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⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) I had only seen this movie once before, and all I remember is that montage near the beginning. That's 10/10, but unfortunately this is not a short film. It never quite lives up to the promise of that opening, but I thought it was enjoyable and funny at times. The story seems kind of random. Its like they had this gangbuster setup for a movie and then filled in the final hour to justify making it a feature length. An old explorer with talking dogs is trying to kill an endangered bird and our unlikely duo stops them is a weird direction to go after an old man loses the love of his life. Feels like there must have been a more coherent direction to go. Regardless, I like how weird this movie is. The whole floating house idea is beautiful and symbolic and creative. The kid is cute, you feel bad for the old guy. Some really great pieces. Made me think of Turning Red a bit, kind of an strange standalone that works because it is so different. I ...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) This is one of those strange movies that has a pretty loaded cast (Chris Pine and Jeff Bridges), reviewed really well, and yet I didn't know a single person who'd watched it and I myself had never heard of it. It's a true modern Western, where we have outlaws, a lawman, and even some shootouts, but it takes place in modern-day Texas. I actually really love the modern south and small rural towns for a movie setting. This movie was somewhat similar to No Country for Old Men for me, and set up this really interesting atmosphere with normal people in strange circumstances. It features some great writing, great performances, and a pretty gripping plot. It's far more standard then No Country, which I actually kinda enjoyed, and the morality is a lot more clear. It's also great as far as westerns go, and says a lot of interesting things about death, family, friendship, etc, like a lot of westerns do. This isn't one you'll be ...

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Beans) This is a rom-com starring Jennifer Lawrence. She gets her car repo-ed and finds an ad about a couple giving their car away to anyone who can date their son and get him out of his shell before he heads to college. This felt pretty reminiscent of those early 2000s rom-coms where the plot is ridiculous but you have fun watching it anyway. This movie was truly hilarious. I was guffawing the whole movie. I don’t remember the last time I laughed this hard from a movie. The script is funny, the comedic timing is perfect and Lawrence is stellar. The situations they get themselves into are insane and raunchy but man did I have a good time.

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) This is a gay romance movie about 2 British rugby players that have a drunken, mistaken one night stand and the consequences of that night. This isn’t a good movie and I can admit that. However, I love seeing gay romance on the screen and the main actors are incredibly attractive so I could overlook a lot of it. But also, no I can’t! These people are terrible. Both characters are in relationships when they sleep with each other and continue to be in relationships while seeing each other behind their partners back! If I knew anyone like this in real life I would hate them but I wanted them to be endgame. Anyway, the story comes to a weird climax and kind of ends up trying to be a sports movie. The nuances of gay relationships was done well and I hope to see more movies like this with bigger production in the future.

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) I think we should all agree that they should stop making all live-action super hero movies and devote all resources to making these. Still take their time, one movie every 2-3 years, but ya, nothing else comes close to what this movie offers. They story is a bunch of hogwash, but all these movies are. Multiple universes is not super interesting to me, and I have no desire to scour the internet for all the easter eggs it allows them to litter the movies with. The incredible thing is that it doesn't matter at all. The movie is made with so much artistry, and the characters are so well-defined that you can put them in any situation and sparks fly. This was over two hours and I barely cared because every frame was a feast for the senses. Can't say I am a comic lover but I love the way this mimics the feel of reading a comic. Multiple frames at once, some occasional quick text splashed onto the screen. It is sensory in a way live action can neve...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) The sequel to Before Sunrise, this follows our star-crossed lovers years in the future when they reunite next. I liked this one quite a bit more, possibly because they are closer to my current age? I can't relate to this story at all, but their conversation has a lot more life experience to it. It may be less romantic, since they both have experienced more romance and both have regrets, but I found the conversation (which these movies are entirely made out of) to be more realistic. In the last one I was constantly rolling my eyes as they both sounded like students in high school writing philosophy papers, which was maybe the point. The idea of a chance meeting years in the future is what I find romantic, and the pain you can see in Hawke's character is so clear. He has lived his whole life in the shadow of that first meeting and everything since then has felt dull. I thought he was excellent again, honestly I think way better than Delpy. It ...

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) You know what? I used to be the kid that the cousins didn't want to invite over because if they were watching a movie that was a tiny bit scary, their mom would be hearing from my mom. I wouldn't sleep for a week! Now look at me! Don't worry mom, I slept like a baby! You'd be so proud of me for watching this movie ❤️ That's not to say this movie didn't scare me, cuz it sure did. It's about 17th century puritans being banished to the wilderness, and when they settle down, some weird stuff happens and they are convinced there is a witch in the woods. It's an Eggers movie, so it is very weird, very trippy, very psychological. There are naked old ladies, and scary bible verses, and a black goat. It's a scary movie folks. It does a fantastic job of putting you in that setting, helping you understand their belief system, which helps you appreciate just why everything is so terrifying. So yeah, I've come to like h...

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) I truly think this is a perfect movie and perfect coming of age film. The cast is awesome. Saiorse and Timothee obviously have chemistry but that is only a side dynamic! Her relationship with her best friend, her first boyfriend, mom, dad (who was the mvp), brother, all of it was so complex and developed and paced so well. The script was smart and snappy and so funny. I laughed out loud multiple times and was emotionally affected throughout the whole film. Somehow they capture this feeling as a young adult where you feel like you hate everyone but you feel bad about it but you have to make decisions that’s best for you but that means hurting other people. I think Greta Gerwig is a true genius and she has all my praise. Put this on your summer watch list!

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) I'm sure I'm not the first person to consider this a grown-up Hunger Games but with prisoners instead of kids. In the near future, the US has created a new for-profit prison system where inmates can compete in fights to the death, where if they win a certain number of matches, they win their freedom. It's become highly profitable as a reality show and live spectacle. It mostly follows Thurwar and Staxxx, two female fighters who are teammates and lovers, but also some other fighters, protestors, and supporters, as Thurwar gets close to earning her freedom. It is just as brutal as it sounds. Lots of depictions of murder, abuse, torture, etc. as the author absolutely demolishes America's current prison system with its inherent racism and capitalism. It was the kind of horror that I kind of couldn't look away from.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) This is a cute animated movie about an English father daughter duo that move to a castle in Ireland. The father is a hunter and the daughter wants to be just like him. He is tasked with ridding the forest of wolves, and when she follows him into the forest she meets a mysterious young girl. This was really cute and touching. It really reminded me of Disney's Brave. It’s hard not to compare this animation to spiderverse because I just watched it for the second time. Where that is sharp and erratic and energetic, this is slow and soft and cute. Still really great, just so different. The accents were great, the friendship was awesome, it’s got a short run time and Sean Bean voices the dad.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) This was a rewatch for me to prep for the second movie (apparently its The Godfather 2, the way everyone is talking about it...). This movie is clearly amazing, with an animation style that is revolutionary. I cannot wait to see how this impacts movies going forward, especially with Disney/Pixar in a bit of a dry patch. It feels full and detailed without being an ADHD nightmare, and it gives me hope that quality movies for all demographics are still being made. Heck, is this the best super hero movie of the past 20 years (not counting The Dark Knight)? The villain in this movie gets a 20 second montage for their backstory and it makes them more empathetic than any MCU villain. I docked a star because of the same complaint I remembered from the first watch - the final 30 minutes is pretty boring. Super hero movies need to lead up to an epic showdown, and its a treat seeing that in this animation style, it just all feels predictable and I didn't h...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) This book is 7 chapters. I thought the first 2 were amazing, the middle 3 were tough to get through, and I could not put the book down for the final 2. I think the chapters I like are clearly where Ciri is involved, especially when she is interacting with Geralt. The wolf protecting a growing cub never fails, and I love seeing her grow and realize her powers. The end of this book is all her and it was very exciting, felt like a completely different book in all the best ways. The middle chapters had some intrigue but I found it incredibly hard to follow. So many names and factions and double crossing I just couldn't keep it straight. I actually think if there was a map in this book that would help a ton, I need a visual to connect each character and their faction. There is this epic political showdown with all the witches in one place and it fell a bit flat because I couldn't remember any of the motivations. Overall I really liked this book, ...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) Not much new to saw about this show, this third season was more consistent than the second IMO. Each sketch is short, and so is each episode, so any duds are quickly washed away by the laughter to come. I don't think this season has any of my all time favourites for this show, but it also felt like less duds. I wished this season had more cameos like the last ones did, but its fine, the random people they cast here have a lot of Tim & Eric energy (Tim actually shows up in one of them, but I didn't love it). Hard to recommend this show because it is very very weird, but Jess watched a couple with me and went from rolling her eyes to dying laughing. When it lands it is so good. Shoutout to the reality show zipline, and the wedding photography booth. Haven't laughed that hard in a while.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) I don't read classics much anymore, but I do try to get in at least one a year, and this was my choice for 2023, mostly based on the fact I love the BBC miniseries. It's a real hefty book, so I took my time with it, reading a chapter or two most nights. And I had a great time from start to finish. It's about Margaret, an innocent but headstrong girl from a country village near London. Her father is a minister who, because of a change of faith, quits his job, and so they move North to Milton, a manufacturing town. The whole family has prejudices against the working class and people in trade, but gradually they come to accept their new home. This book has lots of interesting things to say about classism and distrust of the other, with a major plot being some workers wanting to go on strike. But at its heart is the relationship between Margaret and Mr. Thornton, a factory owner. They butt heads at first, but it turns into an epic love...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) I love a book about niche interests! I have a vague interest in city planning, and after reading Walkable City, I decided to up my game with this book all about parking! And it was way more interesting than it sounds. It talks about a whole bunch of issues with parking - traffic tickets, parking meters, building parking lots, and a few stories of parking laws gone wrong. I love when a book makes me think about something that has never really crossed my mind before, and now every time I park I think about all the decisions that went into that space being available for my car.

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) Like the first movie, I think this one succeeds on essentially every level, though I think they are very different. In fact, I'll bring out the classic comparison. I thought the first one was a lot like A New Hope, introducing likeable characters in a entertaining blockbuster. But the sequel now feels a lot like Empire Strikes Back, being a lot more serious, a bit darker, and introducing some tough decisions to our favorite characters. However, I think the biggest upgrade was the animation, which is crazy to say because the animation in the first movie was incredible. But this might have been the most impressive animation I've ever seen. The combination or art direction, action choreography, the music, the sound design. It has a lot of dark, almost noir vibes. This felt like the product of the greatest artists we have doing their best work. I really can't overstate it. There is this 20-30 minute action sequence that continues to build...

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) This is a cool novella by a Toronto up-and-comer. It's a spec-fi story about a suburb where all the houses are haunted, but that actually makes the homes hot commodities that people want to move to in order to reconnect with their dead loved ones. It's technically a horror story, but I don't really understand horror books because I don't think I've ever been scared while reading something in my life. But still, definitely a few spooky or darker elements. Anywho, I don't have tons to say because the story is pretty short. It was nice, well-written, and touched on a few thoughts on death and grief that I've been thinking about myself. It had a pretty creative premise. But I can't say I connected in a strong way with the characters or sympathized much with their hardships. Still solid.

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) So this is the old one and I wanted to rewatch it before we watched the second one. I'm glad we did, because there were a few things I forgot, but what I didn't forget was how amazing this movie is! It really succeeds on every level. It's hilarious, the animation is incredible and (dare I say?) revolutionary in some ways. I think this movie kinda set a new standard for Western animation. The music in amazing, the action sequences are amazing, the characters are solid. Plus it's only 100 minutes and maximizes each one of them. I think that Jake Johnson's Peter Parker is a highlight for me. What a perfect casting for washed up Spiderman. He's the perfect terrible mentor and has a bunch of jokes I laughed out loud at. I also loved Spiderpig, and the part about rising in the air when sniffing delicious pies killed me then and still does now. This movie is fast paced and has a joke per second, and still most of them land for me...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) I had never seen this before but this was right up my alley. A single mom down on her luck starts working at a law firm and stumbles upon a huge scandal. The story was captivating and Julia Roberts was truly mesmerizing. Supporting actors were great and there was justice for the little guy. Super solid movie.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) I feel like this movie doesn't really come up when people talk about Disney classics. I know I personally have never watched this movie at a time when I had a developed brain, so it was a fun one to return to. I really liked it. We watched it between Spiderverse movies, and it's kinda hilarious seeing the difference. Those ones are frantic and bursting with energy. In this movie, there is a bit where an old dog can't hear very well and misinterprets what he's hearing, and they play out that joke for a solid ten minutes. So yeah. But this movie is delightful. It's pretty cute, and somehow I was pretty wrapped up in the romance that takes five minutes to develop (the human romance, not the dogs). It also takes place in London, which I didn't know, and I the British voice actors are all great. Cruella is incredible and steals the show. Do you know a single other character from this movie? Do you even know the main character? ...

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) This is a 4 episode doc about the Duggar family (19 kids and counting on TLC) and where they came from, where they are now, and what type of influence they had. Firstly, I noticed more similarities with my own upbringing and theirs than I would have liked. The fundamentalism, the rules, the purity culture, the structure of the house and the church. All so similar. Secondly, the doc does this thing that I don’t like where they really demonize these people for being weird and conservative. While yes, so much harm can and does and did come from groups like these and they often create and harbour people that turn out to be pretty bad and evil. But being weird and conservative in and of itself isn’t a bad thing. I definitely disagreed with almost all of their teaching but had to recognize they weren’t actually doing anything wrong and I think this doc makes them villains maybe when they don’t have to. Thirdly, Bill Gothard, the head hancho of the insti...

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) This book was a lot. I never really watched iCarly but even I know the far reaching affects these childhood stars have. I actually distinctly remember when the iCarly reboot was happening and hearing that Jenette was not coming back and speculating about why. She writes about her life as a child actor and the trauma she went through. The 14-18 hour work days, the crazy schedules, not having any real friends, calorie restriction! The list goes on and on. I think my one biggest takeaway from this book was that a child should not think the way Jenette thought, or know the things she knew about her family and her mom. The responsibility she had on her shoulders as a young child is unfathomable and no child should have go through that. It’s no wonder she turned to so many coping mechanisms but it’s so good to see her doing well. This book has so many shocking revelations that at one point I said out loud “This can’t be real”. But I’m so glad she is ma...

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Beans) This was so cute and nice and heartwarming. Shia Labouf is great and Dakota Johnson is actually a goddess. I love that more movies are including a wider range of actors and people with disabilities.

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) Holy shit. I think this may be the best Spider-Man movie ever, and a contender for the best comic book movie ever. I love animation and the medium was incredible for the story they are telling. Miles is so grown up and confident in this. But he’s trying to balance being a teen in school, being present with his parents, and saving NYC. I don’t even know how to properly convey my thoughts and feelings about this. The multiverse is done so so well. The other Spideys are truly incredible and I felt a connection to every side character. The voice acting was amazing (shout out to dad Oscar Isaac). The animation style is incredible and I can’t begin to comprehend the work that went into this. It leaves you wanting more, it’s so intriguing. The 2+ hours flies by. I will be watching this in theatres again.

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Beans) I watched this on a flight which I felt was the perfect choice. It was funny, over the top, ridiculous, and you could tell they just had a good time.

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) No this is not a real movie, but I spent SIX WHOLE HOURS watching this YouTube video so dammit, I'm posting about it. It's a documentary discussing the video game industry, starting with Pong, going through the arcade era to the first home consoles, the advent of mobile games and the development of online gaming. This documentary was everything to me for like, 5 days. Every chance I got I chipped away at this behemoth video. I loved every second. Pairing video with this information is wonderful as you see things grow and expand and improve. It was a trip down memory lane, and it's always fun to see impactful events that I remember and see it through the lens of how it affected the gaming industry as a whole. I can't imagine how much work it takes to make long videos like this, but he seems to do them solo (I've watched other, slightly less ambitious videos from him before). I think he's incredibly talented at synthesizing...

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) The show is now over, and although it has perhaps the best quality-per-minute ratio in recent memory, I wonder how long it will stick with me. Curse HBO for airing two of their best shows at the same time. What were they thinking? I wonder if this show didn't leave as big an impact on me simply because I was not seeing tweets about it the same way as Succession. This show kinda felt like it came and went which is a shame. Anyways, like other seasons, this show remains hilarious and intense. It has several true laugh-out-loud moments, with the Hank rocket scene being one to stand out to me. But it was also smart and artistic and bold. I feel like this show has a licence to be as creative as they like and they take full advantage. I'll miss this show, and like Tim, I feel like I'll go back and watch some day. It's short, and part of me wishes I could have spent more time with this show, yet I wonder if it would have been as good had...

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Tim) There is truly no better feeling than when the theatre walking distance from my house is playing a classic that's been on my list forever. I was excited to see this one, but in the end was left not feeling as excited about it as I had hoped. Its a saga, a bit godfather-esque, tracking the rise of a toxic brute. I like that it spans many years, but I did have trouble empathizing for the main character in any way. You mean the guy who beats the crap out of people for a job also abuses his wife and can't maintain any relationships or display any level of trust for his family? Shocker. I am not a boxing guy, and I think the whole sport is disgusting and barbaric. That said, Creed was 10/10 for me. I can connect with them as sports movies, with montages and glorious battle, but this one portrays an unlikeable boxer that makes me dislike the sport even more. De Niro is great, and so is Pesci as the brother/manager of the star. When De Niro starts ...

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) In its final season this show solidified itself as my favourite show of the last 5 years, definitely in my all time ranking. It is hilarious and unique and dark and scathing. It feels incredibly modern, but will hold up over time, and will go on to inspire other shows I am sure. Bill Hader is a genius and I will officially watch anything he makes. The plot of this season is definitely in the endgame, and I love the arc each character takes. Gene in particular, as he repeats the cycle of pridefulness leading to humility leading back to pride when Daniel Day Lewis is mentioned. All these arcs are tragic, but something about using this loveable actor in real life and putting him through this is incredibly effective. The same could be said for Sally, who I think is going to have a career made out of this performance. I was pleased to see that a moment that scarred me last season has also scarred her, and her depressive state feels so true to character,...

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Tim) No fresh takes from me on this one - this was possibly the best show on TV the past couple years, and it did an excellent job making you interested in the plight of terrible people. This season is no exception, and I think a couple of the best episodes of the series are in this season. It does a great job ending the story, with high stakes moments and its trademark bite. I have raved about the show a bunch on here, but I think this season had a bit more frustration in it than prior seasons. The number of times characters switch sides is infuriating, and I can't keep the alliances straight anymore. All the way up to the finale I constantly am trying to figure out character motivation, and the double crossing was too constant to be effective. I will never understand the turn Shiv makes in seemingly 8 hours of the finale, but boy was it dramatic. Same complaint with the business dealing. I feel like every episode a dramatic deal is made, and then n...

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) I was very pleased that this book, the second in a duology, was just as good as the first. It concerns the same characters with a continuation of some of their problems and dynamics, but a new central problem, which is a blight that is taking over both parts of the divided island. It's wonderful and atmospheric, which is especially nice on audio.