WeView

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) Yeah... This one didn't really do much for me. This movie is very weird, but not really in an abstract way. Characters just do weird things and have weird reactions. It's super serious, but has a kinda non-serious premise in terms of plot. I wasn't sure what was supposed to be artsy and what I was supposed to be taking literally, and I didn't really feel like opening YouTube to find out. Maybe one day I'll read or watch something that gives me a new impression of this movie and teaches me to love it, but today is not that day. I feel like this movie had a ton of potential to just be another super strange Nic Cage movie, and honestly I'm not sure why it wasn't perceived that way. The only thing I can think of is that it was written for critics and only critics to enjoy. I think there were some interesting elements, but yeah, overall too weird. Just go to therapy buddy. And also, wash your disgusting face off, you're...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) I finally got around to watching this, and it kicked ass! I was really pleasantly surprised. I really liked Simu Liu in this role, and although Awkwafina played the exact same role she always does, I liked her a lot more than most Marvel female love interests (except you MJ, love you). I loved that they didn't shy away from letting characters speak Chinese, and I loved all the fight choreo. In an ideal world I would have made some changes (like, why doesn't Xialing get magic powers? I think she should be able to use the rings!) but nothing major. Shoutout to all the ladies in this. But why are they trying to redeem a literal war criminal lol not on my watch. That guy sucks! Even if he's sexy.

⭐ 5.5/10 (Originally written by Zach) Denzel Washington. What more needs saying? How about Rami Malek? I don't know what else I've seen Malek in but he's a weird guy. He's got interesting features and he acts well. I like watching him. This movie also features Jared Leto as an actual weirdo and possibly a serial killer. The movie is thrilling and curious combining personal history with police drama and politics. I didn't love the how the story ended but if you're not the type to predict a predictable ending, then a surprise is in store. Ever seen Holes? I liked the supporting cast which included actors from OZ and The Wire (two watch before you die shows). All in all, my first movie review, I dunno. A serial killer in LA. Denzel Washington is a damaged cop with a rough past. There's a bit of mystery. Watch it. Don't watch. I don't care.

⭐ 6.5/10 (Originally written by Zach) My first experience with Tanya Tagaq was seeing her perform live during a live audience edition of CBC's Q. I think Jian Ghomeshi was even there :/ Her rhythmic throat singing moved an awestruck audience. I turned to look at others around me and found faces wet with tears. Tagaq was a force. Her latest album Tongues is something you'd better be in the mood for. Tagaq stands firmly and defiantly in front of the colonizer, discrediting the divine justification of past, present, and future, "I don't want your God. Put him down. I don't want your shame. I want to come." She does not need to inherit settler ways because she has always had a way. On Colonizer, Tagaq repeats over muffled drums,"Ooh, ooh, colonizer, You colonizer, Oh, you're guilty." So you can't say she doesn't get right to the point. It's fairly clear Tagaq wants to lay blame where its due sacrificing poetry and amplifying experimental ...

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) We watched the finale while I was still hungover from the excitement that was Mass Effect so maybe I'm not in the right mindset to evaluate this other alternative universe. I just think this show is good now which is actually a huge step up from that monstrosity of a first season. It's frustrating because I feel like this show has every opportunity to be amazing, and now and again it shows flashes. I think one of the difficulties with this show is it tries too hard. They try to tell this crazy complex story with moving parts and mysteries and over-the-top drama. It wants to be Game of Thrones but just feels like a cheap knockoff. This show is too damn hard to follow, and that's coming from someone who is already quite invested in the Witcher universe. I can't imagine how hard this is to follow for someone going in fresh. It goes for shock value rather than telling a coherent story, and rather than explaining it through actual visu...

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) Wow what a journey it's been with these games. In the first i loved the universe and story but didn't love the characters, and in the second I loved the characters but thought it took a step back with storytelling. All the while i was a little lukewarm on things like presentation, music and gameplay mechanics. All of those things were perfected in the finale. I am BAFFLED by the majority of pundits saying 2 is the masterpiece; to me it's not even close. This game is an absolute triumph from the opening scene. For those unclear, this is a sci-fi story about a galaxy at war. In this game, you are tasked with uniting all races while under siege from the enemy. Choices you make starting with the first game play into how all of this unfolds and will determine the fate of the universe. Obviously the scope of something like this is almost comically huge, and yet the progression makes it all make sense. You don't start off as the most im...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) This is a collection of essays written by Roxane Gay, who wrote one of my favourite memoirs, Hunger. Despite the title, this book addresses a wide variety of themes, but with a pretty big focus on different types of media and representation, especially of Black people and women. She also included a few more personal essays, and I particularly enjoyed the ones about her first year of teaching (very relatable for me) and her experiences as a competitive Scrabble player. Roxane is fascinating, because she is so, so smart, but also unapologetically loves things like terrible reality TV. She's so good at analyzing media and also knows so much about pop culture. I really enjoyed most of the essays, and they are all quite short, so I often read several in one sitting. There were a few that I skimmed, though, when she was discussing a book or movie in detail, but I had never seen/read it or had no interest in the topic. Most of them were great, th...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) Gerald accidentally uploads his consciousness into his company's Slack channel and doesn't know how to get out, plus nobody believes him. The book is told entirely through Slack messages, as Gerald and his coworkers deal with clients and in-office drama. The concept is absolutely bonkers, and I have no idea if the tech elements make sense, and I don't think the author cared if they did. I found the book hilarious, and even though I've never actually worked in an office, I imagine it's accurate. It has something of a Dilbert feel as it shines a light on the nonsensical aspects of office life, plus that ridiculous sci-fi plot added. This book would not be for everyone, and I imagine a lot of people would think it was just really dumb, but I laughed out loud almost every page, and it was refreshing to read something so unique and weird.

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) Jaden was adopted four years ago at the age of eight from Romania, and he still feels like he doesn't love his parents and gets in trouble constantly. Now his parents want to adopt another child from Kazakhstan, and he's sure it's because he was a failure as a son. In Kazakhstan they work to bond with their new baby, but Jaden becomes fond of another boy with a developmental disability. This is a serious book for a middle grade reader, concerning adoption, behavioural issues, and abuse. But I think it was just as good for adult readers. It shows the difficulties and realities of adoption, especially of older children. Jaden has a lot of issues, but it helps us to understand what kids like him must feel. It's also a fascinating setting with some great side characters. The ending is maybe a bit unrealistically happy, but I'll never complain about that.

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) I can't tell if this movie is an Aladdin retelling or an Aladdin rip-off, and when I googled it the first result didn't tell me, so I guess we'll never know. But I loved the Shanghai setting, and it captured a lot of great scenes of the city, plus Chinese culture and food in general. It was a joint Chinese production, and I'm glad they got input from actual Chinese people. There were some good laughs, the theme was nice, and it made me want to eat dumplings, so it was worth my time.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) We chose this movie just browsing Disney+, and as soon as I saw that picture of Scrat I was struck by the desire to rewatch this gem! It had been many years, but of course I could still say all the best lines along with characters. This movie is still great. Three wildly different animals becoming best buds and saving a baby along the way? What's not to love? Pretty much every one of Sid's lines is pure gold, and the inclusion of Scrat's scenes is a weird choice but they still killed me. As Joe mentioned though, this movie gets an F- on the Bechdel test. I know they introduce some female characters in the sequels, but those movies are such trash that it's better to forget they exist.

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) Been holding off on reviewing this one because it blew me away and I didn't know how to review it. I have not read the book so I went in completely blind, and I was consistently moved by each episode. My Underground Railroad for this year, which is high praise, and probably too soon because it is only January, but still. I will say I was not sold on the first episode. It's a pandemic episode, and see news of infection leak into the world was not what I wanted to watch. But as the season went on and diverged from that story in delightful ways, I was always drawn back to that first episode, a clueless knight on a quest to get the young princess home. The thought of both their arcs makes me tear up just writing this, and I thought this core relationship was handled perfectly. Also, its been the winter of Shakespeare for me! Tragedy of Macbeth, West Side Story, and now this. 20 years after the pandemic we follow a troupe of actors keeping Shake...

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Tim) I didn't realize there was going to be a second season of one of my favourite shows of last year, and I was delighted when this came it. It is more of the same - a documentarian captures video of the most random things in NYC, and then puts them together with some dialog for a thematic episode. He encounters truly the weirdest people on earth, and rolls with whatever comes his way to keep his camera focused on them. I did think that this season wasn't as tight, in that his themes were a bit more stretched each episodes, it seemed harder to logically tie all his ideas together. But that's besides the point, it's still hilarious and a joy to watch. More importantly, this season continues to touch on his relationship with his elderly landlord, as she sells him his house and moves away. It was heartbreaking seeing this precious woman who is basically his mom leave, and I loved that the season was bookended with her presence. This is ...

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) I saw that this movie was getting poor reviews, but was fascinated by the cast, and I have enjoyed other movies by Adam McKay. While I can confirm that this movie isn't amazing, it was a bit better than I thought it would be. First off, this movie is the furthest thing from a feel good movie I can imagine. It's clearly about global warming, but the world response can't help but remind you of covid, people choosing to ignore science, and in this case just not looking up and remaining ignorant of impending doom. If that's not buzzkill enough, this movie attempts to be a comedy, but the satire falls completely flat. Jokes aren't really funny if they are just reality, but even with this movie being so close to reality I think there is probably a way they could have pulled it off that actually had me laugh. I feel this way because Chalamet makes a hilarious appearance, and I was laughing at everything his character did. Maybe it w...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) This is a classic movie about a successful college student who returns home and is completely aimless and purposeless... and then an older married woman seduces him and they have an affair. It was actually pretty funny, and the lack of direction he felt as he started his life after college felt grim. The movie starts with a party to celebrate his graduation, and everyone is so proud of all he's accomplished, but he has no friends at the party, only his parent's friends. Lot's of symbolism around drowning, and just feeling completely apathetic about the whole thing. Even when the affair is underway, he begins to show some more energy but is in no way getting his life together. The movie truly kicks off once he starts pursuing the daughter of the woman he is having an affair with. Crazy, I know, but all of a sudden this guy seems energetic and excited for life for reasons I can't explain. The movie ends with this bonkers scene that...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) What a fun movie! It is admittedly a newer, Chinese Aladdin rip-off, but I really enjoyed it all the same. Some good laughs, some nice themes. I wish they'd focused more on friendship instead of trying to quickly fit a romance in there. But still, it was nice to see a movie about Chinese people, and about wanting happiness more than money, a concept that is NOT popular in China haha.

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by hoodie_logi) My favourite Canadian Punk Rockers are back in a big way. This is a band I honestly thought had broken up a few years ago, so I was pumped to hear they were coming back with a new album this year. There's not a lot to say other than it is just classic Billy Talent, using their classic formula that works. They've consistently been one of my favourite groups basically my whole life.

⭐ 6.0/10 (Originally written by hoodie_logi) From the mind of Danny McBride comes a satire of a prosperity gospel super family that is absolutely preposterous. This is a vulgar, graphic and hilarious ride into the gross world of big church. Think an Arrested Development type of family, but the writers in this case have absolutely no boundaries for what they can do. The cast in this show was unreal, with Danny McBride, John Goodman and Adam Devine just to name a few. It is very on the nose to pointing out the corruption seen in prosperity gospel churches in North America, but so ridiculous in the way any character reacts to any situation. If you're ok with a strong R rating on your tv show, I'd recommend checking it out. However, if you have any aversion to any of the aforementioned content, please never watch this show.

⭐ 6.5/10 (Originally written by hoodie_logi) This was a fun listen (I've recently realized I like audiobooks, this being the first book I've completed through this medium), though there were a few things I didn't like either. First, the plot of this book is amazing. Teenaged wizards are enrolled in a school that is actively trying to kill them. There are no teachers, you sign up for classes and the school magically provides them with the materials needed to learn. "Graduating" is only marked with surviving four years in a school riddled with monsters hidden everywhere. After graduation, you hope you've made enough connections and made a good enough impressions to be accepted into an "Enclave", a magic community in the real world that has banded together, because the monsters don't stop trying to kill you after you've graduated. The magic system is also great, as unlike in Harry Potter where they can just do whatever they please willy nilly, w...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) Party inspired to rewatch because of Maggie's rewatching, partly inspired by the hilarious fact that Jess's mom abhorres this movie because she is "grossed out" by the squirrel. We watched Jungle Book just before watching this one, and I found that they were oddly similar. Gang of misfit animals trying to get a human back to the safety of other humans while a predator lurks, and also an odd lack of a single female voice actor in either movie? I thought this was odd in a 55 year old movie, and a little more surprising in a 20 year old movie. BUT this movie is still great. Sid totally carries this movie, but there are pretty good contributions from said squirrel, and also the birds chasing the melon. I was laughing pretty hard during that surprisingly dark scene. Anyways, I was pleasantly surprised to see that both movies held up quite well. Both were funny as a kid, and both are great today.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) Had a kids movie double feature this weekend, and this one started it off. Pretty good! It has been a looooong time since I'd seen this and remembered very little. But it has all the staples with funny banter, great songs and a nice ending. Few highlights: -Baloo really was made for the millenial audience and Bare Necessities is a classic. -the military elephants were pretty funny, totally forgot about them -the gross vultures being wholesome and nice!? For some reason I remember being very unsettled by them -the singing and dancing during the King Louie scene is great. Really this is just more Baloo praise

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) I'm just blasting through games these days. That's seasonal depression for you I guess. I started and finished this game in two days, and never once felt like I wanted or needed a break. I also cried in the first scene, but that might just speak to my mental state. Anyway, I've never played a game with such incredible graphics before. Maggie mentioned that when she wandered by, she thought I was watching a movie. It's all incredibly animated and voice acted, and I was super invested. It basically follows 3 different androids in slightly-future Detroit as an android revolution sweeps through the city--one leading the revolution, one trying to flee to Canada, and another a police android tasked with stopping "deviant" androids. I was invested in all three stories and was never disappointed when I switched from one to another. I know the creator of this game is a known trashbag but I really did love playing this. There are...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) This is a documentary about a professional climber who free solos El Capitan’s 900 metres (thats 3,000 feet)! At Yosemite national park. Quite literally insane to try and man oh man was it great and stressful to watch. I felt VERY different at the beginning of this than I did by the end. In the beginning I was like, oh I love that humans are like this! Just wanna do crazy things and have unattainable goals and ambitions. So great! And then as the doc progresses and you hear more about what drives him and the people this affects and all that, I was like you’re a selfish prick! I do think he was somewhat selfish but they do a great job of really fleshing out this guy and his reasons. I think a cool aspect of this documentary was the community. People have such niche interests sometimes but you’ll always find people to do it with. His girlfriend was sweet and precious and more times than not I was hoping she would ditch him. I don’t think he was good...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) The final book of the trilogy, and what an amazing finale it was! Longer than the previous books, and a bit more plodding, I appreciated that it took its time and built up a sense of hopelessness. The ending really paid off because of all the patience it had, and even though there were a couple convenient things to help things wrap up I was very satisfied. Overall I really loved this trilogy. The protagonist is very flawed, and several times throughout I wanted to hit him for making bad choices, or yell at him when he completely misunderstood things. But you have been with him as he grows up over 3 books, and I felt very attached. There are a couple gutting moments in this book, and I felt them deeply because of the relationship that has been built with him. I would compare this too the Kingkiller Chronicle, but with a more ASOIAF-y world. The magic takes several leaps forward in this book, introducing some insane new elements, but it all fit a...

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Tim) See my review for season 8, all the same complaints, except Dylan is clearly coming back in to the fold and I really wish it was Andy instead. Would be great for Haley's growth as a character, but nope, probably not going to happen. Now I have 2 more seasons to go!

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) I don't know why I keep reviewing every season, in my last review I thought I had only 2 seasons left, turns out I actually had 4!? Pretty shocked that this show ran for so long, but why not, it's a great show! I miss Andy, as he was the only redeeming part of watching the scenes with Haley, and it bums me out that he might not ever come back. I also realized that basically every episode's plot depends on characters lying to each other, then in the end having to apologize. Just tell the truth! I'm not tired of the show yet, but I do think there has been a slight quality drop, maybe I'm just to used to the rhythms of the show and wish they would change things up.

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) Pretty fun movie that keeps it light and makes me not completely hate Kevin Hart. I fell asleep for the last 30 minutes, so I can't say I was totally invested in the story, but it had some good laughs. Body swap movies are always good.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by KathleenQ) I haven't been making time for WeView, but I had to jump on to write a quick review of Encanto to boost the overall score and point out where everyone else is wrong. It is extremely powerful emotionally (JOE), the music is incredibly catchy, and the characters are lovable and memorable. I actually loved Stephanie Beatriz' vocal performance... she might not sound like a Broadway performer, but she brings a unique and whimsical charm I never would have expected. And of course it's visually beautiful. The complex and delicate way it handles intergenerational trauma... the focus on family relationships, including generally unexplored ones like uncle/niece, cousins, grandparents... the gut-punch of Luisa's burden as the oldest sister with relentless responsibility... Lin-Manuel's lyrical and musical genius... The insane catchiness of We Don't Talk About Bruno... Brilliant. It's fantastic. (It helps that Lydia is absolute...

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) This book is a biography of Giannis Antetokounmpo, who, for the lozers in here, is a young NBA star who grew up as a poor Nigerian immigrant in Greece. Giannis is so, so likeable. As a book, this isn't the best biography; neither particularly well researched nor written. But it is absolutely carried by how wholesome Giannis is and how loveable his personality is. His story is obviously great. He was born into poverty, had to hustle as a vendor as a child, until finally it was discovered that he's an incredible athlete. He played in these super sketchy leagues, sharing shoes with his brother and dealing with discrimination as an immigrant and racism as a black person. It's obviously a story of overcoming incredible odds through hard work and determination which is always inspiring to read. Finally he's drafted into the NBA, and overnight goes from being incredibly poor to incredibly wealthy. But he's alone in America with his f...

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) I was super excited to read this book when I heard about it, as a queer, plot-driven fantasy mystery about magic in 1908 England. So many things I like! But in the end it wasn't really my thing, mostly because the romance didn't progress the way I was hoping. I like historical romance for one thing--the YEARNING! And this book barely had any of it 😔 It all took place over like 10 days, and everything moved way too quickly for me to really get into the relationship development. The magic and setting and mystery WERE good, and I understand why everyone loved it, but it just wasn't for me. I also just never felt that eager to keep reading after the halfway point. But I did finish it, and it was good! I'm not sure if I'll bother reading the sequel, but only because I don't generally care for established relationship stories. Also, if you're going to read this, be aware of the multiple, detailed sex scenes. And don't ...

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) This was our MLK Day movie of choice and honestly for the purposes of education I think it was a good one. The Black Panthers were perhaps not an MLK organization, but they are an important part of black history and I had ZERO knowledge of this specific story. It follows a mole in the Black Panther party who was feeding information to the FBI for the purposes of trying to take down the charismatic revolutionary Fred Hampton. Hampton, by the way, was 21 during the events of this movie. TWENTY ONE! I was in my parents basement playing lotro for 6 hours a day when I was 21. Hampton is also played by Daniel Kaluuya who won an Oscar for his performance, and honestly is one of the most compelling performances I've ever seen in my life. Nobody was born to play a role more than Kaluuya was to play Hampton. He completely makes this movie. Within a minute of his first speech I was ready to fight for the cause. He was so good that any time he wasn't...

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) Damn, what a game. Joe rec'd this game to me at Christmas, and I ended up buying it while it was on sale shortly after, because I love mysteries and I'd heard good things. It follows a cop who has lost his memory after what appears to be a manic bender, and is now trying to solve a murder case in French-inspired Martinaise as local and global political tensions rise. The story and worldbuilding is PHENOMENAL. Pretty dark (suicide, racism, addiction, etc) but the story is so complex and layered, and there's soooo much lore you can uncover. Like, maybe too much. It did take a while to get moving, especially because I felt pretty lost at first, but things really picked up on day 3 of the game and I could barely put it down. It really did feel like I, personally, was solving a murder case. It felt reasonably true to life without being boring, and there are SO MANY choices you can make that will affect how things turn out. I, personally, ...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) Watched this on a whim while I was home alone, just as something to do while I ate supper, and ended up LOVING it. I was invested right from the start. It's partially done in a documentary/found footage style, and is about the attempted forced relocation of a huge alien civilization that has become stranded on earth and is residing in a slum in South Africa. The main character, a dorky and awkward employee of the agency that's supposed to be relocating the aliens to a new camp farther from the city, of course gets caught up things after being exposed to some strange alien tech. Everything about it was so good--the unique setting, the blatant refugee allegory, the character development, the main alien being named Christopher Johnson for some reason. It's pretty graphic at times (like, a lot of exploding heads and some gross body horror), but despite the premise, I was shocked by how realistic it felt. Like yeah, humans WOULD react lik...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) This was one of my favorite books I read in 2021, and although I knew they were making a TV show, I was totally surprised when it just randomly came out one day and started making headlines. It's a book about a pandemic that wipes out almost everyone and the remaining people are left to try and rebuild a worthwhile society. I had no clue how they were going to adapt it because the book does not really lend itself to that, and yet it worked! This show has been a total critical darling and it's been awesome to see people enjoy an IP that I had fallen in love with. This show changes a ton from the books, especially focusing on relationships that were never there. I didn't really mind as the changes made a lot of sense for a TV show, though the flair for the dramatic definitely took away from the groundedness and realism that I loved. But the beauty of this show is that they were able to make something different yet equally great. It stil...

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) Yes I went back to the slop shop but at least I didn't have to spend money on it so I'm giving myself a pat on the back for that. I would say this movie is maybe a touch more experimental than your typical Marvel slop, though obviously it didn't really work out for them. I thought there were some cool elements, and because I'm playing Mass Effect I really dig the idea of super ancient people and civilizations. Robb Stark is also my Hollywood man crush and so I can't give him less than a 7. But this movie is just another excuse to watch people in tights do CGI fights for two hours, and don't expect anything more than that. Reminded me a lot of Man of Steel in a lot of ways.

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) British humor, am I right guys? Lots of "clever" jokes but then the movie ends you you realize you never actually laughed at any of them. This movie is pretty good though. A pretty typical cop comedy premise, but it still felt new and fresh because of Edgar Wright's unique filmmaking techniques with all these snappy cuts. I feel like I'd call it more entertaining than funny, and I tend to look back on his movies more favorably in time. These movies really do make me wonder how much time and energy goes into making these cuts that last a literal split second. It really is a smart movie with every small detail coming back and paying off by the end. The premise is perfectly ridiculous, and the absolute gruesome violence is so shocking and over the top that it killed me every time. This movie is good, but yeah, can't say I actually found it all that funny.

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Tim) This movie has been on my list for a long time, and when I saw the trailer I expected it to wring out all my emotions and leave me a changed man. Maybe that is putting too much on a trailer, but the bar was high and I was a bit disappointed. This movie is sad and has sad moments, but I never felt myself super invested in anyone. They did a great job making each family member distinct and memorable, but at the cost of truly caring for any of them. Even the main character, who is having an identity crisis as well as a family crisis, just felt completely unrelatable and a bit wooden. I feel like the story is there, but the situations they put the characters in weren't compelling enough? Its tough to verbalize, but I was completely bought in and ended completely unmoved. This is going to sound pretentious, but I thought the movie tried too hard to be artsy. I know nothing about making movies, but I do know there are movies where the staging an...

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Tim) This was a feel good reunion special, and despite not being the biggest fan of the movies it was very heart warming! I could listen to two hours more of what it was like for the core 3 growing up, and I find the pressure they felt and the love people had for them pretty fascinating. My newsfeeds ever since watching have been filled with targeted headlines for clickbait articles around the soundbites they drop, but there is nothing scandalous at all, they are friends who grew up together and love each other, and it is great to see. A glaring hole here for me, which I am surprised hasn't filled more clickbait articles, is the absence of the author! She was incredibly involved in the casting and production, and I want to hear all of that from her! They flash back to some older interviews, and you would think she died or something from how rarely you hear something in her voice. I know she has been semi-cancelled, but come on, she created a phen...

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Tim) This was a slow burn for us, mainly because I have already seen it and Jess isn't loving it, but it can also be a tough watch. The language they use is a huge barrier, and where on Succession it matters less that they are mean because they are all mean to each other, watching terrible people interact like this in front of normal people can be hard to laugh at. The writing is still very clever, and there were several hilarious moments, just not something I go to for sure-fire laughs. When other characters are introduced in the coming seasons I feel it helps balance the show a bit more.

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) This is a sequel to The Marrow Thieves, and I read that it wasn't originally planned by the author, but she got so many requests to continue the story that she felt compelled to continue it. This picks up right after the first book ended. I don't want to give spoilers for the first book, because that one's also definitely worth reading, but Frenchie and Rose are separated again, and Frenchie is sent to a center to get his marrow extracted. Like the first book, this one is intense, action-packed, and thought-provoking about the treatment of the Indigenous and the ethics of harming a few to save many. I liked the extra POVs in this one, and I still love the characters.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) Inspector Gamache #5. A dead body has shown up in Olivier and Gabri's bistro, but everybody in Three Pines claims not to know him or how he died. We know Olivier knows the man, but not why he's lying about it or what their relationship truly was. This book was unique in the series because it didn't end with everything tied up neatly, and we need to read the next book to find out more. This book also centered heavily on one villager who we've known throughout the series, and is now legitimately a suspect. I appreciated that, because for the first time the murderer might be someone we care about, and so the stakes are different. I continue to love Gamache.

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) An arguing couple gets lost on a hike and stumbles into Schmigadoon, a town set in a 1940s musical, and they can only leave if they've found true love. I love anything related to musicals, so obviously I watched this. This show is 6 30-minute episodes, so it's more like a long movie than anything, and it's jam-packed with fun songs. It's silly and ridiculous and full of familiar faces, and I had a genuinely good time watching.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) I rewatch this movie for nostalgic reasons every year or two. Is it good? Absolutely not. Am I in love with Ned Nickerson? You know it baby. Also it has some great quotable lines. 6 for quality, extra 2 stars for sentimental reasons.

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) Alright I'll be honest, I watched this for Oscar Isaac. It's about 5 ex-special ops friends planning a heist on the house of a drug lord in Colombia, and of course everything goes wrong. It was a good movie, but it was NON-STOP STRESS. I was sore from how tense I was afterwards. Top-notch cast, but the ending was a little unsatisfying, and it was bizarrely hard to keep track of characters' names because they all had fun nicknames that they only used sometimes. If you're going to have a cool nickname, you have to use it consistently! All this being said, I WOULD risk it all for Oscar Isaac. As a great mind on twitter once said, that's a once in a generation hottie.

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) Spotted this on Disney+ a while back and looked into it because I love murder mysteries, and saw that it had 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, so I watched it while I was doing boring tasks. It's about two men in their 60s and Selena Gomez starting a true crime podcast about what they think was a murder that happened in their apartment complex, and of course things get more complicated from there. It was fun and there were a few good twists, but it really wasn't amazing. A good watch but nothing special. Still, if there's a second season, I'll probably watch it, again while I do chores.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) Just randomly watched this one and... it's amazing! Everyone knows that. It kinda made me wish Disney would still do movies like this. With their new animation style I feel like everything has to be more silly and childish and watching this movie made me miss when Disney was a little more mature and even a bit frightening at times. When I was a kid I wanted movies that made me feel like a big boy!! This movie reminded me a lot of watching Avatar. But anyways, back to this one. Non-stop bangers, non-stop action, non-stop hilarity. I think Eddie Murphy should have gotten an award for how genuinely brilliant he is here. Unleashing his personality on imperial China? Genius. Mushu and Cricket turn in a performance for the ages with their palpable on-screen chemistry. Is Li Shang the sexiest character in Disney canon? Is Make a Man Out of You the greatest song in musical history? We can decide in the comments, but let's just say when he takes...

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Beans) I watched this in preparation for season 2 so this was a rewatch for me and I think it was just as good as the first time I watched it. Me and my roomie watched it together so it was great to experience all the twists and turns, highs and lows of this show with him. It’s about a group of high school students that navigate life, drugs, and everything in between. I really can’t recommend this in good conscience cause it is just so so explicit. It is quite uncomfortable because it’s set in high school, but we try to look past this. This show won a BAFTA award and Zendaya won an Emmy for her role. I don’t know what it is about this show, it’s so gritty and filthy but it’s like hell ya I can relate (I’ve never done drugs and prob won’t ever do any hard ones)! I think the way they portray mental health struggles and even drug addiction is important and good. It doesn’t feel right to give this a 10 because I don’t think it’s one of my favourite shows eve...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) This book is about 5 indigenous kids that were part of the 60s scoop in BC, Canada. They were all taken by their parents to go to “school”, where they were abused emotionally, physically, verbally and sexually. At 16 they get a bus ticket to leave and all inevitably end up in the downtown east side of Vancouver. This book was pretty sad but important. It was somewhat autobiographical but in story form which made it easier to digest. It really is insane what Canada did and I think it cannot be overstated the reparations that need to take place regarding the indigenous community in Canada. We get a few different endings for these 5 people, some happy, but unfortunately most are sad. This book opened my eyes a lot to generational trauma and how that is passed down; how a lot of these people can’t just integrate into society like normal people. This book also won a ton of awards, as it should.

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Beans) I loved this so much. Obviously the books are better but I didn’t read those till after I watched the 6th movie so these really have a special place in my heart. I’m obsessed with magic and I really felt like these movies brought that to life. I just think the casting is incredible and it was really cool and nostalgic to see them altogether again reminiscing about something that was so pivotal to my life. Obviously in love with Emma Watson, and I love the manic energy Daniel Radcliffe brings to his interviews. Rupert Grint did not look great, nor did Tom Felton. I don’t know what it was, but everyone besides those two were stunning and great. I was just smiling and laughing throughout this whole thing. Even got a bit teary. I would recommend this for HP fans all around!

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by hoodie_logi) I'm honestly at a loss for words for how to describe this book. My interest was piqued when I read that each one of the books in this trilogy received the Hugo award, making it the first book series EVER to do that. And let me tell you, I'm not sure I have ever read such a hauntingly, beautiful book. It deserves and earns all the love and praise it has received. This book is heavily involved with the critique and exploration of systemic racism and impending climate doom. The story focuses on a group of people called orogenes. It is an ability one is born with and allows them to draw power from the earth around them and use it to manipulate the earth around them in response. They have the ability to quell earthquakes, raise mountains and much more. However, when untrained, Orogenes are extremely dangerous, and when they draw too much power, the immediate area surrounding them freezes and proves fatal to anything and everything caught...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by hoodie_logi) A delightful little tale depicting a centurion who is bored of life in the old folks home, climbs out a window, gets involved with a bumbling Swedish mobs, makes younger friends in their seventies, also makes friends with an elephant, and also tells us about his life prior to turning one hundred which includes events such as accidentally inventing the atomic bomb, almost assassinating Winston Churchill and also playing a crucial role in the Spanish revolution. Would recommend

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by hoodie_logi) Upon hearing that Amazon was releasing a show based on this book, I wanted to read it first as I had heard of it, but knew very little about the world. I am so glad I read it first. The world-building in this book is insanely interesting and well executed. To be fair, a common complaint is that it starts off slow as it takes about 100 pages before the main characters begin their journey, but I love when an author takes the time to show us their world through their characters eyes. But Jordan commits to building a vast, complex and new world and accomplishes his goal of introducing it to us in this book I believe. The details, slow burn of events, unexpected magical races and characters and for the most part strong characters made this an amazing read. I was hooked through all 800 pages. Admittedly many similar tropes as Lord of the Rings, but different enough where it counts to not take away from it too much. I am admittedly nervous to watch...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) Getting back on track with this show is definitely a good reminder of how consistently funny it is. There really are no bad episodes here. For that reason, I hesitate to say I wish they'd shake it up a touch. Maybe just some longer episode arcs to help distinguish seasons and keep me invested. They also have the exact same cast in tact since episode 1 with very few guests coming in for any substantial amount of time. Again, that's probably a good thing because this show is good, but I just feel like this show is destined for 4 more seasons of 8s from me. Character power rankings: 1) Boyle 2) Holt 3) Gina Big comeback for Gina who kinda annoyed me to start, but now I feel is essential to the show and I hope she doesn't miss too much time on maternity leave.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) Henri Nouwen was a Dutch priest, professor, and theologian. He taught at some really prolific schools before he went to go work at L’Arche, where he spent the last 10 years of his life. You just know this guy was the real deal. Smart, humble, single! All the makings of a great man.  This book was incredibly encouraging. Nouwen once saw a picture of a painting by Rembrandt about the prodigal son and felt his life shift after that. He went to Germany to see the real painting and he says his life was altered. His admiration for this painting made me consider if art has ever affected me that much, and also how important art is in our lives.  He splits the book into 3 parts: the younger son, the elder son, and the father. He deep dives each character, talking about the context and the meanings behind the story, while also sharing his own personal stories about relating to these characters. His conclusion is really insightful and I’ll just shar...

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) There's no reason for me to review this again except that it was my first movie of 2022 (as it should be) and it remains the best movie of all time. Thanks.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) The author loves food and especially noodles, and when she starts seeing similarities between the noodles she eats in China and the ones she eats in Italy, she gets interested in how they change and differ along the Silk Road, which might also be the path noodles took when globalization started. So she travels along the "Noodle Road", learning to cook dishes from each area and meeting different people. There aren't actually as many noodles as I expected, and don't expect to find out where they originated, but it was fun and informative about a bunch of different cultures and countries. I now want to spend all of my money on food and airplane tickets.

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) My first book of 2022, and the fourth book in the Inspector Gamache series! The Gamaches are relaxing at their fvourite auberge with a rich and secretive family who turns out to be the family of their friend Peter Morrow, there for a family reunion. But then one of the siblings is killed, and Gamache is there to do his job! This is the first book in the series that doesn't take place in Three Pines, although it does involve a few characters from there. It's a bit more contained, as not all the villagers are included, and the new setting was refreshing. I liked the main theme of appreciating what you have and not wishing for what you don't. Gamache continues to be his upstanding and kind self, and we learn more about the Morrows. I found the conclusion and resolution a bit disappointing in this one, and not as strong as the others, but it was still great.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) I absolutely adored everything about season 1, but liked this one a little less. I read that the planned for 10 episodes, but then they got asked to add two more, so they added the Christmas episode (fine) and the Coach Beard episode (weird and boring). The runtime for each episode was also longer, so I felt like there was more filler for each episode. It's definitely still a great show though, and I imagine some people would like that this season was a bit more serious. I liked that there's a lot to dig into with Nate's character especially, but I kind of missed the pure joy of the first season.

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) I watched this movie purely for Ben Platt, and hadn't even watched a trailer. Ben Platt's character has a sister with schizophrenia who has to stay with him for a while as he's preparing to move to Paris, and she also goes off her meds at the same time. It's a sibling story, which I always enjoy, and about the realities of living with a serious mental illness. Pretty good, but nothing especially memorable.

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) What a show! Really wish I could have watched with the rest of the world, because this show is exciting and I'm sure the week to week discourse would have been awesome. I'm not going to say I love it like Breaking Bad, but it does have a lot of similarities and is probably the most tense show I've seen since. Which is ridiculous! These are rich people squabbling over a corporate throne. Again, it is straight up dark magic for the producers to get you to care. They spend 3 seasons making you basically hate everyone, and yet I sit on the edge of my seat awaiting the outcome. Cinematography, music, locations, acting. This show is top tier in every regard. To me this season doesn't quite hit the highs of season 1, but was more consistently engaging. I don't think there is a show quite like this out there. Just a few minor negatives is I wish there were some better characters to cheer for, and I'm sad to see one good character ...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) Finally got a chance to watch this one and really enjoyed it. As others have noted, it's a movie about a Korean immigrant family moving to Nebraska to try to build a life through farming. This movie resonated with me a LOT and I'm surprised my siblings didn't point this out more. I felt I could really relate to the boy as I was about his age when my (kinda) immigrant parents started farming after quitting a dead-end job, dealing with those struggles and uncertainty. The way they were scared of their unfamiliar grandma, to not fitting in at church (though obviously for me it was different reasons) to even walking around in cowboy boots. I'm not saying we struggled like this family did, but I really felt a lot of the quirks this movie had. Anyways, this movie is awesome like everyone says. It's just great, simple storytelling, though I thought they struck an awkward balance between wanting to tell a compelling story versus simpl...

⭐ 5.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) Before I say anything, I love the original Matrix movie, but I am not a diehard fan. This isn't some holy ground that can't be revisited, and I was excited for the prospect of more Matrix. Unfortunately this movie brings nothing new to the table. Frankly, this is an utter piece of trash. This first hour of the movie is super meta, being like, oh we know this is the 4th of a beloved series, and verbally explaining what this means to different people, and why they are making it. It acts like it is giving a middle finger to all reboots, and setting itself to be something different, and then it goes and introduces nothing new. The first scene is an exact repeat of the first scene of the first movie for crying out loud! I could go on and on about moments that disappointed me, but honestly I was just bored. A cat named Deja Vu. Constant flashbacks to scenes we all remember to emphasize points. The bad guy using bullet time as his super power. This...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) This is a telling of Macbeth by Joel Coen, starring Frances McDormand and Denzel Washington, so of course I had to see it. I can't say I love Shakespeare, but I did work the stage crew in my grade 8 production of this show so you could say I appreciate it. Actually though, this was also the Shakespeare I studied in high school, so some amount of depth really helped me out, and I like the story. This is a straight telling of the story, word for word, so it is very easy to get lost. Thankfully I had some favourite lines that I remember, and the plot is easy to follow, so I was able to enjoy it. It is filmed in black and white, and it looks amazing. It is also a cool 1 hour 40 minutes, which I respect and admire, as it helps keep the pace up for something that could get bogged down. Not sure what else to say about this. If you like Macbeth, this movie will be a treat. The woman who plays the witch crushes it, which is saying a lot, that she is...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) This was a short and sweet game that is all atmosphere. You use basically 3 buttons throughout the whole game, with the puzzles leading you down a never ending path while the world unveils more if itself around you. I really loved its style, and although I thought most of the puzzles were pretty easy there were some sequences that were very cool. The game takes about 3 hours, and the final 30 minutes is crazy, turning into something I had not expected at all, with an ending that can appear unsatisfying on the surface. I love games that don't hand you the story, like Hollow Knight, and the world around you tells you what is happening without dialogue. Of course this means I don't understand it all, but that is the beauty of it, and what makes it unforgettable. No real issues with this game, other than that it is super short and doesn't really provide a challenge. This is all by design I'm sure, but I can't rate it higher than...

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) I've been beginning to come to terms the fact that maybe these aren't the perfect games for me. I certainly have enjoyed playing, but this is supposed to be the best game of the series and I guess I just didn't think it was a masterpiece. The biggest part is just I don't engage well with the hundreds of conversations this game puts you through. Standing, listening to dialogue, and choosing questions just wears me a little thin after this many hours. BUT there is still tons to love. The biggest upgrade over the first is the character development with each one offering a truly interesting story and moral dilemma. Most dilemmas can be solved a little too easily, but I simply like the questions this game forces you to ask yourself. The Krogan issue is still one that haunts every waking hour of my life. The combat is also much improved with some fun abilities, but I still found them not actually useful, especially on hard. I had to go ...

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Beans) Singing animals! I liked this one better than the first. Better songs, better story, really great voice cast, and awesome visuals! These movies always knock it out of the park. Honestly the main koala is super toxic and they need to dump him lol. But boy oh boy when Johnny the gorilla started singing sky full of stars my heart SOARED! It was so good. I was singing along to all the songs then realized there were people behind me in the theatre. Good times!

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) I actually didn't like this season as much as the first. There was somehow not enough Ted??? I was actively rooting against most of the relationships (except Roy and Keeley) and they spent way too much time on them. I found Nate's character development super interesting and was constantly saying either, "OH NO, NATE :(" or "NATE NO!" I can't wait to see where they go with that. Absolutely loved the way they handled Ted's panic attacks, and I cried a little bit several times during this season, especially during the funeral episode. Jamie's character growth has also been great, I was sure I'd always hate him. The Roy/Jamie hug really got me. Anyway, a lot of really great stuff this season, but just toooo much relationship stuff I actively disliked. Less romance, more Ted!

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) I must say I'm a bit surprised at a lot of the other reviews here. People were crying? At what?? I really didn't experience any emotion except for wanting that evil bitch Abuela to pay for her crimes and also anger at Mirabel for forgiving her so quickly. Hello? She was SO unnecessarily mean. BUT the music was great! What are you guys talking about? My only complaint was there was not enough, with only like four real songs? But We Don't Talk About Bruno is an absolute Disney all-timer and Under the Surface is pretty darn close. I think LMM is taking him lumps on the internet these days for reasons I don't care to look into, but holy smokes I must admit the guy is so talented. How has he produced so much incredible work in just this decade?? With that said, they really could have done with like, actual singers to sing these songs? I'm a known Rosa hater, and I actually think she pleasantly surprised in this movie, but I imagine...

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) Had the chance to watch this one with a friend who had never seen it before and didn't even know what it was about. I love watching movies like this with a first timer because it helps me remember my first time, and this movie is the all-time first time experience. I really don't think there is a cooler sci-fi concept out there and it gets your brain working in ways you rarely think in. Yet the awesome thing about this movie is that not only do they create a cool world, but they tell a great story within it. I don't necessarily mean the Chosen One tropes, though I admit it all works amazingly well here and my motto has always been that The Matrix can get away with anything. But it's more the stuff with with all these amazing characters they created. Morpheus is so intensely cool, the Oracle provides both guidance, mystery, and some cool philosophy, the villain has clear and understandable motivations, and Hugo Weaving gives perhap...

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Evelyn) this book is about a girl named Beatrice and galdurian named Cadwallader(Cad).(galdurians were thought to have died out over five hundred years ago).When Beatrice's very forgetful grandfather goes missing in search of a Seal witch nether Bea or Cad has heard about;they set of to find him. It is a great book with beutiful art and it ends with a real cliffhanger(I mean they are on a huge cliff)It is also a graphic novel.