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⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Benjamin) Just really funny in my opinion, love his style stand up. Nate opens with a few covid jokes that i found really relatable. I know that's maybe not what you'd want to hear joked about, but trust me, he did well with it. Loved hearing him talk about his age and how he relates to other age groups. Super ordinary, but a funny story teller.

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by The Original Susanne) An exciting, mysterious Gothic novel about a young woman who marries a wealthy widower, returns to his estate, and is haunted by the memory of her husband's first wife, Rebecca. It's a quick, enjoyable read/listen, though the ending felt so abrupt I downloaded another copy to confirm that it was indeed the ending.

⭐ 3.5/10 (Originally written by Benjamin) Also wanted to like this movie but ended up kind of hating it. Booooo

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by The Original Susanne) Really nothing more to add to what everyone has already said. I enjoyed how unique and mysterious it felt and how it was completely unpredictable at first. Agree that the fight scenes were unnecessary and took away from the emotional aspect, but I was still really moved.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by The Original Susanne) Really enjoyed reading the backstory of Maverick. Highlights how difficult it can be for Black teens to remove themselves from gangs and drug dealing when it's often the only option they can see to feel protected and make a decent income. Having spent 13 years working with teens who often make terrible decisions, this book reminded me to be more empathetic and supportive.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Joshua Karat) The Second Book in the Cicero Trilogy. This was even better. The characters had been established and now Caesar was a main character. The Cataline conspiracy is the centre of the plot and the stakes are considerably higher. Hella good

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Joshua Karat) The first book in the Cicero trilogy. This was a genius book. It is set in ancient Rome during the events of Caesars rise to power. It is a political thriller. If you like political plots and backstabbing and history you will like this book

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Joshua Karat) This was a good movie. it didn’t need to be 4 hours. It gave nothing new to the genre however it was a massive improvement over Whedons version. There was nothing original however and while the action scenes and world building was very cool to see, it really didn’t do anything that hasn’t been done a million times.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by hoodie_logi) This is seriously such an important book for the church to be reading right now. McCaulley presents the bible in such a refreshing way and brings to light many theological insights that I believe the white evangelical church has missed out on for far too long. It truly speaks to the need for diversity in the church. By ignoring black voices we miss out on valuable truth because we don't have the same shared experience. I won't go in depth on each chapter, but the highlights involve topics like police brutality, slavery, black frustration and rage at the way they've been treated in the Euro-centric world. I strongly encourage you to read this book. If you'd like to here more about the specifics of McCaulley's theology, specifically that of the Exodus, the life of Jesus and the teachings of Paul, give me a call! I'd love to talk about what I learned!

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by hoodie_logi) While Betty had to spend two weeks in quarantine, this is the show she decided to binge while locked up. She remembered watching it as a pre-teen, but I had never heard of it. Basically the show follows a friend group over the course of two and a half years at Cyprus-Rhodes University, detailing their journey through the Greek system. This show was extremely cheesy, but really sweet and heartfelt too. The characters are fun, one of them is an absolute A-hole but overall I think they were able to tell some really good stories on growing up, finding love and trying to fit in. This show is not a game changer by any means, but I really enjoyed it.

⭐ 6.5/10 (Originally written by KathleenQ) I wanted to like this movie. Other people said it was better than the rest so I was really optimistic. I'm trying very hard to give the DCEU a fair shake. But I am just disappointed every time, and this movie was no exception. I just found it super predictable, all the gags could be seen coming from a mile away, the dialogue was really unnatural, and the fight scenes had no tension. I love action movies, but this was like all DC movies where I felt tempted to reach for my phone during the fight scenes where the good guy and bad guy just fly around and punch each other. Also, I'm willing to overlook a certain amount of playing around with the laws of physics, but this one just stretched my disbelief too far. Catching a falling bus six feet above of the ground isn't going to do any less damage to the people inside than letting it fall all the way to the ground. I'm sorry, guys. I tried.

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by kaelwilton) I don't really know what to say about this movie. It was not a fun movie to watch, nor was it fun. In fact, it was incredibly difficult to watch most of the time, and there was absolutely no laughter or lightheartedness to be found anywhere. Of course, a film about Christians being persecuted and forced to commit apostasy is bound to be very heavy. I don't want to say much about this one, but Martin Scorsese has outdone himself here. I wouldn't say it's my favourite movie by him (that title still goes to Goodfellas), but this movie is really really really good on a technical level. The cinematography is beautiful, the acting is phenomenal, and the writing is great. I have no complaints about anything really. This movie just left me with a heavy heart. It brings up lots of questions, and the guys that I watched it with and I had some really good conversations afterwards. This movie just really really affected me, and I don'...

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) A real grimy drama set in an American frontier camp in the old west. I have every reason to love this show; the writing is top notch, there are DOZENS of complex characters with plenty of depth, there is a super likeable protagonist, and a super despicable villain )though one you understand). It's also (kinda) a Western! It checks off nearly every box for me... Except one! What on earth do good shows have against plot!! I am honestly so sick of this trend. Give me a reason to watch this show for goodness sake. Give the super likeable villain a conflict to overcome, or something he wants! Make him cross paths with the villain! It's so frustrating to me to have all these great characters in a really compelling world, but see nothing of intrigue happen to them. Every episode is basically just a day-in-the-life, and the finale could have very well been the first episode and you would have never known because nothing happens and there is littl...

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Jess) ALL MEN ARE TRASH. This movie will make you feel that way. It was really hard to watch, as all things are when they are too real. It's also just so infuriating because this happens so often, not only in the news, but to people we know, or maybe personally. The ending was 👌. This movie will stick with me for a long time.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) Whew, what an experience this one was. It's a recent movie that is up for some awards next month, and it's not hard to see why. The movie follows Carey Mulligan who is out for revenge after her friend was raped in college. Obviously, this is a big trigger-warning movie because it is not shy jumping right into that topic. It is incredibly difficult to watch, and that's the point. You'll probably feel uncomfortable the whole way through. I thought this movie was great. It's really dark, but sometimes pretty funny and features great performances by Carey Mulligan and also surprisingly by Bo Burnham who I didn't know was a good actor? (Side note, I look up his wiki and was very jealous of all he's done at nearly my age...). This movie also adds a lot of intrigue with a mystery at the centre, and as details are slowly uncovered. So this is a movie I really enjoyed but not one I would happily recommend to most. It's def...

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) This book was written by a medical doctor who has spent years at the Portland Hotel in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver. If you know anything about the area or the hotel, you know that it is filled with homeless and addicted people. Maté tells of his experiences of the people he has met during his practice. Broken people with stories to tell, who just want relief from their pain and maybe a friend or two to talk to. A lot of heart wrenching stuff in here but so important to hear. He also goes into a lot of the science, psychology and physiology of addictions. There’s a lot to say about that but it would be best if you just read it. People who are addicted to hard substances have so much shit going on in their lives, it’s really hard to judge their actions once you get to know them. He talks about de-criminalizing and legalizing drug use, and he makes a really compelling argument. At this point I’m completely on board with that. The system does ...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) A classic that I feel like I have seen a million times, but this is probably my first time watching it end to end. Hard to compare this to anything modern, because I don't think they really make anything like this any more. Felt like I was watching a live action cartoon, with wall-to-wall action sequences and minimal exposition. Indy is a pretty great character, but only because he is kind of a blank slate that you can project onto. He's a archeology professor who moonlights as an action hero grave robber (relatable), but he kind of just goes where the conveniently laid out breadcrumbs lead him. I don't love tons of exposition, but it kind of felt like we were jumping around so fast I couldn't track why a character was in one place or what they wanted. Regardless, fun and adventure are the goals of this movie and is succeeds. There are several memorable and impressive action scenes, almost all of which had me wondering how they ...

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Tim) Another classic Sunday afternoon watch, I love this movie and was excited to show it to Jess. It is objectively not amazing, and a bunch of the jokes I remember laughing at don't really hold up, but there are several hilarious moments that still had me laughing out loud despite seeing them a million times. The premise alone is amazing - a wannabe stunt man needs to raise enough money for his step-dad's surgery so that he can fight him and earn his respect. The cast is also stacked, with the Lonely Island guys plus Ian McShane, Danny McBride, Bill Hader, Will Arnett, Chris Parnell. Those are some funny people! Anyways, I am sure if you are on this site you have probably seen this it and I don't need to go on about it. I will forever love and cherish this movie. Shoutout to the swimming pool scene, and the Footloose scene followed by the extended fall, and Rod hitting an engine with a hammer, and the radio DJ attempting to revive AM rad...

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Tim) A rewatch confirmed for me that this is the best show on TV right now. This is no down season after a hot first season. The writing is as sharp as ever, and the humour remains dark and quick. The dynamics are a bit different in this season given the fallout from the last, but every character is distinct and important and has a vital roles to play. The characters are still heartless and relentless, but in this season we see a couple moments of vulnerability that are really striking. Every episode is a power struggle, and the person on top changes week to week. The season ends with a huge cliffhanger, and I can't wait to see where season 3 goes. It is also worth mentioning that this is probably the best looking show on TV as well. HBO spares no expense, and the beautiful locations they shoot on really flex that.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) I wish someone would have told me that I didn't need to be so incredibly stressed for this entire movie. It's about a guy who gets famous off the Beatles' songs after everyone in the world forgets they ever existed, and I spent the whole movie very very anxious about the fallout, and (spoiler alert) there was none! Which was great. I loved that. But all that anxiety for nothing. Anyway, I think this movie would have been better if I knew a single Beatles song other than like, Hey Jude and Yellow Submarine. I could never tell if he was making a Beatles reference. Overall I liked the overarching theme (ie fame is the worst) and I enjoyed the implications of the world not having experienced a major turning point in popular music, unrealistic as the interpretation may have been, but other than that the movie itself was just fine. But the love story was sweet. Poor Ed Sheeran, taking hit after hit for this movie. Definitely don't thin...

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) This was a random movie I stumbled across on Netflix that featured ASAP Rocky so I had to watch it. It’s about 3 black teens that go to a party and end up with a bag full of drugs that they have to get rid of. I actually liked this quite a bit. The friendship dynamic was great, there wasn’t any love triangle among the 3 friends. The main character was nerdy but you love him. I can’t recommend this one in good conscience though. It was pretty filthy at times. The ending was a bit too much, tied together too perfectly. By the end they kind of put an interesting social justice spin on it but it felt like a reach.

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Will) This movie was pretty ok. It had parts that were good, and was far better than the original, but that mostly made me realize just how bad the original really was. Some parts that still just didn't work: Batman fighting in a huge battle with Superman, Wonder Woman, magical world-destroying beings from across the universe, and flying demons with giant laser guns just doesn't work. Like I know the man is rich, but he's just on a different scale than all the rest. When Wonder Woman kicks some ass in an early fight scene, terrorist guy says "I don't believe it!", and Wonder Woman responds with "Believe it", and then my eyes rolled out of my head. Literally 30 seconds later, a young girl looks up at Wonder Woman and says "When I grow up, can I be like you?" And Wonder Woman says "You can be anything you want", which apparently includes becoming a literal goddess just by wanting to, despite you know,...

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by kaelwilton) Pitchfork strikes again! Absolutely ravaging another one of my favourite albums with a terrible, terrible review (5.7, are these people payed for having terrible opinions???). Regardless of what Pitchfork says, this album is phenomenal. Now I may be biased because I am a huge Strokes fan, but I don't see what's not to like when it comes to this album. It's fun, experimental (to an extent), well-written and sonically very very very pleasing. It's everything I like from the Strokes. I would argue that is one of their stronger efforts, as it is more consistently good than many of their albums (excluding Room on Fire, because that is their strongest work to date). Songs like Bad Decisions feature soaring guitars and a catchy chorus (which is admittedly very similar to Billy Idol's "Dancing with Myself"), while songs like Ode to the Mets and At the Door hold back their punches, resulting in a very powerful experienc...

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by kaelwilton) After reading a slanderous Pitchfork review of this album (they gave it a 5.8, screw you Pitchfork) I thought it was time to share my thoughts on one this one. This album has slowly become one of my favourites over the course of the last year. I love basically every aspect of this album: the writing, the vocals, the instrumentals, every single thing just works so so well. I love the versatility that the band shows with more gentle songs like January Wedding opposed to more upbeat songs like Tin Man. The Avett Brothers first couple of albums prior to this one definitely have a more acoustic, bluegrassy feel to them, but I feel as if the way the bands sound evolved for this album still manages to keep many of the same elements that made them the band that they are. I really don't have a single bad thing to say about this album (except maybe the song Kick Drum Heart not being my favourite, but still a very very enjoyable song). Also, it was...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) I don't have too much to say that will be unique at this point. I'm with those who really loved the unique early episodes and were a bit less enthusiastic about the later episodes. I really loved the mystery that was hinted at in the early episodes, but I find in most TV shows that the answers to our questions are never as exciting as the questions themselves. I've been preaching the gospel of Kathryn Hahn for a while, but I think her character was kinda a look at where this whole show went wrong. *Spoilers* I don't think it needed a villain, it didn't need Man of Steel fight scenes, and it didn't need to devolve into a crappy Marvel movie. Real missed opportunity here to have a a unique show about a hero fighting her own demons. I would say the first episodes were 9-10, and the last couple were 6-7.

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) Harriet is 11 and wants to be a writer and spy when she grows up, so she spends her time spying on people and writing down everything she sees, notices, and thinks in her notebook, and most of what she writes is not very complimentary. This book follows several of her adventures, but the main through-line is the departure of her nanny who has basically raised her and then what happens after her classmates find and read her notebook. This book is so hilarious and entertaining, and Harriet is such a realistic 11-year-old. She's funny and smart, but she's also a huge brat. Every notebook entry we get to read is ridiculously scathing. This book was written in the 60s, and unfortunately, that means it includes some antiquated, now-offensive language, plus some fatphobia. Harriet also acts out a lot and isn't a good role model, although that's mostly because her nanny is gone and her parents aren't very involved in her life. Of c...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) A graphic memoir about the author's experience with OCD. He details how it started as a kid, to when he hit rock bottom, to how he's dealing with it now. He's a cartoonist rather than a graphic novelist, so the layouts are very different from a typical paneled comic book or graphic novel, with often only one image per page, which made this a unique read. My experience didn't match his in a lot of ways, but it was still really nice to read about someone else's experience with OCD. It's a quick read, and people who don't have OCD would be able to much better understand what it's like in our brains.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) As others have said, this is a really sweet movie about a man with Down Syndrome who wants to become a wrestler, so he runs away from the nursing home where he was living. He meets up with the small-time criminal Shia LaBeouf and they try to reach a wrestling school. The movie was really heart-warming, and it was so great to see someone with Down's connecting with others, making friends, and being considered a valuable person. But man, that ending is really disappointing. It doesn't ruin the movie, but I felt like it was building up to something great, and then it falls flat. Still worth the watch for the first 97%.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by KathleenQ) I like to throw a few classic/canonical books in the mix every so often -- gotta maintain my literary credentials. But I wanted something that would keep my attention, and I remembered this 1938 novel being pretty thrilling. Hoo baby, what a ride! This gothic psychological thriller is quite shocking given its year of publication. The narrator is a shy, awkward young orphan woman who gets caught up in a whirlwind romance with a wealthy, much-older man, about whom she only really knows two things: that his wife died tragically and mysteriously a year prior, and he owns a grand estate called Manderly. He proposes to her suddenly, and whisks her off to become mistress of the house, where suddenly she is responsible to run an entire estate with a slew of servants. She is intimidated by the whole affair, but especially when she learns that the prior mistress, Rebecca, was a famously gorgeous, confident, brilliant, local celebrity who hosted lavish p...

⭐ 6.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) My thoughts are very similar to @hoodie_logi’s about this album. Musically I’d say it’s a solid 8. Has great beats, good bops, and some stellar features; probably his second best album next to “Purpose”. However, this album as a concept is a solid 2. He includes two snippets of MLK speeches, calls the album “justice” and that’s it. Literally the whole album is a love letter to his wife and has virtually no message about justice and what that means for him. He sold this idea that he wanted to share some light with the world and this what he came up with. I don’t have an issue with the music, but it’s just very tone deaf. Especially in the times we’re living in. I’m trying to separate the art from the artist but I don’t know if that’s possible or if I should. He’s easily one of the biggest pop stars in the world, and he has so much potential. I feel like an album like this could’ve been incredible, but I’m let down once again. My favourites are As I...

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) I've been interested in this one since Mat called it one of his favorite games, and couldn't turn down the chance once it came to Gamepass. It definitely took me a bit to warm up to some of the mechanics, but in the end I was glad to play a game that was unique and kinda forced me to play a way I don't usually play games. Positives: 1) awesome oil painting art style with cool steam-punk aesthetic. 2) pacifist option! You play as an assassin but can beat the game without killing a single person. 3) smart level design where you can tackle things in a variety of ways 4) engaging story with meaningful choices that lead to different outcomes 5) forced me to play a stealthy assassin and it felt really cool to carry out a mission and never even be seen Negatives: 1) this game gives you a million awesome and fun ways to kill people... But discourages you from ever using them? Great combat system that I never used... 2) this game is meant to ...

⭐ 5.0/10 (Originally written by hoodie_logi) Idk what to do with this album y'all. Let me start with musically, this might actually be Justin's best work. The songs are catchy, the features are great and overall I really enjoy listening to most of it. Here's my issue. If you followed the promo leading up to this album, all Justin talked about was how his heart of social justice has been awakened. Obviously since the album is called Justice, I was really excited to hear Justin tackle this topic in his music. Coupled with his faith and a promise of tackling some big topics on the album, I was stoked for this. However, the only instances where "justice" is a discussion or theme on the album was in two separate MLK voice clips, which together total maybe just over a minute of run length. Once again, all the songs on the album are about his relationship with Hayley. And so I was very confused. Why tease an album as you showcasing your heart for social justice, if the a...

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Jess Dyck) I’m coming out of semi-WeView retirement just to write this review. I highly recommend coming back to this movie after remembering you didn’t really like it when you first watched it 10 years ago, reluctantly agreeing to watch it when your husband recommends it, and HIGHLY underestimating the movie as a whole. Because oh my goodness this movie is a masterpiece!!! Honestly watching this again was, as cliche as it sounds, a formative experience, and a viewing experience I’ll remember for a long time. As always, Tim’s review says it best but honestly I just can’t believe how invested in (and in love with) a little trash-compacting robot I was in two minutes or less. I will never underestimate Pixar again.

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) When Jess wanted to watch a Disney movie on Friday night, I recommended this, and she was like, you mean the one with the fat people? I had seen it once, a classic Sunday afternoon movie at Jason and Kevin's, one where you are thinking more about where you are getting faspa after instead of what is happening in the movie, but I still seemed to remember it being about a bit more than fat people. My goodness what a masterpiece this movie is. It is kind of told in two parts, and the first half completely shines. No dialog, just a robot showing you the state of humanity. The sounds he makes and the care he takes tell you everything you need to know about his personality, and what a personality he has. Takes about 10 minutes to build a character you love and care for, with no dialog! Looking at you, Zach Snyder and your need to make a 4 hour recut of a terrible movie. This movie does an amazing job of world building, but it is not focused on the...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) In some ways I liked the sequel to Red Rising more than the first, and in other ways it is less memorable. I love that it starts with a huge time jump, and I have come to find that time jumps as a story telling device really work for me. We don't go through all the mundane stuff that has happened, but see Darrow as an evolved character. The downside to that is that the story still does this annoying this that I complained about last time. It is told in the first person, but Darrow often has knowledge we don't, and let's us know about it at many crucial points so that he can pull a rabbit out of a hat. I find it very frustrating, since we are really inside the characters head but then get betrayed by him when we find out he's keeping things from us. Still, this book had a wild ride of a last 100 pages, with some crazy reveals and epic battles. Betrayal! Heartbreak! Reunions! Also, this series never lacks for constant action. Although ...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) What more is there to say about this show that I haven't said previously. They are completely in the pocket at this point, with each character hammering home what makes them special. And at this point so deep into the series, there are recurring jokes that land really well because of the strong seasons behind them. I don't think this is a perfect show, but it is consistently a pleasure to watch. Shoutout to Ron, who is consistently the provider of the biggest laughs for me, and finally finds his soulmate this season.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) I can totally see why this project got botched. A 4-hour, R-rated movie probably doesn't attract the audience that justifies spending hundreds of millions. But this movie is definitely much, much better than that utter monstrosity we saw a few years back. At the very least, it at least feels consistent not trying to wedge a Marvel movie into a serious one. This movie REALLY benefits from being so long. While Marvel got tons of movies to develop characters, this movie at least gets the benefit of a few hours to develop new ones. By now we are also a bit more familiar with WW and Aquaman, so that probably helps in retrospect. But I think the biggest benefactor is the villain who was so incredibly underdeveloped in the first, and in this version you at least learn enough about him, and see him often enough to like, remember his name? Despite having several high octane action sequences, this movie still manages to feel more like a slow-burning ch...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) I got this book rec from my 12-year-old student, because sometimes the kids know what's up. He said it was action-packed and exciting, and he was right! Sage is an rapscallion orphan until one day he gets taken by a rich man, along with a few other orphan boys, who wants to pull an Anastasia and pass one of them off as the missing, possibly dead, prince. He pits them against each other, and they all have to scheme to be chosen. It's got some cliches in there, but it was a really fun time. Sage is wily and a back-talker, and he would drive me crazy in real life, but he was a very fun main character. This book is great for that preteen-younger teen age group, but people younger and older than that would also enjoy it.

⭐ 5.5/10 (Originally written by kaelwilton) I don't know why I watched this. This is another David Lynch project, so I went in with no idea what to expect, and I still do not know what I ended up getting. It was freaky as hell, confusing, eerie, and long (even though it's only 40 minutes). Rabbits tells the story of three rabbits living in an apartment in a city that is plagued by constant rain, but there is an ominous secret that the rabbits live with. The dialogues are jumbled and disorienting, the visuals are dreary and eerie, the way the plot progresses (if you can even say it progresses) is weird as frick, and each "scene" is filmed in one shot (the camera does not move throughout each scene). Despite it creeping the frick out of me, it somehow managed to keep me interested throughout the whole runtime. The constant confusion and eerieness had me at the edge of my seat, and honestly I had to see how it ended. After doing some research afterwards I learned that Da...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Jess) This book is a great light read. It's a positively thrilling romance story. The characters are very different but easy to love.

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) Finished this season a while back and forgot to review. I really loved the 2007 film that followed this same plot when I was younger, but I had forgotten a lot of details. No spoilers, but I always find it really hard to enjoy something when a character I really like dies, no matter how much I like the rest of the story. Sorry Phillip Pullman but you were wrong to do that. I love this world and the magic within it, though, and they leave so many questions unanswered that I feel like I HAVE to watch the rest (or maybe just read the wiki). Also I watched this because James McAvoy is so sexy as Lord Asriel. Every episode without him was a disappointment.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) A stunning anime about rain, sun, and finding your place in the world. I got a little caught up in the details, but that was my own fault, because the heart of this movie is magic and symbolism, but not the really dense and difficult-to-follow symbolism you tend to find in Japanese movies. I loved all the characters, and the music and animation was gorgeous. However, if I lived somewhere where it rained for 3 years, I would just simply die, regardless of if I was in love.

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) A dumb, self-aware movie about Anna Kendrick, whose life is a disaster following a messy breakup, falling for an international assassin. It was funny, but had basically no other substance, and the whole time you're just kind of going "...What?" But it was entertaining, and although there was a lot of killing (obviously) it's all kind of ridiculous and absurd. Fun to watch once, will never think about it again.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) Japanese anime movies tend to be pretty hit or miss for me, being either magical, beautiful, and fun, or overly weird and symbolic. Luckily, this movie was one of the former. Hodaka is a 16-year-old boy alone in Tokyo, where it has been raining every day for months. Then he meets a "sunshine girl", who can bring sunshine if she prays for it. So they make a small business out of it, bringing small bits of happiness and brightness to people who need it. But of course, messing with weather and magic usually comes with consequences. This movie was directed by the same person who did Your Name, and this movie is equally as gorgeous and magical and beautiful. I don't know much about animation or art or movies, but wow, this movie is visually stunning, and the music fits it perfectly. I will say that the fantastical elements were a bit vague and confusing, but it didn't really detract from the experience for me.

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by niklasj08) (Review is in regards to the 2018 Epitaph Records reissue) Regardless of what people think of Erik and Stephen Paulson or their more recent musical efforts, it is hard to deny that Greatest Hits is truly inspired. Fun guitar riffs, punchy drums (Sam Mathys got done so dirty), and catchy vocals all come together to make one of the greatest "emo" albums of the 2010s. While seemingly inspired heavily by bands like Title Fight and Joyce Manor, the group still manages to create their own identity (I also think I'm alone on this, but I get some serious old-school FOB vibes from a few of the tracks, would love to hear Patrick Stump's take on some of the vocals). While the lyrics can be pretty cliche, the earnest and somewhat raw delivery almost always sticks the landing perfectly. The album also doesn't overstay it's welcome, ensuring that the token complaining and self-pity that comes with the emo territory doesn't ...

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by hoodie_logi) This "album" was sadly MCR's last work together before they went off to war (sad reacts only). Due to the strange way this collection of songs was released I think really hurt it's public reception. Coupled in with them announcing their hiatus shortly after led to most people forgetting about it. However, I think this album absolutely rocks and if you are a punk-pop and/or MCR fan you should definitely check it out. The album was released in double sided singles over the course of five weeks. I feel like they were trying to take advantage of the new streaming wave, but everyone other than the diehards forgot about the releases after the 2nd or third single. It actually took me a few years to come back and rediscover this album after it's release. The album also strayed away from the narrative and world building that their previous two albums thrived on, making it feel even more like a disjointed collection of songs. How...

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by hoodie_logi) Here's another Zach Galifinakis review coming up! I'm almost positive this movie is a remake of an older movie, but I've never seen it before so I don't have much to base it off of. I really enjoyed this movie, even though it's nothing revolutionary. Classic plot of a married couple who is stuck in a rut, they meet some new exotic neighbours who help spice their life up. Oh yes, there's also spies and lots of explosions. The cast is great too, with Zach G., Isla Fisher, Gal Gadot and John Hamm. Everyone was really funny in it. Again, not a groundbreaking film by any means, but would be a great movie to watch with friends if you're looking for a good laugh.

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by hoodie_logi) I see I'm a little late to the party in reviewing this movie on this app, so I won't talk about it too much. I really enjoyed this movie though. I do not know that much about the intricacies of the Caste system in India, but this movie did a great job showcasing the disparity between the upper and the lower class (I don't know the official names so please forgive me). The part I found most interesting is the mental war that Balram enters as he begins to question the indoctrination he and other servants in the country have. That tension and desperation of his situation was done amazingly in my opinion. I found the movie charming, informative and very challenging. Well worth it's Ocsar nom. Also the end credits song with Vince Staples and Pusha T goes hard haha

⭐ 6.5/10 (Originally written by kaelwilton) I don't really know what to say about this short film. Directed by David Lynch, it tells the story of a homicide detective interrogating a monkey named Jack about a murder. It's only 17 minute long, but it feels a heck of a lot longer honestly. Since David Lynch is known for being absurdist and weird, it's no surprise that this short film would be as well. Lots of the dialogue is nonsensical and confusing, but it honestly works and is entertaining somehow? I'm sure there's a deeper meaning to this short film, but I'm not quite sure what it is. What I do know is that I found myself laughing at this a lot more than I thought it would be. Yes, at parts it's confusing, and at other parts you just want it to end, but you'd be lying if you said that you weren't entertained or at least interested in what's going on. At the end of the day watching this short film will only take up 17 minutes of your day, so if...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) Peter is an overweight boy in the 80s or so who wakes up one day to see that his nipples are suddenly bigger and puffy, and he's so horrified that he starts taping them down so nobody will find out. Peter is a weird, unpopular kid, and he's obviously gay or bisexual, but doesn't seem to want to put it into words. This is a bizarre book populated with only ridiculous characters, and Peter just goes through his days hoping to cure his nipples and make some male friends and lose weight one day. Also his nipples are evil and keep trying to convince him to do bad things. Peter has a VERY vivid imagination. The book is quirky and made me laugh out loud constantly. It doesn't have much plot and I would've liked to see more character growth, but it was highly enjoyable.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) This is an overview of the race problems in the United States, and especially its existence in places where people like to deny that it's happening. The author was very involved in politics during Obama's presidency, and was a staunch supporter until she started to see the problems with his presidency as well. Quite eye-opening, since with Trump coming after him I feel like we've raised Obama on an even higher pedestal, but Fleming really makes it clear that he was also far from a perfect president. Not that she had any nice things to say about Trump either, of course. There's a focus in the book on intersectionality with women's rights and LGBTQ rights. It was a very informative book, but my main complaint is that the title is misleading - I actually wanted advice on how to be less stupid about race! I need a guide! But it was more of a typical informative book, with the idea that "the more you know, the less stupid y...

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by The Original Susanne) The next Inspector Gamache book in the series, and still laughable that another murder occurs so close to Three Pines. But I enjoy the writing and stories, and feel like I'm this far in and had might as well keep reading/listening to the series as filler books when I don't have anything else.

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by The Original Susanne) So we actually watched both seasons back to back but I didn't want to review them separately. Really, if you read Maggie's review it's pretty much exactly my thoughts. Especially the waiting for Mando to take his helmet off every episode. I just couldn't feel close to him with hardly ever seeing his face and expressions. Of course Grogu stole my heart.

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) This book is really everything I wanted. Post-apocalyptic fiction is possibly my favorite genre and I loved this more grounded take. I think Emily St John Mandel is an amazing writer and was a pretty refreshing read after going through a few novels that were rather dry (not naming any names). This way definitely more impactful to read while living within a plague of our own, and although i kept being tempted to think that I know more than Emily did about what it's like to live in a world with a virus, I did think she did an amazing job here of predicting what a modern pandemic looks like (except where are the masks Emily?!). Obviously this virus was much more deadly than ours, and it was super engaging seeing it all unfold and seeing how characters we like react. Speaking of which: lots of great characters! She does an awesome job making lots of real, complex characters and putting them in a dynamic, vivid environment. This book jumps around ...

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) Let’s just say it was an emotional weekend. Dang, what to even say about this one. From the first scene when we meet our protagonist I felt so connected. This movie made me laugh, cry, and scream throughout the whole viewing. I don’t wanna be over dramatic but this movie feels really special. I can’t stop thinking about it. Watch this one, please! I’ll be thinking about it for a long time and I’m still processing it. Check out Tim or Jess’ review for more of a synopsis.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by KathleenQ) Loved it. I've been missing the MCU, and it was delightful to be finally able to visit this universe again after such a long time away. WandaVision was wonderfully weird, fresh, exciting, emotional, moving... Just a good time all around.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) This movie is set in 70’s Harlem and focuses on young love and injustice. This movie truly is a masterclass in story telling, and I had to look up from the screen multiple times to remember where I was (this could be due to the fact that I watched it at 4 a.m at work but it is still very immersive). The characters were incredible, and I’ll watch literally anything with Regina King. Unfortunately it shows all too well the plight of the black man in America. I wanna say a lot about the music and cinematography, but I don’t know much about that except it felt really well done and I know it won a bunch of awards. Again, the way the story was told is so good, I’ll be thinking about it for a while.

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Beans) I unfortunately did not know too much about St. Francis before I read this book, except for that really famous prayer that is attributed to him that apparently isn’t true. The thing with this book is it tried to present a Historical Francis, and while that is fine and good, I was expecting a more theological approach, and so my expectations weren’t really met. However, I think it was still a good intro to who Francis was and it stripped away a lot of the fluff that is often attributed to him. He really was a man of discipline and obedience, I admire his life a lot. Historically, he still had a lot of miracles attributed to him which is so fascinating. He was also considered a saint before he died, and canonized shortly after which I think makes him so popular and so accessible; all Christians love St. Francis! I have been wrestling with a theology of poverty for quite some time, and while this didn’t give me a great direction, it did, I think, set...

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) Boy I have some serious mixed feelings about this one. So this is an incredibly dark, bleak game where you play a Senua who is a young woman from the middle ages with schizophrenia. Of course mental health research is a bit lacking, so she and everyone else thinks she's cursed and demonic. But there is one guy who accepts her and treats her like a human, but then he and everyone else starts dying from plague and invaders, and of course everyone, including herself, blames her demons. The game has you playing through Helhiem to try and save that guy from the underworld. I mean, what a fantastic, unique story right? And the presentation of the story is even cooler. These are the bold artistic choices I love from video games. It's completely linear, has zero UI, and zero button prompts. You have to figure everything out on your own. This game looks incredible, sounds incredible, and has some terrific voice acting. But my goodness was this ga...

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) I liked this movie, but I didn't like it as much as Rocky so I have to give it a slightly lower score. The bone-crunching fights were a lot cooler, especially the one-shot fight midway through, but this movie was a preeeeetty generic sports story. I like Michael B, and he sure was beautiful in this movie, but I also think it didn't give him too many opportunities to shine. Stallone really stole the show imo. I really just love Rocky as a character and wish I knew him earlier. Everything good about this movie mostly revolved around him. Through the years of boxing and local fame, he still is that simple, humble fighter. Great stuff.

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by kaelwilton) My goodness I love this album. Out of all of Andy Shauf's projects, this is the one I return to the most, mainly for its phenomenal storytelling. I really do love all of his albums, but this one has got to be my favourite. Songs like "Wendall Walker" and "Jerry Was a Clerk" are so literary in their songwriting that it's insane. They feature a full cast of characters, and tell the stories of small town residents getting into situations that are bigger than themselves. Knowing that Shauf is from Saskatchewan for some reason helps me relate to his music more, even though I cannot relate to a lot of the stories he is telling in these songs (thank goodness). Sonically this album is great as well. Lots of acoustic guitars and pianos, which is right up my alley I guess. Andy Shauf also has a great, unique singing voice as well. I would have to recommend this album to just about everyone, I honestly cannot enough of it. I ...

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Anita) Thankfully this book was short because I couldn't put it down! This book had it all.. an adorable cast of characters, happy ending, relatability. It was a wonderful romance! Rowell delivers again! (Eleanor & Park, Fangirl also being wonderfully light, fun romances for when you need them.)

⭐ 6.5/10 (Originally written by niklasj08) While my score may not show it, I absolutely adore this game. At first, Warband was one of the most frustrating gaming experiences ever. Combat felt incredibly janky, the PS4 port's UI was so unintuitive that it was borderline rage-inducing, and the gameplay seemed cruelly punishing. And yet... I couldn't stop playing it. The learning curve is steep, and in the early game you will get curb-stomped constantly, but once you begin to slowly get better at combat, develop battle strategies, and learn the rest of the ins-and-outs, Warband becomes one of the most gratifying gameplay loops possible, The game throws you into it's world and leaves you to figure it out, and you feel like a genius when you finally do. From charging at a rival army at the head of a mass of armored cavalry, to sniping a fleeing Lord from across the battle-map with a crossbow, to crushing an enemy city after a hard fought battle, there are countless times tha...

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) For anyone wanting to get back into the world of chess after The Queen's Gambit , this could be for you! Julia restores art, and when she discovers the inscription "Who killed the knight?" hidden on a famous painting of two men playing chess, she starts looking into the mystery. That then turns into a real-life mystery for her when someone she talked to about the painting gets killed, and the killer is leaving notes for her about what move to play next in the chess game in the painting. It takes place in the dark side of the art world, but all of the answers to what's happening seem to be hidden in the chess game as it gets played out in real life. This was fun and nerdy, with a darkness running through it all. I couldn't usually follow all of the chess talk, but it was generally explained in a way that the details were there for the chess fans, but you still understand the main point if you have to skim it. This was book...

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by niklasj08) Took me a while to really get into these guys. Initially I was not a fan of the lead singer’s voice, and they came off as an awkward comedy band (which they kind of are), but once I gave them a fair listen, I ended up really appreciating a lot of their stuff. They have a unique approach to their lyrics, and their brand of "funk-punk" is pretty fun to listen to, although there are a few tracks that I am still not a huge fan of. They manage to balance their goofiness with more heartfelt moments as well, keeping things fun while still tugging on a few heart strings. . Stand out tracks- Twin Size Mattress, Santa Monica, The Feud, Funny You Should Ask, Backflip, 

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by niklasj08) Easily one of my top 3 games of all time, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt sums up everything I love about gaming. CD Projekt Red masterfully utilizes their platform to enhance the narrative and fully invest you in the characters. The expansive world feels alive with history and detail, and I found myself stopping to just admire everything countless times. Many of the missions are masterclasses in building an emotional connection with the player, and some of the decisions I made in-game will stick with me for a very long time. The gameplay is solid enough to keep you engaged, and eventually mastering it and beating foes on the higher difficulties can be really rewarding. Both of the DLC expansions build upon the world and don't feel like pointless cash grabs (I sat down to play Hearts of Stone one weekend and literally did not stop until I had beaten it, I could not put down the controller). I straight up got teary-eyed as the credits rolled on...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) I actually really enjoyed this movie despite the terrible premise. Why was this a trope in early 2000’s movies? Popular jock makes a bet to be friends with the biggest nerd who is secretly beautiful and smart and they end up falling in love? So cruel and mean. Anyway, it was fun and had an all star cast! Freddie Prinze Jr. is incredibly charming and the supporting cast was great. Again, not a particularly great movie but for some reason I had a lot of fun watching it!

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) So this is a book by my best friend, and I decided to finally read it because that's just what best friends do. I was really into Bruxy's stuff about a decade ago or so and I think he really helped me develop my current belief system. I haven't really listened to much of the Meeting House stuff for a while, but decided to get into it again when Bruxy and I became best friends. I think I was expecting more of what I kinda already knew from back then, and listening to the audiobook I was more just expecting an extended podcast on this specific topic. I think those lowered expectations really set the path for me to be blown away by this book. Truly, I don't know if I actually really learned anything I didn't already know, but for whatever reason this book just landed and helped me internalize things I already knew in my head. He makes this incredibly compelling case that Jesus wasn't starting his own religion, but trying to b...

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Beans) This documentary is about an MMA fighter looking at some of the best athletes in the world and how their diet either helps their performance or decreases it. Because this one was a bit more recent I thought it was pretty relevant to today. The studies that show athletes on a plant based diet vs a meat based diet was actually crazy. Some numbers were hard to believe. It wasn’t just athletes and their performances that a plant based diet helps. Every person can improve from this. I don’t know exactly how I feel about completely giving up on meat but it seems instinctual that we as humans would eat plants and not animals. There is also always the climate issue too. If we do want to create change the best way to do that is stop eating meat. Some of the stats are devastating; so much land and deforestation is happening to raise cattle. So much water and lakes and rivers are being depleted to appease our appetites. It seems sinful to continue on a meat ...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) Let me just preface this by saying that there is one scene that kinda ruins everything. You are supposed to like Rocky, but there is one scene that lets just say would not survive today. So I've chosen to just forget it exists. Otherwise I thought this movie was great! I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn't this. Sylvester Stallone shone in this. I thought he was more of a, let's say, psychical actor, but I thought the acting was incredible and unique. He is very funny and gives this impression of a hero who certainly isn't perfect but worth rooting for. Really this whole movie comes down to his performance, and in that way the movie succeeds. Besides that, the story is kinda just a generic sports movie, though perhaps a little harder to believe in some ways. The reasoning behind him getting the fight with Apollo Creed is a little silly but I guess I can overlook it. It's all fine, but the music and a couple icon...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) Alright this show has really hit its stride. As I mentioned in season 3 this show gets to the point, and in this season when Leslie decides to run for city council they get right to it! Maybe it is reflecting the attitude of its main character, but I love that they don't wait around to make things happen. The push for city council is the driving force of this whole season, and it provides a really nice shake up to the usual workday of the characters. I like watching characters evolve this season too, as Ann, Tom, Andy, Chris, April, Ron, basically everyone experiences growth and changes as a person. They don't lose what makes them funny, if anything it helps to emphasize their core traits. They also keep things fresh, with Paul Rudd and Kathryn Hahn stepping into great roles. The town of Pawnee continues to grow, and it really starts to feel like you understand how this town clicks. Just really good stuff, having a show that consistently ...

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Tim) The quality of this season compared to the previous two is insane. The show is funny all of a sudden! They have a firm grasp on every character, and put them in situations that are humourous and not frustrating or annoying. I would imagine a bunch of the episodes in this season are classics for the series. Something I really like about this show is that they don't dance around what is to come - when they hint at something they just go and do it. When Ben and Leslie are into each other, they act! None of this will they/won't they to build suspense or fill episodes. Really feels like the show has found its groove and is just getting started.

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) This is a shorter documentary that I mostly just watched for research purposes for my latest project. It's free on YouTube if anyone is interested. It's pretty good! It came out in the late 90s, so it's pretty dated, but I was more interested in the history anyways. I've been grappling a lot with our history and ancestry, and so this documentary was kinda bittersweet. It's cool to see the history, but then also sad seeing Mennonites on both sides of the spectrum lose what originally made them special. My thoughts aside, this was pretty good and informative. It doesn't really go into much depth on any one topic, but skims a few. It focuses primarily on the General Conference, which of course doesn't feel representative to me, but that's the group who made the documentary. Might be worth a look if you are into it. I watched on increased speed and got through it in like 40 mins.

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by KathleenQ) I was motivated to read this book because I saw the Netflix trailer -- they're turning it into a series which comes out next month -- and it looked AMAAAAZING. I've read and loved the author's later works (The Six of Crows duology), set in the same universe, so she already had my trust. This book wasn't as original or compelling as her other books, but it was still an exciting, well-written, well-paced YA fantasy action adventure set in an immersive fantasy world. I actually liked the narrator/protagonist -- a teenaged orphan girl, an unremarkable nobody who turns out to have a rare ability -- which honestly is an impressive accomplishment. I found her easy to empathize with as she grappled with the responsibility and power that came with her newfound abilities, and attracting the attention of one of the most powerful (and sexy as hell*) men in the country. After the bad writing of my last read, I found this book refreshing, an...

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) Did I already review this? Well, I watched it again. This movie is so long that I forget my issues with it by the end. I give it a 10 for Joseph Gordon-Levitt's performance as the best Robin that never was, and a 0 for Tom Hardy's Bane voice sounding like a comedic impression of his own Bane voice. However, I really like the stuff with the pit so it gets a 7 overall. JGL if you want to make a Robin movie I'll gladly write one for you, I bet I could do a good job.

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Beans) This is another documentary but about food and health. The idea with the title is that we would use forks to eat plants rather than knives to cut meat. Again, this is pretty dated and I feel particularly with health and food the data changes rapidly so it did feel somewhat dated. However, the science remains that what we eat fuels our body but also kills us. They walked us through a few doctors and their patients lives, of how they reversed type two diabetes, breast cancer, arthritis, and many other sicknesses and diseases by adopting a whole foods plant based diet. We have been led to believe that we need meet and dairy products for calcium and protein. While there is some truth to that this documentary mostly debunks those theories. Another aspect they talked about was how the meat diet is doing more to contribute to climate change than the entire automotive industry. We’re spending billions of dollars to fatten up cows when a portion of that co...

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Beans) This is an hour long doc by VICE about the drug fentanyl. It’s only 5 years old but I feel like it’s already dated because the numbers have skyrocketed within the last few years. Fentanyl truly was made by the devil. It’s so destructive and brings death wherever it goes. It’s easy to transport and cheap to distribute so dealers and users alike love this drug; it also provides one hell of a high. It was more focused on Alberta, which I didn’t know was that bad. They also went into treatment options a bit. And while I’m proud that a lot of rehabs are free in Canada, there also aren’t enough resources for the amount of people using. Id say check this one out because the opioid crisis truly is taking over in Canada and I think it’s important to stay informed.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Anita) Yikes this book was rough. At first, it seems you're just reading from an incredibly neuro-divergent perspective but you keep learning things that really kind of shake you to the core. And the plot twist right at the end left me reeling! Overall, it's an incredibly beautiful story of healing and made me think of the purpose of life and friendship. Eleanor really made me want to put more effort into appreciating the mundane again.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Anita) This was a really interesting look at the Mennonite world from a slightly different perspective than I'm used to. Janzen writes as someone who mostly left that world but after personal tragedy, she returns and I enjoyed the critical and heart-warming perspective she has. It's definitely from a more Russian-Mennonite view but there were enough things that I could relate to and I literally laughed out loud multiple times. (One time, I had to put the book down and walk away because I just couldn't stop laughing. So good.) Also, I fell in love with her parents and their, seemingly, easy-going outlook on their childrens' lack of faith. I was a bit jealous.

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Benjamin) Really enjoyed reading this. I thought this was even more fun to read after the first book because you've gotten to know the characters.

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Tim) Last weekend was Bridesmaids/Godfather, decided to go with another comedy/drama pairing this weekend with Mean Girls/Minari. This is a movie about a Korean family moving to Arkansas to start a farm, and it is very touching. Not only does it feature possibly the cutest child actor in cinematic history, but its a tale about the American Dream, marriage, being a parent, being a child, race, religion, its got it all! The strained marriage as the husband forces his dream upon his family is really the driving force here, but then throw in an aging grandmother and a sick child and this movie has your heart on a string. That's not to say its emotionally manipulative - the story feels very real and I felt a connection to it multiple ways. Not only is the acting great, but the film looks beautiful too. Always a sweeping vista or quiet farm in every scene, making it seem to be set in some remote dreamland while also feeling very rooted in America. I can...

⭐ 6.5/10 (Originally written by Tim) Can't say I loved this one. While there were a couple funny parts, the humour seems like something that would only be funny if you saw it in more formative years (I am sure I would not love Napoleon Dynamite, for instance, if I watched it now). I did enjoy the character that was the head of the mathletes, but for the most part I was just really annoyed at how stupid everyone was, and it made me terrified to ever send a child to school. I was also somewhat surprised that there really isn't a starmaking performance in the movie, given the legacy it has. Amanda Seyfried is probably the most accomplished, and she plays the least involved member of the plastics. I do think it probably did a lot in influencing comedies that came after it, but I didn't really feel like this one held up.

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by kaelwilton) At this point I think it's safe to say that the Coen Brothers are my favourite filmmakers (the only person that could rival them is probably Wes Anderson), so it's no surprise that I loved this movie. Featuring a couple of usual Coen Brothers actors (including a short performance by Steve Buscemi), this movie just feels like Classic Coen Brothers. The dialogue in this movie is absolutely fantastic. Every conversation feels so natural and real, everything is just so clever. The performances are also really really good (John Turturro steals every scene that he is in, and Gabriel Byrne is phenomenal as well). The cinematography is great, there are some really sick shots in this movie. I might be biased because I'm such a big Coen Brothers fan, but I loved this movie so so much. It's one of their earliest works (they had only released Blood Simple and Raising Arizona at this point), but it still feels so unique and Coen-esque. I w...

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by kaelwilton) This is definitely the strongest content that Marvel has put out in a while. While it is still not without flaws, I thought it was really really good. Definitely a lot more experimental than their previous work, and it really payed off. Let's start off with the positives. The performances from Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany are absolutely phenomenal, like seriously, lets get these people some awards. Kathryn Hahn also deserves a shoutout. I absolutely loved the "sitcom" episodes, every single aspect of these were honestly perfect. The way they built suspense and tension in the early episodes was so good. The whole vibe to these episodes was so so good. I also really enjoyed how the series progressed. It started off as a bit of a slow burn (which is what I love), and that made the payoff at the end even more rewarding (I'm ignoring episode 4 here, as that episode was purely exposition dump). Honestly, most of my issues from...

⭐ 5.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) A movie about comedy is always hard to make funny because jokes about jokes are usually pretty cringey. There were a few nice moments near the end, but I don't think I actually ever, you know, laughed during this movie? It was pretty cheesy and kinda lame. I usually like Mindy, but this movie never landed for me.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) Disney is amazing at what they do and I was hyped for this one. Them representing some East Asian cultures was really cool to see! The clothes, the food, the art was all really stunning. My friends who are East Asian really loved it and said the representation was awesome. They did a cool job with creating a good main team in this movie. There were some great supporting characters. The fight scenes were also really cool! The message about trusting one another was timely. I did think the story was pretty unoriginal though, and felt let down by that. I think what Disney is doing is important with exploring other cultures and what not. I still really liked this movie and was entertained the whole time so they did something right!

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by hoodie_logi) Marvel really could not have done a better job of reintroducing themselves after the pandemic. This was the weirdest and surrealist work they have ever done. Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany absolutely knock every era and performance out of the park. Having to take on a different style of sitcom in every episode, all while carrying enough emotional weight to make a grown man cry is not an easy task and they nailed it. Also Kathryn Hahn, who I previously knew from her terrifying and hilarious roles in comedies like Step Brothers, was absolutely spectacular. Whole cast was 11/10. This show really reignited my love for the MCU. During the Pandemic and after Endgame, I was a little unsure of where they would go next. Safe to say, I am pumped now to follow Marvel wherever they go.

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) I was really into the premise of this show, as a minor hero we don't really know expresses her grief by turning her life into sitcoms of different eras. The production value is really high, and I was sold after the first episode. It's hard to speak poorly of this show while realizing I was excited to watch it every Friday. Felt like going to the movies, a big event every week that would connect to the main storylines. But like most Marvel movies I found the ending to be a complete let down. The interesting part here is Wanda coping with her grief, so why does the final episode have 20 minutes of flying CGI battles that feel like they completely lack stakes? I liked the villain that was introduced, but Wanda needing a push from someone threatening her to face her grief is pretty lame. I don't know what else I expected but I was ultimately underwhelmed. It turned from a unique show into a drawn out origin story, which is totally unnecessar...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) I love Jared Diamond. Reading "Guns, Germs and Steel" really rocked my world and I feel like I thought about it every day since. It's a book that will totally alter your worldview if you don't know about the stuff he talks about, which I didn't. The World Until Yesterday is a bit of an extension of that one, and goes further in depth on why societies have developed the way they have in certain respects, such as why we eat the things we do, how violence has evolved, and why we do things that make us less happy and healthy. He goes on to discuss what we can learn from "traditional societies" which he describes as essentially people in either hunter/ gatherer tribes or at least societies with limited governing order. That discussion is interesting enough, but I was more just fascinated with the anthropological research. Trust me, when covid is over I'll be the most interesting guy at every party... I feel that a ...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) I pretty much always hate first person shooters, but I've been wanting to get into them so I can play with friends. I thought playing a single player game might get me used to it, and this game apparently offers the best campaign. I really liked it! The shooting was fun enough, but I was really impressed how they incorporated some great mechanics I wasn't expecting like tight platforming and solid sci-fi story elements. You work together with a giant robot (titan) and having that companion was great, especially when you play as him and feel super powerful. It was short and sweet, but definitely piqued my interest in these sci-fi shooters. Going to have to download every Halo game now!

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) I hate to say it but Marvel did it again. If you are any fan of Marvel at all I think you’ll like this. It’s unlike anything they’ve ever done and it totally worked out. Each episode follows a different theme of television; so the first episode was black and white and similar to I Love Lucy, one of them was similar to Full House and so on. As we go through the eras of television we are watching Wanda’s life play out. And slowly but surely we get some answers as to what’s going on. Enjoyed this way more than I thought I would. It’s unique and fun, and towards the end gets super deep. It also expands the MCU pretty extensively so if you’re into that I would highly recommend this show!

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Will) A Wall Street drama that happens over a 24 hour period in 2008 when an investment bank first realizes the financial markets are about to collapse. This was a really solid drama, though it might be hard to appreciate if you're not at least moderately interested in financial stuff. Paul Bettany (Vision) and Kevin Spacey were great. I think I remember "The Big Short" attempting to explain the financial crisis to the broader American public in a big budget kind of way, but this didn't have such big ambitions and instead just focused on being a good drama, and it was better for it. The biggest downside: Demi Moore was terrible.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) Jon Foreman was a really important artist for me a decade or so back, and I still listen to his seasons EPs pretty regularly. Despite that, I wasn't super hyped when I heard he was releasing another solo album because I didn't really ever connect to Wonderlands in the same way. I think this album will be more like Wonderlands for me. It's pretty similar to his usual style, as in I felt I'd heard a lot of these songs before, but I'm totally fine with that. If I wanted a different style I'd listen to someone else. I guess time will tell, but I don't think this album captures that timeless magic that Seasons did for me. He's one of the few artists left where I really enjoy the faith-focused music, so appropriately my favorite songs were Jesus I Have My Doubts and Thanks Be to God (those sound VERY religious), and I like Last Words. Really, there are no misses here; it's a pretty strong album. It could be the case ...