saarik

[saarik]

god of war: ragnarok

I could honestly talk about a lot of other tv/movies I’ve seen recently, but I think I was anticipating god of war ragnarok the most out of anything. it was a brilliant game but not really in the way I expected? i read neil gaiman’s norse mythology beforehand and I think it really does add a nice little background and refresher before playing.

I don’t think that the actual game was better than the 2018 GOW. it’s nearly impossible to follow that. there weren’t really too many new mechanics or anything like that and it didnt really need to update that. it was a complete paradigm shift and changed the frame of reference for the sequel already - hard to expect another monumental change like that.

I loved seeing Norse mythology come to life in its own god of war way which is very different from the stories (and Marvel!), but i wanted more. I wanted more of the lore and history...but i know that’s not the point of a violent action game...There were so many set pieces and characters that deserved a bigger accent or deeper encounter. they did their research beyond what is a reasonable standard and maybe my expectations were too high. can’t help but believe that odin and thor deserved something grander. i can’t take away that it’s mostly a fantastic experience. 

For me, the highlight is far and away the soundtrack by bear mccreary. hes done an outstanding job incorporating the tone as well as the cultural elements of the story in a way that few composers can anymore. the story itself is very good albeit with some pacing issues, but I think that seeing Kratos’s development from the original god of war to the end of this game was just a powerful experience for me. it’s a video game character...but the medium has evolved in a way that at its best it is a form of artistic expression now (ie this game). maybe it’s just good timing or it’s been made in a way that everyone can appreciate and relate to the power of having a chapter close in your life. to the feeling of opening a new door, or having uncertainty hanging over your head. certainly the themes of mortality and morality will resonate with all of the adults who pick this game up.  

I think that it’s very hard in this day and age to make a truly enthralling game from top to bottom. I have some small gripes but overall GOW ragnarok delivered. I laughed, I cried, I sweat. It mostly lives up to the impossible hype and tells a beautiful story. you’ll have a damn good time. 

[saarik]

summer 2022

sandman - this was a pretty reasonable adaptation of very difficult/epic source material. when i first read sandman, i imagined something like this when i thought of a screen version. it works better in a serial tv format simply due to the complexity of the story so this was a slam dunk for me. clearly neil gaiman signed off on this and collaborated (unlike in alan moore’s case). unfortunately it does take some time to pick up, but your patience will be rewarded.

industry - entourage/euphoria for finance bros? i love that its set in london through the eyes of an american for my own selfish reasons. the main standout is really the soundtrack as some of the plot/characters don’t have a lot of depth...but it’s a fun soapy show.

harley quinn - surprisingly sharp and inspired. hilarious and cutting writing that pokes fun at so many of the comic book tropes. overall great voice acting and the right amount of irreverence to the greater, stronger stories of the past dc universe make this show a standout. 

westworld - i wasn’t too keen on season 3, but I think this latest season has really sucked me back in. i think that it feels like the series is going back to its roots in terms of twists/turns but not in terms of the actual content to just rehash the same scenarios (season 2). lots of great callbacks, but kept me guessing. 

the rehearsal - this show can be described as the deranged, malformed brainchild of nathan fielder in what seems to be a perfect form. nathan for you meets an astounding hbo budget meets the absolute limit of absurdist cringe comedy wrapped in some sort of existential mid-life crisis. I’ve never been as enthralled or as uncomfortable in observing the human condition.

the bear - i’ve never worked in the service industry so I can’t speak to how “real” their portrayal of the restaurant business is, but this is a fucking good show. it’s an emotional rollercoaster in the best way so buckle up. 

[saarik]

spring 2022

elden ring - 10/10. top 10 games in my book i think. botw + dark souls but taken to an insane level (and with bonus berserk inspo). it’s truly an apt metaphor for life: it’s a big scary world full of shit that’ll fuck you up even if you’re strong, but it’s worth it to get out there.

Tokyo Vice - really not a fan of ansel elgort...but the setting, story, and rest of the cast more than make up for him. of course i’m gonna like a serious crime drama set in japan in the 90s-00s about yakuza and investigative journalism. this is my crack.

our flag means death -  it’s done in a similar vein to what we do in the shadows or flight of the conchords with a lot of the same type of humor and characters. i genuinely laughed and enjoyed it. rhys darby and taika waititi are always winners for me. great guest stars seem to round things out as well. 

The Batman  - still pretty fresh in my mind. i do hold the nolan trilogy (particularly TDK) in very high regard, but I think this was an amazing effort in a different direction. This was more about highlighting batman as a detective and functions more as a thriller than the other films in the batman universe. robert pattinson didn’t (and still doesn’t) seem like a logical choice for bruce wayne but he really makes it his own. weirdly starting to like him after his role in Tenet and the humbling nature of memes...

[saarik]

dystopia/euphoria

i picked a really bad time to watch handmaids tale and station eleven. just like watching chernobyl right when the pandemic began. maybe these things didn’t really ever have a “good time” to watch them and I shouldn’t think of pre/post COVID as such a reductive concept and life landmark....

handmaids tale is something i really missed the boat on. elizabeth moss really puts on a powerful performance to carry the show forward. The actual material is kind of uncanny and frightening in how near reality it is. heavy, but really good in a fucked up way.

station eleven - just getting into it, but it’s insane that it’s a story about a global worldwide pandemic and their filming coincided with the actual outbreak. it’s a story in the setting of a pandemic but really about other beautiful human things. it’s nerdy af to say this but i do love that shakespeare is so prominently featured. kind of fitting. 

chernobyl - obviously some liberties are taken with reality, but truly gripping and harrowing from start to finish. long, heavy, serious, fucked up, and real. 

dystopia and euphoria seem to be at some sort of weird emotional intersection for me so i’ll also make a plug for euphoria which I caught up on recently. 

I must have missed the part where high school was a bunch of 25 year old models doing drugs and fucking...instead of just regular high schoolers doing that. i think theres a sense of magical realism there. it’s probably driven a lot by the fact that a lot of the target audience is viewing their own experiences through a rose-colored glass of nostalgia. obviously the subject matter in the show is taken to an extreme for dramatic effect (and is well worth that), but there’s sadly a sense of shared familiarity in that darkness. 

It’s been said before by others but Zendaya’s narration and understated performance does really subtly hold the show together. for me, the show’s best parts are the music and the art direction.  those top moments of the series for me are punctuated by color, sound, action/movement, costuming/makeup, and not so much actual dialogue. this isn’t to say that the dialogue and writing are bad either.

 There’s a lot of amazing 90s hip hop selections that seem like an anachronism to me...but in talking to my friends who are teachers, kids today revere the 90s just like I held the 70/80s in a way of mainlining/freebasing pure zeitgeist. in some strange way, i know that even with the current state of the world and how things have changed for kids - some things will never change. also i’m now old. fuck.

[saarik]

Winter 2021-22

Witcher Season 2 - Really went a step beyond S1. Thoroughly enjoyable on all accounts. 

The Wheel of Time - The legendary high fantasy series took some liberties to adjust to the small(er) screen but I think it’s really approachable. I really hope the next seasons live up to the books which is a completely unrealistic expectation.

Insecure - Great end to a great series. 

Curb - I’m not sure Larry David has ever missed?

Mythic Quest - I really came into this series lukewarm. It has some serious stars so I gave it a chance and the later part of season 1 really had some outstanding comedy to hook me in. I think that the WoW player in me didn’t have the heart to dislike it.

 The Great (hulu)- I don’t know why I loved this show. 

Demon Slayer S2 - The overall vibe is really just out of control at this point. At this point the expectation is beyond movie quality animation with absolutely BANGING OSTs. Really impressive so far. 

Boba Fett - 2 episodes in, I’m cautiously optimistic just because the production value is absurd. 

Hawkeye - The Marvel/Avengers universe is quite staid at this point...but this was a nice detour from the usual world-ending stuff to bring home a nice Christmas story about people shooting other people with bows and arrows.   

[saarik]

Kanye and Drake

“ When we were walking through the archway right there it felt surreal. It felt like a dream, it was something I always wanted to do. Be on stage with one of my idols when he’s running through one of the best catalogues in music, period...” 

-Drake

When said he that, I got chills. This just felt like the old days. Two of the best to ever do it. Pretty outstanding to see them on stage again and in good form. Kanye singing Find Your Love was so right, poetic that he originally wrote and produced it. Drake’s rendition of 24 seems to be the superior version in my mind. 10/10.

[saarik]

dune

They nailed it. When I bring it up with someone, they immediately exclaim how good it was and I think that says everything you need to know. Going into this, I knew that they’d have to screw up pretty bad for me to not like it - I have a major sci-fi bias as well as a Zendaya bias. And a long epic space opera bias.  

Beyond all of the performances, Zimmer soundtrack, and aesthetic brilliance, I was mostly surprised at the scale of it all and how they were able to convey that so well to us. The core of everything in Dune is one man and his family, but they create a monstrously large world. The set pieces and scope felt like I was observing the biblical recollection of a future that hadn’t passed yet. 

I don’t always think that things need to be remade or rebooted...in fact I typically believe the opposite. This is one of those rare exceptional remakes that just needed a little extra time, superior technology, and the fanaticism of a director who finally got to make a movie about his favorite book as a kid. 

[saarik]

eat spaghetti to forgetti your regretti

more espresso less depresso

i’m here for italian food based rhymes in the context of sadness

[saarik]

shang chi

man this was so good. honestly seeing tony leung in a western movie had me all kinds of fucked up. he is such an incredible actor and is the highlight of the movie, can’t really say more than that. the rest of the cast is obviously great and the movie is super fun. love seeing simu liu finally getting a major spotlight, guy really deserves it. 

that bamboo tower scene is 10000% a nod to rush hour 2 and i’m not going to believe anything else 

https://www.gq.com/story/tony-leung-tries-his-hand-at-hollywood

[saarik]

creative juices

haven’t been so good about updating, writing, or really doing anything anymore. something is better than nothing I guess?

ted lasso - catastrophically good

the chair - i actually liked this because academia is dumb as fuck as they seemed to understand that

jujutsu kaisen - god fuckin damn my favorite new anime series? maybe?

demon slayer: mugen train - just making grown men cry in their first movie theater experience since the pandemic began

DONDA - Disappointing and discombobulated but definitely an actual effort from Kanye. A couple of bangers are on there. 

tokyo drift freestyle is still HEAT

[saarik]

song of the quarantine not even a contest

[saarik]

And we drinking Yoohoo like it's dirty Sprite

[saarik]

Spring/Summer 2018 Update

Back at it.

I have definitely missed out on writing about a lot of great content since the last update, but missing out on things is literally what I do.

Barry - With the season finale rounding the corner, I’ve gotta say that I’m really wanting more. Definitely an interesting concept for a series (hitman wants to be an actor in LA) that can be extremely outrageous yet subtly meta at the same time. Bill Hader is really awesome and it’s nice to see him out on his own showcasing a lot of range - not just comedy.

Silicon Valley - It’s more of the same tried and true formula this season. Screw up, backstab, get lucky. There have really been some outstanding moments this season. The show might be better off without TJ to lean on in all honesty.

Westworld - Season 2 has started off on a very intense note and is just as enigmatic as the first season. Let’s hope the mystery and gravitas don’t become staid and stagnant. Samurai World incoming.

Even the non-HBO offerings have been delivering.

Atlanta - On top of the television throne right now. Donald Glover is on one. Shout out to Hiro Murai 

Brooklyn Nine-Nine - Maybe failing to capture 10/10 hilarity perpetually, surely 9/10 intermittently, and 8/10 consistently.

Marvel - Black Panther was a wonderful MCU film and a decent regular film. Avengers Infinity War was decent and tried to create a situation with actual stakes to emotionally invest us after all these years. They partly succeeded, but there are just too many heavy hitters in a single movie to make it all mean anything.

Arrested Development Season 5 - Please be good

Kanye - sigh. why. smh. 

P.S. The intersectionality of LeBron and Drake here is just way too nice

https://twitter.com/WeAreCavsNation/status/992974578258362369

[saarik]

Blade Runner 2049

tl;dr: My theater literally walked out in stunned silence. This movie was everything I had hoped a sequel to the original Blade Runner was going to be - even though no one asked for it and we didn’t need it. 

Visually, I have to say that the original was so far beyond anything and everything. It’s difficult to be amazed anymore since even the worst movies are capable of incredible technical achievements - but this was masterful. Roger Deakins is superb. I was blown away by those shots. The soundtrack was done by Hans Zimmer so I don’t even need to to go there at this point. In my mind it was a damn near perfect update from an audiovisual perspective.

It’s really hard to dissect this movie critically because it hit me in all the right places. There were so many callbacks to the original, yet I felt that they were tasteful and organic as they appeared - or with enough fanservice that I didn’t even care. The story asked the right amount of questions, carrying just enough twists that it didn’t become overwhelming and lacking importance. I really, really hope they don’t make another one because the ending is very satisfying while retaining some ambiguity (like the original...). I don’t think they needed to make this, but I’m glad they didn’t fuck it up.

Ryan Gosling was a great casting choice and he really carried the movie without actually saying all that much. Seems like a recurring theme with him, but it really works here. There were so many great performances, but I will single out Ana de Armas only to mention that she is a goddess. 

Overall, the movie pretty much left me speechless. My only caveat is that I'm not sure everyone will find it a masterpiece if they did not have some exposure to the source material.

[saarik]

Not back, but back

Once again, a long neglected update. So much has come and gone so there’s no real way for me to do anything comprehensive. A few tidbits:

Melodrama by Lorde: I was really impressed with this album. I think it represents her maturing in both sound and in life. I don’t feel like there are as many huge bangers on this record as Pure Heroine, but the overall message and track progression are so much more cogent. Sober is an amazing track and stands out in a big way for me. I just hope I can catch her on tour.

Wonder Woman: Patty Jenkins seemed to have lifted the DC mediocre/bad movie curse in pretty spectacular, modern fashion. WW was a phase 1 superhero movie done right. Despite knowing that Diana will be alive and kicking in present-day (for Justice League, etc) - the stakes felt appropriately high and that’s something very difficult to do when dealing with invincible/ridiculous superheroes. Chris Pine was outstanding and was a great supporting actor/foil to Gal Gadot. Gal Gadot was fantastic - equal parts dynamic, powerful, and badass...yet so naive to the outside world. It’s not perfect by any means, but it was damn good. Bout time.

Black Panther: I’m going to be optimistic because the trailer LOOKS LIT. Their use of RTJ was 10/10. Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler have great synergy so I’m hoping Chadwick Boseman can add to it. Boseman was good for the small part he had in Civil War so this is looking like a Marvel movie that can retain its trademark character while actually being good (like Deadpool). In Coogler we trust. 

Oh, Hello: I haven’t actually laughed out loud while watching something in a while and this was brilliant. Must-watch for Netflix.

[saarik]

Farewell to 2016

A lot of people would say that 2016 has been a trying and tough year. Well...whatever. It certainly has been a long year and I’m glad to squeeze in one more post before the clock turns. Here’s the latest and greatest of what I’ve seen in the last couple months.

Medici: Masters of Florence - This is a solid meh. The reason I stuck through the eight episodes is because I’m intrigued by the Medici family and the Renaissance. My recommendation? A much better use of your time is probably to watch The Power of Art and play through Assassin’s Creed 2 instead.

The Grand Tour - This is Top Gear. And just like the olden days of glorious Top Gear, some rare episodes miss and some regular segments usually miss. The rest? Well...it’s glorious to be back and looking better than ever. 

The Nice Guys - Absolutely loved it. Really quirky and funny. Crowe/Gosling is an unlikely combo that really hits. I was not expecting a lot and I was pleasantly surprised.

Amidst my travels, I utilized the new offline viewing capabilities of Netflix to knock some movies off my backlog:

Spotlight - Riveting and deep. A fantastic dramatization of a groundbreaking issue that is still relevant right now (and will likely remain relevant for a long time sadly).

Pumping Iron - A classic. It’s a little weird if I’m being honest, and you’ll definitely get some inquisitive looks if they glance at your screen. It is a story of Arnold Schwarzenegger at the height of his bodybuilding career and the men who tried to challenge him. Equal parts funny and historic, I think it is definitely worth the small time investment it asks. 

Cartel Land - I had heard a lot about this movie and came in with a lot of excitement. The story they tell is an important yet troubling one - just not the one I was expecting. It is a well-shot and structured doc. Be forewarned: there is no glamorous, clean ending here. The harsh reality of the drug trade and the violence it has wreaked will leave a bitter taste in your mouth if you decide to watch it. 

Tinker Tailer Solider Spy - It’s phenomenal on all accounts. This is not your Jason Bourne or James Bond type of film. Some might say it’s very slow or confusing. The payoff for your patience and attention might not be a huge gun fight or dramatic action sequence. This is carefully crafted from the master writer of old-school spycraft himself, John Le Carre. The merits are more cerebral and less visceral. The cast boasts an all-star lineup with excellent performances, but Gary Oldman stands slightly above. If someone ever says “they don’t make them like they used to...”, show them this.

You’re already paying for them...might as well watch them.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - This was a very strong entry to set the basis of a new massive Harry Potter franchise. For true J.K. Rowling source material, exploring the other wizarding worlds outside of England is a very exciting prospect. I had high hopes and was not disappointed - though others might think otherwise. If you view it as a standalone without the future franchise opportunities, I still think it holds up to that scrutiny. Do not go in expecting a Prisoner of Azkaban level Harry Potter film. That being said, there were quite a few tricks up their sleeve that had me dazzled. 

Rogue One - This is the Star Wars prequel we all needed and wanted. Truly. The story ties in perfectly, the cast is outstanding, and it feels like Star Wars. They went for subtlety in a lot of their callbacks/cameos and references which really heightens the experience with the new characters. It’s not a stretch to say that this was a far stronger movie than The Force Awakens. 

La La Land - I saw this yesterday, leaving the theater absolutely stunned and blown away. It’s a gorgeous movie with beautiful cinematography. It’s wonderfully acted with very passable singing. I think that even if you despise romances and/or musicals you would still enjoy this. Though not classically “sad”, it’s weighty -- bring some tissues. Definitely of my favorites of the year and no doubt worth watching in theaters. 

Looking forward to 2017, I’m definitely pumped for Man Seeking Woman, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and Black Sails to return. Sherlock obviously is a hugely anticipated arrival, but I was somewhat disappointed with Season 3 and the last special. Here’s to hoping for a return to form. I also have high hopes for American Gods. Neil Gaiman’s book was incredible and Bryan Fuller as showrunner seems to always work magic (albeit usually canceled too early).

I wish everyone good fortune in the year to come.

[saarik]

Fall update

Well, it’s been a while. There’s been a lot of great stuff in the last few months that I missed talking about so I won’t go too in-depth.

Doctor Strange - Saw it last night actually. I felt that it was a very decent movie, considering how similar the marvel stuff is getting to be. It was a little weirder than your standard superhero movie from a visual perspective which was a great change. There was definitely an all-star cast, gotta love Tilda and Mads. It got a lot of little things right and didn’t try to play too much off of the rest of the Marvel Universe which I liked. Overall fun and enjoyable certainly not incredible. I think 3D was actually pretty worth it, but I would not pay to see this movie again. 

Longmire - The 5th and latest season dropped on Netflix recently. I think the first 3 seasons were outstanding and the 4th faltered. The 5th season got into pretty good form if you were willing to stick out the first few episodes. I love the aesthetic and feel of the story as a whole. Robert Taylor and Lou Diamond Phillips are always standouts - they don’t disappoint. Really worth watching, especially the first few seasons.

Westworld - The latest and greatest phenomenon on HBO trying to suck everyone in. Halfway through, I think it is extremely compelling. It’s hard to tell where they’re going and what they’re trying to do most of the time, but I can’t help but watch. There are levels to this show and I think we’re only at the surface. I can see this being really huge if they are able to keep the story in focus because there seems to be a huge risk of getting way too complicated/convoluted. 

Atlanta - This is a fantastic show - season 1 was hilarious and way too real all at the same time. The level of quality is outstanding. I wasn’t expecting this to be so good, but hey that’s Donald Glover for you. Must watch.

30 Rock - Obviously this is an oldie but a goodie. I’ve been going back and watching a lot of 30 Rock. Just really funny and well written overall. I remember being reminded of old The Simpsons because it seems like every single line is a joke (or more) and it fires on all cylinders - especially the earlier seasons. I just love stuff like when they do a North Korean spoof of Glengarry Glen Ross...

Kubo and the Two Strings - Absolutely loved this movie. This entry from Laika was captivating, stunning, and gorgeous. Don’t be thrown by the fact it looks like an “animated children’s” movie. It’s a surprisingly dramatic (and at times dark) stop-motion fantasy adventure and arguably one of the best movies of the year. 

Marco Polo - I enjoyed season 2, just like I enjoyed season 1. I think season 2 was better overall. It’s not...good, but it is pretty entertaining especially if you have some interest in history. The production value is pretty strong and Benedict Wong is really a standout. 

Narcos - Season 2 was definitely repetitive and playing off the same formula from Season 1, but it ended up being very satisfying. Pedro Pascal and Wagner Moura were once again fantastic. S2 was good, but I felt like I wanted to move on to season 3 while I was halfway through. The season 3 hype is real. 

Arrow - Season 4 was literally so bad I couldn’t even finish it. It was truly painful. I stuck my neck out and gave Season 5 a chance for redemption. 5 episodes in, I have been pleasantly surprised and I’m not trying to punch my TV every second. If they can keep it up I’m excited to see where they go with this story.