February 2020
M O V I E S
Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (2019)
My friend told me to watch it because she was confused
A washed up Hollywood actor desperately wants to step out of his "villain" roles and play something good for a change. He wants to be the glamorous Hollywood star, hanging around others of his own status. His stunt double drives around for him, keeping him out of trouble and running into trouble himself. Would they be able to become the Hollywood stars they've always dreamed of?
This is such a well crafted movie. It definitely is quite strange and seemingly all over the place at first. Give it a rewatch if you need to. Every element of the movie is used in a fascinating way that ties the whole story up like a parody of Hollywood movies of the 50's.
Overall:
Rating: R
Length: 2 h 41 min
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Directed by: Quintin Tarantino
Old Hollywood is a mess.
Little Women (2019)
Emma Watson AND Timothée Chalamet in one movie?! Hell yes
Wanting so bad to live a single life as a writer in a time where men controlled the lives of women, Jo lived in New York, avoiding any topic of marriage and furiously concocting her stories in her small black book. However, none of the stories were enough to win over the male dominated industry. When news of her sister falling ill reaches her, she rushes back home and steps back into the quiet and messy life of her and her sisters. She breathes it all in, the chaos, the loss, the striving for more... And realizes, her family, her story, were there all along waiting for her to come back home.
Although this story has been retold so many countless times, version is so beautifully directed (e-hem) and masterfully crafted into such a delightful retelling of an old classic.
Overall:
Rating: PG
Length: 2 h 15 min
Genre: Drama, Romance
Directed by: Greta Gerwig
Lesson: If you don't want a man, just be rich.
Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of the One Harley Quinn (2020)
What happens when Harley Quinn breaks up with the Joker? Well, it took her a while to prove what she could do. A Deadpool-like character, she breaks 4th walls, putting on a "anti-hero" suit and decides to save the day. After a girl steals a diamond that creates a large target on her back, Harley Quinn and company decide to band together to save her from the big bad.
This is one strange movie. First off, the coloring throughout the whole movie was one trippy, amazing adventure through the pages of what seems like panels of a comic book. The set and lighting was done wonderfully. The fight scenes were so well choreographed, and well shot. However, as many loyal comic book fans will say, the characters in the gang did not live up to what the comic books portray them as. None the less, the movie was fun and interesting.
Overall:
Rating: R
Length: 1 h 49 min
Genre: Action, Adventure, Crime
Directed by: Cathy Yan
Can I say, I love how long this title is.
Jojo Rabbit (2019)
In the midst of World War 2, a Nazi boy finds out his mother is hiding a Jew within the walls of their house. Startled and angry at first, he slowly begins to learn about the world he lives in, through a new lens. His mother, although never direct, instructs him on how to live a life, loving others and being truly happy. All that, with the funniest jokes you'll ever encounter in a war movie.
You might think, oh boy another war movie but DON'T I mean Taika Waititi is directing. You THinK this is some war movie? He made this dire situation in our world's history and somehow made it funny, without making fun of serious issues, without brushing off topics that needed to be felt. I mean there's Hitler eating a unicorn?!
PLEASE WATCH
Overall:
Rating: PG-13
Length: 1 h 48 min
Genre: Comedy, Drama, War
Directed by: Taika Waititi
"A Girlfriend? Good for you, Jojo!"- The best character in the movie hands down.
To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You (2020)
This is the second movie to To All the Boys I Loved Before. If you don't want to be spoiled, don't continue reading this.
After Lara Jean starts officially dating Peter, a familiar name but new face in the form of a boy shows up, good old John Ambrose. He reveals that he had always loved her too. Now with more than extra time together at a senior home, what's going to be revealed about John Ambrose and Lara Jean's past? And what's going to happen Peter?
That's it. Like hmmmm got so many thoughts. First off, the one letter that she said was more than the other was JOHN (at least clearly stated in the book). And the fact that she and Peter got together because they started it through faking it... Ok, but was the friend group established in the first movie? I felt like they were all strangers in the first movie. This is me clearly just ranting.
Overall:
Rating: TV-14
Length: 1 h 41 min
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Directed by: Michael Fimognari
Can you tell I'm team John...
A N I M A T E D M O V I E S
My Hero Academia: Two Heroes (2018) Japanese
On a break, All Might brings Midoriya to see his childhood best friend on a floating man made island. Dave, who was a highly talented inventor for superheroes, greet them with open arms. There, turns out, everybody from Class 1A is there! All of a sudden, a gang of villains come in to crash the main event, taking the island hostage. They were after something, what could it be?
Super fun movie, giving the whole gang a chance to help All Might to fight a villain. There were some fun sequences, nice fan service with all the characters in fancy outfits. There was fighting, there was internal conflicts, a classic bnha arc mashed into less than 2 hours.
Overall:
Rating: PG-13
Length: 1 h 36 min
Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure
Directed by: Kenji Nagasaki
Magneto? Is that you?
My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising (2019) Japanese
Our favorite ensemble of superheroes are sent to a crime-less island to help out with the locals. For the first time, they're on their own without the help of pro heroes. But it didn't seem like they need their help, life on the island seemed peaceful enough. Until one villain in search of a specific quirk comes hungry. What followed is the most epic battle in Boku no Hero Academia animated history.
I watched this movie in the movie theater, filled with bnha fans. Whenever something epic happened, the whole audience cheered wildly. It was absolutely thrilling of an experience. With that being said, the action sequences in this movie is so Plus Ultra I feel like I might jump off a cliff and see if I can fly (please don't actually do that). My only complaint is that the logic is twisted in a way to keep the continuity with the anime and it's really awkward.
Overall:
Rating: PG-13
Length: 1 h 44 min
Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure
Directed by: Kenji Nagasaki
I've never felt more Plused to my Ultra ever in my life.
A N I M E
The Promised Neverland (2019)
At the orphanage, life seemed great. There were gates that kept them from ever seeing the outside, but there was food on the table and a large field to play Hide and Seek. All of them waited for the day they were able to leave, sad to part with those who had reached their turn. Nothing could be better. Nothing could be better. Nothing... could be better?
Where were the kids going? What waited for our most intelligent, most athletic kids on their 12th birthday? What was this world they lived in?
I promise you, this anime is much more than what meets the eye. Big things are revealed in just the first episode, so a no spoiler introduction is a little hard.
Overall:
Rating: PG-13 (probably. a little gory)
Length: 12 episodes
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Fantasy
Studio: CloverWorks (Mamoru Kanbe)
Wagyu Humans
B O O K S
Archenemies- Renegades #2 (2018)
Nova finds herself deep in with the Renegades. Can she find a way to help her fellow Anarchists?
Ace has been alive all this time. The helmet sit in the vault open to any Renegade to take- only if they can open the indestructible box. Plus, it seems like Adrian does like Nova? What will happen if they find out about themselves? Who can say they're above this mess of a law?
Interesting addition to the story, I can say I am highly interested in finding out what happens to them by the last book, Supernova. Nova and Adrian's relationship grows a lot more in this one, and the end is quite a thrilling turn of events. Stay tuned for the last installment of this trilogy.
Overall:
Level: Young Adult
Length: 560 pages
Genre: Fantasy, Action, Adventure
Written by: Marissa Meyer
Can I adopt Max please? I promise I'll be careful
Red, White & Royal Blue (2019)
The most improbable thing happens in this book. There's a female president of the United States of America? Hell yes!
Ever since Alex's mother became the president and he had his share of world leaders, something about the Prince of England always rubbed him the wrong way. They say first impressions matter, but is that it? As his mother runs for her second term, the Prince and First Son desperately attempt to mend their feud for the public eye. What happens next can only be credited to fate.
Ahhh, what a refreshing classic YA romance. The fact that Trump is not mentioned once even when it's so heavily political, yes please. And the fact that the main character is a person of color? Dou-triple yes. (forgot about the first one)
Overall:
Level: Young Adult
Length: 421 pages
Genre: Romance, contemporary, LGBT
Written by: Casey McQuiston
For all you horny teenagers out there.