Saturday 2 March 2024

Dune: Part Two (Movie Review)


The 2024 moviegoing season begins in earnest with the release of Dune: Part Two, the second half of Denis Villeneuve's adaptation of Frank Herbert's seminal sci-fi epic. Originally slated for an October 2023 release, the film was unceremoniously bumped amidst last year's writers and actors strikes. And now that it is finally here for all to see in all its glory, you can bet that many will be doing just that over the course of the next couple of weeks. But does the film itself warrant all the hype surrounding its release or is it merely another tease for greater things to come?

The film picks up exactly where the first part left off, with Paul Atreides and his mother forced to seek sanctuary with the Fremen on the desert planet of Arrakis. Meanwhile, the Harkonnens have regained control of its immensely profitable spice production business. But Paul would soon learn the ways of the Fremen, and prove to be a thorn in the Harkonnen's side through coordinated attacks on their spice harvesters. Except he is also haunted by visions of a holy war that could very well claim the lives of billions across the galaxy. And so he must decide whether or not to accept his fate as the messiah some already see him as.

My biggest complaint coming out of Dune: Part One was that it felt incomplete by design. Having chosen to adapt just one-half of the source material, this meant that director Denis Villeneuve had ended up with a movie that left a good chunk of its story untold, and all the dangling plot threads that came with that decision. But even in its incomplete state, the film had proven itself to be a class above your typical book-to-film adaptation.

Its impressive production design, stellar visual effects, incredible worldbuilding, and excellent characterization were all testaments to both the strengths of its source material and Denis Villeneuve's deft handling of it. And all of that remains true in Dune: Part Two, a film that manages to match the brilliance of the first one's execution while building upon all its groundwork and achievements to create something even grander in its scope and ambition.

To put it in another way, the first film crawled then walked so that this one could take to the skies and soar. For a movie that boasts a runtime of nearly three hours long, I never once felt its length as I was fully engaged from start to finish. Every second of those nearly three hours felt earned and accounted for, mainly due to its excellent pacing. It would have been too easy for a film of this scope to get bogged down in details but it never loses sight of the big picture of its overarching narrative.

That said, if you are the type of moviegoer who didn't care for all the rich lore, worldbuilding, and character development that made up the better part of the first film, then you might also not do so in this one. Because even though there is more action and overall spectacle this time around, none of that is a real focus and you run the risk of finding it just as slow or boring. Although how anyone could find these movies boring remains a mystery to me, but to each their own I suppose.

But if, like me, you thought the first film was brilliant, then you're surely in for a treat because this one is clearly the better half. Everything from the cinematography to the score and visuals has been taken to the next level. And even though it has taken nearly three years for it to get here, it was definitely worth the wait. So taken as a whole, and as a fan of the books themselves, I have to say that this is as perfect an adaptation of the first book as I could've ever hoped for.

I also need to confess that I had my doubts when it was first announced that Timothee Chalamet would be playing Muad'Dib/Paul Atreides, simply because I felt he'd lack the imposing force of the former. But I'm pleased to report that those doubts were unfounded as the actor imbues the character with all the depth I remembered him having in the book while showing an acting range that is simply unrivaled. The new additions to the cast were also great, especially Austin Bulter who gave a stunning villainous turn as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen.

If you're only going to see one film in 2024, then it needs to be Dune: Part Two, a cinematic feast for the eyes and senses that easily surpasses the first film's brilliance, resulting in one of the greatest book-to-film adaptations since The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Yep. It's that effing epic. And while it remains to be seen if it could ever hope to stand the test of time like that other film, something tells me that it is a movie that will continue to get talked about, among film fans and critics alike, for many years to come.

Monday 1 January 2024

My Top 10 Most Anticipated Movies for 2024

As the dust slowly settles on 2023, we can begin to look forward to what the new year has in store for us in terms of new movies to watch. But expect to see at least one movie from my most anticipated movies list for last year make an appearance on this one. This is of course due to delays brought on by the combined weight of the prolonged WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, the effects of which are surely going to be felt this year and well into the next, possibly beyond. So with that in mind, here are my most anticipated movies for 2024.

10. Rebel Moon - Part Two: The Scargiver



Leave it to Netflix to milk every potential new subscriber out of their expensive Zack Snyder sci-fi epic, Rebel Moon, with their decision to split the movie into two halves. There's even already talk about a potential director's cut being in the cards. But even though Part One had turned out to be as messy and derivative as many feared it would be, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to Part Two. So here's hoping that it ties the story together in a meaningful, less convoluted way.

9. Kraven the Hunter



2024 marks the arrival of three new Sony's Spider-Man Universe films. And while my expectations for Madame Web and the third Venom movie are practically at rock bottom, I'm still harboring some measure of hope for Kraven the Hunter. The trailer looks like it could be the kind of bonkers fun the cinemas are great for but Sony's track record with these Spider-Man adjacent movies hasn't been all that great, so it remains to be seen if we have another Morbius on our hands.

8. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes



Even though it feels like we only just got a fantastic trilogy of films in the Planet of the Apes series, it's actually been more than half a decade since it concluded. And with all things that manage to turn a profit for Hollywood producers, it was only a matter of time before they went back to that particular well. The new movie takes the story forward about 300 years after Caesar and friends, so expect to see a fresh cast of CGI simians we can all root for or hate on.

7. The Fall Guy



I'm a very huge Ryan Gosling fan so of course I was excited the first time I heard he was going to star in the new action comedy, The Fall Guy. Not to be confused with the 2016 film, The Nice Guys, this one has him taking on the role of a movie stuntman who gets wrapped up in a mystery surrounding the disappearance of the man he is stunt doubling for. It is actually based on an 80s TV show that I never saw but I'm definitely going to be keeping a close eye on this one.

6. A Quiet Place: Day One



The first two movies in the A Quiet Place series were both my favorite movies in the respective years they were released. So even though I am not the biggest fan of prequels in general, I'm very much down for this one. It stars Lupita Nyong'o and Djimon Hounsou, the latter of whom will be reprising his role from the second film in the series. And going by the title, it appears it would be set at the onset of the arrival of the creatures responsible for decimating the human population.

5. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire



Godzilla fans have been eating good this past few weeks, between the Apple TV+ show, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, and the Japanese feature film, Godzilla Minus One. Well, they can add Godzilla x Kong to the menu, the latest entry in the MonsterVerse series and sequel to 2021's Godzilla vs. Kong. The titular titans have been forced to team up once again, as they face off against a new threat that could very well do more damage than both monsters combined.

4. Joker: Folie à Deux



Despite previously stating that the film was a one-off, the executives at Warner Bros. are following up the tremendous success of 2019's Joker with an inevitable sequel dubbed Joker: Folie à Deux. Joaquin Phoenix reprises his role as the Joker, but this time around, he'll be joined by Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn. The movie has been described as a musical thriller although it remains to be seen just how that would translate to the film we'll be getting at the end of the day.

3. Deadpool 3



After clearing out most of their film slate for 2024 amidst the Hollywood strikes, everyone now has their eyes set on the MCU's sole remaining tentpole for the year, Deadpool 3. The film would mark the Merc with a Mouth's first MCU appearance, as well as the return of Hugh Jackman's Wolverine, so there's plenty enough reason to get excited. But I'm just curious to see just how much of its R-rated edge the film will be allowed to keep under Disney.

2. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga



Following a show-stealing appearance in the phenomenal Mad Max: Fury Road, the character of the Imperator Furiosa gets her own solo outing in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. But rather than have Charlize Theron reprise the role, Anya Taylor-Joy will be stepping in instead to play a younger version of her. I know I said I'm not keen on prequels but this is Mad Max we're talking about. Fury Road was my favorite movie for 2015 and I have no doubt that this one could be a top contender for 2024 as well.

1. Dune: Part Two



And here we are again, with Dune: Part Two once again topping my list of most anticipated movies for another year. We can blame a delay brought about by the SAG-AFTRA strike for that but better late than never I suppose. And from everything I've seen in the trailers, it looks like it is going to be worth the wait. My primary criticism of the first film was that it felt incomplete since it was only adapting one half of the book, and this one looks like it is poised to fix that, with more of the epic battles and rich lore the book was known for.

Friday 29 December 2023

2023 in Review: Looking Back

Today marks the end of my 2023 in Review series of posts. As a light recap, I kicked this off on Monday by revealing my Top 10 video games for 2023. This was followed by my Top 10 TV shows on Tuesday. On Wednesday, I highlighted my favorite songs while yesterday, I went over my Top 10 movies for the year. To wrap things up, we'll be examining the year as a whole by taking a look back at some of the things and events that helped define 2023.

2023 like most years was filled with a lot of heated debates and controversy centered around the ongoing culture war. There were calls for boycotts of brands like Bud Light and Target by their more conservative customers, both of which would cost their respective parent companies millions of dollars. Even the video game Hogwarts Legacy wasn't exempted due to its loose ties to J.K. Rowling. But in the case of the latter, it was clear that all those calling for the game to be boycotted were simply in the vocal minority, as it would go on to become the highest-selling game for 2023.


On the other side of the pond, the coronation of King Charles III was held in May, after he'd ascended the throne in the wake of Queen Elizabeth II's passing last year. There were many guests in attendance but notably missing was Meghan Markle whose claims of systematic racism in the Royal Family have been met with some major backlash. Her husband, Prince Harry, was of course there to honor his father, but with the way he was given very minimal coverage or exposure during the ceremony, you could tell that public opinion for the couple remains very low.


General elections were held over here in Nigeria back in February. And for the first time in a long time, we had what appeared to be three strong candidates as opposed to two, as Peter Obi stepped up to the plate to challenge both Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar. And even though I didn't once again have any particular horse in the race, I still followed proceedings with mild curiosity. It of course didn't take very long into the election before reports of rigging started to run rampant. Bola Tinubu would eventually go on to win the quote, unquote, popular vote, a result anyone should have seen coming a mile away, given how things operate in the country.


As far as pop icons go, they don't really get much bigger than Taylor Swift. And 2023 was the year that heralded the start of The Eras Tour, a sprawling three-plus-hour show spanning songs from her entire back catalog. The shows would prove so popular during the year that it became the highest-grossing tour of all time, surpassing over $1 billion in ticket sales. She would even extend her dominance into theaters with a concert film, itself the highest-grossing film of its kind. All that would contribute to her being named Time Magazine's Person of the Year a second time.


2023 will probably be remembered as the year that Disney finally imploded after taking some very massive box office Ls. It all started with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania in February, but the list quickly grew to include The Little Mermaid, Elemental, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Haunted Mansion, The Marvels, and Wish. It is clear that a sizable majority of the general public has completely soured on the company as a brand, as it continues to place itself at the forefront of hot-button issues rather than focusing on delivering entertainment value. It remains to be seen what the future holds for the company, but at least its leadership has finally been forced to acknowledge the problem, so good on everyone who voted with their wallets.


Reeling things back home now, 2023 went by in what I can only describe as one helluva flash. It even feels odd writing this wrap-up post when I still vividly remember working on the one for last year. Where did all that time go, you ask? Beats me, to be honest, but the only way to keep track of the passage of time sometimes is by taking a moment to acknowledge milestones. This is primarily why I feel the need to keep doing this yearly series, to take stock of how I spent the year.

So in terms of actual milestones crossed during the year in question, there isn't much to speak of. I managed to double my subscriber count on YouTube from this time last year, so there's that. But I suppose my biggest accomplishment would be the fact that I actually started writing again. Granted, I didn't exactly churn out any new books. Still, I consider this a pivotal first step towards getting to do that again someday soon. Let's see how 2024 shapes up I guess.

It's been nice getting to share my favorite things and general thoughts about 2023. May our 2024 be filled with even more triumphs.

Thursday 28 December 2023

2023 in Review: Top 10 Movies

There was no shortage of movies to watch in 2023, that's for sure, thanks largely to a packed theatrical slate. But there are still quite a number of them that I have yet to see. For example, I am still slogging my way through Rebel Moon: Part One. Then I still haven't seen Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny which is odd considering it was up there with the rest of my most anticipated movies for the year. The big omission though, at least as far as this Top 10 list is concerned, is Godzilla Minus One as it never got released over here in Nigeria. So with that disclaimer out of the way, here are my Top 10 movies for 2023.

10. The Super Mario Bros. Movie


Nintendo finally decided to take another shot at bringing their beloved mascots to the big screen, some 30 years after their first failed attempt. Thankfully, they'd opted to go the animation route this time around, teaming up with Illumination Studios to help bring the Mushroom Kingdom to life. And what a delight the new film ended up being, with every scene practically crammed with Easter eggs. So while it ultimately left critics divided, the audience certainly ate it up as it easily became the highest-grossing video game adaptation with more than $1.3 billion earned at the global box office.

9. Killers of the Flower Moon


Martin Scorsese brings two of his biggest frequent collaborators together for the first time in Killers of the Flower Moon, a historical drama about the Osage County murders. And while both Robert DeNiro and Leonardo DiCaprio gave standout performances in the film, it was actually Lily Gladstone that left the biggest impression in my opinion, all but guaranteeing that she'll be getting all the recognition she deserves at the Oscars next year. Expect to see the movie itself continue to rack up even more nominations as we progress further into awards season.

8. Talk to Me


You'll be forgiven for taking one look at Talk to Me and thinking you've seen that before. After all, a group of teenagers messing around with the supernatural for kicks is a well-worn trope in horror films. I mean, what could possibly go wrong, right? But what helps to set Talk to Me apart from the rest of its ilk is its devilishly effective premise and a cast of well-rounded characters with real, emotional stakes. And to think that the movie was made by a pair of YouTubers in their directorial debut. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for their future work as well as the inevitable sequel.

7. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3


James Gunn bids farewell to the MCU with Vol. 3 of Guardians of the Galaxy. And what a last hurrah he has turned in too. At a time when it feels like the MCU is in shambles or otherwise directionless, his movie serves as a bright spot of hope. But more than anything else, the film caps off his trilogy of films (not counting the holiday special) with the perfect sendoff for this particular iteration of the team. There were definitely plenty of tears at the cinema when I saw the movie as it tugged on the heartstrings without being too heavy-handed about it, a balancing act that James Gunn seems to have perfected at this point.

6. Sisu


I'm a sucker for revenge movies especially ones with a protagonist that happens to have a unique set of skills. In the case of Sisu, those skills come in the form of resilience in the face of impossible odds. But to say that the movie draws some inspiration from the likes of John Wick would be putting it lightly. Just like the Baba Yaga, our main character here is a man of few words. He even has a little dog that helps endear him to the audience, much like that other film. Its World War II setting does help set it apart though, and sometimes that's all it takes to get a pass.

5. Air


2023 had a number of notable films about the creation of popular products. We of course had both BlackBerry and Tetris tell those respective products' stories of how they made it to market, and as its title suggests, Air is all about the inception of the popular line of Nike basketball shoes called Air Jordans. The film tells the story of the men who worked to convince a young Michael Jordan to sign an endorsement deal. It's hard to believe that there was ever a time when Nike wasn't at the top of the game, given how popular the brand is today, which is what makes getting to see stories like this so great.

4. Evil Dead Rise


The Evil Dead franchise proved that it was anything but dead this year with the release of Evil Dead Rise. And this latest film more than lives up to its title by taking the scares and gore to a whole new level. Unlike previous entries, which typically take place in a dilapidated cabin in the middle of nowhere, this one is set in a city highrise scheduled for demolition. And that setting is used to great effect throughout the movie. It's funny to think that this was originally scheduled to debut on HBO Max before getting the proper theatrical release that it deserved. And while I didn't get to see it in a theater, I am still happy for those who got to enjoy its many thrills that way.

3. Oppenheimer


2023 gave us one of the strangest pop culture crossovers in the form of Barbenheimer. And while I didn't much care for the first half of that phenomenon, I was very much on board for Oppenheimer. The fact that it was getting released on my birthday only made the prospect of seeing it that much more exciting. And the film ended up delivering the way that only Christopher Nolan tends to do. Many have gone as far as calling this his best work, a designation I'd still reserve for Inception. And despite its 3-hour length, the film would go on to earn north of $900 million in box office receipts which is crazy for what is effectively a biographical epic with no superheroes in it.

2. John Wick: Chapter 4


As far as action film archetypes go, my favorite remains the one where one man singlehandedly dispatches a bunch of bad guys. That is to say that John Wick didn't invent the formula but it has certainly refined it over the years. And just when I thought I'd seen all that the John Wick franchise had to offer in that regard, John Wick: Chapter 4 comes along to raise the bar even further. Clocking in at nearly 3 hours, the film is so packed with balls-to-the-wall action that it almost becomes numbing. Except each setpiece went bigger and louder than the last until it finally culminated in one of the wildest third acts I've seen in recent memory. This is, without a doubt, the best one in the series and one of the best action movies I've seen, period.

1. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse


So this year marked the first time I ever awarded a film a perfect 10/10 score. And that film was none other than Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. I am of course a very huge Spider-Man fan and still consider Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 2 the greatest comic book movie of all time. But dang it doesn't Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse come in a close second. I could proceed to wax lyrical about why I felt the movie was as close to perfection as a superhero film can realistically get. But I already did that in my review, so I'll just say this instead: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse reminded me of why I love movies as much as I do.

Wednesday 27 December 2023

2023 in Review: Top 10 Songs

According to Spotify and YouTube Music, I managed to rack up a combined total of over 80,000 minutes of music listening in 2023. Granted, most of that was during my daily workouts and 95% of what I listened to were songs from many years ago. It's crazy to think that most of what I listened to back then is now considered oldies by today's standards. Getting older sucks. Anyway, out of the handful of newer songs I did manage to listen to, these are the ones I had on heavy rotation.

10. Everything but the Girl - Nothing Left to Lose



A lot of the songs that get on my radar typically do so through YouTube recommendations. So when a new Everything but the Girl song showed up on my feed earlier this year, I had to do a double take because the duo hadn't really released anything new since the early 2000s. But sure enough, Nothing Left to Lose was pretty legit and it would herald the arrival of a new album to boot.

9. Falling in Reverse - Watch the World Burn



Say what you will about frontman Ronnie Radke and his various antics, but if there is one good thing Falling in Reverse is known for, it is for continually pushing the envelope for production values in their music videos. And Watch the World Burn is their most impressive one yet with a cinematic flair that would put a lot of Hollywood blockbusters to shame.

8. Tyla - Water



I have Instagram Reels to thank for this one as there was a point when I could hardly scroll through 10 videos without hearing Tyla's Water two times or more. And thus it would slowly sink its hooks into my subconscious where it continues to live rent-free even now. But it is the pairing of the South African singer's sultry vocals and the smoothness of its production that ultimately make it a standout song. 

7. Corpse - Code Mistake (ft. Bring Me the Horizon)



The man with the impossible voice took some time away from YouTube this year to join forces with Bring Me the Horizon and the result is anything but a mistake despite what the song's title might lead one to believe. On the contrary, the song immediately sounds like a match made in Heaven (or Hell in this case) as each artist plays to their strengths while still complimenting the other's vocal delivery.

6. Sleep Token - The Summoning



Many of us will forever remember 2023 as the year we discovered Sleep Token. And the song that helped them reach near-mainstream levels of success was The Summoning. Released in January, the track quickly amassed millions of Spotify listens as its blend of metal and soulful R&B proved too irresistible for most. It's the kind of mashup that shouldn't work on paper yet it is executed so flawlessly that you can't help but get lost in its multiple layers and sexy-time vocals.

5. Linkin Park - Lost



Linkin Park released its 20th Anniversary Edition of Meteora this year and as part of the re-release, fans were treated to this lost gem that didn't make the cut for the original album. And wow, just hearing a new song (well, at least new to us) from that era of the band with Chester on vocals was enough to hit me in the feels. I'd always hoped they'd release another nu metal record so I suppose getting this instead is the next best thing.

4. salute & Sammy Virji - Peach VIP



Another artist I discovered this past year is salute, an Austrian DJ currently based in Manchester. His track with Sammy Virji is all kinds of fire, harkening back to the heyday of club bangers with an earworm melody for the ages. This is actually a remixed version of the song, Peach, and while the changes made from the original might appear subtle at best, they still fundamentally improve it enough to be worthy of that VIP designation.

3. Le Castle Vania - Blood Code



Speaking of club bangers, one of the best ones I heard this past year was actually while I was watching John Wick: Chapter 4. I still get chills when I think about that club scene during which Blood Code by Le Castle Vania was blaring through massive theater speakers with face-melting intensity. I don't believe I've ever grinned as hard at a song in a film as I did then. LED Spirals was fire and all but this? This is on a whole nothee level and I'm here for it.

2. Sleep Token - Vore



If anyone had told me at the start of 2023 that I would get completely enamored by a song about lovers eating one another, I would have said you were off your rocker. But here we are and Vore by Sleep Token is quite possibly the most intensely beautiful song I've heard in ages. It is easily the best song on their Take Me Back to Eden album and one I've had on near-constant repeat for the better part of the year.

1. Disclosure - Looking for Love



Any year that Disclosure releases a new record is bound to be a great one. So when the duo announced the imminent release of their fourth album, Alchemy, I knew I was in for a treat. And the album hits the ground running with the stunning opening track, Looking for Love. The production of the song is just as exuberant as one would expect from the brothers, but it is actually the vocoded vocal that lends it that signature throwback feel, effectively setting the stage for what was overall an infectious and very back-to-basics record.

Tuesday 26 December 2023

2023 in Review: Top 10 TV Shows

Even though the golden age of television may be long past us by now, there were still quite a number of noteworthy TV shows in 2023 for us to enjoy. From superhero fare to reimagined takes on classic tales, it seemed there was indeed something for every type of viewer. There were also several outright duds, none of which will be making it onto this list, thankfully. So without further ado, here are my Top 10 TV shows that aired in 2023.

10. The Mandalorian Season 3



After topping my list of favorite TV shows in 2020, the third season of The Mandalorian drops all the way down to number 10 this year. This is mainly due to a noticeable dip in the quality of its storytelling, as I found myself questioning how some of it managed to slip past quality control. I am still trying to recover from the abject stupidity of that Jack Black and Lizzo episode. But despite some really low lows, and its title character taking the back seat for much of the season, the show as a whole still managed to deliver the goods, at least in the areas of action and the continued development of the relationship between its two leads.

9. One Piece



Netflix has a pretty spotty track record when it comes to its anime adaptations. For every Alice in Borderland, it seems there are at least a few Death Notes and Cowboy Bebops. This was primarily why I didn't have high expectations for One Piece. Except I was immediately sucked into the show by its exceptional characterization and world-building. And even though I had minimal familiarity with the anime or the manga it is based upon, I was still captivated by how well those stories have translated into the show. So here's hoping they can keep the ball rolling for several more seasons to come.

8. Loki Season 2



The MCU might feel like it is in shambles right now, especially after the disastrous performance of The Marvels and the wet fart that was Secret Invasion. But you won't catch many people throwing any of that shade at Loki, a show that remains a bright spot for the struggling franchise. And even though its second season didn't quite set up Kang the Konqueror as the big bad of the Multiverse Saga like many of us had imagined it would, it still tied off enough loose threads from the first to be considered a satisfying conclusion to the show and this particular iteration of its title character as a whole.

7. Invincible Season 2



We recently got the first half of Invincible Season 2 after what had felt like an agonizing two-year break. But it was certainly worth the wait as the show picks up effortlessly from where it had left off, in the aftermath of the showdown between father and son. The show continues to prove that there is still plenty of juice left in the superhero genre, subverting many of its well-worn tropes with its rich, nuanced characterization, without sacrificing any of the over-the-top violence that defined the first season. And while those first four episodes are not enough to judge the quality of the season as a whole, I would still say that it is off to a very strong start.

6. Gen V



Speaking of over-the-top violence, things didn't really get any more bloody and violent in 2023 than in Gen V, a spinoff of The Boys, a show that was itself known for pushing the boundaries. And much like that other show, this one explores the seedy underbelly of a world where superheroes are treated like commodities. Except this time around, we see events unfold through the perspective of a diverse cast of young superheroes in training as they struggle to come to terms with the realities of the world they've been born into and the abilities they've been given.

5. Blue Eye Samurai



Just when I thought I'd seen all that 2023 had to offer, Netflix premiered a new animated show called Blue Eye Samurai. And based off of the incredible word of mouth it was getting after its debut, I was eventually compelled to check it out. The first thing that struck me was the incredible art style that successfully recreates the look and feel of traditional Japanese animation while using modern rendering techniques. But it was in fact its engaging narrative and its cast of memorable characters that actually kept me watching episode after episode, right up to an explosive finale that paves the way for what is sure to be an incredible multi-season run. 

4. Fargo Season 5



One would expect that a show like Fargo would be running on fumes by its fifth season. But the anthology series just keeps delivering the goods in what is already shaping up to be one of its best seasons yet. With a new cast that includes the incredible Juno Temple in the lead, the new season weaves one hell of a narrative filled with mystery and enough suspense to keep everyone engaged. The fact that it isn't afraid to take jabs at people on both sides of the political divide while still tackling delicate issues like domestic abuse just further adds to its overall appeal. This is what top-tier television looks like in 2023.

3. Beef



Steven Yeun and Ali Wong butt heads in the comedy-drama, Beef. As its title suggests, the show is about the ensuing feud between two strangers after an incident of road rage sets them on an insatiable quest for revenge. This was yet another show that was preceded by a lot of positive word of mouth in the lead-up to its release. Still, I was caught off guard by just how bingeable it turned out to be. I guess it is down to its roughly 30-minute episodes, which is the perfect length for falling into that unbreakable loop of telling yourself you can squeeze in one more episode before bedtime, then suddenly discovering 3 hours later that the time is 2 in the morning and you've become hopelessly hooked by the narrative.

2. Silo



Apple TV+ is really out to steal some of Netflix's thunder. They've in fact become one of my favorite places to watch top-shelf science fiction shows. And things don't really get more top-shelf than Silo, an adaptation of a series of books by self-published writer, Hugh Howey. I still remember the first time I read those books back in 2012 and learning that rights to an adaptation had been secured by Ridley Scott's team. As a fan of the books and the author behind them, I was eager to see how well it would translate into what eventually became a serialized TV format. And the folks at Apple have done a very commendable job, retaining all of the things that made those books so popular among genre fans, to begin with.

1. The Last of Us



It looks like video game adaptations might have finally begun to hit their stride in 2023. And nowhere is this more evident than in the HBO show, The Last of Us. No other video game has translated so flawlessly into another storytelling medium in my opinion. Then again, this should be expected given how narrative-focused the game was and the pedigree of the showrunners behind it. This is as faithful as any adaptation that fans of the game could've hoped for, and something that serves as a viable entry point into the story of Joel and Ellie for non-gamers as well. It remains to be seen just how well Season 2 would fare, given how divisive that portion of the game's narrative had proven with fans. But as things currently stand, The Last of Us is easily the greatest video game adaptation I've seen.

Monday 25 December 2023

2023 in Review: Top 10 Games

Merry Christmas everyone. 2023 is almost over which means it is time for yet another season of my Year in Review series of posts. So for the rest of this week, I'll be highlighting my favorite movies, TV shows, and the like, as well as my general thoughts on the year as a whole. And much like recent years, I am kicking things off with my favorite video games released within the calendar year.

The video game industry definitely had a lot of ups and downs in 2023, especially when you factor in all the widespread layoffs, leaks, and controversies. But in terms of the actual games themselves, it was certainly one of the stronger ones we've gotten in recent memory. As usual, I didn't get around to playing nearly enough of them, so expect to see more than a few glaring omissions on my list. But out of all the ones I did get to play, these are the ones I consider my Top 10.

10. Super Mario RPG



We all have certain gaps in our gaming histories. For me, I never got to play Super Mario RPG back when it was originally released. At least not on original hardware. This is why I was very excited when a remake was announced earlier this year. And after playing through the game recently, I can finally see why it is held with such high esteem by fans. It boasts an engaging turn-based battle system as well as some clever writing and a cast of colorful characters that is as fresh today as it must have been back then. Wish I could say the same thing about its platforming sections though, the one frustrating aspect of the game that hasn't aged all that well, thus preventing it from placing higher on this list.

9. Cocoon



I'll always have a soft spot for bite-sized adventure games with a heavy emphasis on environmental puzzles, especially ones that sport a unique visual style or gimmick. And Cocoon indeed manages to tick all those boxes which shouldn't be surprising since it is coming from a former Playdead designer who'd worked on Limbo and Inside. Its world-hopping gameplay mechanic never ceased to amaze me throughout my playthrough and the puzzles built around this were almost always intuitive enough to feel satisfying to solve.

8. Pikmin 4



I didn't own a GameCube growing up so I never did get to see what the fuss was about those early Pikmin games. I've never really been a fan of strategy games in any case but something about Pikmin 3 Deluxe on the Nintendo Switch worked to win me over. So I was happy to jump into Pikmin 4 the first chance I got. And the new game definitely didn't disappoint as it oozed with a level of charm you can only find in a Nintendo game. The addition of new Pikmins and Oatchi helped to keep things feeling fresh but it was the impressive visuals and its tried-and-tested gameplay loop that left me eager to explore each new environment I found myself in.

7. Street Fighter 6



The Street Fighter series got a much-needed facelift this past year in the form of Street Fighter 6. And while I never did get into Street Fighter V the way I got into past entries, this one immediately piqued my interest with everything it was bringing to the table. The biggest addition of course comes through the World Tour, a single-player, story-focused mode that would have you free-roaming the streets of Metro City with your custom-created character, as you learn the ropes and fight your way to the very top of the rankings. But it is ultimately its refined combat and smooth gameplay that make Streer Fighter 6 a more-than-worthy addition to the popular fighting game franchise.

6. Sea of Stars



I still hold firm to the belief that the SNES is the greatest game console ever made, an opinion that was inspired by its vast library of stellar games. And you only need to take one look at Sea of Stars to tell where it draws inspiration from. Games like Chrono Trigger and Secret of Mana immediately come to mind but it is a testament to the skills of the developers at Sabotage Studios that their game still finds ways to improve upon the formula already perfected by those aforementioned classics. Its beautiful pixel art style is matched only by a soundtrack that is evocative of the very best SNES-era RPGs but we really can't expect any less from the same guys that gave us The Messenger, can we?

5. Metroid Prime Remastered



Another GameCube game I'd completely missed out on was Metroid Prime. Originally released in 2002, the game is renowned for reinventing the 2D Metroid series as a first-person action-adventure title. It was very ambitious for its time and it found its way onto the Nintendo Switch earlier this year through a brand-new remaster. But calling the new game a remaster almost feels like underselling it as it currently boasts some of the most impressive visuals to ever grace the hybrid console. And with its modernized controls, you almost have a game that could very well rub shoulders with the latest and the greatest that the genre has to offer.

4. Resident Evil 4



And while we are still on the topic of games that originally debuted on the GameCube, Resident Evil 4 is one that has graced nearly every console ever since it first reinvented the survival horror series back in 2004. But never has it looked or played so great as it does in the ground-up remake it received in 2023. Adopting a darker tone more in line with other recent RE remakes, the new game took what was already considered a groundbreaking overhaul by most and refined it even further, resulting in the quintessential way to play the highly beloved classic.

3. Super Mario Bros. Wonder



In a year that was already full of pleasant surprises, one of my fondest ones was Super Mario Bros. Wonder. The game takes Mario and friends back to their 2D platforming roots, ditching the stale art style of the recent New Super Mario Bros. games for one that can only be described as vibrant and endlessly expressive. But more importantly, the game features the kind of creativity and pinpoint perfect platforming that helped the series grow into what it is today. It quickly became one of my favorite Super Mario games of all time, joining the ranks of Super Mario World on the SNES.

2. Hogwarts Legacy



Hogwarts Legacy was easily one of the most controversial games of 2023. But regardless of where you fall on the J.K. Rowling debate, I've always held on to the notion that we need to separate the art from the artist. And as far as art is concerned, Hogwarts Legacy is the most faithful recreation of the Wizarding World we've gotten in video game form to date. So being the massive Potterhead that I am, I was elated for a chance to experience this massive homage to what was effectively a cornerstone of my childhood. And I wasn't alone either because the game would eventually go on to become the highest-selling game of the year, showing just how alive and hungry for more Harry Potter the fandom remains till this very day.

1. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom



Shocking, I know. But no other game released in 2023 even comes close to the mammoth greatness that is The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Not only was it my most hotly-anticipated game for three years straight, but it is also the one I've logged the most amount of hours in since Animal Crossing: New Horizons took over much of my life in 2020. And despite my 200+ hours with the game, it still feels like there's tons left for me to see and do. The game builds upon everything introduced in Breath of the Wild with new abilities, improved dungeons, and vast areas to adventure in. And while I feel it doesn't exactly recapture the magic of exploring this version of Hyrule for the first time, it still goes above and beyond as a more-than-worthy extension to what was an already-brilliant game.

Friday 22 December 2023

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (Movie Review)


After a decades-worth of storytelling spread across fifteen movies of varying quality, the DCEU comes to an unceremonious end with the release of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. And what a wild ride it has been, boasting its fair share of highs and lows. So it was indeed a bittersweet affair heading into the new Aquaman, even as I wondered how it could possibly wrap up the entire franchise in any meaningful way. But as I quickly discovered while watching the film, those aspirations were never on the table to begin with, as evidenced by its business-as-usual approach to storytelling. So I guess the real question then is whether or not the film is still worth seeing even with the knowledge that we've arrived at the end of the road.

Serving as a direct sequel to 2018's Aquaman, the movie finds its titular hero adjusting to life as the ruler of the underwater kingdom of Atlantis. He must also pull double duty as a new dad, having started a family with love interest Mera since the events of the first film. Meanwhile, his archnemisis Black Manta is still hellbent on getting revenge, a pursuit that would bring him into possession of an ancient artefact that imbues him with superhuman strength. In order to stop him, Aquaman must seek help from unexpected places or risk failing to prevent a global catastrophe that would threaten all surface dwellers and Atlanteans alike.

It didn't take me long into Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom before I could tell that there was something clearly wrong with the movie. Perhaps it was its derivative story that first gave it away, as it borrows quite a number of plot points and story elements from the likes of Lord of the Rings but never quite matches the brilliance of their execution. Or maybe it was the stilted dialogue that often had the cast sounding like actors in an amateur high school play. Or the way the film relies heavily on exposition dumps, with characters even offering running commentary on actions that should be otherwise apparent to the audience, almost in an effort to ensure understanding amidst all the chaos.

And there was indeed a lot of chaos involved, as the film kept piling on setpiece after setpiece. It didn't exactly help that some of the effects bringing those action scenes to life were of the questionable sort, with varying degrees of quality in its creature design and the sea of CGI they inhabit. Even the licensed music that accompanied some of those scenes sometimes felt tacked on, barely serving to elevate what was going on onscreen and instead acting as a distraction. All these things ultimately coalesce to create a movie that often feels sloppy and unfinished. 

But somehow, as though through some ancient magic and wizardry conjured up by director James Wan, the whole thing still manages to work, or at least it never truly collapses under the weight of its hodgepodge storyline and wooden deliveries. This is largely due to the fact that the movie fully embraces its own zaniness, much like the first one did. It also never tilts completely into the realm of silliness either, ala Thor: Love and Thunder. I found myself laughing with the movie as much as I was laughing at it, and it was only then that I had to concede that I was indeed enjoying myself.

It is as though the filmmakers knew all the things that helped propel the first movie to become the DCEU's first and only billion-dollar grosser and they doubled down on all of it. It fully embraces the fantastical side of the DC Comics it is based upon, depicting underwater cities and desert kingdoms populated by all manner of creatures, all of which were pleasing to see brought to life on the big screen. The action was also some of the best I've seen in the DCEU in a long time, stretching the limits of plausibility while giving more than enough eye candy to satisfy action junkies. 

I must of course acknowledge the fact that some of the things I just mentioned could very well be considered turnoffs by some. After all, not everyone I spoke to about that first film appreciated its more lighthearted take on the superhero genre or the little visual flourishes and gags that helped flesh out its underwater kingdom. This is to say that anyone expecting something less campy might be disappointed to see the movie fully lean into the camp. But if you liked what you got in the first film and are content with getting more of the same, then there is plenty to love about Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.

Looking back on the DCEU as a whole, it is clear that the franchise lacked any kind of cohesive vision tying together its cinematic universe, or that whatever grand plans or ideas that fueled early entries like Man of Steel and Batman v Superman were simply never given any room to grow or flourish. And that, in itself, is the true tragedy of the entire endeavor, that sense of loss at the thought of what could have been. But as far as final entries go, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom at least serves as a worthwhile last hurrah that I can easily recommend to fans of the first film and anyone looking for some effects-heavy entertainment over the holidays.

Friday 10 November 2023

The Marvels (Movie Review)


As the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues its expansion, one would be forgiven for having lost track of all the various movies and Disney+ shows that feed into its overall narrative. Long gone is the luster that once drove fans to devour each new entry, especially in the wake of the complete dumpster fire that was Secret Invasion. And it is in this environment that we now welcome The Marvels, a movie that serves not only as a sequel to 2019's Captain Marvel but as a follow-up to both WandaVision and Ms. Marvel as well. But does the new film signal a return to simpler times or has the franchise simply grown too big for its own good?

The film has Brie Larson reprising her role as Carol Danvers, aka. Captain Marvel, except this time around, she is joined by WandaVision's Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) and Ms.Marvel herself, Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani). The three women are brought together after a freak accident causes them to switch places whenever they use their powers. Meanwhile, the Kree are trying to restore their home planet, Hala, by siphoning resources from others just like it. And so our three heroes must go up against their leader, Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton) before she renders those other worlds inhospitable in the process.

Heading into The Marvels, I was forced to keep my expectations about as low as they could realistically get. This was mainly due to news surrounding its release, with the film getting subjected to multiple release date changes as it underwent extensive reshoots amidst what was clearly a troubled production. So I'd hoped that Marvel Studios would be able to salvage something worthwhile out of all of it, or at least something worth the price of admission. But as I quickly found out during the movie, hopes and wishful thinking can only get you so far.

Let me just start by saying that there are definitely things to admire about The Marvels. The film is heavy on action with more than enough set pieces peppered throughout its relatively brisk runtime. So those going into the movie solely for eye candy will get served plenty of it. It also marks the big-screen debut of Ms. Marvel and she was the clear standout amongst our trio of leads, bringing much of the same charm and charisma she was known for in her Disney+ show. Then the film has a very playful tone that some might find endearing especially if you enjoyed the humor in the two most recent Thor movies.

It is just a shame that the narrative tying all of it together comes across as a jumbled mess of ideas. The story felt disjointed in the worst way possible, relying on too many flashbacks and exposition dumps to fill in crucial aspects of its plot. The worst part is a lot of the material that got relegated to those flashbacks could've made for a very compelling narrative in its own right. I can't get into specifics without getting into spoilers but I was ultimately disappointed with how the filmmakers had chosen to present the story. A lot of it is most likely a result of those extensive reshoots as it becomes obvious a lot of the story must have gotten reshaped and dumbed down in an attempt to make the film appeal to the broadest demographic possible.

Tonally, the film was all over the place with some of its more heartfelt moments getting diluted by jokes and visual gags that fail to land. The film is also inconsistent with the way it depicts its heroes switching places, failing to respect its own rules in more than a few instances. The same can be said of the way it handles our heroes' power levels as I simply found it too hard of a pill to swallow that a hero of Captain Marvel's stature couldn't singlehandedly take down the villain. Then there is its jumbled-up script once again, which prevents its characters from getting anywhere near enough character development, especially the main villain, who is as one-note and one-dimensional as they come. All these things ultimately add up to make what could have been fun and decent come across as lame and cringe-inducing.

The fact that The Marvels is not the worst thing to come out of the MCU recently speaks volumes about just how dire a state the entire franchise is in. The movie serves as yet another example of why the current quantity-over-quality approach being employed at Disney and Marvel Studios is neither favorable nor sustainable in the long run. The good news is both Bob Iger and Kevin Feige have acknowledged the need for greater quality control in all current and future projects. So hopefully this is the last of these watered-down, obligatory entries into the MCU that fans would have to endure going forward.

Friday 27 October 2023

Five Nights at Freddy's (Movie Review)


2023 has been a great year for video game adaptations. We've had the phenomenal The Last of Us on HBO Max, which was not only faithful to its source material but also managed to translate flawlessly into a serialized TV format. Then of course we also got The Super Mario Bros. Movie, a film that was an instant hit with fans, going on to gross more than a billion dollars at the worldwide box office. And now it seems that it is time for fans of Five Nights at Freddy's to get in on the action as the familiar band of killer animatronics makes the jump onto the big and small screen. But does the film capture that sense of dread the games are known for or does it instead bring back the dreaded video game movie curse?

The film centers upon Mike Schmidt, a troubled young man who lands a job as a nighttime security guard at an abandoned family entertainment center called Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. Unable to find a babysitter for his younger sister one night, he decides to bring her along with him to spend the night there. But it doesn't take long into his shifts before he realizes that its empty rooms and hallways are haunted after midnight by its eponymous animatronic mascot, along with three others just like it. Now he must do whatever he can to survive long enough to cash his paycheck.

The Five Nights at Freddy's video games are renowned not only for their effective jump scares but for their lore-filled stories as well. And all that is presented to the player in a stripped-down presentation with very minimal setup or exposition. All you need to know is that you are a night guard at a defunct pizzeria who needs to fend off a group of killer animatronics in order to survive five nights as the title suggested. And while I've never actually played any of the games myself, I've still, like many others, watched enough Let's Plays on YouTube to understand what the noise is about.

So heading into this long-awaited movie adaptation, I expected to see the same barebones approach to horror but with perhaps some more character development and buildup to better fill out the film's overall runtime. But in its quest to give our main characters some backstory, the movie gets bogged down in the kind of melodrama that makes its leads come across as dull and uncharismatic. It didn't exactly help that a lot of its dialogue felt forced and unnatural, serving largely to telegraph character intentions or foreshadow future events.

All that can be forgiven of course, if the movie was at least self-aware enough to lean into its inherent cheesiness. This was in fact what had helped elevate Willy's Wonderland, another recent movie that was inspired by the Five Nights at Freddy's video games. But here we instead get a self-serious tone that often felt at odds with the ridiculousness of its onscreen action. And without the natural charms and star power of an actor like Nicolas Cage to help bridge that gap, it becomes increasingly difficult to care about any of it.

This was never a problem in the video games mind you, mainly because the main character was there solely to serve as a surrogate for the player. This was why they worked so well in Let's Plays videos, as it allowed the player's reactions to the horrors it throws at them to come across to viewers in their purest form. And the film is sadly devoid of all the personality that the likes of PewDiePie and CoryxKenshin brought to those Let's Plays.

This is not to say that the movie is without some fun moments. It was nice seeing Cory make a cameo as a taxi driver, complete with jump scares that were reminiscent of his own Let's Plays of the game. It is just that the film takes too long before anything remotely interesting happens. And even when the killings begin, they are confined by the limitations of its low-budget production and a PG-13 rating.

Five Nights at Freddy's is about as dull as a video game adaptation can get without outright putting viewers to sleep. It completely squanders a simple yet interesting premise by sticking too closely to horror film conventions. And while it does faithfully recreate the various locations from the video games, as well as the animatronics that inhabit them, it still fails to convey their sense of dread or impending doom, nor does it successfully tap into the rich lore that continues to spark discourse among fans, at least not in any meaningful way.