaments make sense, and the whole plot is bloated to the point where half of it could be cut, and it would still probably make sense. Even the main character identifies how many clichés and idioms are in this book, even if he didn’t catch them all. I would strongly urge the author of this book to pull back, remove this book from publication, and sit down with a good editor. As it is right now, it’s not ready to be published.
A rough draft that accidentally got published, I give The Silent Invader 0.5 stars out of 5.
Ganymede
Year: 2011
Author: Cherie Priest
Length: 729 minutes / 12.15 hours
Now that I’ve read the first three books in the Clockwork Century series, any hope I had of some cohesive narrative is essentially gone. While following a new character for each book helps to provide a different setting of the steampunk alternate universe, when I know these characters won’t matter outside their own books, I kind of stop caring about them. Even previous heroines are relegated to cameo and minor character status as the persistent series of somewhat pointless events drags on. And don’t even get me started on the zombies, which are a distraction to any actual story in my opinion.
I think the main problem I have with these books is the fact that things happen without much lead-up or foreshadowing. Sure, there are some fascinating factors involved with making a submarine work in the Civil War era, but the resulting battle and conclusion went exactly as I expected them to. This isn’t foreshadowing as much as it is conforming to clichés. There doesn’t seem to be much at stake in any of the character arcs, which is made all the more prevalent by the relatively uninteresting characters themselves. Some have distinguishable quirks, but they all feel flat in a world that could be that much more interesting.
As for the “twist” near the end involving one of the characters, I feel it was poorly executed, let alone unnecessary. Considering the medical techniques at the time, even in an alternate universe, the individual in question probably didn’t have the necessary “assets” to convincingly pull this deception off. If anything, it was only hidden via clothing, but since there were no hints or foreshadowing about this surprisingly minor character, I had no way to even know if anything was off to begin with. I can believe that some of them might exist in that timeframe, but it just felt like a cheap add-in for the sake of “inclusion.”
Another steampunk book in a series that isn’t going anywhere, I give Ganymede 2.5 stars out of 5.
Lady Bird
Year: 2017
Rating: R
Length: 94 minutes / 1.56 hours
It’s weird to think that 2003 was 15 years ago. As someone who graduated high school in 2004, Lady Bird (2017) hit me right in the nostalgia. While there have been plenty of coming-of-age films over the years, Lady Bird simplifies the experience to a quick-paced trot through the senior year of high school for the titular character (portrayed to great effect by Saoirse Ronan). All the trappings of the coming-of-age story are there, including experimentation with drugs, sex, and alcohol, but done in a way that is still innocent and child-like. In the end, Lady Bird is about independence and defining who we are as individuals.
What really hits home in the narrative of this film is the things we do to make ourselves stand out. From declaring that our name is different from the one our parents gave us to choosing which friends we spend our time with, we inevitably realize that we’re seeking approval and acceptance from others. The trick with these statements of individuality is that they can sometimes backfire, pushing those who already loved us away at the expense of gaining approval from those who could care less about us.
What I found interesting about this film being set during the 2002-2003 school year was how it didn’t stray too much from its focus on Lady Bird. Sure, there were hints about the terrorist attacks on 9/11 and the downfall of tech companies during the dot-com bubble, but they were used more as drivers for sub-plots and didn’t need anything more than a passing mention. There were plenty of sub-plots in Lady Bird, but they never distracted from the main storyline, acting merely as moments to let the audience know what’s happening with the other characters Lady Bird interacts with regularly. Of course, with a scant 94 minutes to cover a year of independence and maturity, these sub-plots needed to be short.
A simple and timeless example of how teens find out who they are, I give Lady Bird 4.5 stars out of 5.
The Enigma Strain
Year: 2014
Author: Nick Thacker
Length: 271 pages
The basic formula for a thriller is as follows: one loner, one love-interest, and lots of running. The Enigma Strain is your cookie-cutter thriller, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The premise is somewhat entertaining, if not downright ridiculous and unrealistic. The pacing is certainly fast enough to keep the characters moving and racing against the clock of destruction (at times even literally). In the end, there were no surprises as the day is saved and the loner opens up enough to attract the love interest. The fact that the ending was predictable just meant that it delivered on the thriller formula.
One of the weaknesses of The Enigma Strain is the sense of space and time. There was plenty of driving around to different locations, which made them seem like they were quite close together. However, the love-interest kept talking about flying, which made me wonder how far away these places were. If it took a long time to drive between them, there was a lot of time these two characters were in the car together that wasn’t necessarily alluded to. I know I can get irritable after a long time in the car, and the fact these two strangers weren’t at each other’s throats after a collective eight hours (or more) of driving felt strange.
While The Enigma Strain had all the trappings and accouterments of a standard thriller, it also contained many of the “wait, why?” faults that separate a lot of thrillers from actual reality. Some of these questions were answered (like why the main character is a loner), but others were frequently touched upon but never fully explained (like why the main character is afraid of flying). In the end, if you want a fun escape from reality, a good thriller like The Enigma Strain can probably fit that bill.
A standard thriller that follows the thriller formula, I give The Enigma Strain 3.0 stars out of 5.
Dreadnought
Year: 2010
Author: Cherie Priest
Length: 803 minutes / 13.38 hours
For the most part, the book series I have read progress the story from one book to another. I get that there are some series with the same character in different predicaments for each book, but jumping from one character to another in each different book is an interesting tactic. Of course, I’m somewhat guilty of this, as The Fluxion Trilogy focuses on different characters for each book. As far as I can tell, The Clockwork Century series also does this, even if the connections between the characters are flimsy at best. Even so, the plot seemed to take a step backward from Boneshaker to Dreadnought.
One of my qualms with Boneshaker was that there wasn’t a lot of world-building that established what this alternate-reality Seattle was like in the scheme of the broader United States. Dreadnought solves this problem by giving the main character an opportunity to travel across the country, thus establishing some of the world-building in the process. In fact, there were a few points where I wondered if I had picked up the first book in the series, only to confirm that Dreadnought was the second book. Unfortunately, I thought the plot of Boneshaker was a little more believable since the cross-country trek in Dreadnought seemed like an obvious ploy by the author to introduce the world to the reader.
I certainly appreciated the thinking that went into the consequences of a decades-long Civil War, but I still think the “zombie” angle of this series seems out of place. I get that steampunk is the combination of some more modern technologies in a Victorian era, but the zombie genre seems so modern that combining the two never really gelled for me. Plus, through the plots of two books, I feel like I’m no closer to understanding where the gas that creates the zombies originates, or if there’s even an endgame to the zombie situation.
A book that should have come first in the series, I give Dreadnought 3.5 stars out of 5.
Coco
Year: 2017
Rating: PG
Length: 105 minutes / 1.75 hours
In the never-ending string of incredible visuals brought to life by Pixar, Coco (2017) continues this trend into the afterlife. At this point, I’m convinced Pixar could just go ahead and shoot live video and put their animated characters in the scene and I’d still think the whole thing was animated. The interplay of color, light, and shadow really come out in this celebration of Mexican culture. All spectacular visuals aside, Pixar again delivers on an emotional impact that left me crying, as always. When it comes to new ideas, Pixar certainly still knows how to create a visually-compelling story.
While Coco has a lot going for it, there are a few weaknesses, some of which are my own opinion based on my likes and dislikes. I know the film mostly targets children (and older children at that), but the plot was just a smidge too predictable. Sure, it was enjoyable to see my hypotheses play out on the screen, but the twists weren’t anything too groundbreaking. Secondly, I’m sure the street dog was endearing for those who like dogs, but I found it to be more annoying than a vital part of the plot.
Not necessarily a weakness, I’m a little torn on the message of the movie. Having recently visited Mexico for the first time this January, I had a greater appreciation of the culture presented here. However, even if the “family first” motif felt a little bit like the plot from a Fast and Furious film, I also wanted to root for the young boy who wanted to pursue his passions and dreams despite his family’s adamant restrictions. By the end, there’s a happy medium, but when I want the main character to divorce himself from his family so he can do what he enjoys, then there might be a problem.
A fantastic and culturally-rich masterpiece from Pixar, I give Coco 4.5 stars out of 5.
Fifty Plastic Bottles and the Shoeshine Box
Year: 2018
Author: Maédeiva Myre
Length: 230 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM THE AUTHOR***
When the author contacted me about reviewing this book, he compared it to The Kite Runner. Having now read this book, I think Fifty Plastic Bottles and the Shoeshine Box can stand on its own without the comparison. Sure, both focus on the events of childhoods in the Pakistan/India area, but the one scene that both seem to share (the rape) seems completely unnecessary in Fifty Plastic Bottles and the Shoeshine Box. This was my only practical qualm with the book. As it is, the author has crafted a well-thought-out narrative that covers plenty of meaningful topics and themes.
Except for the violence perhaps being a little too intense in places, I could see myself reading this to elementary-age children to help them understand a culture different from their own. Not only does the author show the differences between varying levels of poverty, but he does so in a way that is non-judgmental, merely highlighting the disparity between the different castes of Pakistan. In addition to this, we see an example of terrorism and human trafficking that is subtle enough to be a neutral representation of a global problem.
I appreciated the down-to-earth narrative style the author used to convey this story. Occasionally, there would be an excellent vocabulary word, but the language was generally simple throughout, making it a fast and easy read. Because the story is mostly told from the perspective of a child, this style was quite fitting and added to the realism of the plot. The fact that there is no bloated exposition or extreme amounts of details helps to keep the reader in the story and helps the story to progress to its logical conclusion.
A charming and simple book that deals with some weighty topics and ideas, I give Fifty Plastic Bottles and the Shoeshine Box 4.5 stars out of 5.
I Am Legend and Other Stories
Year: 1954
Author: Richard Matheson
Length: 652 minutes / 10.86 hours
After listening to this audiobook, it became abundantly clear why this story was adapted into a movie on three separate occasions (the most recent being the 2007 movie of the same name). While this latest adaptation didn’t seem to emphasize the “vampire-ness” of the creatures as much as its source material, many of the elements of the story were still present. In fact, I now prefer the original story, as its prose was almost poetic at times in its descriptions of the main character’s struggle to survive. While the ending wasn’t particularly satisfying in either incarnation, the plot development was superb.
I appreciated how the author was able to strip away the superstition that surrounds vampires and look at these fantastical creatures in a more logical and scientific light. Why do vampires hate garlic? Why does a stake through the heart kill them? Do crosses work against vampires who are Jewish or Muslim? His explanations of these well-known trappings of the vampire were as interesting in their revelation as they were in their research. Almost makes me wish that other “horror monsters” had the same treatment since it helps to make their existence somewhat more plausible.
As for the “other stories” included in this audiobook, it soon becomes clear that Matheson is a master of the macabre. Even if the remaining stories don’t necessarily pack the same impact of I Am Legend, many of them are entertaining enough to round out the experience. The narrator’s voice acting certainly added to the characterizations of these other stories, even if seemed a little over the top at times. Overall, these other stories might have been somewhat unnecessary, as I Am Legend can hold its own by itself. Still, the whole collection was entertaining, so I’d recommend it to anyone who likes to read horror.
A poetic and logical examination of a vampire-induced apocalypse, I give I Am Legend and Other Stories 4.5 stars out of 5.
Justice League
Year: 2017
Rating: PG-13
Length: 120 minutes / 2.00 hours
While it can be difficult to separate comparisons of DC’s Justice League (2017) with Marvel’s The Avengers (2010), there are plenty of parallels and similarities between the two. That’s not to say this is a bad thing, as fans of comic book heroes will always love to see their favorite characters team up to take on evil forces almost as much as they want to see these bastions of justice duke it out. Justice League certainly delivers on this, but in a way that felt uninteresting and lacking the serious consequences to the world at large.
Concerning the characters themselves, Justice League succeeds in creating a unique team with some interesting heroes. Wonder Woman’s (Gal Gadot) success in her standalone film could be seen in one of the first (and possibly best) sequences of the film. Additionally, The Flash (Ezra Miller) was a constant source of entertainment as the comic relief. Most importantly, Justice League succeeded in making Aquaman (Jason Momoa) an absolute badass. And while there have been plenty of films with Batman (Ben Affleck), this version certainly seems to draw from its “detective comics” roots to significant effect.
I do find it somewhat ironic/fitting that Zach Snyder directed this penultimate collection of superheroes from the DC universe, especially considering he directed the darker DC superhero film, Watchmen (2009) early on in his career. Plenty of his style remains in this film, but the impact of the plot seems to be a miss here. I think this is mostly because the main antagonist doesn’t easily trace back to one of the known entities in the series: mainly Wonder Woman (2017), Batman v. Superman (2016), and Man of Steel (2013). At least in The Avengers, audiences had already met Loki in Thor (2010). I’m a little disappointed there wasn’t more Steppenwolf music as part of the soundtrack, though.
A procedural gathering of superheroes, I give Justice League 3.5 stars out of 5.
Louisiana Catch
Year: 2018
Author: Sweta Srivastava Vikram
Length: 254 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM THE AUTHOR***
At a time when the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements are at their peak, a book like Louisiana Catch is poised to address something that many American’s might choose to ignore: abuse of women in foreign countries. Sure, there’s sexual harassment in the United States, but in other cultures where there is a firm patriarchy in control, there are much more severe issues like throwing acid and marital rape. While Louisiana Catch does cover these abuses in the context of India, there are other elements to the story that distracts from the impact of overcoming past abuse.
First of all, Louisiana Catch is a somewhat misleading title, since most of the action happens in either New York City or New Delhi. Sure, there’s some amount of Louisiana in the characters, and the women’s conference is held in New Orleans (not sure why, since New York would have been a better fit), but the focus of the story is hardly on Louisiana. Don’t let the stock-photo cover fool you either, as this book is more about an Indian woman coming to terms with her past and breaking away from the shame and fear of an abusive former marriage.
As for the characters themselves, we don’t need a cast list at the start of the book, since they are all pretty well developed, even if it borders on cliché in many instances. The buxom main character (who surprisingly doesn’t have any back pain from her ample chest) follows the traditional romance genre tropes, especially when it comes to the love interest of Rohan (who was probably the best character in the book). The middle section felt a little disjointed as the laundry list of why the online friend was terrible, and the love interest was great kept being pounded home, almost in a Lifetime movie fashion. At least the somewhat predictable end of the novel was a satisfying conclusion.
A book with a powerful statement that gets a little lost in clichés and tropes, I give Louisiana Catch 3.5 stars out of 5.
Double Indemnity
Year: 1936
Author: James M. Cain
Length: 197 minutes / 3.28 hours
This classic piece of noir does what some might consider impossible: making an insurance salesman interesting. Of course, planning to commit insurance fraud makes the scenario much more interesting, even if it follows some of the basic tropes of the genre. Because the story is so short, only lasting just over three hours of audiobook reading, I feel the movie adaptation was able to include everything that made this story so engaging. I do think the ending was improved in the film, though, as the story’s ending felt a little disjointed from the narrative.
What made Double Indemnity so enjoyable was how the main characters were so sure they’d get away with the crime they were about to commit. The details of the fraud were so thorough that the reader is almost convinced that nothing could go wrong. When the aftermath starts to unravel, that’s when the story began to get interesting. Suddenly, all the little things you’d never think of started to rear their ugly heads and tear the crime apart. If anything, Double Indemnity proves that, no matter how well you plan a crime, there is always something that is bound to go wrong. There are no perfect crimes.
While I enjoyed the revelation of the family’s backstory after the crime was committed, the one element that was a little uncomfortable was how the main character altered his amorous intentions from the mother to the daughter. It felt kind of creepy how he was justifying a 15-year age difference, even if she was a year past the age of consent. Maybe that was part of the point, though: prove that none of the characters were above reproach. They each had flaws that made them unlikeable in some fashion.
A short and tightly-written noir classic, I give Double Indemnity 4.0 stars out of 5.
Thor: Ragnarok
Year: 2017
Rating: PG-13
Length: 130 minutes / 2.17 hours
At this point in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), I feel these movies are practically on autopilot. Because Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) were absent from Captain America: Civil War (2016), there had to be a movie to explain what they were doing during that timeframe. Consequently, while Civil War had great conflict and an epic battle sequence, Thor: Ragnarok (2017) feels . . . less necessary. This being said, I do think that Ragnarok explores the Thor universe better than Thor: The Dark World (2013) did, thus making me wonder if Dark World was truly the unnecessary film.
Sure, there are little snippets here and there in these films that set up other parts of the franchise (mainly, the Infinity Stones that will lead to Avengers: The Infinity War (2018)), as well as minor cameos that are fun, if not wholly filler (Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) in the case of Ragnarok). All Ragnarok seems to do is set the stage for the next big film in the franchise. That’s not to say it’s not fun and entertaining. There is plenty that Thor: Ragnarok has going for it, that’s for sure. At the very least, it probably won’t be relegated to a two-minute play put on for Asgardian royalty.
While being bright and colorful, there were still enough moments of character development that concluded in a flashy spectacle. Where Dark World brought humans to Asgard, thus necessitating Thor’s eventual return to Earth, Ragnarok explored the universe connected to Asgard in a way that helped to develop the MCU. The humor in Ragnarok was also on point, with Jeff Goldblum’s Grandmaster and Taika Waititi’s Korg being some of the best dialogue in the film. I also enjoyed the minor cameos of Liam Hemsworth and Matt Damon in a “blink and you’ll miss it” moment.
An entertaining setup for greater things to come, I give Thor: Ragnarok 3.5 stars out of 5.
Soledad
Year: 2016
Author: D.L. Young
Length: 245 pages
This first book in the “Dark Republic” series is a prime example of the New Adult post-apocalyptic genre. I wouldn’t classify it as Young Adult due to the graphic nature of sex and violence, as well as the amount of obscenity peppering the dialogue. I’m not necessarily saying they’re bad things, as they help to define the world created by the author, it’s more that the audience should be prepared for these things. Even more to the point, the one sex scene present in this book was probably more along the lines of rape, even if it was a common element of the characters’ backstories.
Regardless of the content, the story in Soledad is compelling enough. Considering this is the first book in a series, the author spent almost the entirety of it exploring the three different factions present in post-apocalyptic Texas. While this was great for world-building, by the end of the book, little seemed to change for the titular character. Sure, she had some more answers, and her freedom, but the “deus ex machina” that returned her back where she started made me wish there was at least a hint of where the series would go from here.
I will applaud the few twists present in the plot, as they helped tie loose ends up and made the narrative a cohesive whole with no need for further explanation. The world created in this book also seemed very real and logical. Of course, with the heavy Mexican influence in this post-apocalyptic Texas, there was plenty of Spanish sprinkled throughout the dialogue. It’s been a long time since my high school Spanish class, so half of the time I had no idea what they were talking about. I don’t think these moments necessarily changed the plot any, as they were window dressing for a vivid world created by the author.
A pretty good post-apocalyptic New Adult novel, I give Soledad 3.5 stars out of 5.
The Circle
Year: 2013
Author: Dave Eggers
Length: 822 minutes / 13.70 hours
When I saw the movie adaptation of this book, I felt like the presentation of this somewhat interesting idea was already dated by about five years. This made me curious if the book was any better. As is probably no surprise to anyone, the book was much better. Sure, the movie cut a few things from the book that I thought were a bit too unnecessary (all the “sex,” that is) or underutilized (the “Calvin” character), but the book really hits at the intensity of the internet-addicted generation. I would even go so far as to say The Circle is the modern version of 1984.
I’m somewhat torn when it comes to the message presented here. I understand how trying to stay on top of millions of e-mails, and thousands of social media updates can be utterly overwhelming. I also agree that a lot of ideas that seem to be beneficial to society will have the removal of personal privacy as an adverse side effect. However, the vehemence that people participate in the world does bring up a good point about apathy. Granted, I don’t think we should be nearly as extreme in our “oversharing” on social media, but if the majority of success is just showing up, then why do so many people find themselves too busy to even participate? Do they not want to engage with their fellow humans?
I did appreciate how the transition from utopia to dystopia went almost entirely unchecked. The main character’s journey really helped to show how the addicting nature of online interactions and instant feedback can get out of hand. From documenting our lives to searching for information to even searching for love (of which internet dating wasn’t included in the movie), the internet is a powerful place. If anything The Circle highlights how dangerous a true democracy can really be, particularly if the minority opinions are known at each decision point.
A terrifying look into our digital mirror, I give The Circle 4.5 stars out of 5.
Phantom Thread
Year: 2017
Rating: R
Length: 130 minutes / 2.17 hours
Much like The Post (2017), Phantom Thread (2017) has a director/actor combination that just begs for an Oscar nomination. It seems that a decade after the last Paul Thomas Anderson/Daniel Day-Lewis collaboration, There Will Be Blood (2007), the Academy might want to pull their “should have won” trick and give the Best Picture Oscar to Phantom Thread. After seeing this film, though, I have changed my initial assessment. Sure, it’s good and has certain artistic elements that make it culturally significant, but other parts of it are just kind of . . . weird.
First, the good. Daniel Day-Lewis, in his last role as an actor, unquestionably shows how good he is at his craft. I wouldn’t doubt that he has a good shot at earning his historic fourth Best Actor Oscar. The costume design and cinematography are noteworthy, but the best part of this film is a little more subtle: the music. The score for this movie permeates the entirety of it, but the fact that the majority of it is on stringed instruments (even the piano has strings) speaks to the “thread” connection. Quite clever, if you ask me. Overall, the film just seems to “work,” even if I don’t know how it does.
Phantom Thread also seems to suffer from the same slow build-up that There Will Be Blood had. Sure, it’s methodical, but there are also weird moments where I couldn’t figure out what the characters were thinking. Sure, Day-Lewis’ character was a perfectionist to the detriment of his social skills, but some of his reactions were bizarre when the character broke out of his routines. Perhaps the weirdness of other Paul Thomas Anderson’s films (like The Master (2012)) leaked in and made it challenging to get a grasp on this movie.
Another fine Paul Thomas Anderson/Daniel Day-Lewis film, I give Phantom Thread 3.5 stars out of 5.
Chasing Hindy
Year: 2017
Author: Darin Gibby
Length: 285 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM THE AUTHOR***
I’ve read a few legal thrillers over the years. From John Grisham’s Runaway Jury to Michael Connelly’s The Lincoln Lawyer, the excitement of the case is usually matched by the excitement surrounding the legal proceedings. Darin Gibby’s Chasing Hindy certainly fits the bill for a legal thriller, but perhaps with a little less polish than the big hitters in the genre. Even so, this book certainly kept me engaged and interested throughout, which is the mark of a good thriller, no matter what sub-genre it belongs to. Plus, even if the subject matter could have trended into “preachy” territory, Gibby manages to put the opinions about the environment in the subtext, and not in the reader’s face.
While I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys this genre, I do have a few problems with it. First, the main character, Addy, is an interesting character, but I kept forgetting she was Vietnamese. Sure, she didn’t grow up there, but I kept picturing some blonde, white American instead of what the author intended. Furthermore, considering all the obvious red flags that led to the central conflict, I’m still surprised she made the decision she did (even if it was more than likely “romance-motivated”). Regarding plot, there were a few cringe-worthy clichés, and the redundancy of the news reports about the “lawyer on the lam” was a little unnecessary.
Despite all this, Gibby has crafted a narrative that successfully follows the notion that, in order for a good story, you must have a character with a clear goal and an unending amount of obstacles to prevent them from achieving that goal. In fact, I almost expected things to go wrong around every turn, which almost made the plot somewhat predictable. At least somewhat predictable plots are still entertaining since they deliver on the consequences of the foreshadowing and set-ups. On a side note, I also appreciated the shout out to my alma mater of the Colorado School of Mines.
An eco-centered legal thriller that focuses on action over “preaching,” I give Chasing Hindy 4.0 stars out of 5.
Boneshaker
Year: 2009
Author: Cherie Priest
Length: 822 minutes / 13.70 hours
I suppose when I chose to read this book, it would have been a little more steampunk than it was. Sure, Boneshaker has some of the trappings of a steampunk story, like the Civil War and inventions comprised of brass; but in the end, it felt more like light window dressing than something important to the plot. Surprisingly enough, this book was more along the lines of a zombie apocalypse novel than a steampunk one. In that sense, I’m disappointed that the cover didn’t completely deliver on its premise and instead decided to rely on the tropes of the post-apocalyptic genre.
The characters themselves were somewhat interesting, but their motivations seemed a little flat. The boy who wants to find his father and the mother who chases after him aren’t that compelling. In fact, the journey of both characters could have probably been accomplished via one of them, with supporting characters providing information about the other one. If anything, the plot was only used as a method to explore this semi-steampunk Seattle. This meant that, by the end of the book, there were quite a few more questions I had than answers. I guess that’s why there are two more books in this series.
I think my main problem with this book is that it isn’t more thoroughly tied to real history and real locations. Sure, there were a few mentions of the Civil War, but if you removed those few links to history, the story stands on its own pretty well. In fact, you could probably set this anywhere, even in its own, unique world, and it should still work. Because it doesn’t rely on our knowledge of history and familiar places, it doesn’t feel like the “alternate history” that steampunk can provide. In the end, this was a pretty good idea, but it’s misleading in its marketing.
A post-apocalyptic zombie book that has hints of steampunk thrown in, I give Boneshaker 3.0 stars out of 5.
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Year: 2017
Rating: R
Length: 115 minutes / 1.92 hours
The first film by Martin McDonagh I saw was Seven Psychopaths (2012). I enjoyed how he was able to take the audience through many entertaining twists and turns. For his follow-up film, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017), McDonagh has improved on the twists, as well as the darkness of the comedy contained therein. In fact, the comedy is so dark that at times it was almost uncomfortable to laugh. All this being said, the two areas that make this a standout film are the characters and its complexity.
Let’s start with the characters. Almost every single character is introduced in a way that the audience wants to dislike them. And yet, over the course of the film, the significant amount of character development makes the audience root for people who threw individuals out of second-story windows or chucked Molotov cocktails at a police station. Part of what helps in these character developments are the twists that add to the complexity of the story. Nothing is a foregone conclusion in Three Billboards, and in that sense, it has some semblance of reality to it.
On top of these two outstanding characteristics, Three Billboards is also extremely relevant. Set in that portion of mid-west America that seems to embrace the status quo over all else, even if this status quo defends and condones racism, violence, and sexual assault, the fiercely loyal townspeople turn into the real villains. Throughout all of these injustices, a small amount of hope remains, giving many individuals the modicum of energy needed to live in a society that seems to be against them at every turn. It’s a good thing this movie had some funny moments because otherwise, it would have been a sad reflection of our current affairs.
A sharp, smart, and relevant movie with complex characters and plot, I give Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri 5.0 stars out of 5.
In Bruges
Year: 2008
Rating: R
Length: 107 minutes / 1.78 hours
It’s interesting to see Martin McDonagh’s first film with the hindsight of his two other movies. While I missed In Bruges (2008) back when it came out, I have recently enjoyed Seven Psychopaths (2012) and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017). Having now seen all three of McDonagh’s films, I see the themes and motifs he uses throughout his directing. I already had hints of these common elements; it’s just that seeing In Bruges for the first time has cemented them. From using short people to drug use to some uncomfortable violence, McDonagh has a style all his own, and it clearly shows in his breakout film.
I think what draws me to McDonagh’s films is his expert use of multiple “Chekov’s Guns” as well as tying all these various foreshadowings together in a satisfying way. Whether it’s a fat American, spare change, or the untimely death of a child, each part of In Bruges was included for a purpose that becomes evident in some truly genius twists along the way. Some may say that the ambiguity of the endings of his movies is frustrating, but I almost like the open-ended conclusions that seem to say “and life goes on.”
While I did enjoy In Bruges, it still had some areas where McDonagh eventually improved through his continued filmmaking. Even though they spoke English, half the time, I couldn’t understand what was being said by the actors. This almost caused me to turn on closed captions for some semblance of “subtitles.” Other than that, the dark comedy helped to balance the deeply dramatic plot as it centered around death in its many forms. I was already a fan of McDonagh’s films, but In Bruges helps to confirm that the McDonagh trilogy is one of the best pieces of filmmaking to happen in the last decade.
A fantastic first film in the “McDonagh trilogy,” I give In Bruges 4.5 stars out of 5.
Freedom’s Fire
Year: 2017
Author: Bobby Adair
Length: 338 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
I find it somewhat refreshing to read a dystopian book where the dystopia has already happened. There are far too many that detail the onset of a dystopia, and a scant few that actually deal with the realities of the dystopia. While this does lead Freedom’s Fire to have a cynical and depressing tone, at least there is a growing hope as the story progresses. At the very least, this book was a quick read, helped along by its pacing and action-packed sequences. On a personal note, I also liked the fact that it was set in Colorado, as I could easily connect with the locations and lingo.
While Freedom’s Fire was an enjoyable read, it did have a few minor flaws. As I read, I mostly understood the vague goals of the main character and his crew, at least in simplistic terms. Get off Earth. Join the Resistance. It was the in-between waypoints between these broad goals that were never really clear. Furthermore, the start of the book was a little slow as the author took some time for worldbuilding. At least, this expositional section still moved the story along and wasn’t completely obvious as an exposition dump. Finally, as an author myself, I understand the need for “reader involvement.” Even though the final section of the book was somewhat amusing and a different way to ask the reader for help, it mostly came off as desperate.
The aforementioned flaws are practically negligible when it comes to the strengths of Freedom’s Fire. There were certainly elements of HALO, Ender’s Game, and Starship Troopers (1997) to this book that worked well together. Perhaps the most important strength of this book was the situational awareness used by the main character. From his ability to take out enemy starships to his ingenious use of the smaller size of asteroids, the action sequences benefitted from these unique tactics. Or, at least they seem to be unique when compared to the “shoot ‘em up” brute-force approach.
A well-written and almost “pulpy” military sci-fi book, I give Freedom’s Fire 4.5 stars out of 5.
The Brothers Karamazov
Year: 1880
Author: Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Length: 2,239 minutes / 37.32 hours
As is usually the case with Russian literature, The Brothers Karamazov is a daunting read. These thick tomes are usually on lists of books you should read, but picking up such a large volume and consuming its contents can be quite intimidating. Even the audiobook version (which I used for this review) clocks in at almost a full work-week of listening to get through it all. Still, those who manage to take on this herculean task are likely to be rewarded with an engaging story that covers a wide variety of topics to include (but not limited to) religion, marriage, communism, fatherhood, and (of course) brotherhood.
Having already read Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment, I found The Brothers Karamazov to be more along the lines of Law & Order. His former book was a tight and well-paced examination of guilt, even in the face of necessity and wealth distribution. The Brothers Karamazov, however, took a while to set everything up in order to provide an engaging examination of a murder. The first third of this book seemed to be a little bloated with details that never really panned out, but once the real action sets in, get ready for an exciting philosophical ride.
Of course, The Brothers Karamazov is mostly a vehicle for Dostoyevsky to explore some fundamental ideas. These ideas permeate the human condition so thoroughly that he can ask the hard questions in a natural and realistic context. Through conversations with the Devil, as well as arguments in court, Dostoyevsky invites the reader to consider what true fatherhood really is. Furthermore, especially in the context of communism and religion, we are posed with the timeless question: are we our brothers’ keepers? Even today, these questions elicit some challenging answers from society.
An excellent follow-up to Crime and Punishment, I give The Brothers Karamazov 4.0 stars out of 5.
Downsizing
Year: 2017
Rating: R
Length: 135 minutes / 2.25 hours
In the last decade, I’ve come to appreciate Alexander Payne’s films. From The Descendants (2011) to Nebraska (2013), it was clear he was improving as a director. I had high hopes for his latest work, Downsizing (2017) since the premise seemed interesting and ripe for social satire like his previous films. For a movie about becoming small, Downsizing certainly had big ambitions. Unfortunately, it means that this film was kind of all over the place. Sure, there was a somewhat logical progression of events, but even the main character was flabbergasted at the coincidence of it all.
While I would fault the movie for Hong Chau’s clipped English, as it almost seemed culturally insensitive at first, eventually the character grows on the viewer. This leads to a very touching ending. Instead, I will fault the science behind this science fiction. I was half-expecting a lot of sight gags on how ordinary objects are much bigger with shrunken humans (a la The Borrowers), which Downsizing delivered on a couple of times. However, if inorganic material cannot be shrunk, then how are there whole communities with small-scale items (like lightbulbs, prosthetics, etc.) that would need to be manufactured in the smaller scale?
I’m still trying to get my head around how cerebral this movie was. With no clear focus (and a few sequences that were a smidge too long), I had trouble determining if the satire was on the contrast between rich and poor (paralleled with big vs. small), or if it was a statement about human interaction with the environment. I get that the term “downsizing” is applied in many aspects of this film, from the actual shrinking process to shedding all the meaningless materialism of our existences, but even the open-ended ending left me wanting just a little bit more closure on everything.
A semi-comedy that is probably too smart for its own good, I give Downsizing 3.0 stars out of 5.
Ant-Man
Year: 2015
Rating: PG-13
Length: 117 minutes / 1.95 hours
In the never-ending array of superheroes feeding into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) to support such franchises like Captain America and The Avengers, it can be difficult to make some of the B-tier and C-tier heroes seem interesting enough to devote a whole movie to them. To ensure each movie feels different from its predecessors, certain unique attributes must be applied. Whether it’s the sci-fi-themed Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) or the mind-bending visuals of Doctor Strange (2016), each film requires a gimmick to make it work. For Ant-Man (2015), it’s comedy.
If you approach Ant-Man as a standard superhero film, you’re likely to be disappointed. There are almost too many off-hand references to much of the MCU to make anyone not familiar with the vast array of movies lost and confused. Plus, the hero’s “origin story” in Ant-Man is almost par for the course. However, if you watch this film with the understanding that it’s more similar to comedy/caper/heist films than a superhero film, you’re likely to be satisfied. From Michael Peña’s third-party information chains to some of the physical comedy involved with the ants, the movie is fun to watch.
And while Edgar Wright (of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010) and Baby Driver (2017) fame) didn’t end up directing this movie, his influence in the screenplay is certainly recognizable. Of course, Ant-Man also owes a debt of gratitude to other “shrinking” films like Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989), just as much as it owes to Bokeh photography and any number of heist films (like Ocean’s Eleven (2001)). Sure, CGI made much of this film possible, but without the ridiculous nature of a shrunken world infused into the plot, it would have been more boring than fun.
A fun little movie for fans of comedy and heists, I give Ant-Man 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Post
Year: 2017
Rating: PG-13
Length: 116 minutes / 1.93 hours
At this point, I just wonder if every movie Steven Spielberg makes that has anything to do with war (Schindler’s List (1994), Saving Private Ryan (1999), War Horse (2012), Lincoln (2013), Bridge of Spies (2015)) is just automatically given a Best Picture nomination. Don’t get me wrong, Spielberg has made a lot of quality movies that should be recognized and awarded. The question is more about the state of Hollywood films. Is there nothing else out there by up-and-coming filmmakers that would supplant a Spielberg film in the nominee list? Don’t even get me started on Meryl Streep’s nominations, either.
Of course, in part due to the all-star power of Spielberg, and the leading roles filled by Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep, The Post (2017) is a movie that builds its tension right until the very end. Despite a somewhat slow start, the stakes are never higher when the ambiguity of publishing classified documents is taken all the way to its logical conclusion. The fact that the outcome isn’t a foregone one (even with the knowledge that these events happened in the past), is merely proof of Spielberg’s skill in connecting information to create a thrilling conclusion.
It can be difficult to separate the events in this film from the obvious political parallels to today’s society. From breaking through the patriarchy of business to holding the government accountable, much hasn’t changed in over 40 years. That being said, the journalistic integrity to bring the truth to the surface seems to be different now than when Nixon was in office, being used as a tool to bash an opposing viewpoint without necessarily having all the facts to back it up. At the very least, using the actual audio from the White House in the lead-up to the Watergate scandal was a nice touch.
A thrilling film with overtly political messages and themes, I give The Post 4.0 stars out of 5.
Spotlight
Year: 2015
Rating: R
Length: 128 minutes / 2.13 hours
For many years, the running joke about the movies that have won the Best Picture Oscar is that they only won because another film should have won years prior. Spotlight (2015) is this generation’s All the President’s Men (1976) in that it is an excellent film about investigative journalism that broke open a huge cover-up, changing the world forever. Both films deserved to be Best Picture, but Spotlight manages to take an uncomfortable subject and be frank and open about the problems that we still see in today’s society.
Since most of the movie is comprised of uncovering the truth behind the sexual abuse scandals in the Catholic Church, it’s surprising how gripping and well-paced the film ends up being. Part of the genius of this film is the high-energy dedication these four journalists have in uncovering the terrifying truths that had been lurking in the shadows for decades. While such a subject could easily create a bias, this film manages to take an almost unbiased approach in its search for the depth of the problem that most people would ignore to keep the status quo. The tension created with each subsequent twist and turn of the investigation keeps the audience wondering how much further the corruption can go.
The impact of Spotlight deserves to be recognized, which is why I am glad that it won Best Picture for 2015. While intrinsically simple, this film delivers a powerful, emotional punch without relying on hackneyed methods to pull at the heartstrings of its viewers. Upon a second viewing a few years later, I was able to notice more of the menacing subtlety of the churches and cathedrals placed conveniently near playgrounds, schools, and other child-friendly zones. That is the brilliance of this movie: knowing the threat, but also knowing how many people are unaware of it.
An excellent film that asks the hard questions of the status quo, I give Spotlight 5.0 stars out of 5.
The Infinet
Year: 2017
Author: John Akers
Length: 410 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
After reading plenty of sub-par first novels from aspiring authors, The Infinet was a breath of fresh air. I was also pleasantly surprised that this book was written during a National Novel Writing Month, thus proving how useful the NaNoWriMo challenge is for people to get their stories out there. In the five years between the writing and publishing of this book, it looks like a lot of care went into polishing it into the entertaining and brilliant book that exists today.
There are plenty of things that The Infinet gets right when it comes to speculative science fiction. First, it doesn’t dwell on the details of the “hard science,” but it does mention the concepts in passing. As far as I can tell, the ideas presented here are accurate, which is key for this genre. Secondly, so many authors put their personal biases into their narratives, which can sour the experience for anyone who doesn’t agree with them. John Akers does a fantastic job of being mostly neutral on hot-button topics by presenting both sides of the arguments in an evenhanded and non-confrontational style.
And while I loved a lot of the little references and clever wordings (like the eponymous Infinet), the book still has a few flaws. The “history lesson” was perhaps a little bloated, some of the logic decisions of the kidnappers seemed odd, and the action near the end was initially confusing despite being explained afterward. Despite these things, the characters were well-rounded and realistic, if not an outright joy to follow along as the plot weaved around them. The fact that there was little to no “fluff” in the interconnecting pieces of the plot (another strength) was just the icing on the cake.
A prime example of how to do speculative hard sci-fi correctly, I give The Infinet 4.0 stars out of 5.
Robogenesis
Year: 2014
Author: Daniel H. Wilson
Length: 956 minutes / 15.93 hours
While I appreciated the logical nature that Daniel H. Wilson brought to the idea of a robot apocalypse in Robopocalypse, I felt the book itself was disjointed as a series of short stories that examined the various forms our robot servants would turn on us. The whole book seemed more like an academic exercise than a piece of fiction. In the follow-up to Robopocalypse, Wilson picks up right where the last book left off. With the exposition of how the robots turned on us already covered, he then is able to fully explore the fictional environment via its characters in Robogenesis.
It took me a little while to recall who some of these characters were and what had happened during the previous book, which left me confused in the early moments of each section. Once I eventually got my bearings, the stories themselves were interesting and tied together pretty well. Some of the action was a little disorienting, but overall I had a good idea what was happening. There were a few storylines I would have liked to see fleshed out more (like Matilda’s storyline), as well as some that were perhaps fleshed out too much.
And by “fleshed out,” I’m of course referring to the almost gratuitous and graphic violence that’s present in this book. I’m not sure it was really necessary, and it was more unsettling than anything else. I mean, I get that the end of the world will be violent, but it doesn’t need to be described in gory detail. At least by the end of the book, it looks like there’s a satisfying conclusion, but with the clear indication that the war is not over. This means I’ll probably have to read the next book in this series whenever it comes out.
A good sci-fi that blends realism with a few entertaining characters, I give Robogenesis 3.5 stars out of 5.
The Shape of Water
Year: 2017
Rating: R
Length: 123 minutes / 2.05 hours
The modern master of the monster movie, Guillermo del Toro is at it again with The Shape of Water (2017). Much like the Universal Studios monster classics, del Toro has created a career around directing films about how humans interact with these monsters. From building giant robots to fight giant monsters in Pacific Rim (2013) to hiring monsters to kill other monsters in Hellboy (2004), del Toro has also occasionally shown the more human side of monsters. Or, more accurately, he has shown how monster-like humans can become.
Previous films by Guillermo del Toro, like Cronos (1993) and Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) have highlighted the negative qualities of man while infusing these films with a sense of fantasy that can often border on straight-up fairy tales. The Shape of Water certainly falls into the “man is the real monster” category of del Toro’s movies, but it kind of beats you over the head with it like it does with all the “water” motifs. In fact, speaking of beating over the head, The Shape of Water still contains the few moments of “uncomfortable violence” that other del Toro films usually have in them.
In the end, The Shape of Water is a visually beautiful and unique take on both the Swamp Monster and the Little Mermaid. I’ll forgive some of the weird moments (like the dancing sequence and the impossibly strong bathroom floor) merely because the simple plot makes the audience so sympathetic for a creature that would usually be the antagonist of a monster movie. At its most basic, The Shape of Water is about love in its many forms, which might make some people uncomfortable. The fact that it’s packaged like a fairy tale, with a brilliantly whimsical score by Alexandre Desplat, means this movie should at least give audiences something to think about.
An intriguing exploration of the “monster” genre, I give The Shape of Water 4.5 stars out of 5.
Mr. Booker’s Summer Vacation
Year: 2017
Author: Mark Lages
Length: 312 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
Can we please stop using fiction as an avenue to whine and complain about the state of current affairs? Books like Mr. Booker’s Summer Vacation and Nobel Peace Prize do nothing other than highlight how broken society is, all the while never providing any actual solutions to these problems. The only way these authors think they can get away with it is by packaging it as “fiction.” Let’s face it, just title the book, Things are terrible and here’s why everyone else is to blame and put it in the non-fiction section.
Regarding Mr. Booker’s Summer Vacation, I couldn’t figure out who the target audience was. It’s written in a clipped, repetitive, redundant, and childish prose that makes me think it’s targeted toward children. However, with sexual situations (including a story about rape), violent and unnecessary subplots, and a sprinkling of profanity, I would never give this book to a child to read. If it’s supposed to be geared toward adults, then it’s a super-judgmental narrative that makes the author seem “holier than thou.” What bugs me the most about this is that it’s so American-centric. Why bash the USA so much, but fail to mention the Holocaust, or the genocide in Africa, or the rape of Nanking? If aliens are supposed to determine humanity’s fate, why focus on just one country’s terrible actions?
As far as the writing goes, there are plenty of amateur mistakes permeating the narrative. The framing device of the author telling this person’s story is unnecessary and pulled me out of the “story” more often than not. Furthermore, it’s hard to keep reading a story when it starts with “I want to keep this man’s identity a secret,” followed by tons of specific details about this man dropped in one huge exposition dump. The dialogue was flat, repetitive (as in, “is there an echo in here?”), and unemotional, even to the point where I thought all the characters (including the human) were robots. The flashbacks and flash-forward were unnecessary and never made me empathize with the main character at all.
A judgmental and poorly written book, I give Mr. Booker’s Summer Vacation 1.5 stars out of 5.
Don Quixote
Year: 1605
Author: Miguel De Cervantes
Length: 344 minutes / 5.73 hours
Aside from the “Cliff’s notes” version presented on the TV show, Wishbone, I knew enough about Don Quixote to be dangerous without having actually read it. After all, this book has spawned such words and phrases as “tilting at windmills” and “quixotic,” as well as a Broadway musical. But how does this 17th-century classic hold up in today’s world? One would argue that chivalry was already dead by the time it was written, so it’s not likely to be an examination of chivalrous attitudes and how they’d benefit society. As far as I see it, Don Quixote is a bit like a romantic comedy in the vein of William Shakespeare’s plays.
Probably the first-ever recorded instance of a dedicated live action role player (LARPer), the character Don Quixote borders on that line between comedy and tragedy. If I were to give a medical explanation for his actions, it’s either severe delusion and dementia or a high-functioning psychosis. And yet, his dedication to his chivalrous quest is charming if not slightly amusing when he comes face-to-face with reality. The fact that many characters go along with his delusion to work out some relationship issues shows that this book enjoys the lighthearted nature of chivalrous nostalgia.
When it comes right down to it, Don Quixote is a comedy of errors. The long series of mistakes and awkward situations brought about by the titular character’s delusion merely highlights the contrast between the fictional worlds of the books that influenced his demeanor and the real world around him. In fact, one would almost say the moral of this story is being able to distinguish fiction from reality, of which Don Quixote is unable to do. Such as it is, Don Quixote is a fun read, especially if you don’t try to read too much into it.
A comedy with some potential takeaways, I give Don Quixote 4.0 stars out of 5.
Get Out
Year: 2017
Rating: R
Length: 104 minutes / 1.73 hours
I’ll admit that I’m not a fan of horror films. The fact that Get Out (2017) was released in that weird, “horror month” of February that merely exists so people trying to catch up on their Oscar nominations don’t have to watch anything new meant that it mostly passed under my radar. When buzz about the movie continued for the rest of the year, I was still skeptical as horror has been known for its cheap tricks and gratuitous violence, both of which I don’t particularly care for. The trick is, Get Out is certainly a horror film, but with the minimum required trappings to be considered one.
With a few jump scares and a violent and bloody ending, Get Out works on a level that’s best described as “blatantly subtle.” It’s not so much that it screams about the racial differences between black people and white people, but that it does so in a way that’s almost natural and unnoticed. So much of the movie highlights some of the weird and eye-rolling habits and likes of white people that you’d likely miss them if you blinked. Of course, this highlights the terror of the premise, but the comedy in this film helps to break up these moments with some levity to give the audience a break.
Even though I was aware of the premise and some of the major plot points before watching Get Out, I was still surprised by how everything connected. The strength of the plot is held together by a number of parallel themes and motifs that give the audience credit for paying attention and seeing how they interweave with the characters’ past and motivations. People have praised neophyte director Jordan Peele for this piece of work, but I think he just saw the formula for this type of movie, distilled it down to its fundamental elements, and made it something all his own.
A smart, thrilling, and poignant film breaking through the “same old business” in Hollywood, I give Get Out 5.0 stars out of 5.
Watership Down
Year: 1975
Author: Richard Adams
Length: 953 minutes / 15.88 hours
In an ever-increasing list of books I failed to read as a child, I finally managed to get to Watership Down. While I am aware that many people speculate the true meaning of the book to be an allegory for Nazis or Communism, or whatever, the prologue provided by the author in this edition stated that it was merely a bedtime story for his children. With this in mind, I’m sure many subconscious influences led to some of the themes in Watership Down. Either way, the story seemed to be a rambling series of events that didn’t have much of a point or purpose.
Let’s be clear: I like rabbits. I think they’re cute, and I even own two of them. Therefore, I appreciate the little details of lagomorph mannerisms sprinkled throughout. And yet, there were a few confusing choices made in this book, like giving a somewhat-confusing “rabbit language” that rarely had context, and was mostly abandoned by the end of the book. I also couldn’t buy into the idea of a “rabbit army” since most of the rabbits I’ve seen in the wild have been mostly solitary animals, and hardly in the numbers described in Watership Down.
When it comes right down to it, the thing that perhaps disturbed me the most about this book was the anthropomorphism of the rabbits. Sure, the “side stories” about El-Ahrairah were distracting and often unnecessary, and I couldn’t honestly tell you the character traits or attributes of any of the numerous rabbits, but the fact that they could talk to each other made them seem somewhat human. Consequently, this then introduces ideas like war and sex trafficking via the “innocent” covering of rabbits. I feel these tend to be mostly human traits, so it pulled me from the story when I had to remind myself, “Wait, these are rabbits.”
A meandering story that puts humans in rabbit bodies, I give Watership Down 2.5 stars out of 5.
The Shack
Year: 2017
Rating: PG-13
Length: 132 minutes / 2.20 hours
When I saw the trailers for this film, I had no idea what it was about. It seemed to be part magical and part depressing, never really covering what the movie’s content was. For anyone who is curious, it’s about a meeting with the Holy Trinity. Consequently, while most “Christian” films are almost cringe-worthy, this one wasn’t half bad. Of course, there are still elements of it that made me roll my eyes, but these scenes were mere bookends to a great theological discussion-starter. In fact, I would almost prefer this film without the framing, since most people would probably relate to the main character, regardless.
The trouble with the framing device used for the conversation with God is that it doesn’t feel natural. There’s a forced quality that pushes the main character into the situation where he encounters God, merely contrived so that he is near rock bottom when God appears. I will give it props for accurately portraying severe depression, but the method it uses for flashbacks leads the viewer to potentially think the interaction with God started much earlier than it did. This is also in addition to the “cheap” way to get the main character to interact with God at all. The “dream/coma” trope is overdone anyway.
With all this being said, why should you even watch this film? Well, despite its flaws, The Shack (2017) does one thing right. It does it so well that I can forgive some of the weaker elements of its presentation. There are many misconceptions about God and the Trinity that we as a society have accepted as fact. We wonder why God allows bad things to happen, while also wondering why “justice” remains out of our grasp. This film addresses these tough subjects in a way that is not only thought-provoking but profoundly convicting in its theology.
A fantastic interaction with the Holy Trinity, wrapped in some common tropes, I give The Shack 3.5 stars out of 5.
The Body Snatchers
Year: 1955
Author: Jack Finney
Length: 400 minutes / 6.67 hours
Most people know this book by its numerous film adaptations, including Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956 and 1978), Body Snatchers (1993), and The Invasion (2007). In fact, I like to think that many facets of this story have become a part of popular culture, including the replication “pods” and Donald Sutherland’s scream in the 1978 film version. While the source material is inherently pulpy, a result of the genre and the era in which it was published, there is an entertaining quality to the story that has allowed it to survive for so long.
Simple in its execution, but brilliant in its reveal, The Body Snatchers builds up an inherent distrust of the people surrounding the main characters as they investigate why everyone seems “off” in this small, California town. While the full explanation of the aliens’ presence and purpose is relegated to an enormous information dump more than half-way through the book, it nevertheless contains some interesting ideas and concepts that could be plausible given the circumstances. I would have preferred better integration of this information into the plot, but sometimes the characters just need to sit down and explore these ideas in depth.
In the end, The Body Snatchers has plenty of strong moments in its plot. Sure, there’s the weaker section or two, and the more upbeat ending didn’t have much explanation other than the aliens’ annoyance of humanity’s persistence. Still, it’s a fun story, and even decades later it’s clear why The Body Snatchers is a timeless classic, even if it’s not “on par” with more significant literary titans. Maybe that’s its charm, though. By making it about the “everyman,” the horror and terror of everyone around them being replaced by emotionless beings is much more relatable on a visceral level.
A timeless pulp classic, I give The Body Snatchers 4.0 stars out of 5.
Blade Runner: 2049
Year: 2017
Rating: R
Length: 164 minutes / 2.73 hours
Back when I first heard about a Blade Runner (1982) sequel, I was skeptical about its quality. Sure, the ending was a little open-ended, but it stood by itself quite well. A Blade Runner sequel coming out mere years away from the original’s futuristic timeline of 2019 seemed just as ridiculous. The one redeeming factor that eventually led me to think this sequel would be any good was that Denis Villeneuve was tapped to direct it. While I’ve liked Villeneuve’s films as far back as Prisoners (2013), I’ve really become a fan since his Best Picture-nominated Arrival (2016) revealed how well he can do science fiction.
Of course, Blade Runner isn’t really science fiction. Sure, it has the trappings of a futuristic society, but at its core, the movie is a noir. The plot and aesthetic of noir is considerably different than that of sci-fi, but Villeneuve manages to merge the two into a visual beauty that I think would rival the art you could find in museums. In fact, I would almost wager that every single frame from Blade Runner: 2049 (2017) could be hung in an art gallery and be indistinguishable from any other form of art.
While the beauty of this film is undeniable, its pacing leaves a little more to be desired. Sure, Blade Runner: 2049 is beautiful enough to be in a museum of art, it just has the pacing of actually walking through said museum. I get the deliberate nature of the flow, and there wasn’t any point where I was falling asleep, it just felt slow for the sake of showing off the ambiance. Furthermore, while I thought the “artificial life” plot was done much better than Ghost in the Shell (2017), the digital assistant subplot felt derivative of Her (2013). The soundtrack also seemed to be channeling some Interstellar (2014) without linking to the same emotional impact.
Pretty good for a sequel that didn’t need to be made, I give Blade Runner: 2049 4.0 stars out of 5.
Blade Runner
Year: 1982
Rating: R
Length: 117 minutes / 1.95 hours
When I first saw Blade Runner (1982) many years ago, I understood that it was the quintessential, if not the defining, cyberpunk film. Since I was used to the more modern cyberpunk at the time (a la The Matrix (1999)), I felt the slow unfolding of exposition wasn’t nearly as action-driven as I had hoped it would be. Of course, at the time, I might not have been watching the “Director’s Cut” version of Blade Runner, which was what I watched this time around. Needless to say, it’s a much better movie than I initially remembered.
I think part of my improved assessment of this film came from a realization that it wasn’t intrinsically a science fiction film. Sure, it is based on a story by Philip K. Dick, it is set in a fast-approaching and somewhat inaccurate representation of the future, and it has the trappings of a sci-fi film (i.e., androids, flying cars, technology, etc.), but at its heart, Blade Runner owes more to film noir than I realized. Take away the science fiction exterior, and you’re left with the stark shadows filtering through the mists of cigarette smoke and humid clouds of Los Angeles while a “detective” tracks down the antagonist(s) of a crime. Classic noir.
Probably because I hadn’t seen a lot of film noir before seeing Blade Runner the first time, I never could have made the connection that this film is not what it seems, almost becoming its own allusion to the “hidden android” motif. Sure, Blade Runner still stands as a founding film of the cyberpunk subgenre of science fiction, but it only does so through the superb atmosphere and ambiance that is created via the noir style from classics like Chinatown (1974) and The Third Man (1949). Clearly, director Ridley Scott knows how to infuse science fiction into other genres, with Alien (1979) combining sci-fi with horror, and Blade Runner combining sci-fi with film noir.
A superb homage to film noir contained in the skin of a sci-fi movie, I give Blade Runner 5.0 stars out of 5.
The Dot on the Left
Year: 2017
Author: Dave Swanson
Length: 176 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
As someone who has usually found themselves naturally on the center of any variety of bell curves, I know that application of some hard work and dedication can move someone to the right side of said bell curves. It was with this in mind that I was curious what advice is contained in The Dot on the Left. Were the same tactics used for those who underperformed to get them to (and even past) the average of the curve? I was disappointed to find that this book is not so much a “self-help/advice” type book, but rather a memoir from someone who was on the left side of the curve.
Sure, there is still some of the advice that I would expect to find in a self-help book in The Dot on the Left, but it’s sometimes hidden within the memoir stories of the author. It’s still pretty basic stuff, and what I would expect given the topic. There’s no “miracle cure” or “fix it fast” advice in this book, but rather a confirmation that succeeding in life can take a lot of time and a lot of hard work. Learning curves are a huge part of this. I am a little disturbed by what appears to be early-onset alcoholism in some of the stories, but overall it was an entertaining read.
Of course, the fact that I had to pay shipping for this giveaway book (the author makes it clear that he was never good at math ;D) doesn’t affect my review as much as some of the little formatting mistakes in the book. Some repeated text, as well as right-aligned justification (instead of justify-aligned), pulled me out of the story momentarily. When it comes right down to it, I’m almost more interested in what happened after the short time span covered in the book, which seems a little too short to even be a memoir (which is how it is written).
A memoir with some nuggets of wisdom buried within, I give The Dot on the Left 3.5 stars out of 5.
1/2
As You Wish – Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride
Year: 2014
Author: Cary Elwes
Length: 421 minutes / 7.02 hours
While I love audiobooks for their capacity to let me mindlessly absorb books while I’m driving to or from work, much of the story comes down to the narrator and their inflections. Sometimes these narrators can be annoying, or incomprehensible, or vary their volume too much. It is a rare treat to find an audiobook that fully capitalizes on the medium, either by adding music and sound effects or (in this case) using the voices of actual people to narrate the story. As You Wish is just such an audiobook, and I would even go so far to say it is the superior version of this book, even without “reading” it for myself.
As one of the most frequent and common of quotable movies, The Princess Bride (1987) is an odd little film that just works. It’s fantasy, it’s comedy, it’s family-friendly. It’s all these things and more. But what about the people who made it happen? There have been horror stories of narcissistic directors or difficult actors making successful films, even despite their personalities. Fortunately, this most beloved of classics was not like that at all. All the behind-the-scenes stories helped to add an understanding and depth to The Princess Bride that should appeal to both diehard fans and those unfamiliar with the film.
Cary Elwes does a fantastic job of stringing these stories together while also exploring the backgrounds of all the characters (and the actors who played them). While the other actors do get their say in this audiobook, it’s Elwes’ impersonations of many of the individuals that was hilariously on point. He takes a humble and even-handed approach to storytelling that brings the listener into the midst of the filmmaking process without letting his personality get in the way of recounting historical events. Whether you’re a fan of the movie or a fan of audiobooks, his book is absolutely worth a listen.
A superb audiobook that everyone should listen to, I give As You Wish 5.0 stars out of 5.
The Princess Bride
Year: 1987
Rating: PG
Length: 98 minutes / 1.63 hours
The Princess Bride (1987) is a movie that defies genres. It’s an adventure film with swashbuckling pirates. It’s a fantasy film with giants and six-fingered men. It’s a comedy with numerous quotable lines. It’s a family film about storytelling. It’s all these things, and more, which is part of its appeal (even if it makes the whole movie difficult to classify or market). The real trick with The Princess Bride is that it is subtle with its self-awareness. While other films may go so far self-aware that they’d break the fourth wall (a la Deadpool (2016)), The Princess Bride manages to poke fun at these classic genres with a knowing wink to the audience.
Of course, this is part of its appeal. Many self-aware films make overt references to other big-hitters in their genre, thus relying on the audience who has done their homework to understand the joke. In The Princess Bride, there are no references to The Lord of the Rings, or The Chronicles of Narnia, or any other notable works of fantasy. It is its own story that somewhat plays on the fantastical elements of the genre, but in a way that could be entirely plausible (like the Fire Swamp and ROUS). Because it never goes out of its way to parody its genre, it stands alone as a fantastic spectacle.
My only qualm with this film is that, while it is a great movie, and definitely a classic, its quotable lines are almost too commonplace now. In fact, there are even a few memes that originated from this film from quotable moments. I personally think the quotable lines from movies like Airplane! (1980) and Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) are much funnier, even if they aren’t as ubiquitous as the lines from The Princess Bride. Of course, this is likely just my preference and taste for comedy (which itself is already a little odd).
A timeless classic that still stands up today, I give The Princess Bride 4.5 stars out of 5.
Hearts in Atlantis
Year: 1999
Author: Stephen King
Length: 1,210 minutes / 20.17 hours
When I started Hearts in Atlantis, all I knew about it was that it was written by Stephen King and there was a movie of the same name that was likely based on it. As I began to read, I found myself enthralled by the coming-of-age story that presented itself. I had no idea it connected to the Dark Tower series, but that detail was almost ancillary, a neat little connection into a bigger picture. Having made it half-way through the book, I wanted to follow the main character’s development into adulthood but, then the story suddenly stopped.
Instead of following a story that had engaged me, the focus shifted to a completely different character, only loosely tied to the events in the first half of the book via one of the characters, who was now in college. Almost in a fractal fashion, this story was half as long as the first, with each successive story growing shorter and shorter, while still being connected to the first narrative in some way, no matter how loose that connection might have been. Finally, the story returns to the main character of the first section, but only stays long enough to say goodbye.
I absolutely loved the first story in this “collection,” and by its strength alone, I would recommend this to anyone. However, the second half of the book felt too disjointed to be interesting, especially with all the emotional energy I had invested in the first story. Sure, they were somewhat interesting in their own ways, showing the relentless march of time toward the modern era, but they simply lacked that fantastical little spark from the first story (incidentally, the same spark that was connected to the Dark Tower series).
A great story with almost unnecessary add-ons, I give Hearts in Atlantis 3.5 stars out of 5.
Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi
Year: 2017
Rating: PG-13
Length: 152 minutes / 2.53 hours
After the success of Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015), director Rian Johnson had to strike a fine balance in the following sequel, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017). Since The Force Awakens was essentially a flashy, rehash of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), The Last Jedi needed to separate itself from the predictable path already laid out in Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980). Unfortunately, the formula employed in Empire Strikes Back has become so integral to sequels that deviating from it could prove to be disastrous. While I’m curious where Episode IX will go from here, I hope it builds upon what Johnson has done here. The tensions of war helped drive the characters into interesting moments of growth, defiance, and desperation, but much of the story was well wrapped up by the time the credits rolled.
The real balance of this film came from paying homage to the past, while also going in new and fascinating directions. I feel Johnson succeeded, mostly on the strength of breaking away from the standard Star Wars mold. The Last Jedi not only felt like a film about war but also finally embraced the aesthetic of the samurai films Star Wars pulled influence from in the one place it mattered: the fight sequences. It was clear that some of the “war” and “samurai” elements made more evident in Rogue One (2016) were put to much better use in this movie. As I was already a fan of Johnson’s previous work, Looper (2012), it was clear how his creative use of sound helped to create an impactful series of events that drove the plot of the sequel trilogy forward.
While I certainly loved this film, and I think it does things to help the Star Wars brand from becoming stagnant, one staple of the franchise seemed to be out of place in this film: the music. Don’t get me wrong, John Williams’ score is great, it just felt like there wasn’t anything “new” in it, as it hit all the cues already present in previous installments (or merely remixed some of them to suit the environment). In a film that did a lot of new things with Star Wars, this was a disappointing development.
A great film that shows what new and fascinating things can happen in the Star Wars universe, I give Star Wars – Episode VIII: The Last Jedi 4.0 stars out of 5.
Dawn of the Dreadfuls
Year: 2010
Author: Steve Hockensmith
Length: 287 pages
As I’ve mentioned before in my review of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, I understand the concept of combining this classic piece of romantic literature with its complete obverse; it just felt like it was almost held back from its full potential by adhering to (most of) the original manuscript. With the prequel to this book, Dawn of the Dreadfuls manages to examine the ridiculous nature of this mashup in a way that’s so tongue-in-cheek that the tongue has practically ruptured the cheek entirely. That is, this prequel doesn’t take itself nearly as seriously as the original Jane Austen adaptation did.
Even if the non-Pride and Prejudice and Zombies characters were mostly cartoonish in their representation of stereotypes and tropes, they were fun to read as they provided a delightful offset to the canonical characters of the Bennet family. Also, instead of trying to find some boring section of text wherein to insert some zombie excitement, Dawn of the Dreadfuls provides equal parts action and society to accommodate a balance that highlighted the extreme disparity between the two. In fact, when the two finally meet, it’s during the exciting climax of the story. Of course, knowing this is a prequel means there has to be some way out of the predicament; otherwise the original Pride and Prejudice and Zombies book cannot take place.
Despite all the things it has going for it, Dawn of the Dreadfuls suffers from a plot that seems to drag along like the un-functioning foot of a zombie. Sure, each plot point has its purpose, but they almost seem to belabor the point. There were a few chapters where I felt the plot to be somewhat repetitive if it weren’t for a slightly different outcome to show character growth. In any case, I’d still prefer this book over Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.
A prequel that could fully explore a ridiculous combination, I give Dawn of the Dreadfuls 3.5 stars out of 5.
1/2
The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents
Year: 2001
Author: Terry Pratchett
Length: 395 minutes / 6.58 hours
For many years, I have heard of Terry Pratchett, but have never read any of his work. This came to light in 2015, when Pratchett died, and many fans of his work came forward to express their condolences. At that point, I hadn’t considered reading any of his work, but the outpouring of love for the recently deceased author made me reconsider. Consequently, I added some Pratchett books to my “to read” list and eventually chose The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents for my first foray into the written world of Terry Pratchett. I certainly picked well, as it won the Carnegie Medal in the year it was written.
I was a little worried that I would be lost coming into the Discworld series at anywhere other than the beginning, but since this book was written for children, it made it simple to ease into the universe Pratchett created. What I found most amusing about The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents was how self-aware and tongue-in-cheek it was. Talking animals are by no means a new concept in children’s literature, but Pratchett managed to show how ridiculous this idea was in the real world while also providing a somewhat solid explanation for how it happened.
The one aspect of this book that stood out the most was how British its humor was. I almost felt like I was listening to a Monty Python skit or an Aardman Animation movie as I worked my way through this audiobook. For those who appreciate British humor (or, I guess humour, as they spell it over there), I would highly recommend this book, as it’s certainly witty and made me chuckle on quite a few occasions. This humor overcomes the fact that the plot is a little confusing to follow in places as it jumps between different characters, but overall it’s a solid story.
An instant children’s classic with loads of British humour, I give The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents 4.0 stars out of 5.
Loving Vincent
Year: 2017
Rating: PG-13
Length: 94 minutes / 1.57 hours
Animation has become somewhat easier since the days when every frame was drawn out by hand. This change has been mostly due to the use of computers to simplify the animation process. And yet, there are still those who want to embrace the painstaking process of manual animation, mostly for the artistic merit that it gives the film. Usually, this is done in short form, like the stop-motion film, Fresh Guacamole (2012) by PES, or the paint-on-glass animated short, The Old Man and the Sea (1999). Both of these short films were nominated for the Animated Short Oscar, with the latter winning the prize.
With Loving Vincent (2017), we now have a feature-length (albeit at a short 94 minutes) animated feature that took the time to recreate the aesthetic of Van Gough’s paintings via a plentitude of hand-painted oil paintings that comprised the individual frames of the film. If awards are given for artistic merit alone, Loving Vincent deserves to win all of them. I was in awe of how the famous paintings we all know came to life through the animation process, almost making me wish the movie would slow down so I could appreciate each brushstroke (some lathering on paint so thickly that the film could be considered “3-D”).
While I was dazzled by the animation, the plot was also pretty good, albeit probably the film’s weakest point. I knew a few details about Van Gough’s life, but the “investigation” of this film certainly made his genius and tragedy stand out. Not only did the film touch on mental health issues, but it highlighted how extraordinary Van Gough was. For someone who was in the art scene for a mere eight years, he made an incredible impact despite only selling one piece while he was alive.
A visual treat and a heartwarming tribute, I give Loving Vincent 4.5 stars out of 5.
1/2
Artemis
Year: 2017
Author: Andy Weir
Length: 539 minutes / 8.98 hours
After reading Weir’s breakout work, The Martian, I looked forward to his next novel, Artemis, with rapt anticipation. The scientist in me appreciated how Weir made a realistic setting with realistic science an approachable and entertaining endeavor. The writer in me liked how he kept the tension throughout the plot of The Martian at a consistent level. Consequently, I had high hopes for Artemis and wondered if he could outdo himself (or at least match his previous success) considering how highly regarded The Martian ended up being for him.
Between the two books, Weir seems to have created a style that consists of three elements: accurate science, event-driven plot, and a racially diverse cast of characters. In Artemis, we now find ourselves on the moon, where a colony has been created and sustained for a few decades. Weir conveys the science involved with such a feat naturally and realistically. The exploration of this science is usually through the string of “oh shoot” events that occur throughout the plot. Finally, with an Arab woman as the main protagonist of the story, supported by a Kenyan man, Ukranian scientist, and her father.
Despite these three elements creating an exciting story, the impact of Artemis felt less than that of The Martian. In The Martian, the driving force of the plot is the survival from isolation. Artemis has a different survival: avoiding homelessness. Additionally, while Mark Watney was a scientist and astronaut who could “science his way” out of his predicament, Jasmine was a little more “working class” who seemed to jury rig stuff together just because that’s the only way she knew how. Of course, being more “working class,” the profanity seemed a lot more prevalent in Jasmine’s speech than in Mark’s. Both books had profanity; it just seemed like Artemis overdid it.
An Andy Weir book that doesn’t quite live up to The Martian, I give Artemis 4.0 stars out of 5.
Spider-Man: Homecoming
Year: 2017
Rating: PG-13
Length: 133 minutes / 2.22 hours
Of all the superheroes in their respective comic universes, the one I grew up with was Spider-Man. I watched the animated 1990’s television show, and I loved when this relatable superhero made his way to the big screen in Spider-Man (2002). I was even more pleased when Spider-Man 2 (2004) set the tone for future superhero franchises. The first film is the origin film so the second film can dispense with the best villain and not spend all its time in exposition. Unfortunately, I ended up being disappointed by the third entry in this original Spider-Man trilogy, which was a rare miss in my book.
Fast forward to 2012, when Spider-Man was rebooted with Andrew Garfield in the title role. Having to sit through the origin story again, but with a different, green-colored villain as the antagonist seemed like it wasn’t exploring anything new. Around the same time, the Marvel Cinematic Universe was exploding with tons of well-done and smartly executed superhero films. Part of me wanted Spider-Man to be in that universe, where he belonged. Fortunately, legal disputes were settled behind the scenes, and Spider-Man made his newest debut in Captain America: Civil War (2016). With Spider-Man now under Marvel’s umbrella, I anticipated a smart and fresh reboot of this classic hero.
In Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), New York City is front and center, which I felt was missing from the previous installments. Peter Parker (Tom Holland) is the small-time superhero that any High School kid wishes to be, but he has limitations (like in the suburbs). While the diehard fan in me loved all the little references (as well as overt nods to other media, like Michael Keaton’s Oscar-winning Birdman (2014)), part of me feels these minor details might be lost on the casual observer. At any rate, I was pleased to find that this was not an origin story (again), but instead a character-driven narrative with great lessons and continuity with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. At least Keaton’s version of The Vulture, despite being a “green-themed” villain, was more grounded in reality than the “life force-draining” version from the comics. I look forward to the next installment with the “green-themed” Scorpion as the villain, that’s for sure.
A layered and fun return to form for my favorite superhero, I give Spider-Man: Homecoming 4.5 stars out of 5.
A Natural
Year: 2017
Author: Ross Raisin
Length: 386 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
This book was, without a doubt, the gayest book I’ve ever read. Usually, I don’t read books with LGBTQ+ themes, but the cover and title led me to believe it was about soccer (or, in this case, football). I am not against books with these themes, per se, as long as the characters are likable and relatable. It’s just I would hope that Random House isn’t merely publishing books with these themes to get “automatic” sales from people who want to support the LGBTQ+ movement. Unfortunately, based on the weakness of the story in A Natural, I suspect this was the only reason a large publisher released it.
For a book I thought was about football, actual instances of the sport being played collectively comprises perhaps 1% of the entire book. That’s roughly 3.86 pages of football in a book about football players. If you’re looking for tension and action on the pitch, you’d be better off reading something like The Rook Crew instead of this. So, instead of football, what does this book have in it? In a nutshell: sexual assault, rape, and homophobia. I would have hoped that a story about coming to terms with a young man’s sexuality would have been more inspiring, but the undertone of the narrative certainly feels against the idea.
Like I mentioned above, I could let most of this slide if the characters were interesting. Instead, we’re left with a loner football player who gets in a relationship with someone involved with the team. I don’t know why the main character decided to do this, as the characters are all pretty flat. On top of this, we have to follow a side-plot of a failed marriage included only for a minor (and predictable) plot point near the end. I was actually more taken aback by the sexual abuse that was allowed/permitted as part of the team’s “hazing” than the gay sex scenes that lacked any description at all. By the end, nothing was resolved, and I felt unfulfilled. I honestly failed to see the point of this book, other than a cash grab.
A boring book with boring characters playing a boring sport, I give A Natural 1.5 stars out of 5.
Kidnapped
Year: 1886
Author: Robert Louis Stevenson
Length: 158 minutes / 2.63 hours
Another one of those “short adventures” that I have finally gotten around to reading, Kidnapped doesn’t suffer from some of the attributes that I found irritating about Captains Courageous. Sure, some of my qualms with Captains Courageous came from the audiobook itself but Kidnapped managed to have an easy-to-understand narrator as well as some sound effects and music that added to the experience of the book. As for the book itself, Kidnapped is pretty basic despite its title being only a small fraction of its plot.
Even despite its short length, a lot happens in Kidnapped. Aside from the obvious kidnapping, many events transpired because of it, including escaping and returning home. Of course, partly because of the short length of the book, the action moves at a pretty quick pace that was sometimes difficult to follow (which may also be an artifact of the time when it was written). The language in this book was easy to understand and is appropriate for young boys who want to dip their toe in the wide world of reading.
Part of me almost wanted the plot to focus more on the kidnapping since that’s what I expected the book to be about. Of course, perhaps my preferences are tainted by modern literature and the almost over-explanation of situations and scenarios. Kidnapped does a lot, but if it went more in depth with a few of the main points, it could have been a little more fascinating. As it is, the kidnapping itself happens so quickly that the reader hardly has time to understand what has happened before the main character has escaped. A little more time spent in the midst of the kidnapping would have added some excellent tension to an already adequate book.
A good short story for all ages, I give Kidnapped 3.5 stars out of 5.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Year: 2016
Rating: PG-13
Length: 133 minutes / 2.22 hours
As someone who never fully immersed themselves in the Harry Potter fandom, this spin-off wasn’t high on my “to watch” list. Sure, I liked the movies well enough for the continual narrative they provided (still haven’t gotten to the books yet), and I understand that this parallel universe full of magic is a unique idea that hasn’t been explored in this fashion, but this just seems like a tag-along to capitalize on a successful franchise. That’s not to say that Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016) isn’t good, it’s just that it does require a bit of background knowledge in order to fully “get it.”
Partly because seeing wizardry and magic in the modern era might still seem odd, this throwback to the past is only made better by placing it in the United States. Both of these settings differ from the main Harry Potter franchise enough to be both a side-story as well as a prequel that explores some of the more obscure aspects of the mythos. While there are subtle chastisements at the closed-mindedness of Americans, there also wasn’t much difference between the American magic and the British kind (other than what they called things). I would have almost liked it better if there were “Tommy gun” wands and New York magical mafias. Granted, there was a little of this last one, but not enough to be truly “American.”
In the end, Fantastic Beasts fails to deliver a solid antagonist for the “uninitiated,” since the anti-magic character didn’t seem to affect the actions of the main character much at all, and the “true” villain was revealed at the end, but with no context (other than spinning newspapers at the very beginning) as to why he was bad or what he did to deserve his punishment. All this being said, Fantastic Beasts did provide a bit of entertainment and managed to show us some “fantastic beasts” along the way, as it promised.
Another taste of magic to keep Harry Potter fans satiated, I give Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 3.0 stars out of 5.
Boys vs. Men – The Definition of a Man
Year: 2017
Author: Noah N. Johnson
Length: 122 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
Now, more than ever, society needs a good, hard look at what it means to be a man. For years and decades, absentee fathers have created generations of males who turn to less-reputable sources for their male role models. When I won this book as a Goodreads Giveaway, I was hopeful that it could be a resource I could recommend to “boys” who need to grow up into “men,” regardless of their age. Unfortunately, while this book addresses some of the fundamental issues of manhood, it doesn’t go nearly deep enough to hit the problems endemic with full-grown boys who should act like men.
In defense of the author, this seems to be his first book, made evident by the very casual style of writing and a lack of understanding when it comes to interior formatting (all the pages were center-aligned, instead of justify-, or even right-, aligned). While the reader cannot doubt the author’s personal experiences, neither do they drive home a researched or scientific approach of behaviors and the conditions/thinking that causes males to act like boys instead of men. Consequently, the author admits this book should be a “launching pad” to start a conversation, which is precisely what this workbook-style book can do, even if it never touches on more serious subjects like violence and abuse (as seen in today’s headlines).
When it comes right down to it, Boys vs. Men is a good start to help shape future generations, but it almost feels like “too little, too late.” Many of the anecdotes and “lessons” provided in the book seem geared toward males who are old enough to be acting like men, instead of using it as a guide for young boys on the cusp of adulthood. With a little more research and external sources, this book could start to address the problem at hand, but right now it’s just a veneer on a huge societal problem.
An anecdotal workbook that skims the surface of a problem, I give Boys vs. Men 2.0 stars out of 5.
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
Year: 2000
Author: Stephen King
Length: 480 minutes / 8.0 hours
While I don’t usually read horror books, the only ones that I have read were written by Stephen King. Consequently, when I found that he had written a book about writing, it struck me as an opportunity to get into the head of a prolific and successful writer. As a writer of novels myself, I am always looking for ways to improve my writing. I have come a long way in eight years, and King’s little book here merely confirms that I’m doing the right things that a writer should do to help their craft.
Written as a half-memoir, On Writing is a personal look into the upbringing and life of Stephen King, which then helps inform what and how he writes. Suddenly, you start to understand why he writes the things he does. Intermingled amidst these moments of becoming the writer he is today, King sprinkles in abundant gems of wisdom for anyone looking to start writing (or even anyone who has been writing for a long time). There are a lot of “sound bites” in this book that can be used as motivational inspirations to either start writing, keep writing, or what not to do while you’re writing. Anyone who aspires to be a writer has likely already seen these tidbits on Facebook and Pinterest memes.
One word of caution: Stephen King swears. Anyone who has read his other books would know this, but if you’re sensitive to this language, perhaps this book isn’t for you (and you should stick to the writing advice tidbits you can find online). I don’t mind it, but it could be distracting to those with more sensitive ears. While On Writing was a great encouragement to me as a writer, with plenty of reinforcements and reminders of what I’m doing right (and what I still need to fix), I encourage anyone interested in writing to pick this up and read it for some solid advice.
Perhaps the best book I have ever read about writing, I give On Writing 5.0 stars out of 5.
Despicable Me 3
Year: 2017
Rating: PG
Length: 90 minutes / 1.50 hours
Sometimes I wonder how this franchise became so popular. Perhaps this perception is due to the oversaturation of the annoying little “Minions” that seem to pervade every corner of social media. And yet, when I go to see a movie like this, I am soon reminded that there are relatable and underappreciated storylines and plot points contained within this silliness. I have rarely seen a better “adoption” storyline than the one presented in Despicable Me (2010). Of course, Despicable Me 2 (2013) took the natural next step and provided a “single dad looking for a wife” storyline that also is rarely seen in animation.
With Despicable Me 3 (2017), the franchise transitions more into a series of vignettes better suited for a television show than a feature-length film. It was a little hard to tell which storyline was the main one for the film, even if they were all intertwined in some way. From the “long lost brother” character arc to the “wife trying to gain acceptance of step-children” sub-plot, there almost wasn’t enough time to focus on the Minions’ mutiny or the campy 1980’s-inspired villain. Each of the segments almost felt episodic, as if they would work better as a 15-minute segment in a 30-minute children’s show.
All this being said, there were moments I did enjoy in this movie. From the occasional “adult-oriented” Minion jokes (like “The Major General’s Song” and a Die Hard (1988) quote) to the touching moments of true parenting (again, a rare treat), the most entertaining aspect of the film was the nostalgia-inducing antics of Balthazar Bratt (Trey Parker). However, because I mostly know Tray Parker from his work on “South Park,” I couldn’t separate his voice from the numerous episodes of this raunchy and politically incorrect television show (which is probably, again, something for the adults in the audience).
A franchise on the verge of trying to do too much, I give Despicable Me 3 3.0 stars out of 5.
Plane
Year: 2017
Author: William Hrdina
Length: 148 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
Two things help to create a good story: little to no suspension of disbelief, and realistic characters. The more a writer has to justify what they’re doing in the world they’ve written, either through scientific or historical inaccuracies, the harder it is for the reader to accept the story they’ve been given. Similarly, if the characters are only flat stereotypes or caricatures that act in pre-defined ways based on these broad brushstrokes, the reader can’t take the story seriously. Unfortunately, Plane fails on both of these elements. If anything, its short, novella length is its redemption since the reader doesn’t have to invest much into reading it.
Let’s start with the suspension of disbelief. First off, I doubt a college student would be allowed to fill in for a professor at an international conference, let alone one where the student would be speaking on behalf of the professor. That was a red flag right from the start, especially with what the “winning” student wrote. Secondly, while the author took the reader down an interesting plot that could have had a satisfying resolution, the addition of more and more inconsistent and ridiculous details forced the plot into a hackneyed and overdone conclusion. Finally, just enough details of the plot seemed “off” enough that I frequently had to ask myself, “Is that right?”
As for the characters, I don’t know who hurt the author in the past, but he does not like people at all. Each character is an irritating caricature only meant to show how superior the “intellectual” main character was. This turned me off almost from the very beginning, as it seemed incredibly pretentious. Furthermore, the main character was hardly consistent. If he’s described as agonizing over big decisions, but immediately wants to marry some girl who he met a few hours ago, then this character does not make any sense. And don’t even get me started on the profanity. Swearing can add a little spice to a narrative, but this author seemed to have dumped the whole salt shaker on his story.
A novella with nothing new or interesting to say, I give Plane 1.5 stars out of 5.
The Killing Floor
Year: 1997
Author: Lee Child
Length: 1,067 minutes / 17.78 hours
The first book in the Jack Reacher series is certainly a thriller, through-and-through. I certainly can understand its appeal, especially for male readers, since it has plenty of violence and sex while also exhibiting a number of action sequences. Consequently, it felt somewhat “pulpy” in that it was entertainment for entertainment’s sake. Sure, it’s a fun thrill-ride, but certain elements didn’t invest me in the characters. Jack Reacher himself is probably the majority of this issue, as he’s a drifter with little-to-no connections to anything or anyone, merely acting as a conduit to make action/killing happen.
As for the core mystery of The Killing Floor, it was a fascinating premise and had a slow unraveling to keep me intrigued along the way. This was undoubtedly the strength of the book since it was a unique and intriguing twist on a pretty common crime. With a small cast of characters, the plot stayed pretty focused, even if there seemed to be an unusual amount of coincidence that got it there. Even the characters themselves mentioned how coincidental it was, which merely made the fact of these coincidences more obvious. This detracted from my suspension of disbelief.
For the first book in a series, The Killing Floor does its due diligence of hitting all the tropes of the thriller genre and establishing Jack Reacher as a character who could do anything and be anywhere. I’m sure the other installments in the series took advantage of this flexibility, even if I haven’t read them yet. What was somewhat troubling was how the deaths of the people in the book felt real and had real implications and consequences, but Jack Reacher wasn’t affected by much of it at all. If anything, this book establishes Reacher as a sociopath or at least someone who exhibits many traits of one.
A book filled with everything that would appeal to “guys,” I give The Killing Floor 3.5 stars out of 5.
The Dark Tower
Year: 2017
Rating: PG-13
Length: 93 minutes / 1.55 hours
Like many “best-selling” books and book series made into movies, I don’t have the time to sit down and read them all before their film adaptations are released. The Dark Tower (2017) is no different. In fact, I was only made aware of the Dark Tower series shortly before the movie was announced. Therefore, unlike the diehard fans of the series, I had no expectations for the film other than the understanding that there would be some interesting fantasy/sci-fi elements presented on the big screen. Unfortunately, at a measly 93 minutes of runtime, The Dark Tower felt a little . . . light.
Sure, all the essential elements of the story were there: the gunslinger protagonist (Idris Elba), the magical “Man in Black” antagonist (Matthew McConaughey), and the conflict of good vs. evil. And yet, so much of the plot seemed glossed over that the entire movie felt like a trailer for a larger universe. I wouldn’t have minded another hour to delve into some of the intricacies of the series so that it would feel grounded instead of a “greatest hits” game of cat-and-mouse. Furthermore, while some of the action sequences were pretty good, I can’t help but think that they could have been a little more extraordinary and revolutionary (maybe more along the lines of what The Matrix (1999) did almost 20 years ago).
Since I have not read the source material, I’m not sure if the glut of Stephen King references were on the part of the filmmakers or the author. From a kid who has “The Shining” (from the book of the same name) to an abandoned theme park featuring a clown named Pennywise (from It (2017) . . . the one successful Stephen King film adaptation this year), and even a brief reference to 1408 (and its short story), so much of The Dark Tower seemed to be an amalgamation of Stephen King ideas in a non-horror context. Sure, the movie did pique my interest for the book series (if I can endure the long wait times for it at the library), so in that sense, it succeeded in drawing me to the source material.
A mediocre movie that could have been so much more, I give The Dark Tower 2.5 stars out of 5.
Stop Licking That
Year: 2017
Author: Karin Mitchell
Length: 270 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM THE AUTHOR***
As someone who does not have kids yet, I’ve read plenty about what to expect in the transition to parenthood. Stop Licking That takes the no-nonsense approach with a slightly humorous spin to let new parents know that it’s going to be a messy process for the first couple of years. While each of the chapters covers some topic about raising kids (especially two young boys), the stories tied to these sections end up being some of the same kinds of stories you’d hear from any other parent of young boys. If anything, Stop Licking That merely confirms that we shouldn’t take parenthood too seriously.
As I received an Advanced Reader Copy for my review, I will assume that the handful of minor proofreading errors have been fixed. I also hope the gutter margins were increased, so the words don’t get lost in the crease between pages. I would have also changed the cover picture to a young child licking something they shouldn’t since the current cover almost made me look like a pervert when I was reading this book (not having kids and all that). I hope the author used a pen name, though, as the subterfuge to hide the children’s identities would be moot in the information era in which we live. Overall, though, Stop Licking That is a solid book with amusing stories and an almost Dave Barry-esque humor (read: lots of boogers).
Of course, the main problem with a book like this is that it’s all circumstantial. I know the parenting style I’m planning on eventually using will likely be drastically different from the author’s, and my children aren’t likely to be exactly like the ones she had. Furthermore, while there was plenty of humor in the book, the one chapter meant to be taken seriously brought up an interesting point: where was the discipline in the rearing of these children? I don’t consider spanking to be a severe offense (even if it was done in frustration), but if there was a corollary section on how the author and her husband usually disciplined her children, it would highlight how out-of-place the spanking incident was.
A standard set of humorous stories about raising children, I give Stop Licking That 3.5 stars out of 5.
Captains Courageous
Year: 1897
Author: Rudyard Kipling
Length: 356 minutes / 5.93 hours
Captains Courageous is one of those classics that I just haven’t read, for whatever reason. I got the sense it was about being at sea, probably in the same vein as Moby Dick or Treasure Island. And yet, I don’t know if I could tell you what happened in this book. Sure, the main character was picked up by a fishing vessel, and eventually, they learned how to deal with the harsh job of being a fisherman, but that’s pretty much it. The series of fishing adventures seem to be loosely tied together, and the overarching plot was weak at best.
Part of me wonders if the audiobook version of this classic was to blame. Not only did the narrator have a bit of an accent, but she did all the different dialects of the various characters based on their ethnic origins. While I would usually love this attention to detail, more than half the time, I could hardly understand what was being said. Furthermore, the amount of sailing/fishing jargon this book had completely lost me at times, as I have no experience or knowledge of this profession to understand what the characters are talking about.
The two aspects I did enjoy as part of this audiobook were the songs and the length. While I likely would have just read the lyrics of these sea shanties in the book with no understanding of how the tune would go, the narrator sang these songs, thus allowing me to appreciate them more than just the words would have provided. Secondly, while I didn’t understand what was going on for most of the time I was listening to this audiobook, it was still a short book. Therefore, I didn’t waste too much time listening to this book and could move on to different books that much quicker.
A classic that probably hasn’t aged well with time, I give Captains Courageous 2.5 stars out of 5.
War for the Planet of the Apes
Year: 2017
Rating: PG-13
Length: 140 minutes / 2.33 hours
There’s something special about the final film in a “prequel trilogy” that almost defies explanation. It acts as a springboard to the original content while also tying up all the loose ends that presented themselves in the previous installments of the trilogy. Since the source material is well-known, a viewer can deduce how it will end, but not necessarily how it will get there. In this sense, movies like Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005) and War for the Planet of the Apes (2017) share a common theme as links between the new and the old.
Similar in tone to Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014), War continues the escalating conflict between the titular apes and the now-endangered humans. Unfortunately, because it places Caesar (Andy Serkis) as the primary protagonist of the whole trilogy, the “savior” parallels are a little too heavy-handed here. Heck, they should have titled it Passion of the Planet of the Apes. Still, holding true to the original Planet of the Apes (1968), War almost felt like an homage to another 1960’s classic as well: The Great Escape (1963).
Of course, while I enjoyed this prequel trilogy and reveled in its impressive computer-generated imagery, it does produce a particular divergence from the original franchise. I haven’t seen them in a while, but I’m not sure these rebooted films hold up to the plot continuity of the original “prequel trilogy” that was Escape (1972), Conquest (1972), and Battle (1973). Either way, War stands as an excellent end to a reboot series, replete with immediate and long-term foreshadowing that leads people to go back and watch the original Planet of the Apes.
A fitting end to a pretty good prequel trilogy, I give War for the Planet of the Apes 4.0 stars out of 5.
Zenith
Year: 2018
Authors: Sasha Alsberg & Lindsay Cummings
Length: 512 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
Every once in a while, I’ll read a book which is basically the equivalent of literary “candy.” It hits all the tropes of its genre, most of its twists are predictable, and the whole thing is purely entertainment for entertainment’s sake. Zenith, the first book in the Androma Saga, is just such a book. This book has been described as an all-female Guardians of the Galaxy, and I would tend to agree with that assessment. Overall, it’s a fun book, but there’s not too much substance to it aside from the typical space opera Young Adult romance. If anything, it proves why the tropes of its genres work the way they do.
The writing itself in this book is easy to read, which helped me crank through its 500 pages in just my lunch breaks and time at the gym. Even if I wasn’t paying too much attention, much of the book had a lot of redundant parts to its narrative, so I picked up on what I might have missed several times. In fact, with the number of flashbacks peppered throughout the manuscript, I felt this could have been easily distilled down to 400 pages at least. Still, most of the characters were engaging, which made it enjoyable to keep reading.
Of course, not all of the characters felt wholly fleshed out to me. The main character is a given, and both her former lover and her spaceship pilot had well-rounded backstories. However, the two remaining members of the main character’s crew almost felt interchangeable. I had trouble remembering which one was the giant and which one was the fast little girl, mostly because they were only there as background for the spaceship. Even a few of the minor characters felt more real than these two. Either way, by the end of the book, things actually started happening, and the cliffhanger ending left me wanting to know what happens next.
A Young Adult space opera that is as entertaining as it is predictable, I give Zenith 3.5 stars out of 5.
Notes from the Internet Apocalypse
Year: 2014
Author: Wayne Gladstone
Length: 323 minutes / 5.38 hours
The main concept behind Notes from the Internet Apocalypse is interesting: one day, the internet just stops working. All the computers and phone lines still work, but the internet has just gone missing. The story that results should be considered a satire since I hardly believe people who have hidden behind a veil of anonymity for so long will do the same deplorable things in real life just to get their “internet fix.” Bringing the reality of our connected society to its extreme logical conclusion in a world without internet, Notes from the Internet Apocalypse is a harsh mirror of what we’ve become, even to the point of cringing at it.
I was a little taken aback by the amount of vulgar language, overt sexuality, and lack of common decency by the characters in this book. Of course, in a book about the internet, these types of people run rampant. If I were one to include animated gif memes in my reviews, I’d likely insert the Arrested Development “I Don’t Know What I Expected” one at this juncture. Yes, the internet is mostly pornography, and the rest seems to be filled with trolls who comment on news articles and YouTube videos, but I doubt these people would resort to acting out their internet lives in real life.
In the end, I had kind of hoped the subtle undertone of addiction was the focus of this book. With the main character who’s clearly alcoholic (even to the amusing point of calling Jameson’s Irish Whiskey “scotch”), and supporting characters who are either addicted to recreational drugs or sex, I wanted the satire of the book to focus on our addictive personalities as a culture, merely perpetuated and sustained via the ever-present internet. As it is, the ending wasn’t quite satisfying enough, providing a preachy bumper sticker to get readers to tune in to the next volume in this series.
An interesting concept that highlights the lowest common denominator, I give Notes from the Internet Apocalypse 2.5 stars out of 5.
1/2
Baby Driver
Year: 2017
Rating: R
Length: 112 minutes / 1.87 hours
There are so many “heist” films nowadays that it’s practically its own genre, with all the tropes and clichés that go with it. Consequently, when I learned that Edgar Wright had directed a heist film, my interest was piqued. Best known for his parody comedies, Shaun of the Dead(2004), Hot Fuzz (2007), and The World’s End (2013), the film of his I have enjoyed the most is Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010). His style is distinct throughout these films, which is what I was hoping for in Baby Driver (2017).
While Wright’s visual style is present in Baby Driver, it is muted, almost in the background of the standard heist framework. With an almost 1980’s undertone, Baby Driver takes many cues from its predecessor, Drive (2011). Both feature an almost silent heist driver as the main character and plenty of entertaining driving sequences that are practically ballet on the boulevards. Fortunately, both films also focus on the characters, and not so much on the heist, giving personality to their actions. Aside from the likable and titular Baby (Ansel Elgort), Kevin Spacey seems to be satiated through all the scenery he chews (to entertaining effect), and Jon Hamm was almost recognizable with his rough stubble and attitude.
Granted, Baby Driver is not the goofball comedy I expected. Instead, the film is almost musical, revealing the rhythm in everything by overlaying the action on screen with a curated set-list of obscure and catchy tunes. Sure, the film feels more “mainstream,” but it’s also trying to do something new. Synching up bullets to rhythms and wads of cash to downbeats almost goes unnoticed unless you’re taking in the whole experience. At the very least, we know what music Edgar Wright likes, and I must say that I approve (especially of the “Hocus Pocus” sequence, which is a song that should be in more action sequences (like Robocop (2014) did to similar effect)).
A standard heist film with fun music, engaging characters, and flashy driving, I give Baby Driver 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Legend of the Three Roses
Year: 2017
Author: Jason Hubbard
Length: 509 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
After reading plenty of sub-par independent authors recently, I was pleasantly surprised to have the opportunity to read The Legend of the Three Roses by Jason Hubbard. With a slick cover and good chapter header graphics, the book looks good, but how does it read? I’m a stickler for proofreading, and I found maybe one or two errors in the entire manuscript. Again, good so far. There were a few confusing spots near the end that could have used either chapter or scene breaks, but overall, the book was solid. What made me truly enjoy reading The Legend of the Three Roses were the characters.
I can forgive a lot if the story is engaging, but if I find the characters annoying or illogical, I’ll usually force myself through. This book was not the case, as it had both an immersive story and setting, as well as excellent characters, even to the point where minor characters who only showed up in a chapter or two (or even a brief section) felt well-developed and intriguing. Concerning the main characters, there was plenty of growth for each of the main protagonists, which succeeded in not only showing the hero’s journey but also the harsh realities of living in a country at war.
I haven’t read too much fantasy, but I did find the representation of a war fought with ground troops and magic to be pretty realistic to how I would imagine it would happen. Unfortunately, one of the few weaknesses in this book is its fusion of modern ideologies and topics with the fantasy setting. While this made the characters easy to understand, it all felt somewhat out of place. Furthermore, while I initially thought this book was pro-Christianity, the tarnishing of the main character’s innocence, as well as the inclusion of many religious hypocrites painted Christianity in a negative light. Plus, it would have been nice going in to know how much sex was included, both implied and gratuitous. Still, by the unconcluded ending, I did want to keep reading. Hopefully, the second book continues to be well-written.
An enjoyable fantasy with a realistic war setting and engaging characters, I give The Legend of the Three Roses 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Death Cure
Year: 2011
Author: James Dashner
Length: 535 minutes / 8.91 hours
If ever there was proof that not every book should have a trilogy, it’s The Death Cure. Sure, The Maze Runner was an interesting concept, but it brought up a lot of questions. None of these questions were answered by the end of the series since most of the focus was on random action sequences rarely driven by the main characters’ actions. If action wasn’t the focus, then the loose and unbelievable “love triangle” certainly was. In the end, I had no connection to the characters, which was why I was mostly unaffected by some of their deaths.
The real problem with The Death Cure (as well as its predecessor, The Scorch Trials), is how much “fluff” is in the story. The Maze Runner worked because there was a concrete objective: escape the maze. In the two books that followed, what was the goal? Was it to defeat WICKED? If it was, then the characters didn’t seem too committed to it, since they kept having to deal with obstacles that randomly put themselves in their path. Consequently, the second and third parts of this trilogy could have probably been cut down into one book and saved the reader some time.
Unlike most trilogies, which provide at least some semblance of closure, The Death Cure leaves all its questions unanswered and merely tries to tack on an ending as a Band-Aid. This hand-waving approach was unsatisfying because we still don’t know why running immune subjects through a deadly maze would lead to a cure. We don’t know what the greavers (or any of the other “faceless enemies”) are, or what their purpose was. We don’t know why Teresa was so illogical and vague. Its series like this (which are only popular due to the “Young Adult” craze) that confirm my bias against this “cash-grab” genre.
An unsatisfying end to a trilogy that should have been one book, I give The Death Cure 1.5 stars out of 5.
Noah
Year: 2014
Rating: PG-13
Length: 138 minutes / 2.30 hours
If there’s any filmmaker more controversial than Darren Aronofsky, I’m not sure who it would be at this point. Interestingly enough, while most of his films are rated “R” (or higher, like the uncut Requiem for a Dream (2000)), I think Noah (2014) is the first time one of his films has been at the PG-13 rating. Since most of the controversy of his movies comes via the content that would make it R-rated, it’s interesting that the controversy with Noah is more along the lines of how Aronofsky filled in the gaps and created a dramatic narrative inside the Biblical story of Noah.
As is always the case with an Aronofsky film, Noah is a beautiful spectacle of filmmaking. Even if the landscapes of Iceland helped create this stunning setting, certain dream-like sequences and moments speak to the art that Aronofsky can evoke on the screen. The setting of the pre-flood world is believable, and most of the costumes and characters make sense, with the exception being the CGI-fueled “fallen angels.” Because the film is distinctly in the visual style of Aronofsky, there were a few “artistic liberties” taken with the story to create this contrast of good vs. evil.
I do find it interesting how a short story that comprises a small section of Genesis in the Bible was able to be filled out to a movie that’s over 2-hours long. What helps piece together this narrative is the context of the Biblical story before this event. Drawing conclusions from what we know about the lineage as well as a number of Biblical specifics, the plot seems mostly plausible. That being said, there are a few facets to the story that contrasts with what the Bible says. Still, if it gets people to pick up a Bible and start reading, all the better.
A somewhat plausible plot with stunning visuals, I give Noah 4.0 stars out of 5.
Forest Dark
Year: 2017
Author: Nicole Krauss
Length: 290 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
I’ve read a lot of books this year, but very few of them I would consider “literature.” Forest Dark is the rare exception. The flowery language and high-concept imagery invoked in this book would certainly make it a prime candidate for some art-house film. Author Nicole Krauss doesn’t just tell a story (or two) in this book; she crafts them out of the very essence of the human condition with expertly chosen words. There’s little to no “fluff” in this book, which somewhat explains it somewhat shorter length, especially considering it’s two stories in one.
While I am not Jewish, the two, intertwining narratives in Forest Dark pull out the cultural identity from two very different characters. From an aging man who wants to make a legacy without relying too much on his heritage to a woman who has been given an opportunity to use her skills as a writer to further expound the life of one of the greats of Jewish literature, both characters interact with Israel in a way that ties them both together, even if they don’t actually meet until the end (or at least, that’s what I assume happened).
Regarding pacing and distribution of these two stories throughout the book, there was never a point where I felt the plot was beleaguered. Each section advanced the plot of the two individual characters in such a way as to explore not only their motivations but how their cultural heritage either tied them down or influenced them to continue. While this whole book was well written, because it is a little more on the “artistic” side, there were many scenes, especially near the end, that didn’t seem to make sense other than as a neat “image” for the reader. At the very least, I know more about Kafka now than I did before reading this book.
A great piece of Jewish-themed modern literature, I give Forest Dark 4.0 stars out of 5.
Children of the Mind
Year: 1996
Author: Orson Scott Card
Length: 810 minutes / 13.50 hours
Just like Xenocide before it, Children of the Mind is difficult to separate from the previous books in the Ender’s Game series. In fact, Xenocide and Children of the Mind are considered by Orson Scott Card to merely be two parts of the same book, separated at a point in the plot that makes sense. Even further to the point, I would consider Children of the Mind the last “part” of a story that stretches across four books. While it was easy to take Ender’s Game by itself, every additional piece of the story needs the previous parts for it to have the full impact of what Card was trying to accomplish.
What’s most interesting about this series is how each book has a different focus, almost putting them in distinct genres. Ender’s Game was militaristic sci-fi, while Speaker of the Dead was more along the lines of a mystery. And while Xenocide was the philosophical heart of the series, Children of the Mind was almost a romance in comparison. I appreciated the loose strings and sub-plots being tied up by the end of Children of the Mind, especially when it came to defining the relationships between the characters I had come to know over the last few books.
Even though the basic plot of these last three books was a simple “avoid destruction” motif, the complexity of the whole scenario did require the amount of text dedicated to it. Each element of these stories came into play in some fashion to create a satisfying ending. I’m still in awe of the technological foresight and brilliant solutions to fundamental physics limitations that Card was able to develop in these four books. I rarely have found a series that has been so consistently good across all parts of its story, and I believe the saga of Ender Wiggin is now my new favorite.
A satisfying ending to an incredible series of books, I give Children of the Mind 5.0 stars out of 5.
Wonder Woman
Year: 2017
Rating: PG-13
Length: 141 minutes / 2.35 hours
Wonder Woman (2017) is a triumphant movie that shows the comic book genre doesn’t have to be dominated by men. Unfortunately, because it took so long getting here, I can’t help but draw comparisons to other works that came before it, making Wonder Woman seem derivative. In fact, had this movie come out eight years ago, it would have made Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) and Thor (2011) look like they were copying it. As it stands, though, Wonder Woman feels formulaic, even if the superhero is a woman instead of a man.
I will grant that some of the jokes come at the expense of the “fish out of water” character of Diana (Gal Gadot), playing on her naïveté of the “modern world” for laughs (a la Thor) but with a more sexualized context because she’s a woman. There were a few missed opportunities to add depth to the character via these circumstances, the interaction with Chief Napi (Eugene Brave Rock) being one of them (as the Amazons and the Blackfoot tribe were likely very isolated from each other). Either way, the levity helped to break up the incredible action sequences.
The action sequences in Wonder Woman served a few purposes, both of which helped develop the titular character. The acrobatic style of the Amazons looks a little ridiculous when they’re fighting each other, but thoroughly brutal when they’re fighting anyone else. While she dominated on the battlefield, showing that she could conquer “no man’s land” (an apt observation of her gender), when she struggled against the main antagonist of the film, her vulnerability made her a much more interesting character. After all, it’s tiresome to see an overpowered character with no obstacles to slow them down. That being said, I think the film could have gone in an interesting direction if the antagonist got away since most superhero movies end with the hero winning.
A wonderful film that draws too many comparisons, I give Wonder Woman 4.0 stars out of 5.
Time of Destruction
Year: 2015
Author: John C. Meyer
Length: 386 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM THE AUTHOR***
Having written a time-travel novel myself, I can understand how difficult continuity can be to ensure the story makes sense. In Time of Destruction, the continuity of events is certainly there, but it lacks in so many other areas as to make it almost unreadable. While the continuity of the timeline was well thought out, the continuity of details was not. From limiting the “time bubble” to 30 minutes of air, then allowing an antagonist to exist in the space for a full hour, to inconsistencies in the spelling of minor characters’ names (even on the same page), Time of Destruction has a good story buried deep within a mess of simple writing errata.
Right from the start, the format of the book highlights the author’s lack of quality control. From the right-hand pages having the page number in the gutter margin to the right-aligned text to inconsistent tabs, spacing, and section breaks, these visual clues immediately gave me the sense that this work was rushed out the door. Once I started reading, I found the context to be poorly written. Aside from dialogue that was consistently the same (“Blah blah,” character 1 SAID. “Blah blah,” SAID character 2, “blergle bah blah.” “Blah blah,” SAID character 1. Ad infinitum, even in two-person dialogue), on every single page, I could probably find a dozen proofreading errors, including missing punctuation, an almost obscene avoidance of hyphenation, and homophone abuse. In a book that’s nearly 400 pages long, these errors add up to over 4,500 moments where I was distracted from the story.
As for the story itself, I did appreciate some of the accuracies in how long it would take to rebuild society after an apocalyptic event. However, there were a few plotlines which were unnecessary (like the events on Earth immediately following the titular “time of destruction”), and some of the characters acted in irrational ways to get the result the author wanted (the romantic pairing of the time travelers seemed forced and unnatural from the start). Furthermore, the author’s vision of the near future (2085) is practically the present we live in right now, with regular space travel being the only advancement in the next 68 years. This book might have worked better as two separate books, covering the destruction of Earth and the time-travel aspect to prevent it, respectively. As it is right now, the ending doesn’t make sense, and there’s too much “filler” to justify a book of this length.
A neat idea, riddled with errors most High School students could fix, I give Time of Destruction 2.0 stars out of 5.
Xenocide
Year: 1991
Author: Orson Scott Card
Length: 1,210 minutes / 20.17 hours
Much like authors Jules Verne and H.G. Wells were well ahead of their time in their science fiction writing, Orson Scott Card once again shows that he understood some of the key concepts of our universe. Written in 1991, Card’s Xenocide deepens and furthers the continuing adventure of Ender Wiggin that he began back in Ender’s Game. Picking up where Speaker for the Dead left off, Xenocide adds a powerful adversary while also tying plot points back to the first book in the series. In this sense, the tight intertwining of Xenocide with its predecessors makes it difficult to separate and review by itself.
I appreciate what Card has done by creating a multi-book narrative that requires the reader to have started from the very beginning of the story. While Xenocide is not nearly the end of the series, as made clear by the astounding twist near the end, it does pull enough unresolved threads from Ender’s Game and Speaker for the Dead to create the next segment of the story. In this sense, the whole story is a multi-book epic so well-written that no detail or specific piece of continuity is overlooked. Plus, with so much history behind it, Xenocide reads at a frenetic pace, just trying to “beat the clock” of an almost assured planetary destruction.
Surprisingly, if you told me that there was a sci-fi book comprised almost entirely of dialogue and profound, philosophical arguments, I would probably assume it was boring (or at least written by Robert Heinlein). And yet, Card has brought the reasoning proposed in the previous books of this series and pulled them through to their logical conclusions, creating an engaging discussion of artificial intelligence and sentience, while wrapping the whole thing in the context of moral arguments for and against exterminating an entire species. There are no easy answers in this book, but Card has masterfully included concepts like cloud computing, interdimensional travel, and genetic engineering to get his point across.
A fantastic continuation of Ender Wiggin’s story that leaves the reader begging for more, I give Xenocide 5.0 stars out of 5.
Dekalog
Year: 1989
Rating: TV-MA
Length: 572 minutes / 9.53 hours
Dekalog almost defies categorization. While you could say it’s a TV show, the only recurring “character” is the apartment complex where many of the characters of the different “episodes” happen to live. If it’s a movie, it’s a very long one comprised of ten one-hour short films. Therefore, Dekalog is probably best defined as a TV mini-series. But, don’t let that label fool you: each one of these ten short films packs a huge punch individually, but produce a well-rounded examination of humanity in their entirety. Perhaps we should consider Dekalog as an anthology of the human condition. Life and death. Love and hate. Gain and loss. It’s all there in Dekalog.
What hits you first with Dekalog is the depth of the plots. Most of the episodes have some ethical dilemma that drives their characters. From a man questioning his faith in science to a woman who is pregnant with a bastard child while her husband is dying in a hospital, the impact that director Krzysztof Kieślowski makes in a brief, one-hour segment is undeniable. If you pay close attention, you do realize that these ten short films mirror the missives put forth in the ten commandments of the Bible. The subtlety of these allusions shows how the commandments are still applicable in modern society. Even if 1989 isn’t as modern as today, the lessons remain the same.
Even though some of the individual parts of Dekalog didn’t grab my attention, the loosely intertwining narrative certainly shows how Kieślowski already could weave a compelling series out of practically disparate segments, with each even having their own stylistic cinematography to emphasize the plot. A few years after Dekalog, he would go on to create one of the most beautiful and human trilogies ever committed to film with his Three Colors trilogy. Dekalog merely hints at this creative achievement to come, balancing heavy drama with brief moments of levity to ensure that the audience is left with a profound statement and not a depressing ending.
A masterpiece of film and the best television ever had to offer, I give Dekalog 5.0 stars out of 5.
Universe: Awakening
Year: 2017
Author: D. Ellis Overttun
Length: 317 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM THE AUTHOR***
The idiom of “don’t judge a book by its cover” does not apply to Universe: Awakening. With a blurry and indistinct image that has a few colored boxes and basic sans-serif fonts slapped on top, it’s no wonder that the content inside is practically pointless. Furthermore, while there was an “awakening” in a flashback, and the book takes place in the universe, I suppose the title means something . . . not that it’s apparent to the reader. In fact, as this is the first book in the “Terra Nova” series, I can say those two words describe it adequately. “Terra” translates to “dirt,” which describes the clunky “tell instead of show” style of exposition (imagine reading someone doing Google searches for endless amounts of pages). “Nova” translates to “not going,” which describes the overall plot (every single scene had no point, and there was no urgency to anything the characters did).
To be honest, I had a strong urge to stop reading after the first chapter (which was actually the prologue). The characters (which you never see again) in this section were loud and obnoxious. Unfortunately, the overuse of “all caps” and exclamation points for emphasis is rampant throughout. Not that any of the other characters were particularly interesting, had any motivations, or stood out in any way. The main character was practically incompetent, and the two “angels” were indistinguishable from each other. While human descriptions and idioms were used for the characters, none of them were actually human, thus creating a huge disconnect to the reader. For some reason, of which I have yet to determine, I forced myself to finish reading this book to the end. I was so mad with how bad this book was; I felt physically ill for enduring it.
So much was wrong with this book, I don’t know if I have enough space to cover it all. From the overt spiritual references of “auras” (essentially a cheap cheat to show character emotions) and the inclusion of archangels Michael and Gabriel, as well as an antiquated Catholic call and response (pretty sure they say “and with your spirit” instead of “and also with you” nowadays), the attempted fusion of science and religion felt forced and unnecessary. The punctuation had much to be desired, especially in the internal quotes, but even more so in the missing commas. Furthermore, while there weren’t that many homophone errors, the ones that were there were pretty egregious (not knowing the difference between “naval” and “navel” as well as “elicit” and “illicit” create vastly different meanings). Overall, I would suggest that this author stop writing any further books in this series until he sits down with a good content and proofreading editor and fixes the severe issues this book clearly has.
A book that wasn’t worth my time, I give Universe: Awakening 0.5 stars out of 5.
Welcome to the Monkey House
Year: 1968
Author: Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
Length: 686 minutes / 11.43 hours
Much like short story anthologies by a single author (see Neil Gaiman’s Smoke and Mirrors and Ray Bradbury’s The Golden Apples of the Sun), Welcome to the Monkey House is both quintessentially a collection of Kurt Vonnegut’s biting wit and satire as well as an exploration of other genres not often associated with Vonnegut’s style. Fans of Vonnegut will likely have already read some of these short stories (like “EPICAC” and “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow”), but some of the other stories might have been missed and for a good reason.
Overall, Welcome to the Monkey House is a fantastic set of stories, but a few of them fail to have the impact to make them memorable. Granted, these stories are few and far between, and help to break up the well-written social commentaries presented in “Harrison Bergeron” and the titular “Welcome to the Monkey House.” Vonnegut’s ability to show the slippery slope of such ideas as “everyone is equal” and “sex is bad,” respectively, is just as poignant in short form as it is in his novels. The fusion of technology in these stories might seem dated by today’s standards, but they do reveal that Vonnegut was, inherently, a science-fiction writer.
What this collection does well is show that Vonnegut understood the importance of the characters in a story. One of the most entertaining in this collection was “Who Am I This Time?” which contained characters at such extremes of human expression as to be completely unrealistic but somehow relatable and entertaining. Stories like this, which don’t necessarily follow the political or societal commentary that the other stories provide, are nice breathers that give the reader a smile instead of drilling thought-provoking ideas into their skulls. It’s this balance that truly makes Welcome to the Monkey House a must-read.
Vonnegut, true to form as well as outside his element, I give Welcome to the Monkey House 4.0 stars out of 5.
Atomic Blonde
Year: 2017
Rating: R
Length: 115 minutes / 1.92 hours
If there was one thing this movie excelled in, it was the advertising leading up to its release. I saw video ads on Facebook, trailers on television, and all sorts of viral marketing. Consequently, while the film looked neat, I didn’t really know what it was about. Fast forward to months later when it arrived at the cheap theater in town and I decided to go see it. Within the first few minutes, I was somewhat surprised to learn that this movie was based on an obscure comic book series. Not that this really surprises me any longer.
Sure, the superhero comics are bringing in big money at the box office, but the more “adult” comics (also sometimes known as “graphic novels”) have been seeping in over the years as well, in part due to adaptations like V for Vendetta (2005) and Watchmen (2009). Even in this year alone, we’ve seen Valerian and Laureline adapted into Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017). With this fact in mind, I saw many scenes and shot compositions in Atomic Blonde (2017) that could have easily been pulled from the panels of a comic book. In this way, it was likely successful for capturing the same feel as the comic.
With the rarely seen setting of Berlin at the end of the era of “The Wall,” Atomic Blonde brings espionage and brutal violence to its message about being unable to trust anyone in the spy industry (kind of a no-brainer). The addition of catchy 1980’s music over the brief spurts of gratuitous violence made these sequences bearable. That being said, when it goes full-bore John Wick (2014) with a steady fight sequence that seems to take forever, there’s no music to help the audience get through it. At times, the plot was a little hard to follow, but the twists at the end (while being semi-predictable) were well done.
Another niche comic book adaptation with some unique aspects, I give Atomic Blonde 3.5 stars out of 5.
The Kite Runner
Year: 2003
Author: Khaled Hosseini
Length: 324 pages
In an odd twist, I haven’t actually seen the movie this book was based on before I started reading it. Sure, I was aware The Kite Runner was a notable book, but I knew little about it other than the peripheral knowledge that comes from seeing an occasional movie trailer. About five years ago, I found this book for cheap at a bookstore and decided to pick it up on a whim. Now that I’ve finally read it, I’m glad I bought it those many years ago. Unquestionably, it deserved the notoriety it received, as it is a well-written and engaging story.
I’ll admit that there is much I don’t know about the specifics of Afghanistan and Islam. This book certainly opened my eyes to a lot of things I had suspected, but could never confirm. First of all: men are awful. I’m a man myself, but I’m ashamed that so much of human misery is linked to the pride that distorts any of us into racists, sexists, and/or terrorists. While it was likely just a result of correctly depicting a patriarchal culture, The Kite Runner shines a harsh light on the hypocrisy of a fair number of men, most of whom only ascribe to these long-held “ideals” because it helps them maintain power and cover their insecurities.
The emotional heart of the story lies with the relationship between Amir and Hassan. By the end of the book, while I found the “twists” to be logical and almost predictable, they still elicited an emotional response from me. In fact, I almost would have thought this book to be a true story, were it not for the plot being just slightly too convenient at times. Sure, The Kite Runner made me mad that such thinking existed/still exists, but the fact that it caused me feel so strongly about it proves how effective its storytelling is.
A modern classic filled with timeless lessons, I give The Kite Runner 4.5 stars out of 5.
1/2
The Screwtape Letters
Year: 1942
Author: C.S. Lewis
Length: 216 minutes / 3.60 hours
Perhaps the first documented fictional exploration of spiritual warfare, The Screwtape Letters is an expertly crafted examination of what the enemy of our souls is plotting. The reader is given insight into one side of a correspondence between two demons of differing influence and rank, thus providing a “behind the scenes” look at what the enemy is plotting and what they consider to be a victory for them. At moments, it can be difficult to follow along since the context of Screwtape’s “enemy” is really the “good” side of the spiritual battle. Either way, C.S. Lewis has crafted a brilliant satire about how little humans understand of their spiritual lives.
While I wouldn’t necessarily ascribe The Screwtape Letters to pure theology, there are plenty of eye-opening and thought-provoking statements in Screwtape’s letters to his nephew. From the demons’ acknowledgment that pleasure is of God’s design but overindulgence in pleasure is in their realm to the ever-constant battle to bring humanity’s spiritual fervor into the “lukewarm” category, many of the topics covered in this book are still applicable today. In fact, an astute reader can pick up exactly where the demons have gained victories in today’s society filled with apathy and spiritual malaise.
My biggest qualm with this book is that it wasn’t longer. Lewis unquestionably had the creative spark to package theology in an entertaining context via books like this, so I would have liked if there were more letters included in the set to stir up more conversation and induce more moments of reflection in our own lives. If someone were to write the unauthorized sequel to this book that could do so, I would certainly read it in a heartbeat.
The greatest example of writing from an antagonist’s perspective, I give The Screwtape Letters 4.5 stars out of 5.
1/2
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
Year: 2017
Rating: PG-13
Length: 137 minutes / 2.28 hours
When it comes to the films of Luc Besson, it’s often hit or miss. Sure, he’s directed many successful films, like Nikita (1990) and Léon: The Professional (1994), but some of his recent fare like The Family (2013) have left me disappointed. One of his best films is the sci-fi space opera (literally, even), The Fifth Element (1997). When I learned that he would be returning to this genre with Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017), I certainly had high hopes for it. After viewing it for the first time, I can unquestionably say that my expectations were certainly met.
Because Valerian has a French comic book series as its source, some of my qualms with this film might lie with the source material, and not the director. Some may recall the originality that came from another French comic book adaptation in the form of Snowpiercer (2013). Valerian certainly has its moments of originality, like a cross-dimensional marketplace for one, but it still maintains the style and tropes of the space opera genre. Even though the source material came out long before Avatar (2009), some of its plot points felt derivative of the James Cameron sci-fi film. That being said, the alien creatures in Valerian were almost more along the lines of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (2005) than say, Star Wars (1977).
While I honestly loved the spectacle and quick pacing of Valerian, the big reveal of the plot could be seen a mile off. Furthermore, I truly enjoyed the banter between Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and Laureline (Cara Delevingne) but was somewhat put off by DeHaan’s acting, which seemed to be along the lines of a Keanu Reeves impersonation. Despite all its weaknesses, Valerian was a fun film and probably the best entry in the space opera genre in years, if not decades.
A tight and entertaining follow-up to Besson’s The Fifth Element, I give Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets 4.0 stars out of 5.
Napoleon’s Glass
Year: 2017
Author: Gillian Ingall
Length: 308 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM THE PUBLISHER***
While I received this book from the same publisher as Cale Dixon and the Moguk Murders and The Women of Cho: Heart and Seoul, I wasn’t expecting anything good. However, I can attest that the author’s note at the beginning about how many people helped her edit this piece of historical fiction merely shows that the book could have just as easily been self-published. Sure, there are still a smattering of proofreading errors, and the punctuation seemed to be consistently lacking or against the American style I’m used to (It should be double quotes for all dialogue, in my opinion), but the story itself is quite solid.
Put in the framework of a series of letters from a French noblewoman, Napoleon’s Glass puts a personal spin on the events of the downfall of Napoleon’s empire at the hands of the Russians, as well as other European turmoil that happened afterward. Despite some episodes being distinctly pulled from history, it was a challenge to discern if some of the plot points were truly a part of the main character’s diary or were inserted via the creative liberty of the author. Either way, the framing device of including her letters did add to the believability of the story.
Even with a well-written and captivating plot that intertwined characters and events, some aspects of this book made me pause and wonder about their accuracy. About half of the men included in the story were stereotypically terrible, essentially using (and abusing) the women around them. On the flip side, the main character was certainly more modern in her sensibilities and independence, which I’m not sure would have been prevalent in the historical period of this book. Finally, after a two-second Google search, I’m surprised more characters in the book didn’t comment on the main character’s “amber” eyes, since it’s an incredibly rare trait. Heck, she could have found her father a lot faster considering he had the same eyes as well.
A well-developed story set in a historical context, I give Napoleon’s Glass 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Scorch Trials
Year: 2010
Author: James Dashner
Length: 623 minutes / 10.38 hours
As I read The Maze Runner, I couldn’t help but shake the feeling that the story was meant for a video game instead of a novel. The Scorch Trials merely confirms my suspicions. I mean, who in their right mind would acronym their organization with WICKED? While the first book in this series had a pretty straightforward goal (escape the maze), the sequel made no sense whatsoever. OK, these kids escaped the maze, but then what? The idea of traveling to the “safe haven” seemed to come so late in the plot that it almost felt like an afterthought.
Concerning the characters, the main ones are still there, but so many of the ancillary minor characters are so forgettable as to be practically useless. Brenda was added into the mix merely to elicit a “love triangle” between the two love interests of the first book, but it just felt forced . . . like everything else in The Scorch Trials. Survival doesn’t make for a great motivation unless there’s something to hope for in the long run. I never got much of a sense of any of the characters’ motivations since around every turn the world they found themselves in was trying to kill them in ridiculous and unbelievable ways.
I think what turns me off about this series the most is that the “hand of the author” is obviously visible throughout. Nothing feels natural, and the exposition is spotty and done in huge chunks based off of a lull in the action instead of as a result of it. Each time the characters face a new challenge, there seems to be no weight behind it, since most of the “challenges” are basically to generate a conflict between the characters and the unseen organization while providing no new information as to what any of it means.
A book that should have been a video game, I give The Scorch Trials 2.0 stars out of 5.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
Year: 2017
Rating: PG-13
Length: 129 minutes / 2.15 hours
Part of me wishes that the title of this film were true. What I wouldn’t give to have these dead men not tell their tale of revenge. That being said, I had some hopes that this movie would help redeem the franchise after the lackluster On Stranger Tides (2011). After all, Javier Bardem has proven to be an effective villain in such films as No Country for Old Men (2007) and Skyfall (2012), so I thought he could help carry this movie as a solid antagonist. Unfortunately, even he could not save this sinking ship of a franchise.
The main problem with Dead Men Tell No Tales is that it feels rote and uninspired. Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow feels more lucky than actually talented at pirating. Granted, that was some of his charm in the previous films, but not all of it. Add to this a loose connection to the original trilogy as a vain attempt to remind the audience how great those films were, and it just highlights how bad this movie was. In fact, I felt the many overt double entendres were more groan-worthy than clever, merely pandering to the lowest common denominator. I can only assume that was why the doe-eyed and tightly bosomed Carina (Kaya Scodelario) featured into the plot so much.
In a franchise that stakes itself on wild swashbuckling action sequences, this film had maybe two of note, and even they were uninteresting at best. This movie might have been better if it picked its battles more carefully, as the plot seemed like a stone skipping along the sea: never going very deep into any single character’s arc, thus making them all seem insignificant when compiled together. If it was merely about Salazar’s (Javier Bardem) revenge, Henry’s (Brenton Thwaites) desire to break his father’s curse, or Carina’s search for treasure; then it might have been interesting. Unfortunately, it is all of these things and none of these things at the same time.
A film that proves it’s time to abandon ship on this franchise, I give Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales 2.0 stars out of 5.
The Women of Cho: Heart and Seoul
Year: 2016
Author: David C. Dagley
Length: 294 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM THE PUBLISHER***
Did you know that this book was the sequel to Cale Dixon and the Moguk Murders? Of course not. Once again, Strategic Book Publishing and Rights Co. (SBPRA) has put out another sub par book that has numerous mistakes that should have been caught by a legitimate publisher. Almost all of the same qualms I had with Cale Dixon and the Moguk Murders are back, but now there’s a host of new problems. From the unreadable cover containing a collection of fonts and almost random images to the constant peppering of basic homophone errors in the text itself, The Women of Cho: Heart and Seoul is merely a cash-grab by a publishing company that does nothing but release unpolished manuscripts.
I actually started reading this book before its predecessor, mainly because the individual who contacted me from SBPRA said that it had little connection to Cale Dixon and the Moguk Murders. That was a lie. Almost immediately, I found myself wondering why events and characters were referenced without any context to the situation at hand. Most thrillers can get away with each book in the “series” being an independent entity. Not so in the Cale Dixon series, as so many questions were left unanswered in The Moguk Murders as to need a sequel. If the publisher were smart, they would have made both books look the same and have similar naming structures to indicate that they were connected at all. This book should have been titled Cale Dixon and the Women of Cho, if for no other reason than to get rid of that awful pun that had little to no bearing on the plot (other than the setting).
If I were editing these two books, I would have actually cut Cale Dixon out of both entirely, and let the South Koreans fight it out for these family heirlooms since that part of the books (albeit a minor part) was actually somewhat interesting. Instead, we are once again forced to watch Dixon’s misogyny as he “gets it on” with his boss, which just adds to me questioning why he wasn’t straight up fired from the police force years ago. Not that the new focus of the book, Monica, is any better. Her idiocy was not being a lot more paranoid after learning all the surveillance she was under. Instead, she just casually goes for strolls through the streets of South Korea without a clue in the world. And while the “pacing” was a little better in this book, with no chapters taking up huge chunks of the book (most were only a paragraph to a page in length), the continuity of all the different characters introduced and followed was certainly lacking.
While it is clear we will see Cale Dixon in the third installment in this series, I know I will not read it. I am surprised I even made it all the way through two books since I was practically yelling at the stupidity of it all by the end of this one. Both books put so much of their action and meaningful answers in the last few chapters that I wondered why the rest of the book even existed at all. As I said in the review of the previous book in this “series,” I hope the author of these books did not pay SBPRA anything for his works because he got cheated. Sure, they might help with “distribution,” but I know I wouldn’t want my name on a book like this.
Another failure of SBPRA to release a readable book, I give The Women of Cho: Heart and Seoul 1.0 stars out of 5.
The Maze Runner
Year: 2009
Author: James Dashner
Length: 650 minutes / 10.83 hours
Partly due to the success of The Hunger Games, the Young Adult genre swerved into the survival/sci-fi/dystopian genres that also allowed The Maze Runner to have a ready and willing audience. With this being the case, I’d almost say The Maze Runner has more utopian sensibilities since the narrative encourages teamwork for survival, instead of a “winner take all” emphasis presented in The Hunger Games that valued selfish ambitions over communistic altruism. Plus, if you put 50 teenage boys in a box with no adult supervision, I think the logical conclusion would be more along the lines of Lord of the Flies instead of solving a deadly maze.
While the premise was interesting and allowed for a constant and steady pacing of inciting events, I felt there was not enough explanation in this first part of the trilogy, with very few questions being answered by the end and a lot of hand-waving to push the characters forward to a conclusion. In fact, having seen the movie adaptation, I was hoping the book was better suited to explain the ending, but it was equally as confusing. That being said, there were key elements in the book (like the telepathy) that didn’t make it into the movie.
Overall, the few main characters in The Maze Runner were interesting and unique, even if it took some of them two years to even figure out the simplest parts of the maze. Still, fear can be a huge hindrance toward progress, so I guess I understand their predicament. Additionally, despite using a euphemistic system of swears as part of the characters’ unique jargon, I couldn’t help but think that this book would have been a lot more inappropriate for a young adult audience if the actual swear words were used instead.
An interesting premise with engaging characters, I give The Maze Runner 3.5 stars out of 5.
Dunkirk
Year: 2017
Rating: PG-13
Length: 106 minutes / 1.76 hours
Almost like clockwork, Christopher Nolan has directed a masterpiece of filmmaking every two-to-three years since the start of the millennium. While his prior work is certainly entertaining, most of it was set in a fictional environment that allowed him to play with the format of nonlinear storytelling. When I first heard that Nolan would be directing a film about the World War II retreat from Dunkirk, I was skeptical at first. I mean, while he’s great at action movies like The Dark Knight (2010), mind-benders like Memento (2000), or even science fiction epics like Interstellar (2014), his only foray into the “historical” was via The Prestige (2006), and even that was mostly made up.
What I did not realize going into Dunkirk (2017), was Nolan’s ability to create art without the need for fancy camera tricks or mind-blowing plot twists. The simplicity of Dunkirk merely emphasizes the mastery of cinematography and directing that Christopher Nolan can command. Whole sections of this film were devoid of dialogue, allowing the audience to piece together what was happening and what was going through the characters’ minds as they try to save themselves from their inevitable demise at the hands of the unseen Nazis (thus making these antagonists much more terrifying, a la Jaws (1975)).
While Dunkirk is considerably slower than other Nolan films, its three separate foci help to drive the story forward, never spending too much time on each as the plots drive to convergence. It does become confusing in a few instances due to one of the character arcs starting a week ahead of the other two; but by the end, the impact of these characters’ decisions and actions delivers an emotional climax that is worth the wait. I would certainly be amiss if I did not mention Hans Zimmer’s incredible score to this film, practically making every scene come alive with an incessant note of tension and suspense. At any rate, the visual realism and artful presentation of an army in defeat is a rare treat and one that I have not yet seen, or will likely see in the future.
Another Christopher Nolan film that proves he can direct anything, I give Dunkirk 4.5 stars out of 5.
Cale Dixon and the Moguk Murders
Year: 2009
Author: David C. Dagley
Length: 336 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM THE PUBLISHER***
Books like this one are what give independent writers a bad name. Furthermore, books like this should give independent authors pause before becoming contractually tied to a publisher. I found this book (and its “sequel”) to be so bad that I looked into the publisher a little bit. It turns out, Strategic Book Publishing and Rights Co. (SBPRA) (also known as Author Marketing Ideas (AMI)) is a big-time scam, and I hope any authors who are reading this review will keep as far away from them as possible. If a reputable publisher released this book, it wouldn’t have been nearly as unpolished as this book is. While I’m sure the author thought his story was terrific, I hope he asks for his money back.
Part of the role of a publisher, aside from distribution, is to get a book ready for a broad audience. With Cale Dixon and the Moguk Murders, I’ll show how SBPRA should have presented this book, by highlighting the things they did not do for the author. Let’s start at the beginning: the cover. Comprised of a hodgepodge of stock photos and basic word processor fonts, this cover doesn’t grab my attention and instead is hard to look at. Furthermore, if this book were a thriller, it would have been titled The Moguk Murders, since most thriller protagonists don’t show up in the title (i.e., Hard Road, The Tracker, etc.). A professional cover artist and editor would have caught these things before the book was published.
Next, let’s look at what an editor for a publisher should have found in the manuscript itself. It seems to me that whoever edited this book only used spell check, without looking at any context. There are so many homophone and proofreading errors that it was difficult to read, at times pulling me out of the story so hard I almost got whiplash. An editor would have also recognized how much information was redundant or repetitive in the narrative, with nearly every mention of the case to a new character requiring a full recap of everything that had happened up to that point. This editor would have also fixed the pacing issue since most chapters were only a couple pages long, but other chapters comprised up to 10% of the entire book.
Finally, an editor from a publisher would have worked to make the story less cringe-worthy. None of the characters made any sense in their actions, and most were guilty of egregious errors in judgment and protocol. The titular character was probably the worst of them all, exhibiting all the eye-rolling misogyny that seems more forced than natural. The amount of leniency he is given from the police department of San Francisco is criminal. From discussing open murder cases in front of tour groups to withholding evidence and taking said evidence overseas to illegal and black market individuals, the fact that the Police Chief even let him come back on the force from his “suspension” broke every fiber of my suspension of disbelief. By the end of the story, I hated all these idiotic characters, almost as much as I hated the “tag along” chapter that induced a sequel. That being said, a sequel was almost necessary, since there were no answers to any of the questions brought up in this book.
An example of a bad publisher releasing an unfinished work, I give Cale Dixon and the Moguk Murders 1.0 stars out of 5.
Flashforward
Year: 1999
Author: Robert J. Sawyer
Length: 628 minutes / 10.47 hours
As time marches on, predictions of the future made in the past are tested against reality. In 1984, we didn’t have George Orwell’s dystopian government. In 2001, we didn’t have Arthur C. Clarke’s interplanetary travel. Sure, these authors did have a few interesting ideas that did come true, eventually. Still, they were writing well before the events in their books would come to pass. Robert J. Sawyer’s Flashforward did not have that luxury. Written in 1999, Sawyer only imagines a future set a decade in the future. For those keeping track at home, Flashforward takes place in 2009, with a vision of a future 21 years ahead of that. Since 2009 has come and gone, there were a few things Sawyer got right, but many he could not have predicted.
The crux of this story is similar to that explored by Machine of Death: everyone in the world gets a glimpse of their future in 2030, thus causing everyone to react based on what they saw. Some were encouraged by what they saw, others despondent and suicidal. The people who had negative visions hoped the future could change, especially if their lives were on the line. Many of the “effects” of the look into the future were logical conclusions, which added an amount of interest to the story but with a cheap cop-out to keep from killing off all the characters. With all the different characters and POVs, it was somewhat difficult to follow along each time the focus changed, since there was nothing to indicate a change of view.
I also appreciated the conversation this book had in regards to science and the many existing theories about the future. While this exploration of science also included the discovery of the Higgs Boson (which didn’t happen until 2012), I was continually distracted by the narrator’s pronunciation of “CERN,” which sounded more like “sairn” instead of how I thought it was pronounced (“sirn”). I did appreciate the narrator’s ability to mimic multiple accents, but that one pronunciation threw me.
A recent book about the “future” that gets a few things correct, I give Flashforward 3.5 stars out of 5.
Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2
Year: 2017
Rating: PG-13
Length: 136 minutes / 2.27 hours
I sometimes wonder if the strength of the first film in a series dooms the following films to a condition I refer to as “the trilogy conundrum.” If a single film is original and has a strong story that stands by itself, it almost requires the following films to be weaker in comparison, each sequel needing another sequel to tell a complete story. Films like Back to the Future (1985), The Matrix (1999), and Pirates of the Caribbean (2003) are fantastic films that defined their generation, but their sequels were highly dependent on a follow-on sequel, thus making the trilogy complete, but lacking the strength of the initial film.
I hate to say it, but Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 (2017) falls into this “trilogy conundrum.” The original Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) was a fun and meaningful departure from its Marvel comic book brethren. This sequel, however, lacks a few things that made the original as good and as singular as it was. First off, there were almost too many antagonists in this movie. The Sovereign were essentially a “joke” antagonist, were it not for the mid-credits scene that sets up the opponent for the third installment, and the actual antagonist of the film (whose name is a little too on the nose) was revealed so late that the final battle almost seemed rushed.
I will give Vol. 2 some credit, though. The opening credits sequence had a catchy song and an amusing “background action” sequence the likes of which I haven’t seen since The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015). The character development in this sequel was fantastic, helping bridge the gap between this film and its predecessor, while also setting up the characters for the 3rd Guardians installment as well as Avengers: Infinity War (2018). As was the case with the original Guardians of the Galaxy, the dialogue and nostalgia included in Vol. 2 were fun and lighthearted. Finally, Yondu’s (Michael Rooker) slow-motion sequence was just as entertaining as Quicksilver’s (Evan Peters) sequences in the latest X-Men films.
Another victim to the trilogy conundrum, I give Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 3.5 stars out of 5.
Black Violin
Pike’s Peak Center
September 26, 2017
As a fan of classical music, I find myself also enjoying cross-genre takes on it. From the disco-inspired mini-anthologies of Hooked on Classics to the acapella versions created by The Swingle Singers, any unique take on the classical genre merely reminds me of how great the classics truly are. Of course, some of what gives classical music its charm is the full sound of an orchestra, each instrument providing a piece to a greater whole. When this style of music is compared to the heavy beats and synthesized remixing of hip-hop, there’s not very much in common. That’s where Black Violin begs to differ.
These two musicians, Kev Marcus and Wil B., use only a violin and viola (respectively) to show how the hip-hop beat (i.e., the “kick, snare, kick, kick, snare”) can fuse with the classical sound typically associated with their string instruments. I know I’m usually turned off of the hip-hop genre due to the lyrics of many rappers, but in terms of a musical style, it can be very catchy, especially when interwoven with such classics as Bach’s Brandenberg Concerto. Fortunately, Black Violin’s lyrics are positive, trying to enact change in a racially charged society instead of focusing on violence and misogyny.
Both members of Black Violin seemed very down-to-earth, and not focused on the “rock and roll lifestyle” that often plagues musicians. At their heart, they are teachers of music, and they want to open people’s eyes to the possibilities of following creative pursuits in a message that calls out to originality. Their live show was fun and entertaining, were it not for my one qualm: their lighting setup. I know most concert venues don’t have the audience in the locations the Pike’s Peak Center does, but when the lights are facing out from the stage and shine brightly in one spot for too long (i.e., right where I was sitting), it becomes difficult to focus on the music. Maybe it’s just me, but I think more of the lights should highlight the musicians, and not the audience. Either way, I would encourage everyone to give Black Violin a listen, regardless of the light show.
Machine of Death
Year: 2010
Author: (Various)
Length: 452 pages
The concept is simple: a machine takes your blood and spits out a card with the means of your demise printed on it. In this collection of short stories, a variety of authors explore what this truly means for individuals, as well as society as a whole. Based off an idea by Ryan North (author of “Dinosaur Comics”), this anthology has plenty of different approaches to the concept that a machine could predict how a person will die. However, many of these ideas hit upon the same concepts and social implications, making the whole thought exercise seem redundant by the end of the book.
Part of me felt the idea itself was a little derivative of Death Note, but with a more ambiguous set of constraints. Each of the short stories included in this anthology had some unique twist on the idea, ranging from humor to romance to horror. Still, every author tended to agree: a machine of death would bring about a dystopian future in some form or other. From governments requiring a “death reading” to mitigate any national disasters to a school needing to know how their prospective students will die so they can save face, the real enemies of this idea tended to be the bureaucracies of humanity.
While I honestly enjoyed the stories included in this anthology, they all seemed to suffer from the “a priori problem.” With each story titled with some way to die, you half-expect the story’s main character to end via that method. The intrigue is more in the how and when; thus providing interest to the story despite practically knowing the ending before it even starts. Granted, that’s part of the appeal of the machine: the ambiguity is as freeing as it is constraining.
A morbid set of interesting short stories, I give Machine of Death 4.0 stars out of 5.
Inferno
Year: 2013
Author: Dan Brown
Length: 1,033 minutes / 17.22 hours
In this, the fourth installment of the Robert Langdon series, Dan Brown has continued to successfully marry science to art, albeit with the same tropes and trappings that occur in the book’s predecessors. With Inferno, we get the same race across Europe explored in Angels & Demons and The Da Vinci Code, with the ambiguity of the antagonist’s motives that fueled The Lost Symbol. All throughout this adventure, the now-standard “female who is an expert in her field” accompanies Langdon as he tries to unravel the mystery and save the world. Langdon continues to be part Indiana Jones and part James Bond, that’s for sure.
Utilizing the standard “temporary amnesia” plot device, Brown refines his style while also increasing the stakes. While previous books in the series had potential impacts on the local and national levels, Inferno takes the antagonist’s plan to a global scale. With the main character as talented with memory as Robert Langdon is, taking away his recent memories was a good way to have him re-learn the situation at the same time the audience does. This also allows for some entertaining twists and turns as characters’ motives are revealed, often taking the plot in a quick 180° turn.
While much of the historical plot of Inferno focuses on the titular work by Dante, the scientific side of the story is incredibly relevant. Previous Brown books like Angels & Demons or The Lost Symbol certainly had some interesting scientific intertwining, but Inferno examines one of the most pressing issues within the scientific community right now. This issue, much like global climate change, has no easy answer, and Brown’s solution through the book’s antagonist is certainly a terrifying answer, even if it is probably the most humane way to go about implementing it.
The best book in the Robert Langdon series to date, I give Inferno 4.0 stars out of 5.
Guardians of the Galaxy
Year: 2014
Rating: PG-13
Length: 121 minutes / 2.02 hours
It is comforting to know that the Marvel Cinematic Universe includes the universe. While most films in this ever-expanding movie multiverse take place on Earth, a few like Thor (2011) and Doctor Strange (2016) explore different realms but still tie back to Earth. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) is different in that, almost immediately, Earth is left far behind in favor of alien worlds filled with fantastical creatures. Consequently, this film feels more like a sci-fi movie than a comic book flick. Considering how stagnant the superhero formula has become, this is a good thing.
With almost no earthly constraints on it, Guardians of the Galaxy is practically indescribable, probably because it has everything. Comedy. Action. A talking raccoon. With a reasonably well-paced plot, this film excels in developing its diverse cast. These main characters each have their unique traits and little quirks that almost immediately made them amusing and endearing. From tough-as-nails Gamora (Zoe Saldana) to idiom-ignorant Drax (Dave Bautista) to snarky mercenary Rocket (Bradley Cooper) and his singularly-phrased partner, Groot (Vin Diesel), these members of the rag-tag group that saves the universe create a well-rounded team.
Of course, I would be amiss to mention the substantial influence of nostalgia on this film in the form of Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord (Chris Pratt). The soundtrack of classic rock songs is an interesting counterpoint to the visual spectacle that goes along with having a whole universe to explore. While this nostalgia is partly due to a bit of arrested development, it does give this main character a grounded feeling that ties the audience to this far-reaching universe. Everything about this film was fresh and fun, and it certainly makes me look forward to seeing where this piece of the Marvel franchise goes.
Not your typical comic book movie, I give Guardians of the Galaxy 5.0 stars out of 5.
Rumors of Another World
Year: 2003
Author: Philip Yancey
Length: 272 pages
Having been a Christian for some time, I was familiar with the name Philip Yancey. I knew he often wrote books about Christianity and how those of us in the faith should examine some of the more challenging topics of our belief. When I picked up Rumors of Another World from a friend, I was expecting an examination of the afterlife promised us in God’s Word. Part of me was planning to use this book as a bit of research for my own fictional writing, or at least to give me ideas on how to incorporate a heavenly realm into it. In the end, this book was not what I expected.
It has been a long time since I’ve read any Yancey, but I don’t think this is his strongest work. My primary issue with it is that it tries to speak to too many audiences. If it either focused on trying to convince atheists and other scientific-minded individuals that there is a heaven and a hell or helping believers enforce their apologetics on the topic of the afterlife, it could have worked. Instead, it (almost ironically) sits in the middle of these two worlds, never diving deep enough to make a solid point about anything.
Furthermore, while I appreciated the anecdotes and quotes from other authors, many of them were reused throughout the book, making the whole narrative seem repetitive and redundant. I mean, I get it: C.S. Lewis is an excellent writer with a ton of great quotes, but there are other Christian authors out there as well. In the end, Rumours of Another World provides a few thinking points for Christians and non-Christians alike, but it never really challenges our deeply held beliefs or leads us into startling, life-changing revelations.
An OK book that breaks down some reductionist arguments, I give Rumors of Another World 2.5 stars out of 5.
The Sword of Shannara
Year: 1977
Author: Terry Brooks
Length: 1,600 minutes / 26.67 hours
Tell me if you’ve heard this one before: an unassuming character is given the task to use a magical item to destroy a great evil that once terrorized the world. To help this character on their quest is their best friend, a magic-wielding individual, a ranger with a love interest, a dwarf, and some elves. Look, I get that The Lord of the Rings redefined the fantasy genre in the 1950’s, but why were fantasy writers still replicating this formula twenty years later? I only half-paid attention to this derivative plot, mostly because I already had an idea what was going to happen.
Now, I will admit that The Sword of Shannara isn’t completely a 1-for-1 rehashing of The Lord of the Rings, but enough of it is similar that it feels almost too familiar. The plot does divert from the Tolkien formula, but probably not until about halfway through. It was at this point where some interesting and original characters finally arrived on the scene. A mute rock troll and his thieving friend were quite entertaining, and I would almost prefer if the story was about them instead of about this titular and fabled sword of legend.
Just enough of this book was different enough to make it engaging. Sure, some of the same Lord of the Rings plot points were there, albeit in a different order, but the details were just unique enough to give the characters their own little side quests. I know it ‘s hard to introduce an entire fantasy world in one book, so I’m willing to give this trilogy a bit of slack, but only as long as the next book in the series goes in a new and original direction and doesn’t just follow the Lord of the Rings template.
Moments of originality in a mostly derivative plot, I give The Sword of Shannara 2.5 stars out of 5.
Get Low
Year: 2009
Rating: PG-13
Length: 103 minutes / 1.71 hours
Despite its PG-13 rating, Get Low (2009) is about as wholesome a movie as there ever was. Loosely based on a true story of a man who wanted to have his funeral before he died so he could hear what people would say about him, the simplicity of this classic plot relies heavily on the characters within it. From the crotchety hermit to the struggling funeral parlor owner to a town full of rumors and gossip, the implication that Felix Bush (Robert Duvall) has done something terrible drives the narrative forward to its logical conclusion.
The two standout performances in this movie come from Robert Duvall and Bill Murray. Duvall’s Felix Bush is as cantankerous and stubborn as they come, and he fully plays up the fact that nobody likes him. Of course, it makes sense that 40 years of carrying the burden Felix has carried would affect a man like that. On the other side, Bill Murray’s Frank Quinn is the most deliciously deadpan (ha ha) delivery for a funeral director ever put to film. I could honestly watch Murray in a role like this for hours. It’s this character that practically makes the movie a comedy.
While the build up to the final reveal is a little belabored at times, there are enough life lessons in this movie to make it worth the wait. From the freedom of forgiveness to the power of lies that cover up the truth, plenty of moments in Get Low can teach us something about ourselves. What helps underscore these excellent life lessons is that the film isn’t too “preachy” about them, merely allowing the characters to come to the realizations themselves, and letting the audience make the connections to their own lives.
A touching film with a charming cast, I give Get Low 4.0 stars out of 5.
This film appears in the following posts:
Cinema Connections #206. Robert Duvall
Cinema Connections #207. Rest in Peace
The Golden Apples of the Sun
Year: 1997
Author: Ray Bradbury
Length: 338 pages
While I know Ray Bradbury is a great science fiction writer, before I read this book I only knew of Fahrenheit 451 and The Martian Chronicles, both of which I’ve read. In this collection of short stories, Bradbury shows he’s not just a writer of sci-fi, but of other genres and ideas as well. That being said, his strength certainly lies in science fiction, even if these stories are a bit dated from their original, 1950’s publications. Either way, most of the stories contained in this collection were quite short and could be easily read in those brief moments in between life’s activities.
Many of the stories reveal the political ideologies of their time. From the threat of nuclear war to the unknown of interplanetary travel, these themes continue to pop up throughout this book. Some of the stories are a little abstract, but there are enough solid pieces to make the weaker stories almost negligible. Regarding the non-sci-fi stories that comprise most of the first half of the collection, some of the more entertaining pieces were “The Fruit at the Bottom of the Bowl,” “The Murderer,” and “The April Witch.”
After reading through the first half of this book, I was pleased to arrive at the meat of Bradbury’s talent. Sure, he can spin a compelling tale set in the 1950’s, but the futures he describes are engrossing and thought-provoking. Some of these sci-fi stories give you the sense that he eventually turned the idea into one of his famous books. “The Exiles” unquestionably reads as a prescient counterpoint to Fahrenheit 451. Other notable sci-fi pieces in this book were “Frost and Fire” (probably the longest story in the book), “A Sound of Thunder,” “Here There Be Tygers,” “The Long Rain,” “The Rocket Man,” and “The Strawberry Window.”
A great collection of Ray Bradbury’s short stories, I give The Golden Apples of the Sun 4.0 stars out of 5.
Valkyrie
Year: 2009
Author: Philipp Freiherr von Boeselager
Length: 268 minutes / 4.47 hours
I first gained awareness of “Operation Valkyrie” when the film starring Tom Cruise, Valkyrie (2008), was first released. It makes logical sense to me that not all Germans involved in the war were Nazis, and not all Germans agreed with Hitler’s tactics. It is then the logical conclusion that some of them would attempt to assassinate the leader who had brought their country into a sweeping, global conflict. While this assassination attempt failed, I was still curious about the inner-workings of the plot and the people who would go so far as to try and kill Hitler.
My expectation of this book was for it to be an in-depth analysis of the many facets of the operation. From Hitler’s security concerns to the backgrounds of the lives of the individuals involved, I was expecting this book to be a non-fictional examination of the assassination that never succeeded. Instead, I was a little surprised to read the personal account of one of the conspirators of the assassination. The whole narrative was quite short (not even four and a half hours long), and left me wanting more. While this first-person account was entertaining, it wasn’t quite enough to satiate my desire for knowledge.
Because this book was only the translated account of Philipp Freiherr von Boeselager, there were plenty of details about his life and the life of his brother, but not much else. I was hoping his story would be the structure on which a deeper narrative would develop, but it remained the pure and unadulterated memoir of this single individual. I can’t fault the book for being the simple story of a German who wasn’t going to stand around and let Hitler ruin his country, but if there were a historical “wrapping” added to it, I probably would have gotten a lot more out of the book.
A simple story about a failed assassination attempt, I give Valkyrie 2.5 stars out of 5.
Frozen
Year: 2013
Rating: PG
Length: 102 minutes / 1.7 hours
It’s hard to deny the worldwide phenomenon that is this movie. While I’m sure parents now twitch any time “Let it Go” comes on, the fact of the matter is many factors led to the success of this film. Starting in the mid-2000’s, Disney saw they had a problem and set about trying to fix it. By rehauling how they told stories, and how they approached the characters in these stories, they soon were back on top of the animation industry (while Pixar continues to be content pumping out Cars sequels).
Stunning visuals can only get you so far in a Disney movie, and Frozen (2013) certainly takes the cake when it comes to visualizing snow and ice through computers. What makes Frozen work as a story is its complexity. No one character is completely good or completely bad, each having their faults and limitations, as well as their good intentions and personal desires. This makes identifying the villain a little bit like it is in real life: is it Elsa, who accidentally turned the weather to winter and is fighting to maintain her freeing isolation? Or is it Hans, who probably has a disadvantage at home and just wants to bring his leadership to his kingdom? Either way, the moral of “sacrificial love” is one that breaks from the standard “fairy tale” storyline.
I think what sets Frozen apart is its music. Sure, most Disney films are considered “musical,” but it’s the Broadway-esque styling of the songs that makes them so memorable. And while the songs are heavily weighted to the first half of the movie, the certainly run the gamut of emotions. From sappy love songs to a goofy snowman aria to the ballad of an independent woman, almost every character gets their say through song. Still, Disney missed a few opportunities to incorporate Foreigner songs into the soundtrack (i.e. “Cold as Ice” and “I Wanna Know What Love is”).
A fantastic movie, when compared to other animated films, I give Frozen 4.0 stars out of 5.
Fire with Fire
Year: 2013
Author: Charles E. Gannon
Length: 656 pages
I’m not sure which is more boring in a book: a plot that doesn’t go anywhere, or a main character who is perfect. Unfortunately, Fire with Fire has both. I’ll first start with my qualms about the plot. This story started way too late, as it didn’t get interesting until halfway through. Even when it did finally get interesting, it suddenly became bogged down in committee. Seriously? Didn’t we learn anything from the Star Wars prequels? Adding politics to a story about traveling across space merely makes it tedious. This is also not to mention how heavy and clunky the exposition is, with almost every chapter being filled with information that isn’t important, and the jumps between chapters needing way more explanation.
Secondly, let’s take a look at “Mr. Perfect,” Caine Riordan. Aside from the egregious fact that the POV switched between 1st person and 3rd person within most of the paragraphs of his section (with no italics or indication that we were suddenly in Caine’s head), I felt this character was just the author’s way to show how smart he is. With the expansive repertoire of high-value vocabulary words and a character that always knows what to do all the time and has all the correct answers, I ended up not caring about any of it by the end. And I haven’t even mentioned the blatant and pervasive misogyny either.
Even the rest of the supporting cast was so flat and one-dimensional that I probably couldn’t tell you who they were or what their defining characteristics were (aside from that one mysterious guy who LOVED olives and feta cheese). Most of the time I was reading this book, I kept wondering, “Wait . . . what?” as what seemed to be major plot points were introduced then almost immediately forgotten until hundreds of pages later. I’m not sure how this book managed to get a series tacked on to it, or how it was even nominated for a Nebula Award, but it gives me encouragement that I could write something way better than this.
Antiquated sci-fi tropes in a recently written book, I give Fire with Fire 2.0 stars out of 5.
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Year: 1965
Author: Robert A. Heinlein
Length: 852 minutes / 14.2 hours
Certainly well ahead of his time, Robert A. Heinlein remains one of the definitive writers of the science fiction genre, even today. In The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Heinlein covers such topics as artificial intelligence, extraterrestrial colonization, and interplanetary warfare. Even today, most of these subjects are accurately depicted in the narrative, even if some of the technology has advanced past where it was thought to be in 1965. Part of me is almost jealous at Heinlein’s ingenious use of Earth’s gravity well, and I know any attempt I might make to replicate the idea will merely seem derivative in comparison.
As is the case with some of his other works, Heinlein makes many socio-political statements via his writing. His stance on taxes, revolutions, and independent governing bodies is a critical section of the plot in The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, and I can certainly see the theoretical benefits he puts forth in this context. That being said, his views on polygamy and polyamorous relationships are certainly on display again, with his previous work, Stranger in a Strange Land exploring these themes in greater detail. I can only assume the “free love” culture of the 1960’s shaped these opinions.
Overall, the book wasn’t quite what I expected. The initial chapters made me hope the plot would center on the relationships between man and artificial intelligence (AI). If anything, AI is shown to be a powerful tool that can influence society in ways we can’t even begin to comprehend. At the very least, the main character was quite entertaining, if not hard to understand at times with his “accent.” If we do eventually colonize the moon, I can hope we do so peacefully and in a way that doesn’t lead to an uprising of its native inhabitants. After all, I do like living in a Colorado Springs devoid of meteoric bombardment.
A well-thought out sci-fi story decades ahead of its time, I give The Moon is a Harsh Mistress 4.0 stars out of 5.
T2 Trainspotting
Year: 2017
Rating: R
Length: 117 minutes / 1.95
In the vein of successful and groundbreaking films receiving sequels two decades after the fact (I’m looking at you, Independence Day: Resurgence (2016)), director Danny Boyle is at it again with T2 Trainspotting (2017). While the original Trainspotting (1996) was a fun bit of cinema that used a unique visual style to emulate the sensations of the highs (and lows) of drug use, the ending was pretty definitive. Still, because drug use can have long-lasting effects, the Trainspotting sequel is an important part of the whole narrative.
Unfortunately, as is the case with these types of sequels, the story didn’t change at all. After all, if it worked once, what’s to say it won’t work again. T2 Trainspotting continues to glamorize the party lifestyle of sex, drugs, and rock and roll in a visual style that’s fun to watch. Of course, what was a little interesting about this sequel is that it was almost self-aware of what it was: a hit of nostalgia. One of the most expensive and profitable drugs of our current society is nostalgia, and this film hits it right on the head. The occasional rants from these characters, Mark Renton’s (Ewan McGregor) being the best of the set, turn a harsh light on a film industry that can’t manage to do anything new.
While the themes of drug recovery, rehab, and relapse are still present in this film, albeit, via different characters this time around, it’s interesting how old habits can die hard. Some of the consequences of the first film played out a bit in this one, but overall it had the same ending. There were brief references to the outcomes of the drug lifestyle throughout this film, but nothing ever seemed that significant to these characters. They didn’t care about abandoned children, broken marriages, or legal troubles. They only cared about their next high, be it from Viagara, adrenaline, or plain old cocaine.
A self-aware and almost identical follow-up to a great film, I give T2 Trainspotting 3.5 stars out of 5.
Warbreaker
Year: 2009
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Length: 676 pages
For the last few years, Brandon Sanderson’s name kept coming up amongst my writer friends. I had never heard of him, but they had been fans of his writing for some time. In my goal to read all the unread books I own, I found that I had obtained a Brandon Sanderson book many years ago as a prize during my first National Novel Writing Month. Even with the daunting page count, I decided to give Warbreaker a read. All I can say is that it was refreshing to finally read a fantasy book written by someone who genuinely knows what they’re doing.
I’ve read a lot of books recently that I would consider “amateur,” but Sanderson proves he’s a professional in this tightly written book. From incredibly interesting and entertaining characters to expertly placed foreshadowing to a fascinating magic system, Warbreaker is fully original while also maintaining the tropes and structure of a high fantasy novel. The twists in the plot continued to grab my attention as the mystery surrounding these characters unfolded. As I read, I had a few qualms with minor points in the story, but Sanderson managed to quash these negative points by the end of the book.
I have stayed away from the fantasy genre for a long time because I know how lengthy some of these book series can be, and I didn’t want to become invested in something that might not even reach its penultimate conclusion. Fortunately, Warbreaker is well-encapsulated in its own, standalone story. Sure, there are hints at what the future may hold for some of these characters, but nothing was particularly pressing or “cliffhanger-ish” in this book. Either way, consider me a believer in the fantasy genre, and in Sanderson particularly. Maybe now it’s time I started to dive into his other works.
An original and highly entertaining fantasy story, I give Warbreaker 5.0 stars out of 5.
Dark Matter
Year: 2016
Author: Blake Crouch
Length: 608 minutes / 10.13 hours
It seems to me that the multiverse is a popular topic in fiction today. Sure, there have been plenty of stories about parallel universes and the fractal branching of our decisions, but for some reason, there’s been an uptick in the number of these stories lately. Perhaps these stories are trying to find a better universe in which to live, or perhaps they’re trying to show us that the world we have could be much worse. Either way, Blake Crouch’s Dark Matter nails the multiverse plot by exploring all the different connotations of the ability to travel between parallel universes.
Presented in a traditional, three-act narrative, Dark Matter thrusts its protagonist into another version of his reality, ripping him away from his idyllic life. Using quantum physics as a form of magical hand-waving, the narrative then turns to the main character’s relentless search for his original universe. While the result of this exploration fits nicely into the book’s natural third act, I almost would have liked to see something a little different and less predictable. Still, all three acts are entertaining as a breathless thriller driven by the emotions and resolve of the main character.
The best part about Dark Matter is how it fleshes out all the consequences of being able to travel between parallel dimensions. It’s not nearly as simple as an It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) “you-never-existed” storyline. That being said, I do question why the “original” main character had the perfect life, especially if many of the other parallel universes seemed to have relatively close representations of the life he was trying to return to. But, in the end, the narrative is driven by the characters, and these characters are well-developed and exciting to follow.
A multi-dimensional thrill ride, I give Dark Matter 4.5 stars out of 5.
Trainspotting
Year: 1996
Rating: R
Length: 94 minutes / 1.56 hours
As someone who has never done drugs, I have no way to know what the experience of being high on heroin or cocaine is like. Fortunately, I don’t have to do these drugs to get an understanding of the sensation. In the early years of film, most movies about drugs were usually cautionary tales (as was the case for Reefer Madness (1936)). By the “free-loving” decades of the 1960’s and 1970’s, drugs were more acceptable but often were seen in a comedic context (a la “Cheech & Chong”).
The societal excess of the 1980’s and 1990’s beget an epedemic of harder drugs like heroin and cocaine. Consequently, we started to see more films that would glamorize drug use, but would still show the consequences of extended use of these harder drugs. Perhaps the most famous film that fits in this category is the hard-to-watch Requiem for a Dream (2000), which really played up the “consequences” part. A few years before this film, though, was Trainspotting (1996).
While Trainspotting was less intense than Requiem for a Dream, they both had stunning visuals to help the audience understand the drug experience. Sure, there are similarly horrifying elements of Trainspotting, including the worst toilet in Scotland and a ceiling-crawling baby, but they are mostly cancelled out by the more “fun” sequences. At the very least, Trainspotting seems to succeed via its main protagonist Mark Renton (Ewan McGregor, in an early role) putting forth the effort to get clean instead of always succumbing to his heroin addiction. That’s not to say the film doesn’t glamorize these drugs by adding in the counterpoints of sex and rock and roll, but at least there’s an effort to have a bit of a moral at the end.
An entertaining look into the experiences of drug addicts, I give Trainspotting 4.0 stars out of 5.
This film appears in the following posts:
Cinema Connections #283. Ewan McGregor
Cinema Connections #284. Don’t Do Drugs
Shadowguard
Year: 2015
Author: Gama Ray Martinez
Length: 228 pages
I picked this book up for free on my Kindle recently, probably due to some promotion to heighten awareness of the latest book in the Pharim War series. As the first book in this series, Shadowguard doesn’t waste any time getting down into the action of the story. Somewhat light on exposition and description, the world created here is still vibrant and fascinating, regardless. The story’s characters and setting immediately immersed me in the world, and that’s not even mentioning the interesting magic system Gama Ray Martinez has created. It fell in line with the fantasy genre without being too derivative of it.
Some may say a series of books about a magical boy learning magic at an illustrious school sounds a lot like the Harry Potter series. The fact that the Pharim War series has a fantasy world setting, and isn’t just a hidden part of our real world, makes it distinctly different from J.K. Rowling’s wizards. Despite having only seen the Harry Potter movies, I almost prefer the “wizardry school” in the Pharim War series since it’s on a friggin’ volcano! The magic system does make a lot of sense in this book and even has it categorized into a set of different abilities.
Aside from the occasional proofreading error (about once a chapter), my only qualm was that the book was almost too concise. Knowing this was the first book in the series almost made me wonder if the main antagonist would be dealt with in this book or not. Granted, with a reasonably conclusive character arc, Shadowguard does not have an annoying, cliffhanger ending, but still has potential to explore the characters in the next installment. In fact, this book was so good I am heavily contemplating buying the rest of the series . . . especially since I now know it’s been completed and I won’t have to wait for future books to be released.
An incredible, action-packed YA fantasy, I give Shadowguard 4.5 stars out of 5.
A Boy and His Bot
Year: 2011
Author: Daniel H. Wilson
Length: 280 minutes / 4.67 hours
Daniel H. Wilson knows how to write about robots. From How to Survive a Robot Uprising to Robopocalypse, he has taken the same material and re-packaged it in different forms. The tongue-in-cheek “guide” of How to Survive a Robot Uprising was more entertaining than the journal-entry styled Robopocalypse, but mostly because of its humor. In A Boy and His Bot, Wilson takes his knowledge of robots and wraps it in a children’s fantasy book. Somehow, this method worked better than the two books I’ve already mentioned, leaving me entertained and educated, but with a sincerity of story that was heartwarming.
Taking cues from works like The Wizard of Oz, The Chronicles of Narnia, and Alice in Wonderland, A Boy and His Bot immerses the reader in a world entirely comprised of robots. Via the stranger-in-a-strange-land approach, this book explores the many characteristics and traits that make robots different from humans. Often, these quirky characters have a lesson about robotics embedded within them. For example, through the “atomic slaughterbot,” we learn a bit about 3-D printing. There are also lessons about “linked” robots, biomechanical augmentation, and programming, even if they might not be apparent to the target audience.
While the fantasy aspect of this book was well done, I had to roll my eyes at the naming conventions of many of the characters and settings. I honestly don’t know any parents, no matter how nerdy they are, who would name their boy “Code.” Similarly, Mekhos (pronounced “Mech-ohs”) is an apt description of the world, but locations like the “Beam Stalk” are obviously pulling from more medieval fantasy tales. Despite all this, A Boy and His Bot is a fun story that will leave you entertained and could spark the interest of a young child to pursue robotics as a career choice.
A surreptitiously educational fantasy set in a world of robots, I give A Boy and His Bot 4.0 stars out of 5.
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword
Year: 2017
Rating: PG-13
Length: 126 minutes / 2.1 hours
Years ago, I watched Guy Ritchie’s first film, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998). I thoroughly enjoyed the comedic repartee, well-paced action, and simple heist scenario. Afterward, I decided to watch the rest of his films (omitting Swept Away (2002) for obvious reasons). Films like Snatch (2000) and RocknRolla (2008) held very similar premises, but even in his other films like Revolver (2005), you could see the distinctive style Ritchie has when he shoots his films. In hindsight, not all of these films are great, but they were certainly entertaining for me.
Enter Sherlock Holmes (2009), and this big-budget film gave Guy Ritchie a bit more mainstream attention, as it also sported Robert Downey Jr. on a career hot streak. The striking visual style remained, which also helped in the sequel, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011). Because I also enjoyed the 60’s period piece, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015), I was equally excited for King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017). After all, Ritchie had shown he knew how to do action in his previous films, and a story centering around King Arthur and Excalibur would likely have a lot of action.
When I finally saw King Arthur, I wanted to like it more. Sure, there were fragments of Guy Ritchie’s style in this film, including an occasional bit of dialogue back-and-forth, some quintessentially Ritchie cinematography, and a few fantastic action sequences, but it just felt flat concerning the plot. Half the time, I had no idea what the characters’ motivations were, or what they were trying to accomplish, and I had a pretty basic understanding of the Arthurian legend going into this movie. Perhaps the reason it wasn’t as entertaining as I wanted was that it wasn’t a buddy film. The constant, humorous dialogue between characters is truly what makes a Ritchie film great, and this movie had barely any of it at all.
A vehicle for a handful of intense Excalibur action sequences, I give King Arthur: Legend of the Sword 3.0 stars out of 5.
Armstrong and Charlie
Year: 2017
Author: Steven B. Frank
Length: 304 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
With race relations where they are today, it’s almost somewhat jarring to know that things haven’t changed much in over four decades. In an attempt to educate the next generation about racism, Steven B. Frank’s Armstrong and Charlie is an excellent start. While I would like to think that race relations have improved since the mid-1970’s, there are plenty of lessons available in this book that are applicable today. Still, racism can be a two-way street, and I couldn’t help but think of the Avenue Q song, “Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist.”
Beyond the obvious racial undertones to this book, Armstrong and Charlie is a fantastic book about growing up. Aimed at kids on the cusp of growing into adults, the book masterfully represents moments of peer pressure where the characters have to decide what the correct response should be. Not only does it have valuable lessons about lying, stealing, bullying, and grieving, but it includes a few moments of romance as well. As boys progress into their teenage years, these moments are sweet, but also emphasize the whirlwind of emotions and hormones about to befall all kids of that age.
The best part of Armstrong and Charlie is how the narrative splits between the two, titular boys. With the reader knowing the background of each individual, the reasons behind the biases and social friction come to light well before the boys realize that people are deeper than they appear on the surface. Somebody might be poor and act out in spite of it. Others might have family or personal problems that they’re hiding via and underneath a mask of toughness. Once we finally get to know someone, we find they’re not nearly as different as we once thought.
A fantastic book about 1970’s race relations that everyone should read, I give Armstrong and Charlie 5.0 stars out of 5.
How to Survive a Robot Uprising
Year: 2005
Author: Daniel H. Wilson
Length: 186 minutes / 3.1 hours
As a precursor to Robopocalypse, How to Survive a Robot Uprising: Tips on Defending Yourself Against the Coming Rebellion takes a humorous approach to educating the reader about the capabilities and limitations of today’s robots. Similar in style to Where’s My Jetpack?: A Guide to the Amazing Science Fiction Future That Never Arrived, How to Survive a Robot Uprising uses the humor of preparing for the end of the world to poke fun at the limited possibility that we’d eventually be destroyed by the robots we use to make our lives comfortable today.
With my background in robotics (my Master’s Degree was in Mechanical Engineering with a focus on Robotics and Design), I quickly realized how Daniel H. Wilson was writing this “guide.” Robots are powerful and useful machines, many of which can perform actions much more efficiently and accurately than humans can, thus leading to our swift and inexorable demise. However, by the same token, they also have limitations and challenges that we humans do not (or at least don’t consciously think about). These robotic challenges are primarily used “against” them in this hypothetical scenario, revealing that most robots aren’t as indestructible as we make them out to be in fiction.
My only qualms with this book were that it was too short (I love this tongue-in-cheek writing style) and that the structure seemed kind of “loose.” Sure, different sections went over such topics as types of robots, and what ways these robots could be incapacitated, but the flow felt a bit like “stream of consciousness” writing. Granted, many of the topics cross over into each other, so it can be difficult to box them into discrete and distinct sections. Still, the narrative seems to jump all over the place as a result. Perhaps this is why Wilson decided to eventually write Robopocalypse, to add the structure that was missing from this “pamphlet.”
A funny book that subtly educates the reader about robot strengths and weaknesses, I give How to Survive a Robot Uprising 4.0 stars out of 5.
Hardcore Henry
Year: 2015
Rating: R
Length: 96 minutes / 1.60 hours
When the trailer for this movie came out, I had high hopes for this “conceptual” idea. With the increased popularity and proliferation of Virtual Reality (VR) headsets, I could see a film like this doing well in an immersive environment like VR. After all, the whole film is from the first-person Point of View (POV), so anyone wearing the VR headset would feel almost as if they were experiencing the movie from the main character’s perspective. Granted, this film was not created for VR headsets, and after seeing it, I’m kind of glad that it wasn’t. Hopefully, future filmmakers can take the lessons from this film and create better movies that could use the format to its best advantage.
Up until now, the only time you’d see something in a first-person POV is in a video game. In fact, most “first-person shooters” (FPS) are “filmed” in this fashion to immerse the player in the game from their avatar’s perspective. Of course, in a video game, the player has control over the character, which makes the sudden movements a little less nauseating. In Hardcore Henry (2015), though, there is no control. The camera shakes so much; I worry that the titular character is a bobblehead. While it follows the conventions of FPS games, the movie is almost too unsteady to watch.
Of course, the Cloverfield (2008)-esque camerawork wasn’t the only nauseating aspect of the film. The violence was quite graphic and explicit, almost to the point of ridiculousness. I’ve never seen people be killed in so many different ways or in quite as large numbers as Hardcore Henry managed to accomplish. Still, its intentional video-game styling made this film difficult to take seriously. The antagonists had almost unbelievable motivations or at least motivations that were slightly less believable than the eponymous main character’s.
A neat idea that assaults the visual senses of its audience, I give Hardcore Henry 2.0 stars out of 5.
Lost in Arcadia
Year: 2017
Author: Sean Gandert
Length: 412 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
When I first started reading Lost in Arcadia (the “A Novel” tag is unnecessary), I learned “Arcadia” was a computer program / operating system and expected the plot to be somewhat akin to Tron (1982), The Matrix (1999), or Ready Player One. Instead, this program barely features in the book, and the plot only briefly examines what an internet addiction can look like. Of the five-ish main characters, only three of them even interact with Arcadia, which I find hard to believe is a successful game from Electronic Arts, considering the plethora of bugs they usually have in their products.
As a character-driven narrative, there are just too many to justify spending time with each of them. If the plot focused on the three Arcadia-linked characters, then they might have been developed and interesting. Of course, that’s if you even get that far into the book. All the characters are profane and irritating, not to mention uninteresting and practically interchangeable in the first half of the book. So often I had trouble remembering who each one of them was, what their relations were to the other characters, and why I should care. What’s worse, none of them grow, let alone change, by the end of the book, making the whole novel mostly pointless.
Despite having a plot that started way too late and ended way too soon, I couldn’t figure out what it was trying to accomplish. If it was supposed to be satire, it wasn’t nearly funny or tongue-in-cheek enough to come across that way. If it was a scathing critique of consumerism and capitalist sensibilities, it was too heavy-handed and blunt. Seems to me, with many characters who weren’t important, and a variety of different POVs and narrative styles, that the author was merely dumping everything he wanted to say into a single book and only did a minimal amount of integration to make everything fit together.
A book that lacked focus and was difficult to get into, I give Lost in Arcadia 2.0 stars out of 5.
A Horse Walks into a Bar
Year: 2014
Author: David Grossman
Length: 350 minutes / 5.83 hours
Somewhere along the line, I saw that this book won the Man Booker International Prize this year and put it on my “to read” list on Overdrive. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, other than perhaps a little bit of comedy, considering the title is a basic setup for a joke’s punchline. In that sense, the book delivered on that premise by being about a stand-up comedian in a nightclub giving his routine to the audience. I did not expect, however, the deeper subtext about the character and his relation to the narrator. It’s in this subtext where we find the meat of this story.
It has often been said that “Sometimes all you can do is laugh to keep yourself from crying.” A Horse Walks into a Bar epitomizes this statement by blending serious subjects like cancer, death, and the Holocaust with a smattering of jokes, physical comedy, and anecdotal monologues. It’s in this contrast where we find how uncomfortable society is when dealing with the difficult subjects of life. I know I usually use comedy to cope with challenging situations, often in an inappropriate accommodation to the dour mood. In the end, we’d rather not address these facts of life because they don’t bring any joy into the world.
Partly due to a lack of explanation, as well as a somewhat jolting and meandering storytelling method, the plot of this book felt a little light, if not downright confusing. I’m sure if I had paid more attention to the words spoken by the ill comedian (who himself was kind of weird) I would have pulled more out of it and understood it better. Unfortunately, my mind always clings to the jokes, of which there a few good ones, and tends to ignore anything else that might be significant.
A bit uncomfortable, but poignant nonetheless, I give A Horse Walks into a Bar 3.5 stars out of 5.
Time Bandits
Year: 1981
Rating: PG
Length: 110 minutes / 1.83 hours
If there’s one thing Terry Gilliam’s films are known for, it’s their imaginative visuals. In a time before CGI was prevalent, the practical and model effects certainly made his films distinctive, especially in the fantasy genre. That being said, one of his earliest films, Time Bandits (1981) was quickly outclassed, not only by Gilliam himself but by other films as well. While Time Bandits is a cute little story about traveling through time, it is precisely that: little story. Even with the spectacular visuals, the plot seemed to be quite lacking, almost as an afterthought to how many interesting set pieces could cram into one film.
I will admit that Time Bandits was ahead of its time, but I wouldn’t consider it better than films that came after it. If you want plenty of imaginative fantasy effects, look no further than Labyrinth (1986). A series of time-travel vignettes? Then Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989) is for you. A child’s adventure in a fantasy world? Try The NeverEnding Story (1984). Sure, Time Bandits pre-dated all of them, but I don’t think it necessarily influenced them directly since the 1980’s was a bit of a golden age of these types of movies.
In watching this film, I could tell the absurdity and sketch-comedy style of the Monty Python days remained in Gilliam’s filmmaking. By 1985, and the brilliance that is Brazil (the correctly cut version, that is), Gilliam certainly began to show his development as a director. In the 1990’s, he certainly hit his stride with such films as The Fisher King (1991), 12 Monkeys (1995), and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998). As it stands, Time Bandits is a visually entertaining piece that shows the transition of Terry Gilliam’s filmmaking from absurdist fantasy to a mind-bending social commentary.
Heavy on practical special effects and light on plot, I give Time Bandits 3.0 stars out of 5.
The Null Prophecy
Year: 2017
Author: Michael Guillen
Length: 424 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
As far as “end of the world” books go, this one is a new take on the apocalypse genre. From my knowledge of space weather and its effects on our world, I can say that aspects of this book are entirely plausible. That being said, I have minimal knowledge of the quantum vacuum, so I have merely chalked the plot points surrounding it to magical hand-waving to get the story to go where it needs to. While I would have enjoyed an apocalyptic story that didn’t blame humans for their own destruction, The Null Prophecy only met me half-way.
What often comes across as “preachy,” the occasional mentions of green energy doing more harm than good do bring up an interesting point: in our race to solve the fossil fuel crisis, have we considered all the consequences of these newer energy-producing methods? When it comes to advancing the technological prowess of our world, the quote from Jurassic Park(1993) comes to mind. “Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could; they didn’t stop to think if they should.” The Null Prophecy merely takes this idea and points an accusing finger at a humanity that wants to unlock the “quantum toolbox.”
One aspect of this book that I found refreshing was the representation of intellectual Christians. So often, the portrayal of Christians as backward, scientifically-illiterate nut jobs who disregard anything science has to say by fiercely holding onto their Biblical beliefs is far from the truth. While there is such a character in this book, the main character provides a solid counterargument to a scientific society who has made their ego their god. Parts of science need just as much faith as a belief in God, but whenever mentioning the “f-word,” scientists scoff and immediately close their minds to any other interpretation of the world they live in. I applaud the author for creating a realistic character who has her apologetics well thought out to show that you can be intellectual and scientifically learned and still be a Christian.
A semi-realistic doomsday scenario with a non-stereotypical Christian protagonist, I give The Null Prophecy 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Lost Symbol
Year: 2009
Author: Dan Brown
Length: 1,067 minutes / 17.78 hours
After Dan Brown’s previous entries in the Robert Langdon series had covered the Illuminati and the Catholic Church, respectively, his next target in The Lost Symbol was the Masons. Unfortunately, as both National Treasure (2004) and its sequel, National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007), were released before this book came out, the setting and concept seemed derivative in The Lost Symbol. Especially with the focus on the Masons’ “treasure” for the better part of the book, I was half expecting the chase to be on a larger scale than just hopping from one Washington D.C. monument to the next as the puzzle unfolds.
In a bit of a combination of Angels & Demons and The Da Vinci Code, The Lost Symbol combines the exciting twists of uncovering the secrets of a Masonic pyramid with the pseudoscience of Noetics. Of course, the plot could have omitted everything about Noetics, and it would have stood just fine on its own, so I question why it was even needed at all, except for some familial drama and a series of wordplays near the end of the book. In my mind, the puzzle-solving element brought over from The Da Vinci Code was much stronger than the “science” brought over from Angels & Demons.
As for the book’s antagonist, I initially felt he was merely formulaic to the other enemies from previous Robert Langdon books. After all, when you have a self-motivated Illuminati Agent in Angels & Demons and an albino religious zealot in The Da Vinci Code when you have a tattooed Masonic muscleman as the antagonist in The Lost Symbol, you start to see the similarities. At least this time the antagonist had a great twist near the end. However, like some of the other “twists” in this book, if you were paying close enough attention, you would have figured it out before its reveal.
A procedural combination of the previous two books in the Robert Langdon series, I give The Lost Symbol 3.5 stars out of 5.
Beauty and the Beast
Year: 2017
Rating: PG
Length: 129 minutes / 2.15 hours
When it comes to the Disney live-action remakes, there are a few things to consider. While some plots are drastically different from their originals, like in Maleficent (2014), others gained plots that were light or non-existent, like in The Jungle Book (2016). When it comes to adapting Beauty and the Beast (1991), the fact that it received a nomination for the Best Picture Oscar speaks volumes of the story that already existed. Consequently, little has changed with the general thrust of the live-action remake, but it added many details that helped to round out the plot.
Not only was Belle’s (Emma Watson) past explained a little better, but the turning point in her relationship with Beast (Dan Stevens) was much more natural than it was in its predecessor. I will also admit that the ending, while still the same outcome, carried a much larger emotional impact (something closer to that of Tangled (2010)). Furthermore, the visuals in this version were quite stunning, especially in the musical numbers (most notably on “Be Our Guest”). CGI certainly has come a long way in 16 years. Instead of appearing anthropomorphized, each of the house servants could easily be mistaken for the furniture and accouterments found in such a castle.
While all of these improvements made for a fantastic, nostalgic film, I couldn’t help but think that it’s nothing new. The original 1946 French version (of which there was a brief cameo in the “hand-held” torches at the castle) was groundbreaking in its practical special effects. Similarly, the 1991 animated film was one of the first to integrate 2-D and 3-D animation. So, what did the 2017 version have? As far as I can tell, the only “new” element was that of a slightly ambiguous homosexual character that you’d probably miss if there wasn’t a huge controversy surrounding it.
A visually-stunning update to a tried-and-true story, I give Beauty and the Beast 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Rook Crew
Year: 2017
Author: Mirella Muffarotto
Length: 488 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
Usually, when I enter a Goodreads Giveaway, I have an expectation for what the book is about via the title and the cover. With The Rook Crew, my expectations were way off. With the cover, I was expecting a shoujo (a Japanese term signifying an audience comprised of female teenagers) light novel. I didn’t know what to think about the title, but I honestly can’t say it has anything to do with this book. “The Rook Café” is a location in this book that’s visited maybe a half-dozen times, with no indication of why it’s significant or unique. Likewise, the “crew” that visits The Rook Café regularly was never fleshed out beyond the main characters and one or two minor ones. If it were me, I’d title the book something like Soccer Sweetheart, which would accurately convey the sports/romance aspects of the book.
I will admit that the pacing is pretty good (albeit heavily weighted toward either one of the characters at a single time) and the style is easy to read. There were also a few, well-described and realistic situations, including a cyber-bullying incident. However, I would have appreciated more “scene breaks” in each chapter, as everything just kind of blended together with no clear demarcation. In fact, as this book was two books combined, I couldn’t honestly tell you where that break between the two books occurred. And while the occasional proofreading or formatting error wasn’t too distracting, the author’s “narrator” became a bit difficult to read, especially when it was contradicting what the characters were saying or when it was breaking the fourth wall.
While the book is classified as Young Adult (YA), I seriously question this as there was quite a bit too much hard swearing and sexuality to be in a book that should be marketed toward, well, young adults. If anything, this book sits on the edge between Young Adult and New Adult for these same reasons. Unfortunately, because it is classified as YA, it follows all of the clichés of the genre, even to the point of having an ending that realistically shouldn’t have happened. Maybe it’s because I’m not in the core demographic, but I cringe at reading characters who obsess over shows from The CW, are in Emo bands who have one original song and twenty covers, and can’t get enough of the Twilight saga. In the end, I felt the characters were mostly flat, especially the women. While the two male “love interests” had passions that defined them (like soccer or music), the female protagonist’s only defining feature was that she had an irrational love for the soccer player. Her focus could have been on reading or dancing, or anything else, but all she ever talked about was her attraction to Matteo. These privileged characters rarely made any sense and caused me to roll my eyes more often than not.
A standard YA book with all its clichés and foibles, I give The Rook Crew 3.0 stars out of 5.
Thing Explainer
Year: 2015
Author: Randall Munroe
Length: 64 pages
Growing up in the 1990’s, one of the defining books that helped me understand the world around me was David Macaulay’s The Way Things Work. Using “cartoonish” drawings of plenty of everyday (and not so everyday) machines, I gained plenty of useful knowledge that probably led me to eventually earn my Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering in 2009. While Macaulay’s illustrations were straight forward enough that they didn’t need explanations, some concepts around today certainly need some words to help gain an understanding of the way things work.
Enter Randall Munroe, famed “xkcd” webcomic author and an all around smart guy. In late 2012, he published a comic that described each of the systems in NASA’s Saturn V rocket with simple words. Described as “U.S. Space Team’s Up Goer Five,” the concept of using shorter, more common words to explain complicated concepts came to its full fruition in Thing Explainer. Using the thousand most common words, Munroe manages to humorously and thoroughly explain such “things” as the U.S. Constitution, The International Space Station, and the Large Hadron Collider (amongst many other common and complicated ideas).
While the concept is fun and this book could easily be used to help children understand these fascinating ideas, the thousand-word constraint is also its biggest weakness. Sure, I could deduce that “shafts” were usually “sticks” (or “hallways” if they were like mine shafts), and “fire water” often meant gasoline (or some other combustible fuel). However, I often found myself trying to figure out what the actual name of the item or part in question was because the “simple” name wasn’t self-explanatory. Also, it was sometimes a challenge to read all the small text, as it usually wasn’t arranged in a linear format, instead appearing in chunks around the illustrations to be close to the parts that were being described.
A unique concept to bring advanced technological knowledge to everyone, I give Thing Explainer 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Circle
Year: 2017
Rating: PG-13
Length: 110 minutes / 1.83 hours
In an ever-increasingly digital world, practically everyone online is concerned with privacy. Of course, we are willing to give up this privacy to make our lives more convenient. In The Circle (2017), the eponymous corporation is merely a stand-in for Google/Facebook/Amazon/Apple and is essentially a conglomeration of sorts of these tech companies. Of course, just like that antiquated operating system you’ve meant to update, The Circle contains a premise about five years too late. When the book this movie was based on came out, I’m sure it was thought-provoking; now it’s more a matter of “Yeah, yeah, we’ve heard this already.”
Part of what strikes me about this film is that several segments of it probably worked better in the book. When I’m watching characters explain “mandatory fun” I can’t help but cringe and wonder if it reads better than the performance I saw. Granted, there are segments which are better on the big screen, like The Truman Show (1998)-esque “Transparency” montage filled with the prolific and inane chatter of the internet surrounding the space around the main character. I’m also sure that plenty was cut to make the book film-length since some characters like Ty Lafitte (John Boyega) and Annie Allerton (Karen Gillan) were undeveloped at best.
When it comes right down to it, the one element of this film that I felt was the most unbelievable was the naïveté of the characters, both main and collective. So many of the “good ideas” immediately raised red flags in my head regarding privacy and cybersecurity, let alone the mere legality of them. And yet, these characters marched blindly on, filled with idealism in their semi-utopian constructs that would lead to dystopia. Don’t get me wrong, some of the ideas might have merit in our world, but the dance between the utopian and dystopian was a consequence of not thinking these concepts through to their logical conclusions.
A cautionary tale for a fate that has already happened, I give The Circle 3.0 stars out of 5.
The Other Side of Magik
Year: 2006
Author: Michael Lingaard
Length: 411 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM THE AUTHOR***
The “fish out of water” plot device is not new by any stretch of the imagination. Sure, it’s an interesting way to provide exposition in a fantasy world when an individual from our world comes to visit, but often the differences aren’t fully considered. Of course, there are good examples of this form of storytelling. From Mark Twain’s A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court to Marvel’s Thor (2011), both directions of the “world swap” transaction can provide entertainment. Unfortunately, The Other Side of Magik tries to have its cake and eat it too.
If The Other Side of Magik had merely focused on the adventures of a single teenage boy unknowingly thrust into a parallel dimension, it could have made sense. Instead, while the majority of the story was in the “magik” realm (of which I still don’t like that spelling), occasionally it would swap back over to our world and give the reader a short break to see how the “magik” teenage boy was faring in modern-day England. At times, this flip-flop was quite confusing, even to the point where the author himself swapped the names of these two characters mid-paragraph.
There were some formatting decisions that I found distracting in this book as well. The bolded text was a good way to convey powerful magik, but often it was confusing if it was the antagonist or the protagonist speaking through it. Furthermore, the punctuation needed quite a bit of work. I would have accepted that a “mirrored” world to our own would have single quotation marks for dialogue and double quotes for quotes within that dialogue, but it maintained itself throughout the book. Occasional proofreading errors also gave me pause, as I wondered if they were intentional to the “mirrored” dimension.
A tried-and-true plot that tried to do too much, I give The Other Side of Magik 2.5 stars out of 5.
Android Karenina
Year: 2010
Author: Ben H. Winters and Leo Tolstoy
Length: 541 pages
Despite struggling through both Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, I was pleased to find the most lengthy of these “monster classics,” Android Karenina, was a fast and engaging read. If anything, it proves to me that I can’t grasp Jane Austen’s writing style nearly as smoothly as I can Leo Tolstoy’s. Part of the ease of reading Android Karenina probably came from knowing the original plot ahead of time a little better than I did for Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility. And yet, the real reason is more visceral than that.
What Android Karenina’s predecessors attempted was to take two vastly different genres and mash them together in the hope that the combination would interest readers. Where Android Karenina succeeds where the others have failed is that the addition of the steampunk/science fiction genre enhances the story. Adding zombies or sea monsters to a romantic story to liven up the boring sections merely accentuates where these boring parts are. When the robotic-themed changes to a piece of classic Russian literature directly enforce the overt themes of the rise of communism, then the story becomes much more compelling.
Granted, some of the source material can be easily implied past the steampunk coverings, but that’s always been the case with these “Quirk Classics.” At the very least, the pacing of this story kept my interest throughout and rarely dragged itself down via the “drama” of aristocratic gossip and endless discussion of potential marriage partners. But again, this is likely the outcome of adapting Leo Tolstoy instead of Jane Austen. After reading this book, I certainly want to go back and read the original Anna Karenina, even despite the hefty page count.
An enhanced version of Tolstoy’s original in more ways than one, I give Android Karenina 4.0 stars out of 5.
Kong: Skull Island
Year: 2017
Rating: PG-13
Length: 118 minutes / 1.97 hours
Given how incredibly groundbreaking the special effects in the original King Kong (1933) were, I can understand why they keep re-using this character. Of course, while King Kong (1976) was mislabeled as “original” in its advertising, the advancements in CGI made King Kong (2005) at least as visually stunning as its 1933 predecessor. Still, the story has remained the same: humans visit Skull Island, humans find Kong, humans bring Kong to New York, Kong climbs the tallest building, and humans kill Kong. Consequently, I didn’t have much of an expectation of Kong: Skull Island (2017), since I thought I knew what the plot would be.
I can honestly say that Kong: Skull Island is the best adaptation of this character since 1933. A few choices helped to create an original story that deviated from the norm. Sure, humans go to Skull Island to find Kong, but the other creatures they find there are as fantastical as the gigantic Kong, who appears to be larger than any other version I’ve seen of him. Aside from the beautiful and artistic cinematography accentuating the intense fight sequences between Kong and his foes (be they human or otherwise), the fact that the film is set in the time shortly after the Vietnam War gave it a vastly different feel than any of the other Kong films in the franchise.
Fortunately, the action was excellent. Additionally, the brief moments of levity interspersed throughout helped to keep the movie moving along at a good pace. I knew going into this film that it was part of a larger cinematic universe which includes Godzilla (2014), so while some characters and elements in Kong: Skull Island felt unused, I am sure they’ll become relevant when Godzilla vs. Kong (2020) rolls around. In fact, part of the reason I gave this film my attention was that its predecessor was incredibly entertaining. Of course, I didn’t know Kong: Skull Island was a prequel of sorts until the post-credits scene, but that just makes me want to see the next films in the franchise even more.
The best treatment of King Kong in over 80 years, I give Kong: Skull Island 4.5 stars out of 5.
Winter Witch
Year: 2010
Author: Elaine Cunningham
Length: 368 pages
Years ago, after completing my first NaNoWriMo, I received this book as a prize. Seven years later, as I try to read all the “unread” books on my bookshelf, this book finally made its way into my “read” pile. Full disclosure: I haven’t ever played any tabletop Role Playing Games (RPGs), be they Dungeons & Dragons or Pathfinder. Because the Pathfinder universe defines this book’s setting, I didn’t have any of the prior background to help me understand the setting better. Still, as this book was a conventional example of the “high fantasy” genre, it was relatively easy to get up to speed.
Of course, partly because it is a conventional example of the fantasy genre, Winter Witch didn’t have that many surprises. Characters going on adventures to prove themselves / save someone / avoid responsibility seem to be pretty typical in this genre and this book certainly had all of them. While I did appreciate the “magic” of the mapmaker turned wizard (or would that be a self-renounced wizard, turned mapmaker?) as a unique and interesting ability, it certainly read as a simple tie-in to the Pathfinder RPG via the “dungeon master” role. Similarly, the aggressive female protagonist was somewhat unique for her gender, but could easily have been any male warrior trying to save their little sister.
Despite being released three years before Frozen (2013), parts of the plot feel very similar. Ice magic. Separated sisters. Love interest betrayal. I know Frozen is based on a much older story, so I’m curious if the inspiration for this story was the same. If anything, I would expect a book like this would receive an uptick in sales just on the comparison. Either way, the story was predictable, and the only amusing part was when the mapmaker tells everyone that they should let everyone else do whatever they want.
An average fantasy story with a modicum of interesting attributes, I give Winter Witch 3.0 stars out of 5.
Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters
Year: 2009
Author: Ben H. Winters and Jane Austen
Length: 340 pages
After struggling my way through Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, I thought perhaps the next entry in the “Quirk Classics” line of books would be better. After all, it had a new co-author (alongside Jane Austen) and replaced the almost cliché zombie trope with the lesser-seen sea monster framing. Unfortunately, I once again found myself struggling through the archaic language of Austen’s time. Not only that, but I felt there was far too much talking and way too much nonsense, and that wasn’t even about the sea monsters. I’m starting to suspect that I just plain don’t like Jane Austen’s writing.
Half of the book is practically filled with young women swooning over eligible bachelors, learning that these bachelors are engaged or married, and then becoming depressed because of this revelation. If they spent less time gossiping and more time communicating, perhaps they wouldn’t have these problems. Of course, I realize that this was probably an artifact of the era in which the original Sense and Sensibility was written, but it all seems pretty “senseless” if you ask me. Speaking of senseless, this book certainly delivers on a lot of it, when it comes to the violence of the sea monsters.
As was the case with Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, I feel Austen’s prose holds back the potential for a much more interesting story. Practically steampunk in its underwater cities and rudimentary diving systems, if this book was an original story, I think it would have been much more interesting to read instead of having to slog through another Jane Austen novel. Of course, most people probably wouldn’t have picked up such a novel, because they wouldn’t know what it’s about. Modifying a Jane Austen story merely gets readers in the door, but it seems like a lazy solution to gain sales instead of a way to create an engaging narrative.
Another attempt at fusing Jane Austen with unnecessary violence, I give Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters 3.0 stars out of 5.
Aliens
Year: 1986
Rating: R
Length: 137 minutes / 2.28 hours
While I’m sure a Ridley Scott sequel to his smash-hit, Alien (1979), would be fantastic by any stretch of the imagination, the choice to go with similarly-successful James Cameron in the director’s seat helped to keep the franchise from becoming too stale. Of course, with a sequel appearing seven years after the original, Alien had plenty of time to rest on its laurels before the follow-on film came along. Watching Aliens (1986) with the knowledge of James Cameron’s other work, it soon becomes apparent that this movie is all his own. After all, if I told you there’s a James Cameron film about space marines invading an alien world to eliminate an alien threat, many of you would think I’m referring to Avatar (2009) and not Aliens (1986).
In the original Alien, much of the focus of the film is on survival, let alone how to defeat such an unstoppable creature. For Aliens, the tables have turned, and man is now on the offensive, even if they don’t take the threat as seriously as they should. Aliens has its moments of terror and horror, but they aren’t nearly as jarring as they are in the original. Instead, the strength of Aliens lies in its action as much as it is in its memorable one-liners. From Bill Paxton’s freak out, “Game over, man! Game over!” to Sigourney Weaver’s defiant challenge in the final battle, Aliens is more in line with a summer blockbuster than its predecessor ever was.
Even though both of these films in the Alien franchise are exemplary in their own right, one can’t help but notice that they’re almost the same script, even down to the final vanquishing of the titular alien. Sure, both have a different approach to it (of which I almost prefer the robot-suit ending of the sequel), but it ends up being a tad disappointing to basically watch the same events occur again without much deviation from the formula that worked once before.
A different and action-packed take on the original Alien film, I give Aliens 4.0 stars out of 5.
The End of Desire
Year: 2007
Author: M.R. Sellars
Length: 340 pages
Much like 7th Son: Descent, I picked this book up at a convention without knowing anything about it. Consequently, while this is the third book in the Miranda Trilogy, I must admit that I have not read the two prior books in the series. As such, I have tried to make my review of this book as it stands by itself, and any confusion from lack of prior knowledge is merely my fault for not having started at the beginning. Of course, after reading this book, I certainly had trouble understanding how there could have been two books before it.
First off, the plot was as slow as Louisiana molasses. So many words were spent on practically meaningless interactions that didn’t add anything to the narrative. The few scenes of action were too long in coming and too short in duration. Add to this the stupidity of the characters and you can see why many of these plot points didn’t make any sense. I mean, not only was there any common sense in the decisions of the characters, but there wasn’t much sense at all (who continues to use aspirin if it isn’t working?). Sure, if a character has mania, then their odd decisions are justified, but the others shouldn’t just go along with them. Their decisions merely seemed to be forced choices to push the plot in the direction the author had already planned.
Furthermore, for a book about witches, there weren’t a lot of “witchy” actions in it. Sure, the antagonist used some witchcraft, but the main characters did little to none of it themselves. The ending itself was unfulfilling, and the whole book probably could have been completed as an epilogue to the second book in the series (even if I never read that one). If I wanted to read a paranormal mystery with plenty of action, I should have just re-read No More Black Magic.
A long-winded and unsatisfying read, I give The End of Desire 2.0 stars out of 5.
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Year: 2009
Author: Seth Grahame-Smith and Jane Austen
Length: 320 pages
Back in the zombie heyday of 2009, the idea of combining one of the most feminine pieces of literature with the oft masculine-marketed gory violence seemed like an interesting idea. I, for one, didn’t particularly care to read Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, but this take on the romantic classic certainly piqued my interest. Because of the addition of zombies to this plot, I was impelled to read this story to see how these drastically different archetypes were combined. I certainly wonder if the book would have been more enjoyable if I had read Pride and Prejudice beforehand, or if I would have remained far abreast of it altogether.
Partly due to the severe dichotomy of the original story and the zombie additions, there were certainly moments where I could tell what segments of Jane Austen’s plot were modified to fit the new, apocalyptic sensibilities. The two concepts worked together somewhat, occasionally adding action to a scene that would have likely been boring in its predecessor, but in maintaining the story and outcomes of the original, the whole experiment didn’t quite “gel” as it could have. Perhaps the addition of the prequel and sequel to this book helps to round out these distinct edges, but I have yet to read those books yet.
When it comes right down to it, I struggled to get through this book. With the language and verbiage retaining is feel from the original, the archaic nature of the dialogue was not as easy to read as I would have hoped. In the end, I was practically just reading Pride and Prejudice, but occasionally “changing the channel” to a zombie film whenever anything became boring. I applaud Seth Grahame-Smith for following through on this ambitious idea, but it almost seems like anyone could easily merge zombies to a romantic classic if they maintain the majority of the source material.
An intriguing idea that never quite fully “connects,” I give Pride and Prejudice and Zombies 3.0 stars out of 5.
Alien
Year: 1979
Rating: R
Length: 117 minutes / 1.95 hours
Science fiction in film has faced an uphill battle in terms of being taken seriously. Up until the late 1960’s, most sci-fi was low-budget, B-movie schlock more likely to be Mystery Science Theatre 3000 fodder than Oscar potential. This all changed in 1968 with Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. Now that sci-fi could be considered art it took almost a decade for other films to capitalize on Kubrick’s groundbreaking work. Star Wars (1977) expanded on the special effects and made sci-fi a fun, action-filled ride. Regarding the horror aspect of sci-fi, Alien (1979) remains the founding film of these combined genres.
Not only does Ridley Scott do a fantastic job directing this movie, in particular through the use of elaborate sets, puppetry, and just plain spectacular cinematography; but the fact that Alien has an incredibly strong female protagonist (Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley) puts it leagues ahead of its time in terms of character-driven plot. The fact that she was brought back for the James Cameron sequel, Aliens (1986), is merely a testament to how strong her character’s impact on the original film was. Of course, part of the reason Ripley stood out as a unique personality was due to the antagonist: the eponymous Alien.
The horror of the unseen remains the best technique to build suspense, but the gruesome visage of this creature delivers all the horror the plot had built up. Unlike some of the B-movie horror of earlier decades, this monster is realistic enough to give a legitimate scare without giving away the puppetry technique behind it via poorly designed costumes or visible support wires. The fact that this alien is nigh indestructible (and has acid for blood in case it does get injured) merely adds to the terror of it running rampant on a cramped spaceship.
The epitome of the sci-fi/horror sub-genre, I give Alien 5.0 stars out of 5.
The Lighthouse Keeper
Year: 2017
Author: Cynthia Ellingsen
Length: 380 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
I’d love to call this book “cute,” but I’m afraid Kip would toss me into Lake Michigan. That being said, part of me now wants to go out, get a nautical compass tattoo on my arm and buy a dilapidated lighthouse to restore. I don’t usually read “romance” novels. Of course, I’m not sure I could even consider this book in that genre since it had so many other aspects to it, but I almost immediately fell in love with the characters and the setting. The story came to life in my head, even to the point where I started mentally casting the movie (probably Jennifer Lawrence, Chris Evans, and Reese Witherspoon for starters).
While the main premise that started the plot seemed a little unbelievable (why would this insurance company have a lien on a house that isn’t insured by them?), the story has a ton of heart. Cynthia Ellingsen does an excellent job of fleshing out the “small town” feel of the setting. The treasure hunting side of the story drove the plot forward at a comfortable pace. It was fast enough to keep me interested but slow enough to engage the main character with some growth situations and minor character interactions and developments.
Even with all the praise I could heap on this book, I can’t in good conscience give it the full five stars because of some of the “romance clichés” it contains. The most egregious was the main character who kept denying her true feelings. I don’t know why she ever thought she had a life back in Boston, but every time she thought she’d be returning, I rolled my eyes already knowing what the outcome would be. Furthermore, I become quite irate when these characters don’t communicate with each other, thus preventing petty drama from occurring that could have honestly been avoided.
A wholesome romance with lovable characters and a quaint setting, I give The Lighthouse Keeper 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Wind-up Bird Chronicle
Year: 1994
Author: Haruki Murakami
Length: 1,572 minutes / 26.2 hours
A coworker of mine suggested this book to me a few months back. The title sounded interesting, so I put it on my Overdrive wish list and waited for it to become available. Both he and I have a somewhat thorough understanding of Japanese culture, so once I got into this book, I found myself imagining it as an anime. Of course, because The Wind-up Bird Chronicle was originally written in Japanese, there are plenty of cultural idiosyncrasies that might be hard to understand from a different cultural viewpoint. At times, the content is a bit weird, the sex awkward, and the violence strangely surgical.
What was quite refreshing with the narrative in The Wind-up Bird Chronicle, was its timelessness. Written in the early 1990’s and set in the mid-1980’s, only a few technological items (i.e. a land line, an early computer, etc.) haven’t held up well over time. Everything else about the story is so character-driven that it could probably happen at any time. These characters are odd, to say the least. From psychic sisters named after Mediterranean islands to a wealthy perfectionist mother and her mute son, many of their sub-plots do end up tying together in the not-so-surprising ending.
As a “chronicle,” the book does feel episodic at times, hence why I imagined it as an anime. Because I have seen a lot of anime, the content of this book didn’t surprise me. There’s some weird stuff out there, and Japan seems to create quite a bit of it. While the sex and violence might be off-putting to some, it’s not necessarily erotic or graphic in its presentation; it is merely a fact of life. A strange life, to say the least, but a life nonetheless. Parts “slice of life,” “harem,” and “psychological thriller,” in terms of genre, The Wind-up Bird Chronicle is an excellent book for anyone already accustomed to Japanese storytelling.
A prime example of an almost “standard” Japanese plot, I give The Wind-up Bird Chronicle 3.5 stars out of 5.
Power Rangers
Year: 2017
Rating: PG-13
Length: 124 minutes / 2.06 hours
In one of the many gritty reboots of a nostalgic 1990’s franchise, I didn’t have much expectation for Power Rangers (2017). The original show was pretty campy, with a tried-and-true plot structure that didn’t change much from episode to episode. In fact, I probably couldn’t tell you the specific plot of any of the episodes. They’d usually follow this format: the main villain would go about trying to obtain some goal via their minions/henchmen, the Power Rangers would morph and fight the minions/henchmen, the minions/henchmen would grow large and start destroying everything, the Power Rangers would call their Zords out to battle, and (finally) the Zords would combine into the Megazord and the foe would be vanquished.
While Power Rangers did follow some of the structure of the television show format, it also managed to create characters with some depth and background to them. From a disgraced football star to an autistic teen who doesn’t get jokes to a cyber-bully cheerleader to a (possibly) bisexual loner to a reckless mother’s boy, the five teenagers certainly have their share of angst and diversity. I do give kudos to the scriptwriters for including characters that feel distinctly modern without being too preachy about it.
And yet, while Power Rangers has a lot going for it, including plenty of action and a modicum of nostalgia, there are still a few flaws. Some of the humor is a bit juvenile, especially for a PG-13 film. I also couldn’t help but recognize the quite familiar setup of The Breakfast Club (1985), even to the point where I wanted the film to end with the Red Ranger holding a defiant fist in the air while “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” plays in the background. Was this supposed to be a reboot of The Breakfast Club instead of Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers?
A surprisingly well-done nostalgic reboot, I give Power Rangers 4.0 stars out of 5.
7th Son: Descent
Year: 2006
Author: J.C. Hutchins
Length: 368 pages
I managed to find this book on a table full of free books at a convention some time ago and tucked it away in my “to read” pile. Now that I’ve finished most of the Goodreads giveaways I have received, I decided to give it a read. With nothing other than the title (which doesn’t tell me much) and the cover (which gives a little more information), I honestly didn’t know what to expect from this book. Since it was on a table of free books, I didn’t have much expectation for it, but boy did it ever deliver!
With a fantastically engaging idea and a blisteringly fast execution, 7th Son: Descent pulled me in from the get-go and wouldn’t let go. Action! Espionage! Science! Without ever becoming too mired in the details (but providing enough to have the plot make sense), this book successfully made a story about cloning that wasn’t trite or cliché. The ideas and characters contained within were unquestionably too big for this book since it introduced many subplots but never concluded them. Still, there was enough of a conclusion to this book to leave me satisfied without it being too much of a cliffhanger.
My one qualm with 7th Son: Descent, other than the brief, horrifying moment of implied violence involving a pneumatic socket wrench, was that there were almost too many characters. I understand that there needed to be a well-rounded group of clones, but I honestly couldn’t tell you anything significant or memorable about at least two of them. I mean, you have the free-spirited musician, the conspiracy-nut hacker, the gay marine, the priest, and the egomaniac criminal psychologist, but I guess the U.N. employee and the other guy (I can’t even remember what he did) didn’t stand out to me. Maybe they play a bigger role in the later books, but they seemed undeveloped in this one.
An excellent, action-packed science fiction book that left me wanting more, I give 7th Son: Descent 4.5 stars out of 5.
The Da Vinci Code
Year: 2003
Author: Dan Brown
Length: 454 pages
What a difference three years makes! Even though it contains all the same tropes and motifs that Angels and Demons did, The Da Vinci Code eliminates the fluff and focuses on the strengths of these individual pieces to create an enthralling adventure through Christian history. I will admit that I first read this book because I was curious about the controversy that surrounded it. While Dan Brown is a fantastic storyteller, and many of his connections and links to Christianity made sense, I still maintain that, at its core, The Da Vinci Code is just well-written fiction.
This time around, Robert Langdon is much better suited for the task of finding the “Holy Grail” instead of being a glorified Roman tour guide. His expertise in symbology certainly helped to drive the plot forward, even if it sometimes was in a misleading direction for the sake of a twist. I did appreciate how, even if a clue didn’t immediately come into play, it became useful later to help round out the plot. It wasn’t just a series of “find me a rock” exercises but had a parallel set of intersecting strings and subplots that drove the story forward to its exciting conclusion.
And while the female protagonist was much more developed than the one in Angels and Demons, the villains also had more depth to them as well. Instead of a few individuals using the name of a huge organization like the Illuminati to create the conflict, a singular man with a singular goal helped to create the “chase” that propelled Robert Langdon across Christendom to find the Holy Grail. While both The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons share almost identical plot structures, the former shows that the execution of such a story is precisely what makes one a great read and the other an exercise in eye-rolling.
An exciting treasure hunt filled with fictional historical connections, I give The Da Vinci Code 4.0 stars out of 5.
Ghost in the Shell
Year: 2017
Rating: PG-13
Length: 107 minutes / 1.78 hours
Having only seen the original Ghost in the Shell (1995) film (and its 2008 remake), and not having read the manga on which it was based, most of my comparisons of the 2017 live-action adaptation are from the anime film adaptations that came before it. For its time, the original Ghost in the Shell movie was revolutionary. Along with similarly violent anime films like Akira (1988), Ghost in the Shell showed the world that animation wasn’t just for kids. The adult and more psychological aspects of these films are what helped set them apart as some of the groundbreaking films in the anime genre.
Regarding the live-action remake, I think it honestly took too long to get here. The concepts of cybernetically enhanced humans are surprisingly close to realized technology today. Given that these ideas seemed quite futuristic in the early 1990’s, the fact that they are plausible within the next couple of decades (if not years) reduces the film’s impact in regards to the moral and ethical dilemmas when it comes to combining humans and machines. Furthermore, given that the original film heavily inspired The Matrix (1999), a live-action version seems derivative of the Wachowski’s film that came out more than 15 years prior.
I will admit that the visuals in this live-action version were quite amazing, but so often I found myself just re-watching the same scenes that were in the animated film, but with human actors instead. This is also not to mention that the plot drags in places and the action is occasionally not that exciting. I think the Scarlett Johansson whitewashing controversy was mostly from people who had never seen the original since this film seemed to have a lot of content that wouldn’t make sense to people who weren’t already familiar with the franchise. Consequently, it was a little odd to make the story semi-origin based instead of just exploring new ideas within the canon.
A “safe” and boring version of the revolutionary anime film that came before it, I give Ghost in the Shell 2.5 stars out of 5.
The Tracker
Year: 2017
Author: Chad Zunker
Length: 336 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
As I mentioned in my review of Hard Road, I’m starting to find myself genuinely enjoying the thriller genre. The pace is almost frenetic, the action is exciting, and the stakes are always high. The first book in the Sam Callahan series, The Tracker is all of these tropes and clichés, but it also has much more. While most thrillers have protagonists who are older and have plenty of life (and tactical) experience, The Tracker decides to go much younger with the main character. Granted, this choice works because Sam Callahan has already lived a lifetime out on the streets and managed to escape its clutches and now considers himself better in spite of it.
Even though I appreciated the depth of the main character, part of me felt ripped away from the action each time the book went into “flashback mode.” Sometimes these sections would cover many chapters and years of Sam’s backstory, which usually led me to think harder about what was happening in the main storyline when the POV finally came back to the present. Of course, I’m also conflicted because I honestly enjoyed the flashback sequences because they were well integrated and transitioned smoothly between the sections of “present tense” action.
In the end, The Tracker is, in fact, two stories, running in parallel. In the present, it’s a countdown timer to a critical election made even more heart-pounding by the clock-check at the start of each chapter. In the past, it’s the story of Sam’s survival on the streets, hopping from foster home to foster home until finally giving in to the vagabond lifestyle. Perhaps the one aspect of this book I enjoyed the most was the pastor who took Sam in and set his life straight. This realistic and idealistic portrayal of how Christians should interact with others (especially the poor) certainly adds to the heartwarming element of Sam’s character development.
Another well-written thriller with plenty of backstory, I give The Tracker 4.0 stars out of 5.
Angels and Demons
Year: 2000
Author: Dan Brown
Length: 416 minutes / 6.93 hours
While Angels and Demons is not nearly as popular as its sequel, the famous (if not infamous) The Da Vinci Code, the elements which led to its successor’s success are certainly all contained within this first book in the Robert Langdon series. Of course, just because you have the materials to build a nice house doesn’t mean that it magically becomes a mansion. Despite containing many of the elements that made The Da Vinci Code so good, Angels and Demons feels a little underdeveloped in quite a few areas.
First, the protagonist, Robert Langdon, is supposed to feel like an “Indiana Jones”-type character, but with a specialty like symbology as his background, I just can’t buy the action-hero transformation of this everyday academic. Add to this the almost repetitive nature of his “discoveries” wherein he makes an assessment, then goes to the location of the assessment only to find that he didn’t think of it in the right way and thus requiring the whole plot to shift gears as he rushes to the new location. He eventually had better predictions, but by then it felt repetitive.
Secondly, the whole “treasure hunt” to find the antimatter (of which I feel CERN is a more recognizable name than it was back in 2000) seemed to take a back burner to the parallel plot of the pope’s death and finding his replacement. It is hard to focus on both plotlines, especially since both of them had pretty predictable endings. Finally, the romance aspect of this novel seemed quite forced, even to the point where the final scene of the book felt like it was ripped out of a James Bond story. Wherein a modicum of charm from the male protagonist makes his female counterpart swoon with undying affection that wasn’t in any part of the prior plot.
A rough start to the Robert Langdon series, I give Angels and Demons 2.5 stars out of 5.
Split
Year: 2016
Rating: PG-13
Length: 117 minutes / 1.95 hours
For many years, M. Night Shyamalan’s directing career has been in continual decline. Many people, myself included, felt his groundbreaking work with The Sixth Sense (1999) was the peak of what he had to offer. Sure, Unbreakable (2000) and Signs (2002) were good movies that had their moments, but from that point onward, the films he made just got worse and worse. Although I have not seen it, 2015’s The Visit seemed to be a return to form for Shyamalan, indicating that his directing was no longer washed up. In Split (2017), we see that Shyamalan has been able to recapture the magic that made his previous films so memorable.
The first thing I noticed in Split was the cinematography. The camera lets the audience see just enough to let them know that something is amiss, often preparing the viewer for an occasional jump scare. Secondly, James McAvoy’s performance was impeccable. Taking on the role of a man with multiple personalities, he was able to give each one a unique feel through his expressions and language alone. Finally, the concept that people with multiple personalities are somehow super-powered instead of disabled was an interesting take on the almost cliché mental disorder.
I do have to admit that the “twist” ending (of which we have come to expect from Shyamalan) was a little spoiled for me from some articles I had read beforehand. Of course, this twist was also why I decided to watch a film from a director I used to think was past his prime. Were it not for the childhood trauma that seems to be a cover-all in today’s society, the character development with the main female protagonist was well done. Either way, while the revelation involving her character wasn’t necessarily surprising, it was a great turn of events in the final moments of this engaging film.
A fantastic film that shows Shyamalan still has what it takes to make great movies, I give Split 4.5 stars out of 5.
Julia Dream
Year: 2017
Author: Fabia Scali-Warner
Length: 280 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM THE AUTHOR***
When I received a request to review Julia Dream, the author told me I might like it because I enjoyed Ender’s Game. This book is no Ender’s Game. While the eponymous character of Julia Dream is a teenager conscripted into military service, much like the titular Ender from Ender’s Game, that’s essentially where the similarities end. Ender endured persecution and harsh realities and learned to work them into a strategic advantage over an alien species. Julia seemed to be picked at random to defend an empire, then promoted with no other reason than she survived easily survivable situations.
Part of why I genuinely loved Ender’s Game was because the immersive narrative built upon itself, adding interesting characters who added to a well-rounded cast of compatriots. This is part of why I did not enjoy Julia Dream. As I read, I didn’t engage with the main character, who was robotic and stiff from the start. None of the other ancillary characters were very deep or memorable. Add to this, a plot that only skimmed over the surface or completely avoided some much more interesting topics. There were no details about this supposedly evil empire, each time action took place it was practically “off screen,” and there was little to no explanation of any of the characters’ motivations or backgrounds.
On top of it all, the occasional proofreading errors seemed to get worse toward the end, but this wasn’t nearly as noticeable or as distracting as the formatting. With no indented first lines or line breaks between paragraphs, the book almost reads like an enormous wall of text. Whatever was trying to be accomplished with the bolded sections that switched to present tense was lost, as these diversions broke the momentum of the story and seemed to serve no purpose other than to include some more “flowery” language. I’m also not sure what the cover was supposed to convey, much like I have no idea what the “Dream” aspect of the title had to do with the story contained within.
Undeveloped at its best and forgettable at its worst, I give Julia Dream 1.5 stars out of 5.
The Accidental Superpower
Year: 2014
Author: Peter Zeihan
Length: 739 minutes / 12.32 hours
I can’t remember when or why I added this book to my “to-read” list on Overdrive, but I’m certainly glad I did. While it’s a little dated from a 2017 perspective, The Accidental Superpower is an incredibly insightful book that helps to peel back the onion of global politics and economics to reveal the underlying factors that are, and have been, shaping the world into what it is today. As a bonus, after reading this book, I have a better understanding of how countries and societies develop from a geographical and economic standpoint and can use these insights to aid in the world-building for a few of my upcoming novel series.
Right from the get-go, The Accidental Superpower opened my eyes to the obvious: geography determines economy. Mountains separate areas almost as well as oceans do, but the best economies are the ones that can move their goods about in the fastest and most efficient ways. As luck would have it when first colonizing the United States, the founding fathers had no idea just how immensely fortunate they would be with the geography to their west. Peter Zeihan expertly shows how other countries have geographic problems that are keeping them from being nearly as united as the United States.
However, disaster is soon upon us. The demographic changes throughout the world will soon impose strains on all economic systems. While the world will continue to be in crisis due to its geographies influencing the economies of its various nation states, the United States is the only one holding it all together, mostly due to our generosity of offering “free trade” after the end of World War II. If we pull that rug out from underneath the world, we in the U.S. will likely survive, but at the cost of the global economy collapsing.
A must-read for anyone who exists in this global economy, I give The Accidental Superpower 4.5 stars out of 5.
Logan
Year: 2017
Rating: R
Length: 137 minutes / 2.28 hours
I’m not sure I know what to think about this movie. I mean, I wanted to like it inasmuch as I like a lot of the action-filled superhero movies that preceded it. However, the plot felt like it had less to do with these fantastic mutant abilities and more about just living life as normal people. Don’t get me wrong: there are plenty of mutant abilities on display in this film, it’s just that they weren’t necessarily the focus of it. In fact, if you took away the fact that this was based on comic book characters, you’d still have a film about a father trying to care for a daughter he never knew he had. Almost sounds cliche to me.
Regarding the Wolverine spinoff series, Logan (2017), is a strong finish after the abysmal Wolverine: Origins (2009) and slightly improved The Wolverine (2013). I did appreciate the finality of it, especially considering the whole X-Men film series started seventeen years ago. Unfortunately, unlike Deadpool (2016), which thrives on the entertainment value of its title character, Logan left me confused with just how much abuse this character could take, especially since his regenerative powers weren’t what they used to be.
I know many people were thrilled that this film was able to have an “R” rating, but I honestly don’t see what’s so special about it. I mean, we have had V for Vendetta (2005) and Watchmen (2009) before it, and even the aforementioned Deadpool fully used its “R” rating. Sure, it was fun to finally see the eponymous Logan essentially use his knives-for-hands to eviscerate the enemy in its bloody and gory glory, but I think my imagination could do that in the earlier, PG-13 versions without much of a jump. And it’s not like Logan wasn’t allowed to use strong language in previous films, it’s just that he was able to use a lot more of it in this one.
A fitting end to an OK spinoff series, I give Logan 3.5 stars out of 5.
To the Sky Kingdom
Year: 2016
Author: Tang Qi
Length: 460 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
Many barriers prevent a smooth transition of an artistic from one language into another. In more visual mediums, like film and graphic novels, the language barrier is less of an issue because there are other cues the viewer is observing to help them make sense of what is going on. These visual cues are unfortunately absent from a written work, and thus the translated words are the only way the reader can interact with the original work. Add to this language barrier the vastly disparate cultures of the Chinese and the English (be it any of the English-speaking cultures), and you can start to understand why I did not finish reading To the Sky Kingdom.
Over the years, I have developed a fairly thorough understanding of Japanese culture; but even though China is geographically close to Japan, their cultures are quite different. Consequently, I had trouble understanding some of the concepts and ideas presented in To the Sky Kingdom because I was unaware of their significance to the narrative. Of course, this could also be because the story was disjointed and often confusing to follow. I forced myself to read at least half of this book, hoping it would start to make sense. It did for a brief moment, but not significantly enough to keep me interested.
I realize the Chinese language is probably the most difficult of any language to translate into English, but the translation of this book almost seemed to be a direct, literal translation, as there were many word choices and sentence structures that were awkward to read in English. Perhaps I also don’t understand the scale of the “immortal” beings in Chinese lore, but the ages of these characters seemed to be incredibly inconsistent. A 300-year-old being is comparable to a 3-year-old child, but a ~9-month pregnancy takes three years? When the main character glibly talks about tens and hundreds of thousands of years as if they were nothing, I don’t get what the point of the plot should be at all.
An unfortunate victim of cultural and language barriers, I cannot give To the Sky Kingdom a rating.
Stiletto
Year: 2016
Author: Daniel O’Malley
Length: 1,392 minutes / 23.20 hours
I’ll be the first to admit that I like sequels. Or, more accurately, well-done sequels. While the first book in a series can be great by itself, it carries the burden of exposition and world-building. A good sequel gives a light refresher of the important points and gets right into the action. I would certainly consider Stiletto to be a well-done sequel to the first book in the Checquy Files series, The Rook. Not only does it expand upon the central conflict in the first book, but it throws in the twist of the warring factions of the Checquy and the Grafters coming together to form a truce.
In making enemies into teammates, Daniel O’Malley shows the differences between them are almost superficial. The chess-based supernatural soldiers of the Checquy almost have the same strength of powers that the genetically and surgically enhanced members of the Grafters do. Since the whole plot usually revolves around a pawn of the Checquy and a young woman from the Grafters as they try and maneuver treaty negotiations, the reader gets to see both sides of the argument. Of course, as was the case in The Rook, much of the story is divided into episodic events with an overarching storyline connecting these loosely-related moments together.
Even if the humor is often bodily-related, the style continues to be quintessentially British. It casts a delicate balance between action and humor while also moving the story along to an exciting conclusion. I would almost think such a series would be perfect for a Television show adaptation since its episodic nature lends itself to be easily broken up into smaller pieces. One last thing I would like to mention is that the narration given by Moria Quirk in this book was outstanding. With many different European accents and a variety of unique characters to voice, Quirk made the story understandable and engaging in all the best ways.
A perfect sequel to one of my new favorite series, I give Stiletto 4.5 stars out of 5.
The LEGO Batman Movie
Year: 2017
Rating: PG
Length: 104 minutes / 1.73 hours
While The LEGO Movie (2014) did a good job of initially not making its universe seem like it was just in the imagination of a 10-year-old child, The LEGO Batman Movie (2017) dispenses with that illusion and goes full-bore into the child-like mind. From the dialogue to the wide variety of licensed characters to the regular “pew, pew pew” sounds made when guns and lasers are fired, The LEGO Batman Movie steps right into what you’d expect a movie about a children’s building toy would be. Of course, with Batman being one of the best characters from The LEGO Movie, it’s no wonder why he was first to get a spinoff film.
Regarding plot, it was simplistic. Kids would certainly be able to “get” that family matters, even if they aren’t biologically related. But fear not adults, there’s plenty for you in this film as well. Perhaps the best mark of an animated children’s film is the references put in it that make the adults laugh with recognition. The fact that the movie acknowledges and accepts ALL the canon of the Batman universe made me appreciate it just that much more. And yes, I’m talking the 1960’s Adam West version of Batman, as well as some of the obscure (and canon) characters like the “Condiment King” (yes, he’s real).
The fact that this broad background of material supports the film’s jokes does make it a little alienating for those who are unaware of its lengthy history. Fortunately, there are enough references to the recent material (like Joker’s plot in The Dark Knight (2008) and Bane’s voice in The Dark Knight Rises (2012)) that will give most adults a “ha!” moment or two. Still, there’s plenty attributes about the plastic building blocks that are also included in the film, to comic effect as well.
A fun film filled with flashy action, pop culture references, and dialogue written by a 10-year-old, I give The LEGO Batman Movie 3.5 stars out of 5.
Tiger and the Robot
Year: 2017
Author: Grahame Shannon
Length: 250 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
In this era of smartphones and artificial intelligence (AI), it’s interesting to see a book start to explore the topic of AI without getting too bogged down in the details. With movies like Her (2013) showing just how integrated into our lives an AI personal assistant can be, this book’s approach almost takes the idea from that movie and fuses it with the “mute” AI from Person of Interest. Unfortunately, I felt the AI section of the book distracted by the endless sailing adventures. As someone who lives in a land-locked state, I didn’t understand much of the sailing jargon in this book (especially when it became technical), but I do think this book had some potential.
Despite containing a main character who comes off a bit like a creeper (and thus somewhat unrelatable), one of my main qualms with Tiger and the Robot was the disjointed plot. The first chapter was out of place in the narrative, and the “flashback” chapters felt like forced exposition and weren’t as natural as they could have been with a semi-sentient AI providing these details when they were needed. Of course, my main disappointment with the plot was the “realism” of the logistical challenges. Most of these sequences of events felt like they had to be explained step-by-step (almost in real-time), instead of giving a brief overview of what needed to happen and getting to the action.
While the villain of the plot was incredibly unrealistic, mostly in his motivations (who does that kind of thing after a single snub?), some of the twists were entertaining. That being said, most of the entertainment came from the AI, Saga (pronounced like the video game company). I would have liked a little bit more of a “ramp up” to her investigating skills, especially since the primary case the main character chose to solve made me scratch my head with more questions than answers. Why did they let this practically unknown guy help with a missing person case without asking for any certification? Part of me thinks Saga should ditch the main character and solve crimes on her own in future iterations of the series.
An interesting concept that created more questions than it answered, I give Tiger and the Robot 2.5 stars out of 5.
Speaker for the Dead
Year: 1986
Author: Orson Scott Card
Length: 850 minutes / 14.17 hours
In this sequel to Ender’s Game, Orson Scott Card continues to provide a smartly-written plot that causes the reader to think about death in a whole new way. While the first book in the series gave some thought-provoking insights into war, simulation and the dangers of following orders, Speaker for the Dead examines cultural differences, religion, and the humanity of individuals who acted like monsters during their lives. Instead of moving on from the life of a deplorable person, Card manages to show the reader that a person’s life is made up of all its truths: the bad included with the good.
While Ender Wiggin seemed a little young in Ender’s Game, by Speaker for the Dead he’s aged into a wiser and much more complex character. His experiences in the first book helped to set him up as the universe’s devil and savior, a unique attribute set for a very cerebral character. I did appreciate how the physics of interstellar travel were used as limitations and constraints to make the situation of Ender’s age and experience much more believable. Of course, now that I’ve read the sequel to Ender’s Game, I’m not sure if the sub-plot with his siblings was nearly as important as I thought it would have been, thus making its omission from the movie a sensible choice.
What’s most intriguing about this science fiction adventure is how little science fiction is in it. Sure, there’s light-speed travel, alien creatures, and sentient computers, but when it comes down to it, the story is essentially a detective mystery solved by Ender Wiggin. Perhaps the sci-fi framework helped to create the ideal metaphor for understanding a culture different from our own, but these sci-fi elements could have easily been cut out, and a profound plot would have remained.
Another thought-provoking story in Ender Wiggin’s saga, I give Speaker for the Dead 4.5 stars out of 5.
John Wick: Chapter 2
Year: 2017
Rating: R
Length: 122 minutes / 2.03 hours
As far as sequels go, I was looking forward to the second installment of the John Wick franchise, mostly because I was interested to see how it would take the genre-defying changes it made in the first film and expound upon them. While you don’t need to know much of the plot of the first movie, other than knowing John Wick (Keanu Reeves) was the best professional killer ever, and now he’s trying to live a peaceful life in retirement, one could almost wonder if the first film was even necessary. Plot-wise, John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017) provides a much more interesting storyline instead of just an accidental mistake made by a stupid kid of a mob boss.
Unfortunately, while the plot is much improved, the action seems a little stale. Sure, Wick’s “dance of death” remains an impressive sight to behold, but now the camera is starting to trend back into its shaky ways. Some the action sequences were so confusing (either in the dark catacombs of Rome or a Doctor Strange-esque mirrored art exhibit) that it was hard to tell what was happening other than the steady piling up of dead bodies. In fact, while these sequences were the strength of the first film, the second film drags them out just a little too long. Just long enough to be exhausting.
And while I appreciated the scenes involving Wick’s “infrastructure” that supported his killing profession, especially when he’s gearing up for his mission, now I have more questions than answers. Judging by the number of hitmen sent after him, I have to wonder if he exists in a universe populated entirely with hitmen. At least, I found the mini The Matrix (1999) reunion entertaining, especially considering how it gave Reeves his status as a choreographed action hero.
A better plot but with almost too much action, I give John Wick: Chapter 2 4.0 stars out of 5.
Colorado Springs Philharmonic
Conductor: Josep Caballé Domenech
Date: May 21, 2017
Zones
Pierre Jalbert
In the final commissioned piece of this 90th Philharmonic season, Pierre Jalbert takes the term “from sea to shining sea” quite literally with his piece, Zones. With the majority of the music conveying the depths of the ocean, it was interesting to hear the various deep-sea creatures as they passed by (most of which seemed to be quite large and dangerous). Eventually, the listener arrives near the surface of the ocean and can hear the rays of light penetrating down into the water. During the last moments of the piece, the listener emerges on dry land and quickly finds themselves in the alpine “zone” of the top of Pike’s Peak.
Martern Aller Arten (from The Abduction from the Seraglio) / Verdrai, carino (from Don Giovanni)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
These selected arias from Mozart’s repertoire weren’t that recognizable, but they certainly gave soprano Celena Shafer the chance to show off. Having been in a choir before, I know I sing best when standing; but in this case, I have much more respect for the operatic singers than I already had. Shafer sang her heart out while also conveying the deep and complex emotions that accompanied each piece through the movement of her body. The fact that she can sing so consistently bent over or sitting down merely belies the talent of the classically trained singer.
Carmina Burana
Carl Orff
I came across this piece many years ago in college (around the same time I got into Dvorak’s 9th Symphony). I’m certain most people are already familiar with the “O, Fortuna” section of this piece since it features prominently in almost every other movie trailer on the planet. What they may not realize is the whole context of Carmina Burana is that of wine, women, and song. While I was already familiar with the music of the piece, I was never quite sure what the choir was singing about until this performance. The translated lyrics that appeared above the Philharmonic were quite useful in finally gaining an understanding of the underlying story contained within this epic piece. Of course, as is the case with many epic pieces of music, listening to it performed live beats listening to it on CD or vinyl every time.
The Captain’s Kid
Year: 2016
Author: Liz Coley
Length: 352 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
With today’s Young Adult genre overtaken by books not appropriate for young adults, it’s refreshing to read a book that not only has content for teenagers but realistic teenage characters as well. These are the characters dealing with their first foray into independence and finding their identity separate from that of their parents. Each of these individuals has their strengths and weaknesses, and it’s in recognition of these assets and liabilities that they start to realize their true potential in life. The fact that the setting takes place in outer space is simply to keep the reader engaged with the plot.
Regarding the science behind the plot, the author seems to have done her research. At a cursory glance, all the elements that come together to create the main thrust of the plot all make sense, and all add to each other to make a believable situation. From microgravity to genetic modifications, the science appears to be correct on the surface, but it never gets so deep into the details as to prove itself wrong or to bore the reader. After all, we’re talking about a teenager’s understanding of complex scientific concepts here.
One aspect of the main character I appreciated was his approach to romantic relationships. I can remember being a bumbling and klutzy teenager, and it’s the suaver and “adult” teenage characters that I see too often in today’s Young Adult stories. With an almost perfect setting, plot, and group of characters, there were only a few things that distracted me in this narrative. First, I might not have been paying attention, but I think one of the characters changed gender about 1/3 of the way through. Secondly, I find it hard to believe that, in our current age of information and knowledge, that some common phrases and words would become “extinct” and need explanation. Otherwise, The Captain’s Kid is a solid book for all ages.
A realistic and encouraging piece of Young Adult fiction, I give The Captain’s Kid 4.5 stars out of 5.
Ender’s Game
Year: 1985
Author: Orson Scott Card
Length: 380 pages
In another “lapse” of my reading habits, I didn’t manage to read Ender’s Game until the movie of the same name came out in 2013. At the time, all the sci-fi fans were eagerly anticipating a film that had taken over 25 years to finally become a reality. While I thought the movie was quite well done and engaging, after I read the book, I can understand why some of the diehard fans of the series were disappointed. As is usually the case with book-to-movie transitions, sub-plots often find themselves on the cutting room floor. Of course, I don’t blame them for cutting what they did; after all, it is called Ender’s Game.
Even though watching the movie first spoiled the exciting twist of the ending when I read the book, I almost read the book differently knowing how it would turn out. I could see the signs leading up to the shocking reveal, almost as if I had read it before. I did appreciate the sub-plot with Ender’s siblings and their efforts back on Earth as their brother was winning the war in space. If anything, it helped to break up the intense action surrounding the eponymous main character so that the reader could fully absorb what was happening in the universe on a political level as well as a military one.
It is disappointing that there will likely be no more movies in this series since the source material is full of interesting ideas that I’d like to see on the big screen. Perhaps the series would be better suited for a television show (a la Game of Thrones) to fully include all the different elements that made it a classic of sci-fi back in 1985. Either way, I look forward to exploring more of Orson Scott Card’s universe in the next book of the series: Speaker for the Dead.
A fantastic sci-fi story with an incredible twist ending, I give Ender’s Game 5.0 stars out of 5.
John Wick
Year: 2014
Rating: R
Length: 101 minutes / 1.68 hours
I’ll be honest and say that I initially thought this film was just another action movie. Of all the action movies that come out these days, there wasn’t much that intrigued me enough to spend the time with this particular one. However, after some of my friends were raving about it and I saw a few YouTube videos describing why it was so great, I decided to give John Wick (2014) a chance. To say I was pleasantly surprised would be an understatement. This film was not just another action movie. In fact, it was quite exemplary in its breaking of traditional action movie tropes.
The most noticeable difference this movie has compared to other action films is its camerawork. Ever since The Bourne Identity (2001) changed the action movie genre, the cameras have been quite shaky, and the action is, therefore (increasingly) hard to follow. Not so with John Wick. The smooth and steady camera shows off the incredible talent of its titular main character as he performs a highly choreographed “dance of death,” killing all who might confront him or impede his progress toward his vengeful goal. Surprisingly enough, because everything happens so quickly, the violence is almost toned down despite the enormous body count.
Additionally, I liked the character of John Wick (portrayed by Keanu Reeves). Not only is he calm, cool, and calculating, but the universe in which he lives shudders at the mention of his name. The whole “infrastructure” put in place to support Wick was just as fascinating and entertaining as the stories people would tell of his previous professional exploits. And while the premise for John Wick leaving retirement was flimsy at best, it drove home the point that you should never, ever cross this character.
A revolutionary new way to do an action film, I give John Wick 4.0 stars out of 5.
Aladdin
New Amsterdam Theatre
May 10, 2017
Anyone who knows me will know that Aladdin (1992) is easily one of my top three favorite Disney movies. Not only is the focus of the narrative more on the male lead than the “princess,” but the songs were catchy, and the Genie was hilarious. You can then imagine my surprise to learn that this movie was now a Broadway musical (much in the same way Beauty and the Beast (1991) and The Lion King (1994) before it). Since I was in New York City on vacation, I had to take in a Broadway show and was glad that this was the one I saw.
Knowing that a ~90 minute animated film would need to be padded out to a full, 2-act stage musical, the additions to the plot made sense. Many of the animal companions (if not all of them) were replaced with friends, handmaids, or lackeys in this production. The sub-plot of Aladdin wanting to do right by his recently deceased mother helped to round out his character more from his animated counterpart. Partly because Robin Williams’ Genie was quite incomparable, the choice to make the Genie more of a “black” role was a wise one and added a different spin to the character’s comedy.
While many of the changes to the plot and characters made sense, one aspect of the musical I was somewhat confused by was the adherence to some of the original lyrics, even if the accompanying actions or consequences weren’t there. Either way, the set designs and practical effects used to recreate some of the magic of the original animated film were quite top-notch. I was also pleased to know that the actor portraying Jafar on the stage (Jonathan Freeman) was the same one who voiced him in the animated film. Even if it wasn’t a directly or wholly adapted musical from the animated film, Aladdin was certainly an entertaining show.
Tier One
Year: 2016
Author: Brian Andrews & Jeffrey Wilson
Length: 402 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
While violence, action, and excitement fill stories involving tactical military operations, one element of these stories that adds realism can also alienate unknowledgeable readers: jargon. I am fortunate to know enough of the terms and acronyms from my day job, but if a story like this needs an acronym and definitions list in the back, I can see it being difficult to get into for the casual reader. They might be able to push through it and make assumptions on what’s happening, but following the discussions helps the reader to understand the level of importance for each action.
Of course, in this post-9/11 world, Islam has now taken the role of stereotypical “bad guy” that used to be held by the Nazis. I’m almost surprised by how many antagonists are Muslim in the books I read. From apocalyptic stories like Dark Ages: 2020 to science fiction novels like The Starchild Compact, these characters are always the extremist jihad warrior. Without understanding the culture in a more informed manner, I usually have to roll my eyes at the clearly stereotypical (and practically racist) representations of these characters. Tier One is no different in its portrayal of Muslims, thus resulting in rather one-dimensional antagonists.
Even though the action sequences were well written, and most of the events were tied together quite well, I only had a few qualms with the plot. The largest of these minor qualms was the “twist” at the end, which involved a character who appeared early on and was quickly forgotten. They didn’t even have much of an influence on what happened, so when the twist occurred, my only reaction was, “Huh?” Then again, I also had trouble relating to the “meathead” Tier One operator as well, but that’s probably because I related more to the character with synesthesia.
An exciting story heavily ensconced in military jargon, I give Tier One 3.5 stars out of 5.
The Accidental Billionaires
Year: 2009
Author: Ben Mezrich
Length: 439 minutes / 7.32 hours
Upon a recent re-watch of The Social Network (2010), I came to the realization that the story was based on the book, The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich. In standard fashion, I put this book in my “to read” list and waited until the audiobook was available. Even though both the book and the movie were created shortly after the meteoric rise of Facebook into the mainstream, the story is still intriguing and captivating. In fact, I think the strength of both works is due to the irony of the whole situation: an anti-social computer genius creates the largest social network ever.
While the book doesn’t use Mark Zuckerberg’s legal troubles as a framework to break up the story as the movie does, both hold very closely to the same narrative. The one thing the book manages to emphasize more than the film is the “romantic” aspect of the whole endeavor. Essentially told from Eduardo Saverin’s perspective, the impetus to attain coveted social connections so as to increase the chances of meeting girls is made clear right from the get-go. The fact that college is the best place to do this is probably why the events of Facebook’s creation (as well as the Winklevoss’ failed website) took place there.
Partly because this story is so incredibly entertaining (in a soap opera drama kind of way), I do have my doubts about the accuracies of its plot. Because depositions and other legal documents comprised the majority of the research, some of the inner thoughts of the characters remain the speculation of the author (except Saverin, who provided consultation for the book). Nevertheless, Zuckerberg’s genius is evident in this book, especially since the portrayal of his character is a mostly apathetic computer programmer who wasn’t out to create “the next big thing” but instead saw a gap and ably filled it.
An enthralling story of one of the most culture-changing inventions of our lifetime, I give The Accidental Billionaires 4.5 stars out of 5.
Moonlight
Year: 2016
Rating: R
Length: 111 minutes / 1.85 hours
Based on the surprise win of Best Picture at this year’s Oscars, I had high expectations for Moonlight (2016). There were some fantastic, motivational, and inspirational films in the running for this award, including the “follow your dreams” story of La La Land (2016), the “communication is key” story of Arrival (2016), and the “overcoming adversity” story of Hidden Figures (2016). So, what did Moonlight have to offer? In my opinion, not much; but maybe that was because I’m a straight white (you could argue, privileged) male and there was little to relate to in this film.
Sure, the cinematography was impressive at times, but there wasn’t any story that I felt was impactful enough to warrant its award. I will give credit to Mahershala Ali, as his performance was certainly deserving of the Best Supporting Actor Oscar. So, what lessons does Moonlight give us? Do we need to find good mentors in life? A nurturing home life can prevent many problems? Life is hard, get over it? It seems to me that these lessons are self-explanatory. If anything, this movie should give an emphasis to parents. If you’re a mother, don’t do drugs. If you’re a father, be there for your family.
As is usually the case with most Best Picture winners, I can’t help but think that this movie won because something else should have won before. If you want a better “coming of age” film, Boyhood (2014) had a much more impressive production. If you want a better “coming out” film, Brokeback Mountain (2005) could fill that spot. If you want a better “black” film, Do the Right Thing (1989) is a fantastic example. Maybe it’s the combination of its parts; I don’t know. What worries me the most is the thought that this film won because of the social pressures put upon the Oscars from last year’s #OscarsSoWhite controversy. Should a sub-par film win just so the Academy can prove that they have “diversity”? But again, I’m just a privileged, straight, white guy, so maybe I just don’t get it.
An OK movie with nothing significantly new to offer, I give Moonlight 3.0 stars out of 5.
The Texas Tenors
Conductor: Thomas Wilson
Date: May 06, 2017
In another night of not precisely knowing what to expect from the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, I was pleasantly surprised. Before seeing them perform this weekend, I had never heard of the Texas Tenors before. Part of me was apprehensive for the performance, as I figured it would be a lot of well-sung country and western songs. Part of it was, but that was OK because the country just happened to be Italy. I think the more accurate assessment of this group is three tenors from Texas, since the primary focus is really on their singing, not necessarily on their southern origins.
Their repertoire is quite admirable. From Amazing Grace to Sinatra to The Phantom of the Opera to Bruno Mars, this trio of singers aren’t just great at singing; they’re also excellent at engaging with the audience. Of course, that makes sense considering they’ve had many live performances, not the least of which was a stint in Las Vegas. In fact, these little bits were probably the most entertaining things I’ve seen at the Philharmonic this year.
Regarding the orchestra’s performance, it was almost unnoticeable since it blended so well with the singers’ voices. I did find the intro piece of the theme to The Magnificent Seven (1960) to be a little misleading since there were only three tenors, but I get the sentiment of the “old west” they were trying to drum up before the performers hit the stage. It was interesting to hear them perform “Somewhere” from West Side Story (1961), almost as a preface to next season’s performance when the Philharmonic will play along with the entirety of that movie, providing the music as the action unfolds on screen. At any rate, I was pleasantly surprised with the Texas Tenors, and I’m certainly glad I attended.
The Ares Weapon
Year: 2016
Author: D.M. Pruden
Length: 268 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
The sci-fi genre is interesting in that it has almost limitless possibilities, but the physics of our universe usually constrains the stories, so they are at least somewhat believable. As a result, and in part due to our past and current space-travel capabilities, the genre has become rather stale. Unfortunately, this is also because a few franchises dominate the landscape and any work that seems similar to it are deemed derivative. Consequently, I have read a number of almost interchangeable sci-fi stories, and The Ares Weapon is just one of them.
While the occasional proofreading or formatting error is distracting in this story, much of my qualms lie with the characters’ decisions and motivations. Instead of making sense, the decisions sometimes seem to merely exist only to move the plot along to a pre-determined path the author wanted to take. Similarly, the motivations don’t seem to make sense, especially with some of the more ancillary characters. And while the main character was engaging and interesting, the almost random switch over to a third-person perspective to fill in information via the “Roman” characters (who were incredibly out of place in this universe, in my opinion) was jarring and disrupted the exciting flow of the story.
As I mentioned earlier in this review, there are plenty of stories just like The Ares Weapon. While it’s not as good as The Golden Age of the Solar Clipper series by Nathan Lowell, it’s certainly better than Commanding the Red Lotus. I think today’s modern sci-fi authors are too focused on the “on the ship” part of the story, and not the “on planet” sections which have made franchises like Star Wars and Star Trek so popular. Case in point: this first book in The Mars Ascendant series spends almost no time on Mars at all, even if it hints at eventually getting there in later books.
Just another spaceship crew constrained to their spaceships, I give The Ares Weapon 3.0 stars out of 5.
The Zero
Year: 2006
Author: Jess Walter
Length: 640 minutes / 10.67 hours
I’ll be honest and say that I had no idea what this book was about before I started listening to it. Once I got into it, I could clearly see how the title and cover image related to the story at hand. It’s interesting to think that a mere five years after the terrorist attacks on September 11th, a book like this could be written. Of course, there is plenty of highly descriptive language that helps to cement the story to the reality of the tragedy. That being said, there are many situations in the plot that feel quite cynical, if not downright dark in their humor. Perhaps it’s this mixture of the absurd and the tragic that gives The Zero its interest.
I did find the memory gaps experienced by the main character to be an interesting literary device, especially in their transitions. For the main character to have a series of memory gaps to add to the eventual reveal at the end of the book, I almost felt like I was listening to the film, Memento (2000). Considering how much I love Memento, this was a good thing. The character only knows as much as the reader, which leaves him and us piecing together what happened at the same pace.
Despite its ability to poke at the ridiculous nature of the nationalism that resulted from this disaster, The Zero does show the effects of this national tragedy on its citizens. Loss can be hard to deal with, and everyone does so in their individual way. The poignancy of the narrative is true even today, more than 15 years after the events that transpired that day.
A cynical and often darkly humorous examination of the effects of 9/11, I give The Zero 3.5 stars out of 5.
Fences
Year: 2016
Rating: PG-13
Length: 139 minutes / 2.32 hours
Before going into this film, I knew it was based on a play of the same name. Of course, even if I didn’t know this, I could have told you it was based on a play. Perhaps that’s what kept bugging me throughout this movie: it was clearly a play. I could see in my mind’s eye how it would look on the stage, which wasn’t helped by the actors’ cadence and almost continual monologues. If I wanted to see this as a play, I’d see it as a play; I watch a movie to get a more well-rounded experience.
So, aside from this film being an almost direct adaptation of the play it’s based on, the next thing that caught my attention was how many tropes were contained in the plot. Honestly, with topics like mental health, marital infidelity, inter-generational conflict, and death, the plot didn’t seem that original to me at all. Add to this, one of the main characters (Denzel Washington’s Troy Maxon) who rambles nonsense half the time and just straight-up poor decisions the other half of the time, and I had trouble even paying attention to what was happening. Life cannot be so simply condensed to baseball metaphors.
Of course, while many elements in this movie irked me, the total of their parts ended up being somewhat tolerable. This was mainly due to the stellar performance by Viola Davis, which earned her the Best Actress Oscar. By the end of the film, despite very few surprises, the finale is at least satisfying and fitting. I’m just disappointed that more of the extensive and immersive capabilities of movies weren’t utilized to bring this plot a greater depth than just a one-for-one transfer from the stage.
A theater play wrapped in a film’s skin, I give Fences 3.0 stars out of 5.
Lonesome Cowboy
Year: 2015
Author: Frank Lowe
Length: 284 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM THE AUTHOR***
The book with the generic cowboy on the cover contains a relatively generic story inside. I wouldn’t classify it as “Action/Adventure” due to a pretty significant omission of fight scenes. “Drama” would probably fit it better, since that’s the main, driving force of this book. I will admit that, while being about a country singer, it doesn’t focus too long on the “losses” in life (i.e. the guy lost his dog, his truck, his girl, et cetera). Of course, the types and magnitude of the successes of the main character do make the story hard to believe at times.
Told in the third person, Lonesome Cowboy suffers from having a “telling” narrator instead of the characters “showing” their emotions. Consequently, even if the characters do show their emotions, the narrator telling the reader these emotions before they happen makes the whole bit seem repetitive and redundant. In fact, there’s almost this invisible barrier put up between the characters and the reader because the narrator is such a large force in the telling of the story, ensuring the reader understands everything that’s happening (even if it feels like the point is often belabored).
While the second half of the book is somewhat entertaining, an idiotic main character, who makes plenty of assumptions despite the evidence being to the contrary, plagues the first half. His romantic plotline didn’t seem like it came about naturally due to the aforementioned “telling,” so when his dreams come to fruition, he could finally move on as a character and develop. It is also in this second half where there is a relatively good examination of Mexican racism against Americans, which I found to be a fascinating exploration given America’s current racial landscape.
A book which contains no cowboys or lonesome people, I give Lonesome Cowboy 3.0 stars out of 5.
Smoke and Mirrors
Year: 2012
Author: Neil Gaiman
Length: 636 minutes / 10.6 hours
As someone who has to read many short story submissions for the anthology my writing group puts together each year, I can appreciate a well-written short story. I have not read much of Neil Gaiman, but in his collection of anthology short stories, Smoke and Mirrors, I was able to see what kinds of stories a professional writer writes for an anthology. While quite a few stories were interesting, not all of them were necessarily in genres I typically read. Then again, I consider erotica and stories submitted to Hustler as pornography, which is why I do not read these kinds of short stories.
Furthermore, it is a little more uncomfortable listening to erotica, as was the case with this audiobook. Fortunately, Gilbert Gottfried did not read it, but it still is uncomfortable to hear it nonetheless. Sure, the concepts in these short stories were somewhat interesting, but the sex ruined it for me. At least there were enough other stories that I found fascinating to make it worth my while to get all the way through it. The simplicity and genius of these ideas merely verify Gaiman’s writing talent, even if a few were hard to follow. At least a few of them followed the title of the book, which helped tie these separate stories together.
Perhaps my biggest qualm with this book was its structure. Moreover, maybe it was a limitation of a direct transferal to the audiobook format, but it is almost impossible to go back to the first section of the book and listen to the intro for each story before reading that story. Instead, it dispensed pertinent information on every short story before I even had a chance to get to them. If I were to appreciate each story fully, it would have been better to introduce each one with background information, so the context is fresh in the listener’s memory.
A collection of well-written short stories, I give Smoke and Mirrors 3.5 stars out of 5.
Matchstick Men
Year: 2003
Rating: PG-13
Length: 116 minutes / 1.93 hours
One of the lesser-known Ridley Scott films, Matchstick Men (2003) could have been just another heist film, and in some senses, it is. Upon watching the film again, one can easily pick up exactly when the “long con” starts up and which events lead toward the inevitable conclusion. So, perhaps it doesn’t have the ability to demand repeat watchings (past about two) on its heist aspects. However, I believe the characters are what give this movie most of its charm. After all, characters make a story, and this one has some good ones.
In one of his best “crazy person” roles, Nicholas Cage does an incredible job portraying Roy, a con-artist with severe Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. His performance is often difficult to watch and is cringe-worthy in the opening act. If this is what it’s truly like living with OCD, I never want to joke about having it . . . ever. I’m almost amazed he even managed to con as many people as he did considering how serious his condition appears. The little tics and freak-outs Cage brings to this character make his disorder real to the audience.
Sam Rockwell ends up portraying the same kind of character he always does in these types of films, but Alison Lohman ends up being the Yin to Cage’s Yang with her role as Angela, Roy’s 14-year old daughter. She pulls out all the stops and tropes of the teenage girl, which makes for a convincing performance, especially since it’s a performance within a performance. Because her presence changes Roy for the better, it’s obvious something was missing in his life, and she managed to bring him stability by providing it. On top of all these characters, the spot-on Hans Zimmer score and choice of musical pieces to accompany it make Matchstick Men a fun watch.
A standard heist film with a non-standard main character, I give Matchstick Men 3.0 stars out of 5.
Symphony No. 6 in A minor
Composer: Gustav Mahler
Conductor: Josep Caballé-Domenech
Date: April 22, 2017
Before going to see this performance, I knew very little about Gustav Mahler. Because of a Tom Lehrer song (see video below), I knew he was married to a woman named Alma, and I knew he composed a piece called “Das Lied von der Erde.” And while I still know little about Gustav Mahler, I can make some interesting assumptions based on how he composed. After all, when a piece requires over 100 instruments, including two harps, two timpani, a celesta, and an instrument specially made for this singular symphony, you can tell Mahler didn’t conform to traditional standards.
I can practically hear him instructing his orchestra. I can hear him saying he wants more cowbell, because dang if there isn’t plenty of cowbell in his 6th symphony. The richness and diversity of sound produced by this large orchestra leaves the listener with many instruments on which to focus. I’m sure repeated listenings of this symphony will provide each audience member with something new to discover. At the very least, what is colloquially known as the “Mahler Box” is an experience unlike any other. An instrument described as “loud, resonant, and lacking any metal,” the Mahler Box is simply a wooden box struck by a wooden hammer. The one played during this performance certainly fit Mahler’s requirements.
As for the piece itself, the Symphony No. 6 in A minor is an epic piece in scale and length. With certain movements lasting upward of thirty minutes, it’s surprising how well paced the piece is. From the “aggressive” first movement that sets the stage in the march of both military and death (aptly combined here to prove a point), the symphony transitions into a slower movement full of reflection and deep thought. At this point, the third movement revs up the energy to lead into the Finale, which could only be possible with each of the previous movements supporting it. While I will say that I did enjoy the piece and I think the Finale was the best part of the whole symphony, Mahler didn’t know how or when to end it. There were a few good places to stop, but it just kept going. Still, when it did finally end, you certainly knew it.
The Infinite Lawman
Year: 2016
Author: E.M. Lockaby
Length: 380 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
I do have to admit that the cross-genre Cyberpunk/Western novel, The Infinite Lawman was an interesting idea. I hadn’t seen these two genres combined before, so the combination certainly had an original feel to it, at least initially. There were certainly a few moments where some of its sources showed themselves, but the strength and pace of the story helped to alleviate these concerns. Although, if this is the first book in a series, I’m not entirely sure where it can go from here.
Before I get any further into my review, I did find it odd that the margins were so enormous on this book. The page numbers were also all on the same side of each page (in the gutter for the left-hand pages), and the font was quite small (so as to fit in the small space provided by the enormous margins). I can only assume that this was a proof copy of this book and the author fixed these issues before finally publishing this novel.
Now, as for the plot, up until the end of the second act, I felt it closely resembled the plot of True Grit (1969/2010). And yet, the end of the book had a distinctly more Tron: Legacy (2010) tone to it. Bravo to the author who was able to deftly combine these two, somewhat different plots together. While the base concept felt much like The Matrix (1999), there were many questions that the digital world of The Cog brought to my attention but were never satisfactorily answered by the conclusion of the book. Maybe the follow-on books in the series will go into more details, but I almost think this book would have been better covering the heyday of the speedrunners. That sounded like an interesting bit of action.
A well-written piece of cross-genre fiction, I give The Infinite Lawman 4.0 stars out of 5.
Amped
Year: 2012
Author: Daniel H. Wilson
Length: 522 minutes / 8.7 hours
Having read Where’s My Jetpack? and Robopocalypse from Daniel H. Wilson, I had some high hopes for this book. Clearly, Wilson has a depth of knowledge about current and upcoming technologies that allows him to write succinctly both non-fiction and fiction. He can fuse the science with either humor or action and maintain an accurate sense of it without having the details bog down the plot. In Amped, Wilson explores a world where humans use technology to assist their bodies, either to overcome a disability or to overcome their humanity.
Unlike Robopocalypse, which was primarily a collection of intertwined vignettes, Amped follows a single individual through the effects of a fear-filled society charged by an inferiority complex. While the main thrust of the plot is about mental augmentation, there are mentions of other exciting technologies, including self-driving trucks and mechanical exoskeletons. Overwhelmingly, though, the brain-altering technology is the focus, as it hurtles the United States into two camps: ordinary people (aka “Reggies”) and “amps.” It was interesting to see how quickly discrimination came about in light of a clear delineation between humans and modified humans.
Even if the plot was a little hard to follow at times (perhaps due to me listening to it on an audiobook), the capabilities of the mental augmentation certainly felt realistic and plausible. While these embedded chips could solve many brain-related problems, the main point Wilson gets across is, “where does it end?” If we wipe out handicaps, can we also enhance ordinary people to super-human status? There’s certainly an interesting moral conundrum here, and I hope this fictionalized account will get people thinking about the answers before this reality is soon upon us.
Another great book warning about the potentials of future technology, I give Amped 4.0 stars out of 5.
Passengers
Year: 2016
Rating: PG-13
Length: 116 minutes / 1.93 hours
I have to admit that the plot presented in the trailers of this movie intrigued me. However, in its execution, Passengers (2016) left much to be desired. Of course, this was mostly due to the film using just enough “physics speak” to be partially accurate, but incredibly wrong. Those parts stuck out to me in this movie and I kept scratching my head while watching it and saying, “Wait a minute . . .” That being said, not all of Passengers was bad, just a pretty big chunk of it.
I did appreciate the moral conundrum that Jim (Chris Pratt) encountered in the movie’s first act. It did add a bit of predictable drama to the characters, but depicting his struggle highlighted his humanity. In this plot with a clear three-act structure, this first act was the highlight that eventually devolved into a ridiculous setup for the final reveal. With each new character introduced, the tension increased in each act. And yet, I wondered if the spacecraft could have even survived that long given the issues it had.
In a story that initially felt like The Martian (2015), with bits of WALL-E (2008) mixed in (especially with Thomas Newman’s musical score for both Passengers and WALL-E), the scientist in me could not ignore a few key aspects of this film. First, a simple Wolfram Alpha search will tell you that it would take 73 years to reach Arcturus at ½ light speed, not 30. Second, for a spaceship that is rotating, why would it need to have a separate “gravity drive” to keep things in place (other than to make me wonder why the gravity was strangely perpendicular to the rotation)? Finally, the spaceship was clearly accelerating the entire time, so I wonder if the ½ light speed velocity was at that point or during the whole duration of the current flight. All glaring disobediences to the laws of physics.
An excuse to have Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence star in a movie together, I give Passengers 2.5 stars out of 5.
Symphony Mathis der Maler
Composer: Paul Hindemith
Conductor: Thomas Wilson
Date: April 15, 2017
Contrary to what I initially thought, this piece was not by Gustav Mahler or even about Mahler (notice the absence of the “h” in the title). Instead, this symphony was an effective musical representation of an artist’s work which itself had a hermit saint as its inspiration. Through the “behind the scenes” provided by the Philharmonic before playing the entire piece, I learned that Hindemith paid a lot of attention to the symmetry and mathematical balances in his music. From utilizing the golden ratio to palindromes to balanced and unbalanced movements, there was more to Hindemith symphony than met the ear.
What was also interesting was the artist whose works were inspirations for this symphony (itself being part of a larger opera). Mathis Grunewald didn’t have many works to his name, but the ones we do know about are certainly impactful. Just as an example, the piece included in this post was just one of a selection created for the Isenheim altarpiece. Other movements in this symphony were equally inspired by other pieces of art from this altarpiece. From the Angelic Concert to the Entombment to the Temptation of St. Anthony (pictured here), the style doesn’t necessarily fit into traditional groupings of the era.
Finally, the man who inspired the artist who inspired the composer was none other than Saint Antony, a hermit who was believed to have supernatural healing abilities due to his longevity of life. While this piece of music was somewhat fitting considering the Easter weekend in which it played, there’s something profoundly dissatisfying in the progression from angels singing to Jesus’ burial to the demonic assault on a hermit saint. What’s clearly missing from the music is the resurrection of Jesus, which is what would give many of us hope in our demonic struggles.
DreamLync
Year: 2015
Author: K.A. Black
Length: 122 pages
I initially had my doubts about this book. There have been plenty of stories written about the challenges and cautions of a simulated society. From The Matrix (1999) to Sword Art Online, the blurred lines between the real world and a digital one are well within our reach as a global community. And while books like Ready Player One certainly have a nostalgic feel to their plotlines, DreamLync manages to flip the concept on its head and show how hard it is to pull oneself from a heavily digital social experience.
While I would argue that the timeline for this book would be in the next 20-30 years, instead of more than 100 away (just look at Her (2013) for example), the same interpersonal problems will likely still exist. Told via the almost forgettable “everyman” John Adams (not to be confused with either U.S. President), DreamLync shows the reader a world that could easily be ours (without the physical “plugging in,” that is). At times being a tad preachy about paying attention to the real world around us, the consequences of ignoring the people around us for the fake relationships of the internet is a lesson all too real right now.
Relatively well-paced in its storytelling, DreamLync takes a unique and original look at what would happen if we gave up our hours sleeping to be more “productive.” Aside from the very rare homophone proofreading errors, the biggest thing that kept me from giving this novella was the unsatisfying ending. I got to the end and wondered, “Is that it?” There was still plenty of room to flesh out an ending with a world changed for the better, but for some reason, the author chose to leave it at an anti-climactic cliffhanger.
An original idea about our ever-increasing reliance on digital relationships, I give DreamLync 4.0 stars out of 5.
Goldfinger
Year: 1959
Author: Ian Fleming
Length: 509 minutes / 8.48 hours
For many years, I was aware that the James Bond series of books did not follow the same order as their respective films. Given the action/adventure spy thriller genre these books were written in, it is possible to mix them around and still have a good understanding of what’s going on, even if some of the references made within the novels could only be understood by having read the previous books in the series. In some respects, it is disappointing that the film franchise didn’t capitalize on a continuous narrative that the books provided.
If the stories are out of order, then it ‘s hard to build up the constant battle between James Bond and the Soviet spy agency, SMERSH. Fortunately, since I had read a few of the first books in the James Bond series, I could appreciate Auric Goldfinger’s connection to the organization. That being said, I seemed to have jumped ahead a bit and missed what happened on the Moonraker mission, even if I have a loose idea/remembrance of what happened from its film version. Regardless, these minor references didn’t affect the plot of Goldfinger that much.
What I do find interesting with this book is the differences between it and the movie. There’s no laser threatening to cut Bond in half, there are more characters involved in the heist, and the actual heist itself has a slightly different objective. It is weird reading about the technology Bond uses and its references to “vacuum tubes” when the film makes all his tech seem futuristic. I do find it interesting how the author won’t outright swear (replacing the choice word with a “blank”) but includes two lesbian characters and a plethora of other, sexual inferences.
A fantastic story in the James Bond franchise, I give Goldfinger 4.0 stars out of 5.
Moana
Year: 2016
Rating: PG
Length: 107 minutes / 1.78 hours
Let’s get one thing straight: computers are incredible. Each successive year that passes, I find my eyes blown away at the amazing capabilities of computers to create the kind of imagery found in movies like this. From hair and water effects to some of the more supernatural aspects, the visuals of this film are quite commendable. Sure, Zootopia (2016) looked good too, but since its characters weren’t human or in a “human” environment, it was difficult to see just how amazing the visuals could be. But this was likely due to Zootopia having more focus on an interesting plot instead of stunning effects.
I am impressed that Disney has taken the leap to another non-white “princess” with Moana, but much of the cliche trappings of this type of film are out in full force. If I were to tell you Disney made a coming-of-age movie featuring the main character with an animal sidekick, a mute anthropomorphized assistant, and a magical, shape-shifting partner, you’d likely think I had just described Alladin (1992). Alternatively, if I informed you that Disney made a film set in the Pacific Ocean, you’d tell me it was Lilo & Stitch (2002).
Consequently, Moana holds faithfully to the Disney formula, despite not having a romantic side-plot (a la Mulan (1998)). Maybe these are just side effects of having non-white characters, but this also helped give it a unique cultural backdrop which was propelled along by its catchy and singable songs. If anything, perhaps it is due to our society embracing the role of independent female leaders. Sure, the main character had the help of a demi-god, but she ended up doing most of the “heavy lifting” of carrying the plot herself. She didn’t need a man to accomplish her mission or achieve her dreams.
Another visually stunning Disney film with your standard Disney plot, I give Moana 4.0 stars out of 5.
Dragon Airways
Year: 2016
Author: Brian Rathbone
Length: 202 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
A book filled with equal parts fantasy and steampunk, Dragon Airways delivers on the promise of flying the skies on the back of a dragon. Brian Rathbone does an expert job of fusing diesel engines and magic stones in this exciting story. Not only is the setting interesting, but most of the characters are quite engaging as well. Because of this, Dragon Airways was a pleasure to read, and I voraciously read every page that was available to me.
While I did thoroughly enjoy reading this book, there were a few things that made it a little difficult to follow along. First, some of the minor characters weren’t that well-developed (or non-existent after the first few chapters), which made it difficult to know who they were, especially when some of them had multiple names and titles assigned to them. Secondly, I minimally understood the layout of the world Rathbone created, but there was so much travel between locations that I had trouble placing where these characters were and how close they were to spots they had already been (a map might have been nice). Now, I will grant that these two issues are probably a consequence of the fantasy genre, but I would have appreciated a little more clarity.
There were a few points during the plot where I did wonder, “what happened to ‘so-and-so’?” After the introductory chapters, the prime focus is on the handful of main characters as they travel around and engage in the war effort. These other characters aren’t reintroduced until the end, and the story comes to a satisfying conclusion. Part of me wanted little updates on these interesting side-characters, but I understand how the momentum of a story can dictate the flow and pacing.
An incredible story that might be hard to follow in spots, I give Dragon Airways 4.0 stars out of 5.
Robopocalypse
Year: 2011
Author: Daniel H. Wilson
Length: 759 minutes / 12.65 hours
With the ever-increasing proliferation of “smart” technology throughout our society, the thought of a robot uprising remains fixed in the back of our minds. Since the introduction of the concept of robots decades ago, humans have feared their uprising to usurp us as the dominant sentient beings on our planet. Now, as we rely on our computers, smartphones, and connected devices to help run our lives, the threat of a full-on apocalypse resulting from their sentience seems more possible than ever.
Author Daniel H. Wilson has certainly done his research on the “what if” scenario of a robot apocalypse (or the titular Robopocalypse, if you will). He manages to build the progression of a robot-themed doomsday scenario from the machines we know and use today. Many of the machines’ decisions and strategic moves mostly make sense. That being said, I did have a few issues with the book and its structure. First off, the format of the book was remarkably similar to its zombie predecessor, World War Z. Secondly, the fact that it’s told through only a handful of characters helps to tie each piece together, but the fact that these characters are all connected to each other makes it less believable.
When it came right down to it, I had trouble connecting with these characters. In the earlier sections, it was a little easier to understand what was happening, but once the landscape of the robot war changed into one where the robots were winning; it was hard to grasp what was going on in a global sense. As it is, Robopocalypse is essentially a series of short stories with some familiar characters tying it together.
A semi-realistic look at a potential robot uprising with an already-used apocalyptic narrative format, I give Robopocalypse 3.0 stars out of 5.
Manchester by the Sea
Year: 2016
Rating: R
Length: 137 minutes / 2.28 hours
Part of the trouble with the reputation of a film preceding it is the film rarely lives up to the hype. At least, that has been my experience. If I go into a movie with my own idea of what it will be and the movie delivers, I feel it is a good movie. However, if my idea of the movie is skewed based on what I’ve heard about it, then I might be disappointed if it doesn’t match what I was expecting. This is why I’ll likely watch a trailer for a film, but I won’t read any reviews of it until I’ve already seen it.
For Amazon’s successful foray into filmmaking, part of me expected a lot out of Manchester by the Sea (2016). After all, they don’t necessarily have to ascribe to the same processes and procedures that hold down other production companies. Add to this my impression that the story of Manchester by the Sea was quite depressing and my mental preparation to watch a sad film. Unfortunately, because the first expectation led to an underwhelming result, the second expectation didn’t have the impact I thought it would. Don’t get me wrong; there are a lot of elements adding together to try and make the film quite sad. From the plot to the music, the theme of loss is strong throughout. However, the characters soldier on.
I’m not sure if it was the often confusing flashbacks or the slow plot progression (they should have just called it “Casey Affleck drives around in a jeep . . . a lot”), but there was only one truly impactful scene in the film. If the filmmakers were trying to make a movie about an emotionally numb man who successfully deals with the death of his brother, then they have succeeded.
Not as sad or as good as I was expecting, I give Manchester by the Sea 3.0 stars out of 5.
Colorado Springs Philharmonic
Conductor: Thomas Wilson
Date: April 1, 2017
Much like the Divas of the 60’s performance, I had very limited prior knowledge of the music played during this week’s Philharmonic pops. I was aware of the basic swing style of music but had little to no exposure to it’s complete musical reach. My initial thoughts were that this performance would be very high-energy since swing music is often accompanied by the high-energy dance style of the same name. I was somewhat surprised to find a fair number of the songs were a little slower. Granted, you could still dance to them, but they would have been slow dances instead of swing dances.
Perhaps the title of “Swing, Swing, Swing!” was a little misleading. Much of the music was of the “big band” style, which isn’t always of the “swing” genre. With the focus on brass and percussion, the addition of strings to the arrangements made for quite the impressive sound, especially on the songs I did recognize. Of course, they did play the standards, which did not disappoint by any means. After all, they got me in there thinking they would play swing music, and they sure delivered.
Of note was the performance by trumpeter Chris Lawson. As I said before, the focus of the big band style of music is usually on the brass, so his incredible talent brought a lot to the pieces. Not only was he able to play the rapid notes of some of the faster songs, but his ability to make the trumpet sound different than I’d ever heard it should be praised as well. Finally, the drum solo for the final song was also exemplary. It almost made me think of that final scene from Whiplash (2014), although I hope Thomas Wilson didn’t verbally abuse the drummer to get him to play so well (wink, wink).
Nobel Peace Prize
Year: 2014
Author: D. Otter
Length: 267 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM THE AUTHOR***
In a book about a random person potentially winning the Nobel Peace Prize, there’s remarkably little about the effects of this life-changing award on his life. The author even goes so far as to include this statement in the synopsis, “If ultimately the book fails to satisfy, failure to satisfy may be its motif, in which case it does satisfy in an unsatisfactory sort of way.” And what an unsatisfactory book it is. I’ll forgive the random missing spaces, which are probably an artifact of the e-book conversion process, but I will not excuse the run-on sentences inside run-on paragraphs comprising run-on chapters.
I don’t know why the author chose to write this book in a fiction context (subtitling it “a political fantasy”). Considering the majority of the book is comprised of long-winded, unfocused rambling rants, if the author wanted to provide a true political fantasy to the reader, the plot would have been central to these different ideas set in a world where they were the law of the land instead of just a cynical “good idea.” This book would almost work better as a non-fiction diatribe on how to “fix” the current political/digital/socioeconomic landscape instead of the format it’s in now.
When it comes right down to it, the book is a series of monologs interspersed with emotionless “tellings” (a big no-no when it comes to the “show vs. tell” method of writing). I had no interest in any of these characters, despite their lengthy backstories. In fact, I would almost argue that the character arcs were only backstories. With the walls of text, un-relatable characters, and complete lack of any plot, I’m not sure how anyone would be able to get through reading this book. I did, but I forced my way through it. The biggest turn-off was definitely the author’s style, which seemed pompous and “holier-than-thou” with a plethora of platitudes and an extensive vocabulary full of jargon.
A series of lectures that fail to ever engage the reader, I give Nobel Peace Prize 1.0 stars out of 5.
Where’s My Jetpack?: A Guide to the Amazing Science Fiction Future That Never Arrived
Year: 2007
Author: Daniel H. Wilson
Length: 221 minutes / 3.68 hours
Some of the best science fiction ever written was strangely prescient with its predictions on how the world would advance, technologically. One of the best examples of this was Jules Verne in his story From the Earth to the Moon. Not only did he figure out what it would take to get away from Earth’s gravity, he predicted that the launch site would be in Florida. Ever since then, we have looked to the authors of science fiction to tell us what could be possible in the future of tomorrow.
Unfortunately, some of these predictions weren’t quite realistic. While jetpacks and moon colonies sound cool in the pages of a fictional book, they just aren’t practical in reality. Still, our childlike wonder and innovation tried its best to create what the science fiction authors of yore dreamt up. In Where’s My Jetpack?, Daniel H. Wilson does his best to explain where all these fantastical inventions and concepts are in their process toward being fully realized. But don’t worry about this being a stuffy tome full of complicated science. Wilson does a good job infusing humor with his research, which helps to show how ridiculous some of these ideas really are.
My one challenge with this book came with the fact that it was published back in 2007. It’s been 10 years since this book came out and now much of its research is either naively optimistic or didn’t pan out. What’s perhaps even more exciting is being aware of the technological developments that have made some of the impossibilities mentioned in this book at least somewhat plausible. Consequently, it’s best to read this book as a snapshot in the technological timeline that is our current reality.
A humorous look at the amazing technological developments inspired by sci-fi, I give Where’s My Jetpack? 4.0 stars out of 5.
Hell or High Water
Year: 2016
Rating: R
Length: 102 minutes / 1.7 hours
It’s interesting to me to see how the current social climate in this country can mold a film into a Best Picture Oscar nominee. I’ve probably seen this same scenario a number of different times, but the reasoning behind it is what brings Hell or High Water (2016) into a different category. There have been tons of heist films, and often the robbers have a tight connection, like that of brothers. Heck, The Blues Brothers (1980) essentially did the same basic plot but with “putting the band back together” as their way of “saving the ranch.”
Partly because this film seemed so quintessentially Texas, I couldn’t help thinking it was a toned down version of another Best Picture Oscar winner No Country for Old Men (2007). With last year’s Best Picture Oscar nominee, The Big Short (2015), showing how many honest Americans were swindled by the greed of banks, it’s no wonder that this year we would see the more down-to-earth side of this financial fiasco. Not only are these robberies meant to save their home, these brothers also wanted to “stick it to the man” that put their family in such dire straits to begin with.
In the end, Hell or High Water is a pretty standard plot and it’s pretty predictable from the beginning to the credits. However, when the citizens of these towns aren’t concerned that their banks are being robbed and they begin to side with the robbers, you know there’s something wrong with the society. Granted, this society in Texas was hit hard by the recession, so it’s no wonder that they don’t trust the banks that are being knocked off. It’s realizations like this that help to show why a presidential candidate practically backed by big banking did not win last November.
A modern twist to a standard bank heist archetype, I give Hell or High Water 4.0 stars out of 5.
Opaque
Year: 2016
Author: Calix Leigh-Reign
Length: 254 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
While I eventually liked this book, it took a little getting used to. When you start a story with a deplorable main character, it makes you not want to continue reading. Honestly, I think the plot probably could have started closer to the halfway part, and reveal everything important after the fact or merely hint at it. You know, via a “show don’t tell” method. There’s a lot of “telling” in the first half of this book. Despite this, there is plenty of excellent character development in the second half to redeem the first half.
What strikes me odd about this book is its classification as “Young Adult.” I usually consider early teens to be this genre’s demographic, given the main characters are generally in that age range. Considering the graphic violence, excessive swearing, and questionable sexual content in the first section of this book, I wouldn’t let teenagers read it. I understand the need to show a drastic change in the main character, but there are other ways to go about this. I felt uncomfortable reading about a sixteen-year old’s sexual desires (especially the straight up Oedipal complex), as it felt more like child pornography to me.
Now, I will grant this book can explain away quite a bit of some of these plot choices, including the two main characters almost inexplicably and immediately fall in love in a “first sight” scenario. Some people might not get far enough into it to receive these expertly crafted explanations, which is unfortunate. Once the big reveal happens, the plot accelerates to a blinding and exciting pace right up to the end. Aside from some odd indenting practices and the occasional, almost negligible proofreading errors, the majority of this book was easy, and exciting, to read.
A young adult novel that I wouldn’t let young adults read, I give Opaque 3.5 stars out of 5.
The Crossing
Year: 2015
Author: Michael Connelly
Length: 564 minutes / 9.4 hours
Having already blasted through the rest of the Mickey Haller series, I finally arrived at a book that didn’t center around the defense lawyer. Instead, The Crossing follows Harry Bosch, Haller’s half-brother (which we learned back in The Brass Verdict). I realize that Mickey Haller is merely a spin-off series from the main Harry Bosch series, so it was interesting to finally enter the main storyline of Connelly’s longest-running character. Now I see that he writes Bosch books in third-person, as compared to Haller’s first-person, which was why I was confused when the POVs switched in one of the previous books featuring both of them.
Coming into this series at the twentieth book was a little jarring to me, but not entirely disorienting. There were plenty of references to previous books I had not read; but by the sounds of them, these predecessors were certainly exciting. What probably helped with my transition into this series was that Bosch retired from his job in the police department, thus creating a new start for the character that could be used to explore some interesting scenarios without being burdened by the bureaucracy of his job.
While Connelly’s writing is still superb and suspenseful, the one aspect I found to be a bit unbelievable was Bosch’s innate sense of what was “wrong” with the current investigation. Just based on one single, minor detail, he was able to unravel the deeper conspiracy involving other, corrupt police officers. What if he hadn’t noticed? Would he have still managed to get to the bottom of the truth? Either way, I might have to pick up the earlier books in this series, just so I can get more of the story behind the briefly referenced excitement Bosch had to go through in the past.
Proof that sometimes it’s difficult to quit a job after having done it for so long, I give The Crossing 3.5 stars out of 5.
Lion
Year: 2016
Rating: PG-13
Length: 118 minutes / 1.97 hours
Of this year’s Best Picture Nominees, Lion (2016) is certainly one of the more . . . artistic ones. Heck, the title of the film wasn’t clear until directly before the credits. In part due to the subject matter and the culture in which it takes place, this film can be hard to watch at times. The audience has to come to grips with the poverty and difficult living conditions present in India not only 25 years ago, but today as well. Perhaps it’s my need to watch movies that help me to escape from these realities, but it was challenging to be shown such a stark view of another country’s reality.
While I understand that the larger, overarching message of the film is to bring to light the social issue of lost children in India, the more inspiring subplot had to do with adoption. Many couples have a lot of different reasons for wanting to adopt, but I have to say that the couple portrayed by Nicole Kidman and David Wenham certainly had the noblest reason imaginable. Even with this admirable goal in mind, an adopted child will likely want to uncover their past, especially if there are still questions to be answered.
On the flip side of stark images of poverty, this film merely reinforced that we live in the future. The amazing capabilities that technology affords us is really what made this film possible. The ever-increasing proliferation of free and accessible information allows us to take our fates into our own hands. Whether it’s for education to help break a cycle of ignorance or to track down long-lost family members, the information provided by the internet has an endless amount of uses, just as long as you’re willing to put the effort in and use the tool that it is.
A film about a boy with boundless determination and courage, I give Lion 3.5 stars out of 5.
Colorado Springs Philharmonic
Conductor: Josep Caballé Domenech
Date: March 18, 2017
Enchanted Landscapes: A Symphonic Poem
Ofer Ben-Amots
Of all the commissioned pieces for the 90th season of the Philharmonic, I thought this was one of the stronger pieces. While it didn’t have any of the musical motifs of the original “America the Beautiful,” it had an inspiration all its own that conveyed the power of the original. Starting and ending in a somber tone, “Enchanted Landscapes” paints an auditory picture of a cloudy day on Pike’s Peak. Then, suddenly, a storm whips up! With thunder and lightning, wind and rain, the peaceful calm are broken by nature’s fury. Almost at once, quiet falls on the mountain as snow starts slowly fluttering down. Finally, the storm has passed, and all is quiet on the peak once more.
Nänie
Johannes Brahms
For a piece about death and dying, I found Brahms’ interpretation of this poem to be a little more high-energy than I was expecting. Gone are the lamentations of a life lost, replaced by the anger and fury at the inevitability that all of us eventually have to face. At moments, the piece is as reverent as “Ave Maria,” especially with the full chorale backing up the orchestra. There is no peace in this song, perhaps because the peace of God is not present in its refrain, replaced by the anguish of men who can do nothing to protect the ones they love from the cold embrace of death.
Peer Gynt
Edvard Grieg
While I certainly appreciated not having to sit through the epic, five-act play that this incidental music was written for, I did enjoy the narration and lyrics that accompanied these songs from Edvard Grieg’s “Peer Gynt.” Now I know there are words that accompany these songs! Despite not playing all of the incidental music Grieg wrote for this piece, the Philharmonic chose the best parts to help get the point of the plot across. Of course, the middle section of this piece is what most people will recognize. From “In the Hall of the Mountain King” to “Solveig’s Song,” with “Morning Mood” and “Arabian Dance” in between, these movements just reinforce that Grieg is one of my top three composers.
Zero-G
Year: 2016
Author: William Shatner
Length: 353 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
William Shatner, best known for his acting in the popular sci-fi series, Star Trek, is not someone who I thought would also be a writer. Of course, after reading Zero-G, I’m still not convinced, even with the help of ghostwriter Jeff Rovin. The book had an interesting premise, but the exposition and plot were so slow and clunky that it was hard to get into it. I will say there is an appreciation of the challenges of space in this book, but it almost plays a backseat to an aged government official trying to relive his glory days (sound familiar?).
If I were to re-write this book, it would have been considerably shorter, possibly even a short story. As it is, the first third of the book is almost useless, filled with detailed explanations of the characters’ backgrounds and relationships. Even the first action sequence only emphasized that the main character is reckless and flies by his own rules. When it came to the core of the plot, I never felt a sense of urgency to take out the threat of the space-weapon, mainly because it acted “randomly” (read: whenever it might suit to move the plot along).
For a book about an FBI station in space, the mystery solved by the deputy director seemed quite a bit beneath his station. In fact, I was surprised he even handled it since the whole case appeared to be obvious right from the start. There wasn’t enough development of the lesser characters to even know who they were and why they had any motivation to perpetrate the crimes they did. Aside from the main character, most of the character focus appeared to be on the gender-switching assistant, probably to make the book “hip” and “trendy” amongst the modern and liberal-leaning readers.
An interesting concept that falls flat on its face immediately after the prologue, I give Zero-G 2.0 stars out of 5.
The Gods of Guilt
Year: 2013
Author: Michael Connelly
Length: 709 minutes / 11.82 hours
Despite The Fifth Witness leaving the door open to an interesting diversion from the same defense lawyer story we’ve come to know and love from Michael Connelly’s Mickey Haller, The Gods of Guilt puts Haller back in the hot seat as the counsel protecting a digital pimp from a murder conviction. Some of the depth of the Haller character developed in previous books in this series was eliminated after his unsuccessful District Attorney run, but there was still enough humanity in him to advance his story. After all, his coping mechanisms and needs are some of what we all deal with in our own lives.
While I have come to expect a twist ending from Connelly, it was surprisingly missing from this book. For once, Haller’s client wasn’t as bad as everyone made him out to be, and that’s saying something for the digital pimp of Andre La Cosse. Perhaps that’s what made this story a little more uncomfortable than the others: the seedy underbelly of the adult entertainment industry is harder to relate to than simple foreclosures. Still, I can’t help but think that the same strawman tactics that Haller used in this case were quite similar to some of his other defense cases.
All this being said, Connelly is still a master of his craft. The pacing and advancement in the plot was excellent and the peril Haller found himself in after getting too deep into some serious side-investigations helped to make a rather standard book in the series an entertaining read, nonetheless. As was the case in The Fifth Witness, I appreciated the meta nature of this universe where the Lincoln Lawyer movie was a real part of Haller’s life.
Yet another predictable entry in the Mickey Haller series, I give The Gods of Guilt 3.0 stars out of 5.
Arrival
Year: 2016
Rating: PG-13
Length: 116 minutes / 1.93 hours
Despite all the mindless action and sex that hits the big screen every year, every once in a while there comes a film that’s a little more . . . cerebral. Arrival (2016) certainly fits this category. Not only do you really have to pay attention to what’s happening in this film, it makes you question how we perceive our world as it is right now. Never before have I seen the topic of encountering alien life forms approached from such a realistic and logical way. It makes sense that we wouldn’t be able to understand them, so the first step in establishing an understanding is to establish communication.
Much like Christopher Nolan, who has done a number of great, “cerebral” films including Memento (2000), Inception (2010), and Interstellar (2014), I have recently come to appreciate the directorial talents of Denis Villeneuve. From his previous films like Prisoners (2013) and Sicario (2015), I’ve seen him deliver powerful messages about who we are as humans and how we deal with evil. In Arrival, once again the enemy is humanity itself, and the angry and violent mistrust it has against anything it doesn’t understand. Fortunately, despite its repeated visual motif of black and white, Arrival shows that peace can be found in the gray area of language interpretation.
While I don’t want to give away the twist of this film, I have to say that the way it was presented certainly makes for a powerful impact once it has been realized. I will simply attribute this to the talent of Denis Villeneuve and the superb screenplay used to guide the audience along to the stunning conclusion. If you haven’t seen any of Villeneuve’s films yet, now’s a great time to start. I certainly will look forward to his next piece, if this is the type of work he’s putting out right now.
A fantastic, cerebral, and realistic approach to a classic sci-fi scenario, I give Arrival 5.0 stars out of 5.
New World Symphony (No. 9)
Composer: Antonin Dvořák
Conductor: Josep Caballé-Domenech
Date: March 11, 2017
This piece. THIS PIECE! I’ll be honest; it’s probably my favorite piece of classical music ever. Now that I know a bit more about it through the Colorado Springs Philharmonic’s Masterworks series, I feel I can appreciate it even more. Although even if I now know the Native American, African American, Czech, Beethoven, and Wagner influences that made this piece what it is, I’ve loved it for so long I have trouble picking out the references. Nevertheless, being able to identify the small segments that added to the spectacular whole that is this piece just added to my love of it.
If anything, the melting pot of musical motifs and themes that help to create a sound that is distinctly American, even from a Czech composer like Dvorak, is what the New World Symphony is all about. The ability for Dvorak to recognize the heritage of the Native Americans and the struggle of the African-Americans and put it into a musical form that highlights our innate need for freedom is just one element of his genius composition. Now, more than ever, I think this piece defines the hopes and dreams of people who yearn for a new world of equality and fairness.
Now, one may wonder why I am so enthusiastic about this piece. As it just so happens, I am a fan of the anime, One Piece. Right around the time I was getting into classical music in college, I was watching this anime when the story came to a critical moment in its plot. I still get chills whenever I hear the first few notes of the fourth movement because this segment of the symphony was used to musically emphasize the defeat of a tyrant who cast a desert kingdom into civil war. I know there’s not much plot background to the clip below (also linked here), but I implore you to watch it to get an understanding of why I feel this piece is so powerful, even outside the context of this particular anime.
The Starchild Compact
Year: 2014
Author: Robert G. Williscroft
Length: 396 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
With the popularity of The Martian bringing hard science into the realm of science fiction, there has been a bit of a resurgence of including accurate science in near-term speculative fiction. On the one hand, the book must remain readable to a wide audience, so the science shouldn’t bog down too much of the exposition. On the other hand, if some of the science is not explained, it can leave less scientifically educated readers in the dark about why certain aspects of the plot are the way they are. The Starchild Compact manages to succeed at balancing these two elements while also introducing some strictly non-scientific plot development.
First, let me address the science presented in this book. Knowing enough about general relativity and current space travel technologies, Williscroft certainly knows his stuff. The challenges and hurdles to travel to the gas giants of our solar system, as well as at relativistic speeds, were clearly presented, even if the science was redundantly repeated every time it came up. After a while, I kept thinking to myself, “I get it, move on!” Unfortunately, another aspect of the hard science that I could not ignore was the objectification of women. Almost all of the female characters were shallowly developed, merely being horny, sex-crazed eye candy for the rest of the male crew members. I didn’t even know why they were on board until much later in the plot. In this way, I felt The Starchild Compact was heavily borrowing from the more pulp-like sci-fi of the 1950’s instead of allowing the women to be equal partners in the expedition.
Secondly, the entertainment value of this book was fairly good. Even if the antagonists were unflattering stereotypes, it was satisfying to see justice finally prevail against them (even if it could have happened numerous times during the plot). There were a few slow spots in the plot from time-to-time, but overall it was an interesting read and presented a fascinating “what if” scenario. At the very least, because the science was correct, it could fall into the realm of the plausible (even if it’s a very loose “plausible”).
A hard science fiction story that successfully balances science and plot, I give The Starchild Compact 3.5 stars out of 5.
The Fifth Witness
Year: 2011
Author: Michael Connelly
Length: 836 minutes / 13.93 hours
In the fourth installment of The Lincoln Lawyer series, The Fifth Witness follows Mickey Haller as he navigates another murder trial. This time, the real scenario of the foreclosure crisis is brought in to help set the stage for the trial. Using a historical event like this helped to bring the story together in a way that felt more real and relatable than the previous entries in the series. Most Americans I know who were affected by the housing market crash would certainly be entertained by this story of corruption and underhanded dealings, if for no other reason than to justify how screwed up the system is.
Gone from this part of the series is detective Harry Bosch, who I felt distracted from the main storyline centering around Mickey Haller and his court battle in the previous two books of this series. This time, it’s all Mickey. What helped to make this book stand out from the rest was the amount of soul-searching and character development our favorite defense lawyer does throughout the events unfolding around this trial. Because of his work as a defense attorney, it was easy for him to become cynical, thus making his aloof attitude more entertaining than endearing. This time around, he starts to become self-aware and sees that his life isn’t heading in the direction he wants.
I appreciated the slight bit of meta-humor in this book, not only in its title but considering it came out around the same time as The Lincoln Lawyer (2011) movie. And while some of the numerous “sudden evidence” events for the trial was a bit of a cheap way to add twists to the story, Connelly expertly hid the true twist ending until the final moments of the book, something that was somewhat missing from earlier parts of the series. With an interesting nod toward some future storylines, I felt The Fifth Witness is the strongest entry in the series so far.
A great courtroom drama pulled straight from the housing crisis, I give The Fifth Witness 4.0 stars out of 5.
Doctor Strange
Year: 2016
Rating: PG-13
Length: 115 minutes / 1.92 hours
See if you can guess this movie: goatee’d egomaniac finds himself in a life-changing situation in a foreign land that makes him question everything he’s ever stood for and become a superhero in the process. If you guessed Iron Man (2008), you’d certainly be close. No, this familiar plot is none other than the visually extreme Doctor Strange. I understand Marvel has a bigger plot in mind when they do these lesser-known heroes; but lately, it almost seems like they’re just phoning it in. Doctor Strange merely feels like filler to get to Thor: Ragnarok (2017) and Avengers: Infinity War (2018).
I will give Marvel this much: they do know how to cast a film. Benedict Cumberbatch does a superb job at portraying the eponymous Dr. Strange, fused with enough gravitas and humor to make watching him a joy. And while many will question Tilda Swinton’s role as The Ancient One, especially considering the amount of Eastern mysticism included in the film’s theology, she certainly makes the role work in her own way. Even the sentient cape he wears has a personality I haven’t seen since the flying carpet in Aladdin (1992).
What Doctor Strange lacks in plot, it makes up for in special effects. I’m almost glad I didn’t see this in 3-D, as I’m sure I would have vomited from all the swirling kaleidoscope effects seen throughout. Clearly, even though it’s six years later, Christopher Nolan’s Inception (2010) made an impression on the film world when it comes to these reality-distorting effects. There were even moments where I could catch the influence of The Matrix (1999) on the special effects of this film, especially when the characters decided that gravity wasn’t good enough for them. Despite all this, even though I wasn’t high enough to fully enjoy some of the sequences, Doctor Strange was still an entertaining film.
A visually dazzling stepping stone in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, I give Doctor Strange 3.5 stars out of 5.
Colorado Springs Philharmonic
Conductor: Thomas Wilson
Date: March 4, 2017
Very few film franchises have been able to stand the test of time. Of course, with the resurgence of reboots and remakes, some long-gone franchises are starting to find themselves once again. The James Bond franchise has had a few bumps over the years, but it continues to maintain its presence in the popular culture landscape. One of the most recognizable aspects of this franchise has certainly been its music. There’s a tension in it that oozes action and masculinity. With films spanning half a century, the music has done its best to keep up with the changing styles of our culture.
Similar musical styles gave many of the early Bond films’ title songs a very consistent sound. I was a little disappointed that the Philharmonic chose to do “The Look of Love” from the 1960’s spoof, Casino Royale, instead of the Herb Alpert opening track, but at least it matched the tone with the rest of the evening. With the first half of the evening dedicated to the music of these early films, the music that came after the intermission was certainly a departure and made it obvious that the music changed to suit the modern tastes of modern audiences.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of seeing these songs performed live was being able to pick out which instruments made which sounds. I’ve heard these songs numerous times, so to find out that the iconic music is composed of multiple instruments playing in tandem made the music truly come alive for me. And while the first half of the evening was excellent, I enjoyed the second half much more with such songs as Live and Let Die, Goldeneye, and Skyfall. Of course, Skyfall always gives me shivers, and this was no different.
Eric Olafson, Space Pirate
Year: 2017
Author: Vanessa Ravencroft
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM THE PUBLISHER***
I’ll admit that I’m sometimes a glutton for punishment, but even I have my limits. About a quarter of the way through this book, I had to give up. I couldn’t suffer through reading it anymore. There were a number of factors for this decision. First, this was apparently a book in the midst of a larger series and it was even an entry of its own, sub-series. I had not read any books from either series, so I was quite lost when it came to the characters and other pieces of information that might be considered “common knowledge” by this point in their respective series.
Secondly, I could not stand the constant stream of proofreading errors. Every time they came up, I was immediately pulled out of the story. What strikes me as odd in this second aspect is the publisher of this work: Inkitt. On their website, they tout that they only publish the best works determined by popular demand and some computer algorithm. Once the stories are vetted, they are given a cover by a talented artist and a review by an editor. I was directly approached by the Publishing Manager of Inkitt to review this story, along with two others (Esper Files, and Esper Files 2: Sky Cult). What really struck me with all three of these books is that they REALLY needed an editor. Clearly, this is a service that Inkitt does not provide.
While the concept behind Inkitt is intriguing to me as an aspiring author, I don’t know if I want to be associated with these works that haven’t really been given a good vetting by an editor. Perhaps an editor would have noticed that this story was often repetitive in its information and that it lacked a clear goal (I hadn’t figured out what the eponymous main character was trying to do in a whole 1/4 of the book). Maybe I was only given advanced reader copies of these stories and their numerous errata were fixed before publishing, but having read at least one of these stories in paperback form, I doubt it.
An unpolished work that was probably rushed out the door by the publisher, I cannot give Eric Olafson, Space Pirate a rating.
The Reversal
Year: 2010
Author: Michael Connelly
Length: 693 minutes / 11.55 hours
After two novels of Mickey Haller defending guilty scumbags, Michael Connelly changes it up with The Reversal. Not only does the title refer to the reversal of a 24-year old conviction, but also to the main character’s swap over to the prosecution. While there seems to have been a book between this one and The Brass Verdict, I have a feeling it was mostly about Harry Bosch, since the hinted details in this book give me a good idea of what happened and it didn’t change the last reference point of Mickey Haller.
Now that these two main characters were tied together in this case, one of the issues I had with this book was how often it switched between first and third person POVs. Perhaps I was too used to the story being told from Mickey Haller’s perspective and there was so much that happened outside of his direct involvement that it was necessary. However, there were times where Haller was present in the scene and it seemed to switch between the two POVs somewhat inconsistently, adding to my confusion as to who was speaking. I only hope the next book in the series focuses more on Haller than splitting the time between him and Bosch.
Furthermore, while I did appreciate the change of Haller being a part of the prosecution team with his ex-wife, the story unfolded much in the same way the others had. Most of the trial was pretty predictable with the twists being easily recognized well before they were revealed. The unpredictable ending is almost part of the template now, so even though it was an exciting development, I had come to expect it.
Another Michael Connelly standard with a few changes to make it interesting, I give The Reversal 3.5 stars out of 5.
La La Land
Year: 2016
Rating: PG-13
Length: 128 minutes / 2.13 hours
In a world where people worship everything and value nothing, I have found that I value the many messages present within La La Land (2016). While simultaneously shining a harsh light on the hypocrisy of Hollywood and showing how our dreams and passions move us to make tough life decisions, I found myself deeply moved by the narrative presented within this film, not only as a lover of movies but as a creative artist myself. This film is for the dreamers. It’s for the people who never give up in pursuing what they want out of life. It’s for those who have a talent screaming to be noticed by others.
Aside from literally being the best musical I’ve seen in nearly more than a decade (Chicago (2002) is the only recent one that comes to mind), what I found most impressive about this film is that it is only the second directed by Damien Chazelle. For those who may have missed it, his previous work, Whiplash (2014), was an extreme look at the commitment a musician will take just to be a part of something bigger. With this in mind, we find that Chazelle has a passion for music that is easily grasped through his use of expert cinematography.
Much like The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967), La La Land makes me feel like the world would be a much better place if people sang and danced at the drop of a hat (or stop of a car). But even with the almost cliche “romantic comedy” beginning, where La La Land differs from these films is the depth that it explores the relationships between two dreamers. While we always want our life partners to succeed in their dreams, it can be difficult to find a balance between somewhat contrasting goals.
A must-see film for anyone who aspires to something greater in their life, I give La La Land 5.0 stars out of 5.
The Infinity of You & Me
Year: 2016
Author: J.Q. Coyle
Length: 246 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
Unlike Practical Applications for Multiverse Theory, The Infinity of You & Me really nails the complex and unique challenges of dealing with multiple universes. Far more serious than its comedic counterpart, Infinity takes the reader on a journey through the multiple lives of a teenage girl. The descriptive writing used for this task was quite adept at conveying the transition between worlds, as well as the numerous dystopian scenarios present within them. Clearly, the Sylvia Plath poems the main character holds dear also influenced the author’s writing style.
As I’ve said before, I’m not a fan of the young adult genre, especially when it devolves to cliches. This book managed to reside in that young adult genre, but successfully told a story that didn’t make me roll my eyes in annoyance. Sure, the elements were there, but they were handled much more subtly, almost in the vein of how The Hunger Games did it years ago. The complexity of the internal struggle of the main character really made her come alive. Her growth by the end of the book was significant and made me enjoy reading this book.
While it’s almost perfect, there are still a few weaknesses in this book. Early on, it was difficult for me to figure out that the other multiverse worlds were taking place in the same timeframe, and not in the past. Furthermore, there were some sections that didn’t make as much sense as I would have liked, but I suspect that’s also a limitation of dealing with the multiverse as your main topic. Despite all these things, the story is solid and the characters are complex and understandable.
Perhaps the best fictional account of the multiverse I’ve ever read, I give The Infinity of You & Me 4.5 stars out of 5.
The Brass Verdict
Year: 2008
Author: Michael Connelly
Length: 681 minutes / 11.35 hours
Another book, another trial for the Lincoln Lawyer. While I appreciated the stand-alone nature of this book, I also liked that knowledge of the events in the first book of this sub-series helped to provide context for the challenges Mickey Haller now faces. The main case of this novel was pretty predictable, especially if you read into the insinuation of the title. I would have liked a little more attention on the side-case surrounding the death of Haller’s lawyer colleague. It seemed to be more of a Harry Bosch story, though, so I can understand why the focus was on Haller’s case.
Once again, Michael Connelly creates an easily readable series of events that unfold in the courtroom. Some twists at the end were exciting developments but were definitely easily guessed if the reader was paying attention. There’s almost a guilty pleasure in following Haller along as he embeds that reasonable doubt into the jury’s minds. Something about the justice system being used to make absolutely sure someone is innocent or guilty just sits right, even if it’s in the defense of a completely unlikeable character. This character’s final fate was equally as satisfying, even if it wasn’t in court.
As noted above, my only qualm with the novel was that it seemed to be only one side of the story. While we followed Mickey Haller, there was another story unfolding with Harry Bosch that probably could have filled up another volume. There was a lot that Bosch did behind the scenes that made his story also seem quite interesting, even if it wasn’t expressed in these pages. The connection between these two characters at the end of the book was also nice, and I am curious how often Bosch will come back into play in future Mickey Haller books.
A straightforward courtroom drama with predictable twists, I give The Brass Verdict 3.5 stars out of 5.
The Young Girls of Rochefort
Year: 1967
Rating: G
Length: 125 minutes / 2.08 hours
I’ve seen quite a few musicals over the years, but practically all of them have been in English. That was until I saw The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967) (AKA Les Demoiselles de Rochefort in its native French). It’s interesting to watch something with subtitles and hear how the songs rhyme in their native tongue. Partly because of this, I have quickly come to the realization that this film is an instant favorite of mine. I mean, who could blame me with the catchy tunes and upbeat jazz stylings of this musical?
Of course, in a musical like this, the colorful and fun festival atmosphere was merely accentuated by the continuous singing and dancing. It’s almost ridiculous how much dancing there is in this film. Even the background characters are dancing when there’s simple dialogue being spoken in the foreground. Perhaps the style of the late 1960’s is partly to blame for the colors styles and overall visual treat provided by this film. At any rate, it’s entertaining and worth a watch for any fan of French films or musicals in general.
A surprising aspect of this film is the appearance of famed American singer and dancer, Gene Kelly. Maybe he’s on his way home from being An American in Paris (1951)? Of course, he’s only one part of a triple set of missed connections that drives the plot of this film almost as much as its comedy. This carefree attitude shared by most of the characters is even so extreme that an actual murder as part of a sub-plot doesn’t phase them in the slightest. By the end, everyone gets their happy ending and you’re left with a sense that some of these people might need to get out more.
A fantastic musical filled with a frenzy of French earworms, I give The Young Girls of Rochefort 5.0 stars out of 5.
Esper Files 2: Sky Cult
Year: 2017
Author: Egan Brass
Length: 187 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM THE PUBLISHER***
It has been said before that there are no original thoughts. The way to appear original is dependent upon how well you can hide your sources. One of my qualms with the Esper Files series from the beginning has been that it feels very derivative. Right from the get-go, I felt the series was essentially just an X-Men clone set in the steampunk genre. While this was an interesting concept, too much of it was pulled from the popular franchise, making it a bit distracting.
In the sequel, Esper Files 2: Sky Cult, a few more references were worked in to help make the characters and story feel a bit more original. I picked up tones of anime like Fairy Tail and One Piece in this story, but I also picked up another blatantly obvious reference: Deadpool. Sure, I get it, he’s a fun character to write; but when his actions feel like the author wrote himself into a corner and couldn’t get out other than to throw in this red herring to distract the reader into thinking there was going to be a logical conclusion.
I will applaud Egan Brass for once again writing some very well-thought out characters, the trio of James, Nathan, and Freya being some of the best (aside from the eye-rolling, aforementioned “Red Cap”). The dialogue and banter between his characters really makes them entertaining. All this being said, the plentitude of typos in this book seemed to match the amount found in the original Esper Files. Some of them were pretty simple errors, which were made all the more confusing by the large vocabulary Brass uses to describe this alternate reality London. Clearly, he knows how to write with a lot of words, it’s just that an editor didn’t manage to catch a lot of the wrong ones.
Another exciting story that adds to the Esper Files universe, I give Esper Files 2: Sky Cult 3.5 stars out of 5.
The Lincoln Lawyer
Year: 2005
Author: Michael Connelly
Length: 696 minutes / 11.6 hours
While I saw the movie before listening to the audiobook, I must say that I still really enjoy the main character. He’s one of those guys you love to hate, but he’s trying so hard to do the right thing, even if it means defending a scumbag who deserves a lot worse. Of course, since I had seen the movie already, I had an idea how it was going to end, but couldn’t remember the specifics. Perhaps that’s a measure of a great crime drama: all the misdirection makes it difficult to know “whodunit”, allowing future rereads to be enjoyable.
But, back to the main character, Mickey Haller, I think one of the reasons this book was a breeze to listen to was because the main character’s POV is so well written. You can tell that he has some baggage from his father, which is partly why he defends everyone, regardless if they’re guilty or not. The fact that Haller knows his way around the legal system and uses it to his advantage to even get the guilty an innocent ruling just shows that he takes pride in his work, even if it labels him as someone who keeps the crime on the streets.
The plus to this audiobook was also the narrator, who was awesome in bringing all the different characters to life with his voice acting. Even if the story is told from the point of view of the eponymous “Lincoln Lawyer,” there are plenty of interesting people in this book, and each one certainly has a different “sound” to them. It’s the attention to these details that differentiates a narrator just reading a book to you and a voice actor who can bring the events happening in the words he’s speaking to life.
A great start to an interesting crime drama series, I give The Lincoln Lawyer 4.0 stars out of 5.
Hacksaw Ridge
Year: 2016
Rating: R
Length: 139 minutes / 2.32 hours
For many years, Mel Gibson has been at the center of controversies and other unwelcome attention-grabbing incidents. While this normally kills any actor’s chances of reviving their careers, Gibson has instead managed to remain somewhat unscathed by retreating into his other skill: directing. As we’ve seen from some of his other directorial efforts, he is skilled behind the lens, even if many themes remain the same. From Braveheart (1995) to The Passion of the Christ (2004), Gibson has a tendency to be pretty brutal in the imagery he brings to the screen. Granted, this is partly due to the semi-factual source material.
In his latest work after a long hiatus, Gibson brings us the brutality that is World War II. Hacksaw Ridge takes some time to get to its emotional center, but the unfortunate side effect of this is a series of characters that feel almost comical in their exaggerations. From Andrew Garfield’s goofily grinning Desmond T. Doss to Hugo Weaving’s alcoholic Tom Doss, the reality of war easily sets in once Desmond is allowed to deploy to the Pacific theatre and “fight” with his fellow man, attempting to do what no one else is willing to: save more lives than he ends.
The brutality of Hacksaw Ridge is clearly portrayed by Gibson’s directing, most of the time being a bit over the top. Partly because everything in this film seemed overly exaggerated, it’s almost hard to take it very seriously. Sure, the religious themes intertwined with the duty of going to war were an interesting combination and the real-life story of this human savior was inspiring; but at the end of the day, the other aspects of the film seemed to lessen these impacts.
A brutal look at the true cost of being a conscientious objector during war, I give Hacksaw Ridge 3.5 stars out of 5.
Colorado Springs Philharmonic
Conductor: Thomas Wilson
Date: February 11, 2017
If there was one thing I learned about this performance by the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, it’s that I really didn’t start paying attention to music until the 1970’s. Perhaps it was due to not understanding or appreciating the Motown style, but there were quite a few songs during the concert that I just straight didn’t recognize. Even some famous songs just passed right by my recognition. This is all likely my own fault, but the experience was still nice, nonetheless.
Of the pieces I did recognize, it was fun to sing along, especially with the enhanced music the philharmonic could provide to accompany it. There were times, though, that the music drowned out the singers and I couldn’t tell what they were saying, but that also may have been due to my location in the uppermost part of the balcony of the Pike’s Peak Center. Either way, the visuals provided by the lights and variety of dresses of the singers could be clearly seen from up there and the ambiance was certainly appreciated.
As for the songs themselves, they certainly ran the gamut. From Aretha Franklin to Nancy Sinatra to Leslie Gore, most of these songs I had only really experienced through period piece movies set in the 1960’s. Having them performed live with a full orchestra was quite the treat. That being said, I was glad that “Macarthur Park” was an orchestral piece that didn’t encompass the whole song. I also would have liked a bit of contrast with the Leslie Gore song they picked with “Sunshine, Lollipops, and Rainbows,” just to show how ridiculous some of the music from the 1960’s could really be. Despite this missed opportunity, the musicians certainly brought these songs to new life with their instruments.
Esper Files
Year: 2016
Author: Egan Brass
Length: 221 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM THE PUBLISHER***
Last year I wrote a short story entitled “Ironed Man” that I submitted to an anthology with the theme “Steampunk Superheroes.” While my story didn’t make the cut, clearly the idea already has merit as shown in Egan Brass’ Esper Files. Just like my “Jurassic Manor” short story was a series of tongue-in-cheek references to the film, Jurassic Park (1993), “Ironed Man” was an alt-genre parody of the Iron Man franchise. I can only assume that Esper Files decided to do the same thing and merely put X-Men in steampunk form.
If you like X-Men, you’ll probably like this book. Despite many of the characters and trappings feeling like they were pulled from an X-Men fan fiction, the story still has some merit. What I found impressive about the narrative were the action scenes. I know how difficult it can be to write fight scenes with lots of supernatural powers, so the concise and descriptive way Egan Brass does it really helped drive the conflict between the Institute (read: Professor Xavier’s X-Men) and The Baron (read: Magneto’s band of mutant misfits). And even if the overall plot was somewhat simple, each scene added to the explanation of what was happening.
What distracted me the most in this book were the number of typos and other errata that were sprinkled throughout. There was nothing worse than being in the midst of a really great battle scene, only to have my mind come to a complete halt at the sight of an incorrect word or awkward phrasing. Fortunately, most of these errors seemed to be clumped together, even if it was toward the end of the book. I also commend Egan Brass for his . . . unique use of adverbs, even going so far as to make some up to fit the story (at least I’ve never seen some of these adverbs before).
A steampunk story that heavily borrows from X-Men (to its benefit and detriment), I give Esper Files 3.5 stars out of 5.
The Rook
Year: 2012
Author: Daniel O’Malley
Length: 1,066 minutes / 17.77 hours
One of the nice things about listening to audiobooks from my library (via the Overdrive app), is that I can pick up a book and listen to it without really knowing what it’s about other than a title and a cover. In this way, I often have no preconceived notions about the book other than first impressions. At this point, all I’m giving up to “read” the book is the time it takes me to listen to it, and I have plenty of that driving to and from work every day.
Since I had no idea what this book was really about, I was surprised at how humorous it was. If I were to combine a few, better-known series together, I’d say this is X-Men mixed with James Bond, with just a dash of Jason Bourne all blended together in Monty Python’s Flying Circus. An odd combination, I know. But somehow, it works here. The humor is markedly British, but the characters and their powers are supernatural, to say the least. Since this was merely the first in a developing series, I can’t wait to get to book #2: Stiletto.
All this being said, there were a few structural choices to this book that I often found confusing, which may just be part of listening to it in audiobook form instead of reading it. First off, the decision to have the main character afflicted with amnesia was an interesting way to essentially give the audience what the character already would have known but had conveniently forgotten. Secondly, because the letters from her former self were used as backstory, these “flashbacks” were often confusing because it was easy to lose track of which Mfwany Thomas (glad I had the audiobook for the pronunciation of this name) was “speaking” at the moment.
An interesting premise with plenty of potential in future iterations, I give The Rook 4.0 stars out of 5.
Avatar
Year: 2009
Rating: PG-13
Length: 162 minutes / 2.7 hours
For being 10 times the amount of money I would normally spend on a movie, I had hoped that this would be worth it. As per my previous stance on 3-D, I was hesitant on going to this film when it first came out. However, since I did some reading up on what forces went on behind this film, I decided to give the 3-D experience a try. What an experience it was! I can see why the film industry was really pushing for more movies to be in 3-D because it is spectacular. The glasses weren’t uncomfortable, and if you took them off for a second, it wasn’t a terrible color-shifted image, it was just slightly blurry. Although, one thing that 3-D cinema is going to have to fix is to have more things in focus. You can’t rely on previous film-making techniques here.
At any rate, if you can get over the blatantly anti-corporation and anti-military message, it’s really quite a good movie and should be seen due at least to the fact that this is the reason James Cameron got into making movies in the first place. We can all blame him for ripping off Dances with Wolves (1990) or Pocahontas (1995) but if you can get past that, there’s a great movie here, regardless.
What really stands out with this film is its visuals. Despite the amount of CGI used to create the fictional world of Pandora, it’s incredibly difficult to tell what is CGI and what is merely a human in front of a green screen. Just by the strength of these visuals alone, this film should be viewed by movie aficionados. Not only was the 3-D technology used to film it revolutionary, but the facial mapping techniques really helped bring these actors to life in their blue, alien bodies.
A stunning visual treat that has yet to be matched, I give Avatar 4.5 stars out of 5.
This film appears in the following posts:
Cinema Connections #129. Blue Beings
Cinema Connections #130. James Cameron
Hard Road
Year: 2013
Author: J.B. Turner
Length: 322 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
I’m finding that I really like the thriller genre, and books like this convince me that it’s the most exciting genre out there. Practically from page one, the pace is set and is blindingly fast. There’s no time to rest when the fate of the nation is at stake. Equal parts Liam Neeson from Taken (2008) and Tom Cruise from Jack Reacher (2012), Jon Reznick is skilled beyond measure and I wouldn’t be surprised if this novel is made into a film of its own. That being said, I don’t really know why this book was called Hard Road other than all the driving that takes place in it.
J.B. Turner manages to keep the reader in the dark about much of the plot that thrusts Reznick into a race against time and terrorists until about half-way through this book. While this was an impressive feat, part of me almost wanted little hints as to what the grand scheme of the book was about so I could have more “aha” moments instead of huge surprises that pushed the plot forward. I also appreciated that Reznick was supported by the federal authorities (which he, in turn, supported), instead of being brought in as a rogue element in a critical operation.
Hard Road easily wraps up its plot and leaves very few open strings or questions. The hint of a possible second book in the epilogue is all the reader is given in terms of a link to a greater series as a whole. I certainly liked that this story was self-contained, but the character of Jon Reznick was so engaging that I look forward to picking up the other books in this series and reading them at some point. After all, I’m curious if he and the Assistant Director of the FBI get together since there seemed to be some good chemistry between these characters.
A high-octane and breathlessly paced thriller, I give Hard Road 4.0 stars out of 5.
Lives of Unstoppable Hope
Year: 2015
Author: Stant Litore
Length: 124 pages
As a Colorado author, I often run across other authors at conventions in the state. I’ve seen Stant at a few of the conventions, the most recent being Mile-Hi Con 2016. Because I’m connected to the Colorado author community, I saw some of my author friends post that this book of his was available on Kindle for a very affordable price. While I haven’t officially introduced myself to Stant Litore, after reading this book, I may want to because it really spoke to me on a deep and emotional level.
I appreciated Stant’s open and intimate look into the life of him and his family, especially in light of the medical struggles of his daughter, Inara. I’m sure I would be hard pressed to find anyone who hasn’t had at least some member of their family in some sort of hopeless medical condition, be it a parent, spouse, or child. Having had some of my own struggles with a medical issue affecting someone I love, his examination of the Beatitudes was helpful for me to read in a time of doubt and depression.
Not only was there a depth of knowledge of the original language of this Biblical passage, but his ability to show the applicability of it in difficult circumstances was especially on point. I can only imagine the strength of spirit needed to live a life of unstoppable hope, but clearly, Stant’s foundation in the Lord gives him the ability to share the miraculous victories God has provided in a situation that could easily have gone much worse. The Beatitudes has always been a section of the gospel open to many interpretations, but Stant’s slant on it certainly makes it an encouraging piece. I only wish it was longer so I could read more of Stant’s meaningful examination.
A short book that can help readers through difficult times, I give Lives of Unstoppable Hope 4.5 stars out of 5.
Daredevil (Director’s Cut)
Year: 2003
Rating: R
Length: 134 minutes / 2.23 hours
Back in the early days of the rising popularity of the superhero movie, long before cinematic universes and multi-film crossovers, there were a handful of films that brought these comic book characters to the big screen. From Spider-Man (2002) to X-Men (2000) to The Punisher (2004), one of these films was none other than Daredevil (2003). For many years, I had seen these films, even going so far as having seen Hulk (2003). The one I had not seen was Daredevil, mostly because I had heard it was so bad. I had seen Hulk, so I knew how bad they could be.
Now that a Director’s Cut of Daredevil was available, I heard it improved on the original and decided to just skip the original cut entirely. With no understanding of what the film used to be, I can say that the Director’s Cut isn’t completely terrible. Sure, some of the lines are goofy, and the actors chosen for the roles might not have been the best choices, but it’s a solid film. I did find it interesting how many actors who have had better success with directing were present in this film. From Ben Affleck (The Town (2010) and Argo (2012)) to Jon Favreau (Iron Man (2008) and The Jungle Book (2016)), and even a cameo appearance by Kevin Smith (Clerks (1994) and Chasing Amy (1997)), these actors definitely work better behind the camera.
Even with the Director’s Cut being a supposed improvement on the film, there still seemed to be too many sub-plots all running at once, each one of which I felt didn’t get nearly enough screen time to fully explore what was happening. Another problem with this film is that it has not aged well. From the soundtrack being clearly inspired by the music of the time, to the CGI showing the limitations of the computers at the time, all these things just scream “2003” to me.
Probably not as bad as it could have been, I give Daredevil (Director’s Cut) 3.0 stars out of 5.
Commanding the Red Lotus
Year: 2016
Author: R.J. Sullivan
Length: 236 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
Not so much a novel as a collection of three novellas, Commanding the Red Lotus is your standard sci-fi space story. Unfortunately, because these novellas are collected together in this way, it feels like an attempt to string them together to make a novel. If this were a novel, it should have started with the third novella and expounded from there. After all, most of the backstory was mentioned or alluded to in this third story, so more pages could have been spent exploring the dynamic of the spacecraft crew. As it stands, there were a lot of characters mentioned that I couldn’t tell you a thing about.
When it comes right down to it, I have two issues with this book. The first is the main character. I feel the main character should have been the pirate captain, mainly because she had such an interesting backstory and an entertaining personality. Instead, the reader is stuck with rich girl Sayuri Arai. I would have much rather Sayuri been a highly educated woman who knew how to run a ship but kept finding that the realities of doing so were not covered in any textbook. As it stands, Sayuri is just annoyingly incompetent and seems to just get by on sheer luck.
Secondly, the choice of making the eponymous vessel a mining ship, and an extremely aged and practically out-of-service one at that, I felt was misguided. The blurb on the cover compared these stories to Firefly, and I could see where the comparisons would be made. However, in these moments, the stories felt just like any other cliché sci-fi story. If you took away the outer space aspect to this story, it would just be about a mining vessel. I don’t know if I would pick up a book like that since it sounds pretty boring (ha ha). Consequently, the size of the crew seemed too big to really get to know each of their characters. The ones we do meet don’t seem to use much logic either, but maybe that’s because of their Commander.
An OK collection of sci-fi novellas with lots of illogical characters, I give Commanding the Red Lotus 2.5 stars out of 5.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Year: 2015
Author: Alan Dean Foster
Length: 606 minutes / 10.1 hours
If you’ve been following along recently, you’ll know that I’ve been on a bit of a “movie” kick when it comes to the audiobooks I’ve listened to. While there are plenty of movies based on books, I haven’t really been one to read novelizations of movies. That being said, I’ve found the writing style in my own novels to be a bit of a novelization of the ideas in my mind, since I usually try and describe scenes in a cinematic way. At any rate, I was expecting a story that held close to the film, and this book certainly delivered on that promise.
I’ll admit that the more I think about the plot and characters of The Force Awakens, the more I find that it almost exactly matches the events of A New Hope. However, there were some weaknesses in the first installment of the Star Wars franchise that I feel are addressed in this recent installment. Sure, all the elements are there, but they’ve been mixed around into different characters, settings, and conflicts that add a bit more depth to the story than the archetypical one presented in A New Hope. As a reboot, The Force Awakens does an excellent job of calling back to what made the original great, but doing so in a way that is still different enough to provide interesting twists and questions.
One thing I do like about this version of the story, compared to the movie, is the “deleted scenes” that help explain some of the plot holes from the film. Maybe these scenes hindered the flow of the movie (or weren’t important enough to include) but they certainly helped me understand the story a lot better now that I know about them. Finally, while I know that many films have “enhanced audio” for blind people, I’d almost recommend these people listen to this audiobook instead. The music, sound effects, and even many of the actors’ voices all are used at a pace that’s much slower in order to really grasp what’s happening with the story.
A fantastic audiobook that faithfully captures everything (and more) that made the film great, I give Star Wars: The Force Awakens 4.5 stars out of 5.
Tucker and Dale vs. Evil
Year: 2010
Rating: R
Length: 89 minutes / 1.48 hours
I’m not really a fan of the horror genre. Mostly, I feel the plots are contrived, the characters are downright idiotic, and the violence is over-the-top. Of course, when I heard about Tucker and Dale vs. Evil years ago, I said, “pass.” The friend who suggested I see it assured me that it wasn’t like all the other horror films. The fact is, it is exactly like all the other horror films, but it is self-aware of this fact. Because the film is self-aware, it recognizes every single horror genre trope and makes fun of it.
As time went by, more people suggested I see this film, so I finally caved during a slow weekend at home. Being the self-aware film that it is, the plot is simple and the production values are limited, at best. What really makes the film enjoyable to watch is the fact that the whole premise is practically a “comedy of errors.” Lack of communication just adds to the hilarity as a bunch of cliché college students find themselves killed off one-by-one by their own bad luck. If I were to compare this to another, well-known horror franchise, this film has the setting of The Evil Dead (1981) with the comedy of Army of Darkness (1992).
Unfortunately, because it holds to the tropes of the horror genre, Tucker and Dale vs. Evil doesn’t have much to offer other than a funny commentary on the horror genre as a whole. The independent nature of the project and limited budget really show through, even if the comedy is spot on. The main characters of Tucker (Alan Tudyk) and Dale (Tyler Labine) are worth the watch, regardless.
An amusing examination of the ridiculous nature of horror films, I give Tucker and Dale vs. Evil 3.0 stars out of 5.
Colorado Springs Philharmonic
Conductor: Josep Caballé Domenech
Date: January 21, 2017
Halcyon Skies
Daniel Kellogg
Much like many of the other compositions commissioned to celebrate the anniversary of the writing of “America the Beautiful,” this piece did an excellent job of capturing the size and majesty of the mountain known as Pike’s Peak. It starts at sunrise, as the sun slowly illuminates the mountain in its purple pre-dawn light. As the alpenglow builds, the enormity of the mountain comes into view. The sunrise then rests on a lone hiker at the base of this prominent peak. We then follow this hiker as he climbs along the trail through the woods, occasionally taking a short break to look back on how far he’s come. Continuing his climb, he arrives at the summit and is rewarded with the brilliance of the view afforded to his effort.
Symphony No. 8
Ludwig van Beethoven
It’s interesting to me that this piece was chosen as one of the first to start off this year of philharmonic performances. In comparison to the 5th and 7th symphonies before it, the 8th doesn’t have the same impact and power that they had. Fortunately, it also wasn’t as flighty and light as the 6th. In terms of the background behind it, the 8th could have been a much more depressing piece, considering Beethoven’s failing hearing at the time. Clearly, you can hear his mournful attitude in the 7th, but by the 8th he used the music in his head to escape from the pain of his reality. He chose to compose music to bring him into his “happy place.” While a good piece by itself, the 8th is merely a prelude to the conclusive power of the 9th, a piece that stands in defiance of Beethoven’s hearing being unmercifully ripped away from him.
Piano Concerto No. 1
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Much like Beethoven’s 8th symphony that was played before it, Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 was instantly recognizable from its first movement. It too had the fun and light feeling to it, much in contrast to the cold and wintry days of January outside. An impressive piece for the piano, even more so in the less-recognizable second and third movements. Both pieces seemed to have a levity and humor to them that really made them a joy to listen to together. If you ever get a chance, put these two pieces on back-to-back and listen to what I’m talking about. It might just turn your dark and cold January into something a lot more enjoyable.
Dark Ages: 2020
Year: 2015
Author: J.D. Dutra
Length: 476 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
If you like to read to escape from reality, this book is not for you. Practically pulled from today’s headlines, Dark Ages: 2020 takes a look at a potential future that could be mere years away. Of course, in order to do so, there’s a lot of conspiracy theories that would need to come true in order for this novel to be a reality. That being said, the one thing this book does well is to remove any hope you might ever have in humanity. Not only on a local and personal level but as a civilization as a whole.
Unfortunately, none of the characters in this book are likable. They all have flaws and these flaws aren’t just minor character flaws, but full-blown ethical quandaries. The reason for this is that each one of these characters is an extreme stereotype. Honestly, this book almost comes across as incredibly racist because of these characters. The Islamic Terrorist. The Welfare-dependent Black people. The Caucasian cuckolder in jail for white-collar crimes. The successful Asian with ties to the mafia. Look, I get that the current state of the American political system isn’t the best, and I agree that some of these regulations and laws can be quite ridiculous. But is it the author’s job to make his opinion that blatantly obvious?
As it is written, Dark Ages: 2020 is a pretty quick read, even if it is cringe-worthy at times. There are still a number of proofreading errors (like whatever was going on with the quotation marks occasionally changing to the “double angle” style) that pulled me out of the story, which is unfortunate. The plot could probably have also worked without the minimal bit of “alien influence” as well. Overall, this is your standard apocalyptic-to-post-apocalyptic story and there weren’t that many unpredictable elements in it at all.
A book that tells people who watch the news things they probably already know; I give Dark Ages: 2020 3.0 stars out of 5.
Psycho
Year: 1959
Author: Robert Bloch
Length: 323 minutes / 5.38 hours
Once again, I find that the source material on which a famous movie is based is equally as good and equally as famous. What strikes me as interesting is that the quick turn on some of these literary masterpieces from page to screen has largely remained unchanged. Gone with the Wind only took three years before its film debut, The Martian took four years, and Psycho only took one. Clearly, these stories are practically screaming to be made into movies, and most have done quite well as the cultural icons of their age.
Of course, having already seen the film on which this book was based, I was well aware of the twist ending. Nevertheless, reading through this book was almost enhanced by this a priori knowledge as one would probably not have guessed the twist if they were reading it for the very first time. There are just little hints here and there that something is off, but it’s not until close to the end that we find out that everything is not as it initially seemed. Even the visuals provided in the film version helped to aid my imagination in establishing the setting and characters.
And yet, as there always is, there are some differences in the book that did not make it into the movie. I wonder if Norman Bates was made a lot slimmer in the film partly due to Hitchcock’s portly frame. In the book, his overweight body adds a layer to the character (both literally and metaphorically) which helps flesh out (Har har. OK, I’ll stop) more of the explanations as to why Bates ended up this way. Much like One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, being able to get into the mind of Norman Bates was a fascinating examination of someone with a severe mental illness.
A fantastic read equally on par with the Hitchcock classic, I give Psycho 5.0 stars out of 5.
Hidden Figures
Year: 2016
Rating: PG
Length: 127 minutes / 2.12 hours
I often jokingly refer to my job as being a “rocket scientist.” While it does involve rockets and space, it isn’t nearly as “down in the numbers” as the jobs portrayed in this film were. I’ve worked with a lot of people over the years in this technical field, and my opinion has always been that, if somebody is competent enough to do the job, we should hire the most competent people to do said job. Even though this is a statement against nepotism and just knowing the right people in the right places, what this film has shown me is that it’s not nearly that simple.
In terms of competency, I will not judge you by your gender or your race, as long as you show you can do the work and not be a burden on the team. However, even though people are highly qualified, they have had the deck stacked against them from the very start. What Hidden Figures reveals is the barriers to even be considered for a job, even if the competence is there. These three women all had incredible talent, but the mere bureaucracy put in place to prevent them from succeeding was appalling. Not only do I feel we should be judged by the competence of our work, but I also feel everyone should be given the same opportunities to prove they can do said work.
Even despite these barriers, these three women stood up against the system put in place against them. From challenging the law in order to attend needed classes to stealing a book from the library to get a jump start on “the next big thing,” I can only hope that these barriers do not exist today in part due to their exemplary efforts. The actual space program felt ancillary to these stories, which was probably why its part of the film didn’t have the same emotional impact that it did in films like The Right Stuff (1983) and Apollo 13 (1995). Still, the humor and levity present throughout this film perhaps made the racism and sexism just a little less impactful, even if it made the film overall more enjoyable (and not a browbeater).
A fantastic film about the lesser-known geniuses of the NASA space program, I give Hidden Figures 4.0 stars out of 5.
Paradime
Year: 2016
Author: Alan Glynn
Length: 272 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
The first time I was introduced to Alan Glynn’s writing was through the film, Limitless (2011), which itself was based off his first novel, The Dark Fields. While I enjoyed the film for its visuals, what really struck me as interesting was the storytelling and characters Glynn created. Now fifteen years after his first standalone novel, Paradime continues to show Glynn’s talent in creating engaging plots and characters. Since I really enjoyed this book, I will do my best to review it without spoiling it for anyone.
At its most simple level, Paradime is a modernized retelling of Mark Twain’s The Prince and the Pauper, or at least half of it anyway. Told from the perspective of an out-of-work and out-of-luck cook, Danny Lynch, the pacing of each of the three acts is steady and intense. Even if some of Danny’s vocabulary seems a little advanced at times, he is the perfect “everyman” to convey his peculiar circumstances to the reader. Those familiar with Limitless will probably see many parallels between the two stories, with the main exception being how the story ends for Danny.
Glynn’s writing style is very natural and easy to read in this modern thriller. Each chapter left me wanting to read more and I found myself having difficulty stopping because the pull of the plot was so intense. I also appreciated the ability of Glynn to tie things up in an almost unexpectedly expected way so that no detail in this book was left unused. While this may have been the first time I’ve read anything by Alan Glynn, I am now certainly a fan and will have to go back and pick up his other books to read.
A fast-paced and thrilling read, I give Paradime 5.0 stars out of 5.
Unstoppable
Year: 2015
Author: Bill Nye
Length: 651 minutes / 10.85 hours
I grew up on Bill Nye’s science show on PBS. I appreciated his straightforward approach to teaching science to children that was both informative and humorous. Possibly in part due to this, I now find myself with a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and employed in a very technical field. I also find myself writing books which are surreptitiously educational, hoping that the entertainment value of my writing will subtly inspire people to learn more about science. Consequently, merely based on the author of this book, I was interested in reading it, despite the somewhat vague and ambiguous title.
While there was plenty of very interesting material presented in this book, much of it I had already known about by keeping up with the technological advances of the world today, I felt like its order was a little off. Right from the get-go, Nye hammers home that global climate change is a problem. The entire rest of the book then explores technologies and developments that could potentially solve, or at least abet the rapid rate of change leading to our soon-to-be unsustainable world. As a result, there’s a bit of fear introduced from the beginning that is tugged on throughout. I would have flipped these topics around and shown all the neat scientific breakthroughs (or near breakthroughs) we have in our current world, then use the knowledge of these advancements to address the climate change issue. In this way, I think the tone would be more inspiring and lead more people to pursue the solutions instead of being alarmist and driving people to act out of fear instead of out of the hope of what our future could be if we act now.
Nye’s trademark humor is sprinkled throughout his writing, which made reading this book enjoyable. Furthermore, since he takes a very personal approach with his examples and stories (I love his “love/hate” relationship with Ed Begley Jr.), many of his opinions leak through. Many times throughout the book, these opinions came off to me as a bit off-putting, especially if the person reading this book happens to be of an opinion differing from Nye’s. As such, there was a bit of “preaching to the choir” that might not be helpful when trying to change the minds of those who don’t share the same opinions. Still, his attempts at re-framing the problem of global climate change and adjusting how we think about it were quite admirable and I think everyone should give his ideas a chance.
A tale of both imminent danger and inspiration, I give Unstoppable 3.5 stars out of 5.
Jaws
Year: 1975
Rating: PG
Length: 124 minutes / 2.07 hours
Back when I first saw this film as a child, it scared me quite a bit. Later, when I watched it again for the first time in a while, it didn’t scare me as much, but it certainly was thrilling. Now, having read the book it was based on, I have a fuller and more in-depth understanding and appreciation of all sides of this classic story. With the knowledge of what was missing in the movie from the book, I thought it would detract from the viewing experience. Instead, I found that the book and the film covered two very different aspects of the story, each expertly done for the utilized medium.
In the book (which was released a year before the film), we find that the shark hunt is not only a matter of public safety but also infused with the politics of the island of Amity and the personal drama of a cuckolded police chief. These human elements made the characters seem more like the monsters than the actual shark did. Those who have seen the film will know that there is no affair with the police chief’s wife, mainly because there’s no time to cover it. Instead, the film focuses on the tense chase and destruction of the shark that terrorized an island in the midst of the height of its tourist season.
What I found interesting about watching Jaws this time around was actually how Hitchcock-esque the film seemed. As Spielberg’s breakout film, Jaws did have a few moments of his signature, albeit still undeveloped style, but much of it almost felt like Alfred Hitchcock was behind the camera (especially with the “Vertigo shot” at the beach). So much of the cinematography was expertly framed and shot that you almost don’t realize that practically a third (or more) of the film is just three men on a boat. Even though I had seen this film many times before, it still is a thrilling ride up until the explosive conclusion.
An excellent film adaptation to accompany a fantastic book’s plot, I give Jaws 4.0 stars out of 5.
This film appears in the following posts:
Cinema Connections #080. Steven Spielberg
Cinema Connections #081. Richard Dreyfuss
Frosted Blood
Year: 2014
Author: Larry Pellitteri
Length: 334 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
Three things really grabbed me with this book right from the start. First, the cover was pretty interesting, and it went well with the second item: the title. Finally, the premise given on the back of the book made me think this would be an entertaining read. Unfortunately, while these things would normally deliver, this time they did not. Despite having a few interesting concepts and ideas interspersed throughout, the execution of the plot of this book was somewhat . . . lacking.
What really bothered me about this book was the plethora of plot holes present. While the story moves at a pretty good pace, often I feel it is done as a “stream of consciousness” writing style that just sweeps the inconsistencies underneath the rug and just keeps going. There were also quite a few points where, since I knew what it would take to do something, I found that these pretty substantial tasks were made to seem quite inconsequential. Too often, I found myself thinking, “Wait a minute,” and “Why?” which was also paralleled in the characters’ reactions. When you write characters that are constantly questioning why things are happening, then your readers will likely demand those answers as well. These answers take way too long to get there and by that point, I had really lost interest in the story.
Of course, when the characters are written as mere archetypes, I found it difficult to really engage with any of them. The security guards were only there to get shot, the antagonists were only there to beat the dead horse (even literally at one point) of proving that the big company was evil, and nobody acted logically or sensibly at any time. This plot seemed very forced and all of the interesting revelations should have been distributed throughout instead of being clumped at the end as a last-ditch effort to save a story that felt like it was written by the seat of the pants. I won’t even get into some of the cringe-worthy errata like referencing the “Sixteen Chapel” at this point. After all, the amount of eroticism in a book that I thought was geared toward young adults was cringe-worthy enough.
An interesting premise that still needs a lot of work with an editor, I give Frosted Blood 2.0 stars out of 5.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
Year: 1962
Author: Ken Kesey
Length: 601 minutes / 10.02 hours
As one of the few films in American history to win the “big 5” Academy Awards (which are Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, and Screenplay), I was interested in the book that helped One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest attain its award-worthy status. I figured that if such a book could provide such great content to win awards as a movie, it would certainly have artistic merit in its own right. After all, many people posit that a book is better than the movie it is made out of. I wanted to make sure that, at the very least, it wasn’t any worse than the movie.
Perhaps the largest difference between the two versions of this story (I’m not going to go into the live-theatre version, since I haven’t seen it), is that the book has a very interesting narrator in the character of “Chief” Bromden, whereas the film merely uses the camera to tell the story. Because we get a glimpse into the mind of the deaf mute giant, he becomes not only a subjective observer of the situation around him but also a vivid example of what mental illness feels like. Instead of just focusing on the ways Randle McMurphy bucks the stringent hospital system, we also get a sense of how reality is filtered through a disabled mind.
As is usually the case with movie versions, I noticed a lot more content and characters in the book version because it was likely these extraneous elements were removed from the film for content and run-time issues. Still, I wonder if the film would have had more of an impact on educating audiences about mental illness if it included some of the Chief’s unique observations. Either way, both the film and the book are excellent pieces of art, even if it may be a little difficult to swallow at times that these mental hospital practices have only recently been changed for the better.
An excellent book that spawned an excellent movie, I give One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest 4.5 stars out of 5.
Rogue One
Year: 2016
Rating: PG-13
Length: 133 minutes / 2.22 hours
Years ago, when Disney acquired Lucasfilm, I had worried that they would ruin one of the most beloved sci-fi franchises ever to grace the big screen. That being said, Lucasfilm’s prequel trilogy showed us all how it could happen. Around the same time, I started to notice the quality of Disney’s animated fare was drastically improving, even outpacing Pixar. The proof to finally win me over was the way they have expertly handled the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With all this in mind, I was curious how this side-story to the main Star Wars saga would play out.
First off, anyone worth their salt in nerd-cred knows that the original Star Wars is based off samurai films. Gareth Edwards (who directed the Godzilla (2014) reboot) certainly made this influence obvious in Rouge One, especially in the opening sequence and with the inclusion of a Zatoichi-like blind swordsman. At this point, all he needed was to add in the “war” to Star Wars, and suddenly we have a gritty plot that ends exactly how those who have seen A New Hope (1977) expect it to. In fact, there were moments where these scenes could have been the beaches of Normandy or the jungles of Vietnam, it was so easy to see the references.
While I found many of the characters to be somewhat one-dimensional (since their main objectives were either survival, duty or revenge), I did appreciate the scene-stealing K-2S0 (Alan Tudyk) to lighten the otherwise oppressive mood of the plot. Visually speaking, the battle sequences (especially in space) were phenomenal, and the first firing of the Death Star was a fantastic scene embedded in my memory for its sheer awesomeness. Even so, the CGI Governor Tarkin was still on the edge of the uncanny valley, even if it was on the more realistic side.
A film that successfully answered some questions from the original Star Wars, I give Rouge One 3.5 stars out of 5.
Rise of the Guardians
Year: 2012
Rating: PG
Length: 97 minutes / 1.62 hours
While the idea of the holidays being connected isn’t a new idea (see The Nightmare Before Chrismas (1993) for another take on it), there is something intrinsically interesting with making the respective figureheads of their representative mythos come together in an Avenger-esque fashion against a common enemy. Rise of the Guardians (2012) certainly does a good job of this, even if only two of its characters have anything to do with holidays at all. In its essence, the fanciful characters from our childhood banding together to fight evil personified is based on the belief that we all have something to believe in.
What I particularly like about Rise of the Guardians is the surprising depth of the characters chosen to fight for the belief of all children around the world. From a Russian-themed Santa Claus to the Australian Easter Bunny (expertly voiced by Alec Baldwin and Hugh Jackman, respectively), these added details to beloved childhood figures just adds to their personalities. Even the Boogeyman’s ability to hide and utilize shadows merely emphasizes that each of these characters has abilities and strengths commensurate to their basic attributes, thus fleshing them out into well-rounded characters instead of just 2-dimensional bedtime stories.
Because of these colorful and unique characters, their interactions in this interesting plot were merely accentuated by the imaginative artistic style that Dreamworks animators have used for years. That being said, the human children characters looked quite ugly, so I can’t completely give the team full marks for their effort. Still, the visuals of the main characters were used to create a fanciful and fun world which was expertly contrasted by the “under the bed” realm of the Boogeyman. And while this film might not necessarily be a “Christmas” film (it’s events actually take place closer to Easter), I think it’s a good counterpoint to other “cold” animated films like “Frozen”, especially for the young boys who might not be interested in Disney princesses.
An action-packed film with great, well-known characters and stunning visuals, I give Rise of the Guardians 4.5 stars out of 5.
This film appears in the following posts:
Cinema Connections #111. Holidays
Cinema Connections #112. The Boogeyman
Pacific Rim
Year: 2013
Rating: PG-13
Length: 131 minutes / 2.18 hours
When I first saw the trailer for this film, I became really excited. One of the staples of anime is the “giant robot” subgenre, of which Neon Genesis Evangelion and Gurren Lagann are certainly the classics. And while Pacific Rim (2013) wasn’t an adaptation of an anime, it got my hopes up that it could be done well enough that we could see live action versions of these aforementioned anime. After all, adaptations to live-action from anything animated tend to be very difficult, so this would be a step in the right direction.
I do have to say that this movie delivered what it promised. Something like a mix between Godzilla (1999) and Real Steel (2011), the premise was a little bit closer to Independence Day (1996) than I initially thought it would be. The visuals were stunning and the fight sequences were both immense and intense, never letting up with the action as the world’s options for survival quickly dwindled down to practically nothing. So, the question of whether or not this could lead the way to other “giant robot” films still stands, but I think it did a good job of introduction. After all, the Mechanical Engineer in me really wants to see more “giant robot” films.
Always the master of his visual craft, Guillermo del Toro delivered the same type of spectacle that we’ve come to expect from such films as Hellboy (2004) and Pan’s Labyrinth (2006). Of course, the perk of Pacific Rim was a few of the “lighter” characters, like Ron Perlman’s Hannibal Chau (which, given that this is a del Toro film, I practically expected Perlman to be in it) and Charlie Day’s Dr. Newton Geiszler. I also felt that the multi-cultural element of this film was really well presented, along with its strong female sub-protagonist.
A first giant step into potential future anime adaptations, I give Pacific Rim 4.0 stars out of 5.
Modern Romance
Year: 2015
Author: Aziz Ansari
Length: 374 minutes / 6.23 hours
I was honestly surprised by this book. As has been the case with most comedians and the books they have written, I expected this to be a bit of an autobiography in the veins of Bossypants , Yes Please , The Bassoon King: My Life in Art, Faith, and Idiocy , and Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? Instead, I was presented with a book filled with data, analysis, and information about how modern relationships work when compared with the relationships of past generations. Having gone through some of this “Modern Romance” myself, I could certainly relate to the information being presented, nodding my head in agreement as things I noticed suddenly had explanations pinned to them.
But it wasn’t that the book was not an autobiography that surprised me, it was the humorous way that Aziz Ansari managed to present this subject matter, while also maintaining high scientific rigor. If I were to put this in a category of non-fiction humor, it would probably be in the vein of I Am America but without the tongue-in-cheek satire. Maybe I’m even wrong in this characterization and it should fall under the collections of humor around a single topic, like the works of Dave Barry. Either way, this book was informative and not judgmental in the slightest. It was merely presenting the facts that had been discovered, but in such a way that made me laugh about the whole situation.
For those people who are in relationships, want to be in relationships, or who just want to play the singles game, this book is an optimistic look at what has changed, what is likely becoming the “norm”, and what we should all expect from relationships in the future. Simply put, the smartphone has complicated the world of romance, but it has also given a lot of benefit to those who know how to use it as a tool to get what they want out of life. I would almost encourage Ansari to continue writing books like this, because his humor has made a somewhat dry subject a lot more palatable.
A great book that explores why the dating scene is so different now, I give Modern Romance 4.0 stars out of 5.
Owner’s Share
Year: 2014
Author: Nathan Lowell
Length: 574 pages
Well, here we are. The end of the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper series has been quite the interesting journey, essentially tagging on to the events that happened in the previous book, Captain’s Share. While this was the logical final step for Ishmael Wang, I appreciated that some of the loose ends that had been introduced throughout the series were finally resolved. I also appreciated that the characters weren’t all idyllic or idiotic, thus providing a balance of the likable and unlikeable characters instead of heavily including one side of the spectrum or the other.
In terms of plot, Nathan Lowell has spun together a great yarn here with a lot of “what could go wrong next?” scenarios. Even if these events didn’t feel like they carried much in terms of consequences, due to these inevitabilities never coming to pass, they were usually impediments to Wang’s goals. The one twist near the end of the novel took me for a loop, just for how sudden and drastic it was. I would have been fine with a fairytale ending, but clearly, the author had other plans for the visibly aged Wang.
What strikes me about this book, and the series as a whole, is that it was incredibly easy to digest as a reader. I could always follow along with what was happening, and the narrative style of Ishmael Wang was a simple, but also quite comprehensive. And while I really liked the first three books as their own kind of “trilogy”, these last three have had their unique elements as well, even if the whole shipping business felt like it was “old hat” by now. That being said, I’m almost looking forward to the next time I decide to pick up these books and give them another read because I have a feeling that it might be a lot sooner than you might think.
A fitting end to an incredible series, I give Owner’s Share 4.5 stars out of 5.
Captain’s Share
Year: 2013
Author: Nathan Lowell
Length: 420 pages
Another book, another jump forward in time. While I do appreciate Lowell’s realism for how long it should take to gain enough experience to even be considered qualified enough to become a ship Captain, a lot can happen in ten years. Ishmael Wang has certainly matured into the role of Captain, even if some of his decision-making in his personal life is left lacking, especially considering how adept he was in Half Share. At least by the end of this book, some things are “back to normal” for him as he continues his meteoric rise through the ranks.
In terms of plot, there was plenty of excitement in this entry of the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper series. Never before have I been so interested in the fate of a simple cargo delivery, let alone the ship that carried it. I haven’t been this attentive to an Estimated Time of Delivery since I ordered a much-desired item from Amazon. And while Captain Wang has his work cut out for him turning around an incompetent crew, at least he doesn’t have to deal with the violent crew from his last ship any longer.
Nathan Lowell continues to impress me with his mastery of the English language and his simplicity in utilizing it to describe situations and conversations that feel very realistic, despite the science fiction context. The words just naturally combine together to create tension, humor, and head-scratching moments wherein you wonder if people this incompetent would ever truly exist. Even though this book is the next logical step in the career of Ishmael Wang, it certainly had a few interesting stories throughout it to keep me engaged as a reader (even if the marriage subplot was a bit cliché and predictable).
Another fantastic voyage out into the deep dark with Ishmael Wang now at the helm, I give Captain’s Share 5.0 stars out of 5.
Kubo and the Two Strings
Year: 2016
Rating: PG
Length: 101 minutes / 1.68 hours
We live in the future, and it is incredible. I’ve found stop-motion animation to be a fascinating medium, not only for its “dirtiness” when compared to CGI, but also because of the painstaking care it takes to produce a full-length feature with this process. Animation studios like Aardman and Laika are really starting to take advantage of all the tools at their disposal to create some awesome stop-motion movies. We’ve come a long way since the films of Henry Selick, the most famous one being The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993). Through Selick, we now have a handful of fantastic films through the Laika brand.
While their previous work, The Boxtrolls (2014) had started the trend away from more morbid themes and plots, Kubo and the Two Strings (2016) shows just how capable the stop-motion medium is to tell a fantastic story. With an origami motif existing throughout, Kubo and the Two Strings is a fantastic example of what 3-D Printing can do for the stop-motion animation industry. In fact, the almost transparent qualities of the characters allowed the light to more realistically interact with their bodies, immersing the viewer even further into the story. People who haven’t had much interaction with 3-D printing probably didn’t notice it, but I certainly did.
Even though the plot may have been a bit “video game”-ish at times, the structure was almost faithfully that of a classic fairy tale. The themes of love, loss, family, duty, and honor are all present in this Japanese setting, thus hammering home the emotional impact of the characters’ actions with each turn. I was certainly in tears during several segments because of how touching they were. With this plot, the style of animation, and the technical achievements to make it a reality, I would be shocked if Laika does not win their first Oscar for Best Animated Feature next year because of this film.
A visually stunning, modern fairy tale that shows off the amazing talents of the Laika team, I give Kubo and the Two Strings 4.5 stars out of 5.
Colorado Springs Philharmonic
Conductor: Marcelo Lehninger
Date: November 12, 2016
White Gleam of Our Bright Star
Courtney Bryan
OK, I’ll admit it: I really didn’t “get” this piece. Perhaps I’m not an astute listener for this type of musical arrangement, but it almost sounded to me like the band was still warming up during this tribute to “America the Beautiful.” Maybe I’m biased. The first commissioned piece of the 90th season was fantastic, complex, and riveting while this one felt a little . . . wanting? Of course, again, I don’t really consider myself to be of the most discerning of musical tastes, especially when it comes to the Philharmonic. My take is usually “older is better,” so time will tell whether this piece stands up against the others.
Violin Concerto No. 5
Henri Vieuxtemps
Up until this Masterworks performance, I had never heard of Henri Vieuxtemps. Consequently, I wasn’t sure what to expect in his fifth Violin Concerto. With the stage filled with the string section and not many other instruments, Vieuxtemps certainly showed that he knew how to use every single one of those strings to provide a rich and interesting piece. Bravo to the violinist who has to play this piece, sometimes being the only instrument playing, as it certainly was an impressive sight to watch and an incredible sound to hear. I don’t know if I’m sold on Vieuxtemps quite yet, but I certainly liked what I heard.
Symphony No. 9, “The Great”
Franz Schubert
Had I not attended the lecture before this performance, I probably wouldn’t have been able to pick out a few nods to Beethoven’s 9th Symphony in this piece. Even with a few musical references to this other, famous piece, Schubert’s “The Great” (named by the people who listened to it, not the composer himself) is full of energy and life. I can almost imagine the story that comes out of this symphony. In the first movement, an army has returned from a war, victorious against the invading forces of the enemy. In the second movement, we follow a young girl, flighty and dancing, as she flits through the town, expressing her joy of her soldier fiancé’s return to the various shopkeepers. In the third movement, the girl’s grandfather, a portly and boisterous nationalist with a hearty laugh sings the praises of his homeland and their victory over their foes. Finally, in the last movement, the soldier fiancé returns home and has a discussion with the grandfather about the future he can provide the man’s granddaughter; with his approval now in hand, the granddaughter rushes to the church to grab the minister and start the wedding ceremony, which ends the piece.
Blood Brothers
Year: 2016
Author: Rick Acker
Length: 380 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
Even though I don’t usually read books in mid-series, I’ll make an exception for a book I receive for free. Fortunately, I was able to deduce what happened in book 1 of the Dead Man’s Rule series just based on the context of the characters’ interactions. In fact, I’d probably like to read Dead Man’s Rule, since it sounds like it was a pretty exciting plot. Of course, I’ve found legal thrillers like this one to be pretty stand-alone, which helped me really get into its engaging, if not somewhat predictable, plot.
What I found most interesting about Blood Brothers, was the Christian undertones it took in its narrative. These moments helped to flesh out the characters, but only once did it feel like the reader was being browbeaten with some ideology. The infusion of realistic Christian characters was a pleasant surprise, especially considering that their beliefs did help to guide their actions in this taut, legal thriller. It even went so far as to provide a contrast to some of the less scrupulous characters, thus making it an easy choice on who to root for during the trial. At the very least, it wasn’t pushy with its Christian themes, which can sometimes happen when writing to that particular audience.
I really liked the parallel plotlines that helped to expand the story into something more than just a courtroom drama, even if the one centering around the pharmaceutical development was a bit predictable and cliché. Overall, this was a well-written piece with a believable sequence of events, a logical set of conclusions, and an exciting set of twists. I wouldn’t be surprised if something like this were to happen in the real world, since so much of the plot was well-researched and based in facts.
A solid story with plenty of excitement and intrigue, I give Blood Brothers 4.0 stars out of 5.
Emergence
Year: 2016
Author: S.G.D. Singh
Length: 490 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
When I signed up for the giveaway for this book, the cover and title made it sound interesting. Now that I’ve had a chance to read it, I’ll say that it holds a “first” for me. That is, it was the first book I was unable to finish. I just couldn’t get through it. Maybe it’s because I’m not a huge fan of the “Young Adult” genre, but it’s likely due to a lot of nagging issues I found with it. Consequently, I will not give this book a star rating because it would be unfair due to my inability to read it in its entirety.
Aside from the regular, and distracting proofreading and formatting errors, I found the entire story to be quite unbelievable. Sure, the context for these teenagers being so smart and skilled was there, but it was merely an excuse to write teenagers who were essentially just adults. I will also add to this that, if there’s a checklist for everything that could be considered “Young Adult”, then this book checked every single box. I’d probably describe it as an Indian version of Harry Potter, with Hunger Games weapons, and Twilight monsters. Maybe a story like this would appeal to someone, but it certainly didn’t appeal to me.
Of course, I suffered through quite a bit of this book to see if it ever got any better. I only made it half-way through, and I could honestly say that nothing really happened in that span of time. There were plenty of (quite large) sections that could have been cut out completely and the main idea of the story would have remained. The fact that the antagonist wasn’t really introduced at all until nearly half-way through made me constantly wonder “what’s the point of this story, anyway?” I also found the constant references to “herbal remedies and drinks” was more obnoxious and annoying than it was informative. I also might have gotten more out of this book if I understood Indian culture better, but as it is, I felt like this book was trying to explain this culture at every single turn. If it’s any indication of its ability to teach me about this culture, I know no more now than when I started reading.
A book that could have stood another few passes from an editor, I cannot give Emergence: The Infernal Guard – Book 1 a rating.
Double Share
Year: 2008
Author: Nathan Lowell
Length: 308 pages
Much like Half Share overcompensated for Quarter Share’s naïveté, I found Double Share to take an extreme stance on the dynamic of a ship’s crew. This stance was practically diametrically opposed to the crew of Ishmael Wang’s first crew aboard the Lois McKendrick. While it might sound like I’m complaining about this, I’m actually lauding Nathan Lowell for finally creating a crew that’s a little more realistic than the idyllic one he used during the first three books in this series. Of course, it would have been nice to intersperse difficult characters throughout the books, instead of having to deal with them all at once, but it is what it is.
Even though the first three books in this series were fairly close together in timeframes, I would have liked a little more detail given to the handful of years dedicated to Wang’s time at the Academy, especially since the end of Full Share made it seem like the four characters headed to the Academy would certainly have some stories to tell. As it is, we definitely get to see Wang’s talent as a Third Mate on the William Tinker, since nobody on board seems to be lithe to “rock the boat,” so to speak. Clearly, his time in the Academy merely accentuated that life on the Lois McKendrick was the gold standard to shoot for.
Part of me has really enjoyed this series as we follow Ishmael’s journey from landlubber to experienced spacer since it somewhat parallels my own quick rise to my current position at work. His “trial by fire” in Double Share might have definitely broken any lesser man, but Wang showed he has what it takes to turn a ship around. His methods might be gradual, but they are certainly effective.
An extreme case of a deplorable crew, I give Double Share 4.5 stars out of 5.
Jason Bourne
Year: 2016
Rating: PG-13
Length: 123 minutes / 2.05 hours
Back in 2002, The Bourne Identity redefined not only the action film aesthetic but the modern spy thriller as well. While some elements of the Bourne films have been good for action films, others are now trite and cliché. If you were to break down the “Bourne formula”, these four elements could be used to make any action film in the “Bourne-style”:
Because the Bourne films are so formulaic, I found Jason Bourne (2016) to be no different. That being said, the film was still a fun and intense ride to watch. Now nine years later from the last in the “true” Bourne storyline (we’ll just forget that The Bourne Legacy (2012) happened), technology has vastly improved, making this film seem more like a crossover of James Bond and Person of Interest. This, I feel, was Jason Bourne’s strength. Casting the incomparable Alicia Vikander (hot in her burgeoning career), was a smart choice and made this film enter the “new era of espionage.”
Furthermore, including the subplot focusing on technological privacy pulled straight from our current events helped to pin this film into the collective popular culture in which we now live, instead of just being a series of chases in foreign lands. I also appreciated the inclusion of some semblance of a plot in this film, as it felt like Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) had not gotten very many answers in the last three films. At least this time around we learn something about him and his motivation; since the amnesiac super-soldier archetype can really only go so far.
Another great Bourne film with a contemporary twist, I give Jason Bourne 4.0 stars out of 5.
Full Share
Year: 2008
Author: Nathan Lowell
Length: 300 pages
It may have taken three books to get there, but this is the story I was expecting from the start of this series. Full of action, romance, uncertain futures, and career advancement, Nathan Lowell’s Full Share takes full advantage of the setup provided in the previous two books of the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper series. Almost acting as a capstone to a trilogy, this novel wraps up Ishmael Wang’s time on the Louis McKendrick as it sets him up to reach even higher in his career. Each piece of the plot set in place is shown to be significant as the story reaches an exciting midpoint.
All qualms I had of Lowell’s previous books in this series have been ably dispelled through this book. While Quarter Share lacked in the excitement of real ship emergencies and romantic subplots, Full Share gives ample helpings of critical problems and social setups. Now that Ishmael’s manhood has been proven in Half Share, the focus of his love life is now an accompaniment to a well-rounded series of events instead of the defining element of the plot. Lowell manages to do all this while making the first-person narrative natural and realistic, a trait shared by all books in the series so far.
While I did notice it some in the previous books in the series, I have to say that the repartee of the crew of the Lois McKendrick has been a joy to read and listen to (Lowell himself is an incredibly able narrator of his own material). Even the minor characters have a depth and well-rounded nature that I feel is rare in many science fiction stories. I look forward to the remaining half of this series, especially if it’s as good as this book was. The Golden Age of the Solar Clipper series is rapidly becoming one of my favorites and should be a “must-read” for anyone interested in realistic science fiction.
A fantastic midpoint to an incredibly engaging series, I give Full Share 5.0 stars out of 5.
How Then Shall We Live?
Year: 2015
Author: Stephanie Rodda
Length: 146 pages
The book with a question that’s practically answered from page one is as close as one could ever come to an “apocalyptic utopia” story. As a Christian, I understand the power of what God can do, but I also understand that some things come with His timing. In this book, each time a challenge arises, God seems to step in immediately and solve it, which really detracts from any thematic tension that could be present. Nothing really ever gets to the point where there’s an unbearable hardship because then it would seem like God isn’t instantly answering the characters’ prayers.
Then there’s the characters. While I understand from reading the “study questions” at the end that these are based somewhat on real people, I found the characters in this book to be flat, cookie-cutter versions of ideal Christians. They didn’t feel human to me at all. I’d expect people in their situation to be more frustrated and hopeless than they actually were. A single moment of the mother’s wavering faith should have happened more often, especially if her prayers weren’t answered on the spot (as I mentioned before). Maybe it’s just the lifestyle of rural people I don’t connect with, because the homeschooled family of seven adopted children seems to be what’s preached as the “ideal Christian life” sometimes. Of course, I can’t say that I really agree with The Message translation of the Bible either (as it’s used a few times throughout).
After having read this book, I can honestly say that it probably isn’t going to convert anyone to Christianity. In fact, as a Christian, I found it to be a bit too preachy, even if it’s preaching to the choir. I would hate for someone to turn to it, looking for advice on how to get through their own struggles, only to find that the world really doesn’t work as perfectly as it does in this story. Along with all my previous qualms, the inconsistent formatting really took me out of the story a bit too often as well (indented vs. not indented and extra line vs. not extra line all smashed together in a single book).
An idyllic view of a generic and non-descript apocalypse, I give How Then Shall We Live? 1.5 stars out of 5.
Half Share
Year: 2007
Author: Nathan Lowell
Length: 252 pages
Well . . . that escalated quickly. In the previous book of the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper series, I found the plot to be engaging and well-paced, despite the naïveté of the main protagonist. Ishmael Wong seemed to be a bit lacking in his romantic knowledge, sometimes oblivious of obvious euphemisms. For a kid of only 18 who really only spent time with his mother, I can understand how he might not know these things. It was the one thing I found a little unbelievable in Quarter Share, but boy did Half Share make up for it.
Some of the plot felt a little formulaic and procedural by this point in the saga, which was good in the sense that it continued the realism and engagement of its predecessor. However, this also meant that there wasn’t as much progression of the sub-plots and minor characters like there was in Quarter Share. This book was definitely about Ishmael. In fact, it seemed like a large section was devoted to his “awakening” as a man. And this is where I felt the tone of the book swung way too far in the other direction.
For a character who was a bit embarrassed in “romantic”-type situations in the first book to suddenly flip a switch and be a suave player with the maturity and cunning of an experienced ladies-man bedding women much higher than his current pay grade felt like an overcompensation for the weakness of his character in Quarter Share. Granted, it was a necessary transition and development for the character, but I suppose I would have liked a more gradual transition to show his growth. Plus, since it seemed like much of this book was focused on his newfound manliness, there wasn’t much room for anything else than a new crewmate who had been abused on her home planet, leaving me wanting a bit more.
A well-written story that overcompensated for its predecessor’s weaknesses, I give Half Share 3.5 stars out of 5.
Colorado Springs Philharmonic
Conductor: Josep Caballé Domenech
Date: October 29, 2016
As someone who has only seen a smattering of Star Trek episodes and movies, I wasn’t sure what to expect for this night of orchestrated music. Up until about Deep Space 9, I could recognize the opening themes for the different series, but anything after that would be new to me. I am a fan of a few of the early Star Trek films, as well as a few of the reboot ones (not Beyond, though), but only the newer ones have captivated me musically. Of course, that’s probably because I enjoy the musical stylings of Michael Giacchino.
While I can understand the heavier reliance on the music from the Star Trek movies, due to their ease of orchestration, the music from some of the episodes was equally as moving. This consistency and range really drove home that Star Trek isn’t about the action for which Star Wars is best known, but more about the exploration and human (or alien) emotional elements that bring us all together as citizens of the vast universe. Perhaps this is what makes it so relatable to its fans.
What really struck me about this collection of Star Trek songs was the common energy and atmosphere they all seemed to possess. I had never sat down and listened to the themes from each of the different Star Trek series, but I noticed that they all share the feeling of adventure brought forth in the brass section of the orchestra. What was even more interesting was recognizing similar musical motifs in some of the earlier movie scores that have been modified and adopted into some of the reboot scores. Needless to say, the spirit of Star Trek was present in all stages and interpretations of its 50-year saga.
Suicide Squad
Year: 2016
Rating: PG-13
Length: 123 minutes / 2.05 hours
Perhaps the most controversial film of this summer, Suicide Squad (2016) tells a story that is necessary to highlight the eventual superhero team of the Justice League (2017). While I am aware of the real-life drama surrounding the film, including Jared Leto’s method acting, director David Ayer’s uncouth comments, and the fandom’s revulsion of its negative critical reception, I will try and give an unbiased review here. After all, sometimes the greatest art can stand apart from the artists who create it. Decades from now, most will have forgotten the controversy, resorting to Wikipedia for a reminder.
In the realm of superhero films, the motif has always been a dichotomy of extremes. Good vs. evil. In reality, things aren’t nearly as clear-cut as this. Sure, there are those who do wrong and those who do right, but each side will have their own motivations. What Suicide Squad does is break down the stereotype of the villain. No longer are they purely the psychotic mayhem-inducing individuals who seek world domination. Through this film, we see that the driving force behind these villains is plain and simple. Human, even. It’s love. Love drives Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) to endure the Joker’s abusive relationship. Love motivates Deadshot (Will Smith) to do whatever it takes to see his daughter. They are human, flaws and all.
Now, I do agree that the plot was confusing at times and the objectives of the team didn’t usually make sense, but perhaps the biggest weakness of this film was due to the number of characters. With a two-hour runtime, it’s difficult to get into the full backstory of everyone in the Squad. It’s clear that Deadshot and Harley Quinn are the stars of the show, but there are a few surprises, especially with El Diablo (Jay Hernandez). In an Avengers-esque film like this one, it would have been nice to give each villain their own standalone film before bringing them together, so I suppose we’ll just have to wait for any sequels to flesh out the other characters instead.
A good balance to hero-centric films like The Avengers and Justice League, I give Suicide Squad 3.0 stars out of 5.
42
Year: 2013
Rating: PG-13
Length: 128 minutes / 2.13 hours
In today’s charged racial climate, it seems that we haven’t come that far from the 1940’s. All the barriers that have been broken to allow equal opportunities to everyone don’t seem to matter if the heart of the people has not been changed. Needless to say, several films have been made in the last few years which have highlighted the racial struggles of the pioneers in their respective professions. Initially, I was skeptical that 42 (2013) would devolve into your standard “fight against racism” story, but the expert camerawork, peppy pacing, and superb casting really made this movie for me.
Having played baseball myself up through my senior year in high school, the appeal of a story about the game is what initially piqued my interest. The fact that this is a story about one of the most recognizable names in baseball was merely icing on the cake. There have been a number of baseball films over the years, and I feel this one is probably one of the better ones because it focused on the skill of the player. After all, the whole reason Robinson (Chadwick Boseman) was given a shot was because he could win games with his talents, not because he was white.
Yes, this film does focus heavily on the struggle of being the first to break through the race barrier, but it’s done in such a way that you can feel the strength of Robinson’s character each time he is insulted. Not to mention the fact that this movie also highlights the fact that he was a loving husband and father, which helps make this quite the uplifting film. The other side of the uplifting coin is the superb acting talent of Harrison Ford (it took me almost half the movie to recognize him under those bushy eyebrows the first time I saw this film). His character’s homespun, faith-based approach to life left me feeling quite inspired.
A fantastic film about courage, determination, and family, I give 42 4.5 stars out of 5.
I’m not really sure how this book got into my Kindle collection. I think it might have been from a time that I saw someone on Facebook post about a free e-book and I just downloaded it because the title seemed interesting. Now that I’m getting around to reading these books, I’m finding them to be a little outside the norm for what I like to read. That’s not to say I’m against reading anything in the “New Adult” or “Urban Fantasy” genres, it’s just that I wouldn’t choose them first if I had a selection in front of me.
Of course, I can see that the popularity of strong and independent female heroines in the YA and NA genres have definitely spawned a number of authors who want to capitalize on this trend, and this book is no different. That being said, most of my qualms with this book lie with the characters. The majority of the characters seemed quite flat and sometimes just reacted irrationally in order to manufacture conflict. Of the one or two characters who were more fleshed out, who were, fortunately, the two main characters, I felt that the heroine could have had more skills carry over from the present day into her time travels.
Aside from a few moments here and there where I wasn’t quite sure what was going on, the plot was pretty straightforward and solid. Of course, this applies to the main plot, as the subplot featuring the heroine’s father felt underdeveloped (even though I really wanted to know about his adventures). Granted, this is a limitation of the first-person POV, but it would have been nice to intersperse a bit with his time travels to provide a contrast to the clearly more powerful main character. I also would have liked some more explanation on the mechanism of the “lightning riding,” but from what I gathered of the synopsis of the second book in this series, that will be explained in greater detail later on.
A generic Young Adult novel with a pretty engaging plot, I give Lightning Rider 3.0 stars out of 5.
Colorado Springs Philharmonic
Conductor: Josep Caballé Domenech
Date: October 23, 2016
Symphonic Overture “America, The Beautiful”
Wang Jie
Another of the commissioned pieces for the 90th season of the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, this Symphonic Overture was written as a fugue to evoke the silhouetted profile of “America’s mountain” – Pike’s Peak. As a mountain climber myself, I could hear the rising melodies that brought the listener to the top of this iconic mountain, but I had a hard time determining if the piece ended at the apex of Pike’s Peak (which it sounded like it did), or if it completed the whole profile of the silhouette. Nevertheless, it was a fitting tribute to the song it was honoring and another great first performance.
Concerto in B minor for Cello and Orchestra
Antonín Dvořák
I’m a fan of Dvorak. One of my most favorite pieces of all time (if not the most favorite overall) is by him, so I was definitely looking forward to this piece. Seeing as the Cello Concerto was written around the same time as his 9th Symphony (the aforementioned favorite piece of mine), there were certainly a number of common themes present in the Concerto. As the Cello leads the rest of the orchestra in a bit of a “repeat after me” for the first and second movements, we eventually get to the penultimate movement, and the most famous part of this piece: Finale: Allegro moderato – Andante – Allegro vivo. While the previous two segments of this piece weren’t much to write home about, the finale is full of its famous life and vigor. This was the part I immediately recognized, and it was a joy to hear it performed live. Now I just have to wait until the spring when the Philharmonic plays Dvorak’s 9th Symphony.
Symphony No. 2 in D major
Johannes Brahms
If I were to order these two pieces, I probably would have put the Cello Concerto after Brahms’ second symphony, mainly because I’d want the audience to stay awake. While I was readily familiar with the last movement of the Dvorak piece, Brahms’ second symphony was a piece I haven’t really heard before. What adds to the “falling asleep” thought is the riff that runs through the first movement of the piece. It was very similar to the iconic “lullaby” tune, and thus gave the piece a bit of a sleepy undertone. But maybe that’s what Brahms was going for, seeing as the whole symphony feels like the musical equivalent of a lazy summer day. From a nap in the morning sun to a casual stroll through the forest to a horseback ride along a river, the one bit of excitement of this symphony seemed to come in a sudden storm late in the afternoon (at least that’s how I interpreted the fourth movement, “Allegro con spirito”). It has been said that it took Brahms fourteen years to write his first symphony and mere months to write his second, but part of me thinks he should have spent a little more time on it.
Paint Your Wagon
Year: 1969
Rating: PG-13
Length: 166 minutes / 2.77 hours
My first exposure to the musical western that is Paint Your Wagon (1969) was from the 9th season clip show of The Simpsons entitled “All Singing, All Dancing.” In the episode, Bart and Homer are looking forward to a shoot-’em-up western with Clint Eastwood and Lee Marvin. Instead, they are shocked to find that the film is actually a musical. While the actual film itself did not contain any of the bits from The Simpsons, part of me wished it did . . . or at least an explanation as to why the title is Paint Your Wagon. Needless to say, I knew going into this film that it was going to be a musical, and I was prepared for that.
One does wonder if the musical hides topics and themes that aren’t really that appropriate in a non-musical setting. I’m not sure this film was comedic enough to have polygamy, greed, and debauchery as its main themes without interspersing some songs throughout for buffer. I do know that this film wouldn’t be almost three hours long if it was missing its songs. Case in point, the George Bernard Shaw play, Pygmalion (1938) is only 90 minutes, whereas the exact same plot that appears in My Fair Lady (1964) is three hours long.
I do admit that I was shocked to find Clint Eastwood had such a lovely singing voice, but it wasn’t nearly enough to save this film for me. One or two of the songs were memorable (“They Call the Wind Maria” and “Wand’rin’ Star” in particular), but I don’t think they justify a whole film. Part of me almost thinks, if you want a western-themed musical, you might be better off with The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982) or (even better) Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954). As for me, I think I’ll stick with the version presented in The Simpsons for now.
Not your standard Clint Eastwood western, I give Paint Your Wagon 2.0 stars out of 5.
Live Right and Find Happiness (Although Beer is Much Faster)
Year: 2015
Author: Dave Barry
Length: 240 pages
I grew up on the humor writings of Dave Barry. Each week I’d take his humor column to school and read it to my friends during my lunch break, laughing at his comedic style and funny topics. Consequently, I found myself enthralled by his books, each one leaving me in stitches due to his observational humor of the weird world around us (or at least around Miami, Florida). I was saddened when he decided to retire from writing these weekly humor columns. As such, each time he releases a new book full of his writings (mainly essays now), I usually pick it up out of habit.
While I can usually blow through one of Dave Barry’s books in a couple hours, I’m finding that I’m not nearly as amused as I used to be. It could be that I’ve grown up a bit and no longer find boogers as funny as I once did, but I think the issue lies at a deeper level of Dave’s writing. Where his previous books written during his heyday were all essentially centered around a common theme (Cyberspace, Japan, Aging, Home Repair, etc.) recently his books have been whatever he’s done most recently. The problem this creates is that each of the individual essays of the book is disjointed from all the other ones.
Essentially, even though it would mean a much longer hiatus from Mr. Barry’s humorous writing, I would enjoy his “themed” essay collections more than the ones he’s put forward in most recent three books. In fact, he could probably categorize them into three different books about international travel, teenage daughters, and current homeland topics. As it is right now, I’ll probably still buy Dave Barry’s books, but I’m not laughing as much as I used to.
Another adequate collection of humorous essays by Dave Barry, I give Live Right and Find Happiness 3.0 stars out of 5.
Superman Returns
Year: 2006
Rating: PG-13
Length: 154 minutes / 2.57 hours
Technically the fifth in the Superman franchise that started in the late 1970’s, Superman Returns feels a bit like the black sheep of the bunch. There’s a sense that it’s just tacked on to try and capitalize on some of the popularity of superhero films, in part because of the director’s previous successes with other superheroes. Part of me thinks that Bryan Singer should have directed the third X-Men film instead of this movie; since he clearly knew what he was doing with that Marvel property. But what really gets me about this film is the way it “plays to the audience.”
If you ask diehard fans of two of the most iconic fandoms what their absolute least favorite film is in their canon, you’ll get some telling answers. For Star Wars fans, it’s Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999) and for Star Trek fans, it’s Into Darkness (2013). But why do they hate these films, even though they love the franchise? It’s because the fans were catered to by the producers. They were given everything they “love” about their franchise, but because it was done as a calculated effort and not as a natural occurrence, the effect ended up being quite the opposite.
In Superman Returns, we find all the Superman tropes in full force, almost like the producers put them in there on purpose. You can’t go ten minutes in this film without Clark Kent (Brandon Routh) ripping his shirt open to show the signature “S” underneath, or people bickering about birds and planes. Let’s not even get into how fake the blue contacts made our eponymous hero’s eyes look (it was almost as distracting as The Daily Planet being set in Frank Lloyd Wright’s Johnson Wax building). The one saving grace of this whole film was definitely Lex Luthor, played by a scenery-chewing Kevin Spacey.
An addition to a franchise that should have ended with Christopher Reeve, I give Superman Returns 2.5 stars out of 5.
Francesca Da Rimini
Composer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Year: 1876
Back when I was in college, I would go to the Denver Philharmonic and attend the lectures given before the piece was played. This allowed me to get some background on the piece before I listened to it being played by the orchestra of musicians. It was in these lectures where I learned that Beethoven’s 5th Symphony started with morse code for the letter “V”, signifying “victory.” Overall, these lectures gave me a greater understanding of the piece of music so that I could appreciate it on a deeper level. Sometimes all it takes is a bit of a history lesson to bring out the “aha” moments when listening to a piece of music.
Through a multimedia production, the Colorado Springs Philharmonic has gone above and beyond in expanding my understanding of the Tchaikovsky piece Francesca Da Rimini. In their presentation, I realized that the composers of bygone eras were able to bring the stories of literature to life through their music. Tchaikovsky did this a number of times with Romeo and Juliet perhaps being his most recognizable. The background on Tchaikovsky’s personal life helped to give a sense of what he was going through when he composed Francesca Da Rimini. I did not know that there was a piece of music that so expertly captured the first few moments of The Divine Comedy until I heard this piece.
Through the Philharmonic’s presentation, I gained a deeper understanding of the sections of the piece. If you told me that Francesca Da Rimini was based on an early section of Dante’s Inferno, I would have definitely been able to pick out the descent into hell, as well as the wind that swept the damned souls of the second level through the air for eternity. These elements of the piece were clear. However, I would not have known that Francesca was represented by the clarinet, or the lovers’ theme was played by violins exactly one octave apart. The music Tchaikovsky composed for this tragic tale is certainly filled with impact, emotion, and vivid imagery. If you ever get a chance to learn more about this piece, please do!
Finding Dory
Year: 2016
Rating: PG
Length: 97 minutes / 1.62 hours
As is the case with the rest of Hollywood right now, Pixar is cashing in on the nostalgia factor of their previous films. Just like Monsters University (2013) before it, Finding Dory (2016) brings together the same team of voice actors who brought their respective originals to life more than a decade ago. And while this sequel was more akin to the likes of Toy Story 2 (1999), the amount of time between the two films really gives Pixar the chance to show off how much the power of computers has advanced in that time.
Unfortunately, while the visual style has been drastically updated, the plot has not. In its purest essence, Finding Dory is just like Finding Nemo (2003): a fish separated from its parent tries to find their way back home while the parent does everything in their power to find their child. I would have liked a bit more originality from Pixar, but lately that hasn’t been the case (I’m more inclined to think Disney now holds this distinction). Now, while the plot seemed derivative, the undertones were much darker than before. Some segments are downright scary, but not just because of the creatures lurking in the deep.
I will applaud Pixar for bringing to light the struggles of mental illness to a generation of children (and adults) who might not understand the challenges of living with a mind that doesn’t quite work the way it should. Even if it was done in parody, I actually partially agree with The Onion’s review of this film, since it shows the amount of trouble Marlin (Albert Brooks) has to go through just to care for Dory (Ellen DeGeneres), who cannot really care for herself. The voice of this new generation of children is embodied in Nemo (Hayden Rolence), who preaches acceptance of Dory’s “differentness” instead of trying to get her to conform to the world around her. Fortunately, this heavy subject was punctuated with moments of levity and humor (also with disabilities as the butt of the joke) that made it less depressing than it could have been.
A visually stunning piece from Pixar that merely re-hashes the journey of the original, I give Finding Dory 3.5 stars out of 5.
Ulysses
Year: 1922
Author: James Joyce
Length: 1,797 minutes / 29.95 hours
OK, I’ll be the first to admit that perhaps the audiobook version of this story isn’t the best way to digest it. While I did appreciate the Irish accent of the man who read this book, there really wasn’t much of a chance to re-read sections that were quite confusing. As a result, I have no idea what this book is about or what it was supposed to convey. I had a loose understanding that it was based on Homer’s The Odyssey, which helped make a few connections here and there, but I honestly can’t say that this parallel between the plots of the two stories is obvious at all.
Perhaps the weakness I perceive in this story is due to its status as one of the great pieces of modernist literature. If that’s the case, then I’ll admit that I don’t understand modernist literature at all. None of it made any sense at all. I would almost wager, at times, that Joyce was merely paid by the word, thus explaining the numerous times he just listed off the names of people, synonyms of words, or just rambled on until he made a couple extra shillings. Of course, it could be that I expected a story to be present instead of a loose string of poetic and complicated words. Maybe that’s the link it shares with The Odyssey: both are epic poems (but for my money, I’d read The Odyssey again in a heartbeat instead of this).
This is also not to mention the controversial topics that Joyce covers in this book. From sex to religion and back to sex again, I wouldn’t say I agree with his opinions on anything. For years I’ve heard that this is one of the great stories of literature, but I can’t say I’m impressed. None of it was particularly inspiring (the parts that made any sense, that is) and if he had a point to make, it was lost on me. Again, I might get more out of Ulysses if I was able to read it instead of listening to it, but as it stands I don’t have any interest in reading this lengthy piece of nothingness after having had to listen to it.
A disappointing and confusing piece of “literature”, I give Ulysses 1.0 stars out of 5.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Year: 2013
Rating: PG
Length: 114 minutes / 1.9 hours
Let me start by saying that I was skeptical to go see this film, mainly because it starred Ben Stiller. Given his track record of “comedies,” I found myself avoiding his films just because I knew that they’d be crude and not the type of comedy I would enjoy. Much in the same way I was surprised by Will Ferrell in Stranger than Fiction (2006), The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013) was a pleasant surprise. I don’t know if it’s because he also directed this film, but I truly enjoyed it on many levels, both as a lover of movies and a lover of photography.
The strength of this film lies in its imagery and presentation. The beauty of our world and the way it’s captured in the travels of a man coming out of his shell is truly inspiring. I can honestly say I haven’t seen a film nearly this encouraging in quite a while. As someone who often struggles to find the courage to try new things or break out of my tried-and-true routines, I can confirm that the daydreaming fantasies of those lacking confidence are merely the coping mechanisms of introverts too scared to risk failure, thus inevitably missing out on the fantastic adventures this world has to offer.
But even the message to get out and experience the world is tempered by the reminder to truly be “in the moment.” Each time I watch this film, I cry every time the world-famous photographer lets the perfect picture pass him by, merely so he can be fully present in the experience of the moment. I have taken these “snow leopard moments” to heart, embracing the ability to enjoy a special time without having to document it for social media. Oh, and on a final side note: what cellular service does Walter Mitty have? I ask because the calls he got in the Himalayas were crystal clear!
A fantastic film that embraces the “everyman” and the endless possibilities of our world, I give The Secret Life of Walter Mitty 5.0 stars out of 5.
Quarter Share
Year: 2007
Author: Nathan Lowell
Length: 250 pages
In a genre that often relies too much on inventing new and spectacular foreign worlds, Nathan Lowell’s Quarter Share certainly has a down-to-earth feel. There were a number of times reading this book where I had to remind myself they were sailing through deep space, and not across the Pacific Ocean. That being said, Quarter Share is an incredibly immersive look into the life of a lowly sailor who has the gumption to make something of himself. The realism of the setting and situations certainly makes this science fiction story quite believable.
I do have to laud this book with the ability to be as close to wholesome as one can be without the entire plot being labeled “childish”. Unfortunately, this also ends up being one of my main qualms with it. Most of the characters don’t really have any flaws and the conflicts and situations that would arise from being together for long periods of time are nearly non-existent. In fact, while it was briefly mentioned as being a ship with strict “fraternization” policies, I was surprised that there wasn’t more exploration of the romantic aspects of the crew, especially due to its co-ed status.
Furthermore, the innocence and naïveté of the main character, Ishmael Wang, was a good way for the reader to become accustomed to the routines and rigors of life on a ship, but it left Wang feeling a bit flat as a character and not quite as well rounded as I would have expected given the circumstances. However, the strength, relatability, and pace of the story, despite having no discernable main conflict or antagonist, is so excellent that I look forward to eventually reading the rest of the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper series when I can get my hands on it.
A solid piece of realistic science fiction, I give Quarter Share 4.0 stars out of 5.
Hail, Caesar!
Year: 2016
Rating: PG-13
Length: 106 minutes / 1.77 hours
I like movies as much as the next connoisseur of film, but clearly the Coen Brothers like them more than I do. Specifically, they like the films made during the “golden age” of Hollywood: the 1950’s. From action-packed westerns, to Biblical epics, to underwater choreography, to big-budget musicals, these films exemplified a Hollywood that was on top of its game. Unfortunately, as is the case with any great success, it can be hard to maintain over time. In what could be considered a “love letter” to a Hollywood of the past, the Coen Brothers bring all these films together in Hail, Caesar! (2016).
While I could appreciate the references made throughout this film, many of them felt quite disjointed. Sure, there’s the tie-in to real-life Hollywood fixer, Eddie Mannix (Josh Brolin), but he merely acts as a link between scenes of grandeur meant to show how well the Coen Brothers can follow the homages of the famous films they’re parodying. In fact, some of these segments are almost uncomfortably long, with little point other than to show off a well-known genre or style (or to beat a joke to death). As a result, the pacing of this film feels quite staggered and the plot on the light side.
Admittedly, Hail, Caesar! is fun, with some good bits interspersed throughout. The “red scare” starting to gain relevance in the timeframe leads to quite a bit of comedy, the meeting to ensure nobody is “offended” is hilarious, and even some of the film segments are amusing as well. We do get to Channing Tatum’s singing and dancing skills on full display in this film, but it’s hardly enough to save it from itself. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciated what the Coen Brothers were trying to do here (and it wasn’t necessarily to poke fun at Ben-Hur (1959)), but it never felt coherent enough to be good.
Working more as a history lesson in film than a straight-up comedy, I give Hail, Caesar! 2.5 stars out of 5.
Star Trek Beyond
Year: 2016
Rating: PG-13
Length: 122 minutes / 2.03 hours
First off, I want to admit that I am more of a Star Wars fan than a Star Trek fan. As a result, I have enjoyed the first two of the Star Trek reboot titles because they are structured more like a Star Wars film than a Star Trek one. Of course, this may also be due to my bias toward J.J. Abrams and everything that he directs. For this third installment in the reboot series, we no longer have Abrams, but rather Justin Lin (known for the Fast & Furious franchise). Maybe because of this, I didn’t really think this film stood up to the previous two.
Sure, there were segments that I thought were interesting and deep, but they were merely bookends in a confusing hodgepodge of action and “buddy up” subplots. I appreciated the beginning, with its humanizing narrative that made sense for the captain’s current state of affairs. This examination of Kirk’s (Chris Pine) doubt would have been nice to delve into, but it was interrupted by the “inciting incident” that results in the crew being split up on an alien planet with no ship to their name. Of the pairs of characters who were stranded together, Bones (Karl Urban) and Spock (Zachary Quinto) was clearly the best set, since both are polar opposites when it comes to their beliefs and worldviews (Scotty’s (Simon Pegg) sub-plot was pretty OK as well).
If I were to pinpoint the major flaw in this film, it’s that nothing really happened. Sure, there was plenty of action, a clear enemy, and a goal of survival that made sense, but it just felt like everything could have been condensed down into a thirty-minute episode instead of a 2-hour movie. Because of Kirk’s introduction, there was no twist. Everything was just kind of procedural and it lacked the excitement of anything deeper than its flashy special effects.
For a film that touts going “Beyond”, this movie ended up just being more of the same. I give Star Trek Beyond 3.0 stars out of 5.
Limelight
Year: 1952
Rating: Approved
Length: 137 minutes / 2.28 hours
While it is rare to find a film by/starring Charlie Chaplin that isn’t uproariously funny, the depth of the drama of this piece certainly shows the range everyone’s favorite silent actor could perform. Chaplin will always have the little idiosyncracies in the way he moves, but when they’re applied to a washed-up drunk, suddenly they take a much more serious turn. Films like The Dictator (1940) and Monsieur Verdoux (1947) certainly have their amusing moments, but work better as social commentaries, or at least are more direct about their message than the earlier films like The Gold Rush (1925), City Lights (1931), and Modern Times (1936).
What’s really interesting about Limelight is it feels almost as autobiographical as it does groundbreaking. I mean, if we were to name one famous actor who excelled at playing a “tramp”, Chaplin is the only one who would come to mind (although Buster Keaton, who also appears in the film, might come close). The fact that Calvero (Chaplin) was famous for the same schtick, and now he finds himself irrelevant perhaps speaks to Chaplin’s alienation in Hollywood due to his outspoken opinions on world politics at the time. But what speaks to the audience the most is the flawed nature of the characters. One is a psychosomatic depressed ballerina, the other a textbook alcoholic comedian struggling to find relevance.
There have been a number of recent films which have tried to do a similar plot to Limelight justice, and each has taken their own spin on it. From The Artist (2011) and its silent film star pushed out of the spotlight by the technological advancement of “talking pictures” to Birdman: or the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance (2015) with its alcoholic, washed-up actor searching to remake himself in spite of his past success, neither fully captures what Charlie Chaplin could in Limelight.
Not a Chaplin film you’d expect, but a superb dramatic piece nonetheless, I give Limelight 4.5 stars out of 5.
Colorado Springs Philharmonic
Conductor: Josep Caballé Domenech
Date: September 17, 2016
This year, my wife and I decided to go to the symphony more. With this year being the 90th anniversary of the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, they pulled out all the stops and have a great lineup. As a result, we ended up essentially getting season tickets. While it’s difficult for me to really “review” pieces of music like these, since they’ve been around for a long time, I’ll merely give my impressions on the following set from the first event of the 90th season of the Colorado Springs Philharmonic. Some of these impressions come in the form of stories, so if you get a chance to listen to these pieces, read along and hopefully you’ll get what I’m trying to convey through the piece.
For Spacious Skies
Anthony DiLorenzo
Having never been to a “World Premiere” of a song before, this was quite a treat. The Philharmonic commissioned a number of pieces based on “America the Beautiful” for this season, and this was the first one to be played. DiLorenzo definitely has talent as a composer, as this piece was cinematic in scale and sound. While the piece isn’t long (only about 5 minutes), it hits every patriotic emotion conveyed in the original song. The visuals the song evoked in my mind were quite sweeping and followed its namesake to a tee. Imagine you’re a bird flying above the Appalachian Mountains, gliding through the air as you head west. The beauty of America’s breadbasket comes into view as you soar into the midwest, the well-known tune of “America the Beautiful” now emphasizing your journey. Upon reaching the Rocky Mountains, you follow various deer and elk up and over to the other side, where you finally reach the west coast. Gliding down south, the salty air fluttering your wings, you eventually come upon the metropolis that man has built. Weaving through tall buildings, you look below and see the men and women of America, going about their business and living their lives full of the freedom this country allows them.
Piano Concerto in F major
George Gershwin
While this piece was definitely Gershwin, it was nice to hear him focus on other parts of the orchestra other than just the piano. Of course, because it was one of his earlier works doing so, it still feels a little rough and more “jazz-like” than his other, more piano-centric pieces. Charlie Albright performed admirably on the piano, but the piece really didn’t stand out to me that much. This was also probably due to Albright’s encore of a playful and fun interpretation of Mozart’s “Turkish March”.
Symphonic Dances
Sergey Rachmaninoff
The main focus of the evening, Rachmaninoff’s “Symphonic Dances” definitely gave a taste of what’s in store for the rest of the 90th season. Once again, my mind painted a story on top of the music, and this is how I’d potentially interpret it with words. In the first part, “Non allegro – Lento – Tempo I (aka “Noon”)”, we meet a man on a mission. He’s a spy and while he goes about his day, deliberately walking through a busy city, eventually the “hustle and bustle” dies down for a moment and the love interest is introduced. Clearly, these two have a history together, but soon it’s back to the mission at hand. In part two, “Adante con moto (Tempo di valse) (aka “Twilight”)”, we meet the antagonist of the story. He is smart and sly and obviously has fun causing mayhem. His strength is definitely manipulation, and you can hear each of his minions marching along to the waltz of his rhythm. As no one has ever opposed him, he happily continues on his path toward world domination. In the finale, “Lento assai – Allegro vivace (aka “Midnight”)”, the two characters finally meet. Conflict is afoot! The antagonist is able to evade capture, if only due to the sultry and seductress nature of the love interest, finally revealed to be a compatriot of the enemy. Gradually, the chase ensues and we find the man on a mission chasing the antagonist across windy rooftops. The two go tete-a-tete with their words as well as with their fists, finally ending with the vanquished villain falling to his demise.
The Martian
Year: 2015
Rating: PG-13
Length: 144 minutes / 2.4 hours
I, for one, am excited that space travel is now a topic regularly covered on the big screen. If the general public becomes even a little bit more interested in interplanetary travel, perhaps I can see man stand on the surface of Mars in my lifetime. The Martian (2015) is merely the latest in a string of space-themed sci-fi movies that brings the excitement of outer space to theaters. While not nearly as continually intense as Gravity (2013), or as epic as Interstellar (2014), what The Martian does right is give a sense of scale to the challenge of returning to Earth from being abandoned on Mars.
Gripping and just humorous enough to keep it from being dour, director Ridely Scott uses many cinematic techniques, including several montages, to tell the story many have already read from Andy Weir’s novel of the same name. While many sequences and scientific explanations were obviously cut for the sake of time, the ones that remain help maintain the ebb and flow of victory and tragedy. Like many films based on books, I saw the movie first before committing to reading the book. After now having read the source material, I can say that each version has its merits, and both are equally as spectacular. Sure, there were some elements I wish were in the film, but that’s why reading the book version is great too: it has “deleted scenes.”
Matt Damon’s portrayal of Mark Watney was spot on, and the rest of the cast certainly did a great job of filling in their respective roles. The pacing was great and the CGI looked incredible. Considering the current array of NASA equipment, the ships and shelters used for a Mars mission certainly seemed realistic in this film, which should help with my aforementioned desire for the general public to become interested in interplanetary travel.
A stupendous film that gives a good visual representation of Andy Weir’s novel, I give The Martian 5.0 stars out of 5.
The Martian
Year: 2014
Author: Andy Weir
Length: 387 pages
What a world we live in! It’s exciting to see a self-published book receive such attention, eventually becoming a New York Times bestseller! Truly, if a writer is talented enough with a good enough story, they can make it in this over-saturated market. And while some of my love for this book comes from my hopes of eventually being “discovered” as a self-published author, most of it comes from my love of scientific realism in fiction. Truly, this is more of a challenge than world-building in a fantasy genre, because in order for it to be believable, it must obey the laws of physics.
But let’s get down to brass tacks here. There is no doubt that Andy Weir did his homework on this book. In fact, some sections almost read like the output section of a very complicated spreadsheet (which I certainly appreciate, on a personal level). Even with the technical detail to keep the story grounded in science, the successive cause-and-effect events that eventually lead to the climax of the story give the reader equal amounts of elation and heartbreak right along with the protagonist, Mark Watney. Still, the problem solving accomplished in this novel merely proves how smart we are as a species today, and how the vast knowledge of the universe has catapulted us into the very realistic scenario portrayed in the pages. In fact, Weir’s methodical approach really gives the reader a scale of how big an operation a trip to (or from) Mars would be.
Even though the science is front and center, the whole reason we read these almost intimate logs of a Martian astronaut is because the characters are so well written. With a humor and spunky attitude that help alleviate his dire situation, Watney almost comes across as a genius “everyman” in that most of his solutions could be arrived at with a little bit of thought and ingenuity. And while the majority of the book centers around Watney’s logs, every minor character has a depth and expertise that helps to propel the story forward.
A fast and fun read full of excitement and ingenious science solutions, I give The Martian 5.0 stars out of 5.
Dirty Harry
Year: 1971
Rating: R
Length: 103 minutes / 1.72 hours
What makes an iconic film? Is it something that has memorable moments and catch phrases? Is it something that stands up against the test of time? Is it something that resonates with us on a deeper level? Whatever it is, I feel Dirty Harry (1971) is certainly an iconic film. Let’s take a look at why this is the case.
First off, there’s the famous monologue about counting. “Do you feel lucky?” completes a tense moment that merely started with a detective’s intuition that something was about to go down. But what make this early scene that much greater is the bookend it creates with the film’s antagonist, Scorpio (Andy Robinson). This isn’t even the only bookend this film has to offer, as the two deaths at either end of the movie end up being submerged in water. Secondly, while the 1970’s seem quite different to our modern styles, something about the culture of the time (especially in San Francisco) really works to offset the “dirty” detective who will do whatever it takes to get his man, even if it means breaking the rules.
Finally, the whole “cat and mouse” between Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood) and Scorpio really drives the film. Sure, there are a few moments interspersed where we see that Harry is still a good cop who cares for the people of San Francisco, despite his harsh exterior, but the game Scorpio has Detective Callahan play (the most intense of which involves getting from one phone booth to another in a limited amount of time) ratchets up the intensity with each “move” they make. Overall, these two characters really make Dirty Harry the fantastic film it is.
A great movie that utilizes all of Clint Eastwood’s squinty-eyed, teeth-gritting performance, I give Dirty Harry 5.0 stars out of 5.
This film appears in the following posts:
Cinema Connections #150. Detective
Cinema Connections #151. Clint Eastwood
Get Smart
Year: 2008
Rating: PG-13
Length: 110 minutes / 1.83 hours
While film adaptations of television shows aren’t new, Get Smart (2008) was certainly in the era when the idea to do so had become popular (even if we’re still trying to forget Bewitched (2005)). What’s nice about Get Smart is that it falls into that “self-aware” category, mainly because the source material (i.e. the 1960’s TV show of the same name) was already self-aware when it came to the “spy” genre made popular by James Bond. Of course, it’s no wonder that the king of parody, Mel Brooks was involved in both the TV show and this film adaptation.
Of course, while the humor was more bathroom-oriented than witty, many of Carell’s lines played off of the amusing nature of taking everything literally. Also, the bumbling nature of his new field agent character, Maxwell Smart, was certainly entertaining (as it is clearly Carell’s forté), even if it was abandoned at times to advance the plot through action. In fact, it did its best to not try and fall into the same old “action movie” genre, even if the end sequence certainly fits that bill. Sometimes the fight scenes seem out of place considering the frequency of Smart’s goof-ups, but they do help keep the character at least somewhat realistic.
Younger audiences will likely not understand some of the nods to the source material. I’ve only seen part of one episode of the original TV show, but even from that limited knowledge, I’d have to say that this film was a close proximity to the original. While it follows almost every one of the tropes of the spy genre (including the attractive woman, of which Anne Hathaway definitely fits the bill), Get Smart doesn’t stand out much more than any other spy parody like The Naked Gun (1988) or Johnny English (2003). At least, as far as TV adaptations go, it wasn’t Bewitched.
No really big laughs, but continuous chuckling throughout, I give Get Smart 3.5 stars out of 5.
Now You See Me 2
Year: 2016
Rating: PG-13
Length: 129 minutes / 2.15 hours
Sometimes the enjoyment of a particular film almost guarantees I’ll go to see the sequel. Now You See Me 2 (2016) is no exception. I really liked Now You See Me (2013) because the genres of “magic” and “heist” merge so easily together. Now three years later, and I certainly looked forward to this sequel, despite not knowing how the plot could advance any further than it had at the end of the first film.
While the sequel did not disappoint, with numerous illusions, plenty of action, and loads of comedy, it felt like it was the same old gimmick as the original. Sure, there was a little more exploration into “the Eye”, but most of the plot of the second film centered on the consequences of the robberies from the first film (almost weighing it down, in my opinion). The addition of Daniel Radcliffe as a winking nod to his Harry Potter character was fun as a reveal, but didn’t offer much in terms of plot development. In fact, I almost liked Woody Harrelson playing twin brothers more, but that’s likely due to the comedic value.
Unfortunately, because Now You See Me 2 focused almost entirely on the background of Agent Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo), I felt it was held back to its full potential. None of the other characters really grew that much, but they were rewarded for working together (after running into a few snags), much like they did in their first appearance on screen. Don’t get me wrong, the formula works for me and I was entertained, but maybe this franchise would have been better served as a TV series instead of a potential film trilogy.
Still enjoyable with the same bag of tricks, I give Now You See Me 2 3.5 stars out of 5.
Now You See Me
Year: 2013
Rating: PG-13
Length: 115 minutes / 1.92 hours
The key to a great heist film comes in three stages: the pledge, the turn, and the prestige. Wait, that’s the key to a great magician’s illusion. Actually, here’s the real trick: both are very similar in structure. Each requires a setup of events which lead to an amazing reveal, followed by an explanation of how the heist/illusion was performed. In Now You See Me (2013), both the heist and magician genres are found to be so closely related that it was nice to see them meld together so well.
In a page ripped straight from Robin Hood, the main characters justify their thievery by stating that their actions are to right the wrongs done to the general public. Of course, when a movie uses CGI to enhance the magic of the actors, it’s just that much more fun to see how they are able to pull off each heist using their skills as magicians. A successful magic act relies a lot on the stage presence of its magician, and the comedy of the “Four Horsemen” certainly helps the levity of the film remain high, even during moments of doubt.
Part of me is a little surprised it has taken this long to combine the heist and magician genres. Sure, there were more character-motivated magician movies like The Illusionist (2006) and The Prestige (2006), but neither of them had the heist angle that Now You See Me does. Plus, with modern technology making traditional magic more difficult to fool an audience, the more advanced magic of the Four Horsemen made this film just that much more enjoyable.
A film full of flash and fun and the requisite number of twists, I give Now You See Me 4.0 stars out of 5.
This film appears in the following posts:
Cinema Connections #139. Investigating Illusions
Cinema Connections #140. Morgan Freeman
Echo of the Boom
Year: 2014
Author: Maxwell Neely-Cohen
Length: 478 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
From the title of this book, I would have expected it to be about the aftermath of an apocalypse-inducing event. If anything Echo of the Boom is a misnomer and the book should be titled Prelude of the Boom. The cover also doesn’t give much into what it’s about, other than the four different points of view which are followed throughout the narrative.
While I did eventually like the book, it took too long to get there (some of the occasional typos didn’t help me get into it either). With the characters’ motivations unclear from the start, it becomes obvious about 150 pages in that nothing is really going to happen in this book. Instead of having any driving force propelling the characters forward, it’s more accurate to describe this book as a nearly 500 page rap battle. Each character has their own track, living their lives the way many teenagers today might (which in itself is a scary thought), but occasionally the tracks mix together albeit briefly and with little perturbation to the individual characters. At least the words the author uses are artistic and articulate, making it fun to read.
Honestly, the very last sentences of this book made me want to read what happens next much more than what had already been written, since it sounded like it was going to be much more interesting than the origin stories of these characters. If the author’s opinions and worldviews weren’t so blatantly obvious through this book, it might have been interesting as a “slice of life” novel, but at least he has something to say (even if it’s regularly redundant). If anything, this book should give parents the motivation to be more actively involved in their teenagers’ lives, lest they end up with the motivation to destroy all systems of authority if for no other reason than pure anarchy.
A rewarding read that takes some getting used to; I give Echo of the Boom 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Legend of Tarzan®
Year: 2016
Rating: PG-13
Length: 110 minutes / 1.83 hours
After watching The Legend of Tarzan®, the one unanswered question I had was, “Why was this film even made?” If this was to cash in on the plethora of live-action reinterpretations of Disney animated films, it might have held closer to that story. If this was to make a point about racism, it was making the wrong point. If this was because it’s a recognizable name with a hunky-looking protagonist, then I think they probably hit the mark.
While the scenery is certainly immersive in this adaptation of an Edgar Rice Burroughs character, much of this film pulled me out of the illusion of the African jungle. Right off the bat, the “registered trademark” that appears after in the title reminds you that there is already plenty of media about Tarzan, and another movie probably doesn’t add to it. Secondly, while a star-studded cast is a good way to get audiences into the theater, the likes of Samuel L. Jackson, Christoph Waltz, and Margo Robbie didn’t seem to be portraying their characters as much as they were just themselves in period-accurate clothing. Finally, the CGI of the animals fell into the “uncanny valley” for me, none of them seeming realistic or even interacting with the characters at all.
Since this was not an “origin story” film, the flashbacks to fill in the backstory, being disjointed in nature, felt like they took away from the flow of the plot. That’s not to mention that the plot (and any of its sub-plots) felt contrived and cliché. Furthermore, in a day and age filled with racial tension and strife, having a white man come in and save the day while at the same time physically beating up on Africans felt a little bit too culturally insensitive to not say anything about it.
Another mindless summer movie with nothing new to offer, I give The Legend of Tarzan® 2.0 stars out of 5.
Road to Morocco
Year: 1942
Rating: Not Rated
Length: 82 minutes / 1.37 hours
It’s unfortunate that many people who might be familiar with this film only know it through the homage done on Family Guy. The unfortunate part of this is that most wouldn’t recognize the origin of the bit and go watch the reference material, which is much funnier than Family Guy could make it. Buddy films have been around for a long time, so it’s nice to see how one of the founding films of this comedy sub-genre succeeded at it.
The success of a Buddy film comes from the talent of its two main characters. In this case, Orville “Turkey” Jackson (Bob Hope) is the lovably dim partner to Jeff Peters (Bing Crosby), the snarky singer and brains of the operation. Those who might be looking for a pure slapstick comedy are bound to be slightly disappointed, because the gold of this film is in its repartee. Verbal jabs, wordplay, and double entendre abound in this film, but pay attention because they come fast and frequent. For its time, it was also quite raunchy, albeit not nearly as much as some of the “gross-out” comedies of today are. In fact, its special effects were quite ahead of its time as well (some of them quite fun to watch, especially the “voice swap” version of Moonlight Becomes You).
Having already seen Bing Crosby in a number of great films, including Holiday Inn (1942) and Going My Way (1944), the latter of which won Best Picture and garnered Crosby a Best Actor Oscar, I already knew his propensity for great dramatic acting. In Road to Morocco, I was pleasantly surprised to see his comedy is on-point as well. Of course, that being said, the man in his comedy element was definitely Bob Hope. His facial expressions and reactions were fantastically hilarious and most scenes he appeared in were filled with him chewing the scenery. I may have to watch more of his films (including the others in the “Road to . . .” series), because this one was certainly great.
Occasionally “self aware”, but filled with plenty of verbal and situational comedy, I give Road to Morocco 4.5 stars out of 5.
Practical Applications for Multiverse Theory
Year: 2016
Authors: Nick Scott and Noa Gavin
Length: 240 pages
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
As someone who enjoys learning about the many interesting unknowns in our universe, the mere title of Practical Applications for Multiverse Theory (2016) caught my attention from the get-go. The ideas of parallel universes coexisting in an invisible space next to our own is something I eventually want to cover in my own writing (tentatively titled The Slumberealm Saga). And while this book somewhat delivered on the premise of its title, it unfortunately did so through an incredible plethora of clichés. Due to the authors’ background in improv comedy, it’s clear that they merely wrote this book to capitalize on the style’s random nature.
I’m not sure who the target audience for this book might be, since the main characters are high school students who use an awful lot of foul language. I would think it’s aimed at being a Young Adult (YA) comedy, but most of the laughs seem forced and trite. Told from two different perspectives, Scott and Davey, both characters aren’t really that likeable, and neither of them change that much (if at all) by the end of the book. In fact, it’s almost obnoxious how Davey is essentially a jerk to everyone, especially Scott, even though it becomes incredibly clear she should be more accepting of him earlier on in the plot.
Speaking of plot, it seems to drag in quite a few places, especially in the beginning as both characters start noticing the multiverse collapsing in on their school. Unfortunately, due to the aforementioned clichés, the entire rest of the plot was pretty predictable, even if the different universes were quite random (and even that randomness was cliché). Nosebleeds indicating a fracture in spacetime, narcissistic cheerleaders, nerdy loners. Everything fits nice and squarely into the formula for a YA book (despite the obscenities). The problem with this is that the authors clearly saw they were writing clichés, because there were a few points that could have been cliché (like the two main characters falling in love), but just weren’t there at the end, thus leaving the reader somewhat unfulfilled. If you’re going to follow a formula, it needs to be followed in its entirety.
An easy and fast read with nothing much to offer, I give Practical Applications for Multiverse Theory 2.0 stars out of 5.
Ernest & Celestine
Year: 2012
Rating: PG
Length: 80 minutes / 1.33 hours
While the visuals of CGI-animated films can be quite realistic and stunning, there’s something to the simple, drawn lines of a classically animated piece. Often, the realism of CGI is actually a bit of a detriment as any human characters will start to fall into the “uncanny valley”, wherein our minds reject the characters because they’re close to being human, but there are still elements that can’t be captured and our minds pick up on these flaws. Granted, I will admit that the classical look can still be obtained with computers, but it’s nice to see every once in a while, especially with the proliferation of new animation studios.
Part of the challenge of standing out amongst the large number of animated films comes in the visual style used in the animation. With Ernest & Celestine (2012), the visual style doesn’t try to imitate any successful studio (like Disney), but instead attempts to recapture the look and feel of its source material. Done in simple lines with a watercolor finish, this film certainly deserved the nomination for Best Animated Feature back when it was made (if it didn’t lose to Frozen, I think it would have won). The beauty of the art helped to give the film a warmth and non-threatening ambiance that matched well with its themes of love and acceptance.
Despite the ridiculous nature of the economies represented in the film (all based off of bear teeth, apparently), there’s a message underneath the basic “stereotypes are incorrect” storyline. The two societies of mice and bears live adjacent to each other, but each is scared of the opposing species for a number of reasons that would make sense in the animal kingdom (bears eat mice, mice steal things, et cetera). Through the “odd man out” characters of Ernest (Forrest Whitaker) and Celestine (Mackenzie Foy), we find that not every bear wants to be a judge, and not every mouse wants to be a dentist. These characters epitomize the starving artist cliché, but it’s done in such a sweet and loving way that you’ll almost forget that the “do whatever you put your mind to” theme was done to greater effect years later with Zootopia (2016).
A cute film with a subtle hint of breaking the barriers of interracial love, I give Ernest & Celestine 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Jungle Book
Year: 2016
Rating: PG
Length: 106 minutes / 1.77 hours
If there’s any more proof there aren’t any new ideas in Hollywood, it’s the fact that beloved animated classics are being remade as live-action films. Sometimes this works, but more often than not, the ploy to attract those nostalgic feelings from the audience fails, thus leaving the viewer with the sense that their childhood is ruined. I’m generally pretty hesitant of these types of films, mainly because part of me doesn’t want to admit that the original films sometimes weren’t that great. That being said, the latest in these adaptations, The Jungle Book (2016) certainly surprised me.
Unlike some films like Maleficent (2014), which takes a different point of view from the main story of Sleeping Beauty (1959), and more like Cinderella (2015), which covers the same material as its predecessor, Cinderella (1950), The Jungle Book takes the main ideas from Rudyard Kipling’s book, via the animated interpretation of The Jungle Book (1967) and brings the adaptation to near perfection. While The Jungle Book’s classically animated predecessor certainly had its moments, a lot of its appeal fell to obvious popular culture references (like the Beatles as vultures), and a number of catchy and flashy song-and-dance routines. As a result, I can’t honestly remember what the plot of the original film was trying to convey. This was why I was quite impressed with director Jon Favreau’s adaptation: the plot was direct and made sense, while also highlighting man’s ability to create useful (as well as deadly) tools. It was clear how Mowgli (Neel Sethi) needed to adapt to his strengths to survive in the jungle instead of just hanging around with his animal friends. Also, the clear distinction of the connection between him and Shere Khan (Idris Elba) created a much-needed tension to the story.
Some will recall that The Jungle Book has already been made as a live-action film with The Jungle Book (1994). However, advances in computer-generated imagery over the years have made the ability to create talking animals a mind-numbingly realistic endeavor. The voice acting cast for this version was pretty spot on, and the pacing was fantastic. What’s more, there still were snippets of songs and subtle pop culture references (my favorite being the cowbell in King Louie’s (Christopher Walken) lair), but they didn’t distract from the flow of the film.
A superior film to its classically animated predecessor, I give The Jungle Book 5.0 stars out of 5.
Captain America: Civil War
Year: 2016
Rating: PG-13
Length: 147 minutes / 2.45 hours
When it comes to sequels, I fell very few film franchises do their predecessors justice. In my opinion, a great sequel requires a simple formula: cause and effect. The “cause” should be in the form of the first (or in this case, previous) movie(s). Whatever happens before a sequel should drive the plot of the following movie. This is the “effect.” While it wasn’t nearly as good as this effort, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) followed the same formula. Cause: Superman destroying most of Metropolis in Man of Steel (2013). Effect: Batman and Lex Luthor wanting to hold Superman accountable. See? Simple as that.
What perhaps makes Captain America: Civil War such a great film is the amount of “cause” that led to its “effect.” The driving plot of this film was in direct response to the destruction and mayhem brought about by the Avengers trying to save the world. Because of this, the difference in opinions on how to cut back on the collateral damage splits the Avengers in to two factions. Practically every superhero fan will tell you that the best fights are the ones between allies, and this film certainly delivers on that premise.
But Captain America: Civil War isn’t just about having a great balance between cause and effect, it’s about the deep struggles we find inside ourselves. In a film with no true villain, the struggles we find in each of the heroes are struggles we all have. Anger. Pride. Fear. These are just the main elements of the conflict inside everyone, brought about by realizations of weakness, helplessness, and loss. Each of the different characters is given ample time to reveal the reasons why they fight, without bogging the film down in unnecessary exposition. If anything, the pacing on this nearly 3-hour film is nothing short of brilliant. Plus, not only does the audience get to see a hero-on-hero free-for-all melee (with practically all the film’s best comedic bits mixed in), but they get to experience a rematch where the raw emotions of the title characters are on display.
Another expertly made piece in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that makes me excited for any follow-on films in “Phase 3”, I give Captain America: Civil War 4.5 stars out of 5.
Fake Science 101: A Less-Than-Factual Guide to Our Amazing World
Year: 2012
Author: Phil Edwards
Length: 272 pages
One of the challenges of creating content on the internet is that it is usually quickly and readily consumed and forgotten by the web-browsing public. Monetizing this content is even more difficult because of the aforementioned reasons. That being said, there are many ways the creators of internet content can make some money off of their product. Sometimes this takes the form of T-shirts or other, physical items, but oftentimes the choice of internet creators is a book. For Fake Science, which uses Tumblr for its regular posts, publishing a fake science textbook seemed like a good choice.
Unfortunately, since a lot of internet content is quickly consumed, an almost 300 page book seems a little tedious to read once the initial novelty of the idea wears off. There are certainly a lot of amusing bits in this book, but they tend to be lost in the noise of it all as the joke is repeated over and over again. Because it’s satire, knowledge of the factual science behind the jokes of Fake Science is almost necessary so the joke can be understood. Even though the parody of a textbook is well-done, the problem with this is you’re essentially reading a textbook from cover to cover.
Adding to the difficulty of just sitting down and reading a whole chapter is the fact that the satire almost makes it read like a mixture of science propaganda (which is inexplicably obsessed with tanning salons) and your wise-ass drunk uncle who heard about science second-hand and now thinks he’s an expert in it. By the end of the book, you’re just tired of reading a printed out section of the internet and merely want to go back to watching videos of cats.
A book for those who want a few science-related jokes and laughs amidst the dry formatting of a textbook, I give Fake Science 101 3.0 stars out of 5.
Independence Day: Resurgence
Year: 2016
Rating: PG-13
Length: 120 minutes / 2.0 hours
Can we just be real for a second? Is the nostalgia factor so strong in Hollywood these days that anything coming upon its 20th anniversary is re-made, rebooted, and sequeled to death? Certainly, this is a pretty good marketing strategy, since last year’s Jurassic World (2015) was such a huge financial success, even though it was essentially the exact same plot as the original Jurassic Park (1993). Clearly, the millennials who grew up with these films want to see them on the big screen again, 20+ years later with newer and flashier special effects. After all, Moore’s Law implicates the visual style should be more than 1,000 times better than its predecessor.
Here’s the problem I have with this re-quel that seems to be going around: it doesn’t give us anything new. Take Independence Day (1996) for example. This film was a great action film filled with plenty of interesting sci-fi, memorable characters, and brief moments of tension-lifting comedy. Now, fast forward 20 years and now we have Independence Day: Resurgence (2016). While the same elements were there, it just didn’t have the same spark as the original. Sure, it had some of the exact same characters, aged 20 years, and it even had new characters to replace the ones who didn’t appear in this sequel. But for some reason, I just didn’t care about them. These characters were in a future different from this current time, which merely added to the disconnect.
Sure, the film takes the logical next steps after the conclusion of its 1996 original, but everything just felt so . . . forced. What made the original great was its focus on the United States standing up and leading the charge against alien invaders. With the world in the film now united, “Independence Day” just doesn’t have as much of an impact to the audience as it did when Bill Pullman gave his famous, presidential speech. Sure, they tried it again with another speech, and another plot that almost exactly mirrors the originals, but that’s not why I wanted to see this film. I wanted to see what new things could be thought up, but instead I got 20-year-old leftovers. I’m not going to even mention my complete and utter ire at the clear call out for a sequel to this film. This does not need to be a trilogy, but now it has completely and fully fallen into the Trilogy Conundrum.
An unnecessary film that merely highlights a Hollywood who is trying too hard to cash in on 1990’s nostalgia, I give Independence Day: Resurgence 2.5 stars out of 5.
Independence Day
Year: 1996
Rating: PG-13
Length: 145 minutes / 2.41 hours
While most people just roll their eyes at the mention of Roland Emmerich as a director, many forget that he essentially started the revival of the “destructive action” film. What used to be common in the seventies, with movies like The Poseidon Adventure (1972) and Towering Inferno (1974), films showing catastrophes had taken a bit of a back seat until Independence Day. This revival on a globally-catastrophic scale brought about such films as Armageddon (1998) and Deep Impact (1998).
Granted, Emmerich continued to make world destruction a part of his directing career, which is why films like this almost seem hokey today. Godzilla (1998), The Day After Tomorrow (2004), 2012 (2009), and White House Down (2013) haven’t been the most critically-acclaimed films of all time, but they certainly carry Emmerich’s penchant for demolishing cultural landmarks. One does wonder why Independence Day stands out amongst his other films, almost as an anomaly. While later films by Roland Emmerich were a bit too over the top in their carnage, this film has a good balance of destruction and plot. Some of the comedy in later films felt forced, but in this film the actors did a great job of lightening tension. Perhaps the biggest difference between Independence Day and his later films is the fact that humanity can actually fight back against the annihilation it currently faces.
I mean, let’s face it, the legendary speech by Bill Pullman as President Thomas J. Whitmore is merely the icing on the cake of great characters like Will Smith’s cocky pilot Captain Steven Hiller, Jeff Goldblum’s awkward genius David Levinson, and Randy Quaid’s conspiracy theorist Russell Casse. These are characters we care about. These are characters who have their strengths, as well as their weaknesses. These are characters who are greater combined together, and are able to halt the alien assault on earth.
A great sci-fi film that almost guarantees it’ll be shown on TV at least once a year due to it’s loose holiday theme, I give Independence Day 4.5 stars out of 5.
Go Set a Watchman
Year: 2015
Author: Harper Lee
Length: 399 minutes / 6.65 hours
Part of the problem of releasing a sequel to a beloved book 55 years later is a lot of other books have been written in between them. Consequently, there have been successful books written with some of the exact same plot and motifs, thus making the sequel feel like a rip-off instead of the other way around. In the case of Harper Lee’s Go Set a Watchman, I found myself drawing plenty of comparisons to Kathryn Stockett’s The Help (2009).
While I felt the timeframe of Go Set a Watchman to be somewhat ambiguous, most of the similarities between it and The Help were in their heroines. Both were southern-born-and-raised women who smoked, were outsiders, and weren’t going to stand for racism. And while the main character of The Help did something about it, Jean Louise “Scout” Finch merely fell apart at the realization that everyone around her, including her closest family, was racist. Unfortunately, this makes for a pretty thin storyline, which was why defining moments from the last twenty years of Scout’s life are interspersed to fill in some of the character development. I almost wish there was a little more time given to the changes left unexplained in the 20-year interim, like what really happened to Scout’s brother.
Despite its weaknesses, Go Set a Watchman does share some similarities with its predecessor, and not just in setting and characters. While I was about ready to completely brush this book off as another version of The Help, the monologues at the end of the book really made the read worth it. Much like the courtroom arguments for a man’s innocence in To Kill a Mockingbird (1960), the soliloquies of these characters were deep and probing and really made me think about my place in a society with its current racial tensions.
An adequate extension of its predecessor, I give Go Set a Watchman 3.5 stars out of 5.
Armada
Year: 2015
Author: Ernest Cline
Length: 384 pages
When I first heard about Ready Player One years ago, I was excited an author would even try to capture the spirit of the hardcore pop culture lover. After I received a hardcover copy of that book for Christmas, I devoured every word and loved every moment of it. This was why, when I saw Ernest Cline had written another book appearing to be in the same vein of Ready Player One, I had to buy it and give it a read. This book was Armada.
Unfortunately, I was not nearly as impressed with Armada as I was with Ready Player One. In Armada, the pop culture references were there, but almost to the point of oversaturation. There were plenty of references I didn’t understand because I haven’t encountered the source material, which was somewhat frustrating. Furthermore, what made the references entertaining and fun in Ready Player One was that they were tied to unravelling the mystery and linking each clue to the next one; in Armada, they were merely the mating call of the nerd.
And while Armada has a few scenes of immersive action that are incredibly well written, the plot is quite lacking. The first “reveal” (if you can call it that) was predictable and the motivations of the antagonists were weak at best, almost as if he had written himself into a corner and didn’t know how to resolve the story in a satisfying way. In fact, the huge numbers of pop culture references actually made the story seem less original, as it pretty much came across as Ender’s Game, and the narrator told you as much.
A story with a potential it never quite lived up to and a shadow of the author’s previous book it could never come out from underneath, I give Armada 3.0 stars out of 5.
X-Men: Apocalypse
Year: 2016
Rating: PG-13
Length: 144 minutes / 2.4 hours
I’ll admit that I was excited for this film, mostly because I was somewhat familiar with its premise. I grew up on the X-Men: Evolution TV show, so I knew that the defining arc of that series was none other than the Apocalypse arc. This may have actually spoiled the movie for me, because it wasn’t quite in line with the plot I knew. Sure, Bryan Singer returned to direct this penultimate piece of the X-Men franchise, but there were just a few things that bugged me about this movie.
First off, one of the elements of the previous prequel films I liked and appreciated was the inclusion of historical events and people into the storyline. This way it felt like an alternate reality not so far removed from our own. While there were loose elements of this present, it wasn’t nearly as integrated as it had been done in the past. Add to this the atrocious fashion and styles of the 1980’s, and I was more distracted by what people were wearing than what they were doing. Secondly, I felt some of the new characters, most of all Psylocke (Olivia Munn), were underdeveloped and included only because they were part of the source material’s plot.
Now, that’s not to say this was a bad movie, because it wasn’t. Since it filled the gap between the other prequels and the first X-Men movie, there were certain developments which were exciting to watch. Some of the other character introductions, like Cyclops (Tye Sheridan) and Jean Grey (Sophie Turner), were also important, knowing what happens in the rest of the films. Once again, Quicksilver (Evan Peters) steals the show with his slow-motion sequence and witty banter. I may have to see this film again with a different perspective (i.e. not using the animated show as my background) to really appreciate it for what it is.
A solid end to a beloved franchise, I give X-Men: Apocalypse 4.0 stars out of 5.
X-Men: Days of Future Past
Year: 2014
Rating: PG-13
Length: 132 minutes / 2.2 hours
One of the more difficult plots to pull off in a film is that of the simultaneous prequel/sequel. Perhaps the most famous of this plotline is The Godfather: Part II (1974). However, I would argue that X-Men: Days of Future Past perfected it. Just like X-Men: First Class (2011) before it, Days of Future Past takes the retro stylings of its decade (this time the 1970’s) and places a plot intertwined with the well-known figures and events of the time. It also simultaneously puts the X-Men in a dire and hopeless situation in a distant future, thus driving the need to go into the past to fix the initial conditions that got them into this quandary. Plus, most of the film is driven by Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), which just shows how vital he is to the series.
In a return to form that was sorely missing in the previous two films of the series, Bryan Singer directs a film that requires the plots of each of its predecessors to create its narrative. Some will say that the ending negates the need for any of the other films in the saga, but I would almost argue that the other films are needed to show just how much was saved by traveling into the past. This film needed its four predecessors in order to become an awesome wrap-up for the series. It’s definitely my favorite of them all, including its sequel, X-Men: Apocalypse (2016).
Not only is the action incredible in this film, but the character development is commendable. The scene-stealing comedy of Quicksilver (Evan Peters) tied with his slow-motion sequence completely cemented this film as the superhero film all others should strive toward. I would have been fine if the series ended at this point, as it accomplished everything the X-Men series needed to, thus giving Bryan Singer the end of the trilogy he truly wanted to create with the original trilogy.
An incredible film that ties both trilogies together, I give X-Men: Days of Future Past 5.0 stars out of 5.
This film appears in the following posts:
Cinema Connections #185. Fixing the Past
Cinema Connections #186. Back to the Future
X-Men: First Class
Year: 2011
Rating: PG-13
Length: 132 minutes / 2.2 hours
While prequels always hold the distinction of being the one type of movie that you know how it will end, seeing how they get there is certainly entertaining. Much like the Star Wars prequels gave us a point before the original trilogy to learn more about the background of the characters, the X-Men prequels manage to do this, but with a much better result. My only major qualm with prequel trilogies is that, while the mainstays of the franchise were there in terms of characters, the only ones who maintained their actor from the first set of movies were relegated to cameo appearances. This is only heightened by my opinion that the original X-Men trilogy’s cast was perfect in almost every way. That being said, with the prequel trilogy now complete, the younger cast has definitely grown on me as well, James McAvoy’s Xavier being my favorite of the prequel group.
Because X-Men: First Class starts well in the past, it does follow the “origin story” plot, not only of its main players like Professor Xavier (James McAvoy) and Magneto (Michael Fassbender), but of the start of the X-Men themselves. What’s also nice about this is, because it occurs in the historical past, a certain element of “altered history” is present to make the whole plot feel somewhat more anchored in reality. It was also fun to see the X-Men in the trappings of the 1960’s as well.
Of course, since this film came out more than a decade after X-Men (2000), the visual effects were certainly better than they had been. I appreciate the work Matthew Vaughn brought to this series as well. He’s no Bryan Singer, but his directing was at least better than Brett Ratner.
With a retro feel and some flashy effects, this prequel was an entertaining film to watch. I give X-Men: First Class 4.0 stars out of 5.
X-Men: The Last Stand
Year: 2006
Rating: PG-13
Length: 104 minutes / 1.73 hours
What a difference a director makes. While the previous two films in this franchise used Bryan Singer, the choice to go with Brett Ratner in this final film of the trilogy was a mistake. There was a tone and style to the previous X-Men movies that was just never quite captured in this one. The comedy seemed unnatural, the plot wasn’t taken quite seriously enough, and the new characters were never given enough time to really fully develop. Perhaps some of the weakness of this film can be blamed on the previous two films being strong, independent storylines, thus not giving much to tie into a conclusive chapter of a trilogy.
Despite X2 (2003) not holding to the traditional form of “the trilogy conundrum”, the fact that X-Men III has to start with some very main characters missing is a plot point that requires viewers to have seen the previous film. The concept of a “mutant cure” definitely gives the film a good sense of finality (regardless of its pre- and post-credits scenes), except that much of the focus of the film is on Jean Grey’s (Famke Janssen) unrivaled power bringing untold destruction to everywhere she visits. The distracted nature of the subplots and way too many new mutant introductions really waters down the whole film.
I also understand that the end of a trilogy should bring some finality, but I really didn’t like how they essentially kill everyone off in one way or another. Of course, this is just below my dislike of the cop-outs to bring characters back after they had been killed or disabled. Now that Bryan Singer has directed two more X-Men films in this six-film saga, none of this even matters anyway; essentially giving Singer a way to show us all how he would have ended the trilogy were he given the chance.
Kind of a weak end to a good trilogy, I give X-Men: The Last Stand 3.0 stars out of 5.
X2
Year: 2003
Rating: PG-13
Length: 134 minutes / 2.23 hours
I’ve often held that the sequel of a superhero film is better than the original. Most superhero film franchises start out with an origin story, so by the time the second film comes around, all the “exposition” is out of the way and the heroes can really take on some powerful villains. However, since X-Men (2000) didn’t have much of an origin story, its sequel, X2 is almost relegated to the fate of a “flashback” sequel. Still, the darker tone does help set it apart from its predecessor, which is nice.
Granted, the choice of exploring Wolverine’s (Hugh Jackman) past was a good one, considering the strength of the character. Heck, he got two more movies outside the main X-Men saga, so clearly he’s a fan favorite. What’s nice about the superhero sequel is that most comic book story arcs are short enough that they can be incorporated into a single film. In this way, X2 could almost stand by itself, much like its predecessor could. In fact, X2 almost follows the same formula as X-Men by not actually delving too deep into any single character’s origin story. All the supporting characters are useful and relevant, which is important for a series that relies on the teamwork of a group of mutants.
This film also mostly avoided the trope I like to identify as “the trilogy conundrum”. Because it could stand alone as its own film, especially for those already familiar with the characters and premise, there isn’t a need for it to be a cliffhanger to motivate people to see the third film in the trilogy. If you can ignore the glow in the water at the end of the film, it hardly has much of a connection to X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) at all.
Pretty good as far as first sequels go, I give X-Men 2 3.5 stars out of 5.
X-Men
Year: 2000
Rating: PG-13
Length: 104 minutes / 1.73 hours
Up until the 21st Century, DC had dominated the comic book adaptations on the big screen. Film franchises like Superman and Batman were essentially the only acts in town. Of course, by the time the year 2000 rolled around, Superman hadn’t been in theaters for more than a decade, and Batman had become almost as campy and goofy as its 1960’s counterpart. This was now Marvel’s time to shine. Partly due to a large cast of recognizable characters, X-Men was the right choice to reboot the comic book adaptation film franchise.
Even though X-Men set the standard pretty high for comic book adaptations, very few have followed in its stead. Where most first films in a hero franchise focus on the origins of the main character, the X-Men spans such an enormous timeframe, with characters coming in and out of relevance, that it would be difficult to give all of their origins at once. Instead, the focus is on Rogue (Anna Paquin) and Logan (Hugh Jackman), essentially giving some of their “origins” without having to explain the motivations of every other X-Men character.
What really makes this film work, aside from its relevant plot, is the casting. Not only were these top-tier stars appearing in the film, but they were expertly given roles that fit them incredibly well. In fact, I can almost not imagine anyone else playing Wolverine but Hugh Jackman. The same goes for Halle Berry as Storm, Ian McKellen as Magneto, and Patrick Stewart as Professor Xavier. I wouldn’t have gone with anyone else for those roles, which definitely made casting the prequel trilogy quite the challenge.
Probably one of the best comic-to-movie transitions ever made, I give X-Men 4.5 stars out of 5.
Allegiant
Year: 2016
Rating: PG-13
Length: 120 minutes / 2.0 hours
For those following along at home, Allegiant is the third film based on the third book in the Divergent series. As I have made comparisons to The Hunger Games in each installment of these reviews, I will continue to not disappoint. Seems to me that the trend of splitting the last book of a literary series into two movies is annoyingly out of hand. Sure, having written the end of my own trilogies, I know there’s a lot of plot and sub-plots to bring to a conclusion. I also know that much of the Divergent series didn’t feel like it really did or said anything. Sure, there’s the nod to some political statement or worldview that’s relevant today, but honestly I want something that only the survivors of a post-apocalyptic future should have to solve.
Where the previous two films in this series really excelled in their portrayal of “simulations”, this film had absolutely none of them. This was a problem, mainly because the strength of the previous two films relied on the characters growing through their overcoming of the simulations. In this film, there seems to be no character development at all (and annoying Peter (Miles Teller) is still around), and even the CGI, which was pretty good in the prior films, felt flat and obvious (even to the point of being distracting). Sorry, Robert Schwentke, but this was not your best work.
Similarly, while this film does stop at a good place to allow the “part 2” conclusion to wrap up next year, I still feel lost as to what is happening and who the clear antagonist of this whole post-apocalyptic future is (which is a problem I had with the last movie). Maybe once I read the book this was based on I’ll be able to give a better assessment, but for right now I’m pretty much done with this series.
In a film that should be a strong finish to an OK series, I give Allegiant 2.0 stars out of 5.
Insurgent
Year: 2015
Rating: PG-13
Length: 119 minutes / 1.98 hours
If The Hunger Games has given us anything from this uprising of Young Adult film adaptations, it’s that each successive film is released in each successive year. There’s no waiting for years for the next part of the trilogy to come out, only to have characters cast differently. The Divergent series is no different, but still stands in the shadow of its Hunger Games predecessor.
This time around, we get the pleasure of Robert Schwentke directing the post-apocalyptic action. With his previous films like RED (2010) and The Time Traveler’s Wife (2009), it’s clear he can handle action as much as he can romance. While the action is excellent, the romance seemed to be a little lacking. Having read this book after watching the film, the plots start to diverge a bit (ha ha, get it?) almost in part due to the removal of the more sexually-charged relationship between Tris (Shailene Woodley) and Four (Theo James).
Since the focus of the film is mostly on the action, the Divergent simulations were quite visually interesting, with the real-world action almost seeming tame in comparison. Sure, some of the characters, like Peter (Miles Teller) were grating and obnoxious, but unfortunately added to the plot. Some of the trouble I’m starting to have with this series is being unable to clearly see the inevitable conflict of the trilogy. Sure, the ending of Insurgent had some amount of closure in a plotline mostly disconnected from the first film, but at least it led toward something to be used for the plot of the final films. It just really felt like not much had happened between the plot of two movies.
A pretty consistent sequel to the fist film, both in plot twists, progression, and cliches, I give Insurgent 3.5 stars out of 5.
Divergent
Year: 2014
Rating: PG-13
Length: 139 minutes / 2.31 hours
While The Hunger Games really cornered the market in the “young adult dystopian future” category, many authors jumped on the bandwagon to cash in on this phenomenon. I’ll admit that many of these series that got movie adaptations I had never heard of before and likely will not see/read. The Divergent series, though did stand out as the top of “the rest”.
It can be difficult to create a dystopian world, especially one that’s at least somewhat set in our current one. The CGI-modified Chicago looks pretty good for a city that’s been through what it has, but where the computer imagery really comes to shine is in the dream sequences. I would have liked them to be a little more obvious so the audience isn’t always guessing if it’s a dream or not, but that’s part of the charm, I suppose. Having since read the book this was based on, I do have to say that the director made some good decisions on what areas to cut in order to keep the intent of the book, but at a pace that works better for a film. In fact, the dream sequences were even more difficult to pin down in the book than they were in the movie, so the film did a good job with that.
However, this film still struggles with the “teenage angst” that many YA adaptations have. Of course, because of this and the aforementioned CGI, this film does get the feeling like it’s a mashup of The Hunger Games and Avatar: The Last Airbender. That being said, the plot and societal structure felt thoroughly thought out and it truly helped distinguish between character archetypes when they are connected to specific colors.
Surprisingly well-developed plot and characters with a good visual feel, I give Divergent 4.0 stars out of 5.
The Nice Guys
Year: 2016
Rating: R
Length: 116 minutes / 1.93 hours
I’ll be honest that the trailer for this film is the main reason I went to go see it. The few bits revealed in it definitely painted a picture of a smart and funny film. The pairing of Ryan Gosling with Russell Crowe was an interesting one, but definitely works on the “buddy cop” adventure level. While Gosling had almost every funny line, the action brought to the film via Crowe’s slightly heavier form really helped to balance things out. The full film definitely delivered on what the trailer had to offer.
With dialogue that comes fast and full of quips, I was laughing throughout most of this film. It almost has a “self-aware” feel to it, as each failed piece of the investigation would have normally led to the next logical step. As it is rated R, it unfortunately has an incredible amount of questionable material, including plenty of nudity (as the main plot revolves around pornography), incessant cursing, and regular violence. Much of this isn’t too distracting, but the heavy-handed social message about pollution and corporate corruption is a bit obnoxious in a film that I was expecting to be fun.
In the end, the Gosling/Crowe dynamic works and helps to propel the film forward between balanced segments of comedy and action. If you focus on what’s being said, there’s plenty to laugh about, but also a number of good examples of character development. I wouldn’t mind seeing this pair of “nice guys” again in a sequel.
A film filled with witty banter, adequate action, and an incredible 1970’s soundtrack, I give The Nice Guys 3.5 stars out of 5.
Collateral
Year: 2004
Rating: R
Length: 120 minutes / 2 hours
Having seen this film many years ago when it came out, a recent re-watching of the Blu-ray at home with my wife has cemented itself as a tight and well-done film. While most action films like to confuse the audience with shaky cameras and quick cuts, this one starts calm and builds to an exciting conclusion.
Of course, it’s not just a steady and methodical thriller, it loops back on itself, tying up all loose ends and bookending the whole plot in a neat little package. Each of the segments where they drive to the next destination gives a chance for excellent character building as well as giving the audience a break from the brief moments of action (which steadily get longer and more intense as the film progresses). Along with the overhead tracking shots and expert use of depth of field, this film almost borders on art. These are what good action films should be.
What’s also interesting, upon a second viewing almost 14 years later, is how many recognizable actors are in this film. Some of them are bit parts, and they don’t quite look like their more famous character portrayals, but inevitably you’ll go, “Isn’t that so-and-so?” From Jason Statham at the beginning, Jada Pinkett Smith on either end, Mark Ruffalo with some “ethnic-looking” facial hair, and Javier Bardem years before No Country for Old Men (2007). Most of these actors had not hit their stride quite yet, but Jamie Foxx definitely gave a great portrayal of a character who undergoes plenty of superb character development (which is partly why he was nominated for this film, along with Ray (2004) in the same year).
Quite the suspenseful thriller, Tom Cruise pulls off his part eerily well and Jamie Foxx portrays a quiet hero excellently. I give Collateral 4.5 stars out of 5.
This film appears in the following posts:
Cinema Connections #141. Chauffeurs
Cinema Connections #142. Jamie Foxx
Miracles from Heaven
Year: 2016
Rating: PG
Length: 109 minutes / 1.81 hours
Normally, I’m pretty hesitant to watch any movie that’s overtly marketed as “Christian.” The truth of the matter is, while I’m a Christian myself, these types of movies normally make me cringe at how cliche they are. When their message is continually shoved down our throats, it’s hard to focus on anything else. I am all for inspiring stories of faith, but when the main thrust of your plot feels like a poorly written after-school special, it’s hard to take seriously. Case in point: I really didn’t like War Room (2015) not only because of the aforementioned qualms with the genre as a whole, but also because the characters and their actions felt completely unbelievable (and for a film about belief, this was a big no-no).
Now, as you’re aware of my stance on these types of movies, please note that I prefaced this with “normally”. There are some films in this genre that do a good job of presenting men, women, and children of faith without making it the supreme focus of the film. For example, Soul Surfer (2011) was an excellent film in this genre because it focused more on the girl’s faith that everything would turn out OK, even if she just had her arm bitten off by a shark. It’s in these scenarios, where everything seems to go wrong, where we find the best stories about faith, perseverance, and God. This is why Miracles from Heaven (2016) is now my best example of this genre.
Not only did this film cover the mother’s fall away from the faith in the light of difficult medical circumstances (as most people would do), but it wasn’t heavy handed about the faith aspect of the plot at all. In fact, the continual string of events leading to worsening conditions for her child played out much like they would for anyone who has had to take care of someone with a serious medical ailment. There are no answers as to why the family had to go through the ordeal, no answers as to why God lets this happen, and no answers as to how He was able to miraculously heal the girl, even in the midst of another tragedy. Because of these lack of answers, the other lives touched by the journey, and the lives who touched the family during the journey, Miracles from Heaven provides an incredibly realistic view at a situation that can only have one answer: God.
Overall, a realistic film that will have you literally crying tears from every emotion (sadness, joy, etc.), I give Miracles from Heaven 4 stars out of 5.
Zootopia
Year: 2016
Rating: PG
Length: 108 minutes / 1.8 hours
Let me just start by saying that I’ve really become a fan of Disney’s animation since about 2010. Before then, I was wild for Pixar, but around the time Tangled (2010) came out, Pixar hadn’t been making the quality films I had become used to. Instead, Disney was now churning out great films like Tangled (2010), Wreck-It Ralph (2012), Frozen (2013), and Big Hero 6 (2014). Their latest film, Zootopia (2016), certainly upholds the level of quality expected of this animation studio.
Not only were the visuals stunning (as always), but the plot and characters were all on-point. As is almost expected of a film meant for children, but made with adults in mind, there were a number of popular culture references that I found myself laughing uproariously for while the rest of the audience missed the joke. From slight alterations to animal-themed products (i.e. “Cub Soda”), to jokes pertaining to certain animal characteristics (i.e. the population sign for Judy’s hometown), nothing gave me more joy than the blatant Breaking Bad reference (or should I say, Breaking Baaaaaaaad, to keep in line with the animal puns). Certainly, this film was entertaining and fun.
However, I also found its message to be quite deep and meaningful, if not outright modern. Humans are a diverse bunch of people, but when we anthropomorphize animals, we see these differences come to the forefront much more directly. If this movie helps teach kids that they can do whatever they dream of if they put their mind to it, that their past and history don’t have to affect their future, or that they can’t judge a race of people based on common stereotypes, then this film will be an incredible triumph. Especially with the threat of ISIS and the growing fears that Muslims are “predators”, this film is quite poignant to show that generalizations about people groups will start driving a society apart.
Overall, a solid film with a minor weakness I just can’t put my finger on, I give Zootopia 4.5 stars out of 5.
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