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⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Will) Another space opera, I picked this up because it's the first in a series that the show The Expanse is based on, and the show is pretty good according to reviews. This was compelling enough that I flew through it over a couple days, but in the end it didn't feel unique enough to really stand out much. I don't think I'll read the rest of the books, but I'll probably try the show since reviews are solid and there's not enough good sci-fi tv.

⭐ 6.5/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) This was a rare queer Hallmark movie that we watched on Christmas Eve, and admittedly, it was not good. For a Hallmark movie it was perfectly fine, but as a movie on its own... It was truly nothing special. The romance was not that compelling, the family was WAY too involved in the main character's love life, and it was overall very cringey. But I had a good time watching it, and it WAS nice to see a gay couple getting the ole Hallmark treatment, with absolutely zero changes. Equality!

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) I have to review this season on its own for the sake of my 2021 stats. I absolutely love this show, as I expected I would. I love almost every single character, and I love that every time I think I'll have to look away in secondhand embarrassment, they just...don't go that direction. It's wonderfully uplifting without being cheesy, it makes me laugh out loud constantly, and I'm cheering for every single character. So good. And I'll tell everyone who listens that it's basically a live action sports anime. This is a positive thing.

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) Really cool mystery I finally had the chance to play! You're an investigator on a ship on which all of the 60 people onboard mysteriously died or disappeared, and you go around seeing snapshots of what happened, out of chronological order, trying to piece together what happened, who everyone was, and how they died/what happened to them. It took me about 16 hours, and I was wracking my brain the entire time. Really cool concept, unique art style, and really made you think. A little bit TOO frustrating at times, though. Some of the clues were seriously obscure, and I did quite a bit of guessing by the end.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) Almost forgot to review this! I did really enjoy this show, but I haven't thought about it at all since I finished. Cool worldbuilding, cool female characters, boring romances. Not enough actual dragons.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) This is an overhead strategy game with movie-tie ins that came out just around the time RotK released. I loved this game as a kid, but typically licensed games like this just piggyback off the success of the movies, quickly cashing in a hack of a game. This is not the case here. This can kinda be described as Age of Empires in Middle-earth, but truthfully this game becomes entirely its own. I love strategy games because they make me feel smart, but I rarely play them. This is not just a good Lord of the Rings game; it's an awesome strategy game. It stretches you and challenges you and by the end you will feel like a master tactician. It has depth, complexity, and plenty of reward. This game also magically catches lightning in a bottle twice with having both rohirrim charges and Ithilien archers being so, so satisfying to maneuver. Otherwise, what could I possibly say about the music and acting? It's got the sacred movie soundtrack and voi...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) I have been playing this game for a while now, and even though I will keep playing on and off now is probably a good time to write a review. I have loved games of this style in the past, like Crypt of the Necrodancer and Enter the Gungeon, but I love them more for their creativity and infinite replayability more than the game mechanics. This game has that, and isn't as crushingly hard as those. I improved every run, so the sense of satisfaction is always there, which keeps you coming back. Even now, after beating the game a couple months ago, every time I play I am rewarding with a unique run that has surprises and rewards. The final version of each weapon in particular are incredible challenges, forcing you to change the way you have played the whole time and stretch yourself. A pretty great accomplishment, and an amazing progression from the last game I played from the same studio, Bastion. Another bonus points for being based around Gree...

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Tim) I think this is the best entry in the series, which is pretty good for a beloved and long series. They got all the boring stuff out of the way last movie, and this one is pure adrenaline the whole time. The action kicks off almost immediately, and we get tons of Voldemort, which I think is all I wanted the whole time. I really like him as a villain, and I get that glimpses of him is like Jaws, builds anticipation for something you barely see, but I was happy we finally got a lot of him. I'm not sure if this is a common Harry Potter take or not, and I would be curious what book fans would think, but... should he have died? Would it have been better if he died? Kind of felt like the series was leading up to that, and I didn't really understand the resurrection stone mechanics and all that, but I feel like the ending was missing the gut punch a sacrifice like that would have landed. Regardless, I like the ending, and the flash forward had me a ...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) I was holding off on watching this so I could read the book first, but that book became the first book I started and have not finished... maybe ever? The completionist in me feels bad, but it was way too boring. Anyways, the movie was good! It took me a while to settle in, and I was feeling bored early on, but by the second half you understand the characters a bit better and I felt invested in each of them. One nit I have is the cast. All amazing actors, of course, but those girls don't look like sisters at all. I take that back, Emma Watson is not good people only like her because they have childhood crushes on Hermione, there I said it. Also, holy timelines batman, I didn't realize this was a Christopher Nolan movie! I was super confused because these women look the same age throughout and I could barely tell when each scene was supposed to be set. Aside from that distraction I enjoyed this movie. I did think there would be some power in J...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) I should have just reviewed the whole show in bulk, because it has been consistently great. No drop off yet, in fact this season contained some of my favourite episodes. They continue to be creative, like the train episode, and as the depth of the relationship with the characters grow the smallest of quirks can make me chuckle. 2 seasons to go, and I can already feel they are going to crush my heart with a tear-jerking series finale.

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Will) Heartwarming and sad at the same time, you're not likely to get through this without tears. Tom Hanks did an incredible job - I really notice how talented actors are when they play a real person. I recommend every human get familiar with Fred Rogers, through this movie or the documentary.

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Will) This is a historical drama on Netflix, set in the fifteenth century. Sometimes when you're sick of the entire world being at stake in every movie it's nice to watch something a little smaller in scope. This was pretty solid! Joel Edgerton might have the sexiest voice in the world, plus Robert Pattinson and Timothee Chalemet were also good. Also, perhaps the most realistic duel I've seen between two dudes wearing heavy steel armor - slow, awkward, tiring etc. Recommend!

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Beans) This movie has an incredible cast. Just look it up. I personally love JLaw and thought she was phenomenal in this. It all felt just a little bit too real tbh. Either the pandemic or climate change, or capitalism and the collapse of society, which I guess are all intermingled. It was pretty funny and a little bit shocking at times. Again, it’s hard to explain but it really just felt like they encapsulated too well the pandemic and the different sides and approaches. At one point someone says “your father and I support the jobs the comet will create”. So yeah, check it out but it will make you mad.

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Will) I generally enjoyed this quite a bit, though there are unfortunately some significant flaws as well. I'm cautiously optimistic that season 2 will get better, given a little more budget and some lessons learned from season 1 about what worked and what didn't. What Worked For Me They chose some really great shooting locations that looked great on screen. I'm thinking of the scene in episode 1 or 2 where they're leaving the village and looking back, and you can see the trolloc torches in the distance, for example. I was nervous about the budget and how all the magical stuff would look - the trollocs turned out pretty solid, and the fades were pretty badass, especially the first fade scene where it gets stuck on the other side of the river. I was pretty happy with the casting, especially Moiraine and Nynaeve. Perrin was the one that stood out to me as a weak spot though. What Didn't Work For Me Tar Valon and The Ways both looked rea...

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) What a time at the movies! After watching the original and then seeing the trailer for this one I was convinced it was going to be amazing, and it did not let me down. The updated cast (with people who actually look Puerto Rican), updated choreography, and even some slight story and motivation changes put this completely over the top for me. I can't say I really appreciate dance, but watching this musical with Spielberg's long wide shots was pretty awesome, and reminded me of seeing La La Land in theatres. I am glad I knew the songs and story going in, and I thought every change they made in this adaptation was a good thing. No more of the cutesy dance fighting, when someone gets slammed in the head with a paint can in the first 5 minutes I was on board. Every actor killed it, and I felt that each was given a lot to do, with little details that help make this Romeo and Juliet tale not feel so overly sappy. 2 people still have a love at firs...

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) I kind of wanted to see this movie, but not enough to pay for it. And then I won a giveaway at the local theatre so my prayer was answered. In the end, I'm glad I didn't pay for it. I am not a huge fan of Paul Thomas Anderson. I think some of his movies are incredible, one of them one of the best ever, but the rest are just a meh for me. This is one of the meh ones. There's no denying how great it looks, but its a meandering tale of a boy and a girl in LA, the boy a hustler that's always cooking up new ideas, trying to pursue the older girl who doesn't really have a path in life. I don't want to say this movie is boring, but it takes its time. There were a couple scenes that were great, but we are kind of just watching 2 people get up to all sorts of mischief, while she refuses to date him because he is too young and he gets jealous of every guy he sees her with. I feel like all the 10/10 reviews I have read have been fr...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) I enjoyed this movie! Like everyone else, I loved how colourful it was, and the setting was so fun. The family themes were sweet, and I've gone back to listen to some of the songs several times. I don't think it'll have the staying power that Moana has had, but I'm glad we have Mirabel as a normal-looking and loveable protagonist.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) As someone who has not read the books, I had a fun time watching this! I For the most part it felt like standard fantasy, and I'm not tempted at all to read the books. But I thought it looked beautiful, and the story was engaging enough for me to happily watch all eight episodes in less than a week. I'll leave all the quibbling about magic systems and world building to everyone else.

⭐ 6.5/10 (Originally written by Tim) I have been putting off this review because I have been rolling it around in my head and trying to come to terms with it. I don't want to be the guy that's like "this sucks the book is way better", but its hard not to be. I don't think The Eye of the World is amazing, but I love the story and the world it introduces, and while the show came close at times it ultimately fell short for me. The first 3 episodes I would give a 9/10. I was totally fine with the changes they made, and I thought it established the world really well. It moved quickly, but the focus and world building were there. Shout out to the scary dream sequences (those are super important and disappeared in the 2nd half...) and the fleshing out of Logain (one of my favourite characters in the books who is cool because you know so little about him, but the flashback prologue for him was excellent and a great choice for an adaptation). But as the season went we wer...

⭐ 6.5/10 (Originally written by Tim) Disney sets an impossible standard, and because I wasn't emotionally wrecked by this movie I didn't like it. It looks amazing, the premise is clever and unique, but I just wasn't really attached to anyone throughout. I was shocked at how quickly the final conflict was resolved, basically through a short conversation. I don't know what I wanted, and expectations probably hurt me here, it just felt too neat and tidy. The music was fun, but I don't think I could hum a single one the morning after watching it. This is a kids movie, of course, so I am probably being too harsh, but blame Disney for always crushing movies like this. The short film that was released with this movie had a similar theme, and told a more emotional and satisfying story in 7 minutes (Far From the Tree, if you are interested). I will give this movie points for taking a large family and making each member distinct. When it started I was like, oh boy, no way I a...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) I watched this because I really want to see the new one, and I wanted to be able to appreciate that differences/similarities. It is also one of the most decorated films of all time, so what could be the harm? The premise did take me a while to buy in to - rival gangs constantly getting in minor squabbles, and they act on them with dance battles? Not exactly for me. But it quickly becomes a story about race and clashing cultures in America, and the song America had me completely on board (can't wait to see how the remake of this one looks, because it is almost too relevant). Probably a good time to note something that has been said before - its a great story about racism, in which all the major Puerto Ricans are played by white people in makeup. Not a great look, and it was pretty distracting. Anyways, the story lost a bit of steam in the romance of it all. Some good songs around it, but 2 people falling so hopelessly in love after an hour ...

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Tim) Probably the most bleak book I have ever read, and for whatever reason I decided to read it over vacation. This one is about a father and son struggling to survive in a burnt apocalyptic wasteland, basically trudging from one location to another in a brief hope that their lives will be better as they move south. They encounter horrors along the way, but also brief moments of respite. This was a quick read, even with the brutal content, and I enjoyed reading it, although I am not really sure why. I also had a spark of hope that things could get better, but watching the son lose his innocence as terrible things happen and they both come closer and closer to death is pretty tough. McCarthy's writing can be difficult for me, but he writes some truly beautiful passages that paint vivid pictures that don't leave the mind quickly. I was fascinated by the horror of it all, but found it almost impossible to relate, being completely unsure of how I...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) I have such a hard time critiquing this because it’s literally part of maybe one of the biggest pop culture phenomenons ever. This was so good. The first bit really makes you feel like you’re in the matrix. Just an endless loop that makes you feel kinda crazy. After a while I kinda missed the young, spry Neo who wasn’t old but Keanu now is definitely sexy. I absolutely LOVED the new Morpheus and thought he was great as this guide for Neo while still looking super fly. I honestly didn’t get all of it but still really enjoyed. It’s one of those movies that has you thinking about it the whole time. I was telling Joe that if I went down the rabbit hole enough I totally would believe in the Matrix. Really glad I watched this in IMAX

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) This movie has been crazy divisive, and although I'm not sure how I feel, I'm surprised it's garnered this controversy. I actually thought they played it a little safe in the end. I thought the opening was really awesome and played with your brain in only the way the Matrix can. It was awesome to be back in this universe (or have a peak into the true universe??) and thinking in ways that truly break your brain. There was also this great sense of meta analysis that I feel people may find corny, but I totally loved. The Matrix can honestly get away with anything. Neo could wake up in the end in his apartment and realize it was just a dream and I'd have been like, wow, that's awesome, classic Matrix. But instead I think they just took some cheesy liberties to get the characters back on screen, and then got a little too cute trying to tell a super philosophical story that I think some will roll their eyes at. This movie gets super...

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) I was pretty into this show to start. Pretty normal fantasy tropes, but I'm not very hard to please and was pretty engaged in the escape into the wilderness. But by the middle of the season I fell the show fell into a rut that it never escaped from. There was like three episodes of the characters I didn't really care about just talking in rooms, filling in questions I wasn't really asking. The last few episodes picked up the pace a bit, but by then I just had a hard time investing. There were a few instances where they tried hard to manufacture some feelings but it just wasn't landing for me. Can't really put my finger on exactly the reason I didn't care too much. Even the big reveals just seemed so rushed and never worked up to. Why do I care that Rand is the dragon? I don't even know this guy, he's hardly even been on my screen after a full season. There are a few others negatives, like Perrin being a pretty poor...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) This felt like typical fantasy. Chosen one, Dark one, magic, that kind of stuff. It was pretty good! I liked the world building and the main characters, the politics and the magic were all intriguing. The baddies were also pretty evil which I liked. Morraine and Lan were too sexy and I love them. I thought they made everyone interesting enough to be invested in the many different characters. Some slight spoilers, but I did not expect Rand to be the Dragon Reborn. Was kinda hoping they would go in a different direction. The power balances also seemed to be inconsistent and the magic was basically never explained. The stakes also never seemed to be high as people were brought back from the dead not once but twice! All that aside, I still really liked it! I think my favourite part was that so many people I knew were watching it so it was fun to talk about it in depth with others who knew the world better. I’m still team barmaid who tried to sell Rand...

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) I wanted to rewatch the sequels before Resurrections, and luckily I had a plane ride to burn. I remember this movie being really bad, and the first 40 minutes or so is incredibly boring. What in the world made the Wachowskis think that after making one of the best movies of all time that the beginning of the sequel should focus on the politics of Zion, the last human city? It is so bizarre, like they completely don't understand what makes the first movie good? I don't know, they are the geniuses and not me, but my goodness what were they thinking. That being said, the second half of the movie is a thrill ride. It becomes non-stop action with incredible set piece one after another, and some truly artistic shots in the middle of these varied fight scenes. Its really impressive, even if the goal behind the fighting is unclear. Again, the point of the first Matrix is not all the cool fighting, that's just a cherry on top of a perfect id...

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) I first read this book in 2017 and have been trying to convince everybody to read it since then, so when I decided to reread it I was actually kind of nervous. I wasn't sure if it would still live up to the hype I was giving it single-handedly! To my relief it was still great, though of course it was a different experience. This is still a book that revolves a lot around hockey, and it really tries to make you love it, or at least help you understand why others love it. Beartown is a dying hockey town in Sweden, and a lot is riding on their junior team doing well, because the townspeople are hoping their win will revive the town. The book takes its time at the beginning to show you why and how a sport can matter so much to a person and to a whole town. But then there's a violent act by one of the players, and the book shifts and shows how sports culture can be dangerous and toxic, when "the club goes before anything" and the...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) WOOF, this movie got me. I was crying pretty much through the whole thing, which is what I expected. Family stuff always gets me 😭 Absolutely loved this movie, though the music wasn't as standout as what I've come to expect from Disney musicals. I loved the richness of the culture in it (though I had to look up afterwards where they even lived) and the colours were gorgeous. And yeah, the plot killed me. Brought up a lot of stuff I was super sensitive about as a kid haha. Shout-out to the grimy rat man, they were trying to appeal to me specifically and it worked.

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) [Spoilers, obvs] What an absolute blast of a movie. Every character reveal was so exciting, every throwback was excellent. I was laughing out loud in the theater. Tom Holland is such an incredible actor - he got me crying from a Marvel movie! Also, I'm in love with him. The implications of the memory stuff made my head hurt, but whatever, what can you expect. I don't think I really have anything new to add to what everyone else has said, but I truly had so much fun watching this, I'm glad I managed to fit it in before the holidays.

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) This podcast is about what the title suggests, but also, as the host (Mike Cosper, who was excellent) suggests, is "a story about the mystery of God working in broken places." But make no mistake. This is an 18-part shit-talk session essentially about one guy. And how can I resist that? 20+ hours of gossip about a guy I always really disliked? And I can justify it by saying it's a valuable lesson in exposing toxicity? Sign me up! This podcast does absolutely provide a ton of value. Just the history lesson on the American Church is worth the while, tracing the lineage of celebrity pastors and mega churches. It was truly fascinating. Obviously there is a lot to say about leadership and the way a massive church corporation works. I didn't actually find the drama at the end that interesting because it's not like they were uncovering some crazy scandal. It was literally just a revelation that Mark was the same person behind close...

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Beans) **SPOILERS** I just really like watching marvel movies. Are they essentially all the same? Ya they are. Will I most likely watch every one in theatres? Also yes. This movie was probably some of the most fun I’ve ever had watching a movie. It really felt like pre pandemic times. The theatre was full, I got out of the theatres at 1:30 a.m, and the 2.5 hours just flew by. Tom Holland, Zendaya and Ned are such an awesome trio. All the baddies are so great to see back on the big screen and Tobey and Andrew captured my heart. William Dafoe is probably the perfect villain ever. The whole theatre was hooting and hollering at multiples points and I think I literally screeched at some scenes. I laughed, I shouted, I cried. It was so great.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) *SPOILERS* Once I heard the rumors, I was totally willing to get back to the trough for this one. This one I really have no regrets getting in line for. How can you not have a good time watching this? It really was a cool experience seeing all these characters I loved as a kid come back in for a movie today. I however didn't really ever watch the Andrew Garfield ones, and he ended up being the best Spiderman! He was hilarious, though I imagine his original Spiderman was nothing like this? Whatever, it totally worked and I loved him. Tobey, my actual favorite, didn't give us much here. Definitely had the least personality and it made me sad, but I will admit he's more just in the best Spidey movies rather than being the best Spidey. It was more just a reminder how different those movies were and how much I love them, and how in this movie, despite trying their hardest, the stakes just never felt as real as in Tobey's. Anyways, this...

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) Jon Favreau at his peak! Every year I am reminded what a genuinely funny movie this is. The machine gun snowball fight is one of cinemas greatest works, and Peter Dinklage comes in and acts his heart out for an incredible 5 minutes. I really think this might be Will Ferrell's best role. The last part of the movie is a little boring, as most comedies are, but that's okay. I nonetheless look forward to watching this movie every year until I die.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) I've been wanting to read this for ages (murder in space! my favourite!) but it kept disappearing off CloudLibrary whenever I wanted to read it 😤 But the wait was worth it! It's about the cloned crew on a spaceship on a 400-year voyage who all suddenly wake up amid the carnage of their previous bodies, knowing one of them must have killed everyone but having no memory of the past 25 years. Gripping, compelling, with great world-building and a beautifully-weaved plot. I loved slowly learning about each character and making wild guesses at every turn. Super interesting conversation on the ethics of clones! I would definitely recommend it.

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) Even though I don't care about superheroes or the MCU, I love Tom Holland and this Spiderman trilogy, and I was simultaneously very excited and very nervous to see more bad things happen to my good friend Peter Parker. But of course, I loved this movie. It's a bit more serious and bittersweet in tone than the first two, as Peter has to deal with everyone knowing his identity, but it's also extremely funny and had me dying with laughter several times. It's best to go into it knowing almost nothing like I did, so try to watch it before you get any spoilers, if it isn't already too late.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) Fatma is the only female inspector in the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities in an alternate historical Cairo where, a couple decades ago, a man named al-Jahiz poked a hole in the universe and allowed djinn back in the world. Now there's been a mass murder and Fatma and her new partner are on the tail of a person claiming to be al-Jahiz, back to condemn the modern age. This book was SO fun, and the world is just fascinating. This novel is preceded by two short novellas, which I've read, that give you a bit of an introduction to the world. It's helpful to read those first, but not necessary. Anyway, this book is just a wild ride, and the sense of place is amazing, which is especially great because it's so different from the usual fare we get in North America. It's filled with great, diverse characters, and is highly feminist, even though it was written by a man. I recommend it on audio, because the n...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) This book is huge on BookTok and pretty everywhere else, so I had to give it a try, plus the premise was very intriguing. Devon and Chiamaka, the only Black students in Niveus, are suddenly targeted by the anonymous Aces, who is slowly revealing all of their secrets to the rest of the students through texts. Chiamaka is the school's It Girl who has fought to be at the top, and Devon is a closeted gay boy who just wants to play music and help his mom. The confusion and secrets and pressure on both of them ramps up as they try figure out who is trying to ruin their lives, and why. This book is intense and full of drama, like I imagine shows like Pretty Little Liars are. It's hard not to get wrapped up in the mystery and intrigue. It's compulsively readable and an enjoyable ride, exploring racism, social structures, discrimination and more in a glossy package. I can see why it's popular, but I personally felt like it was obvious i...

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) This is the third book in a series, and we're back on Mure, a northern Scottish island. The books can all stand on their own, but it was nice knowing what happened before this heartwarming Christmas story. The book mostly revolves around a new luxury hotel that plans to open on Christmas, but of course things aren't going smoothly, and the villagers need to work together. Pretty central are shy Isla working in the kitchen, and Konstantin, a rich Norwegian bad boy who got sent to this remote island to teach him a lesson. But we also hear more from some of the other villagers too as they all get ready for Christmas and the opening of the hotel. Colgan generally writes romance, but this was more of a community book instead of focusing on one main romance, kind of like the Gamache books. The hotel is the main thread, but everyone has their own stuff going on. Overall it's just heartwarming and nice and cozy, just like Colgan's book...

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) We're really flying through this show. It's totally gripping! Did I think I'd care so much about which bad person gets to take control of an evil company? Never! But that's the true quality of this show. I thought this season was great in ways very similar to the first. I'd say both seasons were 8.5s to me, with the finale of season 1 putting it up a full point. But otherwise not much to add from the first season. The acting, clever writing and dark humor are all top notch, and the big budget sets are perfect. They also get a ton of mileage out of their music, using just a couple themes in every episode. I'd like to see a bit more plot progression, but the season 2 finale makes it clear that something has to give here. I also think that by now, a lot of these characters are not necessarily more developed as nobody besides maybe Ken has much of an arc, but a lot of characters like Greg, Connor and Mr Darcy really find their...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) After a long absence the best show on TV is back and as strong as ever. Everything you know and love about the first 2 seasons is here, but by the end of the season things really begin to boil over. Longstanding plot points really climax, and the character reactions are all perfect. I will say I didn't love this season the same way as the first 2. The first 3 episodes are very plot heavy, kind of cleaning up the fallout from season 2. It makes sense that they had to be a bit more serial, but I like when an indeterminate amount of time passes between episodes and we pick up with the family under some crazy circumstances. At the same time, while I don't want complex plot, sometimes things happen at the end of episodes and are kind of swept under the rug at the beginning of the next. I understand that they are mega rich and consequences mean nothing, just felt like some unfinished threads. Episode 8 was the standout here, and I think one of...

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) This is the best thing I have watched in a long long time. Based on a novel of the same name, it follows Cora as she escapes the plantation she is a slave on and is hunted across multiple states by a slave catcher. It is not strictly based on true events, but is clearly based around a real thing, and it has several fantastical elements (there is a real train in the underground railroad, for instance). The combination of heartbreaking reality and poignant artistic choices was really special. Directed by Barry Jenkins (Moonlight and If Beale Street Could Talk), I know going in that this would look incredible. Sure enough, the grim content side by side with beautiful landscapes and intimate closeups was incredibly effective. I had tears in my eyes for each of the 10 episodes, which is pretty special, and I get choked up thinking about a bunch of the scenes. The score is similar to those movies as well, but with some more foreboding themes and ne...

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) 2021 has been a year of best hits for me, and Hollow Knight follows that trend. This game, essentially made by just two guys, is basically perfect in every regard. From an artistic perspective to gameplay mechanics, there is so much to love here. It's a 2D action platformer, and it's among all top games in both aspects. There are several great platforming challenges, and what it lacks in creativity it makes up for by getting you out of your comfort zone, pushing you to do things you try to avoid. As for combat, the number of enemies and challenges is where the real creativity shines. So many unique bosses each testing a different part of your arsenal. You really can't beat this game without a true sense of mastery by the end. The art direction is phenomenal. A truly unique style, making a game with a toned down color palette feel alive and atmospheric. It's sad, forlorn yet mysterious and haunting. The music ties it all together, ...

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) Whew! This book was good. I read this over the course of a few months, a chapter or two every week and discussed it with a friend. Looking back I think that was the best way to do it because this book is DENSE. Cone essentially calls us and invites us into a deeper understanding of Jesus and scripture and the work that is to be done, namely liberation of the poor and the oppressed. So really big picture, large scope theology that, in my opinion every white person should consider. While Cone is quite radical and unchanging in a lot of his thinking and the statements he makes, he does not ever veer from his love for Jesus, others or scripture; I really appreciated how Christo-centric his worldview is and how he still honoured scripture, and actually was the reason for his beliefs. It is somewhat understandable where Cone was coming from considering his context and social location, however, probably the only thing I disagreed with him on was his vie...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) This is a two player game in which each player takes control of a character that is married to the other. Their marriage is in trouble, but through magic they are turned into magical dolls and are forced to work together through all sorts of trials to try and revive their marriage (little more to it than that, but that's the idea). The story is nothing to write home about, but at least it's something (see, Nintendo, it's not that hard). This was the third of three platformers that I was playing at the same time. I actually started it in March, but because I had a reluctant partner, it took FOREVER to finish. For that reason, it's kinda hard to judge because we never really got into a great flow. But I really don't want to let Jess ruin my thoughts on this game. It was so, so good. It's a game of the year contender (results tomorrow!), and for good reason. The levels are super creative, and the way they make you use teamwor...

⭐ 6.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) The third book in the Skyward series, originally a trilogy but now 4 books, can't say I was super in to this one. The idea of the series is cool, an orphaned girl learns how to fly a spaceship that has a mind of its own, How to Train Your Dragon in space. I really liked the first of this series, even though it is really YA focused. The second one was not amazing, and I thought this one was similar. The plot is focused around a clear goal, and the twists along the way just didn't really do it for me. Just makes me upset that he is writing these books that aren't in the Cosmere when he has so much planned in the other series that I'm invested in. I'm sure if I had ready these 20 years ago they would have been my favourite. I also get worried that the writing style in these bleed over to his main works. This protagonist might as well be Lift from Stormlight or a handful of other characters in other books. His sense of humour i...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) This was a movie made specifically for me. Nobody likes zombie post apocalypses like I do. However, as a result, this movie offered very little new to the genre. Between The Walking Dead, Last of Us or even World War Z, there isn't much new to see here. I predicted all the major plot points within the first fifteen minutes, and this movie followed all the tried and true zombie tropes pretty carefully. You know the characters who will die, which characters are untouchable, and which characters will have certain arcs. But that's not necessarily a bad thing! Those tropes are common for a reason! This movie was pretty effective at everything it tried. I love this genre because it speaks directly about the human condition, and what we would do in extreme circumstances. It always gets me thinking, though I know for a fact I'd be a zombie within a thirty minutes of the outbreak and not have to think over moral conundrums. The themes of surv...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) Apparently forgot to review this. I loved it! It was fun, it was ridiculous, the actors were all surprisingly good. Paul Rudd was great, and I really liked the little sister, too. I've seen the original and thought it was just okay, but I think this one did a good job of paying homage to it without just remaking it (and, in fact, improved on it by having likable characters). It obviously wasn't a masterpiece, but I really enjoyed it overall.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) Finally got to watch this movie! I really like gothic horror as a vibe, but I can't watch ghost stories at night, so Marcel and I had to find a time to watch this during the day. And it was worth it! The aesthetics of this movie were just incredible, I couldn't get enough of it. It's definitely creepy and dark, but not in a way that left me feeling uncomfortable or horrified after the fact. Also, I've never really gotten the hype over Tom Hiddleston, but that was obviously before I saw him in a poet shirt and brocade waistcoat 😳 Every performance in this was excellent, and I loved how it all came together. Would watch again.

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) This was very fun! I've never seen the original movies, but I don't think it took much away from my enjoyment of this one, as long as I knew there were originals. I really liked the cast, and seeing Finn Wolfhard in a ghostbusters costume again was great. Podcast was my favourite character, and I hope this kid gets lots more roles.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) You know when a book is labeled a "proper romance" it's gonna be good. This novella follows Sophie Appersett, a lady with a title but no dowry, and her developing romance with Edward Sharpe, a tradesman with money but no experience in the upper class. It's simple, it's predictable, and it's full of meaningful looks and fleeting touches. Everything a girl could want! It's also a Christmas story, so it was seasonally appropriate. I really enjoyed it, even though personally I could have done a better job 😌 I also didn't know how many words I didn't know how to pronounce until I read this book out loud.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) This is the story of a house in the countryside of England with a mysterious history. Eloise is an archivist who comes across the sketch of a house she recognizes from her mother's bedtime stories, and so she tries to find out more about it. The book twists together the stories of different people who have lived there, including the spirit of a woman who died there in the late 1800s and remains to watch over the visitors. This book does what Kate Morton does so well - weaves together the lives of different people living in different times until it all comes together to form a picture of what really happened. This isn't my favourite Kate Morton, because it's a little darker and a little less exciting. But I still felt like it was quite masterful, and she's so good at filling her books with emotion and strong themes that run through the whole thing.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) This was a super nerdy book for me to read - it's a non-fiction book talking about different aspects of daily life for the Tudors, focusing on the average person. It includes things like what they ate, what their beds were like, what they did for fun, etc. The author obviously knows her stuff, and I loved it when she included her own experiences of trying out things like Tudor recipes, beds, and bathing habits. She includes info on how we know what we know about Tudor people and what we're still not sure of. It was really accessible and an enjoyable listen, and it gives me a deeper understanding of people's lives in the past, how we've changed, and all that.

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Beans) Finally got around to watching this. Honestly, I really liked it! It had two redeeming qualities: Tom Hardy and 1:37 run time. It was over the top and ridiculous but it definitely didn’t take itself too seriously and it worked. I was invested the whole time and laughed so that’s a win in my books.

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) Oh baby, now this is what I've been missing in my life. It took a couple episodes to fully get into it, but by the end I declared it a mix of Breaking Bad and Mad Men. That's high praise. This show is not one I'd be likely to love because it doesn't possess the two main things I look for: a few likeable characters and a compelling plot with clear goals. Indeed, all the main characters are entirely unlikable and is great fuel for the fire of hating rich people. And yet that's the beauty of this show, much like Breaking Bad. It builds up the tension so well that you are cheering for certain things despite it all. Even though everyone is bad, others are even more bad and you can at least hope they fail. The finale was the best episode of TV that I've seen since maybe the earlier seasons Game of Thrones. The range of emotions it gets you to experience is magic. No, this show is not for everyone, and the language you hear will ...

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) I dunno, this show is not really doing it for me anymore. We quickly slipped 10 seasons of The Office in between seasons and that was probably a bad idea because I appreciate this show less now. But I think a big thing is that there is nothing changing season to season. This may as well be a review for either of the other seasons I watched. That's not a bad thing, because those were good, but it's just wearing me out a bit and not doing anything new. The only new cast member this season was Pimento who is undoubtedly funny, but doesn't add all that much to the formula. Speaking of Pimento, is Rosa the worst actress still getting roles? She's terrible in everything I've seen her in and is definitely my least favorite character here. The romance with Pimento is so forced and so not funny. The Jake/ Amy romance also does not seem authentic at all and for the central thing, doesn't feel like there is any payoff besides the two...

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) Had a bit of a tough time deciding on a score for this one. There are definitely some cool action scenes, and this is definitely classic James Bond with the music, the glamour and beautiful European vistas. The accents are undoubtedly sexy. But c'mon now, I just watched Bourne and this doesn't compare. I just couldn't be bothered to actually care about any of the characters, especially James Bond who is kinda a murderous douche. I get that he was a 50s macho man and you want to be faithful to that, but how about some modern values? But the main thing is that this movie is kinda boring. Who's idea was it for the main action in this movie to be done over a poker game? You know, that game where the whole point is to not show emotion? I get bored playing cards, let alone watching others play. And why did this top tier government agency think that winning a game of cards was the best way to beat the bad guy? Anyways, all that aside, th...

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) This is the sequel to Small Spaces, which I read in October, and it was perfect for the wintry weather we've been having. It's definitely a spooky book, and its intended for a younger audience but I was SPOOKED. I listened to it on audiobook which I think both added to it in some ways and took away in others. It follows the same group of kids as the first book, facing another scary encounter in a snowy ski lodge, but this one centred more around ghosts, which really got me. Once again, there were parts that I felt the author really built up and then just sort of dropped disappointingly, but overall I really enjoyed it and it was the perfect level of scary for me. And I really love the characters! Though I sometimes got the two main characters confused, but maybe that was because the narrator had the same voice for them both. Regardless, I really enjoyed it.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) I left this movie very unsure. I was pretty excited about this one after the beautiful and vague trailers, and true to form this movie was not at all what I expected. It followers rancher brothers in 1925 Montana, where one is a macho jerk and the other a tender sweetheart. When the nice one gets married, the mean one absolutely torments his new sister-in-law and nephew, but there is a lot brewing under the surface. If feels like violence is always around the corner, and the score keeps you eternally on edge (Johnny Greenwood did this one, and it reminded me of There Will Be Blood). My friend described it as scary Brokeback Mountain before we had even seen it, and he was spot on. The mean brother's angst always comes back to his relationship with his former mentor, Bronco Henry, and it becomes increasingly clear that this relationship was more than platonic. And when he begins to groom is nephew in a similar way, a nephew who is constantly ...

⭐ 6.5/10 (Originally written by Tim) Jess loved this movie, but I have a hard time getting into anything that portrays musical theatre, while also kind of being a musical. Everything about it is just so... earnest? I don't know, it just walks the line between a feel good movie and an over-the-top emotional roller coaster (aka This Is Us). There were some good moments, but I lost interest half way through. I was impressed with Andrew Garfield's singing, but it was too predictable for me to be engaged. I was trying to think about why I love La La Land or Singing in the Rain and not this, and the main the difference I could think of is that this is kind of a biopic. Not sure what that difference means, I just can't really put in to words why this didn't connect for me.