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Showing posts from March, 2024

The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) I am finally, finally done this game after like 200 hours. Finally! And I still don't really know if I even like it. I have been playing the Witcher 3 since I finished the book series in the summer of 2022. I have had a long time to develop my thoughts... And I just don't know. So this is the final expansion of the game, and it's actually a common thing for people to say that this is the best DLC to ever exist. The best part of one of the best games ever made. It takes place in Toussaint, which was a setting a really liked in the books. It's like a fairytale Kingdom where everyone is super cheesy, and the Dutchess seems blissfully unaware about the evil things going on outside her boarders. She writes a *strongly worded* letter to tell the emperor to stop waging war on the rest of the world. It lends itself to a lot of humor, and this dlc is mostly aware of that, though I will say they could have leaned into it much more. But the ...

I'm Glad My Mom Died - Jennette McCurdy

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) This was a hit book when it came out a few years back, and it's easy to see why. It's about Jennette McCurdy, who was a child actress on iCarly (I've never seen that show, and didn't know who this actress was), and her relationship with her insane mom who pressured her, manipulated her, and taught her how to have an eating disorder. It's all super evocative and absorbing. I don't have too many complaints. I liked the writing style, being almost exclusively tiny snapshots of her life, usually being pretty funny in a dark way, and always leaving the scene early which I liked. It's all present tense which I always hate but oddly I thought it worked here. I guess the one thing that annoyed me was that she talks so poorly of everyone (except Miranda Cosgrove) to the point that it felt like i was reading some TMZ gossip column. It's not just her crazy mom, but her dad, grandparents, therapists, costars, agents and all he...

Portal 2

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) I had 2 main thoughts while playing this game. First: holy smokes I'm smart. Second: wow, this is a lot of levels. Indeed, I agree with Becky that this felt like too many. This felt less like a story with some puzzles in it, but rather a massive book of Sudokus that is meant to last you for years. In the first, the puzzles get steadily more difficult and more complex until you get to the finals levels where you have to put it all together. This one is all over the place, meandering, often having a stretch of easy ones and then some killers. But that's actually all mostly okay with me. If you want to make a ten hour puzzle game, they need to ebb and flow. And while I thought they were stretching the game out, I actually think it worked really great with the story. The puzzles and their difficulty seemed to match the story pretty well. Not only that, but there are no bad puzzles. They are all super creative in their own way, and all of them...

The Office (Season 2)

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Tim) Not a perfect score since I need to save space for the next season, but this is essentially a perfect season of TV. There are a couple slower episodes, like the one where Dwight wins an award and has to give a speech, that I found not really funny. I was thinking about how in many shows when they leave the typical setting things usually heat up, but I miss the comfort of the office when they do this. I'll change my tune when the dinner party episode comes up. I kind of forgot how much this show is just about Jim & Pam. Michael is the focal point, but he is so insensitive and childish that this show would be unwatchable without the will-they-won't-they thing going on. They have such good chemistry, and are so corny in such a real way. They aren't giving each other smoldering looks or saying smooth lines (well, Jim is kind of smooth), they are just being goofy and falling in love. Its pretty special, feels like a chemistry you r...

You Hurt My Feelings

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Tim) This was a nice little watch, a cool hour and a half movie that has a bunch of laughs and familiar faces that popping up. Its about Julia Louis Dreyfus, who is a writer, and her husband played by Tobias Mezies, having a bit of a late-middle life crisis. She is a writer, he is a therapist, both are convinced they are terrible at their jobs. She spirals when she overhears him admitting that he doesn't like her latest book. They talk about it, talk to their friends and family about it, there is a feel good conclusion. This movie made me laugh a couple times, and every scene is just people in rooms talking. It felt pretty indie, and even though its filmed in New York it feels like a small film. It felt a bit too indie in that every scene kind of hit you over the head with the theme of the movie. That motif is clearly the lies we all tell each other, whether they are okay, how you can love someone and still not be completely honest with them. ...

Whalefall - Daniel Kraus

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) This book is just like Project Hail Mary, except instead of being stuck in space he's stuck in a sperm whale, and instead of a friendly alien for a companion, he has the spirit of his abusive father talking through the whale who swallowed him.

Damsel

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) Millie Bobby Brown gets tossed into a pit with a dragon as a sacrifice and has to fight her way out. It was awesome! The ratings aren't great, but I dunno, I had an excellent time.

Avatar: The Last Airbender: Live-Action Season 1

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) You know what? I liked it! I have no idea how I would've felt if I'd never watched the original, but I had fun watching it. Some of the cast was pretty green, and I wish it had retained a little bit more of the humour and lightness of the animated show. But overall I had a good time, and I'm glad it got renewed so I can see Zuko's hair growth and hopefully hear Aang say "Flameo hotman."

True Grit - Charles Portis

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) I reviewed the movie a few days ago, saying it is the perfect movie for me, yet disappointing just a little. Well, the book did not disappoint. The book really is perfect for me. This is like Anne of Green Gables but if she was casted in a Western. The books have very similar senses of humour, being mostly long ramblings from odd people, with this chipper, energetic young girl at the centre (okay, Mattie Ross and Anne are different people, but you get it). I feel like I don't have a ton to say besides. Mattie is perfect, Rooster is hilarious, LaBeouf adds the perfect contrast. I've never read Charles Portis before but I think I'll have to read more because I really connected with his style. The humour is very deadpan and right up my alley. There is also a really wonderful, emotional payoff at the end. Also, I got to read the majority of this in the Mexican desert which is a huge plus. I feel like I should say more words for a 10, but...

Eternal Sunshine - Ariana Grande

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Beans) On my first 3 listens I thought this was a perfect album. On my next 3 I still thought it was really good, but not perfect. Still contender for album of the year already. That’s where my opinion has stayed since. I think Ariana is the vocalist of my generation but she hasn’t done anything great. She makes good music, but for her talent she should be making lasting music, and I don’t think she has until now. This album is raw and vulnerable and I don’t think it was necessarily made for primarily commercial success which I think helps remove some of the pressure to just make a catchy song. It’s short, only 13 songs and 35 minutes long. The vice with making something so short means it has to be so tight and cohesive. And I think she did that really well on this. The vocal layering is especially stand out. There are only two songs on here I don’t like, and because of that it’s not a perfect 10. Many standouts but the obvious one is We Can’t Be Friends...

Mona Lisa Smile

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Beans) This is an early 2000’s movie about Julia Roberts in the 50s moving from the west coast to the east to teach at the nations most conservative women’s college in art history. I think this was maybe a pretty feminist movie when it came out? Really the only way Julia Roberts was subversive or progressive was she wasn’t married, said you could work a job and believed in birth control. I know that must’ve been wild for the 50s but it just didn’t land for me. The cast in this is wild! Kirsten Dunst and Maggie Gyllenhaal being the stand outs as good girl bad girl opposites. But the real standout was Julia Roberts! That’s what movies are missing these days, her! I totally get why she was the it girl. Her beautiful wide smile and big brown doe eyes would make me fall for her any day.

Modern Family (Season 2)

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) Yep, nothing has changed here. Still really good, and literally nothing has changed since season 1. I disagree with Tim that the kids are annoying. I think Manny is one of the best characters... Otherwise yeah, still good. I think Cam is the best, Phil is great, and I just cannot believe how much I relate to Jay.

Kung Fu Panda 4

⭐ 6.5/10 (Originally written by Beans) This movie is definitely the weakest of them all. Felt very halfhearted. The final fight scene was only like 5 minutes long! I genuinely think these movies have some of the greatest kung fu in western media and the series is so good that this one felt like an even bigger disappointment. Shoutout to Viola Davis for her voice acting!

Menno Moto - Cameron Dueck

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) So I actually didn't really know this book existed, and mostly read it for research on my book, but also because researching for this book has made me super interested in Mennonite history. Then I come to Weview and everyone has already read it... Like everyone here has said, this book is great. I was super skeptical as I started, because it is written by a guy who kinda left the Mennonite lifestyle, and in this book he travels south to visit colonies in Mexico and Central and South America to study them. Would he understand? Would he be respectful to my people?? I kinda felt like this would be a bitter person making fun of Mennonites. I was totally wrong. For sure, I think Dueck points out (fairly) the flaws in Mennonite colonies, especially when he gets to Bolivia and discusses the male-dominated leadership structure that has led to exploitation. He also discusses some weird, contrary belief systems or inconsistencies. Still, I was totally...

True Grit (2010)

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) I have been reading this book and loving it because it is hilarious, and so I wanted Jess to watch the movie with me. I watched it years ago and often think of it as the perfect movie for me. Western, witty, cool action sequences. It's a Coen Brothers movie and I've come to love them more and more since watching this. That said, I was a tad disappointed. It is EXACTLY like the book, basically word for word, but I feel like the jokes just don't land the same as when you read them. I mean, nobody has better line delivery than I do when I'm reading in my head! I actually kinda wish they changed things a bit to fit the screen a bit better. Still, short of being a perfect movie, I still think it's a very good one. Hailey Steinfeld is incredible as the lead, a headstrong 14 year old. Jeff Bridges is perfect as Rooster, but PLEASE can you speak more clearly. Subtitles are an absolute must here. Matt Damon is terrific as LaBeouf, and ...

Kung Fu Panda 4

⭐ 5.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) Nothing to really say about this. They aren't really trying at this stage. Jack Black is okay, but this movie really isn't very funny. I would truly just say that nobody's heart was actually in this. There are still some cool action sequences, some nice music, and then of course the awesome feudal Chinese setting. But any time the characters are talking, it's pretty rough. I got paid to watch this, and wouldn't recommend going to see it in any other circumstances. It's a kids-only movie for sure.

American Fiction

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Tim) This is an interesting movie about a writer who isn't selling books, so he stoops to writing lower quality work and writes a hit sarcastically. I'm pretty sure there is an episode of Family Guy where Brian does this exact same thing, but the setup isn't really the point. This is a movie about a writer, not really about writing, his family dynamics, and his skepticism around the ongoing conversations around race. First off, lots of laughs. I thought the way it made fun of people and how they talk around race was really funny and super relatable. A couple of the jokes had me really laughing, which feels kind of rare in the things I watch these days. But this movie is really sad at times, the family having gone through a lot of pain and kind of pulling apart from each other. The dynamics were emphasized but I found them relatable. Jeffrey Wright is an atypical leading man, but I thought he was great. The character is thorny and dry an...

Mr. and Mrs. Smith

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) Best show of the year so far! When I heard this was in development years ago, with Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Donald Glover set to star, I thought it sounded like an awful idea and a waste of all the talented people involved's time. Well, Phoebe isn't associated anymore (she's great but not really this vibe) and I should have had faith in my boy Don! This show is a blast, a throw back in a lot of ways to classic TV, with almost a different adventure every week with some threads running the whole season. Donald and Maya Erskine have amazing chemistry (impossible to imagine Phoebe replacing Maya), and every episode was a delight. I think the writing of the show is great, with lots of time spent on the relationship dynamics. I don't know much about the movie, but I have heard that is based of raw physical chemistry, two people basically falling in love in real time. This might not be that, but I think its better for it, since this relati...

Dune: Part Two

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Magdalene) Good movie 👍

The Office (Season 1)

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) I have never done a rewatch, so here we go. Giving the score some room to grow, but what a first season. Having 6 episodes helps in its favour, since there is no filler. The core 4 characters are perfectly realized here its actually crazy. Not to say that they don't change but the reason this show is a smash is because of Michael Dwight Jim and Pam, in that order. To think that relative unknowns walked off the streets and perfectly captured these characters right from the start is incredible, Dwight in particular. That guy is so specific but so unique and weird, if you have seen the clips of other actors auditioning its clear no one else in the world could be that guy. Shoutout to diversity day, the show would get cancelled if that episode aired today because heaven forbid stupid characters are insensitive and do dumb things. The basketball game is always a treat. And I love how awkward it is when Jim is at the front desk with Pam and Roy ...

School Of Rock

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Joseph) What a classic. A pretty unique premise, but this movie is nothing without Jack Black. Much like Mucho Libre, I don't think there was a script for this movie. They just told Jack Black to go out there and say silly things, but also say them in silly ways. It's Schnee blae. Jack Black was made for this movie. All the air guitar riffs, the ridiculous dancing. He's perfect. The kids are all great too, and the songs they play are pretty catchy. Also, this movie is made by the master Richard Linklater. What a weird movie for him, but you can totally see it at times. Even the way the 70s and 80s are romanticized seems very much his trademark. Good job, Dick. Funny movie. Can you believe Jess hadn't seen it? Glad I was able to correct that.

First They Killed My Father - Loung Ung

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) Maggie wrote a review on this book in the early days of Weview, but her thoughts are exactly mine. I actually like reading these books. Well, I can't say I enjoy them, but I do like tales of survival, and surviving against the odds. This book is about the Cambodian genocide, and my main takeaway is that Pol Pott doesn't get talked about enough as one of the most evil people ever. Hitler gets all the shine, but holy smokes there are some evil people in history. But yeah, this is written in the present tense, which is a weird choice, and also told from the perspective of the author as a little girl. So everything is written through her understanding, like how she understood her father being marched off to be killed. She also writes a lot from her "visions" of what was going on, like how her father experienced his death, what her sister experienced in the hospital, etc. I hate to say anything negative about this book because it...

Dune: Part Two

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Joseph) I actually wrote this review twice because although I'm a known Dune hater, I didn't want to be a stick in the mud, and didn't want to review it harshly just for the sake of keeping up my hating airs. I definitely think this is an amazing movie, and I would even say a perfect adaptation. I mean just look at what slop he was working with! This certainly wasn't an Oppenheimer situation where I was bamboozled at the praise it was getting, but I was also not on board with people calling it one of the best movies ever. So on to the positive: I loved all the changes. Where I disliked the book for being, I dunno, basic, I thought all the changes added loads of depth. Chani's whole dynamic was kinda at the centre of this, posing the question of if Paul's ascension is actually a good thing. I guess this is explored in subsequent books, but I didn't feel it was really explored in the first, so this was a welcome change. I though...

Mr. & Mrs. Smith

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Katrina) Just waiting for other people to post reviews but personally I thought it was amazing and unexpected and original for an “adaptation.” I have zero memory of the original movie but this didn’t feel anything like my vague recollections of it. Still thinking about it and I might just watch it again right away…

Jaguar II - Victoria Monét

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Beans) Victoria recently won the Grammy for best new artist. And though I don’t think she should’ve won, I’m happy for her and she’s very talented. This isn’t her debut album, she’s been making music for quite a while now. I don’t know what the rules are for new artist but don’t care enough to look them up. This is an R&B/Soul album and it’s really groovy. She has a feature from Earth, Wind, and Fire and I feel like that should speak for itself. I admire her for making a full length album like this in a world full of quick singles, I just don’t know if it’ll be a lasting album. I think this is such a well rounded album and has so many good songs. The opening Smoke is fire, On My Mama, Party Girls, and Hollywood are among my favourites.

Dune: Part Two

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Beans) I am absolutely the kind of person that buys into the hype, so when I heard this was one of the best sequels ever made I couldn’t wait to watch it. And I would argue that they’re right! This movie was incredible! Visuals were stunning. The orange desert, the black sun planet, the worms, the long hallways and expansive caves; all felt like a very specific and beautiful aesthetic that gave it a grand, sweeping atmosphere. Casting literally couldn’t have been better. Was I supposed to be attracted to Austin Butler? The easy mvp here is Stilgar but for me it was actually lady Jessica. She was so sinister and conniving and religious for her own purposes, but you throw in the weird dynamic with her unborn daughter and you just have a powerhouse of a character. Music was great, fight scenes were awesome, and all around just such a wild film. 3 scenes specifically stand out to me. The beginning where the Sardaukar are slowly floating down from their ship...

Dune: Part Two

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Will) I can't think of a movie that's more visually stunning than this and part one. I'm not creative enough to make it look half this good in my head when I read the books. Denis Villenueve has perfected his visual style, and this is the perfect movie to show it off. Austin Butler was magnetic as Feyd-Rautha. I didn't love Rabban, though Baron Harkonnen was also perfect, so they nailed two out of three Harkonnens. Christopher Walken was an odd choice though - he seemed so normal, very unexpected, after that memorable Sardaukar scene in part one and after seeing e.g. the Harkonnen leadership. It worked though, somehow. I love that Chani's character gets more fleshed out here. I was curious how the movie would handle the whole situation with the badass Fremen freedom fighters (the good guys in part one, seemingly?) turning into Arabic jihadist terrorists. Blame it on the fundamentalists, I guess - which it turns out is all of them exc...

Dune: Part Two

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) The long wait is over and it was worth it! The sequel to what is maybe my favourite movie in the past 10 years, certainly the best adaptation and work of Sci-Fi, and it is everything I could have wanted. The visuals are stunning again, the music is stunning again, my word for the first movie was perfect and this movie continues that. I feel grateful to live in a time where I got to see both of these on enormous screens with speakers that shook me to my core. So this one picks off right after the first, and I love that, since I think they will be great to watch back to back. The opening scene really sets the tone visually, and I was blown away by some of the artistic choices. This movie focuses a lot more on Paul and the Fremen. I always thought it was the least interesting half of the book, and I do think I liked the first movie a touch more as well. This is missing the family dynamic and the classic heroes journey beginning. Most of the world buil...

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Tim) I saw this movie a couple weeks ago and realized I have never reviewed it here! This was a special viewing since it was with a live symphony, and it was amazing. These movies are perfect, and I think Gollum is the MVP. Always incredible to me how well these movies hold up. Even when the CGI can look dated it is so well stylized that it doesn't matter. With Dune 2 coming out it makes me think back to these movies, as so many things do, cherishing their timelessness and longing for more incredible stories on screen. However... since the soundtrack was the star of this latest viewing, it had me thinking about how I would feel about the movies if I had seen them for the first time at the age I am now. There are plenty of things to complain about story wise, and I give these movies way more grace then I do, say, Wheel of Time or Rings of Power. The Treebeard sections are so slow and boring until they storm the tower. I know, I am being hasty, but if...

Atlanta (Season 4)

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Tim) This review has been a long time coming, and I blame Jess, since I was watching with her and she never wanted to watch when I was. This season came out almost immediately after 3, and I am giving them the same score. I think 1 & 2 are peak TV, and 3 & 4 get a bit too avante garde. There is a lot to love, and the life situations of the core characters shift drastically between seasons, which I love. There are a couple episodes in this season that I think are among the series best, and I thought the finale was a perfect closing for a show like this. A couple other episodes stand alone as vignettes, and I thought season 3 did a better job on episodes like this, but I appreciate the boldness. I will say again that I think this show is genius and will stand the test of time as a true piece of art in the television format. It is unlike any other show, and it remained unique for its entire run. My appreciation for it has risen after watching s...