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⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) This movie really underwhelmed me when I watched it back in theatres in... *checks IMBD* 2016?! Honestly, I thought Andor was a completely new character for the show which shows how little an impression this movie made with me. With that said, I found that after watching the TV show, this movie had a whole new life for me. Suddenly Cassian has this cool backstory and rewarding arc. I think that doesn't make the movie better necessarily, but it does change my viewing experience, thus a higher score than I would have originally given. I agree with Tim that this movie maybe tries to do a little too much, especially to start, and indeed I think this movie should have been the TV show. There are a lot of cool, dynamic characters with lots going on and it's a shame they couldn't flesh them out here. But despite what I said about Andor, I think the main problem this movie has is that he and the other main character are actually the least eng...

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) I've never really had strong feelings about this show because it's a show about rich annoying people and who really cares about them (a lot of people, allegedly...)? That said, I was still pretty excited to see this show was back. Also, the nicest thing I think I can say is that I was always content to watch the next episode since it released. But I think it's clear this show was a bit of a step down from previous seasons. The show hangs its hat on its quality writing and nice set pieces. I thought the writing was noticeably weaker here, even cheesy sometimes, and because we're all the way up to the mid 90s, the historical set pieces aren't quite as impressive. This show included a lot more drama, as these were dramatic times in real life, but because the writing wasn't as sharp I sometimes started to feel soapy. There are a couple other negatives, like the weird emphasis on the seemingly inconsequential Egyptian family, b...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) I was mostly interested in this movie because I heard it featured Disney's first gay character (for the 5th time). I was a little doubtful, since they've said THAT before, but I ended up being pleasantly surprised! He's gay for real! He has a crush on a boy and he mentions it a number of times! And overall I thought this was a really sweet movie with a nice, relevant theme and some genuinely surprising twists. I had fun watching it and I'm glad it exists.

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) This book was made for me - a book about linguistics and how it intersects with things like gender and sexuality, but told in a very easy-to-read, conversational way that also makes it fun to read/listen to. It mostly addresses feminism and language, so things like how we talk about women, common criticisms of how women speak, and the swear words we use related to gender and sex. I also enjoyed and appreciated the chapter about the concept of "sounding gay". Very fun for a nerd like me, but I still felt like the author knew what she was talking about, and it gave me lots to think about, like the words I use and how our language shapes our worldview.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) It's not often that a YA fantasy really has me invested all the way through or stands out (when you read so many they all start to seem the same), but this one did, and I really enjoyed it. It's about Ryn, the daughter of the gravedigger, who is in charge of protecting her family and the village from bone houses, essentially walking skeletons of people who weren't properly buried. Suddenly there's an influx of bone houses coming out of the forest and attacking, so she and a mapmaker travel to find the source of the magic to protect everyone. It's hard for me to pinpoint why this one worked for me so well while most fantasy leaves me feeling ambivalent. But it was the perfect level of creepy without being pure horror, and I really liked the setting and our trio of travelers - a gravedigger girl, a mapmaker boy, and a dead goat.

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Tim) This is an autobiographical movie by Steven Spielberg about a young boy who falls in love with making movies while his family falls apart. I'll start with the bad - I can't stand Michelle Williams. She makes me cry thinking about her in Manchester by the Sea, good tears, but otherwise I can't stand her in movies. She is like what would happen if an alien saw a single movie from the 50s and then started acting. I find her voice annoying, and her facial expression scream Oscar bait. She plays the mother here in a critical role, and does a solid job, I just get very annoyed by her. Otherwise I really enjoyed this movie. The engineer father vs the artist mother seems like a magical stew for forming possibly the greatest director of all time, and watching a young boy make terrific films for his friends and family is heart warming. The movie becomes a high school drama at some point, which I didn't love, but his high school girlfriend has ...

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) I don't mean to sling around hot takes, but is this the best Star Wars of my lifetime? I will always defend Episode 3, and I love The Mandalorian, but this show fulfills the promise of an adult Star Wars playing in the massive sandbox without feeling like a lightsaber needs to be ignited to be exciting or meaningful. And it completely pulls it off from episode 1 to the finale, with no wasted frame or line of dialogue. The dialogue here is really what sets this apart. The Obi Wan show feels like it was written by a high school class compared to this. Sure, everyone talks like a philosopher, but it leaves space for silence and reaction as well, with conversations that feel realistic and nuanced. I love the way this show takes the things we have seen in Star Wars and shows it to us from a different angle. TIE fighters shrieking overhead while you are planning a stealth siege are terrifying. The pure white rooms of Empire authorities seem like cubi...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) This is a 6 part animated season that explores Ahsoka's introduction and exit (spoilers) of the Jedi ways, as well as Dooku's downfall. Its very short, and I loved it. The animation is incredible - I felt like it was done with more artistry and realism than the recent Obi Wan show. Th episodes were tight and punchy, with great action and emotional stakes. Makes me very excited for the Ahsoka series, and I love anything that answers the question "if she's so important, where was she during episodes 2 and 3??".

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) This trilogy has been amazing and I am sad to see it go. I have been blown away with the character transformations - everything about them is malleable in ways that make sense, with constantly evolving interests and motivations. This whole series has been so detailed and alive in a way that I love, and this final entry was no exception. The book did drag a bit to start with a lot of politics and what felt like recap, but I was locked in for the rest of it and felt very rewarded by the twists and turns it took. Its hard to get into it without spoilers, but all the links between liveships and the serpents and the other magic we have seen in the series came together beautifully. At the end of the day this is more about the characters than the magic though and I love this cast. I have adored both of the Hobb series' I have gone through, and I can't wait for the next one. I really thought it would only be downhill after the first, but I think ...

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) I was extremely excited for the Knives Out sequel and wasn't disappointed in the least. I was losing my mind in the theatre. I think the setting and characters weren't quite as memorable and lovable as the first one, but otherwise perfect in every way.

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) I had a super strange journey watching this show. I was excited for it and watched the first two episodes when they came out. It didn't really grab me and I had other things going on so I kinda just left it. Then a few weeks later, this show was all anyone was talking about and it was the greatest show ever according to all reputable sources. So I decided I wanted to get caught up before the finale, so I rewatched the first two, plus 8 more in one weekend. AND THEN I loved it so much that I made Jess watch it, so I rewatched all ten episodes again within a week with her. So yeah. This show really is incredible and totally worth watching twenty episodes in a week. It does indeed take a bit of time to get going, but by episode 4 or 5 I think it is the most rewarding show I've seen in a long time. I think the writing, especially the dialogue, is the best feature, but i can't let that take away from the set design, the high-pressure acti...

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) I feel like this is a movie I've heard of since forever but never actually considered watching. I should have considered sooner! I really enjoyed it mostly because I felt it super relatable. This is a movie about Paul Rudd getting engaged, and then when it comes time to fill out his wedding party he realizes he has no close male friends. Now, I actually did manage to fill out my wedding party, though I definitely had to beg Willy. I do indeed have some close male friends. But especially since moving to Toronto, I could totally relate to not having that go-to guy to hang out with on a whim, and related to how hard it is to make friends as an adult. It's definitely more perilous and vulnerable than dating ever was! I think I'll have to implement some of Paul Rudd's methods, but his pain was very real. This movie is quite funny besides. It's almost too real in some ways, but they really nailed that experience. I have always loved...

⭐ 6.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) It was fine. I remember a few really good jokes, but it mostly made me wish I was just watching the original.

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) Saw this one advertised after I watched the Malice at the Palace doc, and I had laundry to fold, so why not? I didn't love this one either. The thing about documentaries on events one is familiar with is that all the small details really start to annoy. The whole thing about getting bronze just felt over-dramatized. They lost two games, and the documentary made it sound like they were the worst team there. It was just small things like this, emphasising things over others for narrative sake, that just felt weird and biased. I actually liked the Kobe stuff despite being a known Kobe hater. I thought it did a pretty good job of painting him as a weirdo, but also someone who is maniacal about his work ethic. The story of him working out at 5am while the rest of the team partied kinda summed up what everyone loved about him and I'm glad he was heavily featured here. I also thought the other interviews were interesting and gave a cool idea of ...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) Wow. This book is hard for me to write about, but I'm going to give it a try. It's book 3 in the Beartown trilogy, and he's a chunky boy - almost 700 pages. I don't read 700 pages for just anyone, but obviously Fredrik Backman is an exception. It takes place over two weeks, two years after the end of book 2. Beartown and its hockey team have been doing well, but after a huge storm and two funerals, tensions are rising once again. This isn't a book you read for the plot, as you're looking at the events in the town from so many different perspectives that it takes a while for anything to happen, but if you're on book 3 already I assume you're there for the characters. This book is similar to the first two in many ways - you follow the same beloved characters, it focuses on themes of sports, loyalty, toxic masculinity, friendship, and community, and it's still heart-wrenching and beautiful. But the time jump an...

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) Am I... Am I starting to like horror movies? I think I might be? Does that make me a psychopath? I think I'm really starting to dig movies with a terrific sense of mystery that start to get dark and creepy. This is a movie about Jack Nicholson getting hired as an off-season caretaker at a hotel, essentially getting to stay at this massive resort with his family alone while snow blocks all routes to and from. But the hotel has had some suspicious activity in previous winters, and, well, let's just say all work and no play make Jack a dull boy. I thought this movie was awesome as a slow burn, never giving you too much at once, slowly building up the creepiness. There are essentially only 3 cast members, and all three, including the child, were phenomenal. It's a beautiful, focused, single location movie that really sends a shiver down your spine. This isn't the scariest movie ever, and I, a coward, didn't have much of a problem ...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) I'm about a year behind the hype around this k-drama, but after seeing some TikToks about it, I finally decided to watch it. It's about an autistic woman who becomes the first autistic attorney in Korea. It's a case-per-episode style in general, but of course you also see her grow, gain confidence at work, make friends, and fall in love. And because it's a k-drama, of course there are birth secrets. I can see why it was so popular. YoungWoo is really lovable and charming, and you can't help but root for her. The romance is incredibly wholesome and sweet as well. There is lots of content out there about the autism representation that I don't need to rehash, but essentially it's not great but not terrible. And heaps better than Korea has done in the past, so at least it's getting better and starting to exist.

⭐ 6.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) Today is the 18th anniversary of this brawl, and when I saw a clip on twitter I remembered that this documentary existed. Being a Pistons fan, I am kinda obligated to watch this. Whatever. I just think everyone involved was so stupid. Ron Arrest really seems like he has the intelligence and mentality of a ninth grader, though I must say I appreciated his earnestness at the end. Stephen Jackson might be the most hateable man alive and I can't believe they give a platform (he now has a podcast) to a guy with so many incredibly toxic traits. Donnie Walsh should be investigated by the FBI for putting this team together. Yes, the fans were stupid, but I just don't get why do many Pacers players were perplexed by the punishment. They kept being all, "if you knew our side of the strony..." and then went on to give zero insights from their side. Jermaine O'Neal nearly killed a short pudgy fan who ran on the court. You are not defend...

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Jess) Second time watching it. Being alive at the same time as Derry Girls is one of God's greatest gifts.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Jess Dyck) Just really enjoyed it and can’t put my finger on all the reasons why. I think it’s easy to relate to someone “simple” and kind, and the movie broke my heart in a lot of ways. I think the fact that I’m still thinking about it speaks to how good it was. I genuinely laughed out loud a lot too! How many movies are this funny and thought-provoking at the same time!? plus it’s beautiful, the accents are fun in themselves and there’s just incredible acting

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Tim) When seeing movies these days I keep wondering how long I will remember a movie, or how often I will think about it after seeing it. This movie burrowed itself into my mind the first time I saw it, and it was a delight to revisit it and find that it is just as great as I thought it was, maybe even better. This movie is composed of 6 vignettes, all taking place in the old west. They all have a power of their own, but the 5th is the longest and the one that really stood out to me this time. There are clear themes of death in all 6, but each tackles death differently, with the 5th being the most heartbreaking to me. I remember really overlooking the 1st after my first viewing, since it is the goofiest, and I am still unsure how it connects to the others, but its value was much clearer on the rewatch. The performances across the board are amazing, and like a lot of Coen movies they put together a perfect soundtrack with many original songs. The standout...

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Jess Dyck) Reviewing this solely to bring the collective score up. I watched in on a plane. I cried on said plane. This movie is beautiful and wholesome and I loved every second.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) This is a movie that I wanted to love, but it got a way from me a bit in the last 30 minutes. 2 friends have a bit of a falling out, one pursuing their art over their frivolous friendship, and the other trying to get their friendship back. It takes place in the beautiful Irish country side, and the scenery combined with the accents and dialogue made this movie delightful. The standout scene to me was an argument in the pub about the longevity of art vs the value of being a nice person. I couldn't help but think of Tar during this movie, where a character's excellence causes them to become a pretty mean person, but something about the pursuit of legacy resonated with me despite how ugly it became. Well, after this movie I can say I believe being a nice person is enough. Or can I... See, the movie ends with our nice guy becoming not so nice. And its vague what the real result of his actions are, but it left me feeling conflicted. I don't t...

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) The first black panther is definitely in my top 3 MCU films and might be my number 1. This movie is incredible. I am not ashamed to admit how much I love it. It has such a different pace and a very different beat as it deals with grief and sorrow. The tribute to Chadwick Boseman was heart wrenching and beautiful. It was honourable and noble and the first Marvel movie I would call beautiful because of it. The main women led cast were all great and so much fun to watch. Amazing fighting scenes, great dialogue, cool gadgets and the drip and beauty of these women is unparalleled. Special shout out to Lupita Nyongo. Namor, the antagonist, has me spellbound. Truly a god among men. He is showstoppingly beautiful and I would burn the world down for him. His backstory was great and fleshed out well. His motivations were believable and I would not even call him a villain. This movie didn’t really have a main superhero feel which was good for marvel. There ...

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) No real thoughts on this one. It was pretty good but never made me feel much. I think I just didn't care if the boys won the bike I guess 🤷‍♂️ The villain was pretty funny.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) This book has been all over BookTok, so I finally gave in and read this "high fantasy with low stakes" book that everyone has been talking about. And it was just as wholesome and sweet as everyone has said! Viv is an orc who has decided to retire her old violent life and start a cafe in a town that has never heard of coffee. And it's just about her hiring employees, trying to gain customers, making friends, and maybe falling in love. There are a few shady characters that do add a bit of intrigue, but otherwise it's just about starting over and breaking out of the box other people have put you in.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) I really enjoyed the first one, and I liked this one just as much! The mystery isn't all that complex, but the characters are fun and the ending made me smile.

⭐ 2.0/10 (Originally written by Jess) Garbage.

⭐ 6.0/10 (Originally written by Jess) It was ok. I don't think I'm a fan of Millie?

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) Melody is back, and it's summer break after a bit of a rough year. But Melody is determined to try something new and go to summer camp! This book is essentially Melody just trying new things and making friends and having a great time at camp. She gets to meet other kids in wheelchairs and who use speaking machines, and really connect with them. And maybe even have a crush! It was super heartwarming, and although the dialogue didn't always sound authentic for 12-year-olds, I had a good time. I have read some criticism on the disability rep that I can't really negate myself, but at least for myself it was good to be in the head of someone who can't always control her body but has a sharp mind, and is super positive despite her limitations.

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Jess)

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Jess) Worth the watch

⭐ 5.5/10 (Originally written by Jess) Sitcom. Not that good.

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) As a die hard Swifty, even I can admit that this isn’t a perfect album. There are skippable tracks, some of the songs do blend together. However, I really love it and will always give her a perfect score. While I believe she was at the top of her game on her previous 2 albums, Folklore and Evermore, Taylor is a pop star to her core and thrives here. She makes music that is fun and easy to listen to and great to sing along to and relatable. She really has a knack for piercing through your consciousness and getting all her melodies and lyrics stuck in your brain. I love this album a lot and think some of her best songs might be on it. Anti-Hero, The Great War and Dear Reader are some of my faves. But I can’t leave out Maroon, Bigger Than The Whole Sky, Lavender Haze. Ok ya maybe the album is no skips. Can’t wait to see her on tour!

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Beans) I too have been thinking about this movie a lot since I watched it. I think I really liked it but boy was I anxious for a resolution. I guess I am a sucker for a good, happy ending. Although I’m not sure that’s what we get with this conclusion. Im not a huge Colin Ferrel fan but I loved him in this. He’s just like me, self conscious about his relationships, but thinking and knowing to his core that he’s a nice person. They talk about being nice quite a bit and it comes to a boil in a drunken confrontation. Really weighing legacy vs relationships, and what we invest our time in and what we deem important. The sister, Siobhan was very clearly the best speaking character (next to Donkey Jenny). She also had to make some hard decisions about life and relationships. This movie was quite strange, and while I liked it, I don’t know if I’d actually tell anyone to go see it. I just can’t imagine a lot of the people I know enjoying it.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) What a show. I think this whole show is some of the funniest stuff I’ve seen. I think this season was a bit weaker than the first two but very enjoyable. I will say, it took me a bit to get into it. I started the first episode a few times but when I was finally in the right mood I watched it all in a day. Obviously love the main cast but got so many laughs from Sarah and Gerry who I think is the MVP. Just great stuff all around. Can’t believe they got Liam Neeson for a few episodes.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) It's only been a few days since I went out to see this one, but in that time I feel like I've given it more thought than almost any movie I've seen this year. There is clearly a lot going on here that I am not smart enough to understand, but I think the ability to get audiences thinking is a pretty special quality. Still, I think this movie succeeds on every level, including the lowest level where dummies like me dwell. Stripping away everything else, this is a funny, beautiful movie about two guys who were friends that are no longer friends, and we don't really know why, and even when we learn why we aren't satisfied. It had all the low-brow, small town humor that I've fallen in love with (see: Anne of Green Gables), some great acting performances by animals (especially the donkey!) and jokes that almost fully depend on Irish accents sounding funny. It reminded me a lot of Derry Girls which is a big plus. I also thoug...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) This movie is lovely, but I don't think I have a ton to say about it. It is 90 minutes of adorable, wholesome antics from a cute little shell. It all comes down to what you think about Jenny Slater's performance, and I thought it was awesome. I CANNOT put my finger on just who she reminds me of, but there is something very authentic and familiar about her character. It's like this Tumblr, preteen vibe... I don't know, I really can't describe it. The "director" is also amazing, and perhaps so amazing that I started to wonder to what degree he was acting and to what degree he was just being himself. If it was acting, then 10/10. If he was just being himself, then he might've been starting to border on annoying by the end. Overall, this is a cute movie that is easy to recommend. It may not move you but will certainly draw a few "awws" throughout.

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Jess) Sequel to It Ends with Us

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Tim) This movie was incredible, and you will certainly be hearing from Cate Blanchett come awards time. She plays a world-renowned orchestra conductor and composer who is at the top of her game. She really emanates intellect, and is a powerful esteemed lesbian, so when things start to unravel I found myself defending her in a way I wouldn't for, say, a powerful straight white man. She is fierce mother (portrayed in a delightfully twisted scene), so how could I ever want anything bad to happen to her!? She is already losing her mind a bit as is, basically tormented by being a genius, so when some misconduct allegations come along things fall apart. This is not a #metoo movie at all though, and the empathy I felt for her was surprising given the way you see her treat people. The movie starts with a couple long epic monologues that really put you in this world, where has she transcended celebrity as a world renowned figure, and rightly so. The level ...

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) The very last novel I reviewed I said I didn't love books that are long and meandering without a solid plot. Then I went ahead and picked up a book which is probably the most famous in this genre. I said at the time that I had to really like the writing style to be able to get through a book like this, and, well, I really liked the writing style. Indeed, I daresay I loved it. I think if I was granted one wish, I would ask for the ability to write just like L.M. Montgomery. There is so much joy and winsomeness and cheer in this book. Nothing pleased me more than when Anne starts telling Marilla a story, and then you flip the page and see that it goes on for two more pages with unbroken paragraphs. She absolutely killed me. I would laugh out loud while reading on the bus as she told Diana about her dream of nursing her back to health only to fall ill and die and be mourned by the people of Avonlea. It really is maybe the funniest book I can re...

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) I've actually never read a Stephen King novel, but I've heard many good things about his memoir on how he makes them. This is a bit of an odd book, because much of it is just stories or autobiographical accounts of him growing up that are only vaguely related to his writing career, then some of it is the story of how he became an actual writer, and then also it has a few chapters on tips and tricks for the writing process. Ultimately, I think it works though and it's nice to get a peek into the mind of our generation's most successful author. I definitely had a couple quibbles, though I think they are minor. He certainly recommends some insane stuff, like that if one wants to be successful, one should write for a few hours per day, every day, with maybe a day off per week. Hello? I don't even work that hard on my real job. He says the same about reading and I just wonder how many hours he thinks are in a day. I imagine t...

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) It's been a few months which means I've suffered through another season of this agonizing TV show. As always, it toes that line between funny and unwatchable. This season really pushes those limits. My favorite episode, and one of the funniest things I have ever watched in my life, was episode one with the ghost realtor who ends up needing to have a demon exorcised. But this season is filled with classics. The theatre sharing/ pervert poster is a classic meme by now, and the Hollywood gift shop is an all-timer. Again, the hardest I've cringed and the hardest I've laughed. I must say I love the recurring characters. You can tell Nathan knows when he's struck gold by finding one of his weirdos and will use them over and over. The second the Bill Gates impersonator comes onto my screen I know I'm in for a treat. Anyways, another great season that I hated watching. It is crazy to me that I've only watched 16 twenty...

⭐ 6.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) This is a movie based in 13th century England in which princess Bella Ramsey has to get married for the sake of her family's future. I have a lot invested in Bella Ramsey for the upcoming Last of Us, so I really wanted this to be good. I wasn't really into it. I enjoyed the first half which I thought was clever and cute and well written. But by the second half it just seemed so plodding and uninteresting. I thought it had a chance to say some interesting things about love versus duty, or at least duty versus self actualization, but I thought it just took some easy ways out and went for a kinda lame, feel-good ending. I think Bella was good? I couldn't tell if she was quirky or just annoying. But I HATE Andrew Scott (fricken Moriarty), and I hate anachronistic music and dialogue. I know I'm not the intended audience, but I just roll my eyes a lot at these movies clearly aimed at Gen Z kids. Does Gen Z even watch movies?! How about ...

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) Every year Pokemon is pushing boundaries with their games, testing the limits of the player base. And by testing the limits, I mean that they are testing how bad they can make their games and still get people to play. This year was a wholly new experiment in that they both made their funnest game in fifteen years, but also filled it with THE MOST insufferable story you have ever seen. The end result? Not bad! Because I could mash B to get through the reems and reems of horrendous, uninspired, lazy writing, the story more felt like a minor inconvenience in an otherwise amazing game rather than a deal-breaker. But my goodness I cannot emphasize how bad and long and annoying the story is. This game took a lot from Zelda BOTW and if they stuck to the same minimalist story (a trend I don't always love), we would have a real winner here. As far as core gameplay though, this is Pokemon at its best. It's all about catching pokemon again and that ...