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Showing posts from December, 2023

Review of 'Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora' PS5 Game

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Yesterday, we bought a PS5, and this is my first PlayStation experience, and it is a glorious one. Of course, the first game I wanted to play and the main reason we have PS now is 'Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora'. After seeing the first movie a gazillion times over more than a decade, and the second one even more times in just a year, I couldn't wait to go back to Pandora and walk around this beautiful land, interacting with all the creatures and sailing through the dream that James Cameron and his team created for us. There is a moment in the game where you go out in Pandora for the first time, and I gasped out loud. This visual will stay with me, as well as the shock of how good the movies are. From this moment on, the game explodes because of the planet. It is just a magnificent sight to behold, and it is a pleasure to walk around this world, discovering new stuff. And there is plenty to discover, so many surprises around every corner, things we never saw before. It is rea

Review of 'The Velveteen Rabbit' by Margery Williams

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Who would have thought that such an innocent fairytale would hold such profound meaning? I had never heard about this rabbit until recently, and I decided to spend some time reading it. There is, of course, a 24-minute YouTube audiobook that is worth listening to. Speaking of its worth, this story strikes many chords simultaneously. The author, Margery Williams (also known as Margery Williams Bianco), explores various interesting subjects. I am not sure if a child would be capable of unlocking the hidden wisdom here. The book deals with the subjects of love, authenticity, self-doubt, self-importance, resilience, and the process of becoming human—becoming a real person. What does it mean to be real, after all? When the rabbit asks the only friendly face around, the Skin Horse, how one becomes real and whether it's a process or an instant moment, the horse's answer is: 'It doesn't happen all at once,' said the Skin Horse. 'You become. It takes a long time. That

December Movie Pick: 'The Last Voyage of the Demeter'

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I really enjoyed this movie. It had a captivating atmosphere, exactly what I needed to see yesterday. So, we played the movie, dimmed the lights, and it turned out to be a well-done story. Despite two instances where the voyage dragged a bit, it was still a hell of a journey. Everyone involved did a good job. David Dastmalchian, whom I've seen in some silly roles before, totally did a 180 on me this year. Now, I see him as an interesting actor after 'Bogeyman,' and his role here - a star is born. Aisling Franciosi had very little to do, which is too bad because every time she was on screen, I was captivated by her. I know her from 'The Nightingale' (2018), where she carried the movie like a pro and made it re-watchable – no easy task if you've seen it. Liam Cunningham, whom I mainly know as the second in command in 'Game of Thrones,' made a positive impression. He was well-cast here as the captain of 'the Demeter.' Also, Clemens, played by Corey

December Movie Pick: 'The Big Lebowski'

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  Another hit that took 25 years to appear on my radar. Finally, I saw 'The Big Lebowski,' or as he wants to be called, the Dude. Man, this film was off the charts. Everything in it is bananas. First, let's give a big applause to the Dude, who, from yesterday when I saw the movie till now, has skyrocketed on the charts of my favorite characters in history and space and time. The swagger that the Dude possesses is to strive for. Even though he often is in trouble due to his casual existence, his dominar of life holds him as a hero in my heart. He is his biggest enemy, and that is shown when he tries to stop the world from coming into his house; he nails a doorstopper, only shortly after to realize that the doors open in the opposite direction. Coming home later, he trips on his invention and falls on the floor, ending this big metaphor of how we often create our own problems. The way he carries himself after every falling, though, is impressive, and he possesses a rare attra

December Movie Pick: 'Beau Is Afraid'

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The director demanded a lot from me during this movie. Only A24 can deliver something as insane as this project directed by Ari Aster, whose previous works ('Hereditary' and 'Midsommar') with the same studio cemented him as a 'mainstream' horror master. Now, this foundation is shaking under his feet because, from what I've read, this movie failed to perform at the Box Office and lost a significant amount of money. I dare to say that the Box Office is not a measure of a good movie, but when dealing with a multimillion-dollar project like this one, your movie should have broad appeal and probably be easier to digest. I watched this rollercoaster at home, but I'm uncertain how I would have reacted if I were watching it elsewhere, especially during the middle of the film. I could have just left the cinema, but here in my house, I was glued to the TV, and I absorbed this 3-hour fiasco. I guess the movie flopping just proves Ari Aster's point that we do no

December Movie Pick: 'Saltburn'

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'Saltburn' is a slow burn. I know that's not a great intro to read if you want to go and see this movie, but I really enjoyed the third act. I ended up liking this movie and the twist in the story. Spoilers ahead. The beginning of this movie was rough; I had no idea what it was about and went in completely blind, expecting, no, hoping to be surprised. So, the movie stars Barry Keoghan, whom I knew from 'Chernobyl', where he made an strong impression, and apparently not only on me because these days he is everywhere. He has those qualities and characteristics that just leave an impression. We follow Oliver, played by Keoghan, falling in love with Felix, a hot 'everyone-wants-him' kind of guy with strong bi-vibes, played by Jacob Elordi. The ladies want him, the boys want him, everyone in between wants him. It's like he is so hot, 'I don't care where his dick has been' type, and indeed, he embodies that charismatic quality well. Watching Oliver

December Movie Pick: 'TMNT: Mutant Mayhem'

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  If you're an animation fan, turn off the lights, order some pizza, and play 'TMNT: Mutant Mayhem'. It's a fun watch with kick-ass animation and next-level cool action. While I was initially impressed by the animation in movies like 'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse', 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' and 'Puss in Boots: The Last Wish', it took me four movies to get used to it. Now, I'm in awe of how far they can take it. The play with lights in this movie is beautiful, and observing the turtles is both fun and incredibly cute. "Humans are the demon scum of the Earth. Avoid them. Don't say hi. They lust to murder that which is different from them, to interact with them is to die." As a fan of these ninjas since childhood, which was a long time ago, I've watched and adored every movie throughout the years, played the games, and read the comics. I love this modern take on them, where they're still outsiders trying to

Review of 'What If...?' Season 2 Disney+

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I truly enjoyed the first season, especially the finale. I love this interconnected storytelling, and I think it was one of the last shows that had the quality that I was expecting from Marvel back when we had ‘Wandavision’ and ‘Loki’ Season 1 right until Season 2. I am open to seeing more ‘What If’ in the future, and this release strategy is a delight! I wake up early, I go for a run with the dog, then I make a cup of coffee and I open the next present. 'Loki' kind of restored my faith in Marvel, I hope this show builds on that. All episodes of 'What if...?' Season 2 are directed by Bryan Andrews, and from what I've heard a star is born.  Here are my daily reviews for this season, streaming from December 22nd to December 30th: Episode 1: ‘What If... Nebula Joined the Nova Corps?’  The first episode was good; the animation, for the most part, was beautiful and smooth. Nebula, as always, was a badass, voiced once again by Karen Gillan. I don’t know how to feel about

Rant on 'Lessons in Chemistry' Apple TV+ Show

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The moment it began, I was thinking to myself, ‘Should I go down this rabbit hole?’ And I did because I really like Brie Larson. I have to say that even though I had some pretty revelations, and some parts were well-made, and of course, the actors were doing an incredible job, I dare to say that I will not watch it if I have the choice once again. This turned out to be a horrible idea. I am definitely not the desired audience for this show, and I am pretty sure for the book. Sometimes the pacing was bad, sometimes we were going back to the past for no reason, and the talking dog… spoilers ahead.  The first two episodes were very interesting, not from the beginning, but they had my attention. I felt their newborn love. I found it very fascinating that both of them were looking into the creation of mankind and different theories about it through the lens of science. I like that they were two outsiders who met each other at the right time. And kudos to the actors because in just 2 episode

Review of Róisín Murphy's 'Róisín Machine' Album

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I think that 'Róisín Machine' and 'Overpowered' are the best albums by Róisín. She reinvents herself every now and then, and this incarnation of her is magnificent. There is something about the albums that came out during the pandemic. Gaga, Dua, Taylor, Róisín—they all have a special place in my heart because they released their best work as my personal emotional support during this sh*t show. Review of Róisín Murphy's 'Róisín Machine' Album: 'Simulation' has a great video and a hypnotic sound that prepares you for this hit album. I heard this song long before the album surfaced in 2020. The music is compelling, and the beat is captivating. Coming back to this album after 'Hit Parade' feels right for me. Like I mentioned in the 'Hit Parade' review, I was a bit shell-shocked by the left turn she made with her music. Of course, the album is growing on me, but nothing can replace 'Róisín Machine' at the top. 'Simulation'

Review of Taylor Swift's Album '1989 (Taylor's Version)'

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This album is great. I usually do not review an album that I do not have on vinyl, but I had to change the rules. I've been listening to '1989' for a couple of weeks now, and I found out that I like all of the songs; some I even love ('This Love'). The album is definitely a well-put piece of art, and I will get it soon enough. The first incarnation of this album came out back in 2014, and I remember listening to some of the songs. Those songs were my gateway to becoming a fan of Taylor Swift. After 'Folklore' and 'Evermore,' I became fully committed to this relationship, but back then, 'Blank Space' and 'Style' were the ones that won me over and started all this. It seems like the last couple of years, Miss Americana is the center of the universe. She's having a moment, and I completely understand why. The way she got back ownership of her catalogue is groundbreaking. Never seen before, she paved the way for artists and inspired m