I came across a lot of movies, shows, and games that would be perfect for my upcoming best of list. I have so many that my honorable mentions could potentially make all three lists more bloated than they already are. I definitely want to talk about all of them. But I don't want to elongate those blogs any further than needed. And since there are only so many 1000 word reviews I can write, I am going to compile some of the things I have watched and played into one big Honorable Mentions List. I will review a grab bag of things that won't make the cut of my best of 2022 lists but are just good (or bad) enough for me to talk about them. But without further ado, I am going to start with ones that pain me the most to exclude in my best of lists.
Hotel Dusk: Room 215
Hotel Dusk is a DS game. So naturally, gameplay is relegated to touchscreen puzzles which range from being kind of whatever to really tedious.
I suppose it reflects well on the story that I endure the gameplay just for the story. I can't say the same for Kitawa Shoujo.
Hotel Dusk has some really stunning dialogue for a video game. Not to knock on video games, but good dialogue is a rare luxury to come across, so it is nice for this game to make up for some of that drought. I have no complaints with Hotel Dusk's story. The mystery is straightforward with some clever surprises. The characters are well realized and organic to the story. I especially love the main character who might end up being one of my favorite protagonists in gaming now. If only the game had some good gameplay, you know?
Super Crooks
You can get the gist for how awesome this show is based on the opening theme. I have an irrationally high standard for opening theme music, and I listened to the opening every time I started a new episode.
Super Crooks oozes with energy and has a cozy action movie vibe to it. It makes me think of Hackers or a Lupin III movie. A turn your brain off action ride that you can watch to forget about life for a while.
That said, it is not perfect all around. Without going too deep into spoilers, there is a portion that gets really dark. It's such a heel turn that feels uncalled for for a show like this. Even though in the context of the story, it made perfect sense.
So overall, it is a fine easy going action show with one section that turns into the Crawl Space episode from Breaking Bad.
Trick or Treat Scooby-Doo!
It turned out even better than the first impression. This was a ridiculously charming movie. Everyone is cutely animated, and the script gives them a lot a room to express their personality. I was cheesing throughout this entire movie.
It may not have the atmosphere of Zombie Island or the funny gags of Goes Hollywood, but there's a ton of quality here to where I might consider this my favorite Scooby Doo movie. I'm glad we still live in a world where top tier Scooby Doo movies are still being made.
Also Velma may have dethroned Willow for cutest lesbian. She is adorbs in this movie and tops Linda Cardellini as my favorite incarnation.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land
The sore spots were a big factor. Compared to other 3D platformers, like Mario Odyssey, the game lacks a lot of meat I expect from a big budget 3D platformer. Compared to other Kirby games, it seems to missing a bulk of content, likely saved for some DLC or expansion. The bulk of content we do get are lackluster time trials and hidden collectables that aren't worth writing home about.
I also appreciate the more combat heavy aspects of Kirby. And while Forgotten Land has some excellent combat-with the boss arenas and hyper bosses being a major highlight of the game-the game overall feels lacking in that area too. Enemies lack in variety as all of them can be killed in a single swipe or combo. In the end, the combat doesn't reach the Kirby highs of Superstar, Amazing Mirror, or Squeak Squad.
But it is still good. It's still Kirby, and it hard to go completely wrong with a friend like Kirby.
Abbott Elementary
After Brooklyn 99, I was curious about what is the next big comfy sitcom will be. And after a few months since the end of B99's run, we got another contender. While Abbott Elementary isn't the rocket fire explosion that B99 was during its first couple of seasons, it is still effective in being a comfy sitcom.
This show feels like it was catered to adults who watched children centered sitcoms growing up like Boy Meets World or That's So Raven. This is Saved by the Bell if we got to see what the teachers were doing while Zach did his heinous shenanigans like groping a girl or something. It's fairly well done.
The acting is what carries it. The jokes and commentary are pretty standard for a show about an underfunded public school, but the delivery sneaks up on you. In particular, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Janelle James are stand outs.
The acting also makes what are sometimes obnoxious people into very likable and understanding individuals. It's a feat to make a vapid principle, an overbearing white ally, and a conservative Christian likeable.
Abbott Elementary is a good sitcom. It may or may not have the staying power as the greats, but it will hold your attention.
The Whale
If there is one thing Aronofsky is known for, it is being in your face. Usually, that method misses more than it hits. The Whale especially has a few misses with some overly melodramatic scenes and occasional spots of shallow dialogue.
That said, when watching Whale in the theaters, the in-your-face quality means you can't escape from it and further puts you in the shoes of the film's premise.
To me, this is Aronosky's more interpretative work compared to the thematically surface level likes of Mother, Requiem for a Dream, and even Black Swan. I felt more engaged with this one rather than feeling annoyed by the director's pretensions. It also has a surprising objective perspective on religion and spirituality which is something I always admired in Aronosky like in his often underappreciated Noah.
Maybe there is some fatphobia, sexism, or whatever problem Twitter pundits may have. But from my viewing, I never got any malicious vibe. I had a positive takeaway from this film and would give it a recommendation.
Trek to Yomi
Trek to Yomi is by no means a "bad" game. It is however the worst game I played this year.
I was really excited for this one. The trailer was excellent, and the premise was even better. A Kurosawa inspired samurai game with authentic black and white and cinematography. I am sold.
Unfortunately, I failed to realize that what makes a Kurosawa film great is Kurosawa, and Trek to Yomi is no Kurosawa.
The story is soooo dull! Here is the premise, samuraicomesbackyaddayaddakillsevilsamurai. And in between the samurai not killing the evil samurai and killing evil samurai are cliché set pieces such as escaping the after life, defending a village, and kissing a cute Asian woman.
Gameplay fares no better. It's a repeat of knowing when to parry and dodge. And unless you figure the complicated combo system, that's all there is to the combat. Puzzles are a formality as are the boss fights.
It's the only game this year that felt like a slog to play from start to finish. This game deserves a pass.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners & Arcane
The first reason being the obvious point that they're both video game adaptions that aren't terrible. But more interestingly, they both have the quality of having either great first halves or great second halves.
Cyberpunk starts off so well. I am not too big on Studio Trigger aside from the Little Witch Academia short film. But holy hell, they gave it their all with this one. Pacing is lighting fast but the visuals do just enough to keep things clear. It has the Mad Max Fury Road quality where the composition is crafted to where the viewer isn't overwhelmed by the sheer chaos of a scene. Meanwhile, Arcane feels like the food's ready but no one has set the table. While the first half isn't bad, you get the obvious sense that this is all setting for important pay offs later on in the season.
Then the second half starts, and things start to shift. Arcane, after carefully setting up its dominos pieces, perfectly executes the final moments. Arcane was one of the first shows I watched this year, and the second half still rings in my mind. And to continue the kitchen analogy, Cyberpunk got a food coma for binge eating so they somewhat lazily put the dishes away just so they can go to bed. After a really great episode in the middle of the show, Cyberpunk felt like it peters out. Again, it's not bad, but it feels like a formality. You know where everything is going by that point, and you wish it would actually get there.
That said, both are really strong adaptions of their source material. And thankfully, it is not required to play either League of Legends or Cyberpunk to understand anything about their respective shows. I imagine both shows have plenty of little Easter Eggs and references, but I wouldn't know. And if I want to know, that would require me to play them. And to be honest, playing either League or Cyberpunk just isn't the best use of my time.
Both in the end are rock solid shows. They have some of the best looking animation I've seen so far in this decade. They're elegantly written aside from their respective slow beginning and end which unfortunately keeps it from cracking the top ten list.
King Richard
Still, one of these unqualified nominations have to be interesting enough to talk about, so King Richard then. Don't worry, I will spare the Will Smith jokes.
Actually, speaking of him, I found an unintentional thematic parallel in casting Will Smith as the titular character. It's uncontroversial to say that Will Smith is a talented man. However, I never felt, during his entire movie career that Will Smith's performance ever transformed a movie. And sometimes, I wonder if a movie works in spite of his performance.
And that's King Richard in a nutshell. A movie about a man whose decisions throughout the entire movie are flawed and sometimes asinine. And yet, he is able to springboard two of the greatest athletes in sports history. It's thoughts like this that make King Richard more interesting than the average biopic. You got a fairly objective portrayal of Richard Williams. He is not portrayed as some misunderstood genius with no character flaws which I feel refreshing considering how lesser biopics of this nature are insecure of their protagonist having unlikable qualities. Here, we have a genuinely flawed but not demonized character who grows organically through the movie.
Honestly, I was expecting a Green Book situation where they made a movie about the less interesting character, but they were able to turn around my sentiments by the end. Although, I feel they didn't need two and half hours to do it. The movie suffers from novel writing bloat where they to cram as much story content into the narrative (like a novel).
All in all, the movie is fine. I wouldn't have nominated it with Best Picture. But in fairness, I wouldn't have nominated 80% of the nominated lineup this year.
Cuphead: Delicious Last Course
Cuphead DLC doesn't miss a beat. It's crazy this game is over five years old but replaying it felt I was playing a game that came out this year. That's a rare sensation, even great indie games feel like they were made in their time. Cuphead's style and simple mechanics are still strikingly fresh.
It is also annoyingly difficult. The DLC is basically the fourth world of the game meaning the bosses are harder than ever. One boss almost drove me insane. I guess that boss will be in good company with that fucking bee.
Smiling Friends
Despite Smiling Friends not being the godsend some people have made it out to be, I am taking this show as hopefully a sign of things to come. It won't be long before we get a phenomenal comedy show from a Youtube alum. It's not like Bo Burnham can't be the only Youtuber to successfully transition to the mainstream.
Mank
However, the problem is that unlike Citizen Kane where it starts good and ends good. Mank starts rather uninterestingly but ends good.
That said, the parts that are good are rather good. Dialogue is authentically 1940s but not to the point of being annoying. It's at least dialogue I can appreciate. There is something about the punchiness and poetic nature of classic Hollywood dialogue. And to the film's credit, the acting and cinematography are excellent throughout.
The biggest indictment for this film is that it is very much an acquired taste. You would have to simultaneously love Citizen Kane, homages to 1930s/40s filmmaking, and the writer's process in order to really enjoy this movie. If you don't, this movie will be amusing at best and a snore at worst.
Artful Escape
See, if this were a movie, I couldn't begin to describe how amazing Artful Escape is. The art design is mind blowing. The music is solid and thematically conveys the main character's journey. The dialogue is very well written. The story has the perfect structure reminiscent of a great 80s adventure film. When this narrative is holding your hand, it makes you want to hold on tight and never let go.
It's when Artful Escape becomes a game that I feel it loses me. There are platforming sections that feel obligatory and toothless. There are dialogue trees and dialogue boxes that interrupt what are by themselves very well staged dialogue scenes. There are bloody QTEs which contrast to the intense context of the story. You practically jam with a god, and the way it's conveyed via gameplay is with flipping Simon!
So yeah, I am both in love and hate this game which equals out to it being pretty ok.
Werewolf by Night
Who would have guessed that the best Marvel thing to come out of this year wouldn't be Moon Knight or Dr. Strange 2 but a TV special dumped onto Disney+.
This was good even beyond the lowered expectations of modern Marvel movie standards. You got one of the few instances of a modern movie using black and white effectively. It does so much with so little and never overstays its welcome. It never gets to the point where it falls into the usual Marvel trappings. The villain doesn't get too much screen time for you to noticed how undeveloped they are. It doesn't feel like we are limping along to the climax.
Well done Marvel, I formally accept your apology for She-Hulk.
Who would have guessed that the best Marvel thing to come out of this year wouldn't be Moon Knight or Dr. Strange 2 but a TV special dumped onto Disney+.
Rick and Morty Season 5
As you might have guess, my worst show of 2022 is none other than She-Hulk. However, I already talked about it. And if I had to pick my second least favorite show of 2022, I gotta say Rick and Morty season 5 would be my choice.
I know Rick and Morty has developed a stereotype of being a pseudo-intellectual honey to the pseudo-intellectual fly, but the first 2.9 seasons of Rick and Morty are truly excellent. But starting around season 4, you start to notice a decline. Episodes become less consistent. Premises start taking on the tired idea of mashing two parodies together like Voltron meets Godfather or the Dinner Game meets Little Nicky. Before you get through the halfway point of season 5, the show starts to feel lazy and not to the standard of the earlier episodes. It suffers from the Malcolm in the Middle syndrome of being tolerable but a shadow of its former self.
Not that seasons 5 is irredeemable. There are stand outs. I think of the Mort Dinner Rick Andre episode as an example. And thankfully, season 6 seems to be a notable improvement even gaining back some of the air of what made the earlier seasons great. Let's hope in the future season 5 is simply an unfortunate fluke like season 2 of Twin Peaks or your middle school romantic relationships.
I know Rick and Morty has developed a stereotype of being a pseudo-intellectual honey to the pseudo-intellectual fly, but the first 2.9 seasons of Rick and Morty are truly excellent. But starting around season 4, you start to notice a decline. Episodes become less consistent. Premises start taking on the tired idea of mashing two parodies together like Voltron meets Godfather or the Dinner Game meets Little Nicky. Before you get through the halfway point of season 5, the show starts to feel lazy and not to the standard of the earlier episodes. It suffers from the Malcolm in the Middle syndrome of being tolerable but a shadow of its former self.
Not that seasons 5 is irredeemable. There are stand outs. I think of the Mort Dinner Rick Andre episode as an example. And thankfully, season 6 seems to be a notable improvement even gaining back some of the air of what made the earlier seasons great. Let's hope in the future season 5 is simply an unfortunate fluke like season 2 of Twin Peaks or your middle school romantic relationships.
Hellpie
In the hey day of 3D gaming, there existed what was called your "mid-tier platformer." As the name suggests, they were alright games, but they didn't quite reach the artistry as your Banjo Kazooies or Mario 64s. Your Ty the Tasmanian Tiger, Battle for Bikini Bottom, and Pacman World 2 are noteworthy examples of the unnoteworthy. Of course, all of this went away once platformers went out of fashion.
Now in the age where almost every niche is commercially viable, we are starting to see a return of mid tier platformers, and Hellpie is a prime candidate to be inducted in the mid tier platformers club in that it's just fine.
In Hellpie, you play as demonic office worker finding collectables. It starts off promising. You got a move set not dissimilar to a cross between A Hat in Time and Insomniac's Spider-Man. Collecting things has a nice feel to it. I also have a soft spot for stories that have a neat spin on Christian mythology, and Hellpie has an undeveloped albeit amusing take on the formula.
But it has too many rough edges to hit that next level. For one, there seems to be an grave imbalance to the amount of collectables and the rewards they provide. You have four main collectables: one that opens levels, two that upgrade your character, and another that unlocks random bonuses. While the amount of collectables to unlock new levels are fine, everything else has too few rewards to make 100%-ing satisfying. For example, the collectables that upgrade your character quickly gain diminishing returns as your character will knock out upgrades. I had an overabundance of leftover collectables with nothing to spend it on.
This leads to problem 2 which is the level design has a tough time catching up with the strength of the player character. It is very easy to build your character to the point where he can traverse some of the largest gaps in a platformer. It becomes less Hat in Time and more Spider-Man, but the level design takes longer to follow that. It leads to few moments of genuine challenge.
Finally, this game has the same problem most collectathons have which is that it lacks a late game tracker. This is especially annoying here since the environments are large and collectables can rarely be seen at a distance.
I will digress since I feel I will go full review mode on this one. Overall, I enjoyed it enough which for a mid-tier platformer is par for the course.
Harley Quinn Season 3
Now in the age where almost every niche is commercially viable, we are starting to see a return of mid tier platformers, and Hellpie is a prime candidate to be inducted in the mid tier platformers club in that it's just fine.
In Hellpie, you play as demonic office worker finding collectables. It starts off promising. You got a move set not dissimilar to a cross between A Hat in Time and Insomniac's Spider-Man. Collecting things has a nice feel to it. I also have a soft spot for stories that have a neat spin on Christian mythology, and Hellpie has an undeveloped albeit amusing take on the formula.
But it has too many rough edges to hit that next level. For one, there seems to be an grave imbalance to the amount of collectables and the rewards they provide. You have four main collectables: one that opens levels, two that upgrade your character, and another that unlocks random bonuses. While the amount of collectables to unlock new levels are fine, everything else has too few rewards to make 100%-ing satisfying. For example, the collectables that upgrade your character quickly gain diminishing returns as your character will knock out upgrades. I had an overabundance of leftover collectables with nothing to spend it on.
This leads to problem 2 which is the level design has a tough time catching up with the strength of the player character. It is very easy to build your character to the point where he can traverse some of the largest gaps in a platformer. It becomes less Hat in Time and more Spider-Man, but the level design takes longer to follow that. It leads to few moments of genuine challenge.
Finally, this game has the same problem most collectathons have which is that it lacks a late game tracker. This is especially annoying here since the environments are large and collectables can rarely be seen at a distance.
I will digress since I feel I will go full review mode on this one. Overall, I enjoyed it enough which for a mid-tier platformer is par for the course.
Harley Quinn Season 3
In a less competitive year, and I mean far less competitive year, I could see this show returning after placing in a previous best of list. The show isn't up to the standard of the first two seasons. It lacks the same wit and mainly devolves into Harley being annoying. It's still an amusing watch but it isn't quite the powerhouse comedy it once was.
I appreciate Harley and Ivy's relationship. It's apart of a trend I have been seeing where the romantic relationship isn't conflict heavy to where you wonder why they haven't broken up already. Each have their flaws that test their relationship, but it never felt like it was forced. And more importantly, it's shown that the characters in the relationship are actively trying to be better. Gee, isn't that refreshing. This culminates in a really effective final episode that caught me off guard in the amount of introspection from the characters.
The only negatives is that the show suffers from the same problems any show faces as it ages into the later seasons. Characters are more flanderized. The situations have gotten more absurd. I swear there needs to be a domino meme where the "Almost Got 'Im" episode from Batman TAS leads to an episode where they are now throwing an Oscar night for all the rogue's gallery. We've really ran the colorful villains acting like mundane office workers joke into the ground didn't we?
I appreciate Harley and Ivy's relationship. It's apart of a trend I have been seeing where the romantic relationship isn't conflict heavy to where you wonder why they haven't broken up already. Each have their flaws that test their relationship, but it never felt like it was forced. And more importantly, it's shown that the characters in the relationship are actively trying to be better. Gee, isn't that refreshing. This culminates in a really effective final episode that caught me off guard in the amount of introspection from the characters.
The only negatives is that the show suffers from the same problems any show faces as it ages into the later seasons. Characters are more flanderized. The situations have gotten more absurd. I swear there needs to be a domino meme where the "Almost Got 'Im" episode from Batman TAS leads to an episode where they are now throwing an Oscar night for all the rogue's gallery. We've really ran the colorful villains acting like mundane office workers joke into the ground didn't we?
Nightmare Alley
I bring this up because I never given a film director more second chances to strike gold again than Del Toro. But it never fails, his films never reach past the "alright" status for me.
Nightmare Alley is another "alright" film by Del Toro. Although to its credit, this one has more remnants of Pan's Labyrinth than any other Del Toro film. But, it still lacks the technical elegance that made Pan's Labyrinth such a masterpiece.
A major sticking point is the length. The film is a classic noir story that's simple yet effective. However, the film didn't need to be two and a half hours to achieve this. You get the gist of the characters' arc, the plot of the story, and the thematic point before the film presents them to you in full. It's one thing if a film is predictable. It's another thing when you feel you are one step ahead of the movie at every moment of the runtime.
Despite yet another "alright" Del Toro film, I am still going to give this man another chance. Although given the themes of this film, that second chance feels more delusional than ever before.
Return to Monkey Island
*Spoiler Alert for Secret of Monkey Island 2 & Return to Monkey Island*
I think what's almost worse than a reboot being blatantly bad is a reboot that's just on a cusp of being great.
Return to Monkey Island is the 'official' sequel to Secret of Monkey Island 2. And if you read my very first best of games list, then you will know that Monkey Island 2 is one of my favorite point-&-click adventure games. And one of the reasons I love it is that Monkey Island 2 has an ending that's a bit of a downer but leaves the series with room to go in so many interesting directions. It's like the exact opposite of Virtues Last Reward.
So with Ron Gilbert finally returning to continue the series, how did he do with his version of Monkey Island 3? Well apparently, he just doubled dip the Monkey Island 2 ending but much worse!
As you might have guess from context clues, Monkey Island 2 and Return both have what I like to call "Fuck You Endings." Those types of endings that attempt to blindside you with some type of bizarre twist like the whole story is a dream. Rarely do they work which is why the ending of Monkey Island 2 is doubly impressive. While it may seem the main character imaging the whole narrative feels out of nowhere, it gives the second game a "secret" layer. It recontextualizes the cynical tone which elevates the series as more than a silly comedy adventure.
In Return, I don't know even what Ron Gilbert's intent was this time around with using the same exact ending. Obviously, he wants to continue where he left off with 2 by exploring the idea of escapism and inevitability of growing up, but he doesn't leave you with any takeaways or a new discovery of the ideas explored in the second one. It's. Just. The. Exact. Ending.
And instead of flooring you with questions or a deeper appreciation of the story, you are just left disappointed. And unlike Monkey Island 2, character arcs go unresolved. Certain intrigues are downright forgotten about, and the build up does not match the payoff of the ending. I can't speak for the Monkey Island fanbase, but I like to think we wanted more closure for these characters. And Ron Gilbert's argument to move on because escapism is pointless because it's a damn video game. We play video games for that sole purpose sometimes. And while it's effective to subvert that once, a second time feels like a slap in the face.
It does what all really bad endings do. They ruin what is an otherwise decent story. Return isn't perfect, but it has some fun ideas. Guybrush overthrows a government and destroys an endangered tree all to get singular key items which was hilarious. The quality of the puzzles are fun albeit inconsistent. They're either too easy or misleading. Although, I don't know if that is worse than traditional adventures games that are either too convoluted or bullshit.
It's hard to talk about Return in full when the ending overshadows it. I guess the silver lining is that I was able to apply the pirate mentality the original Monkey Island games inspires. By that I mean it was very easy to torrent this game off the Internet.
*Spoiler Alert for Secret of Monkey Island 2 & Return to Monkey Island*
Return to Monkey Island is the 'official' sequel to Secret of Monkey Island 2. And if you read my very first best of games list, then you will know that Monkey Island 2 is one of my favorite point-&-click adventure games. And one of the reasons I love it is that Monkey Island 2 has an ending that's a bit of a downer but leaves the series with room to go in so many interesting directions. It's like the exact opposite of Virtues Last Reward.
So with Ron Gilbert finally returning to continue the series, how did he do with his version of Monkey Island 3? Well apparently, he just doubled dip the Monkey Island 2 ending but much worse!
As you might have guess from context clues, Monkey Island 2 and Return both have what I like to call "Fuck You Endings." Those types of endings that attempt to blindside you with some type of bizarre twist like the whole story is a dream. Rarely do they work which is why the ending of Monkey Island 2 is doubly impressive. While it may seem the main character imaging the whole narrative feels out of nowhere, it gives the second game a "secret" layer. It recontextualizes the cynical tone which elevates the series as more than a silly comedy adventure.
In Return, I don't know even what Ron Gilbert's intent was this time around with using the same exact ending. Obviously, he wants to continue where he left off with 2 by exploring the idea of escapism and inevitability of growing up, but he doesn't leave you with any takeaways or a new discovery of the ideas explored in the second one. It's. Just. The. Exact. Ending.
And instead of flooring you with questions or a deeper appreciation of the story, you are just left disappointed. And unlike Monkey Island 2, character arcs go unresolved. Certain intrigues are downright forgotten about, and the build up does not match the payoff of the ending. I can't speak for the Monkey Island fanbase, but I like to think we wanted more closure for these characters. And Ron Gilbert's argument to move on because escapism is pointless because it's a damn video game. We play video games for that sole purpose sometimes. And while it's effective to subvert that once, a second time feels like a slap in the face.
It does what all really bad endings do. They ruin what is an otherwise decent story. Return isn't perfect, but it has some fun ideas. Guybrush overthrows a government and destroys an endangered tree all to get singular key items which was hilarious. The quality of the puzzles are fun albeit inconsistent. They're either too easy or misleading. Although, I don't know if that is worse than traditional adventures games that are either too convoluted or bullshit.
It's hard to talk about Return in full when the ending overshadows it. I guess the silver lining is that I was able to apply the pirate mentality the original Monkey Island games inspires. By that I mean it was very easy to torrent this game off the Internet.
Men
And after watching, I can say I was somewhat correct. It was still a punishment to sit through.
I am genuinely shocked how little happens in this film. I hate to plagiarize an analogy, but this film isn't just a slow boil. It is chucking a signal flare into a swimming pool. It's so lacking in substance that even when you start getting into the interesting stuff in the last twenty minutes, it doesn't feel satisfying. You can't have a rollercoaster be a 30 yard flat rail followed by a five foot drop and expect it to be good.
For the guy who made Ex Machina and Annihilation, this film is shockingly out of touch in its approach to feminist themes and commentary on gender roles. I can imagine a George Lucas movie being one the nose but not Alex Garland.
I hope HOPE this is just a one-time fluke, and that Alex Garland isn't going Richard Kelly on us.
Other Mentions
Oddballs: I got a few chuckles from the crocodile, but it's very underwhelming under modern cartoon standards. It didn't need to have Steven Universe three phase story arc. But jeez, a little effort in the jokes wouldn't be remiss.
Moon Knight Moon Knight is living proof that Oscar Isaacs can carry anything on his fucking back.
Attorney Woo: For a procedural legal drama, it is one of the better ones. It's not great with some poorly thought out character arcs, but the show works in moments.
Dahmer: This one hits on the lower end of the Netflix darling tier list. If you feel you NEED to watch it, I would just start at episode 6.
BBC Ghosts: It's really funny....yeah I got nothing.
Netflix's Sandman: Like the novel, it's amazing up until Dream gets his stuff back.
Sackboy: A Big Adventure: Sackboy in a bumblebee costume was honestly one of the biggest delights I had this year. As for the game, ehhhh it's light fun, especially with a friend.
A Short Hike: Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's about the benefits of unplugging or being present or some shit. Yadda yadda yadda, video games are art. *rips a fart* The game is fine. But Jesus, this game was so overhyped for me.
Mirror's Edge: My thoughts on this game would be similar to a manic pixie dream girl with anorexia. It's gorgeous, interesting, and full of personality, but it's ungodly thin and would only greatly appeal to people who enjoy anime.
Blue Fire: Take my Hellpie review, replace the words "Spider-Man mechanics" with "Dark Souls mechanics," and you will have my review of Blue Fire. Only get it if you can get it cheap.
Sexy Brutale: A time loop game I wouldn't have bothered talking about if not for the ending. That ending, and everything building up to it, is Braid-level in how excellent it is. It's worth playing an otherwise vanilla indie game for.
Ducktales Remastered: That final level can go fuck itself.
Belfast: This is honestly one of the worst movies ever to be nominated for Best Picture, and I've seen Crash!
For a Few More Dollars: For being the least talked about Dollars Trilogy entry, this one is phenomenal. At times, it reaches peak Sergio Leone.
X & Pearl: There is going to be a day where Mia Goth will be in like Paddington and it will shock me to my core. Until then, we will continue to see her killing it in depraved sexually charged roles.
Weird: The Yankovic Story: A fairly solid comedy up to the standard from the guy who made a movie that had a mop-obsessed janitor and whatever the hell the Kipper Kids are.
Trick R' Treat: I am punching myself for sleeping on this film for this long.
Belle: Out of all the weird movie premises out there, Beauty and the Beast but Gaston is a Discord moderator is certainly one of them.
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