BOOK: Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz (1908)

by benmweilertNo Comments
Dorothy and the Wizard in OzYear: 1908Author: L. Frank BaumLength: 148 pages I appreciate that by the fourth entry in the Wizard of Oz series that most of the story beats have become mostly formulaic but that the interesting parts are more about which characters are with Dorothy for the adventure. This way, there are elements of the familiar combined with the newness of different character interactions. In this iteration, we get to see more of the titular Wizard of Oz, the likes of which we haven’t seen since the end of the first book. You have to appreciate how Baum keeps having Dorothy transition to a new world through natural disasters in our own (almost Narnia-like). This time, she’s caught up in an earthquake that puts her in contact with strange creatures. Again, nothing new here. Once the Wizard shows up, it’s fun to see him interact with these fantastical beings since readers of the first book know he’s mostly just...
Read More

MOVIE: Megalopolis (2024)

by benmweilertNo Comments
MegalopolisYear: 2024Rating: RLength: 138 minutes / 2.30 hours As a lover of cinema, I immediately recognize Francis Ford Coppola's name. He put out such great and timeless films as The Godfather (1972) and Apocalypse Now! (1979)—iconic to this very day. Since I was too young to see any of his films in theaters, I jumped at the opportunity to go in blind to see Megalopolis (2024). Once I got out of the theater, I had to double-check. Turns out, he has made dozens of movies, but there are only a handful worth mentioning that are any good. Megalopolis suffers from some of the same problems that I feel plagued movies like Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood (2019) and Babylon (2022). These directors, like Quentin Tarantino and Damien Chazelle, have made such a name for themselves that they received a blank check to do the movie they wanted to do. These movies then end up being too long and meandering, as if the...
Read More

VIDEO GAME: Contra (1987)

by benmweilertNo Comments
Contra Year: 1987 Rating: E10+ Time Played: ~1 hour What is there to say about such an iconic game like Contra that hasn't been said before? Not only did it cement the historic "Konami Code" into the brains of scores of retro gamers, but its difficulty basically required using this exploit to get to the end of the game. The transition from coin-operated arcade games to the home console market was one that worked well for Contra, which used its difficulty to keep people playing long enough to "get good" and beat the game without the Konami Code. Part of the appeal of this game is definitely the couch co-op aspect. Playing with a partner makes it much more fun, especially if you're both somewhat good at this action platformer. Of course, the game also has its own technical limitations, which can affect the gameplay—especially when playing with another person. It can be janky and cheap with how it spawns in enemies or makes certain...
Read More

MOVIE: The Wild Robot (2024)

by benmweilertNo Comments
The Wild RobotYear: 2024Rating: PGLength: 102 minutes / 1.70 hours Having grown up with both Pixar and DreamWorks movies, the level of quality has usually been on the side of Pixar. Whether in their visuals or their storytelling, Pixar had a special magic that seemed to outdo whatever DreamWorks was putting out. In recent years, this has flipped. There's been less heart in Pixar films, but DreamWorks has knocked it out of the park with original and heartfelt ideas. That DreamWorks has also leaned into their more "stylized" animation styles has made it stand above and apart. The Wild Robot (2024) is probably the best recent example of how DreamWorks has created a timeless story that resonates on several levels. The juxtaposition of natural and mechanical is front and center, but deeper down the themes delve into parenthood and the ability for machines to feel human emotions. As a parent, this movie hit hard with its ability to show how nurturing also...
Read More

BOOK: Ready Player One (2011)

by benmweilertNo Comments
Ready Player OneYear: 2011Author: Ernest ClineLength: 480 pages When Ready Player One came out over a decade ago, I couldn’t wait to read it. A book full of pop culture references was right up my alley, and I enjoyed the connections and clues that fueled the Willy Wonka-style Easter egg hunt. I didn’t think they’d ever be able to make a movie out of it because of all the licenses they’d have to work with, but Steven Spielberg pulled it off in 2018. I’ve long held that this is one of my favorite books, so I decided to re-read it so I’d have a better memory of its events when I jumped into its sequel. My only qualm that arose with this read-through was with the main character. There is some empathy for Wade’s situation, but he often comes across as arrogant and obnoxious. When the consequences of his actions come around to affect his life, it’s difficult to feel sorry for...
Read More

MOVIE: The Pirates! Band of Misfits (2012)

by benmweilertNo Comments
The Pirates! Band of MisfitsYear: 2012Rating: PGLength: 88 minutes / 1.47 hours I've always been a fan of Aardman Animation and I usually make it a point to watch the films they put out. And while not everything can be from my favorite Wallace & Gromit franchise, their movies can be a little hit or miss, depending on a variety of factors. I appreciate that they've been trying to improve their already impressive stop-motion visuals, and The Pirates! Band of Misfits (2012) shows off a lot of visual style. However, the plot itself felt just average. The most impressive visuals here are all the little details in absolutely everything. Characters. Settings. Backgrounds. All the little jokes sprinkled throughout that you'd likely have to pause to catch are a nice touch, but almost feel too hidden to be truly appreciated. The voice work is also quite good, as it relies on a ton of famous actors like Hugh Grant, David Tennant, and Martin...
Read More

VIDEO GAME: Vampire Survivors (2022)

by benmweilertNo Comments
Vampire Survivors Year: 2022 Rating: T Time Played: 30+ hours For the few months I had Apple Arcade on my phone, I got to try out some games that I had occasionally heard about but never had the time to sit down and play. Vampire Survivors felt like a game inspired by the Castlevania aesthetic but with roguelike and shoot-em-up (or shmup) elements that had me regularly coming back to play it. And since it was on my phone, I could easily get a round of Vampire Survivors in when just waiting around for something. Be careful: this is addictive. As with most roguelikes, Vampire Survivors progression depends on gathering a specific currency that is used to upgrade various stats. From health and armor to speed and attack, slowly unlocking the full potential of these characters helped to give me the edge to progress to each successive stage. Then I unlocked the "garlic" weapon. Having found the best weapon for my play style (i.e., where...
Read More