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⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) Oh man this show killed me. I’ve been meaning to watch for a while and it was perfect. Extremely funny with great dialogue and perhaps the worst people ever but you somehow love and root for them. The political aspect of it often lost me (what the hell is the filibuster?) but still very enjoyable. It almost kind of reminded me of parks and rec? Except R-rated. Many funny moments that had me absolutely howling, such as the numerous running scenes, the step stool, and the yoghurt shop. Jonah is by far the worst character. I think the MVP moment was when a few of our characters were talking to members of the other side and the one guy mentions how they want a wall put up between the states and Mexico; this season came out in 2012. It would be funnier if it wasn’t all so real, but life imitates art I guess. Very excited to continue on.

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) I feel like this was nearly the perfect movie for me. It definitely toes that line of being too scary for a baby like me, but I think it is generally in that safe zone of being creepy without being straight up horror. As a result, it basically has you on the edge of your seat the whole way, engaging the audience, making you question everything you think you know and never letting you trust anyone. Really intense stuff, but in a good way. There was also some great acting, great cinematography, and great writing including some truly hilarious comedic breaks. I haven't heard this before, but I think there are some natural similarities to Parasite in terms of structure and style as well as having this big house that starts to feel like a character. I feel like I'll remember a lot of these scenes and set pieces for some time. There were a few scenes that seem like plot holes unless I missed something, but I can overlook those because they felt...

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Beans) This is book 5 of The Blackthorn Key Series. I read the first one at the beginning of the pandemic and here we are, almost a year later, reading the fifth one, still in a pandemic (he did not release all 5 within this year). It was good! It’s set right after the plague in London so that was fun and interesting to read about. The main character Christopher has been enlisted to join the King’s ranks and becomes the apprentice of the spymaster! All while still trying to become a master in apothecary. The mystery was great, the puzzles were interesting and the characters all grew and developed nicely. There was a small touch of a crush which was perfect. It was also cool to learn about some history. Like the Knights Templar, King Charles, and so on. The author also set up a great bad guy in the background that all seems to be boiling and ready to spill over. The stakes have never been higher. My one complaint is I wish the main characters were all abo...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) I have been thinking of how amazing Goodfellas is recently, so I decided to use my afternoon off to watch this more recent Scorsese movie. When I say my afternoon I mean it, this movie is super long, but each scene really crackles with energy. It is so zany and fast paced and despicable it is impossible to look away from. It is almost a modern retelling of Goodfellas - a young guy is obsessed with a certain lifestyle but is an outsider, works his way in, then gets to the top of the hill only to have it devour him. Instead of the mob, this is a guy obsessed with money and the power it gives him, so he becomes a stock broker and eventually becomes a whole lot more. This is now the movie I will think of when I hear that money is the root of all evil. This guy and the people around him are complete degenerates, constantly overdosed on drugs and women. It is not for the faint of heart, and the excess of their lives is truly disgusting. That being said, L...

⭐ 6.5/10 (Originally written by Tim) Not sure whether to file this under show or movie, but it was a show for so long that this feels right. This was a feel good reunion, where it was clear all the actors genuinely really like each other. I was happy to see the creators and writers get a bunch of screen time too, and I wish we could have had more of that. I'm not an obsessive Friends fan (I do think its a good show thought) so some of the references were a bit lost on me. I hate James Corden but I thought he did a good job hosting this, with a couple solid impromptu jokes. I thought the fan segments talking about how Friends changed their lives was complete cringe, and there were too many weird celebrity cameos I don't want to spoil. I was hoping it would talk more about the celebrity of the actors on the show at the time. I was a young child who didn't watch the show while it was on air and I knew their names, which really says something about its popularity and infl...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) Basically a repeat of my season 1 review. The jokes are clever and I feel like the situations the characters get put in every episode are unique yet relatable. The kids are still annoying, and Phil is still the MVP.

⭐ 6.5/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) I know this movie was based on a video game series, and I think that's why the concept of this movie held so much promise, but the execution was soooo poor. I liked the idea (alternate/parallel universes, your actions affecting what happens in the parallel, travelling between them) but they were very clearly trying to fit like 5 hours of plot into one movie. The pace was super rushed, and every decision was made instantly without any reasoning, despite huge possible consequences. Also the way disability was handled was so terrible haha. I love high fantasy settings, but this was just disappointing. Oh well! At least there was a fun Power of Friendship moment.

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) Was really excited to read this after watching Shadow & Bone recently, because my favourite part of the show were the Crows and I LOVE a heist. And it didn't disappoint. I loved a lot of things about this story: the morally grey characters, the backstories, the impossible capers, the action. Sometimes it was a little gratuitously bloody/graphic, but I appreciated that it didn't try to soften or romanticize crime or what it takes to be in a gang. My biggest gripe was the age of the characters, which just seemed absurd. They're ALL 15-17??? You've gotta be kidding me. You could have changed NOTHING except made them 5-10 years older and it would have solved how ridiculous it felt. Your mid-20s is still young to be a gang leader! 17 is just laughable. Other than that, I really enjoyed reading it, and I'm already looking forward to the next one, though I probably won't bother with the other books in the 'verse. I'm...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) Three best friends are finally able to go to ZombieCon, which they've been looking forward to for months, so they can geek out about zombies and meet the actors from their favourite zombie show. Just one problem - the zombie apocalypse actually starts in the convention center while they're there. This is one of the few zombie-related pieces of media that is actually more light-hearted in tone than serious. Bad things are definitely happening, and not everybody will survive, but somehow it still manages not to take itself seriously. It reads more like an action book than a horror book. There's the zombies-are-everywhere aspect, but the three girls are also dealing with friendship drama, SATs, and crushes. I loved June and her friends, how kick-ass they were, and how supportive of each other. It was a bit silly, but fast-paced and fun.

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) This is the rewritten version of Kendi's super long and more academic book about racism, adapted by a novelist for a YA audience. It was not very hard for me to decide which one to listen to on audio. This book is about the evolution of racist ideas against Black people in America, starting in about the 1600s. He focuses on the people, books, movies, etc. that gave birth to racist ideas or propagated them. It's written in a very accessible way, and was really quite enjoyable to listen to. It doesn't go super in depth on any one topic, since it's more of an overview, but I found it was the right amount of information. Perfect for teens and adults with short attention spans.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) This is a Netflix superhero knock off, and the beginning is super cheesy but it gets a bit better throughout. The thing about doing a new super hero show or movie is all the good powers have already been done. So these guys all had flight, speed and super strength, what can compare?! As much as I thought the characters and plot weren’t great, they did an awesome job exploring their moral code. When the Union of superheroes was originally created they lived by two rules: 1. You can’t never kill anyone, no matter what. And 2. You can never become a political leader. As the world is changing and more superheroes and supervillains are introduced, the rules are changing and they must reconsider why they made those rules. Super fascinating look into what it means to take a life, especially in defence of, well the whole world! The end left with a cliff hanger that was pretty interesting. Enough to make me want to watch season 2 when it comes out!

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by kaelwilton) This is one of the most confusing movies I have ever seen. After the movie ended, I had no idea what had just happened. All I knew that the movie was very well done, with two great performances from Jake Gyllenhaal and gorgeous cinematography, but I honestly had no idea what the movie was really even about. However, after some research, I can conclude that this movie is in fact, very very good. Denis Villeneuve might just be one of the greatest directors working today. With this movie, he made an incredibly complex and confusing film, but once I started looking into it I realized that there were no questions left unanswered, and that every single line of dialogue has a purpose in the story. I didn't know much about this movie going in, all I knew was that it was about a man (Jake Gyllenhaal) who sees his "look-alike" in a movie (also played by Jake Gyllenhaal), and attempts to track him down. While this is the general plot, you ...

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) Somehow I was able to be the first person to put this book on hold on CloudLibrary, and start reading it the day it came out! This is John Green's first non-fiction book, and it's an essay collection that is part memoir and part explorations of human society and living in a human-focused age. It was written during the pandemic, so he writes a lot about it, and that was super interesting. It's a book that's difficult to describe, but it's personal, moving, funny, and so interesting and informative. Green covers a lot of topics and his essays cover elements of history, pop culture, sociology, and more, and he is such a smart and insightful person.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) Not sure if this was funny because I'd watched it a million times as a teenager or if it was actually funny. It was actually funny right? Either way, I laughed a lot. Rico was my MVP, and the sicko AM radio host adds a lot towards the end. Cool beans.

⭐ 5.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) I picked this book up because the premise sounded interesting and it focused on young adults which I was excited to read about. The story takes place 10 years after the chosen ones - a group of 5 teens with some magical abilities - defeated the Dark One. I thought she did a good job of portraying the complexity of normal life for chosen people. The PTSD, the fame, etc. How does a hero live a normal life?? That’s about all she did well. The magic system was not good, she tried to do inter-dimensional travel, and the main character wasn’t great. The ending was very meh, and I don’t know why I finished it.

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by kaelwilton) Somehow, the second season of Atlanta manages to be even better than season one. This season takes a very different approach than the first season did, as most episodes focused on one or two characters primarily, while most episodes in season one featured the cast as an ensemble, but it works incredibly well. There are more consistent storylines that are featured throughout the second season as well, which I really enjoyed. There were a couple of episodes this season that I thought were absolutely phenomenal. The Alligator Man, Teddy Perkins, and North of the Border are some of the best episodes I've seen of any show ever. This season was consistently entertaining. I can't recommend this show enough. I'm pretty sure that the third season is coming out this year as well, so I an very excited for that!

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) I love Star Wars, and since the only other friend review of this is a 10/10 I had to give it a try. I did enjoy this game, but by the end of its short run time I was ready to move on. The combat, which is great, began to feel repetitive, and the lack of enemy variation made it a bit tiring. The Star Wars environments and music are awesome, but there are only a handful of maps here. The maps are actually my least favourite part of this game, or rather traversing the maps. The actual map that you can use is fine, but I had to constantly open it to see what way to go (ever heard of minimaps?). They were so frustrating to re-traverse when you come back to explore the world, basically discouraging me from 100%'ing this one. There are short cuts you can open up, but that didn't prevent me from being frustrating trying to get to the spots on the map that clearly had a treasure chest. And then you finally get there and you get a new poncho that you ...

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by The Original Susanne) This mini series follows the lives of the wives of the American astronauts during their missions. Really cool perspective and highlights the sacrifices they all made to make space travel possible. Surprisingly emotional while also feeling kind of educational. The stats on how many of the astronauts' marriages survived was pretty shocking, too, and you start to understand why.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) For the past 7 years, Tracy has been doing everything she can to get her dad off death row for a crime he didn't commit, and time is ticking down. And now her brother has just become the main suspect of the murder of a white girl and is on the run. So Tracy is trying to get legal help, plus find out what really happened. This book will obviously draw some comparisons to THUG, which is valid, but it focuses a lot more on the American justice system and how Black men are portrayed in news stories. It also has a murder mystery element, which was cool, since Tracy is doing her own digging into the case, since the police aren't doing their jobs. It was super compelling and interesting, but it did have a love triangle that I hated.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) This was just a really pleasant, relaxing, low-stakes watch, perfect for playing while you work on, for example, a miniature kit! It's set in Australia, so lots of great accents, and it's historical, so cool clothes as well. There's nothing particularly stand-out about the plot or characters - it just follows three women who work in the clothing department of a big store. But it left me with a smile!

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Beans) This movie was WEIRD. I’m honestly not too sure what they were trying to say. It stars Ice Cube and Chris Tucker over the span of a Friday. They get high and their day is filled with hijinks. I laughed at some parts but I just didn’t really know what it was about I guess. Or what the main goal was? I think the problem was I was expecting a social commentary and it wasn’t that. Still entertaining.

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by kaelwilton) This quickly became one of my favourite tv shows of all time. I've never quite seen anything like it. I read that Donald Glover described it as "Twin Peaks but with rappers", and I feel as if that is incredibly accurate. The general plot seemed straight forward enough (an up and coming rapper and his manager make their way through the rap scene in Atlanta), but you quickly come to realize that the show is about much much more. Donald Glover is one of the most creative guys in the industry. He writes, directs, and stars in many episodes of this show. The rest of the cast is absolutely phenomenal as well. This show is funny, dark and very very surrealist, which I absolutely adored. I can't explain how much I enjoyed this first season. I'm excited to see what the second season is like (especially excited for the infamous Teddy Perkins episode), but if it's anything like this season it's already a guaranteed 10/10.

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Jess) FANTASTIC movie. This was my first time watching it. I came for Leo, and stayed because of the complex characters, and how phenomenal Jack Nicholson was. This movie isn't for the faint of heart, but even I liked it. The ending though... Caught me off guard :)

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) This book has three main things going for it: lots of Calvin and Hobbes references, the main character has schizophrenia, and the book is set in LEAMINGTON. As in Leamington, Ontario! The setting doesn't play a big role and it was pretty obvious the author has never actually been to Leamington, but the words Leamington, Point Pelee, and Lake Erie were all in the book, so that was exciting! It's about Calvin, who was born the day Bill Watterson published his final Calvin and Hobbes comic, so he's always felt a connection with them. And then one day he starts hearing Hobbes speaking with him, and after he freaks out in class, he's diagnosed with schizophrenia. He decides he needs to meet Bill, so he's going to walk across frozen Lake Erie to meet him with Hobbes and his friend Susie, who he might also be imagining. This is a super short book, mostly about that icy trek over a couple days. Calvin is funny, if kind of pretentio...

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Beans) These are two live shows, each an hour long by a guy from Ireland. I will say, I often feel like humour is so different across the ocean, but this was for the better. Daniel is so clever and witty, and he executes his jokes really well. I think he does a really good job of pushing the line and crossing into uncomfortable boundaries. But he does it without being gross and dirty and he’s not a dick when he does it. The second one, Jigsaw, was my favourite. He does a good mix of being serious and addressing real issues while still making you laugh a lot.

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) When you leave a game and you think, “is that the best game I have every played?”, you know you have just experienced something special. I won’t spend this review comparing this game to other ones that make me ask that, but very early on I could tell that this game was going to be a standout. You play as Arthur Morgan, a member of a gang of outlaws who is struggling with the weight of what he has done and the loyalties he has built and what he wants his life to mean. That makes this sound like a prestige drama from the 2010s about a bad man constantly struggling with the fact that he is a bad man, but the depth of the world and the time you spend with Arthur makes it so much more than that. The world here is more immersive that anything else I have ever played. It is vast, and open, and full of surprises that can come in the form of a cool item, a zany side quest, or just a mind-numbing detail. For instance, I noticed that w...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) I must say, I wasn't really digging this movie in the first 10 minutes or so. The pace is so frantic, and the visuals are so OCD, I felt like this movie was targeting children who need to boot up a different youtube video every 5 minutes. But once I settled in and let it happen, I was rewarded with a very funny and exceedingly creative movie about family. The story is told from the perspective of a dorky girl who loves to make weird movies, and is about to go to college, when her dad decides a family road trip will be a great send off. The father daughter relationship causes conflict, and the fact that it is told in her voice makes all the animated flourishes more understandable, almost like this is the movie she is making about herself. There are a ton of visual flairs that really make this movie standout, and although they can be overwhelming they make this movie quite unique. It is the same people who did Into The Spiderverse, so if you l...

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by hoodie_logi) Alright, it's time to review what I think has become my favourite TV Show of all time over the past bit. Let me start out with saying, in my opinion this is perfect TV, BUT, it is definitely not for everyone. It's Always Sunny is the best example of the Anti-Sitcom. My favourite description of the show is that it is Seinfeld on crack, as described by the creators themselves. In essence, the show focuses on a group of five "friends" (it's complicated), that own a bar together in downtown Philly. With that description, shows like Cheers come to mind. This is not that. As most sitcoms focus on things like character growth, romances and funny scenarios that end with nice little ribbons, this show explores the idea of taking 5 absolute sociopaths, allowing them to devolve further into their flaws with no hope of actual growth or love. There are maybe 2 or 3 total actual sweet, redeemable moments between the characters acros...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by kaelwilton) This is definitely my favourite Cole album. The beat selection, the flows, the lyricism, the features (about time, Mr Cole) are all top tier. This album is J Cole at the top of his game, and I’m absolutely loving it. However, this still isn’t a perfect album. I did not enjoy 100 mil as much as some of the other songs, and I found J Coles flow on Pride is the Devil to be really awkward (also, Amine used the beat a lot better on Can’t Decide). Both of these songs are still enjoyable, but just aren’t on the same level as the other songs. Apart from the two mentioned above, I thought this was a very consistently great album. It makes me very excited to see what Cole has got for us in the future!

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) This is a memoir written by Anand, a Black man born in the 50s with ASD, although he didn't know this for sure until he was an adult. He also has synesthesia, which means he experiences most things in colour rather than images. He describes himself as a child as being pretty volatile and easily upset by bright colours and loud noises, and constantly getting sick or throwing tantrums. But he learns to pass as a "normal person" for most of his life, even being very successful at school and in his career, although he was almost always inwardly in turmoil. This book is super fascinating. He's neurodivergent, and so that definitely comes through in his writing. He just perceives things differently, and things are described and structured in non-typical ways. That does make it kind of a weird read too, of course. He sees spirits throughout his life, and has an interesting relationship with spirituality and gender. He does a good jo...

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) This book is about Kristin, who, because of an awkward and painful encounter with her boyfriend, goes to a gynecologist and discovers that she's intersex. This makes her spiral into an identity crisis, and things get even worse when the whole school finds out. This book was super interesting, and was very informative about what it means to be intersex, an aspect of the LGBTQ spectrum that is often ignored. Kristin has always considered herself to be a straight girl, so what does it mean that she has some "boy parts"? It's also about the different ways other people react to her news and how they treat her. It's told in the first person, and Kristin is very much a 17-year-old girl, so it's not the most sophisticated book or conversation about the topic. But it felt to me like a realistic portrayal of what a young girl in this situation would go through and think.

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by hoodie_logi) Cole absolutely snapped with this album. Production, lyrics and content are all top tier. Easily the best hip hop release on the year so far. Only reason it's not a 10 is because I haven't had enough time to sit with it yet, but there's a good chance it ends up there.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) Watched this one with our very own Mathew Suta. It was really fun! The music was great, really awesome cast and all around delightful plot. My favourite thing about this movie was discussing Muppet origins. Are they just sentient animals? Do other animals exist in this world? Are they born from humans or do they have muppet parents? Do they have souls?! Fun stuff.

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) Ancient history is my love language. If you want to speak to me on an intimate level, just say things like "and then the Spartans crossed the Hellespont" or "then commenced the sacking of Carthage." I love names like Xerxes, Sargon and Octavian - just beautiful stuff that this book has in spades. BUT despite all that, I actually had a really hard time with this book. It is really dense and hard to follow at times, especially when it came to Chinese/ Indian history where I had a really tough time distinguishing historical figures. Reading history is kinda like following sports - the more names you know, the more interesting it becomes, and once you have a rooting interest (people you recognize and cheer for for that reason alone), things fall into place. As the history went from obscure, mythical stuff towards stuff I was more familiar with, I was way more into it. Tell me more about my queen Cleopatra! Again, in the Asian chap...

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) Really loved this first foray into gothic horror. I actually really like "spooky" media (more than "scary") and this fit the bill perfectly, telling the story of a young woman in 1950s Mexico going to check on her cousin who has been writing them strange letters from her new home after getting married recently. The house is secluded and old and dreary, and the family is strange and taciturn and secretive. The setting is just incredible, I loved the way the author described the old, mildewy house and the gloomy, foggy mountain it's on. So creepy! I also really loved the characters, and that the love interest isn't handsome or charming or charismatic, but that she really likes him for other reasons. Everything that happens in this story is so unnerving and you can never be sure who to trust and I loved that. Some of the visual horror and nightmares were pretty repulsive, but it really did add to the overall effect, and ...

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by The Original Susanne) Really loved this miniseries overall! I wasn't particularly into either of these characters previously but now love them both and really appreciate their backstories. Samuel wrote to Lydia on Messenger Kids "I love 🦾 Bucky barns so much" and I can relate. The ending felt confusing and didn't give me closure, but Kathy's explanation that it was changed last minute totally makes sense now.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Jess) Great movie!! It's about a guy, Adam Driver, who is trying to build a case condemning the CIA for their torture methods to extract information from suspected Al-Qaeda members. Based on a true story following 9/11. It's on Prime Video for anyone interested. It's a great movie that tells an amazing story and holds your attention every second.

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) I've been leaning on a few of my favorite things to get me past what will hopefully be the last, worst part of the pandemic. The Last of Us is certainly one of my favorites, if not my favorite video game of all time. I love it for so many reasons, and again I could highlight the million things I love in it, but I'll try to stick to just a few. This game would have you think it's a generic post-apocalyptic adventure, but don't be fooled! This is a game about characters. You play as Joel, a worn down southerner who has done unspeakable things to survive and essentially lost what made him human. Then he is tasked with escorting Ellie, the ever-optimistic hope for humanity, across the country as her dna is the key to a vaccine for the zombie apocalypse (they obviously don't know that vaccines are indeed bad but I'll give it a pass because this game was made in 2013, before Facebook mom's had discovered this). This task an...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) This is a story-driven indie game that falls under that "walking-simulator" style. I'm still not sure this is the style for me, but I appreciate that it exists. In this game you play as Henry, who experiences a personal tragedy and as a result signs up for a job as the Firewatch - sitting in a tower alone, watching out for fires in a national park. While there, he stumbles on some suspicious stuff and has to work through it. The only other real character is your boss who you hear through the radio. This game is certainly more about the characters than the plot. It's a very reflective game, more about growth and decisions, and the stuff happening in the park moves it forward. It's a really thick atmospheric game, hiking through this beautiful forest alone, and it feels like you are breathing fresh forest air as you sit on the couch playing. With that said, the plot is still plenty engaging. Without wanting to spoil it, they d...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Benjamin) Really enjoyed watching this. Funny and thoughtful. There are plenty of satisfying moments in the story.

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) The sequel to what some people would say is the best movie of all time, and it was so good other people would say this is the best movie of all time. While I would not agree with that, I do love this movie. We get to watch Michael evolve alongside the origins of his father's empire and it really is amazing. This movie is 45 minutes too long, but that really allows you to soak in this world. It starts with a big time jump from the first (which I love), and Michael is fully calloused at this point. The setting of this one feels pretty separated from the first as well, no longer in New York home his father built but expanding the empire across America. It subtly makes you feel like Michael is losing touch with his roots, and the values his father held. My favourite parts here are the flashbacks to De Niro as a young Vito. Has anyone ever looked so handsome in a movie? And he somehow completely captures Brando's performance from the first, and ...

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) This was our romantic film of choice for our anniversary this year, a movie I'd never heard of that Jess wanted to watch. I usually dread having to watch romance, but I've also come to realize that despite not enjoying most, some of my favorite movies ever are romance. I think this will be one of the latter. Boyhood (not a romance) is one of my favorite movies ever, and this movie, also by Richard Linklater, had a very similar feel. I really connect with this guy's work. Boyhood has a few romantic scenes and they have been seared in my mind since I first watched them. Before Sunrise almost feels like a full version of those scenes. Linklater so perfectly captures the magic of young love. Nothing too dramatic happens in this movie, but you connect with these charterers so deeply as they do normal things, and say normal things. You see yourself in each scene, fantasizing living these things out. This movie takes place in just one night...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) Tom Hardy Night VI. As a rule I don't watch war movies because they make me too sad, but I did it for my friend Tom, even though you only see his actual face for like 3 seconds so it's barely even worth it. Anyway, this movie was SO stressful. Like, an unreal amount of stress, which was really heightened by the score and sound editing, which was incredible (and won an Oscar). The movie's about the famous evacuation of the 400,000 soldiers stranded on Dunkirk beach, when civilians were asked to take their own boats across the water to pick up any soldiers they could. You never see a single enemy, but at all times you're aware that they could launch another attack. It's basically just one bad thing after another, and it's very visceral without being gory or bloody. At times I had trouble keeping track of what was happening and why, so it was nice to watch it with someone who had seen it before. As with all war movies, I end...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) Ah, now we have a chance to discuss some elite Batman content. This comic series came out in the 80s and kinda was the first Batman comic series to be super dark and serious. It is also widely considered the best Batman comic ever written. It was the first comic I read when I was first getting into Batman, and I can tell you now that that was the exact wrong choice. This comic takes place a decade after Batman's "retirement" when he is deciding come back now that crime is back on the rise. You really need a good understanding of this character to appreciate the decisions he makes, the dilemmas that he's grappling with, and the principles he's working through. In fact, what makes this story so compelling is that he acts so contrary to the Batman we are so used to. This book is incredibly philosophical. All the action is spliced with TV interviews and debates with people within Gotham debating whether what Batman does is right...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) I've thought long and hard about whether to review this game, because I haven't finished it, but honestly, I don't know if I ever will. The thing is, I love this game. I haven't played it in two months but I think about it all the time. It's an exploratory space game that gives you basically no instructions, just shoots you into space in a spaceship you have to FLY YOURSELF to explore a fictional solar system in 20-minute increments and learn about the race that used to live there. It's incredible. The music is so atmospheric, and the game is SO immersive. It's 1st person pov, so I get motion sick easily, but it really adds to everything. I played this game for maybe 15 hours, and barely scratched the surface of it, and I loved it. It's so interesting, and haunting, and engaging. It made me both love and terrified of space. But it's too hard for me. I'm not very good with a controller (from lack of experie...

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) I've had this movie on my list for like a year and finally got around to watching it with a few friends. I'm not sure I would have liked it that much if I saw it alone, but it's always fun to see a classic and finally understand some references, and it was overall an enjoyable watch, as long as you don't mind some bug-related horror. Some of the special effects were really good, but the CGI didn't really hold up at times. The costuming was amazing, though. I spent most of the movie wanting to wear various characters' clothes.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) Almost forgot to contribute my own Shadow and Bone review. I really liked it! I knew absolutely nothing about it going in, so it was nice to have Maggie there to clarify a few things to make sure I understood the worldbuilding and magic system. Absolutely loooooved Mal, but personally I enjoy heist and hijinks plots more than I care about Chosen One plots, so I was really just there for the Crows (and Mal). As much as I love Ben Barnes, there is nothing about Edgy and Sexy love interests that tempts me at all, so every romantic scene with him was a bore, and I HATE love triangles. I also know that the Nina/Matthias plot was setup for the next season more than anything, but I didn't care about it at all. Basically what I'm saying is that I enjoyed this season, but I wish the next one was just about the Crows. I want more HEISTS.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Will) This was a lot of fun! I'm looking forward to a few more seasons, at the least. I read a lot of fantasy so none of this felt super ground-breaking or original, but then I realized I couldn't think of a single other show like it, other than Game of Thrones. I know GoT caused a lot of studios to start making similar fantasy shows but I think this might be the first solid one to be released, so it gets a lot of points for just being solid and literally the only option. A few random, specific observations: Team Mal obviously The Grisha's magic was visually pretty solid for a TV show! This gives me some hope for the Wheel of Time series being able to give us something good as well. I felt like 8 episodes was a bit short, and several story arcs and especially relationships were built far too quickly, so I didn't really feel the impact of conflict. I'm thinking of Alina and Genya as a good example. Inej was a bit of a struggle for me -...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) I loved this! I hadn't heard a single thing about it before it came out so I didn't expect it to be anything special, but it was genuinely funny and sweet and delightful. During this time of familial strife the theme of "everything will work out in the end because you're FAMILY" kind of rubbed me the wrong way, but I know it's just because I'm sensitive. I loved every character, and I was constantly laughing. What a pleasant surprise.

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by kaelwilton) I was disappointed that I didn't enjoy this movie as much as I wanted to. I consider Goodfellas to be one of the best films of all time, so I was hoping that this one would be on the same level, but sadly it was not. At times, this movie felt like a carbon copy of Goodfellas. It used the same narrative style, same voiceovers, very similar themes, and even had Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci playing the exact same characters that they played in Goodfellas. It was literally just Goodfellas, but less interesting and without the same emotional punch that the former had. I just didn't connect with any of the characters, and that made for a rough watch. Also, I read that Scorsese had to edit some of the more violent scenes down to get the movie approved, and while I'm not complaining about that, I am complaining that the editing was not done very well, making these scenes look really really bad and jarring. Also, I just got really sick of ...

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) This was so good! One of the best things I’ve seen recently. It was incredibly touching, absolutely hilarious, and the animation was unreal! Animated movies is one of my favourite mediums and they really knocked it out of the park with this one. A weird family with a struggling father daughter relationship are the last hope humanity has to stop the robot apocalypse! I hope you all watch this one because it’s seriously so good. I was laughing the entire time and may have shed a tear by the end.

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by kaelwilton) I genuinely believe that this is one of the best movies I've ever seen. Everything is perfect, the writing, the acting, the directing, the cinematography, etc. I can't think of a single thing wrong with this movie. At 2 hours and 40 minutes long I figured that I would get bored at some poing during the movie, as I knew that there was going to be little to no action in it, but I was captivated for the entire runtime. Every single interaction between Brad Pitt (Jesse James) and Casey Affleck (Robert Ford) is perfect, and the supporting cast does just as well (Sam Rockwell is phenomenal). I cannot recommend this movie enough. The train scene may be my favourite scene from any movie ever. Please go watch this one.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Benjamin) After seeing some of your reviews i put this on my reading list because i don't think I've ever heard a perspective from someone coming to Canada as a refuge from Syria. Wow, what a story! The things that this family went through! What seems like such senseless violence too. Hearing Bakr's story helped me also respect the religion he comes from. Once i started reading this i was interested right away and didn't want to put it down.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) I've had this movie on my to-watch list for ages, and finally got around to it because its sequel has the highest score on Rotten Tomatoes. It's definitely a kids movie, but it IS pretty delightful. Everyone's completely blasé reactions to meeting a talking bear killed me, and I loved the little hints of absurdity throughout. It was also a really beautiful movie, I think, artistically. In any case, it was a sweet, lighthearted movie about family and belonging, and I enjoyed it. I'll probably watch the sequel someday, just to see what all the fuss is about.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) A rewatch for me, this show filled the void Succession has left. Somehow a show starring 90% terrible humans that speak in ways that make you gasp in shock is still amazing. I think in both these shows its the terrific writing that sets them apart in my mind. Where as succession is a drama with comedy writing, this is full on comedy, starring basically the biggest female comedy actor of all time. The jokes here are rapid fire and intense, as we witness the workings in the office of a Vice President who feels like she is just the President's puppet. It has lost some of its charm as the former Presidency makes any White House humour feel a bit too real, but the situations she ends up in are pretty well crafted. The politics can sometimes make it confusing, but its pretty easy to let that fade into the background and focus on Gary and his undying love for the Vice President. I will stress that the language in this show is beyond aggressive. I...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) I was very resistant to this show, but it came time for Jess' choice for our next series, and after the flop that was New Girl I expected this to be hot garbage. It always struck me as ABC's take on an office-style show, and even Parks and Rec always rubbed me the wrong way in its similarities. But I am happy to report that this show is a delight. It maintains the fake-interview style of the office, but is a very different show. The characters here are all just very well-written and unique, with a million relatable aspects. I'm sure ever person I know would see Phil and be reminded of their own dad in many ways (he is the best character btw), but at the same time the family situation is not very relatable (at least to me). The joke writing here is really good as well, and they use the season to pair off almost all sets of characters in interesting ways. Anyways, I am not breaking new ground by saying this show is good, I was just ve...

⭐ 6.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) We watched this as a part of a birthday watch-along with friends, and I was pretty sure I had seen it before, but had forgotten most of it. Matthew Perry is my least favourite of the Friends cast, and I don't love him here, but I didn't mind Zac Efron. Basically a freaky Friday style switch, which results in some classic funny moments as he interacts with his son, daughter and ex-wife, only in his 17 year old body. Some of the jokes are actually hilarious, most of which revolve around the inappropriate actions he takes around his ex-wife. There is also a really nerdy side-kick that provides some laughs, but for the most part its just an average comedy. Basketball is also a big part of this movie, and it is all so poorly done it really just takes me out of it. Zac has some game, but the positions they put him in and the way they film it is all so unflattering. Overall a somewhat fun watch, but I would never seek this movie out on my own.

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) Sooooo I've never actually watched this show through and we decided now was as good a time as any. It's great! I really love this show, and I think this is basically the best you could ever do for a first season. I've probably already watched each one of these episodes at one point or another, but honestly each one is hilarious. You don't go a minute workout laughing while watching this show. One small note, but not one that subtracts from the score, is that it's jarring seeing how lose these characters are with their guns. Probably wouldn't see that in 2021... Boyle is and forever will be my favorite character, but man, Captain Holt really brings it all together and he feels like the most essential character with so many characters working off him. There are genuinely 8-9 great characters in this show which is so impressive, especially with only one season of development. Can't wait for more! Best scene is the Boyle a...

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Beans) This is a prime show. It’s an R rated animated superhero show. Which actually doesn’t sound great, but it’s just R rated because there is a decent amount of gore, blood and swearing. It’s about a young teen who gets his powers and figures out how to be a superhero while trying to live up to his dads legacy. However, things are not what they seem. I thought the pilot for this was incredible. The ending of episode one will have your jaw on the floor. It’s wild! The show is somewhat episodic, with each episode facing different baddies, but it has an overarching them that is explored every week. Without spoiling it too much because I hope some of you will watch, I thought it fizzled out towards the end. They had a lot of potential to go hard, and they had a ton of shock factor which was great but I think it fell a bit flat. They set it up for more seasons, but I’m gonna need some convincing to continue watching. The cast for this show is actually unre...

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Beans) This was really great! I knew this world a little bit because a number of years ago I had started the book Six of Crows, so it was cool to see it transformed into a show. I think they did a lot of things right with this. A lot of great, complex storylines, amazing diverse characters and some cool special effects. They interwove a lot of the stories together nicely and it was a good culmination of the many subplots. I think Inej was my favourite because of her mystique, but the Darkling was also great. I did however think that Kaz’s character was too serious (I’m sure this has to do with his book character) and I found it strange that they all had English accents. Anyway, I’m excited to see where they’re gonna go with this and hope they make more seasons!

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Joshua Karat) The second book in Frank Herbert’s epic series. Dune Messiah is an exploration of the aftereffects conquest has on an emperor. The book was intended as a set up for the third book and it feels like it. Yet it is gripping nonetheless. As a stand-alone book it isn’t as impactful as the first book, but as part of a series i imagine it only adds to the scope and beauty.