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⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) Looks like I get to be the first one to review S+B! As most of you know, this show was based on two series set in the same universe written by Leigh Bardugo. I read most of the books it was based on, and I really enjoyed them. Beloved books getting adapted always makes me a bit nervous, but when the teasers started coming out I started to have more confidence. And to my delight, it was really well adapted! I thought the show captured the atmosphere and world of these books perfectly. Dark, kind of gritty, and full of turmoil. The casting was great (Ben Barnes as the Darkling is *chef kissy fingers* perfect) and the characters were compelling and interesting. It was also quite accurate to the book Shadow and Bone, and I actually preferred the changes they made - giving Mal more screen time and making him more dreamy (OMG Mal is so much better in the show, I love him), making Alina mixed-race, humanizing the Darkling a bit more, etc. The book w...

⭐ 5.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) Yeaaah... This one wasn't great. I don't usually rate a game so low because if I don't like it, I don't play after a few hours. But this is the middle entry in a trilogy, so I felt I had to. I know this game had it's development super rushed, so I get it. I liked some changes they made, like the combat being more action oriented, having the main character be voiced, and also the game just looks so much better considering its only 2 years older than the first. But it really loses the charm of the first. The writing is the biggest downfall, with this one clearly feeling quickly slapped together. This is a 3 part story, and while the final chapter of each offered some intrigue, none of the chapters were connected so it was hard to be invested. There was little in terms of character development, and I even ended up romancing a character I wasn't in love with because there were no better options! The moral choices, which were s...

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) I've been back on a Batman kick recently (more reviews coming!) and this movie series is really what started it all for me. This was always my least favorite of the trilogy, probably because when I first saw it I wanted more Batman. He's really only in the costume for what feels like a total of 20 minutes or so. Now, after consuming loads of Batman content, I can confirm that my favorite Batmans are ones that place him in a natural, grounded settings that involve lots of detective work. While the detective role has been SORELY neglected in basically every medium for quite some time, these movies really nail the natural stuff. I love how this movie goes so out of its way to make every part of the Batman mythos feasible in the real world. It's almost comical at times but I'm all for it. Do we really need a realistic origin story for the bat signal? No, but I love that it's there. The origin story stuff is all pretty great - defi...

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) Tom Hardy Night V. Okay I know everyone told me this movie was intense and that I would cry but I didn't expect it to be SO much. The premise sounds so basic (two brothers both want to win a big MMA fight!) and totally not up my alley but WOOF. It really got me. I was absolutely rooting for Tom the entire time (come on Brendan, just sell the damn house, no sympathy from me) but the themes of forgiveness and reconciliation and needing support REALLY got me in the end. What a final fight, wow. I totally bawled. And I really liked how they handled their relationships with their father and how the end played out there, dealing with a parent who was presumably really terrible in the past. Genuinely surprised by how much I liked this one. Blows a kiss to Tom Hardy.

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Joshua Karat) Frank Herbert’s masterpiece was quite simply stunning. In terms of scope, exposition, complexity, nuance, and originality I was blown away. A political and psychological thriller of the highest order.

⭐ 6.0/10 (Originally written by Joshua Karat) VE Schwabs anti hero book was set up quite well but ultimately a disappointment. It came highly recommend yet failed to break any sort of boundaries. The book revolves around Victor: A brooding, violent, and righteous avenger determined to take revenge on his best friend. Eli: charming, cunning, and murderous, believes he is God’s holy warrior charged with killing every superhero (or ExtraOrdinary as referred to in this universe) alive. There is potential for a real, and gritty look at morality, justice, or retribution, yet the book falls flat on all counts. I’m not sure whether my disappointment comes from my extremely high expectations or a simple lack of nuance. Overall, it was enjoyable at times, but felt quite lacking.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by hoodie_logi) Personally I really enjoyed this show. It wasn't perfect by any means and while there are some things they could have done better, there are a lot of things they did really really well. One of my favourite parts of the show was watching the parallels between John Walker and Sam all hinging on the line from the first America, "not the perfect soldier but a good man". That is the criteria as to why Steve was originally chosen to receive the serum and take up the shield. John is chosen by the US government to take up the shield because he is the perfect soldier, but it quickly becomes clear that he is not a good man and the pressure of the shield and other extenuating circumstances (I'm trying to avoid spoilers here) lead to his unwinding. Sam on the other hand constantly seeks to care for people, always pursuing peace and reconciliation over violence. The show did a wonderful job building off of this theme. I don't think ...

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Beans) Another country album. He’s quickly become one of my favourite artists. Walks that line of country pop so well. It’s a short EP, which I’m actually really loving about albums; short and sweet. Almost Maybes, Detours and Cool Anymore are my favourite tracks.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) I didn’t think I liked this album all that much but I keep coming back to these past few months. She’s a rising country star with an incredible, soaring voice. She got married and divorced within a year and this album is all about that situation. It’s a 7 track EP, 29 and Messy are my favourite tracks!

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) One of my favourite movies of all time. So interesting and well done! The music, the actors, the layers; love it all. A rewatch for me but I find myself on the edge of my seat every time. I listened to a podcast on this movie a while ago by the Bechtel Cast and it made me more critical of the movie, especially the way Nolan tends to portray women.

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) I randomly watched this one on Netflix. Nothing great, Angelina Jolie is an American turned Russian, and then a double agent again? I’m not sure. It was entertaining, but nothing crazy.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) Sorry for repeating all of Maggie's reviews immediately. I really enjoyed this one! I love middle grade fiction, especially because they so often shy away from romantic plots and lean more into found family, friendships, and platonic love. I really, really enjoyed the narrative about what it means to be a hero when you never wanted to be one, and why children should never HAVE to be heroes. A really important, often-overlooked theme in these kinds of stories. I thought the narrator, who is 14, was really realistic for her age--brave and strong and capable, but also young and scared and confused. Plus, I just loved the absurdity of so much of this story, and how it knew when to laugh at itself. A hero whose only special ability is bread! Beautiful!

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) Damn, does this movie hit hard as an adult. I didn't really remember anything about it, having not seen it since I was probably 5 or 6, but I think it would have been a completely new experience regardless. I got genuinely emotional a few times. The running themes of choosing who you want to be, and what it means to be good, really got me. I'm also super weak for robots who gain sentience and feelings, so all around this one was a guaranteed winner for me. When Hogarth said "I love you" to the robot I wanted to burst into tears. I could weep just thinking about it.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) Sports anime is always over the top intense and absurd, but I felt like this show took it to a whole new level. I would never recommend this for a first-time anime watcher, because it was just SO ridiculous, but I loved that about it. These kids (and adults) are talking about skateboarding as if it's life or death, and I love that. I spent a lot of time laughing out loud and saying, "STOP INTIMIDATING A LITERAL CHILD" but in the end, I can't resist those friendship themes. And I really did resonate with the ongoing theme that you regularly have to step back and make sure you are actually having fun in your hobbies, and what it means when you're never going to be the best at something you love.

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) I don't know how anyone could resist a book with that title. Mona is a 14-year-old wizard whose skill lies in manipulating bread and other baked goods. When a dead body is found in her aunt's bakery, she gets mixed up in a plot trying to rid the city of all wizards and against the Duchess. Mona joins the battle with her possibly sentient sourdough starter, a street urchin, and a gingerbread man. This takes a fairly familiar story and turns into something a lot more fun. It has some darker elements - it does start with a dead body - but it's also very funny and delightfully quirky. Mona doesn't think much of her abilities, but she learns how much she's really capable of. It also raises issues of prejudice, since wizards aren't trusted in her world. It was nominated for both a Nebula and a Hugo, and I think it deserved the nominations.

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) I love Rainbow Rowell, and I'm not sure why it took me so long to read this book. It's based on the parody of Harry Potter she inserted in her book Fangirl , which she then decided to take and turn into a full novel. It's Simon Snow's final year at Watford, and he knows he will have to fulfill the prophecy about him as the Chosen One soon, and defeat the Humdrum. But he's also a little preoccupied by the fact that his nemesis and vampire roommate Baz hasn't shown up to school in weeks, and his girlfriend doesn't seem too into him anymore. But mainly he's thinking about Baz. And the fact that he really is a sorry excuse for a magician. Then Simon gets visited my Baz's mother's ghost, and is asked to tell Baz to find out who killed her. This book is funny and weird and full of squee-inducing moments. It starts in Simon's seventh year of school, so relationships are already established, and Simon has h...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) A one-season anime that recently aired and was very popular. And it's all about skateboarding, a sport/activity I do not care about, but this show sure did try to make me care about it! Reki, a skateboarding fan becomes friends with a newcomer to Japan and tries to get him into skateboarding. And it's pretty easy, since Langa was a great snowboarder in Canada, so he's pretty much a prodigy! Add in an underground skateboarding ring, a deranged man who wants to find his skateboarding equal/soulmate, a tournament, and the power of friendship, and you've got yourself a solid sports anime! As is always the case with sports anime, it takes everything to the extreme, and it's ridiculous and very entertaining. Also, side note, there's not a single significant female character, as if a girl has never skateboarded. Whatever, the friendships were fun, and it did have some deeper themes that I appreciated (what if the friend you te...

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) I haven't watched this movie in a good 15+ years, and only had a few vague recollections of it, so it was pretty much like watching it for the first time. A boy meets a very large robot and befriends it, but he needs to protect it from a zealous government official. It's set during the Red Scare, which I definitely did not understand as a kid, but really plays into the story and adds a lot to it. Hogarth and the giant are a great duo, and I really enjoyed the theme of choosing who you want to be. This is still a good one for kids to watch.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) This is a Chinese movie based on a bestseller in China that was too long for me to read, even in English. So yes, I took the lazy person's way out and watched the movie instead! It's about a Han Chinese student who gets sent to work in Inner Mongolia during the Cultural Revolution and gets obsessed with the wolves there and wants to raise his own. I really liked learning about the Mongolian nomad way of life and how it's being threatened, and also how humans are always screwing up the food chain. Especially good if you like scenes of beautiful Mongolian landscapes and close-up shots of majestic wolf faces.

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by KathleenQ) YES! Loving these MCU miniseries! They are pretty much my only source of joy right now in yet another dreadful lockdown. This show was a 10 for most of the series, but got bumped down a few stars for the kind of weak and confusing ending.* What the MCU does best is character stories, and that was true of this series. I especially found Bucky's story compelling, as we've been following his harrowing experiences for a decade. Every week I was anxious to find out how he might move forward. Sebastian Stan's performance: 11/10, A++. That flashback scene in Wakanda? Please give the man an Oscar. I went into it not having strong emotions about Sam, but the writers finally gave him a more rounded character and moving emotional arc. The introduction of John Walker was powerful, and Wyatt's acting superb. I was impressed that Disney/Marvel decided to tackle race issues head-on, which was a smart move, even if it wasn't fully fleshed-...

⭐ 1.0/10 (Originally written by hoodie_logi) Am I allowed to swear on this app? Cuz I only have one word for this movie. Absolute Shit. Literally the worst book to movie adaptation I've ver seen. Worse than Percy Jackson even. I've never seen a movie abandon the book's plot by so far. I'm not even gonna dive into it, awful awful movie. If you've read the book don't bother watching. Bad.

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Mathew) I have a hard time giving this show a number rating. It felt like nothing I've watched before. Great performances by Ray Romano and his companion. The show isn't trying to be subtle at all with their message and it works. Big tech goes too far paired with physiological domestic abuse. Love this as a miniseries. Easy to get through with a solid (planned) ending. Give this a watch if you're looking for something to do for an evening. Jill cried at the end.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Benjamin) I've really been enjoying listening to this, not sure, I'd say at least over the last several months. The band uses a 90's (i think it's 90s anyways) sound throughout and it sounds very natural to me. The wording and phrases used at times in their lyrics, their base lines, keyboard, guitar tracks and vocals all just sound really great to me. I've pressed 'like' on almost every track of this album. The 2min intro track to this is pretty fantastic with the off-time drumming and a few of the songs i thought had a nice build up of energy.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Benjamin) I love this movie and have seen it a few times. It's perfect, i think, until the ending. It has this kind of dumb romantic scene at the end that i don't think fits with the rest of the movie. Main actors are Julia Roberts and Tom Hanks.

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) Tom Hardy Night IV. This is a movie about organized crime and getting in over your head but also, somehow, about Tom Hardy adopting a dog? I cannot describe to you how obsessed I was with all the dog parts of this movie. I don't want to own a dog but this movie almost convinced me. Overall I had a lot of thoughts and feelings about this movie and morality and why you should never get involved in organized crime, but I'm still processing them. The main thing I loved about it though (other than the dog) was the dialogue and delivery, which all felt so real and human that it almost felt like I was intruding on every scene. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. You just want so desperately for everything to go right but you know it won't. Really great stuff.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Jess) So like Susanne, I started this show for the Scottish scenery and accents. It is beautiful and I've never loved a theme song as much as this one. BUT, DAMN there is a lot of violence, sex and rape. I don't understand how a person can go through so much trauma and still be a functioning human being? Alas, it's not real life but a TV show, ye ken ;) Game of Thrones vibes, I will probably continue watching it because I love how much Jaime loves Claire.

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by hoodie_logi) Here's another 10/10 review cuz I've only been pursuing the greatest media lately lol. But seriously, this is one of the best shows ever made. I won't dive too much into it in this review, but if you haven't watched it yet please do. I still have yet to meet a tv show, especially one made for kids, that has mastered the character arc the same way this show has. Specifically the journey of Zuko stands out. His character arc is not easy, it's not cheap, he has to work to become better and he messes up in it a lot. It's just absolutely brilliant the journey they take this character, and so many others on. Also, another major highlight from the overall theme of the show is the nuance of war. Lots of times, especially in kids shows, the war is as simple as good guys vs. bad guys. This is not this show. We get to take a journey throughout the entire world, and see the different ways the war has ravaged the world, how both ...

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by hoodie_logi) Ho. Ly. Crow. What a Fricken book. I honestly was unsure if any of the subsequent books in the series would surpass the first but my goodness this one was good. It took a bit of time to get going, as it had to establish some new characters and dynamics, but once it got going IT GOT GOING. It fit the same description as the first two, where they are technically sci-fi books, but much more interested in ecology, politics and religion, but towards the end dove more into a traditional sci-fi-esque narrative with some wacky stuff happening. This book also leaned heavily into the religious and the ecological side of the larger, overarching narrative, as takes place far enough into the future from the first book that we can start to see the ramifications of events that were put in place in the first book. For example, in the first book, there are rumours and early plans of inhabitants of Arrakis wanting to turn the planet from a desert wasteland t...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Joshua Karat) John Mark Comer’s book is a guide on how to slow down ones life (and why that is vital in the first place) and the joy that can come from such an act. It is practical, applicable, relatable, and quite needed.

⭐ 6.5/10 (Originally written by Will) First time watching this. It's funny at times, and Reese Witherspoon nails the role of course, though mostly it's also ridiculous. I can see why it's a classic at least. Favorite line: "What, like it's hard?"

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Will) This is a Netflix comedy/drama about a struggling New York playwright. Radha is a middle-aged black woman with a once-promising artistic career that never quite developed, when she attempts to reinvent herself as a rapper. I thought this was just decent overall, but there was definitely some really good stuff. Radha felt pretty authentic throughout, and the story did a good job of avoiding a really nice, neat (unrealistic) story - instead it just kind of meanders around a bit, with Radha experiencing some successes and some failures while trying to find her way. The music was also pretty solid! It's not the type of rap you'd hear on the radio, but instead felt like more amateur Brooklyn neighborhood kind of stuff, which I mean as a complement. Oh, and the movie was almost entirely shot in black and white which worked reasonably well for it, but unfortunately I struggle with black and white in general because I've seen too many Mennonite...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) This is a podcast about video games, but also more of a podcast network because they have seperate ones for daily, weekly, reviews, Xbox, PlayStation, etc. It's run by a couple of young guys who used to work for IGN but broke off to do their own thing. This podcast really feels similar to No Dunks where it is just a group of friends who love talking about their favorite things. It's more focused on being funny and entertaining, and less focused on high level analysis. Video games have become my favorite form of media over the last few years, and I think it's encouraged a bit by listening to guys who love them so much. I follow a few of them on Twitter and they are all just so happy and funny all the time, and it totally makes me envious that they can enjoy their lives and play video games all day.

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Beans) This is an autobiography about one of the best runners in the world. He spends a brief time talking about his childhood and upbringing in Minnesota but the bulk of the book talks about his running career which I find so fascinating. He truly is an incredible specimen. He has set numerous records for marathons for all kinds. His specialty is ultramarathons - which is classified as anything above a full marathon, usually ultras are 50k and up. He was so incredibly dedicated to running and I respect it so much. He set a world record for a 100 mile run when he was 25, which is my age! He talks about food a lot too. He has been a vegetarian since 1999, before it was cool! And now he’s fully vegan. Pretty cool to hear about how one of the best athletes in the world lives, thrives and performs on a plant based diet. I struggle a bit with making him one of my idols because to be this good you have to be obsessive. He mentions him getting married early on ...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) This was fun! Nothing new or crazy or revolutionary but I enjoyed it the whole time. I find Dylan O’Brien plays a very similar role in his movies but he does it well. Kind of nerdy, always blubbering, but very charming. Got major Maze Runner vibes in this one, but less serious.

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) 7 of these stars are for Dylan O'Brien, whom I would watch many mediocre movies for. But this one was actually good! I think he plays this kind of role really well--dorky, incompetent, but charming and endearing. And I did laugh a lot. It was trying really hard to be a funny movie, but it hit the mark more often than it missed it, so it got a pass from me. And I love an unabashedly optimistic story premise. And monsters! I had a lot of fun watching this movie, and I always love a good found family theme.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) Another post-apocalyptic movie, but this one is mostly a comedy! The world is overrun with monsters and the few people left live in bunkers underground. Our main lead Joel is kind of useless, but he decides to travel to another community to see his pre-apocalypse girlfriend again. I thought this movie was super enjoyable, and Dylan O'Brien was giving me real Tom Holland/Peter Parker vibes. I laughed quite a bit and appreciated the light-hearted tone.

⭐ 5.5/10 (Originally written by kaelwilton) This has got to be one of the most self-indulgent messes I have ever seen. I was excited for this movie, but what I got was an overlong, unedited CGI fest. At least it was somewhat entertaining I guess. I have never seen the original Justice League (that being the Joss Whedon cut), so I had nothing to compare the Snyder Cut to, but from what I understand this is still an improvement which makes me glad that I never saw the original. Every single scene in this movie overstays its welcome by about 5 minutes (especially in the first half), and even with all of the added backstory for all of the characters I still couldn't find myself interested in them. The pacing is super weird and I felt bored a couple of times, which I don't think should happen in a superhero movie. It just was not that interesting of a movie, and there was no reason for it to be 4 hours long. I understand that this was supposed to be Zach Snyders original vision, but...

⭐ 4.0/10 (Originally written by Anita) Well obviously, I hated this movie. That said, I could maybe have enjoyed it more if I had read some in-depth descriptions beforehand so I knew exactly what to expect since I spent the entire first half of it so tense that I was shaking. I really did enjoy the badass women taking charge of their own destinies and was completely enthralled when they met the other women in the dessert and almost wept with them. The ending was also absolutely marvelous. I'm definitely tired of the "fat, rich white man enslaving everyone and having many beautiful wives" and it was extremely hard to watch for me at times. Nux's redemption story was also really beautiful. I just really didn't enjoy sitting there watching one thing after another go brutally wrong. Realistic? Probably. That doesn't mean I enjoyed the stress.

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Anita) Maggie's review does a great job explaining everything so read that for details. I mostly enjoyed this book and couldn't believe how many different perspectives this author was able to write so well at once. It had everything. I had so many sad feelings throughout though which was rough. There was a bit of redemption for one of the main characters at the end but I was just so depressed and unfulfilled by the twin that spent her life passing as white. It was pretty depressing.

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Will) An educated, black musical genius goes on a tour in the American South in the 1960's, and takes an uneducated Italian New Yorker along as his driver/security. I think this was the best movie I've seen in a long time. I was expecting something dramatic and super heavy given the content, but this was also incredibly funny at times and somehow the combination of the two just worked so well. I've been putting off writing this review for a couple weeks because I'm trying to figure out why it's a 10/10 for me instead of a 9, but I still can't really put my finger on it. I think the two main characters (played by Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen) were just so memorable, and their budding friendship so fun to watch. Dr. Shirley's journey to understand the black experience in the American South is painful for him, and his pain was hard for me to watch, yet he continued trying to do what good he was able to, despite the abuse h...

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Will) Despite having seen the trailer for this movie many times, I never really knew what to expect, as the trailers never give away any hint of a plot. I was expecting some... unconventional.. stuff, and boy did I ever get that. Visually this movie was absolutely marvelous, and that made me disappointed that I missed it in theatres - the experience wasn't quite what it could have been watching it in my living room. The background/scenery was somehow stunning despite being so stark and empty, and then the absolutely wild action scenes overlaid on top were just chefs kiss. Overall it was just a bit too weird for me - I think I would have enjoyed it more if they made it like 10% more conventional (i.e. cut guitar guy, seriously), keeping most of what made it unique, but cutting out some of the super ridiculous stuff. It's hard to find that line though, if you make it too conventional then it becomes pretty boring pretty fast, so I can't argue t...

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Will) What a classic this is. I wouldn't say it's a good movie in any usual sense of the word "good", but it produced so many memorable quotes, jokes, and meme moments that I'm bumping it from a five all the way to an seven. The jokes hit especially well if you've ever worked in a corporate cubicle environment or especially if you work in software or IT. It's a bit like Dilbert, the comic strip - some of the stuff is dated but it can still make me cry with a mixture of laughter and despair at all the daily office dysfunction. It also helps that all my coworkers have seen this movie and many of the jokes have been in fairly regular use for many years.

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Joshua Karat) David Gushee’s public reexamination of his views on LGBTQ people and their inclusion in Christianity in which he “changes his mind” and explains why he is now fully affirming of LGBTQ people in Christian circles. This book is extremely well done, it is personal and emotional yet also exegetically and theologically robust. Overall one of (if not) the best book on the side of affirmation.

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Tim) The best of the Red Rising trilogy, this one starts in a place of complete despair and ends with a pretty exhilarating finale. This was real edge-of-my-seat book, and I read it way faster than any of the others. Plenty of incredible action scenes, and more than a few emotional gut punches. However, I fought against the first person narration again in this one. He used the same method I complained about in the last two, except this time it was even more frustrating. Without spoiling anything, there is a shocking moment with real weight, but then we find out that our protagonist knew about it the whole time and it was all part of the plan. Yet we view things from his perspective, so why did we as readers never know, and why were his emotions so convincing... It's just really frustrating, and a cheap way to shock the reader that he uses in the climax of every book and really undermines the moment. Still, I enjoyed lots of the homages to earlie...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) Since getting Gamepass I've had a tough time sticking with one game and seeing it through. I've started and stopped a ton of amazing games in the last couple months, never really connecting with something. Why on earth I settled on an old, outdated fantasy RPG in which one must invest 50+ hours is beyond me! The good: 1) excellent writing. This had Witcher-level nuance and complexity with every character feeling alive and unique. The decisions you are forced to make feel so weighty as a result. I really hesitated and thought through some decisions because of how I thought it might make my imaginary friends feel. 2) strategic systems. There is so much going on here and it was overwhelming at first. But I love the team-concept, trying to synergize your squad, and making every strategic decision count and work towards that ecstasy of having your team do the work just as you had planned. 3) fantasy stuff. This just felt like an amazing combin...

⭐ 4.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) Well, as a romcom, I guess you have to evaluate it by two standards. As a comedy this movie is not bad. There is some great stuff from Rowan Atkinson, but otherwise it's mostly classic British humour which I think usually means it's clever stuff that you'll chuckle at but never actually laugh the whole movie. However there is a lot of that cringey Michael Scott humor where characters are put in incredibly awkward situations and you just want to look away. No thanks. As a romance, this movie is horrendous. *KINDA SPOILERY* Usually I end up hating one member and feeling like the other could do better, but in this I didn't know who to cheer for. They were both such terrible, garbage people that they probably deserved the unhappiness they will eventually cause each other in the years to follow. I don't know if this movie was going for nuance but there was nothing sweet or endearing about these characters or their relationship. So ...

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Anita) I came across this show on Netflix and mostly enjoyed it. It's about a group of 3 adult friends who are going through life's challenges together (a lot of man troubles.. but also, they take charge of their lives too which is great!) with a weekly margarita night. I absolutely fell in love with one of them; Helen is such an incredible badass. It's definitely nothing deep or particularly interesting.. just something to get my mind off the pandemic! But be forewarned; it had about the worst ending I could have imagined. (I absolutely *hate* cliff hangers.) Also I spent a lot of the time trying to figure out if their accents were fake and really bad or I just really don't like that southern US accent. 😬

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) This book was everything I like and enjoy about YA contemporary reads. Sydney's dad has just gone to prison for tax evasion, so she's forced to move and go to a new, super-artsy school where the Speech and Debate team reigns supreme. All of the varsity members are terrible and the coach is especially terrible, so along with her new outcast friends, Sydney makes a plan to join the team and destroy it from the inside. Except she might actually be really good at speech?!? This book is very funny with great dialogue and a likeable teen who can't keep her mouth shut. The team members are kind of ridiculously terrible, but it's all fun. It also has some depth, though, as it addresses toxic hustle culture, the American dream, the problems with focusing on winning above else, and the competitiveness of American schools.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) This is the first full-length Murderbot novel after the previous four short novellas, plus it's been nominated for both the Nebula and Hugo! So that's pretty exciting. I continue to love Murderbot so much, and this novel-length book worked just as well as the novellas. Murderbot is a member of Dr. Mensah's team, and they're just going to a routine survey when its ship gets attacked, and Murderbot and Mensah's daughter get taken. Now Murderbot needs to proctect this annoying adolescent, reunite her with the rest of its humans, and also figure out how this ship can travel through wormholes so fast. And also the ship is Murderbot's best friend ART (Asshole Research Transport), but it got taken over by other software, oh no! I will admit that because I lack even a basic understanding of software, computers, robots, space travel, and most technology, I could get lost sometimes and not know exactly what was going on, and I ha...

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) Tom Hardy Night III! I've seen this movie a couple times before, but it turns out it's more fun the third time, watching with someone else who really likes mediocre action films. The script for this movie is so bad at some points that it goes back around into being good, and I love Tom Hardy's weirdly unnatural attempts at American exclamations. As long as you don't get too caught up in the bits that don't make sense it's a genuinely great time. This movie doesn't deserve 8.5 stars but it got extra points for how much fun I had watching it.

⭐ 6.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) Obviously not much left to say about these movies by now. It's a Marvel movie. It's a crowd pleaser. The action is pretty generic, but it's still pretty impressive how they are able to string together these really long, mind blowing scenes, one cool stunt after another. The characters are all likeable enough, but I really will never understand people actually having an attachment to them. I think people don't talk enough about how unfunny these movies are. The quippy one-liners are pretty bad, and for a movie that is supposed to not take itself seriously, this movie has some incredibly lame serious moments - often from Sammy Jackson. I appreciate the tone they go for, because it's the only way to do it for a movie this ridiculous, but it's just not very funny. Anyways, this could probably be the review for every Marvel movie. I usually just say that they are all sevens, but rewatching this one made me feel that a seven is ...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) This is a memoir about how Maajid Nawaz went from being a son of Pakistani immigrants in London, to a b-boy on the streets, to an Islamist in jail in Egypt, and finally to someone fighting for human rights and reform. It's a pretty wild ride, and obviously very far from anything in my own experience. I really liked the way he described how experiencing racism in London led to him embracing radical Islamist ideals, and why kids like him are ripe for the picking. It's a very informative book, and I think one of the most important thing I learned was the distinction between Islam, the religion, and Islamism, the political ideology. Maajid himself is not always very likeable, but it was valuable getting a first-hand account of someone who fell into radicalism and how/why he got out.

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Anita) I was also really surprised by the amount of humour in this movie. I was expected something really heavy and dark the whole way through but there was a lot of funny moments. I didn't think the humour really took away from the seriousness of the situation and was surprised how well it was balanced. That said, I don't know if they actually did the situation justice or not. The main actors were absolutely incredible and I was enthralled the whole way through.

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by kaelwilton) I had not seen this movie since I was very very young so I did not remember much about it going in, which was honestly a blessing because experiencing some of these gags for the first time (kind of) again was great! This movie is actually really funny! Like any dumb comedy not every joke lands, and some of them are horribly outdated and were honestly pretty nasty, but the ones that did hit were so so funny. I love how meta the humour is, it honestly just kills me. I haven't seen many Mel Brooks' films, but I'd be interested in watching more now. Again, not every joke lands, and some scenes are pretty cringey, but apart from that this is a pretty fun watch, especially if you're watching with a group of friends!

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) Really loved this one! I love that they went with a middle-aged black male for the main character--what a bold move for a children's movie. And the message really spoke to me, as a person with a creative hobby I have no desire to turn into a career of any sort. Really beautiful and touching, and with a message I think is really important for kids and adults alike. Some really good laugh-out-loud moments, too. Great stuff.

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Jess) I somehow came across this movie on Netflix and ended up loving it. It's based on the book. It's about a musician who is trying to fix his past mistakes and a woman annoyed with her music-obsessed boyfriend.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) This movie is about a woman who loses it all and reverts to living in her van, traveling across America to find community or herself or something. Honestly, for as beautiful a movie as this was, I can't say I really connected with it. The acting is great, the music is beautiful, the scenery unforgettable, but I had a hard time relating to the feelings of the protagonist. I think there is a lot to be said here about America and capitilism and all sorts of stuff. Someone who is working for the richest corporation in the world but can't afford to live, Fern refuses to bend to the typical consumer life we are sold, refusing help along the way to grieve her losses in her own way. I think this is where I was lost, in that many people offer her community or a home but she continually chooses her own road. It is very possible I don't understand her own form of grief, but Jess called it self-destructiveness which might be part of it. I do thi...

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) My fourth time watching this documentary and it gives me the same feelings every time: white-knuckled anxiety combined with inspiration and awe. If you haven't seen this one, it follows Alex Honold on his mission to climb El Cap in Yosemite... without ropes. I think this doc is perfect in structure, and it follows Alex's life, what makes him want to do this, and how free soloing has evolved over time. Alex is a really weird dude, and his motivations have nothing to do with recklessness or thrill seeking or popularity. Things get extra interesting as we meet his girlfriend, and witness the love triangle between him, her, and climbing. I would say he is driven by perfectionism, but as he forms more relationships it is interesting to watch this outsider try to prioritize his life. His personality is what makes this a compelling watch, almost as much as the crazy climbing. This documentary is amazing to look at too, with incredible footage...

⭐ 6.5/10 (Originally written by Tim) This show has very high highs, but in my opinion also some low lows. The middle seasons were great, but I think the series is bookended by some poor seasons. This final one is shorter, and my goodness that finale was the cheesiest thing I have ever seen. Everyone getting their perfect ending is fine, but leave a little something to the imagination for crying out loud. I love a time jump, and starting this season a couple years in the future is a great idea, but then jumping around willy-nilly to show us that everyone gets a perfect life is kind of ridiculous. Anyways, I thought the finale was just a summation of how I felt about this final season. Everything falls into place perfectly, with none of our characters really changing who they have been. Andy and April don't grow at all over 6 seasons, and while I like how silly Andy is it feels like he gets even dumber as the seasons go on. And what is April's deal? Her being all anti-happy is qu...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) I like Pete Enns a lot and feel like he has good things to say. He’s really smart yet he is able to write in a simple yet concise way for the everyday person to understand. He’s also really educated and I find myself agreeing with him like 99% of the time. This book was good, and he goes over the big stuff in exodus. Stuff like, the story is perhaps mythicized history, rather than completely one or the other, and that’s ok. It’s an ancient story and we need to read it with ancient eyes. Also, the 10 plagues were coincidentally 10 ways to diminish and belittle the Egyptian gods, and prove that YHWH was superior. Even the idea that other gods existed: the Israelites were not monotheistic, but rather monolatry. And then of course there is the crossing of the Red Sea (most likely a translation issue here, and definitely not the Red Sea we know it to be today), and the laws that indicate who Israel was to be. All part of a larger story that maybe doesn...

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) This, again, is a movie I LOVED as a teenager, so I guess I've really been taking a trip down memory lane lately. It still held up pretty well for me, likely because I think it's made for adults more than teenagers. Lots of great bits in here, and watching Jess die laughing while seeing this for the first time made me wish I could unwatch it and experience it for the first time again. The knight-in-black fight, the rabid rabbit, the ridiculous Frenchmen, and the Knights Who Say Ni are just a few among a bunch of great sketches. At the same time, lots of the jokes reminded me of listening to old white boomers who think they are terribly clever. I think these movies were probably pretty influential in the 70s in that way. But even worse, it reminded me a lot of those incredibly cringey movies we used to make as teenagers. What were we thinking? None of us were funny... So yeah, still lots of fun. It's not a normal comedy movie but more ...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) This movie is the truest example of a roller coaster experience. So many ups and downs and you just don't know who to trust. It's nearly impossible to talk about this movie without spoiling anything, but I'll just say it had me locked in the entire runtime I'm I had my mind blown like 6 times. I really loved Tyler Perry in this one, but there were great performances all around. I can't recommend this movie to everyone cuz it's super dark, pretty sexy, and of course there is *that* scene. But this movie was a perfect combination of lots of dynamic, moving parts, but not so many where you feel stupid by the end. Good stuff

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Jess) This movie was weird.. I'll be honest I didn't really know what was going on, what the underlying message was suppose to be. It's about a war vet joining a cult and the relationship between him and the cult leader. I watched a couple of YouTube videos explaining the movie which made me like the movie more.

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Beans) This is a Korean American film about a family that moves to Arkansas to live out the dads dream of becoming a farmer. They move into a trailer with an unwilling wife, a sick child, an aging grandmother, and water that always seems to be scarce. Really great film. All in all just really heartwarming without trying to make me cry every 5 minutes. The kid is unbelievably cute and the family dynamic was really interesting. I was able to watch this with my Korean friend which made the experience richer. We had Korean snacks and Korean alcohol, so it was a really fun night.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) It's Tom Hardy Night II! I knew nothing about this movie going into it, but it's very quickly apparent that it's a Guy Ritchie film. Snappy dialogue, a chaotic plot that you can barely keep up with, a bunch of intertwining storylines. I didn't really know what was going on all the time, but honestly, I was having a great time. The antics of the Wild Bunch (a very poorly-run local gang) had me laughing out loud, and that was the only plotline I really cared about, but of course it was all wrapped up in the greater story. I loved how things came together, I loved how ridiculous it all was, and I loved how they handled their silly gay sideplot in an otherwise very dudebro movie. 6/10 for the actual film, but another 2 stars for how much fun I had. Thanks Tom Hardy. (And Idris Elba and Gerard Butler. What a great trio.)

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Joshua Karat) GRR Martin’s history of the Targaryean Dynasty. For those who love a Song of Ice and Fire, and are desperate for and enthralled by any bit of lore you can get, this book is a gold mine. Otherwise you will never be more bored. Simply put, I loved it.

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by hoodie_logi) I really enjoyed this movie. The plot sounds wild, and it honestly was a wild ride all the way through. A teenager comes to her Grandma, who is estranged from the mother, and is asking the grandmother to help her pay for her abortion she has scheduled for later that day. The two spend the day connecting with figures from the Grandma's past and present, trying to rustle up the money. The Grandma is a hot-headed, independent, lesbian and honestly she makes the movie. The acting performance is amazing. While the content and main storyline is sure to be controversial to most, what I really appreciated is that is acts as the secondary storyline to the main one. Though the looming abortion appointment is the driving force pushing events forward, it is not the ethical question of the movie. It is happening and the characters are reacting to the situation. What drives the story is the deep dive into the Grandma's life and her path towards re...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Joshua Karat) Ernest Clines sci-fi/nerd/matrix/nostalgia-pumped adventure was a wonderful read. The world is expansive and believable, the characters interesting, the stakes are not merely high but realistic (as if we do not understand the threat of capitalistic monopoly). What would have made the book better would be nuance. For the most part, every character is one dimensional; some tension, complexity, or struggle would have been nice. Otherwise I have no complaints.

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) I really think this isn't a great game, but I still had a ton of fun playing it co-op with Jess. In general I think Mario is a garbage franchise (I'm not afraid to say it) and 3D platforming is almost never fun, and in this game you can't even move the camera. Countless times either one of us were just falling off edges or jumping into the abyss because it's near impossible to measure distance or angles in this game. The power-ups basically break this game because when you have them you can basically fly over a level, and without them these levels can get incredibly frustrating. Nintendo really needs to rethink power-ups in this style of game because they are just so antiquated at this point. But there are a few positives. This game certainly wasn't made for co-op, and in fact having 2 players can often make it more difficult as it is really difficult to not get in each other's way and we were constantly picking up and thr...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) I'm always down for an off-the-walls bizarre movie! Car chases and action movies are still not my thing, but I definitely enjoyed this one more than most. It's very original, and although I see this kind of creativity and freshness in books quite often, it doesn't appear nearly as much in movies, which is why I know movie people were very excited about this movie.

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) Elatsoe is a Lipan Apache teen who has the power to commune with ghosts, a skill passed down through generations. When her cousin is murdered and visits her from the afterlife, she and her ghost dog sidekick need to figure out what really happened. There's so much to love about this book. It's set in a world similar to ours, except there are ghosts, vampires, and special abilities, and so everything is just a bit off. I love how Ellie's culture is woven into the story, and several traditional stories are included. Ellie is asexual, so there's no romance at all, which is refreshing in YA and a plus for people who don't like that part of YA. But I love her friendship with her best friend Jay, as well as her relationships with her dog and family.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) MurderBot is back! It's trying to pass itself as an augmented human instead of a construct, and that is very distressing. It wants to go back to the planet where bad things happened in its past that it can't quite remember, so that it can find out what really happened. But it needs help from an AI ship and another team of scientists, leading to lots more hilarious interactions between MurderBot and other beings. This book was also very funny and action-packed, and even a bit philosophical, but my favourite part was the scene when MurderBot and ART (Asshole Research Transport vessel) are watching TV together and arguing about what to watch and getting very invested. It's amazing.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Anita) Another movie I didn't have super high expectations for (turns out this is the way to go). It started with a really creepy vibe (which I'm NOT a fan of) but I really enjoyed the solving of the mystery - I thought it was a cool twist. Will told me that the lead actress spent a lot of time and effort getting physically strong for the role so it spends a lot of time showcasing her strength which is really cool to see with a female lead. It was action packed and not really deep, had some cool plot twists, and even a romance. What more could I want!

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Anita) I was given this book to read by my mom and had quite low expectations. 😬 A few of you would know/remember Herman Klassen's near fatal accident in 2009. I had heard a few details but didn't know much beyond that so I was intrigued enough to find out what happened. (Mary was also my Sunday School teacher when I was 6 and I was her Sunday School helper in my teen years so there's history.) Anyway, I was really surprised by how affected I was by this book! It wasn't particularly well-written but the hope and faith that just radiates from Herman and Mary throughout their lives was incredible to read about. They have been through so incredibly much and it gave me a new appreciation for some of the clichés I've heard growing up in the church. Even though I didn't necessarily agree with a lot of the theology presented, I appreciated the story and how it all worked out for them.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Anita) Scrolling through Netflix looking for my next watch, this was recommended to me and apparently Netflix knows what they're doing. 😂 I loved it. It's also a workplace drama, as it follows four retail workers in 1959 Australia. It was not a particularly well-done movie, and it had lots of plot holes and clichés but with an ending that satisfying, I can forgive all of that. I still sigh when I think of the happy endings they all get! There's a fair bit of racism to contend with, which is handled... somewhat well.. on the surface anyway. Anyway, nothing deep or meaningful to see here, just a feel-good happy-ending period piece romance.

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Anita) I, along with everyone else on this website, enjoyed this show lots. I didn't think it was on the same level as other workplace dramas but still really enjoyed it and was sad to finish it! A lot of the social justice issued it tackled were illuminating - and made me so thankful I don't live in the US... the childbirth and maternity leave episode made me absolutely livid. The main relationship also made me really angry at times but that's because I get way too into things I watch. I was always excited to see what happened next though and enjoyed watching the characters develop and getting to know them.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Joshua Karat) The Finale to Robert Harris’ Cicero Trilogy. This book was amazing. From the death of Julius Ceasar to the rise of Octavian the historical events are of a magnitude rarely seen in the history of our world. Yet what is truly moving about this book is the depth of emotion explored in the grief, loss, triumph, and betrayal that Cicero experiences. I have loved this series, and I am quite sad to have finished it.

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) This is the free ebook all the people who participated in the Tor.com trivia night received, which I was very excited about because I'd heard great things. I finally actually read it, and it was so good! It's a novella, just over 100 pages, so it gets going really quickly. The main character is a self-aware Security Unit robot, who calls itself MurderBot (it's gender- and sex-less). It has hacked its module so that it doesn't actually have to follow any rules or orders. It hates talking to people and all it really wants to do is have time to itself to watch all of the episodes of TV it has saved. But it does its job with as little work as possible, and its new clients are a group of scientists doing a survey of a new planet. But several things don't seem right and things are getting dangerous, and ugh, MurderBot is starting to care about its clients a little, so annoying! I love MurderBot so much. It's awkward and anxi...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) A historical novel about four girls around 14 years old who have been sent to a school for the "feeble-minded" in the 1910s for various reasons - one has Down's Syndrome, another is pregnant, another has a club foot... London is newly-arrived and pregnant, and determined to escape this life of monotony and drudgery and being labelled a "moron," but to her surprise she starts to care about some of the other girls in her group. This book is not an easy read because this "school" sounds absolutely horrific and I can't believe they existed, although of course at the same time I'm not surprised at all. But the four girls at the heart of the story are so resilient and hopeful and strong, and are trying to get through the best they can. It's a great story of friendship and escape, and teaches a lot about labels and disability, and the value we put on people with disabilities. The author herself has a phys...

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Will) Watched this hoping for something along the lines of National Treasure, and wasn't disappointed! If you're interested in hunting for ancient tombs swarming with booby traps on a beautiful island off the coast of Japan, this might be your thing. Alicia Vikander does a solid job as Lara Croft. She's not super charismatic or anything, but clearly put in a ton of effort on pre-filming fitness training to be able to pull off some of the scenes. Overall it's pretty gritty and semi-realistic as these types of action-adventure movies go - there's no Fast and the Furious type super heroes or anything like that. Overall not a work of high-cinema, but if you like the genre you'll enjoy it.

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Will) I had high hopes for this sequel based on how much I enjoyed Ori and the Blind Forest and what I had heard about this from others, and I wasn't disappointed. I don't have much else to say that hasn't been said already, but a few of my favorite parts, plus a few remaining (minor) issues I had: The Great The scenery and the art was just an absolute 10/10. My favourite times were when I would get to a new area with new scenery. The platforming mechanics give you so many different options and work together so well. Towards the end of the game it feels absolutely incredible when you make it through a super long stretch crowded with enemies and obstacles, all without touching the ground once. I do love the awesome chase scenes Loved Shriek as the villain, and the last scene in particular was a bit heartbreaking. The Not-Quite-Great There were some times where it's not super clear how you're supposed to proceed. Do I need to get throug...

⭐ 6.0/10 (Originally written by kaelwilton) This really is one of the most mediocre superhero movies to come out in my opinion. Other than some cool action sequences and visuals, this movie does not have a lot going for it. At some points it felt very rushed, and at others it felt like it was dragging, and I even felt bored at some points. You could tell Zack Snyder wanted to make this movie an epic spectacle, but he honestly just failed. It ended up just being way too long Jesse Eisenberg's performance as Lex Luthor was so so bad. Like I can't stress enough how much I disliked him in this film. I also was not a fan of Ben Affleck as Batman (I swear he had one facial expression throughout the film). Henry Cavill gave a good performance, as well as some of the supporting cast. Some of the dialogue is also laughably bad (mainly Lex Luthor's honestly) This movie fell into the classic "Snyder" trap of overuse of CGI and explosions, but I gotta admit that sometimes the...

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) This was probably my favorite movie ever as a little kid. It's still pretty good. The action is great, and I thought Chris Tucker was still pretty funny, though a little exhausting. it's mostly just a movie passing time between great Jackie Chan scenes, but it could've just used a little more Jackie in it.

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Beans) This book is about a plantation in the Deep South shortly after Africans were brought to America and sold into slavery. It follows a host of people and each chapter is a different perspective from someone on the farm. Two of the young boys are in a relationship, and when one of the older slaves takes on the white man’s religion to get favour, their relationship is seen as an abomination, and all hell breaks loose. I really enjoyed this one. It was really engrossing and you fall deeply for the characters. It was written rather poetically which felt beautiful. The way it jumped around perspectives was also interesting. It tied together some of the African roots of the slaves into the story which I had never really heard before that felt unique. Ultimately this book is about love and betrayal, the black person’s endless battle in America, and the grief and beauty that comes out of that. The climax to this was literally insane and had me on the edge o...

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by hoodie_logi) A perfect game really. I literally have no complaints about this game. The world is expansive, beautiful and interactive. The characters you meet along the way are fun and help push multiple storylines forward. It's really a video game you can just get lost in. The main quest is fun, but the nice thing is that you wouldn't even have to touch it and it would still be an amazing game. If I had to nitpick one thing, it's that the Calamity Ganon fight at the end is a little anti-climactic (pretty easy imo), but that really didn't take away from the game. I spent way more time exploring and doing side quests than actually playing the main storyline anyways. If you have a Switch this is a must buy.

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) A movie night choice, because now I've moved on to Tom Hardy films. Genuinely loved this a lot more than I expected to, probably because I knew it was one big car chase and I don't really care for car chases. But I ended up really loving the off-the-rails wild tone of this movie that offset the potentially boringly gritty setting, and I'm a HUGE sucker for learning-to-trust-again themes. Despite this movie taking place over like 2-3 days max, I thought the pacing was really good, both in terms of action and relationship development. There's always a sense of tension even in rare quiet moments, and the action isn't SO relentless that it stops affecting you. Everything about this movie was visually incredible, which is such a feat for a story set in the desert, and the music was also fantastic. ALSO I love women and all the women in this movie. Shoutout to women. I am blowing a kiss to Charlize Theron. Will I watch the other Ma...

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) The main character of this book is Muir, who has been in foster care her whole life and is about to age out. She's had a decent experience and has kept her head down, trying to stay independent and self-sufficient so that when she ages out she'll be able to survive on her own. She's in her final foster home and plans on keeping to herself and form no attachments, but of course she makes some friends and connects with her foster mom and she has to reexamine her plans. This story treads fairly familiar ground in terms of stories about the foster care system - a stand-offish kid finds a place to belong. But that's what I like! Nothing better than a found family! And I appreciated that this book focuses on the difficulty of aging out, and on a teen who isn't necessarily troubled, but has still been greatly affected by her experiences. I just wanted to give Muir a big hug, and also become a foster parent so I can help all the s...

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Joshua Karat) Written by Dr. Matthew Bates, this is a masterful book,. extremely well written relatively quite easy to read. Bates presents a shattering thesis, namely that modern christianity mostly has misunderstood and misrepresented the gospel, that it is not that Jesus has died for our sins nor even that he has defeated death or saved us; rather it is (at its simplest) Jesus is King. He thoroughly and faithfully exegetes scripture in order to prove this point, and his work is remarkably solid. While quite heady at some points, it remains readable for most christians or those acquainted with basic theology. Overall, i would highly recommend this book to any person who identifies as a follower of Christ.