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⭐9/10 We're all Prue Leith in this photo, am I right? I could sit and listen to my king Paul Hollywood talk about baking all day... This season was good. It was less good than the previous season, but this continues to be the ultimate comfort watch. The food looks incredible, the show is light and warm, and the contestants are consistently good natured and easy to cheer for.  I guess I'm not allowed to say anymore for fear of spoilers. Still, I'll just say that I was happy with the winner as the person was a favorite of mine from day 1. Good stuff, beautiful show, even more beautiful judge. 

⭐9/10 Bit of a funny story with this one: my 85 year old client started reading this author for her book club, and told me that he was fantastic and that I should try his books. Okay granny! I'm sure it's a hit at your retirement home. But then I kept seeing his name come up, heaping praise on his humour and ability to engage an audience...  So I owe her an apology. She was right. I hope she sees this, though I'm not sure she knows what the internet is. This book is truly hilarious and I fell in love instantly.  I'm really not familiar with mystery novels at all. Honestly this might be my first true mystery read since the Hardy Boys. As far as the mystery elements go, I think they were good but what do I know. I didn't think the payoff was excellent or anything. I sure didn't know who did it, but I don't really read books trying to guess.  I think the bigger, more important quality here was simply the characters and their interactions. I loved th...

⭐9/10 Shout out to dirty Sue.  The latest season of the third greatest game ever made (after basketball and euchre). I've only watched 2 seasons now, and not only was this season better than the first, but was supposedly one of the best seasons in recent memory.  I believe that. Much of the drama here was incredible. I think there were a lot of good characters here, even classic villains like Rome who was basically the Joffrey of reality TV. I hated him in the moment, but this show is better off for recruiting these insane personalities.  It's kinda hard to talk about this season without spoiling it. Do people care about Survivor spoilers? Do people go back? Anyways, light spoilers ahead I guess. But I thought there were some amazing moments, like Operation Italy or the Sol to Rachel alley-oop mid season. Some great blindsides, and then I always love the challenge beasts like Kyle, or to a lesser degree Rachel. Just a great season with great characters who cre...

⭐9.5/10 A new Christmas classic! This is a movie about a 70s boarding school where a teacher gets stuck having to watch the kids who don't get to go home for Christmas. Of course, with all that time together in close proximity, they'll have a chance to share their trauma and form real, lasting bonds, right? Ah, not exactly. This isn't The Breakfast Club, but I think it's impact could be as lasting. This movie felt timeless and hard hitting, but there was no teenager pumping their fist in the final scene.  First off, I must say that the 70s New England Christmas aesthetic is wonderful. Cozy, classy, and not a phone in sight. Seriously, seeing a bunch of teenage boys pass the time by reading books sent me for a trip. Take me back!  As for the movie though, what a brilliant piece of work, huh?? Everything seemed super tight. The writing was smart and felt very much from the time. The acting was great, basically a 3 person performance, each one unique and emotio...

⭐7.5/10 I had to rewatch this movie if I was going to reread the book. This, honestly, was the movie I was probably the most excited for in my entire life. A followup prequel to my all-time favorite movies?? What could go wrong??  Everything, apparently. I know there were a ton of issues during the production of these movies, so I'm very curious what would have been the final result had this all gone smoothly. I am quite aware that I don't love this movie, but as I was watching, I was kinda struck by my not knowing what I didn't love about it... I think the casting is pretty good, and this movie looks phenomenal in most respects. A little less "real" than lotr, but looks ultra modern. There are some great, iconic moments like the dwarves singing, or Riddles in the Dark. I guess the movie just seems to be a little less than the sum of its parts.  I think one of the primary issues is that this is not a super easy book to adapt, or at least not in the way...

⭐10/10 I had been meaning to get to a reread, and with the popularity of the new Andy Serkis audiobook, why not now? I also haven't actually reviewed this book before, so here we are.  First off, what an incredible performance as far as Serkis is concerned. He does some amazing voices, including matching those of the movie cast, and his voice in general is perfect for this. Deep, growly, full of energy. Some sequences, especially the ones involving Smaug, are terrific readings. Obviously Riddles in the Dark is his best piece, helping to enhance what was already one of the best chapters of anything. Despite being a Rob Inglis lifer, I could feel my loyalties shift a bit as I went along.  Anyways, on to the actual book. I think this is one I enjoy more as an adult than I did as a kid. I loved it as a kid, but frankly there is too little blood and seriousness for 12-year-old me. Bilbo was not the hero I wanted then. But now? Well, I identify with Bilbo more than ever,...

⭐7/10 I'm going to do the ethical thing and not spend too many words on Jingle All The Way. Still, I feel it needs to be said that this movie is better than you remember and legitimately funny at times. In fact, I would say this movie is good but weighed down by horrendous performances by the two worst celebrity actors we have.  The sleezy neighbor, the deranged mail man, the Santa cabal, bombing police officers, punching a reindeer in the face. This movie is an absolutely wild ride with a very funny critique of Christmastime capitalism. I enjoyed!

⭐ 8.5/10 We watched this the night after Wicked, and these are polar opposite movies.  This movie is filled to the brim with style. I was completely gripped right from the start with its simple premise - they are choosing a new pope and its all politics. You quickly get a sense of who each of the candidates is, you pick favourites, and there is a bit of Eddard Stark's philosophy going on here where the one's that don't want power are probably the best choices to have it. The performances across the board here are amazing, particularly Ralph Fiennes, who is kind of running the election.  The burden is so clear in all his mannerisms, and he's perfect as the guy who is juggling scandals and ego in attempt to find the right person. The set is beautiful, the music kind of creepy, and every shot is staged beautifully. You can tell how much thought is put in to every frame, and there are images in this movie that are seared into my brain. This movie is exciting! The process i...

⭐ 5/10 I will keep this review short to avoid hurting feelings. Jess asked what I liked about the movie when we left and I couldn't think of a single thing. I was bored, had no connection to the characters or the music, and the story felt incomplete. There was a moment when wings starting popping out of the backs of monkeys where my eyelids were heavy and I didn't care enough to fight it. I came to in time for the ending and it felt flat, an epic song spliced into a Marvel CGI finale. Generally I have found with movies based on Broadway musicals I need to have some sort of connection or understanding of the music before watching.  The latest West Side Story is 10/10, and I didn't even like the original, but seeing the original gave me that appreciation and connection. When I watched Hamilton I didn't understand what anyone was saying and didn't like it. So I'm not sure this score reflects a problem with the story of Wicked, or my own inability to connect to mus...

⭐7.5/10 This is a nonfiction book where the author helps us understand the world around us through how animals interact with it. I love this idea, and the idea that animals experience reality in ways we can't understand. For instance, he talks about birds that can see colours we can't, or how spiders sense the world through vibrations, or how our primary way of understanding the world is through vision, but animals such as dogs experience the world primarily through smelling. It's a lot of big ideas, all made accessible and enjoyable.  I loved this book to start. I love the idea of realities being present that we have no concept of. I also just love the idea of humble animals having capabilities far above ours. It was cool and novel and I was totally into it. However, I'll fully admit I only got around 2/3 of the way through before it started to fizzle out. I didn't really care about the way that the mantis shrimp understood the world, or couldn't re...

⭐10/10 This was a rewatch of one of my all-time favorite movies. It's a movie that made me very annoying for a while. Did you know I learned how to play guitar for like, one year, because of this movie? To this day, I would consider folk to be my preferred genre, and I think that's largley due to this soundtrack. The aesthetic! The soul! Somebody pass me a cigarette.  I still think this movie is perfect. This was a bit before Oscar Isaac's Hollywood breakout, and man he turns in a sexy performance. He's not a good person, but you can't help but want the best for this down-on-his-luck folk performer with no money, living in a time before widespread anti-depressants. There's a lot of romanticism in his struggle, and I would easily trade my happy life for his miserable one so long as I got to be as sexy as him.  There's a lot of great one-off characters in this one. Everyone he runs into is full of personality and has interesting things to say. I th...

⭐8/10 I went into this one with pretty low expectations. We haven't really gotten a great Tolkien adaptation since the original trilogy, and I wasn't exactly expecting an anime to be the one to finally stand out. I think anything passable would have pleased me at this point.  Well, I'm not actually sure this movie was totally passable, but I liked it anyways. As far as negatives, I think there are plenty. For one, I don't think it was finished. I've been reading about how WB had to release a movie this year to retain rights, and it definitely felt like this one was pushed through the door. Some of the animation is choppy, and plenty felt under baked. Not a great start! There are also some bizarre choices. I've heard a few people praise Brian Cox as Helm, but I thought his performance was mostly terrible. He has the wrong voice for that role, and most of his lines seemed completely mailed-in. I just imagine Brian Cox scowling when his agent reminds hi...

⭐ 6.5/10 I have been holding off on this review because its painful to think about.  This show is not good, but I think it improved on Season 1 in some ways. If I had no connection to this world I would think this is average, but my level investment is high enough that I will call this bad. The show does a poor job balancing multiple storylines, since their connections are forced and uninteresting.  I feel like that's what Thrones did so well, and each episode had connective tissue across arcs, but this show feels like the writers trying to copy that structure without good dialog or compelling characters. I will break it down by arc. Celebrimbor and Sauron:  The best part of the show, despite it starting with Celebrimbor musing to himself that his next work will be his lasting legacy.  Honestly, why is the writing so bad? Regardless, I think this is the storyline this show was made to tell, how someone could be tricked into creating evil, and I think it did this wel...

⭐ 8/10 Pleasantly surprised by this movie, it appears to be a standard action movie on the surface, and it kind of is, but its also awesome.  Gave off lots of Jason Bourne in that our protagonist is super capable at everything he does, and the action here is really well staged.  I'll admit the story gets a bit boring when it dives into this dirty police practice that is probably a thing in real life, and it feels like its trying to be a informational podcast on the corrupt practices of small town law enforcement.  There was probably a better way of data dumping all that, it just felt so specific without straight up saying this is based on a true story. I first saw Aaron Pierre in The Underground Railroad, where he has a small heartbreaking role. He stands out because he is maybe the best looking guy in the world right now, and a complete tank.  He has awesome one-liners, and some impressive fight choreo.  He is a star and I am convinced we will be seeing more f...

⭐ 8.5/10 What a ride!  This one felt completely fresh and unique, with a pace that kept me completely locked in.  Sandler is great as this complete degenerate who is constantly lying, getting caught in lies, and then telling more lies. I thought the score was excellent, not sure if its the same person who did The Curse but its one of the same directors and the unsettling music choice works just as well here. At some point I was a bit confused what was driving this guy, and felt disconnected to the movie because of it.  How has he gotten so far being like this? How did he meet his wife and why is she still with him?  How does a piece of garbage like this have such a young attractive mistress? Thankfully he tells you straight up who he is in a dialect I understand - by comparing himself to Kevin Garnett while speaking to KG himself!  Kevin was actually really good in this, and when they have a heart to heart it all fell into place for me. I always hated him, and ...

⭐ 7/10 Did we need another take on a story that has a perfect book, a perfect animated movie that is a straight retelling of the book, and a live action version with an iconic performance from a beloved star? Probably not.  But this was fine. Its a kids movie, so not really for me.  Lots of silly jokes, some fun animation and voice work. I didn't think it was a total waste of time like I was expecting it to be.  It is super lame that we get a bit deeper into the Grinch's trauma.  Why can't he just be a grumpy guy who doesn't want other people to be happy? I thought the design of Whoville was pretty great and creative, but the Grinch's lair was sparse and less interesting. Kenan Thompson had a pretty funny character.  Whatever, its The Grinch, there are no shockers here. The kids I was with loved it.

⭐ 9/10 The first time I watched this it felt way too long, and I think I might have even fallen asleep.  This is a slow and very long movie that you kind of need to be in the mood for, and post-Casino I was all in. I think this movie is incredible, and despite loving Killers of the Flower Moon this movie will probably be remembered as the true final chapter of Scorcese's career. We have Pacino, DeNiro, and Pesci, so right away we are in good hands.  I love seeing Pesci as the stoic boss, since he is always the hothead.  All their characters feel like continuations on characters we have seen before, so Pesci is all the more intimidating since we know how he can fly off the handle. DeNiro is fine, honestly a bit flat for a reason I will get to, but Pacino is great, totally forgot how out of control he is in this. 3 greats giving great performances in roles they are super confident in. The elephant in the room here is the de-aging.  It is so distracting, especially for...

⭐10/10 Everyone just take a good hard look at my beautiful baking king Paul Hollywood. What a scrumptious man. One time Jess watching watching Paul punch the dough and she said "I wish that was me." That was the last time I let her watch this show alone. Then I watched and I fell deeper in love than she ever was.  Anyways, this is actually a review of a completely random season we watched together. I was often in the room when Jess watched this show, but one day she started a new season and I watched the episode with her, and then decided to watch the whole season... within a week. It was a strange feeling, but I honestly couldn't stop watching this show. Its a comfort watch, but it's also super interesting and easy to get super invested in. Everyone is great, and the food looks utterly delicious (that's kinda a Paul Hollywood quote).  I got completely attached to this cast of characters this season. Each one of them won my heart. I loved sweet old Jür...

⭐8.5/10 There is nothing better than when you get an HBO adaptation of a property that you enjoy. I can't say I had any strong feelings towards this particular Batman villain, and can't say I was particularly optimistic for this show... but I have often said that the best part of Batman is that he exists in Gotham, and I will usually at least try anything made in the setting. I mean, I watched a bunch of seasons of the network show, I'm a pretty committed Gothamite.  As far as adaptations, I think this is my sweet spot between hacky IP-exploitation and prestige TV. This isn't the CW's Gotham, and this also isn't The Sopranos. And that's okay with me! This is kinda what I wanted. Its got a high budget, some great writing, compelling drama, and a fabulous performance by Colin Farrell. I also loved a lot of the side stuff. I, like everyone else, really enjoyed the Sofia arc. I thought episode 4 was pretty well a masterpiece, both super uncomfortable...

⭐2/10 While you were busy watching Wicked and Gladiator, I was already onto the new hot thing: Moana 2.  Yeah... This movie was a atrocious. A failure in every regard. I guess this was essentially a converted TV series, and it feels like it. I want to say it feels like a straight-to-DVD sequel of yore, but that's an insult to the masterpiece that is Lion King 2.  This movie has a story that is incoherent at best and boring at worst. It recycles a few old jokes. Remember that chicken? He still loves eating stuff he shouldn't. Remember the pig? Actually yeah, me neither. But Maui still wants to eat them both, if you can believe it.  There is a new, forgettable ragtag team. A new villain? I literally can't remember if there was a villain. There is nice animation in this movie, but certainly not anything mind blowing at this point.  But the biggest offense? The music sucked. We all owe Lin Manuel Miranda an apology. In fact, I'm starting to wonder if the first movie suck...

I had an okay reading month, but I was reading a lot of books set in Italy for my upcoming trip and focusing on books available on Kindle Unlimited, which resulted in me trying books I wouldn't usually go for and quitting a lot of them halfway through. But I still ended up with a few I'd highly recommend! A whimsical haunted house story that I found super charming. Merritt has inherited a house, but turns out it's super haunted; Hulda is hired to help figure out what's haunting it. This is my favourite kind of cozy fantasy, where there are still stakes high enough that make it propulsive, and a compelling romance subplot that's super slow burn between non-conventionally attractive people who are timid about their feelings. A non-fiction read about all the ways algorithms make our decisions for us. I just felt like I learned so much fascinating stuff while reading this, and made me examine so much of how I consume things online. I feel like it has changed how I view ...