Weekly Quick Hits - September 4
The media that's kept me company this week
Each week, I’m going to send out a list of entertainment I’ve spent time with. Stuff I’ve seen, read, played, listened to, etc. These may be things I recommend or that I just want to share. Let’s go!
Watching
Ragnarok
Summary: Young Magne Seier becomes the reincarnation of the Norse god Thor, called to fight the final battle between good and evil.
My thoughts: I have a lot of thoughts, which I wrote here:
Where to watch: Netflix
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
Summary: Bard Edgin just wants to restore his family, but the world of Faerûn has a larger campaign in mind for him and his troupe of thieves.
My thoughts: I love this movie and sincerely hope to see a new series come from it. Look forward to a full run-down later this month.
Where to watch: Prime
The Wailing
Summary: A small town cop investigates a series of disturbing murders, which began after the arrival of a mysterious, foreign loner.
My thoughts: This movie is a great example of “you won’t see the ending coming.” I plan to write about this one, too. It’s a great mystery/horror film.
Where to watch: Prime
One Piece
Summary: The live action adaptation of the record-smashing manga. Optimistic Monkey D. Luffy is determined to become King of the Pirates.
My thoughts: I like it! A controversial opinion for a live adaptation of manga, I know. One episode in, it’s fun, engaging, and well made. Considering how silly the characters are, they translate nicely to “real life.”
Where to watch: Netflix
Bordertown: Mural Murders
Summary: Detective Kari Sorjonen leaves psychiatric care to face down a new serial killer, who has been inspired by Sorjonen’s worst foe.
My thoughts: I don’t know that this film will work for anyone who hasn’t already seen the Bordertown series. It’s an okay movie, but it’s really just a long episode of that show. I do love Sorjonen, he’s a great character.
Where to watch: Netflix
Mike and Jay Talk About: Cobweb
Summary: My favorite YouTube idiots (geniuses?) discuss a recently released horror film, Cobweb.
My thoughts: I only watched half of the episode because now I want to watch the movie! Its release unfortunately coincided with Barbenheimer. Cobweb stars Antony Starr from The Boys, and I’d watch him all day.
Alone, Season 4
Summary: A competition show where pairs of participants compete to survive the longest in the wilderness of Vancouver Island.
My thoughts: This is my parents favorite show right now. I’m not a huge fan of competition shows, but this one is really exciting! We discuss strategies after each episode, as if we would last more than a few hours.
Where to watch: History
Reading
Book of Night
By Holly Black
Summary: Shadow magic is the most prized skill in the world. Charlie Hall just wants to escape her con artist past when a new heist falls in her lap.
My thoughts: Almost finished! This is a great urban fantasy/magic book, and I’m looking forward to writing up my thoughts more completely.
My edition: 2022
Listening
Joy: a Podcast
Summary: Another winner from Craig Ferguson, speaking with his friend Josh Robert Thompson, voice of Geoff Peterson on the Late Late Show.
My thoughts: This was a great episode, and not just because I love hearing Thompson do voices. They discuss the difficulty of being a voice actor, behind the scenes, when you want to be out front in the lights.
Where to listen: iHeart
The Complete Earthsea Series
Summary: A new BBC Radio adaptation of Ursula K. Le Guin’s marvelous Earthsea saga, featuring a full cast and sound design.
My thoughts: Read the books first. This adaptation is good, the acting suits the characters, but it’s not the same as reading the books. They miss the power of symbolism in the originals.
Where to listen: Audible
And that’s the list this week! What do you think? Have you seen, read, heard, played of these titles? What have you been enjoying lately?