WeView

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) Similar to my takes on the short stories, this was a solid read with parts I was really invested in, and parts that totally lost me. War councils with 7 people you have never met before and allegiances that I can't keep straight was pretty dull. Ciri training I loved. Happy to see Yennifer and Geralt not actually cross paths, as seeing them interact with other people and mention each other is more interesting. It's actually hilarious how every time we meet a new female character she is in bed with Geralt next page. It's pretty ridiculous and every time I am like, not this time, she is too fierce and independent for that, but nope. Even at the start of this book, we get to know Triss a bit more and see the Witcher school through her eyes, learning about what they go through and how they have been training Ciri - all cool stuff! But her internal monologue keeps going back to Geralt and how much she wants to sleep with him. Joe likes to ...

⭐ 5.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) I don't reeeeally know why I watched this. I didn't like the first. I had heard that this one is a lot more fun than 1, and all the hype for 4 made me think that maybe I'll like it this time. Admittedly, this one takes itself a little less seriously, or at least I hope it's not trying to be serious. Hard to tell, which is a problem. It's still way too serious for a movie this dumb. This is just as dumb as the Fast movies, but at least those are a little more showy. This is just John Wick with a handgun mowing people down for 2 hours. I often think about these as an American equivalent of Jackie Chan movies. It's all just about the iconic main character kicking ass. But while Jackie Chan is creative, funny and exhilarating, this just feels like a 2 hour gunfight with no stakes. Pretty dull in my opinion. I want to see John Wick jump into a moving helicopter, not headshot goons as they run through a corridor. There was one h...

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) A sports movie that has every single beat of every sports movie ever except with a special needs cast! Nothing crazy here. A lot of heartwarming moments and a few genuine laughs. The romance was not good at all but it was cute and I enjoyed watching it with Maggie especially.

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) Book #8 of the Wayward Children series, and a really strong addition to the series while also being completely fine as a standalone. Antsy is a happy girl who loses a lot when her beloved father dies and her creepy stepfather moves in. To escape she goes through a door that ends up being the place where lost things go. There she can access doors to other worlds to find treasure, but maybe there's a cost she doesn't know about. Really lovely thematically, exploring the things children lose when they are forced to grow up too fast. I loved the expansion on how the Doors work too, even though Antsy's world itself could've used a bit more explaining.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) This book is so charming - a cozy fantasy with just a hint of darkness. Emily is an awkward scholar who studies faerie, and she travels to a northern country to try to find more, and is joined by her frenemy colleague Wendell. As she gets to know the Hidden Folk of the area, she also gets to know the villagers and discovers some of Wendell's secrets. Great characters, great atmosphere, and just a fun read.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) A nonfiction book about butts, and specifically the way women's butts have been viewed and portrayed by society throughout history. I like books that do a deep dive into a niche interest, and I have never thought about butts so much before! She talks about the purpose of butts in human's evolution, but most of it is how and why our preferences about butts have changed, from wearing bustles to the song Baby Got Back. Fascinating!

⭐ 6.5/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) This movie about a jerk basketball coach being forced to coach a Special Olympics team for his community service was exactly what you'd expect it to be. Funny and heartwarming with not a single surprise when it comes to plot. I could've told you every single plot point based on the trailer, but I still watched it because sometimes you want something comforting! It could be really cheesy though, and although I appreciated that the basketball team was played by actors with different intellectual disabilities, I didn't like that the focus was still on Woody Harrelson and how they helped him have a redemption arc. Let the players have more complexity and cut out the pointless romance!

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) Season 2 was just as good as the first season! The higher episode count for this season meant they were able to have longer story and character arcs, which I enjoyed. Lots of laughs without too much awkward humour or things not appropriate for kids, which broadens its appeal I think. I'm glad a season 3 has already been confirmed!

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Jess Dyck) Coming out of WeView retirement to try and get more people to watch this show so it gets a second season 🤩 This is a competition style reality cooking show, hosted by Dan Levy, with amazing judges who clearly love being there and are brilliant at what they do, and the most incredibly lovable crop of contestants 💕 AND the prize is unreal! 300,000 dollars to invest in their food business (all the competing chefs are entrepreneurs trying to make it in the culinary world)! I loved every second and I’m rooting so hard for everyone and it’s just such a warm fuzzy watch that i needed to share it please watch this

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) More hijinks from my favorite bear! Doesn't he just get in the most preposterous of scrapes? What a loveable rascal! What a charming troublemaker! What a delightful little devil! Anyways. This movie is good. It's just like the first, except it has Brenden Gleeson this time, and that guy really wants help making marmalade sandwiches. Wonderful, wholesome humor the whole way through. Lots of good laughs, especially with the whole prison arc.

⭐ 4.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) I'm sorry Beans, but I need to do this. Friendships are temporary, Weview is eternal. You understand. This book has actually made me really think about what I look for in stories and why I connect with some and not others. This is one of the most celebrated fantasy novels of this decade, so I understand I'm in the minority. I really wanted to like this book. I read the whole thing waiting for it to click. But, simply put, I never connected with any of the characters in any meaningful way. It's not that I hated them. It's that I didn't care about them at all. I think my main takeaway, for now, is that I need characters to be more likeable. Like Tyrion, Arya, Geralt or fantasy icon Anne of Green Gables, I need a little more humour, more life, more charm. After 50 pages, I asked Beans when the funny characters come. He told me this book is only serious. I should have stopped there. I'm not sure I'll ever enjoy such a book...

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) I have heard nothing but amazing things about this movie, but unfortunately it didn't really land for me. It is an incredibly patient movie, following a father and daughter on vacation, exploring their relationship, with a touch of coming-of-age for the daughter and midlife crisis for the dad. I feel like it is hurtful to say I was bored by this. The level of artistry is undeniable, and there are frames that stick in my mind as I write this review, I just didn't feel any emotional connection to either character. There is a part somewhat early on where the daughter says something profound, and that always turns me off, the precocious kid. The father is a bit distant, but has his good moments too, so when he starts behaving a bit strangely I was kind of confused, felt like I didn't see it coming. The signs were there, I just missed them I think. The movie ends with an interesting framing device I don't want to give away, but its an...

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) Game of Thrones? More like Game of trying to remember who the hell all these characters are, am I right? (Has that joke been done before? If not I'm claiming it.) So I started watching the show long after it began, only joining the hype train at the end. I liked it, and figured that George was elite in his craft when it came to world building and political drama. For some reason I thought he'd be a crummy writer who the filmmakers elevated. I just didn't want to give the books a chance because I thought he was just a pervy weirdo. Well, the sex scenes are still pretty yucky, but otherwise holy crap! I am now fully convinced that this man is a genius, incredible in all he does. There is not really one aspect of this book that I think is bad or even middling. I thought the characters might be lacking, but no! They are almost all charming, complex, unique, interesting and compelling. Arya, Tyrion, Sansa, Jon, Ned, Danni. The villains ar...

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) Watching this was our way of showing solidarity with the Irish people on Saint Patty's Day (I'm always an ally 🫡). It's about a family grappling with life and hardship during the Irish civil war, trying to decide if they want to stick to their roots of move somewhere else for a better life. It's quite artsy, told mostly from a little boy's perspective, and also it's... In black and white. I thought this movie was really nice. It's quite funny, similar to other Irish comedies like Banshees or Derry Girls. But like those, it has nicer, more serious moments that are often wholesome and touching. The boy is adorable, but Mance Rayder steals the show and my heart here. Just a really nice, mostly light, safe, low-committment movie (just 90 mins) that I'd recommend to basically everyone. I think it has potential to be moving for some, but for others it will still be a good time. But seriously, why black and white! Get o...

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) I was all over the first season, even though I typically hate shows where you follow people who are all completely terrible and unlikeable. This season made me remember why I don't like them. Where the first season's characters were mostly all annoying and petulant, this crop of characters all seemed a step beyond that. The first 5 episodes were pretty tough to get through. With that said, there is still plenty to love. Again, like the first season, the set pieces are amazing, the acting is amazing, the writing, etc. These shows all seem carefully crafted, beautifully shot. The last two episodes were a bit of a rollercoaster and I was a bit more invested. Also, perhaps this show's greatest gift is an absolute banger musical theme that is up there with Succession's. Anyways, I know this show is amazing in a lot of ways, and I respect the craft and it's above my likes and dislikes. But I just didn't enjoy watching much of it...

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Tim) I played this game recently, so hard not to watch with that in mind. I was immediately upset when the first 2 episodes started with flashbacks about how the virus began, because who cares. That is the last thing that makes this game interesting, and I found every time the show strayed away from Joel and Ellie to flashbacks I was dragged away from what makes this story special (minus episode 3, which inspired tons of confidence). Another aspect of the game is that you spend over 20 hours with the characters, so by the end you feel a connection that the story can use to break your heart. By playing Joel's perspective you have to make decisions that feel gross and it elevates the story, because these are end times and you gotta protect the kid. The show does a decent job of this, but its runtime is like 8 hours, so I didn't feel the same connection. Sounds like I am complaining but this show is great. They fill out the world really well wit...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) Probably my least favourite Robin Hobb book yet, but mainly because of the pace of the first half. I tore through the second half because it felt like new important material. The first half was catching back up with beloved characters after a big time jump and basically walking through all the things they had done. I am no author, but maybe it would have been good to cut back and forth between flashbacks and present events, instead of telling everything chronologically. I like taking time to set the table, but this is like if leaving the Shire took have the book. Anyways I love that I am back to this world, and reuniting with some of these characters made me appreciate how much I loved the first trilogy. I think the premise of this one is a bit less exciting, as the old guard tries to bring up the new generation without repeating mistakes that were made with them. I like that it is getting a bit deeper into the magic of the world, and the conn...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) This show took a bit but it is genuinely good now, with laughs every episode. I think it suffers a bit from what I call "Parks and Rec syndrome", where the main character is portrayed as relatable but is kind of insufferable, but the supporting cast is strong enough to make up for it. They pull crazy celebrities for single episode runs, which is always fun, and they have harnessed the talents of the core cast to double down on the things that are actually funny. I have never liked Tracy Morgan but I feel like they have dialed into him now and its not just him yelling all the time anymore.

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) This is the sequel to The Witness for the Dead and if possible I liked it even more. It's just specially geared towards me! It continues to follow Thara Celehar, my favourite lonely gay elf of all time, as he solves murders and other death-related mysteries, and makes friends, and begins to overcome some of his struggles. I just love all of the characters so much and want things to go well for them, and I love the ongoing theme in these books that happiness isn't always easy to achieve, but it is out there for you. I'm extremely excited for the last book, especially with the mystery of where Celehar left off at the end of this one.

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) I'm giving this book a 10 because I can't think of a single way it could be improved. And also because the reading experience was ideal (reading it aloud with my favourite sisters). It's a fun, somewhat silly, overall delightful story about a 29-year-old "old maid" in vaguely early 1900s Canada who is miserable living her dull, uninteresting life with her overbearing family, and then discovers she will die within a year and decides to live it to the fullest. It's not at all depressing (don't worry!) and incredibly endearing. The characters all had so much personality, and LM Montgomery has such a fun, clever writing style that really shone. And it gives a very lovely outlook on life! I think I'll be thinking about it for a while.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) I knew about this story from Joe who sold it really well. It was a few years ago that we talked about it and so the details were vague enough that most of the story was a surprise for me which was great! I think this show was awesome. Compelling story, super complex characters, great acting, not to mention one of the best love stories ever told on tv. All that to say, this show never really clicked for me and I’m not sure why. I was excited enough to watch each week but it wasn’t one of those shows I feel like I would tell a lot of people to watch. I really did like it but it feels like a one and done. Except for my guys Henry and Sam I will never forget them.

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Katrina) This is such an incredible show. Lisa Kudrow is an absolute star and amazing actress. Her character Valerie Cherish is such a real person to me. Both seasons are amazing and so well-done coming back for the second season after such a long time - hard to believe they are ten years apart! I’d love it if they brought it back but it did end in such a perfect way it’s hard to imagine how they would do that. Some episodes are slow but every second is a joy.

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) I was so, so excited for this one to come out. The game is one of my favorite pieces of media across all mediums, and I was pumped that it was getting the full HBO treatment with a big budget, celebrated actors and established filmmakers. I thought for certain this show would be a good adaptation that everyone would be excited about. Well I think I was mostly right! I think this show was a huge hit. The story is undeniably very impactful and emotional. Pedro Pascal is like, the most famous person alive right now, and I thought he was solid as Joel. It was a lot of fun watching this week to week and watching the world feel all the things I felt. With that said, I think it fell short of the game for me. It's impossible to not compare as they are often shot-for-shot identical. However, I think that where the show differed, it was a net negative and ended up hurting the final product as it wasn't able to build up the characters in a way that ...

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) I think you should all pat me on the back for how far I've come. After being a Mario hater for years, I recently wanted to return to one of these games. I said in my Odyssey review that I didn't think I'd ever think about the game after playing. I think about it all the time! Now I want more! This game is essentially a big Odyssey level, featuring 100 new stars. It's definitely not as good as Odyssey, but I'd probably increase the score slightly for that one in retrospect. This one doesn't have the exact moveset, and the powerups here range from useless to game-breaking. It also has some issues I can't believe made it into the game, like sprint and throw being the same button, and the main new mechanic, Bowser's Fury, is totally undercooked and often infuriating. BUT this game is still VERY fun. After I beat the main game, I wanted to keep going, and eventually I 100% completed this shorter game which I never do. S...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) I'll be honest - I was a bit disappointed in this season and the show in general (it's already over!). I was expecting it to be the funniest show we'd seen in years and would launch an annual rewatch. It is terrific at times, again especially any Murray-centric moments, but in general it is just not as funny as I remembered. The songs are sometimes great and the best part, but also in many episode I dread when they break into song. Too weird! And I swear they wrote half the songs in one sitting. With that said, this season has two of the show's best two episodes with "Murray Takes it to the Next Level" featuring Jim Gaffigan, and "Prime Minister." Also, the song "friends" is an all-time banger that I sing all the time. So yeah, still a really solid show. This show has no normal characters, and I wonder if that might have helped. Mel continues to be a favorite of mine, but Jess hates her. I think they ...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) I was resistant to watching this movie because I felt like the premise is so clear, and the "eat the rich" narrative in lots of tv/movies/internet discourse is kind of exhausting. But the first 30 minutes of this movie were hilarious, and I had a great time watching this one. For context, I was flying home from Europe and got a first class seat (its a long story, but it cost me nothing and was a crazy experience). Being surrounded by rich snobs who live in luxury while watching this was quite a trip, but I also realized I was kind of one of them for those 7 hours. Its easy to hate others who seemingly don't realize how obscenely fortunate they are, but if you can use this app you are already in some top percentage of wealth in the world, so who am I to judge. Anyways, enough preaching. I hate upscale foodie culture with a passion. People who taste notes in their coffee and wine? Get outta here. Michelin stars? Who needs em. The only mo...

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) A rewatch for me, after watching The Menu this felt like a perfect followup, and it was a delicious second course. I think this movie is a modern masterpiece, and the thrill/horror ride combined with all the racial commentary make it something that will live on forever. Kaluuya is amazing, and his relaxed demeanor that spikes to all out fight for survival is really great. I won't get into the premise, since most people are aware of this by now, but it really doesn't get old. Allison Williams stood out to me this time around, and the way she fights for her boyfriend is so disarming that when the movie turns it punches you in the stomach every time. Give me the keys Rose! As a white guy I don't feel qualified to unpack all the things this movie is trying to say, but I am always amazed by first time directors unloading every artistic thought they have had. Peele is a funny guy, and the character of Rod feels a bit like his avatar, but simi...

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) This movie is a lot like The Fableman's, where a directory is basically telling their life story. Spielberg's is about how he fell in love with making movies, and James Gray's is about how he lived in a racist time but was never racist himself. The main thing that drew me to this movie was the cast, and there are some good scenes starring talented people, but I found the plot of this one to be pretty boring. A young school boy realizing he loves art and is different from other kids befriends a black classmate. They are both constantly getting in trouble, but he has escape hatches his friend doesn't, and he learns about injustice and this unfair world. Can't really score this below a 7, because it is well made and touching at times, but it wasn't as insightful as I was expecting it to be.

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Beans) This is a good movie but not an enjoyable one. Unfortunately I think the movie was a bit too accurate, even if there were a lot of twitter talking points. Ask pretty much every girl and they have experienced harassment to some degree which is actually insane to fathom. A really valuable watch.

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) This is a game that only true (capital G) Gamers can even dare try. Last century, if you were brave and wanted to chase glory, you joined the world wars. Trust me, those soliders wouldn't even make it to the Firelink Shrine in Dark Souls III. You have to be different to beat a Dark Souls game 😤 This game is the same basic formula as the other FromSoft games I've reviewed in Elden Ring and Bloodborne, though definitely more of the latter than the former. It's hard, it's horrific, there are very few moments of levity or joy, and the story is cryptic and mysterious. But with that comes a level of immense satisfaction, a feeling of mastery, and the right to wear your Gamer badge proudly. With that said, this being my third From game, I actually didn't struggle with this one too much. There were weird difficulty spikes, but I can't say there were too many classic moments where I lost everything and lost my mind. I got a lot of...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) Wouldn't you know, a game just came out where you're on a ship that gets trapped in the ice on a polar expedition and you have to keep your crew alive after the captain disappears! (I've been eagerly awaiting its release for months.) Anyway, this is a resource management/strategy game, something I'm absolutely terrible at, but with enough story and character building that I was INTENSELY invested in that I was able to stick it out, even though I was doing VERY badly at first. I had to restart about halfway through because I had planned so badly haha. There was much wailing and gnashing of teeth when I thought my crew members were going to freeze to death, but with a little bit of help (and a redacted amount of reloading previous saves), I made it through, and it was totally worth it for me specifically. It had a ton of references to Antarctic expeditions, it had some really fun characters and cutscenes, the stakes felt very high,...

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Rebecca) I started reading this book when I picked up the physical copy a year ago, didn't get super far because I hate reading with my eyes, and then finally got the audiobook and finished it in a week. Honestly, it didn't really grip me, even as an audiobook. I think Andy Weir has improved a lot since he wrote this one--more character development, relationship development, etc. I kept finding myself zoning out, then snapping back to attention and saying, "Oh, it was just science stuff," but the whole thing was science stuff. It's about an astronaut getting stranded on Mars and all the things he and NASA have to do to rescue him, and I LOVE survival stories, but somehow it just wasn't THAT interesting. Maybe because I've seen the movie, so I knew what was going to happen? In any case, I spent a lot of time being like, "I don't think this author even read about the Endurance." I really think he should have expl...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) This is a really self-contained romance, 2 people meeting on the train, deciding to spend a couple unplanned hours together, and then falling in love. I was charmed by the beginning, exhausted by the middle, and then moved by the ending. The setup is cute, and their chemistry is hard to deny. It feels like Hawke's character dominates conversation, but Delpy opens up later in the movie, and that felt realistic to me, the guy trying to impress. I found the 45 minutes after this scene tiring and I was rolling my eyes a bunch. They are clearly trying to impress one another with their worldviews, sounding intelligent and having thoughtful opinions on big topics, but no one talks like this. They are both well travelled and smart people, it just seemed overwritten and too high-minded. I get that that is maybe even the point, but I was bored and Jess fell asleep. I do think their reactions during these long takes felt realistic, and I was impressed with...