Will... wake up

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.

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

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

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. 

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

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)

JANUARY - MOVIES

Finally saw Rosemary’s Baby, and I loved it. I got so into it that I felt the need to watch The Omen afterwards as a pseudo-sequel. I was disappointed… Also, seeing Django on MLK Day was weird

JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI - An exceptional doc on an exceptional man
ROSEMARY’S BABY - I found every damned scene interesting on an artisanal level, even before things get freaky
DJANGO UNCHAINED - Nearly tired of the Tarantino flair, but this was really enjoyable
PARANORMAN - Amazing work, good morals n humor (I was expecting MORE though)
GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS - Clever, great dialogue and acting
DREDD - It delivers on what the cover promises, and pretty well!
BERNIE - Jack Black as Not Jack Black was worth it alone, interesting
LOOPER - Shallow characters/story, neat tech, weak logic/plot. Really disappointing (wasted opportunity of identity exploration, meaning for a TERMINATOR MEETS X-MEN plot…)
THE OMEN - Unexceptional, save for a few moments you’d see in a trailer anyway
MAGIC MIKE - Some solid actors, direction, writing, but without a great story to utilize any of those