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⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) It's a little late for a spooky season recommendation by now, but I really loved this one. I knew nothing about the Addams family, but Jess has been a fan for years and this night she let me in on a very special entry in the Halloween pantheon. This movie is actually very funny and really felt like a great 2021 movie with all the girl bosses and edgy, dark humor. One strange quality this movie has is that I'm not exactly sure who the audience is. It plays mostly like a kids movie, but some of the jokes are pretty mature and others are VERY dark. But anyways, it's was perfect for me for a Friday night. It really was hilarious and I was not expecting that. Easy MVP to Wednesday, though Gomez and Morticia are really the heart and soul with their wild, sexy relationship that really oozes with BDSM weirdness. If Fester was a little less annoying here, this movie would be top tier.

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by hoodie_logi) Also realized that I never reviewed this absolute smashing hit. It has been so long since I've been this enthralled watching a sitcom for the first time. Ted is probably the most likeable character in the history of the tv, and the rest of the cast follows suit so well. My favourite part of the show is that it is so focused on positive and meaningful character growth. It's not cheap character development at all. Characters need to communicate, overcome their demons and wrestle with their own shortcomings in order to become better versions of themselves, which is Ted's mantra as a coach. And those that don't follow this path of becoming better in a community, take the path they chose and turn inward. All the growth just has so much real and raw emotions at stake. I found both seasons just as compelling as the other, and cannot wait to see more of this show!

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by hoodie_logi) I still believe the best thing for Tom DeLonge's career was leaving Blink 182. Angels and Airwaves has been a band I've been following for years now, and their first album in 7 years did not disappoint. My favourite part of this band is their complete willingness to experiment and try new sounds. Everything they make sounds like pop-punk from another planet, and this album continues that trend with catchy choruses, meaningful lyrics and something just otherworldly about it that I can't quite explain. Where Blink has completely stagnated since reuniting in 2012, Tom continues to push the boundaries of the genre through A&A and other side projects of his.

⭐ 1.0/10 (Originally written by hoodie_logi) Here to balance my overwhelmingly positive array of reviews with a very poor experience. I have always liked not loved Coldplay, but did for the most part like their last effort. This one looked artsy enough and really fun, but it has to be one of the just blandest albums I've ever heard. Literally zero replay value. Betty's review was "sounds like elevator music". So yaaaaaaa, not really sure why wrote this review but here we are so enjoy.

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by hoodie_logi) I don't think there's a lot I can add to the conversation here other than what's already been said, but I still feel compelled to try. First of all, as a massive fan of the Dune universe, and one who has been hurt by other book to film adaptations before (Percy Jackson, Eragon, the list could go on), but Denis Villenueve's vision and execution to this movie was so accurate to the source material. It truly did feel like a passion project made from a place of sheer adoration and love. The few changes that were made were carefully chosen and still worked well to honour Herbert's story. There was dialogue drawn straight from the book and didn't add anything that didn't need to be there. This is not always the case, so I was beyond excited with how this honoured the source material. Second, I have never seen a sci fi movie that looks or feels like this. Albeit, I have not seen Villenueve's other sci fi work, but i...

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Tim) This is a 6-part documentary on big wave surfing. It follows Garrett McNamara, a surfer in pursuit of the biggest waves in the world. He uncovers the gem of Nazare Portugal, and builds a surfing scene there until now it is home of all the best big wave surfing competitions. To start, the cinematography here is 10/10. Every episode is filled with incredible footage of these unbelievable waves, which is something that has always inspired awe for me. Seeing this tiny person with a huge wave looming over them, the shadow of the wave slowly engulfing them, really takes my breath away. Garrett is the heartbeat of the show, and he is a great lead. A lot like Alex Honold in Free Solo, this is a guy who has a single purpose in life, and is driven crazy in pursuit of that goal. You watch him over many years as he battles injury and builds a family, and even after his biggest successes you can tell he is hungry for more. I wouldn't call him inspirational, ...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) A bunch of people in crippling debt join a hunger games style competition for tons of money. While the premise doesn't feel completely unique, and the second episode where everyone willing chooses to return to the game is completely unbelievable, this show really hooks you. The acting is great, the style is unique, and you have to keep watching to know what happens next! I do think my impression of the season is really hurt by the ending. It completely undoes the most emotional part of the season, and while I like a vague ending this one just felt silly, as if they were trying too hard to make a point or tie things together. They also introduce english speaking VIPs that take a smart show and then add in commentary that insults your intelligence. I liked the idea of the english speakers being the masked bad guys, and maybe them being dumb is part of it, but it completely changed the dynamic of the show for me. I also had 0 connection to anyo...

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Tim) I'm docking this show half a point from last season basically because nothing has really changed, but for comfort watching this is a 10/10. There are a couple down episodes, mostly when they try to copy the formula of an earlier episode, but for the most part it is consistently funny. We have also come full circle - in the beginning all the kids were not good, now they are older and fine, but Lilly is older and cringey now. The circle of life. People keep telling me the show severely declines, and I am glad we haven't gotten there yet. Phil remains the MVP.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) Lots of love for this movie here, so now it's time for a REAL critic to come on and give you all a reality check, someone who wasn't brainwashed into thinking the smelly old book was actually good. Okay yeah the movie was actually really good. But I do attribute it a lot more to Villeneuve's vision rather than Herbert's. As far as the audio/visual experience goes, this is exactly the kind of movie I love. Loud noises, massive ships, eerie yet epic music. This movie has it all! Definitely one of my favorite moments of just sitting back and taking it all in from the big screen for two hours. I also think this movie did a lot to not necessarily simplify the narrative, but to at least focus on the things the audience cares about. By the end of the opening scene, you get it. In the same way, the world is much more realized here and takes on a really unique, darker, almost dystopian sci-fi identity. Where I felt the book just described,...

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Will) Was this objectively a perfect movie? No. Was it everything I hoped for after waiting years for it? Absolutely, except for the fact it ended after 2.5 hours and we're gonna have to wait forever for part 2. Visually this was clearly a Denis Villenueve movie, with slow lingering scenes all over the place that really let you take in the scenery. I loved Chalemet as Paul. Oscar Isaac + Josh Brolin are so sexy and charismatic it's unfair. Baron Harkonnen was fantastically terrifying and disgusting. Shout out to the one Sardaukar who talked - for whatever reason I loved that guy. The spice harvesters, ornithopters, and sandworms were all super cool. Objectively, there were a few imperfections. I would have loved subtitles myself, so if you haven't read the book you might be a little clueless. There wasn't enough screentime to give to so many great actors. Everyone's uniforms/suits were so similar it was a bit hard to tell factions ap...

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) I wasn’t going to review this until after I had watched it a second time but by golly I feel convicted to spread this gospel! Holy shit this was good. I think this will easily be my favourite movie of the year. I had read the book within the last 3 years so it was still fairly fresh for me, but it was also cool to see the producers make some innovative and creative changes within the story. This movie is so grand: the plot, the scope, the landscape, the music. Everything feels huge and important. The technology looked incredible and it was all better than I could have imagined. The cast also blew it out of the water. Oscar Isaac is so damn good looking and such a good father. I find it rare to see a male be that masculine and caring at the same time. Rebecca Ferguson felt felt mysterious and capable, exactly like Lady Jessica. Josh Brolin was so dominant and commanding, and Jason Mamoa was bad ass as usual. I really loved his and Timothy Chalamet...

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) I guess I'm a little late to this by now. And before i say anything, can I just say how terrible Netflix's release schedule is? How much fun would this show have been watching one week at a time? I swear they would've blocked off streets for block parties by the finale. Anyways, this show is awesome and you don't need me to tell you that. It is certainly not perfect, especially by the end, but very few shows have made me feel what I felt watching this. Both through the edge-of-your-seat action and the soul destroying drama, this show is a masterclass in how to get an audience to care about characters. I freely admit I cried many tears during that episode. Of course this show isn't for everyone. I would describe the violence as basically as bad as anything I've seen, and as disturbing as anything I've seen. I think the premise is a little silly (the one thing I know humans like more than money is not dying a horrific de...

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) Probably the most highly anticipated movie of my lifetime, I had to wait an extra year through delays to finally see it. And boy oh boy, was it worth the wait. This is a perfect adaptation. It follows the book incredibly closely, but that doesn't mean there isn't room for some artistic flairs or smart improvements. It takes a vast and epic story, and while it remains epic it does a great job of setting the table. Character motivations and relationships are clear, and while the book can drag a bit this was a non-stop ride. From the moment the cast was announced I thought they were all perfect, and every single character lived up to my expectations. My only reservation was Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho, but he helped keep this serious movie upbeat and a bit lighter, and his relationship with Paul was believable. Oscar Isaac is maybe the hottest dad in the history of film, and I fully believe that him and Rebecca Ferguson would have a kid that l...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Benjamin) When i listen to this band, it feels like they've taken my guitar ideas book from the past 20 years and made real songs out of them. I'm kind of jealous, but also it makes it really enjoyable to listen to, even when hearing one of their songs for the first time because it kind of feels like i already know the song. I tend to not pay too much attention to lyrics, and like them to be more abstract. But i love the singers' voices in this band. But mostly, i love their guitar parts😍. Sometimes, probably like 5 subtle parts happening at once. And not cluttered, just beautiful. Really nice distortion/gain on their electrics, nice harmony, simple solos, and nice builds. Here are a bunch of tracks from various albums I've pressed 'like' on my music app, but there are many more i really like listening to: Flowers on the Grave Heaven, We're Already Here Face Towards the Sun April 7th Am I Pretty Slip the Noos...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) I guess I was still in the mood for some Korean darkness and action after Train to Busan , because I started watching this right after. Over 400 people who are deeply in debt sign up to play some games for money, but soon realize losing a game means death. This show really hits you with the blood and violence in the first episode, and those aren't my favourite things, but I was still hooked right away. This show has some very, very interesting takes on a lot of issues in Korean society. The main themes are of course money, greed, and desperation, and does a great job portraying different sides of it through the different characters. It is a little too close to Hunger Games for it to feel like a truly new and unique premise, and it's definitely not for sensitive viewers. All of the deaths did make me upset, but I can't deny it was a compelling show from start to finish. I hope we get a second season because I still have questions!

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) Many zombies in a small space! There's a zombie outbreak in Korea, and we follow what happens to the people on a train travelling to Busan when it gets infested. It is very intense, so it's great if you like being on the edge of your seat for almost two hours straight. I thought the intensity and sense of tension was really well done, and there's a real sense of danger because people you like are getting bitten right and left. It's a great look at what people will do in life-or-death situations and your true self comes out. The final scene is extremely effective and I'm still thinking about it. As a thriller zombie movie it was really good, but I sure do wish not so many people died!

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) Boy it's never easy reviewing a book written by your best friend. But really I just have two major points with this one. 1) I genuinely think this book is great. It's essentially an overview of the Christian faith, it's major tenets, and what it means for us today. Because it's from Bruxy, the focus is the life and teachings of Jesus over anything else. Greg Boyd tweeted out once that he thinks this is one of the most essential books for a person entering the Church to read, and I can totally get behind that idea. 2) I'm not a new Christian, so this book never felt like it was for me. Moreover, I've followed Bruxy for a lot of years, and this book doesn't really introduce any new ideas, nor does it really focus on any one idea for long. It really is just a surface level overview to the major themes one should know if they are a Christian. Sometimes a review of the basics can be really nice, and this was at times, but ...

⭐ 6.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) This movie is really Tim Burton unleashed, so I guess it depends on how much you like Tim Burton. I... don't really? Most of his movies are too weird for me, and this one is DEFINITELY too weird. I really can't imagine how he comes up with the ideas behind this movie. It was still a fine spooky season entry. I've never seen Michael Keaton in this kind of role, and he really is quite good. It's his version of Jim Carrey in The Mask (or really any other Jim Carrey movie) where he's unhinged, talking a mile a minute. It's a weird mix of trying to be a silly kids movie, but also a movie that was pretty creepy in some serious ways. I wouldn't want my kids to watch it...

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) An hour and a half of broody Ryan Gosling driving fast cars while wearing a leather jacket with a scorpion on it? Great performances by Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan and Bryan Cranston?? Where has this movie been all my life! And yeah, this movie basically lived up to its billing. It has a very minimalist story for the most part, focusing more on this moody, noir atmosphere, but then changes up to a bit of a gangster movie by the end. It has this amazing, snyth-heavy, almost dystopian soundtrack that compliments it perfectly and makes it a pretty unique experience. Especially with the Gosling connection, it felt a bit like Blade Runner. The only thing holding it back in my mind was I didn't really connect to the ending, or at least I wish the end was more like the beginning. It is rated R for "strong brutal bloody violence" and it's not often a movie gets all 4 of those in one go. I like killing as much as the next guy, but the la...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) This is a 2016 Korean action/horror film about a man and his daughter travelling on the train when a zombie outbreak occurs. This movie is NON-STOP - in a good way though. A lot of running away from zombies, some great scenes of fighting their way through train cars filled with the undead, and overall badass-ery. The lead is incredible and I’d let him ruin my life. But also the daughter was such a good actor and the supporting characters were all cool and loveable. This movie defied a lot of my expectations of what I thought would happen. There were a few really good jump scares. However, I still had a lot of questions about the zombies, outbreak, survivors etc. I think the producers were kind of portraying that humans can sometimes be the worst monsters we know. It was awesome.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) This is the long awaited sequel to an old game I played this summer. The original was a funny, charming game with less than stellar gameplay, mostly due to platforming rarely aging well. They really got that fixed in this one. The platforming is tight and the combat much improved. It's a ton of fun to play through all these creative, zany levels. This is part 2 of the 3 platformers I was playing at the same time, and what this one has heads and shoulders over the others is the story. The first one was entertaining and silly, much like an episode of Sponge Bob. This one has hilarious moments, but isn't as consistently funny as it gets more serious, especially towards the end. But this was the right direction. Sticking with Nick toons, this feels more like an Avatar arc, with a true emotional impact and a powerful message. It perhaps didn't stick the ending quite like ATLA, but that's a very high standard to reach for. Otherwise, th...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) Pony is a trans boy who has started at a new school and decided to go stealth insted of letting everyone know he's trans. He just wants to be seen as a normal guy. He falls for a popular cheerleader, and to his surprise she seems to like him too, but what happens when he tells her he's trans? Georgia likes being popular but hides parts of herself to save her image, including her feelings for the new guy. This is not my first book with a trans main character, but every time I read one I feel like I get a better understanding of what trans people go through. This one focuses a lot on passing/not passing, especially pre-surgery, as well as going stealth vs. being openly trans for visibility. Pony is still wearing binders, often gets dead-named by his father, and occasionally gets misgendered, which causes him a lot of self-doubt. Georgia is also a narrator, and I have to admit I felt ambivalent about her, but her struggles underline the t...

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) Mac's friend died last year, killed by a serial killer who was never caught. But Mac can't forget, and when he finds a note from Connor he never knew existed, he starts digging around again and visiting the families of the other victims. As he investigates, he realizes that he might not have known Connor as well as he thought. Plus everyone seems to have secrets and keep trying to make him stop poking around. I was very invested in this story and had no idea how it would end. I liked Mac, a shy gay kid who just wants to find out what happened to his friend, and for all his childhood best friends to stay the same. It was the perfect amount of thrilling without being gory.

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) Nick and his friends are back with their shenanigans and being superheroes while keeping it secret. I don't want to give any spoilers for the first book, so I'll leave the description at that. This book is just as funny as the first, and Nick is just as endearing. It addresses some new themes, mainly policing and corruption. As the second book in a series I think it does a pretty good job introducing new relevant issues and obstacles to overcome, and setting things up for the third. But the series does have a very strong voice and type of humour that I absolutely loved in the first, but I'll agree with Becky that it does get a little tiring and a bit much. But still, I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be finding out how the series ends.

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) This book took me one million years to read (aka 5 months) because my brain can only take academic non-fiction in small doses, and I wanted to take my time and make sure I understood everything. It tries to answer the question of why some societies dominated others and not vice versa (think why Europeans colonized North America and not the other way around). The author then explores in depth the different factors and reasons that led to some cultures developing faster than others. It's a very multi-faceted approach, and so well-argued that you can't help but see his logic. Not necessarily an easy read, but greatly improved my understanding of human history and how the world works.

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) This game is exactly what the title suggests. It's a 2-3 hour indie game where you play as a pixelated bird who wants to hike up to the top of a mountain. It's very chill, with no conflict, combat or fail states. Just nice music with a couple minor objectives, a focus on exploration and discovery, and some quirky characters to meet on the way. Kinda just depends on if that kind of game sounds good to you. I got it on sale, so otherwise the price might be a bit much due to the very short length (though there is a bit to discover after the fact). I beat it on a car ride home, and for that it was a nice relaxing experience.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) This is the final instalment of Daniel Craig’s Bond movies. I’ve seen every one of his in theatres. What can I say? It’s a testosterone filled movie with beautiful landscapes, cool cars, neat gadgets, and cute girls. The main character as suave as hell and it just makes you wanna be a real man’s man. As opposed to the previous movies all being somewhat standalone films, this one has a lot of callbacks to the previous movies with characters and bad guys, but this movie still works to watch even if you have no previous knowledge. Obviously someone (Rami Malek) is trying to use biological warfare to target the world and take over, so it’s up to Bond and his team to take them down! A few things I liked about this was firstly some really cool gadgets were used. I’m a sucker for that stuff. Also, at one point Bond is MIA and a new FEMALE gets the 007 number (the feminists are taking over)! Pretty cool to see. Now what I didn’t like about this was the re...

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Tim) The second book in the Farseer Trilogy, I really liked this one! Like most sequels the tension gets higher, the threats are larger, and we get to meet more characters. The series is about the bastard son of the former king-in-waiting, who comes to live at the royal court and is groomed to be the king's assassin. I probably mentioned it last book, but all the fantasy mechanisms are here. We have communication with animals, some telekinetic powers, court intrigue, royal bloodlines. And they work! I like the focus on a single character, and you get a good sense how he ages and grows throughout the books. The first half of this book was a bit slower, kind of picking up the pieces from last book, but the final quarter of the book was incredibly exciting, and I read it all very quickly. I wouldn't say the finale was terribly shocking, but it was a cool twist that I was super in to. Might take a small break to savour it before I finish the tr...

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) I cannot recommend this movie to anyone, because it was SO bloody and brutal and gross. LOTS of blood, torture, and also some pretty explicit sex. I looked away many times. And honestly, the premise wasn't that fresh. Career assassin (Mads Mikkelsen again!) wants to retire, but his employer is trying to kill him so that he doesn't get his pension payout. Meanwhile, Mads is haunted by all the things he's done. Classic! A lot of people died, as you would expect. And I would have been fine with the story, but it was just way too graphic. But it did strike up a long conversation/argument about revenge and justice and killing people who wronged you vs killing people who tried to kill you, so that was fun. I think the moral of this story was: don't try to kill someone who's made a career out of killing people. Also, don't be a career assassin. It can't end well! Anyway. What a wild movie to feature Vanessa Hudgens.

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) I was cautiously optimistic about this one from the day it was announced. As a prequel to my favourite show of all time, The Sopranos, I was convinced it wasn't going to be as good as the show, but was still excited. Overall, I don't think this was a great movie, and it is so tied to the show that I think it completely fails as a standalone movie. That being said, I am the target audience here, and the callbacks and revelations of the movie made me happy, thus the 7/10 score. I'll start with the bad. This movie tries to tell 3 stories at once, none of them very successfully. One of them is the story of race in the 60s in Newark. Then there is the story of Dickie Moltisanti, Tony's uncle, as he commits the sins of his father but also lays the groundwork for Tony to follow. The final story is the Tony origin story, which is what most people thought would be the entire movie, but the least amount of time is spent here. The Sopranos focu...

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) Because I am a video game connoisseur, I decided to break out this game that is as old as I am. Naturally this review has a lot of factors going into the score because if this game came out today and I played it as it was, it would totally suck. But alas I played it on Switch Online with unlimited save states, and referred to a walkthrough for nearly the whole thing, so it was actually quite enjoyable! As an early 90s game, I can totally see why this became the game to literally invent a new genre. There is so much to love here. It's about a *woman* space bounty hunter who is like, tasked with going to a planet and saving the world or something. The music is terrific and really nails the sci-fi aesthetic. The fighting and platforming are pretty solid once you've figured it out. Like so many games try to emulate today, the story is subtle and atmospheric, getting more from your surroundings than dialogue or writing, having thus lonely, for...

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Beans) I’ll admit that I almost gave up on this album on the first listen. But I powered through and I like it for the most part! It’s nothing special, especially considering her previous album is probably one of the best pop albums of the 2010s. But it definitely has that Lorde sound and I enjoy listening. I think a big theme in this album is slowing down, living a normal life, being nostalgic for the good old days while still being somewhat haunted by fame. She lived in New Zealand during the pandemic so life for her was simply normal and almost boring. I would say this album gives off background music vibes but you’ll still shout out random lyrics when you hear them. I think Mood Ring is by far the best song on this album, but I also loved The Path, Solar Power, and Stoned at the Nail Salon.

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Beans) I don’t know if I’ve been this excited for a show in a really long time. From the first episode it is so gripping and does not release you till the end. I found they did a really good job with fleshing out the story and not going too fast or too slow; the pace was perfect. As the games go on you learn more about the characters and inevitably fall in love. Unfortunately that is futile as there can only be one winner. The acting in this really felt incredible and there are multiple people in this show I would die for. This was a really good commentary on wealth, poverty, the wage gap, the hopelessness of the poor and the vileness of the rich. It is really gruesome, but nothing disgusting. I’ve already seen some TikToks that explain how you don’t get the full essence of the show by just reading the subtitles (something I imagine happens with every non-English media) so I guess I gotta learn Korean now. As much as I loved this, I don’t know if I think...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) I had never seen this before and really enjoyed it! There were incredible relation dynamics and all the characters felt unique and fleshed out. Abigail Breslin is incredible and thought she really stole the show. She also felt like the glue that could hold the family together and spur them onto love. The dad has a redemption arc and so does the grandpa! You love them all by the end. Steve Carrell was thoughtful and the end dancing scene was just Michael Scott. I was seriously laughing so hard by the end. Really loved this one.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) Similar to Wilderpeople, this movie is basically the perfect indie comedy. It's funny, heartwarming, smart and well acted. I really have no negatives. I watched it a decade ago and still remembered a lot, especially that last scene which is so incredibly touching. This movie might not be appropriate for kids (the grandpa is ROUGH), but otherwise there is no excuse not to watch this terrific movie! Go watch!

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) This is the sequel to TJ's YA book, The Extraordinaries, which I absolutely loved. And while I did really enjoy this one, it just didn't hook me the same way. It's got a very ridiculous, crack-ish style, which was very fun in the first book, but starts to get a little old after two long books. And since Nick and Seth already got together in the last book, it didn't have that hook either. It was still really fun and I laughed a lot, and I loved a lot of the themes of family and friendship and growth and forgiveness, but I was never super eager to keep reading. Still, I had a really good time, and I DO need to read the next one after the little cliffhanger at the end.