June12013

MAY - MOVIES

A whole lotta of mental/physical illness and Sweden this month. Dragon Tattoo and Side Effects both showcasing Rooney Mara’s talent. The Spider God Trilogy films by Ingmar Bergman rounded out a pretty decent watchlist, each appropriately more depressing/creepy than the last. Scent of a Woman was delightful, though

SCENT OF A WOMAN - Delightful! Memorable scenes and a great Pacino.
ROOM 237 - Sifting through details (even subliminal) of The Shining leads to fascinating theories about Kubrick and film itself
SILVER LININGS - A boy-meets-girl premise with just enough unique character(s) to make it stand out, quite funny
THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY - My favorite of Bergman’s “spider God trilogy”, depicting faith and insanity
GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO - Overlong yet enjoyable, obviously enjoyed the book more
SIDE EFFECTS - Loved the first half of what appeared to be a genuine take on patient-doctor-drug relationships until the second half revealed an exhaustive backstabbing plot of money/power/etc
WINTER LIGHT - A solemn, bleak depiction of a priest who’s lost his faith. 
LORE - (Can’t love em can’t hate em) Nazi orphans provide yet another WWII perspective as they attempt to cross Allied-occupied Germany countryside. Lore is a pretty despicable character throughout :/
THE SILENCE - Too quiet! Bergman’s films have amazing writing, and without much being said (or done), it felt more like an experiment than a fully invested endeavor

Media of the Month movies 

May22013

APRIL - TV

ATTACK ON TITAN - As with Game of Thrones S3, I’m only a few episodes in, but I am just entranced by this anime (hopefully for its entirety…)
GAME OF THRONES S3 - Great as usual, although more methodically paced. There’s probably a shit ton of story to deliver from the books, and it’s all interesting, just lacking the immediacy I felt of the first season(s)
THE WIRE S2 - This second season fails to deliver the realism/authenticity that made the first so tantalizing. By comparison its disappointingly mediocre, with its cop drama tropes, catch phrases and unjustified melodrama… makes me want to re-watch season one.

Media of the Month tv 

4AM
APRIL - MOVIEI fucked up. This should be full of movies! Maybe I’ll do better this month with Silver Linings and Lincoln on my list…JURASSIC PARK 3D - Having 99% of it already committed to memory, I spent a lot of the time checking out extras and backgrounds. Compared to more recent movies, JP doesn’t feel old or outdated, just incredibly small. I can’t imagine them not doubling the dinosaur screen time and upping the action, doing crazy stuff with cameras and stunts

APRIL - MOVIE

I fucked up. This should be full of movies! Maybe I’ll do better this month with Silver Linings and Lincoln on my list…

JURASSIC PARK 3D - Having 99% of it already committed to memory, I spent a lot of the time checking out extras and backgrounds. Compared to more recent movies, JP doesn’t feel old or outdated, just incredibly small. I can’t imagine them not doubling the dinosaur screen time and upping the action, doing crazy stuff with cameras and stunts

Media of the Month movies 

4AM
APRIL - GAMEBIOSHOCK INFINITE - Wonderful. Beautiful design, smooth mechanics, and definitely fun. I’m at odds with the story, but that doesn’t tarnish the great experience I had playing it (and replaying it, in time)

APRIL - GAME

BIOSHOCK INFINITE - Wonderful. Beautiful design, smooth mechanics, and definitely fun. I’m at odds with the story, but that doesn’t tarnish the great experience I had playing it (and replaying it, in time)

Media of the Month games 

April12013

MARCH - MOVIES

You couldn’t recommend Seven Psychopaths to me. I am not a fan of the off-kilter criminal heist/caper Ocean’s whatever genre, where quick editing and snazzy music cover up any lack of depth or real conflict/characters. Seven Psychopaths looks exactly like that from the outside. But inside, it is Tarantino style meets Charlie Kaufman storytelling, and I could not enjoy it enough. It’s not a great or important film, just, don’t assume (as I had) to judge it by its cover. It’s been a month, and I’m still reeling about how absurd/experimental some of it was

ARGO - Historical accuracy issues aside, it’s suspenseful, clever, and just fun to watch
SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS - In Bruges meets Adaptation. Funny, smart and absurd. Fully enjoyable, I’ll be looking forward to McDonagh’s next…
ZERO DARK THIRTY - Good contrast to Argo for its more realistic approach to world events, although not very entertaining/interesting 
BEFORE NIGHT FALLS - Excellent biopic of Cuban artist Reinaldo Arenas, some beautiful dreamlike sequences/photography
THE WARRIORS - Comic bookish and brutal, wonderfully 70s.
LABYRINTH - Wonderfully imaginative, weak story
MINECRAFT (story of Mojang) - A quiet peak into the cozy workspace of Swedish game developer Notch and his pleasant crew :)
SIDE BY SIDE - Moving from analog to digital film, an informative doc with great industry interviews. Keanu Reaves’ presence is distracting

Media of the Month movies 

3AM
MARCH - TVTHE WIRE - The premise (drug dealers and cops) sounds incredibly boring, simple, and similar to stuff I’ve seen a hundred times over. Unless there’s an awesome supernatural element or it’s FUTURE COPS, I’m not interested. Also, The Wire is over a decade old, so its tech is outdated (and therefore uninteresting in that aspect.) Similar reasoning had me avoid this show when given multiple opportunities to watch it, until recently.  It’s amazing, of course. The best drama about police I can think of. It makes law enforcement of most other tv/films look like a complete joke (which kind of sucks). It is incredibly patient, not tedious or “filler”, just paced slower than more recent shows. It just feels real. I’ve rarely laughed with a show/movie in such a way that felt completely genuine to a character’s humor and not some witty comedic writing. And when the shit hits the fan, I felt scared for the characters, that I might lose something valuable. And the authentic language, the dialogue… Quality HBO series, go figure. I’m starting season 2

MARCH - TV

THE WIRE - The premise (drug dealers and cops) sounds incredibly boring, simple, and similar to stuff I’ve seen a hundred times over. Unless there’s an awesome supernatural element or it’s FUTURE COPS, I’m not interested. Also, The Wire is over a decade old, so its tech is outdated (and therefore uninteresting in that aspect.) Similar reasoning had me avoid this show when given multiple opportunities to watch it, until recently. 

It’s amazing, of course. The best drama about police I can think of. It makes law enforcement of most other tv/films look like a complete joke (which kind of sucks). It is incredibly patient, not tedious or “filler”, just paced slower than more recent shows. It just feels real. I’ve rarely laughed with a show/movie in such a way that felt completely genuine to a character’s humor and not some witty comedic writing. And when the shit hits the fan, I felt scared for the characters, that I might lose something valuable. And the authentic language, the dialogue…

Quality HBO series, go figure. I’m starting season 2

Media of the Month tv 

3AM

MARCH - GAMES

Only began Bioshock Infinite a day ago, otherwise it would’ve probably topped this list, most def. The release of Starcraft: Heart of the Swarm got me interested to play Wings of Liberty, which I didn’t suck at. I loved strategy gaming way back when, so it’s nice to see it in it’s current state. Tomb Raider was my game of the month though, a real treat.

TOMB RAIDER - Excels in every aspect of game mechanics (and story, a bit), the evolution of the action/adventure genre. Never frustrating, often rewarding. Best bow & arrow use (flame arrows!)
STARCRAFT 2 - Blizzard’s amazing cinematic presentation with varied, interesting gameplay scenarios (for a RTS game, it mixes it up)
DISHONORED - Somewhere in between Bioshock and Deus Ex, but surpasses neither. More of an interesting atmosphere than story/gameplay
NATURAL SELECTION 2 - Just something to sink my monster teeth into when there’s nothing else. My “go to” multiplayer game, absolutely

Media of the Month games 

March12013

FEBRUARY - MOVIES

Ten movies. You can only post ten pics at a time here, which became my arbitrary reason for watching at least/most 10 movies per month. I wasn’t in much of a mood to invest in feature-lengths, but I gotta make that quota, or at least try. And no matter the mood, there’s always something fucking weird or creepy to work with it. Or against it, in the case of Safety Not Guaranteed…

SILENCE OF THE LAMBS - First viewing in quite a while, but I still have too much of it memorized to enjoy it for more than its technical prowess.
CHINATOWN - Neo noir classic. Constant intrigue and suspense while being dark, funny, fucked up.
THE SEA INSIDE - Beautifully crafted true story, Javier is just great
PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES - Can’t go wrong, really sweet
THE MUPPETS - Retains and builds on all that I love about the Muppets
TINY FURNITURE - Watch Girls instead, which is nearly the same but features better characters,  plot, etc
REANIMATOR - Campy and creative, nearly Evil Dead enjoyable
CHASING SLEEP - All throughout, I’d this eerie sensation that this is exactly the kind of movie I would’ve made (including negative aspects)
THE FRIGHTENERS - Falls short of being fun, scary or interesting. Shame, I want more Ghostbuster-esque movies…
SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED - Cutesy indie movie that never comes together, sticking to an awkward premise with weak characters and no sense of itself. 

Media of the Month movies 

8PM

FEBRUARY - TV

I’d heard too many interesting things about Girls to not watch it finally, and I’m glad I did. It’s not brilliant in its storytelling or characters (it’s not Skins), but I there’s a sense of spontaneity about the series of which I can’t ignore. Anything might happen, and I’m too curious to stop at the moment (season 2.) Also, Tiny Furniture (Lena Dunham) is basically the pre-season to what Girls became, and it makes a much better show than movie. 

SOUL EATER - 2nd time through, just as enjoyable if not more so. Entertaining and heartfelt, though a bit long (50 eps), none of it is filler. Top anime for me, up there with Fullmetal Alchemist, Cowboy Bebop, etc
GIRLS - May only succeed by its free, loosely flowing narrative compared to more fleshed out shows, but I’m hooked
WALKING DEAD - Midseason continues by delivering on all fronts of drama, action and zombies. The highlight of the series so far. 
THE UNLIMITED - Currently airing anime with a pseudo X-Men getup, too early to tell whether it pays off (currently ep 10)
WORKAHOLICS - It’s surprisingly funny at times, I love their chemistry

Media of the Month tv 

5AM

FEBRUARY - GAMES

Too often I run back to the comfort and calm of Minecraft when I need a break from shooting and being shot at. This month I finally gave Viva Pinata a try, and was pleasantly surprised, although its limited interactivity instilled a huge desire to re-explore the world of Banjo Kazooie (equally as colorful, creative and fun.) Rare had that Pixar thing going for it, where most of what they made was solid, even special, and I guess I’m not surprised that even nearly 20 years later BK is still totally playable (if not a bit rough looking)

BANJO KAZOOIE - Probably my 5th time through and I’ve still never 100%’d the game. Not sure how much of my enjoyment is pure nostalgia, but I’ll take it. Environmental puzzles, lively characters and a charming soundtrack still work, despite all advances in tech, etc
VIVA PINATA - A fun little endeavor. Too much time in menus, and I dislike the limited interaction with the world, but it’s overall super neato
DEAD SPACE 3 - Interacting with my friend via coop was the only tolerable thing about this experience. Knowing and liking the first two, I am pretty disappointed by nearly every aspect of this new entry (some neat weapon crafting)

Media of the Month games 

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