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Showing posts from March, 2020

Hercules

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) Pretty good! A lot funnier than I remembered. James Wood is awesome in this. The soundtrack is pretty great, though there are really only 2 great songs. As a kid this was a perfect movie. Fighting, muscles, and a saucy D.I.D (damsel in distress, according to Phil).

Lost (Season 2)

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Jess Dyck) I find it hard to review this show because 23 episodes is a lot and I can barely remember now how this season began (I’m not a binger and this feels too intense for me to binge anyhow—still spending -1/4 of each episode behind a pillow) I straight up can’t stand some characters, I think most of the rest are idiots, but hello to the creepiest (brilliantly portrayed) villain ever and endless surprises and new mysteries that leave me with more questions than answers and keep me coming back for more. Thanks goodness I’m invested now and thank goodness for Sayid or the stupidity of some characters would have me over it. I know I mostly complained here but this show is great!

Nancy Drew: Secret of the Scarlet Hand

⭐ 6.5/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) First Nancy Drew game of the year! And it was...kinda disappointing. It's one of the oldest ones, so the graphics were hilariously bad, and the controls were soooo finicky and frustrating. Puzzles weren't spectacular, story and characters were kind of boring, progress was slow. Learned some fun stuff about Mayan history though! And I still love the basics of every ND game, and the satisfaction of solving the mystery. This one just...wasn't great.

Tiger King

⭐ 6.0/10 (Originally written by Jona) With all the hype around this series I figured I would watch it, and you literally can’t make this stuff up if you tried. Joe Exotic might be the strangest person I’ve ever seen. The series was interesting enough to keep my watching, but the only reason it’s gotten so much attention is because the man is literally a meme.

Death Can For Cutie : Thank You For Today

⭐ 6.5/10 (Originally written by The_John) This was a relisten as the album is from 2018. Pros: 1. The song Autumn Love was my favourite song in all of 2019. Just so catchy with brilliant guitar and drum styles that complemented each other so well. 2. I was worried about how it would sound since Chris Walla had left after the last album and it wasn't as noticeable as I had feared. Cons: 1. I'm just not seeing the brilliant lyrics of old from Ben Gibbard. 2. There was definite overuse of some guitar effects that started with the last album. Overall, it was just a 'meh' album with some hits (the aforementioned favorite song of the year) but a lot of misses for me. Makes me nostalgic for 'Plans' again.

Life of Pi - Yann Martel

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) This book truly is a masterpiece. Every time I read I felt like I was experiencing incredible writing and storytelling. Had great elements of religion and zoology thrown in which tied in really nicely with the whole of the story. I wish I had read the book before watching the movie because some of the jokes’ punchlines were spoiled. It was funny, touching, suspenseful, and oh so wise. I underlined a bunch of quotes from it. When their relationship started becoming “reciprocal” was my favourite part. Still crying because Richard Parker never said goodbye.

Life Of the Party

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Sydney) This movie was pretty much exactly what I would have expected of a Melissa McCarthy movie. Lots of humour. Not my absolute favourite movie of hers, but it was definitely entertaining.

To Love and Let Go - Rachel Brathen

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Sydney) I don't even have words to explain this book. Although I have never experienced a grief process or big loss yet in my life, Rachel has the ability to articulate her feelings in a way that I was able to feel them, almost so deeply that it felt like I was going through the same thing (partially because of my ability to feel emotions more deeply than a lot of people do). Having been a follower of hers for so long, I already knew a big part of her story, but somehow this book brought a whole slew of different emotions and experiences to the surface that I don't think anyone could have imagined. I make it sound like such a sad book - parts of it, oh dear they were terribly sad, but it comes full circle, I promise. And the whole thing about the purpose for having her daughter and why her being a mother is so important?! Oh my. Sent chills, EVERYWHERE! She blows me away. (Sliiiightly fangirling while writing this review) I don't read a whol...

The Downstairs Girl - Stacy Lee

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by The Original Susanne) As Maggie stated in her review, an interesting story from the point of view of a Chinese American during the segregation. Unique story, and I enjoyed it for the most part, but the reader (on audiobook) was too dramatic so it was hard to enjoy it to its fullest. Also, *spoiler ahead* I find it hard to believe that the when the family found out they'd been living in the basement and listening in on their lives, that they wouldn't have been more upset/embarrassed by the fact that she had been eavesdropping on them for over a decade. Like, I'd freak out if I found out someone had been listening in on me for a day without my knowledge! They just accepted it and embraced the two of them into their family. As if.

Tick Tock: A Tale For Two

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) So fun!!! It's a 2-player cooperative puzzle game, played on two separate devices, and each player sees something different on their screen, leaving you to communicate what you can see to solve each puzzle. It follows a fairly simple storyline that unravels as you play. Takes about 2 hours, and it's difficult enough to be satisfying, without getting overly frustrating. Only loses points because it has no replay value, so you play once with one friend and then you're done. And I wish it was longer 😭 Otherwise, amazing.

Selfish, Shallow, and Self-Absorbed - Edited by Meghan Daum

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) Another collection, this time of essays written by authors (mostly female, but some male) who have decided not to have kids, and explain their reasons for their decisions. I really like the idea behind this collection, but after a while, all of the essays started blending together. Most of their reasoning was similar - felt no desire to ever have kids, were too devoted to their careers, and maybe struggled with bad mental health. As someone who is so far ambivalent about ever having kids, it was an interesting read, and most of the authors definitely weren't trying to convince readers that having kids was a bad idea. But I can't imagine people who have or want kids really enjoying this, unless they really wanted to try to understand why someone would decided not to. Another thing that bummed me out is that I'm pretty sure all of them mentioned that by not having kids, they were able to devote more of their attention to their writin...

The Book of Negroes - Lawrence Hill

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) Oof. As expected of a novel that revolves around the slave trade, this one hit hard and made me feel so angry. It was a bit different from most slave narratives I've read, as it follows a young girl from her capture in Africa to her time in Carolina and then Nova Scotia. She never actually worked on plantations nor was she involved in the underground railroad, which is what I usually find, but rather worked with indigo, learned to read and write, and then joined the abolitionists in London as an elderly woman. So it was good for me to read a variation from the norm. Here are a few of my favourite aspects of the book: 1. Aminata never really conceived of herself as being "African," and never even really knew others thought about her land as being one place. She identified with her specific tribe and had no concept of her place as part of a continent until the white people forced her to. This exploration of identity was really fasc...

Steampunk! - Edited by Kelly Link

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) This is an anthology of short stories inspired by steampunk, BUT not set in Victorian England. I rarely read short stories, but I think steampunk is really cool, and there were stories written by authors I really like. And I ended up enjoying the experience! There are about 15 stories, a couple of them comics. All of them are probably 40 pages or less, and even though short stories still aren't my favourite form, most of these stories did a great job dropping you into a fascinating world that felt quite real despite the short page count. Some were immediately forgettable, but there were a few that stood out that I really enjoyed. Most were slightly creepy, but never horror. And I really appreciated the diverse settings - alternate California, Wales, Montreal... Steampunk doesn't have to be just British! Anyway, a cool collection that I'm glad I own. Favourite stories were by Cory Doctorow and Libba Bray.

Legend of Korra - Season 2

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Jess) So I liked this season a little less. I’m finding more inconsistencies and things that don’t line up with the original series. I think I just have to remind myself it’s not going to be as good as the other series. Like how after one episode Korra can master the Avatar state?!

12 Years a Slave

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Jess) Shiteeeeeeeeeeee. Amazing movie. So hard to watch, but so important to watch.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (season 7 ep 5-6)

⭐ 5.5/10 (Originally written by Brandon.B.) Well.... These last two episodes have sort of been a bit of a disappointment; despite one of the main characters finally being made part of the season. Basically there's too many new characters compared to originals. Not that the new characters are bad, there is just too much of an emphasis on them. I feel like since this is the final season, there shouldn't be as much new character development since we already have 6 seasons plus the last few episodes where we were introduced to so many new characters. I'm hoping the rest of the season picks up again, otherwise this will have been a real disappointment.

12 Years a Slave

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) It was difficult to watch, but it was the best movie I've seen this year. It was a rare movie where I didn't think it was perfect, but a masterpiece nonetheless. I thought the choice to have old timey dialogue made the conversations feel a little less authentic, and I thought the violence was just a little overboard where it bordered emotional manipulation similar to The Passion of the Christ. But as with Passion of The Christ, much of the violence felt necessary to witness and I almost felt it my duty to not look away. It felt like an important movie to watch and I'd be wise to not forget. The Hanz Zimmer score was amazing, as was the acting all around. I wish I wouldn't have taken so long to watch it, and I would say that if you haven't seen it yet, it is the true sense of a must-watch. It also felt like a nice complimentary work between my reading of a history book through the lens of normal people (review coming soon!) an...

Lost (Season 2)

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Tim) The mystery gets deeper and the stakes get higher! A couple down episodes, and some of the new characters are very annoying, but I love how fresh this season feels. Takes a bunch of unexpected turns, and ends with a crazy tense finale. Needs more Desmond! I wish I could use more specifics in this review but I feel like anything said is a spoiler.

Groundhog Day

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Jess) I really love early 90s movies and this one was great one. It was a perfectly funny and cheesy movie to watch to lighten your spirits.

Cinderella - 1950

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Jess) Man this movie is amazing. I’ve been wanting to watch it again for the nostalgia, but it was truly just as amazing as an adult. The animation: 10/10 The humour: 10/10 The romance: 10/10 The character development, how Cinderella goes from poor to rich!? 10/10

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Jess) Everyone is getting back into Harry Potter and I love it. I like the first few for the reasons that it introduces us to the world of magic, but this is where the stuff really gets good. The best part is Cedric. He wasn’t here for long but he was the best of em.

Portrait of a Lady on Fire

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) I recommended this movie for our Friday night because I thought Jess would like it. Written and directed by a woman, and starring all women, completely on French, I had heard great things. I did think it was good, and as Jess said every frame and pose look like a painting, but it is super dramatic with zero humour. For every interesting scene there was a scene that was just two people gazing at each other for five minutes. Still, the story was interesting, the setting was beautiful, the acting was great, and it features a pretty unforgettable ending shot. Would recommend if you are into period pieces set in the countryside of France(?)

Portrait of a Lady on Fire

⭐ 6.5/10 (Originally written by Jess Dyck) This movie was pretty good. It was long and kind of boring if I’m honest, but I was fascinated by the painting itself and the way the actresses portrayed the artist’s careful observation and the poser’s angry captivity. It’s beautifully shot, like each scene still could be a painting itself. Nonetheless the romance between the two leads didn’t captivate me and I don’t think it’s a film I’d ever feel the need to see again.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - J.K. Rowling

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Jess Dyck) Another masterpiece! This book I know is widely regarded by many as the best in the series, and it really does feel like the series turning point where Harry is forced to grow up. The Mad-Eye reveal is still brilliant and all the twists and secrets uncovered throughout this book are truly masterful! Complete with all-series worthy excitement—quidditch World Cup, the horntail task, the Yule Ball—and the intro of more key characters in Skeeter and Fleur. The climactic moments are heart-wrenching and I’m sadly anticipating the hard year I know is ahead for my beloved characters. Definitive series ranking: #3

Groundhog Day

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) The prequel to The Edge of Tomorrow, but now with the less handsome Bill Murray rather than Tom Cruise. There was a lot less action than in the sequel, but I'll admit the jokes were much funnier. This was great watching during the apocalypse because, just like with Murray, every day is the same and we are trapped in this cycle with no end in sight. The humor was a little dark for my taste at times, and I felt I was going crazy somewhere around the 60 minute mark. Still, I give this a pretty strong recommendation.

The Lion King (2019)

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Sydney) As The Lion King has always been my absolute favourite movie of all time, I was so extremely excited for this one to be redone. Before it came out I definitely teared up watching the trailers and the waterworks started in theatres as the first sound of NAAAAA began while the sun rose (seriously, ask Daniel... I cried the whole way through). Watching it again almost a year later was still amazing and allowed me to see even more minute details. I loved the way they made some things more realistic (ex. The leaves blowing in the wind, Timon and Pumba, Zazu, etc). Loved it. Every second. Maybe the child inside me is a little bias in rating this one, but honestly, it was amazing. Who doesn't love seeing almost real-looking lion cubs on a screen for an hour?!

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Will) We're also onboard the Harry Potter rewatching train lately. This particular movie is good, but far from my favorite of the series. The battle of the titans at the end is great, and we do need to see Voldemort building up his squad again, but the rest of the movie felt a bit empty, like the stuff going on wasn't all that important. Plus, I simply CAN NOT STAND Umbridge. I guess that's the mark of a good character when she evokes such strong emotions, but still - I just can't handle it.

Watchmen - Alan Moore

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) I have a bit of a hard time rating this one. I really loved the world that he built, with all natural superheroes but the addition of one superhuman who alters the course of post WW2 history by having god-like power. But I found quite a lot of the middle portion pretty hard to get through, which is why it took since Christmas to finish it. The writing is good, but I feel he tries too hard at times. I also didn't really understand Dr Manhattan all that much and found his character kinda inconsistent. But I really loved the end, and once the book approached the climax I didn't put it down. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to explore a vast and well thought out superhero universe that is different then the standard ones we are used to. It's a little dry at times, but the end is worth the slog. I am very excited to watch the show after reading.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Jess) I haven’t watched the movies in a little while, except the first two. It was nice to be immersed into the world of magic once again. I love the introduction to Sirius Black, and of course the dreamy Professor Lupin.

Tarzan

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Jess) I thought this was a great rewatch. Brings back memories.

Blade Runner 2049

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Jess) What Joe said Except... the violence.

Full House

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Sydney) I remember watching this show after school in my adolescent years. I loved it then, and I love it now. Many of the sensitive talks between cast members that have that lovely music in the background to enhance the moment are a little too cheesy for me watching it again now, however, it's a show for all ages and everyone can learn something from it. Makes me laugh, makes me cry, all around feel good show.

The Echo Room by Parker Peevyhouse

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) Chose this book because it was available on audiobook from the library (CloudLibrary!) and the summary sounded cool. I absolutely loved the concept, about the main character waking up in a strange place having no idea how he got there, and then repeatedly waking up there again and again to relive the same events but having no memory of previous attempts. I was REALLY impressed with the way the author kept things fresh on every repeat, and the way clues and information were revealed each time. I was constantly scrambling to try to figure things out since I knew more than the main character, and at the same time trying to keep track of what was revealed during which repeat. Almost felt video game-esque, trying to solve a puzzle. The romance was...okay. I didn't hate it. Characters also didn't have tons of personality, but I was mostly there for the plot, which was very cool. Things wrapped up kind of quickly and I felt like the ending didn...

Kelsea - Kelsea Ballerini

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Beans) Kelsea is a country artist who kind of became the “it” girl overnight. She’s friends with both Taylor and Halsey which speaks for itself. Not only does she have a really great voice and lyrics to match, she’s also vulnerable in her music and on her socials that connects with her fans. This album was good, but that’s all. Her best tracks are the ones with features: Halsey and Kenny Chesney. I will say though, her songs Club, LA, and Overshare are really great because she talks about her struggle with fame and how to navigate that.

Miracles and Other Reasonable Things - Sarah Bessey

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) This is a memoir by Sarah Bessey, someone whom I've been following for quite a while. It focuses on only the past 5 years or so of her life, centering around a car crash she was in that has resulted in her having to deal with chronic pain, probably for the rest of her life. It also contains stories about her dad's surgery and a visit to Rome to see the Pope. About half of the chapters are memoir-ish, while the other half are more standard essays on spirituality. I found her writing really beautiful, and as someone who also has a "before and after," AND deals with chronic (albeit minor) pain, it was powerful to read about someone suffering and then overcoming it. She talks a lot about embodiment, and what it means to live in the bodies we have, which are more than vehicles for our souls. I also loved her chapter about connecting with the feminine, Mother side of God. It's a slim book, but I got a lot out of it. My only com...

Wicked Fox - Kat Cho

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) This book is significant because I think it's the first book I've read about Korean characters, set in Korea. The whole book is steeped in Korean culture, both traditional and modern. I loved it! It was pretty much a k-drama in book form, but injected with the standard American YA format. It was very self-aware about how tropey it was, and I loved recognizing all of the k-drama tropes I've seen on screen so many times. It's about an 18-year-old girl who is half gumiho, which is a woman who feasts on the gi of men in order to survive, and her nine fox tails come out during the full moon. MiYoung is always struggling against her gumiho instincts but gets a lot of pressure from her mom. One day she fights against a goblin to save a classmate's life, which makes her lose her gumiho bead, which she needs to get back. There's lots of folklore (luckily, the book gives background for people who are unfamiliar), shamans, danger...

Jumanji: The Next Level

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) This was SO funny. (Henry doesn't know anything.) The reasons for everyone going back into the game were pretty weak, but nobody cares about that. Loved the new characters and the inclusion of the two old guys, which kept things still fresh and allowed for more great gags. The Rock, Kevin Hart, and Jack Black were all GREAT in these comedic roles. The plot doesn't have much for substance, although they tried to inject a bit, but we're all just here for laughs and some nice friendship themes anyways.

Self-made

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Anita) New Netflix mini-series about the first (documented) female millionaire in the US. I'd heard her name (Madam CJ Walker) but knew literally nothing else about her when I started but I thought it sounded interesting and I was not disappointed! I was hooked from the start wanting to know how it all turned out and had a lot of feels throughout it. It's a good one!

Schitt's Creek (Seasons 1-5)

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by KathleenQ) Here's the thing with this show: every main character kind of has a redemption arc. Which means that everyone starts off kind of terrible. Which means the first season is hard to watch. Which is a shame , because the rest of the seasons are COMPLETELY DELIGHTFUL. It has quickly ascended to the highest ranks of my most beloved sitcoms, up there with Parks & Rec, Brooklyn Nine Nine and The Good Place. I started season 1 of this show about six months ago and didn't like it. The four members of the Rose family are selfish, greedy, coddled, and materialistic; so of course they don't handle the trauma of having their lives upended well. And Roland is so viscerally repulsive I could hardly stand it. I quickly lost interest and stopped watching. But everyone I respect kept insisting that it gets better and it's worth continuing, so when I found myself quarantined with a sleepless kid I decided to pick up where I left off. Season 1 ...

Lion

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Jona) Wow... this was an emotional movie to watch. My heart breaks for the kids that have to go through the same experiences, and 99% probably don’t turn out well. Overall, I loved the way this was filmed. I enjoyed to flashbacks and the journey the movie portrayed.

Tarzan

⭐ 6.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) Honestly not a very good rewatch. I'm not very sentimental when it comes to movies from my childhood, and I watched it so many times back then that I still had the whole thing memorized and there were no delightful little surprises or anything. It's not very funny, it's super serious all the time, and although the Phil Collins music is great, it's just too dramatic. The elephant and the old guy were still pretty good, but Minnie Driver is pretty annoying. Also pretty dark for a kids movie. Bonus points for the fact that i did indeed love it so much as a kid that I used to crawl around on my knuckles like a gorilla and once a teacher at school called me out for it. Wait no, anti-bonus points for that.

Balto

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) 😂 Maybe the social distancing is getting to me. I was super obsessed with this movie as a kid and you know what? It's still good. That little dog just wants to save the children! Seriously though, the actual true story this movie was based on is amazing. This movie is ridiculous but it's cute and it has a really nice message. Can't believe I wasn't traumatized by it as a kid though. I was blinded by my love for sled dogs I guess.

This Team is Ruining my Life (But I Love them) - Steve “Dangle” Glen

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Jona) This book is unlike anything I’ve ever read before. Steve Dangle makes a living making content about the Toronto Maple Leafs, and in this book he shaves his life story and the journey he took to get him working at Sportsnet. From being a kid with way to much energy, to a guy doing a college radio show, to now making a YouTube video after every Leafs game, Steve has done it all. I would recommend this book to viewers of his show and podcast, or diehard Leafs fans, but if those don’t apply to you, then don’t bother reading it. It’s written in a fun way, and when I read it, I can literally picture him telling the stories in person.

Frozen II

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by The_John) It was alright. I still don't understand the hype of these movies. Visuals were great, music was hit and miss, connections to the first movie didn't feel natural but rather forced. I found myself enjoying the snacks more than the movie.

The Beduin's Gazelle - Frances Temple

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) A really short book set in the 1100's in the Maghreb, about two teens living in a nomadic Bedouin tribe who were promised to each other but get separated. Sand storm! Tribe war! Escape! I loved learning about this culture and their lifestyle, but the plot was weak. Apparently the author died the day after she finished writing it, so probably didn't get a chance to work on a final version. The ending was abrupt and tied everything up really quickly.

My Brilliant Friend - Elena Ferrante

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) Hmm. I'm not really sure I totally understand what all of the hype was about for this book. It was originally written in Italian, and it's a historical book set in Naples. It's about the complicated relationship between two girls from childhood to adolescence. It's one of the literary fiction novels that doesn't really have a plot, and just follows the girls and other people in their neighbourhood as they grow and change. Lots of insight into class, gender roles, education, and friendship, and it is a very immersive experience into this Italian neighbourhood. I just didn't enjoy it that much, although lots of people LOVE it. Great for people who want to experience a different culture/time and don't mind character study over plot.

Foundation and Earth - Isaac Asimov

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Tim) The "conclusion" of the Foundation series, and kind of the conclusion of Asimov's universe, I was once again hooked. Some unexpected twists and more (typical at this point) mind-blowing connections to his earlier works, I was truly satisfied finishing this one. As the heroes of this book work their way towards Earth the anticipation they felt mirrored my own, and had me reading faster and faster right until the end. And the ending. No way to say anything without spoiling, or without the knowledge of the ~10 books that come before, but it was more than worth the journey. I was slightly confused by the last paragraph, which leaves you wanting more. This left me semi-disappointed, since I wanted a true conclusion, but reading a bit online about Asimov's plans and death I feel at peace with it. How are you supposed to end a story about the final evolution of humankind anyways? All in all, I have loved the ~3 year journey of readi...

Grace (Eventually) - Anne Lamott

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) I think I've finally read my way through Lamott's backlist! This is from 2007, so she still has lots to say about the Bush administration, and how all you need is a nice walk outside and to call a friend in order to feel more like yourself. Once again, all of her themes and topics are very familiar, but I still find what she has to say so important. My favourite essay was about body image and I cared less about the parenting ones, but I still enjoyed them all.

We Have Always Been Here: A Queer Muslim Memoir - Samra Habib

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) The subtitle pretty much tells it all. Samra's memoir is about her move from Pakistan to Canada as a child, trying to fit in, trying to escape from her arranged marriage at 16, then discovering her identity as a queer woman and how that fits in with her Muslim identity. The title comes from her statement that queer Muslims have been invisible until now, but that they have in fact always been here. This memoir is pretty short, but I found the last quarter especially poignant. It's a Canada Reads contender, for good reason.

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) Back again with my yearly queer romance novel. This one about the First Son of the United States falling in love with his sworn rival, the Prince of England. It got a ton of hype last year when it came out, but I kept putting it off because it's about my least favourite thing: American (and British) politics. But it was honestly wonderful. Super self-indulgent and tropey in the best way. But the picture it painted of America, with a fictional female leftist president that came after Obama, almost made me too depressed to enjoy it. Don't try to convince me America isn't garbage! Still, though. One can dream. I still hate politics, but this book made them bearable. And the romance was REALLY cute. And the women in this book were wonderful. And I love an unrealistically happy ending. I am not even being sarcastic. Good for them!!!

The Glass Castle - Jeanette Walls

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) A really wild memoir about a crazy family. Really enjoyed this read. A deep look into family dynamics that are very different from mine. A few things I really like about this book: She never wrote in a way that made her sound bitter or resentful towards her parents. It genuinely seemed like she was just trying to tell the story as best as she could. I kinda liked her parents (when they weren’t a**holes). They really stuck to their guns and had such an interesting philosophy. If Rex Walls hadn’t been a deadbeat drunk I bet we would’ve read about him in our history books. I also appreciated their lens on life when they were in NYC, and how they survived. Mind you, this is all coming from a huge distaste for the parents thinking they were completely unfit to be parents and the kids should’ve been taken away. The siblings relationships was so endearing. Was so warmed by how they looked out for each other. A quick, fast paced read that I finished withi...

Seth Meyers: Lobby Baby

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Anita) I've never really watched Seth Meyers but I've heard the name a bunch so I decided to give it a try and I was not disappointed!! He mostly talks about parenting so if that's not your thing, you were warned! He does throw in some politics and marriage stuff so it's just fun all around. 😂 But seriously, it was really clean (except a lot of f-words which I maybe should count but don't) and hilarious and relatable.

Line of duty season 1

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Anita) Wow. This show was intense. I was super intrigued and pulled into the plot but it was so gory!! Normally I'd probably be right onto the next season but with my panic just waiting to seep into my entire life, it might not be the time to watch something so dark? Love the twists and turns and main protagonists a lot though!

Tiny House Nation

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Anita) I love home renovation/design shoes and this one did not disappoint. I love the hosts - they're just the right amount of goofy/nerdy and I really love the concept. Watched it with the 7 year old and she's convinced we need to build our own tiny house and I'm inclined to agree!

To All The Boys: PS I Still Love You

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Anita) My hopes were too high for this one because of how much I loved the first one but it definitely didn't live up. It was fine, it was just a bit too cringey and I just found myself not loving the main character quite as much as I did in the first movie.

Out of My Mind - Sharon Draper

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Anita) This was a wonderful and illuminating book about life with a pretty severe disability. Main character is so real and lovable. I had to put the book down several times during the climax because I was so incredibly invested.

Longbourn

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Anita) It was really interesting reading Pride and Prejudice from the perspective of the servants. But wow, was it ever eye-opening to the awfulness of the times too. Mr. Bennet is forever ruined. 😭

Jumanji (1995)

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Jona) As a child I considered this to be the scariest movie I had ever seen... this is still true today haha. I love this movie and I think it blows the remake out of the water. One of Robin Williams best movies, and I love Peter turning into the monkey boy. I would recommend this film to everyone during this time of social distancing.

Blade Runner 2049

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) After watching the original, Jess and I wanted to rewatch the sequel again. We watched it when it first came out and I thought it was cool and unique and even memorable, but I admit I didn't really understand what was going on and just chalked it up to artsiness. Turns out watching the original is very helpful when watching a sequel - who knew! I loved watching it this time around. It was thoughtful and poetic and retained that sense of moral ambiguity the original has. The stylistic choices are amazing, but the best part might still be the music and audio design. It's very dark and quite grim so it may not be for everybody but I thought it was amazing.

A Quiet Place

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Benjamin) Has everyone seen this already? I liked it and thought it was well done. It wasn't as dark as i thought it'd be but i did end up fast forwarding 2 parts because i couldn't handle it. The kids were amazing in their roles. Most of the movie only having sign language was intriguing. John Krasinski and Emily Blunt were great too! Some of the story was similar to 'Signs'

Freaks

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) Super cool sci-fi thriller I picked at random on Netflix because I once saw that an article existed about it. Absolutely loved the concept behind it, and the way the worldbuilding is revealed to the viewer slowly--the movie you think it is at the beginning is very different from what it ends up as. Like most of the random sci-fi films I watch, it ended with me saying, "Well, what the heck are they supposed to do now?" Not much closure, kinda dark. But at the same time, I always ended up understanding the characters' motivations and decisions. Also pretty violent and bloody. But worth the watch.

Blade Runner: Final Cut

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) Really great sci-fi classic with amazing music and that awesome noir artistic style. We watched the final cut which was recommended by most people on Reddit, and I think it was the right choice. It is less clear what is going on, but it adds a layer of ambiguity and mystery. I had to watch a YouTube video after to really understand the themes and significance of certain scenes, but I actually like when movies are interesting enough to look up commentary. Still, because the movie is pretty old, there were some scenes that I felt I didn't really connect with mostly because they didn't really align with my modern expectations.

Blade Runner: Final Cut

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Jess) For some reason I watched Bladerunner 2049 before this one in theatres a while ago and now that I’ve watched this one everything makes a lot more sense. But I’ll have to watch 2049 again. I enjoyed this movie a lot. It kind of had a Ex-Machina feel to it. Can they treat the replicants how ever they want because they’re not human? Or should they respect them and their rights because they have emotional intelligence? Can they just kill them and it not be considered murder? I believe in replicant rights and I will fight for them! Also, in 1982 they had some pretty cool effects.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - J.K. Rowling

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Jess Dyck) Perfection! Tim is forcing me to rank among my favourites and this falls at the second fave of the entire series. I LOVE this story, all that goes on, all the new characters and complexities that it introduces. I love beginning to uncover the Moony, Padfoot, Prongs and Wormtail stories, I love the climax to this book, and I love a high stakes Quidditch situation. Definitive series ranking: #2

The Dragon Prince (Season 3)

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) Actually wasn't that into this season :/ I just didn't find the plot that engaging? Or most of the characters? I was kind of eager for it to be over after a while. I still love the artwork and the themes and the way they handle diversity and things like revenge and difficult decisions. But in general...ehh.

Fine Line - Harry Styles

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Jess Dyck) This album is the soundtrack to my self-isolation. Listened to this on repeat all day while cleaning. Still not sick of it! Every song is unique, beautiful and extremely catchy. Honestly the first 3 songs might be the best start to an album ever, and in my humble opinion Harry keeps it up right up til Fine Line to close the album. I can’t stop humming the da-da-da-da from Golden over and over in my head and I can’t wait to keep listening to this on repeat for the foreseeable quarantine.

The Dragon Prince (Season 3)

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) I loved this season! The journey continues, we get an epic battle, and some mysteries are solved! Everyone was right, Soren just gets better and better, and there are so many other great characters. The King Ezran arc felt a little short and I would've liked to see more of that, but overall it was a great time.

Le mystere Henri Pick - David Foenkinos

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) This book was significant for me because it was the first French audiobook I listened to all the way through, and I understood what was going on the whole time! A literary agent goes to a library devoted to rejected books that never got published and discovers a gem. She traces the author to a man who has already died, ran a pizzeria, and apparently never read a book in his life. The story makes a splash around the world and changes lots of people's lives. A fun story set in Brittany, France as different people try to figure out if Henri Pick really wrote this book. A fun cast of characters, and a few twists and turns. I hear the English translation is good!

Riot Baby - Tochi Anyebuchi

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) A novella about a pair of siblings experiencing race riots in the US, and the sister has powers that get out of control when she gets angry. It starts contemporary, but then turns dystopian and science fiction-y, as the nation's disregard for Black bodies and their rights gets extreme. The anger and hopelessness of these characters really jumped off the page, and the fates of these Black Americans seemed more realistic than I wish they were. Cons: The changes in time and perspective were a bit hard for me to follow, and maybe because of its short length, I don't think it'll be a very memorable read for me. Also it was depressing, but of course that was the point.

The Alchemyst - Michael Scott

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Beans) Nicholas Flamel is real, and so is magic. Josh and Sophie are twins that are sucked into a world they thought was myth and legend filled with monsters and magic. A fast paced, magical book that was really fun to read. Has some really unique and powerful characters that I loved. Also had great sibling relationships. Definitely meant for teens but I still enjoyed the read. The first in a series of 6 books that I most likely will read!

Heartbreak Weather - Niall Horan

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Beans) Another album by a 1D boy-turned-man who has experienced heartbreak. He’s become my favourite One Directioner and has released a stellar album. Melancholy and moody sounds that make it great for background music but deep enough to have meaning. A few great folky-pop songs (Nice To Meet You, No Judgement) but the real bangers are his introspective piano ballads (Bend The Rules and Put A Little Love On Me). These Irish guys really have that charm.

The Two Popes

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Jess Dyck) This was a surprisingly wonderful movie! A spontaneous watch for Tim and I that I thoroughly enjoyed. For a 2 hour movie that was basically two old men having a conversation about their beliefs, I was engaged the entire time. This film had depth, humour, sincerity and tackled some moving moments beautifully. As a Christian with basically 0 knowledge about the Pope or Catholicism in general, I thought this was very accessible and educational. I can’t help but smile when I think back on the movie. Highly recommend!

The Two Popes

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) I thought this movie was going to be some super soapy and well crafted drama that I might appreciate but not enjoy, but I ended up loving it. Not only is the growing friendship between two old men really charming, but watching two men whose job is to essentially be God's mouthpiece struggle to hear from God had me thinking about my own faith. Still, it doesn't take itself too seriously, and has some quirky humour. This movie also looks incredible. Everything framed against either the Italian countryside or Vatican City makes for some pretty stunning scenes, although there was some noticeable green screen backgrounds I found distracting. That is a super minor nitpick though. The flashbacks in black and white were really sharp and used effectively (I don't always love flashbacks). I loved the way they edited the actors into real life news clips, and I felt like I learned a bit more about the politics surrounding the pope. A thoughtful, big...

Legend of Korra - Season 1

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Jess) I had really low expectations going in because when I started it years ago I was so disappointed that I never wanted to see it again. But I thought I would give it another go and I really enjoyed it! I'm still getting used to the new Avatar being so different from Aang but I love seeing how the characters in the main series turned out as adults with kids and grandchildren and how they've adapted bending.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - J.K. Rowling

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Jess Dyck) J.K. is a genius and I will hear no less. Read this for the millionth time and it still hooked me, I loved finding new little nuggets that so beautifully set up 6 and 7! No criticism, just 10/10 love for this series here. Definitive series ranking: #6

Guardians of the Galaxy

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Brandon.B.) I really love this movie. There is a lot going on with each of the main characters and even the supporting cast. The writer's did an awesome job knitting the guardians together and made their committment to eachother seem natural rather than contrived. Love the John c Rielly cameo. Even his minor role had a bit of meaningful development.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (season 7 ep4)

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Brandon.B.) Number 4 was almost everything I could have asked for in a Clone Wars episode. Tons of droids eating shit. More if the main characters were included. Meaningful conclusion to an awesome story arc. Loved every minute of it.

Edge of Tomorrow - live.die.repeat.

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Benjamin) I recently HAD to watch this again and i found it on blu-ray in one of the bins at Walmart for $8. It has been on Netflix before and might show up there again. But this is on my favorites list. Emily Blunt and Tom Cruise.

Interior Chinatown - Charles Yu

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) This book is WEIRD, but in a really cool way. It's presented as a script, but you still get paragraphs of info for backstory and things like that. The main character is Willis Wu, who is an actor trying to make it big, which to him means getting cast as Kung Fu Guy, but the best he has been able to get so far is Generic Asian Man. He has a bit part in a police procedural called Black and White that is shot in a stereotypical Chinese restaurant, and the Asian people always die, and the Asian characters always have to speak in accents, even though they don't have one. Above the restaurant are apartments where all the extras live, but it's also just a restaurant and homes, representing the universal Chinatowns that exist all over the world. So it's normal life, but also a TV show (?), sending the message that we all just follow the stereotypes and can't break out of the roles that were given to us. It was very confusing to me ...

SF/F Yeah!

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) In this podcast, two science fiction/fantasy nerds spend about half of the podcast talking about news in the SF/F world like awards, adaptations, big articles, etc., then give book recommendations based on a theme. I love it, and it has made my TBR list EXPLODE. I've liked almost all of their recommendations that I've read. Amanda and Sharifah are the hosts, and they have good chemistry together and have diverse tastes. I really like that they emphasize books by diverse authors, and always give trigger warnings.

Word Nerd - Susin Nielsen

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) The main character of this book is a 12-year-old, dorky boy who loves Scrabble, which is a kind of character I always like! He starts getting home-schooled by his over-protective mother because he's getting bullied too much, but he's so bored he gets his ex-con neighbour to take him to Scrabble meetings. A cute story about a boy learning how to make friends and understand his mother. Also Scrabble!

The Magical Language of Others - E.J. Koh

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) This is a memoir, but written in a poetic, literary way, which made me once again feel like a big dummy. Eunji was born in the States, but her parents moved back to Korea for a job when she was 15, leaving her in the States with her older (but still teenaged) brother. The focus is on her relationship with her mother, and the book includes letters written to her by her mother, translated by the author. A major theme is also language, and how hard it can be to connect through language, especially if you don't share a first language. I can imagine a lot of people being really touched and affected by this, especially Asian people, for whom being separated from their parents is a pretty common thing. But I prefer my memoirs with more narrative drive, whereas this just seemed to pick and describe a few scenes from her life, and I couldn't always see the significance. A good book, just not for me.

Rhett and Link, Ear Biscuits

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Benjamin) Rhett and Link share their stories of deconstruction. I could relate to alot if what they say. Just very interesting for me because i listened to these guys years ago in their beginnings. I don't feel i can rank this any lower because it's their personal story... right?

Magician: Apprentice; Magician: Master by Raymond E. Feist

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Benjamin) I was looking for a new series with its own magic system. While these 2 books did not go into detail on the magic as i hoped, or as original as i hoped because of some of the similarities to Tolkien's world, i still loved it. I'm also never sure how to feel about men and women's roles in stories that take place from earlier time periods, when they are patriarchal. I'm not sure if this was, but yeah. You have to read well into the 2nd book before you really get to the climax of Pug's abilities.

Ronny Chieng Netflix special

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Benjamin) If you get a chance to watch this comedy special without kids around, it was completely hilarious! He's so intense and unique.

Becoming Mrs Lewis

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by The Original Susanne) Loved and hated this book. It was beautiful and I love learning more about CS Lewis' life, but since it's written as a fiction I kept wondering how much we actually know happened and how much was made up. Although I knew enough about his life to know that his wife died young, it still broke my freaking heart. Like, I almost wanted to stop reading before she got sick because I dreaded reading about it so much. Especially as a mom, the idea of leaving young children motherless just kills me. But dang, I love how brilliant and nerdy both Clive and his wife were. Just amazing.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone - J.K. Rowling

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Jess Dyck) I can’t give any of these books less than ten. These stories are pure brilliance. Book 1 is definitely written for 11 year olds (NOT a critique), I pounded it out in two days, and it truly never loses its magic. This is a world I feel like I could live in forever, and I’m just stoked to read through this series for the millionth time. Definitive series ranking: #7

Pokemon Shield

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Will) I'm playing this through with the kid right now. Overall it's a great addition to the Pokemon franchise, and I'm loving both the nostalgia, and seeing my kid get the same joy out of it that I did. The settings are really fun with a wide variety and generally look great, and gameplay mechanisms have been very nicely smoothened out since the last game I played ~12 years ago. One major downside: the villains, Team Yell, are just the worst. They're not compelling in any way and they just look ridiculous. I miss Team Rocket!

IT (1990 Miniseries)

⭐ 3.5/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) This was a terrible show(? movie? it's 3 hours) and I hated every second of it so much that I kind of loved it? I know special effects were hard to come by in 1990 but hoo boy. Absolutely awful. I'm a huge weenie but there was not a single moment where I was scared or even on edge. A joy to watch with a friend willing to roast it. I had a great time.

New Super Mario Bros - Wii

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) I didn't actually play through this whole game so this is not a true review. About a year ago Jess and I started playing it together because we thought it would be a fun way to spend time together and do something that involved teamwork. It didn't work that way. We hated each other every second we played together. I hated her because she was better then me and wouldn't suffer my incompetence, and she hated me for holding us back and because I accidentally killed her every 5 minutes. Fast forward a year that I'd spent honing my platforming skills, and now Jess comes crawling back asking me for help with the final levels. Again, we mostly spent our time bickering then yelling then threatening divorce. But we worked and grinded, and finally emerged victorious. Dropping Bowser into the depths of the molten hell of his own creation was possibly the greatest satisfaction I've experienced in my time as a gamer. It was also the highes...

New Super Mario Bros - Wii

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Jess) So I finished most of this when school was on strike, and now that I’m spending a lot of time at home again I finished it! I’ve always loved all Mario games, that is most of what I played as a kid so I think that’s a big reason I like this game so much. This type of platform game is also my favourite: 2-D side scrolling platform according to google. It is a multiplayer game, although I do prefer to play alone. But I couldn’t have beat the last level without my sidekick Joe, even though I did most of the work. I don’t think we’ve ever been happier when we beat Bowser.

Legally Blonde

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Jess) Haven’t watched this one in a while. But what a goodie! I just love that it’s not serious and that it’s all fun. I found myself still be able to quote the signature lines. I agree with Becky’s review.

Loveboat, Taipei

⭐ 6.5/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) Of course I had to read this YA book just based on the title, because I'll read anything set in Taiwan. Unfortunately, the city and setting itself figured very little in the book, which was disappointing. It's about Ever, a daughter of immigrants who want her to be a doctor, while she wants to dance. They ship her off to an 8-week summer program in Taiwan to experience her culture before university, which all of the attendees use as a chance to go wild . I liked the bits that reminded me of my own summer exchange experience, but they were pretty few and far between. This book was overly long, with so much teen drama, and a love triangle that I hated. Ever insists at the beginning that guys don't like her (why?), but then suddenly everyone falls in love with her (but why?). It tried to take on immigrant identity, mental health, self-confidence, parent issues, and lots of other things, but despite its length, not much is well fleshed...

Legally Blonde

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) The first week of isolation and I have already clearly lost any control over what Jess and I are spending our time watching. This movie is absurd, but it knows it's absurd and so I had an easy time laughing at what I dearly hope were the intended jokes.

Aladdin (2019)

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by The Original Susanne) I've always loved Aladdin. As in, love the movie AND love the character. I mean, he's so dreamy! The actor playing him in this version sure isn't too bad either, but I'm not sure why he was wearing a shirt under his vest. Totally not authentic. Anyway, I really enjoyed this movie. Held true to the original Disney story while adding just a bit to make it more appropriate for live action and not feel completely predictable. The genie seemed a bit silly-looking at times, but I actually liked him more than I expected. Also, the new Jasmine's voice is even more beautiful than the original's, which is saying a lot because I was ENCHANTED by her when I was a kid.

Derry Girls (seasons 1 and 2)

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Anita) Oh my goodness I loved this show. It was actually super tough for me to get into (all the best things seem to be for me!) but I stuck through the first couple of episodes because of all the super high reviews. It is SO CRINGEY. But it also turned out to be SUPER WORTH IT. That last scene just made my heart swell!!!

St Patrick of Ireland: A Modern Biography - Philip Freeman

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) Pretty short but pretty terrific biography of a guy I soon realized I knew zero things about. There is little in terms of evidence for biographical material for his life, so a lot of the book is speculative. I think the author handles it all really well and fair, which is especially tricky when dealing with a religious figure that people idolize. It also offers a lot of historical background which I also didn't know a lot about (4-5th centuries of England and Ireland) so if you have interest in that era, or early Christian history, I think this book would be great choice.

Babies

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by The Original Susanne) This is a Netflix documentary series about, you guessed it, babies. I watched them while holding my own new baby. Most were really interesting, and I learned something new about each topic. It also made me really excited to get to some of those milestones. However they only focused on typical development, not even mentioning atypical development, which I would imagine would feel rather awful for anyone watching with a differently developing child. Also made me feel like a lazy parent because the parents in the documentary do so much with their kids (obviously because they are being recorded, but still).

Line of Duty season 5

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by The Original Susanne) Love me a good British crime show! This one is a little different because it's about an anti-corruption unit investigating 'bent coppers'. How can there be so many bent coppers to warrant 5 seasons, you ask? A big conspiracy involving lots of top dogs and moles, of course. It's fabulous.

Mistborn: The Final Empire - Brandon Sanderson

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Jess) I thought this book was really good!! I haven’t read a good fantasy novel in a while and it was my first Sanderson book. I always enjoy reading about a new kind of magic and I thought Allomancy is super cool! Obviously I liked the fact that the main character was female and that she was powerful. I found myself constantly interested in the book, the story building was great and not too long (Joe is wrong), and the ending was 🤯. To me anyway. I can’t wait to read the rest!!

Almost American Girl - Robin Ha

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) Another graphic novel memoir by an Asian-American! This is about Robin moving to the US from Korea when she's 14 and how hard the move was. Lots of insight into the cultural differences and the difficulty of learning a new language (I feel you, Robin!). There was also a lot of emphasis on her relationship with her mom, which also revealed a lot about Korean culture, and was a good exploration of what we really know about our parents. A quick, enjoyable read.

Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus - Dusti Bowling

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) I've noticed that suddenly I'm reading a lot of middle grade books about kids with disabilities, which is a weird trend. I mean, I am trying to read more books with disabled characters (and by disabled authors, but those are harder to find), and middle grade books are less likely to be horribly sad, so I guess that's why? Like all MG books, this one is sweet and heartfelt - which is why I like them! It centers on Aven, a girl born with no arms, who goes to a new school and befriends the other "freak" in school, a boy with Tourette's. It's mostly them navigating middle school and making peace with who they are, with a tiny bit about them trying to figure out the weird stuff that's happening at Aven's family's theme park. Aven is generally a really spunky, optimistic girl, whereas her friend Connor hates going out in public and is super hard on himself for not being able to control his tics. It really sh...

Quarter-Life Crisis - Taylor Tomlinson

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by KathleenQ) (Note: This is a comedy special on Netflix... I figured "movie" was the closest format.) I was up at night with a sick kid and needed something to cheer me up, and this was new on Netflix so I gave it a click even though I didn't know a thing about the comedian... and was unexpectedly delighted! Tomlinson is a single woman in her mid-twenties, so you might not think I'd connect with her, but I somehow still found her SO RELATABLE! She jokes about being an introvert who's no fun at parties ("I'm more of the faint pulse of the potluck than the life of the party") and being raised by conservative Christian parents. She makes jokes about sex, but she's up-front about not being into casual sex. I found her very insightful and charming. I cannot believe she's so young. I thought some of you might get a kick out of her show, too! (Her most explicit jokes come in the very last 5-ish minutes of her performanc...

Mistborn: The Well of Ascension - Brandon Sanderson

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) I've been pretty conflicted thinking about this book for a while, and I've had lots of animated discussions with Tim where I try to decide if I like Sanderson or not with Tim trying to convince me that I do. Fact is, I thought this book was a lot more interesting then the first. The lore created much more intrigue, the characters were all pretty good and somewhat complex, and there were a lot of cool threads being woven that came together near the end. Still, I just can't be convinced that Sanderson isn't overrated. His writing style is boring and super plain, there are massive amounts of lame, borderline cheesy and far too descriptive dialogue, and the world itself and the magic system I find to just be okay. One of my gripes is that while authors and teachers preach "show, don't tell," Sanderson both shows and tells way too much where he gives a long description of what is happening, then spends the next six chapte...

Blonde on Blonde - Bob Dylan

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Chris) Gave it a first listen through today. Lots to put to few words. For songs that are so humorous, introspective, observational, and catchy, I’m surprised so few if any make it to radio and popular knowledge. To accompany the songbook of  Blonde on Blonde ,  Paul Nelson  wrote an introduction stating, "The very title suggests the singularity and the duality we expect from Dylan. For Dylan's music of illusion and delusion—with the tramp as explorer and the clown as happy victim, where the greatest crimes are lifelessness and the inability to see oneself as a circus performer in the show of life—has always carried within it its own inherent tensions ... Dylan in the end truly UNDERSTANDS situations, and once one truly understands anything, there can no longer be anger, no longer be moralizing, but only humor and compassion, only pity." -wiki

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous - Ocean Vuong

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) This one is hard for me to review. The author is a poet, and it definitely reads more like poetry than straight prose. And as with every time I'm confronted with poetry, I realize I do not have a poet's soul. It's the kind of book that should be read slowly, savouring everything and with a pencil in hand. Unfortunately, I'm very bad at reading that way. The book is a letter from a queer Vietnamese-American man to his PTSD-ridden mother, and it jumps around from scene to scene, with lots of metaphors and symbolism that was a bit much for my literal brain. It includes scenes from his mother's and grandmother's lives during the war, his childhood, his sexual awakening, and his first boyfriend's overdose. So pretty much all the trigger warnings, as it can be pretty graphic. His writing is absolutely gorgeous. It is raw, and gutting. The emotions in every scene are so powerful. I'm just maybe... not the right person ...

The Gamer's Guide to Getting the Girl - Kristine Scarrow

⭐ 6.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) I read this because I wanted something quick and light after a very heavy book, plus I want to read more Canadian authors. A gamer gets stuck in a mall in Saskatchewan during a tornado with a bunch of other people, and over the course of the harrowing night falls for a fellow gamer - a female one! It was what I wanted - goofy and sweet, with a bit of suspense from the storm. But it definitely wasn't well-written. I'm not an expert on style, but this felt amateur to me, and the plotting was scattered. In the end I still enjoyed it, and it was only 200 pages, so I don't consider it a waste of time.

Si on était... - Axelle Lenoir

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) A comic collection by a Quebecois author, about two best friends who always play "what if" games, and the things they imagine are illustrated. Originally serialized, there wasn't much overarching plot, but it was fun, the characters were super diverse, I learned a bunch of Quebecois slang, and the character costumes were great.

Ulysses - James Joyce

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Chris) It’s been on my reading list for a long time, and I often find myself not spending too much time with fiction. Joyce has a way of comedically bringing the Greek hero to a modern context, not to transpose classic ideals of heroism onto new characters, but as a framework to display what everyday life is in all of its crud and beauty. (I’m exactly halfway through so stay tuned)

Blackmoore - Julianne Donaldson

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Jess) This book was not as great as the first, I found myself much more interested in Edenbrooke. It told the love story in a very different way, which I was happy about but not happy about at the same time. During the lows of the book, it was sometimes cringey how bad things got because it would be so ridiculous. Also, the mother and her sisters made this book unbearable at times, way too cringey. Having said those things, don’t be deterred from reading this book. I loved the romance - it was so easy to become immersed in it. She writes the romance so well that you feel like you are the character and also are in love with Henry. I was on page 264, looked that the book went to 275 and thought: Julianne are you telling me you’re going to wrap this book up in ten pages? But by golly, she did it!

Doctor Who (Season 9)

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Jess) This show is kind of difficult to review without giving stuff away. But, I enjoyed this season a lot more than the last. There was a lot of story building, less filler episodes. There was a great tragedy, two actually. I just wish I could be by his side as a companion, bye Joe. The last episode was a Christmas special, and it combined two of some of my favourite things, The Doctor and superheroes!

My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) Man, I just love shonen anime. The fact that all things can be solved by the power of friendship is, in fact, the best thing about it. If you just try hard enough, and also have the support of your friends, you can do anything!!!! I was gaping through the entire final fight scene. It was so absurdly over-the-top that it went past cringey and back into incredible. They had to pull some strings to fit the epic plot into the pre-set series plotline, but it was worth it. Loved seeing every character shine, but Bakugo stole the show. Ultimately had very little substance but I had a GREAT time.

The Way Back

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Jona) After seeing the trailer for this I was dead set on seeing it because it reminded me of Coach Carter, and various other sports movies that followed the same story line. After watching it last night I had some time to think about the film as a whole and I really enjoyed it. It’s a story of a man hurting from various past traumas in his life, and how he has suppressed his pain with alcoholism... This film hit a bit harder for me as I was reminded of people in my life who are caught on in addiction, but the thing that I loved about it was that it doesn’t glamorous the recovery process or make it seem easy. It was raw and really showed how far someone has to drop before they get help... It’s a film of redemption and recovery, and a healthy reminder that recovery and redemption looks different for everyone...

The Way Back

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) A rough and tumble Ben Affleck finds himself stumbling in and out of bars when he gets a call from his old high school. Classic basketball movie that follows a formula that always works. This movie was deeper than I thought it would be as I was NOT expecting to cry.

The Way Back

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) I thought this movie was great as a drama if they would have dropped the sports stuff. As much as I love a good ol' fashioned coach making a crappy team good story, this one was just so cliched and tired at this point. And the thing is the movie really didn't even need it. If you cut every basketball scene I think this would have been a nice 45 minute movie, and honestly I think the whole movie would have made just as much sense as the basketball plot and the personal growth plot didn't even overlap all that much. Felt it missed some opportunities there. Affleck was great in this one, very similar to Casey in Manchester by the Sea, and they were very similar movies. But this was just a less good version of that one and the tears in this one felt a little more contrived. So my recommendation is skip this one (unless you haven't seen Coach Carter or Glory Road) and watch Manchester.

The Book of M - Peng Shepherd

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) This book was a super interesting mash-up of literary, post-apocalyptic, dystopian, speculative fiction. People around the world are losing their shadows, which for some reason also makes them lose their memories, until they forget how to speak. It spreads so far and fast that soon the world is a total post-apocalyptic zone with few shadowed people left. It focuses on a group of people trying to find each other and hold onto their memories. I was really interested in where this was going to go, but then it was a fairly slow-moving book until things got REAL crazy in the final third. It felt mostly dystopian to me and I was hoping these phenomena would get explained, but then it was just... magic. The writing was beautiful and there were a lot of poignant moments as we reflect on how our memories shape who we are, but overall it didn't totally work for me.

My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) Another movie spin-off from one of my favourite anime TV series! As always, this movie had extremely high stakes, and everything felt over-the-top and epic. Just as it should! I liked having the whole class together again, with time spent with each classmate, plus a new big bad villain. And my favourite part was the focus on Midoriya and Bakugo's relationship and their brief truce to save the world together. Did everything make sense in this movie? Nope! Did I always know what was even going on? Also no! But the fight scenes were intense, and so was the bromance, and that's really the main reason to watch shonen anime anyway.

Onward

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Jess) I thought this movie was beautiful. I laughed and I cried. The movie was really sweet and will make your heart feel warm.

Matthew Good - Moving Walls

⭐ 6.5/10 (Originally written by Brandon.B.) This is Matt Good's 9th Solo record. It seems like i enjoy every other or every third album. I like this album for the most part. The production is silky and his vocals are mic'd really well. Coming in at 15 tracks it does get a bit too long with some tracks definitely being candidates for a b-side. There is a lot of acoustic work on this album. More so than any other MG album. Specifically picking patterns. I don't love the raspy thing he has being doing with his voice more and more lately. Lots of string instruments keep the album faithful to the MG sound but it does get a bit old. If you like Canadian Alt-rock. This is a good offering to our national catalogue.

Marriage Story

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Brandon.B.) I watched this movie over the course of like 5 sittings which really interrupted the flow obvs. Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver were both, equally, sensational. Their monologues in this movie are on another level of existence. Apart from them, there were some characters that I didn't love... Mostly Laura Dern actually. Some moments that were a bit drawn out too. Alan Alda was a gem and Scarlett's Mom was also perfect. I may have rated it higher if I didn't watch it over so many sittings, but 7.5 stars feels about right at this time. I may revisit it in the future.

I Think You Should Leave

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Brandon.B.) This sketch comedy series is produced by the Lonely Island. Because it is not broadcasted on public tv they go places that SNL could never. The language is filthy and it can get pretty graphic so certainly not for everyone. The main character of the series is a comedic genius. The writing is absolutely absurd and original. I don't think I've ever laughed so hard in my life.

Magic For Humans - S1&2

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Brandon.B.) This Netflix original is hosted by a magician who takes the cheese right out of being a magician. He is everything that the monotone David Blaine is not. Charasmatic, great comedic timing, and interesting. His performances will leave you with a melted brain as well.

The Wandering Earth

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Brandon.B.) Most successful Chinese production in the Chinese Box Office everrrrrrr! This is SciFi at its best. No doubt. The earth is taken out of orbit intentionally by a series of thousands of thrusters placed all over one half of the planet. They are trying to get away from the sun before it engulfs the whole solar system by going supernova. Unique for sure. It is difficult to keep up with the subtitles and the English subs are just distracting. But most everything else is spot on. Special effects are beautiful. Especially when the POV is in outer space.

Good Mythical Morning: Will it... Series

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Brandon.B.) This series from the two most famous YouTubers Rhett & Link is good entertainment for the whole family. Their mythical chef attempts to see if differing foods can... Turn into other foods and taste good. ie they try to see if various foods can mac and cheese, taco, cereal, or whatever. There are like 100 of these over the last 10 years or so on their channel. They've even done this on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon two or three times. Their show is great too because most are under 20 mins so if you're feeling like you can't commit to an hour long episode or a whole movie, these little vids are a great alternative. Minus a point for some of the episodes being to short, and another point for some not being as good as others.

Ronnie Chieng: Asian Comedian Destroys America!

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Brandon.B.) Holy crap this dude is funny. If you're a fan of standup, this is for you. His take on Western culture as an Asian guy is incredible. Definitely good for an hour of laughs with friends or by yourself.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (season 7 ep3

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Brandon.B.) Still missing some key characters that I'm really itching to see. Also this episode is a few minutes shorter than the previous two. That being said, this episode is awesome. Action packed and suspenseful. Some more new tech we get to see and a few other surprises from old tech too. Good times!

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (season 7 ep2

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Brandon.B.) Definitely enjoyed this one. Points for including other key characters, though still leaving out a bunch thus far. The mission that they are on is intense and we get to see some new stuff that fits really well within the overall series. Looks like this whole season is gonna be one large arc without any outlier episodes which I definitely like. There is one particular point that is kind of inconsequential to the episode itself but actually gives a new angle to the prequil story... from a certain point of view.

Little Women (2019)

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) I watched this in preparation for international women's day (jk I only noticed today), and I admit I liked it more than I thought I would. I appreciated the complexity of the thought processes the women had in regards to marriage (love, family stability, avoiding loneliness) and I really enjoyed the meta analysis at the end. I thought the family dynamic was done well, and I especially felt for Saoirse when things were falling apart and she felt like living her dream life would leave her desperately lonely. However, picking Chalmet was a bad choice cuz how am I supposed to sympathize was a skinny, punchable looking weasel? Also, the choice to make 4 women identical in age sisters, especially when they are supposed to be super young??? I get that there is no easy way to tell the story, but this can't be the best solution. It was pretty cringey watching a full grown adult have a prepubescent meltdown...

Bad Boys for Life

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Anita) This movie really confused me because what I expected was SO different from what I got, but it has stuck with me. I was expecting mostly lighthearted action and got.. well.. intensity. It started super crazy and I got really worried we were actually watching a thriller but had a lot of great moments and for some reason, it wrapped up so well that I think of the movie quite fondly. It helped that I absolutely fell in love with almost all the main characters. Anyway not sure if I'd exactly recommend but I surprisingly enjoyed it a fair bit.

Bellewether

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Anita) TWO romantic plots in one book... what could be better??? I loved the way the historical and present day plot complemented each other so well. I also loved that this book focused so much on the quieter good voices of history that lived so well in some difficult times. (Wars, slavery, horrible people) **There was a ghost which I was not happy about (and cost this book a review star) but it all turned out okay and I'm working my way through that emotionally.

The Invisible Man

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) A psychological thriller about a man that fakes his death and haunts his wife. This whole movie was super suspenseful and I even yelled out loud in the theatre a few times. I don’t like scary movies but this was a good mix of suspense and thrill but not scary enough to have me thinking about it too much. The whole movie kinda makes you feel like you’re going crazy cause they have jarring music that suddenly turns to silence. They wrap it up really well but definitely make you question who is sane and who is the psycho.

Star wars: the last jedi

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by The_John) Rewatched it and realized I had forgotten a lot of what happened so it was mostly new to me. I'm pretty sure this is my favourite star wars movie, I was genuinely interested in what was going to happen and I mostly forgot about how cheesy star wars tech looks. I just don't understand the lack of communication that happened twice: why didn't Admiral Holdo tell Poe her plan for escape, and why didn't Luke tell the resistance his plan to stall Kylo Ren so they could escape? I dunno.

Onward

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by The_John) I'm always a sucker for movies about father/son relationships and I laughed quite a bit. Not a top 5 Pixar movie, but still really great if you like fantasy with elves and magic stones and stuff.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by The Original Susanne) So it turns out I never watched this movie, and now I know why The Rise of Skywalker didn't make much sense to me. I actually enjoyed this movie the most out of, well, all of the Star Wars movies. Really engaging storyline, and I enjoyed watching the relationship between Rey and Kylo Ren develop and change. I also loved the visuals of the last planet they fought on. I just don't understand why on earth Luke couldn't tell the Resistance what his plan was as he walked out to meet Kylo Ren 🤷‍♀️.

Avatar: The Legend of Korra

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) A continuation of ATLA that takes place about 70 years after Aang and co. The new Avatar is discovered and she’s a badass chick who will frick you up. Takes place in Republic City: a city established by Team Avatar where all benders and non-benders alike can live in harmony. But what happens when there is a revolution taking place led by non-benders who feel oppressed by the bending population? Really great first season. This show went into more mature themes than ATLA which I really liked. All the main characters are young adults and the bending animation is incredible. Includes a lot of really great references and characters to the original show which was amazing to see. They did something really powerful towards the end of this show which shocked me like crazy, but then they tried to reconcile it by wrapping a nice bow on the season finale. I understand that it’s a kids show and they’re not trying to traumatize them but it would have been nice...

Onward

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) Absolutely loved it. I laughed, I cried... It moved me. Voice acting was incredible, and I'm always a sucker for family feels. Any complaints I had were super minor. I just love those brothers 🥺

Onward

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Beans) An epic fantasy about quests that included great characters, lots of laughs and a touching message. Disney really knows what they’re doing and this was such a fun movie to watch. Really great voice acting and cool magic. Who knew a movie about a disembodied set of legs would get me in my feelings.

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

⭐ 3.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) This film, which takes place in 2003, features the Knicks playing the Kings in the NBA finals. Not only that, the series goes to 7 games all within the titular 10 days, completely ruining the suspension of disbelief. Trust me, when we first meet our heroine as her friend reads her next big piece, which has the closing line "... And that's how to bring peace to Tajikistan", I was hooked. A woman working for a fashion magazine who just wants to be a real journalist! It's really too bad the imaginary and impractical basketball scenario ruined it.

Onward

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) What's better than this, guys being dudes?

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

⭐ 4.5/10 (Originally written by Jess Dyck) Honestly this movie gets most of its stars for nostalgia. I remember watching this film with my sisters and we just loved it—the love fern is still a subject of many jokes among us! Unfortunately, on the rewatch this movie doesn’t hold up. It’s just not that funny or romantic, which means it kind of fails in the romantic comedy genre. Despite all that, I’m glad I rewatched it, because it left me feeling happier than I was when I started viewing, Kate Hudson in that yellow dress is iconic, and now I can wait another 10 years before I feel the need to see it again.

Gulp - Mary Roach

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) Gulp is a non-fiction book about the digestive system, from the mouth/nose all the way to the other end. I definitely don't read a lot of science-related books, and highly doubted I'd be interested in this one. But it came highly recommended, and somehow the author made this really interesting. I listened to the audiobook, and found it really easy to understand, and even downright funny. She focuses on one aspect of eating and the digestive system at a time, like saliva, stomach acid, or the rectum. She doesn't shy away from any taboo subjects and is very frank about them, but still able to acknowledge that she knows it's taboo. For each part of the system, she talks about interviews or experiments that people have done, or other journals, or scientists who for someone reason are super interested in the powers of saliva. She answers questions like, Why do we like crunchy food so much? Did Elvis really die of constipation? Why a...

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Season 2)

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) Better than the first season, I found myself thinking about a bunch of the episodes after I finished them, something I could not say before. There are still a bunch of episodes that are just a huge battle on a new planet, and while these are fine it is pretty jarring to go from a thoughtful arc to thousands of droids are being killed without much dialogue. There are some really awesome plots and arcs that begin this season, things I wouldn't have imagined but now seem to be a critical part of Star Wars lore. These include A bounty hunter named Cad Bane (who deserves his own spinoff) trying to kidnap all force sensitive children before the Jedi can recruit them. Padme needing to get close to a potential mole in the senate... who she dated in the past!? Bet you can imagine Anakin's reaction to that mission. An injured clone captain is found and nursed to health by a friendly family... and the dad is a clone deserter! I really loved this one, d...

The Witcher (season 1)

⭐ 3.0/10 (Originally written by Jess) It was ok. Liked the magic, hated the gore. LOVED my boy Henry Cavill.

Last Argument of Kings - Joe Abercrombie

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Tim) The conclusion of The First Law trilogy, these books continued to get better as the series went on, and this one was the best of them. Incredibly vivid battles and unexpected character turns had me burning through this book, eager to see how it would all end. The finale is pretty spectacular, and the send-offs for all the characters seemed fitting for each arc. Speaking of the send-offs, many books claim to be dark and gritty, but these walk the walk. Every character ends up in a worse situation than where they were to start the trilogy. These conclusions feel right, and almost realistic, since so many evil actions by all our characters do not go unpunished. Everyone is a puppet in someone else's scheme, and the person holding the strings at the end is revealed to have also just been power hungry the whole time. I appreciate the commitment to the world, and it follows through on its consistent theme of corruption, but that just wasn't the vi...