Media Consumption List
What I have read, watched or played at any particular time in the past that I considered to be of note.
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May 3, 2024
The Sting
Dec 25, 1973
This is a movie made in the 70's that feels like one that was made in the 40's. I'm not sure if this is the first conman or heist film, but it feels like the audience is right there in the planning of the job. This, in addition to the style of music used as part of the soundtrack successfully allows for it to work as a period piece. Paul Newman and Robert Redford's dynamic is great and it has some unexpected twists and turns. For a film with as great a cast as this one, it definitely shows off its pedigree.
May 2, 2024
Roman Holiday
Aug 20, 1953
A classic that is entertaining from beginning to end. Audrey Hepburn is the headliner, but I feel like Gregory Peck's performance was quite interesting and charming. In addition to it providing a caricature of Europe, it shows Rome at the time. The interactions between Hepburn's and Peck's characters showcased good chemistry and made this film work. I can understand why it is a great classic.
May 1, 2024
The Panama Papers
Oct 6, 2018
A film about the Panama papers. This was an interesting film albeit a shallow one. We can see the aftermath of the Panama papers from the perspective of journalists. That said, it is never explained why the Panama papers were important, the actual contents of those papers, and the far reaching implications. Overall, surface level.
Apr 29, 2024
キノの旅 -the Beautiful World-
Jul 10, 2000, Keiichi Shigusawa
I started this years ago and finally finished it fully in Japanese. This has a collection of surreal and fantastic journeys through various lands and countries of a fictional world. I have seen the series and the novel has a similar feel. I honestly wonder why this series has not seen greater popularity given how much people like to travel.
Apr 23, 2024
The Man Who Knew Infinity
Sep 17, 2015
A generally decent movie covering the later part of Ramanujan's work. It is similar to other films covering the same subject matter. One thing this seems lighter on is the actual inner workings of Ramanujan, the math itself, as well as the deeper interactions he had with his collaborators. I think where it suffers is in terms of depth. That said, it can be a worthwhile watch if one does not go in expecting a great movie.
Apr 22, 2024
Solo Leveling
Mar 31, 2024
The animated adaptation of Solo Leveling. I thought it was very entertaining and since I watched its Korean dub, it also was a great way to get more exposure to the language. The plot is the exact same as the manwha, so there is nothing new here to present. Animation was surprisingly good. Typically manwha adaptations are not that great, but this one actually flew by quickly. I look forward to the second season.
Apr 15, 2024
こゝろ
Sep 20, 1914, Natsume Souseki
This was one of the novels I wanted to read in Japanese for a while, and I have finally done it. This is split into 3 parts and in my opinion only the last part is worthwhile. When compared to Ningen Shikkaku by Dazai, I think it is not as impactful, but it is smartly written as a way to reflect on loneliness and the modernization of Japan during the Meiji era. While both books deal with suicide, this focuses more on guilt, identity, and the historical context. In that sense, this is trying to do two things at once while Ningen Shikkaku is more like Taxi Driver in that it is more focused on psychology.. I would recommend reading this book simply to understand how Japanese people thought and lived around the time of the Meiji era since principles and values were quite different back then. Understanding the motives of the characters is one of the challenges presented to the reader, but I think that is what gave it death as the reasons for suicide presented here are unconventional by modern standards.
Apr 12, 2024
A Million Miles Away
Sep 8, 2023
This is an biographical film about the life of Jose Hernandez and his journey to become an astronaut. I don't consider it to be particularly groundbreaking, but the perspective presented of a migrant worker growing up in America to eventually join NASA was novel. Not only did it provide some insight into Mexican culture, but it also added to the film's uniqueness while keeping things generally lighthearted. Overall, inspiring, but I do wish that Michael Pena could have had a larger physical transformation in this debut role as I was not convinced that his physique was one that could dive, run a marathon or be a successful pilot.
Apr 11, 2024
3 Body Problem
Mar 21, 2024
This is Netflix's western adaptation of the 3 Body Problem. It is generally good, but after reading the trilogy, I feel like the execution isn't as deliberate as it could be. It very much feels like it was made for a mainstream audience. But even before that, it felt lacking in terms of budget from cinematography to special effects and even color grading. Overall, I'll watch another season if it comes out, but I didn't think it was as enjoyable or as interesting as it could have been.
Apr 3, 2024
The Poppy War
May 1, 2018, R.F. Kuang
This was an interesting read which felt like a cross between Avatar the Last Airbender and The Rape of Nanking which is a strange combination indeed. It starts off like a standard young adult novel, but then brings in war crimes and events which mirror China during the 1900's. I did not consider it enjoyable, but I did consider it to be well written. References to the Investiture of the Gods was also an interesting touch. I think it also has similarities to Dune in the way genocide is brought up so often. Overall, interesting and well written. I question how original it is as it is a hodgepodge of history and other ideas, but it flowed well and read easily.
Mar 29, 2024
Bleach: Sennen Kessen-hen - Ketsubetsu-tan
Sep 30, 2023
A great continuation to the previous refresh of the Bleach series. While this is less intense, it was not lacking in content or entertainment value. The animation is not on the level of Jujutsu Kaisen, but the story and the way it moves is very smooth. This is a series that is easy to binge and the attention to detail on the story elements and world building is great. Stakes are gradually being raised while the main character is surprisingly almost absent from the story. It is something of a step back compared to the previous season, but the way in which Japanese and German cultures were used to create unique characters and abilities is very much consistent. Furthermore, we are now beginning to see a mythology form which acts as an underpinning to the different afterlife realms and provides a history of the world centuries prior to when the first episode takes place. Overall, I enjoyed it a lot and hope to actually see the characters I care about make more of an appearance.
Mar 29, 2024
Long Gone Days
Oct 10, 2023
This is a game I had my eye on since it was in early access. I went in expecting something like The Hurt Locker or Waltz with Bashir, but it was more like a low budget Metal Gear Solid game with less depth. With that said, it does a lot of novel things. The use of language and culture as an obstacle was unique along with the idea of a shadow government which manipulates the world's politics is interesting. Outside of this, the gameplay was shallow and it dragged often. I think for a first indie game, it is fine, but as a game on the whole, it was not the most rewarding.
Mar 23, 2024
Lionheart
Dec 21, 2018
This is my first Nollywood film and I think that although the story isn't particularly novel. From a story standpoint, it is a story of a transportation company that is going under. The interesting parts for me, however, are the emphasis on Nigerian culture. The way family dynamics and language plays a role in Nigeran culture is rather unique. Beyond this, the production quality is high.
Mar 23, 2024
Spy x Family Season 2
Dec 23, 2023
This season is very episodic despite the high production value. I think I need to treat it more like a series like Lupin or one of those episodic series which went on for 50+ episodes back before the 90's. It is enjoyable and still entertaining, but character development is dialed back when compared to the other seasons. Overall, a step down in some respects while consistent in others.
Mar 18, 2024
Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Nov 12, 2020
Generally good, but overall inferior to Spider-Man. Miles Morales is a fully fleshed out character and his quirks make the game feel fresh. With all of that said, I feel like this game did not hit as hard as Spider-Man. It's a good side story, but it's short and the world seems to lack depth despite it being a recreation of New York.
Mar 15, 2024
The show was great and this movie is great as well. It is as though it is a post world war movie that showed how the world changed and modernized as families that were separated were gradually brought back together. We see familiar characters and new ones. As usual, the focus on emotions, relationships, and the dynamic letters can have on those is the centerpiece. Animation, music, and editing is good too. I think pacing and structure could be improved, but I do not have any concrete suggestions to make. It delivers its message effectively within its 90 minute runtime.
Mar 14, 2024
Starship IFT3 Live
Mar 14, 2024
A significant improvement over the past 2 launches which actually saw Starship reach orbital velocity. While the test was a success, both Starship and Super Heavy were not able to land which makes it a partial success for me. The face that we could see the plasma trail on the wings of Starship as it reentered the atmosphere was really made this a first. Overall, a launch that has reached new milestones.
Mar 13, 2024
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Jan 1, 1522, Luo Guanzhong
This took months to complete. The Chinese epic consists of 120 chapters totalling thousands of pages. This has familiar characters that I've seen in Japanese and Chinese culture. It also shows the rise and fall of these characters. The story has ups and downs as different forces vy for power based on different principles and it shows off aspects of Chinese culture that may not be present today. Heroes are made and then they are killed, and in the end, everything ends in what is effectively failure. I think this is a story that may be appreciated in bits and pieces, but as a whole I think a mainstream western audience would not fully appreciate it. With that said, it has a surprisingly high amount of depth and is very well written despite its unconventional narrative style that reads more like a history textbook.
Mar 11, 2024
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
Sep 14, 2018
This was an interesting game given that Crystal Dynamics did not develop this. Instead, Eidos Montreal did. Despite this, it felt like only a slightly downgrade from Rise of the Tomb Raider. Gameplaywise, it felt similar, but the exploration and side missions felt significantly cut down with not much new added to the other mechanics. This makes the game more linear, and while the story and graphics are probably the best out of all the other games in the Survivor trilogy, it does not make up for the gameplay completely. The setting of South America and the presentation of its history and culture felt very immersive. Now, storywise, the character development actually felt complete and this had some of the best cutscenes I have scene in the franchise. Lara Croft is now an older and more fleshed out character with clear motivations and idiosyncrasies, and it was great to see her develop over the course of this trilogy. Overall, it is a decent game that could really benefit more from leaning more into its story while providing gameplay that does not detract from what it has to tell.
Mar 10, 2024
Dune
Dec 3, 1984
I watched the Spicediver edit which adds about 40 minutes to the original and apparently fixes a lot of the issues that were brought up previously. With that said, it is still a very flawed film and it tries to do too much in one go and ultimately loses coherency in the past. If the fan edit was like this, I can only imagine how bad the theatrical film was. With that said, it has moments that are well done. Some such moments are possibly event better than the Villneuve flims, but overall, it is inferior to the Villeneuve films, because the visual direction as well as character interactions seem artificial.
Mar 3, 2024
Resident Evil 3
Apr 3, 2020
If Resident Evil 1 was like Alien, then Resident Evil 3 is like Aliens. The difference is like Ridley Scott vs. James Cameron. Like the previous game, this has a mixture of action and puzzles, but has more of an emphasis on action. It is definitely the most action focused up to this point and, as a result, it feels like less of a horror game. While there is tension with the presence of Nemesis who chases the player throughout the game, it does not match Mr. X from Resident Evil 2. Overall, it is a step down from the previous game, but still entertaining in its own way.
Mar 2, 2024
Dune: Part Two
Mar 1, 2024
This is the second installment in Denis Villeneuve's Dune adaptations. It is not a perfect film in a modern sense, but it is one with a lot of payoff and is overall a great epic. From a visual and sound perspective, it is expertly crafted and has a lot of similarities to Upstream Color. Hans Zimmer's soundtrack is very original and signals a take on audio engineering that I don't see being used often nowadays. Giedi Prime and the Harkonens in particular are some of the most unique visual parts of the film There are some effects which appear to not be as realistic on an IMAX screen, but overall, it is great in terms of execution. Acting by the main actors is also well handled and the attention to subtle details makes their part of the film stand out. This is a film that leaves an impression which will last for days at the least like Blade Runner 2049. I think where the film might suffer is in terms of pacing, but this is a more minor complaint in light of all the things the film does right. The film leaves off on a cliff hanger which sets up for Dune Messiah and it also tells a story that is about manipulation which acts as an inversion of a traditional hero's journey. The mixture of prophecy, science fiction, and the oncoming future makes for a very interesting film which has multiple layers with deeply spiritual undertones that I feel mirrors many aspects of the Quran.
Feb 24, 2024
Itaewon Class
Feb 29, 2020
This is a story of triumph and principles. Acting is somewhat over the top for everyone as is typical of k dramas in addition to the lack of realism and the usual trend of popular shows to emphasize romance even when it does not benefit the story. That said, it is very entertaining, has a focus on entrepreneurship, and has a fair bit of character development in addition to some commentary on social issues. I can understand why the show is so popular despite its flaws.
Feb 22, 2024
This was the NASA stream which covered the Odysseus Nova-C's IM-1 mission which was the first successful commercial landing on the moon. The commentary was well done and the result was a good contrast from the failure of Hakuto-R M1. I hope this can soon be followed up with manned missions.
Feb 21, 2024
Resident Evil 2
Jan 25, 2019
A huge improvement over the first game in almost every way. The graphics are eye catching, and the gameplay is highly streamlined. The two playable characters each have their own personalities and their voice actors are very convincing. The game starts out feeling very similar to the first Resident Evil, but later picks up and starts feeling similar to the later entries. It basically goes from horror to action block buster. Despite this, it still keeps its puzzle and exploration segments. I feel that those who are familiar with any of the games and those who are completely new to the series will enjoy this. Overall, it is very well crafted and deserving of its accolades while acting as a remake that manages to keep fan-favorite sensibilities while modernizing the series despite its short playtime.
Feb 16, 2024
Sound of Metal
Sep 6, 2019
A great film about hearing loss and the psychological after effects. The strongest parts of this film are its sound design and acting. Riz Ahmed's nomination was well deserved, and the way in which the film immitates the feelings of deafness and hearing implants was very educational. It showed a side to the experience of being deaf in American which was less familiar with before.
Feb 15, 2024
Hikari no Ou
Mar 18, 2023
This is a series that brings together the duo of Mamoru Oshii and Kenji Kawaii as writer as composer. The story is unique, but it also has Oshii's sensibilities from its ability to handle complex themes to its preoccupation with dogs beyond just basset hounds which was present ever since he directed Ghost in the Shell. The premise of a post apocalyptic world where natural fire causes spontaneous combustion and demons roam the earth is an interesting one. With all of this said, the characters were not as memorable as I would have preferred with their development coming across as muted. I think this is an area where Oshii might be more infamous due to his preference to sterilize characters and character interaction in service of big or unique ideas and plot points. This, in addition to the execution of the animation style which is a direct result of a low budget hurts the overall quality of the work. I believe this may work better as a radio drama, because the visuals are not its strong suit and it has great sound design, voice work, and music.
Feb 13, 2024
Covers how to achieve hypertrophy and maximum muscle development in the most optimal way while injecting humor in frequently. Not only does this go over the simple items such as sets and reps, but it also covers mesocycles and periodization.
Feb 12, 2024
Watch Dogs 2
Nov 29, 2016
This is strangely good and also sloppy at the same time. The gameplay is like GTA with hacking. Like the first, however, the world does not have a lot of depth. This has some areas where it draws from actual events and other areas where it isn't realistic. References to pop cultures, scientology, and parodies of the bay area were interesting and yet not too far from the truth. Conversely, some aspects of hacking were more gamified. Compared to the first game, it feels less clunky and less serious, but the lack of substance makes it suffer in my opinion.
Feb 8, 2024
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off
Nov 17, 2023
The movie followed the source material and this provides an alternate story. In addition to this, the show uses an animation style that is faithful to the source and highly stylized. It feels like something that is from the early 2000's and is purely Canadian. Voice work is done by the original cast of the film, so I think it will be appreciated by those who liked the film as well.
Feb 4, 2024
Trigun Stampede
Mar 25, 2023
After watching Trigun Stampede, I have mixed feelings. The CGI can be incredibly fluid, but it can lack detail at times and just look out of place. The lack of gunplay compared to the original Trigun was disappointing considering that was some of the main features of the original. Storywise, I feel like the execution and pacing had issues. Conversely, this had better music than the original Trigun, and I think the character designs were an improvement over the original.
Feb 3, 2024
Horizon Zero Dawn
Feb 28, 2017
This is an open world game with a heartfelt story that provides gameplay with depth and a reasonable reward system. The world itself is fully populated and has a history that is gradually uncovered as the player proceeds through the story. The way in which it uses future versions of real places in southwest America was very interesting and it was like visiting national parks in those areas in real life. Playing through this game for the first time is quite the experience. Horizon Zero Dawn in my opinion takes the best parts of the copy paste nature of Ubisoft games and Skyrim and uses them to tell a great science fiction story with a hopeful tone with regards to the human race. Aloy is a memorable protagonist, and the voice acting for many of the characters is greatly done. It also goes without saying that the character development is tremendous. Overall, this really exceeded my expectations, especially since this was made by a Dutch company.
Feb 2, 2024
Lupin III: Cagliostro no Shiro
Dec 15, 1979
Lupin is one of those franchises which has a lot of name recognition in Japan like Conan or Doraemon. From my perspective, this is like a cross between the Pink Panther and James Bond. In this one, the main trope used is the use of counterfeit currency to create a shadow empire. The animation is dated, but also well done when it needs to be. Overall it's lot of fun, and its combination of slapstick humor with the occasional high concept tropes makes it work. All of the characters are unique and memorable with Lupin taking center stage. While this is one of Miyazaki's less known films, it is still a well crafted one.
Jan 27, 2024
Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms
Jul 20, 2023
The Chinese equivalent to Lord of the Rings falls sort because of its overuse of CGI and a lack of decent character development. That is not to say that there isn't character development, but rather that the character development is not good. It's a epic film that has strange qualities in that it has enough missteps to bungle decent source material.
Jan 25, 2024
Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour
Oct 11, 2023
This is a good overview of Taylor Swift's discography and the production quality is top notch. Personally, I liked her newer work, but overall it is good for an artist that actually contributes to the writing of their own music.
Jan 24, 2024
14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible
Nov 29, 2021
In addition to this being a climbing movie about the 14 peaks, it also provides a window into many other things such as alpine climbing, the gurkhas, Nepalese climbers and culture, and a history of the peaks. It covers a lot and Nirmal Purja is a character that is as distinctive as Honnold. The fact that his team managed to not only break records, but carry out rescue efforts and coordinated climbs with other teams along the way is next level. I think this made a bigger impression on me than many of the other climbing movies with the exception of Free Solo and the Dawn Wall because it had a clear message which is quite simply that nothing is impossible. With that said, there are some things that I wish it did better such as build up to each mountain better and get more into the technical aspects of alpine climbing. Overall, it is crowd pleasing and easy to appreciate.
Jan 21, 2024
Jujutsu Kaisen 2nd Season
Dec 28, 2023
The entire season is a practice in pushing the envelope in terms of animation and animated fight choreography and it is simply an experience. With that said, I could still tell when they were using cgi or cutting corners despite their use of cgi blending in really well. I think in terms of animation, it is not exactly at the level of Jujutsu Kaisen 0, but I think that is to be expected when one is comparing a hand drawn film to a 23 episode series. In Jujutsu Kaisen 0, you could pause at any frame and it would be a work of art. In season 2 of Jujutsu Kaisen, that is not quite the case. With that said, If you like nonstop action this will satisfy. This is battle shounen anime and that's what makes it great. For those expecting expecting more character development and plot, I think you may not be fully satisfied, but there are other series out there to cater to your tastes.
Jan 21, 2023
Blue Eye Samurai
Nov 3, 2023
This is a western take on samurai and it is rather interesting despite being historically inaccurate in certain areas. The animation is good, the character development is present, and it takes novel approaches to each episode. Voice acting is okay considering that it is a western work, and features some well known actors and names. I think it's a good start and crowd pleasing, but I would like to see more in following seasons to see where it goes.
Jan 20, 2024
The Alpinist
Sep 10, 2021
This is a movie about Marc-André Leclerc who I have never heard of prior to watching this film. With that said, all of the stuff he did seems completely next level when compared to the climbing in Free Solo due to the variety of techniques needed for alpine climbing. When compared to the other great climbing movies, this is somewhere between Meru and The Dawn Wall in terms of narrative quality. This is also the first movie that focuses on a climber that died. Outside of this, the filming of the actual climbing is lacking for obvious reasons, but it at least provides exposure to a climber has not gotten much attention and deserves it.
Jan 15, 2024
Meru
Jan 23, 2015
A good climbing movie. Although Jimmy Chin is a famous documentary filmmaker, he is also an established climber in his own right. The background of all the climbers is impressive, and the difficulty of what they were doing is clear. The way in which this is different from the other types of climbing is also interesting. With that said, it could have been better at sculpting a narrative. That is the primary weakpoint of this movie compared to the other good climbing films.
Jan 14, 2024
God of War
Apr 20, 2018
This is an incredible work of art that happens to have good gameplay. From a narrative standpoint, the focus on family and the relationship between father and son are what make this great. However, the backdrop of Norse mythology and its focus on the finer points of it definitely help. Voice acting is great in addition to the soundtrack. Simply, this is a beautiful and emotional game that is finely crafted. It feels modern and it really matches what one would expect of Sony's finest. I wish the previous entries would be remastered and brought to other platforms.
Jan 13, 2024
The Dawn Wall
Mar 11, 2018
We have heard of Alex Honnold's free soloing of the Freerider route of El Capitan, but this one focuses on the free climbing of the dawn wall. All of the climbs here are ridiculous difficult. This, combined with Tommy Caldwell's history as a kidnapping victim and a climber that lost a finger makes it a really compelling story.
Jan 8, 2024
Jusant
Oct 31, 2023
Jusant means receding tide in French. In this game, we climb with two arms and two feet up a mountain that was once an island from a time when sea level was higher and no drought. This feels similar to Gris in many ways, but the platforming is very similar to modern climbing. The player needs to be mindful of where they grip so as to ascend walls and set belays accordingly. The experience is meditative, and it is really a well made game. This, combined with the use of Unreal Engine 5 makes it beautiful and an almost spiritual experience. Simply put, this is a gem that I think has widespread appeal for an indie game.
Jan 6, 2024
We Are OFK
Sep 8, 2022
This is an interactive animation of sorts where the actions of the player don't really affect the story significantly. While this is about a band's beginnings, the focus is more on personal issues of the band and we basically see some shows being written and the band break up and reform. This is essentially a prequel and we don't even see a real performance. Overall, I think this is lacking in substance despite some good tracks.
Jan 6, 2024
Bocchi the Rock!
Dec 25, 2022
This is a slice of life that is similar to K-On and has an element of social anxiety to it. It is very well made and although it moves slow, it is fun. Tracks are also well constructed and surprisingly technical.
Jan 5, 2024
If Beale Street Could Talk
Jan 1, 1974, James Baldwin
If Beale Street Could Talk is a powerful and better written novel by James Baldwin. Set in 1970s America, it tells the story of Tish and Fonny, a young African-American couple whose lives are upended by a false rape accusation. Unlike Giovanni's Room, this has optimism behind it despite the bleak outlook of the characters.
Jan 1, 2024
All Summer in a Day
Mar 1, 1956, Ray Bradbury
A short story by Ray Bradbury about continuous rain on Venus stopping for a few hours. The scientific foundation of this one is a bit dubious, but it makes for a strong metaphor.
Dec 31, 2023
Deliver Us from Evil
Aug 5, 2020
Standard South Korean action fare that is on the border between mediocre and good. Fortunately, this leans towards good. It's not the best paced, and the action would have definitely benefited from longer takes, but its an acceptable package on the whole. Acting by Lee Jung-jae was one of the standout pieces of this work.
Dec 30, 2023
G.R.M.
1996
This was a prototype of sorts for the live action film that Mamoru Oshii would direct almost 2 decades later. The animation here is incredibly sophisticated in addition to its usage of CGI during a time where it was just beginning to be used in 2d animation years prior. I think what was shown here and what was shown in the film that came out later is an interesting case study in how costs, technology, and budget can change a project over time.
Dec 30, 2023
Hypnotic
Mar 12, 2023
I am convinced that Robert Rodriguez is no longer a good director and Ben Affleck is terrible at choosing roles. At this point, Ben Affleck should stick to directing and writing since that is what he seems to be best at. This has some interesting concepts such as memory rewriting, but this does not execute its ideas well. It is simply a bad film that is using half baked ideas related to hypnosis.
Dec 29, 2023
Giovanni's Room
Jan 1, 1956, James Baldwin
This is a tragic novel about sexuality and internalized feelings in the middle of a foreign land. James Baldwin tells the story of an American expat in France intimately. Overall, this is a very well written classic that is a story self destruction and has similarities to Crime and Punishment. However, unlike the works of Dostoevsky, much of the pain is self imposed and does not result from one's actions, but rather inaction.
Dec 29, 2023
Pusher
Aug 30, 1996
This is the first film to put Nicolas Winding Refn on the map (and possibly modern Danish film as well). The plot moves at a constant pace and it has a momentum about it that feels very modern due to its handheld approach. All of the acting is well done and the way the twists and turns occur felt real. Overall, a good crime drama.
Dec 28, 2023
Cool Hand Luke
Nov 1, 1967
Cool is a good description for the type of larger than life personality seen in many male characters that came out during the same time as this film. The way in whch Paul Newman's character rebels within a prison is similar to James Dean's character if he were older. Overall, this is a good character drama and a classic.
Dec 26, 2023
A Philosophical Essay on Probabilities
1814, Pierre-Simon Laplace
This is a difficult read, but it has some interesting concepts which come up often today in more modern fields such as quantum theory and computer science. Concepts from causal determinism to the use of statistics to model the world are covered here. In many ways, this is a companion piece to many other philosphical works because it provides a mathematical backing to many of the concepts introduced in other works. With that said, it is difficult to reason through mathematics through text alone.
Dec 26, 2023
Come and See
Jul 9, 1985
A World War II film by the Soviets that manages to dodge censorship to create a poignant and unflinching look at the perspective of a child soldier. The way in which the nazis treated their enemies and committed war crimes is depicted in brutal detail while also acting as one of the few portrayals of the eastern front. The most similar film I think might be suited for comparison is All Quiet on the Western Front which has a similar anti-war message. Cinematography is great too with tracking shots that seem reminiscient of Kubrick.
Dec 22, 2023
Remembering Manzanar
2004
A short documentary about the history of the Manzanar Japanese internment camp.
Dec 21, 2023
Seeing Death Valley
Jan 1, 2011
A film about Death Valley and its history narrated by Donald Sutherland.
Dec 20, 2023
Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity
Mar 28, 2023, Peter Attia, Bill Gifford
In this book, Peter Attia outlines his issues with modern healthcare when it comes to optimizing for longevity. He provides actionable items for readers to follow to extend their lifespan while also getting into the technical details of physiology and the causes of aging. What this lacks is a review of the cutting edge in medical treatment such as gene therapy. With that said, Peter Attia is a physician and not a researcher, so his conservative approach can be somewhat understood.
Dec 16, 2023
Elon Musk
Sep 12, 2023, Walter Isaacson
I liked the Ashlee Vance book more, but this has some interesting points that manages to provide an updated list of events that came after Vance's book. Unlike some of Walter Isaacson's other books, this focuses on a figure who is still alive which is very unusual. What this does well is take a very detailed account with little bias.
Dec 15, 2023
Blue Beetle
Aug 16, 2023
This feels like a Robert Rodriguez movie and George Lopez was probably the only enjoyable part of this. Everything else was cliche. It felt like a waste of time and the special effects and choreography felt uninspired.
Dec 13, 2023
Vinland Saga
Dec 30, 2019
Although it took some time, I finally got around to the first season of Vinland saga, and it is simply a great period drama. Its greatest strengths lie in its character development, its emotional moments, and its ability to really establish the time period in which it takes place. Surprisingly, it also has some very profound Christian philosophy that feels very reminiscient of Soren Kierkegaard the Danish philosopher. I think for me, its best moments are when it slows down and takes its time, but its action scenes are really well animated which is to be expected since this is Wit Studio we're talking about. This is a very original series that, while not being historically accurate, is incredibly well executed and I look forward to one day watching the second season.
Dec 13, 2023
Consider Phlebas
Apr 23, 1987, Iain M. Banks
This felt longer than it was because much of the text was spent on useless tangents and the characters were not relatable. Events happen because they must, and the greater themes and messages are underplayed. There are interesting ideas here like the Culture, but they are not the main focus of this book. On the flip side, it has a sense of humor, but it does not seem to do anything particularly impressive. This is overall rather disappointing when considering that it was one of the inspirations for the Halo series.
Dec 12, 2023
Pantheon
Oct 15, 2023
The animation is nothing special, but the story is very impressive and incredibly ambitious for what it is. The concepts are reminiscient of The Matrix, Ghost in the Shell and Akira which seemed to serve as clear inspirations. If the animation and music matched the voice acting and story, then this could have perhaps reached the level of those works. There is quite a lot covered here from simulation to uploaded intelligence to simulated time travel. The plot is very high concept for a mainstream audience, but it works and works very well and each episode is packed with great ideas. I think overall, it is incredibly underrated and I'm surprised it has not seen more attention.
Dec 12, 2023
After the publishing of the Nature paper which covers assembly theory, I saw many similarities to Richard Dawkin's The Selfish Gene. This is less a chemistry paper or a biology paper and more of an information theory paper which draws from other theories like David Deutsch's Constructor Theory. Although the main use case here is the ability to identify life simply by quantifying physical objects in terms of chemical complexity. This means that biology and reality is computational, but this should be common knowledge. What really interests me are the implications if the work of Lee Cronin and his team's work are verified by other groups in practical applications.
Dec 10, 2023
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon
Aug 25, 2023
A great mech game that feels like a cross between Dynasty Warriors and Ace Combat. The story is well thought out with memorable characters and an interesting premise with coral acting as the spice of this universe. What is interesting is how it shows energy as sentient and the way this plays into the multiple endings and corporate wars. There is a strangely spiritual nature to it. From a gameplay perspective, there are no bugs, and it feels incredibly smooth. There are challenging sections, but these can be overcome by changing your build or strategy accordingly. The music and graphics were minimal, but just enough to be memorable. The music in particular felt very modern and innovative with a heavy emphasis on synths. Overall, a very well made game that shows the pedigree of FromSoftware and incredibly memorable.
Dec 7, 2023
Scavengers Reign
Oct 19, 2023
A surreal story that is given an identity with its incredibly well done animation. As far as 2d animation is concerned, it is rare to see this level of detail within western animation. Overall, thought provoking, and unique.
Dec 4, 2023
Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike
Apr 24, 2016, Phil Knight
This memoir by Phil Knight, the co-founder of Nike, provides an inside look into the early days of the company. It's a captivating story that delves into the challenges and triumphs of building a global brand. Knight's writing style is surprisingly engaging, and the book offers some common insights into running a company back in the 60's and 70's despite coming across as rose colored.
Dec 2, 2023
The Creator
Sep 26, 2023
This is a film about the independence of artificially intelligent beings. The special effects are well done and there are some interesting ideas here. With that said, I feel like from a hard scifi angle, this does not introduce anything new. Similarly, it feels emotionally hollow with a lack of character development and and emotional hook. The lack of the use of a soundtrack in many places also made it feel empty. Overall, this is an original film with potential, but execution is questionable.
Dec 2, 2023
The Last of Us
Mar 12, 2023
Probably one of the only good adaptations of a video game. The acting is great with Pedro Pascal really earning my respect in this one. The soundtrack is pretty much the same as the game. This show stays faithful to its source material which I believe is what actually it work in addition to the chemistry between actors. As a side note, the cameos by the mocap actors from the game was appreciated as well.
Dec 1, 2023
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
Aug 2, 2023
It's a lot of fun and the animation is great despite it not having a particularly groundbreaking story. Pacing was also an issue with the start being great, but the story dragging later on. The voice cast has a suprisingly high number of Hollywood actors, and the soundtrack is filled with oldschool hip hop. I think it has wide appeal.
Nov 30, 2023
This was a good conclusion, but I wish it could have had more of the lore from the source material. There are philosophical discussions of good and evil and whether something could be evil before it was born. There is also a psychological element to this. It is these things that I wish had been leaned into more in this story. I think it could have worked better as a series like Unlimited Blade Works rather than a film. However, for those familiar with the source material, it is very well done.
Nov 29, 2023
Don’t Die
Bryan Zero Johnson, Sep 28, 2023
In this book Bryan Johnson has DID and engages in socratic dialogues with his different personalities. It's not always coherent, but there are some interesting ideas in here. With that said, Bryan Johnson is not the first to have those ideas, and the way that they are presented is not the best. Overall, I think this may hurt his cause.
Nov 28, 2023
Spider-Man
Sep 7, 2018
This is Insomniac's attempt at a Spiderman game, and it is very well done. The world is not fully fleshed out at high detail, but it does enough to keep players from getting bored. Swinging through the city not only feels smooth, but also real. Sound design is great, and the story is original and good enough to be adapted to film. It is comic accurate, and introduces a wide cast of characters. The DLC is not particularly well done, but it does enough to keep players from getting bored. Overall, probably the best Spiderman game I've played so far.
Nov 27, 2023
Kimetsu no Yaiba Movie: Mugen Ressha-hen
Oct 16, 2020
I remember coming away from the first season with the impression that it was good, but not being particularly won over. That was not the case with this great film, and it is honestly one of the most enjoyable experiences I had in the last few weeks. In addition to this, I think it has universal appeal. Pacing is constant and moving. Despite this, it still manages to somehow fit in some character development. As a self contained story, it is fine. It does not particularly advance the plot, but it provides a great experience similar to something like Mad Max. As usual with Ufotable, animation and sound is great. Overall, a very well crafted film.
Nov 25, 2023
Things take a darker turn in this one and it has some scenes that are reminiscient of Kara no Kyoukai. Outside of that, it is very consistent in quality with the first film and acts as a continuation of the story. Execution is good, and my only complaint is the lack of character development as it seems almost as though it is clinically going through the story without injecting personality.
Nov 25, 2023
This is a conclusion that had a ton of respect for the source material. In terms of pure craftsmanship, it is great from animation to sound to editing. The soundtrack includes rearrangement of Sawano's tracks. Where it may suffer is in terms of story, but this is debatable. My complaints are regarding somewhat fast pacing, a wish for greater analysis of the effects of large scale genocide and shared generational memory, and just not enough character development. All scenes which have action which is a significant part of the conclusion are incredibly well done. I think I am glad I finished the series and it will remain on my list as one of the top, but it could have stuck the landing better from a story angle.
Nov 25, 2023
Battle of the Year 2023 l World Final Osaka
Nov 25, 2023
I was hoping to see Jinjo crew here, but we do see some old favorites like Foundnation and the Predatorz. FlowXL was great as well, and overall it was a good competition. In terms of general trends, there was more emphasis on individual breaking and less on routines. Seeing how this is a team competition, I would like to see more routines and more variety in team based actions, but that's just my opinion.
Nov 24, 2023
This is a true sequel to Fate Zero which expects familiarity with the other routes of Fate/Stay Night. The animation by Ufotable is great and so is the music by Kajiura Yuki. Nothing is as it seems in the proxy war for the holy grail, and although we see the same characters as the other routes, the approach feels new. In addition to this, the introduction of new antagonists keeps things fresh. Overall, very smartly written and made specifically for an audience who knows what they want.
Nov 23, 2023
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One
Jul 10, 2023
It's good, but not as good as Fallout. The pacing is slower and it took about a good 30 to 45 minutes for the story to get started. The stunts are not as impressive, and Tom Cruise is beginning to show his age. The premise of an AI as an adversary is interesting, but it isn't really anything new either. I think it's fine, but it could have also been significantly tighter and better executed. Not sure why this needed to be two parts, but I am looking forward to the conclusion.
Nov 23, 2023
Deathloop
Sep 14, 2021
This is a slightly overrated, but fun game that takes advantage of the timeloop mechanic while also having a 60's vibe. The story is unveiled with each loop, and the ability to persist some things but not others adds some complexity figuring out how to break the loop. There is also some small references and ties to the Dishonored series. The downsides of the game is the minimal soundtrack and the way in which it holds the player's hand instead of letting them figure things out. Overall, it is interesting and unique andd offers a AAA treatment of a mechanic that I think should be used more often.
Nov 19, 2023
Blue Lock
Mar 26, 2023
This is a sports anime that is about creating the best striker in the world. It praises human ego while accurately criticizing the sad state of Japanese soccer. The scenes are intense, and it has unique characters who all have their own skills in the sport. Overall, this is one of the best in the sports genre that I have seen in the last few years.
Nov 18, 2023
Starship Flight Test 2
Nov 18, 2023
SpaceX didn't seem to have a livestream, so I watched the Everyday Astronaut's stream instead. This starship launch was an improvement over the previous one with an actual stage separation. With that said, I am curious why SpaceX wasn't able to go further. It seems like there was a problem with the gimbaling of the thrusters, but outside of this, it seemed like a fine launch. I hope the next one can happen soon.
Nov 14, 2023
Bungou Stray Dogs
Jun 23, 2016
This is an interesting series as it is episodic, has a plot thread that ties everything together and has some influence from Japanese literature. One thing I consider to be a lost opportunity is that the Japanese authors who inspired their respective characters did not show through quite as much as I would have liked which is unfortunate since I enjoy the works of Showa and Taishou era literature. Another thing is that plot points from the books written by these authors are used liberally without much context. For example, I have no idea why a bunch of characters who have powers inspired by classic books would form a detective agency of all things. Outside of this, if you take the series as is, then it can be fun, but it can also be standard. It seems like it is building up to something and there are a wider range of characters who have yet to be introduced, so maybe the next season may be more fulfilling as this season did not have a conclusion.
Nov 10, 2023
Macross Plus Movie Edition
Oct 7, 1995
Before Watanabe Shinichiro and Kanno Yoko worked on Cowboy Bebop, they collaborated on this. This is an audio-visual masterpiece and is extremely well executed. Where it is weak is in characterization and pacing. It does not feel entirely like a Macross movie due to the lack of war and its interaction with song. There are also parts where it drags. However, the animation is incredible, and the music is some of Kanno's best. Some sequences were reminiscient of sequences that could be found in Ghost in the Shell with highly detailed hand drawn animations. The themes of artificial intelligence were also very relevant to today's world. Overall, it is worth a watch, but it is not a perfect experience.
Nov 10, 2023
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
Sep 30, 2014
This had an interesting story that felt faithful to Tolkien's work while also being original. Gameplay had similarities to some of the Arkham games while also introducing the nemesis system which allowed for larger macro changes in the game world and dynamic storytelling. With all this said, I wish the world itself had more variety. Other than this, it felt well optimized and is overall a solid game.
Nov 10, 2023
Red Bull Dance Your Style World Final 2023
Nov 9, 2023
This is a status update of time that is keeping up with some of the more recent trends with twitter and AI. It also showcases the LLM developed by Twitter which is known as Grok.
Nov 8, 2023
The Tibetan Book of the Dead
Padmasambhava, Jan 1, 1350
This is a strange book that has both Buddhist and Indian influences. It discusses enlightenment while also describing many figures from a mythology that has similarities to Hinduism. I honestly am not sure how to feel about this, but some of the concepts such as how certain parts of death are just an illusion of the mind have some modern backing to them.
Nov 5, 2023
The Childe
Jun 21, 2023
This is a thriller that is basically a chase movie of sorts. It felt similar to The Raid 2 at times in the way it kept moving, but the action isn't quite on par. The plot about familial succession is simple, but complex enough to be interesting. In addition to this, the stylized dialogue and action make it very entertaining.
Nov 4, 2023
Barbie
Jul 9, 2023
This is a very metaphysical and self aware film that may not have a clear audience. It is incredibly stylized and the great acting by Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling makes it feel hyperreal. It also seems to tread a very interesting line between commercialism and satirization of capitalism. I think this make it come across as a very smart film. With that said, it does suffer from pacing issues later on in the film, and this affects the clarify of its messaging. Part of the reason for this is because it is not clear when the audience should be taking the film seriously and when they should not be. In many ways, it tries to have its cake and eat it too.
Nov 4, 2023
Red Bull Dance Your Style World Final 2023
Nov 4, 2023
Red Bull didn't leave the livestream up since someone showed a flag of Palestine. With all that said, this is a different vibe from the BC One. For one, the judging is done by the crowd which I feel is a better and more interesting system. Another interesting thing was that depending on the style, the dancer might not use all of the stage which I feel is one thing that may be lacking in a lot of modern styles. Conversely, the dancers here actually listened more to the music which was very welcome. I was interested in seeing the D Soraki make his reappearance, but was disappointed to not find him present beyond bringing out the trophy. It is different seeing someone feeling the music vs. dancing to the music and I hope to see a dancer do that one more time at one of these events in the future.
Nov 3, 2023
The Final Empire
Brandon Sanderson, Jul 17, 2006
This is the first book of the Mistborn Saga by Brandon Sanderson. It is somewhat fantasy steampunk with a metal based alchemy or magic system that drives a lot of its scenes. The story is one of revolution or rebellion and the characters are well developed. The world is fleshed out, and there is quite a bit of depth and lore to it. Prose is easy to follow. I think this is a book that anyone can appreciate.
Nov 2, 2023
Ghostwire: Tokyo
Mar 25, 2022
This is a mediocre game that takes place in a fully realized Shibuya after a supernatural incident where people are spirited away. As a result, the city is empty and lifeless which does not work to its advantage. While I liked the visual style at times, the game does not really excel in terms of technology or gameplay or even story.
Oct 24, 2023
Detroit: Become Human
Dec 12, 2019
This is a game by Quantic Dream that has similarities to Heavy Rain. However, unlike Heavy Rain, this has better writing and it takes advantage of its medium to create a compelling story with multiple plot lines and a scale to match. This game's story feels like a cross between Blade Runner 2049 and Stanley Kubrick's A.I.. There are parallels here to the underground railroad, the civil rights movement, and the Holocaust. It really has quite a bit of depth to it and this, along with the great acting makes it feel as though you are directing your own Hollywood film through the choices you make. Additionally, the depiction of Detroit felt real and the future shown does not seem outlandish like other science fiction works. Overall, I highly recommend it.
Oct 22, 2023
Mushoku Tensei II: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu
Sep 25, 2023
This is the beginning of the second season and it is a continuation of the story. Unlike other seasons, there is some less character development, but more service which can be somewhat entertaining. Not much happens in terms of plot, and it seems like this is more a transitory part of the story.
Oct 21, 2023
Red Bull BC One 2023 World Final Paris
Oct 21, 2023
It's the return of the champions with Ami and Hong 10 winning. What makes this year special is that it's the 10th anniversary of Hong 10's 2nd win and the 5th anniversary of Ami's first win. Outside of that, there was nothing particularly interesting about this championship to the point that I almost felt like it was scripted.
Oct 21, 2023
Mob Psycho 100 III
Dec 22, 2022
This is a continuation and conclusion to the series as a whole. The ending is satisfying, and the character development allows for a decent payoff. All the characters are distinct, the music by Kenji Kawaii is great as usual, and the animation goes up a notch for the action scenes in a way that is consistent with the quality of past entries.
Oct 19, 2023
Roma
Aug 30, 2018
I'm starting to believe that anything Alfonso Cuarón directed becomes gold. Roma which is directed by Alfonso Cuaron is set in the early 1970s, the movie follows the life of a live-in housekeeper named Cleo in the Colonia Roma neighborhood of Mexico City. Through beautiful black-and-white cinematography and a deeply personal narrative, this film explores themes of family, class, and societal change. Although it takes place in the 70's, it feels a lot like Italian and French films of the new wave of the 50's and 60's which adds to its quality. "Roma" received critical acclaim and won several awards, including the Academy Award for Best Director and Best Foreign Language Film which I believe to be well deserved.
Oct 16, 2023
Star Maker
Olaf Stapledon, Jan 1, 1937
This book takes readers on an epic journey across time and space, exploring the vastness of the universe and the evolution of civilizations. I was surprised by how similar this was to the novel that I wrote myself. With that said, this was a story about civilization and the current state of the cosmos and its creation while mine is an antithesis of sorts to that concept with more modern sensibilities. While this book is about the universe, the focus on the self and the emotional underpinnings are less apparent which is interesting to see. With all that said, it was quite an experience reading this months after publishing a similar story.
Oct 15, 2023
An Andalusian Dog
Jun 6, 1929
An Andalusian Dog is a surrealistic short film directed by Luis Buñuel and co-written with Salvador Dalí. The film is known for its dreamlike and symbolic imagery, exploring themes of desire, sexuality, and the subconscious mind. It feels a lot like Eraserhead, and similarly, I have no idea what was going on in this film.
Oct 15, 2023
Cocoon
Sep 29, 2023
Not since Manifold Garden have I experienced a game as profound as this one. Cocoon is a multilayered game that has worlds within worlds and uses them as a puzzle mechanic. This, combined with a larger theme of metamorphosis gives it a level of depth not typically seen in games today. The way in which physics and mechanics can be shared between worlds is reminiscient of some aspects of theoretical physics and forces players to think in a way that really stretches their spatial awareness. While these skills that are developed may not be applicable today, I believe that as technology progresses in a few decades time, the style of critical thinking needed to complete a game like this will become more and more relevant.
Oct 14, 2023
Poison
Sep 30, 2023
Poison is a short film by Wes Anderson, also based on a Roald Dahl story which is part of a quartet of shorts. It stars Benedict Cumberbatch as a man who claims he has a venomous snake on his stomach, and Dev Patel and Ben Kingsley. The film is an interesting attempt at suspense and irony, with a predictable twist and a lack of character development.
Oct 14, 2023
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar
Sep 27, 2023
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar is a charming film by Wes Anderson, based on Roald Dahl's short story of the same name. It tells the tale of Henry Sugar who is played by Benedict Cumberbatch, a rich gambler who learns to see without his eyes and becomes a philanthropist. The film is a whimsical and heartwarming adventure, featuring a stellar cast and Anderson's signature style. It really felt like it was true to Roal Dahl's style and personality.
Oct 13, 2023
Control
Aug 27, 2019
This is an underrated game that deserves more praise in my opinion. The gameplay is fluid, the physics and underlying technology is very advanced, and the story is surreal and atmospheric. It is filled with content, and it also ties into other games by Remedy such as Alan Wake. With that said, I enjoyed this much more than Alan Wake. Voice work and acting is great, and this is honestly the closest thing I could find to a decent Matrix simulator.
Oct 2, 2023
Heavy Rain
Feb 23, 2010
Heavy Rain the story of four characters who are involved in the case of a serial killer and it feels like many neo noir films such as the ones directed by Fincher. Through a combination of exploration, decision-making, and quick-time events, players can navigate a branching narrative that can lead to multiple outcomes and endings. The gameplay can be engaging, but it is also the case that the graphics havee not aged the best. All characters except the main ones do not look realistic, and the lack of detailed motion capture and proper voice actors hurt the game. With that said, it is entertaining, has a great soundtrack, and if the execution and writing was better, it would have made more of an impact.
Oct 1, 2023
Khan Academy Physics
Oct 24, 2016
The course covers various topics in physics, including mechanics, waves, electricity, magnetism, and more. It also covers more advanced topics such as fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, optics, and special relativity.
Sep 30, 2023
Manchester by the Sea
Jan 23, 2016
Manchester by the Sea tells the story of a man who returns to his hometown after the death of his brother and becomes the guardian of his teenage nephew. Through powerful performances by Casey Affleck and Lucas Hedges and a poignant narrative, Manchester by the Sea explores themes of grief, family, and redemption. The film received critical acclaim for its realistic portrayal of human emotions and was nominated for multiple Academy Awards which I believe to be well deserved..
Sep 29, 2023
Inside Llewyn Davis
Sep 28, 2013
Inside Llewyn Davis is a drama film written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. As can be expected, this has some subtle humor that is similar to the Coen brothers' previous films. The movie follows the life of a folk singer navigating the vibrant folk music scene of Greenwich Village in the 1960s. The cinematography is great and compelling performances by Oscar Isaac offers a poignant and introspective exploration of the human experience.
Sep 28, 2023
In this episode, Lex and Mark conduct the conversation as codec avatars and delve into the concept of the metaverse, discussing its potential impact on society, technology, and human interaction. The conversation explores a wide range of topics, including virtual reality, augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and the future of communication.
Sep 25, 2023
Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea
Charles Seife, Feb 7, 2000
This is a book that explores the fascinating history and significance of the number zero in mathematics and its impact on various fields, including science, philosophy, and culture. It starts off with the Greeks and then proceeds onto zero and its implications. It also manages to make a case for why zero and infinity are two sides of the same coin. What is interesting is that in more recent times, the implications of zero have affected the physical world and theoretical physics which indicates that number theory has a singificant impact on our society today.
Sep 24, 2023
Rise of the Tomb Raider
Jan 28, 2016
After playing Uncharted, this is not as fulfilling, but it is still a good game. The graphics are highly detailed, and the story is more involved than the previous installment. Lara Croft is becoming a more fleshed out character, and the gameplay is both fulfilling and coming into its own while maintaining some of the appeal of more classic Tomb Raider games. Voice work is good, and execution is just solid overall. I think it does not do anything particularly novel or gamechanging, but it is very well executed.
Sep 23, 2023
Shin Kamen Rider
Mar 17, 2023
Shin Kamen Rider is the most recent of the tokusatsu remakes that Hideaki Anno was invovlved with. Like Shin Ultraman, this feels more like a series than a film. The soundtrack was outstanding and really added to the film. It is very faithful to the style of the old Kamen Rider series, but I wish it used less CGI as many of the special effects could have been done practically. It is enjoyable, but it also feels somewhat cold as though the characters did not have that much personality. I think this could be an issue with the acting as people wearing masks need to express themselves with their body and I did not see that quite as much here as I would have prefered.
Sep 22, 2023
Idiocracy
Sep 1, 2006
Idiocracy is a satirical science fiction film directed by Mike Judge, so it has similarities to Office Space. The movie depicts a dystopian future where society has become incredibly dumbed-down and anti-intellectual. The story is not that great, but it is surprisingly relevant today. This film offers a thought-provoking critique of contemporary culture and the potential consequences of societal decline. I think as time passes, its relevance will likely grow.
Sep 20, 2023
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy
Aug 22, 2017
This is not quite as good as the mainline Uncharted games, but the quality of gameplay is equivalent and somewhat more refined. The playable character of Chloe was an interesting one what managed to maintain the humor of Nathan Drake, and the location of Southern India was also recreated very well. I think what this may be missing in comparison to the other games is character development and depth, but other than that this is a very well crafted game.
Sep 19, 2023
Digimon Adventure: Bokura no War Game!
Mar 4, 2000
Before Mamoru Hosoda created Summer Wars, he created this and it is good for a 40 minute film. The film follows the DigiDestined and their Digimon partners as they face a new threat in the form of a computer virus that threatens to infect the real world. It feels like a cross between War Games and Summer Wars and the threat of a thermonuclear missile is very daring for a film that is meant for children. The representation of old Windows operating systems is also interesing. It should be noted that the way in which the internet is represented is not accurate, but it is entertaining.
Sep 19, 2023
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
James Joyce, Dec 29, 1916
I read this as part of some preparation prior to reading Ulysses. It follows the life and development of Stephen Dedalus, a young Irish artist, as he navigates his way through religious and societal expectations, personal identity, and his own artistic ambitions. The novel explores themes of self-discovery, rebellion, and the conflict between individual freedom and societal constraints. The prose is lyrical and the narrative is introspective. I think it would make an good experimental indie film. The focus on Catholicism was surprisingly not that foreign since there are many Irish Catholics within the United States. Overall, I thought it was very well written and not afraid of taking risks.
Sep 16, 2023
Shin Ultraman
May 13, 2022
Shin Ultraman is Japanese science fiction superhero film directed by Shinji Higuchi and written by Hideaki Anno and can be considered a successor of sorts to Shin Gojira. It feels like a film that was directed by someone who time traveled from the 60's in modern times. As a result, it is a strange film that is very smartly written, but executed in a somewhat clunky manner as a homage to the original Ultraman. The strange special effects of the 60's look bizarre in modern Japan, but they also have a certain charm. It should te noted that the characters don't seem to talk like real people and have more stylized speech patterns. Special effects that are intended to be modern such as CGI are a bit lacking by modern standards as well, but these can be overlooked. From a story standpoint, I think it does not dumb down its content and presents an interesting and novel premise where intelligent life can be utilized as weapons of mass destruction. Overall, I enjoyed it, but I think audiences must be familiar with the original Ultraman to appreciate it.
Sep 16, 2023
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
Nov 27, 2014
I am glad I managed to finish the conclusion to the series. This was honestly one of the best gaming experiences I ever had and it was masterfully constructed. The story by Neil Druckmann was reminiscent of the straight forward story telling of Steven Speilberg and although the title can be played on its own, it does fit well within the whole series. Character development is great and voice acted terrifically. The gameplay itself was cinematic (although somewhat predictable at times) with the underlying technology feeling well ahead of its time. Physics, graphics, and textures were at a level that I think can be hard to match even today. It is also extremely dense with content with lines of dialogue being spoken based on the contextual actions of the player. I honestly think that this along with Metal Gear Solid 4 and Halo 3 are some of the best conclusions in modern video games.
Sep 12, 2023
In this episode of the Lex Fridman Podcast, Walter Isaacson discusses his recent work about Elon Musk as well as his overall career.
Sep 10, 2023
The Green Mile
Dec 6, 1999
The Green Mile is a powerful drama film directed by Frank Darabont, based on the novel by Stephen King. The focus on death row and mortality makes it easily relatable. The film received critical acclaim for its performances, storytelling, and emotional impact which I believe to be well justified. Acting by everyone involved is great, and I think this is a film that everyone can appreciate.
Sep 9, 2023
Enter the Fat Dragon
Jul 13, 1978
This is better than the remake, but it also suffers as a film. For one, it has repetitive humor. With that said, the choreography and fight scenes which recreates famous scenes from Bruce Lee's films are great and showcases Sammo Hung's abilities despite his size.
Sep 8, 2023
Resident Evil
Nov 27, 2014
I wanted to play some of the older Resident Evil games and I have to say that it is very different from the later entries. For one, this involves a lot of backtracking. In all honesty, this is more of a puzzle game with horror elements. The fixed camera angles can be frustrating, but at the same time leads to a more cinematic experience. It's very well crafted, but I also considered it to be clunky due to its adherence to some older game mechanics. This, combined the limited number of saves makes it more challenging than it needs to be.
Sep 4, 2023
Enter the Fat Dragon
Jul 23, 2020
This is in guilty pleasure territory. I think as a comedy, it is somewhat funny. As an action film, it is entertaining with some scenes coming across as impressive, but it isn't Donnie Yen's best. Overall, I don't really recommend it.
Sep 3, 2023
Raging Fire
Jul 28, 2021
This is a decent action thriller and police drama that has some good action sequences. The acting is good, and the real downsides are in terms of execution from the production team when it comes to editing and shakey camerawork. In addition to this, there are some issues with framerates which I did not find all that pleasing. With all of that said, the action was good and it is entertaining. It is not a kung fu film, but the use of modern martial arts was much appreciated. Overall, good although lacking in multiple areas. I feel like it had the potential to be better. When it comes to thrillers, it does not even come close to classics such as Infernal Affairs.
Sep 3, 2023
Sifu
Feb 8, 2022
This is a challenging game with quite a lot of depth and a sizeable learning curve. There is a decent amount of memorization and reflexes involved if you want to become skilled enough to win. This, in addition to the realistic combat that uses Wing Chun as the base makes for a somewhat educational playthrough as well. With all that said, the normal ending is not the only ending and I find the actual ending to be near impossible due to the amount of focus needed on a mental level to properly choose non-violent options. Due to the depth, I think this is a game I will be revisiting often in the future and hopefully reaching a level of mastery in so as to reach the other ending.
Sep 2, 2023
Ching Fung Dik Sau
Apr 3, 1985
This is very much an 80's film and it feels like the Hong Kong equivalent of Breakin'. With that said, the level of skill is far higher here, and the use of slapstick humor keeps things more fresh. Donnie Yen is incredibly athletic, and the level of breakdancing is at a top level. The story is weak, but the choreography and stunts make it entertaining.
Sep 1, 2023
The Flash
Jun 14, 2023
It's not as bad as reviews may lead one to believe, but I can definitively say that this film suffers from a lack of identity and vision. The first half felt like some sort of parody with scenes that appeared to have very little in terms of stakes or emotional weight. The second half had some interesting ideas that were simply not well executed. The Flashpoint stories were handled much better in the animated universe, so it feels strange to see it butchered here when it was already handled so well before in other works. With that said, the acting was good. Ezra Miller and Michael Keaton have proved themselves in other films, so this was not a surprise. However Sasha Calle's presence led to a standout performance that I was not expecting to be as good as it was. Overall, disappointing, but not the worst that DC has to offer.
Aug 27, 2023
Doom
May 13, 2016
I played a fair bit of Unreal Tournament, so this was easy to pick up as it had many similarities. The gameplay is challenging, but the learning curve is not unfair. It plays very well and has enough variety to be entertaining. The story and art is quite stylized and the soundtrack by Mick Gordon gives the game much of its personality. Overall, a very good game that feels retro and modern at the same time.
Aug 26, 2023
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Apr 24, 1977
I thought this was a good conclusion that was an improvement over the second film, but not quite as good as the first one. In this film, there is a focus on Rocket, and the visuals and elements from source material seem to be almost everywhere. For once in a long time, this is a Marvel movie that actually has funny moments and good humor. In addition to this, there are moments that are incredibly emotional which is rare for a marvel film. Acting is good, and the soundtrack which draws from the 80's and 90's is also good. I think what is clear from this is that a clear directorial vision is what is most important when it comes to these types of films. James Gunn has delivered a good film once again and if he weren't in charge of DC, I would have considered him a good candidate for directing the next Avengers film.
Aug 23, 2023
Chandrayaan-3 Mission Soft-landing LIVE Telecast
Aug 23, 2023
An absolutely flawless landing with a suspenseful horizontal velocity drop. I hope we'll learn more about the moon's south pole through this mission and that there are no future complications.
Aug 20, 2023
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
Aug 23, 2016
A very good sequel to Human Revolution that improves upon the gameplay while not necessarily improving upon the story or ideas. In addition to this, the art design is more subdued with the Renaissance inspirations being replaced by more modern sensibilities. Because of this, the personality and uniqueness of the previous entry is gone. In addition to this, the complexity of the ideas is lower. Finally, the stakes are not as high with the importance of the events in the story seeming as though it is more of a side story that develops the character of Adam Jensen rather than a true sequel. Despite this, it is a very well rounded and solid game and the soundtrack is very good. While it does not innovate in the way the original Deus Ex or Human Revolution did in terms of hard science fiction, its theme of augmentation as a source of discrimination can easily be made relevant to current events. Overall, it is worth the time, and the main game and DLC has a fair amount of depth.
Aug 19, 2023
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Apr 24, 1977
This is an incredibly smartly made work of animation that has more to it that what lies on the surface. The characters are unique, and the stories are simple. Despite that, there are some lessons everyone can learn from here. In many ways, I consider this to be like Alan Watts for a wider audience. Overall, a very underated film that is one of Disney's best.
Aug 18, 2023
The Wandering Earth II
Jan 22, 2023
This is a significant improvement over the first film. What should be noted is that since this is not a sequel and it focuses on the entire human race, it manages to have more interesting stakes. The use of multiple languages as well as a some interesting sci-fi tropes makes it feel fresh. Special effects are also surprisingly good. I think its biggest issues are its pacing and editing, but overall, I think this is a sign that China is getting better at producing high budget blockbuster films.
Aug 7, 2023
Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown
Feb 1, 2019
This is a love letter to the previous entries as well as a look towards the future of air combat. In this, there is a space elevator, orbital weapons, droneships, simulation theory, and the usual geopolitics. It is a difficult game, but very rewarding. I enjoyed it very much despite it not being as good as Ace Combat Zero in my opinion. The story was good with a great ending, and the dogfights, though not being as intense Ace Combat Zero, it has its moments which require extreme levels of concentration and focus. The soundtrack here is the best out of the entire series, and is probably one of the best video game soundtracks that I have heard out of all the games I have played. The airplanes are detailed, and each mission was well structured with small details that add to the replay value. Overall, I consider it a great game that continues to show how underrated this series is.
Aug 6, 2023
Dr. Stone: New World
Jun 15, 2023
Like the previous entries, this and the OVA that precedes it is a lot of fun, albeit a bit over the top at times. This time, we have hot air balloons, platinum, oil, powered ships, and remote controlled drones. A decent amount has changed since the start where even basic things needed to be put together with sticks and stones. With each new episode, there are new and interesting characters, and it just manages to stay fresh. Compared to previous entries, this might have some pacing issues, but beyond this, it is quite good.
Aug 5, 2023
Persepolis
Jun 27, 2007
This is a film that is based off of the graphic novel of the same name. In addition to it being autobiographical, it manages to cover the changes that Iran had underwent in the second half of the 20th century and what it was like to live within it. The animation is simple, but effective, and each frame prioritizes clarity over anything else, so it is easy to follow. The combination of historical turmoil ad personal development contextualizes everything and makes the story compelling. Overall, very well structured, and one of the best adaptations of a graphic novel I have seen so far.
Aug 4, 2023
Ponniyin Selvan: Part Two
Apr 28, 2023
This did not meet my expectations. There is a lack of good character development, and action scenes were not filmed as well as I would have expected from Mani Ratnam. Acting is good, but the pacing was not the best. In addition to this, there are many characters who play key roles, but were not introduced or developed adequately to justify their importance. Scenes that should have been more important were too short while there were others that were too long which indicates improper editing. Overall, I think while it did make me wish there were more historical dramas in Tamil film, this film itself is lacking in many areas.
Jul 30, 2023
Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu
Apr 6, 2016
This is a master course in historical dramas and despite its simplicity, it manages to cover a period of Japanese history through the lens of a niche form of Japanese entertainment. I remember reading some rakugo when I was learning Japanese many years ago, so it was interesting to get a deeper understanding of it through this series. It not only had some similarities to novels from the era, but also had some similarities to other great films that cover the turmulent times of the 1900's within east Asia. Overall, quite good, and I hope to watch the second season eventually.
Jul 29, 2023
John Wick: Chapter 4
Mar 13, 2023
This is a movie that does not have a spectacular story or great acting. And yet I still consider it a great film. Why? Because of the action, the attention to detail, the production, and the pure physicality that went into this. Every actor that played a role in the action handled the choreography very well. The camera work was incredibly sophisticated, and the music (particularly by Le Castle Vania was great) and I wish I could have seen it imax. There was a scene that was reminiscient of Hotline Miami which I really liked as well. Keanu Reeves, Donnie Yen, and Scott Adkins in particular stole the show for me. I think this is a good conclusion, and it felt like one long unstoppable action set piece for me. Its scale is at a level that hasn't been reached previously in the series, and it felt like the martial arts equivalent of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. If the speed of the choreography was faster, I might have put it on the level of some Hong Kong films or The Raid.
Jul 29, 2023
Observer
Aug 15, 2017
This is a psychological horror game that takes place in a cyberpunk Poland. The gameplay is not particularly groundbreaking as it primarily involves exploration and problem solving. The majority of its appeal is in its approach to transhumanist concepts such as digitization of the human mind an augmentation. Voice work and environments are also great with Rutger Hauer's presence much appreciated, and the availability of raytracing making many areas appear photorealistic. The way in which light and sound is used to extend horror aspects and disorient the player are also really great. In this sense, it feels like a successor to games like SOMA or a scifi Silent Hill (even though Signalis exists). Overall, good, but not perfect. It can definitely be improved and it does drag at times, but it is clear a lot of work went into it.
Jul 23, 2023
Titanfall 2
Oct 28, 2016
This is an incredibly well balanced game that felt like a Hollywood film at times. The only reason why it did not was due to the lack of cutscenes and emphasis on gameplay over story. With that said, voice work was great and the interaction between characters was promising although underdeveloped. Parkour and other controls felt very smooth and probably more smooth than Halo. Freerunning did feel slow, but after playing Ghostrunner, most parkour probably feels slow. Overall, I'm surprised this series has not gotten more attention as it seems quite underrated given its high production quality.
Jul 23, 2023
Digimon Adventure Movie
Mar 6, 1999
This is a prequel to the series, and for a movie, it is surprisingly short at only 20 minutes. The animation is great, and some tracks from the series were used despite this preceding the show. Although it is not enough to make an impact due to its runtime, it reminded me of why the series is so appealing.
Jul 22, 2023
Oppenheimer
Jul 11, 2023
Almost 10 years after the Imitation game which covered the cracking of Enigma, we finally get a great movie about the Manhattan project. This was great on most accounts: soundtrack, acting, pacing, special effects, attention to detail and production. It could have been trimmed down as there were some scenes that felt extraneous, but due to the tight pacing, it does not detract from the overall quality too much. The atomic bomb as well as quantum processes are depicted very well with practical effects, and they all looked real. Its commentary on nuclear warfare and the concerns of the time were also conveyed effectively. I think compared to Nolan's history as a director, this reminded me most of Memento as it is primarily linear in nature and it tells a story rather than navigates a particular plot structure. Rather than be about a moment, or a series of moments, it was about a man's life as a whole which was something that I don't think Nolan ever did in his previous works. This departure is welcome and shows that, despite his changing sensibilities, he is still very much capable of directing films that are novel and have something to say. If this does not win an Oscar of some sort, I would be incredibly surprised.
Jul 21, 2023
Bleach: Sennen Kessen-hen
Dec 27, 2022
I don't remember Bleach ever being this good except for a few episodes here and there in the original show. The animation is way better, the music by Shiro Sagisu is still great, and there is no filler. Not to mention, since it's no longer a day time anime, it's far more gory like the manga. I was impressed with the show from beginning to end, and its style reminded me of why I love more stylized works with personality.
Jul 21, 2023
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
Oct 27, 2020
Games about mental illness are rare, but it should be noted that they are difficult to execute. This one is well handled and it uses technology, audio, and unreliable narration to accomplish its goals. Acting was central and it was also handled well with motion capture and live action. There were many sequences here that reminded me of the introduction to The Phantom Pain which is fairly impressive. Gameplay with combat and puzzles were not bad, but these aspects were not the primary draw of this game. For me, the story along with its Norse background gave it a unique feel. Overall, the graphics were great, and the story was good too. It made an impact and I am interesteed in how the technology improves in the sequel.
Jul 20, 2023
Hyperion
Dan Simmons, May 26, 1989
Maybe this was innovative for 1989, but compared to other novels that I read, it seems to just be a repackaged Canterbury Tales with science fiction thrown in. The ideas here are not particularly innovative to the point that I've seen ultimate intelligences in other areas such as the mainstream Marvel franchise. With that said, if we were to take it as what it is, which is a collection of short stories, I felt like there was a lot here that was lost. The stories could have been interconnected, but they were not beyond the common point of Hyperion and the Shrike. Despite this, the world building and character development was well handled with each story showing more of the universe Dan Simmons wanted to portray. Ending on a cliffhanger was a strange choice, but it was not of much consequence since there never really was a sense of suspense in the story despite human existence being at stake due to the fragmented pacing which is a direct result of separating everything into short stories. When compared to other short story collections like Jorge Luis Borges' Fictions, this is inferior and has less of the novelty and magic that I would think to expect in this genre. Borges' works still give to this day because they are difficult to replicate. This does not have those same qualities. Overall, better than most stories, but not particularly original or unique.
Jul 15, 2023
The Roundup: No Way Out
May 31, 2023
I think this is a good movie, but it is starting to feel like a franchise now, and that makes me worried, because it seems like it is running out of steam. What keeps it entertaining for me is the use of humor and the action. However, like the second film, it does not have the novelty of the first film. In addition to that, the pacing and stakes just doesn't seem to be the same. Each film has a different premise, but at the end of the day, it's cops going after bad guys. I liked it, but I think I'm concerned about it losing its touch in future installments.
Jul 15, 2023
Ghostrunner
Oct 27, 2020
When I started this, everything happened so quickly that I thought that I was getting old. Then I got used to it and my reflexes and decision making reached speeds I did not know were possible for me. The game is beautiful (especially with raytracing turned on), but since the player moves quickly through the environment, the only way one can fully appreciate it is by slowing down and dying often. The game is based on quick decision making, but not necessarily fast twitch reflexes which makes it accessible. The soundtrack is good, and the story which borrows from works like Ghost in the Shell allow for interesting mechanics within the game itself. I would have liked for there to have been greater world building, but this is not an RPG, so that can be easily forgiven. Overall, very challenging and uses a set of skills that people do not usually use.
Jul 13, 2023
Digimon Adventure
Mar 26, 2000
A surprisingly underrated show directed towards children. Although it didn't blow my mind, I was surprised at how deep it could get in some aspects. There's themes like climate change, the metaverse, and domestic terrorism which is somewhat crazy for the early 2000's. Overall, I found it enjoyable, found character designs to be original, and thought the soundtrack was great. It could definitely be trimmed down and improved, but it does go beyond what I'd expect from a show that is intended to derive profit from merchandising.
Jul 10, 2023
The Abyss
Aug 8, 1989
This is not James Cameron's best film, but I liked it. I think the writing could have been improved, but the set pieces, underwater filming, and special effects made it interesting for me. It felt like an underwater 2001, but perhaps with less depth to it in terms of the themes and concepts it is trying to deal with. I think if it is viewed as just a fun action science fiction film, most people will find it to be a good time.
Jul 8, 2023
18 Again
Nov 10, 2020
A divorced man becomes 18 again and then decides he does not want to be 18 anymore and becomes no longer divorced. That is the entire story, and everything that happens is really just philosophizing on life. Given this, it could be argued that nothing of substance really happened, but the premise alone makes for some entertaining situations.
Jul 4, 2023
Ponniyin Selvan: Part I
Sep 30, 2022
This is a compelling epic that is close to the level of China's Red Cliff. It feels reminiscient of Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones, but there are some small things that keep it from reaching the level of those works. To begin, the execution is great. Mani Ratnam is not known for special effects and action, but it is handled very well here and every shot is well thought out. For me, the first half of this film is great. It is at the level that I would expect from an epic and the acting is great on all fronts. The second half drags, and there are some issues with editing and pacing which hold it back. Simply put, some things are not developed, while other things feel like they take too long. Maybe it might be better if it were a tv series instead of a film. With all that said, I do consider it a good movie, and will be watching part 2 in the future.
Jul 3, 2023
Moana
Nov 14, 2016
This is a very strong film that made me gain a new appreciation for Pacific Islander culture. There is a great passion here for seafaring and the ocean at large. Voicework is very well done. One thing I find kind of lacking is the number of characters present, but by focusing on two characters, it manages to stay relatively tightlly executed. Animation is clean, and it seems like the lessons learned from other Disney 3d animated films and Pixar are used to good effect. Overall, one of the better 3d animated Disney films despite its simplicity.
Jul 2, 2023
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
Mar 10, 2023
I am not the most familiar with Dungeons and Dragons outside of some pc games, but I am surprised that Vin Diesel or Joe Manganiello were not involved. With that said, I don't think you need to be familiar to enjoy this film. There are some very creative sequences here where magic and the world's lore was used to comedic effect. Simply put, while it did feel like a standard heist film, it also felt very original due the way in which the . It is a good film that could have been helped by leaning more into its characters, but it was a good time from beginning to end.
Jul 1, 2023
Death Road to Canada
Jul 21, 2016
This is a zombie game that is very similar to Organ Trail. As a result, I ended up finishing this far more quickly since I had a decent idea of how to approach this beforehand. This, in addition to finishing on Canada Day helped to provide me with an advantage during my final playthrough. Simply put, the majority of the game is resource management, but there is a roguelite element where you control a character that is followed by AI characters. The AI characters are interesting, and the humor within the game keeps it lighthearted and entertaining. The difficulty rises significantly prior to reaching Canada, but there are perks that can be used across playthroughs to even the odds. Overall, not perfect or deep, but it's gameplay loop is enough to keep oneself occupied.
Jul 1, 2023
Mashle
Jul 1, 2023
It's a lot of fun and does its job as a parody. I don't think it's at the level of One Punch Man, but its sense of humor makes it very entertaining.
Jun 30, 2023
Deepsea Challenge
Aug 8, 2014
This is an interesting film to watch within the context of the aftermath of the Titan implosion. With that said, the film itself does not stand that well on its own due to the fact that it is somewhat light on details. I wished it showed more of what was underwater as well as got into the inner workings of the vessel. Reaching the ocean floor was surprisingly unceremonious, and underwhelming despite the achievement itself being very impressive. I think it was an interesting documentary, but it is not a great film by any means.
Jun 29, 2023
World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War
Max Brooks, Sep 12, 2006
This is a narrative of a alternate history where zombies have taken over. The approach is interesting, but also very dry at times. With that said, the different perspectives all across the world kept it relatively fresh. One notable issue is that Max Brooks' understanding of different countries and geopolitical pressures is outdated and sometimes simply incorrect. Another issue is that the characters seem to be fairly homogenous which makes it come across as less interesting. Overall, somewhat enjoyable, but very flawed.
Jun 29, 2023
NANOGrav - 15 Years of Gravitational Wave Research
Jun 29, 2023
With the latest dataset, we now have indication of gravitational wave backgrounds in addition to background radiation. This provides us with the ability to not only use the electromagnetic spectrum, but also use gravity as a way to analyze the universe. The way in which pulsars were used for precise measurements is very impressive and I think this is probably one of the first galactic scale tools that humanity has created or utilized for any purpose. Compared to other methods such as those used with background radiation, this required an incredibly high level of precision and a large amount of time. While I am not sure if this will win a Nobel prize since other works related to gravity have already won in the past, I would not be surprised if it wins awards from other organizations in the near future.
Jun 28, 2023
Lifespan: Why We Age―and Why We Don't Have To
David A. Sinclair, Sep 10, 2019
This is David Sinclair's book about the slowing and reversing of aging. While it could have gone more in depth into the research, it seemed to focus more on the future of society due to increased lifespan and the shortcomings of modern healthcare. This is fine, but I do with it had a greater focus on the biology involved like the first half of the book. With that said, the history of the field and the references provide a good set of background studies to further understanding in the field.
Jun 24, 2023
Stand by Me
Aug 6, 1986
This is what the Goonies should have been. It is realistic, the dialogue is great, and the characters are relatable. Since this is somewhat autobiographical, it has Stephen King's personal touch which makes it flow very well. Overall, this is a great film and probably one of the better Stephen King adaptations.
Jun 23, 2023
Rebel Without a Cause
Oct 26, 1955
This is my first James Dean film. I think the story itself is simple, but good acting keeps it interesting. Camera work and shot composition is great as well. The focus on psychology, family dynamics, and coming of age are rather unique for the time in which this was made. I think the primary weakpoint of this film is its ending, but other than that, it holds up very well today.
Jun 23, 2023
Parasite Eve
Mar 29, 1998
There are not many commercial works that use cellular biology as a part of its plot, but this game based on a novel does it and it is very interesting. The idea that mitochondria use cells as vehicles and can cause combustion when orchestrated to do so is very original. The gameplay is unique in that it is turn based, but also real time. I think the short playtime compared to other rpgs also made it very viable. Despite it taking place in the New York City of the 90's, it felt modern and not as clunky as I thought it would be. Overall, I liked it quite a lot and think it aged very well.
Jun 21, 2023
Kagami no Kojou
Dec 23, 2022
This is an animated film from the director of Colorful. Similarly, this deals with some of the pressures of school life. Comparatively, I think it is obvious that this was animated on a budget. It was easy to tell what was cgi and what was 2d. With that said, things definitely picked up later in the second half and finished strong which significantly improved the pacing, animation, and quality of the story. The soundtrack by Fuuki Harumi was probably the greatest part about it. If it were more consistent from a quality standpoint and had more character development, I might say that this is a good film, but since it was not, it may be better to read the novel instead. This is not to say it wasn't a worthwhile watch because it dragged in the beginning, but rather that it could have been much better.
Jun 20, 2023
Reborn Rich
Dec 25, 2022
The majority of this was entertaining. The ending was sloppy. Compared to the manwha, I think this is a step down, but it has good pacing. Like most k-dramas, the acting is a bit over the top, but I think this is to be expected. I personally wish it delved more into the actual economics, finances, and historical events of Korea's past, but I think that for most audiences, the level of detail is acceptable. I think it is a worthwhile watch, but the ending did ruin much of the story as a whole for me.
Jun 17, 2023
Avatar: The Way of Water
Dec 12, 2022
James Cameron has been to the bottom of the sea, but if you watch this film, you absolutely cannot tell. Writing felt sloppy and besides some of the underwater motion capture, many of the techniques used are not that novel. This film shoud have come out at least five years ago. Acting is good, and James Cameron's casting is on point, but the stakes of the second film are significantly smaller and less ground is covered. It should also be mentioned that since James Horner died, the soundtrack was composed by Simon Franglen who worked with James Horner in the past. The first film had a full arc, full character development, while this felt like a nature documentary on a fictional planet. I don't see the point of additional sequels if the stakes aren't raised and there isn't more substance in the story.
Jun 16, 2023
Don Quixote de La Mancha, Volume 1
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, Jan 1, 1605
This is such a strange book and I feel that I would have found it far more enjoyable if it were in a different medium or format. I can tell that it has humor, but the simple matter of a knight errant making fun of chivalry indirectly is not enough for me. I suppose the style of the story is what made it difficult to enjoy. There was character development and depth in the writing, but I had trouble staying engaged. I will not be reading volume 2 any time soon.
Jun 11, 2023
Odd Taxi
Jun 29, 2021
This is a story with many moving plot points that are interwoven masterfully. I'm honestly surprised that there are not more stories like this nowadays, but the approach taken here is something that is reminiscient of older Nolan films. With that said, it is not action heavy, and actually has a rather calm style of pacing which makes it unique. The use of a neurological disorder as a plot mechanic was also very creative and gave a great excuse to make all the characters look like animals. I think I would have preferred that the story did not end with a cliffhanger, but other than that, this was a great series.
Jun 10, 2023
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Feb 15, 2023
I watched this for Paul Rudd, but there was less Paul Rudd than I preferred, very little character development, and the stakes didn't seem to have much of an impact. Overall, a waste of time. I think the bigger issue is that I don't understand what all these films are building up to or rather that I don't particularly care.
Jun 4, 2023
Hindsight
Aug 4, 2022
This is a narrative heavy game that looks back on life and family. The game is basically a mouse based clicker where you click through scenes. Honestly, I do not know why this was a game rather than some other medium as the gameplay only really offered the ability to rotate the scene and view things at different angles. With that said, the music was emotionally powerful and the voice work was well done.
Jun 4, 2023
Chernobyl
Jun 3, 2019
Although it was not the most accurate, the liberties it took made it better in my opinion. The acting and pacing was great. This took the audience through the whole process and also the huge undertaking involved in getting hte reactor under control and the aftermath. It showed how the Soviets would have approached a problem as well as why the Chrenobyl incident happened. The approach was very similar to Thirteen Lives, and the straight forward storytelling kept it tight. Overall, very well done and is probably one of the greatest mini series I have seen so far.
Jun 3, 2023
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Jun 2, 2023
The first film was, in my opinion, one of the greatest works of animation ever made. The second film is just as great, but has different strengths. The animation and the ambitiousness of the story are better here. However, the plot is slightly less focused, and the soundtrack does not hit as hard despite still being very good. I think part of the reason for this is because this is only part one, but since there is a lot of setup with less resolution, the payoff is not quite as high as the first film as a standalone work. With that said, there was not a moment when I was watching this where I was not impressed. Every frame was a work of art, and each scene had multiple layers to it. One of the things I was looking forward to with this one was the new characters and they did not disappoint. Overall, it is arguably as great as the previous film.
May 29, 2023
Vincenzo
May 2, 2021
This one was a lot of fun. It's not perfect, but it was enjoyable and had a mixture of humor and serious moments. The way in which normal civilians were turned into members of a home grown Korean mafia was very interesting with each unassuming member of a residential complex having their own secret past. It has a bit of everything and compared to other Korean dramas which can be overdramatic, this one was a good time.
May 28, 2023
Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters
Sep 20, 1985
I think the presentation here might be divisive, but I thought this was a well crafted film. The colors and the shots are well placed, and it feels like a film from one or two decades earlier. The narration combined with the reenactment of Yukio Mishima's final moments was well structured. There is a clear expression of artistic passion here that gives the film a sense of momentum.
May 27, 2023
Cyber Manhunt
Feb 2, 2021
I feel like hacking games can be hit or miss and this one was a fairly mediocre experience. The UI felt clunky, and the hacking was fairly unrealistic which is typical in this type of genre. Overall, not bad, but I wouldn't recommend it.
May 25, 2023
Lifespan with Dr. David Sinclair
Dec 09, 2022
Dr. David Sinclair covers the cutting edge of treatment for biological aging and what the causes of aging are. There is some coverage of biological escape velocity, but the majority is split into pathways and anatomical systems. It moves from molecular biology to topics like stem cells, genetics, and organ rejuvenation. Overall, it is rather thorough and it provides a perspective on research in the area over the past few decades.
May 20, 2023
Tora-san, Welcome Back!
Oct 28, 2019
It's okay. Although this is a tribute to the franchise, there isn't really a sense of resolution here. It's a good send off to the series, but there isn't really a conclusion. It was filmed well, and color grading was exceptionally good, but it feels lacking. I think perhaps that is maybe a main complaint of many films in this series as it does not seem to have an end in mind, but beyond that, it is well executed.
May 15, 2023
Inmost
Aug 21, 2020
This is a fairly emotional game with a story that can be a bit difficult to follow at times. The gameplay contains platforming and puzzles primarily. Controls can feel clunky and things can feel slow which can be frustrating sometimes. With all of this said, the primary message about pain and loss is well handled and it has solid music and visuals. It's not perfect, but it sometimes hits the right notes and it is not that long in terms of playtime.
May 14, 2023
What Maisie Knew
Apr 25, 2013
I wanted to watch this for a while, but never got around to it. This is a film that has that indie feel. This is nothing groundbreaking, but the perspective on divorce was interesting and somewhat educational. It doesn't do anything wrong, but it does not do anything that is new or novel either. It's not bad, it's just not great.
May 14, 2023
Limitless
Nov 16, 2022
In this, Chris Hemsworth goes over different areas of longevity. It covers a number of topics from neural degeneration to mobility to autophagy and cold exposure. I think it's a good primer, and it's fine for a general audience. I wish it could have gone deeper into the science and literature, but shows like this usually don't as that could be alienating.
May 13, 2023
Kannathil Muthamittal
Feb 14, 2002
This is Mani Ratnam's coverage of the Sri Lankan civil war and the Tamil Tigers. However, it does not get into politics and speaks more about peace and war through the eyes of an adopted child. The story is quite simple, but the editing and emotional hook is what makes an impact. All actors played their roles well and it was interesting to see the differences between Indian Tamil and Sri Lankan Tamil. I wish the scenes of war were filmed a bit better, but this could be due to the limitations of the special effects they used. With that said, there were some scenes such as missile and mortar strikes that looked completely real, so this gap is confusing. Overall, this is one of Mani Ratnam's better films and is absolutely worth watching.
Mar 13, 2023
Andor
Sep 21, 2022
A prequel to Rogue One. While this wasn't quite at the level of the Mandalorian, it was well acted, and the special effects were great. Everything looked real and the use of good sets and practical effects definitely helped. Diego Luna was great in this, and I'm a bit surprised I don't see more of him in other works. From a story perspective, I think there are arcs which are interesting and arcs that are now. In my opinion, it started weak, but ended strong. I personally didn't care for the subplots as they did not seem to carry much weight in the large scheme of things.
May 10, 2023
Intravenous
Jul 26, 2021
This is like a 2d Splinter Cell mixed with Hotline Miami. It's a lot of fun. The enemy AI is fairly sophisticated, and the gameplay has a decent amount of depth. Story is generic, but for its short playtime, it is very enjoyable.
Mar 7, 2023
Six Easy Pieces: Essentials of Physics By Its Most Brilliant Teacher
Richard P. Feynman, Jan 1, 1994
Decades have passed since the writing of this book, and pedagogical materials as well as physics itself has advanced quite a bit. I think this is easy to follow, but compared to something like Khan Academy, it is inferior. For what it is, it is a good introductory lesson in physics that offers decent coverage of basic topics.
Mar 6, 2023
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
Nov 25, 2022
This was much better than it had any right to be. The music was good, and the chemistry between characters made it entertaining. Kevin Bacon's role was funny, and it was enjoyable overall. Nothing particularly novel here, but it is a fun time.
Mar 2, 2023
Gravity's Rainbow
Thomas Pynchon, Feb 28, 1973
A hard read, and it is tough to see the larger picture. Maybe there is no larger picture. The prose is dense and the story is strange. The plot moves around in an erratic fashion, and the relation to the V2 rocket is sometimes a side conversation. Honestly, I don't know how to react to this, but it is highly detailed and the result of a well studied author.
Apr 30, 2023
Dredge
Mar 30, 2023
This is an open world exploration game with a focus on fishing and dredging items from the sea. It has a number of similarities to Subnautica, but unlike Subnautica this takes place in the early 1900's and not underwater. In addition to this, it has Lovecraftian elements mixed in. The gameplay loop where you fish to make money and then upgrade your ship is fun. I wish the world had more lore and content (especially later in the game), but the main story might be enough to keep most players satisfied.
Apr 29, 2023
Green Book
Oct 4, 2018
I was not expecting a film this good to come from Peter Farelly of all people, but it did and I was pleasantly surprised. The acting by Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortenson was great and they had great chemistry. It very much felt like The Intouchables except it took place in segregation era America. That by itself should be a statement of its quality as a film. Overall, I very much liked it and hit many notes without needing to get too heavy in certain themes.
Apr 25, 2023
ispace HAKUTO-R Mission 1: Landing Live Stream
Apr 25, 2023
With the test flight of Starship and the failure of Hakuto, this has not been the best year for the commercial space industry so far. At least this mission had completed 8 of 10 milestones. Now, we'll need to wait for another mission and another 3 months to see the results of any improvements that are made. On another note, it was interesting to see that the majority of the stream was conducted in English.
Apr 23, 2023
Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga
Nov 6, 2007
I wanted to play a Lego game to get an idea of how the franchise is, and this is what I thought would be a good place to start. In terms of gameplay, it is not perfect and kind of clunky, but I imagine younger players would likely find it to be fun. Levels can be a bit difficult to navigate, but the puzzles are straightforward as long as you can make it past the combat scenes. With all that said, there are some things to be praised here. Music is pretty much the same as the film series. In addition to this, there are many characters and their models somehow manage to remain unique and identifiable. There are also many collectibles which provides a lot of replay value for those that enjoyed the gameplay. It has charm and humor, but it isn't perfect. Overall, it's more fun than it is frustrating.
Apr 23, 2023
Spy x Family Part 2
Dec 24, 2022
I think some of the novelty of the previous entry has worn off, but this is still fun and entertaining. Animation is stylized and production is of top quality still. The cold war narrative combined with a more innocent Saturday morning cartoon type of feel really works well. Overall, nothing new, but very enjoyable, endearing, and very well executed.
Apr 22, 2023
Otoko wa tsurai yo: Boku no ojisan
Dec 27, 1989
This is my first Tora san film and it was very enjoyable. I liked seeing Japan in the 80's and the Japanese countryside as well. While this is a Tora san film, this one focuses on his nephew with Tora san acting as a wingman of sorts. I think what made this fun for me was that it showed an older Japan that was in the process of changing to a newer generation. Despite not seeing some of the previous films, I was not lost at all. Overall, I thought it was well handled. I may not necessarily consider it to be great, but it is quite solid and has a lot of replay value.
Apr 20, 2023
Never Finished: Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War Within
David Goggins, Dec 6, 2022
Compared to Can't Hurt Me which was a personal journey that is chronological in nature, this jumps around and is organized more into particular lessons or concepts. I think while the other manages to teach a lesson through a life story, this seems to be less organized and as a result, it was less impactful for me. With that all said, it was very interesting what Goggins did recently as well as the injuries and challenges he faced. I suppose one thing that really stuck out to me was how this time, everything seemed to have a primarily physical focus and the emotional side of things felt left out. There was also a lot of overlap with his previous book. Overall, I think it may be worth reading, but his first book is sufficient.
Apr 20, 2023
Starship Flight Test
Apr 20, 2023
I waited almost 2 years to see this thing fly only for it to get scrubbed because of a frozen valve. Then when it did fly, it failed to detach the first stage. Not sure how to take this, but I suppose it is part of the process. It was nice, however, to see the full stack as well as the flip maneuver despite it failing.
Apr 16, 2023
Return of the Obra Dinn
Oct 18, 2018
This is a whodunnit that involves going back in time through the memory of those who died in the past. In addition to the work involved with figuring out who is who and how everyone died on the Obra Dinn, there is also a Lovecraftian aspect. Historical details such as Formosians speaking Hokkien and otherr languages made for a convincing story. Finally, the visual aesthetic of black and white was an interesting choice and provided an atmosphere that was not unlike reading a novel from the time in which this game takes place. Overall, very unique and highly detailed.
Apr 15, 2023
The Man Who Planted Trees
May 13, 1987
This has a very unique art style that feels like a stream of consciousness. Although some of the frames are basically just pans and zooms of a singular drawing, this does not take away too much from the overall work. The story and narration also gives it a very calm feeling. There also seems to be some sort of post war message, but it is not fully explored. Overall, I really liked this short animated film and its environmental focus.
Apr 15, 2023
The Red Balloon
May 3, 1956
I'm not the clearest why this won an Oscar, but it is filmed creatively and the camera work is well done. If there is a deeper message to this story, then maybe that could be the reason, but what that is is questionable. Although this could have been filmed in black and white like a silent film, the balloon's red color is able to stand out well in the frames and the color grading is handled deliberately. I imagine this may have served as inspiration for the Pixar film Up. The depiction of Paris at the time is also interesting. I think if it were any longer, it would have not performed as well, because there is only so much one can do with this premise before it loses its novelty.
Apr 9, 2023
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Nov 9, 2022
This has many good ingredients, but the final product seems to lack focus and could be tighter. The production is good. The music is good. The actors are good. It should work in theory, but it does not. I think the antagonist of Namor was an interesting one, but the mixture of Namor as well as the death of Chadwick Boseman makes this movie lack focus. I wish they could have focused on one or the other. There are many different pieces here and in an ideal world, they would have just focused on one and made a good movie around that. But they didn't and as a result, it tries to do more than is needed, cuts certain things short, and ends up running longer than it needs to be.
Apr 9, 2023
Norco
Mar 24, 2022
A great point and click game with a very unique story. It feels like it has many similarities to Kentucky Route Zero, and the setting and surreal nature only adds to this feeling. The Gothic approach combined with religous and cyberpunk imagery makes it feel like it has its own identity. This is one of the better point and click games to come out in the past decade.
Apr 2, 2023
Sable
Sep 23, 2021
I went into this expecting something like Nausicaä, but this ended up being more like Zelda and Outer Wilds without the timeloop. The sense of exploration as well as the empty world made for a very solid game loop. With that said, it has its share of buggy physics, but this can be fixed with updates. The story is a coming of age story that takes the player across an apocalyptic wasteland. Despite this setting it is fairly upbeat and positive which makes it novel in my opinion. For a small studio, this is well done, the visuals are great, the music by Japanese Breakfast is calming, and the game is good overall.
Mar 26, 2023
The Rescue
Sep 2, 2021
The director duo of Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi do it again just like they did with Free Solo. The Thai cave story is very interesting and this manages to create the same level of tension that could be found in Free Solo. There are some differences in pacing, but it is dense in information and we follow the rescue from inception to aftermath. Compared to Thirteen Lives, this is superior. One is a dramatized adaptation and this is a documentary. Overall, both are good for different reasons and each handles different moments of the rescue better in certain respects, but if I had to choose, I would choose this.
Mar 25, 2023
Thirteen Lives
Aug 5, 2022
This film by Ron Howard and written by William Nicholson is straight forward and filmed with little in the way of distractions. There is an equal focus on the Thai effort as well as the work of the A team cave divers which also makes it feel less like a typical Hollywood treatment. The sets felt incredibly realistic to the point that I thought they used the original cave. Overall, very solid film. A bit long, and maybe light on details in terms of events, but it brings across the suspense involved in cave diving. It recreated the large scale of the rescue effort very well.
Mar 25, 2023
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
Dec 21, 2022
A really fun film that is superior to the first one. The animation style is reminiscient of the semi cartoonish approach taken in Into the Spiderverse, and it works quite well here. There is something here for everyone, and although it isn't the heaviest in terms of drama or tonality, it manages to touch on the themes it wants to touch on decently. Overall, enjoyable and the return of Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek makes it feel like a familiar experience as well like meeting an old friend.
Mar 19, 2023
Deus Ex
Jun 23, 2000
I have played Human Revolution, but the original is something that feels dated in gameplay, but ahead of its time in story. Gameplay is free and open with many options by which to traverse and complete levels. At it's base, it's really just a reskinned Thief with additional features and mechanics. However, where this shines is in its story and ideas. Things like mass surveilance, income and health inequality, the illusion of choice, one world governments, manufactured pandemics, AI based government, and artificial scarcity are covered here. JC Denton is an interesting character who has little emotion and loses all arguments until he is forced to make a choice in the ending. In addition to this, one of the endings here has surprising similarities to Ghost in the Shell which makes it interesting from an existential angle. Overall, I think this is a great game that would also benefit from a remake as long as the original ideas are kept. In terms of ideas, I think the ideas are as profound as the ideas presented in Metal Gear Solid for those who do not read philosophy.
Mar 14, 2023
GPT-4 Developer Livestream
Mar 14, 2023
GPT-4 is here, and we now have an idea of how much further it can go than GPT-3.5. We see new features such as image processing, a deeper understanding of text and the ability to do somewhat high levels of reasoning. Overall, very impressive. I am curious to test it out myself in the near future.
Mar 4, 2023
Glass Onion
Nov 23, 2022
While this is not as good as Knives Out, I still enjoyed it. As a mystery, it is far simpler and more predictable. As a comedy, it is rather funny as it is able to make references to recent events and figures. The mention of the pandemic manages to ground it. Overall, I would not complain if Rian Johnson keeps making movies in this series as long as they are consistently good. Mysteries are not an oversaturated genre, and as long as they are done well, they can be highly entertaining.
Mar 3, 2023
Charade
Dec 5, 1963
This is fun and it feels very modern despite it being from the 60's. I came into this expecting it to be like North by Northwest, but it is really far more casual and relaxed. Paris as a location can be a tired trope for the time, but it works. Audrey Hepburn as the lead is something that I did not expect since Cary Grant is advertised as the main lead, but she absolutely carries this film. There are times when dialogue is somewhat stilted. This is played to comedic effect most of the time, but sometimes, it falls flat. Overall, very enjoyable and has aged incredibly well.
Mar 3, 2023
La haine
May 27, 1995
Some of the best camera work I have seen and is reminiscient of new wave films while being more refined due to newer techniques. The movie has a dreamlike flow as it moves through time at inconsistent intervals. At the same time, it manages to show the plight of poor youth in France and be rather compelling due to it being based on a number of similar historical events in modern France. Acting and dialogue is smooth and natural which is something I don't usually note, but it is something that comes across as being quite polished in this film. Overall, it is no surprise that this is consider one of the greatest modern French films.
Feb 25, 2023
Madeo
May 28, 2009
Bong Joon Ho delivers again. While this is not at the level of Memories of Murder in my opinion, this is quite good. The plot moves in very unpredictable ways while also providing a statement on the state of South Korean during the time. Performances by Kim Hye Ja in particular and Won Bin are great. Overall, it is one of Bong Joon Ho's best, but Parasite and Memories of Murder are superior.
Feb 23, 2023
VA-11 Hall-A
Jun 21, 2016
A visual novel style game like Coffee Talk except this has a cyberpunk background. While the cyberpunk background is underutilized, there are some interesting characters. At the same time, some characters feel under developed. There is an interesting setting here, and the lack of unique visuals hold the game back. The bartending aspect of it is fairly straight forward, and while it is not perfect, some of the character arcs are rewarding.
Feb 23, 2023
Starry Messenger: Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization
Neil deGrasse Tyson, Sep 20, 2022
Neil deGrasse Tyson is gloves off in his commentary on society through the lens of a scientist. From how our legal system and government works to the historical context behind our astronomical legacy to what death is and his opinions of it, Neil covers a lot of ground. He does not do it in the most graceful or emotionally cognizant manner, but he does manage to explore topics in such a way that he is able to get his points across. Some of the topics he covers such as how both sides of the political spectrum don't follow science is very interesting as well. Overall, a worthwhile read.
Feb 22, 2023
Quantum Physics: A Beginners Guide to How Quantum Physics Affects Everything around Us
Carl Weston, Dec 6, 2018
A very short book that offers a primer on quantum physics as well as different areas that utilize it. It stars with a history of the field, and then moves to basic concepts before touching on its use in industry as well as more theoretical aspects. I don't recommend it unless you are fine with a surface level coverage and are pressed for time.
Feb 21, 2023
Physical: 100
Feb 21, 2023
I don't usually watch reality shows, but this was interesting as it pitted people from different physical disciplines against each other. The challenges are actually very functional from a work out perspective, and in many ways, it helped to inform what types of muscle groups and bodies work best for certain tasks. What I learned from watching this is that functional strength is the most useful with stamina, technique, and tenacity being equally important. Overall, well produced, and quite focused on what it is trying to do which is to pit people at their physical peak against each other.
Feb 21, 2023
A few days ago, a paper was made which could offer an explanation for a possible source for dark energy in the universe. If it turns out that super massive black holes are a source of dark energy, it would be a huge game changer for theoretical physics. I am also curious how this affects theories like super symmetry and string based theories. From my perspective, this seems to strengthen the case for more dimensions of space, but I am curious how the field develops over the coming years. Also viewed a video provided by RAL Space which is a short explanation of the idea.
Feb 18, 2023
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Aug 14, 1975
Although this is a cult classic, it feels very clumsily executed with Tim Curry being one of the only reasons to watch this. The music was okay, but there was really only 1 or 2 good songs here. The story was not the easiest to follow, and while things were zany, I thought it felt muddled. When compared to a film like Hedwig and the Angry Inch, this seems to lack the appeal or the deeper message that I would expect to see in a great film. Overall, it was not for me. There are better musical films out there.
Feb 11, 2023
United 93
Apr 28, 2006
This is a Paul Greengrass film which means that it feels real, and it is expected to have a high amount of suspense. This did not disappoint, and the last ten minutes where the passengers rush the cockpit of United 93 was incredibly tense. The details around the first three flights which were part of the 9/11 attacks were very well handled. We could see how communication and clearance to act were severely limited as well as the events leading up to the crash in Pennsylvania. Overall, very tense and is consistent with the high level of tension one would expect from Paul Greengrass.
Feb 8, 2023
Rocketry: The Nambi Effect
Jul 1, 2022
I like rockets, so this film about ISRO which focuses on Nambi Narayanan was in guilty pleasure territory for me. What is nice about this compared to other Indian films is that it is primarily focused on its subject matter. With that said, editing and pacing is not the best, so it is lacking in the execution department. CGI is also quite lacking. Overall, while I liked it, it is not something everyone would enjoy, and from a critical angle, it is definitely flawed.
Feb 6, 2023
My Anti-Aging Protocol Broke a World Record...
Jan 25, 2023
I have recently been getting more and more interested in aging at the cellular level, and then this came up which was good timing. In this, Bryan Johnson outlines his protocol for slowing down aging. While the content is interesting, it is also scientifically shaky. I believe greater scrutiny of the metrics used as well as examination of cellular aging would have made this much more interesting. With that said, I am glad that this topic is gradually making its way to the mainstream.
Jan 30, 2023
Prose & Codes
Feb 11, 2022
This is a game where you solve ciphers which are used to decode a coded version of an excerpt from a famous classical work. Ciphers are split into genres and difficulty of the ciphers can be adjusted. Overall, I think despite its simplicity, it's quite good. Completing this can provide a wider lexicon and grasp of the English language at a high level.
Jan 28, 2023
Dragon Inn
Oct 21, 1967
Not quite as good as Touch of Zen, but this was a lot of fun. Choreography, while dated, can be stylistic at times. Camera work and frames which include nature are great and colorful. Overall, fairly consistent with what I'd expect from a King Hu flick.
Jan 27, 2023
The Red Room
H.G. Wells, Jan 1, 1894
A short story about a haunted house and the nature of fear. It is quite simplistic.
Jan 27, 2023
The Star
H.G. Wells, Jan 1, 1897
This is a short story by H.G. Wells which involves a star flying through our solar system. It's a bit fantastical and unrealistic, but I imagine it was quite entertaining for people who read it at the end of the 1800's.
Jan 20, 2023
Escape from Mogadishu
Jul 28, 2021
This is not the best Korean movie, and execution can be rough around the edges. It starts off slow, but really picks up after the Somali civil war begins to start up. While this is a film that takes place in Somalia, it is more about relations between the two Koreas. With that said, I think while the dialogue and plot structure is not the best, the final convoy scene in the third act was at levels of suspense that was reminiscent of Mad Max Fury Road. Overall, I consider this to be a good movie that has its flaws.
Jan 20, 2023
The Bell Jar
Sylvia Plath, Jan, 1963
This is an interesting story that felt like a female take on a cross between Ningen Shikkaku and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Like those other works, there are aspects here that are fairly relatable. I was not the biggest fan of the prose, and found that it could have been leaner. With that said, it managed to carry across feelings of depression relatively well.
Jan 17, 2023
A Room of One's Own
Virginia Woolf, Oct 24, 1929
I went into this completely blind after it was recommended to me. This is feminist literature and is effectively an essay that starts out on the premise of why every woman should have a room of their own. It then dives into the opportunities that have been afforded woman and all the potential that has been lost in the process. Its approach is thoughtful and its use of a narrative manages to make the different ideas it brings up flow together without problem. While books of this nature can get preachy, I don't think this ever did since all it ever does is explore ideas to their logical conclusion which is how I prefer such works in general.
Jan 15, 2023
2BR02B
Kurt Vonnegut Jr., Sep, 1968
This is a book with an interesting premise where death has become obsolete and population control has become very strict. For every person born, someone already living must die. While the premise is interesting, the exploration of it is lacking. It is a very short book and I guess it tries to answer a question very quickly without discussing how it got there.
Jan 14, 2023
East of Eden
John Steinbeck, 1952
This is an epic book that takes place over many years like War and Peace or One Hundred Years of Solitude. While I don't consider this to be at the same level as those novels or even the best of Steinbeck's works, it is well thought out and a great epic. My biggest qualms come from the actions of the characters which seem forced because they are intended to follow in the footsteps of their parents in a Biblical sense. Often, this is natural, but sometimes, the progression of the plot does not seem quite as graceful. This is a minor complaint as the book is very well written and easy to follow. It is accessible and also has an overarching theme which makes it better than a large majority of novels out there. But is it the best classic I have ever read or the best epic? No. Was it one of the more enjoyable? Yes. It was a very pleasant read and I did not need to fight with the words which I think is something to be praised.
Dec 31, 2022
Chainsaw Man
Dec 28, 2022
The hype is well justified and this is one of the best animated series ever made. We're only on season 1 as well, so I'm curious how they build on this in future seasons. This feels like the works of Tsukamoto Shinya mixed with Tarantino. I don't think I have found a work this interesting and energetic since I last watched a Takashi Miike film or this coherently stylish since Bleach. The animation is very creative and mixes 2d and 3d in ways that I don't think I have seen before. Characters are unique and honestly, that is something that is getting more and more rare nowadays where many works reuse past tropes. Music is not exactly attention grabbing, but it great when it needs to be does its job. I am looking forward to season 2.
Dec 30, 2022
One Cut of the Dead
Nov 4, 2017
I thought that this was a movie about zombies, but it is much more than that. This is about filming a movie about zombies in one shot. The first part is the movie. The second part is the proposition for preproduction. The third part is the actual production. In that sense, this is a very meta film, because not only is this about a zombie film that was filmed in one take, it is also about filming the filming of a zombie film that was filmed in one take. Because of this, it has an added layer of analysis that other one take films don't have and makes it very interesting compared to other indie films.
Dec 30, 2022
I now understand the hype, and I have to say that this was a mindblowing conclusion to part 6. There was a speeding up of time, control of weather, suspenseful and very unconventional battles, and callbacks to other seasons. I think Jolyne Kujo is just as iconic as Kujo Jotaro, and the characters here were quite memorable. Like all other entries in the series, this operates on its own logic and yet it manages to work very well. I don't think I have enjoyed a Jojo show quite as much as this one since the second or third parts. Overall, probably my second favorite or most favorite entry in the series so far.
Dec 29, 2022
Kimi no Suizou wo Tabetai
Sep 1, 2018
This was on my to watch for a few years, so I was glad I managed to get to it eventually. Although this did not need to be an animated film, it was and it uses its animation in subtle ways to enhance what is effectively a drama. I think while the story is compelling and emotional, if it slowed down and was just a few minutes longer, it would have been better. The themes of social isolation, identity, and (sudden) death are universal as always and well handled here. Overall, while imperfect, quite good.
Dec 27, 2022
The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil
May 15, 2019
This is like Heat if Al Pacino and Robert Deniro teamed up. It's a lot of fun, and fairly suspenseful. I was skeptical about Ma Dong Soek's role as a gang leader, but he plays it so well. The plot structure is great, and it manages to weave a good web. What I think might have been lacking was the motives of the serial killer, but other than that, this is a solid crime drama and thriller.
Dec 26, 2022
Persona
Oct 18, 1966
This is a shorter film that is trying to do something deep in a very indirect way. The closest thing I can think of is The Lighthouse, but this is less Lovecraftian and is more psychological which I personally prefer. There are themes of duality, a meta aspect regarding the filmmaking process, and enough ambiguity for some level of interpretation. Ingmar Bergman plays with light in very interesting ways. In addition to this, fact that the main characters are female is also a very unique aspect of this film. Overall, I think this played with concepts that I found more interesting than The Seventh Seal and it is of extremely high qualilty.
Dec 26, 2022
The Return of the 8th Class Mage
Dec 25, 2022
A Manwha with a reincarnation type of mechanic. It's quite enjoyable and it has a sort of power fantasy aspect to it. I don't know how this would be regarded critically, but I had fun with it.
Dec 25, 2022
DIVINATION
Dec 12, 2019
A very short visual novel with a branching structure that is effectively a simulation of the future in the way Ace Combat 3 was a computer simulation. There are very interesting things here such as discussion of meaning, free will, and mind viruses that can affect humans. I think it is definitely worth a look.
Dec 25, 2022
Boku no Hero Academia 5th Season
Sep 25, 2021
The downhill trajectory that started with the previous season continues here and the quality just seems to get worse in terms of storytelling. Most plot events are inconsequential with the exception of some well handled origin stories at the end. Hayashi Yuuki's score is wasted on this.
Dec 24, 2022
Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack
Mar 12, 1988
This starts off blasting right out of the gate and the pacing is ridiculously fast even by today's standards. The Mobile Suit Gundam series has come a long way, and this seems to throw everything at the viewer. Animation is great, and there is even some convincing cgi which is very surprising for 1988. Battles are large scale and nuclear weapons are used left and right like crazy. The score is great, and from a craftsmanship perspective, the only thing lacking are longer and more focused shots and scenes. The weak points are character motivations and the plot, but things move so fast that I think the flaws don't stand out quite that much. There is also not much of reference given to the Gundam Zeta or ZZ and characters from those series don't make an appearance which is disappointing. Overall, this is dense in detail and it is the best entry in the UC timeline that I have seen so far. With this, although there are more items in the UC timeline, this marks the completion of the main works within the timeline.
Dec 24, 2022
Lookism
Dec 8, 2022
When I heard that there was a Lookism adaptation, I was curious how Korean animation would compare to Japan or China since Korea has many studios that do gruntwork for these other countries as well as some American animations as well. I think what surprised me first and foremost was the character design which felt more reminiscent of American animations like Avatar. While I think it is better than Japanese adaptations of webtoons as this is actually done in a Korean style, the story and execution has the feel of something that might have been popular in Japan 10 years ago. In other words, it feels dated, and execution is not necessarily the best. That said, this is in guilty pleasure territory for me, so if there is another season, I probably won't complain.
Dec 23, 2022
Necrobarista
Jul 22, 2020
This has a Death Billiards type of feel, but it has some missteps in its execution. While the story is about death and it uses a novel mechanic of 3d scenes in a visual novel, this is not enough to make up for the weak story. Dialogue seems shallow at times and cutting out the fat could make it much better. Character designs are bland, and portions of the game where you get side items like memories are underdeveloped in terms of being engaging. The setting is fairly static with everything taking place at a cafe which makes it come across as more boring than it actually is. Music by Kevin Penkin is good, but not his best. Overall, I consider this mediocre. While it hits some notes, it can definitely be better.
Dec 23, 2022
The Death of Ivan Ilych
Leo Tolstoy, Jan 1, 1886
This is a story of a man who is slowly dying while everyone around him abandons him and denies his illness. Ivan Ilych is not special, and as the main focus of our attention as the reader, he acts as us which means that the messages here regarding death are universal. This shows that Tolstoy can tell a great story not only in the traditionally long Russian format as seen in War and Peace, but also in the short novella format.
Dec 22, 2022
Wine: The Best Guide To Wine Tasting, Wine Pairing And Wine Selecting To Find Your Personal Palate...
Martin Guessmann, Jan 1, 2015
A very very short overview of wine, tasting, smell, and food pairings. I don't know why this is a book.
Dec 21, 2022
Leonardo da Vinci
Walter Isaacson, Oct 17, 2017
A thorough book that covers the life of Leonardo da Vinci while also analyzing what makes him tick. The way in which Leonardo da Vinci is always asking questions about everything and his status as a polymath comes across quite clearly. The man was literally the human equivalent of a physics engine. Overall, well researched and a great overview of a painter and scientist.
Dec 20, 2022
On the Heights of Despair
Emil M. Cioran, 1927
A collection of musings on life, pessimism, absurdism, and death. It is quite thorough, and the prose is very well done. With that said, topics can be disconnected in a sense, and each essay? or short piece? can be read alone. I think with many works of philosophy, structure matters less than ideas. However, when compared to something like Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Kant's The Critique of Pure Reason, or Plato's Republic, the larger picture is not the clearest which is a bit disappointing. Overall, I really liked it, but I question where it should be as highly regarded as it is given some of the shortcomings I have mentioned.
Dec 18, 2022
Khan Academy Electrical Engineering
Aug 30, 2016
This was completed on the Khan Academy site. This covers everything from charge to signals to fourier coefficients to reverse engineering of household devices. The field seems to be multidisciplinary with a heavy usage of physics, mathematics, logic and some work with circuits and hardware. I would say that out of many of the other areas that I studied, this seems to have the most overlap with other fields.
Dec 17, 2022
1987: When the Day Comes
Dec 27, 2017
30 years later, the story of an event that led to South Korea ending the fifth republic and moving towards a real democracy is told in a dramatized form. This film focuses on the death of a student at the hands of the military regime due to torture. We are shown how free speech is suppressed and pretty much anything goes in order to catch North Korean spies. Although this is more than 2 hours in length, it does not ever get boring and it feels incredibly dense in details. Another thing that was well handled was how different Korean culture was in the 80's. It is quite different from South Korea today. Acting was well handled and while everything else in terms of craftsmanship did not stand out, the fact that it was unnoticed is by itself an accomplishment. Overall, this is a political film of great scale that tells of a turbulent time in modern South Korean history.
Dec 15, 2022
Steppenwolf
Hermann Hesse, 1927
This is a book that is among decent company. Not only does this get across the feeling of disillusionment and misanthropy, but it also gets across the feeling of being disaffected as a generation. There are references to the bourgeoius and rejections of the new. These themes are still relevant today and the surreal way in which the story is told manages to to get across its ideas. Overall, I think Steppenwolf adds to its genre in the same way Albert Camus' The Stranger did as well.
Dec 11, 2022
Barry Lyndon
Dec 18, 1975
This is a period epic by Stanley Kubrick. This means that it is automatically a great film. Every frame is like a painting due to the careful lighting and color grading. Camera movement is deliberate like pretty much every Kubrick film, and the plot, while clinical in its treatment, is well crafted. Like every Kubrick film, it should be studied.
Dec 10, 2022
Top Gun: Maverick
May 27, 2022
An absolute thrill from beginning to end. Almost everything is good. The dogfights and filming is good. The music is good. The acting is good. Pretty much everything that I care about in a movie is handled well here and the visual quality is consistent with what I would expect of a film directed by Joseph Kosinski. There are times when I felt like it hit notes that Ace Combat did. The planes were real planes (except for the enemy ones), and the camera work inside and outside the cockpit is terrific. However, unlike Ace Combat which can have anti-war messaging, this is undoubtedly a piece of propaganda. This means that the geopolitical notes fall flat (the enemy belongs to an unnamed country), but themes of moving past tragedy and teamwork are very well handled. Overall, I enjoyed it very much and it is a very good film.
Dec 10, 2022
Mushoku Tensei: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu Part 2
Dec 20, 2021
This is a continuation of the first part, and it is just as good if not better. Animation is fluid, and we are starting to get to the meat of the story. Characters develop well and we also see some world building. Although it plays to genre tropes, it manages to subvert those tropes, and I found it thoroughly enjoyable and look forward to the next season.
Dec 9, 2022
Prey
Mar 8, 2020
This is a lot of fun and it takes its time to make something that is beyond the traditional creature flick. In addition to this, this shows off some aspects of Comanche culture which was interesting. I think the special effects were not that convincing, but it manages to be suspenseful, the camera work was interesting, and the score was well done. Overall, it is a good film that has a full character arc and interesting action sequences.
Dec 9, 2022
I have been following Coffeezilla for a while, so it was interesting to see more attention being given to outing snake oil salesmen. This interview covers everything from fake gurus to bitcoin to FTX which brought Coffeezilla into the mainstream.
Dec 6, 2022
The War of Art: Winning the Inner Creative Battle
John C. Maxwell, Apr 1, 2003
Get over the things causing you to procrastinate. There, you don't need to read the book anymore. With that said, this was quite humorous and the thesis statement was strong despite it leveraging religion as a justification for human expression.
Dec 5, 2022
Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes Into Stepping Stones for Success
John C. Maxwell, Mar 8, 2000
If you fail once, don't give up or prevent you from moving forward. That's it. There is more to it than that, but each failure is effectively a stepping stone to success. This is essentially a simplified version of Atomic Habits with smaller scope.
Dec 3, 2022
A Quiet Place Part II
Mar 8, 2020
This is a film that is fairly consistent in quality when compared to the previous entry. It is just as suspenseful, and Millicent Simmonds acting really carried the film when she was on screen. This film also expands on the background behind the aliens and provides a certain level of exposition in a visual format. The act of adding exposition as well as expanding the scope of the film could backfire, but it did not take away from the quality of the film and Krasinski's directing remains focused. While I don't think it is better than the first film, I think it is fairly close in terms of quality.
Dec 3, 2022
Monument Valley
Apr 3, 2014
A video game that uses M.C. Escher type visuals as a mechanic in its puzzles. The music is calming, and the visuals are simple. It manages to use a simple mechanic to great effect. When compared to something like Manifold Garden, it is more simplistic, but what it is trying to do is fundamentally different. Overall, solid game.
Dec 3, 2022
Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ
Jan 31, 1987
I liked this one more than Zeta despite it being less critically acclaimed. For one, the mixture of humor at the beginning with the heavier themes at the end seem to compliment one another and act as better character development. Because of this, the characters were more likeable. With that said, this suffers from the same strange plot developments as Zeta while missing cameos from Amuro and Char. As we progress through the UC timeline of Gundam, I am noticing that the novelty factor which made the first Mobile Suit Gundam so interesting is lacking in the later installments. This is what makes the later series like Zeta and ZZ underwhelming for me. With that said, I am looking forward to Char's Counterattack which is said to be the crown jewel of the timeline. It is nowhere close to perfect and is arguably not even that good, but I found ZZ easier to bear than Zeta.
Dec 2, 2022
Outliers: The Story of Success
Malcolm Gladwell, Nov 18, 2008
The short story is that we do not live within a meritocracy and that hard work alone is not enough although it is required. There is also a matter of the opportunities available at a particular time as well as the luxury of spending the time needed to master something. Because these are things I already knew, I did not find this to be all that novel. With that said, this book was published in 2008, so maybe it was more novel at the time.
Dec 1, 2022
Neuralink went from pigs to monkeys. Apparently, they will soon move onto humans. With that said, the technology still seems rudimentary and compared to two years ago when they were working with pigs, it seems like the pacing is not quite what one would expect when looking at the agility of companies like SpaceX and OpenAI. Telapathic typing is cool, but what if you do not need to move a cursor around and could just think the words or the letters? This is what I think is missing and as long as the software side is stuck in a world that can be viewed with a screen, it will be limited compared to what is truly possible with a neural interface. With that said, the translating of messages from the brain and spinal cord is promising. I wish they can improve the software portion of it, because that feels underdeveloped.
Nov 30, 2022
The Hidden Tower
James E. Wisher, Jun 19, 2020
This reads well, but in terms of content, I was not the biggest fan. The prose and the pacing worked, but I did not care for the characters. The main character gets cucked which was a strange decision, there is a magic system that is decently developed but not fully explored, and the world is not that fleshed out. There are wars and political maneuvering, but it seems like there are no greater themes, morals, or purpose behind the writing. At the end of the day, I guess it's a tale of revenge and triumph with an identifiable arc for its characters, but I don't see the point or a clear idea of what it is setting out to do and as a result, it was not all that memorable. I think if I was younger, I might have enjoyed this, but anyone who is reading for content and substance may be disappointed.
Nov 29, 2022
Altered Carbon
Feb 2, 2018
I only watched the first season because I heard it only goes downhill from there. With that said, I was not a fan of the first season. The primary reasons being cinematography and editing. It feels like a tv show and not a carefully planned work which is what makes it feel less worthwhile despite it being a work in a genre that I like. Camera angles make no sense, cameras shake for no reason, and pacing is either slow or inconsistent. The future shown in Altered Carbon seems drab and dull due to questionable color grading as well. It really should not be like this, because I feel like the underlying story has promise. Concepts like switching bodies like they are interchangeable parts is interesting. However, the execution is sub-par.
Nov 27, 2022
Detention
Jan 13, 2017
A horror game based on the White Terror period of 1960's Taiwan. This has had a movie and a tv show based off of it, so it has had an impact within Taiwanese culture. Like most East Asian countries of the time, the 20th century was a time of turmoil and that turmoil came across quite well in this game. On its own merits, it is quite minimal in terms of sophistication, but it is able to sell the feeling of dread expected of this type of work while offering an emotional conclusion and historical context to the events of the story. When compared to a truly great game like Signalis which I played recently, it may be a bit underwhelming, but this is a good game for an indie studio that does what it set out to do.
Nov 26, 2022
Searching
Apr 7, 2018
Suspenseful from beginning to end and has the novel approach of telling a story entirely through cameras and computer screens. Unlike other films which use the internet as a gimmick, this seems to have a more realistic approach to how people use computers and social media. Because of this, it comes across as more convincing. John Cho seems to singlehandedly carry this film and does very well. Overall, it is very entertaining and does not let up once it gets moving.
Nov 26, 2022
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Sep 13, 2022
This is a good combination of CD Projekt Red's storytelling with studio high paced Trigger's animation style. The fast pacing and unconventional animation makes for an exciting and fast moving story. The soundtrack which appears to draw from Cyberpunk 2077's soundtrack works very well. It does not feel Japanese which in turn makes it feel fresh. With that said, I think its first half was significantly better than the second half and while it was good, it could have been better if it slowed down a bit. I felt this to be the case particularly with some of the more emotional scenes and the ending in particular. As a result, while I enjoyed it quite a lot and think it is Imaishi Hiroyuki's best work since Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, it flaws were obvious and unapologetic.
Nov 26, 2022
The Future of Humanity: Terraforming Mars, Interstellar Travel, Immortality and Our Destiny Beyond Earth
Michio Kaku, Feb 20, 2018
Basically an overview of what the future holds in store for us all the way till the end of the universe. It is somewhat limited on details when it comes to specific dates and even cultural and ethical changes, but it has a clear vision in terms of the macro changes we expect to see. Overall, not groundbreaking, but it serves as a decent survey of what modern science has to offer to predict our future.
Nov 25, 2022
Signalis
Oct 27, 2022
Criminally underrated. This is a love letter to ps1 era games and feels like a cross between Silent Hill, MGS, Dead Space, and Neon Genesis Evangelion. The gameplay is suspenseful and the story, while difficult to understand, is emotional and even romantic. The cyclical nature of its story and the multiple endings is something I also very much appreciated. There are references to H.P. Lovecraft and The King in Yellow. The mixture of different languages such as Chinese and German made it feel very similar to Evangelion at times. Music is simple but does its job effectively. In terms of ambience it is similar to Iron Lung due to the Lovecraftian aspects. Honestly, this is one of the best horror games I have ever played and it is impressive to see what two developers are capable of.
Nov 24, 2022
Bakemono no Ko
Jul 11, 2015
Mamoru Hosoda films are fairly solid, and this is another film that delivers while providing a fully developed story with memorable characters. The animation is top tier and the crowded nature of Shibuya well depicted. Action is fluid, and the story has decent emotional backing. I wish the world had more depth to it and that the film was longer, but that did not take away from my enjoyment. This is not the best Mamoru Hosoda film, but it is still very good and recommended.
Nov 23, 2022
Burn the Witch
Oct 2, 2020
This is an OVA that takes place in the same world as Bleach. The animation is well handled, but the world building is a bit lacking despite it having some stylized aspects which is typical of Kubo Tite's works. Also, it does not have the character development or the same stakes as Bleach. Probably not recommended if you don't have the time to spend.
Nov 22, 2022
A Quiet Place
Apr 2, 2018
This is a well executed film that takes advantage of sound to build suspense. What this does well is keep viewers on edge throughout the film while building up its characters. John Krasinski's ability to act with his eyes is very impressive. I think it won't blow you off your feet, but it is very well done and its usage of sound and sign language is fairly novel.
Nov 22, 2022
The Unfinished Swan
Oct 23, 2012
A very short game that is like a playable picture book of sorts. I think what it does that is novel is its use of color to create puzzles. With that said, gameplay is very minimalistic, and the story is also like a picture book where it is very simplistic. I think the tie-in to What Remains of Edith Finch was interesting. It may have been more meaningful to play this before What Remains of Edith Finch, but since this was a PS3 release, that was not possible for me. Beyond that, I think it does not make a substantial impression.
Nov 20, 2022
Soul
Dec 25, 2020
Many of the Pixar films are well crafted and critically acclaimed, but there are only a few that seem to go beyond and ask deeper questions. Never have I had a Pixar film affect me as deeply as this since Up or Wall-E. Inside Out came close, but it wasn't quite there in terms of asking the bigger questions. Honestly, the combination of jazz, black culture, and the purpose of life is something that hits way harder than I expected. This is something that I think adults would appreciate more than children, and I think that may have been the intention of this film. The idea that the spark of life is different from a purpose is very profound. The music is great. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross use their style of music to create a great ambient backing while the crazy pentatonic jazz runs of Jon Batiste are face melting and emotional. If Akira Kurosawa's Ikiru had a kid friendly update and was animated, I wonder if it would be like this. And like always, the animation is at top level with some of the New York scenes coming across as almost photorealistic at times. Despite some level of oversaturation Pixar seems to still have their magic.
Nov 20, 2022
Stray
Jul 19, 2022
This is an interesting concept with a great world to get lost in. The environments are beautiful and the word building is great. Cat parkour works without requiring too much skill, and as a result, it is not frustrating at all. The score is subdued, but does its job. I think this is most interesting in its more open world segments with exploration, but there is a good balance of open ended as well as linear parts with puzzle elements. Overall, I think the hype is well deserved and the quality is what one would expect from an Annapurna game.
Nov 19, 2022
The Roundup
May 18, 2022
This is the sequel to The Outlaws and it is just as entertaining despite it not being as tight. I think what makes this series work is the interesting characters and Ma Dong Soek. The antagonist in this one is not as interesting, but the globe trotting makes for some funny scenes. The mixture of comedy and tense action keep it fresh. I think it is worth watching, and it never gets boring.
Nov 16, 2022
The End of Eternity
Isaac Asimov, 1955
I liked this one despite it having characters that felt like caricatures and some hard science fiction aspects were dated. Concepts like Eternity show where Loki got a fair bit of its inspiration from. The ending and the way in which certain times were blocked of from the time traveling reaches of kettles was interesting as well. In many ways, the way people are trying to make sense of the timeline felt like characters from Phillip K. Dick's Ubik trying to make sense of their reality. The time traveling is the fun part and it does that well. Everything else did feel a bit weak, but I found it interesting.
Nov 16, 2022
Compared to a SpaceX broadcast, this seems to be more intended for a general audience, and telemetry seemed worse. Despite this, it is good that the launch and initial maneuvers went on without a hitch. The absence of any reusable boosters felt jarring as a viewer, but it is good that SLS worked as expected after all the delays that occured over the past couple of months prior to the first launch.
Nov 15, 2022
The Queen's Gambit
Oct 23, 2020
This is a mini series that has a lot of momentum from the moment it starts. There are references to older chess masters and common openings. I wish it showed more chess moves and explained things like pinning and other strategies. With that said, this is a story about characters and not necessarily chess despite many of the boards looking really legit. Anya Taylor-Joy does very well in her role and is able to bring out the idiosyncrasies of Beth Harmon. Things like the cold war, childhood trauma and drugs are examined as challenges that go beyond simple chess playing and make for original traits in a chess player. The score by Carlos Rafael Rivera was also very good. Overall, quite entertaining, very well paced, and I can't find major flaws with it.
Nov 12, 2022
Red Bull has sold out despite making its way back to the home of breaking and has made their stream unavailable to those in the U.S. This, and the technical problems in addition to terrible camerawork make this the worst final in terms of management. The breaking, on the other hand is very high level and we are seeing levels of physical prowess and stamina that would have been considered abnormal 10 years ago. In addition to this, all competitors had signatures and a certain level of originality which was missing in the previous year's competition. Judging was questionable and it did seem that Red Bull sponsored competitored were favored at times. Sound quality on streams seemed fairly low. With that said, It is nice to see how bgirls are improving in terms of dynamism and difficulty. I believe they are more precise than bboys in terms of execution and if it were not for fewer rounds and less explosiveness, they would be pretty much the same as the bboys in terms of skill level. Overall, some trends are favorable while many are not. I'm starting to believe musicality, personality, and originality are starting to get overshadowed by execution and difficulty which is very concerning.
Nov 12, 2022
Paripi Koumei
Jun 16, 2022
This is a fun one. Its appeal comes from its premise in which Zhuge Liang is reincarnated to modern day Japan to act as the manager of a singer. I have no idea how the creators came up with this, but it is so different that it is interesting. The stylized presentation and references to Romance of the Three Kingdoms flesh out many of the plot developments in a balanced and grounded manner. Also, the opening is great.
Nov 12, 2022
Chrono Cross
Nov 18, 1999
Simply great. I would not place it at the same level as Chrono Trigger, FFVI, but I consider it to be as good or better than FFVII, FFIX, and FFX. I think the main flaws are that battles are too slow, and not all characters are fully developed (there are too many characters who do not have a deep purpose). With that said, it ties in well with Chrono Trigger, and the music is among the best video game soundtracks that I have ever listened to. This is not an exaggeration, its score is superior to Chrono Trigger in my opinion. From a visual perspective, although the PS1 graphics are dated, the art direction and decision making regarding what to place in each environment makes each area look visually pleasing. Sometimes, this is to the extent that it seems superior to FFX at times. The concept of parallel realities is growing in popularity today, but this is among the first works to do it in the mainstream, and it handles it very well while utilizing it as a game mechanic. With regards to gameplay, I consider it to be challenging, but it you learn the mechanics such as the element field and to run away from enemies, then it should be manageable. I wish there was more to this series, because although its true ending wraps things up somewhat well, it feels as though something is missing. As to what that is, I don't know, but since Japan does not output works like this anymore and the generation that made games like this are retiring, I think we will never find out which is a shame.
Nov 11, 2022
Thor: Love and Thunder
Jun 23, 2022
I feel like they lost the plot with this one. In addition to this, some of the cgi just seems bad especially in the beginning. Another thing I felt like this dropped the ball on was going out of character to get out some jokes that ultimately fall flat. I think Gore the God Butcher was a great character. Everything else felt less thought out. Finally, there were too many Guns N' Roses song for no absolute reason.
Nov 7, 2022
Samurai Jack
Mar 18, 2017
Despite the story telling being rather simplistic, this is an iconic genre bending work. The animation, despite its simplicity and minimal character design, is also not that bad. It's not fluid, but the elementary shapes used to construct characters and backgrounds seem to do their job. What I think really makes this interesting, however, is how, with its episodic format, it's able to tackle different types of genres effectively. The fifth season, while not being as high scale as I thought it would be for a conclusion, used advances in technology to create more fluid sequences reminiscent of cowboy films and jidaigeki. Overall, I think it's worth watching at least the essential episodes and the fifth season.
Nov 6, 2022
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
Feb 22, 1986
This is one of the higher rated entries in the Gundam UC timeline, but I did not understand the hype. Perhaps it was due to me watching the film trilogy for Mobile Suit Gundam, but the episodic format of this particular show did not agree with me. For me, the characters were the weak point and the melodrama fell flat. Having your main character be autistic is fairly unique, but it can be frustrating to the viewers. In addition to this, the sci fi aspects seemed to have been partially replaced with new age mumbo jumbo and a lack of structure when compared to the previous entry. I believe this would have worked far better if there was more of continuity between episodes and romances stopped popping up out of nowhere and ending a few episodes later. It very much felt like a Saturday cartoons type of show rather than a deep drama despite its antiwar sentiments and its darker ending. With that said, it has far better animation than the series that preceded it which makes things more bearable and it was nice to see characters from the previous entry make appearances and cameos. Overall, it's not bad, but I did not consider it to be that enjoyable.
Nov 5, 2022
The Outlaws
Oct 3, 2017
This reminds me of those action crime films from the 80's like Lethal Weapon and Die Hard. Ma Dong Soek in this film has the impression of those 80's stars and a tough personality that comes across as iconic. With that said, this feels modern as well. Camera work is focused and tight and the editing is stylized. The insight into the Chinese-Korean aspects of the Korean population is also interesting. I don't think it is anything that we would find to be new, but the film is so well executed that it is an easy watch with a sense of humor. I recommend this as a good time as it is a good crime film with smooth pacing and it is not a film where the viewer needs to get emotionally involved.
Nov 5, 2022
For All Mankind
Apr 23, 2021
This is a show that had a premise which placed it in guilty pleasure territory for me. I have not engaged in works of fiction that take place in alternate history, but I always wondered what we could have accomplished if the space race continued. In this show, it tries to answer that question and takes the race all the way to Mars in the third season. It does well and although it portrays the bureaucratic pains and inefficiencies of NASA and its different hierachies and divisions inaccurately, its focus on the physical aspects of space travel were welcome. What I did not appreciate, however, was the melodrama. It felt like it had situations that were contrived simply for the purpose of suspense rather than drawing suspense from the premise alone which has an ample amount of it. There was also a clear agenda in some of the subplots which felt unnecessary while also being clumsily handled. Because of this, I consider this imperfect, but very enjoyable. Events such as an actual race to Mars, launch of sea dragons, and the Soviet Union's Buran were great.
Nov 4, 2022
Ringworld
Larry Niven, Oct 1970
Maybe it is because of the age of this work, but it feels fairly dated and goes on strange tangents. In many ways, it feels like old school Star Trek, but it is more of an adventure than a cerebral hard scifi work. Many of the tropes and concepts used here have been used in other series and works that came after the publishing of this book. For this reason, it does not seem all that novel. Beyond this, the characters don't seem all that interesting, and it is really the setting and history of the universe Niven created which can have potential. Concepts such as breeding races for slavery and other purposes are novel. However, they don't seem fully explored. For this reason, while this may have been interesting for the time and though this is only part of a larger series, I cannot recommend this.
Nov 1, 2022
USSF-44 Mission
Nov 1, 2022
After 4 years, Falcon Heavy flies again. I wish the cameras were a bit clearer, but it is still satisfying to see side boosters land in parallel at the same time. Although it feels like business as usual, it was great to watch after a long time.
Oct 29, 2022
The Lighthouse
Sep 23, 2019
I feel like I have either read many books or movies with elements similar to this film, but never a single work that had everything I saw in one package. This has acting on the level of There Will Be Blood, Moby Dick level dialogue, and the drudgery of daily work found in The Turin Horse. All of these (with maybe the exception of Moby Dick) are great building blocks and they lead to a solidly crafted film. This is psychological and Freudian and it is very different from a psychological film with a more modern take. I don't think I've seen anything like this, and it is a very unique work that draws from many different sources to create something that feels fresh.
Oct 28, 2022
Jujutsu Kaisen 0
Dec 24, 2021
The story may be unremarkable but well executed, but the main draw in my opinion are the visuals. Rarely are there films that have such a fluid level of 2d animation. In addition to this, every scene is highly detailed. Compared to the show, I consider this to be better in terms of pacing and stakes which is a fairly strong statement to make. With that said, this still feels like part of a show at times with regards to how the story is structured into segments. While I would have preferred a better flow between sections, I think it is overall an experience that the audience takes in rather than one that viewers analyze.
Oct 26, 2022
The Forever War
Joe Haldeman, Dec 1974
This is a book with a focus on anti-war sentiment while also using such sentiment within a setting that allows for some hard sci-fi world building. Despite the large scale of interstellar war and the changes the human race underwent over the course of many centuries, war on the ground seems somewhat unimpressive and gory as always. Since this is told from the perspective of infantry, the war is not that interesting, but the journey to and from the war zone is. Here, we see the effects of time dilation and it is used to great effect to allow the protagonist to see the course of a war over the centuries. Homosexuality becomes the norm and eventually all of humanity becomes a hivemind composed of clones. Seeing the protagonist navigate this future and the alienation in such a strange place is what makes this an interesting read. I think this has similarities to Starship Troopers. I think it's above average and interesting, but it didn't blow my mind.
Oct 23, 2022
Death's End
Liu Cixin, Nov 2010
The best in the series despite some smaller misteps with characterization and a story with a level of scale that is usually never seen in science fiction. This takes theoretical physics and uses it as an instrument to extrapolate to future and past universes. We go from concepts established in the previous novels such as dark forest deterrence and push the envelope to life forms capable of living in other dimensions. There are concepts here that are simply ahead of their time such as stellar class particle accelerators that utilize the vacuum of space, weapons that can flatten space into the second dimension, and alterations of physical constants to achieve light speed travel. In addition to this, cultural changes over the development of the human race were also a good detail that colored the story quite well. While this novel seems to look at a universe that was originally going to be cyclical in a big crunch manner, the way in which Liu Cixin warps the dominant heat death end state of the universe as the result of wars using dimensional weapons is simply genius. This brings to question what in the universe was caused by natural forces and what past it may have had prior to the big bang which is a question that many theoretical phycists don't have the imagination to even consider. It also asks what our moral obligations towards the universe and its entropic tendencies are. Overall, this is probably among the greatest science fiction novels I have ever read, and the trilogy as a whole should be studied as required reading.
Oct 17, 2022
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Hunter S. Thompson, Jul 7, 1971
This is a novel that does two things: cover the influence of drugs, and talk about the American experience. Both of these are not exclusive and it does this in a way that is fairly unhinged. If there is a greater point to this novel, it tends to get lost in the strange events that occur throughout the book, but when compared to On the Road, this is not a bore. I don't know if I've ever read a book like this before, and the way it borders on the edge of coherence is somewhat unique. Whether it is good is another question, but I think it is an acquired taste.
Oct 16, 2022
Praey for the Gods
Dec 14, 2021
I am of the belief that it is better to do one thing well rather than many things not that well. This is a game inspired by Shadow of the Colossus that tries to do similar boss battles in addition to survival mechanics, crafting, and Dark Souls style combat. All of this takes away from what should be the focus which is the atmosphere, story, and boss battles. In addition to this, the controls feel broken at times where physics sometimes goes out the window. This is less of an issue for the beginning bosses, but for the later bosses which require more sophisticated strategies to beat. I think the boss battles are well done if the frustrating aspects mentioned before are ignored. Now, when I think of Shadow of the Colossus, I think of a mysterious and fully fleshed world with inspiration from Ainu culture, incredible architectural design, a very unique soundtrack, and a protagonist whose motivations are somewhat known. All of this is mostly missing from Praey for the Gods. In addition to this, the lack of minimalilsm and presence of explicit exposition, I think the developers lost the plot. The inspiration from Fimbulvetr in Scandinavian mythology is interesting, but it feels surface level and the world feels very empty. For three developers, this is impressive and I think we should have more games like Shadow of the Colossus, but it should have spent more time being tuned and tested before being released.
Oct 15, 2022
Maanaadu
Nov 25, 2021
This time, south India has their own take on the time loop mechanic and it is very interesting. The main concept is interesting where the main character trying to stop religious riots from occuring. Unlike some other films, this actually has an explanation of why the time loop may be happening. In addition to this, there is an antagonist that is also capable of acting against the protagonist within the loop which is similar to Palm Springs in a way. S.J. Suryah as a corrupt police officer was great in his role. I think where this is weak is in execution. The idea is interesting, but camera work, stunt work, and other aspects are a bit sloppy. I do think it is enjoyable, but it is definitely flawed and it seems to play to some South Indian tropes to appeal to its targetted audience which may make it difficult to get into at times.
Oct 14, 2022
Sakasama no Patema
Aug 30, 2021
I have had dreams similar to the main premise of this film, but this film manages to provide a logic to its premise which makes it very remarkable. The idea of a cold war allowing for scientific discoveries that can reverse the pull of gravity to create two worlds of humans operating within opposite gravities is very interesting. The use of Russian in some scenes and in some of the music helps to ground the story and flesh out the world. The way in which gravity is used to allow for characters to travel through the sky and underground is very fascinating and further play on perspective helps to enhance this. It can be mind bending at times, and there were moments that felt like something out of one of Nolan's sci fi films. From a story perspective, it may be a bit light on details, however, this is something that can be easily dismissed because of how enjoyable it is. This definitely shows and does not tell. However, it tells enough and everything is wrapped up quite well. Within around 95 minutes, it provides a full story with a resolution. Honestly, the film could have been longer and probably should have been, but this was really enjoyable and it does something that is very rare in the industry where an original IP was delivered from concept to execution. This work by Yoshiura Yasuhiro is consistent with the level of quality in animation that he has maintained since his work on Pale Cocoon and is recommended for those who are familiar with the genre.
Oct 14, 2022
Cunk on Britain
Apr 3, 2018
In this one, Philomena Cunk explore's Britain's history while making fun of it and satirizing the BBC. Some of the references are very British such as mentions of the BBC sitcom Brush Strokes. I liked it quite a bit.
Oct 13, 2022
Cunk on Shakespeare
May 11, 2016
This reminded me of many of Sacha Baron Cohen's works and I found it funny. I'm surprised that I've never heard of Philomena Cunk before and would definitely like to watch more works featuring her.
Oct 11, 2022
The Left Hand of Darkness
Ursula K. Le Guin, 1969
This is a strange story that takes place on a planet with people who have a single gender. The text can be dense with a lot of terminology specific to the world that is being built. Despite this, once the reader gets past that, what they will find is an emotional story that explores social norms within the context of a galactic scale sci fi setting. It meanders from a main plot to the cultural underpinnings of the strange planet in which it takes place, but still manages to cover a lot within the short amount of time it takes to read it. At the same time, it manages to show deep friendship beyond sexual relations. Overall, what it is doing is may not be particularly novel today, but for 1969, I think it was probably ahead of its time.
Oct 9, 2022
Fumetsu no Anata e
Aug 30, 2021
It took me a while to get through this one. Its themes are heavy, and human mortality is always at the forefront of its subject matter. The animation is decent and the soundtrack is great. There is a lot that can be covered when discussing immortality, but this does not dwell on the existential, but rather uses it to drive character development. This is a an advantage and a disadvantage. The advantage is that it does not get preachy. The disadvantage is that it is difficult to get attached to any mortal characters. With that said, it is quite a good ride despite its flaws and how it plays out in its continuation will determine the impression it ultimately makes. I think this is a strong start to something that could be profound and do recommend it.
Oct 8, 2022
The Green Knight
Jul 30, 2021
This was fairly impressive as it is able to make the most of a small budget to make a moderately higher scale film. At the same time, it tries to tackle Arthurian legend which is not an easy thing to do when adapting for a modern audience. All acting is good with Dev Patel as Gawain fulfilling his role effectively. There are some choices here that are probably divisive, but it is not as though they do not make sense. The names of the characters are withheld and the focus on Christianity is slightly diminished. The ending is similar to The Last Temptation of Christ, and just like that film, this one also has similar ambiguity. While it may not please everyone, everything done here is deliberate. Outside of the pacing and editing I consider it to be very well made.
Oct 7, 2022
Tumbbad
Oct 12, 2018
I loved the visual style of this film. It manages to be suspenseful and use imagery that is deeply profound. It has a feeling like Indiana Jones crossed with The Exorcist. One thing I wish there was less of, however, was the cgi. The theme of greed was an interesting one, but it seemed like the story may have lacked some depth. This, however was made up for by the atmosphere and the soundtrack by Jesper Kyd. Overall, while the story was not up to par, I do think this is a great film simply because what it is trying to do visually is so unique.
Oct 7, 2022
The Road
Cormac McCarthy, Oct 2, 2005
It is a post apocalyptic novel with simplistic prose. It does not make any large mistakes and it is short enough to not overstay its welcome. The relationship between father and son is well established, and I can see familiar themes in other post apocalyptic works. There is a certain level of ambiguity that requires some work on the part of the reader as well regarding the cause of the apocalypse which was an interesting touch. I don't think it is particularly groundbreaking, but it is palatable and atmospheric.
Sep 30, 2022
Invisible Man
Ralph Ellison, Apr 14, 1952
The pure bitterness as well as parallels to the struggles of the civil rights movement that followed in the years after the publication of this book make this a prescient work in addition to it being very human. The prose was very deliberate and it felt as though the words were hammering down on many themes with intensity. On an emotional level, it is able to portray anger and confusion in a way that many novels are unable to do so. It is direct when it needs to be, and it monologues when it needs to make a point. Overall, a viscerally charged novel.
Sep 25, 2022
A Touch of Zen
Nov 18, 1971
This is a film that should get more attention. Despite it taking its time, it never gets boring, and it seems to tackle a number of themes that I would expect to see more often in Chinese film, but don't. There are Buddhist themes, but also some common tropes seen in the wuxia genre. The choreography is interesting as it is more like old school Hong Kong without the wire work. Shots are great and resemble samurai movies and westerns. If this were on a larger scale, I may even consider this to be as great as Sergio Leone's The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Overally, definitely worth watching.
Sep 24, 2022
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
Aug 23, 1998
My first Guy Ritchie film. I found it to be edited like a music video and the cinematography to be the same with some inspiration from new wave cinema. Films like these are definitely indicative of the 90's as directors like Darren Aronofsky also used similar camera work. The script is fast and tight. Honestly, this has all the makings of a great film, but it has a few issues. The first is that there is an unusually high level of silence in the film when such films usually fill empty spaces with music or dialogue or sound effects. The second is that the color grading does not make any sense. It is a sepia tone with some color. Because of things like this, it feels like it is the work of a director who has yet to achieve full maturity with respect to their style. Since this is a debut film, that is not surprising. However, this makes this a good film, but not a great one in my eyes.
Sep 24, 2022
This is the usual schtick just executed very well. Stands have unique abilities and the situational nature of different battles keep things interesting. I in particular like the inspiration drawn from Memento and the battle that involved figuring out how to combat weaponized amnesia. With that said, I am glad that the series will be moving out of an American prison, as two seasons spent in the same setting can get tedious despite the good execution and consistent pacing. I hope it can move away from stands as well, because the concept is starting to get repetitive as well.
Sep 23, 2022
Once Upon a Time in China 2
Aug 15, 1991
This film is significantly better than the film that preceded it. Not only is there better camera work, tighter script, and better filmed choreography, but the Wong Fei Hung theme hits harder as well. I feel as though this film knows what it is and while it has some serious themes, it also does not take itself too seriously at all times. It is, at the end of the day, a fictionalized account of a folk hero that has taken many liberties to create a highly stylized film. Donnie Yen's ferocity has also made an impression, and I feel that this film was able to showcase his speed quite well. Overall, this is one of the great Hong Kong kungfu films and should be remembered as one of Jet Li's best.
Sep 20, 2022
One Hundred Years of Solitude
Gabriel García Márquez, May, 1967
After reading this, I think I can say a fair amount of it probably flew over my head, because I did not understand whether it was a comedy, a satire, a work of fiction, or some strange combination of different genres. In addition to this, the use of the same names for many characters makes it very difficult to follow. I'm not sure what the point is. Is it about the cyclical nature of human behavior, or about the impermanence of all things? Maybe it is good. Maybe it is more of an organized meandering. Regardless, I will probably need to revisit this novel.
Sep 18, 2022
Once Upon a Time in China
Aug 15, 1991
This is a movie about Wong Fei Hung that took liberties with historical events to set up some entertaining kung fu fights. I think that is what the main draw of this is. The story is centered on imperialism, but the nationalistic story did not feel particularly interesting to me. Choreography is incredible and uses a variety of wire work and high level acrobatics that showcased a great amount of physical prowess. I think this should be watched for the choreography.
Sep 17, 2022
Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion
Apr 22, 2021
This is a game that takes place in a post apocalyptic future where nuclear radiation has turned vegetables into sentient creatures capable of self-governance. The game is short and it is like a simplistic Legend of Zelda. What keeps it fun is its sense of humor and its commentary on taxes, government, and the premise of the game.
Sep 17, 2022
Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu
Mar 17, 1997
This is the War and Peace of Japanese animation, and it is quite great. The story just builds and builds and it also offers great commentary on modern political systems while acting as a work of science fiction. In that sense, it is like Dune crossed with War and Peace or Romance of the Three Kingdoms. The advancing of the plot and different events feel almost like a documentary at times, and it is clear that research into history and politics was needed to make this work. The way in which democracies can fall is quite prescient and very relevant to todays' events. Animation is dated, and it may be the weak link. This is particularly true in the beginning. However, this is a space opera, so this may not be a big deal. Characters are thoroughly developed. There are no complaints there. The only other flaw may be the unsatisfying nature of some events and threads, but that could also be to the merit of the work as having being inspired by history. Overall, I am glad I spent the months it took to get through the 110 episodes and 2 films in this series. Works like this are a rarity.
Sep 16, 2022
Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu: Arata naru Tatakai no Overture
Dec 18, 1993
This covers the first few episodes of the series, and it is far better executed due to the higher budget, quality of animation, presenatiion, and pacing. While the series may seem more like a documentary due to the narration, this felt like it placed you in the moments. Battles and strategies make more sense and the idea of fighting in three dimensional space is well portrayed. Despite already seeing the first few episodes, the content is made quite compelling, and it is a great way to start the series. If the series were to be remade with a higher budget, a similar approach would have improved it significantly.
Sep 13, 2022
The Sound and the Fury
William Faulkner, Oct 7, 1929
For some reason, Faulkner's name rarely comes up when discussing classic literature, but after reading this, I believe Faulkner to be a giant. This is a book with heavy themes that approaches the presentation of such themes in an experimental manner that I found to be audacious and fresh. The four narrators and their biases color the story with personality while guiding the reader through the downfall of a family and the American south. This is brutal without necessarily being violent or melodramatic. I think this is a story with the ability to do quite a bit with a great deal of subtlety which is very rare even in great novels.
Sep 10, 2022
War for the Planet of the Apes
May 2, 2022
In my opinion, this is the best in the series and it is probably the film that I enjoyed the most. Unlike the other films which depends on the contrived stupidity of humans as a way to move plot forward, this does not resort to such cheap tricks. In addition to this, this builds on the foundation that was set by the other two films as well as the original film from 1968. Caesar and Andy Serkis who plays him is a fully fleshed out character that has developed well over the series. Cgi is great and almost photorealistic at times. There are parts of this that are reminiscient of The Great Escape which is great, but also funny, because it is an ape escape. Overall, a great film that also shows the previous films in a better light.
Sep 9, 2022
Compared to the series, this has animation that is on another level which is to be expected. With regards to the story, this is a story of the beginning of the rivalry betwen Yang Wen-li and Reinhard von Müsel. It is entertaining and a slow burn like the series, but it is also more of an episode in the greater epic rather than a standalone work. If the series had an animation style similar to this throughout, I think I would have enjoyed the series more as well especially in the earlier episodes.
Sep 9, 2022
In Cold Blood
Truman Capote, 1965
While the story itself is not anything novel, the way it was presented allowed for a certain level of suspense and tension. Because of this, it has a certain momentum that can be found in other non fiction books that have a similar style. This is Alfred Hitchcock in book form which is quite impressive.
Sep 7, 2022
Citizen Sleeper
May 5, 2022
A great rpg game with multiple endings that takes place on a space habitat. This is primarily text based with great art and music to fill in the gaps. Turns and actions are based on dice roll mechanics which is unique and makes it similar to a table top rpg. The story is interesting, and while not the most sophisticated in terms of hard sci-fi, it manages to make its setting feel like it has presence. Character interactions are meaningful, and it really does feel like a game that excels on all levels.
Sep 6, 2022
Dracula
Bram Stoker, May 26, 1897
For a gothic horror, this is surprisingly modern with its publication being at the end of the 1800's. While I think it could have been significantly shortened and tightened, it can be entertaining when it comes to the vampire hunting aspects of the story. With regards to its status as a classic, I'm a bit more skeptical. I don't know what the greater theme is behind this, and in that regard, it does not match up to Frankenstein or Jekyll and Hyde. While entertaining, its approach and presentation in the form of diaries is roundabout and lacks immediacy. Overall, I find it flawed.
Sep 4, 2022
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
May 2, 2022
Sam Raimi is what makes this film unique, but the writing lacks coherence and purpose. The imagery and scenarios are quite interesting and the Bruce Campbell cameo was great as well. Benedict Cumberbatch and Elizabeth Olsen perform well as different versions of their characters. With that said, there is no clear arc that acts as a pillar to tie everything together. All of the characters have their own development, but there is no central theme or character by which to give the film focus. As a result, it is not as good as it could have been which is quite a shame. Adding onto that, fatigue and saturation associated with the series is starting to set in, so expectations are higher than they usually would be. Despite this being about the multiverse, it does not take advantage of this in the same way Loki did. As a result, this feels more like an adventure with no conseequences. It is clear that it is there for the purpose of setup, but the after credit scene tells us next to nothing. Overall, fun, but also disappointing.
Sep 4, 2022
Space Warlord Organ Trading Simulator
Dec 7, 2021
This is a game where you buy organs, sell organs, fulfill requests, and can use the stock market to increase your wealth. The game itself is not that difficult as long as you only fulfill profitable requests, and buy low and sell high. The concept of human and alien organs is interesting. The soundtrack is good as well. It can be quite addicting and the simple interface makes for quick gameplay.
Sep 4, 2022
Stranger Things
Jul 1, 2022
While I consider this to be good, I also consider it to be a mixed bag at times. On one hand it is derivative. On the other hand, each season builds on itself and develops characters all while making references to the 80's. While I would like to see psychic battles on the scale of Akira, this is more of a better executed version of the Goonies. For me, the major appeal comes from the development which makes it feel similar to something along the lines of Harry Potter. The second and third seasons did not have much for me beyond character development, but I thought the first season which had the novelty of being first, and the fourth which played up all the past events for emotional scenes were the best. This is a show that has its moments. It is not perfect throughout, but those moments make watching it worth the time. In terms of craftsmanship, this feels more like tv than cinema, which is fine. Acting is good, and original music is great, but not better than some retrowave music I've heard in the past. Usage of music from the 80's is one of my favorite aspects, and it is done quite well. I am looking forward to the conclusion.
Sep 3, 2022
No Time to Die
Sep 28, 2021
This is Daniel Craig's last outing as Bond, and it while it was not bad, it did feel strange and a little bit underwhelming. Within this series, there were two films that I thought were great while the others were not and those were Casino Royale and Skyfall. With this film, camera work seems to be all over the place and it feels as though it is trying to be many different things and failing. In fact, what I thought this did well was all the things it did differently. I liked Ana de Armas' character who was a wildcard that only showed up in a few scenes. The ideas of using genetically programmable nanomachines to infect people was interesting, but I thought it felt like a cheap imitation of what the Metal Gear Solid series did a decade ago. It's not bad and it is better than Quantum of Solace and Spectre, but it is not the conclusion I was expecting.
Sep 2, 2022
Spartacus
Oct 6, 1960
It's Stanley Kubrick, so it is great. This was a film from a time when Kubrick made more conventional films. With that said, this is a great epic with great writing, camera work, and acting. There are many films that attempted to depict the scale of the Roman Empire, but this is one that succeeds. Historical inacuracy aside, this is deserving of its awards and its subject matter of slaves at the time of the Roman Empire manages to provide a new understanding of what freedom is.
Sep 1, 2022
The Dark Forest
Liu Cixin, May 1, 2008
One of the best science fiction books I have ever read. Liu Cixin is the closest thing to a modern Isaac Asimov that I have read so far. In the previous novel, we are told of a war that is about to begin between Earth and a civilization light years away. Earth is given centuries to prepare and that alone may not be enough. While the events between the beginning and the end may not be the most plausible and may be culturally ignorant in some moments, the concept of a Dark Forest theory redefines how the Fermi Paradox is perceived. This, in addition to its rigorous basis of story in past events, science, and science fiction, makes the story very compelling despite its flaws. I absolutely enjoyed this, and I hope that the third novel in the Remembrance of Earth's Past series can improve upon the flaws while continuing with what makes the series so great.
Aug 31, 2022
Frankenstein: The 1818 Text
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Jan 1, 1818
One of the most beautifully written books I have read recently that manages to cover a lot of ground through the use of Frankenstein's monster. While in popular media, the monster is a green thing with nails in its head, the monster described here is far more interesting than the caricature we may be more familiar with. The way in which both the creator and the creation show the ugliness of human behavior is very well handled. I was quite lucky in that I read Paradise Lost prior to reading this and the way in which literature was used to contextualize some of the happenings of the story was a good touch. Overall, this is a novel that I think has impact and makes an impression.
Aug 29, 2022
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Robert Louis Stevenson, Jan 5, 1886
A good short story about the duality of man. It manages to maintain a certain level of suspense while still getting into some interesting themes despite its Victorian nature. Due to its short nature, it may not have as much depth as longer novels, but it does manage to cover some ground with its last chapter.
Aug 28, 2022
Spectre
Oct 26, 2015
The issue with this film is that it feels as though it was molded out of the same formula as other James Bond films while offering nothing unique. If it were not for Sam Mendes and Hoyte van Hoytema's cinematography, this would be a bad film. What this ended up being, however, is a film that is mediocre. The biggest problem is the writing which does not allow for interesting plot developments. This, in effect, wastes the effort of the actors. Spectre and Blofeld should be a big deal for a James Bond movie, but this was underwhelming.
Aug 26, 2022
Père Goriot
Honoré de Balzac, Mar, 1835
This is an interesting read and I consider it a better work than Madame Bovary, but the two should not be compared simply because they are French. This novel covers French society, from commoners to nobles as well as familial ties. The continuous downfall of father Goriot was well handled and is what makes this most interesting to me. Since Balzac gets mentioned in the same sentence as Shakespeare and Tolstoy, I was curious how it would be. While not as epic as Tolstoy or as witty as Shakespeare, I was not disappointed.
Aug 21, 2022
The Goonies
Jun 7, 1985
This is one of those movies that is more fun than it is good. What this feels like is a cross between Raiders of the Lost Ark and Home Alone. Despite that, both of those movies are better than this. I think this is a fun time and is a B tier movie. It was interesting to see modern actors today as children. However, there are better 80's movies and other movies that are more worthwhile in my opinion.
Aug 20, 2022
Everything Everywhere All at Once
Mar 11, 2022
I think this is my favorite A24 film so far. If Gen X had The Matrix, Millenials had Inception and The Lego Movie, then Gen Z has this and it is simply great. I had many flashbacks to The Matrix, but this is not about simulations but rather possibilities and alternate realities. In addition to that, it handles existential topics with a certain level of humor. I can't wrap my head around how this idea was developed due to the depth the themes have. I think the casting was interesting with this being Michelle Yeoh's best work. The special effects are convincing and stylized, and I am honestly surprised at the level of quality despite the scale and location not being quite at the level of an epic. Music is great too. I think despite the budget, it manages to have an unstoppable momentum and intensity that is very rare to see in films. In my opinion, this is one of the best films of 2022 and perhaps the decade so far.
Aug 19, 2022
The Diary of a Young Girl
Anne Frank, Jun, 1947
While I am unsure of how many editorial changes were made by Otto H. Frank, this was interesting in that you could see a writer develop over time. Although I have read excerpts of this in the past, I think reading the whole work allowed for an understanding of the development of Anne as an individual and the war. It should be noted that this is a diary, so an overarching narrative is not something you will necessarily find here on the surface. Since this is relatively short, I think it is worth the read.
Aug 17, 2022
One Thousand And One Arabian Nights; Volume 1 of 16
Anonymous, Richard Francis Burton, 800
A collection of stories that have a nested/recursive structure. I did not feel like going through 8000+ pages of these, so I just read through the first volume. The individual stories are a mix of interesting ones and mediocre ones, but they do offer a glimpse at the eastern world of the time. Many of the stories don't seem Arabian, and they probably were not. The influence of Islam is strong and there are religious overtones everywhere. In addition to this, many of the stories can be quite sexual as well which is something that is in stark contrast to the Islamic world of today. For me, the most interesting part of this was how people tell stories of people telling stories to the point that you don't know how many layers deep you are. Overall, very interesting. The stories themselves were sort of a take it and leave it type of situation, but the collective experience was good.
Aug 14, 2022
World of Tomorrow
Oct 9, 2020
This is series of three shorts by Don Hertzfeld that take place in multiple times with the same future. There are concepts such as the sharing of memories, using clones to achieve immortality and expand your lineage, and the degradation of human civilization. I liked the third short the most, but all of them have something to offer form hard sci-fi concepts to humor. While this was not quite what I was expecting with it being concerned with the future that takes place centuries from now, I think it was great and it brings up many existential questions that are fairly thought provoking. I particularly liked the concept of being able to move in between time which is something that I never even considered as a possibility.
Aug 13, 2022
Mobile Suit Gundam III: Encounters in Space
Mar 13, 1982
This is next level and made the previous two films worth it. It is hard to tell that this was based on a show that used an episodic format and the quality of animation is beyond that of a show. Scenes flow into each other and the scale is epic. Character development goes a step further and I would say that characters reach maturity. There is also a sense of resolution in how the leadership of Zeon is faced against instead of a series of battles strung together. The concept of newtypes has also been elaborated on and used as a mechanic to move the plot forward. There were times when I was reminded of Akira and Star Wars which makes this a great sci-fi epic and space opera film in my book. The scale of the battles and the use of weapons of mass destruction that utilize entire suns is quite eye opening. I am interested in continuing my foray into the UC timeline of the Gundam universe if time allows.
Aug 12, 2022
The Boys
Jul 8, 2022
This is a pretty fun inversion of the superhero trope. While this is about superheroes, it is more about other topics. There is political maneuvering, corporate espionage, and fun dialogue. The acting by everyone is pretty good and all the characters are well written. I think while it does cover some interesting topics, its main qualities are its bingeable nature and edgy approach. While Invincible was fun as well, I do consider this to be superior and more meme-worthy.
Aug 12, 2022
The Quran
Anonymous, Mar 18, 632
This is three things. First, it is Abrahamic religion with an Arabic spin. Second, it is the continuation of Christianity. Third, it is a work that significantly affected the Arabic language. Although I read an English translation, what is apparent is that this has a certain structure and deliberate approach in its subject matter. The suras, when compared with the disjointed nature of books in previous incarnations of the Abrahamic religion, seem to be ordered in a particular manner where each sura is shorter in length than the one that proceeded it. With that said, since this lacks narrative, it can be very dry. Also, there is significant overlap with the old testament since the new testament is considered by muslims to be corrupted. Overall, I think I learned quite a bit about Islam, but I wish there was more about the prophet Muhammad. When compared with the Bible which covered the life of Jesus in the gospels, this is lacking in that department despite Muhammad being a central figure. Although I understand why, from an outsider's perspective, it would have been appreciated.
Aug 5, 2022
Paradise Lost
John Milton, 1667
This is a poem that shows the battles fought between heaven and hell prior to the consumption of the fruit of the tree of life. I was expecting something with depth matching The Divine Comedy. This is not that, but it is true that Milton had a great respect for Christian mythology. The focus on Satan was interesting and its interpretation of Christianity was original, but I don't think I got much out of this one. Part of the reason for this is that there may have been some parts that were satirical, but they probably flew over my head.
Aug 3, 2022
Hannibal
Aug 29, 2015
A psychological drama based on the same series of works by Thomas Harris as Silence of the Lambs. It is bloody and tasteful at the same time. Unlike the Hopkins films, this seems to have a better representation of the other characters. That is not to say that Mads Mikkelsen's portrayal of Hannibal Lecter is inferior. His take on Hannibal as Satan incarnate was unique. Visuals were creative for a tv series. The dichotomy between the characters of Lecter and Hugh Dancy's role as Will Graham made for an interesting contrast. One thing I wish there was more of was the element of mystery. In this show, there is no guesswork since the characters figure things out through their empathetic capabilities. It would have been nice if there was some role for the viewer to play as well.
Aug 2, 2022
The Holy Bible: King James Version
Anonymous, 1611
This was an interesting and long read. Each book seems to have its own purpose, and while the Old Testament seems to have had some narrative coherence in the first few books, that seemed to fall apart. I personally would have preferred more narrative cohesion written in the form of a single voice, but I also understand that this is more of a collection of books. There is a definite tonal shift between the Old Testament and the New Testament which was interesting to see. Focus on Egypt and Babylon switches to that of Rome and away from the Israelites. The Book of Revelations was radically different from what followed before which was also something of interest. What is quite fascinating is how certain aspects of religion seem to be followed today while others are mainly ignored in their modern incarnation. I also find it interesting that although this also functions as a historical chronicle of sorts, books following the New Testament were excluded or simply not written. I am interested in reading the sequel to see what that changes and builds upon in comparison to this after I complete Milton's Paradise Lost so that I can have a well rounded understanding of Abrahamic religion.
Jul 28, 2022
The Book Thief
Markus Zusak, Mar 14, 2006
This is a great book despite it not being the most technically impressive work. Prose is simple, organization is straight forward, and all you have is story. What it offers in terms of story is one that is emotionally charged within the context of world war II era Germany. In that sense, it is effective. It does what it needs to do and nothing else. The most innovative aspect is that the narrator is death itself. Outside of that, characters are well built, and there are no major flaws that I could note. I understand now why this is recommended in literary circles.
Jul 24, 2022
Merchant of the Skies
Apr 17, 2020
A casual trading sim in a steam punk style world. It has a fun art style, some cute characters, and a sense of humor. There is a fair bit of addictiveness to the gameplay and much to do in the world. I wish there were more depth to some aspects of the gameplay or a bit more of a streamlined approach, but for an indie game, it is good.
Jul 23, 2022
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
Jan 3, 2019
Good animation, and a good conclusion to the trilogy. It's a fun time. While in terms of story, it is not groundbreaking, it manages to build off the previous entries to provide an entertaining entry in the series. I think at this point, what separates Pixar from Dreamworks is the style and approach to story. Animation quality seems to have reached parity.
Jul 18, 2022
Radical Dreamers
Feb 3, 1996
This is a visual novel style game from the Super Famicom era that was a sort of pseudo sequel to Chrono Trigger. Gameplay is completely text based and involves navigating a manor while solving puzzles, interacting with characters and fighting random battles. Since it is text based, I recommend drawing up a map as you travel around since there is nothing to spatially anchor the player other than textual descriptions. The story is interesting, and the way in which it ties in with Chrono Trigger is clever. Gameplay is engaging despite being minimalistic, and music is great despite technical limitations. It definitely brought back memories of Chrono Trigger despite it having a very short playtime.
Jul 16, 2022
Mobile Suit Gundam II: Soldiers of Sorrow
Jun 11, 1981
This is a continuation from the first film. We see less of the politics and more of the incompetence of military structures with this film. Finally, there is some good old fashioned robot on robot action with some commentary on the evolutionary future of the human race. This felt like a continuation of events and it is difficult to see where things are going. There is character development and the antiwar themes continue, but the episodic format of the original series seems to show in its conversion to a film format despite changes made. I am hoping the third film in the trilogy wraps things up in a conclusive manner.
Jul 16, 2022
Spy x Family
Jun 25, 2022
A psychic, a spy, and an assassin form a family in East Berlin during the midst of the cold war. This is both a love letter to 60's spy tropes while also being its own thing. Animation is nothing crazy, but it is good enough to do what it needs to do. There are no complaints in that department. I think what makes this so great is just how much fun it is. In addition to its premise, it seems to build on itself while also using its episodic format to its advantage. It's one of those shows that has a momentum and is incredibly entertaining.
Jul 16, 2022
DYSMANTLE
Nov 16, 2021
This is a fun zombie game with crafting mechanics where you can break down any object in the game and use it to make other things. It was quite fun with its crafting and combat and could be quite addicting with its mix of exploration and story.
Jul 13, 2022
The Plague
Albert Camus, Jun 10, 1947
A very relevant novel given the impact of Covid-19, but while this is a book about a plague, it is an allegory for something else. Apparently this was more about humanity, death, and inspired by World War II. While the relationship to World War II seems more related to propaganda, musings on humanity and death are easier to see during a reading. The prose is thoughtful, and compared to other works by Camus it also seems quite clinical in its descriptions of events due to Dr. Bernard Rieux intending to be as objective as possible. While I prefer The Stranger, this offers its own take on madness, group dynamics, how people behave under extreme circumstances, and much more. It is a high quality work that is not the same as the other writings of Albert Camus and adds to the diversity of his body of work.
Jul 11, 2022
The Brothers Karamazov
Fyodor Dostoevsky, Nov 18, 1879
This is a musing on what life is, what it is meant to be, and also a murder mystery. It's quite a lot to think of, and it does a lot. While Crime and Punishment is more straight to the point, this can be a bit more abstract. That is not to say that it is unorganized. Each part has a point and a purpose. In that sense, it is very well structured. However, it is unconventional in most senses and yet manages to be comprehensible and profound. Dostoevsky strikes again with another banger. Hurrah for Karamazov.
Jul 9, 2022
The Meaning of Life
Jan 21, 2005
This is a short animation that covers the evolution of humanity. It's not on the level of It's Such a Beautiful Day and it does not have a narrative or overarching thread.
Jul 9, 2022
It's Such a Beautiful Day
Aug 24, 2012
A great animation about the human condition by Don Hertzfeldt. While I was hoping for something closer to the SB-129 episode of Spongebob, this is an interesting exercise in death. Animation is not complex, but the way it is put together is unique. The use of film in addition to shots that were taken of the real world was something I have not seen much of in modern animation. The story telling and narration is good, and it has a sense of humor about it so that it does not take itself too seriously. That said, this can be quite the downer of a film if you can think beyond what is being told and shown to you. Overall, this is quite profound, and while it does not actively draw conclusions like the works of existentialist philosophers, it at least provokes thought. There is not much out there that has tried to cover similar themes.
Jul 8, 2022
Macross: Do You Remember Love?
Jul 7, 1984
I've seen some more recent offerings in the Macross series, but with this, I finally have some context on the history of the series. This is a film that has a lot of charm. All the animation is hand drawn and highly detailed. Action is quite intricate. The music is very 80's J-Pop which means that it has its own charm while also coming across as dated at times (particularly with regards to lyricism) when compared to how Japanese music would later evolve. The story is interesting, and the plot, while not perfectly paced, is like a fairy tale that takes place in space. The concept of using music to end conflict is a central theme of the Macross series, and it can be found here. There are some themes involving gender that came across as bizarre and behind the times, but other than that, it was an enjoyable time.
Jul 3, 2022
Top Gun
May 12, 1986
This isn't the type of film that will be winning awards for anything but the music, but it is a guilty pleasure for those who like planes and 80's music. The dogfights are well filmed, and Tom Cruise is perfect in his role. The soundtrack is iconic. Really, the only parts I did not like that much were when people were involved in them. The main stars of this film are the planes, and although all the planes seem to be American models, it is still a good example of dogfighting for the time. I would still rank the Ace Combat games as a better experience of dogfighting, but what this has going for it is its 80's charm and tight editing.
Jul 2, 2022
Mobile Suit Gundam I
Mar 14, 1981
While I have seen some of the non-UC related Gundam series, this is my first foray into the UC timeline. Given the fact that this came out prior to Japanese animation reaching maturity in the late 80's, the animation is crude. Despite this, it has story elements that make it appealing and entertaining despite its shortcomings. The hero's journey here is quite standard, but it backs it up by showing the development of characters and fleshing out a somewhat realistic future. Influences from science fiction are apparent with the use of mechas, O'Neill cylinders and other futuristic technologies. I can also see how influential this was. This series seems to be a blueprint for many mecha related works that came later on. While I question whether this is good since it is more of a compilation lacking an overarching narrative, it was entertaining even now.
Jul 1, 2022
Transsiberian
Jan 18, 2008
I remember liking The Machinist, so I thought I would like this too because it had the same director. While I did like this, it is not quite at the level of The Machinist. Part of the reason is because what this is more of a thriller than a psychological film. As a thriller, it is well structured and paced despite being quite slow to begin. In that sense, it is more of a slow burn, but it is rewarding, and the third act pays off. This does not try to be too ambitious, but the use of themes that show up in Crime and Punishment was an interesting touch. Overall, good, but maybe not as good as the Machinist.
Jun 29, 2022
Uncanny Valley: A Memoir
Anna Wiener, Jan 14, 2020
I read this, because the subject matter was relevant to my industry. I should have probably read the title first, because I could not care less about the author and did not find her that interesting. In this, a non technical individual works at startups and gets some exposure to start up culture and Silicon Valley. While some of her insights about the blind spots of those who work in the bay area are valid, she does not express them all that well or in a coherent manner that would come across as persuasive or meaningful. There are some threads here that should have been elaborated on such as the effect of companies on society and the counterproductive nature of the culture. I think lay people might find this a useful read, but I did not get much out of it.
Jun 28, 2022
Firework
Feb 4, 2021
This is a story driven puzzle game with horror/supernatural elements. The story is emotional, and fascinating from a western perspective. There are aspects of Chinese culture such as their attitudes towards death, the use of fireworks at funerals, and occultism that I found very interesting. In terms of gameplay, it felt like a game on rails in that none of the puzzles were difficult, and there was not much exploration or freedom in the process. For this reason, I think this would have been better if the gameplay were beefed up, or if it were stripped down and the story was given more attention instead. In my opinion, the latter would be more preferable.
Jun 26, 2022
Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time
Mar 8, 2021
It took some time, but I'm glad I could see this to the end. This is the ending of all of Evangelion, and stands as an antithesis to The End of Evangelion. Unlike End of Evangelion, this is a bit more explicit, a bit more meta, and somewhat harder to understand without context. In this, there is an emphasis on catharsis and coming to terms with who you are. In addition to this, this feels like a subtle love letter to 90's era Japan, and many of the influences of Anno such as Space Battleship Yamato, and Gainax's other works. The art style which continues the mixture of cgi and 2d animation with almost photorealistic backgrounds continues in this work in a surreal fashion like Dali brought to life, but deconstructs itself towards the end. Going into this, I thought I would see something like the human instrumentality project realized, but the ending is quite different. I think this will be divisive, but Anno's refusal to be clear about his messaging makes me believe that this is something I will be thinking of well after viewing. While End of Evangelion had a greater influence on me, the way in which Anno counter's the depression and suicidal tendencies of the series shows his growth as a creator. I would not quite say that he matured, but that he has changed. This is a satisfying, but puzzling ending.
Jun 25, 2022
The Counterfeiters
Feb 10, 2007
This is a film about Operation Bernhard. The contents here have some similarity to The Imitation Game, but unlike that film, this is about counterfeiting currencies. It is very fascinating, and the mix of financial intrigue along with the character drama over the course of the second world war was a good combination. Overall, a very solid film that is deserving of its Oscar win.
Jun 24, 2022
And Then There Were None
Agatha Christie, Nov 6, 1939
My first Agatha Christie novel. This is a mixture of a mystery and slasher type story and it may be the first instance of an "Amongus" type of premise. While I did not care for any of the characters, the way in which the plot fit in with the contents of a children's rhyme was very interesting. While this was somewhat simple in terms of plot, the plot structure was very clear which can be something of a rarity. There is also some themes that are reminiscent of Crime and Punishment. Overally, it manages to pack quite a bit in despite its short length.
Jun 23, 2022
The Trial
Franz Kafka, Apr 26, 1925
Life is unfair, and this story can be taken and applied to many aspects of society beyond the justice system. Although this is from an earlier time, it is quite applicable today. From bureaucracies, to social ostracization, this is very generalizable. This is helped by Kafka's familiarity with legalese as well as the surreal elements of the story. Honestly, you could also apply this to being run through the modern healthcare system. Overall, I think this is good and can be profound without necessarily being overly explicit.
Jun 20, 2022
Anna Karenina
Leo Tolstoy, 1878
This makes Madame Bovary seem pedestrian, and reminded me of what a monolith Russian literature can be. While similar in its themes of marriage and adultery, this seems to have more breadth while also using its length to thoroughly examine motivations, events, and show off the culture and ideologies of the time. With that said, this is inferior to War and Peace, but this is also trying to do something different with regards to the themes it is tackling. In terms of negatives, I think the final part after the death of Anna was underwhelming. If it ended as strongly as it started, I think I would consider this to be lacking in any major blemishes.
Jun 19, 2022
Khan Academy Biology
July 2, 2014
This was completed on the Khan Academy site. Covers aspect of many areas of biology such as organic chemistry, cells, central dogma, molecular biology, genetics, natural selection, animal behavior, ecology and many other topics. This is probably one of the largest modules in Khan Academy, and all of these topics are covered in depth while not necessarily quite reaching the cutting edge. The latest and greatest in biotechnology is not covered, but the foundational concepts needed to understand it is. There is also AP Biology questions and the entirety of the Crash Course Biology playlist included. Will probably look at physics, electrical engineering, or organic chemistry next depending on what is most immediately useful.
Jun 17, 2022
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Jan 20, 2012
I've had this on my radar for about a decade, so I'm glad to finally watch this film. This film really has an indie feel that was unique to films that were unable to take advantage of the technological advance of video software and cameras that we see in most products today. Most of the actors had no acting experience, and yet they gave very good performances. The special effects are somewhat subdued, but are filmed in an evasive manner such as to hide it, and it surprisingly works. There was cgi used, but it is surprisingly very convincing. There are many themes that are addressed here from mortality to hurricane Katrina, to climate change, but they are presented in a approachable manner. One thing that I wished there was more of was the fantastical elements, but that is a small complaint. Overall, this is a unique film that manages to represent the bayou very well while telling a straightforward but compelling story.
Jun 13, 2022
Knights of Sidonia
Jun 27, 2014
I was originally interested in this due to my interest in Blame!. Unfortunately, this is not quite at the same level despite the source material providing a strong foundation. There is an interesting premise here of a generation ship traveling through space while fighting aliens. With that said, the heavy use of cgi which did not blend in well with the backgrounds turned me off. Also, there are a number of cliches here in terms of plot development. With that said, that does not mean it isn't fun. At times it does have a Saturday morning cartoons type of vibe. However, that is not enough for me to consider this good.
Jun 11, 2022
Evangelion: 3.33 You Can (Not) Redo
Jul 27, 2009
This was a divisive one. Animation is on another level, and there isn't a frame that is wasted. Everything is done deliberately, and all aspects except for the plot itself are unquestionably well done. With that said, I felt lost throughout much of this film, and character interaction felt somewhat limited compared to previous films. In that said, it feels like a step down from 2.0 despite not necessarily being bad. The largest problem is that when compared with the show, I didn't know why things were happening, and the use of Biblical terminology which has helped in the past only obfuscated things. Perhaps this is good and I'm simply unable to comprehend what is going on, but the lack of clarity and shorter runtime makes this feel more like an episode on the journey to the end rather than an important piece of the whole story.
Jun 10, 2022
The Secret of NIMH
Jul 2, 1982
A short, genre bending animated film about animals on a farm. Starting out, I thought this would be a fairly standard movie about animals and humans, but it ended up being about more than that. It's about family, about animal experimentation, and there is even a little bit of mysticism in there too. The craftsmanship is great with highly detailed backgrounds, fluid animation, and good orchestration. All of this is packaged into a short, but effective movie which ultimately ended up being Don Bluth's best work.
Jun 8, 2022
Snow Crash
Neal Stephenson, Jun 1992
Ready Player One was turned into a film, but this was not, and I consider that to be a crime. This novel, while not as large scale as Neuromancer, has a certain countercultural feel to it that made it entertaining despite not being as sophisticated. When compared with Neuromancer, this is less cyber in terms of human augmentation, but the use of the metaverse allows for an interesting foray into what the future of the internet would have looked like. Things such as Google Earth being predicted a decade in advance is one such accomplishment. Conversely, there are aspects of this such as mind viruses that use linguistics and ideas to destroy the mind without the need for cybernetics are quite original. The characters were interesting as well, and there was a stylistic edge to this that made it feel very 90's. From katanas to skateboards to nuclear submarines, this was a fun ride that didn't get too emotional, but managed to explore an interesting world that isn't too different from ours today.
Jun 6, 2022
Homo Ludens: A Study of the Play Element in Culture
Johan Huizinga, 1938
This is an analysis of the element of play in culture. This book manages to successfully argue that there is a aspect of play in almost all of human behavior while broadening what play actually is. From language to philosophy to competition, the concept of play pervades our daily lives at a micro and macro scale. This is the crux of what this book is trying to get at, and it makes a strong case. One aspect that I wish could have been elaborated on is the unclear division between play and seriousness. Similarly, seeing how old this work is, I would be interested in seeing how it applies to modern forms of media and the internet. Overall, a surprisingly well written work about an area that is more important than I originally thought.
Jun 5, 2022
Link Click
Jul 9, 2021
It is great to see mainland China create animated donghua works that push the boundary of the genre. I don't know if Chinese donghua get a larger budget than Japanese anime, but the animation here is more fluid, and the use of modern techniques allows for sophisticated lighting within 2d environments. The opening with its rotoscoped tutting is unskippable, and the score is good as well. The premise and concept is original and quite fitting in a modern setting and within the urban fantasy genre. The ability to view the past and perhaps change it by diving into photos is unique. Character development is good. I think this is proof that Chinese writers are beginning to understand how to tailor narratives to a mass audience. I'm definitely looking forward to the next season seeing how this ended on a cliffhanger.
Jun 4, 2022
Evangelion: 2.22 You Can (Not) Advance
Jul 27, 2009
This is some next level stuff and this film represents the departure of the remakes from the show. Unlike the show which took its time, to a somewhat infuriating degree, this is a film which means that pacing is more streamlined. When compared to the first film which did not have as much character development as I would have preferred, this was made as a film with its own unique plot developments from the very beginning which meant that Anno could plan in development and pacing from the outset. This means that it works where the previous film may have stumbled, and it is simply great. The new character of Mari Illustrious Makinami was an interesting development, and I am curious to see what she adds to the plot development in future films. Music by Shiro Sagisu is at the level of previous entries with aspects of his more recent style making an appearance such as the use of choirs. Animation is great with cgi and 2d animation blending very well. You can really get an idea for the scale at which everything takes place, and Anno's fetish for electric cables is present here as well. The plot is handled incredibly, and the imagery is just as profound as it was in other entries. This is not quite at the level of End of Evangelion, but this touches upon human instrumentality quite early despite there being two movies left in the series which means that this has a chance to go deeper into its themes and be more audacious than the show. I'm looking forward to the later entries.
Jun 4, 2022
Covers the basic features of Tableau. I was able to create basic graphs and dashboards using this.
Jun 3, 2022
Palm Springs
Jan 26, 2020
Another film with the time loop mechanic. Unlike Groundhog Day, this has a more modern take in a different setting that acts as a deconstruction of romantic comedy tropes. Because this has Andy Samberg's sensibilities, it does feel like Groundhog Day even though it hits some similar notes. At the same time, it asks questions about life in general that even Groundhog Day never did. Overall, it is quite enjoyable, but towards the shorter side which results in the third act being quite short. I think adding about ten minutes may make it better as you can't have too much of a good thing.
Jun 2, 2022
Sense and Sensibility
Jane Austen, Oct 30, 1811
I liked Pride and Prejudice, but I found the humor here to not be as entertaining, and the content matter to be somewhat boring. Getting into the financial matters of marriage, and watching characters make mistakes out of pure naïvety is not entertaining. In fact, it is frustrating which may be effective for a comedy, but the humor here did not really connect for me. With that said, the prose is great, and it reads extremely well. Because of this, it is hard for me to dismiss this work, because I can tell that there has been a fair bit of thought placed into the comparison between sense and sensibility. But, with a modern lens, there are many aspects here that may come across as unrelatable especially when taking cultural shifts into account.
May 29, 2022
Blame!
Jun 24, 2019
A really cool film with a interesting premise and a vast and detailed world. It is easy to get lost in the backgrounds and that is almost enough to make up for the weak plot for me. The cgi characters don't work for me, but everything else in the background did. The closest thing I could think of in terms of the world here are some of the infinite environments within Manifold Garden. This, combined with the great soundtrack which channels in the spirit of John Williams at times with sweeping melodies made it an enjoyable time for me. The character of Killy reminded me of westerns and if the film played up some of the tropes from the genre, this could have been improved. The concept of self building cities and humans losing the ability to manipulate the technology they built themselves is somewhat original, but I have never seen it done in film before. Overall, I liked this and thought it had a lot of potential and if a sequel comes out, I will watch it. With that said, I don't think I can say that this is a good film due to weak characterization and simple plot.
May 28, 2022
Midsommar
Jun 24, 2019
A24 seems to make consistently interesting films. This one feels stylistically like a cross between Jodorowsky and Kubrick. While it is portrayed as a horror and slasher film, I think this works more as a psychological one. Cinematography is very interesting and unique. There isn't a shot that looks terrible. Florence Pugh's acting is on another level here. In terms of concept, I imagine this is similar to The Wicker Man, but the Scandinavian aspects of it kept it unique. There are some fascinating viewpoints here on human relationships which I think could have been developed further. Pacing, despite being slow, works for this film. Overall, I think this is a film I will be revisiting at some point.
May 28, 2022
The Cat Lady
Dec 7, 2012
A compelling psychological horror indie game. This is interesting because it is rough around the edges, and the pacing may be unbalanced, but its message and the character arcs regarding suicide and depression are well handled. The soundtrack with music by many artists is original and suits the game well. Despite it being quite dark in nature, the game ultimately tells an optimistic story depending on how you as the player decide to end it.
May 27, 2022
Safety Last!
Apr 1, 1923
An iconic film from the silent era. Harold Lloyd's physicality and his stunts in this one are very impressive. Despite it being old, it is suspenseful and entertaining. This is the case particularly towards the end where Harold has to climb a multi story building.
May 27, 2022
Madame Bovary
Gustave Flaubert, Dec 15, 1856
While I can appreciate how this was written and organized, the contents of the story itself were not that enjoyable or profound for me. Honestly, if you want to see how a person's actions lead to their own ruin, there are many better stories out there. If you want something better, there are the Shakesperean plays. Conversely, if you want something newer, there is reality television. I didn't get much out of this and could pretty much predict where things would go after halfway through part 1. Overall, I don't think this is worth the time despite its reputation as a classic novel.
May 25, 2022
The Creative Gene: How books, movies, and music inspired the creator of Death Stranding and Metal Gear Solid
Hideo Kojima, Oct 19, 2021
This is a book where Hideo Kojima presents a number of works that were formative in his creative expression. I thought this was quite similar to the types of books that film reviewers might author, but unlike those, this provides some background on the personal meaning those works had. In addition to this, often times, there is a narrative where we are brought back to a time where Kojima was younger to provide additional context. I found a lot of overlap with Kojima's influences and Anno's influences which was quite interesting. As a work of literature, I don't think this is anything special, but since I had interest in the subject matter, I considered it worthwhile.
May 23, 2022
The Sickness Unto Death: A Christian Psychological Exposition for Upbuilding and Awakening
Søren Kierkegaard, Jul 30, 1849
A hard read, but also a rewarding one. In this, Kierkegaard analyzes despair and how it relates to the self. I found the subject matter here quite interesting due to how it closely ties in with human identity. In many ways, this is on the cusp of discussing Jungian concepts, but it never quite gets there due to its preoccupation with Christianity and God. I think the concept of the destruction of the self and the finite life becoming at odds with the infinite were profound with regards to the suffering that is involved in the act of despair. There was also some interesting theological commentary on how Jesus is God's example for all of humanity. There is also the implication that humans should allow themselves to be crucified which is an interesting one. Overall, I think this made much more of an impression on me than Fear and Trembling.
May 21, 2022
Jojo Rabbit
Sep 19, 2019
This is an English language film that takes place in Germany towards the end of the second world war. Some actors use a German-ish accent while others don't even try and just have a New Zealand accent. Taika Waititi is completely trolling in this film in that he is precise in some details and other details completely go out the window in terms of historical accuracy. This works for comedic purposes and I did laugh often in this film. At the same time, this also clashes a bit with the heavy subject matter. While this results in some level of inconsistency, it seems to be handled with enough sensitivity that it is not a large problem. I think acting was pretty good especially with Taika Waititi as Hitler. Overall, I think this is a good film. I would not place it even close to the level of Schindler's List or The Great Dictator, but it is good.
May 21, 2022
Amnesia: The Dark Descent
Nov 2, 2021
This is the second game that I played by Frictional Games, and SOMA is better in my opinion. Gameplay consists of puzzles and running away and hiding from enemies. From a design perspective, it seems to have been play tested extensively, because everything seems to happen for a reason. There is an interesting sanity mechanic based on how often you are in the darkness which I consider to be quite unique. The story is supernatural and bordering on cosmic horror, but not anything ground breaking in my opinion. When compared with other horror games like Silent Hill 2 and the aforementioned SOMA, I don't think this matches the atmosphere I expect from horror games. I also think the setting and story did not impress me, but it was good overall and quite good for an indie studio.
May 20, 2022
Brokeback Mountain
Sep 2, 2005
I consider this to be an American reply to Farewell My Concubine. However, while Farewell My Concubine also managed to show the growth and development of a country, this film takes place on a smaller time scale of about two decades. Like Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, this has great shots of the locations, and shows how beautiful North America can be as well as capture the feel of rural America. Acting is great. I think Heath Ledger was the best with his ability to show a range of emotions without speaking much in the film. The film plays like a good book and does not overstay its welcome. It seems to be the right length despite being meandering in nature. Overall, quite well crafted and definitely unique for its time.
May 20, 2022
Ubik
Philip K. Dick, May, 1969
This is a strange, but great mind bending novel that was published more than half a century ago. I like to think of this as a cross between X-men and Inception where psychic abilities are used for corporate espionage, there are moon bases, and people can live on after death so long as they are not brain dead. The concept of half-life where you can live after your body dies and still communicate with the living is very interesting and reminds me of a conversation within Waking Life. The idea of trying to figure out who is dead and who is not, what simulated life after death is like is profound, and allows for all rules of reality to go out the window. Not only does Phillip K. Dick play with simulation and reality here, but he also plays with time. I'm very surprised that a film of this has not been created yet when the source material is this good.
May 18, 2022
Jane Eyre
Charlotte Brontë, Oct 16, 1847
I'm not usually a fan of British literature from this time period, but this story read easily in a way that is quite similar to the works of Dickens. Specifically, this very much reminded me of Great Expectations. However, unlike that book which had a benefactor, this one emphasized the autonomy of its protagonist. While it can be said to be ahead of its time by providing Jane Eyre with the strength to stick to her principles, I think it should be noted that the lessons learned here are not just feminist, but human. Each chapter reads well, and it's hard to get bored despite the contents of each chapter being filled primarily with drama. Where this excels is in the emotional challenges of all the characters involved to the point that all of them are understandable. This is a full package of a story with an arc starting from childhood, a full journey, and a romance that I think should be crowd pleasing. Victorian England, despite its wealth, truly did suck due to the effects of industrialization, and the suffering and joys that could be seen during the era were well depicted here. I can see why it is considered great, but I would not quite put it at the top of my list of greats with works like War and Peace or The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Similarly, while I think Wuthering Heights might be the better novel produced by the Brontë sisters, I did enjoy this far more.
May 15, 2022
Aguirre, the Wrath of God
Dec 29, 1972
This is like a South American equivalent to Heart of Darkness, and it handles itself very well. This is a great movie, and I understand why it served as inspiration for Apocalypse Now. While Apocalypse Now may have been more explicit about its themes, Werner Herzog does a lot of show don't tell, which means that the actions of the characters speak for themselves. The filming onsite adds a layer of authenticity to the setting. While all the characters speak German instead of Spanish, this does not take too much away from the film, and the acting of Klaus Kinski is among the highlights. Overall, this is a great story of greed that focuses on unique characters much like Herzog's other works.
May 15, 2022
Unpacking
Nov 2, 2021
A cute and short puzzle game where you follow the life of the main character by unpacking her stuff every time she changes residences. It is an interesting approach that does not try to do too much and can be calming at times.
May 14, 2022
The Soldiers of Halla
D.J. MacHale, May 12, 2009
The final book in the Pendragon series. While I am glad I finished the series, I think I would have enjoyed this more when I was younger. With this final book, we see questions answered, and final conflicts on a larger scale with a fair bit of fanservice. References to previous books are high in number, so I think anyone who reads the series will find themselves to be adequately rewarded. With that said, the way in which the multiverse is used was not quite as strategic or as philosophical as I would have preferred, and visions of other worlds and futures felt lacking in terms of depth. Pacing and events in the plot felt as though they were not organized in a way that necessarily made sense, and characters sometimes did things that felt shallow or unintelligent. Finally, the exposition dump that was provided at the very beginning of the book that was attempting to answer questions brought up in previous books was simply clumsy. Overall, I consider this quite flawed, but it may satisfy its target audience.
Apr 30, 2022
The Batman
Mar 1, 2022
This is a movie that focuses on Batman as a detective which is something that got brushed over in other films, so it is refreshing to see. Pattinson makes for a convincing young Batman. Cinematography is great, but they might have gone too heavy on the grainy aesthetic as there are often shots that lack clarity of image. Editing is good, and it is a slow burn, but it could have definitely been shorter without much lost in the process. Music by Michael Giacchino is orchestral and melodic which is just how I like it. Acting is great with Paul Dano as The Riddler being the standout performance. The overall tone of this is gritty an realistic, but not necessarily in the same manner as the Nolan films which makes it unique in its own right. The concept of fear as a weapon is interesting and Machiavellian, but I wish it was explored more. I also wish there was some stronger emphasis on overarching themes or more detailed character development. I think this and the length of the film are its biggest flaws, but it is a good movie that is very well made.
Apr 30, 2022
Shingeki no Kyojin: The Final Season Part 2
Apr 4, 2021
A great continuation from part 1 with a few surprises that brings it full circle with the first season in a way that is inspired by Greek and Norse mythology, but a fair bit of it does seem predictable at times. The first half is great as it continues from a cliffhanger, and has a few mindbending aspects such as time manipulation through memories of the future. The second half is after the rumbling begins is surprisingly slower as it is trying to deal with the fallout of the rumbling. From an animation standpoint, I am surprised how well the cgi blends in with the normal 2d animation to the point that I am often unable to tell the difference. Action is great too, and it manages to do some fairly novel things in terms of how time and movement is represented within animation. From a story standpoint, this is fairly consistent with the previous entry, but the political maneuvering has been replaced with more commentary on freedom, fate, conflict, morality and genocide. I think the question asked in this work of whether humanity is an existence that deserves to live is quite profound is quite applicable to today. Music by Yamamoto Kouta is consistent with the quality from the previous entry, and at times meets or exceeds the quality of Sawanou Hiroyuki's work. Overall, I think the first half is absolutely terrific, and the second half, while great, is a bit of a slow burn. This series is still a must watch.
Apr 29, 2022
Z
Feb 26, 1969
A great political drama that takes place within a fictional country where the police are corrupt and actively interfere with political opposition to the current regime. Apparently this was based off of Greece, but there were many elements that were quite similar to what can be found in the history a number of Latin American countries as well. The references to foreign interference from outside countries made it feel quite real. The way in which those in the inside who are trying to fix corruption and determine the truth are obstructed is quite realistic as well. Camera work and the way in which the camera moves really places the viewer in the moment and it is a very modern style of cinematography. It starts a bit slowly, but it picks up after the initial parts are established, and it it carries itself with moderate momentum to the end afterwards.
Apr 29, 2022
Iron Lung
Mar 10, 2022
A simple atmospheric horror game that takes place in a submarine with an interesting premise. The tank controls, while frustrating, are not something I am new to and manage to be an interesting mechanic in a game where you cannot see the outside world. The concept of blood oceans and every known habitable planet and star disappearing is an interesting premise. I wish it could have been explored deeper. Despite it being short, it is good for a one man effort.
Apr 28, 2022
The Conspiracy Against the Human Race
Thomas Ligotti, Jun 25, 2010
This is a work that builds off of works of Peter Wessel Zapffe, Schopenhauer, and other philosophers in addition to drawing from writers of works of horror like Lovecraft. What I like about this is its modern take on the topics of the meaningless of life with elaboration on the human-centric abstraction of meaning, as well as coverage of antinatalism. The recognition of the idea that life has worth is based on societal concepts and has no backing through some form of empirical basis is quite profound in nature. The breaking down of societal concepts that sees life as insignificant on the cosmic scale and miserable on the human scale is quite similar to what can be found in Buddhism. With that said, tangents on works of horror, while relevant, seemed to weaken arguments and the focus of the book. Overall, I consider this to be good while imperfect.
Apr 25, 2022
On the Road
Jack Kerouac, Sep 5, 1957
America has changed quite a lot compared to the 50's, and I think that is part of the reason why I had trouble relating to this. I think the intention was for this to be a book you can get lost in and experience feelings of wanderlust from. I, on the other hand, found the characters to be uninspiring. This meant that the book, as a whole, was a bit of a slog. And since America has changed over the decades, even if I wanted to have experiences similar to the ones described in this book, it is unlikely that I can.
Apr 24, 2022
Last Year at Marienbad
Aug 29, 1961
An experimental and somewhat surreal film that plays with time such that past and future are indistinguishable. It is quite creative in the way it manipulates movement and sound to come across as otherworldly while being grounded in the real world. The images on screen are vivid and framed in an expert manner. I don't understand it, but its dreamlike aspects appealed to me tremendously along with its meandering script. Overall, this is a great French new wave film from the left bank.
Apr 24, 2022
The Egg
Andy Weir, Aug 15, 2009
A short story about death which is only 3 pages in length. It does what it wants to with minimal text and manages to create a profound plot twist in the process. Just read it. It will only take you about 3 minutes.
Apr 24, 2022
The Forgotten City
Jul 28, 2021
An interesting game with a time loop mechanic. While, I believe Outer Wilds does the time loop mechanic the best, this is a good game with some interesting philosophical musings regarding morality. This one of the few games I've seen where you can undergo debates and dialogues about morality. There is also some coverage of the connection between religions practiced by different civilizations. From a gameplay perspective, you'll find yourself performing different actions to achieve different results in each loop, but the game creates shortcuts to save time as you make progress. There are multiple endings, and the true ending, while tricky to find, is rewarding.
Apr 23, 2022
Batman
Jun 19, 1989
I saw Batman Returns a long time ago, but never this film until now. Compared to the Nolan films or some of the animated offerings, this is nothing special, but I imagine it felt new for the time. Elfman's soundtrack and Burton's aesthetic make for a unique Gotham. Special effects are quite good, and the scale models, while coming across as fake at times are rather detailed. The film starts off slow and does not really explore motivations, but it does have minor character arcs. In this sense, it felt like a compromise between a darker aesthetic and the Adam West Batman show. There is also some goofy dialog. Actors handle the material quite well with Michael Keaton handling his clunky suit quite well given the circumstances and Jack Nicholson delivering the aforementioned goofy dialog with flourish. Overall, I think people will have fun, but I question whether this is a good movie.
Apr 22, 2022
Illang: The Wolf Brigade
Jul 25, 2018
This is an underrated, but also imperfect Korean adaptation of Jinrou from the Kerberos saga. From the perspective of craftsmanship, it has great visuals, and good action. The soundtrack, while being nothing special does have some pieces from the original material, which However, the editing and pacing make it a film that can also be too long while moving too quickly despite not doing all that much. What this does well is its premise it is working with, the political intrigue, the action, and the depiction of the Panzer cops. A slower and more stylized approach may have worked better. While Kim Jee-woon is not Mamoru Oshii, it would have been wise of him to learn from his predecessors with regards to what worked and what didn't.
Apr 19, 2022
Raven Rise
D.J. MacHale, Jan 20, 2008
I read previous books in this series and left off at the previous book which is effectively a cliffhanger. This book continues the story of Pendragon, and its multiversal/multi-world adventure. There is nothing groundbreaking here, and the plot isn't particularly innovative compared to more modern offerings. With that said, as we get closer towards the ending and the stakes are raised, the story becomes somewhat entertaining as the fight is brought to Earth.
Apr 18, 2022
Opus: Echo of Starsong
Sep 1, 2021
This is, in my opinion, in addition to being the game I enjoyed the most so far this year, it is also the best game I played so far this year. Compared to previous Sigono games which were admirable given what the indie studio had to work with, this is a full fledged game that is indicative of a studio that has reached full maturity and it is a great game regardless of the budget or resources. The narrative is incredible and it feels like a cross between Dune, the works of Makoto Shinkai, and Journey. The premise of memories and emotions being carried across time along with a universe that has a deep lore and history makes for a story that stands out. Where Dune has spice, this has lumen which is influenced by sound. Needless to say, when gameplay is based on sound, the sound design has to be great and it is. The soundtrack is also great, and it follows a more melodic approach in a manner which is similar to many Japanese works which is growing more rare in modern scores. Gameplay, while not being particularly innovative, is smooth and moves the narrative forward without being obvious nor being a drag. There is a mixture of exploration, resource management, and dice rolling which is not mechanically heavy, but relatively fresh and manages engagement. Overall, I consider this to be proof that a great story can be told in a game and that games can easily rival other mediums of storytelling. If there is one Sigono game you play, it should definitely be this one.
Apr 17, 2022
Paddington 2
Nov 5, 2017
Building off of the first Paddington, this one continues with the same level of consistency and style. It could be argued that this is better, but it is difficult to tell. From a technical perspective, and in terms of acting, this is indeed improved. I enjoyed this just as much and it is just as heart warming Only Paddington can make prison seem like an okay place.
Apr 16, 2022
Paddington
Nov 23, 2014
This is an entertaining and beautifully filmed movie that does not get too heavy while maintaining appropriate levels of suspense to keep it interesting. For the time, the cgi for Paddington and other animals is quite convincing. Many live action family movies which mix cgi characters often fall flat as cash grabs, but this was truly quite great and had a lot of heart. It also managed to make the rainy and gloomy setting of London seem somewhat charming at times which is an achievement as well.
Apr 13, 2022
CrossCode
Sep 20, 2018
I have been playing this on and off for the past two and a half years, and I am glad to finally finish this. Apparently, there is additional content, but I don't think I will complete that any time soon. This is an action rpg in the vein of SNES style games with many puzzle style mechanics. Game mechanics are well balanced, and can be further tuned with highly customizable difficulty settings. The game is filled with content despite being an indie game, and does open world far better than most AAA studios today. The game plays with concepts within vrmmorpg's and AI, and while it may not be as heavy on the story as I would have liked, it manages to create the most fully fleshed rendition of a vrmmorpg that I think I have seen so far along with memorable characters. Where this shines is in its world, and its gameplay which is terrific. There are some aspects such as isometric platforming in a 2d environment which might have been improved, but this has definitely gone through the ringer in terms of testing. I think this sets the standard for what to expect from games in terms of depth of content, and any time a game claims to be open world, it should be compared with this to determine if it fails to meet the mark.
Apr 12, 2022
A Short History of Nearly Everything
Bill Bryson, Sep 14, 2004
While this can be said to be a book about history, what this is, is a book about the history of science. We see the background on discoveries such as the microscope, atoms, continental drift, and other cornerstones of different areas of science. There is nothing here that was particularly new to me, but it was interesting to learn about the people behind certain concepts as well as the journeys that needed to be taken to bring certain ideas to the forefront.
Apr 10, 2022
Peacemaker
Feb 17, 2022
This is a show that picks up after the ending of The Suicide Squad and in my opinion, it may be better. We have more character interactions, funny dialogue, and a great intro that I think most people won't skip due to its originality. John Cena and Freddie Stroma are great in this, and many of the characters have arcs and a fair amount of development. The similarities to Invasion of the Body Snatchers was not something I liked, but it got events moving so that we could get to interesting situations for the characters. Finally, Clint Mansell's music, while subtle, was great as well, and the commentary on 80's hair metal was much appreciated.
Apr 8, 2022
PK
Dec 19, 2014
This is a film about an alien played by Aamir Khan who loses the remote control for his spaceship and has to live among humans in search for it. During this time, he discovers the many religions found within India and this becomes the main focus of the film. This can be quite funny and generally entertaining, but it hits many of the same notes as OMG regarding religion. In that sense, it feels like it brings nothing new in addition to a somewhat familiar premise that can be found in films such as E.T. This is a generally enjoyable film that is carried by Aamir Khan, but I think it's not the best film to address this topic nor is it the best comedy directed by Rajkuumar Hirani.
Apr 6, 2022
Metamorphoses
Ovid, 8
This is very much in the style of Greek works like the Iliad and Roman works like Aeneid. In this, we have a bit of an overarching goal which is to tell the history of the world from its beginnings up to the state of the Roman empire with Augustus. It is quite ambitious in nature, but ultimately achieves what it sets out to do. I for one did not enjoy it quite as much due to some of my prior familiarity with the source material. There is quite a bit of death and murder and rape in this one which can be off putting as well. With that said, for the time in which it was written, it is quite an achievement.
Apr 2, 2022
The Suicide Squad
Jul 28, 2021
This felt like an 80's movie and more like a sequel to Tropic Thunder which means that it was a good time unlike the 2016 film. Most of the characters in this film are bottom of the barrel DC characters that are smartly written which means that everything felt new. The actors made their characters work quite well and had great chemistry as well. This had great humor which placed it on the same level as movies such as Deadpool. I do question the pacing of the film and felt that it could have been trimmed down, but it is a fun time and showed James Gunn at his most indulgent. I don't think this is necessarily the suicide squad concept done right because I have seen it done better, but it is the best live action entry so far.
Apr 2, 2022
Dinotopia
May 12, 2002
A mini series that ran almost 20 years ago when dinosaurs had more popularity. This is a fairly standard adventure story that functions with a lost in another world style premise. In this mini-series, dinosaurs did not die out and live on an island with humans. The world does not make much sense, but there is good set design to flesh things out. Dinosaurs are a mixture of cgi and animatronics and tend to appear quite dated. The story and characters could have been written better. Overall, not terrible, but I don't consider it good.
Mar 27, 2022
Kotarou wa Hitorigurashi
Mar 10, 2021
This is a surprising slice of life that manages to be funny and emotional in a way that I don't think I've seen before. This short series follows a four year old who is living independently and gets into heavy topics such as child abuse, family, and friendship. The format is simple, it does not have a high budget, but it manages to work with what it has to great effect. There should be more shows like this one and I hope there will be a sequel.
Mar 26, 2022
The Matrix Resurrections
Dec 18, 2021
I question where this movie should have been made or even considered in the first place. This is not the Matrix that I am used to, and the music, cinematography, ground breaking special effects that mixed CGI and practical techniques are gone. Even the great kung-fu choreography from the previous films are gone. It was nice to see Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss return, but the absence of Laurence Fishburne and Hugo Weaving in particular made this feel incomplete. There are many interesting ideas in here that are executed badly. I thought there was the potential to draw from modern philosophy to modernize the ideas from 20 years ago, but that potential was wasted. While I enjoyed some parts and was even impressed at times, this film relies heavily on nostalgia. The religious themes from the other films are no longer here, and the commentary on society is neutered compared to the first film. It tries to hit some familiar notes, but it's just not the same. At the very least, it is self aware, and I don't regret watching it.
Mar 25, 2022
Spider-Man: No Way Home
Dec 13, 2021
This is probably among the best live action Spider-Man films and it is my favorite within the Home trilogy. What this film does is not necessarily revolutionary, but it is a crowd pleaser that feels just like a Marvel comic. We see things in this film that we would have thought was impossible given the state of Hollywood 10 years ago. In this, we see the appearance of all three spidermen that made an appearance over the past 20 years, and most of the villains. We also see some familiar faces from the Dr. Strange side of things. I guess if there was something I would have preferred more of, it was the banter between characters. I felt they could have gone further with the character interactions which is what I consider to be the main strength in these Marvel films. With that said, the movie was already long enough, so it may be the case that there was much that needed to be cut. Overall, this is a good conclusion to a trilogy that, while it does not do anything profound in its messaging, manages to appeal to fans and do justice to the hero's journey.
Mar 24, 2022
Inheritance
Christopher Paolini, Nov 8, 2011
I remember reading up to the third book as a child, and always wanted to finish the series, but never got around to it. Now that I've reread everything and finished the last book in the cycle, I can understand why. Everything is too long and Paolini is not Hemingway, so it is to be expected that mistakes made are more obvious than they would be under typical circumstances. Dialogue is one area that I found to be questionable and it felt stilted and seemed to convey a lack of understanding of the English language, both modern and old. That said, it is clear to see how Paolini managed to improve through each book, and the way in which the cycle ended, while leaving much to be desired, was an ending that I believe only a more mature writer would come up with. World building and lore was interesting and there are some good ideas here. The ability to fight through one's thoughts could have been used to a greater effect in a philosophical sense, but was only used as mechanic here which was disappointing. It was also good to see that there was inspiration taken from many Germanic languages when coming up with the names of places and people. With regards to originality, this felt like a cross between a watered down Lord of the Rings and Star Wars, but this felt as though it hit some notes better than the sequel trilogy of Star Wars. I think overall, this is a flawed series, but it is clear that a substantial amount of work had went into it, and I'm sure that a younger audience would appreciate it.
Mar 20, 2022
Mortal Engines
Dec 5, 2018
I remember reading the first book of the series and being intrigued by its premise. I was hoping this film would bring back such feelings, but that was not the case. This is an example of great ideas being wasted due to bad execution. From a craftsmanship perspective, only the work by Weta Digital and Junkie XL was worth redeeming. There are great sets and environments, but the editing is so fast paced that you don't have time to take them in. Everything else from the cinematography to the frantic editing and the world building was lacking. When there are films like Fury Road which can be taken as inspiration for a post apocalyptic world that feels post apocalyptic, this falls short. The moving city of London is disappointing, and nothing like modern London. The world is not scorched into a wasteland like I thought it would be after the 60 minutes war. Many characters are underdeveloped with some side characters participating in subplots that don't go anywhere. This had potential to be decent, but it felt like a waste of a budget.
Mar 20, 2022
JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken Part 6: Stone Ocean
Dec 10, 2021
I don't have much to say about this one other than that it is very entertaining and holds up very well with the rest of the series. The show just never seems to run out of creative battles and scenarios, and the Japanese take on Florida was quite interesting as well.
Mar 19, 2022
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
Nov 16, 2010
This is a direct sequel to Assassin's Creed II, and it continues the story of Desmond Miles and Ezio Auditore. Compared to the Assassin's Creed II which is the best of the series, this is fairly consistent in terms of quality albeit it is lacking slightly in comparison with the game preceding it. Unlike the previous game where you have a story told in multiple cities during the Renaissance, this one only takes place in Rome. There are a lot of side distractions which can be fun I guess, but the main story line is not as involved. This time, we are dealing with Cesare Borgia as the main antagonist, and he isn't really anything special despite being plucked out of history and being the inspiration for Machiavelli's The Prince. I prefer my antagonists to be memorable, but he is not. The overarching story with Desmond Miles and aliens is disappointing as always, and it might be better to have had his part completely removed. The music is on par with the previous entry, but this is because Jesper Kyd returned and recycled much of his previous work. Overall, it does nothing wrong, and is consistent in quality but not content with its predecessor. If you want to see Rome during the Renaissance, this could be for you.
Mar 15, 2022
Community
Sep 17, 2009
I watched the first 3 seasons, and that's all I plan to watch for now as there seems to be a slight downward trend in quality despite fairly clever writing. I haven't seen a lot of media that takes place within a community college, so that is fairly novel to me. In addition to that, this actually made community college seem appealing at times which is somewhat impressive as well. The comedy is quite meta and this is probably a result of Dan Harmon being involved and the many pop cultural references. In addition to this, there are some other big names such as the Russo brothers and Ludwig Göransson lending their skills. The acting is nothing spectacular, but good enough to sell the jokes and make the characters each actor's own personal work. Each of the actors here had something to offer with the main study group and the dean having the largest impact. Overall, very enjoyable, self aware, and meta.
Mar 14, 2022
OMG: Oh My God!
Sep 28, 2012
This was a surprise going in. It starts off with a man going to court against God before ultimately teaming up with God to take on organized religion. From a craftsmanship perspective, the camerawork and other aspects are nothing special. But the script is well handled, and the pacing is great. It is stylized and entertaining in a way that is not overbearing. This is something that Bollywood finds hard to do, so I was pleasantly surprised. It's a well written story that does not get bogged down in the typical glamor and set pieces that may be seen in Indian films. And if that is not enough to sell this, there is even a cameo by Prabhu Deva. Overall, it definitely is not perfect, but it is a fun time and even thought provoking given how open minded it can be at times.
Mar 11, 2022
Little Miss Sunshine
Aug 18, 2006
This is one of those comedy dramas where everything goes wrong for the characters. The character interactions and the actors playing the members of the dysfunctional family that comes together at the end of this film are what sells it for me. In addition to the script, the satirizing of the American dream, vanity, and child beauty pageants all within the context of a road trip make for a a interesting and unique film. It is a good debut for the Dayton/Faris duo.
Mar 5, 2022
Ara Fell
Jun 3, 2016
An indie rpgmaker game that takes inspiration from games like FF6 and Chrono Trigger, but does not quite match or is in the same realm as those games. The setting of a world that is floating up in the sky is interesting and it has a very promising ending, but everything lacks depth compared to their Japanese counterparts from the SNES era. It is a good attempt for an indie game that has the bare minimum needed to be enjoyable, but I found that from the combat to the world to the story, everything except the exploration was lacking in some way or form, but not in content. There is a lot of content, and a good progressing that keeps grinding to a minimum, and you don't need to spend hours upon hours on it like Final Fantasy. It has good balance, just not that much depth.
Mar 5, 2022
A very well explained overview on the rise and fall of empires through an economic perspective. This covers concepts such as the power of reserve currencies, borrowing, wealth gaps, and bubbles provides insight into the health and longevity of a country. With regards to world order, this is referring to treaties and reserve currencies which inevitably set up a hierachy of countries. What is unclear is when the transfer of power will occur where China replaces the United States at the top and how long China will last at the top. While it is clear what will happen, when is a harder question to answer. This may be a problem that might be good to throw at a ML algorithm.
Mar 4, 2022
Three Colors: Red
May 16, 1994
This is the crowning jewel of Keslowskki's Three Colors trilogy. This is focused on the color red which focuses on fraternity. We see the interconnectedness between people who supposedly have nothing in common and the plot weaves the stories of many people together in a calm and collected manner. Like the previous films, this has great cinematography, and many of the moving shots here are some of the most memorable witihn the trilogy. The color red shows frequently and often in a noticeable manner like Blue. The ending had mysterious properties and the inclusion of cameos from characters that showed up in previous films was a curious touch. Overall, a great way to end the trilogy and a great way to end a career.
Mar 4, 2022
This is a conversation that asks the hard questions and dives deeper into what Mark Zuckerberg is trying to do. At the same time, it also manages to provide more insight into Mark Zuckerberg himself.
Mar 3, 2022
Three Colors: White
Jan 26, 1994
This is the second entry in Kieslowski's Three Colors trilogy. This one focuses on the aftermath of the court proceedings we got a glimpse of in the previous film Blue. In this film, the protagonist wishes to achieve equality after being placed into poverty due to divorce and achieves it through revenge. This is a very strange film, and part of the reason for that is due to it being a comedy-drama. With that said, I did not find this funny at all, but it was still engaging due to the way in which the plot progresses in a somewhat stilted way and the visual language. Despite this having a focus on the color white, the colors are vibrant, which separates it from black and white films that did similar things in the past. Although this does not quite match up to Blue, it is good, and it maintains a certain level of quality that is consistent with the previous entry.
Feb 27, 2022
Arcane
Nov 20, 2021
The fact that this exists is quite surprising, but the fact that it is good is an even bigger surprise. From an animation standpoint, this is quite impressive with its mixture of 3d and 2d which is reminiscent of the strides made in Into the Spiderverse. Characters are incredibly expressive the art style feels like it has reached full maturity already with the first season. The story, while not perfect in its pacing, is well done with character interactions and world building being the main strengths. The way in which the characters and the world from League of Legends develop over time is handled quite well. For me, the main strengths of this work are best shown when it takes a more stylized approach in its presentation of material. The weaknesses tend to show in sections where the writing is less detailed or less deliberate. I think, while this is a great start to an interesting story, it can be tighter, further streamlined, and perhaps have a more sweeping scale. Overall, I consider this to be an achievement in western animation, and a good start to a story that I hope improves over time.
Feb 27, 2022
Material UI React Tutorial
Oct 9, 2020
A walkthrough of Material UI. As someone more familiar with bootstrap, I found that while the differences were somewhat significant, the integration with ReactJs made it quite useful. The grid system seems somewhat more complex, but also more flexible while having similar properties. I wish there was some coverage of the MUI system (e.g., sx or boxes), but reading through documentation might be a more straight forward way of understanding that.
Feb 26, 2022
The Outsider
H.P. Lovecraft, Jan 1, 1926
A fairly interesting short story by Lovecraft that focuses on isolation, identity, and fear of the unknown. The premise is interesting on its own, and I would be curious how other authors might develop such a premise in different directions. The ending where the main character who lived in isolation his entire life looks into a mirror was not something I liked, but I did find it to be creative.
Feb 25, 2022
Polytechnique
Feb 6, 2009
This is a film about the Montreal massacre of 1989. From a narrative perspective, this is above average. It does not do anything special, nor does it have time to do anything special due to the short runtime, but it still manages to weave an interesting narrative in the later half. Where this excels is its visual style which I believe to be perfect. There is not a shot here that is wasted, and despite it being black and white, each frame is clear and vibrant. While this is not Villeneuve's best work, it is still quite good, and it does what it sets out to do.
Feb 23, 2022
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
Jul 11, 2013
A biographical film about track and field sprinter Milkha Singh who was also known as The Flying Sikh. This has great moments and moments where I have questioned what the director was thinking. The primary reasons for this is the structure in which the story is told which is in the form of flashbacks and due to it being a Bollywood film which means that it is overly long, and people break out into song at weird places. The moments that work for me are character driven and a greater focus on character interactions may have helped the film. This is a biographical film after all. There are are also some shortcomings in terms of special effects with some green screen effects coming across as incredibly obvious. When it does work, however, it can be inspiring, and the music helps. Overall, it is a mixed bag that has moments when it shines. I think many may consider this a good movie, but I found the narrative to not have as tight a focus as I would have preferred.
Feb 20, 2022
Carry On, Munna Bhai
Sep 1, 2006
This suffers from pacing issues and the usual Bollywood melodrama, which means that it is not quite at the level of the previous entry in the series. With that said, it keeps its humor, and as a result is quite enjoyable. For those who are expecting a sequel, this story might come as a surprise, because it is not a continuation of Munna Bhai M.B.B.S., but it does have many of the same characters. Despite it having no continuity, I think this works, because while the previous was about being a doctor, this is about Ghandi's practices being applied in the modern world. Since the two premises have nothing to do with each other, I believe the approach taken here, while lacking in terms of execution, ultimately works.
Feb 20, 2022
The Lottery
Shirley Jackson, Jun 26, 1948
A short story that explores themes of tradition and mob mentality. Due to the shortness of the story, there is quite a lot of flexibility in how to interpret it. I believe this is why this short story had a lasting impact.
Feb 19, 2022
On the Shortness of Life
Seneca, 49
The contents of this work are basically the justification for its title. It discusses how to spend a life and learning how to live. It basically ruminates on how not to waste a life. Since there are many works I have read in the past that covered similar topics, nothing here felt new to me, but the brevity of the work allowed for me to tolerate it.
Feb 17, 2022
Kathy Rain
May 5, 2016
A fairly good point and click detective game to occupy one's time. Puzzles are manageable, and voice acting is above average. It has a mix of 90's nostalgia and supernatural aspects which distinguish it from other point and click entries.
Feb 13, 2022
Squid Game
Sep 17, 2021
More than a decade after multiple works like Battle Royale and Kaiji in Japan, South Korea has its own approach to the high stakes games genre and takes a bit from the Hunger Games to add additional social commentary. This is well executed with great set design and camera work, but the selling point is the acting and all of the actors do very well in their roles. The use of popular childrens games in South Korea is an interesting touch that adds to the appeal. There are some plot points that add to suspense such as the use of an undercover cop, but ultimately end up going nowhere other than to serve as foreshadowing which may be somewhat disappointing. When the subplots are ignored, what we have is an interesting drama that unfolds by placing characters in interesting situations where their morality is forced into conflict with their personal needs. It should also be noted that themes regarding capitalism and class inequality have been gradually making their way to the forefront in South Korean media, and this is one example of such media that manages to be coherent in its messaging. Overall, while this is not a perfect show, it is well crafted, and in all reality, I would not be surprised if games like this existed in real life. Although this could have ended satisfyingly at one season, the ending leads directly to a possible second season.
Feb 13, 2022
Enchiridion
Epictetus, 125
While this is viewed as part of stoic philosophy, I think what makes this different and profound is its understanding of the feeling of control. Epictetus notes that perceived control is what determines how we feel about something regardless of whether that thing is in the past, present, or future. Once one loosens the grip, any emotional restraints that come with the concept of control are gone as well. It is similar to many philosophers talking about internal states and responses to external stimuli. How you choose to respond to things and whether you choose to be affected by things determines how those things will ultimately affect you. There is also coverage of the temporary nature of things and that all things will be lost eventually. While this could mean that you should not take things for granted, you can also view those things as borrowed. I.E., they were never yours to begin with. Overall, quite good especially when considering its short length.
Feb 12, 2022
Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.
Dec 19, 2003
This is a wacky comedy about a gangster trying to become a doctor. The premise alone is quite interesting, and the above average execution allows for it to be a Bollywood success. This also led to the making of remakes in other languages such as Vasool Raja MBBS. While this does not excel at anything in particular, it manages to do well because it does not take itself too seriously. Because of this, I think I may have enjoyed this more than 3 Idiots.
Feb 12, 2022
OneShot
Dec 8, 2016
A game that breaks the fourth wall and can only be played once unless you change a few files on your computer. Inclusion of manipulating files on your computer to progress in the game is fairly novel. Among games that do such a thing, Undertale comes to mind, but in terms of gameplay, this is more like a 2d rpg. On the first playthrough you are allowed to choose between two endings. However, to get the true ending, you have to have a second playthrough. I highly recommend doing the full run instead of stopping after the first playthrough, because there is a greater sense of closure with the true ending. Overall, I found that it is a highly memorable and interesting game that makes you attached to the characters in it and forms interesting questions about game worlds, simulations, and desires.
Feb 11, 2022
Starship Update
Feb 10, 2022
More than 2 years after the 2019 presentation, this presentation has been made to as an update on the status of Starship to provide some clarity on revised timeframes. Compared with the 2019 presentation, we have a fully stacked starship configuration in the backdrop this time instead of just the Starship prototype. The Raptor has a new version with fewer parts and more thrust which means higher robustness with higher performance and lower cost. With this presentation, there is a new rendering and animation of the stack as well that showcases launch and landing changes and a reversion with regards to how starships will mate for refueling in orbit. Overall, it is good to see the progress made, but based on the rate of progress, I am concerned that we will most likely miss the Q3 Mars launch window for 2022. The lack of information on the governmental side of things like the FAA is concerning as well especially regarding environmental impact assessments (EA) vs environmental impact statements (EIS). Finally, it looks like while the stack and manufacturing is progressing, the lack of information on the life support systems and internals for long haul flights make it seem as though manned flights are a long way away.
Feb 10, 2022
The World's End
Jul 10, 2013
With this, I have completed the three flavors cornetto trilogy. Of the trilogy, I think I enjoyed this the most. Like other Edgar Wright works, this has great cinematography, tight pacing, and tight editing. This film is a combination of the most epic of pub crawls, a mid life crisis, and science fiction story. In many cases, it feels like Attack the Block, but with better craftsmanship. Simon Pegg's acting in this is the best I've seen from him out of all the entries in the trilogy. Overall, I found this to be a great time and a greatly constructed film.
Feb 9, 2022
The General
Dec 25, 1926
For a silent film, this is quite suspenseful and entertaining. Buster Keaton's physicality and his stunts keep things exciting. There is no cgi, some practical effects, and the majority of the things you see in camera was done for real. Overall, this mixes comedy, action, and suspense in a way that places it in a list of genius films that should be required viewing.
Feb 9, 2022
I've made some of the mistakes (particularly with state handling) in here quite frequently, so it is good to have a list of common mistakes and best practices in one place. The examples are not the best, but the lessons are clear.
Feb 8, 2022
The Scarecrow
Nov 7, 1920
This short is over 100 years old and showcases Buster Keaton's comedic sensibilities. While this may not have the crazy stunts, this has some great gags that were most likely brought over from some vaudeville acts used in decades prior. While I may consider Chaplin to be the better filmmaker, I do think Keaton may be a better comedian due to the faster pacing of the different gags.
Feb 8, 2022
Modern Times
Feb 5, 1936
This pseudo-silent film with Charlie Chaplin manages to be a great work of slapstick comedy along with a good commentary on social and economic challenges of the time. Even today, there are many elements of this that are quite relatable. Overall, this is an iconic and impeccable work that shows some of the best Charlie Chaplin has to offer as the silent era comes to a close.
Feb 8, 2022
Shardlight
Mar 8, 2016
A Wadjet Eye game that takes place in a post apocalyptic setting with an authoritarian government. The shards in shardlight refer to shards of uranium glass. Point and click puzzles range from easy to cryptic and progression of difficulty can be erratic based on situational puzzles. Overall, this is not quite as original or fleshed out as some of the publisher's other games, but it is not terrible and it is clear that a fair amount of work has been placed into it.
Feb 7, 2022
Airplane!
Jul 2, 1980
A spoof movie that looks at the experience of flying on a commercial plane. Since this is a Jim Abrahams and Zucker movie, you know what you are getting into if you've seen The Naked Gun or some of their other works. Compared to those other works, this is a bit more subtle and not as over the top, but it is still over the top, so I believe it will check all the boxes for different audiences. Jokes are funny, and while some references are dated, its faster pacing manages to easily get past any bumps on the road. Simply put, it does not drag, and it works as a good comedy.
Feb 7, 2022
Solving Wordle using information theory
Feb 6, 2022
I was considering creating a frequency based brute force method to solve Wordle as a project in the future, but 3Blue1Brown beat me to it. In this video 3Blue1Brown uses a probabilistic approach that tries to minimize entropy to solve Wordle efficiently. Whether this is the most efficient way of going about the problem is questionable, but it is a good starting point, and I believe any improvements will most likely build off of the techniques used here.
Feb 6, 2022
What We Do in the Shadows
Jun 19, 2014
An original mockumentary about vampires in New Zealand. It's not groundbreaking, but it is funny, and it does what it sets out to do very well. Within Taika Waititi's body of work I prefer Thor Ragnorok which has more of a narrative structure with improvisational elements.
Feb 6, 2022
The Rewinder
Sep 10, 2021
A game inspired by Chinese mythology that has game mechanics that have a mixture of standard point and click puzzles and some time manipulation. Translations to English are not perfect, but are handled mostly well. The art style utilizes pixel graphics which is quite different from many other games that have what I am assuming is a mainland Chinese cultural influence. Overall, this is one of those games that is short enough to avoid making any significant mistakes, but long enough to leave an impression.
Feb 5, 2022
Solo Leveling
Dec 29, 2021
I think this is one of the first Korean webtoons that I've completed in full and I was overall very satisfied with it. It has a good progression in season 1. Season 2 raises the stakes and ends in a way that is quite creative provides a sense of resolution. The story is one of power leveling and power fantasy which utilizes a common Korean fantasy trope of hunters and dungeons, but then evolves it beyond the genre tropes. Illustrations, panels and pacing is great as well. I think anyone can get into this and enjoy it or at the very least appreciate it.
Feb 2, 2022
Love on Delivery
Feb 3, 1994
An imperfect, but enjoyable comedy. If you want comedy, you get it here, and the jokes are usually rapid fire and well done. Because of the frequency of the comedy, moments that are not used for comedic purposes tend to drag. With that said, it is a fun time and quite enjoyable. If you have seen other Stephen Chow films, you may notice some references to other films he has completed.
Jan 31, 2022
Forbidden City Cop
Feb 16, 1996
This is a genre bending comedy that is one of Stephen Chow's better entries. Some of the contents can be similar to From Beijing with Love, but the historical setting and significantly different plot manages to differentiate it well enough. I think, generally speaking, the movies where Stephen Chow had directorial credits (with the exception of Flirting Scholar) tend to be movies that I like more myself.
Jan 30, 2021
Star Wars: Visions
Sep 22, 2021
This is a Japanese take on Star Wars that is similar to The Animatrix or Gotham Knight. There are 9 animations included here that were made by different famous Japanese studios. Many of these animations draw from Japanese culture and history with special attention given to samurai flicks. While the animations are episodic and don't add much to the lore, they do show a different approach to the material with a unique artstyle that the more recent live action entries don't come close to. While I watched this in Japanese, there may be some animations that may be better to watch with an English dubbing if they contain some familiar characters from the movies and shows.
Jan 27, 2022
Umurangi Generation
May 19, 2020
A modern game about photography that seems like it stepped out of the 90's and has inspiration from Maori culture/history. Graphics are like something out of PS1, N64 or Dreamcast and music is like something out of Jet Set Radio, but it is completely original and has its own unique tonality and approach. Compared to other games that deal with photography, this is not on rails, and you get full control of the camera. From different lenses to post processing, this can make for a somewhat decent primer on beginner level photography. The environments you can photograph are vibrant and feel like something out of Evangelion or Akira with a color pallete that matches that specific generation of anime. It is beautiful and the game feels like a curated art installation that you might purchase a ticket to experience. As you photograph different objects and progress through different environments, you get to also experience a story that is told indirectly. Overall, I was quite impressed by this and find that the sentiment behind Umurangi Generation or the last generation to be clear. This is deserving of any awards it receives.
Jan 26, 2022
Free Guy
Aug 13, 2021
A movie that takes place in a video game that plays out similarly to The Lego Movie or The Matrix. This is somewhat refreshing because it is an original IP, but at the same time, it is not the most original. Ryan Reynolds sells this film for me. It's a fun time, but references to twitch streamers and Fortnite may make this feel somewhat dated when watching in the future.
Jan 23, 2022
Exo One
Nov 18, 2021
A game that feels like a cross between Journey and Interstellar. This takes you on a journey through time and space where you control an alien craft to travel through vast distances in space. Gameplay can be repetitive, and at times, it can be more frustrating than relaxing. Music is slow and relaxing, but also feels uninspired. The story, while obscure, felt quite familiar when looking back on sci fi films of the past. Play time is short, and can be done in one sitting or in chunks. Overall, I feel like gameplay could have been paced better and that this is lacking.
Jan 17, 2022
The Mandalorian
Nov 12, 2019
This is Star Wars done correctly. The original Star Wars was influenced by jidaigeki and spaghetti westerns. This feels like a cross between the two with the western aesthetic and a story that has similarities to Lone Wolf and Cub. At the same time, it feels like an original take especially when compared with the sequels. While this is a show with an episodic format with fillers, it still manages to be superior to the prequels and the sequels. In addition to this, I felt like the acting in this was superior to the acting in some of the entries in the original trilogy. Overall, I think most people that watch this will be quite satisfied. This apparently has connections to the animated Star Wars series, so I'm curious what fans of that may think.
Jan 15, 2022
Shaun of the Dead
Mar 29, 2004
A very British comedy that spoofs the zombie genre. This is quite well handled and the comedy is less overt compared to other films and sometimes is obvious and is sometimes subtle. There is commentary on society, relationships and good situational humor. For some reason, while this did not need great camera work, it had it which is very rare for comedies today. Honestly, the cinematography is probably one of the best aspects of this film which is to be expected from Edgar Wright. Overall, a very solid comedy that has aged well and has replay value. I consider Hot Fuzz to be more enjoyable, but this is quite close in quality.
Jan 14, 2022
From Beijing with Love
Oct 13, 1994
Before Austin Powers, there was Stephen Chow's take on James Bond. This has a fair bit of good comedy, but the absence of Ng Man Tat was a bit disappointing. Unlike some of Stephen Chow's other movies, this one will probably appeal more to an adult audience. In terms of Chow's body of work, this is probably average to below average.
Jan 13, 2022
King of Comedy
Feb 13, 1999
Despite this being called King of Comedy, this is more about acting, and the mo lei tau style comedy is somewhat subdued compared with other Stephen Chow films. That said, since this is directed by Lik-Chi Lee, it is somewhat on par with works like Flirting Scholar and God of Cookery. I consider this to be an above average comedy drama overall.
Jan 12, 2022
Eternals
Oct 18, 2021
If Terrence Malick directed a superhero movie, it might look like this. This is the most stylistically unique Marvel film since Guardians of the Galaxy. Unfortunately, while this had great potential, the pacing and insufficient character development made for an inconsistent film that does not work. This could have been slow and meditative, or more fast paced and thrilling. Unfortunately, there is a strange middle ground where the pace of things either feel rushed or dragging in nature. Given the approach provided, I think a slower and deeper approach may have worked better like the Snyder cut. With that said, the visual aspects of this are very well done.
Jan 9, 2022
Project Hail Mary
Andy Weir, May 4, 2021
This is a book that reads itself and it has an unstopping forward momentum. It has a sense of humor while also being a good hard science fiction book. In many ways, this felt like a mix of The Martian, and Arrival where communication with an alien species is a mainstay of this novel. There are many interesting concepts here (some of which seem like they have been recycled from other sci fi works especially those of Arthur C. Clarke). Some of the science does feel a bit loose in terms of the biochemical aspects, but overall, it was a fun time.
Jan 8, 2022
Hail the Judge
Mar 31, 1994
I was hoping for something on the level of Flirting Scholar. Unfortunately, the pacing does not make it work. Also, I have no knowledge of how Qing Dynasty era law works, so some of this stuff flew over my head. My main problem is that this is not funny enough. It drags in the beginning to set things up. It gets better later on with well constructed jokes, but I don't think it's enough to save the film. Also, Hong Kong films need to chill with the fake blood.
Jan 7, 2022
Fight Back to School
Jul 18, 1991
A fun Stephen Chow flick that is inferior to some of his best. In this one, he plays a cop that is undercover at a school.
Jan 2, 2022
Agent A: A Puzzle in Disguise
Aug 29, 2019
A fun, casual puzzle game that is based on the spy genre of the 60's. Mechanics are simple and it is primarily point and click. It starts out good and falters a bit in the later chapters due to extensive backtracking, but quite enjoyable overall.
Jan 1, 2022
Loki
Jun 9, 2021
I was expecting this to be a mini series like all the other Marvel shows, but it turns out that this was just season 1. When compared to the other shows, I felt this had higher highs than Wandavision and lower lows which puts it at about the same level in my book. While this is a good Marvel entry, it is also a great work of science fiction. This show goes all in on the multiverse and the concept of the time variance authority is quite original. This makes for interesting scenarios and a good mystery that the main characters need to figure out along with the viewers. There are some negatives such as Loki's ridiculously quick character development over the course of a few days which felt a bit inconsistent with the other entries in the MCU. There was some filler which was interesting, but if that was cut out, then this could have worked as a movie as well. That said, I think this can be easily overlooked since Marvel does often play fast and loose with the details when they are more minor and don't have a direct impact on the plot.
Dec 31, 2021
Project Wingman
Dec 1, 2020
This is the first viable competitor to Ace Combat I have seen and it had a development team of 3 people which is crazy. That should be kept in mind, because although this is influenced by Ace Combat, it does not quite match it. With that said, it does come close and it sometimes exceeds some of the craziest aspects of Ace Combat in its gameplay. Dogfights in this game can be frantic with some enemy aircraft shooting hundreds of missiles and many railguns and forcefields which makes dodging a mainstay of this game. In that sense, this is Ace Combat on steroids. The music is also good and is reminiscent of older Ace Combat entries. Where this falls short is in the details and in how the story is delivered. Enemy variety and mission variety is limited in comparison to Ace Combat. With regards to the story, everything is told in mission briefings, debriefings, and during missions. While cutscenes are not necessary, an approach similar to Ace Combat 4 would have been appreciated to at least provide a human touch to the characters as well as a satisfying ending. The themes explored in this story such as private military corporations, and dramatic tectonic activity upending civilization are interesting and could have been explored better in the exposition. Overall, this is great, and while this may not measure up to Ace Combat's best, it is not far behind and is definitely better than some of the more mediocre entries in the series.
Dec 30, 2021
WandaVision
Jan 15, 2021
The best of the Marvel shows I have seen so far. This is great, and it does not feel derivative or formulaic in any way. The concept of using sitcom style formats to explain psychological troubles is quite shrewd and meta as it also allows for an overview of the history of American television. Acting is well done, and the way in which different eras of sitcoms are reproduced is handled very well. In addition to this, all the non sitcom related content made for an interesting mix of genres especially at the beginning where it almost felt as though it was something out of The Twilight Zone. Overall, I was quite impressed with this and felt that it managed to work quite well despite only using side characters and being in a mini-series format.
Dec 29, 2021
Opus: Rocket of Whispers
Feb 8, 2018
This is the second entry in the Opus series and it is great to see indie studios like Sigono have the opportunity to continue with their work. Compared to the previous game, this has more gameplay. Music is just as good, and art is simplistic. I think the main problems this might have had was with pacing and character development where characters don't change gradually. In addition to that, I wish character interactions were more nuanced. The premise is very interesting with the concept of space burials during a plague being quite novel and manages to differentiate itself from To the Moon which has somewhat similar themes. The concept of using cryosleep to maintain a religion over time and overcome disasters was also an interesting feature of the story that played out in a way that I found to be surprising and well done. Overall, I thought that its strengths outweigh its weaknesses.
Dec 27, 2021
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
Mar 19, 2021
The high production quality makes this seem more like a stretched out Marvel film which works to its disadvantage. Works like this which play to thriller genre tropes tend to come across better with tighter editing and pacing which this does not have due to the length. In addition to this, while there is good chemistry between the main characters, this lacks some of the humor that I tend to like in Marvel works. I would consider this better than Black Widow, but worse than the Captain America films directed by the Russo brothers.
Dec 25, 2021
What If...?
Aug 11, 2021
Quite good. This explores multiple alternate realities and character arcs that were not explored in the MCU (yet). Some of the characters are voiced by the respective actors, and the animation is decent. Episodes got better later on, and the last episode which brought everything together was a nice touch.
Dec 24, 2021
Hawkeye
Nov 24, 2021
I don't usually watch shows, but Marvel movies help me manage stress, so I figured I should try out the shows. This is like a Marvel film, but stretched out. While production value may be somewhat lower, since a lot of this is more dependent on stunt work instead of cgi, it manages to get away with it. It also manages to somehow make a New York where no one is wearing a mask and there is no pandemic seem normal. Writing is okay. I was not particularly impressed with it, but I found it enjoyable after turning my brain off. Episodes got better later on, and there were some interesting tracking shots during the action scenes. The events that happen in the story are low stakes and probably won't affect future films and stories all that much. Overall, it's fairly average and lighthearted.
Dec 21, 2021
The City and the Stars
Arthur C. Clarke, Jan 27, 1956
Quite an interesting post-apocalyptic/dystopian science fiction novel. The story of what happened to humanity in the distant past and uncovering it piece by piece is reminiscent of many other sci fi stories, but I liked it. I imagine when it came out, it was fairly original, but now, there are a number of movies, books, and games that look into the idea of past civilizations out there among the stars. Like many scifi offerings, this struggles with characters and development, but compared with works of other authors like Asimov, this is not too bad.
Dec 19, 2021
Black Widow
Jul 7, 2021
Quite bad. Lacks substance. I found some of the interactions between characters interesting, but the action sequences (especially later in the film) felt like they were shot terribly. Lighting in some scenes does not make sense and physics seem to go out the window every once in a while. This often times felt like a cheap imitation of a movie from the Bourne series, but they don't deliver on the visceral action like Bourne does. People speak English and sometimes Russian despite most characters being supposedly Russian. Maybe I might have appreciated this more if it came out after Civil War, but at the moment, I find its positive qualities hard to identify despite the hard work that went into it. I don't think this is worth watching.
Dec 18, 2021
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Aug 16, 2021
This was quite fun despite the Marvel formula starting wear a bit. This had a great cast which some of the actors like Tony Leung being overqualified for the script. Choreography is interesting and strikes a good balance between quick cuts and longer takes which was much appreciated. If one was to compare this to other martial arts films, this is definitely not among the best, but it is good and it is a fun time. Use of Mandarin and English was interesting, but I'm not sure why a mixture of the two was used at times when only Mandarin or Cantonese was needed or appropriate. Overall, recommended for a fun time, but I would not place it in the same category of some of the best that is to be offered by superhero films.
Dec 15, 2021
Celeste
Jan 25, 2018
After dying thousands of times, I have managed to get through the A side of the game which comprises the main portion of this challenging platformer. The platforming aspect of this is very well tuned and the A side which constitutes scaling a mountain and achieving inner peace is doable. The themes this handles are quite similar to Journey, but unlike Journey, characters speak, interact, and everything is far more concrete which makes it an equal in its own right. Art direction and music, while simplistic, are handled well. I see this as a Super Mario, but with a story and themes that are far more relevant to players of today and that is quite an achievement. While I wished I could have played through the B side, the level of difficulty requires such a high level of precision that it would have doubled or tripled the time I originally placed into the game. I'm not one for platformers, but this is very well done and is one of the best indie games I have played in a while.
Dec 13, 2021
Jodorowsky's Dune
Aug 30, 2013
This is a documentary of the story of Jodorowsky's attempt to make his version of Dune. The documentary is entertaining and a good watch. That said, I'm not convinced that Jodorowsky's version would have been a good film. I doubt that audiences would have wanted to spend 12 hours in a theatre watching a film that would disrespect the source material. I am glad that this did not come to fruition and that Villeneuve's version did, but it might have been interesting to watch.
Dec 13, 2021
The Inner Game of Tennis: The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance
W. Timothy Gallwey, 1974
A lot of what can be found here can already be found in many of the books I have read in the past. What makes this different is that it contextualizes inner thought processes and approaches to that of tennis and sports which is a bit novel. Other than that, this is review.
Dec 12, 2021
2010: The Year We Make Contact
Dec 7, 1984
This is inferior to 2001, but it is not a bad film by any means. The main problem here is that it is not directed by Kubrick and the approach is far more conventional. The classical music of the previous film is replaced by 80's synth, the shots are far less deliberate or audacious, and there is more dialogue and exposition. In addition to this, while 2001 is timeless in image and ahead of its time with regards to its technology, 2010 is very much a product of its time and it almost seems as though the technology has regressed with larger space suits and older analog electronics. One thing I did find charming was the fact that characters had arcs and that there was a focus on the interplay between the Soviets and the Americans. It was interesting to see Jupiter get turned into a star, and some of the miniatures and effects were genuinely well done. One its own, I may even consider it a good movie due to the strength of the source material. I do recommend it, but it should be noted that it lives within the shadow of its predecessor and removes much of the mystery and ambience that came with 2001.
Dec 12, 2021
Calling Bullsh*t in the Age of Big Data
Jul 10, 2017
I'm quite surprised that University of Washington's biology department had a course dedicated specifically towards identifying disinformation. This covers things such as scientific review, misleading data visualization, misleading statistics, fake news, and logical fallacies. What this does not cover in quite as much detail are recommendation algorithms, marketing tactics, targeted attacks by bad actors, bots, and some of the more sophisticated methods that are intentionally used to spread misinformation. Overall, a good primer, but as someone who has published scientific work and the like, much of the content was review. What it did offer, however, was a good packaging of many different topics.
Dec 11, 2021
Neutron Rocket | Development Update
Dec 2, 2021
Rocketlab is making a larger rocket. This one is similar to the Falcon 9, but it is made of a carbon composite instead of aluminum-lithium alloy. As many may know, carbon is difficult to manufacture, but Peter Beck argues that Rocketlab can use it quickly and integrate it easily within their 3d printing process. So, if this all works out, we may get a highly reusable rocket with a better benefit cost ratio than the Falcon 9. In this case, they also manage to keep the fairing by making it a part of the first stage and hold the second stage. It should be noted however, that this rocket design will always land at launch sites instead of sometimes at sea like the Falcon 9 which may limit mission envelopes. Based on the profile of its deliverables and payloads, it also seems like it may be shorter than the Falcon 9, but it should also be noted that it is wider and the Archimedes engines have higher impulse and will be lifting a lighter rocket. I'm looking forward to see how this compares to Falcon 9 and whether this can be made a reality.
Dec 9, 2021
Freedom from the Known
Jiddu Krishnamurti, 1969
This is a discussion of the limits people place upon themselves which prevents them from reaching joyfulness or peace. In this case, much of what is examined is the past, present and future's hold on one's thoughts which are preventing people from living in the moment. In many ways, this is covered by Sadhguru's Inner Engineering, but since this predates that work by decades, one can think of this as a more intellectual version of the aforementioned work.
Dec 7, 2021
Starcom: Nexus
Dec 12, 2019
A great indie game developed by one person. As a space sim, this strikes a good balance between casual play and world building such that you don't need to micromanage everything. The way the story unfolds adds another dimension to the gameplay, because you have to explore an entire galaxy to piece everything together. The general feel of this is as though you were placed in the middle of a Star Trek episode where you meet new races and decide interact with them as you travel through space. Really, the only thing that I felt was somewhat lacking was the depth of content, but for one person, this is great. If there is a sequel, I would like to see more character interactions and greater rpg style world building, faction building, and character building.
Dec 6, 2021
Being and Time
Martin Heidegger, 1927
The hardest philosophical work I have read and the extensive use of German based terminology such as Dasein did not help. The primary concern of this work is to ask what it means to be or exist. Heidegger makes references to Hegel, Kant, and Descartes in an attempt to explore this, so prior reading is to be expected. In this work, Heidegger calls into question the ontological underpinnings established by philosophers like Kant and Descartes and asks whether an object and its properties can truly be separated. Later on, he adds the effect of temporality into the mix to show that existence is a temporal phenomenon. While this is not quite as logically dense as Kant, the reasoning provided by Heidegger to jump from one topic to the other looks very much into human perception as a way to explore what existence is, what it means to exist, and intellectual blindspots. Because of this, the existence Heidegger analyzes is that of human existence as opposed to existence in general. I did not understand everything due to the density of the text and a lack of experience with phemenology, but this is quite an interesting view on human existence and its relationship to time along with the human perspective of time.
Dec 5, 2021
PyTorch for Audio + Music Processing
Jul 12, 2021
I wanted to get a better understanding of Torchaudio, and this helped with that. The code generated within this tutorial is compact and straight to the point which is a plus as well. There is a bit of review regarding the Pytorch aspects for training, testing, and predicting, but things like how to process audio prior to loading for training was quite informative. The example used here is that of classification of audio. This is good for educational purposes, but I think I would have preferred something more like audio generation as an example instead.
Dec 2, 2021
Chat Bot With PyTorch - NLP Beginner Tutorial
Feb 15, 2021
A run through how to make a chat bot using Pytorch and NLP techniques. Much of this felt like review to me, but it was interesting to see how the different pieces fit together. To put things simply, this is an intent based conversational agent that tokenizes sentences and then constructs a bag of words representation which is used as training. Any sentences passed by the user is then used to determine what response to provide by determining the intent using a probabilistic threshold which makes it a classification problem. The model used is a simple feed forward network and there was some coverage on how to create a GUI for the project by using tkinter. I'd like to try building something similar myself and pair it with a torchaudio model to enable text to speech and possibly speech to text for spoken conversation.
Nov 29, 2021
PyTorch Tutorials - Complete Beginner Course
Nov 21, 2020
I needed a refresher on Pytorch as well as a full overview of the parts that I have not used in projects in the past. This covers the basics needed for the training and testing loops. It does not cover stuff like torchvision or torchaudio which can be disappointing, but since this is a beginner course, I suppose that is fine. It should be noted that more complex architectures like transformers, autoencoders, deep q learning for reinforcement learning and GANs are not covered either. There is coverage of pretty much everything for training from data loaders to optimizers, to learning rate scheduling to Pytorch lightning. Pytorch lightning in particular seems quite useful and since I hate dealing with boilerplate, it might be something I would be interested in using myself. Overall, useful for jogging one's memory, but I think the best way to really address one's weaknesses is by writing code and running it on collab. In my case, the parts that I find to be most troublesome is dealing with tensor shapes and formatting data accordingly for loading data and running predictions.
Nov 26, 2021
Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery
Apr 25, 2021
A short game with simple gameplay and great art direction. Cutscenes and animation is quite reminiscent of Studio Ghibli's work which is quite impressive for a small team. Pacing is great and the themes of art and dementia represent an approach to the topic that is quite different from other works like Everywhere at the End of Time or the works of William Utermohlen.
Nov 25, 2021
Why Gifted Kids Are Actually Special Needs
Nov 17, 2021
Quite an interesting video from a gem of a channel. It covers pacing and rate of learning and the needs of gifted children which is an area I don't hear all that much about in mental health discussions.
Nov 24, 2021
What is NginX and What are its use cases?
Feb 2, 2020
Quick explanation of what NginX is. Put simply, it is a server that is used for load balancing and can be used as a reverse proxy. With regards to what a reverse proxy is, the differences between a proxy and a reverse proxy are not all that distinctive. In a reverse proxy the client doesn't know which server it is connecting to (balancer). In a proxy the server doesn't know which client it is connecting from (VPN). So, you can have both.
Nov 21, 2021
The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure
Jonathan Haidt, Greg Lukianoff, Sept 4, 2018
This is a book that gets brought up frequently in online discussions, so I went into this blind to figure out what all the fuss is about. This focuses on free speech and how social trends are leading to a larger populace of people who are more easily offended. Given the topic, it raises interesting points on education, personal development, and discourse in a non-partisan way. What this book argues for is quite simply to avoid conflict, to assume no ill will when the intents of others are unknown, and to expose oneself to the challenges that one may realistically face rather than avoid them. That sentence by itself should be enough, but it manages to take the core premise and turn it into a book when an article may be sufficient. I appreciated the use of cognitive behavioral theory due to my own use of it in my research, but also found that this book relies too heavily on it and even simplifies it a bit more than I would prefer. Overall, I found this thought provoking despite its flaws.
Nov 10, 2021
The Art of Communicating
Thich Nhat Hanh, Aug 13, 2013
I recommend reading this instead of Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People. To begin, this is more straight to the point, and it actually takes personal development into account instead of simply end results without accounting for whether those end results are desireable. The teachings here are informed by Buddhism and seem reasonable unlike some other books which makes it superior to many of the works in the same category.
Nov 6, 2021
Red Bull BC One World Final 2021
Nov 6, 2021
I am mixed about how much I enjoyed this year's world final, but what I am clear on is that this is one of the most interesting and most meta world finals. The camera work was mediocre and the music was probably the most problematic and disappointing part with beat drops and the like being fewer in number and many tracks sounding like simple drum beats on a loop. I agreed with most of the judging with Shigekix and Flea Rock being one that I somewhat disagreed with. With this world final, we have the first and youngest winner from the U.S. for the bgirls, and for the bboys, we have the first winner from Kazhakhstan and the first winner from the last chance cypher. This year seemed to have style clashes as well as clashes with regards to the philosophy by which competitors express themselves which was further exaggerated by the presence of Flea Rock and Nadia. There is a clear emphasis given to style, expression and clarity when all else is equal which is quite interesting because in previous finals, physical capabilities and execution made a larger difference. In a sense, this is something of a paradigm shift similar to what 2014 was where the previous generation was supplanted by the next and shows that anyone can win the belt.
Oct 31, 2021
Opus: The Day We Found Earth
Apr 22, 2016
A respectable first game from a Taiwanese indie studio working with limited budgets. I found this to be too simplistic in terms of game mechanics, but was partial to the focus on story. The short playtime allows for it to be enjoyed without losing much in the process and the score is notable.
Oct 30, 2021
Dune: Part One
Sep 11, 2021
I am quite impressed with this surreal epic and its performance makes me more hopeful for the future of blockbuster cinema. I read Dune when I was in middle school and luckily, the only thing I remembered about it was how strange it was. This is a story that has deep lore and the way in which exposition is interleaved with visual elements is masterful to the point that I did not even notice it. Cinematography and most aspects of the craftsmanship were impeccable. Even clothing and costumes were quite thought out and I could trace some of the inspirations. Music by Hans Zimmer felt like a cross between Peter Gabriel in The Last Temptation of Christ and A.R. Rahman in Bombay and had a sense of spirituality mixed into its tonality. I was not a fan of the heavy use of cgi and would have preferred more practical effects if possible despite the cgi being quite high in quality. With regards to acting, there is an ensemble cast of experienced actors who are all accomplished in their own right. The primary problems that might be found with this film relate to pacing and what I believe to be insufficient focus on the philosophical and spiritual musings. That said, I feel that anyone who could successfully work with this source material and turn a homogenous desert into something more is ranked quite high in my book. Overall, quite good in IMAX and now that we have all this build up, part two should have the expected payoff which I am looking forward to.
Oct 23, 2021
Three Colors: Blue
Sep 3, 1993
The first entry in the three colors trilogy. This is great. Cinematography is on point, music is thought out, and everything is deliberate. The closest thing I can think of are the works of Wong Kar-wai, but where Kar-Wai's works can be more dreamlike, this feels more carefully calculated. Krzysztof Kieslowski knew exactly what he was doing in every scene. This film was meant to cover the color blue and its meaning in the French flag which implied liberty. While Kieslowski covers liberty in a more emotional sense, this decision was a shrewd move from a dramatic perspective as it can allow for exploration of character motivations The process of grieving along with liberation from emotional chains was handled well with subtlety, and Juliette Binoche as the main character carries much of the film on her shoulders without any misteps.
Oct 18, 2021
A Trip to the Moon
Sep 1, 1902
This is less like a film and more like a play with advanced staging. Camera movement is non-existent or minimal at most. It is clear that people were just figuring out how to do things, so there isn't an aspect of this film that does not have holes in it when compared to films today. What is interesting is how special effects were handled using the limited technology as well as how people viewed the moon at the beginning of the 1900's.
Oct 12, 2021
React Router Tutorial | React For Beginners
May 4, 2019
I wanted to understand how routing can work in react. It turns out that you need another library for that. That said, this video covers everything that I wanted to know, so I recommend it. This is a bit dated, however, so while it may still apply conceptually, syntax and smaller things may be different with the most recent versions of libraries.
Oct 12, 2021
A good overview of popular stacks as well as what make goes into choosing a tech stack. Also illustrates the compromises between simplicity and complexity.
Oct 12, 2021
Candide
Voltaire, Jan, 1759
I feel like Voltaire would either be fun at parties or a spoilsport. There is no middle ground. In this book, there is a happy ending that is completely disappointing. Voltaire tries to dismantle and criticize everything. He comments on the enlightenment, philosophy, intellectualism, aristocracy, war, wealth and does all of this while his characters travel the world. For a short read, it still feels like Voltaire could have been more straight to the point when satirizing everything. In that sense, it feels similar to Gulliver's Travels. Some of the philosophical musings are quite dated as well when considering the works that came in the centuries after.
Oct 10, 2021
Advanced Computer Vision with Python - Full Course
May 27, 2021
Covers mediapipe usage. This covers pose, hands, and facial detection. Although this is more than 6 hours long, it is quite useful and straight forward to follow and it's fairly recent. I wish they had a project that utilized the facial mesh, but since each of the modules uses similar landmark based structures, the other projects included are useful as well.
Oct 8, 2021
OpenCV Course - Full Tutorial with Python
Nov 3, 2020
I need to learn how to use OpenCV for computer vision purposes. This covered OpenCV from basic image manipulation to recognition using existing libraries. The video lasted four hours, but I think most of it was worth the time due to video being a good medium to learn about computer vision. Different concepts are split up by chapter within the video making it easy to follow and learn what you specifically want to learn. The last lesson may be considered a waste of time due to it going through the deep learning pipeline and utilizing a library developed by the author of the video. It is very much a case of the video creator peddling his own goods which would be fine if his libraries were used by many, but that is not the case. Overall, not bad and a good starting point for things like object detection and recognition.
Oct 6, 2021
I have not taken the chance to learn regular expressions until now, but this video makes it seem very easy. As long as you understand what each individual code snippet does, you can assemble them together to create useful expressions. While it is doubtful that I would need to use regular expressions in large amounts in the future, it helps to know this.
Oct 6, 2021
Node.js Crash Course
Feb 6, 2019
I have done extensive things with Node.js in the past such as i18n json translation into multiple languages, but I needed to refresh my knowledge. This covers the basics and ends with the creation of a web server that is able to serve html webpages. The video also shows how to deploy to Heroku which was quite useful for me.
Oct 6, 2021
I wanted to get a refresher modern javascript and this pretty much covers it. Unlike other videos which have a fetish for arrow functions, this provides a better overview of many of the features available. That said, if you are experienced with javascript like me, you may be able to cover ground faster just by skimming through documentation.
Oct 5, 2021
MongoDB Crash Course
Jul 16, 2019
Simply great and easy to understand. I now understand the advantages and disadvantages of NoSQL, as well as how its queries are structured. Since I have worked extensively with JSON in the past, this felt as though it was made for me. The way in which ATLAS can immediately be set up with AWS, Azure or whatever is an extra plus which takes some of the complexity of devops out of the equation.
Oct 5, 2021
Understanding Django In 30 Minutes | Eduonix
Jul 7, 2018
A description of what Django is, and an example application. This does not show the full range of what Django can do, and in my case, what I was interested in was its use as a backend in a full stack web app. This did not satisfy me, but it might be an acceptable starting point.
Oct 4, 2021
Introduction to AWS Services
Jun 9, 2019
A great overview of many of the services offered by AWS as well as a great overview of large scale applications. Highly recommended, straight forward, and thorough.
Oct 4, 2021
Learn React In 30 Minutes
Oct 22, 2019
Covers the basics of React in 30 minutes and does nothing else. This covers a todo list example in particular. There is no routing, there is no coverage of single binding and double binding, no CRUD's, and I think most people would be lost if they did not have prior experience with some of the technologies involved. While I did understand what was going on, there were some things people won't pick up on such as how binding in React works due to it not being covered explicitly. This also did not cover things like best practices. This only covers the main mechanics. I recommend a more in depth overview regardless of whether you are an experienced front end dev or a newcomer. What is also not clear is the advantages over Angular, although at face value, React seems easier to pick up.
Sep 29, 2021
What is Firebase?
Mar 3, 2019
I have been considering multiple solutions for hosting a dynamic website with a fully functional backend. As I've experienced with Google products in the past, documentation is not that great. This video is short enough to cover what Firebase is and the concept of database as a service. What it does not show is the full range of functionalities available-- specifically if it is possible to separate business logic from the frontend and have it within Firebase itself.
Sep 29, 2021
I have heard a lot about Docker for many years and I watched this to determine if it is something I needed for personal projects and prototypes or not. While this is useful, I think the quickest way to determine its value is to try it out yourself.
Sep 29, 2021
How To Make A Logo In Inkscape
Apr 18, 2013
Quick and straight to the point. Shows how to trace a reference image and add text. Despite this being eight years old, it is still useful.
Sep 26, 2021
Inspiration4 | In-Flight Update with the Crew
Sep 17, 2021
This is only significant because it is the first civilian crew. The launch architecture has already been proven, so its success was expected to be quite high. A good achievement and an expected milestone, but technically speaking, there is nothing new here.
Sep 25, 2021
Creed II
Nov 14, 2018
This is good, but it does not measure up to the first Creed. That said, it is better than many of the Rocky sequels. Everyone plays their part well, and the return of Drago was good but underutilized. What this lacks is an arc and development with high and low notes. It should be noted that even the training montage was weak in this one which was quite surprising. It's worth a watch, and it is good, but more than one watching of this work is unlikely.
Sep 25, 2021
The Doorman
Oct 9, 2020
This should have worked on paper. The premise is interesting, Kitamura Ryuhei was directing, even Jean Reno was there. Unfortunately, this is like Die Hard except it was stupid and terribly executed. The acting and writing was worse, and the action was horrible. Ruby Rose who was the star of this has the acting ability of driftwood. Fight choreography should be entertaining, but simply gave me a headache. Overall, just bad and not even good for wasting time.
Sep 25, 2021
Keanu
Mar 13, 2016
I enjoyed this one at times, but I do not recommend it. One would think that Key and Peele can make a decent movie given their experience with sketches and all they needed to do was make a coherent narrative. This felt like a drawn out Key and Peele sketch rather than a series of sketches strung together. The later would have been more fun. The former is what this movie was and while it has its moments, it is questionable whether this is passable.
Sep 25, 2021
Birds of Prey
Jan 25, 2020
Disappointing. Things are stylized which is good. Color grading isn't washed out. The soundtrack was unoriginal, and the action choreography was bizarre. This is not quite like the comics, and it feels like it wastes the talents of the cast. Better writing was definitely needed. Overall, not bad, but I don't recommend it.
Sep 15, 2021
If I Was Your Girl
Meredith Russo, May 3, 2016
I went into this completely blind without knowing what it was about and came out of it satisfied despite it being a young adult novel. This reads very easily and is quite accessible without expecting the reader to understand much about the subject matter of transgender people. There are themes here that are relatable outside of the particular intended scope of the novel such as loneliness, depression, and identity which can be said to be universal concerns. With regards to the transgender side of things, the author acknowledges that certain aspects of the experience has been excluded to make it easier for readers to digest. This can hurt the impact, because details can make scenes more vivid. In addition to that, the main character does not appear to have a recognizable personality outside of her transgender experience which is unfortunate. Other characters can be quite cliche at times as well with common tropes making an appearance multiple times. That said, the happy ending, while unrealistic, does make for a satisfying story that can be used to fill in time without much regret.
Sep 6, 2021
The Art of Self-Defense
Mar 10, 2019
Despite this being fairly predictable, I thought it was an entertaining satire of modern martial arts. For a black comedy, this is not the best, but the way it made fun of parts of modern martial arts such as weird techniques, the belt system, and weird masculinity was fun. Jesse Eisenberg's acting is typical. He plays himself like he does in most of his films, so most people may know what to expect. Nothing special, but I enjoyed it.
Sep 6, 2021
Colectiv
Oct 11, 2019
I believe this is my first Romanian film. Solid execution made this documentary feel like a tightly edited drama. Actual individuals, journalilsts, and politicians feel like actors in a drama. This covers the aftermath of the Collective fire and the high amounts of corruption within Romania's healthcare system. The film provides insight into the challenges faced by the Romanian people, the journalistic process, and the difficulties of political reform. Quite educational and unflinching in the way it shows how things are.
Sep 6, 2021
No
May 18, 2012
I don't think I have ever seen a film about marketing or advertising. The closest thing I can think of is Argo or The Post, but those are completely different. The way in which this is filmed brings the viewer back to the time during the No campaign which helped to oust Pinochet in Chile and it feels as though you are watching history. In terms of contents, what makes this novel is the perspective given of the Chilean people, their politics, and the propaganda side of things. Everything else is played rather straight with a realistic portrayal of events and the style of filming used. It would have been nice to have been given a look at other aspects of the campaign against Pinochet, but as a film, its focus on the television campaign manages to create a compelling narrative.
Sep 5, 2021
Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion
Jul 19, 1997
What an experience. This is a film on the level of Akira or 2001: A Space Odyssey that transcends its own genre by even including non animated scenes of real people. This is sexual, grand, psychological, and philosophical to the point that the second half feels more German than Japanese. In the series, the final two episodes show internal struggles during the acquisition of human instrumentality and this film shows the external aspects of the process which makes it more grounded. While the reflection on life and suicide is not at the level of Camus' works in terms of explicit reasoning, this manages to create a deep analysis of the degeneration of ego, escapism, depression, individuality, collective conciousness, isolation, identity, and suicide. The theological aspects such as Jewish Kaballah are woven into the imagery and are quite thought provoking. In this, humans kill God, create God, become God, and reject God. I don't know much of what to make of the ending. It is not exactly sad or happy in an obvious way. It is rather a deconstruction of traditional story telling and is quite ambitious at that. I don't know if it is tragic, cathartic, or none of the above. There is closure in a vague sense and a demand for interpretation created by unapologetic ambiguity. In that sense, it is quite representative of life and reality.
Sep 5, 2021
Antichamber
Jan 31, 2013
Prior to Manifold Garden, this was the non-euclidean game to play. I tried playing this once and failed to complete it about five years ago. The non-euclidean aspects are a bit underutilized with the majority of the mechanics being related to manipulation of blocks. Progression involves a high amount of exploration with quite a bit of trial and error which effectively trains the player in critical thinking. Unlike Manifold Garden, it does not seem as though there is a lore or backstory which makes it quite a bit more minimalistic in comparison. Soundtrack is primarily ambient. I wish there were some themes or purpose woven into the greater world of the game, but it is quite a unique puzzle game that challenges the player and teaches them in a way that causes growth in players who manage to practice a certain level of patience.
Sep 4, 2021
Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth
Mar 15, 1997
I only watched the Death portion to prepare myself for End of Evangelion. Did this manage to jog my memory? Yes. Would I recommend this to others who have have not watched the series? Absolutely not. This made me remember that even though I did watch the series, I did not understand it at the time due to the fact that this story is like an iceberg with much of the context hidden under the surface. What this manages to do well, however, is give a decent overview of the psychological backgrounds of each of the main characters which is what seems to matter. Since Evangelion devolves/evolves from mecha and action based scifi to that of a dive into psychological despair and the flaws of humanity brought upon by free will, I doubt that my understanding will improve without outside reading. General plot is somewhat clarified here with with the inclusion of a string quartet composed of the main characters, and the general outline of the human instrumentality project is clearer to me now. I recommend also watching Alex Jones describe the plot of Evangelion to Joe Rogan to gain a high level understanding of the trajectory of the work. As a stand alone product, this is not good and it truly leverages the works that came before it to reach its high points. Good for the recap, but it fails to recreate the emotional rollercoaster and pacing of the series. On the plus side, if I decide to watch the series again, I can still watch it as though I am watching it for the first time due to this work only covering the most relevant angels/apostles.
Sep 3, 2021
Evangelion: 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone
Sep 1, 2007
It has been almost 10 years since I saw the Evangelion series and during that time, I had no idea that there was another ending or another series of films. In an attempt to recap without watching the entire series, I watched this to start. This transported me back to the 90's. Animation faithfully reproduces the scenery of Hakone, and it feels just like the original Evangelion in terms of animation and terrific sound design. Hideaki Anno's shot composition is truly some of the best in the industry and it translates well to live action as indicated in Shin Gojira. Music by Shirou Sagisu is iconic and recognizable as always, and the end credits song by Utada Hikaru was a surprise. In terms of story, character development is stunted in comparison to the original series, but the bibilical and psychological themes still come across due to the strong imagery. Since this is a recap of the first quarter of the series, this can be easily forgiven, but it would be concerning if this was the case for the rest of the rebuild tetralogy. The angels make for a great set of antagonists, and the way in which psychological abstractions are presented within biblical conditions seems to be unique to only a handful of works. Overall, quite impressive with pacing being its main problem.
Sep 3, 2021
When The Past Was Around
Sep 22, 2020
An endearing point and click hidden object game about loss and mortality. Simply put, it is cute, not preachy, and relaxing.
Sep 1, 2021
The Matrix Revisited
Nov 20, 2001
Covers the production and creation process involved in making The Matrix. Interesting to see that some things I thought were CGI were actually real and other things I thought were real were actually CGI.
Sep 1, 2021
Ficciones
Jorge Luis Borges, 1944
As a whole, this can be a hard read, but among the short stories presented are some of the best short stories I have ever read. These short stories are usually defined by a single unique idea that comes to light at a climax at the end of the story. This is like the literary equivalent of Escher or Dali. The stories begin with a dense introduction that expects readers to be cultured and well read. The book is split into two sections and the first section The Garden of Forking Paths, in my opinion, is far more interesting when compared to Artifices. There are aspects of this that I did not fully understand due to certain novels I have yet to read or a lack of familiarity with Argentina and its culture, but I feel that this is something I will definitely come back to in the future.
Sep 1, 2021
Khan Academy Differential Equations
July 2, 2014
A coverage of differential equations, first order, second order, Laplacian transforms, and convolutions. I finished this in Khan Academy which involved completion of quizzes. While some of this was review, it helped me fill some gaps in my knowledge.
Aug 30, 2021
Made in Abyss Movie 3: Fukaki Tamashii no Reimei
Jan 17, 2020
Continuation of 2017's Made in Abyss and just as brutal as the first season. This does not pull any punches. This could have been more successful as a series of episodes or a slightly longer movie with more content and faster pacing, but in its current state it is still quite good. In this film, we are shown a full conflict with Bondrewd who is one of the most interesting and unique villains I have seen recently and a great display of sociopathy within science. Animation is great and the music by Kevin Penkin is great as always. Since this is a film, the amount of world building which was a strength of the previous entry is not all there which is unfortunate. That said, this is a good-- maybe even great-- experience and while not quite at the level of the first season, it does not diminish the previous entry and maintains a level of consistency one might expect from the same director as Monster. While my initial viewing may see flaws in the development of the story, I was thinking of this quite long after viewing which means that it did manage to leave a deep impression.
Aug 30, 2021
Superliminal
Nov 12, 2019
This is a game that uses perspective as its primary mechanic to varying degrees of success. Small objects can become large, 3d can become 2d, and objects can be born within monochrome homogeneity. It is truly interesting, but due to the short nature of this game, it is not used to its full effect. In addition to this, there was an opportunity to do something more profound with regards to the story. This is a game about exploring dreams, but the background of a company using dreams for psychotherapy is not enough and I was hoping for more. It tries to be Portal, but unlike Portal, this is not humorous, so I am not sure what the developers intended here. Overall, this is a very interesting game that is too short. It should also be noted that due to the way this plays with perspective, this can force the player to do disorienting things which results in side effects such as nausea.
Aug 29, 2021
Mardock Scramble: The Third Exhaust
Sep 29, 2012
The conclusion to the trilogy. This was satisfying, but the level of quality is only slightly higher than the previous entries. I think this would have functioned better as a single film with more carefully planned pacing and structure, but what's done is done. All threads were concluded, and the themes of transhumanism and abuse were elaborated upon.
Aug 29, 2021
Song of Farca
Jul 21, 2021
A supposedly futuristic game where you play a private investigator who is confined to her house. While the premise might make one imagine a hard boiled neo-noir, this is anything but. The game is comprised of multiple cases that look at different facets of the island of Farca and how those affect society. Gameplay is repetitive and while player choice may affect outcomes, choices and their consequences are not always clear. In additon to this, there are some mechanics such as a hacking AI, and what the character is doing away from her computer which are underutilized or misused. Overall, mediocre and probably not worth the time or money unless you are fine with wasting your time on something that is just okay.
Aug 28, 2021
Mardock Scramble: The Second Combustion
Sep 11, 2011
This may be divisive due to how it has a limited amount of character development and simplistic plot structure. In that sense, this could be viewed as filler, but the ending as well as the presentation of transhumanistic concepts made this interesting for me. This goes into greater depth regarding the world building, cybernetics and the bonds between humans and synthetic lifeforms. In terms of progressing the main story, there was not much to be seen here, unfortunately.
Aug 27, 2021
Mardock Scramble: The First Compression
Oct 8, 2010
A work that is the first in a trilogy. This has the feel of an older work from the 90's or early 2000's which is indicative of the source material it is based off of. The future presented in this is not quite as advanced as Blade Runner or other cyberpunk stories and it feels somewhat grounded despite some of the technological advancements coming across as a bit exaggerated. Action and visuals are stylized and feel like a cross between a manga and a western graphic novel. Pacing and plot structure needs work, but it should also be noted that this is only the first of 3. That said, based on what I have seen so far, this work does not stand on its own, and the world building is also lacking. What this does manage to do somewhat adequately was cover the effects of rape and abuse from a young age. How this will develop will determine the quality of the work as a whole, but on its own, this entry is mediocre.
Aug 26, 2021
The Wolf of Wall Street
Nov 21, 1949
This entire film is a meme. It is quite enjoyable, but it is not Scorcese's best nor is it the best film about Wall Street. Acting and character interaction is the best aspect of this and DiCaprio nails it. Plot structure literally feels like a straight line with everything being relatively predictable. That said, it is very fun and it never gets boring and the cameo by Jordan Belfort was a nice touch.
Aug 26, 2021
Khan Academy Chemistry
Aug 20, 2021
Effectively all of the content covered in a semester's worth of Bachelors level general chemistry or a year's worth of high school level AP Chemistry with a bit of coverage of organic chemistry as well. This starts from the fundamentals of atoms and electron behavior to coverage of concepts such as balancing reactions, redox reactions, electrochemistry, nuclear chemistry, alkanes, and kinetics. Overall, quite thorough, and I recommend following the videos on Khan Academy's website to complete quizzes and questions to reinforce one's understanding of the concepts.
Aug 25, 2021
Twelve Minutes
Aug 19, 2021
A short game which utilizes a time loop mechanic. Unlike Outer Wilds, this utilizes interaction with environments and characters to change possible outcomes. The twists and turns themselves are not the best, but it was entertaining while it lasted. Voice acting by James McAvoy, Daisy Ridley, and Willem Dafoe was well done. The endings were quite disappointing and the payoff was somewhat underwhelming. There is some sort of deeper psychological underpinning, but it is not clearly elaborated upon which weakens the psychological subtexts. Parallels to Oedipus are there, but don't seem as strong as they should be.
Aug 25, 2021
A Sound of Thunder
Ray Bradbury, 1951
Short story that serves as the origin of the butterfly effect. Interesting rumination on the effects of time travel.
Aug 24, 2021
Promare
May 24, 2019
A self aware film that is probably quite divisive in nature with regards to its qualities. This is similar to Hiroyuki Imaishi's other works in that it is extremely stylized. In the case of this work, the art style is like the works of Genndy Tartakovsky on steroids. The animation is more reminiscent of western 2d animation than Japanese animation in that sense. Story is threadbare with the writers literally saying that they are making things up as they go along and declaring a deus ex machina within what I assume is the third act. This is a film that requires a high suspension of disbelief and an ability to keep up with its spastic pacing. That said, for fans of studio Trigger, this is a highly indulgent film that offers a lot of self referential nods to previous works by the studio that are in my opinion far superior.
Aug 24, 2021
Tesla AI Day Highlights | Lex Fridman
Aug 20, 2021
Lex Fridman's commentary on the Tesla AI Day is actually far more insightful than that of journalists due to the way in which he does into detail regarding the neural architecture and machine learning pipeline. The sophistication of what Tesla is doing is on a level that I think is only really comparable with Google, Deepmind or OpenAI at this point.
Aug 24, 2021
Graphic Design- GCFLearnFree.org
Aug 11, 2021
I wanted to learn how to make a logo. This did not necessarily teach practical matters related to that, but it did teach about fundamentals of graphics design and offered a few manageable tutorials with Canvas. The entire playlist is somewhat shorter lin length compared to a full class, so it is good as a primer into the industry.
Aug 21, 2021
Milk inside a bag of milk inside a bag of milk
Aug 26, 2020
An exploration of schizophrenia or OCD. A surreal and depressing exploration of mental illness through empathetic means. Short and befuddling.
Aug 20, 2021
Bicycle Thieves
Nov 21, 1949
Said to be one of the greatest movies ever made. While I would not necessarily place it on the same level as Citizen Kane or Vertigo, I do agree that it is quite close. This is supposedly a film about a bicycle, but there is much more going on beneath the surface. At the same time, this is a film about postwar Italian society, relationship between father and son, and adversity. There are no special effects, camera movement is simple but effective, and we can only depend on the acting of those involved to sell the story. The way in which it is structured is quite well done-- particularly with the ending of the film.
Aug 20, 2021
Before Your Eyes
Apr 9, 2021
Simple and innovative. A great work that moves the medium forward. This game uses a webcam to detect blinks and the blinking of the player controls the progression of the game. The story is simple, but handled terrifically and touches upon the topic of life, meaning, and mortality. It has similarities to That Dragon, Cancer, but this is less tedious, more to the point, and more effective. The score is also well done. Gameplay is simple, but the use of blinks seems to have some sort of psychological effect when playing the game that affects the player in a greater manner than standard gameplay. There are areas where there is a challenge of not blinking which is something that I have never trained which can be challenging for some players. I believe that similar mechanics that utilize webcameras and computer vision to do interesting things have a lot of promise for the future of the medium.
Aug 19, 2021
It's a Wonderful Life
Dec 20, 1946
This has quite a bit of acclaim due to its popularity as a classic Christmas movie, and while I think it is a good film, I also cannot understand how people miss some of the obvious flaws. Some of the editing is jerky. James Stewart plays James Stewart like he does in all of his movies. Cinematography is above average. Potter who stole money at the end of the film gets away with his crime. This is a crowd pleaser, but on a critical level, it has problems. What it does handle well is the its reflection on life beyond material aspects.
Aug 16, 2021
Das Boot
Sep 17, 1981
Wolfgang Petersen can be hit or miss, but this is a definite hit. Given the long runtime of this film, I had to split this up over multiple days which is probably the preferred method of viewing. This film feels like something that was made in the 70's with its general pacing, cinematography, and special effects which is very welcome. The film ranges from tedious to a rollercoaster of emotions, but it never gets boring. The set design makes it feel like they used an actual submarine and at times I wondered if they did. Since this was made before the use of widespread CGI, everything is practical which means that everything looks real. The German perspective combined with the claustrophobic nature of the U-Boat provide a distinctive feel that is only ever matched in part by other films. Overall, a triumph with a somewhat surprising ending.
Aug 16, 2021
Mirror's Edge Catalyst
Jun 7, 2016
I enjoyed the original Mirror's Edge, so I was looking forward to this as well. The decision to replace handcrafted linear levels partially with an open world was questionable, but also welcome in that it offers something to do outside of the story. The story's quality is questionable as well due to a substandard method of delivery and lack of character development and interactions. When compared to Mirror's Edge, the parkour movements felt as polished, but the combat aspects are just as weak and should have been removed. The setting and aesthetic is beautiful and should have been turned up to 11. Music and score by Solar Fields is great. I felt that writing as well as design of levels and the world were the primary problems, and fixing these would partially improve the game. An open world is wasted if it is not populated with interesting things to do which is one of the main failings of this game. Collectibles are nice, but have no meaning beyond gaining experience to unlock skills. Outside of that, there is no character customization.
Aug 13, 2021
La Dolce Vita
Feb 3, 1960
Hypnotizing and broad in terms of the topics it explores. There are themes of intellectualism, love, journalism, family and many others. This film shows a naive version of the way things are and then deconstructs those things to show that everything is worse than it actually is. This is a film about images, and Federico Fellini moves cameras over scenes in deliberate fashion. Characters are distinctive and easy to identify with almost half of the characters being of non-Italian origin which gives this a cosmopolitan feel. I enjoyed this more than 8½, but I am unsure of which is the better film. That said, this is undoubtedly a great film and solidifies my opinion of Fellini as one of the best Italian directors.
Aug 13, 2021
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Mark Twain, Dec 1, 1884
I don't have much to say about this one. It is similar to Tom Sawyer, but has more going on in my opinion. The humor is a bit dated, but at times it can still be used to make statements about society. Controversy regarding this work is overblown when considering the time and location in which the story takes place. Good, but when compared to other great novels of the time, this does not compare.
Aug 12, 2021
Starbase Launchpad Tour with Elon Musk [PART 3]
Aug 11, 2021
This is less packed than the other parts and primarily covers the orbital launch table. In this, the contents covered are less about the engineering involved and more about the primary goals of SpaceX which are covered in other presentations, making this somewhat redundant.
![Starbase Launchpad Tour with Elon Musk [PART 3]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9Zlnbs-NBUI/hq720.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEcCNAFEJQDSFXyq4qpAw4IARUAAIhCGAFwAcABBg==&rs=AOn4CLBMg9gc3IOibtGRrczJ2mrS4Qh2yQ)
Aug 10, 2021
The Lives of Others
Mar 15, 2006
There have been many films about world war II, but there are fewer films about the GDR and Weimar republic which tend to be overshadowed by the war. This film covers the GDR and domestic surveillance and it is a home run of a film in terms of all aspects. This is moving, well paced, a film over two hours that is never boring. It is hard to believe that this is a directorial debut. The way in which a Stasi officer is affected by the people under his surveillance was well handled and convincing and it managed to show character development as well as the state of the GDR during the time. Overall, an outstanding film that is one of the best to come out of the German film industry and it is unfortunate that Ulrich Mühe passed away shortly after this film.
Aug 9, 2021
Cinema Paradiso
Sep 29, 1988
This reminded me of Hugo in its adoration for film, but I consider this to be better. This starts off slowly, but it builds over time and ends quite well. The Italian used here is sometimes Sicillian, so it is not the easiest to understand. This movie has no violence, no special effects, no complex plot, only passion for film and the way its characters use it to live their lives. Cinematography is great, and it manages to capture the allure of an Italian town and the feel of an older theatre quite well. Attention to detail regarding projection adds to the general feel of the film. This has sentimental value, and it manages to move through its story in an indulgent and deliberate manner without lagging.
Aug 8, 2021
Halo: Reach
Sep 14, 2010
With this, I have completed the last decent Halo game developed by Bungie and conclude my interest in the series. This is an improvement upon Halo 3 in terms of presentation of story and gameplay despite it being a prequel that is missing many of the main characters from the previous games. Characterization and development is lacking in comparison to previous games due to a minimalist touch which is one of the main drawbacks, but gameplay, pacing, and technical aspects are quite improved. The decision to have players play as a Spartan who is not Master Chief was interesting and changed the way players would approach the game. Overall, quite solid with great variety. Storywise, it is reminiscent of Rogue One.
Aug 7, 2021
Starbase Tour with Elon Musk [PART 2]
Aug 7, 2021
This part covers the assembly tents where Starship designs are being updated and iterated upon. We see the use of tiling for the heat shield, as well as the improvements in techniques for the assembly of nosecones. This also covers the possibility of in orbit refueling by side by side mating as proposed in 2016. This is in direct contrast to mating at the rear as proposed in 2017.
![Starbase Tour with Elon Musk [PART 2]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SA8ZBJWo73E/hq720.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEcCNAFEJQDSFXyq4qpAw4IARUAAIhCGAFwAcABBg==&rs=AOn4CLBYz5LFoxDXs2wZh0bwKyN8dM0FGQ)
Aug 6, 2021
Life Is Beautiful
Dec 20, 1997
Roberto Benigni, for better or worse, is what makes this film. He was the main character, the director, and one of th writers and his personality is what drives the primary message of optimism, gratitude and beauty. This man brings an energy to the screen that is not matched by many and makes this film a unique experience. The backdrop of the holocaust brings about some mixed effects that may be a point of division for many since it is not primary focus, but rather a way in which to contextualize the aforementioned themes. As a result, realism and brutality of the event may not be quite at the level one might expect and the film may be conflicting in nature to some. This is definitely the case when compared with a film like Schindler's List which I consider to be the superior film despite it being completely different in terms of focus. That said, I thought the Oscar wins were well deserved and that this was an unapologetically Italian film that wears its heart on its sleeve and manages to make an impact.
Aug 6, 2021
Halo 3
Sep 25, 2007
Solid conclusion that has flaws, but ultimately does what it sets out to do. Gameplay is very much the same as previous entries with this feeling like a continuation of other games with improved graphics. Vehicle handling feels worse for some reason, however. Story picks up where the previous game left off, but I felt as though it was underdeveloped and could have offered a larger amount of world building and character interactions as fanservice at the very least. More cutscenes and more dialogue could easily fix some of the problems that I had. Overall, I am glad that I was able to finish the trilogy and see the conclusion to its end. Music is great and iconic as always. Although I felt that it could have been a grander ending with greater scale, it was enjoyable and had a feel similar to action movies from the 80's like Aliens.
Aug 5, 2021
Tootsie
Dec 1, 1982
Smartly written, funny and insightful. In this, Dustin Hoffman plays and actor who pretends to be a woman so that he could gain a female part in a soap opera. As the story progresses, his relationships with other characters becomes strained and affected by his choices. There is a statement on society, acting, and gender roles which may have been ahead of its time, or perhaps a response to second wave feminism. Overall, Dustin Hoffman kills it here and absolutely deserved his oscar nomination and would have won if Gandhi did not come out the same year.
Aug 5, 2021
Wonder Woman 1984
Dec 16, 2020
Quite bad. I had no idea why anything was happening. The previous Wonder Woman movie took the setting of World War 1 into account and played upon serious themes to create compelling arcs and characters. This film felt like a caricature where the setting of 1984 was more of a novelty and all the development from the previous film was thrown out the window. It is for this reason why this felt like 2.5 hours wasted. What this goes to show is that bad writing and narrative can waste a large budget and experienced actors. There was a Linda Carter cameo which also seemed hamfisted and should have been handled far better. After seeing Zack Snyder's Justice League, this felt like a definite step backwards because of bad writing and terrible directing.
Aug 5, 2021
Nobody
Mar 26, 2021
A fun and casual viewing that does not try to do too much. The story is not ground breaking, but it presents a standard action story with a self aware sense of humor. Choreography is not ground breaking either, but it was entertaining and the fast editing was not fast enough to make things feel incoherent which was a plus. It is nice to see Bob Odenkirk as the main character in the film and it is interesting to see Christopher Lloyd play an old man like he has for many decades. Overall, very enjoyable when not viewed critically.
Aug 4, 2021
Starbase Factory Tour with Elon Musk [Part 1]
Aug 3, 2021
While it is easy to determine the overlay of Starbase, what this offers is a primer on the manufacturing process, design, and optimization. I am looking forward to the first orbital flight of Starship.
![Starbase Factory Tour with Elon Musk [Part 1]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/t705r8ICkRw/hq720.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEcCNAFEJQDSFXyq4qpAw4IARUAAIhCGAFwAcABBg==&rs=AOn4CLBe-v4hAxhmZqZ_8lVxkuMiNIyy2Q)
Aug 1, 2021
Raise the Red Lantern
Sep 10, 1991
As a Zhang Yimou film, the first question many may have is whether this is historically accurate, and this takes fewer liberties than other Zhang Yimou films. The story is told in a very simple manner and is easy to follow. Visuals are the main attraction and are handled extremely well where many frames are quite memorable. The use of color in particular is quite striking. The location does not change and the main visual changes are in seasons and colors, but for some reason this manages to stay interesting through its runtime. In addition to that, the story is not a happy one. As a result, it has more of an effect of haunting the viewer after completion.
Aug 1, 2021
Soul Reaver 2
Oct 31, 2001
As a game, this is disappointing. As a story, this is promising and very interesting. Gameplay is boring. The open world structure of the previous game has been made more linear which takes away from much of the appeal of the previous game. This game introduces time travel, eternal recurrence, and has an arc where the main character of Raziel sees the completion of his arc as a tragic hero in the Shakespearean sense. Lore is further refined and conversations on free will, good and evil, and false dichotomies continue in this work as well. I don't know if it is worth playing, but the story is interesting enough that at least reading up on it is worth it despite the cliffhanger.
Jul 30, 2021
Sunset Blvd.
Aug 10, 1950
It appears that many of the greatest films have some sort of meta aspect to it. In the case of this film, this is a Hollywood film that criticizes Hollywood. In addition to that, it crosses across multiple genres which differentiates it from the others Billy Wilder films such as Some Like it Hot. At times it is a comedy, sometimes a drama, and once in a while, a horror film. Similar to Singing in the Rain, it also offers commentary on the move from silent films to talkies and features cameos by some famous figures such as Cecil B. DeMille and Buster Keaton. Acting in this is interesting in that side characters had better performances than the main ones with the exception of Gloria Swanson who stole the show. Despite this being more than 70 years old, it is still engaging and should be required viewing.
Jul 30, 2021
Beyond Good and Evil
Friedrich Nietzsche, 1886
In this work, Nietzsche uses a more traditional style of writing without a narrative like Thus Spoke Zarathustra. This covers morality, Christianity, free will, and deconstructs some of the works of previous philosophers while building his own thoughts upon the base they provide. The organization of this book is in similar form to Thus Spoke Zarathustra in that topics are not covered in logical steps and are instead covered in thematic steps which is quite unconventional. I think to understand this, emotion plays a role, so mileage will vary. I personally found Thus Spoke Zarathustra more useful. Since this covers similar topics, the former may be a better use of time. One aspect I did find useful was Nietzsche's explanation of the will to power.
Jul 28, 2021
Tenki no Ko
Jul 19, 2019
This has quite a similar feel to Kimi no Na wa. With regards to story, it is somewhat similar in quality, but on a technical level, it feels as though it is far superior. This showcases unbelievably detailed animation that is bordering on photorealism at times which is quite impressive, because I thought it was originally impossible for Makoto Shinkai to outdo himself given high levels of detail in his previous films. This, combined with its highly realistic depiction of Tokyo makes it very memorable. The focus on weather and heavy rainfall references the impact of global warming during the rainy season. The third act was weaker than the rest of the film, but it was enjoyable throughout. Although I think Kimi no Na wa was a better film, but I think I enjoyed this more due to the nostalgia it brought for me. Crossovers and cameos of characters from Shinkai's previous film were appreciated as well.
Jul 28, 2021
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver
Aug 16, 1999
Surprisingly deep lore and philosophical musings make this stand out among other entries during the time it came out. Questions regarding life, death, free will and good and evil make it directly related to the works of Nietzsche and maybe Dante. Gameplay can be repetitive, but approaches to puzzles are reminiscent of Zelda games at times. Given the time in which this came out, it can also feel clunky at times. Finishing this game can be quite difficult due to aged graphics and obscure solutions that may require a guide to be solved. Voice work was handled well and definitely was great considering the time of release. It's age holds it back, but its story makes it unique. It is unfortunate that it ends in a cliffhanger which requires players to experience the sequel as well. A remaster would help to solve many of the problems this game has.
Jul 26, 2021
Throne of Blood
Jan 15, 1957
A Japanese version of Shakespeare's Macbeth. Mifune Toshirou plays the main character as is typical in many of Kurosawa's other works. Like many Shakespearean plays, the plot devices are the same, but this lacks the wordplay and prose for obvious reasons. Instead, it replaces that with cultural fixtures and strong acting. Since this is a work by Kurosawa, camerawork and shots are great as always. In addition to this, it offers something different by bringing attention to the setting as well. A great film, but there are better among Kurosawa's body of work.
Jun 21, 2021
SK∞ エスケーエイト
Apr 4, 2021
A Japanese treatment of skateboarding. When most of the media depicting skateboarding is American, this offers a fresh look at skateboarding under the lens of a different culture. Story-wise, I do not consider it to be remarkable, but animation and sound is handled well.
Jul 20, 2021
Sisyphus Reborn
Oct 18, 2019
A reimagining of The Myth of Sisyphus which draws inspiration from the source material and Suna no Onna to create something new. The short playtime and free price make it easily accessible.
Jul 18, 2021
Manifold Garden
Oct 18, 2019
This is a work of genius that should be considered as art. The utilization of simple geometry to create infinite environments that draw from a variety of styles of architecture from classical Greek to Japanese is handled extremely well. Use of infinite environments lead to scenes of a scale that I have never before seen in a game and give birth to fractal patterns that mimic mandala style configurations which complements eastern architectural styles in the game. The dynamic sound system makes it so that your actions can directly affect the music played based on the areas you are in, and Laryssa Okada's score leaves a strong impression. Similar to Inception, this takes M.C. Escher based ideas to the next level. It is clear that an understanding of physics, architecture, eastern styles of spirituality, and technical expertise was needed to develop this game. When taken at face value, this is a puzzle game, but in my experience, the appeal of this lies within the environments the player explores as they make their way through the game. It feels as though one is traveling through a stripped down manifestation of human civilization when it is freed from space, time, color, and the people that built it. Environments are simple in nature, but easily evoke emotions that are congruent with standing on top of a mountain, within a large temple, or in an empty metropolis. I have had dreams like what I saw here, but it is truly liberating to be able to explore such environments of my own free will.
Jul 17, 2021
Strong Towns- Not Just Bikes
Feb 18, 2021
An overview of how suburban city planning centered around cars results in higher debt and many disadvantages. This provides clarity as to why many North American city plans are ugly, sterile, inefficient, hostile, and insolvent. Quite educational from a civil engineering and architectural perspective.
Jul 17, 2021
The Song of Achilles
Madeline Miller, Sep 20, 2011
The Song of Achilles builds upon the story in the Iliad and manages to add to the story in a way that is similar to The Historian. For those who are familiar with the Iliad, the general sequence of events does not come as a surprise, so what is impressive about this work is the way in which it manages to keep the familiar story fresh. In the case of this work, a greater focus is given to the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus which has not been covered all that well in the past. This work offers a unique perspective in that it is centered on Patroclus and his experiences. This dynamic is similar in nature to the dynamic seen in My Fair Concubine. The author makes a point in bringing the emotional ties between characters as a center focus which can be easily lost within the poetic text of the Iliad. This makes this work innovative and novel.
Jul 16, 2021
Edward Scissorhands
Dec 6, 1990
Probably my favorite Tim Burton film. This manages to excel in terms of its ability to portray isolation and ostracism while also having a sense of humor. Johnny Depp handles the role of Edward very well despite not speaking all that often in the film. His ability to physically depict emotion is reminiscent of Charlie Chaplin. In terms of visuals, the setting is a cross between fairy tale, and a caricature of suburbia. Special effects are handled well. The combination of its different aspects increases the absurdity of the whole thing, but does not take away from the emotional underpinnings of the film.
Jul 15, 2021
Hard Boiled
Mar, 1992
Violent, exaggerated, and hyperreal with highly detailed artwork that easily stands the test of time. In terms of story, it is in the vein of Blade Runner, but due to it being quite short, nothing of significance could be said to have been accomplished with its narrative. I think this could benefit from expansion due to its short length, minimalistic story, and unexplained setting. If built upon, I could see this being on the same level as a work like Akira.
Jul 14, 2021
Bullitt
Oct 17, 1968
A film with some action that is still impressive today. Steve McQueen plays his role as Bullitt well, and the film has a sense of groundedness and grit that was quite uncommon during the time. It's crazy to think that Steve McQueen did his own driving, but it paid off very well in the car chase this film is famous for.
Jul 12, 2021
Richard Branson goes to sub-orbital space more than two years after the VSS Unity mission. The rate of progress was quite slow, but it still managed to beat out Bezos which is quite concerning for Blue Origin.
Jun 11, 2021
Karigurashi no Arrietty
Jul 17, 2010
Quite good and solid Ghibli film. This manages to handle its subject matter quite well in a way that outclasses other similar works like Indian in the Cupboard and Thumbelina. In terms of story, this is not the best Ghibli film, but it knows what it wants to do and does not try to do more or less. It should be noted that this is not directed by Miyazaki, but it is still well handled since it does not try to be too ambitious. The animation and sound design are the best aspects of the film with details such as fluid dynamics at smaller scales being accurately handled.
Jul 10, 2021
Atypical
Jul 9, 2021
I don't usually watch or read things based on the premise alone, but this was an exception. From a critical angle, this is not particularly remarkable, but the premise of autism gives it some interesting situations. The struggle of participating in social and educational situations with the condition of autism can be quite educational at times. Similarly, the inclusion of LGBT themes were not particularly forced. Outside of that, the show is filled with tropes that are standard in family dramas and as a result, I cannot say that this is comparable to many of the great works I have previously watched, but this was entertaining.
Jul 8, 2021
The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser
Nov 1, 1974
A very strange film that, when taken at face value, does not seem all that strange despite the premise. However, there are aspects of this that seem like very strange directorial choices. Camera work is unconventional, the actor who plays Kaspar Hauser was in his 40's at the time and had no acting experience. Similarly, the narrative structure is bizarre. This film does not try to make any statements regarding Kaspar Hauser and whether he is a fraud or not. It is up to the viewer to figure things out, but the riddle being posed is not all that obvious either.
Jul 8, 2021
Simulacra and Simulation
Jean Baudrillard, 1981
This is the first work of postmodernism that I have read and it signifies a shift towards more societal concerns within philosophical works. In this, the primary argument is that everything within our reality has become abstracted through societal and cultural constructs to become hyperreal to the point where everything no longer represents reality. This is quite relevant to our world today if one simply looks at social media, modern education, or financial institutions. With regards to the place of this work within the larger tapestry of philosophy, Baudrillard makes references to nihilism which I believe is correctly identified as the area that his work is a corollary of. While past philosophers may question existence itself, in the case of Baudrillard, even if what we perceive exists, such existence is invalidated due to the way in which increasing levels of abstraction are utilized. Interestingly enough, there are aspects of this work that consist of simulacra, making me wonder whether how valid the conclusions found here truly are at times. I am curious to see what Baudrillard would think of dataism as well as whether absurdist philosophy can complement his works. I am also curious to see what solutions exist as a possible resolution to the problems defined.
Jul 7, 2021
This is the textbook that TU Delft utilizes for teaching Dutch to foreigners. It has about 2000 words of Dutch vocabulary and 42 chapters covering different topics. This may be a companion piece to actual classes, but this textbook alone should not replace conversations. In addition to this, the explanation of grammar is quite badly handled. This is okay, but there are definitely more efficient ways of balancing survival, understanding, and conversational fluency than is handled within this textbook.
Jul 4, 2021
Le Samouraï
Oct 25, 1967
I loved this. It is subtle and stripped down and does only what it needs to do. For more attentive viewers, there are smaller details hidden here and there, but it handled its noir elegantly. In addition to this, it used Bushido principles in a somewhat misguided way, but somehow it managed to work. The color grading is saturated and dark and complments the characters and themes very well. Alan Delon's character as Jef Costello is simply iconic and reminded me not only of characters from other noir films, but also some spaghetti westerns. I can definitely see the influence this had on many crime dramas and thrillers that came afterwards.
Jul 3, 2021
Everywhere at the End of Time
Mar 14, 2019
This 6 hour long album is a deep dive into a recreation of the first 6 stages of dementia and is quite ambitious in nature. I listened to each stage on a separate day and the increasing levels of modulation and modification of the original tracks in the first stage along with the passage of time successfully made it more and more difficult to tell what the original samples were. The more interesting progressions begin to occur from the 3rd to 6th stages where music can be disorienting and the semblance of a time signature, key or any other conventions are becomming increasingly difficult to determine due to the aleotoric nature of the music. In my opinion, instances of neural retrogenesis in stage 5 as well as terminal lucidity within stage 6 were probably the most interesting. What is quite clear is that by modifying the music, the sense of time becomes lost along with the identity of the work which translates well to the parallel of dementia, but it should be noted that other forms of neural degeneration can have similar effects. I recommend listening to this with no visual or other sensory simulation to increase the effects. The Caretaker's work has shown a deep understanding of music production, dementia, and simply a large amount of research that managed to successfully capture some of the existential concerns inherent in dementia.
Jul 1, 2021
Moonlight
Sep 2, 2016
This is a great film that felt very real. The way in which it depicted events and places was not only poetic, but also very easy to relate to. Although this is on the surface about being black and being gay, it is more about understanding one's identity and growing up in hard conditions. This shows the flaws in all people, and at the same time, there are instances that offer moments of lucidity. The film is split into 3 moments in time, and all actors of all ages delivered spectacularly for their roles. Themes and ideas are presented subtly and with grace which is quite difficult to do. The ending hits hard and is incredibly relatable. I could not find any major flaw in this film.
Jun 29, 2021
République
Mar 22, 2016
I remember when this was a highly rated and ambitious mobile game. That said, many years have passed since the first episode was released for mobile, and the novelty is not quite the same on another platform. Story is cryptic, but not in a good way. It is similar to many dystopian stories, but the way in which information is presented indirectly makes it difficult to make out a coherent story at times. Topics regarding clones used as hard drives by storing information within DNA does not make logistical sense for anyone who is familiar with DNA based computers. Characters are supported by a good voice cast, but the writing is lacking. Gameplay is reminiscent of metal gear solid, but has a twist where you don't play the protagonist and instead are forced to watch through cameras in a manner that is similar to Observation. This can be fun, but repetitive milestones and tasks with limited variation makes it so that the engagement does not last until the end.
Jun 28, 2021
Faust
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1832
I had some prior experience with Goethe due to my familiarity with his theory of colors, but I have only just now began exploring what is considered his greatest work. I did not like part 1 of Faust. It felt far too similar to The Picture of Dorian Gray, and the conversations between Faust and Mephistopheles were probably the only thing about the first part that I found to be interesting. It should also be noted that I was not a fan of many works of Gothic literature which is also why I most likely did not enjoy part 1 despite it being a more personal experience for doctor Faust and his pursuit for knowledge and purpose. The second part seems to aim higher and become far more ambitious with a more classical approach to the plot with elements of Greek literature and mythology making an appearance. It is this part where I began to see the value of the work and why it was considered one of the best works of German literature. That said, it is hard to determine how well this can translate to the stage by simply reading it, because there are parts of this work that can get quite abstract at times. It should be noted that there are instances of humor in this work to even things out. In addition to this, there are figures who make an appearance who are not from Greek mythology or Christianity who I can only assume are from a German mythos. Overall, I don't know what to make of it as a whole, but I can see tremendous value in certain parts of this work.
Jun 27, 2021
Black Book
Sep 12, 2006
Paul Verhoeven generally had a downward trend in the quality of his films over time, but this one is one of the better ones despite it being quite flawed. This is unique in that it has a female perspective of the second world war from the Dutch side, but it is also quite indulgent and hits some of the same notes as Soldaat van Oranje which makes it feel derivative in many ways. There are aspects of this that have been handled better by Paul Verhoeven's previous works, the works of Steven Speilberg, and many other films that have been released prior to this one. The positives lie within the story and the acting, but if there was a point to this film or primary message, it is a bit unclear. The organization of events, pacing, and transitions are quite messy which is what prevents it from being on the level of films by the aforementioned directors. The depiction of postwar attrocities was well done, but do suffer from the flaws previously mentioned. As far as Dutch films are concerned, this seems to be one of the better ones, but it should be noted that the film output of the Netherlands does not quite compare with the film industries of other larger countries which means that there is not much competition domestically. Overall, good but lacking.
Jun 25, 2021
The Vanishing
Oct 27, 1988
For a Dutch film, this felt more like a French film due to that being the primary language spoken. In terms of genre, I could not figure out if this was a thriller, a horror film, or a psychological film and it is similar to Psycho in that sense. In terms of suspense, this is Hitchcockian in that it shows who committed the crime from the very beginning and instead of trying to determine who did it, we try to understand why and how. The sociopathic tendencies made the main antagonist almost relatable at times due to the smartly written script. We care less about what happened and try instead to understand what motivates the characters and that is what makes this film engaging and great.
Jun 23, 2021
Suna no Onna
Feb 15, 1964
A greatly constructed analysis of the human condition based on a novel by Abe Koubou. This is well shot and the focus on sand as a source of suffering is very new to me. I have seen humanity's fight with the sea, with the frigid cold, and the heat, but never sand, and that made this feel very different from many other films. The premise is quite simple where one much dig sand out of a pit that is continuously filling with sand everyday. This has been stated to have some similarity to The Myth of Sisyphus, but the enjoyment of the moment as is stated in absurdism is very limited in this context and is only ever indicated towards the end of the film. This seems to be its own original study in eternal labor and that makes it a film to be studied.
Jun 22, 2021
The Talos Principle
Dec 11, 2014
This game and its DLC are quite basic in its execution, but ambitious in concept. The story is a combination of Biblical myth, AI, and simulation theory. It tries to tackle and question things such as free will, consciousness and truth within the context of a god. Gameplay is composed of exploring a world composed of puzzles which makes it similar to The Witness. The puzzles themselves involve exploration of 3d space and taking advantage of simple mechanics that can be used to manipulate the environment like Portal. Puzzles themselves are quite challenging and build upon themselves quite effectively. The way in which the story and concepts are delivered are highly minimalist which leaves much to be desired especially when compared with a game like Soma, but it at least provides the bare minimum.
Jun 19, 2021
The Turin Horse
Feb 15, 2011
So, this is apparently related to the horse that caused Nietzsche to have a mental breakdown in the city of Turin. That said, the connection is not all that clear because we never see the aforementioned scene and this seems closer to something like Eraserhead with its feelings of emptiness. This is a slow film that breaks conventions in film and simply follows a simple life of endless hardship and boredom. Béla Tarr provides a genius film that focuses on the minutia of a simple and hard life that consists of eating boiled potatoes and dealing with an endless storm that snuffs out hope in the middle of a degenerating society that we never see in full. The film plays with light, subject and movement with perfect cinematography and the way in which light is snuffed out towards the end makes it truly unique and audacious.
Jun 19, 2021
Dr. Stone: Stone Wars
Mar 25, 2021
I enjoyed this very much and found it to either match or exceed the previous season's performance. The appeal and flaws of the previous season remains and new inventions of human civilization are leveraged as plot devices. In this season, steam power, gun powder, nitroglycerin, vacuum tubes, hydroelectrically powered devices, refrigeration, and cellular communication make an appearance this time in anachronistic fashion. For a show intended for a younger audience, there were moments that impressed me and touched upon deeper themes such as the morals of science and the purpose of human civilization.
Jun 18, 2021
Existentialism is a Humanism
Jean-Paul Sartre, 1946
I like to think of this as a general explanation of existentialism that is intended as a type of primer while also making a few personal statements on the matter. Basically, the partially novel part of this work is that Sartre states that life is meaningless unless you give it meaning and that life is what you make of it. There are certain things that are out of our control, but what is within our control are our own actions. This is why existentialism can be considered to be humanism. This is what I consider to be of interest, but I have also seen this in other works as tangential topics, so this did not come as a large surprise.
Jun 17, 2021
The Last Messiah (Nihilistic Buddhism, Antinatalism, Pessimism)
Peter Wessel Zapffe, 1933
It is my opinion that the essay format is far more effective for philosophical ponderings and such was the case for this essay. In the case of Peter Wessel's work, he states that the human intellect is overdeveloped for the purpose of sustaining a life. Zapffe talks about anchoring such as the choosing of a goal which is a way to temporarily forget about the abject meaninglessness of reality. In that sense, many of the things society advocates, be it love, a profession, or family, are more of distractions to delude oneself into thinking that life has greater meaning if it has meaning at all. Quite well done for its short length with the only criticism being that it lacks empirical backing with regards to human emotion. One thing I notice in many of the nihilistic works I have come across is that the majority seem to depend on certain concepts as axioms that may not even exist such as meaning, cause and effect, and time. In that sense, they don't go as far as they can with regards to pushing the philosophy to its absolute limit.
Jun 17, 2021
On the Suffering of the World
Arthur Schopenhauer, 1850
The version I read contained sufferings of the world, emptiness of existence and vanity of existence. This is a comprehensive overview of suffering and misery and I feel as though it should be a required prerequisite prior to reading any Buddhist texts or Nietzsche. Schopenhauer is the most realistic philosopher I have had the pleasure of reading that correctly identifies pain and suffering as a primary driver of human existence which is an intermediary step in a larger process. He also acts as a primer for ascetic practices and in many ways retreads the same ground as mystics thousands of years prior, but unlike those individuals, Schopenhauer manages to outline his arguments eloquently. Although Schopenhauer does not recommend ascetism, he does seem to follow a more Epicurean prescription whereby pain is minimized during life. Whether such approaches are truly successful are questionable, but since On the Suffering of the World focuses on the suffering rather than the potential cure, Schopenhauer manages to sidestep the problem of explaining the answer to suffering within this work at least.
Jun 16, 2021
Fear and Trembling
Søren Kierkegaard, Oct 16, 1843
This is a short analysis of faith through the story of Abraham. There is a contemplation of the anxiety or fear Abraham had prior to his attempted sacrifice of Isaac and he then extrapolates this to human life in general. This is supposed to be an answer to Hegel's work, but since I did not read Hegel's work because I am not a masochist or particularly interested in Christian theology at the moment, this was not quite as rewarding as other works. In many cases, the concepts provided here felt quite basic and self-explanatory with many of the lessons in ethics and life seeming to be a repeat of other, more modern, works that I have read previously except those works did not have theological aspects found in this work.
Jun 15, 2021
Critique of Pure Reason
Immanuel Kant, 1781
This is probably the most difficult philosophical work I have read and it often reads more like a mathematics textbook rather than a work of philosophy. Those with prior mathematical knowledge of predicate logic and probability theory may already find some of the concepts such as a priori and a posteriori as well as syllogisms, paralogisms, tautologies, and antimonies to be familiar. This work introduces concepts such as transcendental idealism, schematisms, Kantian manifolds and noumenons which are a staple of Kantian philosophy and builds upon those concepts with succeeding complexity to approach many areas of study. It builds off of the work of previous philosophers such as Hume, Leibniz, and Descartes. Kant's work can be simply summarized as a critique and analysis of empirical thought, science, and intuitions due to the limitation of human perception. Kant analyzes what makes a concept, what is needed for something to be recognized as a thing or object. This is a work that is quite significant because it calls into question the existence of time, space, cause and effect, what is required to prove an omniscient and omnipotent creator, as well as how our understanding may truly be a description of our perception rather than our reality. This later aspect is why Kant considers this work to be his epistemological Copernican revolution.
Jun 14, 2021
The Big Picture (Time & Entropy, feat. Sean Carroll)
Feb 18, 2021
An overview of entropy presented in collaboration with Sean Carroll. I don't like the presentation style of Sean Carroll, but since this is only a 15 minute playlist, I consider it to be acceptable. This covers concepts like complexity, cause and effect, and the use of entropy to deduct a meaning of life. While this does take initial steps towards using entropy to answer philosophical questions, the lack of an explanation with regards to how entropy affects perceptions of utility, morals, and meaning as well, whether time exists or not, as well as physical manifestations of the central value theorem made this somewhat disappointing. Simply put, a Kantian perspective on the matter can be used to easily poke holes in what was presented which is why additional steps must be taken to fill in the holes offered by this playlist. Next steps would include learning information theory and chaos theory.
Jun 13, 2021
Justice League Dark: Apokolips War
May 5, 2020
The final film in a long series of films to conclude a continuity that was started by The Flashpoint Paradox 7 years prior. This is a surprisingly good film because it manages to sidestep problems like character development by simply standing on top of the previous works to provide something that is coherent and satisfying. With regards to the story, it is not particularly novel and it is predictable to a point, but the way in which heroes that were the main characters of previous installments were dropping like flies gave it some weight. I think this is worth the time if one is familiar with all the characters.
Jun 12, 2021
Reign of the Supermen
Jan 10, 2019
A continuation of the story in The Death of Superman. This acts as a setup for a final battle with Darkseid and has many parallels with the Snyder cut of Justice League in terms of setup. Due to its short runtime, it does not make a lot of progress in terms of character development, but it does manage to build upon the film that preceded it. I would consider this to be mainly unremarkable, but it does have its moments.
Jun 11, 2021
Tokyo Story
Nov 3, 1953
This is a film that is very Japanese. It feels old, new and timeless all at the same time. The setting is that of traditional family relations that center around aging parents. Camera work is higly minimal with movement being entirely absent in most scenes which is apparently unique to Yasujiro Ozu's films. The story is quite standard, but it ends up offering a more profound commentary on human relations and society during the time in which the story took place which was years right after World War II. From a historical perspective, this can be educational, because Tokyo back in the 50's is completely different from Tokyo today. When compared with other great Japanese films like Ikiru for example, this does share a number of similarities, but in comparison, this is far slower in pacing which makes it different from the Kurosawa films. Overall, quite great and among the best when it comes to older Japanese films.
Jun 10, 2021
Observation
May 21, 2019
A video game equivalent to 2001: A Space Odyssey where the player essentially controls the game's equivalent of HAL 9000. Story is fascinating and gameplay is composed of straight forward puzzles where the primary entertainment value comes from the story and the novelty of controlling a space station computer. The game is great to look at with scenes looking photorealistic at times. The game has interesting aspects to it such as remote control of probes in zero-g, an equivalent to 2001's monolith in the form of a pentagon, transhumanism, and the use of a many worlds interpretation to add an interesting dimension to the flow of the story. Gameplay is not the strong point of this game, but overall it was an enjoyable and cinematic experience.
Jun 9, 2021
The Wild Bunch
Jun 19, 1969
While I prefer Sergio Leone's works, this is a great stylistic western that is just as iconic as Leone's works. The use of anti-heroes as the main characters made this quite unique where all of the characters had some sort of flaw. This is a violent movie during a time in which violence was not quite as common within film and the way in which it was unapologetic about was quite interesting. Cinematography is great with the way in which the camera pans over landscapes and scenes that are taken out of the early 1900's. This definitely is among the best when it comes to westerns.
Jun 7, 2021
The Concept of the Political
Carl Schmitt, 1927
Due to the time in which this was published as well as Schmitt's role in the Nazi party, his works have only recently been given serious treatment from the academic community. Similar to The Allegory of the Cave, while this is a work in political theory, I found the existential implications far more fascinating. Schmitt deconstructs politics and frames it as a distinction between friend and enemy similar to how economics is a distinction between utility and valueless constructs. It also highlights the downsides of liberalism by framing it as a naive oversimplification that ignores human nature. The most important themes that I found to be interesting were that of proper identification of friend and enemy, that the lack of an enemy will result in friends becoming enemies, that reality is inherently hostile, and that the pressure of survival is a key part of human nature. This not only tries to touch upon a key aspect of human nature, but also manages to describe accurately the policies of many modern governments today. In particular, I found this to be a useful tool to analyze the United States' military industrial complex and its purpose. Schmitt is also one of the only individuals of his time that considers the nature of the political to change based on technology and he seems to get close, but never reaches the concept of countries and nations becoming obsolete.
Jun 5, 2021
Mushoku Tensei: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu
Mar 22, 2021
This was the first light novel I read multiple volumes of from beginning to end completely in Japanese about 6 years ago, so I was quite surprised that an animation studio was created specifically to fully adapt the written work. This has high production value, and the animation work is well done. The story is as described in the light novel for beter and for worse, so there is not much to be said there other than that this manages to innovate in the isekai genre with its detailed lore, but is weaker with some of its character flaws which fall into standard tropes within the medium. I quite enjoyed this and am looking forward to the second season.
Jun 4, 2021
The Myth of Sisyphus
Albert Camus, 1942
An introduction and argument towards the acceptance of absurdism. Absurdism in this case refers to that which is beyond the realms of rationality. Camus takes a journey through the history of philosophy before finally arriving at his using of Sisyphus to make the point that a life of torment is that of happiness due to the struggle involved. Camus states that absurdism is a step beyond nihilism where absurdity is close in meaning to meaninglessness. Accepting this meaninglessness is what Camus states is the antithesis of physical or philosophical suicide which is a statement of an inability to accept the the absurd nature of our reality. Instead Camus states that an act of metaphysical rebellion against death is a way to optimize life. This last statement is what makes this work valueable an an interesting area of study as it directly contradicts the works of many notable philosophers.
Jun 2, 2021
Batman: The Telltale Series
Dec 13, 2016
I enjoyed this, but this is a flawed work. For a game that is linear and consists of cutscenes, I am surprised at how computationally heavy it was for some strange reason. In terms of story, I consider it to be quite well handled with pacing being the best strength. In the story here, it retreads familiar ground as The Dark Knight, but it focuses more on Bruce Wayne and functions like an origin story that manages to do something other origin stories have not. In that sense, the more story based focus which is a centerpiece of many Telltale games allows for greater exploration of inner motivations which was quite good. The main problems here is that of the gameplay which is quite problematic due to the fact that this is a game first and foremost. Mechanics involve quicktime events, simplistic puzzles, and choices that do not truly affect the story all that significantly. Compared to other Telltale games like The Wolf Among Us or Borderlands, I consider this to be inferior, but I did enjoy it at least.
Jun 1, 2021
Thus Spoke Zarathustra
Friedrich Nietzsche, 1883
Ambitious, contradictory, and perhaps timeless. This is a work that tries to do many things and retreads familiar ground, but takes a more modern approach with interesting results. At face value, this feels like a combination of themes that can be seen within Christianity and Buddhism, but in many cases, this is a rejection of Christrian themes. Nietzsche focuses on reaching the state of the overman where one transcends their humanity to become something greater which is similar to that of enlightenment in Buddhism. Similar to Buddhism, Nietzsche recognizes the suffering in the world and the value in overcoming. That said, Nietzsche takes a more beligerent approach that values laughter in place of the eightfold path. There is also a strange focus on the negative aspects of women which did not age well. The way in which it presents its ideas is with a narrative structure which I found to be quite effective, but the journey that Zarathustra or Zoroaster takes seems quite meandering and preachy. This is why, although I have a positive opinion of the work with regards to the individual commentaries that it makes, I am mixed regarding the larger overarching theme. In that sense, it truly is a book for everyone and a book for no one.
May 31, 2021
The Death of Superman
Jul 24, 2018
Average and unremarkable. Although this focuses mainly on the Doomsday fight with Superman, there is limited character development, and the world does not feel fleshed out. Pacing is also inconsistent. The only reason to watch this is to watch the sequels.
May 30, 2021
The Great Escape
Jul 4, 1963
A fun ride that is very much in the spirit of other action films during the time like The Magnificent Seven. All characters are memorable, all actors play their parts well, and the way in which the escape from the Nazi prison camp was paced kept it engaging throughout. The writers made a smart decision by not only showing the escape, but also the aftermath in the final act which brings the story to a larger more cosmopolitan scale. This is also old enough that the movie actually has a score where the theme is memorable which is quite rare nowadays. This is a classic that should be required viewing.
May 29, 2021
Jujutsu Kaisen
Mar 27, 2021
This shares many similarities to Kimetsu no Yaiba, but I enjoyed this far more, because it seemed to cater more to my interests. Stylistically, it felt modern, but it also had similarities in style to older shounen stories like Bleach, and Hunter x Hunter. Unlike those previous entries, this had extremely high quality animation that made it feel like Fate/Zero at times. In the case of this work, the animation is so well done that the episodic format of the story can work against its best aspects at times and drag down the pacing from time to time. Sound design is also great with the modern score not taking away from the other aspects of the work. With regards to the story, it is standard and not particularly ambitious, but the use of curses that are generated by the accumulation of negative human emotions allows for commentary on human nature to be made. That said, it does not get as philosophical as it can be, but if taken purely at face value, it makes for an enjoyable ride.
May 28, 2021
Johnny Got His Gun
Dalton Trumbo, 1939
This is an anti-war novel that inspired a Metallica song as well as lead to the creation of a film in the 1970's. Despite these other mediums being considered, I feel that only a novel can truly emulate the sensory deprivation and isolation described in the novel. The novel is told entirely from the perspective of Joe Bonham who cannot see, hear, smell, or taste due to injuries that took away his major senses, his limbs, his face, and his ability to speak. This was a smart move on Trumbo's part because it creates an element of suspense and maintains a certain level of mystery that is seen throughout the novel. While the focus of this novel is regarding the implications of war, I was more fascinated with some of the philosophical aspects of it. Specifically, I was quite interested in the egocentric predicament and the basis of reasoning which I will explore in the near future when I read one of Immanuel Kant's works. Overall, this is one of the better novels that I have read recently and it has a visceral impact that very few novels have.
May 27, 2021
Glengarry Glen Ross
Oct 2, 1992
Fast paced, sharply edited, and well acted. There were no weak links in this movie about real estate salesmen. The story is simple, and there are no bells or whistles, just pure acting and writing that keeps you engaged from beginning to end with its intense dialogue. From the moment Alec Baldwin opened his mouth to the end, it was a film that never stopped. Jack Lemmon's performance in particular showcased a range of motions from desperation to triumph. While it does not take full advantage of the medium of film, it works as a great drama.
May 26, 2021
96
Jan 22, 1964
Quite good albeit somewhat unrealistic story of love that lasts for decades. It's first half was strong with the second half being a bit weaker. In terms of narrative trajectories, this felt like a cross between Before Sunrise and Lost in Translation, but when compared to the two, this felt quite a bit more minimalistic. The largest difference is that this is less philosophical, involves less talking, and more retrospection where all characters have more of a backstory. This is quite accessible, slow, and very well shot with cinematography and music being one of its better aspects. Music is simple but effective, and dialogue is also straightforward. The use of flashbacks in some films is not handled very well in terms of pacing, but in this film, it works. There are aspects of this film that come across as stalking in a western context and take away from the positive aspects, but other than that, since this film does not try to do anything too ambitious, it does not make many mistakes.
May 25, 2021
The Metaphysics
Aristotle, c. 330 B.C.
Dense, fascinating, boring, visionary, and wrong all at the same time. This manages to explain the foundations of reasoning as explained by pre-Socratic philosophers and Aristotle himself. He manages to reduce all non-tangible items to first principles, monads, and forms. At the same time, he brings non-rational concepts into the conversation such as essences, will, and goodness which have no empirical basis. This is a mixed work, but also a work to be studied due to how esoteric it is. One thing that surprised me was how concepts like Newton's first law of motion and functional programming were being discussed at a basic level almost two millenia prior to when such concepts became conventional. Overall, it is a two-sided work that is flawed and rationally prophetic which makes it a good work to use to test or tune one's intuitions by further breaking everything down through successive gradations of abstraction.
May 23, 2021
Invincible S1
Mar 26, 2021
This is like a satire of DC comics which took inspiration from DC, Dragon Ball Z, and Akira. Very entertaining and a bloody alternative to currently available fare that is easily bingeable. While it can be predictable at times, that does not stop it from being engaging. Animation is well done, but it can be obvious when the animators took shortcuts and used CGI. I am quite curious to see how this compares to The Boys.
May 21, 2021
Zulu
Jan 22, 1964
Great, never boring, and always epic. While the story is above average and can be considered good, the tension, pacing, and sprawling landscapes in which battles take place are what make this engaging. For characters there is a bare minimum done in terms of development which for this film was all that was needed to make it feel complete. Although it is not historically accurate, at times, it does feel like the film places you right in the middle of the time in which the story takes place and details the British forces and Zulu forces quite well. The acting was well done, and it felt very much like a western in spirit despite the setting. The last act in particular was shot incredibly well with camera movement being quite mesmerizing.
May 20, 2021
Idylls of the King
Alfred Tennyson, 1885
I've wanted to read the work of Alfred Tennyson as well as familiarize myself with Arthurian legend, so this allowed for me to kill two birds with one stone. The prose is handled very well, which is to be expected of a poet and words flow from one to another beautifully in blank verse. Although the term idyll is used in the title, this is not idyllic, but rather tragic with the idylls starting from Arthur's rule to ending with Arthur's death and the dissolution of the round table. Similarly, although in popular culture, Arthurian legend focuses on things like Excalibur and the grail, the idylls included the ugly parts of the story with details of Arthur's illegitimate birth, and the presence of Christianity in every part. I would not say this is ground breaking, but it does provide great prose with a classic story of heroes.
May 17, 2021
Kentucky Route Zero
Jan 28, 2020
A very ambient and surreal game that feels almost like a choose your own adventure book where you don't really choose anything. The story is convoluted and bizarrely paced albeit written with great prose. In fact, this felt more like a novel than a game with gameplay changing only to vary the way in which the story is told in the many acts the game presents. Themes of death and debt are found throughout the story. The soundtrack is interesting which a mix of ambience, some country songs, and a few songs that sound like something Pink Floyd would come up with. For a point and click style game, this was strangely engaging despite struggling to understand everything thoroughly. It made me want to visit some of the locations in Kentucky and also research some of the game's avant-garde influences.
May 17, 2021
Shingeki no Kyojin: The Final Season
Mar 29, 2021
Despite a new studio, a new composer, and the use of more CGI, this is a great slow burn that manages to continue the story without diminishing it. The story is not no longer a story of survival, but the story of a race of people. The use of flashbacks interspersed throughout this season was questionable, but it did not hurt the pacing. The story continues with the previous parallels to the Jews and Nazis during World War II, but has parallels to the Ottomans and other similar nations from World War I in addition to references to chemical and nuclear warfare. It is clear that this work draws from many other works such as Arthurian Legend, Metaphysics, The Old Testament, and Greek Philosophy. The commentary on genocide and war crimes is quite thought provoking, because it seems to convincingly try to ask the question of whether there are instances where committing human rights violations can be just. The story ultimately ends on a cliffhanger, and we will need to see the succeeding part to get a full answer, but overall, this is quite well thought out and difficult to predict especially when taking into account some of the existential and ethical implications. The growing levels of abstraction and western esotericism is truly ambitious. Next steps may include reading German philosophy. E.g., Immanuel Kant, Heidegger, Nietzsche, Carl Schmitt.
May 15, 2021
The Manchurian Candidate
Oct 24, 1962
Cynical, well written, and well paced. The editing was not necessarily the best, but it was nothing out of the ordinary for the time in which the film was made. It operates as an effective thriller, but also offers satirical and political intrigue. The use of cacausian actors to play Koreans and Chinese characters was questionable. The psychological implications of brainwashing is interesting, and the concept of the U.S. already being compromised by foreign agents is an area of interest even today. Overall, this is a greatt film that aged very well despite the previous cold war being over for decades.
May 15, 2021
Capital, Vol. 1: A Critical Analysis of Capitalist Production
Karl Marx, Sep 14, 1867
A very hard and dense read which is why I have decided to stop after the first volume which is in excess of 1000 pages on its own. This manages to offer some historical context on the effects of industrialization during the 1800's and how it resulted in reduced welfare for many due to unfair and predatory practices by employers. This work has the appearance of a work focusing in microeconomic effects, but it does invoke pathos to make an emotional plea against capitalistic practices which pulls it into the realm of subjective reasoning. That said, many of the concerns brought up in this work are concerns that are often times ignored today such as economic externalities which are imposed upon society and the greater public. This is a problem typically handled and regulated by governments since the externalities enter the realm of public welfare. Despite its relevance to the modern world, it should be noted that it is quite limited when it analyzes machinery due to a fully automated economy not being a consideration given the technology at the time. In addition to this, there are times when Marx oversimplifies situations or generalizes when it suits his arguments which ultimately weakens his statements. Overall, this is a work that manages to identify many problems brought on by industrialization, but does not offer a solution. Such a solution may be presented in the succeeding volumes or the manifesto written by Marx, but I've seen everything I wanted to see.
May 9, 2021
Justice League Dark
Feb 7, 2017
When Hollywood is incapable of delivering, the animated works of DC can sometimes be better than the live action material. The Dark Knight Returns, The Flashpoint Paradox, and Assault on Arkham are such examples. However, this is only true based on the skill of the director the quality of the source material, so DC animated works can be hit or miss. In this case, it is somewhat of a mixed bag. This work offers a look into the supernatural side of D.C. comics and although this is a Justice League type story, other than Batman, the familiar characters one might expect are rarely seen. Instead, we are given a look at other characters who don't get as much attention such as Constantine and Zatanna. This could work, but character development is limited and in a work that is less than 80 minutes long, depth is something that is lacking which hurts the story. If you think of this as an episode in a long running series, it could make it more tolerable, but as a stand-alone work, it leaves much to be desired.
May 8, 2021
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
Oct 16, 1998
This is a movie that operates with no logic whatsoever which can work to its advantage as long as it does not take itself too seriously. In many cases, it does not take itself seriously, so it works, but the majority of the film feels like a long 3 hour slog with overacting and stereotypes that don't add much to the experience. The writing is absolutely terrible at times, but the camerawork is great which makes for a very confusing mess because it feels like Kubrick is behind the camera, but a complete moron wrote the script. Overall, a very mixed bag that relies on the appeal of the 90's to create a romance film that is worse than DDLJ and did not age all that well.
May 6, 2021
Starship | SN15 | High-Altitude Flight Test
May 6, 2021
With SN15, there comes multiple improvements and it seems that these improvements as well as the lessons learned from previous tests have led to the first successful test of a Starship on the same day that Americans have gone to space for the first time. The live feed was not the best, so telemetry is still a problem, but overall things seemed significantly better. The biggest problem that is apparent is that parts of the rocket are still catching on fire which is a problem that plagued the prototypes since day 1.
May 5, 2021
Civilization IV
Oct 25, 2005
This is a game where you can guide a country through the entirety of human history. This can be quite addicting and time consuming, but once you've played through a game from start to finish, I would argue that you've seen most of what the game has to offer. That said, it has quite a bit of replay value based on the type of maps and options you choose and there are multiple ways to win a game from world domination to technological supremacy. Overall, it is quite a rewarding game that offers the option of micromanagement or a casual automated approach to gameplay.
May 2, 2021
Histocrat: The Birth of Civilisation (Complete)
Nov 5, 2020
A 3 part series that examines in detail the transition from hunter gatherer society to small settlements to large civilizations that utilized writing. Unlike other series, this actually covers literature in archeology and findings to support the claims and statements it has made. This covers changes in populations, changing weather cycles, geography, and technological developments that led to a logical transition from one era to the next. Overall, this provides high quality information in a way that would not be found in most standard documentaries.
Apr 21, 2021
VRChat
Jan 16, 2014
This is a virtual world where you can interact with other people. There is a bit of a learning curve when you are not using the application with a VR headset, so a VR headset is definitely recommended. Due to the way conversations work, the voice chat is proximity based where volume is dependent on how close or far away you are from other players. If your goal is to have a conversation, this is not the most efficient way of going about it, but it does offer something that is unique and relatively modern for meeting people.
Apr 18, 2021
Mechanics Of A Side Split
Nov 5, 2020
A detailed mechanical explanation of how to reach side splits and what is required. Far more useful for working towards splits than many other resources out there.
Apr 9, 2021
Zack Snyder's Justice League
Mar 18, 2021
The original Justice League was a bad movie. This 4 hour flim is a significantly better one. With regards to Zack Snyder's previous work, subtlety and nuance is not one of his strengths, but every once in a while, he makes something decent. This is one such film. While I would not call this great and I question the heavy use of periodically unconvincing CGI which takes away from the image, this manages to improve upon most DC films released before it. In this film, the mythos of the DC universe begins to be established, each character gets the respect they deserve, and most characters get their own arc. In many ways, it felt almost reminiscent of the Lord of the Rings due to the scale and the lore that is being offered. The return of Junkie XL for the soundtrack is also much appreciated. What we see here is a story of triumph in terms of a director's passion as well as within the film's story itself, and the universe being established is quite promising. For the casual filmgoer and fans, this undoubtedly makes for a satisfying experience. The 4:3 ratio was strange, but it makes the film really feel like something out of a DC comic which makes it a success to me at the end of the day. It shows a certain level of care and it offers something you cannot find in the Marvel films which makes it quite unique despite its shortcomings.
Mar 30, 2021
Starship | SN11 | High-Altitude Flight Test
Mar 30, 2021
The fourth one ended in another explosion. This time, the rocket took off in foggy conditions, and the video feed froze, so it is very difficult to figure what went wrong. Chances are that the rocket exploded after one of the engines began its landing burn.
Mar 22, 2021
Disciplined Entrepreneurship: 24 Steps to a Successful Startup
Bill Aulet, Jul 31, 2013
Provides a series of steps and tasks to complete to develop an idea into the beginnings of a startup. The reasoning behind the steps are well explained, but like much of management and market related literature, research is lacking. At the very least, it at least provides examples and a logical progression.
Mar 21, 2021
Another Round
Sep 24, 2020
A bunch of highschool teachers try to maintain a certain blood alcohol level to improve their lives. This shows the benefits and disadvantages of drinking, and it handles with a a subtle sense of humor and very few missteps. Camera work is similar to The Hunt, and it plays with lighting quite often to a decent effect. Everyone played their roles well with Mads Mikkelsen providing a great performance as usual. For a movie with an original premise and study of drinking culture, this is unique and definitely worth watching.
Mar 15, 2021
If Found...
May 28, 2019
This felt personal, and the music was well done and memorable. Use of Irish culture as a sort of backdrop for the coming out story presented here was a nice touch. The primary mechanic of erasing memories to move forward makes sense, but also feels somewhat tedious and may detract from future playthroughs. That said, it also is short in duration, so many player may not mind so much. This mechanic may be better suited for a mobile device. I feel that at this point, if you want a good story, Annapurna Interactive is a publisher that can consistently deliver.
Mar 15, 2021
A great visual overview of material properties. This covers many of the concepts covered in Structures: Or Why Things Don't Fall Down, but in a more practical and applied way with a visual walkthrough. Covers elasticity, ductility, poisson ratio, Young's modulus and briefly Hooke's laws.
Mar 13, 2021
Despite this being a short read with very simple English, it is not required reading for American students which is a very strange thing. This contained the Constitution, and all 27 ratified amendments including the Bill of Rights. Reading this now, it feels that the work was quite forward thinking in terms of how it allows for U.S. law to be dynamic in nature. That said, it also feels outdated in that it does not seem to consider changing technologies, human relations, and paradigms. The use of amendments to allow for the document to be a living document is well thought out, but it seems as though this document won't be able to keep up with the speed many developments we have today.
Mar 10, 2021
Fruitvale Station
Jul 26, 2013
The first of Ryan Coogler's collaborations with Michael B. Jordan and Ludwig Göransson. As a first film, this is well made and covers one of many police shootings. The first hour is basically build up of the characters and in the last 20 minutes, we watch a man die. We know exactly what will happen, but it is still engaging throughout. There are a few minor problems, however. The roles played here are not that challenging in that every character is fairly normal in nature. In addition to this, the camera was shaking when it did not need to be. Finally, if there is some sort of message, it was not the clearest and requires some background knowledge on race issues and police issues in The United States. That said, for a debut film, it is well done.
Mar 6, 2021
Annie Hall
Apr 20, 1977
Woody Allen's sharp dialogue and script are what make this a great film. Some of the references are dated, but this has aged relatively well and it will get a few laughs. While this is a story about a relationship, the conversations meander between many facets of life that may be considered mundane. Commentary about driving, death, relationships and antisemitism indicate the variety of topics the script visits in no particular order. As a result, it can be fast paced, but also meditative in a way due to the way it muses on an eclectic collection of subjects. Probably the best Woody Allen film I saw so far.
Mar 5, 2021
Resident Evil 6
May 28, 2019
A waste of time. It functions as fan service for those familiar with the series, but gameplay is shallow, and the story did not impress. Controls feel clunky, and it feels like a step back. Everything is bigger compared to previous entries like a Michael Bay film, but at the same time, everything is boring as well. It's basically a dumbed down arcade game if you play it solo.
Mar 5, 2021
The Wealth of Nations, Books 1-3
Adam Smith, 1776
This was published in the same year that the Declaration of Independence was written. While everything covered here can be learned in a far more efficient manner from a microeconomics and macroeconomics textbook, the historical context makes some of the content interesting. What is surprising about this is the level of detail by which the sophisticated networks through which money and value exchanges hands is described. This talks about almost every industry during the time from rent to land ownership to the financial considerations involved with slavery. It compares and contrasts between different countries during the time such as India (described as the east Indies), the Dutch, and the colonies in America. It is truly quite impressive, but it is not an easy read. It is also very rarely an enjoyable read and is quite dense. Although Adam Smith is said to be the father of capitalism, if the contents of his book are anything to go by, the merchant trade enjoyed capitalism or some primitive variant of it since as far back as the ancient Greeks.
Mar 4, 2021
Starship | SN10 | High-Altitude Flight Test
Mar 4, 2021
Third time is the charm, but a hard landing and the fact that the raptor engines are always on fire even when they are shut down is a concern. SpaceX still has work to do with regards to the durability of the skirt and engines. Having a methane leak or some type of leak on pretty much every test flight indicates a serious problem especially if you are planning on refueling in orbit.
Feb 25, 2021
Salaam Bombay!
Sep, 1988
Great film that reminded me of 400 Blows and Requiem for a Dream. This film directs its gaze towards the homeless and children living on the streets of Bombay. The film manages to depict the uncertainty of living on the streets from the perspective of a young boy who is trying to save up money to go back home. This is a movie where nothing goes right for the characters and everything ends badly. In that sense, it is similar to Requiem for a Dream, but this came out more than 10 years before Requiem for a Dream and has a different pacing and editing style. This burns more slowly, and as a result, there isn't a time when the viewer is ever feeling all that great. There are no clear ups in this films, which means that it is very much a slow burn of suffering. I have heard that this is based off of a Brazilian film called Pixote, so that may be something to watch in the future.
Feb 23, 2021
The Republic
Plato, c. 375 B.C.
I have read the allegory of the cave before, but this is my first time reading Plato's Republic in full. While this is focused on concepts such as what is the best way to govern and rule, it makes a number of tangents to cover other grand topics. The exploration of these ideas is presented in the form of a Socratic dialogue where Socrates basically debates with a bunch of straw men to prove his point. The argumentation and reasoning is outdated, but the topics covered are still quite relevant today as they are very central to civilization and being human. I think if some of the arguments were stripped from their context of being used in favor of certain topics such as whether justice is good, it may have been less messy and easier to digest. That said, it was an interesting read, and the age of the work also implies that things are kept bare-bones in terms of narrative structure and devices. The only bells and whistles here are the many allegories used to prove certain points.
Feb 14, 2021
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Oscar Wilde, July 20, 1890
The prose is well written, and the content is thoughtful. I was not the biggest fan of this, but it does manage to do what it set out to do quite well. There is an underlying complexity to all the characters presented that speaks to the flexible nature of man and how he is influenced by the forces around him. The focus on vanity and mortality as Dorian Gray ages without physical change is well done. For me, I personally could not care less about Dorian Gray as I read this novel, so its impact is lessened for me. The way in which Dorian Gray struggles with the choices he makes is quite similar to Crime and Punishment, but the consequences and torment of questionable actions do not seem to be quite the same which is quite interesting. There are a number of quotable moments and takeaways, so its acclaim is understandable.
Feb 12, 2021
Anbe Sivam
Jan 14, 2003
This was enjoyable, but mixed when viewed from a critical angle. The duo of Kamal Haasan and Madhavan is great, but underutilized. The buddy travel dynamic is the best part of the film, but the decision to use up almost half of the runtime on a flashback is simply a bad decision in terms of pacing and unnecessary in terms of character development. This may be a result of it trying to be a mass movie and a movie with an emotional hook which results in it trying to do many things at once. There is communism, humanism, capitalism, and other isms, which is fine, but for many of these themes, discussions are often only surface level. I think a general audience would not have a problem with this, but streamlining certain parts would have been pragmatic decision that would have strengthened the film as a whole. The main lesson of God and love are great and are delivered very well in the final act of the film. Overall, this is a film that has great parts, but did not live up to its potential. I may consider watching Planes, Trains, and Automobiles next since it apparently does something similar.
Feb 12, 2021
Outer Wilds
May 28, 2019
This is quite an achievement in terms of premise, gameplay, and mechanics and is comparable in quality to that of a Nintendo game despite it being an indie game stemming from a thesis project. I have personally been waiting for more games to use a groundhog day style mechanic in a meaningful way and this is the first work that has satisfied me. In addition to this, the physics which were somewhat inspired by real physics is quite welcome and adds a level of immersion when the player is forced to struggle with the controls of the spacecraft. The way in which different events only occur at different times within the timeloop means that there is an added level of exploration involved. You may have explored a planet fully, but as time passes, more may be revealed. Because of this, this manages to strike a good balance between exploration and exploitation while managing to weave a story that is coherent and manages to touch upon hard sci-fi themes that are often covered in Arther C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov novels. It may not be cinematic, but the philosophy by which it operates manages to successfully execute one of the core parts of games which is playful exploration and improvement. It is one of those games that manages to move the medium forward. If a game came out with a similar Groundhog Day mechanic with a bit of urgency and character interaction like Edge of Tomorrow, I think all bases will be covered with this type of premise.
Feb 11, 2021
Breathless
Mar 16, 1960
This movie by Jean-Luc Godard is a French New Wave film with very experimental editing and camera movement for the time. It makes references to American film while paving its own path in its approach. The way it displays Paris, plays with language, and seems to mimic and subvert other crime dramas from 1940's Hollywood was quite interesting. The acting by the duo of Jean-Paul Belmondo and Jean Seberg was very well done with Belmondo's role coming across as an exaggeration of a traditional 1940's protagonist who frankly does not give a damn. Overall, while it may not seem remarkable in comparison to the many generations of films that came out afterwards, for its time, it feels very unique.
Feb 9, 2021
Lady Bird
Dec 1, 2017
This is a film with an almost meandering pace that you can get hypnotized by if you enter it with no expectations. This feels like a well constructed indie film, but once you see the cast, you will realize that it is packed with talent. Saoirse Ronan's acting as a teenager from Sacramento was quite convincing, and the often subtle humor matched the pacing quite well. For a coming of age story, this felt quite real and relatable. I'm not sure if this is one of those movies with a particularly memorable plot (especially given that this is one of those coming of age stories), but it was quite well executed while I was watching it.
Feb 9, 2021
A video by Coldfusion that covers the majority of the activity that occured with relation to the Gamestop stock. The event is not over yet, and what is to follow is the response by government and financial institutions.
Feb 6, 2021
The Outsiders
S.E. Hinton, April 24, 1967
A story of Ponyboy Curtis who is from a low income group known as the Greasers in th 60's and is constantly getting into fights with a higher income group known as the Soc's. I have a mixed opinion of this novel despite its praise. While it does seem to have some similarities to Catcher in the Rye and Camus' The Stranger, this does not seem as profound. This is understandable because this is a young adult novel, but the general takeaways and musings seem very basic. Universal, but basic. Other than that, it doesn't ever feel terrible, but the way in which characters interact with each other seem unrealistic in the way a writer may embellish their prose with unnecessary details to make it flow better. This may be good for a younger audience, but for those who are more well read, you may not gain as much from reading this.
Feb 4, 2020
Short Peace
Jan 16, 2014
I don't know if Katsuhiro Otomo is in semi-retirement, but I wish he would be more prolific. This is what I imagine is a spiritual successor to other similar works consisting of shorts that Katsuhiro Otomo worked on like Manie Manie, Memories, and Robot Carnival. The biggest difference between this work and its predecessors is its main theme being focused on Japan and the use of CGI which was still developing during the time of its predecessors. While I believe the predecessors (Memories in particular) will have a greater legacy, this was rather impressive and reminded me of the artistry involved in animation. The fact that one of the shorts in this was nominated for an Academy Award should speak for its quality. My personal favorites within this collection is that of the opening sequence by Koji Morimoto and Buki yo Saraba. The ending song of 夢であいましょう from the NHK variety show that ran in the 1960's was a welcome touch, but it did surprise me since I imagine it would be considered a very obscure reference for any Japanese person born after the 1970's.
Feb 4, 2021
Transistor
May 21, 2014
A best selling indie game from the creators of Bastion. This feels very similar to Bastion except the setting is slightly different and the gameplay has a more strategic approach which emphasizes experimentation. In terms of art and sound design, it also feels very similar to Bastion, but it has less of the dynamic narration that Bastion was famous for. The story feels like something that can only be described as fantastical science fiction. It is hard to make sense of it, because it is more fantastical than it is science despite it taking place in the future or within a simulation. In that sense, it is somewhat similar to TRON. Character development is good and bad at the same time, because I know very little about the motivations of the characters, but also because the player spends a lot of time with them. In terms of gameplay and content, this has quite a bit of variety and manages to keep things fresh by packing everything within a short play time.
Feb 2, 2021
Starship | SN9 | High-Altitude Flight Test
Feb 2, 2021
Basically a repeat of SN8. I thought I would have seen something different this time, but unfortunately not. On the bright side, lift-off is quite solid and the raptor engines are quite performant.
Feb 2, 2021
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings
May 17, 2011
A very shrewdly constructed mature game that is superior to the previous entry in every way and far more streamlined. This is less buggy and manages to create a great balance between open world and linear design. In addition to this, the combat and mechanics are far better and feel fluid despite its difficulty. The first parts of the game has a momentum that is not shared by many games, but this game does lose that momentum over time which is somewhat unfortunate. The story is deliberate and shrewd to put it lightly. This is a game that values player choice, but the story is very messy in the sense that your choices have consequences that are realistic and can result in complex outcomes. Unlike traditional stories, this does not alway have satisfying results, but that is part of what makes it unique. If you choose to kill everyone, you get some satisfaction, but doing so can feel out of character if role playing is a priority. Similarly, if you decide to choose the lesser of evils like a witcher may, you may find that the climaxes are not climaxes, but rather whimpers. There are not many games that are willing to allow for the player to do such a thing, but this is one that is confident enough to deceive and overturn expectations. Great, but imperfect. I am interested in the next game which may allow for plot points to be resolved, greater variety, greater scale, and some level of resolution as hinted by the story.
Jan 30, 2021
Dogtooth
Jun, 2009
My first Greek film. This is a strange film that has an interesting premise, but I was not a fan of the execution. I imagine for most audiences, the opinions on the quality will most likely be divided. The premise of children who cannot leave their home is reminiscent of Peter Pan while their outlook is reminiscent of Plato's allegory of the cave. That said, this did not exactly focus on the existential angle and spent more of its time on the psychological and surreal. In that sense, it somewhat succeeds with its bleak visuals, but the lack of variety in the scenery can definitely make it feel as though it drags. Overall, it is thought provoking, but lacking in some aspects to make it what I would consider to be a great film.
Jan 29, 2021
Selma
Nov 11, 2014
This was one of those films that does almost everything correctly, but also may not be all that memorable due to its lack of moments that stand out. Pretty much every part of this film is good, and the portrayal of 1960's America is fairly accurate. The historical accuracy, particularly in its depiction of LBJ, was not, but everything else felt real to the point that it was almost like a documentary which is an accomplishment to be noted. The main aspects that are particularly good are David Oyelowo's acting and the self control of the director to not dramatize anything and just show what is happening. The way in which some aspects of America have never changed make this film and its contents still relevant today.
Jan 28, 2021
This is one of the more exciting events of this year and the year has just started. I have never seen retail investers take on institutional investors in such a manner, and it has the potential to change how people approach investment in the market. In addition to this, this event also brings some of the more questionable actions of some short sellers to light.
Jan 22, 2021
Soorarai Pottru
Nov 11, 2020
A good underdog story of a man trying to bring low cost air travel to India. It can be melodramatic at times and although they had access to real planes, they chose to use CGI instead in some scenes. Cinematography is decent, but the acting is probably the best aspect of this film. The pacing is also well handled and the film moves along without feeling slow. The level of detail with regards to how it describes commercial air travel and the logistics is very interesting and helped fill in some gaps in my knowledge with regards to the aerospace industry. Overall, it is enjoyable and crowd pleasing.
Jan 20, 2021
The Witcher
Oct 30, 2007
A clumsy and sub-par game that has heart. It has lore, and quite a bit of thought placed into its world building and story telling. Voice acting is sub-par and the gameplay and UI is clunky. Much of the game is spent going back and forth between different places to complete quests which can get tedious and even frustrating if you become aware of how much time is being wasted. For 2007, this is also not all that graphically advanced or well optimized. Voice acting or localization left quite a lot to be desired. This reminds me of the first Mass Effect, but unlike that game, this focused more on the rpg elements. There are romances, but they are fairly shallow in nature. As a result, it was less cinematic and I enjoyed it less. Conversely, the story and some of the moral choices which involve choosing the lesser of two evils places players in situations that many games do not do. It is strange to see a game handle story well, but fail in gameplay. I believe the mistakes made here are easy to fix and a remake will result in a great game. I would be interested in the sequel or a more cinematic approach to the contents here like a film if one ever gets made.
Jan 18, 2021
Thalapathi
Nov 25, 1991
Another great Mani Ratnam film. I was expecting this to be similar to Nayakan, but unlike Nayakan, this is less of a crime drama and more of a drama in the classical sense like a Shakespearean play. This is not so surprising, because it seems to be somewhat based off of the story of Karna from the Mahābhārata. Cinematography is great as always and color grading is well done with all scenes having an orange hue to represent the sun and the main character played by Rajinikanth. Music is by Ilaiyaraaja, so an older sensibility is to be expected regarding the main theme. That said, it does have some grandeur that gives the film a feeling similar to that of a spaghetti western at times. Action scenes feel dated, but do not take away from the film. Acting and the general simplicity of the themes of family and justice were one of the greatest strengths of this film with Rajinikanth showing that he could actually act with nuance. This is a deliberately made film that showcases the expertise of all who were involved.
Jan 15, 2021
I have bought into some of ARK Invest's financial packages and while the general philosophy behind their strategy aligns with many of my values, this is the first time I have listened to the people behind the company. While I am not thoroughly impressed due to a lack of rigor regardign what they consider to be "innovation", they seem to be the most knowledgeable out of most of the companies that I buy ETF's from and their definition conforms with the neoliberalist trend of growth based investment. They are also the only company offering packages that focus in technological advances in different industries. Also, like Cathie Wood, I also believe a sizeable correction will be inbound. With regards to when, I am not quite as sure, but it is unlikely that stocks will be going up forever.
Jan 9, 2021
TRON
Jul 9, 1982
I did not enjoy this and I find the sequel to be the better film. Usually, with film, story and plot are the most important aspects, but with this, the visuals are given more emphasis. While the visuals were given a tremendous amount of work, they don't look all that great to me. On a technical and historical level, this has value, but the story is not that great. Acting is quite terrible as well with Jeff Bridges coming across as the only actor who seemed to be putting in any effort.
Jan 9, 2021
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Aug 31, 2001
This is very different from other musicals that I have seen. It has the feel of a musical for a stage, but it also has the feel of a low budget indie film. This felt like a cross between Pink Floyd's The Wall and Spinal Tap. What this offers which many films don't offer is a conversation on gender and the idea of feeling whole. When this is combined with the unique state of music in the late 1990's and the fall of the Berlin wall, it feels like it is ahead of its time and also frozen in time at the same time.
Jan 9, 2021
Booksmart
May 24, 2019
This is a film that blows other films in the same genre out of the water. The script is always filled with sharp content, and as long as you realize that everything in the movie is a caricature, the film works as a stylized comedy that does not slow down. Because of this, as long as you don't take it seriously, this film will deliver. When compared to other films like The Hangover or Superbad, this feels smarter and almost feels like it has an element of improvisation which makes it feel more genuine and better executed. The soundtrack is composed of mostly already established music from popular culture, but the choice of music used is appropriate. That said, it makes many references to politics and other sources that might make it effective today, but may affect how this film is received in the future.
Jan 9, 2021
Wild Rose
Apr 12, 2019
An imperfect, but fun film that is carried by the performance of Jessie Buckley who plays the lead role. The concept of country music being enjoyed and generated outside of the U.S. feels like common sense, but until this film, I have not considered it. This film is not particularly groundbreaking, and the general progression of the main character does not seem to be paced all that well, but it is able to generate drama by presenting conflicting decisions where the main character has to choose between her dreams and the worries of her current life. One thing that is quite interesting about this film is that it is not overly romanticized, and it shows a more realistic outlook on the music industry as a whole which worked to the benefit of the film.
Jan 8, 2021
The Holy Mountain
Jul 11, 1975
I have no idea if this is a good movie or not, but the imagery is on another level. In a word, it is psychedelic, and while it seems to initially be a reference to Christianity, the inclusion of tarot cards, astrology and other pseudoscientific aspects make it difficult to pin down. This is thoroughly original. It breaks the fourth wall, and it has sequences that are downright confusing. Production quality is high and on a technical level and it feel like the budget is much higher than it truly is. It is difficult to critically analyze this film, and I have not read any of the literature that acted as inspiration for this film. It is also difficult to recommend, because I think people's opinions on this will drastically differ.
Jan 7, 2021
Meditations
Marcus Aurelius, 180
By the Roman emperor who was also a philosopher. I have seen the lessons mentioned here repackaged and retold in multiple ways in many other stories and self help books, so I found that I did not learn much here. That said, this is clear and to the point and it covers quite a lot of ground. Unlike more derivative works, this has very little fluff. While this is an overview of the stoic philosophies of Marcus Aurelius, it is not quite the same as the works of Confucius or other philosophers. Rather, it feels more like many musings that have been organized after the fact. The organization of the books means that there is no conversation between multiple parties or a narrative. Because of this, it is possible to read different parts at different times without losing much in terms of clarity. I think this work is important and the way it covers topics like perception and its relation to oneself is quite important for handling feelings of failure, pride, and entitlement.
Jan 5, 2021
The Gardens Between
Sep 20, 2018
What this game does well is art, sound, and puzzle design. It tells a simple story of childhood friendship, but the story does not get more complex or detailed than that. The mechanics are interesting and similar to Braid in that you can reverse and speed up time to solve puzzles. What is different about this is that it does it in 3d and utilizes occlusion and global events to add challenge to figure out what to do. The two main character are always controllable through the flow of time, but other mechanics allow for some objects within levels to ignore time and move even when time is frozen. This makes non-linear thinking an important part of the process. I found the puzzles interesting. Only big flaw is that there are a number of bugs related to display and progression that can be blocking, but they are never overly frustrating.
Jan 5, 2021
The Handmaid's Tale
Margaret Atwood, Aug, 1985
This isn't the type of book that you read for enjoyment. The contents are that of a dystopian novel that felt somewhat similar to The Giver, but this had more of an emphasis on theocracy and freedom-- specifically reproductive freedom. I honestly don't know what to make of the contents of this, because it feels extremely unrealistic and also somewhat dated. The idea of a autocratic theocracy popping up overnight in the form of a coup within the United States is not impossible, but the way in which it is described here shows a lack of research regarding government, military, and economics. That said, it is thought provoking and mirrors organizations that we have seen in the past as well as in other countries. The book even correctly cites Iran and the Phillipines as having similar constructs. With regards to the characters, I felt that was well done and well thought out. Subtlety is the name of the game in a society like the one described here, and this books manages to handle subtlety and nuance well. For me, it is a mixed bag, and I felt it to be slow, but I can recognize that mileage will indeed vary for different readers. Edit: After the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol, this may not be quite as unrealistic as initially stated.
Jan 3, 2021
Downfall
Sep 8, 2004
A story of the final moments in the bunker where Hitler died. Most of the World War II movies I have seen have excluded the German perspective, so this film which takes an unbiased look at the German side felt fresh. Although Hitler has committed atrocities, he was a human, and a realistic portrayal helps to provide a more educated outlook on the war as a whole. Bruno Ganz as Hitler is accurate. He gets inflections and small details right and performs his job well. The desperation on the German side towards the end of the war is made very clear in this film and the educational value of this film should not be understated. It is an impressive film that felt real and hits hard.
Jan 2, 2021
Farewell My Concubine
Jul 26, 1993
I originally confused this with Zhang Yimou's Raise the Red Lantern due to somewhat similar topics which I plan to watch in the future. This is an ambitious story that is difficult to watch. The story is rich in Chinese culture and follows the country through the eyes of opera actors starting in the 1920's. In this sense, it is very similar to Bernando Bertolucci's The Last Emperor, but unlike that film, the settings are not quite as grand, this has more Chinese culture, and is completely in Mandarin. The topics this film tries to address are quite daring for the time. Not only does it try to display Chinese opera in detail, but it also covers the rise of different factions such as the CCP, the cultural revolution, and homosexuality. This is a tragic story that is quite reflective of the experiences of those who lived during the time and does not try to shy away from showing what happens if it can. If I were to say that I enjoyed it, I would be lying. This is not the type of movie that you enjoy. This is the type of movie that you experience and it is a great experience at that.
Jan 2, 2021
God of War
Mar 22, 2005
A solid game with well optimized gameplay that does not have many flaws. The story is large in scale, but it works and can actually work as a part of the Greek mythos with some modification which is rather impressive. This is not filled with ridiculous amounts of content, or the greatest variety of enemies, but somehow this manages to have just enough to stay entertaining and compelling. Levels have enough variation, boss battles are unique, the platforming is not frustrating, puzzles are reasonable, and the camera is not that bad despite it not being controlled by the player. Despite this being a PS2 game, it still manages to provide a sense of scale in some of the larger levels in a way that even some modern games struggle to do. It is clear to see that this game pushes the PS2 to its limits even though I am able to emulate it at more than 1080p resolution with little difficulty. Since the story shown here is a full arc that has a satisfying conclusion, I have to wonder what point there is in playing the sequels, but I am curious to see how technical improvements over time can affect the fundamental gameplay.
Jan 1, 2021
Gangs of Wasseypur
Jun 22, 2012
This two part film was directed by Anurag Kashyap who also directed Black Friday and is another great film. This is a film that has great pacing and a guerilla style of filming which made me get lost in the film in a way that I forgot about the meta aspects of the film. The way in which we watch generations of gangsters grow and die is hypnotizing and felt as though I was watching a piece of history with the rise and fall of different factions. Although this is stylized, this is never rushed and each scene has its own carefully thought out pacing which reminded me of Scorsese's Goodfellas. It is apt to compare this to Goodfellas and The Godfather, but it should be noted that this is trying to do something different and should be judged on its own terms. This film follows the development of its characters along with the development of India which makes it a masterful weaving of crime, family, country, politics, and the trends of the times. Definitely one of the best films of the previous decade.
Dec 30, 2020
Kingdom Hearts
Mar 28, 2002
A game that has clearly had a lot of work put into its story, sound, and art, but is lacking on a technical level. This is unique in that it has characters from Disney and characters from Final Fantasy games (specifically FFVII, FFVIII, and FFX). Gameplay is clunky, and frustrating. The camera is controlled by the trigger buttons rather than one of the analog sticks. Platforming is tedious, combat lacks depth, and magic is a pale imitation of what can be seen in the Final Fantasy games. A decent number of the voice actors from Disney the movies voiced their characters here which was a pleasant surprise. Character models are less animated in comparison to their film counterparts, but due to this being an early PS2 game, that is to be expected. The inclusion of Disney worlds and settings is quite shallow with character motivations and traits from the films being excluded or only touched upon on a surface level. The way in which levels are set up encourage exploration which is similar to other Square games and a secret ending is provided to reward exploration. Music is good with remixed versions of Disney music being unremarkable, but music made specifically for the game being incredible. This original music elevates the work and overshadows its flaws with memorable leitmotifs. The story is a standard hero's journey with a fight between darkness and light, but quite endearing at times. I believe many of the problems in this game are a result of the time it was made in, and that future games should improve upon the flaws.
Dec 29, 2020
Vikram Vedha
Jul 21, 2017
A modern retelling of Baital Pachisi. I had no prior knowledge of story, so my impressions are based on the film alone. It is a solid neo noir story that tackles the topic of morality, and black and white. The editing was distracting and made shots shorter than they needed to be to artificially generate excitement. Outside of this, the dynamic between Vikram and Vedha was great and both roles were well acted. It is to the extent that all other actors ended up dragging down the film due to being outshined by Madhavan and Vijay Sethupathi. The interactions between Vikram and Vedha are well written and feel very similar in quality to interactions between Deniro and Pacino in Heat or the interactions in The Dark Knight. Overall, great film with some flaws that seem to be less of a problem with the film and more a characteristic of the tastes of the demographic it caters to.
Dec 28, 2020
Parasite
May 30, 2019
This is Bong Joon Ho's best work and probably the best Korean film I have seen so far. This is a director that has consistently done good work and of the films of his that I have seen the only one I did not find all that enjoyable was The Host. It is a total homerun of a film that feels like a 1930's black and white film brought to the modern age. The symbolism and commentary on the divide between classes and the current state of late-stage capitalism is fairly obvious, but not presented in a way that comes across as preachy. The content is genre bending and original. It is a black comedy, a thriller, it has horror elements, and finally it becomes somewhat Tarantino-esque towards the end. The depiction of a rich family and a family of scam artists is interesting and counterintuitive. Surprisingly, the more educated individuals come across as the least clever which works well for the comedy, but it leads to some thought provoking discussion as to how accurate this is about the real world. There are a lot of things packed into this that can make multiple viewings worthwhile.
Dec 27, 2020
Crisis on Infinite Earths
Mar, 1986
A series that tries to converge all the different D.C. universes and realities through an epic conflict. Since this came out in the 80's, this is complete with many of the conventions of that time. Dialogue can be cheesy and unrealistic. In addition to this, the way in which the story was told was needlessly wordy. The costume designs are obviously dated. The physics of the multiverse is bizarre and impossible. Overall, it was a chore to read and not that enjoyable, but it did provide some historical perspective on some major and many minor D.C. characters. It was somewhat fun seeing three different versions of Superman fighting together, but because of the scale of the story being told, the multitude of characters made the story feel crowded and convoluted. A refresh of this story with a more modern writing style would be interesting to see.
Dec 27, 2020
Isle of Dogs
Mar 23, 2018
A very enjoyable film by Wes Anderson that takes place in a caricature of a future Japan. The main characters which are dogs speak English, and the humans speak Japanese. This is a strange choice, but it makes for an interesting presentation of the exposition and dialogue. Animation is well done, detailed, and aesthetically unique. The use of Japanese and English feels awkward at times, but in a Wes Anderson film, that can actually work towards the film's advantage. When compared with Fantastic Mr. Fox, this is about the same and maybe slightly inferior due to Fantastic Mr. Fox's better characterization, but overall, this is a great film.
Dec 24, 2020
Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence
May 28, 1983
This is imperfect and rough around the edges, but it has many merits. The first is that it has a good cast with notable figures such as David Bowie, Kitano Takeshi, Tom Conti and Sakamoto Ryuichi. The premise is that of the experience of POW's in a Japanese prison camp in Java during world war II. The story is unflinching and shows a somewhat realistic representation of how the Japanese treated POW's. This is surprising, because the director is Japanese, and typical protocol is to deny or ignore the actions of the Japanese empire during world war II. Although this is an English and Japanese language film, I recommend using subtitles, because the English of the Japanese actors is not the best and Tom Conti's Japanese pronounciation is imperfect. Music is probably the best part of the film. I would consider the score in this to be Sakamoto Ryuichi's best work and even better than his work in Bertolucci's The Last Emperor. The flaws of this film are that of a general awkwardness in structure and acting. There seems to be a difference in western and Japanese styles of acting which results in a certain dissonance. Camera movement is not the best, but shot composition can be great at times. Finally, characterization was not the best, and it is questionable who were the main characters and why certain characters had a greater focus than others.
Dec 24, 2020
The Last Question
Isaac Asimov, Nov, 1956
A short story that is about the heat death of the universe. It involves a series of succeeding civilizations and entities asking a universal computer how to reverse the rise of entropy. I have no idea what a universal computer is, but if it really existed, it probably would not have any vacuum tubes and would be more sophisticated than what was described in the story. The story is interesting, because it tells the story of how sentient life evolves over time intervals of growing levels of magnitude. It also alludes to a cyclic model of the universe which I think should be explored more often in science fiction. Of the stories that Isaac Asimov wrote, this is one of my favorites, but like many works of science fiction, it fails at characterization and emotional investment of the reader.
Dec 24, 2020
Civilizations at the End of Time: Iron Stars
Jul 13, 2017
Great video by Isaac Arthur about civilizations and technologies at the end of time when sentient life will need to fight against entropy to remain alive. This covers concepts such as Boltzmann Brains, reversible computing, utilizing black holes to slow time and replacing biological systems with computer systems to experience time at a slower rate to reduce energy consumption.
Dec 23, 2020
The Kite Runner
Khaled Hosseini, May, 2004
Although this is a fictional story, it felt real and quite personal. The story manages to paint a detailed picture of how Afghanistan developed and some of the demographic and cultural challenges that existed in the country and how they changed or worsened over time. Its unflinching treatment of rape, abuse, war, ethnic cleansing and the harsh nature of Islam in Afghanistan made it quite impactful. The American perspective offered by the main character immigrating to the U.S. from Afghanistan to escape conflict is nothing new, but the Afghani perspective made it unique. Overall, it helped me to better understand the middle east as a whole, provided some perspective on the region, and left an emotional impression.
Dec 22, 2020
Yakusoku no Neverland
Mar 29, 2019
A great series run as part of the noitamin A programming blcok about children raised for consumption as human cattle trying to escape the farm they were raised on. This was never predictable and always managed to defy my expectations in interesting ways which is very rare. This has elements of many dystopian stories, but also has an element that is similar to a fairy tale as the name Neverland suggests. There are parallels to the human slave trade, current farming practices, as well as a deep conversation on purpose and what it means to be free. The allegorical aspects of the work should be noted. In terms of flaws, pacing could have been improved, but the source material may not have the same constraints that the series has, so it may have been better to read the manga. That said, this is easily one of the best works of Japanese story telling to come out recently and it sets itself up nicely for a second season that has a high level of potential.
Dec 21, 2020
Bad Genius
May 3, 2017
The only Thai film I have seen before this was Ong Bak. This was quite entertaining despite containing mistakes that I think the casual movie-goer will notice. While the concept of a heist style of storytelling is not completely new in television, it is quite novel within film, and the Thai perspective is an interesting one. The way this is filmed is exciting and stylized in a way that is not seen as qiote often nowadays and is usually not done quite as well when it is. Camera work and shots are handled extremely well and I have no complaints regarding the cinematography. The actual script could have used some work, mainly because most people who have taken a standardized test would understand how unrealistic some of the events in this film are. This could be mainly because the film was intended to appeal for the general Thai audience, but certain plot devices used can be jarring at times. That said, this is a fun heist film that manages to create engaging drama while also offering commentary on education and income classes within Thailand.
Dec 19, 2020
Richard Jewell
Dec 13, 2019
While I do consider this to be flawed, I also consider this to be underrated as well with regards to critical acclaim. Clint Eastwood is one of the oldest active directors right now, but he still managed to make a compelling film despite his age. Richard Jewell is the story of a security guard that foiled a bomb attack in 1996 and was later investigated as a main suspect of the bomb attack he helped partially prevent. This is a film that, despite its runtime of over 2 hours, manages to never get boring and stay emotionally impactful. It also manages to shine a light on problems such as malpractice and questionable actions by the media and government agencies. With regards to its flaws, it is somewhat simplistic in nature with many details lacking when it comes to character motivation. This is made up for by the skills of the actors, but most viewers who reflect on the film afterwards will most probably notice this. That said, I did enjoy this and thought its presentation of Richard Jewell's story was compelling.
Dec 19, 2020
The Post
Jan 12, 2018
Despite the critical acclaim for this film, I was not quite as impressed due to the what I considered to be a lot of wasted time. I believe this film could have been shorter and been more effective. In addition to this, I felt that it was lacking details with regards to the contents of the Pentagon papers which i believe resulted in a reduced impact. Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep performed well in their roles. The film was also able to successfully recreate the time in which the papers were released and paint a decent picture of how the Washington Post operated during that time. In terms of execution of the story, I was not as convinced. There is very little nuance or subtlety, and the messages that the film wanted to put forth were repeated in obvious ways that made it come across as though it was insulting the intelligence of the audience. Spielberg has made better films, and when it comes to films about journalism, there are better options like The Insider, Spotlight, Good Night, and Good Luck as well as All the President's Men.
Dec 19, 2020
Portrait of a Lady on Fire
May 19, 2019
This, along with Parasite, got quite a bit of attention at Cannes in 2019 and rightly so. In many ways, this did for me what Call Me By Your Name could not and I consider this to be the better film. This was quite focused and functions as both a period piece as well as a romance story that is centered around women. The absence of men in this film was rather striking and the focus on painting in the 18th century was also interesting. The film is meditative, but not slow. Scenes can be sensual, but are never explicit and always have a certain tastefulness about them that fits with the rest of the general aesthetic. Color is used quite well in the film and mimics baroque and rococo art styles. I am not sure how it managed to do it, but this made me focus on nuances without boring me. This is a great film. I do not recommend watching this on a plane, however, due to the content.
Dec 18, 2020
Dear Esther
Feb 14, 2012
This is a haunting and dreamlike game that has the player exploring an island that has a similar look to that of the coast of Scotland. The only thing the player has the ability to do is move and choose the paths they take to get to the end. In that sense, it is a true walking simulator and feels like something a writer would make. The story told through the branching paths and requires multiple playthroughs to properly piece together the different paths to make a coherent story. Music is good and play time is short. On a technical level, the source engine and its quirks are on full display and as a result, it suffers from a few display issues. Generally speaking, this is thought provoking despite the small team that was needed to create it. The way it plays with the player's perception is probably most similar in approach to that of an M. Night Shyamalan film when executed correctly.
Dec 17, 2020
梅雨の日
May 1, 2020
This isn't really a game nor is it particularly groundbreaking. It can also be buggy at times. I found it enjoyable since I thought it was able to recreate the experience of being in a Japanese house during the rainy season very well. The house was complete with dated technology which made it emulate the country side very well. I'm not sure if I would recommend it, but with its short playtime, there is nothing lost by giving it a try.
Dec 16, 2020
8½
Feb 13, 1963
My second Fellini film and my first fully Italian film. This was very interesting. All the dialogue was dubbed over in Italian, because the video was recorded without sound which gave the film a more surreal feeling. That said, the film was fairly surrealist to begin with, and the meta narrative of a film maker basically making the film that he is in is quite create and unique. Camera work is iconic with all scenes feeling like they had something special. Compared to many other films, this one is particularly dialogue heavy. It manages to take a simple story and turn it into commentary on art and relationships. There are many layers to this film, and I think it is very well suited for multiple viewings.
Dec 15, 2020
Rakuen
May 10, 2017
This is a memorable game that manages to have an impact despite its somewhat smaller scope compared to other games. The game is accessible and I think it can be enjoyed by players of any age. Its design is relatively linear, but it had enough branching detail for players who have a more exploratory style of play. The subject matter is heavy and deals with the concept of mortality and sacrifice. Sound design is well done and also memorable. The music felt similar to many of works by studio Key and the game itself shares many similarities with Maeda Jun's works. Similarly, this also had many Japanese elements due to the background of the main developer Laura Shigihara who was also the composer and composed the music in To the Moon. When compared to To the Moon, I consider to be definitely superior with a better balance of story and gameplay and a more relatable story. I think this is one of the rare games that manages to enforce feelings of empathy and is definitely worth a playthrough.
Dec 13, 2020
Inertial Drift
Sep 11, 2020
This is the definitive drift racing game, and the mechanics are handled very well. Different types of cars handle differently, which means that every car has a learning curve for mastering oversteering. The story mode does not have much of a story, but it is a good way to familiarize yourself with the mechanics. The visuals and the audio design are well done and feel similar to an outrun style aesthetic. There are a number of unique tracks which all emphasize different things which makes the experience stay fresh. The general feel of this is not like Initial D due to the lack of a Eurobeat soundtrack, but for a racing game, this is close to the top out of all the racing games I have played so far.
Dec 11, 2020
Call Me by Your Name
Jan 22, 2017
This is a movie that has 3 languages: English, Italian, and French. With regards to this movie, this is a film with a lot of firsts for me. This is the first Italian language film that I have seen, the first Timothée Chalamet film that I have seen and the first film I have seen where homosexual men are the main characters. The film is well crafted with everything about it coming across as intentional and deliberate which places it on a higher level than many other films. In addition to that, I found it to be well acted and thought that Timothée Chalamet was deserving of his nomination for the academy awards. In terms of impact, I would say that it was not as impactful as I would have thought it would have been given its critical acclaim, but all of the acts of the narrative were well paced. That said, this is probably the type of movie that I would grow to appreciate more after multiple viewings. One final thing I appreciated about this film is how it references many works of literature I have never heard of which makes it a good movie to watch if you want to supplement your reading lists. After watching this, I would like to also watch the other films in Guadagnino's thematic "Desire" trilogy.
Dec 10, 2020
Starship | SN8 | High-Altitude Flight Test
Dec 9, 2020
After about 1 month's worth of delay, Space X finally carried out the SN8 high altitude flight test where they tried to test the belly landing. The altitude was not as high as what was originally planned, but it looks like the test was useful. It seems like this system has decent engine out capability as shown by its ability to fire different engines at different times. I expected the starship to take off based on the hop tests, but I was skeptical about whether it would land since they were doing the belly maneuver for the first time. Surprisingly enough, it was on target. I saw some interesting things in this test. The first is that some parts of the skirt seemed to catch on fire during the burning of the engines. The switch to an upright position during the landing also seemed to happen very quickly which won't be appropriate for a crewed flight. Finally, the landing burn happened far too late. I believe the landing would have been handled much better if the engines had a more controlled burn over a longer period of time and started firing earlier. I have high hopes for the next high altitude flight test.
Dec 8, 2020
神の数式 完全版
Jun 27, 2014
A series by NHK that I found to be a lot more rigorous than programming that can be found in American television or British television. The only series that I can consider to be even remotely comparable is Brian Greene's The Elegant Universe. Unlike many similar programs that can be found in western media, this actually shows some mathematical syntax and explains how some essential formulas were developed over time in the 20th and 21st centuries. The four videos cover four topics which are particle physics, mass, the beginnings of the universe and string theory. As it presents these topics, the formulas associated with them and the researchers who discovered those formulas are covered in detail. The audience is taught fairly difficult concepts like the different types of symmetry, super symmetry, Calabi-Yau manifolds, partical physics, spin, M-theory, etc. Unlike other programs which may highlight the standard researchers like Einstein, Hawking and Newton, this program actually covers many researchers who are just as deserving of recognition despite not being covered as much in popular media. We are introduced to Dirac, Yang Chen-Ning, Matvei Petrovich Bronstein, Shinichiro Tomonaga, Yoichiro Nanbu, John Schwarz, Higgs, and many others who have been awarded for their research. In addition to this, there are interviews with some scientists who have since passed like Dyson and Hawking.
Dec 6, 2020
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Dec 22, 1978
This is not the best film directed by Philip Kaufman or even among the best horror or science fiction films that came out within the 70's. This film exemplifies the definition of second place or good, but not great. Some of the concepts are interesting, but share similarities with other good movies like The Thing. The practical special effects are well done. The writing in this film is good in many places and bad in some places, which is why I am conflicted with this. That said, it is a good film and it makes many relevant points through its premise which can be applied to modern culture's views on conspiracy theories and contagions. I would consider this to be a B tier film. Although it might be worth your time, it would not be my first choice among other better films.
Dec 4, 2020
Shadow
Sep 6, 2018
I consider this to be Zhang Yimou's return to form after many disappointing films. The narrative here is not particularly novel, but the third act felt almost Shakesperean and the duels felt reminiscent of jidaigeki films. The strength of this film is its visual style and cinematography which manages to make the entire film feel like an ink painting or a work of calligraphy. That, combined with the use of Daoist principles and concepts, make it very well done. When compared with movies like Hero this does not have a moral, the soundtrack is minimal, and the spectacle is on a smaller level. While this may not appeal to a larger audience, from a critical perspective, this is carefully crafted and technically consistent and original.
Dec 4, 2020
DeepMind solves protein folding | AlphaFold 2
Dec 2, 2020
This video by Lex Fridman basically confirmed some of the thoughts I had when I saw Deepmind's recent work with AlphaFold. This answered a few questions that I had about the possible deep learning architecture used in the newer version of AlphaFold and also provided a bit of insight into the general trends in deep learning. Overall, I actually found this more informative and useful than the video that Deepmind made themselves.
Dec 2, 2020
The Decision: Overcoming Today's BS for Tomorrow's Success
Kevin Hart, May 21, 2020
This was unique in that it was never actually published as a book, so the content only exists in audio form. In terms of content, the content seems relatively straightforward and can be found in most self help books. The reason why I listened to this was mainly because of Kevin Hart's delivery. His delivery was what made it worth listening to, and it felt more like a comedy special because of that.
Dec 1, 2020
AlphaFold: The making of a scientific breakthrough
Nov 30, 2020
It was interesting to see this succeed. I remember reading a paper published in Nature in January, and I was surprised to see that they already reached global distance test scores of 80 or higher only a few months after. What this shows is that the application of neural nets to problems that humans and traditional computing are unable to solve can result in satisfying results. The approach used here was apparently one that leveraged the graph-like structure to apply an attention based neural network to the problem. That said, there isn't an updated paper, so details regarding the architecture are a bit unclear. In the Nature paper, Deepmind used convolutional blocks and stochastic gradient descent which does not seem all that novel, so I am curious to see what changed between now and January.
Nov 29, 2020
Red Bull BC One World Final 2020 | Livestream
Nov 28, 2020
It was originally announced that there would be no Red Bull BC One this year due to COVID-19, so this completely took me by surprise. The competition felt weird because there was no audience in the stadium. That said, everything else was good. The lineups were good. The judging made sense. Commentary was good. The camera work was actually not that bad this time. The MC was sub par, but acceptable. The music was acceptable with some good tracks. Starting at the quarter finals meant that everyone had a fresh set of moves that they could use for the entire competition. Shigekix winning was not surprising at all given that he competed at a high level from a young age and the level of conditioning that he had combined with his musicality was simply incredible. What is even more surprising is that his current form compared to two years or even one year ago is on another level and the rate of improvement is something I have not seen before. He simply smoked all the competition in such a way that he made the strongest competitors look mediocre.
Nov 28, 2020
F.E.A.R.
Oct 17, 2005
This game's strengths lie in its gameplay. The shooter mechanics are fluid and the use of slow motion was also nice. It felt similar to Half-Life, but the physics were not used as a mechanic by the player. It also felt like Halo, but the weapon selection and enemy variety was limited in comparison. What makes it unique is its horror tropes which seem to be inspired by Japanese film. However, that premise was not fully utilized which prevented it from being as great as the other games mentioned.
Nov 27, 2020
Ayitha Ezhuthu
May 21, 2004
A surprisingly modern film that is quite representative of the times it was made in. During the late 90's and early 2000's, mainstream film had quite an experimental streak with many films playing with time such as Nolan's Memento and Zhang Yimou's Hero. This film is not different, and like Hero, it also plays with color for each of its characters. Because of this, it is not particularly original given the films that preceed it even when compared with Mani Ratnam's other works like Alai Payuthey which also played with time. Even the quick editing felt reminiscent of some of the earlier works of Darren Aronofsky and Danny Boyle which also came out during the same time. That said, I enjoyed this simply due to its momentum, tight script, and well acted characters. The use of three colors for three characters, three ages, and three classes to highlight strata within South Indian society was well done. It's main glaring weakness are action scenes which Mani Ratnam seems to struggle with for some strange reason despite his ability to film choreography for music and large groups of people. The music is modern and the use of Tamil lyrics combined with modern genres is handled very well. Its runtime is long, but it does not drag, making it time well spent.
Nov 26, 2020
I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream
Harlan Ellison, Apr, 1967
A short story about an AI called AM that tortures humans within a virtual world without allowing them the option of death after human civilization has collapsed. The premise is interesting, and I have seen similar concepts in other science fiction stories, but this is the only book to try to thoroughly explore it. That said, the exploration of the premise is not that thorough mainly because the story is short. The way in which AM tortures humans makes sense, but does not seem to be the most effective way of causing distress and pain. I would have expected the form of suffering to be less physical and more psychological, but perhaps such schemes cannot be covered within a short story. It may be interesting to also play the game that is based off of this.
Nov 25, 2020
The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon
Brad Stone, Oct 15, 2013
This is a novel that offers a lot of clarity regarding Jeff Bezos as well as the growth of Amazon. Although Amazon is currently one of the largest companies, the journey that was taken was not always one of an upward trajectory and was filled with ups and downs. The emphasis on the customer as well as Amazon's culture and Jeff Bezos' volatility offers quite a bit of insight into the company for those who are only familiar with Amazon's public face. Another interesting thing to note is that although Amazon is viewed as a tech company today, this was not always the case, and it is interesting to how a company that is older than Google managed to live through the tech bubble and the recession of 2008 to become what it is today. One thing that I found myself agreeing with is that information should be presented with some narrative, and this strategy should be more widely adopted. This has many similarities with Walter Isaacson's novel about Steve Jobs, but I think this is worth the read despite it being, in my opinion, inferior to Isaacson's works.
Nov 24, 2020
Anand
Mar 12, 1971
Despite the heavy theme of mortality, this film can have surprisingly light hearted moments. When compared to a film like Ikiru, I preferred Ikiru, but this is unique and easier to digest. The character of Anand was original and memorable which his primary characteristic of making friends with everyone he meets. The uniqueness of the main character is what made this film, and without him, this would have not been as memorable. This combined with the death of Anand made for a story with a lot of depth that was presented in a minimalistic manner that anyone would be able to appreciate. Outside of Anand, there were no mistakes made, but camera work and other technical achievements were relatively unremarkable. Overall, it is understandable why this is praised as one of the best Hindustani language films.
Nov 23, 2020
Soma
Sep 22, 2015
The title of this game originates from the Greek word 'soma' which means body. This is a game with a great hard sci-fi story that had above average gameplay. On a technical level, it was superb with distinct levels, good dialogue, and some of the best sound design I have seen in a game. The post-apocalyptic underwater setting was similar to Bioshock, but the use of detailed claustrophobic underwater habitats/facilities helped with the horror aspect of the game. The story is what impressed me the most, and it seemed to draw on many of the same themes as that of Ghost in the Shell and The Matrix that touches upon concepts of free will and conciousness which is often covered within classic Greek philosophy. The gameplay mostly consists of a series of sequences where you try to get from point A to point B while avoiding certain monsters that you are powerless against while navigating some moral dilemmas that don't affect the ending. For someone who has made video games, and understand how game engines work, the horror was not quite as effective for me and had a certain level of predictability, but the jump scares were sometimes effective. For a hard sci-fi story, there isn't a big reveal at the end, and the story has many smaller reveals that give the story a slow burn. The concepts covered in this game also have some repercussions for technologies that might be developed in the future such as teleportation, digital legacy, cybernetics, simulation, and the technological singularity.
Nov 20, 2020
Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World
Cal Newport, Jan 5, 2016
This book makes a distinction between shallow work and deep work and states that deep work is more valuable because it leads to new ideas and is not easily replicable. This is partially true, but only if the shallow work is something anyone can do. If you are used to doing something that no one else can do, it can be shallow. Because of this, on the face of things, this book seems to offer sound advice for deep meditative working conditions, but it also fails to quantify the effect of deep work in a rigorous manner. It may be preferable to actually read the research behind the book rather than the book itself, since the book seems to be directed more towards a general reading audience. That said, since I am used to completing a lot of different types of work and using an algorithmic approach, this book was not quite as useful for me.
Nov 19, 2020
MO:Astray
Oct 25, 2019
I was impressed by this work by a Taiwanese Indie company. The gameplay is like Ori and the Blind Forest with a little bit of Metroid mixed in. The story is a tragedy with a little bit of cosmic horror mixed in. In fact, this is probably the one of the only works of cosmic horror that I found to be effective although the way in which it was presented may have been a bit lacking. The use of multiple endings based on whether the player finds all of a certain item in multiple locations was a nice touch. It is not particularly groundbreaking, but what it manages to do, it does very well. The mechanics of single directional jumping is not completely original, but it is used very well. Art direction is well done, and the general environment design and color pallete felt reminiscent of high budget anime films from the 1980's and 1990's. Although this is Taiwanese, this felt like a work that might have been made in Japan a few decades ago. The music is well done and memorable. Overall, this is a great game that deserves better marketing.
Nov 18, 2020
The Machine Stops
E.M. Forster, 1909
A surprisingly well written short story that managed to make a somewhat prescient premise that manages to predict the internet, social media, content creation, automation, and environmental collapse. This is particularly impressive when one considers that the story was written more than 110 years ago. Like many other works during the time like The Time Machine and Brave New World, this draws on dystopian themes as well as older philosophical works like Plato's Allegory of the Cave to make an entertaining read that is thought provoking. Overall, this is original, but also feel dated which adds to the charm.
Nov 16, 2020
Crew-1 Mission
Nov 15, 2020
This is the launch of the second crewed mission to the ISS and the first fully crewed mission. Because of the reliability of the block 5 Falcon 9 which has seen many flights, the only real problem that might occur would be with the dragon capsule. That said, due to the testing infrastructure and methodology used by SpaceX, even this seems to be more of a negligible concern given past missions.
Nov 11, 2020
Infernal Affairs
Dec 12, 2002
I enjoyed this more than The Departed, but The Departed might be the better film from a critical perspective. This film is one of the best Hong Kong films I have seen, and its strengths lie in its editing and pacing. The idea of having moles on both the side of the criminals and the side of the police works here just as well as in The Departed, and the setting of Hong Kong made the film feel fresher when compared to The Departed. The use of Buddhist themes to supplement the premise was also interesting. This is good in its own way and functions as a great thriller while the Departed is more of a drama.
Nov 6, 2020
The Greatest Directors You Don't Know
Oct 31, 2020
The cinema cartography has been a channel that I have been following for some time as a way to review the medium in a more rigorous manner. In this video, I have not heard about any of the directors on this list and will probably revisit this multiple times in the future. Interestingly enough, there are some correlations between the name recognition of a director and the level of maturity of the film industry in the country they worked in.
Nov 5, 2020
Battlefield: Bad Company 2
Mar 2, 2010
This was fun, but not particularly memorable. A good game to fit between breaks if you are busy. Unlike COD, this is less realistic, but the lack of seriousness and destructible environments gives it its own identity. There is an emphasis on open environments and AI is not particularly sophisticated, which gives it some level of repetitiveness in the single player campaign
Nov 3, 2020
Rick Graham - Building Speed - Let's Do It!
Nov 1, 2020
Rick Graham has one of the most economical picking approaches that I have seen, and this video happens to focus on one of my biggest shortcomings as a shredder. This focuses on outside picking to target the most challenging part of alternate picking.
Nov 1, 2020
Pariyerum Perumal
Sep 28, 2018
This is a good film with casteism as its primary theme. Films like this can get preachy, but this film is not. There are many aspects of this film that are educational. There are different dialects of Tamil presented, and as well as a profile of different castes. We are shown what college life is like in South India, as well as the concept of quota. There are also references to B. R. Ambedkar not only in the script, but also with the use of the color blue. Acting by Kathir in particular was well done with his ability to effectively express emotions with just his eyes. On a technical level, there are many shots and sequences that are fantastic while there are some jarring sequences that could have been improved with better editing. While most films within Kollywood romanticize Tamil Nadu for the sake of entertainment, this film felt very realistic and showed things as they truly are.
Oct 29, 2020
PLAYNE : The Meditation Game
May 1, 2020
This is not so much a game, but a tool for establishing a habit of meditation. While I did not find it useful for mindfulness, it helped me establish permanent nose breathing and reduced sensitivity in my sinuses. This has a variety of meditation techniques such as abdominal breathing, breathing for calmness, breathing for relaxation, guided audio meditations and offers a visual guide to match your breathing with. Unfortunately, it is missing holotropic breathing and Wim Hof breathing as well as other techniques. By utilizing this game, I have spent more than 10 hours meditating over a period of more than 140 days. The game allows for the player to choose the duration of the meditations to fit their busy schedule, but the longer the session, the better the results. I recommend a minimum of 8 minutes per session for the best time to performance ratio. To go from beginning to completion requires patience. With regards to the game itself, the primary goal is to grow an ecosystem by meditating. The more days you spend meditating, the more the environment grows. Once the game is completed, you are given an island that you can walk through and plant trees in. The trees grow the more you meditate. Overall, this is not perfect, but it seems to be the best meditation app I have found so far and should be effective for most people's purposes. This is also one of the only meditation apps I know of that offers a spatial connection with the meditation.
Oct 27, 2020
BioShock Infinite
Mar 26, 2013
This is a great game. It is ambitious despite providing a linear experience and offers a high concept story that is thought provoking. In the case of this game, while the gameplay seemed fairly standard when compared to the first Bioshock, it is the story that makes it shine. Unlike the first game which takes place in the underwater city of Rapture, the main campaign of this game takes place in the floating city of Columbia. Unlike previous games, this felt more like an American take on a Jules Verne style concept, but backs up the extraordinary premise with quantum theory which was researched by Procopiu and Bohr close to the same year in which the game takes place (1912). Characters are convincing, and the main AI companion of Elizabeth was both endearing and well developed without being an obstacle during gameplay. There are quite many concepts covered in this such as alternate realities, free will, and other existentialist themes. This, in combination with many social issues that plagued the United States in the early 1900's made for a very unique experience. The Burial at Sea missions offered an interesting connection with the events in the first Bioshock and offered an interesting continuation of the main campaign. Overall, there are not many games that are as polished and well thought out as this one, and I consider it to be one of the greats.
Oct 18, 2020
Where to Invade Next
Oct 2, 2015
This is a mediocre film where Michael Moore visits different countries to learn what they do better than the U.S.. On the face of it, this is not a bad idea, but the pros and cons of countries are cherry picked and don't show the nuances. The majority of the countries visited were European and most people who lived in a European country know that the general situaton tends to be more complicated than pictured in the documentary. The content would have been better if it provided a more accurate picture of the world with less of a focus on just Europe, but the movie itself was not terrible.
Oct 14, 2020
Watch Dogs
May 27, 2014
When this was first shown in previews, this was touted as a next generation experience. After playing it, I was unimpressed. This game lacks depth, rendering and physics can be buggy, and the open world feels limited. The hacking is unimpressive and is reduced to just pressing a button or solving a puzzle. This is also fairly unrealistic. While realistic hacking may not be all that entertaining, the idea of an entire city running on a single operating system is simply ridiculous. Controls feel clunky, and the story had generic characters and cliches. This is not a good way to spend your time and is fairly disappointing given the amount of resources were spent on its development.
Oct 7, 2020
Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art
James Nestor, May 26, 2020
A book about the advantages of nose breathing. While the contents of the book are useful, it is advised that you only read the epilogue and appendix if your main goal is to put some of the suggestions into practice. The main contents are told with a narrative structure, but the narrative was not particularly engaging for me. This is heavy on anecdotes and seems to lack scientific rigor. Because of this, most readers' time is better spent studying techniques listed at the end of the book and trying it out for themselves.
Oct 5, 2020
A video that is highly useful for statistical tests that can be used for hypothesis testing in research. This is fairly comprehensive and it takes its time in explaining the concepts.
Sep 27, 2020
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Oct 12, 2012
This is a coming of age story that has its moments and does not bore. It felt more like a good novel than a good movie and it made me wonder if the strengths of the medium were utilized properly. There are some good scenes in here like a car ride through a tunnel, but I was not impressed with cinematography. The editing was good. This movie tries to tackle a variety of topics and in the process it manages to be a decent character study. There are some memorable lines, and good acting by the three main actors involved. It is not perfect, but I think if you are able to relate to the characters going through high school, you will find it to be a good experience.
Sep 27, 2020
Your Future Self
Mar 8, 2019
This is an indie game centered on dialogue choices. The story and premise is its main strength. The premise is that you as the player are stuck in a time loop where you are in a conversation with another version of yourself from 35 years in the future where climate change has doomed humanity. The concept is refreshing and it manages to work despite the simple interface provided. It also provides an interesting take on time travel as well as a corollary of simulation theory which has similar properties. Overall, it manages to make an impact with its short playtime.
Sep 26, 2020
Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen
Apr 23, 2013
This is a game that is rough around the edges, but has quite a bit of depth and ambition. This also manages to provide one of the few convincing implementations of the hero's journey in games in a way that does not represent the world as simply black and white that I have seen. This is a game that had a good idea, a good premise, good music, good mechanics, good voice acting, and a unique story, but struggles on the technical side of things. There is a richness in assets with different enemy types, high character customizability and freedom that is common in open world games and MMORPGs. That said, the world is small and not all that populated. NPC AI can be limited which can make the world feel shallow despite the detail that it has. This can make the game tedious at times and also frustrating due to its difficulty. This is a game that moves slowly. This can be a good thing because it can emphasize the player's investment, but it can also make for a negative experience for more casual players. Overall, I enjoyed it. It has quite a bit of replay value, and it encourages exploration. If it were fleshed out more and had more depth to the non-gameplay related elements, it would be tremendously better. Interestingly enough, there is a show that is based off of this, and I am curious to see if it fares better than the game.
Sep 20, 2020
My Fair Lady
Dec 25, 1964
This is one of those movies that is enjoyable and brilliantly shot. In many ways, this feels like a Disney animated film brought to life. For a musical, this has a certain level of intelligence in it. Topics like class struggle, language as a way of attaining higher positions is still relevant today. In addition to this, this film provides a unique window into the English language. Sets and locations are colorful and well constructed and music does not take away from the story. Hepburn does great in this as she does in everything she is in and she outclasses all other actors in the film. While many musicals can be quite shallow this manages to go deeper to provide an engaging experience.
Sep 17, 2020
Coffee Talk
Oct 23, 2018
I knew of Toge Productions since the times when they developed flash games. In addition to this, some of the unity assets that were used in this game were used in some of my games as well. I was rather surprised to see that Toge was based in Indonesia this entire time. Coffee Talk is a visual novel style game that is similar to other bartending games, but in this game you are a barista that serves coffee. The crux of the gameplay involves experiencing the story through the customers that visit the store. These customers are made more interesting due to the world that the game takes place in which has fantasy elements in a modern world like Bright or Fables. These elements are utilized in a way that they are able to tackle themes like racism, traditionalism, and general societal changes.
Sep 16, 2020
Kadhalan
Sep 17, 1994
I don't know why I watched this movie. The story is not that good, and plot events are hamfisted to match common tropes. It is also very long and it did not need to be. What is good about this is A.R.R's music and Prabhu Deva's great dance and choreography.
Sep 13, 2020
Headliner: NoviNews
Oct 23, 2018
A game that simulates what goes on the news and how that affects politics and viewpoints in a country. You have the option of spreading conspiracies, supporting corporations, and reducing support for politicians. Multiple playthroughs make the content engaging, and it is interesting to see how the news affects individual people from different walks of life. What is most interesting is that providing a fair and balanced view of both sides of an issue can lead to distrust because people expect an angle and distrust that which is feigning honesty.
Sep 13, 2020
The Trotsky
May 5, 2010
This is not a good movie, but it is very entertaining at times due to Jay Baruchel's acting as a modern day Leon Trotsky. Also somewhat informative about French-Canadian culture.
Sep 12, 2020
The Doors of Perception
Aldous Huxley, 1954
This is a book about Aldous Huxley's experiences taking mescaline. I'm not sure if this needed to be as lengthy as it is (despite it being quite short), but it does manage to sufficiently argue about the limits of human perception.
Sep 11, 2020
Invisible, Inc.
May 12, 2015
A turn based stealth game. The idea is unique and because levels are procedurally generated, this has a high level of replayability. Due to this being from the same developers as Mark of the Ninja, the art style is somewhat similar. The story is not that engaging, but it does not take away from the experience.
Sep 9, 2020
Singularity
Jun 29, 2010
This is an example of a good premise being wasted. Time manipulation is something with many possibilities, but in this game, the possibilities are limited. In addition to this, the use of time travel without any sense of strategy made it feel like a standard first person shooter that just has scenes that take place in the present and the past. You as the player have no decision making in how the time travel works. In additon to this, enemies either fall into generic soldiers or generic monsters. The mechanics are simply not all that compelling. Story is given through exposition. Only the variety of weapons seemed decent. Overall, this is like a substandard Bioshock clone.
Sep 8, 2020
The Stranger
Albert Camus, 1942
This felt like the western world's equivalent to 人間失格 and like an adult's version of Catcher in the Rye. Although the contents of this are said to be absurd, this felt very real, and may not be considered all that absurd in our modern world. The purpose of life and the emptiness in it are well conveyed. Unlike other great novels that I've recently read, this actually felt like it had impact and it was straight to the point. In terms of existentialism, I consider this work to be rather great and very accessible.
Sep 5, 2020
Breakfast at Tiffany's
Oct 6, 1961
I think this is my first Audrey Hepburn film. The dialogue feels real and flows well, shots are well thought out, and many parts of this felt modern for the time. Audrey Hepburn carried this film and her acting was what made this work. The ending really tied things up for me in a satisfying way. Most jokes are funny, but Mickey Rooney's performance as Yunioshi felt unnecessary and lacked the cleverness that could be found in the rest of the film. This is also a film that stars Orangey who actually won an award for his appearance in this film.
Sep 4, 2020
Starship SN6 150m Flight Test
Aug 29, 2020
This time, SN6 performed a hop, and there were no visibly identifiable problems.
Sep 4, 2020
Late Shift
Apr 18, 2017
This is one of those games where the medium is able to take advantage of its capability to hybridize itself with other artistic mediums. In this case, it manages to create what is essentially a film with choice. While other games may have cgi characters, this is composed of fully acted FMV's that have quality that is similar to what may be found in decent modern television dramas. Some acting in this can be lacking, but the main character is well executed. The story itself is not anything particularly innovative. It is a heist-gone-wrong style crime drama. That said, it is entertaining. It shows potential in the future of gaming and television and is something that can offer a more personalized experience for each individual viewer.
Sep 2, 2020
Tenet
Aug 26, 2020
This released worldwide earlier than it did in the United States. The general directorial feel of this is that it is like a cross between something Hitchcock and Shane Carruth would come up with. Compared to other Nolan films, this is very stripped down with most, if not all, of the focus on the plot. As a result, character development is more limited and it is harder to find an overarching theme or emotional hook like other Nolan films. On the technical side, this is an example of a director who knows what he wants and executes without any compromises regardless of whatever limitations may be brought on by the premise. Everything is practical including many aspects of scenes that are supposed to be happening as a result of time inversion. In terms of negatives, the film does not pay off until the second half when the time inversion mechanic is utilized in an unrestrained manner. Nolan spends half of the film setting things up which can be tedious, but the payoff is good. That said, despite its unrestrained nature, I felt that the idea was not pushed to its limits. In terms of replay value, this has it due to the nature of the palindrome-like structure. Scenes happening in reverse are accompanied by a smartly composed score by Ludwig Göransson that also has parts that can be played in reverse. Acting by all players is well done. If you are familiar with the mechanics, you may notice most of the details and predict the second half, but this is worthy of multiple viewings despite its shortcomings compared to other Nolan films.
Aug 30, 2020
Some Like It Hot
Mar 19, 1959
This is my first Billy Wilder film and my first Marilyn Monroe film. The script is clever, but not so clever that it loses its comedic value. The setting of the 1920's made this feel like a pre-code Hollywood film due to its racy content which only added to its authenticity. This is also probably the only film I've seen with crossdressing as a comedic gag that was actually good. While this has been stated to be one of the greatest films ever made, I would not go quite that far due to some aspects of the film being good but not particularly unique or innovative. That said, I think this is worth watching, and that its comedy is enjoyable even today.
Aug 29, 2020
Valiant Hearts: The Great War
Jun 25, 2014
An example of narrative done well in video games, and one of the better historical games that I have played. The representation of WWI was well done with historical context given to all of the locations and scenes that play out. In particular, the focus on the French effort was interesting, and something that is not covered all that often in media. The casualty rate of the war was well portrayed. While not everything was historically accurate, and liberties were taken, it managed to ground itself within actual events that played out in the war to deliver an emotional journey. All chaacters were given some level of development, and the story was not predictable. Overall, I consider this underrated.
Aug 29, 2020
Neuralink Progress Update, Summer 2020
Aug 29, 2020
An update from Neuralink that was made for the purpose of recruiting. The main improvements shown are the creation of a hardware architecture that is able to take the implanted nodes and detected spikes. There is actually a live demo involving pigs this time. The use of bluetooth and a custom software architecture is concerning due to this being a potential platform for neural based interfaces and software. For one year, this is good improvement. In terms of a product, development is still needed.
Aug 28, 2020
The Farewell
Aug 9, 2019
This is one of those movies that does not make major mistakes, but also does not make any particularly audacious moves other than its premise. From an American perspective this is unique in that it is a bilingual film that takes place mostly in China, and provides a unique perspective on Chinese culture. Awkwafina's Mandarin skills as an ABC were convincingly mediocre, and her acting, while not particularly memorable, did the job. This is a simple film that had one goal of showing familial dynamics within Chinese culture, and it executed it without any problems.
Aug 26, 2020
Final Fantasy X
Jul 19, 2001
Although this is a favorite of many fans of the series due to nostalgia, I found it rather tedious. While the ideas presented here had potential, the execution made it hard to enjoy. With the improvements brought by the PS2, you would expect the world presented to be more vivid, but while it feels real and feels larger, it also feels somewhat empty. The gameplay is more linear and exploration is not encouraged as much as previous entries. FMV's look great, but their in game counterparts look lifeless in comparison, which indicates that the improvements in technology did not lead to an improvement in the general player experience. This game could have just as easily been made for PS1, but with less complex graphics and no voice acting and it might have been improved in the process. The music is good, and the story seems to draw from an amalgamation of religious ideologies and South Asian/Oceanic cultures with its concepts of dying to save the world from sin. Side characters don't have the level of development given in other entries, and the English voice acting is absolutely horrible (which is a product of the times). I am sure some people may enjoy it, but when grinding and the end game feels like work, I consider the product to be flawed.
Aug 22, 2020
Long Day's Journey Into Night
Dec 10, 2018
A very unique film with good production value and film technique. The story is very simple, but the way in which it is executed is what makes this work. The dialogue is short and not particularly elaborate, but it still manages to be poetic. The closest thing I could think of was what can be seen in Wong Kar-wai films, but Wong Kar-wai films can be more meandering at times. That said, I don't think Wong Kar-wai did something on the level of the single 1 hour+ take in the second half of this film. Apparently this film involved three cinematographers, but I honestly had trouble telling. This is a dreamlike film that I am surprised has not received more attention in the west given its general quality and its success in China.
Aug 22, 2020
When Harry Met Sally...
Jul 21, 1989
This is a film that is completely dependent on its script and the actors who manage to sell it. This comes as no surprise since this is from the same director as The Princess Bride There is a certain cynicism in the writing which makes this romantic comedy more endearing than other entries in the genre. It does not portray relationships in a perfect light, but makes sure to mention the ups and downs as well as some of the tediousness involved. There are not many good romantic comedies where romance and the comedy take center stage, but this is one of them.
Aug 22, 2020
Bait
Aug 30, 2019
Reminded me of films like Following and Pi where new directors tended to use black and white in their first films. In the case of Mark Jenkin, Bait is not his directorial debut. There are some interesting topics covered here such as the decline of traditional industries. This film also provided me of a better understanding of Cornish people and villages. This film is deliberate and shows what it wants to show without being rushed or too slow despite longer takes.
Aug 21, 2020
The premise of the first season is being stretched to its limit, while it is a good premise, the original idea is not used well in this film. This film's best aspects are the short runtime and the sound design. Other than that, the film seems to lack an overall focus and does not have a particular message or goal. The idea of mental health being related to a person's criminality is an interesting topic to cover, but the ideas are never actually explored, but rather just used as a back drop for some sort of mediocre crime drama. Overall, this was fairly disappointing due to other works in the series being significantly better.
Aug 20, 2020
Trainspotting
Feb 23, 1996
This is not an easy movie to watch, but the amount of deliberate touches and artistic flair make it something with its own identity. Danny Boyle has a unique style, and the methods and techniques he uses here are very similar to what can be found in Requiem for a Dream. Unlike Requiem for a Dream, this is a bit more light hearted, and the ending is not quite as bleak in nature. Ewan McGregor's performance here is great, and he executes the script very well. I was not a fan of some of the toilet humor in the begining of the film, but the later parts of the movie more than make up for it.
Aug 20, 2020
Love Letter to America
Tomas Schuman, Jun, 1984
I read this as a way to familiarize myself with Yuri Bezmenov. This covers the tactics of the KGB, and subversion as a way to overthrow an existing regime. There are some facts and arguments that are weak, but it is thought provoking. Short, but still relevant and calls into question whether the Cold War had ever ended.
Aug 19, 2020
All Quiet on the Western Front
Apr 21, 1930
For a 90 year old movie, this surprised me in many ways. The level of violence was unrestrained, the themes are mature, and this ultimately does not shy away from showing war as it truly is. As my first pro-code film, this impressed me very much. Scenes of war looked very real despite some frame rate issues, and the perspective of the Germans was something that I thought was very ambitious given how controversial it might have been. Given that this was made during a time that was not that long after WWI, the general look of the film is very similar to what one might have seen during the actual war. In terms of camera work, the film felt like it was at least 20 years ahead of its time in certain scenes in terms of how it used movement. Despite it being as old as it is, there are parts of this film that feel modern.
Aug 18, 2020
Tops
1969
The works of Charles and Ray Eames were influential to many film directors who grew up in the 60's and 70's. This short work shows a variety of tops, some made for play, some decorative, and many that use the kinetic energy in unique ways.
Aug 18, 2020
Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War
Apr 25, 2006
One of the best games I have ever played and criminally underrated. Everything is improved over previous entries. The story is mature and told with a poetic flair, the dogfights are intense, there is choice and mission variety as well as an ace style system. Although this takes place in an alternate reality, the war that the player experiences in this game is a mixture of WWII and the Bosnian war and references to Arthurian legend are made in parts of the story. The music is also better than in previous entries with a mixture of different types of genres as well as the use of Flamenco guitar as a motif. The planes themselves, which were designed in partnership with major aerospace companies, are also very intricate and detailed. In light of the series, this is not particularly innovative, but on its own merits, it is great. This series, overall, should receive more attention and praise, but it seems like it has not due to the niche nature of its content.
Aug 17, 2020
Gyakusatsu Kikan
Feb 3, 2017
A very intellectual work set in a bizarre post 9/11 future where biotechnology and AR are ubiquitous. The main premise is focused on an exaggerated application of the Sapir Whorf hypothesis where speaking certain words with a specific grammar can eventually lead to genocidal behavior by inception. There are some very unique ideas presented here such as the use of civil war as a way to enforce class separation, the rhetoric of tyranny, and the recurrence of genocide as a byproduct of human evolution. All of these are controversial, but all of these have some rational basis which is what makes them particularly interesting as an area of study. The combination of linguistics and anthropology with the direction the world is heading in is something that has only been done in MGSV. Depiction of American politics and military is not accurate, but it does make for good entertainment. Generally, the story seems like something that Kojima or Oshii might have come up with, but the presentation is lacking. The main problems here are the lack of character development, the flawed pacing, and the subpar presentation, but everything else is very interesting. I'm not sure if this would be considered a good movie, but the content of the story is very interesting. The novel this is based on may be a better use of time than the film.
Aug 16, 2020
The Undiscovered Self
C.G. Jung, 1957
This is insightful, but also limited by the state of psychology during a time when it was more of a pseudoscience. I can also see how the arguments postulated here fit into the basis of some of Jordan Peterson's work. For anyone reading this, the ideas of the id, ego, and unconcious stem from Freudian psychology, so familiarity with the field should be expected going into this work. There is quite a bit of ground covered here. Carl Jung talks about the role of the individual, how the individual is constructed, how the individual can get lost in the masses, and the influences and reach of the individual within larger society. He frames the microconcepts involving individual psychology within larger political and societal concerns of the time like the cold war. Overall, this is not a bad read, and it can help one to understand one's place in the world. There is an emphasis on the west and religion as a foil to the state and tyranny, but I chalk this up to a byproduct of the times.
Aug 16, 2020
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
Feb 19, 2013
When this was announced, I was looking forward to a stealth based game, but then PlatinumGames took over the development, and it became something different. The gameplay became more high paced, but it kept many elements of the original vision. This is a game that is very high paced, high energy, and there is very little that is quite like it. The story is cartoonish in comparison to other works in the Metal Gear Solid series, but as long as you don't take it too seriously, it is very enjoyable. I recommend reading The Selfish Gene before playing this game, because there are many references to memes.
Aug 14, 2020
Won't You Be My Neighbor?
Jun 29, 2018
Superior to A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood and offers a far more nuanced representation of Fred Rogers. One of the best documentaries I've ever seen, and it doesn't bore at any time.
Aug 14, 2020
The Epic of Gilgamesh
Anonymous, 1800 BC
It is very interesting to see how intelligent humans were during a time when civilization itself as a concept was still somewhat new. Despite this being as old as it is, it is understandable and fairly relatable. This reads very much like other bronze age era stories where lessons are taught by vicariously experiencing them through some character. In the case of the epic of Gilgamesh, the focus is on mortality and grief. Although humans can live forever through immortality, this epic shows that humans can also live on through their legacy. It is also interesting to note how monotheistic religions seemed to plagiarize concepts from this epic.
Aug 14, 2020
All You Need Is Kill 2
Ryōsuke Takeuchi, Takeshi Obata (Illustrator), Hiroshi Sakurazaka, Jun 19, 2014
The conclusion of the story is interesting, but not as entertaining as the first part. While the first part was interesting due to its exploration of the loop mechanic, the second part focuses more on character development. This makes it have less momentum than part 1, but a more fleshed out world. Unlike Edge of Tomorrow, the ending in this is far more tragic, and the mechanics by which the looping occurs is different. The looping in the manga is more believable and mimics the principles by which memories are sent back in time in Steins;Gate. Overall, I think this is a great series that is very unique, and that while this is better than Edge of Tomorrow, Edge of Tomorrow also has its own unique appeal. In terms of the reading experience, the vocabulary is not particularly difficult for someone who is fluent and furigana is provided, so it is not a bad way to practice Japanese.
Aug 13, 2020
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Jul 11, 2014
I have a mixed impression of this film. While it is superior to the 70's Battle for the Planet of the Apes, the writing in this felt weak and seemed to depend on the stupidity of humans as the primary thing that moves the plot forward. While the original series had a certain mystery about it that had viewers piece together events to figure out how each film fits in the whole scheme of things, the reboot is told in chronological order. Also, anyone who knows anything about apes knows that being intelligent is not enough to speak like a human especially when the throat of an ape has not been evolved to make human-like sounds. In terms of positives, the subject matter is very relevant to current events. There is a simian flu, a weird skepticism of science among some of the characters, and a general lack of trust between the major parties. Drama among the apes seems Shakespearean. If this was better written, I might recommend it, but the use of some tired tropes made it an irritating experience for me.
Aug 13, 2020
The Metamorphosis
Franz Kafka, 1915
This is a story of Gregor Samsa turning into a cockroach. The subject matter is surreal, and the way in which the transformation was handwaved made it seem bizarre. The impact the transformation had on his family made up the majority of the story. It is difficult to say what this book is truly trying to say, but the story can be related to society, depression, and familial relations. For a short story, it could have been made even shorter and still accomplished the same thing, but overall, it is interesting.
Aug 13, 2020
My Inventions: The Autobiography of Nikola Tesla
Nikola Tesla, 1919
This is split into 6 sections which are each individual articles written by Nikola Tesla for Electrical Experimenter magazine. It covers different periods of his life from his childhood to telautomatics. Since it is written by Nikola Tesla himself, there is really no better alternative if you want to learn about him and his work.
Aug 12, 2020
Metro 2033
Mar 16, 2010
For an FPS, this was surprisingly refreshing. The world had its own lore, there are multiple approaches to combat for some levels, and physics seem somewhat realistic. Also, there are mechanics that emphasize resource management better than other games. It provides enough variety to entertain. In terms of negatives, there is not much weapon variety, mediocre AI, and voice acting can sometimes miss the mark. It would have been nice to use the Russian voices, but background conversations are not given subtitles, so this was not a viable option.
Aug 12, 2020
Nosferatu
Feb 17, 1922
Silent films are not easy to watch or enjoy due lower image quality in addition to the use of text to indicate dialogue. The last silent film I liked was Metropolis. In the case of Nosferatu, the image quality lends itself to the horror and the use of black and white works to the advantage of the lighting. With regards to the acting, it is difficult to tell whether the acting is good or not because it is hard for subtlety to be conveyed to the audience without the ability to convey everything through physical movement. That said, Max Schreck in this case is difficult to imitate, making his performance very memorable despite it looking comical at times. Generally, as long as you don't take this too seriously, I think it is easier to appreciate the work and craftsmanship that went into this. Small things such as the use of a hyena as a werewolf make this a fun watch.
Aug 11, 2020
Dhuruvangal Pathinaaru
Dec 29, 2016
A respectable, but flawed film from a young director with mostly unknown actors. This clearly had a lot of work put into it, but this also seemed to value style over substance in certain aspects. Editing and camera work ended up being jerky and this hurt the pacing despite some common practices being followed. Color grading was well done. While this does follow tropes in the mystery and crime genre, events are spoonfed while twists and turns end up being forced with very little to prompt them. As a result, this ends up being a film that does some things great and some things in a flawed manner.
Aug 10, 2020
Requiem for the American Dream
Apr 18, 2015
At the moment, Youtube has numerous free movies available and this is one of them. In this, Noam Chomsky outlines 10 principles that have lead to wealth inequality within the U.S. There is no real solution provided, but the general content is informative and somewhat prophetic. This could have worked just as well as an audiobook, and I have no idea why this was made into a film, because the visuals don't seem to have much purpose.
Aug 10, 2020
All You Need Is Kill 1
Ryōsuke Takeuchi, Takeshi Obata (Illustrator), Hiroshi Sakurazaka, Jun 17, 2014
Towards the end of my first trip to Japan, there were a number of sales happening to promote the Japanese opening of Edge of Tomorrow in Japan. As part of this promotion, the manga and original novel of All You Need is Kill (which is the source material for the film) were being sold at a discount. Although six years have passed, I am finally getting to reading the copy that I bought. Since I already saw Edge of Tomorrow six years ago, comparisons will be made. I consider this to be superior to Edge of Tomorrow (so far) due to the focus that has been placed on the time loop rather than the enemy. Characters' pasts are actually covered here. All You Need is Kill also does not shy away from the violence and provides a bleaker outlook on humanity's war against the ギタイ. The aliens that show up are different and appear far more terrifying in my opinion. This is also more clearly made for Japanese sensibilities as indicated by the tropes seen within the first manga. So far, this is very good, and I am hoping that the second manga improves on what was established in the first.
Aug 8, 2020
Rear Window
Aug 4, 1954
This is classic Alfred Hitchcock where he creates suspense by withholding information from the viewer. By trying to piece together a case by viewing people through their windows Hitchcock creates a premise that gives him a lot of freedom. While the shots used are repetitive, we do see each window act as a frame through which to place the camera such that small differences are emphasized. Topics such as voyeurism and the ethics of observing a crime or suicide are also covered. In terms of acting, James Stewart was not all that impressive (because he plays James Stewart like he does in all his movies) with many of the actresses overshadowing him. While much of the attention towards the actors goes towards the voyeurs, credit should be given to the actors who play the role of the observed as well. In addition to this, there is something of a meta narrative here where each room represents a tv channel. Overall, there are many way to interpret different aspects of this film which makes it a work that is worthy of being studied.
Aug 8, 2020
Spriggan Vol. 1
Hiroshi Takashige, Ryōji Minagawa, Apr 1, 1993
Read this in the original Japanese as a way to practice and review the language. When compared to the feature film, this varies quite a bit because it reads more like a modern day Indiana Jones except artifacts are protected instead of stolen. In addition to this, it uses technology of ancient civilizations to introduce some futuristic elements in addition to the supernatural. While entertaining, I don't consider it to be particularly different from other works that were published at the time.
Aug 6, 2020
Ikiru
Oct 9, 1952
Deserves to be listed among the greatest films of all time, and is on the level of films such as Citizen Kane. This excels in every aspect. Cinematography includes long tracking shots and creative use of lighting which works great in a black and white film. Imagery and the composition of each frame is carefully thought out. The story records how a man lived his last days and the aftermath. By doing so, it manages to make a statement regarding society, life, purpose, family, and work. In addition to this, it is also a good documentation of the state Japan was in after recovering from the second world war. The themes here still apply today and seem to be growing with relevance as time passes which is very rare to find in a movie.
Aug 5, 2020
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Nov 22, 2019
This is more a film about Mr. Rogers' philosphy rather than about Mr. Rogers himself. As a result, Tom Hanks' character's screen time is limited and the main focus is placed on the character played by Matthew Rhys. Tom Hanks plays his character well, but not perfectly, and smaller mannerisms don't seem to be recreated. I think the overall story is well structured and it does not try to be overly ambitious which allows for it to reduce mistakes. What this does well is that it shows humans as imperfect and how to deal with a chaotic world in a positive manner while dealing an emotional message.
Aug 5, 2020
Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War
Oct 21, 2005
Not as great as Ace Combat 4 in terms of gameplay, and not as ambitious in story when compared to Ace Combat 3. There are a sufficient number of missions and the focus on geopolitics, while lacking realism, manages to provide a good parallel to cold war era politics. One thing that is improved in comparison to the other games is that there is a clearer arc that can be followed with the characters which may make it more crowd pleasing. However, when compared to AC4, this also means that there is a decrease in realism. Levels lack variety and don't seem to offer much in terms of innovation compared to previous installments. The AI of enemy planes actually seems to be worse despite the fact that programming such AI should be relatively straight forward. Finally, unlike previous installments, there is not a single ace who acts as the antagonist within the story which made this feel somewhat lacking. Overall, this is like Ace Combat 4 with more content, but less refinement. I enjoyed it and consider it to be a cut above many games made today. One thing to note is that the animations seemed to be made with English in mind rather than Japanese, so English audio is recommended.
Aug 4, 2020
Starship SN5 150m Hop
Aug 4, 2020
Space X completed the first hopper test with Starship serial no. 5 after experiencing a series of problems with the preceding serial numbers. It was not perfect, and the engine was on fire, but it managed to go from point A to point B with a single raptor engine while traveling more than a tenth of a kilometer in altitude. With the current rate of progress, I think a 2021 test of Starship with all engines may not be out of the question.
Aug 3, 2020
Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere
May 27, 1999
Playing this made me feel grateful that I understand Japanese. The EU and North American versions apparently had the entire story and cutscenes completely cut out. Being a PS1 game, graphics and gameplay are limited in comparison to Ace Combat 4, but the basic mechanics are there, and the game feels modern. Storywise, this is a cut above other games due to its coverage of geopolitics and technology in a future where world powers are corporations instead of countries. In addition to this, it allows for five unique endings where choices matter. While, there are some holes in the premise, this is rather ambitious given the time in which this game was developed.
Aug 2, 2020
Knives Out
Sep 7, 2019
With Rian Johnson, it seems like every other movie he makes is good, and this is probably his best. This is a whodunnit with modern sensibilities, and the ensemble cast makes it so that the story can be sold in our current times. The mystery itself is surprisingly well done in that it does not give too much away and has a twist in that part of the truth is provided to the audience at the very beginning. Ana de Armas was great and Daniel Craig with his southern drawl was iconic. This is a great film that should have won more awards.
Aug 2, 2020
Crew Demo-2 Splashdown
Aug 2, 2020
With this successful splash down, SpaceX has officially left Boeing in the dust and managed to counter Roscosmos. The trampoline works, and I am looking forward to the succeeding launch in September.
Aug 2, 2020
Slaughterhouse-Five
Kurt Vonnegut Jr., 1969
This holds similarities to Catch-22, but the themes that it tackles are different and the way in which events are presented are wildly different.. The narrative structure of this book basically involves time skips between different events in Billy Pilgrim's life. There are fantastical elements like aliens and absurdist conversations that have comedic value, but are not realistic. With the mix of real world events and fantastical elements, there is some discussion of free will, being able to change events in the future, and hope. Commentary on war is also hidden within the prose where PTSD and viewpoints on other nationalities are described through the eyes of POW's during WWII.
Aug 2, 2020
GEO212 - Intro to Meteorology
Jun 29, 2015
A series from Yavapai College. Despite this being a community college course, it is actually very technical and is dense with data and terminology. I think the high level may be due to this being a 200 level course in Geology which I have no experience in. This covers things from the basic atmospheric makeup to cloud formation/classification to atmospheric optics. This is a very thorough lecture series and covers almost everything you would want to know about Meteorology at the introductory level.
Aug 1, 2020
Kimetsu no Yaiba
Sep 28, 2019
The title means demon destruction blade, and the story focuses on its main character beginnings as he gains the skills to kill demons. The production quality for this work is on the level of feature films and seems like overkill which is typical for studio Ufotable. The animation is fluid and integrates both 2d and 3d methods. The score is handled by Yuki Kajiura who is my favorite Japanese composer. That said, the writing seems to be typical modern shounen fare which means that I don't consider it to be novel despite its great execution. Demon slaying has already been presented in other works within the medium (although maybe not as well or in the same way). Despite this, there is a high amount of care given to character presentation and development, and while the plot is not innovative, it does nothing wrong. References to Japanese history is done well, with its depiction of a vibrant and varied Taisho period Japan. The story did not impress me as much as its technical achievements, but I can understand why it is highly rated since it does not make major mistakes and does a lot right.
Jul 31, 2020
M
May 11, 1931
I have already seen Fritz Lang's Metropolis, and seeing how this is his first film with sound, it is interesting to see how he uses it to his advantage with editing. From a cultural perspective, it is interesting to see how Germany was in the 1930's especially during a time when the Nazi's were coming into power. In terms of cinematography, it is similar to Metropolis, but carefully planned shots make the compositional quality of each frame rather high. In addition to this, with improvements in technology, the camera is portable enough to actually follow characters around. A good example of this is a shot that tracks Peter Lorre's character and zooms in during a chase. In terms of story, this handles suspense and moral dilemma's well. The first half depicts the search for the child murderer well, and the last part handles topics such as insanity, the legal system, and punishment. Overall, a great film, and one of Germany's best.
Jul 31, 2020
Paradigm
Apr 5, 2017
There are not a lot of games that have a retro eastern European aesthetic, and the look of this work is just one of its unique characteristics. There are references to many different works like Final Fantasy, NES games, and it uses these references to essentially steal mechanics from other games for one hit gags. Art direction is well done and varied with many different styles of art being included. Along with all this, there are FMV's, some of which include live action sequences. Puzzles are bizarre and take advantage of the strange post apocalyptic surreal world of Paradigm to create unique challenges that would not work in any other point and click adventure.
Jul 30, 2020
American Hustle
Dec 20, 2013
This is the most tightly constructed film I've seen in a long time. The editing is deliberate, and each scene has a logical flow. It doesn't have a dull moment, and is best watched in a single sitting. It is also unique, because this is one of the few films where almost all the characters have questionable morals. The casting does come across as bizarre, because they seem to have casted the least Italian looking people to play Italian Americans. This is most likely due to that fact that David O. Russel prefers to work with actors he has worked with in some of his previous films. If Martin Scorcese made a heist film, it might be similar to this due to the pacing.
Jul 30, 2020
Tekken 5
Feb 24, 2005
One of the best fighting games and one of the best games on the ps2 is also one of the most frustrating. For each character, there is usually more than 70 moves, and the cpu seem to sometimes cheat by using previously used moves to anticipate what the player will do. For many of the harder fights, it is necessary to win by using cheap moves instead of mastering the fighting system. Outside of that, presentation is nice, characters from different countries actually speak their language instead of using dubbing. There is quite a bit of depth offered here, but the game does not hold your hand and expects you to have the patience to master the movesets and mechanics for each of the characters.
Jul 29, 2020
Half-Life 2: Episode Two
Oct 10, 2007
Better than episode one, and we see the return of the car. This one is more story heavy, and is also more fair and balanced. There are also references to Aperture Science which was interesting. A third episode would have been nice since this one ended on a cliffhanger, but since Alyx exists, this might be a non issue.
Jul 28, 2020
Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood
Jul 26, 2019
For a Quentin Tarantino film, this is not his best, but is at the level of some of his other well known films. Much of the craziness found in other films is rather subdued in this one. The first 2 hours of this very long film are basically an indulgent journey through 60's era Hollywood with a focus on television rather than film. Some shots from older shows are recreated, and references to films from that time are made. In the last 45 minutes, we suddenly get a narrator, and we see some of what Tarantino is most known for. Historical accuracy gets thrown out the window by that point and things go from 0 to 100 quick. Overall, this is most similar to Inglorious Basterds, and while it is not perfect, if you are familiar with film from the era, this may be entertaining. That said, it does feel bloated and indulgent, and there are some scenes that could be edited out.
Jul 27, 2020
The Selfish Gene
Richard Dawkins, 1976
A very insightful book that basically shows how all forms of life is composed of greedy functions from the elements that they are made of to the behaviors that they exhibit. While it may imply that there is an intent behind everything, the way I like to think of it is that it is the result of stochastic processes that prioritize survival or try to optimize a particular metric. This is also where the term 'meme' is apparently coined, and Richard Dawkin's use of it is very creative, because it is able to use the greedy nature of genes to extrapolate to human culture and behavior. There are also applications of economics which can be used to determine the optimal condition, and then show how evoluationary processes can lead to local optima. Overall, this was very fascinating.
Jul 27, 2020
Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner
Feb 13, 2003
This is better than the first game in all aspects. Graphics are improved, the music is better, the story is better, there are more environments with greater variety. Pacing is better, gameplay is dynamic and quicker. Levels have variety, and the narrative actually has a full, satisfying arc. Even voice acting is better. I recommend playing only this in the series, because this entry even has a recap of events in the first game. The only thing I wish were better were for the world building to have more depth.
Jul 26, 2020
ATH 175 - Introduction to Anthropology
Jun 15, 2019
Series of lectures at Miami University. Introduces Anthropology, what it means to be human, culture, ethics, and ethnography. This field is tangential to many other fields which make it not only relevant, but interesting.
Jul 24, 2020
Boku no Hero Academia 4th Season
Apr 4, 2020
This is the weakest entry in the series. It is definitely not bad, but whether it is good or not is debatable. There is very little innovation happening here, and I hope this is not a sign of worse to come.
Jul 24, 2020
PaRappa the Rapper
Dec 6, 1996
Played and upscaled on epsxe. Because of its age and status as what is probably the first rhythm game and one of the only rapping games, the experience was somewhat frustrating. Playing on easy means that you can only play through half of the songs which means that you need to play on normal if you want the full experience. Timings don't match up with what is on the screen which means that you need to have an understanding of the underlying timings if you want a good score. The visual style is rather unique for the era given that 2d animation within a 3d environment was rarely done prior to this game in many mediums. All versions of this game have the same voice acting and music which means that the Japanese version really only differs in terms of its menu and subtitles.
Jul 23, 2020
Salyut-7
Oct 5, 2017
This is like a cross between Apollo 13 and Gravity. This is unique in that it provides a cosmonaut's viewpoint, and it actually has a somewhat realistic portrayal of orbit. Music is good, but the story is not entirelyy historically accurate. There were quite a lot of dramatic liberties taken, and I felt that a more realistic approach might have worked better. Some of the liberties taken involved fabricating entire events to make partially political statements which did not add much to the quality of the story as a whole. That said, for something that was created on a significantly smaller budget than many of its Hollywood equivalents, this is rather impressive.
Jul 23, 2020
Silent Hill 2
Sep 24, 2001
Played using PCSX2. This is one of the best horror games and one of the best games of all time. That does not mean it is perfect, but the imperfections seem to be intentional. Dialogue and voice acting is awkward and stilted. The controls are clunky, and it is difficult to find items within levels which bears similarity to earlier Resident Evil games. I ultimately had to switch from 3d controls to 2d controls. The limitations of early PS2 era games seemed to work to the atmospheric properties with glitching graphics. Nothing actually felt real, and this manages to actually work to the advantage of the game. The story, while not entirely clear, has similarities to great novels like Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment and Dante's Inferno. There are also references to Jungian psychology which is rare to see in any work. This game does not settle for cheap scares and delivers through atmospheric tension and strong imagery. Finally, the multiple endings makes the actions taken by the player meaningful.
Jul 22, 2020
TheTrevTutor - Introduction to Linguistics
Sep 20, 2019
A very broad course that covers topics from grammars and syntax to morphology and phonology. Some of this was review due to overlap with topics covered in natural language processing. Other topics such as phonology was rather technical and difficult to grasp. For the more technical topics, working through problem sets is recommended. Overall, the course is useful for natural language processing applications as well as language learning.
Jul 22, 2020
It Happened One Night
Feb 22, 1934
A great Frank Capra film that does not bore despite its age. In addition to being a decent comedic romance film, it also manages to make some commentary on social classes. Cinematography is rudimentary which is to be expected given the time in which the film was made. This is also a good documentation of how America used to be culturally in the early 1900's.
Jul 21, 2020
The Old Man and the Sea
Ernest Hemingway, Sep 1, 1952
Published more than 100 years after Moby Dick. While Moby Dick's Ahab had a hatred for the sea, this holds an appreciation for the sea and fishing. Although this is rambling as well to some degree, this is quite meditative and the structure actually works. The discussions on age and life are actually rather thorough given it's short read time.
Jul 21, 2020
DARQ
Aug 15, 2019
The closest thing to Inception in game form. Not perfect, but has a lot of potential. There is no narrative, but the puzzles are well constructed.
Jul 20, 2020
Incredibles 2
Jun 15, 2018
On a technical level, this is superior to the original in every way. Hair behaves like hair when it is not stylized, water has accurate reflections, and materials have correct specularity and texture. Storywise, the novelty of the concept is not quite as high, but this is both a good superhero film as well as a family drama. The 70's silver age feel is still there, and the story continues right where the first film ended. This runs longer compared to other Pixar films with the runtime straying closer to 2 hours rather than the usual 90-100 minutes. This is not Pixar's best, but I think most people will enjoy it, and it is consistent with other Pixar films in terms of quality.
Jul 20, 2020
Moby-Dick or, the Whale
Herman Melville, Oct 18, 1851
This is a hard book to read and a book that is somewhat boring. While the topic of whaling in the 1800's can be interesting, the level of detail and ramblings on what I would consider to be insignificant really hurt the general pacing in my opinion. The narrator Ishmael is uninteresting and is only there to tell the story and act as a vehicle for some of Melville's opinions. There is not much of a plot here, and the main draw is in its details and characters. While there is a lot of thought placed into the content, what Moby Dick offers would be equivalent to if Star Wars suddenly went on a tangent and started focusing on the rocket science behind the space ships that show up in the film. In my opinion, this had an interesting beginning and a good end, but everything in between (which constitutes the majority of the novel) was tedious to read. Interestingly enough, I do think the structure of the novel might make for a good game with Moby Dick being a good final boss.
Jul 20, 2020
Art History - Overview Videos from Phil Hansen
Aug 26, 2017
An overview of Art History. Covers most of the topics covered in a standard art history class and does so in a concise manner. Topics range from the stone age to cubism, and the development of styles in the context of world events are mostly well explained.
Jul 19, 2020
Provided by Ohio State University. Covers many different aspects of designs and presents famous architects like Frank Lloyd Wright and the New York Five. Buildings discussed tended to be more unique buildings. There seems to be a focus on public spaces such as concert halls, museums, and libraries. There is no coverage of any technical skills, geometry or structural engineering. Also, outside of France, most of the buildings discussed are US buildings.
Jul 19, 2020
Assemble with Care
Mar 26, 2020
A remarkable game that manages to tell a story through the objects that people want repaired. Voice work was well done, and disassembling of objects were not needlessly complicated. The main complaint is that it is too short, and an expansion of what was explored here will definitely be received well.
Jul 18, 2020
The Beginner's Guide
Oct 1, 2015
This is a very meta game that supposedly presents game developed by someone else. The levels themselves are surreal and interesting, but lack depth outside of dialogue and interconnectedness between the levels. It is hard to determine the quality of this game, because while there was a fair amount of thought placed into it, it is also minimalistic making it difficult to tell what the point of it was.
Jul 17, 2020
BlacKkKlansman
Aug 20, 2018
This is a really good film that is a dramatization of Ron Stallworth's infiltration oft the Ku Klux Klan. This is highly stylized and draws from Blaxploitation films and Black culture in terms of its score and the way it is edited and shot. While it may not be entirely historically accurate, this has its moments that were thoroughly entertaining, moments that were funny, and moments with momentum. It is also not all that preachy and delivers its message without being overbearing. While it may suffer from pacing issues and could be trimmed down to make a tighter film, this is a Spike Lee film that is worth watching and is very relevant to modern events.
Jul 17, 2020
Dorohedoro
Mar 30, 2020
This is a unique, mature work that is very different from other works in the genre. There is a mixture of 3d and 2d art here that is often seemlessly woven together. World building is handled very well with a thorough exploration of Hole where humans live and the sorcerors that use the humans as human test subjects for practicing magic. Dialogue is well written, and characters are memorable due to the unique setting and general outlandish nature of the story. The source material was said to be impossible to adapt into an anime, but I consider this to be a success that disproves the claim.
Jul 17, 2020
Calculus Blue Multivariable Volume 3 : Integrals
Jun 6, 2019
A full coverage of all applications of integrals and integration theory. This covers physics, probability theory, statistics and the relations between the two fields which is often overlooked. Some of this is review, but I don't think I've ever seen the concepts explained this well. It also provides a good progression from moving from univariate to multivariate cases through the Fubini theorem and finally applying them. Overall, this makes many university lectures seem amateurish at best. I would like to take a look at other entries in this series, but would like to gain a better understanding of physics and chemistry first.
Jul 15, 2020
A Better Tomorrow
Aug 2, 1986
An imperfect, but engaging movie that introduces gun-fu and dual wielding pistols to film. The story is one regarding organized crime and redemption. I was unsatisfied with most of the actors except for Chow Yun Fat who performed very well. It is clear to see how influential this film was on Hong Kong films that followed afterwards.
Jul 15, 2020
Zone of the Enders
Mar 1, 2001
Emulated on PCSX2 and upscaled to 1440p. Despite Hideo Kojima being involved in this, this is not a philosophical game or even one with a particularly interesting story. There are some references made to ancient Egyptian mythology, but this seems to be more for the purpose of stylization. The gameplay is tight, but it lacks depth and variety. The player is given a variety of weapons, but enemies tend to be the same, and enemy AI is rather unsophisticated. For cutscenes, due to this being an earlier PS2 title, the graphics are lacking, but the main weakness is relatively bad voice acting and badly written dialogue. I wish I played this in the original Japanese version, but finding a Japanese rom for a legacy game console is easier said than done. The main strengths here are the soundtrack and the art and mech design which seems to have been done by Yoji Shinkawa. I felt like this had potential, but it didn't really live up to my expectations. Mech games aside, I've seen similar aesthetics and settings in the animated feature films that probably influenced the art direction for this game. That said, I am open to playing the sequel which I have been told is supposedly better in all aspects.
Jul 14, 2020
Locke
Sep 2, 2013
This is a great minimalist film that leveraged Tom Hardy's acting to create a story with ups and downs that all take place during a drive. Dialogue is realistic, and the way in which phone calls progress the narrative is creative. Tom Hardy has always been consistently great in all his films and this film is no exception. Cinematography and music is simplistic, but this only serves to emphasize the acting. Locke is one of those films like Twelve Angry Men that shows what can be done with a limited budget and a simple premise, and it knocks it out of the park.
Jul 14, 2020
Cibele
Nov 2, 2018
This is pretty bad. Not sure why this won awards, but the story was bad, the gameplay was unengaging, and the acting was horrible. After playing florence, this felt like a step down. I don't think there was much about this that I liked from a critical or player perspective.
Jul 13, 2020
Joe Rogan Experience #1506 - James Nestor
Jul 10, 2020
Although Wim Hof is a proponent of a breathing technique, his unclear explanations and weaknesses in English make it difficult to narrow down what exactly is happening. This interview with James Nestor clears things up and also provides explanations on the topics such as asthma, the impact of breathing on bone structure, the benefits of CO2, and the impact of nose breathing vs mouth breathing. I would like to read James Nestor's book at some point to see if some of the techniques explained here are credible.
Jul 13, 2020
Black Friday
Feb 9, 2007
This is a great film and differs from Bombay in that it does not have a narrative or a message. It just shows what happened. In many ways, this is more like a documentary and is similar to other great films like The Battle of Algiers or Zero Dark Thirty. It also does not portray either side as right or wrong, and shows the flaws of both the investigators and the perpetrators of the bombings that followed the riots. Not only is this a good film, but I think it can be used as an educational tool due to its somewhat unbiased nature.
Jul 13, 2020
florence
Feb 14, 2018
This is not a game, it is more like interactive fiction. Its strengths lie in its art and music. The music is great which is to be expected because it was composed by Kevin Penkin who worked on Made in Abyss. The story itself is somewhat standard and covers a relationship from beginning to end, but it does not get melodramatic or make any mistakes. From a critical perspective, this is a good game, but for those who are expecting more from their games than a story (like gameplay with more depth), this may disappoint. That said, I think this can appeal to a wide group of people and the short playtime makes it worth a try.
Jul 12, 2020
MANDAGON
Aug 4, 2016
This is free to play, and despite being a short game, it is one worth playing. Apparently this is inspired by Tibetan theology and philosophy. While I did come out of this not learning much about Tibetan theology, the art and sound direction do evoke feelings of spirituality. The closest game to this is Journey, but unlike Journey, this has less of a narrative. It is more minimalist, and this works to the advantage of the game. Overall, this is rather impressive for a game developed by a team of four.
Jul 11, 2020
Spec Ops: The Line
Aug 2, 2017
This is a hard hitting game that covers the purgatory of PTSD. This is also one of the few games I know of that allows players to commit war crimes and offers a criticism of the US military without needing to explicitly do so outside of text on the loading screen later in the single player campaign. The script is well written, and the development of the characters is well done. Although the story is based off of Heart of Darkness, it manages to add a layer of psychology to the story to give it a twist. There is a level of meta narrative here that places it in a category of its own that groups it with films like Inception. The setting of Dubai where water is the new oil acts as its own character and reflects the mentality of its characters. There are not many games that handle story telling in the way this game does, and the lack of acclaim definitely makes it underrated.
Jul 11, 2020
Bombay
Mar 10, 1995
This is one of Mani Ratnam's best, and it's emotional impact is probably the highest out of all of his works. On a technical level, this is comparable to Dil Se, and the camera is never needlessly static as we see in some of Ratnam's other works. There is a dynamism to the camera work and it helps tremendously. Music by Rahman with its Islamic influences is very memorable. The way in which this film not only tackles interfaith marriages, but uses that as a way to highlight aspects of the Bombay riots was cleverly done. This is heavy in imagery, the dialogue is simple but to the point, and the acting is powerful. As is typical with many of these Tamil films that take place outside of south India, more Tamil is spoken than is realistic, but I think that can easily be forgiven.
Jul 10, 2020
Tacoma
Aug 2, 2017
This is the second game developed by Fullbright after Gone Home. Like Gone Home, this is an exploration style game that is short in duration. This time, the story takes place on an orbital station, and involves piecing together events that happened using an AI interface. The general design of the station and story are well done, but the short duration seemed to lessen the impact of any reveals. Finally, the idea of retrieving AI data through an AR interface does not make much sense.
Jul 9, 2020
Sholay
Aug 15, 1975
This is the first film I saw with Amitabh Bachchan and the first film I saw that used Hindustani instead of just Hindi as its language. This is a fairly solid movie, but much of its appeal was lost on me. The reason for this is because it seemed to copy from westerns like Magnificent Seven, and Once Upon a Time in the West without improving upon those films in a significant way. While those films had signature soundtracks and camera work, this film seemed to be a bit lacking and simplistic in comparison. One thing to note is that the restored HD version has a few gimmicks that were intended to be used for 3D viewing, and it is noticeable in that it seems to distract from the actual contents of the film-- whenever there is an explosion, it is pretty much always guaranteed that there is some cgi object flying out towards the camera. That said, I do have a similar reaction when I see Star Wars films nowadays, so it's not too surprising that I wasn't all that caught up with the style of this film that is so clearly designed for mass appeal.
Jul 9, 2020
Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies
Sep 13, 2001
Played using PCSX2 without upscaling with the software renderer. This is supposedly the best that the Ace Combat series has to offer, and while it is a great game, it is very much a product of its time and a remaster or remake would be very much appreciated. There are no drones, the planes are older models, and the graphics are representative of early PS2 graphics complete with dithering. Consequently, there is a limited simulation of atmospheric conditions with no condensation, icing or wind taken into account. That said, the story is grounded, the concept of anti-asteroid railgun system known as Stonehenge was innovative, and the fictional universe known as Strangereal felt very much like our own. The ability to hear the radio chatter of both allies and the enemy makes for a very immersive experience and is probably one of its largest strengths. The dogfights were intense and enemies use techniques that are common in dogfighting even today. The missions made sense in the context of a larger military conflict and the way in which you play an active role and affect the flow of battle is very well done. This is not an easy game. There is a learning curve, but once an understanding of missile systems and dogfighting techniques is reached, it pays off.
Jul 5, 2020
Half-Life 2: Episode One
Jun 1, 2006
A continuation of Half Life 2. There are no new mechanics introduced, so it's really more of the same. This is not necessarily a negative, but one thing to note is that the huge changes scene between Half Life 1 and Half Life 2 are not seen here. We see the return of the gravity gun, but we don't see Gordon Freeman's signaturue crowbar until the middle of the game. Alyx as an AI controlled partner was surprisingly tolerable. Overall, it's good, but nothing compared to Half Life 2.
Jul 4, 2020
Scent of a Woman
Dec 23, 1992
This is Al Pacino at his best, and I would consider this role to be one of his most defining. This is a story where Al Pacino plays a retired blind army colonel with a unique personality. The story is good enough, but I think the main attraction here is Al Pacino executing signature lines with ease.
Jul 4, 2020
Still Human
Apr 11, 2019
This is like a Hong Kong version of The Intouchables without the music. More emphasis is placed on the shots and color grading, and the story, while not particularly ground breaking, depicts a story of a caretaker's relationship with her boss. This brings attention to Filipina maids and the troubles they go through, and the shots of apartment complexes in Hong Kong are stunning. There are a mixture of languages in this one including Cantonese, English, and Tagalog.
Jul 4, 2020
Devdas
Jul 12, 2002
This has received quite a bit of critical praise, but I feel like what was great about it as lost on me. Scenes tend to be rich and oppulent, and Shah Rukh Khan plays an NRI returning home like he does in pretty much most of his films. The plot is unimpressive. It has elements that can be found in Sophoclean or Shakesperean plays, but the way in which events lead to other events seem hamfisted at best. Motivations for characters are underdeveloped, and the flowery language and interesting shots can't really save it in my eyes.
Jul 3, 2020
Neofeud
Sep 19, 2017
This is rough around the edges, but it was made by mostly one person, so that can be forgiven. The art is not that great, and the voice acting is cheesy. This can work because it is partly satirical, but it's hard to tell when to take the content matter seriously. That said, this is a very detailed work with a lot of thought put into it although the writing does seem amateurish at times. From a sci-fi perspective, this is probably the only work that gets as into the details as books I've read in the genre by William Gibson or Neal Stephenson. This makes it very impressive because it is difficult to get across that level of detail in a game. The music is very reminiscent of Blade Runner, but it isn't a cheap imitation and uses elements like dialup tones, static, and gunshots to add texture. In addition to this, this manages to move genre tropes forward by introducing concepts like unilaterally assured destruction as an evolution of mutually assured destruction or weaponizin parallel timelines. This makes this a very unique game, and I don't think I've seen anything like it even when I compare it with other cyberpunk games.
Jul 2, 2020
Like Stars on Earth
Dec 21, 2007
Covers mental deficiencies like dyslexia and how it can go untreated within the Indian education system. An interesting thing I noticed is how Indian education seems to be leaning towards processing a large number of students as quickly as possible like a factory. Unfortunately, it seems like this is the trend for education at all levels in many parts of the world due to increasing population, so it is questionable whether students who have certain deficiencies will receive the specialized care that they need. All things said, this was an informative film with good shots caught in frame, and shows that Amir Khan is a good director, producer, actor and one of the more versatile individuals in Bollywood.
Jul 1, 2020
Zeno Clash
Apr 21, 2009
A surreal first person fighting game with a story that is as surreal and bewildering as its setting. All I can say is that it is very different, and I'm not sure exactly what to make of it in terms of quality.
Jul 1, 2020
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
Oct 20, 1995
This is a movie that operates with its own logic and is so Indian in its identity that I felt like I could smell spice while watching it. SRK's character is openly wears his feelings, and the way people act in this film make it seem more like something out of a Disney movie. Cinematography and overall direction make it seem more like a classic film from the 70's or 80's rather than something out the 90's, and the different locations used make it hard to tell when the movie takes place. The mix of Hindi and English along with many words and phrases being repeated throughout actually make it a nice way to learn some Hindi phrases.
Jun 27, 2020
Ford v Ferrari
Nov 15, 2019
One of the best racing movies I have ever seen and definitely one of the best of 2019. Christian Bale and the racing scenes are the main attractions of this film. The way in which racing scenes were filmed were not only thrilling, but technically impressive with the mixture of practical effects and CGI. Mangold's completion of this film after Logan show that he is at the start of an upward trend in his directorial career, and I am interested in seeing if he can continue to deliver in his next film.
Jun 27, 2020
That Dragon, Cancer
Oct 5, 2016
This is a personal game that basically walks the player through the story of Joel and his parents as Joel fights and eventually loses against an agressive form of cancer. While this is not a perfect game, and the video game medium may not be the most effective way of giving this story, this game delivers its story well. Overall, the content is heavy, and it is not delivered in a way that is particularly coddling, making it effective at times.
Jun 26, 2020
Guru
Jan 12, 2007
This movie is to Mani Ratnam what The Aviator was to Martin Scorsese, and solidifies my impression of Mani Ratnam as India's Martin Scorsese. This film is not Mani Ratnam's best, but the depiction of a developing India and Turkey was very interesting to see. This film has a certain intense momentum in parts of the story that can suck you in, and it would have been nice if the story was written to emphasize those parts. Abhishek Bachchan's performance as the businessman Gurukant Desai was intense and just great, making him the centerpiece of the film. Other than Madhavan, who managed to hold his own, other actors were either good or just adequate in comparson. The score by A.R. Rahman was great, but the individual songs were good but unimpressive compared to his more memorable works. Editing lacked subtlety and is probably the weakest part of the film due to it being more flashy than it needed to be. Apparently this was based on the life of Dhirubhai Ambani which I did not know about beforehand.
Jun 24, 2020
Alai Payuthey
Apr 14, 2000
This is like Roja without the political backdrop. When compared to Dil Se, this is the opposite in that it has clearly good writing, acting, but a smaller budget and scale. In this film, the cinematography is conducted by P. C. Sriram instead of Santosh Sivan and as a result, there are some clear differences in the shots. With regards to Mani Ratnam's previous work, the director innovates this time by using an anachronistic structure which is not often used in films in general. In addition to this, this offers a realistic depiction of married life. While I prefer Mani Ratnam's works that feature a larger scale, this is a good film with decent cinematography and features some memorable tracks by A.R. Rahman.
Jun 24, 2020
Unavowed
Aug 8, 2018
A point and click game developed by Wadjet Eye games. This one deals with the supernatural, and while the game is polished, it's story is nothing special. A better story would have made this memorable, but overall, this is somewhat enjoyable.
Jun 19, 2020
Dangal
Dec 21, 2016
This is one of the highest rated Indian films in Imdb. This is also one of the few sports films that focuses on women. Aamir Khan's acting in this one is probably the best out of all the films of his I have seen so far. Cinematography is also very good. I think the plot was not all that ground breaking, but despite that, this executes well on all aspects. Scenes involving wrestling clearly involve a great deal of technique and physicality and it was impressive to see the actors deliver on that. This is one of those films that does nothing wrong and is well executed.
Jun 18, 2020
Dil Se..
Aug 21, 1998
The music is great, the cinematography is great, the acting and script are debatable. The main character would be categorized as a stalker by today's standards. In older Islamic stories, this type of behavior may be considered normal, but when you place such as story in a modern setting, it becomes a conflicting point. This is what prevents this from being a great film in my opinion. Acting also seems to be overdone by SRK and the melodrama seems to have removed any subtlety from the picture. That said, for Mani Ratnam's first Hindi film, this is a good achievement, and the film seems very modern in terms of technical achievements. In terms of songs, I think this also one of AR Rahman's best works. This film also covers the topic of liberationists which many in the west may not know about India. While it may not be a perfect film, it has iconic moments, and is worth watching despite the long runtime.
Jun 14, 2020
Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara
Jul 15, 2011
This is a road trip style comedy drama that has good cinematography. Out of all the Indian films I have seen so far, this is the least Indian film I have seen. The film takes place in Spain, the music breaks are not as abrupt as other films, and the general style seems very western. It presents philosophies about life through experiences on the trip and does a lot of "show don't tell". The way scenes of diving, skydiving and Encierro were filmed puts you in the moment. That said, the skydiving was somewhat unrealistic, because free fall does not last as long as they show in the film. I went into this with no expectations and came out impressed.
Jun 12, 2020
Roja
Aug 15, 1992
This is the first film that A.R. Rahman scored and you can tell because of the heavy use of synths. Roja is a very different film from Nayakan in terms of story despite both being directed by Mani Ratnam. This film borrows from the Mahabharatha making it a very strange film in terms of how its story plays out due to it not using completely modern conventions in its story telling. Cinematography is as good if not better than Nayakan. One thing that seems fairly obvious is that Mani Ratnam is not used to filming action and stuntwork seems amateurish. The political backdrop is one of the strengths of this film, and offers some context that grounds the older origins of the story in modern times. Overall, this is a good film that showcases Mani Ratnam's unique style. One thing to note is that English subtitles are mostly accurate, but do not appear to be direct translations, so some level of nuance is lost in the translation process.
Jun 9, 2020
Swades
Dec 17, 2004
Ashutosh Gowariker and A.R. Rahman team up again to create another great film after Lagaan. This is also the first film I saw with Shah Rukh Khan in it. This time, the scale is smaller, but the writing and cinematography is better. Instead of historical India, this takes place in modern times and focuses on societal problems, poverty, and traditionalism. The concept of an NRI is explained and explored. There is a good visualization of a hydro electric turbine as well as shots taken at NASA during the space shuttle program. The GPM system mentioned in the film was an actual system that was developed and launched in 2014, which I found interesting. Overall, this is solid, and does not get boring at all. I'm not sure why this did not do well in India.
Jun 7, 2020
Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India
Jun 15, 2001
Despite this having some cliches, this is a very novel and original story. Like many Indian films, this is a long one and comes complete with an intermission. I doubt that most people watch it through in one sitting. It is also a good way to get introduced to the rules and convensions of cricket. I don't think I've seen a movie about cricket and I don't think I've seen a good historical sports film that did not involve boxing or running. The mixture of Hindi and English make this accessible to a western audience despite some of the music breaks, which are less abrupt compared to other films. The classic story of an underdog is well done and characters are unique which helps the unique setting of the story. Acting is good, and cinematography is occasionally great, but usually mediocre. The setup is flawed, but the actual cricket match towards the end is very entertaining. Overall, this is a great film.
Jun 4, 2020
Learn NUMPY in 5 minutes - BEST Python Library!
Jan 17, 2019
This is not NUMPY in 5 minutes. This is NUMPY in 13 minutes, but it is still the shortest overview of the library I could find.
Jun 4, 2020
Rick and Morty
May 31, 2020
Pretty funny, but also episodic. I think this has wide appeal. Jokes tend to be current and culturally relevant. The characters are fairly novel with their own quirks that do get a little bit stale after a few seasons. Character development is there, but it is limited.
Jun 4, 2020
The Prophet
Kahlil Gibran, 1923
A collection of poetic musings that are beautifully crafted and never sounds like rambling. Despite covering a variety of topics like love, family, journeys, and other topics, it never seems to drag.
Jun 2, 2020
The Analects
Confucius, ~500 B.C.
One of my goals when I learn Mandarin is to be able to quote the Analects from memory. This is a good initial step towards that goal, but it also allows for a deeper understanding of east Asian culture. This holds many similarities to some of Plato's works and some of the Greek works that were written during the same time. There are conversations between characters and anecdotes about certain characters as examples of certain principles that are emphasized in The Analects. The majority of this book is about this character (usually Confucius) saying a certain thing or another character saying something else. Filial piety, propriety, the branches of learning, the mandate of heaven, and other concepts that were tested within the imperial examination in ancient China are all here. There are many things here that, by modern standards, will seem sexist or contradictory. Overall, like many older works, this has its flaws and should be read critically.
May 30, 2020
Crew Demo-2
May 30, 2020
Space X beat ULA to the ISS and successfully managed to dock. This is the first time humans were aboard a privately developed rocket. Overall, the mission went smoothly, but it is not over until Crew Dragon is able to successfully land on earth. With this, maybe a larger amount of focus can be directed towards Starship.
May 28, 2020
First Man
Oct 12, 2018
This is a good, but imperfect movie. Camerawork is way more shaky than is necessary. The Apollo mission was pretty accurate. It matched what I saw in archival footage. Although not historically accurate in every sense, it manages to tell a good story by dramatizing parts of Neil Armstrong's life despite his life already being somewhat dramatic. There are some good shots in here, but this is not Damien Chazelle's best work and it did seem like he was out of his element working in a non-music related film.
May 27, 2020
Joe Rogan Experience #1480 - Kevin Hart
May 25, 2020
Kevin Hart was in a car accident and could not walk due to major back injuries as recently as 9 months ago. His recovery is on the level of Bruce Wayne in The Dark Knight Rises. Overall, a fairly inspiring discussion.
May 27, 2020
Harley Quinn
Nov 29, 2019
I remember Suicide Squad being really bad, but this more than makes up for it. This is like an animated version of Deadpool, and it entertains throughout. I don't think there was a moment that I hated. It also introduces some really minor characters in the DC universe such as Kite Man which I think only comic readers would know.
May 26, 2020
Whispers of a Machine
Apr 17, 2019
This takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where AI is rejected thoroughly. The science behind it is not all that well researched, but as a detective game, it is perfectly fine. I don't consider this particularly novel or even something that you can get emotionally invested in, but it passes fast, so it is not as though time is being wasted. In terms of story and technical achievements, this is unremarkable, but I don't consider it to be bad.
May 23, 2020
Hypnospace Outlaw
Mar 12, 2019
An interesting take on internet browsing from the 90's with a twist where the users are browsing the internet while they are sleeping through some sort of dream based interface. The operating system of HypnOS mimics Windows 95. While this can get frustrating at times, the experience feels very faithful to the experience of using a computer in the 90's from dated references to general user experience. The developers manage to tell a story through the clunky interace and also show how the internet changes over the years. The concept of a Hypnospace enforcer is also reminiscent of the cyber police meme.
May 21, 2020
Ip Man 4: The Finale
Dec 20, 2019
I thought the series ended with the second movie, but then they made a third one and then a fourth one. The third one felt like a decent conclusion, but this fourth did not feel like that at all. Donnie Yen was good as always and Scott Adkins did well as the antagonist. As is typical in these types of movies, foreign influences act as an oppressor of Chinese endeavors. The writing felt weak in this one, but the technical quality is consistent with previous films. Choreography is good, cinematography is decent and Kenji Kawaii's score is good as always. Although the Ip Man series has a lot of fictional events, this one is the least historically accurate and it shows. A good overview of the film as a whole can be found here.
May 19, 2020
A good introduction and explanation of matrix factorization and its use in recommendations presented within the domain of Netflix movies. I doubt that Netflix actually uses matrix factorization now instead of some form of neural net, so some coverage of the state of the art would have been nice.
May 4, 2020
Nayakan
Jul 30, 1987
This is included in Time's all-time 100 best films. Overall, this is a film with great cinematography and acting. The cinematography in particular is well thought out, and it plays like something from the 70's despite it being filmed in the 80's. For a gangster film, this is also fairly unique not only in terms of the setting, but it also provides questions of morality which is somewhat uncommon since gangster films usually don't argue about the moral incompetencies of their main character.
May 4, 2020
A Book of Five Rings: The Classic Guide to Strategy
Miyamoto Musashi, 1645
I struggled to find the original Japanese, so I read this in English. This is a book that is about sword fighting and martial arts. How to hold a sword, how to answer attacks and defend are covered in detail. The five attitudes are also explained. I personally struggle to understand how this can be applied outside of martial arts. There are words of advice that are useful elsewhere-- particularly philosophies regarding martial arts and strategy--, but when you get into the details, it becomes harder to abstract literal sword positions and apply them to other domains.
May 3, 2020
Fighter in the Wind
Aug 6, 2004
I think this is the first non-Chinese and non-American martial arts biopic I've seen. Like most martial arts films, the story is not perfect, but the choreography is quite impressive. I think this is one of the few times I've seen Karate presented as a full contact martial arts, so punches and movements don't have clean lines like you may see in a typical form. In addition to that, I think this is the first film I've seen that covers the perspective of Zainichi Koreans. Choreography is brutal, and I think people were hit with full force during the fight scenes which is not very common. Overall, this is a very unique film.
May 2, 2020
Eliza
Aug 12, 2019
I came away from this very impressed. The story felt like it was written by someone who had a background in computer science or at least in the tech industry. Terms regarding semantics and natural language processing were used correctly, and discussions of AI did not come across as overly optimistic. The concept of online counseling as a way to accumulate a corpus that can be used to train a general intelligence is original despite the concept of online counseling not being an economically scaleable business in the form that was presented in the game. There is also some coverage of the debates regarding psychology and psychotherapy as a rigorous field of study. I felt somewhat disappointed with the way the endings were handled, but despite that, I found this to be a realistic treatment of technology and the different motivations behind it.
Apr 28, 2020
What Never Was
Jan 11, 2019
A short game that might as well be classified as a tech demo. Play time is less than 30 minutes. There is not much, but it makes for a decent teaser for a full sequel. At least it is free on Steam and Itch.io.
Apr 27, 2020
A Short Hike
Jul 30, 2019
A relaxing platformer. The closest thing I can think of is William and Sly or a game by Thatgamecompany. For such a short game, there is much to do. Only negatives are the strange pixelated asthetic and bizarre camera, but other than that, it manages to provide a positive experience within its short play time.
Apr 26, 2020
Train to Busan
Jul 20, 2016
It has been years since I last saw a good zombie movie, so Train to Busan to me felt reinvigorating for the genre. The cinematography was excellent and the story was not predictable at all. You felt what the characters felt and it was very visceral. This is a movie that keeps giving and giving. The behavior of zombies can be inconsistent at times, but other than that, this is a tight film that knows what it is doing. Overall, a thrilling film from start to finish that has a few flaws that are easy to overlook. Great to watch during a pandemic.
Apr 26, 2020
Final Fantasy IX
Jul 7, 2000
Like all Final Fantasy games, this is quite a time investment. In terms of how this compares to other games, this is probably the best executed, but also the safest game. What I mean by safe is that there is nothing particularly groundbreaking here. It does what has already been done in previous games in the series, but better. It is for this reason that I actually prefer FFVII over this. In terms of graphics, this improves upon FFVII. Characters no longer look blocky, and FMV's look like something out of a painting. This game has actually aged quite well. Conversely, the music is not as great as other games. That is not to say that the music is bad, but I found it lacking for a Final Fantasy game despite a great main theme. Battle mechanics are also fairly standard. Finally, the world feels less fleshed out and smaller compared to other entries. Despite this, I felt that the story was on par with more ambitious entries despite it not being quite that detailed due to the main characters. All things said, this was probably my least favorite out of all the Final Fantasy games I have played up to this point, but when I heard the main Final Fantasy theme come on during the end credits like the Disney theme comes on at the beginning of a Disney film, I felt fairly satisfied.
Apr 25, 2020
Covers the role of computer science and bioinformatics in epidemiology and virology. Dmitry explains exactly what computer science and computational biology enables researchers to do. He also explains what is currently being worked on from the research side of things in his field in regards to the current COVID19 pandemic. An explanation of viruses and the coronavirus from a biological perspective is also provided. There is also an interesting conversation at the end about Russia and collaboration in research or lack thereof.
Apr 24, 2020
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
Dec 25, 1993
This was way better than I was expecting it to be and I was pleasantly surprised. Writing is mature and dialogue is smooth. Action and animation is simplistic compared to the state of the art during the time, but the images and backgrounds compensate. The city of Gotham looks like something that came out of the 1940's, and this adds to the atmosphere. While watching this, I could not help but compare this to black and white noir films from the late 30's and 40's which reflects the high quality of the work. Overall, this is a solid Batman film that thoroughly explores the motivations of its main character.
Apr 23, 2020
I’m Really a Superstar
Chang Yu, 2014
While the contents of this book may be considered novel from a western standpoint, it uses a lot of common tropes that show up in Chinese webnovels. This is a book that takes place in an alternate reality where certain events haven't occured. This allows for the main character of Zhang Ye to introduce popular books and shows from the original reality to become famous. In addition to this, the book uses a system mechanic that shows up in other Chinese novels to add to the the novelty of the story. In many ways, this is a book about wish fulfillment. The main character becomes a jack of all trades that stands at the top of China all because he has knowledge from the original reality and a system that gives him game-like bonuses. This can get old quickly, but it is very satisfying if you are willing to suspend disbelief. In my opinion, the biggest strength of this novel is its thorough overview of Chinese culture. This novel covers famous books and movies and people that have been influential in China while also covering what foreign works have been of greatest influence in the domestic market. There is also a decent coverage of differing cultures across the different provinces of China. While it may not be worth reading all 1600+ chapters that were written before it was discontinued, I would say that the first 600 chapters are entertaining.
Apr 23, 2020
All for the Winner
Aug 18, 1990
Stephen Chow's take on the whole gambling genre. It's good fun, but I would not say that it is a good movie. That said, it handles comedy better than God of Gamblers and for some reason exceeded the box office of the film it is drawing influence from.
Apr 22, 2020
God of Gamblers
Dec 14, 1989
This film is considered iconic among Cantonese films, and while it has its moments, it is also imperfect. Part of this is culturual. There are abrupt shifts from comedy to serious moments, and a western audience will most likely view this as a weakness despite it being rather common within Hong Kong films. I feel that if it focused more on the gambling and action and less on the comedy, it might have functioned better. The beginning and the end are great, but the middle is not in my opinion, and the usage of a head injury as a cause of amnesia is somewhat cliche. It is not a bad film, but it is on the border between an average film and a good one.
Apr 20, 2020
Steins;Gate 0
Sep 29, 2018
Although this is inferior to Steins;Gate, but is still a good series. This series builds upon the events of Steins;Gate by analyzing an alternate world line that did not have the same ending in Steins;Gate. In this timeline, World War III will still happen, and the gimick of AI is presented as a way for people to achieve some form of immortality. The strengths of this series lies in its abilities to take the mechanics introduced in Steins;Gate and expand upon them to flesh out the futures and pasts that were hinted at in Steins;Gate. Overall, it does not do anything particularly new when compared to the original Steins;Gate, but it manages to use time travel to tell a compelling story that drags at the beginning, but picks up later on.
Apr 17, 2020
Kind Words
Sep 12, 2019
This is a highly simplistic multiplayer game where you can write letters to strangers and get replies back. Everything is anonymous, and the community is very positive. In many ways, it is like a pen pal type of setup, but it does not require any level of commitment. It is highly effective for assisting with mental health.
Apr 14, 2020
A Chinese Odyssey: Part Two - Cinderella
Feb 4, 1995
I consider the second part to be better than the first because part two seems to play to the strengths of the source material, and build off of the events in part one. We finally see the appearance familiar characters such as Monkey and Pig, and a reasonable conclusion to the story. The fight between the Monkey King and Bull Demon King was well done. With more modern works, typically CGI would be used for the more nonsensical aspects of Journey to the West, but this film uses practical effects which I felt added to the quality. Overall, I found it to be creative and thought it was one of the few films that manages to successfully mix tragedy and comedy.
Apr 12, 2020
Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker
Dec 20, 2019
It's not as bad as people say it is, but it isn't a good movie. Special effects and the score are great, acting is fine. Writing is seriously flawed, and pacing and editing are rather bad. Typically, in Star Wars movies, the point is to tell a story, but here it seems like the writers were just trying to work through a checklist and get from point A to point B. There are many contradictions, hanging threads, plot holes, unexplained motivations, and inconsistencies with previous films. Transitions between scenes are abrupt and horribly handled. I honestly don't know what they were trying to do, and I don't think anyone would come out of this movie thinking they spent their time wisely.
Apr 12, 2020
Between Two Ferns: The Movie
Sep 20, 2019
When you try to take a web series and turn it into a movie with a story, it stands to reason that you won't make a good movie. The interview scenes were funny, but everything else would be considered terrible by most people's standards.
Apr 11, 2020
A Chinese Odyssey: Part One - Pandora's Box
Jan 21, 1995
This is a film that is directed by Jeffrey Lau, but it stars Stephen Chow. This film, like many Stephen Chow films, brings in Man-Tat Ng to add Mo Lei Tau style comedy to the story. A Chinese Odyssey is based on Journey to the West, but this is a reimagining of the story from the perspective of the Monkey King rather than a retelling of the Ming dynasty classic. Some of the comedy and plot will not make sense if you don't have some familiarity with Journey to the West and Chinese culture beforehand. This film drags at the beginning, but improves towards the end. Overall, it is a good film, but execution is not the best. Acting and comedy is fine, but pacing and special effects do seem a little bit lacking from a western perspective. I have higher hopes for Part Two.
Apr 11, 2020
An analysis of the possible long term economic impacts of COVID19. Somewhat useful for timing when to invest in the market. A continuation of the American perspective can be found here.
Mar 30, 2020
Code Emporium Deep Learning 101
Jun 17, 2019
A playlist that covers CNN's, RNN's, basic neural networks and other deep learning topics. Not an exhaustive list, but it makes for a good foundation.
Mar 29, 2020
Network
Nov 27, 1976
Network was a film made during a time when CNN, MSNBC, FOX, and televangelism were not available. It not only covers the conflict all news faces when trying to inform and entertain, but also has larger messages about the country and state of the world. Although the film focuses on television, the general messages apply, perhaps even more so, to how people consume information today. While I was not a fan of the cinematography, the story is tight and well scripted. Acting by Faye Dunaway and Peter Finch was top notch. Like 12 Angry Men, this Sidney Lumet film is engaging.
Mar 28, 2020
3Blue1Brown Simulating an epidemic
Mar 27, 2020
Covers the mathematics involved in epidemiology. The math here can also be applied to robustness networks and other similarly large systems. The primary mechanics analyzed are probability and the parameters that affect infection rates over time. A good explanation of R values are also included. I was hoping for a graph/network theory style treatment of the mathematics, but anyone who has a masters level understanding of mathematics can apply a graph like an Erdos Renyi style graph to see patterns in the mechanics of infection.
Mar 26, 2020
Flirting Scholar
Jul 1, 1993
This is a great example of Stephen Chow's talents and Hong Kong's Mo Lei Tau style of comedy. When watching this, it is clear why Jackie Chan broke through to the international stage while Stephen Chow did not. Jackie Chan is a martial artist that dabbles in comedy while Stephen Chow is a comedian that dabbles in martial arts. Because of this, the word play and cultural references in Stephen Chow's works don't translate as well. That said, if you are familiar with Hong Kong culture and Chinese scholarship in general, you will find that this is a smartly written film that has something for the literate as well as the common people. There is a nice mixture of classical poetry, Chinese opera tropes with modern references that I've never seen in western cinema and was very rare in mainland Chinese films during the time. If you are looking to understand Cantonese a little better or just have an interest in historical Chinese figures like Tong Pak Fu this will satisfy your needs.
Mar 21, 2020
Attention in Neural Networks
Mar 2, 2018
A video that I referred to to get a better understanding of the following paper on transformers in neural networks for natural language processing. The channel associated with the video is actually fairly useful for deep learning, so I consider it to be of note because the field is still in active development and educational resources are scarce.
Mar 21, 2020
The Witness
Jan 26, 2016
The most mentally challenging game that I ever played. The puzzles were difficult and were challenging despite the commonality of drawing lines. The philosophy and message of the game flew over my head in a way that I've only see happen in Shane Carruth films. For many, this can be hit or miss due to the lack of a narrative and the difficulty and abundance of puzzles. Despite this, I found the imagery, use of Feng Shui and Zen Buddhist ideas in combination with western philosophy and poetry to be very original. This is not a game that you speed through. This is a game that takes months to complete with frequent breaks away from the screen. While some of the puzzles can be brute forced, it is recomended that you focus more on pattern recognition unless you are an extremely patient person.
Mar 19, 2020
3 Idiots
Dec 25, 2005
I don't remember the last time I saw a Bollywood film if ever. There was also a lot more English in this film than I was expecting which was a surprise. This is a film that I think will appeal almost universally to the general audience and be received a little bit more mildly although positively by film critics. One thing to note is that since it is a Bollywood film, it is very long, people will teleport to random places and start singing, and there will be instances of somewhat overacted melodrama. That said, the main themes of the film such as friendship, purpose and education along with its humor and wit allow for it to be easily relatable. There are many things that I did find to be rather fascinating from a cultural perspective. I did not realize engineers were a big deal in India, and I did not realize that instructors had as much authority as they did in educational institutions. The closest thing I can think of to this is attitudes towards education in mainland China.
Mar 17, 2020
The Race To Develop A Coronavirus Vaccine
Mar 14, 2020
I'm not a big fan of CNBC because they can oversimplify content, but this manages to provide an informative overview of vaccine development from research to manufacturing and distribution that even a layman can understand.
Mar 15, 2020
Kickboxer
Sep 8, 1989
Kickboxer is not that great of a movie. Its plot is cliche, the music is not as good as Bloodsport and the fight scenes are not as good as Bloodsport. Just watch Bloodsport. What this movie does offer is Jean Claude Van Damme dancing and some Muay Thai. If you came for the Muay Thai, just watch Ong Bak.
Mar 15, 2020
Katana Zero
Apr 18, 2019
A game that I basically speedran because of how immersed I was in the mechanics. This is a 2d game with simple but satisfying mechanics with everything requiring only a single click. There are many similarities in gameplay to Hotline Miami, but I prefer Katana Zero because of its clean art style and unwillingness to fill the screen with too many things at a time. The noir style story of drugs developed by the military to slow down and replay time was very interesting and would have worked well in a comic or film. Overall, very solid and watertight. I am interested in seeing the conclusion of the story.
Mar 14, 2020
They Shall Not Grow Old
Oct 16, 2018
While it may drag in the beginning, the film is breathtakingly beautiful once the sound and color enters the frame. This is a film that shows World War I from the British side with no reservations. The gruesome and harsh nature of the war is shown in great detail with voiceovers from soldiers during the time. It really takes you back 100 years into the past. I wish they used learning/AI techniques to generate more images and videos, but the final result is good, so I'm not complaining too much about the abundance of content.
Mar 12, 2020
Joe Rogan Experience 1439 - Michael Osterholm
Mar 10, 2020
An insightful conversation about disease control and immunology. Very relevant today with COVID-19 spreading across the world.
Mar 3, 2020
Childhood's End
Arthur C. Clarke, May 12, 1982
The initial premise was similar to a short story I wrote years ago except my story was from the perspective of the supervisors and not the natives of the planet. Childhood's End is a different take on the first contact story where the aliens have a special plan for humanity and help humanity despite not revealing their intentions. It is one part science fiction and one part mystery where the reader is learning of how humanity society can be improved into something more utopian while at the same time losing certain freedoms. The third act is probably the best part of the book despite its abstractness. Concepts regarding cosmic level intelligences and the evolution of life into something more formless draws from not only Greek philosophy, but also gave similar impressions as what one may experience when reading H.P. Lovecraft. Overall, this is an entertaining read. The only large complaint I might have is one that I have with other Western science fiction which is that characters seem to only be instruments to move plot forward. This was apparently a three part mini-series on the Syfy channel.
Feb 18, 2020
Roadside Picnic
Arkady Strugatsky, Boris Strugatsky, 1972
I remember watching Stalker many years ago and falling asleep in the middle of it (I still liked the movie though). Unlike Stalker, Roadside Picnic seemed easier to follow and denser in content despite lacking some of the philosophy that Andrei Tarkovsky was known for. Also, in Roadside Picnic, they actually explain what caused the creation of the zone. In Stalker, I was convinced that it had something to do with nuclear power, but in Roadside Picnic, it was clarified that the cause was aliens. The concept of the zone as a sort of Bermuda triangle on land is highly original. This is a short read, but it has interesting ideas. I'd like to play the games that were based off of this next if I have the time.
Feb 17, 2020
Caravaneer 2
Dec 7, 2017
I don't play a lot of flash games nowadays, but Caravaneer is such a unique series that I find myself returning to this work every once in a while. This is an unforgiving and long game, but if you use hacks like ArcadePreHacks, you can fly through the game and enjoy the story. Caravaneer 2 is a game that is heavy on story and manages to successfully build a post apocalyptic world set years after the entire world got turned into a desert. You have the opportunity to be a merchant and take advantage of changing economies. You can take part in politics and change how different factions interact with each other. There are many similarities to Fallout, but unlike the Fallout series, this seems to have a better thought out story and it feels like your actions actually have some weight despite its significantly lower budget and scale. I would like to see a sequel make it onto Steam, because it would be a shame for games like this fade into obscurity with the rest of the flash games.
Feb 15, 2020
Team America: World Police
Oct 15, 2004
I think the last time I saw something with puppets was either Thunderbolt Fantasy or Sesamstraat. I don't know why they decided to use puppets, but it seems to work and effectively allows for the film to use more practical effects. This gives it somewhat of an 80's feel. Despite all that, I would consider this to be a unique, above average comedy. It seems to mix subtlety and over the top comedy to create an interesting commentary on the war on terror, American foreign policy, activist actors, and geopolitics. In spite of this, the issues are dated, making it difficult for viewers from a younger generation to fully appreciate the jokes. The best part of this film are the songs. The puppetry is not that sophisticated. The movie is aware of this, and pokes fun at the puppetry.
Feb 14, 2020
The most in depth interview with Elon Musk that I have seen so far. It covers his entire life and is not afraid to get very technical. This interview hits many different areas such as finance, management, programming, manufacturing, materials science, and physics. It is a good video to remind you how engineers should approach problems and how technological progress should be conducted. I wish there was more on Neuralink, AI, and maybe even a little more on rocket technology, but there are other interviews and talks you can watch that more than make up for the deficiencies of this video.
Feb 8, 2020
An overview of Pytorch that not only covers the library, but also the general deep learning workflow. This explains what tensors are, different loss functions, as well as how to create forward and backward functions. It also explains activation functions like RELU. Comparisons and differences between Pytorch and Tensorflow are covered. Overall, this is a good introduction to the library. I recommend watching at 1.25x speed.
Feb 7, 2020
Babel: Around the World in Twenty Languages
Gaston Dorren, Dec 4, 2018
This is a book that covers the top 20 most spoken languages. While I don't like how information is presented, it does the job, and it provides useful information for any aspiring polyglots. Each language is given its own chapter, but what is discusssed for each language varies. Some chapters discuss words and grammar while other discuss culture and history. This inconsistency is what I find to be the largest problem with this book, but if you can get past that, you might find it to be palatable. One thing I appreciated was its coverage of loan words. It made it easier determine an order in which to learn languages based on which languages were influenced by others. E.g., learning Chinese before Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese, or learning Arabic before learning Persian, Turkish, Swahili and Hindi.
Feb 6, 2020
1917
Dec 4, 2019
The cinematography in this film is its strongest point and it is all due to the skills of Roger Deakins and Sam Mendes. There are not many weak points in this film other than its premise. The attention to detail and the ambitious nature of the long takes makes it a film to be studied like Birdman and Rope. Every second of this film felt real and highly immersive. This is one of the few films I can think of that could actually be improved with a higher frame rate. In terms of WWI films, I consider this to be better than Paths of Glory. In terms of verisimilitude, the entirety of this film is comparable to the D-day sequence in Saving Private Ryan. In terms of quality, I'd say it is neck and neck with Saving Private Ryan where Saving Private Ryan had better character development and 1917 had better action and technical milestones. It is that great and it makes a strong case for more WWI movies.
Feb 5, 2020
South Park: The Stick of Truth
Mar 4, 2014
I'm not a big fan of South Park, but I found this funny and thought it was decent in its execution. The game is like an episode of South Park and it plays like an rpg without many of the annoying aspects. In that sense, it is approachable to a casual audience and does not end up being too time consuming. Fans of the show will like this, but others may find the show to be a bit much with its outrageous humor.
Feb 3, 2020
This is a book explaining most of the reasoning for Andrew Yang's 2020 presidential campaign. I found it to be insightful and thorough in its coverage of societal pressures, changes in the economy, and the future of the United States. It also talks about certain concepts that are rarely talked about like social credit, cognitive bandwidth, and it questions what a college education is actually supposed to do.
Jan 26, 2020
Statsquest- Machine Learning
Jan 7, 2019
A playlist of videos that make the mathematics of machine learning far more accessible. Granted, you don't know machine learning if you don't know how to use matrix representations of the concepts, but it is a good way to have a conceptual understanding of classifiers, regression, and other techniques. I'm not a big fan of the presentation style, and the videos tend to be towards the longer side, but I think that this is one of the better resources on Youtube for machine learning. This seems to lack certain concepts like Bayesian approaches, Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods, and Laplacian point estimation which is unfortunate, but it is a good starting point. I would have also liked to have seen more on how to optimize hyperparameters, as well as a gradual progression into more mathematical representations of the concepts. This might be good for a programmer who just wants to know how the apply the concepts, but if you are in academia and are trying to do research, write a paper, or study for an exam, this is lacking. That said, resources for ML on youtube are either limited or lacking in pedagogical quality, so most people will need to settle for this.
Jan 21, 2020
Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Max Tegmark, Aug 29, 2017
Unlike the Russel and Norvig textbook, this is more of a speculative book that fouses more on what may be possible rather than the current technology. It analyzes and extrapolates what may happen in the future as AI improves and how society and the human race will change as a result. It compares and contrasts many different scenarios. Overall, it is well thought out and well researched. There are many references to other works that I read such as Thinking Fast and Slow, Homo Deus, Sapiens, I Robot, etc. Overall, I found it to be a serious treatment of the field that was grounded in reality and tried to provide possible guidelines in terms of how to think about the technology.
Jan 18, 2020
Tetris Effect
Jul 23, 2019
I now use this in place of meditation because playing this game at high speeds allows me to easily enter the zone. This game is one of the best games I have ever played and it proves that the Tetris Effect is real. The game of Tetris is simple, but in combination with the sensory stimuli and effects powered by Unreal Engine 4 allows me to reach altered states very quickly. Although it does make players enter the zone, it does not do this artificially. You will actually become a decent Tetris player by the end of the journey mode if you play in normal or expert difficulty. I have never had a game do anything like this to me ever. It is imperfect, but the flaws can easily be improved. If speeds and difficulty can be adjusted as the player plays, this can allow for altered states to be entered far more quickly. A larger variety of music tracks and visuals would also be appreciated. Finally, if the game can take in biometric data like heart rate into account, I think it may be possible to do things other than just enter the zone. Highly recommended not only to gamers, but to everyone. I think this has therapeutic aspects that can be very useful. I would really like to try this with VR if I get the chance.
Jan 13, 2020
I find 3Blue1Brown's videos very helpful and it was good to understand Grant Sanderson's philosophy and approach towards mathematics. This also introduced me to The Princeton's Guide to Mathematics which I'd like to read if I have the time.
Jan 4, 2020
I Am Mother
Jun 7, 2019
The last film I saw on my Delta flight to Amsterdam. This one was above average, but it had holes. Character motivations seemed contradictory at times, but it was definitely thought provoking. The concept of a machine raising a child is something that isn't covered very much in fiction. Many ideas are presented, but I would have liked to have seen the exploration of a single idea at greater depth. It felt as though it were trying to tackle many themes at once, and I felt that weakened the film as a whole. It may be just me, but I feel that as I learn more about AI, the films about the subject don't seem to hold up with the most recent literature.
Jan 4, 2020
Thunder Road
Oct 30, 2018
It has been a while since I've seen an indie film with a low budget. Jim Cummings absolutely nails it not only with his directing, but with his acting as well. He singlehandedly sells the film and the long duration shots that had him really flex his acting chops made the film something special. I didn't seem to be the intended audience of this film with its themes of divorce, fatherhood, and loss. There were awkward moments in there due to the mix of comedy and heavy drama, but somehow Jim manages to make it work.
Jan 3, 2020
Apollo 11
Jan 24, 2019
This shows exactly what happened during the Apollo 11 mission and nothing else. There is no extraneous narration and all footage was footage taken during the mission. Picture quality is great, and you feel like you are experiencing exactly what the world experienced when the mission happened. It blows my mind that some of the sequences and shots they had were actually taken during the time of the mission. I didn't realize they had the technology for some of the techniques that were utilized at the time. Overall, an undeniably great documentary.
Jan 2, 2020
Neo Cab
Oct 3, 2013
This is like a cyberpunk Uber simulator. Most of the game plays out like a sophisticated visual novel that takes place within a car. Concepts like automated driving vs human drivers, automation, quantum decryption and AI are touched upon. The emotions of the main character and the navigation of complicated conversations and social situations like handling gaslighting are well done. For an indie title, it is solid, but as a game, it is lacking in details. The world outside the cab feels almost desolate. You don't feel as though you are in a large city. It's a low budget game, so assets had to be kept to a minimum but additional details would have made it way better. I'm not asking for high graphical fidelity, but a more realistic world.
Jan 1, 2020
Ad Astra
Sep 20, 2019
This one got better critical acclaim than it did with general audiences. I think I can understand why. Ad Astra is an introspective film that takes place in space. Unlike Interstellar or Gravity, this focuses more on relationships and seems to be deliberate and comparatively minimalistic. Other similar films focus more on action and suspense. Rather than comparing with more modern space films, this should be compared with Solyaris or 2001: A Space Odyssey. If you want a succint summary, this feels like a cross between Solyaris, 2001, and Apocalypse Now. That sounds like a pretty good combination to me. The focus is on character and cinematography, and I feel that it succeeds in that respect. In addition to this, while it is not completely realistic, it does seem real enough to seem possible. Similar to 2001, Ad Astra also hints at what commercial space travel and tourism might look like and it is very convincing. Overall, I feel that it is highly underrated and that we need more films like this in the genre.
Jan 1, 2020
Call of Juarez: Gunslinger
May 23, 2013
This is an arcade style game with storytelling in the style of Bastion. It draws from the exaggerations made in old western dime novels. There were many moments in here that reminded me of The Unforgiven. Overall, it was fun. Nothing groundbreaking, but fun. The two endings were a nice touch.
Dec 31, 2019
FAR: Lone Sails
May 17, 2018
This reminded me of Studio Ghibli films like Nausicaa and Howl's Moving Castle. Like Nausicaa, there is a post apocalyptic steampunk aspect to this, and like Howl's Moving Castle, there is the aspect of controlling a large machine by running around and manually adjusting different things. Unlike some other games where you are the only character, this one has an exaggerated feeling of isolation because the setting makes you feel as though it is at least populated by other people. In that sense, it is somewhat similar to Machinarium. Far: Lone Sails also has a similar ambience. Like many others in the genre, it is a short and simple but satisfying.
Dec 31, 2019
3Blue1Brown has the best animations and graphical representations, but this seems to have the best presentation of the topic in an engaging way. Khan Academy seems boring and long winded in comparison to this. This actually has thorough coverage of applications and does not merely present the abstract details. In addition to this, videos are short and compact. I think this is an underrated series given the high quality. I would have liked more details on eigenvalues, but I watched this for decent coverage of matrix algebra, so it served its task. If I have time, I'd like to view the next volume since that has Lagrange Multipliers, calculation of Nash Equilibrium and some coverage of linear regression which is very useful in machine learning.
Dec 30, 2019
P.T.
Aug 12, 2014
P.T. is short for playable teaser. This was directed and designed by Hideo Kojima in collaboration with Guillermo Del Toro. Since I don't own a Ps4 and P.T. is no longer downloadable, I had to watch a playthrough instead which can be found here. Compared to other games, this one is far more stripped down and has a very simple level design. The game is organized in an infinite loop where you explore different variations of the same floor over and over again. It was very surreal and very M.C. Escher"esque". Get rid of the colors, and you might have something close to Eraserhead. I did not know what to make of it. Any narrative was told through a radio and weird messages that show up on the walls of the building. As a game, it is lacking, but as a tech demo and teaser, I felt that it was effective. I think you have to play it to get the full experience. Having someone fly through the puzzles doesn't really allow one to have full appreciation for the game.
Dec 30, 2019
Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach
Stuart Russell, Peter Norvig, Nov 1, 2009
With graduate school, I read a lot regarding learning, uncertainty, reinforcment learning, and a fair amount of the later half of the textbook. In my bachelors, I read a decent amount of the first half. I think this all adds up to me reading most of this textbook which has about 700+ pages of material. Total page count is about 1100 with a large part being exercises, appendixes, summaries and other complementary information typically found in a textbook. The Russell, Norvig textbook was written by experts in the field, and the most recent editions have been updated to include more modern techniques and discoveries. This is THE book for AI. I found this to be well written, but explanations regarding algorithms could have been structured better. With this, I have a fairly decent understanding of AI and its limitations. If there is one thing I got out of this, it is that we have a long way to go. That said, there are some very interesting applications that can be made using current techniques that will still be disruptive. We don't necessarily need general AI to accelerate the progress of civilization. Modern techniques offer quite a number of possiblities, and it is not necessary to wait for the silver bullet of general AI to discover the potential of AI.
Dec 29, 2019
Gris
Dec 12, 2019
Gris means grey in Spanish. In this game, you restore color and music back to a broken world. This game is highly minimalistic and shares many similarities to Journey. Similarly, there seems to be some sort of hero's journey, and a mythology that governs the world of Gris. Like the art design, the music is also minimal. It all works, and the gameplay is simple and easy to follow. In terms of art direction, this game is one of the best indie games I played this year.
Dec 28, 2019
Alita: Battle Angel
Feb 14, 2019
Based on what I remember of the source material, this film falls short. It's not bad, but it's also not good. The world in the film is a bit more vibrant and less brutal than the world in Gunm. Part of what made the source material so compelling was an idea of hope in the face of desolation and incredible suffering. This movie lacks that and all of the philosophical musings that came with it. In that sense, the OVA that came out decades ago excels where this fails. Technical aspects and acting are well done, but a movie needs to have a compelling story and characters first and foremmost. Finally, there were instances where I had flashbacks to Sharkboy and Lavagirl. That should be somewhat telling. I don't think Robert Rodriguez's directing style works for this film, but he also has not directed a movie I would consider great within the past 8 years, so maybe I should not be so surprised.
Dec 27, 2019
Sayonara Wild Hearts
Dec 12, 2019
Sayonara Wild Hearts is an arcade style music game that has a mix of endless runner and shmup style gameplay. The visuals are a beautiful mix in the style of outrun and matches the music. The music is also very well done with a mixture of synths and vocals. Gameplay is dynamic and changes between different modes based on your place in the music. It is not overly difficult, and as long as you have average reflexes, you should be able to finish in a short period of time. This is not a genre that I am a fan of, but this game's creativity has won me over. Finally, Queen Latifah as the narrator is like icing on a highly polished final product.
Dec 27, 2019
John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum
May 17, 2019
Story is not the strong point of the John Wick series and this movie is no exception, but if you came for great action, this movie delivers. This is a film that tries not to be smarter than it actually is and just delivers great stunts and set pieces. It is stylistic. The editing is not spastic like other lesser action films, and in regards to stunts, they had some of the best in the industry for this one. I don't think there was a weak link in terms of acting. No one here will take home an Oscar, but I think everyone did their part well with Keanu Reeves successfully selling his role as John Wick. When it comes to action, John Wick 3 is creative, visceral, and it does not cut corners in any way. You will see gun fights on horses, incredible usage of trained dogs, and good gunwork. It's definitely worth watching.
Dec 26, 2019
A Story About My Uncle
May 28, 2014
A Story About My Uncle is a platforming game that starts out as a bedtime story. The story itself is nothing to write home about and the graphics are unsophisticated. So the platforming must be good right? It's actually mixed. The ideas presented are interesting and the mechanics are used well, but the platforming itself felt unbalanced. Hitboxes seemed to not match what was rendered on the screen, and grappling did not seem to follow the laws of physics exactly. To put it simply, this game is unpolished, but the short playtime makes the flaws a little less of a problem.
Dec 24, 2019
Dynasty Warriors 2 was one of the first games I ever played and it is interesting to see how it is in one of its most recent incarnations. Graphics are unimpressive, the gameplay is still the same as it was 10 years ago and like most Koei Tecmo games, it is a buggy mess. That said, I seemed to have no problems with these things due to nostalgia and my appreciation of The Romance of the Three Kingdoms. There is something satisfying about mowing down hundreds of enemies in historical China. This installment has more than just the three kingdoms of Wei, Shu, and Wu. It also has a campaign for Jin (the Sima clan) and a campaign for Lu Bu. In addition to this, it also has more playable characters and many of the officers are no longer faceless mooks like they were in previous installments. I managed to make it through all the campaigns except for Wei and Shu due to those campaigns crashing for me after certain missions. So would I recommend it? Not at all. Did I have fun? Yes.
Dec 23, 2019
Dr. Stone
Dec 13, 2019
I wish this show was around when I was younger. It truly makes me want to reverse engineer everything I see to find out how they work. It covers chemistry and its applications in a basic and accessible way in a context where the introduction of scientific ideas isn't forced. In addition to that, it offers suggestions on how to rebuild modern human technology starting with a level of technology matchin that of the stone age. Dr. Stone is a shounen anime, so it falls into some of the tropes that come with the genre. As a result, pacing isn't the best, but it gets better in the second half. There are moments in here that have impressed me. The idea that you can create a human powered electric generator using stone age technology is something I never would thought of. The importance of fire and pinpoint heating helped to explain why humanity took so long to go from the stone age to the iron and bronze ages. While there is a requirement for suspension of disbelief, there is quite a bit of science in here that is legitimate. This is a show that is rich in ideas. Its execution isn't perfect, but I found it enjoyable. I'm looking forward to the next season.
Dec 23, 2019
Subnautica
Jan 23, 2018
This is an addicting sandbox. I initially played on survival mode, but switched to creative mode to have a bit more freedom and to save time. It was still time consuming despite this, because of the massive underwater world that required hours of exploration. I think freedom mode would be the best mode because it would better emphasize the crafting aspect, but if you are not a fan of spending hours farming for resources, creative mode can't be beat. The world itself is rather detailed. It has many biomes and large amounts of biodiversersity. The unique setting and story provides a background that has a bit of urgency and a lot of wonder. This is a well made game that never dragged.
Dec 22, 2019
Behind the scenes of MARTYkhana
Dec 20, 2019
An automated drifting car is the coolest thing I can think of when it comes to self driving. There are obvious applications within racing, but being able to control a car when drifting can also improve safety. It doesn't look like there is a paper that goes into details, but there is a Stanfor article which can be found here. There is also a great video that showcases the ability of MARTYkhana that can be found here.
Dec 22, 2019
Dying Light: The Following - Enhanced Edition
Jan 28, 2015
Played Dying light and the dlc Dying Light: The Following. The main game is very well done. It felt like Far Cry 3 with parkour and zombies. Dying Light: The Following felt like Far Cry 3 with zombies, but no parkour. The playthrough time was rather long and it took a while for me to finish. Overall, it was a good open world zombie game. It gets repetitive later and the story isnt' particularly innovative, but I felt engaged for most of the game.
Dec 21, 2019
Aquaman
Dec 21, 2018
Probably the worst movie I saw out of the three on my flight from Amsterdam to Detroit. This had the most lazy god awful writing I've witnessed in a long time. Dialogue is predictable and I didn't care about any of the characters. Aquaman basically took bits and pieces from many superhero films and created a Frankenstein of a film. Action scenes were mainly CGI and lacked creativity. Before watching this film, I was curious to see how Aquaman could be made interesting. After watching this film, I realized that the only redeemable thing about this was Jason Momoa's personality and Nicole Kidman's acting.
Dec 21, 2019
The Wandering Earth
Feb 5, 2019
This is a mixed one that had a lot of potential. There is some great imagery here. Scenes of Earth traveling through space, its atmosphere being swallowed up by Jupiter are absolutely sublime. This is despite the CGI looking very fake when compared to films produced by Hollywood. The emphasis on people across the world coming together was appreciated. Pacing is not that great and the characters suck. There are some cliché tropes that show up here. If you've seen a Chinese film before, you probably are familiar with certain stereotypes that show up here. The premise is interesting albeit rather unrealistic. I consider Cixin Liu to be China's Isaac Asimov, but this didn't meet my expectations.
Dec 21, 2019
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw
Aug 2, 2019
The story isn't deep. It won't make you shed tears, or make you think. The action scenes look very fake due to CGI, weird use of slow motion, and the color grading is garbage. What this does have going for it, however, is great casting and interesting dialogue. Dwayne The Rock Johnson and Jason Statham have good chemistry. Despite this being a Fast and Furious spinoff, there is not much to do with cars in this one.
Dec 21, 2019
You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life
Jen Sincero, Apr 23, 2013
Another self help book. This one was more intended for the average Joe trying to get a leg up on life. Generally speaking, there was not much I got out of it. There is nothing here that isn't presented in other books in a better way. The only thing I got out of this was to love yourself.
Dec 19, 2019
How We Are Going to the Moon - 4K
Dec 19, 2019
I alreay knew much about the Artemis missions, but I like how the information was presented here. The mention of the role of commercial and international partners was a nice touch.
Dec 18, 2019
Joe Rogan Experience #1402 - Boyan Slat
Dec 17, 2019
Ocean Cleanup was on my radar, but I never actually looked into it until now. I never realized that Ocean Cleanup was founded in the Netherlands and that Boyan Slat attended TU Delft. Leave it to the Dutch to do something interesting under the radar. Boyan Slat knows every technical aspect of the project he is working on and there are not many founders who have that level of knowledge. I've never really been all that interested in reusability because so many people are already working on it, but now I am seeing that there are many aspects to reusability that many people are unaware of I am starting to see it in a new light.
Dec 12, 2019
A very concise and understandable explanation of the minimax algorithm for two agent games.
Dec 9, 2019
A Brief History of Time
Stephen Hawking, Apr 1 1988
Finally got to the end of this. This is surprisingly dense despite the low number of pages. Stephen Hawking covers much of the science that is used in modern physics today from Netownian mechanics, to quantum theory, to imaginary time. Despite it being meant for a more general audience, it is not an easy read. The documentary based off of this may be easier to digest, but I have not seen it.
Nov 27, 2019
Dava Newman is the former deputy administrator of NASA. It is interesting to hear about the research that is being done in the field and how philosophies may differ when compared to more corporate entities like SpaceX. The conversations regarding space suit technology were fascinating as well given that a majority of news coverage in the space industry focuses on rockets and satellites.
Nov 23, 2019
AlphaGo
Sep 29, 2017
This is a good documentary that covers the five games played by AlphaGo and the preparation that occurred before the games. It does not get too technical, but it does go over the three network architecture of the agent. This film is more focused on the go side of things, but the opinions and commentary of Lee Sedol and Fan Hui were useful. It provided an inside look that could not be seen by watching the games. This was overall an enjoyable experience and made me excited to learn about reinforcement learning over the next few weeks.
Nov 17, 2019
The Man from Earth: Holocene
Jan 15, 2018
The Man from Earth was a great thought provoking film. This sequel was not that. There are a few instances that felt like the first film, but this simply does not measure up due to what I can only call lazy writing. I'm not sure why this movie exists.
Nov 17, 2019
I used D3 when working as an engineer, but I need a refresher since I will be taking a course in Data Visualization and the library has had some changes since. Also, chances are that I will need to use more complex geometry than I did at work, so this was useful for building a good foundation. This tutorial is nothing special, but it is brief. Covers basic graphs, scales, and axes. Circular graphs are not covered at the level of detail I would have liked.
Nov 13, 2019
This was a conversation about Neuralink which covered the future of human augmentation. There was a bit about Tesla's work to have their cars navigate parking lots, but this podcast was mostly about Neuralink. As a fan of Ghost in the Shell and Deus Ex, it is good to see efforts towards human augmentation actually being realized in some form. The final note on the Pale Blue Dot was a nice way to conclude everything and remind us all of how insignificant we all truly are.
Nov 9, 2019
Red Bull BC One World Final 2019
Nov 9, 2019
This Red Bull BC One was not as enjoyable for me as others. The judging felt somewhat predictable up until the end and there was very little sense of suspense up through the quarterfinals. That said, the crowd in Mumbai was great, and the final battle was incredible. I loved how they just added extra rounds. Menno may have won over the judges, but Killa Kolya definitely won over the crowd. The bgirl battles were entertaining as well. Commentary from Ronnie was better appreciated than the usual commentators.
Nov 9, 2019
The Spectacular Rise and Fall of WeWork
Nov 7, 2019
I did not know much about WeWork was before, and after learning about it, I still don't know why it got as much hype as it did. What WeWork was doing was not particularly groundbreaking or technologically scaleable.
Nov 8, 2019
Joker
Oct 4, 2014
Watched this at Pathé in standard quality as a way to recover after exams. I would have preferred Imax, but availability of Imax screens in the Netherlands is low. That said, it was one of the best experiences I had watching in standard quality even though there were Dutch subtitles. Joker is the current's generation Taxi Driver and it is easy to forget that it is a comic book film. It is operatic, artistic, and often indulgent in nature. Similar to a Scorsese film, it values story over plot, but it places less emphasis on dialogue and more emphasis on image. It also pays homage to many older films. Every frame is beautiful, hypnotizing and most shots seem deliberate. The music is dramatic and reminded me of Pink Floyd's The Wall at times. Hildur Guðnadóttir is a talented composer and her music reminded me of Jóhann Jóhannsson's work due to its brooding nature. It was only afterwards that I realized that Hildur is Icelandic as well. In addition to this, Joaquin Phoenix's performance is one of his best and rivals Daniel Day-Lewis' performance in There will be Blood. Although there are scenes where it might drag and the movie as a whole is not perfect, I found Joker to be one of those rare films that I will revisit in the future.
Nov 7, 2019
Organ Trail
Dec 28, 2012
This is like Oregon Trail except it takes place in a post nuclear wasteland with zombies. It's humorous and it harkens back to older retro games. The short play time and general structure of the game allows for it to be played without much time needed to be invested.
Nov 6, 2019
Kanata no Astra
Sep 18, 2019
In terms of hard sci-fi, this show was way better than it had any right to be. I don't remember the last time I had my mind blown, but some of the twists and reveals in the second part of this show took me by complete surprise. What follows will contain spoilers. Kanata no Astra derives its title from the latin phrase Per aspera ad astra. This is where the film Ad Astra also derives its title from. The show follows the standard tropes of a Shounen anime, but takes things to the next level with its thoughtful premise. Concepts like illegal cloning for the purpose of expanding longevity, revisionism of history, and weaponized wormholes are covered. It also includes one of the only representations of an intersex human I have seen in media. I wish it would have also included time dilation. It seems like the show played loose with relativity, but this may have allowed for the show to be more accessible for the scientifically illiterate. If you are used to genre tropes in Shounen anime and are willing to suspend disbelief, this is definitely worth the time.
Oct 27, 2019
I recommend watching at 1.25x speed. Michio Kaku is far more philosophical and far more forward thinking in the content he presents when compared to other science personalities that appear on TV. This podcast covers the future of human existence, the nature of information in the universe as well as the limitations of deriving ethics from science. Overall, I found this to be very thought provoking.
Oct 26, 2019
The Theory of Everything
Nov 26, 2014
I am currently reading through A Brief History of Time, so I thought this movie might make a decent companion piece and serve as inspiration for studying. This was not the case, because the film is full of historical inaccuracies, and it does not focus on the science. This is disappointing because it has great cinematography and a great soundtrack by Jóhann Jóhannsson. In addition to this, Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones were terrific in their roles. One thing people might be confused about coming into this film is that this is a film about Stephen Hawking. This is incorrect, because it is based on a memoir by Jane Hawking. The film might be better if it focused on Jane Hawking, but it seems to split its attention between Stephen Hawking and Jane Hawking which ultimately degrades the script. It is a good film, but it lacks focus.
Oct 26, 2019
3Blue1Brown- Differential Equations
Jul 7, 2019
A high level overview of differential equations. I did not expect to completely understand everything about differential equations, but this overview gives a sampling platter of topics in the area. I wished he covered Fourier Transform pairs, but there is a limit to how much you can cover in a simple overview, and there may be new videos added to the playlist in the future. The graphical visualizations of Fourier series were very well done and are a great teaching tool.
Oct 25, 2019
How to Integrate Using U-Substitution (NancyPi)
Aug 25, 2018
A very unintimidating explanation of U substition for integration that I really liked. This shows examples and talks about strategies for finding a good u. I wished more educational videos on Youtube had this sort of relaxed delivery.
Oct 23, 2019
Joe Rogan Experience #1368 - Edward Snowden
Oct 23, 2019
This guest came as a complete surprise. Snowden is currently promoting his book, and it is good to hear things from his side of the story. Offers a perspective that was not offered in Glenn Greenwald's book. I'd like to be able to read Snowden's book if I get the time.
Oct 22, 2019
Joe Rogan Experience #1366 - Richard Dawkins
Oct 22, 2019
Richard Dawkins' The Selfish Gene is on my list of books to read. This episode covers what Dawkins is more famous for in recent times which is his views on religion.
Oct 17, 2019
Late Bloomers: The Power of Patience in a World Obsessed with Early Achievement
Rich Karlgaard, Apr 16, 2019
A book that examines society's harmful obsession with early achievement and identifies late bloomers as a large segment of the population. Reading this enforced my understanding that humans are the sum of their experiences and that you can bloom not only early or late, but throughout life. What matters is that you have many different experiences throughout life and a chance to explore and find out what you are good at.
Oct 14, 2019
What Remains of Edith Finch
Apr 25, 2017
A really short game with less than 2 hours of playtime from beginning to end. Within those two hours, it managed to remind me of dreams I had as a child, and the imagination I used to have when I was younger. This game successfully captures the story of an entire family while also taking a walking simulator and improving it with alternate perspectives and new approaches to exploration. It is an accomplishment to show the beauty of life within two hours, and the only other games I can think of as doing the same thing are those by Jenova Chen. The design and layout of the house is not only great in terms of progression, but it seems exactly like the type of house I would have loved to have lived in as a child.
Oct 11, 2019
My Friend Pedro
Jun 20, 2019
Another short game that I could fit between breaks to take my mind off of things. I remember when My Friend Pedro was a flash game, and it is good to see it come back as a full fledged game. Outside of the standard 2d side scrolling bullet time action, there are additional mechanics that are introduced to keep everything fresh. It has style, but it also has substance in its gameplay. Like Superhot, it has a short playthrough, but a lot of great replay value.
Oct 7, 2019
Essence of calculus
May 19, 2018
Another series by 3Blue1Brown. This time, he uses a visual approach to calculus. This is rather thorough and covers all the staples. Derivatives, limits, integration, and Taylor series are each provided at least one video.
Oct 5, 2019
I am currently using Artificial Intelligence A Modern Approach in one of my classes, so the timing of this podcast ended up working out extremely well. This podcast helped me understand what Peter Norvig's priorities are and how he views education of computer science related topics. It also helped to highlight some of the shortcomings of the class I am taking right now which emphasizes technique without philosophy. There is a reason why his textbooks include a section on philosophy, and the fact that he made a point of that in this podcast shows that blindly using the techniques within his textbook without any considerations of implications they may bring is mistaken.
Oct 1, 2019
10 Steps to Earning Awesome Grades (While Studying Less)
Thomas Frank, Jan 5, 2015
A short book about useful habits and strategies to optimize the learning process to excell in classes. Most of these I am already doing, but the chapters on scheduling and note taking were useful. It reminded me that a purely algorithmic approach to optimize studying without taking human behavior into account will have limited results.
Sep 29, 2019
Starship Update
Sep 28, 2019
I was unable to watch this live due to the time differences. Musk starts off with his usual spiel about being a multiplanetary species, but once he finishes with that, he gets down to details and presents the technical details. The largest improvement in the Starship design is the usage of 301 stainless steel which is far cheaper than whatever carbon composite or aluminium composite that was being considered before. This presentation also covers the design of the heat shield to prevent cracking under extreme heat. Interestingly, Musk mentioned that refueling in orbit is more trivial than docking with the space station. Finally, another simulation involving the Superheavy and Starship has been made with the updated designs. Some of the timelines presented here are ambitious even for Musk, but if it is him, we may see a fully functional Starship Superheavy combo in 2 years. On another note, I really liked what he said about schedules. If it's long, it's wrong. If it's tight, it's right.
Sep 28, 2019
Matlab in 1 hour
Dec 1, 2018
Matlab is a scripting language primarily used for mathematical tasks. This video covers every thing from the data structures to classes and even briefly covers plotting with Matlab. I don't remember everything, but I remember the quirks of the syntax and how printing works. For everything else, I can just look at the documentation, so this video did its job.
Sep 28, 2019
Superhot
Feb 25, 2016
A game that is short enough that I could finish it between breaks. Superhot is a game that manages to do a lot with a simple premise and in the process, it ends up being very thought provoking even though the the story is rather simple. The primary mechanic is that time will only flow when you move. This allows you to dodge bullets, cut bullets out of the air with a sword, and do things that wouldn't be possible with a traditional fps. Later in the game, you gain the ability to transfer your conciousness to enemy characters which adds another layer of freedom to the game. I found this to be very similar to the Matrix despite in being not as wordy or philosophical. Great way to let off steam.
Sep 26, 2019
Essence of linear algebra
Sep 24, 2016
A graphical explanation of linear algebra that can be used to build a more visual intuition of the subject. I found the first few videos the most useful, but it is a solid series throughout. I recommend watching it from the beginning in order to have a good understanding of the fundamentals. I used it to gain a better understanding of eigenvectors and eigenvalues myself. I really wish 3Blue1Brown can do videos on probability theory.
Sep 22, 2019
Unforgiven
Aug 7, 1992
In the 50's and 60's, Westerns were a more romanticized genre that had a certain veneer about it. In the 60's and 70's, the western became more violent, but also more stylized. This film draws from those eras, but also adds a dose of realism and cynicism to its voice. In addition to being directed by Clint Eastwood, it was written by David Webb Peoples who was one of the writers of Blade Runner. Unforgiven is a film that is on the level of other great Westerns like The Searchers and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. I found its third act to be particularly well done and thought the dialogue was better written than some of the classic Westerns directed by John Ford and Sergio Leone.
Sep 21, 2019
The 400 Blows
May 4, 1959
Although this is a tale of adolescence, it doesn't fall within the traditional trope of a coming of age story. In that sense, it is somewhat subversive, but the story is not the strongest point of this film. The strongest aspect of this film is the camera work. The way the objects inside of the frame tell the story and the way movement is used is quite different from other films during the time that played things by the book. I had flashbacks to Scorsese and Kubrick films that used similar shots, but came after this film was released. There is an obvious stylistic influence on directors who saw this film during their formative years and its role as a film that is representative of the French New Wave is well deserved.
Sep 20, 2019
Algorithms to Live By: The Computer Science of Human Decisions
Brian Christian, Tom Griffiths, Apr 19, 2016
A great overview of how algorithms affect every part of our lives and how we can use algorithms to make life easier. This covers a large amount of modern algorithms and the problems they try to solve. It also explains tractable and intractable problems in simple terms without getting too mathematical. I found it to be a great companion piece to the classes I am taking right now.
Sep 18, 2019
Multi-Agent Hide and Seek
Sep 17, 2019
I just think this is cool. It shows how important an environment is for an agent to learn in addition to the actual way trials are carried out. Anything that is input can become an incentive or a consequence. The concluding point that simple rules can lead to high levels of intelligence makes me wonder if general AI is a significantly simpler problem than most people think.
Sep 9, 2019
Pokémon Detective Pikachu
May 10, 2019
I enjoyed the visual style of this. Story wise, it was not anything special, but I thought it was true to the spirit of the brand. Ryan Reynolds was enjoyable at Detective Pikachu. It was not a bad movie, but I wouldn't consider it a good one either.
Sep 8, 2019
Mission: Impossible - Fallout
Jul 27, 2018
Tom Cruise is getting older, but his stunts are getting more and more elaborate. Fallout is, in my opinion, a great example of Hollywood style action. Set pieces are great and the locations are well thought out. Camera work is deliberate and everything seems to have been well thought out. It works as a thriller that does almost everything right. I think the last time I was thoroughly impressed with stunt work like I've seen here was John Wick 2.
Sep 7, 2019
Borderlands 2
Sep 18, 2012
Probably the last game I will have the time to complete for a while. Borderlands 2 is like Borderlands 1, but it is bigger and seems to have an emphasis on coop play. This can make it frustrating for anyone who is playing solo. Also, because of the lack of weapons types and abilities, it can come across as repetitive. In terms of the looter shooter genre, this seems to be one of the best, but I think it was definitely made for multiplayer. It has much of the same type of humor as the previous entry, but if you want to live in the world of Pandora without dealing with some of the more frustrating elements of the game, you might be better off playing Tales from the Borderlands instead.
Aug 31, 2019
Orbital Rings
Jun 29, 2017
Space elevators, skyhooks, and orbital rings are the trinity of methods to allow payloads to reach space very cheaply. Although the space industry is currently obsessed with rockets, if you want truly sustainable space travel at a very cheap price, the orbital ring is the gold standard for getting into space. If such infrastructure exists, multistage rockets might become obsolete, and single stage rockets launched directly from orbit for interplanetary travel may become the next new thing.
Aug 27, 2019
150 Meter Starhopper Test
Aug 27, 2019
The final starhopper test. This shows that the raptor engines can be used in a controlled manner and bodes well for the Starship prototypes. SpaceX's rate of progress is truly amazing.
Aug 26, 2019
Thunderbolt Fantasy
Sep 30, 2016
Thunderbolt Fantasy is the result of a collaboration between Japanese and Taiwanese companies. The story draws from old samurai and swordsman stories like the Seven Samurai and is set in a world similar to the kind seen in Chinese Xuanhuan novels. It truly is a mixture of cultural tropes, and the main selling point of glove puppetry only makes it all the more unique. There is very little like it, and the only things that might be even remotely comparable are the works of Studio Laika, and The Dark Crystal.
Aug 25, 2019
Depression Quest
Feb 14, 2013
A browser game that emulates what it is like to live with depression. Any choices that allow one to recover from the disorder are scratched out, making the game very linear with very little choice. It could be that this was intended to simulate the downward spiral associated with depression, but it it also sacrificed depth as a result. I find this design choice to be questionable, because it is possible to recover from depression. If there is no choice, there is no point. As a result, this was a rather unenjoyable game that seems to have been made to educate and make a point rather than to entertain. I think it can be improved if there was more choice or at least an explanation of how choice is understood and considered within the context of this game.
Aug 24, 2019
Shazam!
Apr 5, 2019
This movie introduces Shazam and also offers a preview of the Shazam kids. It is humorous and doesn't get into any heavy themes. In many ways, it feels like it is following the Marvel formula and shares similarities with Dr. Strange, but lacks many of the metaphysical aspects as well as the complicated special effects of the later work. It isn't anything special, but it is a fun time and if DC continues with this level of quality, they may be able to have something on par with the Marvel universe in the future.
Aug 21, 2019
Abzû
Dec 6, 2016
It's like Journey, but not quite. The soundtrack by Austin Wintory is in spectacular form and the art direction is identical to what may be found in Thatgamecompany's games. However, the narrative structure and level design is different. Abzû's level design is more simplistic, but at the same time there is more on screen. Giant Squid Studios successfully replicates some of the mystery of our oceans and in the process sacrifices the feelings of isolation and spirituality that was present in Journey. This sacrifice seems intentional, because Abzû is going for something different. Abzû is not necessarily going for feelings of the spiritual kind, but rather the primeval. The Sumerian origins of the game's title seems to support this. As such, it may not bring out introspection like Journey, but a different kind of externally directed feeling towards the expansiveness of our reality that is very difficult to describe. In many ways, this feels like a companion piece to Journey that tries to do what Journey did not to create a complete whole. I feel like it succeeded, but I would have preferred a more clear emotional narrative like Flower or Journey.
Aug 15, 2019
The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley
Mar 18, 2019
Although this is well made, reading Bad Blood is a better experience and better use of your time. This documentary features interviews with individuals not all thatt closely related to Theranos, and it does not have a clear message. Simply put, it lacks focus, and the characters involved are not presented with all of the interesting aspects associated with them.
Aug 14, 2019
Free Solo
Aug 31, 2018
It is amazing how something as lifeless as rock can have so many dimensions and features. While the movie Free Solo focuses on Alex Honnold's free solo climb of El Capitan, it manages to also successfully express the depth involved in the world of rock climbing. It talks about the risks, the techniques, and the history. In addition to this, the editing made an activity as slow and methodical as free soloing an exciting affair. A great documentary deserving of its awards.
Aug 10, 2019
Spent over 4 months to complete this. This covers statistics from the basics to ANOVA. It does not cover MANOVA or other multivariate techniques, but it does cover regression techniques. Also thoroughly covers combinatorics and basic probability theory.
Aug 10, 2019
Glory
Dec 15, 1989
A civil war epic that focuses on the first all black volunteer company. Edward Zwick made his best movies earlier in his career, and this is towards the top of his filmography. There are not many civil war movies, but this is one of the good ones. It's a complete package. Good script, good music, good soundtrack. Definitely worth the time spent watching.
Aug 9, 2019
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon
May 1, 2013
It is the near future. The apocalypse has had an apocalypse. A rogue cyborg army is reshaping the world into cyber hell and only one thing can stop them. From the toxic ashes of Vietnam War 2, a new breed of renegade soldier is born. Part man, part machine, all cyber commando. Sergeant Rex Colt is leading the battle between good and evil as it's never been fought before. He's on a desperate mission to bring down a battalion of ruthless killer cyborgs and save the world. The only game where I used my knife more than I used my guns. This is as 80's as it gets and I loved it.
Aug 9, 2019
エア・ギア 1
大暮 維人, May 16, 2003
I wanted to read something in Japanese, but reading an entire novel seemed like a chore, so I settled for this. I remember buying this in a Book Off when I was in Japan for the first time. Unlike the animated series, this seems slower paced. That's not to say that the original source is any less of an urban jungle, or any less kinetic, but there is a little more fat on the bone with this one. They don't make manga like this anymore, so the subject matter is still fresh. The idea of rollerblades on steroids to do high speed parkour is still interesting and the feelings of freedom that accompany the premise are still there. That said, there are a few small things that annoyed me when I was reading this. Often times, there is incorrect Japanese or simply incorrect furigana accompanying the kanji. This could be due to the characters speaking in a rough manner, but it made what should have been an easy read a little bit harder.
Aug 8, 2019
Les Misérables
Dec 25, 2012
Among all of the film adaptations of Broadway musicals that I have seen, Les Misérables has the best cinematography. This is not too surprising because Tom Hooper directed The King's Speech before this. That said, the camera shakes a little too much for my liking. One of the things I found surprising was that the music was actually not up to par with other musicals. One of the reasons for this is singing ability. The cast can sing, but for some reason, they always sound out of breath. I'm not sure if this was a directorial decision, but I found that it took away from the impact. My general impression is that this is just below what is expected of a great film, and improvements in sound and pacing would have raised my opinion of the work.
Aug 8, 2019
Far Cry 3
Nov 29, 2012
This is said to be the best Far Cry game and also the game with the best story in the series. While it has less realism than Far Cry 2, this does not diminish the gameplay. One thing I noticed is that it seems to have many similarities to the Assassin's Creed games in terms of game mechanics. This can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on whether you have the patience to explore the open world presented. Vaas is a well written villain and a memorable one. In regards to the open world, there are many places to explore, but the islands seem pretty much the same throughout, and the npc's lack depth. It is designed well for eating up time, but not so much for making meaningful memories in its world. I recommend first capturing radio towers, then finishing the hunting missions, and finally the steamrolling through game's story for the best experience and minimal fuss.
Aug 7, 2019
Chicago
Jan 24, 2002
Chicago is one of the longest running Broadway musicals, so I was interested in seeing how a stage musical would be adapted to film. It's done rather well, but it's not for me. The songs used the jazz of the 1920's as a basis to create catchy tunes, and the acting was well executed as well. Due to its satirical nature, I personally found that there were no characters I could relate to or identify with. If you're into tap or jazz dance, this might be for you, but in film, I believe that story is most important and I did not like the story in this one.
Aug 6, 2019
Covers arithmetic and geometric sequences and series. For some reason, I struggled with approximations in the past due to intimidating nature of the mathematical notation involved, but after completing this module, the concepts feel far too simple. I don't even know why I even found it hard anymore other than that I got a subpar education in the past.
Aug 5, 2019
I really liked this musical. Despite the name, you actually don't need to know anything about opera before seeing this. The operas referred to within this play are fictional and don't even exist. The music is also very accessible with electric guitar parts and lyrics intended to win over a larger audience. The story is a mixture of The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Beauty and the Beast. Like those titles, this has the appeal of a disney film and it ends up being rather meta as well. There is a certain 4th wall breaking aspect to the play due to the fact that there are stage sequences inside of a staged work. Overall, it is a fun musical that I found to be better than Cats.
Aug 4, 2019
JoJo`s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind
Jul 28, 2019
I'm not the biggest fan of the Jojo series, but I keep watching it so that I can keep up with the memes. I personally liked the second part the best because it did not have stands, but now that we are on part five, I can say that this manages to take the concept of a 'Stand' to a new level. There are tons of Stand battles and, at this point, Araki Hirohiko has gotten rather skilled at using the limitations and strengths of Stands to draw out as much suspense as possible. It also helps that characters have exaggerated reactions and characteristics. Overall, I found this to be an entertaining entry.
Aug 4, 2019
Ico
Sept 24, 2001
Emulated and upscaled through PCSX2. Ico is one of the greatest games ever made for good reason. Ico is great in the classical sense. It tells a simple story of companionship and isolation and draws from many ancient cultures such as ancient Greece and Rome for architecture and storytelling, and ancient Japan and ancient China for geography, language, mythology, clothing and everything else. The puzzles use simple mechanics in multiple different ways to create variety. Due to its age, the combat mechanics are nothing special, but they don't take anything particularly away from the work as a whole. Despite it being overshadowed by Shadow of the Colossus (which I played as a child), it manages to sufficiently stand up on its own and lay the technical and stylistic groundwork for Fumito Ueda's later works. Similarly, many of Jenova Chen's works seem to have many stylistic elements taken from Ico. This is an important work that is often unfairly overlooked. I highly recommend it.
Aug 3, 2019
Is having the heroine die from sickness a common opera trope? Anyways, the story begins like a bad joke where a poet, a painter, a singer, and a musician all walk into a bar. Despite the characters having different professions, I found it funny that everyone including the singer could sing. La Boheme, unlike other opera entries did not have highly technical music, and in some ways, it came across as cliche. Despite this, the delivery of the story was a great reflection of the time in which it was made, and it managed to balance comedy, tragedy and drama rather well. I would consider this better than The Magic Flute, but not better than Carmen or La Traviata.
Aug 2, 2019
Shingeki no Kyojin Season 3 Part 2
Jul 1, 2019
When I saw that there was a part 2, I thought they were selling out, but I could not have been more wrong. This entry elevates the series to become one of the greatest works of Japanese animation and puts it on the same level as Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood and Steins;Gate in my opinion. The first half had action on a scale similar to Lord of the Rings with pacing and stakes that was similar to Mad Max Fury Road. The second half finally provides answers to questions that were asked in previous seasons and subtly introduces philosophical questions and concepts. There were allusions to World War II, gestures to Plato's Allegory of the Cave, and a healthy dose of cynicism to keep everything from getting pretentious. This does everything right, the payoff is amazing, and we're still not at the end. Regardless of whether everything ends with a bang or a whimper, I am confident that the ending will be thoughtfully constructed and provided with the same high quality treatment we have seen in previous entries.
Aug 2, 2019
It is strange seeing Eric Weinstein with his boss, but somehow this conversation manages to work due to its subject matter. There are topics presented here that I don't usually see being talked about such as the technological stagnation we are currently experiencing. While it may be true that there are many gradualistic advances in technology, there are very few fundamental saltatory improvements in the technology we currently use. This is why technology appears to be stagnant. Simply put, there are no new discoveries being made. We are simply finding new ways to use the discoveries that were made in the past. The second topic that is covered at length is the counterproductive nature of higher education and academia within the United States and the damages caused by those running the larger institutions that fall within this category. All in all, I found that this was a thoughtful conversation that examined a problem many have not even acknowledged.
Aug 1, 2019
The Soul of a New Machine
Tracy Kidder, July, 1981
Back in the day before computer manufacturers just assembled parts and just made things fit within a chasis, there were companies that built entire computers from scratch. This is one such story. This is not the story of a company starting small and then making it big. It is just the story of how a single computer (Eagle) in Data General was made from beginning to end. Many of the things here were all too familiar to me since I was an engineer, but since it was in a different industry, during a different time, I found it interesting to see what people were concerned about back then. Needless to say, not much has changed over forty years.
Aug 1, 2019
I'm sick and tired of Mozart. I hear his stuff everywhere and I have trouble enjoying it anymore. It sounds like a bunch of arpeggios and scales to me with nothing to distinguish it from other classical music-- almost as if a mindless computer wrote it. The story of the Magic Flute is simple, but it makes up for its simplicity for its imagery and symbolism. Vocals are also very technical. German is rather similar to Dutch, so I found myself understanding some of the content without needing subtitles.
![Mozart, The Magic Flute [Sir Colin Davis/ Covent Garden]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/t9ivsaGTAEg/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEjCNACELwBSFryq4qpAxUIARUAAAAAGAElAADIQj0AgKJDeAE=&rs=AOn4CLAawMN4lkh6AKWMo4xy_dtlI2x_hA)
Jul 31, 2019
The Breakfast Club
Feb 15, 1985
The Breakfast Club is unorthodox in its organization, but it manages to work because it places all of its actors in one room and asks the simple question of what happens. There are no weak links because of its small cast. While it does not necessarily say the most profound things in its main message, this coming of age story is fun to watch from beginning to end and does not drag at all. I enjoyed it more than Bueller.
Jul 31, 2019
More Than This
Patrick Ness, May 1, 2014
This book, in my opinion, was almost perfect for its first half. Because it is a young adult novel, the prose is simpler than other works, but it still read beautifully. Books don't need to be a convoluted mess of high diction to be good and this novel is a testament to that fact. In terms of characters, all of the characters are given an appropriate amount of attention and the emotional weight of their struggles are carried to the reader rather effectively. In regards to the hard sci-fi themes that show up later in the book, they are explored rather well in the first half, but never truly explored in depth in the later half. I don't think Patrick Ness is a sci-fi writer, so this may be easily forgiven if he focused more on the struggles of the individual characters rather than fill pages with strange detours in the later half. This book had so much potential, and that is why I like it, but it is not a perfect book. If you read just the first half and stop there, you may actually enjoy it better. That said, the ending was rather thoughtful, so I'll leave it up to your judgement.
Jul 30, 2019
My second opera. This time, instead of a film, I watched the full production with subtitles. I was originally watching the Royal Opera's version, but for some reason, they dropped the subtitles, so I finished with the Taomina Festival version. Unlike the Royal Opera (which has Carmenita in a gorilla suit for some reason), the Taormina Festival version was far more faithful to the source material. This made it far more accessible to me. In terms of story, I felt that Carmen was better than La Traviata, but did not have the same level of vocal technicality as La Traviata. The characters were more understandable this time around, and I found it interesting that I didn't like Carmenita, but actually rooted for Micaëla. The music, in my opinion was the best part. This was, in many ways, a compilation of best hits of Georges Bizet and that worked to its strengths. Unlike older operas, the music here had something of a unique oriental flavor that set it apart from other operas that were far more rigid due to their classical occidental influences.
Jul 29, 2019
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Nov 10, 2009
We see some old faces in this one like Soap and Price. While this is a continuation of the first modern warfare, there are some differences in style. The first difference is that while the first modern warfare was more realistic, this was a little more over the top like a Hollywood blockbuster. This made for some very interesting levels with high stakes, but in the process, it lost a little bit of what made the first modern warfare great. The soundtrack by Lorne Balfe and Hans Zimmer was well done and better executed in this entry. Overall, it is a great game that went by very quickly, but it does not seem to reach the heights that were reached by its predecessor.
Jul 28, 2019
Machinarium
Oct 16, 2009
A charming point and click game with a fantastic art style. Some of the puzzles involved were rather challenging too. Reminded me of the movie Robots in many ways. In terms of plot, it's not as complex as what you might see in a point and click game by Wadjet Eye games.
Jul 27, 2019
The Call of Cthulhu
H.P. Lovecraft, Feb, 1928
This is a book that is highly dependent on suspension of disbelief. It may be because of the age of the work, but the timescale that the Old Ones operate within is simply unrealistic. Despite this, the main premise and the creeping dread involved with the subject matter make for an interesting story. This did not make me an H.P. Lovecraft fan, but I would be curious to see if similar cosmic horror can be done better in a more modern work.
Jul 21, 2019
Maple Films J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit
Jan 4, 2016
I saw the first film in the trilogy and heard that the rest of the Hobbit Trilogy was a bloated mess, so I decided to watch the Maple Films edit instead. This version is rather faithful to the source material and cuts out much of the fat to create a tighter story. Unlike what I've seen of the trilogy previously, this came across as coherent. While Lord of the Rings was a story of Men and Hobbits, this was a coherent story of Dwarves and a single Hobbit. That said, I do think it is a bit long for one book and it does not match the scale of Lord of the Rings.
Jul 21, 2019
The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead
Max Brooks, Sept 16, 2003
I read The Zombie Survival when I was in middle school and I remember loving it. It doesn't hold up in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, it's a decent book, but it can get repetitive. It's a good way to waste time, but not the best book.
Jul 20, 2019
Teen Titans Go! To the Movies
Jul 27, 2018
I'm not sure what got me watching this, but I found it surprisingly entertaining. I watched the original Teen Titans as a child, but I've never seen Teen Titans Go!. This made everything seem fresh to me. The animation was way better than it had any right to be. Lines were delivered quickly, but also with careful timing and jokes did not lower themselves to the common denominator. There is some cleverness to this juvenile work and I enjoyed it.
Jul 20, 2019
The Stand
Stephen King, Oct, 1998
Read the extended version. Stephen King is an author who is capable of flailing around in the darkness and grabbing a decent story without planning it. By planting seeds and symbols throughout the post apocalyptic novel, he was able to add many different layers. There is the Dark Man who shows up in many of Stephen King's novels. There is the biblical and supernatural aspects that mirror the rapture. And finally, there is the intricacies of human nature in all its beauty and ugliness. This is Stephen King's War and Peace. It isn't consistent in terms of quality throughout, but it is a great book with depth that manages to be entertaining.
Jul 20, 2019
Indian Folktales And Legends
Tapas Guha, 2004
Another book from childhood I decided to revisit. It's nothing but a collection of stories from Hinduism presented to an English speaking audience. Good for entertainment purposes as well as for better cultural understanding of how religion may have developed in South East Asia.
Jul 20, 2019
Explorers on the Moon (Tintin #17)
Hergé, Oct, 1952
A continuation of the story presented in Destination Moon. Many of the ideas and scenes presented here may be recreated by American astronauts who participate in the Artemis project. Ice on the moon, sabotage by other countries, etc. I really liked this as a kid, and it still holds up today.
Jul 20, 2019
Destination Moon (Tintin #16)
Hergé, Mar 30, 1950
Due to a power outage, I decided to take the time to go through some old books on my shelf. This includes a portion of my collection of the entire Tintin series. Destination Moon attempts to explain how rockets may eventually send humans to the moon. The rocket presented is nuclear powered unlike the Saturn V. It is very interesting to read this now that we have visited the moon. I'm not sure why Starhopper was fashioned after the rocket presented here, but I do appreciate the nostalgia.
Jul 19, 2019
Neuralink Launch Event
Jul 17, 2019
What is presented here looks like what vacuum tube computers looked like back in the 50's and 60's. It's not where we should be, but it is a start. What is presented here is an order of magnitude improvement on the state of the art in brain computer interfaces. It can be used to restore certain faculties of the mind for those who have some form of nerve or brain damage. The use of needles, threads, and robots to optimize the process allows for a less invasive and far more scaleable solution compared to standard brain surgery. I really want to see what they come up with, but at the moment, the technology is still in its infancy and because the N1 is the first product, it is too soon to determine if the trends in the industry are promising.
Jul 14, 2019
Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie
Jun 20, 2015
The best entry in the Arise series, and one of the better Ghost in the Shell films. It definitely beats out the live action film, but it does not live up to the Mamoru Oshii film. I still need to watch the Stand Alone Complex series, but what I've seen here was impressive. The improved budget led to better production values, but the script lacked the emotional weight of other entries in the Ghost in the Shell universe.
Jul 13, 2019
Hinamatsuri
Jun 22, 2018
I really liked this one. It's like a cross between a traditional school life 4-koma show and Mob Psycho 100. Animation is decent, and it brought out some genuine laughs.
Jul 13, 2019
The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick)
Seth Godin, May 10, 2007
A short book with little to offer that I haven't read about already in other books. Also, the idea that nothing is worth doing if you are not the best at doing it is highly flawed and will lead to an unfulfilled life. The concept of what is "Best" needs to be elaborated on further than it already is. What it has that I consider to be useful is unoriginal. I do not recommend this read.
Jul 13, 2019
missed messages.
May 20, 2019
Available for free on Itch and Steam. A short relaxed game about depression with multiple endings. There's not a lot of depth to it, but it manages to make a dent in its short playtime. The game does what it has to do and nothing more. It makes no mistakes in that sense, but I can see this improving with a longer story. Overall, a great entry for a college student dabbling in indie games.
Jul 12, 2019
Spider-Man: Far from Home
Jul 2, 2019
One of the better Spiderman films out there. It's higher in scale than the previous MCU Spiderman Film, but it isn't quite as epic as an Avengers film. It knows not to take on too much and it sets itself up for Phase 4 rather well. I'm going to be visiting Europe next month, so I also appreciated the set pieces and locations. I personally think Phase 3 should have ended with Avengers Endgame, but this wasn't a bad way to end the Infinity Saga.
Jul 12, 2019
Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart: Thirty True Things You Need to Know Now
Gordon Livingston, Nov 9, 2004
An imperfect but good read. Consists of general life lessons and teachings in a way that is similar to Jordan Peterson's 12 Rules. It is a short read and it complemented Inner Engineering very well. One of the things I always find myself is thinking about what I could have accomplished if I only knew something a little earlier. With this novel, I hope I have those thoughts a little bit less often.
Jul 11, 2019
Crystal Story II
Feb 6, 2015
A flash game and also available on Steam. A good way to waste time, but it gets repetitive towards the end. I believe it takes inspiration from FFVII.
Jul 8, 2019
Inner Engineering: A Yogi's Guide to Joy
Sadhguru, Sep 20, 2016
This book was highly impactful for me. The first chapter in particular was very useful. Inner Engineering is split into two parts. The first focuses on Sadhguru's experiences and the shortcomings of modern society to foster joy. The second focuses on yogic principles framed in a modern context. It also provides activities that can be followed to train the mind. Much of the book is organized in such a way that you can focus your efforts on what you struggle with. If you want to have a better grasp on how to handle your emotional needs and approach life in a more joyful manner, you will find this book very helpful.
Jul 8, 2019
The Deer Hunter
Dec 8, 1978
Michael Cimino made one good movie and this is it. There are many Vietnam films, but this is one that stands closer to the top. I wouldn't consider it to be as good as Apocalypse Now, but I think it is rather close. The Russian roulette scenes were the best parts of the film. Not only were they brutal, but they could draw out an incredible amount of suspense in short bursts. It also helped that the acting of Robert Deniro, Christopher Walken and Meryl Streep elevated the film higher. Although it is a bit long, I consider it to be essential viewing.
Jul 7, 2019
A great way to review different common algorithms. It even covered concepts I was not explicitly taught in school such as bitwise operations for increasing performance as well as memoization. One thing to note is that solutions provided here aren't perfect and seem to have an unusual focus on recursion. Recursive solutions aren't incorrect, but they can be inefficient.
Jul 7, 2019
Dead Poets Society
Jun 9, 1989
I forgot how great of an actor Robin Williams was, and this movie was very effective in reminding me of that. All this film needs is more Robin Williams and more poetry, and it would be perfect. There are not many films that touch on the subject of nonconformity, but this acts like a primer in the art. An inspired work that lasts past the time of viewing. If you learn nothing else, carpe diem.
Jul 5, 2019
The final installment tries to tread the same ground as the 1995 film, but does not make any deep emotional or philosophical conclusions. This time, it presents the possibilities of fused conciousnesses, single conciousnesses that can diverge, and multiple people sharing one body. In the future, the concept of a body will fundamentally change and become separated from one's identity. As our humanity becomes more abstract, it will be interesting to see how we maintain or try to maintain the things we believe makes us human.
Jul 4, 2019
La traviata
May 10, 1967
My first opera. Anna Mofo was terrific as Violetta. The story was not anything complex, but the vocal gymnastics involved was just insane. Also, it was interesting to see the context of Verdi's music. I have typically just listened to the music of Verdi, but now I understand what scenes they were used for. Opera is truly an interesting genre. Every bit of dialogue is sung, but unlike broadway plays, the vocal talent required is higher and there is less choreography. It is not very accessible due to the language, however. I recommend watching operas with dual subtitles to get the best experience.
Jul 2, 2019
Steve Jobs
Walter Isaacson, Oct 24, 2011
My second Walter Isaacson book. The general impression I have is that people have an opinion of Steve Jobs that ignores his flaws. Bill Burr makes this point in one of his interviews. This book does not simply praise, and Walter Isaacson shows both the good and the bad. Steve Jobs had successes and failures, and Walter Isaacson covers all of it. Unlike the film, this also covers his childhood and his identity as an adopted child. A worthwhile read. I don't identify with Steve Jobs, but I understand him better after completing this book.
Jun 30, 2019
Gorogoa
Dec 14, 2017
A short but memorable game that evokes feelings of spirituality through its surreal nature and game mechanics. Gorogoa's strengths lie in its visual style. It is through this visual style that the player feels like they are brought into the pages of a picture book or a 2d dream. The soft music with experimental electronics only serve to further that surreal nature of the game. There is a story being told throughout the levels, but because nothing is concretely explained, it is up to the player to offer their own interpretation.
Jun 30, 2019
North by Northwest
Jul 1, 1959
Interestingly, tomorrow is the 60th anniversary of this film. North by Northwest is a fun, delightful film by Hitchcock. Possibly my favorite of his works. In my opinion Eva Marie Saint stole the spotlight. This is probably the closest Hitchcock would ever get to directing a James Bond film. It's suspensful, intriguing, and the premise is original. Set pieces are well made, and none of the scenes bore. For a film from the late 1950's, this manages to entertain even today.
Jun 29, 2019
Ghost in the Shell: Arise - Border:3 Ghost Tears
Jun 28, 2014
This is a weaker entry, but it does address certain ideas that will become concerns once human augmentation becomes mainstream. The conflicting ideas of the cyborg body as a tool versus a part of oneself are questioned. While there were no conclusions brought, it did use that question to implement some interesting scenes.
Jun 29, 2019
Learn R in 1 Video
Nov 1, 2017
R is a great language for displaying data. I think Python has more flexibility because of all the libraries that can be brought in through PIP, but I can see why many statisticians prefer R. It's definitely different from other programming languages I have learned in the past, so there is something of a learning curve with this.
Jun 29, 2019
Cats
Oct 27, 1998
I'm trying to get into Broadway plays and this is the first play to introduce me to the genre. In terms of accessibility, I think this is a good play to start with. I probably would have enjoyed it even more if I saw it as a child. The story is simple and much of the emphasis is placed on choreography and music. The level of athleticism required for the roles in this play is high, and as someone with a dance background, it made for a decent work to study. Memories is a good song, and it has qualities similar to many of the songs in West Side Story that allow for its impact last well beyond the viewing of the play.
Jun 28, 2019
Night in the Woods
Feb 21, 2017
Night in the Woods is a game with anthropomorphic characters that takes place in a small, struggling town with a dwindling population. This is a game that focuses not on gameplay, but on story. The story itself is above average. While I would not call it a coming of age tale, it shares many qualities of that style of story with Life is Strange. Similarly, Mae, the main character, walks slowly, talks slowly, and it takes a long time to do simple things which artificially lengthens the play time. Where the story truly shines is in its third act where mysteries are solved and arcs are concluded. Its focus on story helps, and I hope others follow its example while taking care to actually focus on the quality of the story similar to how screenwriters craft the flow and pacing of a film.
Jun 24, 2019
Python in 1 Video
Nov 10, 2014
Covers python quickly and efficiently. I personally find the syntax of python to be very infuriating despite the fact that I've used it in the past, so this review was very valuable for me. Despite the video being a few years old, it thankfully does not cover the older 2.7 version.
Jun 24, 2019
Structures: Or Why Things Don't Fall Down
J.E. Gordon, Jul 10, 2003
A very accessible book about structural engineering and the many considerations that go into structures. It covers not only buildings, but vehicles and biological systems. Readers will leave with knowledge of what stress and strain is. In addition to this, aesthetic decisions and the art that goes into structures is spoken about at some length. The only thing it does not cover is how materials behave at different temperatures, but it might have been intentional to leave that out due to the complexities of thermodynamics.
Jun 23, 2019
Ghost in the Shell: Arise - Border:2 Ghost Whispers
Nov 30, 2013
This series is starting to grow on me. I find it quite a bit more enjoyable when I consider it as an episode in the context of a series instead of a standalone film. This entry is bigger and more action packed than the first film. Action sequences are well thought out and coordinated in a way that is only comparable to The Matrix. You'd have to wonder which work drew its influence from which. We also start seeing mentions of the concept of a ghost which may mean that quality will be increasing in the following films. The soundtrack by Cornelius is also starting to improve.
Jun 23, 2019
Coco
Nov 22, 2017
A solid film albeit a bit predictable. From a technical standpoint, it does not disappoint. Images are vibrant and movement is fluid. As a guitar player, this definitely played to my tastes and some of the songs were catchy. Story-wise, it does not do anything groundbreaking and I was able to figure out what would happen in the third act because it dropped too many hints. Portrayals of Mexico tend to be rather negative in Hollywood, so this film with its bright colors, positive outlook on death and emphasis on family is a welcome change.
Jun 22, 2019
MySQL in 1 Video
Aug 29, 2014
Overview of mysql that does not mince words. Great way to review sql and database concepts.
Jun 17, 2019
Ghost in the Shell: Arise - Border 1: Ghost Pain
Jun 22, 2013
The original 1995 film was a huge influence on me and I am glad to enter that world once more. Ghost Pain is the first entry in a series of four films that act as something of an origin story for Section 9 and a refresh of the IP. With a different director behind the camera, one should expect different results. There are fewer existential questions being asked, the scale is smaller, the music is more subtle and drawn back. In terms of emotional punch, it is definitely inferior to the original TV series as well as the original films, but it still somehow manages to be thought provoking. They don't censor the violence, and the content is not dumbed down for a modern audience. Stylistically, it is faithful to the source material.
Jun 17, 2019
Prolog in 1 Hour
Aug 12, 2015
Prolog is a bizarre language that does certain things very well, but isn't all that useful for most programming related tasks. This video is a good primer for understanding the language and what it is capable of.
Jun 16, 2019
Learn Java in 30 Minutes
Jun 3, 2014
Great video for experienced developers to learn or refresh the syntax of Java. Straight to the point and does not cover the basics of programming that most devs already know like most programming tutorials.
Jun 16, 2019
Ookami Kodomo no Ame to Yuki
Jun 21, 2012
A gem of a film that is about parenthood and childhood with a twist. It should come to no surprise given the number of awards it has won. Mamoru Hosada is a skilled director whose films I have seen before. The last film of his that I have seen is Summer Wars, and that was more than 6 years ago. While the scale of this story is not quite at the level of Summer Wars, the smaller scale allows it to be a more touching story that is able to connect with its viewers due to its personal touch. Single parenthood in Japan is not often covered in film, so this film in particular was covering new ground while telling an original tale of its own during the time it was released.
Jun 15, 2019
Banana Fish
Dec 21, 2018
A crime drama in the vein of The Departed that takes place in the United States. In terms of plot construction, it does not break new ground, but its treatment of gangs in the U.S. is interesting. To see a Japanese treatment of American culture is fascinating, and although there are some strange stylistic choices, they pay enough attention to the details to provide a rewarding drama from beginning to end. In that sense, it is similar to the Metal Gear Solid, but does not enter into political intrigue quite as much.
Jun 15, 2019
Crazy Rich Asians
Aug 15, 2018
It was not for me, but it is an above average romance film. Scenes of opulence might impress initially, but I feel like it won't be all that impressive after time passes and will degrade with multiple viewings. This film does not do anything new in the genre, but it does provide a window into East Asian culture. Many of the Confucianist principles such as filial piety are emphasized. Honestly, I don't think I am the target audience.
Jun 14, 2019
The Return of the King (The Lord of the Rings #3)
J.R.R. Tolkien, Oct 20, 1955
Great book, but it drags a little compared to the others in terms of pacing towards the end. Despite this, I still liked it for its dark treatment of the subject matter. Unlike The Fellowship of the Ring, it was dark in tone like The Two Towers, and it provided a long but rewarding conclusion to a great trilogy. Just a wonderful adventure, deep lore, and a world that the reader would like to visit again and again. It's kind of a shame that the main offerings of Middle Earth are this trilogy and The Hobbit. I wish J.R.R. Tolkien had other epic stories similar to The Lord of the Rings, but there is always the Silmarillion and The Children of Hurin to keep me satisfied.
Jun 10, 2019
Sadhguru on Impact Theory
May 21, 2019
Sadhguru has a talent for placing many of life's questions into highly simplistic terms. In many cases, this is very appropriate due to the fact that people overcomplicate life when doing so is unnecessary. I found this thought provoking and it made me question some preconceptions that I had.
Jun 9, 2019
Joe Rogan Experience #1309 - Naval Ravikant
Jun 4, 2019
A thoughtful conversation with Naval Ravikant about freedom, the future of society, suffering and what is life. It also covers technology and how the world will change. Naval Ravikant has a libary's worth of aphorisms and quotes to offer, making his experiences very valuable for someone who is in the same places he was when he was younger.
Jun 8, 2019
Chrono Trigger
Mar 11, 1995
One of the best on the SNES. It is as great as FFVI if not better. The music was iconic, the character development was well thought out and each character had weight and importance to the player. The idea of a time traveling antagonist is genius. We've seen this trope more in Japanese culture, but in American films, this trope is very rare, making it feel novel. Lavos is one of the best villains ever. It does not say a word, but it had presence. In terms of depth, it is not as deep as FFVI, but I think that was perfectly fine because there was no grinding involved. The game mechanics accomplished their goal and a great story was told. The addition of the FMV's and multiple endings was much appreciated. Definitely a game everyone should play once in their lives. The details and complexities of the plot lead to some interesting theories too.
Jun 8, 2019
Pinocchio
Feb 23, 1940
This ends my foray into Disney's 2d animation. I don't have much to say about this one other than that it seems to embody everything that Disney represents as a brand. Stylistically, it is very similar to Snow Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, but unlike that film, there are great lessons that everyone can take away from this film.
Jun 7, 2019
Covers basic finances in the U.S. in an accessible way. Taxes, and saving cash are covered in detail.
Jun 5, 2019
The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings #2)
J.R.R. Tolkien, Nov 11, 1954
The second entry in the Lord of the Rings. A really great read that expands on characters in a way the movies just couldn't. The lore is presented in greater detail, and it is just a fine adventure that doesn't get majorly sidetracked. Only complaint I have is that sometimes it focuses too much on description instead of the actions of the characters, but this adds to the world building, so it can be easily forgiven. From Helms Deep to the Ents to the taming of Smeagol, this book is just consistently high quality. For me, it was better than The Fellowship of the Ring.
Jun 2, 2019
Mob Psycho 100 II
Apr 1, 2019
Mob as a middle schooler with psychic powers returns in the second season. The fights are scaled up on a level that you would only see in the final battles of shounen manga. Despite the scale, the work stands by its principles and keeps its comedic senses without getting too serious.
Jun 1, 2019
Aladdin
Nov 25, 1992
I am gradually getting convinced that the Disney Renaissance was the best period for 2d animation at Disney. Aladdin is unique in that it has a male protagonist. It is set within the context of Arabian Nights, and the writers did not shy away from mentioning beheadings and the punishment of cutting off hands for stealing. I found that rather interesting given that this is intended for children. It is also a film that had celebrity voice actors that knocked it out of the park such as Robin Williams and Gilbert Gottfried. The character design is slightly different from The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast, and the animators went for a more flexible slapstick style when it came to movement. CGI was also utilized during a time when the technology was still in its infancy. This is definitely not a traditional Disney princess film, and it brings a lot of new things to the table.
May 31, 2019
Pretty self explanatory. I don't remember everything, but I have a working knowledge that is close to adequate for understanding common phrases. Next steps will probably involve drilling grammar or watching childrens shows.
May 30, 2019
Covers basic home economics related matters in a very accessible way. Simple skills that you should learn, but don't are the point of this series. While I wouldn't consider it an efficient way to cover the material, it seemed to do the job.
May 30, 2019
The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings #1)
J.R.R. Tolkien, Jul 29, 1954
The level of depth in this work is incredible given how accessible the story is. It does not use overly sophisticated language, but it still manages to fit in an entire universe worth of lore without coming across as overwhelming. Unlike the films, there is a greater emphasis on the hobbits instead of Aragorn which seems appropriate to me because they make more suitable heroes if one is going off of Joseph Campbell's work in The Hero with a Thousand Faces. One thing that I noticed here that I did not notice when watching the film was how there seemed to be a strange emphasis on race that borders on racism. I don't think this is intentional, but it is noticeable. Reading this gave me greater respect for the film. There are parts of this that I would have thought were unadaptable, but somehow Peter Jackson managed to make it work.
May 28, 2019
The Diamond Age: Or, A Young Lady's Illustrated Primer
Neal Stephenson, Feb, 1995
My first Neal Stephenson book. This comes across almost as a steampunk story where the steam is replaced with nanotechnology. The oppressed groups are there, and the young child getting abused is also there (although she isn't an orphan). Emotionally, this book is kind of stunted, but the world building and detail is on another level. The adventures Nell goes on through the Primer are entertaining and offer a hint of what one may consider a decent education to be. One complaint I have is that although Neal Stephenson has pages upon pages of great descriptive imagery, his technical descriptions are lacking in rigor. Another complaint I have is pacing. The last parts of the novel came quickly and brought no closure. I guess maybe the reader is supposed to figure all that out on their own, because the end comes suddenly and mercilessly without allowing the reader a chance to take it in.
May 27, 2019
AMD Keynote at Computex 2019 in 9 minutes
May 26, 2019
Oh boy, does Intel and NVIDIA have competition. AMD is now at 7nm while Intel is stuck at 14nm. NVIDIA is currently at 12nm. With updates to ZEN 2 EPYC, Ryzen processors and the introduction of NAVI, prices better be going down now on Intel and NVIDIA's side. I'm really excited to see how Intel and NVIDIA fire back (if they can).
May 27, 2019
Life Itself
Jul 4, 2014
Roger Ebert was part of why I got interested in film and for the longest time, I wanted to watch this film to bring some level of closure in regards to what he was to me. The film handles many themes: writing, life, mortality, pain, movies, friends, and family. It goes through the life and career of Roger Ebert from the very beginning to the heartbreaking end and pays appropriate tribute to his impact on film criticism.
May 26, 2019
The Little Mermaid
Nov 17, 1989
The one that started the Disney Renaissance. There are a lot of things this did better than Beauty and the Beast despite the fact that it seemed to suffer in the third act and that it is the older of the two. The character design seems better, the score is better, the songs are more memorable, Ariel is a more expressive and more relatable character (for me at least), and I liked Flounder and Sebastian as side characters. I think I can say that I liked this one more than Beauty and the Beast during the first half, but I think it lacks in terms of the relationships between characters and character development.
May 25, 2019
Raging Bull
Dec 19, 1980
An undeniably great film from Martin Scorsese. It was filmed in black and white and harkens back to older films from the 40's and 50's with its style. There are shots in here that are so original, I honestly don't think I've seen anything similar over my 10+ years of serious/critical film watching. The cast is great and Robert Deniro's weight gain to play Jake La Motta in his later years made him almost unrecognizable. The changes the characters go through feel real and unforced due to the script.
May 21, 2019
Catch-22
Joseph Heller, Nov 10, 1961
This is a strange book. The meaning of Catch 22 is always changing. Events are told out of order. The subject matter is serious, but it is told in a comedic and satiric way. Yossarian is probably what any soldier feels like. Based on what I've been told, the military is a highly inefficient monster and the experiences of personel is dependent upon the groups you are assigned to. Catch 22 seems to emphasize this, and exaggerates it to create a caricature of the U.S. military that is both hilarious and accurate. Like in Catch 22, officers are not only underqualified for their jobs, but they obsess over strange things and try to get out of their responsibilities. It was an interesting read and I have a positive impression of it, but it is definitely an unorthodox novel.
May 19, 2019
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Dec 31, 1937
The one that started it all is also one of the greatest even when compared to Disney's other works. The amount of love and care that was placed into this movie is easy to see. For 1937, this level of quality was at least 10 years ahead of its time. Snow White has decent screen time, the songs are memorable even though they can get rather technical, and the Dwarves are well thought out. For me, this film is neck and neck with Beauty and the Beast.
May 18, 2019
Superbad
Aug 17, 2007
Similar to the Hangover, but focuses on highschool and relationships made towards the end of highschool. Typical American comedy fare with a raunchy sense of humor. In terms of acting, there were no weak links, but the script does go overboard at times with Jonah Hill's character. I can see why people may like it, but it wasn't for me.
May 17, 2019
Haikyuu!!
Sep 21, 2014
This was airing the first time I was in Japan and I never really had the time to watch it until now. Shounen sports anime is a highly saturated genre, so it is very rare when a show about men's volleyball raises the bar. For this first entry in the series, they focus on the team more than the individual. There are those with exceptional talents, but it takes more than one to keep the volleyball from hitting the ground. Although there are main characters, everyone is treated with great importance. The sport is introduced to viewers who are unfamiliar with the game in a very effective way with all the positions and moves fully explained. Sets itself up for the future entries in the series very well.
May 14, 2019
The Aeneid
Virgil, John Dryden
Read the John Dryden translation which emphasized meter and rhyme compared to what may be found in more modern translations. The Aeneid almost reads like a fan fiction that somehow ended up improving on the material that served as inspiration. Because it is more modern than The Iliad, it has more sophisticated narrative structure. One thing that I found to work against The Aeneid was its length. Because it was short, many of the characters who were introduced were less memorable than the characters introduced in The Iliad. Overall, I found it to be better than the Iliad just because of its sophistication and because it knew how to end.
May 12, 2019
The Three-Body Problem (Remembrance of Earth’s Past #1)
Liu Cixin, Nov 11, 2014
Written by Liu Cixin and translated by Ken Liu. There are some very well thought out and great concepts presented here. Aspects of communication between species separated by light years is covered in detail. The concept of a sophon or artificially intelligent proton was mind blowing. As a civilization begins to improve in sophistication, its ability to control things at the microlevel and eventually transcend dimensions is an inevitability. The way covers the techological advances of the Trisolaris civilization is creative and just on another level. The progress of civilization being split between stable and chaotic eras is also a great touch. The author truly understood how intelligent progress and science works and managed to also tie it in with the cultural roadblocks presented by Chinese society.
May 12, 2019
Beetlejuice
Mar 30, 1988
This is such a weird imaginative film. I did not recognize Michael Keaton as Beetlejuice. That's how great his acting was. The practical effects, makeup and puppetry really sold the afterlife and gave it an identity of its own. This is a great example of Tim Burton's style and his unique directorial idiosyncrasies.
May 11, 2019
Introduced the Blue Moon lander and the New Glenn. It was interesting to see Jeff Bezos present his ideas and how they differed from Musk's. While it is discouraging to see that they currently just seem to be retracing Space X's steps at a slower rate, the purpose of Blue Origin is fundamentally different, so this may be fine. Jeff Bezos is more of a big picture guy and he is focused more on space infrastructure than anything else. Musk on the other hand wants to go to Mars and seems to have a better understanding of the details involved to improve execution. I'm curious to see if Gradatim Ferociter will be a winning strategy. I see the Gradatim part being exhibited, but don't quite see the Ferociter.
May 11, 2019
Cinderella
Mar 4, 1950
One of the higher rated Disney princess films, but I didn't understand the point of it. The fairy godmother showed up out of nowhere. The mice and other animals got more screen time than Cinderella. Like usual, the animation is well done, and human characters are fluidly animated due to rotoscoping. Cinderella is not a character with much depth and is only a vehicle for wish fulfillment unlike Beauty and the Beast. The prince is one dimensional here unlike what could be seen in Sleeping Beauty and newer films. There are some iconic songs here, but it boggles the mind that the film gets as much praise as it does.
May 10, 2019
War and Peace
Leo Tolstoy, 1869
About three weeks of intense reading was what it took to make it from one end of this book to the others. This is a book that is consistent throughout if you ignore Leo Tolstoy's philosophical musings. That said, his philosophical musings and justifications explain the purpose of this novel as well as the greater reasons as to why this novel was written. This novel covers everything. The rich, the poor, how war affects all, love, family, life and death. I remember thinking about reading this in highschool, but decided not to then because of the character count. For those who are intimidated by the more than 500 characters presented in this novel, you'll only need to focus on the main ones. Pierre, the Rostov's, the Bolkonsky's and the higher rank figures in the war are really what you'll need to remember. I recommend reading this great novel. You might be turned off because of its length, but as you start to dig in, you'll find that it is manageable due to the short chapter lenghts. This is a journey you will wish to never end, and luckily, it's so long that it feels like it doesn't.
May 6, 2019
Avengers: Endgame
Apr 26, 2019
A fitting conclusion to a decades worth of world building and story telling. Unlike other superhero films, it was not quite as predictable, and it seemed to check all the boxes for what I wanted for the penultimate film of phase 3. It had good moments, and it also made callbacks to films that were made earlier in the Marvel universe. In terms of scale, it wasn't quite as large as Infinity War, but I think that helped to keep the plot tight and prevent things from getting convoluted. I have no complaints. It's not a perfect film, but I think most people will leave theatres satisfied.
May 5, 2019
Beauty and the Beast
Nov 22, 1991
A near perfect Disney animated film. The animation is fluid, and the music is iconic and has survived over the years. The characters faces look lopsided, but I think that is more of a stylistic choice. It copies details from Sleeping Beauty and other predecessors. Overall, its qualities lie in the lack of mistakes, but it doesn't seem to do anything particularly groundbreaking. Its quality is consistent with the other great Disney films of its time.
May 4, 2019
Your Name.
Aug 26, 2016
The last time I saw a Makoto Shinkai film was about 5-6 years ago when I saw the beautiful Kotonoha no Niwa. In many ways, this feels almost like a thesis statement that Shinkai built up over his 10+ years of experience. The fluid animation and vibrant colors from his previous works can be seen here. The common themes of the distance between people and what separates them and brings them together is thoroughly explored through the main premise of trading places in dreams. In addition to this, he infuses Japanese culture and presents Japan in a very realistic way. It really is deserving of all the praise that it has received.
May 3, 2019
Fantasia
Jun 20, 1941
There is nothing else like it. The music was conducted by the legendary Leopold Stokowski, and the animation was on point. For 1940, this level of fluidity and abstractness in an animation is absolutely mind blowing. It's an experience that is unique and difficult to reproduce. It is one thing to film something and set it to music. It is another to animate something to music. In this work, the marriage of sound and image are treated in a highly expert fashion.
May 3, 2019
Kaze ga Tsuyoku Fuiteiru
Mar 27, 2019
There aren't many shows about running, but this is one of them and it is great. This was originally a book before it was adapted to a movie and finally into a show. I loved how it covered the personal journeys everyone experiences in running as well as the competitive scene involved in running long distance as a team. The soundtrack by Hayashi Yuki was great as well. I really need to get my miles in.
Apr 30, 2019
Captain Marvel
Mar 8, 2019
Watching this before I watch Endgame. Captain Marvel is a movie that tries to do many things. It hits some notes, but it does not hit all of them. There are enjoyable moments and moments where where it drags. There are great shots and scenes where the camerawork was not thought out all that well. The special effects are impressive as always. The way Samuel L. Jackson was made to look younger was something that I found to be techincally notable. I was skeptical of Brie Larson's casting, but she does well in her role as Carol Danvers. Overall, I liked it, but I thought it could have been better. My guess is that important scenes had to be edited out for the theatrical cut, because it felt like something was missing.
Apr 28, 2019
Sleeping Beauty
Dec 25, 1959
Unlike Disney's offerings in the 40's, this felt a lot more polished. The animation is beautiful, and I can even see great implementations of rotoscoping in character movement. Any shortcomings in animation were successfully compensated by great background work. Despite Sleeping Beauty being part of an oversaturated genre, I found it enjoyable, but the characters could have been given more depth.
Apr 27, 2019
Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance
Atul Gawande, Apr 3, 2007
Better is a book about the struggles and triumphs of the medical system. He not only covers how medicine and treatment works in the U.S., but also in other countries like India. This provides a window into the challenges that are faced by practitioners. People sometimes forget that doctors need to worry about malpractice lawsuits and that diagnosis of an illness isn't quite as straight forward as it might seem in media. I found the end notes on how to be a positive deviant particularly useful. If you are planning on creating a startup that is centered on improving healthcare, understanding a doctor's experience can be very valuable.
Apr 27, 2019
Bambi
Aug 21, 1942
I actually liked it. It covered the sensitive topic of growing up very well and managed to do that through Bambi's experiences through the four seasons. Unlike Dumbo, this felt quite a bit more polished. You can really tell that it is a product of its time. The songs weren't made with commercial success in mind, and the characters weren't created with merchandise on the brain. If you were to compare it with The Lion King, you can find some of Bambi's DNA in the Lion King and other succeeding works.
Apr 26, 2019
Boyhood
Aug 15, 2014
It is so cool to watch an interesting concept be implemented so well. The actors age as time passes, and it does not feel like the cast is actually acting. The time where the characters grew up was the same time I grew up, so I found it very easy to relate. Instead of using digital cameras, film was used, and this allowed for the quality of the picture to stay consistent. I believe that this should be required viewing for any student of film due to its innovation and execution.
Apr 26, 2019
Boku no Hero Academia 3rd Season
Sep 29, 2018
I'm not sure what to say other than that the series is consistently good and that you can't seem to go wrong with it. The second arc of this season was great, but it weakened in the final arcs. If you view the series as one continuous story instead of splitting it between seasons, you may find it more enjoyable. All Might gets pushed to the limit and the stakes are raised higher and higher as all the characters gain greater skill in their journey to become superheroes. It has its ups and downs, but I consider the time spent watching it to be worth it.
Apr 23, 2019
Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen
Christopher McDougall, May 5, 2009
This book covers quite a bit of ground. It covers the Tarahumara who are exceptionally skilled at long distance running. It covers how central running is to being human. It introduces us to the world of ultra marathons, and it also discusses the disadvantages of shoes due to how they restrict our feet and increase the chances of injuries. While the writing can come across a little strong due to how it tries to tell a story instead of just present the facts, this also helps to make the read a little more enjoyable. What I took away from this is the following: run many miles to become good at running, be consistent, use shoes that does not restrict the toes and provides as flat a surface as possible.
Apr 22, 2019
Troy
May 14, 2004
It's not a great movie. It's not even a good one. But at least it had a Trojan horse. Other than that, it was a complete waste of 3 hours.
Apr 21, 2019
Kara no Kyoukai: Mirai Fukuin
Sep 28, 2013
Kara no Kyoukai was a highly influential work for me, and I am glad that I can finally view the final movie in the series. The film covers the nature of the future and how prediction may be a less magical phenomenon than may appear at first glance. Like the other movies in the series, due to the achronological nature of the series as a whole, this film manages to not only tell a compelling, thought provoking story, but also provides what can be seen as a great conclusion or continuation of the series.
Apr 20, 2019
Soldier of Orange
Sep 22, 1977
I'm not a big fan of Paul Verhoeven's Hollywood films, but this has all the makings of a classic. While Paul Verhoeven is unable to do subtlety all that well like usual, this has a story that has enough momentum to avoid stumbling over the mistakes that it might make. Camera work and scenes are shot very well. All in all, it is a solid film that displays much of what makes the Dutch people who they are today and offers a good explanation of the resistance movements in the Netherlands during Nazi occupation.
Apr 19, 2019
The Only Grammar Book You'll Ever Need: A One-Stop Source for Every Writing Assignment
Susan Thurman, May 1, 2003
It's not often that I read what is essentially a text book from cover to cover, but I wanted to improve my skills as a writer so I picked this up. Topics are covered in simple and digestible pieces. This made it easy to comprehend and made the grammar rules presented easier to remember. This book not only helps with grammar, but also covers what makes one's writing more effective.
Apr 16, 2019
The Iliad
Homer, Alexander Pope
Oh boy, I have a lot to say about this one. First, where is my Trojan Horse? I read the Alexander Pope translation which made the read a struggle in the beginning. Luckily, I have read The Rape of the Lock before, so I gradually got over the difficult English and began to appreciate the masterful usage of the English language to maintain the poetic qualities of the epic. Roman and Greek names are used interchangeably which caused much confusion as well. The actual story is bloody, and sometimes nonsensical. The gods don't always behave rationally, and sometimes they can be bested in battle by mortals. The fact that Achilles pretty much singlehandedly turned the tide of battle towards the later part of the story made for a very strangely paced work. There are many characters and not all of them are introduced. You really need to read the rest of the Epic Cycle to truly gain a proper understanding of what is going on. Overall, it is great for a poem spread through oral tradition, but as an actual story, I found it lacking by modern standards. If you want something better, I recommend Romance of the Three Kingdoms or the Mahabharata.
Apr 15, 2019
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
James Clear, Oct 16, 2018
Atomic Habits breaks down what is needed to build positive habits and remove negative ones to reach success. Everything here makes sense and is presented in a way that is easy to implement. There are many important ideas presented here. James Clear not only covers the compounding benefits of building habits on top of habits, but also presents the idea that systems are far more effective than goals. There is a lot here that I can utilize on top of the system and process I currently use.
Apr 14, 2019
Tomb Raider: Anniversary
Jun 1, 2007
Remake of the original Tomb Raider. For those who are not able to run the original Tomb Raider, this is a great alternative that fixes many of the problems in the first game. Although the level design may have suffered slightly, this holds up very well. It is easy to see where Uncharted gets its inspiration from. Tomb Raider is basically Uncharted with more of an emphasis on problem solving and less of an emphasis on story and cinematic thrills.
Apr 14, 2019
The Hangover
Jun 5, 2009
I watched this due to its cultural significance and for the memes. It isn't anything groundbreaking, but I did laugh multiple times, and found it to be an above average American comedy.
Apr 13, 2019
Dumbo
Oct 31, 1941
My journey into the world of Disney 2d Animated films begins with Dumbo. For 1941, the work is impressive, but an experienced viewer will notice that the animators were focused mainly on the animation and music. The sound design and the story were not given as much attention. Not all movements by the animated characters have a sound, and because the story was simple enough, there was not as much effort placed there. I couldn't figure out if the crows at the end were a racist caricature or not. It seems like others have mixed opinions about them as well.
Apr 13, 2019
A short 30 minute conversation conducted by Lex Fridman on the future of AI, computer vision, autonomous vehicles and the possibility of general purpose AI. Unlike other interviews, this one was more rigorous and does not simply touch on the surface level of things.
Apr 12, 2019
Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honneamise
Mar 14, 1987
A highly underrated film. This was created during a time when backgrounds and animations were carefully drawn by hand and technology did not allow as many shortcuts as they do now. While they could have gone for spectacle like many other Japanese animated films during the time, this work carefully navigates many topics such as the cold war, class warfare, and religion and frames those topics within the context of space travel. The storytelling is its strong point, but the animation and the score are able to stand up as prime examples of their medium.
Apr 11, 2019
Arabsat-6A Mission
Apr 11, 2019
3 out of 3. What Space X did not do the first time, they succeeded in doing the second time. Not only did they land all 3 boosters, but they managed to recover the fairing as well. That level of reusability is insane in a heavy lift vehicle. 20 years ago, this would have been considered near impossible.
Apr 9, 2019
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Lewis Carroll, Nov 26, 1865
This is a nonsensical story that I read to get a better understanding of references made in other books. Alice is an innocent child placed into strange situations that has her speaking with talking animals and crazy people. It's a weird book. I have trouble understanding how it reached the level of popularity it currently has.
Apr 8, 2019
Foundation
Isaac Asimov, 1951
The first entry in the Foundation trilogy covers the creation of the Foundation and the first century of its development. While I understand that this is an influential work of science fiction, I can't help but feel as if many of the concepts presented are quite dated or unrealistic. I find it strange that thousands of years in the future, we will have space faring monarchies, and that nuclear power will by the prime method of generating energy. In addition to this, I find it unrealistic that we would still be humanoids and struggle with many of the things we struggle with now. If one were to ignore all this, it does have the workings of a great political drama that takes place in space.
Apr 7, 2019
Big
Jun 3, 1988
Tom Hanks nails it. Adults want to go back to their childhood and children want to grow up. What people don't realize is that the grass is always greener on the other side and fail to understand that what they have is also valuable. Growth as a person is not merely external, but also a process that involves a change in mindset. Big seems to capture that very well.
Apr 6, 2019
500 Days of Summer
Aug 7, 2009
Before directing the Andrew Garfield Spiderman films, Marc Webb directed 500 Days of Summer. The composition of each scene is great, but the writing is not the best. There are many films that did what this film did, but just better. The acting is not lacking and its somewhat more realistic treatment of romance in modern times makes it a worthwhile watch. I would consider this to be be better than a time killer, but not a great film.
Apr 4, 2019
Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds
David Goggins, Dec 4, 2018
Every detail from beginning to end on how David Goggins became who he was. Every challenge was covered, and the big takeaways as emphasized. The strong reinforcement on the breaking down of goals and being consistent in your actions make this a highly valuable read.
Apr 1, 2019
Made in Abyss
Sep 29, 2017
I was avoiding the last episode for a decent amount of time and it did not disappoint with the brutal amount of emotional weight it dumped on me. Made in Abyss might appear accessible to children on first glance, but this is a series that is mercilessly realistic in regards to the unforgiving nature of the world. To summarize Made in Abyss in a single sentence: two children journey to the depths of hell. The story is shown as an adventure into the abyss in search of the truth. With solid world building, this series beautifully displays the hero's journey in its entirety-- good parts and bad. Watching this reminded me of many greater works I have read in the past as well as historical tragedies: Dante's Inferno, Nietzsche, human experimentation during the Holocaust, and Grimm's Fairy Tales. The deep themes combined with Kevin Penkin's sophisticated score made this a very impactful story for me. I am wary and excited for the continuation and conclusion of this adventure.
Mar 31, 2019
Juno
Dec 25, 2007
Juno was surprising in that it had an overqualified cast and a script that is great during most of the film (although sometimes it does feel like it is trying too hard at times). The delivery of dialogue is quick and deadly. Camera work is above mediocre. I'm not sure if the film was trying to be hip or come across as quirky, but this sometimes backfires when it takes away from the emotional punch that can be delivered by the situation of unexpected teen pregnancy. Despite all this, I don't think that there is any other film like it and because of the short runtime, there isn't much to lose if the film doesn't connect.
Mar 30, 2019
Half-Life
Nov 19, 1998
On its own merits, I don't see what the big deal is. Half Life 2 was a better game. What this game did have going for it was good level design. Story-wise, it was better than other games during the time, but it's nothing to write home about. While the player is given multiple weapons, they don't really add any new mechanics to the gameplay. Overall, the game is good, but I feel like it is overrated. The final boss was a pain to beat.
Mar 29, 2019
The Little Prince
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Jun 29, 2000
This book is a commentary on adulthood and childhood. Although it reads like a childrens book, its lessons are never explicitly stated. Despite the low page count, The Little Prince manages to say more than is written.
Mar 25, 2019
Chinatown
Jun 20, 1974
A classy noir film that is very similar to L.A. Confidential, L.A. Noir and The Maltese Falcon. Unlike those films, this is arguably darker and more unforgiving. I don't understand why, but 1970's films seem to have been more willing to take darker and more depressing turns compared to previous decades. This increase in realism allows for an easier suspension of disbelief and a smoother film to follow from the perspective of the viewer.
Mar 24, 2019
Catch Me If You Can
Dec 25, 2002
I don't think I have ever seen a movie like this. This movie follows the story of Frank Abagnale and his adventures posing as different people while forging millions of dollars worth of checks. Bank fraud is something that I never would have thought was interesting, but somehow, Spielberg managed to spin this into a thrilling character study. Very fun to watch.
Mar 23, 2019
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Nov 5, 2007
Back when this came out and helped to increase the popularity of multiplayer first-person shooters, I was unsure of what the big deal was. Now that I have completed it, I found that the realism and the ability to mimic the chaos of war made it an addicting and immersive experience. I can understand why it is praised by Iraq war veterans. Even though this game is more than 10 years old, it still feels ambitious and manages to hit most of the right notes. Even modern games developed today struggle to do the same.
Mar 23, 2019
How Google Works
Eric Schmidt, Jonathan Rosenberg, Sep 23, 2014
This was an interesting read due to many companies adopting the practices that Google has-- my company included. In many companies, the creative element needed to introduce interesting new products tends to be stifled, and in most they are not fostered. While it is unclear whether Google's approach is the best, what is clear is that the company takes risks and is more fluid than most companies of its size. Due to this, it manages to act as an example that helps to disprove many commonly held beliefs about how a company needs to be run to achieve success.
Mar 20, 2019
The Hero With a Thousand Faces
Joseph Cambell, Mar 1, 1972
This novel is a tough but rewarding read that dives into the relations between heroes and our lives. It covers the many stories we tell and the similarities between all of them. The text is ripe with examples compiled from many different cultures. Because the story of the hero is in many ways the story of man, I found that by reading this, I not only learned about myths and religions, but of what the goals of man as an individual are.
Mar 17, 2019
Halo 2
Nov 9, 2004
Halo 2 expands upon Halo: Combat Evolved by continuing the story, adding weapons, new enemies, dual wielding, and other combat mechanics. The game is solid, the story explores the inner politics of the covenant, and ends with a cliffhanger. While I don't approve of the cliffhanger, it makes for a great way to sell the third game. I hope that I can one day finish the fight.
Mar 17, 2019
Mean Girls
Apr 30, 2004
I am starting to view movies not just based on critical acclaim, but also keeping cultural impact in mind. Mean girls is a movie that has had great impact on modern American culture. Going into this, I was expecting it to be more family friendly, but the contents are suprisingly mature given the high school setting. In many ways, this movie is very similar to Easy A, but it focuses more on highschool cliques than on just popularity. I think Easy A is the better movie, but both are close in quality. The only major problem with Mean Girls I can think of is that it feels somewhat dated with cliques and types that have gone extinct in the 2000's.
Mar 15, 2019
Think and Grow Rich
Napoleon Hill, Apr, 2016
The first step in achieving anything is the intention of achieving that thing. Think and Grow Rich emphasizes the importance of mindset and how it leads everything and can ultimately lead to success. Although Napoleon Hill has not accomplished much himself, this book and the modern edits has some useful information. It also showed me how similar many self-help books are. I intend to take a long hiatus from books in this genre just because of diminishing returns.
Mar 12, 2019
Rich Dad Poor Dad
Robert T. Kiyosaki, Apr 1, 2000
I feel conflicted about this book. While I do agree that the American education system does not teach the right things, I feel like this book does not either. Advice can be vague and sometimes even counterproductive. An example of this is Robert Kiyosaki's praising of multi-level marketing. In many ways, it reads very similarly to The Art of the Deal, and does not provide enough concrete action items to work from. I agree that financial education should be more important. I agree that you shouldn't work for your money and that your money should work for you. However, the contents of this book felt more like a sales pitch for a class than something that people can use.
Mar 10, 2019
American Graffiti
Aug 11, 1973
This film is many things. It is a series of interconnected coming of age stories. It is a bunch of adventures simultaneously occurring at the same time. It is a stylized representation of an era. Watching this reminded me that George Lucas used to be a good director, and the writing had stylistic elements and quirks that viewers might recognize in A New Hope.
Mar 8, 2019
Contains interviews with entreprenuers such as Elon Musk and Richard Branson. Covers topics such as how they started, how to manage and grow a business, as well as the skillset needed. CEO's come from a variety of industries such as energy, fashion, as well as non-profits.
Mar 5, 2019
Final Fantasy VI
Apr 2, 1994
I think the last time I found myself with a deep sense of saudade with a video game was after finishing the Mass Effect series about three years ago. That was exactly how I felt when I saw the credits roll the end of FFVI. From beginning to end, the game had something to offer in the form of a great story, and memorable characters. Because of this, I was sad to see it end. The game had great pacing, kept the grinding to a minimum, and was filled with worlds of exploration. It was ambitious, not only in its story, but in its refusal to center itself on a main character. Each character was given care and attention which made the payoff at the end all the more worth the hours poured in by the player. The creators knew exactly what they were doing when they named you the player as one of the characters in this SNES epic.
Mar 3, 2019
This took about 4-5 months to complete and after finishing it, there are areas that I find to be shaky. This isn't all that surprising considering that the math involved is difficult to conceptually understand. That said, I find it fascinating that the primary building blocks of linear algebra are the skills that we build in Algebra 1. By completing this, I improved my understanding of matrices, vectors, and alternate coordinate bases. I also gained a better understanding of what my weak areas are. I think the next step to take, in my case, is to improve my ability to complete and understand proofs.
Mar 2, 2019
Crew Demo-1 Mission
Mar 2, 2019
I unfortunately could not watch this live due to the time difference. I recommend watching the post launch press conference as well. Now that Crew Dragon has been successfully launched, the next step will be to ensure that it can correctly dock and to test with real passengers. I can't wait to see how ULA responds. Between the crewed demos, the upcoming Starhopper tests, and Falcon Heavy launches, I'm not sure what I'm most looking forward to.
Mar 1, 2019
Joe Rogan Experience #1245 - Andrew Yang
Feb 12, 2019
A conversation with Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang. It covers universal basic income in detail as well as what it can look like when UBI is implemented. Given the rate of technological improvement and automation, the economy and government policy is not evolving quickly enough to compensate. Seeing how this is already a problem, it is interesting to see someone try to attack the problem. While I am not sure how far he will go, I'm looking forward to seeing Andrew Yang in the Democratic presidential primary debates.
Mar 1, 2019
How to Win Friends and Influence People
Dale Carnegie, Oct 1, 1998 (first published October 1936)
A book that teaches how to win favor and positive opinions from others. Many of the items here are common sense, but there are rules here that I think anyone can find useful. That said, the contents of this book may not apply well to countries other than the U.S., so tread with caution when applying the teachings in this book. Another thing to note is that it is not always advantageous to expend energy to appear favorable to everyone. It is just as important to choose who you want to be friends with and who you want to influence. Failure to do so can result in coming across as fake and possibly superficial.
Feb 24, 2019
Dallas Buyers Club
Nov 22, 2013
This film did not have the greatest start, but picked up in quality as we started getting into the meat of the story. Dallas Buyers Club takes place in Texas during the AIDS epidemic in the U.S. and follows the story of Ron Woodroof who worked to get medication to help AIDS patients when treatments were still in development in the U.S.. While it may not be historically accurate, it manages to capture the tragic nature of living with AIDS with the great acting. Jared Leto and Matthew McConaughey's performances were what carried this movie.
Feb 23, 2019
Violet Evergarden
Apr 5, 2018
Violet Evergarden is a series focused on the intentions infused into letters. The creators handle this subject matter with an appropriate amount of sensitivity through the fluidity and detail in the animation. Episodes cover the topic in a simple manner by focusing on the writer, the recipients, the process of writing, delivery, and how the letters are affected by the times in which they are written. In addition to this, the usage of letters as a motif that is used as an engine for character development is nothing short of masterful. In this day and age where physical letters are becoming more rare, this show manages to remind us of how humans can connect with one another.
Feb 20, 2019
Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything
Joshua Foer, Mar 3, 2011
This book introduces readers to the world of competitive memorization and some of the techniques one can use to remember things better. It covers in decent depth what memory is and what role it plays in our lives as well as the history of mnemonic technique. In addition to this, it also covers Joshua Foer's journey into the world of competitive memorization. While the book may read like a long article in a newspaper or magazine, it has useful information. Unfortunately, it is not an instructional guide to memorization and should not be treated as such. If you want to improve your mnemonic techniques, I recommend reading this book to introduce yourself to the world of memorization and then researching and practicing techniques on your own. Create a memory palace, and get into the habit of chunking. This book is like the packaging for a product, but not the product itself.
Feb 18, 2019
Aliens
Jul 18, 1986
Aliens feels like what you would get if you crossed the original Alien with Die Hard and then scaled everything up. Although Aliens is more of an action film than sci-fi horror, James Cameron manages to keep much of what made the previous film great by only turning up the action in the second half of the film. For the first half, we don't see a single alien, and this allows for the maintaining of suspense as well as foreshadowing. While I prefer the original Alien because I prefer Ridley Scott's sensibilities, Aliens not only manages to match Alien in certain areas, but also manages to improve over Alien through its own unique qualities.
Feb 17, 2019
The Thing
Jun 25, 1982
There are not many films that take place in Antarctica, and there are even fewer that can take advantage of the setting in the way The Thing did. The Thing touches on themes of isolation, distrust, and combines them with a simple but solid premise. The special effects were impressive, and it is easy to see why this film influenced many horror directors as well as many Japanese directors such as Hideo Kojima and Takashi Miike. While it may not be particularly ground breaking, this is a good film that is wonderfully constructed.
Feb 14, 2019
Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup
John Carreyrou, May 21, 2018
This was a book that went by very quickly. It read very similarly to Glenn Greenwald's No Place to Hide in terms of the general pacing and momentum the subject matter brings. After reading The Lean Startup, I found myself questioning how in the world Theranos could survive for as long as it did. I suppose that proves how important the pitch and connections are. That said, it seemed like they did everything wrong except for PR and marketing. The executives did not listen to the engineers that worked on the testing machines, Elizabeth Holmes and Sunny Balwani lied to investors and customers, the culture was toxic, and the concept of an mvp was completely foreign. All I can say after reading this book is that an idea with potential and the passion of many individuals went completely to waste.
Feb 11, 2019
Eric Ries is one of the founders of IMVU, and offers his approach to startups and entrepreneurship. While many of his ideas are sound, if you have worked in development, you may not gain as much as others by reading this book. That said, his views on using the proper metrics, innovation, and the emphasis on the minimum viable product are lessons that are very useful in both new companies and established companies. Depending on your prior knowledge of agile, mvp's, innovation teams, process optimization and improvement, and startups in general, you may gain more from Peter Thiel's book than from Eric Ries'.
Feb 11, 2019
Shingeki no Kyojin Season 3
Oct 15, 2018
The series continues with quality that is consistent with previous seasons and arguably hits notes that have not been hit before in previous seasons. The focus this time around is not on what lies outside of the walls, but rather what lies within. The third season plays more like a political thriller and as a result is able to provide exposition about the kingdom with nuance instead of through more heavy handed methods. A pattern a keen viewer might notice is that the director is gradually cycling through the six types of conflict in literature. In previous seasons, man vs. nature and man vs. man was covered thoroughly. This season focuses on man vs. society and man vs. self. If the previews of season 3 part 2 are anything to go by, we will soon seen man vs. technology and perhaps man vs. the supernatural make an appearance. I am looking forward to the next part and am curious to see how the work is concluded.
Feb 10, 2019
Psycho
Sep 8, 1960
For anyone who has seen episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, you will be familiar with his playfulness with the plot to create suspense. I enjoyed Psycho more than I enjoyed Vertigo, and I wonder if it is the better film. Everyone played their roles perfectly, and Anthony Perkins was the main attraction. The way this movie is structured is not only smart, but contrarian and subversive. There are not many films that kill off the main character half way through the film. I imagine audiences during the time were caught off guard, expecting what is perhaps a crime drama, only to find that it was something closer to a psychological thriller. It is comes to no surprise that this influenced many directors in the succeeding generation.
Feb 9, 2019
Superpower for Hire: Rise of the Private Military
Jul 24, 2014
I remember the usage of proxy wars by PMC's within Metal Gear Solid 4 as a strong plot device, and wondered why the U.S. military was not as privatized when contractors were used to deliver products and services to be used by the military. Not surprisingly, there were more contractors in Afghanistan starting in 2007 than there were U.S. forces. Yet, for some reason, this information is covered in detail in the news or by the U.S. government. This video on the evolution of PMC's shows how they have played a larger and larger role in conflicts on the global scale. I not would be surprised if PMC's disrupt government militaries in the future by not only performing better, but working more efficiently without a large bureaucracy. While the concept may be troubling, I think it's only a matter of time for PMC's to do to the military what Space X has begun to do to NASA and ROSCOSMOS.
Feb 6, 2019
Thinking, Fast and Slow
Daniel Kahneman, Oct 25, 2011
This is a hard, time consuming read that is dense with ideas. The book introduces us to System 1 and System 2 which are the two systems that govern how how thinking and brain power is allocated. These two systems are used as the basis of explaining many of the insufficiencies of the human mind. Topics such as the limitations of intuition, inability to maximize utility, and the superseding of rational thought by emotional reactions are covered. While the book may read like a textbook, it is very thought provoking. The implications extend to all aspects of our society and may explain why certain policies are favored in government, why one interview candidate was chosen over the other, even if the other choice is objectively better than what was ultimately chosen. Daniel Kahneman also gave a talk at Google that you can view here.
Feb 1, 2019
To Kill a Mockingbird
Mar 16, 1963
Given the time this film was made, the director definitely had the choice of using color, but chose to use black and white. I feel that this was the correct decision. After reading the book, I watched the film. While the film cuts out characters and many details in the source materials, I felt that it managed to faithfully capture the spirit of the book. Gregory Peck's portrayal of Atticus Finch was perfect.
Jan 27, 2019
空中ブランコ
Dec 24, 2009
A series of interconnected stories about different people stuggling with different psychological disorders and mental illnesses with the only constant being Dr. Irabu the psychiatrist. The show uses a combination of different animation techniques such as rotoscoping and live action to better show many of the abstract thoughts the creators wished to convey and to better educate about the disorders including the outlining of any artistic licenses that have been taken. The experimental approach to the topics covered is growing more rare in the animation industry in Japan, but the care given to the work reinforces the case for greater risks to be taken in animation. Because many of the cases are specific to Japan, the show also manages to touch upon the collective unconcious of the country. I think Carl Jung would be proud.
Jan 27, 2019
A Dark Room
2013
A text based browser game that tells a story through the environment that it builds rather than through expositions. Through its simplicity, it is able to keep the player's attention by incrementally building off of the mechanics that it gradually introduces. This can be said to be one of the precursors to the increase in html5 based browser games we see today. I think it would be interesting to create a browser game myself in the future.
Jan 25, 2019
AlphaStar: The inside story
Jan 24, 2019
Also watched the game which can be found here. I felt like I had deja vu watching this, because, like the Lee Sedol vs Alphago games, I did not have a full understanding of the rules of the games. That said, it was exciting to watch just like the alphago games. This time, Deepmind set their sights on Starcraft II. What I found interesting about the AI was that it did not have as high of an APM as the pro players. It seemed to deliberately choose its actions. This most likely indicates that the pro players have many redundant actions. My guess is that the AI noticed patterns within the game that humans have overlooked. I recommend reading Deepmind's blog post about the event here. It would be nice to see Deepmind's AI go head to head with OpenAI :)
Jan 24, 2019
To Kill a Mockingbird
Harper Lee, Jul 11, 1960
It's a sin to kill a mockingbird. I have never read this novel before, and after reading it, I can understand why it is part of many high school curriculums. While, many focus on its coverage of the treatment of African Americans during the depression era, the novel is a coming of age story at its heart that shows how nonsensical the world can be through a child's eyes. I found many of the characters to be convincing and well thought out. This was particularly the case with Atticus Finch who is shown to be a rare example of a principled man in a town with racist tendencies. I intend to watch the film in the near future.
Jan 21, 2019
Cells at Work
Sep 30, 2018
A highly educational series about the workings of the body that is very much in the vein of works such as Fantastic Voyage and Osmosis Jones. The details are highly accurate, making the series a useful tool for learning about microbiology and immunology. The series covers topics such as allergic reactions, food poisoning, and other inner body events that require an immune response. In terms of narrative, it is not the strongest, but within its genre, it is probably one of the best and makes what is usually a dry topic very interesting. I recommend supplementing your viewing with Dr. Hope's Sick Notes commentary of the individual episodes.
Jan 21, 2019
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Nov 25, 2009
I remember reading the book as a child, so seeing the movie was a joy for me. The film adds to the source material with clever writing, great stop motion animation, and many of the quirks Wes Anderson is famous for. The voice acting by George Clooney and Meryl Streep suited the characters very well and added traits to the characters that was not described in the book. Because of the sophisticated writing, I feel that adults will enjoy this more than children. Overall, it is a great film that surprisingly manages to fit in a lot of story within its short running time.
Jan 20, 2019
Headhunters
Aug 26, 2011
During Freshman orientation at U of M, this film and Moonrise Kingdom were playing. I chose to watch Moonrise Kingdom and always wanted to view this film afterwards, but never got the chance until now. Headhunters is a skillfully crafted thriller that effortlessly plays with suspense. The story covers an art thief who is on the run from the owner of one of the art pieces he stole: an above average cat and mouse thriller. While it never touches on any heavy themes, its pace makes it so that it never bores.
Jan 19, 2019
すこぶる感心できる【林先生熱血教室】～ニート偏～
Jan 6, 2019
This is the first time I've viewed any of Osamu Hayashi's work. Japan has a constant focus on work, and the debt one owes society. However, in many cases, this can remove meaning from one's existence within society. Here, Hayashi Sensei discusses with many Neets who have performed well academically what it means to have a job, and why it is unreasonable to always expect for society to conform to your wishes. He also explores the topics within the context of his own life experiences and clearly outlines the differences between what one wants to do in life and what what can do in life. The conversation is nuanced and touches upon many different subjects and offers meaning to aspects of life that are usually never explored in depth in Japanese society. If you understand Japanese, I recommend taking 30 min out of your day to view this video.
Jan 16, 2019
Siddhartha
Hermann Hesse, Dec 1, 1981
Siddhartha is written in a lyrical style and reads very similarly to Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist. One of the main themes of the novel is that wisdom cannot be taught, but that it must be gained through experience. The usage of Siddhartha as a foil to Gautama's philosophy offers nuance that can provide greater insight into what Samsara and Nirvana is. While it may come across as simplistic, I felt that the simple writing style allowed for better introspection.
Jan 12, 2019
Jaws
Jun 20, 1975
Great film and very well written. It's rated PG, but I have no idea why. Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw stole the show. Each of the characters were carefully considered and have unique qualities that make them memorable. Compared to many of the monster movies of today, this film was well thought out and carefully planned. We can see the deliberate style of Spielberg beginning to take shape here.
Jan 10, 2019
Man's Search for Meaning
Viktor E. Frankl, Jun 1, 2006
The book is split into two parts. The first covers Viktor Frankl's time in the German concentration camps and the second covers logotherapy. The usage of Viktor Frankl's experience during the Holocaust to explain the significance of meaning was very powerful. I found logotherapy to be a more rational approach to psychotherapy and finding meaning to life than other approaches, but it does seem dated. A more modern approach might utilize statistics and mathematics to clearly outline patterns in human behavior. Overall, the way this work outlined purpose, the will to live, and the various perspectives by which to view suffering made it a useful read.
Jan 8, 2019
Inside the Superhuman World of the Iceman
Jul 16, 2015
An introduction to Wim Hof and the power of his breathing technique. I also recommend watching his talks with Joe Rogan and his recent appearance on Impact Theory. Using hypoxia to improve mental and bodily tolerances is something that I have never tried before, and the amount of added control it provides to the body makes it seem like a very valuable skill that is very similar to that which is exhibited by Shaolin monks. Wim Hof's insistence on taking rigorous metrics and scientifically analyzing everything has expelled any doubts that his technique can allow for the human body to overcome various limits. It's a good thing that it's Winter right now, because it's the perfect time to test myself against the cold.
Jan 6, 2019
Crime and Punishment
Fyodor Dostoyevsky, 1866
This was not an easy book to read due to my ignorance about Russian culture and history. That said, the plight of Raskolnikov was not only relatable, but it can be observed in one form or another in the lives of people today. Because of this, the philosophical underpinnings were not lost in translation or lost to time. The organization of the book may seem strange to some, because it switches its focus to its side characters frequently. While this may be interpretted as a flaw in the novel, the treatment of the Marmeladovs and Svidrigailov gives us a more complete study of human behavior that may not be exhibited by Raskolnikov. Dostoyevsky added an epilogue at the end. This, in my opinion, weakened the ending, and I recommend thoroughly skipping it.
Jan 3, 2019
Joe Rogan Experience #1211 - Dr. Ben Goertzel
Dec 4, 2018
A conversation with Ben Goertzel the founder of SingularityNET. Unlike other AI researchers, Ben does not seem quite as dismissive of ideas that have originated in science fiction and Hollywood movies. As a result, the conversation reaches areas that may not be covered by other individuals who work in the field. One interesting thing that Ben noted during the conversation is that the apocalypse scenario with AI seems to originate in western culture and does not seem to be recognized as much of a problem in East Asia. This is a good podcast to go back to once in a while.
Dec 30, 2018
Empire of the Sun
Dec 25, 1987
This is not Steven Spielberg's best film. Although it may be lacking in terms of story and plot, the technical achievements and scale of the the set pieces are impressive. The accuracy with which locations in China are presented is one of its strengths. That said, the writing felt mediocre, and Christian Bale's acting could not save it. I personally did not enjoy this film or find it impressive at a critical level, but I think this may be depend on the person watching it.
Dec 28, 2018
The Exorcist
Dec 26, 1973
Horror movies usually don't affect me, but I found the imagery in this film to be more effective than other entries in the genre. Since this was directed by William Friedkin, great camera work is to be expected. I can see why this film had staying power more than 40 years after it was released.
Dec 25, 2018
Papo & Yo
Aug 14, 2012
It's not the best game, but its usage of puzzles to tell a story made it entertaining. The environments were beautiful and captured some of tlhe visual energy of favelas in Brazil. A good showcase for Unreal Engine 3.
Dec 25, 2018
Reviewed Matrices on the Khan Academy website to better improve my ability to comprehend the linear algebra lessons on Khan Academy. Videos on determinants were particularly useful. I recommend completing this on the Khan Academy website rather than on youtube so that you can also practice with the online quizzes and tests.
Dec 24, 2018
Upgrade
Jun 1, 2018
A fun film that offers a glimpse into the future where automation, robotics, and neural interfaces are beginning to become more ubiquitous. While the movie is not great, it is good. The story is thought provoking, the choreography was well organized, and it is entertaining from beginning to end. If you have an hour and a half to spend, this film is a good way to spend it.
Dec 24, 2018
Living with a SEAL: 31 Days Training with the Toughest Man on the Planet
Jesse Itzler, Nov 3, 2015
This book went by quickly not only because it was short, but also because it was well written. It provides in concrete terms the types of workouts David Goggins undergoes as well as an intro into the type of person Jesse Itzler is. The book offers a clear representation of the numbers that need to be reached and the attitude with which to approach tough problems to reach the level David Goggins operates at. I intend to incrementally work my way up to some of the numbers in this book and hopefully surpass them in the future.
Dec 23, 2018
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Dec 14, 2018
I was in absolute awe of the animation style the entire duration of the film. The boundaries between 2d and 3d are seamlessly intertwined. The hip hop soundtrack was much appreciated. As someone who read many of the Spiderverse comics, I found this to be thoroughly enjoyable, and to have a great story. Even if you aren't a fan of the source material, I feel that there is a lesson for everyone to take away from this movie. Although this is missing characters like Silk, Anya, and Jessica Drew, I think their exclusion worked to the benefit of the film by preventing things from getting too complicated. If the end credits is anything to go by, we'll have a sequel and I am looking forward to it.
Dec 22, 2018
Essex County
Jan 14, 2009
A trilogy of three interconnected stories that take place in Essex County in Ontario, Canada. The stories are simple, somewhat surreal, and take place in different times. Each deals with characters of different ages, and covers a large breadth of themes. Although it doesn't tell a singular story, the comic makes up for this with compelling characters.
Dec 20, 2018
Benjamin Franklin: An American Life
Walter Isaacson, Jun 2004
My first Walter Isaacson biography. It covers Benjamin Franklin's life from beginning to end. I found that I learned quite a bit about colonial and post independence America that I did not learn in grade school. In school, our knowledge tends to be very America specific, so global events, France's involvement and Canada are covered in very little detail if any. I also found the tips and tricks that Benjamin Franklin developped in regards to work to be very useful. Overall, I learned that Franklin's achievements extend past his actions during America's Revolutionary war. Not only was he a politician, but he was a scientist, a printer, and a well rounded person who influenced many things we take for granted today.
Dec 19, 2018
Watched the livestream on Dec 18 as well. You can find it here. The test tunnel is very proof of concept. The electric skates in the simulation are gone and replaced with a set of wheels that are attached to a Tesla. The tunnel itself was disappointing, but the highlight of the show is the many-fold gains made in tunneling and boring technology. I'm hoping that the actual tunnels are a far more refined and practical.
Dec 18, 2018
Virgin Galactic In Space For The First Time
Dec 17, 2018
It seems like there are a lot of things happening even as we are finishing up the year. VSS Unity went past what the United States Air Force defines as the Kármán line. With this success, I am hoping the we can get more sophisticated aeronautics in the mainstream. I am hoping that we'll not only be using this for tourism, but also for high speed air travel in the future in a way that is similar to Space X's BFR Earth to Earth plan. I was hoping for a live stream, but this video had some great footage.
Dec 17, 2018
My Life as a Zucchini
Feb 24, 2016
A somewhat sad film that brought back a few bad memories while I was watching it. That said, it is short and simple. It does not dwell on topics, but it also does not shy away from the troubles faced by many of the children in the foster home. The stop motion animation is clean and vibrant. I recommend it not only for children, but for adults as well. There is something here for everyone. If you don't have a lot of time, this is a great short movie to watch.
Dec 16, 2018
Hotarubi no Mori e
Sep 17, 2011
A slow moving and short piece that presents a simple tale of a relationship between a girl and a forest spirit. Rated highly for its emotional punch and character development. Because it does not try to be more than what it is, it does not have any large mistakes to take away from its impact.
Dec 14, 2018
Daytripper
Nov 1, 2010
It seems like many of the works I've been consuming lately deals with life and death. Daytripper is a work that has a unique device where the main character dies at the end of each issue during different points in his life. Daytripper not only discusses the important life changing moments that can result in the rebirth of one's identity, but also the fact that everyone will die. In many cases, it treads similar ground as Siddhartha Gautama, but it offers a more personal and modern touch that may make it easier to relate to.
Dec 9, 2018
The Seventh Seal
Oct 13, 1958
I think this is the first Swedish film I have ever seen. Although this film is not fast paced, it does not drag on and moves from scene to scene with purpose. Themes of Death and God are tackled in this film and are handled very well. Even though it is in black and white, images have staying power and are carefully thought out. In many ways, it makes me feel like it is an older version of Death Parade and may actually be one of the sources of inspiration that Death Parade drew from.
Dec 8, 2018
This video from VICE begins with a demonstration of what a malicious attacker is capable of when they take advantage of vulnerabilities in a self driving car. We live in a time where cybersecurity is growing in importance. Israel and it's military and private institutions are growing and attaining global dominance in these areas. Usually, we think of the U.S., Russia, China, and the U.K.'s GCHQ as the giants in the security arena. Now, it must be acknowledged that Israel is a powerful force in intelligence and cyber warfare. Recently, we've seen glimpses of Israel's power in Snowden's files, and Harvey Weinsteins' hiring of Black Cube. With the growth of private companies in Israel, I expect the frequency of Israeli firms in the news to only increase.
Dec 6, 2018
Joe Rogan Experience #1212 - David Goggins
Dec 5, 2018
David Goggins' second appearance on the podcast. Here, we see him touch on details that he doesn't usually touch on in his other interviews. Joe Rogan is a great interviewer, and brings out new tidbits from David Goggins. Goggins usually says that he has a sense of humor, and we got to see it in this episode. Can't wait to read his book.
Dec 4, 2018
A soft introduction into deep learning in the context of self driving cars. This is a class that is led by Lex Fridman. I found this to be highly interesting. It includes talks by people in the industry and not only covers the technical aspects of the field, but also how policy and business is changing to accomodate the changes. Also includes a very simple example that helped me better understand how gradient descent and backpropogation works. You can find it here. The class also includes some very cool projects to introduce students to concepts. I have completed the DeepTraffic project and if I have time in the future, I'd like to take a look at DeepTesla.
Dec 2, 2018
Office Space
Feb 19, 1999
A film that I was told should be required viewing for any office worker. It wasn't as funny as I expected it to be, but I enjoyed it all the same. I found that it did not connect as well because it takes place in the late 90's. That could just be the effect of a generational gap. That said, I think most people who have worked white collar jobs will find something in here that they will like. I'm honestly quite surprised that the critical response is not higher.
Dec 1, 2018
The Rape of Nanking
Iris Chang, Nov 1 1998
A book that covers the Nanking Massacre in great detail. The novel is split into three parts that details the event from the perspective of the Chinese, the Japanese, and foreigners that were in Nanking during the time. The contents of this book were heavy, and the descriptions of many of the war crimes that occured were difficult to stomach. Iris Chang wrote a compelling book, and it is unfortunate that she committed suicide. This book is not easy reading, but I feel that it is something that should be read so that we never forget what occurred.
Nov 25, 2018
The Tao and Its Characteristics
James Legge, Mar 1 2018
Available on Gutenberg. This is a translation of the Lao Tzu's work. The Tao or the Dao is often contradictory and this is to be expected because of the inherent nature of yin and yang in the Taiji. In many cases, the teachings seem like common sense, but in some, the messages can seem cryptic or often unintuitive. For those who are unfamiliar with eastern philosophy, this can be difficult to conceptually grasp. One thing that I found interesting was that I could see some of concepts that would later show up in Confucianism. Concepts such as humility which are very common in east Asian cultures can be found here.
Nov 24, 2018
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Dec 14, 1977
A great alien film. Although it does seem dated at times, the story keeps everything moving at a decent pace. I found it interesting how the main theme that is used to communicate with the aliens was integrated into the soundtrack. Overall a very solid film with a ton of replay value.
Nov 23, 2018
12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos
Jordan B. Peterson, Jan 23 2018
12 rules for making more sense of the world. This was intended to be a more accessible version of Maps of Meaning, but I found that this read less like a helpful guide and more like a series of essays. References to the Bible were thorough and used to explain points, but I found them to detract from the lessons being covered. The book is well written, but overly long. My impression of the book is mixed. I recommend listening to Jordan B. Peterson's lectures instead.
Nov 22, 2018
ケルベロス 地獄の番犬
Mar 23, 1991
A film that may not appeal to everyone. It's a slow moving, but stylistic and beautiful film. Shots are well constructed and thoughtfully paced. It's scarce on plot, but high on artistry. I believe it is better to think of this as a film that's in the same vein as Koyannisqatsi rather than as a drama with a narrative.
Nov 17, 2018
Snipes Battle of the Year 2018
Nov 17, 2018
Snipes Battle of the Year has been getting greater and greater attention over the years. This year, the heavy hitters were Jinjo Crew, Foundnation, and the Vagabonds crew. Because Jinjo had Wing and Hong10, they pretty much demolished the competition all the way to the finals.
Nov 15, 2018
Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win
Jocko Willink, Leif Babin, Oct 29 2015
A book about improving leadership. It covers concepts such as responsibility, leading up the hierarchy, and decentralized command. The book's chapters are split into three parts. The first part describes a combat situation experienced by one of the book's authors that demonstrates a concept. The concept is then explained in clear terms. Finally, the concept's application to the business world is clearly shown. The teachings in this work provide simple advice with clarity.
Nov 11, 2018
Death Parade
Mar 28, 2015
A work of art that I believe should deserve more attention. There are not many works that cover topics such as heaven and hell as well as life and death. The emphasis on the void and reincarnation diverges from the traditional themes of good and evil that can be found in monotheistic religion. As a result, a more nuanced interpretation of the topics is provided in the show. This is a show that I believe can appeal to a critic's sensibility as well as to the mainstream. Every detail seems purposeful and well thought out. In my opinion, this is the best anime I've seen so far this year.
Nov 3, 2018
How AI can save our humanity | Kai-Fu Lee
Aug 27, 2018
Provides some of the same information about AI you might see in other videos, but this provides a more nuanced blueprint in regards to how jobs may change over time. It also offers some insight into the Chinese tech industry and how technology augments life in China differently from the U.S.
Oct 28, 2018
The Battle of Algiers
Sept 20, 1967
An important film that shows both sides of the war. It is also a great representation of how a guerilla resistance can be maintained and organized.
Oct 25, 2018
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
Stephen King, Jul 2002
A combination of autobiography and advice for writers. Stephen King splits up the craft into easily digestible sections. The only thing I disagreed with was his outlook on plot. As someone who loves film, it was disappointing to see such a limited perspective on plot construction.
Oct 21, 2018
The French Connection
Oct 9, 1971
A gritty and cynical police drama that is not afraid to displease the viewer. The camera is always moving and provides a kinetic energy that is rare for films that were made during its time.
Oct 15, 2018
Joe Rogan Experience #1080 - David Goggins
Feb 19, 2018
A deep conversation about David Goggins and his life philosophy. I found this to be highly influential. His viewpoints on suffering have been very useful for me and are currently helping me increase my pain tolerance tremendously.
Oct 7, 2018
Ping Pong the Animation
Jun 20, 2014
A show with great animation and art style. The ambitions of many of the competitors were tastefully covered and effectively carried emotions and tones in unconventional ways. A highly recommended series that gets easily overlooked because of artistic choices that don't conform to mainstream tastes.
Sep 29, 2018
Red Bull BC One World Final 2018
Sep 29, 2018
After 14 years, Red Bull BC One returns to Switzerland. I found this world final to be easier to digest compared to last year's world final. Although the judging seemed questionable, it was still an enjoyable experience. Lil Zoo is a skilled bboy with tenure. The inclusion of the bgirl world final was also appreciated.
Sept 28, 2018
A Mind for Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science (Even If You Flunked Algebra)
Barbara Oakley, Jul 1 2014
A comprehensive guide on what to how to succeed at mathematics. Covers topics such as different modes of thinking, optimal ways of studying and creativity in the field.
Sept 28, 2018
Walden
Henry David Thoreau, 1854
Reading this was a chore. I read Walden due to references made to it in Shane Carruth's Upstream Color. I found that it was redundant and many times contradictory. That said, it was impressive how many different ways Henry David Thoreau was able to state his appreciation of nature and the outdoors.
Sept 24, 2018
Boku no Hero Academia 2nd Season
Sep 30, 2017
The first season was what got me started with my current routine of waking up at 4:30 and going to the gym. So, I have a bit of attachment to this series. The second season is just as good in my opinion. Because it is a shounen anime, the concept of incremental progress is baked right into the themes driving the show. This Japanese take on the superhero genre is unique and it has heart.
Sept 24, 2018
Metal Gear Solid
Sep 3, 1998
I played through the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection in Japanese, Ground Zeros on PS4 and The Phantom Pain on ps3. Because of that, I thought it would be strange for me to play this last. Despite this, I found MGS to be one of the best in the series and thoroughly enjoyable despite its age. The care given to Sniper Wolf made her one of my most favorite characters in the series. Although I played the integral version, I think the game should play well on any console because of the simple controls. This is a cinematic game that I think anyone will be able to enjoy.
Sep 22, 2018
The Iron Giant
Aug 6, 1999
An entertaining animation that takes place during the cold war. I watched this so that I could get more of the references in Ready Player One. It's not anything ground breaking, but it was a good time. Usage of CGI was a nice touch.
Sep 22, 2018
Pop Team Epic
Mar 25, 2018
A great time waster where the animators and the voice actors basically just had fun with the whole concept. Episodes are about 12 minutes each, making it a nice way to fill time. People just took their ideas and ran with it. It's difficult to explain, but I think most people will either enjoy it or be weirded out.
Sep 16, 2018
Mob Psycho 100
Sep 27, 2016
Similar to Saiki Kusuo and One Punch Man. Since it was made by the same person as One Punch Man, you will find many similarities. There are comedic moments as well as highly elaborate action scenes that can take on any scale due to the combination of fluid animation and simplistic details in backgrounds.
Sep 15, 2018
Multivariable Calculus for Khan Academy. Covers topics such as partial derivatives, gradients, curl, divergence, triple integrals, line integrals, etc. Not all of the content has been committed to long term memory, but important concepts like a partial and a gradient have stuck. One thing I underestimated was how much of a time suck this would be. Each video is about 10-15 minutes. After this, I'll probably move onto linear algebra, or physics.
Sep 2, 2018
The Last Emperor
Apr 15, 1988
An epic film by Bernando Bertolucci. It not only covers the life of the last emperor of China, but it also covers a period of great change in China where China transitioned from imperial rule to a communist government. The soundtrack by Ryuichi Sakamoto was very memorable.
Aug 30, 2018
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life
Mark Manson, Sep 13 2016
A well written book about what to prioritize and what to not worry about in life. A work for life in a world of social networks and high stress situations.
Aug 26, 2018
Fables: Legends in Exile
May 16, 2012
A graphic novel that takes place in a world where fairy tale characters have to live in the modern world. Takes place in the same world as The Wolf Among Us.
Aug 26, 2018
In the Mood for Love
Mar 9, 2001
One of the best modern Chinese language films. The color composition makes every shot look deliberate. I enjoyed Chungking Express and 2046. This Kar-Wai Wong work is no exception.
Aug 21, 2018
Bullshit Jobs: A Theory
David Graeber, May 15 2018
A book about jobs, their productivity, purpose, and general meaning. It makes a decent case for automation while also considering how our labor market became the way it is.
Aug 20, 2018
All Star Superman
Feb 1, 2009
A comic that captures the essence of what it means to be Superman. Said to be one of the best comics about Superman.
Aug 19, 2018
Dirty Harry
Dec 23, 1971
One of the films that Clint Eastwood is most famous for. A classic that emphasizes violence during a time when violent movies were just starting to become more mainstream.
Aug 18, 2018
The Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes
Sept 1, 1991
An introduction to one of the most original comic book characters. It also offers a decent introduction to Neil Gaiman and his form of story telling. Sandman is unique, and surreal. There truly is not much like it.
Aug 15, 2018
Scalable and accurate simulation of light within a virtual environment. If the technology continues at the same pace, we'll hopefully have photorealistic computer graphics in films within 5 years and the same for video games within 10-15 years. This will allow for the immersive nature of VR and AR to increase tremendously. Now, all we need are sophisticated haptic feedback systems or neural links to allow for better interaction with the virtual environments. That said, I would have liked to have seen some info about graphics cards for consumers.
Aug 15, 2018
Blankets
Jul 1, 2003
Another coming of age tale. It seems like this is a common theme in graphic novels given the general audience that reads this form of media. Blankets focuses on the conflict between social identity, sexuality, and religious beliefs. Winner of the 2004 Eisner Award for best Writer/Artist.
Aug 13, 2018
Batwoman: Elegy
Mar 2010
One of the better Batwoman stories after the character got a revamp. A good introduction to what is one of my favorite female characters in the DC universe.
Aug 12, 2018
Details the story of the astronauts that were trapped on the ISS after space shuttle Columbia disaster. Not quite as thrilling as I thought it would be going into it, but it does thoroughly cover what is required to be an astronaut and how the ISS works.
Aug 12, 2018
Ghost World
Mar 1, 1998
A coming of age tale. I don't have much to say about this one, because I didn't find the characters all that likeable. Apparently, it was made into a film in 2001.
Aug 11, 2018
Final Fantasy VII
Jan 31, 1997
Played this in English. Many people view this title with nostalgia. Although this is a solid turn based rpg, I didn't feel that it aged well. Compared to other 3d titles, the visuals were not the best and took away from the depth offered by the combat system and detailed story. I can see why this is being remade. After finishing this, I recommend watching Advent Children. Althoough the story may be convoluted, the characters make up for it with their uniqueness and originality.
Aug 11, 2018
Punisher MAX: Vol 1
Jan 1, 2005
Covers the beginning of Frank Castle's tenure as The Punisher. Gives the reader a primer on The Punisher and his philosophy.
Aug 7, 2018
Disrupted: My Misadventure in the Start-Up Bubble
Dan Lyons, Apr 5 2016
A humorous book about Dan Lyons' experience at a start up after he left Newsweek. It covers the advantages and flaws of start ups and start up culture. Although it does show a biased perspective, it is entertaining nonetheless.
Aug 6, 2018
Marvels
Apr 1, 1994
A comic with artwork from Alex Ross that covers the rise of mutants and superheroes in the Marvel universe told from the perspective of a journalist.
Aug 5, 2018
Coraline
Feb 6, 2009
A charming animation that emphasizes the importance of family. The movie was great and the voice acting was well done. Adults will probably enjoy it more than children.
Aug 4, 2018
I Killed Adolf Hitler
Jun 2007
A comic about a hitman that tries to go back in time to kill Adolf Hitler. Winner of the 2008 Eisner Award for Best U.S. Edition of International Material.
Aug 3, 2018
Transmetropolitan
Nov 1, 2002
This was a comic on the list of comics to read before you die. The comic series is about Spider Jerusalem, a journalist in the future. The series has a great sense of humor, a mature tone, and a cynicism that is applicable to today's world. In addition to this, it also covers that may be faced by humanity in the future as news evolves over time.
Jul 23, 2018
Princess Mononoke
Jan 12, 1997
A classic that should be required viewing. This is my favorite out of all the Studio Ghibli films. Although I have seen this before multiple times, this is my first time seeing in theatres through GKIDS. GKIDS offers showings that are dubbed in English and subbed in English with Japanese audio. Unfortunately there is not a showing that offers Japanese audio without subtitles.
Jul 22, 2018
Room
Jan 22, 2016
This was recommended to me by the instructor of a creative writing course that I took while I was in university. I put off watching this for a while, and I regret doing so. Brie Larson was great, but the star of the film was Jacob Tremblay. His performance was probably the best I've ever seen out of a child actor. The film captures the relationship between mother and son with great care. Although the story can be emotionally heavy, I recommend it for multiple viewings.
Jul 21, 2018
Lincoln
Nov 16, 2012
A bit on the long side, but Daniel Day-Lewis's acting manages to keep the story from ever getting dull. It's not the best movie that Steven Spielberg directed, but it is still a great film that can be used as reference in regards to learning what makes a good leader.
Jul 9, 2018
Y: The Last Man
Dec 1, 2003
A comic series about the the last man left after all mammals with a y chromosome die on Earth due to a plague. I was surprised by this work in that it was not only an adventure, but a philosophical one that managed to act as a coming of age tale for adults. It's not one of the best graphic novels ever made for no reason.
Jul 7, 2018
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Mar 28, 2014
A film with Wes Anderson's style all over it. It's organized very well, and it has a feel that is very similar to the "A Series of Unfortunate Events" YA book series.
Jul 5, 2018
Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior
May 21, 1982
This managed to satisfy my post-apocalyptic cravings. The pacing was good and the action was consistent. Mel Gibson was great as Max. Better than the first in my opinion.
Jul 1, 2018
West Side Story
Dec 23, 1961
I'm not a fan of Romeo and Juliet, but I liked West Side Story. The music was unconventional, and the camera work was deliberate. Despite seeing it for the first time, I could recognize some of the songs.
Jun 29, 2018
The Prince
Niccolò Machiavelli, 1513
A useful work on how to rule. It also highlights the important difference between being feared, being loved, and being hated.
Jun 25, 2018
Maus: A Survivor's Tale
Nov 1, 1991
A depiction of Art Spiegleman's father's life during the Holocaust. It is a personal story that is accentuated by the presentation of different groups as certain types of animals.
Jun 17, 2018
The Red Strings Club
Jan 22, 2018
A thought provoking cyberpunk game with a great story and atmosphere. Felt similar in tone to Technobabylon. Plot points may change based on player choice, but the variance in plot might not be enough to warrant a replay.
Jun 17, 2018
Lethal Weapon
Mar 6, 1987
A good cop film, but I'm somewhat surprised by the praise it gets as well as its staying power. The film may have been more impressive back when it came out compared to now.
Jun 10, 2018
Mad Max
Mar 6, 1979
I went into this film expecting a post apocalyptic wasteland and came out of it somewhat disappointed. The movie feels dated, and because it is the first film, it doesn't seem to have the apocalyptic landscape that was present in Fury Road.
Jun 8, 2018
Hotline Miami
Oct 23, 2012
The retrowave soundtrack, general atmosphere, and the quick gameplay offer an indie game with a ton of replay value.
Jun 4, 2018
Lucid Dreaming: A Concise Guide to Awakening in Your Dreams and in Your Life
Stephen LaBerge, Apr 1, 1985
A good introduction to how to get started with lucid dreaming. Although it is older compared to other works in the field, it provides the basics needed. I intend to eventually use the techniques detailed here to experiment with lucid dreaming.
Jun 3, 2018
Léon: The Professional
Nov 18, 1994
Directed by Luc Besson. The camera work was great and every image seemed deliberate. The only film I've seen starring Jean Reno. His presence really sold Leon as a character to me.
Jun 2, 2018
Shingeki no Kyojin Season 2
Jun 17, 2017
Not quite as thrilling as the first season, but still maintains the same level of suspense. Manages to keep the quality of the series up while also exploring new ground in regards to what the titans are.
Jun 1, 2018
Halo: Combat Evolved
Nov 15, 2001
I can see why this is considered one of the best first person shooters ever made. The story mode has a good difficulty progression. The music is memorable, and Master Chief is a great protagonist. For a game that is over 17 years old, it does not feel old at all.
May 31, 2018
The Art of Risk: The New Science of Courage, Caution, and Chance
Kayt Sukel, Mar 1, 2016
A non fiction book that outlines the advantages and consequences of risk taking behavior.
May 28, 2018
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Nov 23, 1998
I played the gamecube version of this on the dolphin emulator with a 3rd party xbox controller formatted like a ps4 controller. It is easy to tell why this is one of the greatest games ever made. In addition to bringing the Zelda franchise into the 3rd dimension, this game boasts great level design, and finely tuned controls. The music is iconic, and the characters are memorable. This game has aged well. It appeals to players of all ages and backgrounds, and has something to offer to anyone who picks up the controller and gives it a go. The playtime is over 30 hours, so you won't need to worry about it ending too soon.
May 27, 2018
Deadpool 2
May 18, 2018
In this sequel, the budget is higher and the jokes are more expensive. Deadpool is no longer something new, so it is interesting to see how they try to keep him fresh. In terms of the script, the quality is about the same as first, but there are times when it drags. If it was shortened slightly, it would be a tight film.
May 26, 2018
The Shape of Water
Dec 22, 2018
A film by Guillermo Del Toro. If I were to describe it, I would say that it is like a cross between Pan's Labyrinth and Amélie. It had the feeling of a fairy tale meant for adults.
May 25, 2018
A course about how to start a start up. Run by the YC founders. Discusses many aspects of different types of startups, how to handle financial operations, hr, etc. Some of the lectures include guest speakers from successful startups.
May 14, 2018
Avengers Infinity War
Apr 27, 2018
Watched in Imax. A film that is the culmination of three phases of films in the Marvel cinematic universe. Although it may be lacking in story, it more than makes up for it with its scale and the ambitious plot that brings together all of the characters in the marvel universe. In addition to this, it finally brings Thanos to the forefront and provides him with greater depth than he had in the comics. I saw the first Avengers film when I was in high school, so the payoff was particularly rewarding to me.
May 13, 2018
Get Out
Feb 24, 2017
A film that offers subtle commentary on race relations. If you were to ignore the undertones, you will find that it is still a solid horror film. There are many details hidden throughout, so I recommend multiple viewings.
May 13, 2018
Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future
Peter Thiel, Blake Masters, Sept 16, 2014
Details the challenges and what must be prioritized when starting a startup. I recommend watching the CS183B Stanford lectures after completing this.
May 6, 2018
La La Land
Dec 25, 2016
Damien Chazelle delivers just like he did in Whiplash. The songs are catchy and they stick in your head days after you finish the movie. Gosling's piano skills were extremely impressive and the absence of a hand double only added to its quality.
May 4, 2018
Level Up Your Life: How to Unlock Adventure and Happiness by Becoming the Hero of Your Own Story
Steve Kamb, Jan 12, 2016
A well organized book about the advantages of gamification for acquiring skills and accomplishing goals. It also manages to effectively explain why risks are a necessary part of the hero's journey.
Apr 28, 2018
Crumb
April 28, 1995
An interesting documentary about the cartoonist Robert Crumb. Although it wasn't my cup of tea, I appreciated the how deeply the cartoonist's past and his relationship with his family was explored.
Mar 1, 2018
Initial D Fourth Stage
Feb 18, 2006
The most refined show in the series in my opinion. The Eurobeat and the adrenaline pumping action does not let up. In addition to this, technical aspects of the mechanics of car racing are also covered in depth.
Feb 6, 2018
Falcon Heavy Test Flight
Feb 6, 2018
One of the most memorable events of the year. I never thought the rocket would successfully take off. The climax was the simultaneous landing of the side boosters. It would have been nice to see the center core land on the droneship, but 2/3 is still great. The shot of starman floating off into space was a good touch. Space x's have been continuously getting better over the years and this launch proved that they could not only nail the launch, but the telemetry as well.
Dec 9, 2017
Dunkirk
July 21, 2017
Saw this in imax. Great film. Although this was not my favorite Nolan film, it easily is one of the most well made among his works. The shots of the fighter planes were the most technical and impressive scenes in the film. Hans Zimmer's usage of the Shepard's tone could have been more emphasized. I actually did not realize that a Shepard's tone was used until looking it up after the fact. Because of how drawn out the auditory illusion was, in many cases, it felt as if the effect of the illusion was diminished.
Nov 4, 2017
Menno wins again. There are some great battles in here, but it didn't feel all that satisfying. On the bright side, it did showcase the Netherland's hip hop culture which was great to see.
Oct 8, 2017
Blade Runner 2049
Oct 6, 2017
Saw this in imax. An underrated film; just as great as the first. Probably the best experience I've had watching a film in a movie theatre. The custom Imax intro was a nice touch. The sound engineering was incredible and allowed for the audience to feel the sound instead of simply hearing it. This is a movie that sticks in your head days after you see it.
Sep 29, 2017
Making Life Multiplanetary
Sep 29, 2017
Introduced a more realistic rendering of BFR. Also elaborated on how to improve the profitability of the new architecture. Although earth to earth travel was hinted at in the 2016 IAC presentation, we were provided with more of an explanation on how it would work in this update.
Sep 27, 2016
Making Humans a Multiplanetary Species
Sep 27, 2016
Introduction of Musk's plans to reach Mars. This was why Space X was created and it is great to see an actual system that has been designed to reach that goal in a realistic way.
May 3, 2024
Dec 25, 1973
This is a movie made in the 70's that feels like one that was made in the 40's. I'm not sure if this is the first conman or heist film, but it feels like the audience is right there in the planning of the job. This, in addition to the style of music used as part of the soundtrack successfully allows for it to work as a period piece. Paul Newman and Robert Redford's dynamic is great and it has some unexpected twists and turns. For a film with as great a cast as this one, it definitely shows off its pedigree.
May 2, 2024
Aug 20, 1953
A classic that is entertaining from beginning to end. Audrey Hepburn is the headliner, but I feel like Gregory Peck's performance was quite interesting and charming. In addition to it providing a caricature of Europe, it shows Rome at the time. The interactions between Hepburn's and Peck's characters showcased good chemistry and made this film work. I can understand why it is a great classic.
May 1, 2024
Oct 6, 2018
A film about the Panama papers. This was an interesting film albeit a shallow one. We can see the aftermath of the Panama papers from the perspective of journalists. That said, it is never explained why the Panama papers were important, the actual contents of those papers, and the far reaching implications. Overall, surface level.
Apr 29, 2024
Jul 10, 2000, Keiichi Shigusawa
I started this years ago and finally finished it fully in Japanese. This has a collection of surreal and fantastic journeys through various lands and countries of a fictional world. I have seen the series and the novel has a similar feel. I honestly wonder why this series has not seen greater popularity given how much people like to travel.
Apr 23, 2024
Sep 17, 2015
A generally decent movie covering the later part of Ramanujan's work. It is similar to other films covering the same subject matter. One thing this seems lighter on is the actual inner workings of Ramanujan, the math itself, as well as the deeper interactions he had with his collaborators. I think where it suffers is in terms of depth. That said, it can be a worthwhile watch if one does not go in expecting a great movie.
Apr 22, 2024
Mar 31, 2024
The animated adaptation of Solo Leveling. I thought it was very entertaining and since I watched its Korean dub, it also was a great way to get more exposure to the language. The plot is the exact same as the manwha, so there is nothing new here to present. Animation was surprisingly good. Typically manwha adaptations are not that great, but this one actually flew by quickly. I look forward to the second season.
Apr 15, 2024
Sep 20, 1914, Natsume Souseki
This was one of the novels I wanted to read in Japanese for a while, and I have finally done it. This is split into 3 parts and in my opinion only the last part is worthwhile. When compared to Ningen Shikkaku by Dazai, I think it is not as impactful, but it is smartly written as a way to reflect on loneliness and the modernization of Japan during the Meiji era. While both books deal with suicide, this focuses more on guilt, identity, and the historical context. In that sense, this is trying to do two things at once while Ningen Shikkaku is more like Taxi Driver in that it is more focused on psychology.. I would recommend reading this book simply to understand how Japanese people thought and lived around the time of the Meiji era since principles and values were quite different back then. Understanding the motives of the characters is one of the challenges presented to the reader, but I think that is what gave it death as the reasons for suicide presented here are unconventional by modern standards.
Apr 12, 2024
Sep 8, 2023
This is an biographical film about the life of Jose Hernandez and his journey to become an astronaut. I don't consider it to be particularly groundbreaking, but the perspective presented of a migrant worker growing up in America to eventually join NASA was novel. Not only did it provide some insight into Mexican culture, but it also added to the film's uniqueness while keeping things generally lighthearted. Overall, inspiring, but I do wish that Michael Pena could have had a larger physical transformation in this debut role as I was not convinced that his physique was one that could dive, run a marathon or be a successful pilot.
Apr 11, 2024
Mar 21, 2024
This is Netflix's western adaptation of the 3 Body Problem. It is generally good, but after reading the trilogy, I feel like the execution isn't as deliberate as it could be. It very much feels like it was made for a mainstream audience. But even before that, it felt lacking in terms of budget from cinematography to special effects and even color grading. Overall, I'll watch another season if it comes out, but I didn't think it was as enjoyable or as interesting as it could have been.
Apr 3, 2024
May 1, 2018, R.F. Kuang
This was an interesting read which felt like a cross between Avatar the Last Airbender and The Rape of Nanking which is a strange combination indeed. It starts off like a standard young adult novel, but then brings in war crimes and events which mirror China during the 1900's. I did not consider it enjoyable, but I did consider it to be well written. References to the Investiture of the Gods was also an interesting touch. I think it also has similarities to Dune in the way genocide is brought up so often. Overall, interesting and well written. I question how original it is as it is a hodgepodge of history and other ideas, but it flowed well and read easily.
Mar 29, 2024
Sep 30, 2023
A great continuation to the previous refresh of the Bleach series. While this is less intense, it was not lacking in content or entertainment value. The animation is not on the level of Jujutsu Kaisen, but the story and the way it moves is very smooth. This is a series that is easy to binge and the attention to detail on the story elements and world building is great. Stakes are gradually being raised while the main character is surprisingly almost absent from the story. It is something of a step back compared to the previous season, but the way in which Japanese and German cultures were used to create unique characters and abilities is very much consistent. Furthermore, we are now beginning to see a mythology form which acts as an underpinning to the different afterlife realms and provides a history of the world centuries prior to when the first episode takes place. Overall, I enjoyed it a lot and hope to actually see the characters I care about make more of an appearance.
Mar 29, 2024
Oct 10, 2023
This is a game I had my eye on since it was in early access. I went in expecting something like The Hurt Locker or Waltz with Bashir, but it was more like a low budget Metal Gear Solid game with less depth. With that said, it does a lot of novel things. The use of language and culture as an obstacle was unique along with the idea of a shadow government which manipulates the world's politics is interesting. Outside of this, the gameplay was shallow and it dragged often. I think for a first indie game, it is fine, but as a game on the whole, it was not the most rewarding.
Mar 23, 2024
Dec 21, 2018
This is my first Nollywood film and I think that although the story isn't particularly novel. From a story standpoint, it is a story of a transportation company that is going under. The interesting parts for me, however, are the emphasis on Nigerian culture. The way family dynamics and language plays a role in Nigeran culture is rather unique. Beyond this, the production quality is high.
Mar 23, 2024
Dec 23, 2023
This season is very episodic despite the high production value. I think I need to treat it more like a series like Lupin or one of those episodic series which went on for 50+ episodes back before the 90's. It is enjoyable and still entertaining, but character development is dialed back when compared to the other seasons. Overall, a step down in some respects while consistent in others.
Mar 18, 2024
Nov 12, 2020
Generally good, but overall inferior to Spider-Man. Miles Morales is a fully fleshed out character and his quirks make the game feel fresh. With all of that said, I feel like this game did not hit as hard as Spider-Man. It's a good side story, but it's short and the world seems to lack depth despite it being a recreation of New York.
Mar 15, 2024
The show was great and this movie is great as well. It is as though it is a post world war movie that showed how the world changed and modernized as families that were separated were gradually brought back together. We see familiar characters and new ones. As usual, the focus on emotions, relationships, and the dynamic letters can have on those is the centerpiece. Animation, music, and editing is good too. I think pacing and structure could be improved, but I do not have any concrete suggestions to make. It delivers its message effectively within its 90 minute runtime.
Mar 14, 2024
Mar 14, 2024
A significant improvement over the past 2 launches which actually saw Starship reach orbital velocity. While the test was a success, both Starship and Super Heavy were not able to land which makes it a partial success for me. The face that we could see the plasma trail on the wings of Starship as it reentered the atmosphere was really made this a first. Overall, a launch that has reached new milestones.
Mar 13, 2024
Jan 1, 1522, Luo Guanzhong
This took months to complete. The Chinese epic consists of 120 chapters totalling thousands of pages. This has familiar characters that I've seen in Japanese and Chinese culture. It also shows the rise and fall of these characters. The story has ups and downs as different forces vy for power based on different principles and it shows off aspects of Chinese culture that may not be present today. Heroes are made and then they are killed, and in the end, everything ends in what is effectively failure. I think this is a story that may be appreciated in bits and pieces, but as a whole I think a mainstream western audience would not fully appreciate it. With that said, it has a surprisingly high amount of depth and is very well written despite its unconventional narrative style that reads more like a history textbook.
Mar 11, 2024
Sep 14, 2018
This was an interesting game given that Crystal Dynamics did not develop this. Instead, Eidos Montreal did. Despite this, it felt like only a slightly downgrade from Rise of the Tomb Raider. Gameplaywise, it felt similar, but the exploration and side missions felt significantly cut down with not much new added to the other mechanics. This makes the game more linear, and while the story and graphics are probably the best out of all the other games in the Survivor trilogy, it does not make up for the gameplay completely. The setting of South America and the presentation of its history and culture felt very immersive. Now, storywise, the character development actually felt complete and this had some of the best cutscenes I have scene in the franchise. Lara Croft is now an older and more fleshed out character with clear motivations and idiosyncrasies, and it was great to see her develop over the course of this trilogy. Overall, it is a decent game that could really benefit more from leaning more into its story while providing gameplay that does not detract from what it has to tell.
Mar 10, 2024
Dec 3, 1984
I watched the Spicediver edit which adds about 40 minutes to the original and apparently fixes a lot of the issues that were brought up previously. With that said, it is still a very flawed film and it tries to do too much in one go and ultimately loses coherency in the past. If the fan edit was like this, I can only imagine how bad the theatrical film was. With that said, it has moments that are well done. Some such moments are possibly event better than the Villneuve flims, but overall, it is inferior to the Villeneuve films, because the visual direction as well as character interactions seem artificial.
Mar 3, 2024
Apr 3, 2020
If Resident Evil 1 was like Alien, then Resident Evil 3 is like Aliens. The difference is like Ridley Scott vs. James Cameron. Like the previous game, this has a mixture of action and puzzles, but has more of an emphasis on action. It is definitely the most action focused up to this point and, as a result, it feels like less of a horror game. While there is tension with the presence of Nemesis who chases the player throughout the game, it does not match Mr. X from Resident Evil 2. Overall, it is a step down from the previous game, but still entertaining in its own way.
Mar 2, 2024
Mar 1, 2024
This is the second installment in Denis Villeneuve's Dune adaptations. It is not a perfect film in a modern sense, but it is one with a lot of payoff and is overall a great epic. From a visual and sound perspective, it is expertly crafted and has a lot of similarities to Upstream Color. Hans Zimmer's soundtrack is very original and signals a take on audio engineering that I don't see being used often nowadays. Giedi Prime and the Harkonens in particular are some of the most unique visual parts of the film There are some effects which appear to not be as realistic on an IMAX screen, but overall, it is great in terms of execution. Acting by the main actors is also well handled and the attention to subtle details makes their part of the film stand out. This is a film that leaves an impression which will last for days at the least like Blade Runner 2049. I think where the film might suffer is in terms of pacing, but this is a more minor complaint in light of all the things the film does right. The film leaves off on a cliff hanger which sets up for Dune Messiah and it also tells a story that is about manipulation which acts as an inversion of a traditional hero's journey. The mixture of prophecy, science fiction, and the oncoming future makes for a very interesting film which has multiple layers with deeply spiritual undertones that I feel mirrors many aspects of the Quran.
Feb 24, 2024
Feb 29, 2020
This is a story of triumph and principles. Acting is somewhat over the top for everyone as is typical of k dramas in addition to the lack of realism and the usual trend of popular shows to emphasize romance even when it does not benefit the story. That said, it is very entertaining, has a focus on entrepreneurship, and has a fair bit of character development in addition to some commentary on social issues. I can understand why the show is so popular despite its flaws.
Feb 22, 2024
This was the NASA stream which covered the Odysseus Nova-C's IM-1 mission which was the first successful commercial landing on the moon. The commentary was well done and the result was a good contrast from the failure of Hakuto-R M1. I hope this can soon be followed up with manned missions.
Feb 21, 2024
Jan 25, 2019
A huge improvement over the first game in almost every way. The graphics are eye catching, and the gameplay is highly streamlined. The two playable characters each have their own personalities and their voice actors are very convincing. The game starts out feeling very similar to the first Resident Evil, but later picks up and starts feeling similar to the later entries. It basically goes from horror to action block buster. Despite this, it still keeps its puzzle and exploration segments. I feel that those who are familiar with any of the games and those who are completely new to the series will enjoy this. Overall, it is very well crafted and deserving of its accolades while acting as a remake that manages to keep fan-favorite sensibilities while modernizing the series despite its short playtime.
Feb 16, 2024
Sep 6, 2019
A great film about hearing loss and the psychological after effects. The strongest parts of this film are its sound design and acting. Riz Ahmed's nomination was well deserved, and the way in which the film immitates the feelings of deafness and hearing implants was very educational. It showed a side to the experience of being deaf in American which was less familiar with before.
Feb 15, 2024
Mar 18, 2023
This is a series that brings together the duo of Mamoru Oshii and Kenji Kawaii as writer as composer. The story is unique, but it also has Oshii's sensibilities from its ability to handle complex themes to its preoccupation with dogs beyond just basset hounds which was present ever since he directed Ghost in the Shell. The premise of a post apocalyptic world where natural fire causes spontaneous combustion and demons roam the earth is an interesting one. With all of this said, the characters were not as memorable as I would have preferred with their development coming across as muted. I think this is an area where Oshii might be more infamous due to his preference to sterilize characters and character interaction in service of big or unique ideas and plot points. This, in addition to the execution of the animation style which is a direct result of a low budget hurts the overall quality of the work. I believe this may work better as a radio drama, because the visuals are not its strong suit and it has great sound design, voice work, and music.
Feb 13, 2024
Covers how to achieve hypertrophy and maximum muscle development in the most optimal way while injecting humor in frequently. Not only does this go over the simple items such as sets and reps, but it also covers mesocycles and periodization.
Feb 12, 2024
Nov 29, 2016
This is strangely good and also sloppy at the same time. The gameplay is like GTA with hacking. Like the first, however, the world does not have a lot of depth. This has some areas where it draws from actual events and other areas where it isn't realistic. References to pop cultures, scientology, and parodies of the bay area were interesting and yet not too far from the truth. Conversely, some aspects of hacking were more gamified. Compared to the first game, it feels less clunky and less serious, but the lack of substance makes it suffer in my opinion.
Feb 8, 2024
Nov 17, 2023
The movie followed the source material and this provides an alternate story. In addition to this, the show uses an animation style that is faithful to the source and highly stylized. It feels like something that is from the early 2000's and is purely Canadian. Voice work is done by the original cast of the film, so I think it will be appreciated by those who liked the film as well.
Feb 4, 2024
Mar 25, 2023
After watching Trigun Stampede, I have mixed feelings. The CGI can be incredibly fluid, but it can lack detail at times and just look out of place. The lack of gunplay compared to the original Trigun was disappointing considering that was some of the main features of the original. Storywise, I feel like the execution and pacing had issues. Conversely, this had better music than the original Trigun, and I think the character designs were an improvement over the original.
Feb 3, 2024
Feb 28, 2017
This is an open world game with a heartfelt story that provides gameplay with depth and a reasonable reward system. The world itself is fully populated and has a history that is gradually uncovered as the player proceeds through the story. The way in which it uses future versions of real places in southwest America was very interesting and it was like visiting national parks in those areas in real life. Playing through this game for the first time is quite the experience. Horizon Zero Dawn in my opinion takes the best parts of the copy paste nature of Ubisoft games and Skyrim and uses them to tell a great science fiction story with a hopeful tone with regards to the human race. Aloy is a memorable protagonist, and the voice acting for many of the characters is greatly done. It also goes without saying that the character development is tremendous. Overall, this really exceeded my expectations, especially since this was made by a Dutch company.
Feb 2, 2024
Dec 15, 1979
Lupin is one of those franchises which has a lot of name recognition in Japan like Conan or Doraemon. From my perspective, this is like a cross between the Pink Panther and James Bond. In this one, the main trope used is the use of counterfeit currency to create a shadow empire. The animation is dated, but also well done when it needs to be. Overall it's lot of fun, and its combination of slapstick humor with the occasional high concept tropes makes it work. All of the characters are unique and memorable with Lupin taking center stage. While this is one of Miyazaki's less known films, it is still a well crafted one.
Jan 27, 2024
Jul 20, 2023
The Chinese equivalent to Lord of the Rings falls sort because of its overuse of CGI and a lack of decent character development. That is not to say that there isn't character development, but rather that the character development is not good. It's a epic film that has strange qualities in that it has enough missteps to bungle decent source material.
Jan 25, 2024
Oct 11, 2023
This is a good overview of Taylor Swift's discography and the production quality is top notch. Personally, I liked her newer work, but overall it is good for an artist that actually contributes to the writing of their own music.
Jan 24, 2024
Nov 29, 2021
In addition to this being a climbing movie about the 14 peaks, it also provides a window into many other things such as alpine climbing, the gurkhas, Nepalese climbers and culture, and a history of the peaks. It covers a lot and Nirmal Purja is a character that is as distinctive as Honnold. The fact that his team managed to not only break records, but carry out rescue efforts and coordinated climbs with other teams along the way is next level. I think this made a bigger impression on me than many of the other climbing movies with the exception of Free Solo and the Dawn Wall because it had a clear message which is quite simply that nothing is impossible. With that said, there are some things that I wish it did better such as build up to each mountain better and get more into the technical aspects of alpine climbing. Overall, it is crowd pleasing and easy to appreciate.
Jan 21, 2024
Dec 28, 2023
The entire season is a practice in pushing the envelope in terms of animation and animated fight choreography and it is simply an experience. With that said, I could still tell when they were using cgi or cutting corners despite their use of cgi blending in really well. I think in terms of animation, it is not exactly at the level of Jujutsu Kaisen 0, but I think that is to be expected when one is comparing a hand drawn film to a 23 episode series. In Jujutsu Kaisen 0, you could pause at any frame and it would be a work of art. In season 2 of Jujutsu Kaisen, that is not quite the case. With that said, If you like nonstop action this will satisfy. This is battle shounen anime and that's what makes it great. For those expecting expecting more character development and plot, I think you may not be fully satisfied, but there are other series out there to cater to your tastes.
Jan 21, 2023
Nov 3, 2023
This is a western take on samurai and it is rather interesting despite being historically inaccurate in certain areas. The animation is good, the character development is present, and it takes novel approaches to each episode. Voice acting is okay considering that it is a western work, and features some well known actors and names. I think it's a good start and crowd pleasing, but I would like to see more in following seasons to see where it goes.
Jan 20, 2024
Sep 10, 2021
This is a movie about Marc-André Leclerc who I have never heard of prior to watching this film. With that said, all of the stuff he did seems completely next level when compared to the climbing in Free Solo due to the variety of techniques needed for alpine climbing. When compared to the other great climbing movies, this is somewhere between Meru and The Dawn Wall in terms of narrative quality. This is also the first movie that focuses on a climber that died. Outside of this, the filming of the actual climbing is lacking for obvious reasons, but it at least provides exposure to a climber has not gotten much attention and deserves it.
Jan 15, 2024
Jan 23, 2015
A good climbing movie. Although Jimmy Chin is a famous documentary filmmaker, he is also an established climber in his own right. The background of all the climbers is impressive, and the difficulty of what they were doing is clear. The way in which this is different from the other types of climbing is also interesting. With that said, it could have been better at sculpting a narrative. That is the primary weakpoint of this movie compared to the other good climbing films.
Jan 14, 2024
Apr 20, 2018
This is an incredible work of art that happens to have good gameplay. From a narrative standpoint, the focus on family and the relationship between father and son are what make this great. However, the backdrop of Norse mythology and its focus on the finer points of it definitely help. Voice acting is great in addition to the soundtrack. Simply, this is a beautiful and emotional game that is finely crafted. It feels modern and it really matches what one would expect of Sony's finest. I wish the previous entries would be remastered and brought to other platforms.
Jan 13, 2024
Mar 11, 2018
We have heard of Alex Honnold's free soloing of the Freerider route of El Capitan, but this one focuses on the free climbing of the dawn wall. All of the climbs here are ridiculous difficult. This, combined with Tommy Caldwell's history as a kidnapping victim and a climber that lost a finger makes it a really compelling story.
Jan 8, 2024
Oct 31, 2023
Jusant means receding tide in French. In this game, we climb with two arms and two feet up a mountain that was once an island from a time when sea level was higher and no drought. This feels similar to Gris in many ways, but the platforming is very similar to modern climbing. The player needs to be mindful of where they grip so as to ascend walls and set belays accordingly. The experience is meditative, and it is really a well made game. This, combined with the use of Unreal Engine 5 makes it beautiful and an almost spiritual experience. Simply put, this is a gem that I think has widespread appeal for an indie game.
Jan 6, 2024
Sep 8, 2022
This is an interactive animation of sorts where the actions of the player don't really affect the story significantly. While this is about a band's beginnings, the focus is more on personal issues of the band and we basically see some shows being written and the band break up and reform. This is essentially a prequel and we don't even see a real performance. Overall, I think this is lacking in substance despite some good tracks.
Jan 6, 2024
Dec 25, 2022
This is a slice of life that is similar to K-On and has an element of social anxiety to it. It is very well made and although it moves slow, it is fun. Tracks are also well constructed and surprisingly technical.
Jan 5, 2024
Jan 1, 1974, James Baldwin
If Beale Street Could Talk is a powerful and better written novel by James Baldwin. Set in 1970s America, it tells the story of Tish and Fonny, a young African-American couple whose lives are upended by a false rape accusation. Unlike Giovanni's Room, this has optimism behind it despite the bleak outlook of the characters.
Jan 1, 2024
Mar 1, 1956, Ray Bradbury
A short story by Ray Bradbury about continuous rain on Venus stopping for a few hours. The scientific foundation of this one is a bit dubious, but it makes for a strong metaphor.
Dec 31, 2023
Aug 5, 2020
Standard South Korean action fare that is on the border between mediocre and good. Fortunately, this leans towards good. It's not the best paced, and the action would have definitely benefited from longer takes, but its an acceptable package on the whole. Acting by Lee Jung-jae was one of the standout pieces of this work.
Dec 30, 2023
1996
This was a prototype of sorts for the live action film that Mamoru Oshii would direct almost 2 decades later. The animation here is incredibly sophisticated in addition to its usage of CGI during a time where it was just beginning to be used in 2d animation years prior. I think what was shown here and what was shown in the film that came out later is an interesting case study in how costs, technology, and budget can change a project over time.
Dec 30, 2023
Mar 12, 2023
I am convinced that Robert Rodriguez is no longer a good director and Ben Affleck is terrible at choosing roles. At this point, Ben Affleck should stick to directing and writing since that is what he seems to be best at. This has some interesting concepts such as memory rewriting, but this does not execute its ideas well. It is simply a bad film that is using half baked ideas related to hypnosis.
Dec 29, 2023
Jan 1, 1956, James Baldwin
This is a tragic novel about sexuality and internalized feelings in the middle of a foreign land. James Baldwin tells the story of an American expat in France intimately. Overall, this is a very well written classic that is a story self destruction and has similarities to Crime and Punishment. However, unlike the works of Dostoevsky, much of the pain is self imposed and does not result from one's actions, but rather inaction.
Dec 29, 2023
Aug 30, 1996
This is the first film to put Nicolas Winding Refn on the map (and possibly modern Danish film as well). The plot moves at a constant pace and it has a momentum about it that feels very modern due to its handheld approach. All of the acting is well done and the way the twists and turns occur felt real. Overall, a good crime drama.
Dec 28, 2023
Nov 1, 1967
Cool is a good description for the type of larger than life personality seen in many male characters that came out during the same time as this film. The way in whch Paul Newman's character rebels within a prison is similar to James Dean's character if he were older. Overall, this is a good character drama and a classic.
Dec 26, 2023
1814, Pierre-Simon Laplace
This is a difficult read, but it has some interesting concepts which come up often today in more modern fields such as quantum theory and computer science. Concepts from causal determinism to the use of statistics to model the world are covered here. In many ways, this is a companion piece to many other philosphical works because it provides a mathematical backing to many of the concepts introduced in other works. With that said, it is difficult to reason through mathematics through text alone.
Dec 26, 2023
Jul 9, 1985
A World War II film by the Soviets that manages to dodge censorship to create a poignant and unflinching look at the perspective of a child soldier. The way in which the nazis treated their enemies and committed war crimes is depicted in brutal detail while also acting as one of the few portrayals of the eastern front. The most similar film I think might be suited for comparison is All Quiet on the Western Front which has a similar anti-war message. Cinematography is great too with tracking shots that seem reminiscient of Kubrick.
Dec 22, 2023
2004
A short documentary about the history of the Manzanar Japanese internment camp.
Dec 21, 2023
Jan 1, 2011
A film about Death Valley and its history narrated by Donald Sutherland.
Dec 20, 2023
Mar 28, 2023, Peter Attia, Bill Gifford
In this book, Peter Attia outlines his issues with modern healthcare when it comes to optimizing for longevity. He provides actionable items for readers to follow to extend their lifespan while also getting into the technical details of physiology and the causes of aging. What this lacks is a review of the cutting edge in medical treatment such as gene therapy. With that said, Peter Attia is a physician and not a researcher, so his conservative approach can be somewhat understood.
Dec 16, 2023
Sep 12, 2023, Walter Isaacson
I liked the Ashlee Vance book more, but this has some interesting points that manages to provide an updated list of events that came after Vance's book. Unlike some of Walter Isaacson's other books, this focuses on a figure who is still alive which is very unusual. What this does well is take a very detailed account with little bias.
Dec 15, 2023
Aug 16, 2023
This feels like a Robert Rodriguez movie and George Lopez was probably the only enjoyable part of this. Everything else was cliche. It felt like a waste of time and the special effects and choreography felt uninspired.
Dec 13, 2023
Dec 30, 2019
Although it took some time, I finally got around to the first season of Vinland saga, and it is simply a great period drama. Its greatest strengths lie in its character development, its emotional moments, and its ability to really establish the time period in which it takes place. Surprisingly, it also has some very profound Christian philosophy that feels very reminiscient of Soren Kierkegaard the Danish philosopher. I think for me, its best moments are when it slows down and takes its time, but its action scenes are really well animated which is to be expected since this is Wit Studio we're talking about. This is a very original series that, while not being historically accurate, is incredibly well executed and I look forward to one day watching the second season.
Dec 13, 2023
Apr 23, 1987, Iain M. Banks
This felt longer than it was because much of the text was spent on useless tangents and the characters were not relatable. Events happen because they must, and the greater themes and messages are underplayed. There are interesting ideas here like the Culture, but they are not the main focus of this book. On the flip side, it has a sense of humor, but it does not seem to do anything particularly impressive. This is overall rather disappointing when considering that it was one of the inspirations for the Halo series.
Dec 12, 2023
Oct 15, 2023
The animation is nothing special, but the story is very impressive and incredibly ambitious for what it is. The concepts are reminiscient of The Matrix, Ghost in the Shell and Akira which seemed to serve as clear inspirations. If the animation and music matched the voice acting and story, then this could have perhaps reached the level of those works. There is quite a lot covered here from simulation to uploaded intelligence to simulated time travel. The plot is very high concept for a mainstream audience, but it works and works very well and each episode is packed with great ideas. I think overall, it is incredibly underrated and I'm surprised it has not seen more attention.
Dec 12, 2023
Dec 9, 2023
After the publishing of the Nature paper which covers assembly theory, I saw many similarities to Richard Dawkin's The Selfish Gene. This is less a chemistry paper or a biology paper and more of an information theory paper which draws from other theories like David Deutsch's Constructor Theory. Although the main use case here is the ability to identify life simply by quantifying physical objects in terms of chemical complexity. This means that biology and reality is computational, but this should be common knowledge. What really interests me are the implications if the work of Lee Cronin and his team's work are verified by other groups in practical applications.
Dec 10, 2023
Aug 25, 2023
A great mech game that feels like a cross between Dynasty Warriors and Ace Combat. The story is well thought out with memorable characters and an interesting premise with coral acting as the spice of this universe. What is interesting is how it shows energy as sentient and the way this plays into the multiple endings and corporate wars. There is a strangely spiritual nature to it. From a gameplay perspective, there are no bugs, and it feels incredibly smooth. There are challenging sections, but these can be overcome by changing your build or strategy accordingly. The music and graphics were minimal, but just enough to be memorable. The music in particular felt very modern and innovative with a heavy emphasis on synths. Overall, a very well made game that shows the pedigree of FromSoftware and incredibly memorable.
Dec 7, 2023
Oct 19, 2023
A surreal story that is given an identity with its incredibly well done animation. As far as 2d animation is concerned, it is rare to see this level of detail within western animation. Overall, thought provoking, and unique.
Dec 4, 2023
Apr 24, 2016, Phil Knight
This memoir by Phil Knight, the co-founder of Nike, provides an inside look into the early days of the company. It's a captivating story that delves into the challenges and triumphs of building a global brand. Knight's writing style is surprisingly engaging, and the book offers some common insights into running a company back in the 60's and 70's despite coming across as rose colored.
Dec 2, 2023
Sep 26, 2023
This is a film about the independence of artificially intelligent beings. The special effects are well done and there are some interesting ideas here. With that said, I feel like from a hard scifi angle, this does not introduce anything new. Similarly, it feels emotionally hollow with a lack of character development and and emotional hook. The lack of the use of a soundtrack in many places also made it feel empty. Overall, this is an original film with potential, but execution is questionable.
Dec 2, 2023
Mar 12, 2023
Probably one of the only good adaptations of a video game. The acting is great with Pedro Pascal really earning my respect in this one. The soundtrack is pretty much the same as the game. This show stays faithful to its source material which I believe is what actually it work in addition to the chemistry between actors. As a side note, the cameos by the mocap actors from the game was appreciated as well.
Dec 1, 2023
Aug 2, 2023
It's a lot of fun and the animation is great despite it not having a particularly groundbreaking story. Pacing was also an issue with the start being great, but the story dragging later on. The voice cast has a suprisingly high number of Hollywood actors, and the soundtrack is filled with oldschool hip hop. I think it has wide appeal.
Nov 30, 2023
This was a good conclusion, but I wish it could have had more of the lore from the source material. There are philosophical discussions of good and evil and whether something could be evil before it was born. There is also a psychological element to this. It is these things that I wish had been leaned into more in this story. I think it could have worked better as a series like Unlimited Blade Works rather than a film. However, for those familiar with the source material, it is very well done.
Nov 29, 2023
Bryan Zero Johnson, Sep 28, 2023
In this book Bryan Johnson has DID and engages in socratic dialogues with his different personalities. It's not always coherent, but there are some interesting ideas in here. With that said, Bryan Johnson is not the first to have those ideas, and the way that they are presented is not the best. Overall, I think this may hurt his cause.
Nov 28, 2023
Sep 7, 2018
This is Insomniac's attempt at a Spiderman game, and it is very well done. The world is not fully fleshed out at high detail, but it does enough to keep players from getting bored. Swinging through the city not only feels smooth, but also real. Sound design is great, and the story is original and good enough to be adapted to film. It is comic accurate, and introduces a wide cast of characters. The DLC is not particularly well done, but it does enough to keep players from getting bored. Overall, probably the best Spiderman game I've played so far.
Nov 27, 2023
Oct 16, 2020
I remember coming away from the first season with the impression that it was good, but not being particularly won over. That was not the case with this great film, and it is honestly one of the most enjoyable experiences I had in the last few weeks. In addition to this, I think it has universal appeal. Pacing is constant and moving. Despite this, it still manages to somehow fit in some character development. As a self contained story, it is fine. It does not particularly advance the plot, but it provides a great experience similar to something like Mad Max. As usual with Ufotable, animation and sound is great. Overall, a very well crafted film.
Nov 25, 2023
Things take a darker turn in this one and it has some scenes that are reminiscient of Kara no Kyoukai. Outside of that, it is very consistent in quality with the first film and acts as a continuation of the story. Execution is good, and my only complaint is the lack of character development as it seems almost as though it is clinically going through the story without injecting personality.
Nov 25, 2023
This is a conclusion that had a ton of respect for the source material. In terms of pure craftsmanship, it is great from animation to sound to editing. The soundtrack includes rearrangement of Sawano's tracks. Where it may suffer is in terms of story, but this is debatable. My complaints are regarding somewhat fast pacing, a wish for greater analysis of the effects of large scale genocide and shared generational memory, and just not enough character development. All scenes which have action which is a significant part of the conclusion are incredibly well done. I think I am glad I finished the series and it will remain on my list as one of the top, but it could have stuck the landing better from a story angle.
Nov 25, 2023
Nov 25, 2023
I was hoping to see Jinjo crew here, but we do see some old favorites like Foundnation and the Predatorz. FlowXL was great as well, and overall it was a good competition. In terms of general trends, there was more emphasis on individual breaking and less on routines. Seeing how this is a team competition, I would like to see more routines and more variety in team based actions, but that's just my opinion.
Nov 24, 2023
This is a true sequel to Fate Zero which expects familiarity with the other routes of Fate/Stay Night. The animation by Ufotable is great and so is the music by Kajiura Yuki. Nothing is as it seems in the proxy war for the holy grail, and although we see the same characters as the other routes, the approach feels new. In addition to this, the introduction of new antagonists keeps things fresh. Overall, very smartly written and made specifically for an audience who knows what they want.
Nov 23, 2023
Jul 10, 2023
It's good, but not as good as Fallout. The pacing is slower and it took about a good 30 to 45 minutes for the story to get started. The stunts are not as impressive, and Tom Cruise is beginning to show his age. The premise of an AI as an adversary is interesting, but it isn't really anything new either. I think it's fine, but it could have also been significantly tighter and better executed. Not sure why this needed to be two parts, but I am looking forward to the conclusion.
Nov 23, 2023
Sep 14, 2021
This is a slightly overrated, but fun game that takes advantage of the timeloop mechanic while also having a 60's vibe. The story is unveiled with each loop, and the ability to persist some things but not others adds some complexity figuring out how to break the loop. There is also some small references and ties to the Dishonored series. The downsides of the game is the minimal soundtrack and the way in which it holds the player's hand instead of letting them figure things out. Overall, it is interesting and unique andd offers a AAA treatment of a mechanic that I think should be used more often.
Nov 19, 2023
Mar 26, 2023
This is a sports anime that is about creating the best striker in the world. It praises human ego while accurately criticizing the sad state of Japanese soccer. The scenes are intense, and it has unique characters who all have their own skills in the sport. Overall, this is one of the best in the sports genre that I have seen in the last few years.
Nov 18, 2023
Nov 18, 2023
SpaceX didn't seem to have a livestream, so I watched the Everyday Astronaut's stream instead. This starship launch was an improvement over the previous one with an actual stage separation. With that said, I am curious why SpaceX wasn't able to go further. It seems like there was a problem with the gimbaling of the thrusters, but outside of this, it seemed like a fine launch. I hope the next one can happen soon.
Nov 14, 2023
Jun 23, 2016
This is an interesting series as it is episodic, has a plot thread that ties everything together and has some influence from Japanese literature. One thing I consider to be a lost opportunity is that the Japanese authors who inspired their respective characters did not show through quite as much as I would have liked which is unfortunate since I enjoy the works of Showa and Taishou era literature. Another thing is that plot points from the books written by these authors are used liberally without much context. For example, I have no idea why a bunch of characters who have powers inspired by classic books would form a detective agency of all things. Outside of this, if you take the series as is, then it can be fun, but it can also be standard. It seems like it is building up to something and there are a wider range of characters who have yet to be introduced, so maybe the next season may be more fulfilling as this season did not have a conclusion.
Nov 10, 2023
Oct 7, 1995
Before Watanabe Shinichiro and Kanno Yoko worked on Cowboy Bebop, they collaborated on this. This is an audio-visual masterpiece and is extremely well executed. Where it is weak is in characterization and pacing. It does not feel entirely like a Macross movie due to the lack of war and its interaction with song. There are also parts where it drags. However, the animation is incredible, and the music is some of Kanno's best. Some sequences were reminiscient of sequences that could be found in Ghost in the Shell with highly detailed hand drawn animations. The themes of artificial intelligence were also very relevant to today's world. Overall, it is worth a watch, but it is not a perfect experience.
Nov 10, 2023
Sep 30, 2014
This had an interesting story that felt faithful to Tolkien's work while also being original. Gameplay had similarities to some of the Arkham games while also introducing the nemesis system which allowed for larger macro changes in the game world and dynamic storytelling. With all this said, I wish the world itself had more variety. Other than this, it felt well optimized and is overall a solid game.
Nov 10, 2023
Nov 9, 2023
This is a status update of time that is keeping up with some of the more recent trends with twitter and AI. It also showcases the LLM developed by Twitter which is known as Grok.
Nov 8, 2023
Padmasambhava, Jan 1, 1350
This is a strange book that has both Buddhist and Indian influences. It discusses enlightenment while also describing many figures from a mythology that has similarities to Hinduism. I honestly am not sure how to feel about this, but some of the concepts such as how certain parts of death are just an illusion of the mind have some modern backing to them.
Nov 5, 2023
Jun 21, 2023
This is a thriller that is basically a chase movie of sorts. It felt similar to The Raid 2 at times in the way it kept moving, but the action isn't quite on par. The plot about familial succession is simple, but complex enough to be interesting. In addition to this, the stylized dialogue and action make it very entertaining.
Nov 4, 2023
Jul 9, 2023
This is a very metaphysical and self aware film that may not have a clear audience. It is incredibly stylized and the great acting by Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling makes it feel hyperreal. It also seems to tread a very interesting line between commercialism and satirization of capitalism. I think this make it come across as a very smart film. With that said, it does suffer from pacing issues later on in the film, and this affects the clarify of its messaging. Part of the reason for this is because it is not clear when the audience should be taking the film seriously and when they should not be. In many ways, it tries to have its cake and eat it too.
Nov 4, 2023
Nov 4, 2023
Red Bull didn't leave the livestream up since someone showed a flag of Palestine. With all that said, this is a different vibe from the BC One. For one, the judging is done by the crowd which I feel is a better and more interesting system. Another interesting thing was that depending on the style, the dancer might not use all of the stage which I feel is one thing that may be lacking in a lot of modern styles. Conversely, the dancers here actually listened more to the music which was very welcome. I was interested in seeing the D Soraki make his reappearance, but was disappointed to not find him present beyond bringing out the trophy. It is different seeing someone feeling the music vs. dancing to the music and I hope to see a dancer do that one more time at one of these events in the future.
Nov 3, 2023
Brandon Sanderson, Jul 17, 2006
This is the first book of the Mistborn Saga by Brandon Sanderson. It is somewhat fantasy steampunk with a metal based alchemy or magic system that drives a lot of its scenes. The story is one of revolution or rebellion and the characters are well developed. The world is fleshed out, and there is quite a bit of depth and lore to it. Prose is easy to follow. I think this is a book that anyone can appreciate.
Nov 2, 2023
Mar 25, 2022
This is a mediocre game that takes place in a fully realized Shibuya after a supernatural incident where people are spirited away. As a result, the city is empty and lifeless which does not work to its advantage. While I liked the visual style at times, the game does not really excel in terms of technology or gameplay or even story.
Oct 24, 2023
Dec 12, 2019
This is a game by Quantic Dream that has similarities to Heavy Rain. However, unlike Heavy Rain, this has better writing and it takes advantage of its medium to create a compelling story with multiple plot lines and a scale to match. This game's story feels like a cross between Blade Runner 2049 and Stanley Kubrick's A.I.. There are parallels here to the underground railroad, the civil rights movement, and the Holocaust. It really has quite a bit of depth to it and this, along with the great acting makes it feel as though you are directing your own Hollywood film through the choices you make. Additionally, the depiction of Detroit felt real and the future shown does not seem outlandish like other science fiction works. Overall, I highly recommend it.
Oct 22, 2023
Sep 25, 2023
This is the beginning of the second season and it is a continuation of the story. Unlike other seasons, there is some less character development, but more service which can be somewhat entertaining. Not much happens in terms of plot, and it seems like this is more a transitory part of the story.
Oct 21, 2023
Oct 21, 2023
It's the return of the champions with Ami and Hong 10 winning. What makes this year special is that it's the 10th anniversary of Hong 10's 2nd win and the 5th anniversary of Ami's first win. Outside of that, there was nothing particularly interesting about this championship to the point that I almost felt like it was scripted.
Oct 21, 2023
Dec 22, 2022
This is a continuation and conclusion to the series as a whole. The ending is satisfying, and the character development allows for a decent payoff. All the characters are distinct, the music by Kenji Kawaii is great as usual, and the animation goes up a notch for the action scenes in a way that is consistent with the quality of past entries.
Oct 19, 2023
Aug 30, 2018
I'm starting to believe that anything Alfonso Cuarón directed becomes gold. Roma which is directed by Alfonso Cuaron is set in the early 1970s, the movie follows the life of a live-in housekeeper named Cleo in the Colonia Roma neighborhood of Mexico City. Through beautiful black-and-white cinematography and a deeply personal narrative, this film explores themes of family, class, and societal change. Although it takes place in the 70's, it feels a lot like Italian and French films of the new wave of the 50's and 60's which adds to its quality. "Roma" received critical acclaim and won several awards, including the Academy Award for Best Director and Best Foreign Language Film which I believe to be well deserved.
Oct 16, 2023
Olaf Stapledon, Jan 1, 1937
This book takes readers on an epic journey across time and space, exploring the vastness of the universe and the evolution of civilizations. I was surprised by how similar this was to the novel that I wrote myself. With that said, this was a story about civilization and the current state of the cosmos and its creation while mine is an antithesis of sorts to that concept with more modern sensibilities. While this book is about the universe, the focus on the self and the emotional underpinnings are less apparent which is interesting to see. With all that said, it was quite an experience reading this months after publishing a similar story.
Oct 15, 2023
Jun 6, 1929
An Andalusian Dog is a surrealistic short film directed by Luis Buñuel and co-written with Salvador Dalí. The film is known for its dreamlike and symbolic imagery, exploring themes of desire, sexuality, and the subconscious mind. It feels a lot like Eraserhead, and similarly, I have no idea what was going on in this film.
Oct 15, 2023
Sep 29, 2023
Not since Manifold Garden have I experienced a game as profound as this one. Cocoon is a multilayered game that has worlds within worlds and uses them as a puzzle mechanic. This, combined with a larger theme of metamorphosis gives it a level of depth not typically seen in games today. The way in which physics and mechanics can be shared between worlds is reminiscient of some aspects of theoretical physics and forces players to think in a way that really stretches their spatial awareness. While these skills that are developed may not be applicable today, I believe that as technology progresses in a few decades time, the style of critical thinking needed to complete a game like this will become more and more relevant.
Oct 14, 2023
Sep 30, 2023
Poison is a short film by Wes Anderson, also based on a Roald Dahl story which is part of a quartet of shorts. It stars Benedict Cumberbatch as a man who claims he has a venomous snake on his stomach, and Dev Patel and Ben Kingsley. The film is an interesting attempt at suspense and irony, with a predictable twist and a lack of character development.
Oct 14, 2023
Sep 27, 2023
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar is a charming film by Wes Anderson, based on Roald Dahl's short story of the same name. It tells the tale of Henry Sugar who is played by Benedict Cumberbatch, a rich gambler who learns to see without his eyes and becomes a philanthropist. The film is a whimsical and heartwarming adventure, featuring a stellar cast and Anderson's signature style. It really felt like it was true to Roal Dahl's style and personality.
Oct 13, 2023
Aug 27, 2019
This is an underrated game that deserves more praise in my opinion. The gameplay is fluid, the physics and underlying technology is very advanced, and the story is surreal and atmospheric. It is filled with content, and it also ties into other games by Remedy such as Alan Wake. With that said, I enjoyed this much more than Alan Wake. Voice work and acting is great, and this is honestly the closest thing I could find to a decent Matrix simulator.
Oct 2, 2023
Feb 23, 2010
Heavy Rain the story of four characters who are involved in the case of a serial killer and it feels like many neo noir films such as the ones directed by Fincher. Through a combination of exploration, decision-making, and quick-time events, players can navigate a branching narrative that can lead to multiple outcomes and endings. The gameplay can be engaging, but it is also the case that the graphics havee not aged the best. All characters except the main ones do not look realistic, and the lack of detailed motion capture and proper voice actors hurt the game. With that said, it is entertaining, has a great soundtrack, and if the execution and writing was better, it would have made more of an impact.
Oct 1, 2023
Oct 24, 2016
The course covers various topics in physics, including mechanics, waves, electricity, magnetism, and more. It also covers more advanced topics such as fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, optics, and special relativity.
Sep 30, 2023
Jan 23, 2016
Manchester by the Sea tells the story of a man who returns to his hometown after the death of his brother and becomes the guardian of his teenage nephew. Through powerful performances by Casey Affleck and Lucas Hedges and a poignant narrative, Manchester by the Sea explores themes of grief, family, and redemption. The film received critical acclaim for its realistic portrayal of human emotions and was nominated for multiple Academy Awards which I believe to be well deserved..
Sep 29, 2023
Sep 28, 2013
Inside Llewyn Davis is a drama film written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. As can be expected, this has some subtle humor that is similar to the Coen brothers' previous films. The movie follows the life of a folk singer navigating the vibrant folk music scene of Greenwich Village in the 1960s. The cinematography is great and compelling performances by Oscar Isaac offers a poignant and introspective exploration of the human experience.
Sep 28, 2023
In this episode, Lex and Mark conduct the conversation as codec avatars and delve into the concept of the metaverse, discussing its potential impact on society, technology, and human interaction. The conversation explores a wide range of topics, including virtual reality, augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and the future of communication.
Sep 25, 2023
Charles Seife, Feb 7, 2000
This is a book that explores the fascinating history and significance of the number zero in mathematics and its impact on various fields, including science, philosophy, and culture. It starts off with the Greeks and then proceeds onto zero and its implications. It also manages to make a case for why zero and infinity are two sides of the same coin. What is interesting is that in more recent times, the implications of zero have affected the physical world and theoretical physics which indicates that number theory has a singificant impact on our society today.
Sep 24, 2023
Jan 28, 2016
After playing Uncharted, this is not as fulfilling, but it is still a good game. The graphics are highly detailed, and the story is more involved than the previous installment. Lara Croft is becoming a more fleshed out character, and the gameplay is both fulfilling and coming into its own while maintaining some of the appeal of more classic Tomb Raider games. Voice work is good, and execution is just solid overall. I think it does not do anything particularly novel or gamechanging, but it is very well executed.
Sep 23, 2023
Mar 17, 2023
Shin Kamen Rider is the most recent of the tokusatsu remakes that Hideaki Anno was invovlved with. Like Shin Ultraman, this feels more like a series than a film. The soundtrack was outstanding and really added to the film. It is very faithful to the style of the old Kamen Rider series, but I wish it used less CGI as many of the special effects could have been done practically. It is enjoyable, but it also feels somewhat cold as though the characters did not have that much personality. I think this could be an issue with the acting as people wearing masks need to express themselves with their body and I did not see that quite as much here as I would have prefered.
Sep 22, 2023
Sep 1, 2006
Idiocracy is a satirical science fiction film directed by Mike Judge, so it has similarities to Office Space. The movie depicts a dystopian future where society has become incredibly dumbed-down and anti-intellectual. The story is not that great, but it is surprisingly relevant today. This film offers a thought-provoking critique of contemporary culture and the potential consequences of societal decline. I think as time passes, its relevance will likely grow.
Sep 20, 2023
Aug 22, 2017
This is not quite as good as the mainline Uncharted games, but the quality of gameplay is equivalent and somewhat more refined. The playable character of Chloe was an interesting one what managed to maintain the humor of Nathan Drake, and the location of Southern India was also recreated very well. I think what this may be missing in comparison to the other games is character development and depth, but other than that this is a very well crafted game.
Sep 19, 2023
Mar 4, 2000
Before Mamoru Hosoda created Summer Wars, he created this and it is good for a 40 minute film. The film follows the DigiDestined and their Digimon partners as they face a new threat in the form of a computer virus that threatens to infect the real world. It feels like a cross between War Games and Summer Wars and the threat of a thermonuclear missile is very daring for a film that is meant for children. The representation of old Windows operating systems is also interesing. It should be noted that the way in which the internet is represented is not accurate, but it is entertaining.
Sep 19, 2023
James Joyce, Dec 29, 1916
I read this as part of some preparation prior to reading Ulysses. It follows the life and development of Stephen Dedalus, a young Irish artist, as he navigates his way through religious and societal expectations, personal identity, and his own artistic ambitions. The novel explores themes of self-discovery, rebellion, and the conflict between individual freedom and societal constraints. The prose is lyrical and the narrative is introspective. I think it would make an good experimental indie film. The focus on Catholicism was surprisingly not that foreign since there are many Irish Catholics within the United States. Overall, I thought it was very well written and not afraid of taking risks.
Sep 16, 2023
May 13, 2022
Shin Ultraman is Japanese science fiction superhero film directed by Shinji Higuchi and written by Hideaki Anno and can be considered a successor of sorts to Shin Gojira. It feels like a film that was directed by someone who time traveled from the 60's in modern times. As a result, it is a strange film that is very smartly written, but executed in a somewhat clunky manner as a homage to the original Ultraman. The strange special effects of the 60's look bizarre in modern Japan, but they also have a certain charm. It should te noted that the characters don't seem to talk like real people and have more stylized speech patterns. Special effects that are intended to be modern such as CGI are a bit lacking by modern standards as well, but these can be overlooked. From a story standpoint, I think it does not dumb down its content and presents an interesting and novel premise where intelligent life can be utilized as weapons of mass destruction. Overall, I enjoyed it, but I think audiences must be familiar with the original Ultraman to appreciate it.
Sep 16, 2023
Nov 27, 2014
I am glad I managed to finish the conclusion to the series. This was honestly one of the best gaming experiences I ever had and it was masterfully constructed. The story by Neil Druckmann was reminiscent of the straight forward story telling of Steven Speilberg and although the title can be played on its own, it does fit well within the whole series. Character development is great and voice acted terrifically. The gameplay itself was cinematic (although somewhat predictable at times) with the underlying technology feeling well ahead of its time. Physics, graphics, and textures were at a level that I think can be hard to match even today. It is also extremely dense with content with lines of dialogue being spoken based on the contextual actions of the player. I honestly think that this along with Metal Gear Solid 4 and Halo 3 are some of the best conclusions in modern video games.
Sep 12, 2023
Walter Isaacson: Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, Einstein, Da Vinci & Ben Franklin | Lex Fridman Podcast #395
Sep 10, 2023
In this episode of the Lex Fridman Podcast, Walter Isaacson discusses his recent work about Elon Musk as well as his overall career.
Sep 10, 2023
Dec 6, 1999
The Green Mile is a powerful drama film directed by Frank Darabont, based on the novel by Stephen King. The focus on death row and mortality makes it easily relatable. The film received critical acclaim for its performances, storytelling, and emotional impact which I believe to be well justified. Acting by everyone involved is great, and I think this is a film that everyone can appreciate.
Sep 9, 2023
Jul 13, 1978
This is better than the remake, but it also suffers as a film. For one, it has repetitive humor. With that said, the choreography and fight scenes which recreates famous scenes from Bruce Lee's films are great and showcases Sammo Hung's abilities despite his size.
Sep 8, 2023
Nov 27, 2014
I wanted to play some of the older Resident Evil games and I have to say that it is very different from the later entries. For one, this involves a lot of backtracking. In all honesty, this is more of a puzzle game with horror elements. The fixed camera angles can be frustrating, but at the same time leads to a more cinematic experience. It's very well crafted, but I also considered it to be clunky due to its adherence to some older game mechanics. This, combined the limited number of saves makes it more challenging than it needs to be.
Sep 4, 2023
Jul 23, 2020
This is in guilty pleasure territory. I think as a comedy, it is somewhat funny. As an action film, it is entertaining with some scenes coming across as impressive, but it isn't Donnie Yen's best. Overall, I don't really recommend it.
Sep 3, 2023
Jul 28, 2021
This is a decent action thriller and police drama that has some good action sequences. The acting is good, and the real downsides are in terms of execution from the production team when it comes to editing and shakey camerawork. In addition to this, there are some issues with framerates which I did not find all that pleasing. With all of that said, the action was good and it is entertaining. It is not a kung fu film, but the use of modern martial arts was much appreciated. Overall, good although lacking in multiple areas. I feel like it had the potential to be better. When it comes to thrillers, it does not even come close to classics such as Infernal Affairs.
Sep 3, 2023
Feb 8, 2022
This is a challenging game with quite a lot of depth and a sizeable learning curve. There is a decent amount of memorization and reflexes involved if you want to become skilled enough to win. This, in addition to the realistic combat that uses Wing Chun as the base makes for a somewhat educational playthrough as well. With all that said, the normal ending is not the only ending and I find the actual ending to be near impossible due to the amount of focus needed on a mental level to properly choose non-violent options. Due to the depth, I think this is a game I will be revisiting often in the future and hopefully reaching a level of mastery in so as to reach the other ending.
Sep 2, 2023
Apr 3, 1985
This is very much an 80's film and it feels like the Hong Kong equivalent of Breakin'. With that said, the level of skill is far higher here, and the use of slapstick humor keeps things more fresh. Donnie Yen is incredibly athletic, and the level of breakdancing is at a top level. The story is weak, but the choreography and stunts make it entertaining.
Sep 1, 2023
Jun 14, 2023
It's not as bad as reviews may lead one to believe, but I can definitively say that this film suffers from a lack of identity and vision. The first half felt like some sort of parody with scenes that appeared to have very little in terms of stakes or emotional weight. The second half had some interesting ideas that were simply not well executed. The Flashpoint stories were handled much better in the animated universe, so it feels strange to see it butchered here when it was already handled so well before in other works. With that said, the acting was good. Ezra Miller and Michael Keaton have proved themselves in other films, so this was not a surprise. However Sasha Calle's presence led to a standout performance that I was not expecting to be as good as it was. Overall, disappointing, but not the worst that DC has to offer.
Aug 27, 2023
May 13, 2016
I played a fair bit of Unreal Tournament, so this was easy to pick up as it had many similarities. The gameplay is challenging, but the learning curve is not unfair. It plays very well and has enough variety to be entertaining. The story and art is quite stylized and the soundtrack by Mick Gordon gives the game much of its personality. Overall, a very good game that feels retro and modern at the same time.
Aug 26, 2023
Apr 24, 1977
I thought this was a good conclusion that was an improvement over the second film, but not quite as good as the first one. In this film, there is a focus on Rocket, and the visuals and elements from source material seem to be almost everywhere. For once in a long time, this is a Marvel movie that actually has funny moments and good humor. In addition to this, there are moments that are incredibly emotional which is rare for a marvel film. Acting is good, and the soundtrack which draws from the 80's and 90's is also good. I think what is clear from this is that a clear directorial vision is what is most important when it comes to these types of films. James Gunn has delivered a good film once again and if he weren't in charge of DC, I would have considered him a good candidate for directing the next Avengers film.
Aug 23, 2023
Aug 23, 2023
An absolutely flawless landing with a suspenseful horizontal velocity drop. I hope we'll learn more about the moon's south pole through this mission and that there are no future complications.
Aug 20, 2023
Aug 23, 2016
A very good sequel to Human Revolution that improves upon the gameplay while not necessarily improving upon the story or ideas. In addition to this, the art design is more subdued with the Renaissance inspirations being replaced by more modern sensibilities. Because of this, the personality and uniqueness of the previous entry is gone. In addition to this, the complexity of the ideas is lower. Finally, the stakes are not as high with the importance of the events in the story seeming as though it is more of a side story that develops the character of Adam Jensen rather than a true sequel. Despite this, it is a very well rounded and solid game and the soundtrack is very good. While it does not innovate in the way the original Deus Ex or Human Revolution did in terms of hard science fiction, its theme of augmentation as a source of discrimination can easily be made relevant to current events. Overall, it is worth the time, and the main game and DLC has a fair amount of depth.
Aug 19, 2023
Apr 24, 1977
This is an incredibly smartly made work of animation that has more to it that what lies on the surface. The characters are unique, and the stories are simple. Despite that, there are some lessons everyone can learn from here. In many ways, I consider this to be like Alan Watts for a wider audience. Overall, a very underated film that is one of Disney's best.
Aug 18, 2023
Jan 22, 2023
This is a significant improvement over the first film. What should be noted is that since this is not a sequel and it focuses on the entire human race, it manages to have more interesting stakes. The use of multiple languages as well as a some interesting sci-fi tropes makes it feel fresh. Special effects are also surprisingly good. I think its biggest issues are its pacing and editing, but overall, I think this is a sign that China is getting better at producing high budget blockbuster films.
Aug 7, 2023
Feb 1, 2019
This is a love letter to the previous entries as well as a look towards the future of air combat. In this, there is a space elevator, orbital weapons, droneships, simulation theory, and the usual geopolitics. It is a difficult game, but very rewarding. I enjoyed it very much despite it not being as good as Ace Combat Zero in my opinion. The story was good with a great ending, and the dogfights, though not being as intense Ace Combat Zero, it has its moments which require extreme levels of concentration and focus. The soundtrack here is the best out of the entire series, and is probably one of the best video game soundtracks that I have heard out of all the games I have played. The airplanes are detailed, and each mission was well structured with small details that add to the replay value. Overall, I consider it a great game that continues to show how underrated this series is.
Aug 6, 2023
Jun 15, 2023
Like the previous entries, this and the OVA that precedes it is a lot of fun, albeit a bit over the top at times. This time, we have hot air balloons, platinum, oil, powered ships, and remote controlled drones. A decent amount has changed since the start where even basic things needed to be put together with sticks and stones. With each new episode, there are new and interesting characters, and it just manages to stay fresh. Compared to previous entries, this might have some pacing issues, but beyond this, it is quite good.
Aug 5, 2023
Jun 27, 2007
This is a film that is based off of the graphic novel of the same name. In addition to it being autobiographical, it manages to cover the changes that Iran had underwent in the second half of the 20th century and what it was like to live within it. The animation is simple, but effective, and each frame prioritizes clarity over anything else, so it is easy to follow. The combination of historical turmoil ad personal development contextualizes everything and makes the story compelling. Overall, very well structured, and one of the best adaptations of a graphic novel I have seen so far.
Aug 4, 2023
Apr 28, 2023
This did not meet my expectations. There is a lack of good character development, and action scenes were not filmed as well as I would have expected from Mani Ratnam. Acting is good, but the pacing was not the best. In addition to this, there are many characters who play key roles, but were not introduced or developed adequately to justify their importance. Scenes that should have been more important were too short while there were others that were too long which indicates improper editing. Overall, I think while it did make me wish there were more historical dramas in Tamil film, this film itself is lacking in many areas.
Jul 30, 2023
Apr 6, 2016
This is a master course in historical dramas and despite its simplicity, it manages to cover a period of Japanese history through the lens of a niche form of Japanese entertainment. I remember reading some rakugo when I was learning Japanese many years ago, so it was interesting to get a deeper understanding of it through this series. It not only had some similarities to novels from the era, but also had some similarities to other great films that cover the turmulent times of the 1900's within east Asia. Overall, quite good, and I hope to watch the second season eventually.
Jul 29, 2023
Mar 13, 2023
This is a movie that does not have a spectacular story or great acting. And yet I still consider it a great film. Why? Because of the action, the attention to detail, the production, and the pure physicality that went into this. Every actor that played a role in the action handled the choreography very well. The camera work was incredibly sophisticated, and the music (particularly by Le Castle Vania was great) and I wish I could have seen it imax. There was a scene that was reminiscient of Hotline Miami which I really liked as well. Keanu Reeves, Donnie Yen, and Scott Adkins in particular stole the show for me. I think this is a good conclusion, and it felt like one long unstoppable action set piece for me. Its scale is at a level that hasn't been reached previously in the series, and it felt like the martial arts equivalent of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. If the speed of the choreography was faster, I might have put it on the level of some Hong Kong films or The Raid.
Jul 29, 2023
Aug 15, 2017
This is a psychological horror game that takes place in a cyberpunk Poland. The gameplay is not particularly groundbreaking as it primarily involves exploration and problem solving. The majority of its appeal is in its approach to transhumanist concepts such as digitization of the human mind an augmentation. Voice work and environments are also great with Rutger Hauer's presence much appreciated, and the availability of raytracing making many areas appear photorealistic. The way in which light and sound is used to extend horror aspects and disorient the player are also really great. In this sense, it feels like a successor to games like SOMA or a scifi Silent Hill (even though Signalis exists). Overall, good, but not perfect. It can definitely be improved and it does drag at times, but it is clear a lot of work went into it.
Jul 23, 2023
Oct 28, 2016
This is an incredibly well balanced game that felt like a Hollywood film at times. The only reason why it did not was due to the lack of cutscenes and emphasis on gameplay over story. With that said, voice work was great and the interaction between characters was promising although underdeveloped. Parkour and other controls felt very smooth and probably more smooth than Halo. Freerunning did feel slow, but after playing Ghostrunner, most parkour probably feels slow. Overall, I'm surprised this series has not gotten more attention as it seems quite underrated given its high production quality.
Jul 23, 2023
Mar 6, 1999
This is a prequel to the series, and for a movie, it is surprisingly short at only 20 minutes. The animation is great, and some tracks from the series were used despite this preceding the show. Although it is not enough to make an impact due to its runtime, it reminded me of why the series is so appealing.
Jul 22, 2023
Jul 11, 2023
Almost 10 years after the Imitation game which covered the cracking of Enigma, we finally get a great movie about the Manhattan project. This was great on most accounts: soundtrack, acting, pacing, special effects, attention to detail and production. It could have been trimmed down as there were some scenes that felt extraneous, but due to the tight pacing, it does not detract from the overall quality too much. The atomic bomb as well as quantum processes are depicted very well with practical effects, and they all looked real. Its commentary on nuclear warfare and the concerns of the time were also conveyed effectively. I think compared to Nolan's history as a director, this reminded me most of Memento as it is primarily linear in nature and it tells a story rather than navigates a particular plot structure. Rather than be about a moment, or a series of moments, it was about a man's life as a whole which was something that I don't think Nolan ever did in his previous works. This departure is welcome and shows that, despite his changing sensibilities, he is still very much capable of directing films that are novel and have something to say. If this does not win an Oscar of some sort, I would be incredibly surprised.
Jul 21, 2023
Dec 27, 2022
I don't remember Bleach ever being this good except for a few episodes here and there in the original show. The animation is way better, the music by Shiro Sagisu is still great, and there is no filler. Not to mention, since it's no longer a day time anime, it's far more gory like the manga. I was impressed with the show from beginning to end, and its style reminded me of why I love more stylized works with personality.
Jul 21, 2023
Oct 27, 2020
Games about mental illness are rare, but it should be noted that they are difficult to execute. This one is well handled and it uses technology, audio, and unreliable narration to accomplish its goals. Acting was central and it was also handled well with motion capture and live action. There were many sequences here that reminded me of the introduction to The Phantom Pain which is fairly impressive. Gameplay with combat and puzzles were not bad, but these aspects were not the primary draw of this game. For me, the story along with its Norse background gave it a unique feel. Overall, the graphics were great, and the story was good too. It made an impact and I am interesteed in how the technology improves in the sequel.
Jul 20, 2023
Dan Simmons, May 26, 1989
Maybe this was innovative for 1989, but compared to other novels that I read, it seems to just be a repackaged Canterbury Tales with science fiction thrown in. The ideas here are not particularly innovative to the point that I've seen ultimate intelligences in other areas such as the mainstream Marvel franchise. With that said, if we were to take it as what it is, which is a collection of short stories, I felt like there was a lot here that was lost. The stories could have been interconnected, but they were not beyond the common point of Hyperion and the Shrike. Despite this, the world building and character development was well handled with each story showing more of the universe Dan Simmons wanted to portray. Ending on a cliffhanger was a strange choice, but it was not of much consequence since there never really was a sense of suspense in the story despite human existence being at stake due to the fragmented pacing which is a direct result of separating everything into short stories. When compared to other short story collections like Jorge Luis Borges' Fictions, this is inferior and has less of the novelty and magic that I would think to expect in this genre. Borges' works still give to this day because they are difficult to replicate. This does not have those same qualities. Overall, better than most stories, but not particularly original or unique.
Jul 15, 2023
May 31, 2023
I think this is a good movie, but it is starting to feel like a franchise now, and that makes me worried, because it seems like it is running out of steam. What keeps it entertaining for me is the use of humor and the action. However, like the second film, it does not have the novelty of the first film. In addition to that, the pacing and stakes just doesn't seem to be the same. Each film has a different premise, but at the end of the day, it's cops going after bad guys. I liked it, but I think I'm concerned about it losing its touch in future installments.
Jul 15, 2023
Oct 27, 2020
When I started this, everything happened so quickly that I thought that I was getting old. Then I got used to it and my reflexes and decision making reached speeds I did not know were possible for me. The game is beautiful (especially with raytracing turned on), but since the player moves quickly through the environment, the only way one can fully appreciate it is by slowing down and dying often. The game is based on quick decision making, but not necessarily fast twitch reflexes which makes it accessible. The soundtrack is good, and the story which borrows from works like Ghost in the Shell allow for interesting mechanics within the game itself. I would have liked for there to have been greater world building, but this is not an RPG, so that can be easily forgiven. Overall, very challenging and uses a set of skills that people do not usually use.
Jul 13, 2023
Mar 26, 2000
A surprisingly underrated show directed towards children. Although it didn't blow my mind, I was surprised at how deep it could get in some aspects. There's themes like climate change, the metaverse, and domestic terrorism which is somewhat crazy for the early 2000's. Overall, I found it enjoyable, found character designs to be original, and thought the soundtrack was great. It could definitely be trimmed down and improved, but it does go beyond what I'd expect from a show that is intended to derive profit from merchandising.
Jul 10, 2023
Aug 8, 1989
This is not James Cameron's best film, but I liked it. I think the writing could have been improved, but the set pieces, underwater filming, and special effects made it interesting for me. It felt like an underwater 2001, but perhaps with less depth to it in terms of the themes and concepts it is trying to deal with. I think if it is viewed as just a fun action science fiction film, most people will find it to be a good time.
Jul 8, 2023
Nov 10, 2020
A divorced man becomes 18 again and then decides he does not want to be 18 anymore and becomes no longer divorced. That is the entire story, and everything that happens is really just philosophizing on life. Given this, it could be argued that nothing of substance really happened, but the premise alone makes for some entertaining situations.
Jul 4, 2023
Sep 30, 2022
This is a compelling epic that is close to the level of China's Red Cliff. It feels reminiscient of Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones, but there are some small things that keep it from reaching the level of those works. To begin, the execution is great. Mani Ratnam is not known for special effects and action, but it is handled very well here and every shot is well thought out. For me, the first half of this film is great. It is at the level that I would expect from an epic and the acting is great on all fronts. The second half drags, and there are some issues with editing and pacing which hold it back. Simply put, some things are not developed, while other things feel like they take too long. Maybe it might be better if it were a tv series instead of a film. With all that said, I do consider it a good movie, and will be watching part 2 in the future.
Jul 3, 2023
Nov 14, 2016
This is a very strong film that made me gain a new appreciation for Pacific Islander culture. There is a great passion here for seafaring and the ocean at large. Voicework is very well done. One thing I find kind of lacking is the number of characters present, but by focusing on two characters, it manages to stay relatively tightlly executed. Animation is clean, and it seems like the lessons learned from other Disney 3d animated films and Pixar are used to good effect. Overall, one of the better 3d animated Disney films despite its simplicity.
Jul 2, 2023
Mar 10, 2023
I am not the most familiar with Dungeons and Dragons outside of some pc games, but I am surprised that Vin Diesel or Joe Manganiello were not involved. With that said, I don't think you need to be familiar to enjoy this film. There are some very creative sequences here where magic and the world's lore was used to comedic effect. Simply put, while it did feel like a standard heist film, it also felt very original due the way in which the . It is a good film that could have been helped by leaning more into its characters, but it was a good time from beginning to end.
Jul 1, 2023
Jul 21, 2016
This is a zombie game that is very similar to Organ Trail. As a result, I ended up finishing this far more quickly since I had a decent idea of how to approach this beforehand. This, in addition to finishing on Canada Day helped to provide me with an advantage during my final playthrough. Simply put, the majority of the game is resource management, but there is a roguelite element where you control a character that is followed by AI characters. The AI characters are interesting, and the humor within the game keeps it lighthearted and entertaining. The difficulty rises significantly prior to reaching Canada, but there are perks that can be used across playthroughs to even the odds. Overall, not perfect or deep, but it's gameplay loop is enough to keep oneself occupied.
Jul 1, 2023
Jul 1, 2023
It's a lot of fun and does its job as a parody. I don't think it's at the level of One Punch Man, but its sense of humor makes it very entertaining.
Jun 30, 2023
Aug 8, 2014
This is an interesting film to watch within the context of the aftermath of the Titan implosion. With that said, the film itself does not stand that well on its own due to the fact that it is somewhat light on details. I wished it showed more of what was underwater as well as got into the inner workings of the vessel. Reaching the ocean floor was surprisingly unceremonious, and underwhelming despite the achievement itself being very impressive. I think it was an interesting documentary, but it is not a great film by any means.
Jun 29, 2023
Max Brooks, Sep 12, 2006
This is a narrative of a alternate history where zombies have taken over. The approach is interesting, but also very dry at times. With that said, the different perspectives all across the world kept it relatively fresh. One notable issue is that Max Brooks' understanding of different countries and geopolitical pressures is outdated and sometimes simply incorrect. Another issue is that the characters seem to be fairly homogenous which makes it come across as less interesting. Overall, somewhat enjoyable, but very flawed.
Jun 29, 2023
Jun 29, 2023
With the latest dataset, we now have indication of gravitational wave backgrounds in addition to background radiation. This provides us with the ability to not only use the electromagnetic spectrum, but also use gravity as a way to analyze the universe. The way in which pulsars were used for precise measurements is very impressive and I think this is probably one of the first galactic scale tools that humanity has created or utilized for any purpose. Compared to other methods such as those used with background radiation, this required an incredibly high level of precision and a large amount of time. While I am not sure if this will win a Nobel prize since other works related to gravity have already won in the past, I would not be surprised if it wins awards from other organizations in the near future.
Jun 28, 2023
David A. Sinclair, Sep 10, 2019
This is David Sinclair's book about the slowing and reversing of aging. While it could have gone more in depth into the research, it seemed to focus more on the future of society due to increased lifespan and the shortcomings of modern healthcare. This is fine, but I do with it had a greater focus on the biology involved like the first half of the book. With that said, the history of the field and the references provide a good set of background studies to further understanding in the field.
Jun 24, 2023
Aug 6, 1986
This is what the Goonies should have been. It is realistic, the dialogue is great, and the characters are relatable. Since this is somewhat autobiographical, it has Stephen King's personal touch which makes it flow very well. Overall, this is a great film and probably one of the better Stephen King adaptations.
Jun 23, 2023
Oct 26, 1955
This is my first James Dean film. I think the story itself is simple, but good acting keeps it interesting. Camera work and shot composition is great as well. The focus on psychology, family dynamics, and coming of age are rather unique for the time in which this was made. I think the primary weakpoint of this film is its ending, but other than that, it holds up very well today.
Jun 23, 2023
Mar 29, 1998
There are not many commercial works that use cellular biology as a part of its plot, but this game based on a novel does it and it is very interesting. The idea that mitochondria use cells as vehicles and can cause combustion when orchestrated to do so is very original. The gameplay is unique in that it is turn based, but also real time. I think the short playtime compared to other rpgs also made it very viable. Despite it taking place in the New York City of the 90's, it felt modern and not as clunky as I thought it would be. Overall, I liked it quite a lot and think it aged very well.
Jun 21, 2023
Dec 23, 2022
This is an animated film from the director of Colorful. Similarly, this deals with some of the pressures of school life. Comparatively, I think it is obvious that this was animated on a budget. It was easy to tell what was cgi and what was 2d. With that said, things definitely picked up later in the second half and finished strong which significantly improved the pacing, animation, and quality of the story. The soundtrack by Fuuki Harumi was probably the greatest part about it. If it were more consistent from a quality standpoint and had more character development, I might say that this is a good film, but since it was not, it may be better to read the novel instead. This is not to say it wasn't a worthwhile watch because it dragged in the beginning, but rather that it could have been much better.
Jun 20, 2023
Dec 25, 2022
The majority of this was entertaining. The ending was sloppy. Compared to the manwha, I think this is a step down, but it has good pacing. Like most k-dramas, the acting is a bit over the top, but I think this is to be expected. I personally wish it delved more into the actual economics, finances, and historical events of Korea's past, but I think that for most audiences, the level of detail is acceptable. I think it is a worthwhile watch, but the ending did ruin much of the story as a whole for me.
Jun 17, 2023
Dec 12, 2022
James Cameron has been to the bottom of the sea, but if you watch this film, you absolutely cannot tell. Writing felt sloppy and besides some of the underwater motion capture, many of the techniques used are not that novel. This film shoud have come out at least five years ago. Acting is good, and James Cameron's casting is on point, but the stakes of the second film are significantly smaller and less ground is covered. It should also be mentioned that since James Horner died, the soundtrack was composed by Simon Franglen who worked with James Horner in the past. The first film had a full arc, full character development, while this felt like a nature documentary on a fictional planet. I don't see the point of additional sequels if the stakes aren't raised and there isn't more substance in the story.
Jun 16, 2023
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, Jan 1, 1605
This is such a strange book and I feel that I would have found it far more enjoyable if it were in a different medium or format. I can tell that it has humor, but the simple matter of a knight errant making fun of chivalry indirectly is not enough for me. I suppose the style of the story is what made it difficult to enjoy. There was character development and depth in the writing, but I had trouble staying engaged. I will not be reading volume 2 any time soon.
Jun 11, 2023
Jun 29, 2021
This is a story with many moving plot points that are interwoven masterfully. I'm honestly surprised that there are not more stories like this nowadays, but the approach taken here is something that is reminiscient of older Nolan films. With that said, it is not action heavy, and actually has a rather calm style of pacing which makes it unique. The use of a neurological disorder as a plot mechanic was also very creative and gave a great excuse to make all the characters look like animals. I think I would have preferred that the story did not end with a cliffhanger, but other than that, this was a great series.
Jun 10, 2023
Feb 15, 2023
I watched this for Paul Rudd, but there was less Paul Rudd than I preferred, very little character development, and the stakes didn't seem to have much of an impact. Overall, a waste of time. I think the bigger issue is that I don't understand what all these films are building up to or rather that I don't particularly care.
Jun 4, 2023
Aug 4, 2022
This is a narrative heavy game that looks back on life and family. The game is basically a mouse based clicker where you click through scenes. Honestly, I do not know why this was a game rather than some other medium as the gameplay only really offered the ability to rotate the scene and view things at different angles. With that said, the music was emotionally powerful and the voice work was well done.
Jun 4, 2023
Jun 3, 2019
Although it was not the most accurate, the liberties it took made it better in my opinion. The acting and pacing was great. This took the audience through the whole process and also the huge undertaking involved in getting hte reactor under control and the aftermath. It showed how the Soviets would have approached a problem as well as why the Chrenobyl incident happened. The approach was very similar to Thirteen Lives, and the straight forward storytelling kept it tight. Overall, very well done and is probably one of the greatest mini series I have seen so far.
Jun 3, 2023
Jun 2, 2023
The first film was, in my opinion, one of the greatest works of animation ever made. The second film is just as great, but has different strengths. The animation and the ambitiousness of the story are better here. However, the plot is slightly less focused, and the soundtrack does not hit as hard despite still being very good. I think part of the reason for this is because this is only part one, but since there is a lot of setup with less resolution, the payoff is not quite as high as the first film as a standalone work. With that said, there was not a moment when I was watching this where I was not impressed. Every frame was a work of art, and each scene had multiple layers to it. One of the things I was looking forward to with this one was the new characters and they did not disappoint. Overall, it is arguably as great as the previous film.
May 29, 2023
May 2, 2021
This one was a lot of fun. It's not perfect, but it was enjoyable and had a mixture of humor and serious moments. The way in which normal civilians were turned into members of a home grown Korean mafia was very interesting with each unassuming member of a residential complex having their own secret past. It has a bit of everything and compared to other Korean dramas which can be overdramatic, this one was a good time.
May 28, 2023
Sep 20, 1985
I think the presentation here might be divisive, but I thought this was a well crafted film. The colors and the shots are well placed, and it feels like a film from one or two decades earlier. The narration combined with the reenactment of Yukio Mishima's final moments was well structured. There is a clear expression of artistic passion here that gives the film a sense of momentum.
May 27, 2023
Feb 2, 2021
I feel like hacking games can be hit or miss and this one was a fairly mediocre experience. The UI felt clunky, and the hacking was fairly unrealistic which is typical in this type of genre. Overall, not bad, but I wouldn't recommend it.
May 25, 2023
Dec 09, 2022
Dr. David Sinclair covers the cutting edge of treatment for biological aging and what the causes of aging are. There is some coverage of biological escape velocity, but the majority is split into pathways and anatomical systems. It moves from molecular biology to topics like stem cells, genetics, and organ rejuvenation. Overall, it is rather thorough and it provides a perspective on research in the area over the past few decades.
May 20, 2023
Oct 28, 2019
It's okay. Although this is a tribute to the franchise, there isn't really a sense of resolution here. It's a good send off to the series, but there isn't really a conclusion. It was filmed well, and color grading was exceptionally good, but it feels lacking. I think perhaps that is maybe a main complaint of many films in this series as it does not seem to have an end in mind, but beyond that, it is well executed.
May 15, 2023
Aug 21, 2020
This is a fairly emotional game with a story that can be a bit difficult to follow at times. The gameplay contains platforming and puzzles primarily. Controls can feel clunky and things can feel slow which can be frustrating sometimes. With all of this said, the primary message about pain and loss is well handled and it has solid music and visuals. It's not perfect, but it sometimes hits the right notes and it is not that long in terms of playtime.
May 14, 2023
Apr 25, 2013
I wanted to watch this for a while, but never got around to it. This is a film that has that indie feel. This is nothing groundbreaking, but the perspective on divorce was interesting and somewhat educational. It doesn't do anything wrong, but it does not do anything that is new or novel either. It's not bad, it's just not great.
May 14, 2023
Nov 16, 2022
In this, Chris Hemsworth goes over different areas of longevity. It covers a number of topics from neural degeneration to mobility to autophagy and cold exposure. I think it's a good primer, and it's fine for a general audience. I wish it could have gone deeper into the science and literature, but shows like this usually don't as that could be alienating.
May 13, 2023
Feb 14, 2002
This is Mani Ratnam's coverage of the Sri Lankan civil war and the Tamil Tigers. However, it does not get into politics and speaks more about peace and war through the eyes of an adopted child. The story is quite simple, but the editing and emotional hook is what makes an impact. All actors played their roles well and it was interesting to see the differences between Indian Tamil and Sri Lankan Tamil. I wish the scenes of war were filmed a bit better, but this could be due to the limitations of the special effects they used. With that said, there were some scenes such as missile and mortar strikes that looked completely real, so this gap is confusing. Overall, this is one of Mani Ratnam's better films and is absolutely worth watching.
Mar 13, 2023
Sep 21, 2022
A prequel to Rogue One. While this wasn't quite at the level of the Mandalorian, it was well acted, and the special effects were great. Everything looked real and the use of good sets and practical effects definitely helped. Diego Luna was great in this, and I'm a bit surprised I don't see more of him in other works. From a story perspective, I think there are arcs which are interesting and arcs that are now. In my opinion, it started weak, but ended strong. I personally didn't care for the subplots as they did not seem to carry much weight in the large scheme of things.
May 10, 2023
Jul 26, 2021
This is like a 2d Splinter Cell mixed with Hotline Miami. It's a lot of fun. The enemy AI is fairly sophisticated, and the gameplay has a decent amount of depth. Story is generic, but for its short playtime, it is very enjoyable.
Mar 7, 2023
Richard P. Feynman, Jan 1, 1994
Decades have passed since the writing of this book, and pedagogical materials as well as physics itself has advanced quite a bit. I think this is easy to follow, but compared to something like Khan Academy, it is inferior. For what it is, it is a good introductory lesson in physics that offers decent coverage of basic topics.
Mar 6, 2023
Nov 25, 2022
This was much better than it had any right to be. The music was good, and the chemistry between characters made it entertaining. Kevin Bacon's role was funny, and it was enjoyable overall. Nothing particularly novel here, but it is a fun time.
Mar 2, 2023
Thomas Pynchon, Feb 28, 1973
A hard read, and it is tough to see the larger picture. Maybe there is no larger picture. The prose is dense and the story is strange. The plot moves around in an erratic fashion, and the relation to the V2 rocket is sometimes a side conversation. Honestly, I don't know how to react to this, but it is highly detailed and the result of a well studied author.
Apr 30, 2023
Mar 30, 2023
This is an open world exploration game with a focus on fishing and dredging items from the sea. It has a number of similarities to Subnautica, but unlike Subnautica this takes place in the early 1900's and not underwater. In addition to this, it has Lovecraftian elements mixed in. The gameplay loop where you fish to make money and then upgrade your ship is fun. I wish the world had more lore and content (especially later in the game), but the main story might be enough to keep most players satisfied.
Apr 29, 2023
Oct 4, 2018
I was not expecting a film this good to come from Peter Farelly of all people, but it did and I was pleasantly surprised. The acting by Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortenson was great and they had great chemistry. It very much felt like The Intouchables except it took place in segregation era America. That by itself should be a statement of its quality as a film. Overall, I very much liked it and hit many notes without needing to get too heavy in certain themes.
Apr 25, 2023
Apr 25, 2023
With the test flight of Starship and the failure of Hakuto, this has not been the best year for the commercial space industry so far. At least this mission had completed 8 of 10 milestones. Now, we'll need to wait for another mission and another 3 months to see the results of any improvements that are made. On another note, it was interesting to see that the majority of the stream was conducted in English.
Apr 23, 2023
Nov 6, 2007
I wanted to play a Lego game to get an idea of how the franchise is, and this is what I thought would be a good place to start. In terms of gameplay, it is not perfect and kind of clunky, but I imagine younger players would likely find it to be fun. Levels can be a bit difficult to navigate, but the puzzles are straightforward as long as you can make it past the combat scenes. With all that said, there are some things to be praised here. Music is pretty much the same as the film series. In addition to this, there are many characters and their models somehow manage to remain unique and identifiable. There are also many collectibles which provides a lot of replay value for those that enjoyed the gameplay. It has charm and humor, but it isn't perfect. Overall, it's more fun than it is frustrating.
Apr 23, 2023
Dec 24, 2022
I think some of the novelty of the previous entry has worn off, but this is still fun and entertaining. Animation is stylized and production is of top quality still. The cold war narrative combined with a more innocent Saturday morning cartoon type of feel really works well. Overall, nothing new, but very enjoyable, endearing, and very well executed.
Apr 22, 2023
Dec 27, 1989
This is my first Tora san film and it was very enjoyable. I liked seeing Japan in the 80's and the Japanese countryside as well. While this is a Tora san film, this one focuses on his nephew with Tora san acting as a wingman of sorts. I think what made this fun for me was that it showed an older Japan that was in the process of changing to a newer generation. Despite not seeing some of the previous films, I was not lost at all. Overall, I thought it was well handled. I may not necessarily consider it to be great, but it is quite solid and has a lot of replay value.
Apr 20, 2023
David Goggins, Dec 6, 2022
Compared to Can't Hurt Me which was a personal journey that is chronological in nature, this jumps around and is organized more into particular lessons or concepts. I think while the other manages to teach a lesson through a life story, this seems to be less organized and as a result, it was less impactful for me. With that all said, it was very interesting what Goggins did recently as well as the injuries and challenges he faced. I suppose one thing that really stuck out to me was how this time, everything seemed to have a primarily physical focus and the emotional side of things felt left out. There was also a lot of overlap with his previous book. Overall, I think it may be worth reading, but his first book is sufficient.
Apr 20, 2023
Apr 20, 2023
I waited almost 2 years to see this thing fly only for it to get scrubbed because of a frozen valve. Then when it did fly, it failed to detach the first stage. Not sure how to take this, but I suppose it is part of the process. It was nice, however, to see the full stack as well as the flip maneuver despite it failing.
Apr 16, 2023
Oct 18, 2018
This is a whodunnit that involves going back in time through the memory of those who died in the past. In addition to the work involved with figuring out who is who and how everyone died on the Obra Dinn, there is also a Lovecraftian aspect. Historical details such as Formosians speaking Hokkien and otherr languages made for a convincing story. Finally, the visual aesthetic of black and white was an interesting choice and provided an atmosphere that was not unlike reading a novel from the time in which this game takes place. Overall, very unique and highly detailed.
Apr 15, 2023
May 13, 1987
This has a very unique art style that feels like a stream of consciousness. Although some of the frames are basically just pans and zooms of a singular drawing, this does not take away too much from the overall work. The story and narration also gives it a very calm feeling. There also seems to be some sort of post war message, but it is not fully explored. Overall, I really liked this short animated film and its environmental focus.
Apr 15, 2023
May 3, 1956
I'm not the clearest why this won an Oscar, but it is filmed creatively and the camera work is well done. If there is a deeper message to this story, then maybe that could be the reason, but what that is is questionable. Although this could have been filmed in black and white like a silent film, the balloon's red color is able to stand out well in the frames and the color grading is handled deliberately. I imagine this may have served as inspiration for the Pixar film Up. The depiction of Paris at the time is also interesting. I think if it were any longer, it would have not performed as well, because there is only so much one can do with this premise before it loses its novelty.
Apr 9, 2023
Nov 9, 2022
This has many good ingredients, but the final product seems to lack focus and could be tighter. The production is good. The music is good. The actors are good. It should work in theory, but it does not. I think the antagonist of Namor was an interesting one, but the mixture of Namor as well as the death of Chadwick Boseman makes this movie lack focus. I wish they could have focused on one or the other. There are many different pieces here and in an ideal world, they would have just focused on one and made a good movie around that. But they didn't and as a result, it tries to do more than is needed, cuts certain things short, and ends up running longer than it needs to be.
Apr 9, 2023
Mar 24, 2022
A great point and click game with a very unique story. It feels like it has many similarities to Kentucky Route Zero, and the setting and surreal nature only adds to this feeling. The Gothic approach combined with religous and cyberpunk imagery makes it feel like it has its own identity. This is one of the better point and click games to come out in the past decade.
Apr 2, 2023
Sep 23, 2021
I went into this expecting something like Nausicaä, but this ended up being more like Zelda and Outer Wilds without the timeloop. The sense of exploration as well as the empty world made for a very solid game loop. With that said, it has its share of buggy physics, but this can be fixed with updates. The story is a coming of age story that takes the player across an apocalyptic wasteland. Despite this setting it is fairly upbeat and positive which makes it novel in my opinion. For a small studio, this is well done, the visuals are great, the music by Japanese Breakfast is calming, and the game is good overall.
Mar 26, 2023
Sep 2, 2021
The director duo of Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi do it again just like they did with Free Solo. The Thai cave story is very interesting and this manages to create the same level of tension that could be found in Free Solo. There are some differences in pacing, but it is dense in information and we follow the rescue from inception to aftermath. Compared to Thirteen Lives, this is superior. One is a dramatized adaptation and this is a documentary. Overall, both are good for different reasons and each handles different moments of the rescue better in certain respects, but if I had to choose, I would choose this.
Mar 25, 2023
Aug 5, 2022
This film by Ron Howard and written by William Nicholson is straight forward and filmed with little in the way of distractions. There is an equal focus on the Thai effort as well as the work of the A team cave divers which also makes it feel less like a typical Hollywood treatment. The sets felt incredibly realistic to the point that I thought they used the original cave. Overall, very solid film. A bit long, and maybe light on details in terms of events, but it brings across the suspense involved in cave diving. It recreated the large scale of the rescue effort very well.
Mar 25, 2023
Dec 21, 2022
A really fun film that is superior to the first one. The animation style is reminiscient of the semi cartoonish approach taken in Into the Spiderverse, and it works quite well here. There is something here for everyone, and although it isn't the heaviest in terms of drama or tonality, it manages to touch on the themes it wants to touch on decently. Overall, enjoyable and the return of Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek makes it feel like a familiar experience as well like meeting an old friend.
Mar 19, 2023
Jun 23, 2000
I have played Human Revolution, but the original is something that feels dated in gameplay, but ahead of its time in story. Gameplay is free and open with many options by which to traverse and complete levels. At it's base, it's really just a reskinned Thief with additional features and mechanics. However, where this shines is in its story and ideas. Things like mass surveilance, income and health inequality, the illusion of choice, one world governments, manufactured pandemics, AI based government, and artificial scarcity are covered here. JC Denton is an interesting character who has little emotion and loses all arguments until he is forced to make a choice in the ending. In addition to this, one of the endings here has surprising similarities to Ghost in the Shell which makes it interesting from an existential angle. Overall, I think this is a great game that would also benefit from a remake as long as the original ideas are kept. In terms of ideas, I think the ideas are as profound as the ideas presented in Metal Gear Solid for those who do not read philosophy.
Mar 14, 2023
Mar 14, 2023
GPT-4 is here, and we now have an idea of how much further it can go than GPT-3.5. We see new features such as image processing, a deeper understanding of text and the ability to do somewhat high levels of reasoning. Overall, very impressive. I am curious to test it out myself in the near future.
Mar 4, 2023
Nov 23, 2022
While this is not as good as Knives Out, I still enjoyed it. As a mystery, it is far simpler and more predictable. As a comedy, it is rather funny as it is able to make references to recent events and figures. The mention of the pandemic manages to ground it. Overall, I would not complain if Rian Johnson keeps making movies in this series as long as they are consistently good. Mysteries are not an oversaturated genre, and as long as they are done well, they can be highly entertaining.
Mar 3, 2023
Dec 5, 1963
This is fun and it feels very modern despite it being from the 60's. I came into this expecting it to be like North by Northwest, but it is really far more casual and relaxed. Paris as a location can be a tired trope for the time, but it works. Audrey Hepburn as the lead is something that I did not expect since Cary Grant is advertised as the main lead, but she absolutely carries this film. There are times when dialogue is somewhat stilted. This is played to comedic effect most of the time, but sometimes, it falls flat. Overall, very enjoyable and has aged incredibly well.
Mar 3, 2023
May 27, 1995
Some of the best camera work I have seen and is reminiscient of new wave films while being more refined due to newer techniques. The movie has a dreamlike flow as it moves through time at inconsistent intervals. At the same time, it manages to show the plight of poor youth in France and be rather compelling due to it being based on a number of similar historical events in modern France. Acting and dialogue is smooth and natural which is something I don't usually note, but it is something that comes across as being quite polished in this film. Overall, it is no surprise that this is consider one of the greatest modern French films.
Feb 25, 2023
May 28, 2009
Bong Joon Ho delivers again. While this is not at the level of Memories of Murder in my opinion, this is quite good. The plot moves in very unpredictable ways while also providing a statement on the state of South Korean during the time. Performances by Kim Hye Ja in particular and Won Bin are great. Overall, it is one of Bong Joon Ho's best, but Parasite and Memories of Murder are superior.
Feb 23, 2023
Jun 21, 2016
A visual novel style game like Coffee Talk except this has a cyberpunk background. While the cyberpunk background is underutilized, there are some interesting characters. At the same time, some characters feel under developed. There is an interesting setting here, and the lack of unique visuals hold the game back. The bartending aspect of it is fairly straight forward, and while it is not perfect, some of the character arcs are rewarding.
Feb 23, 2023
Neil deGrasse Tyson, Sep 20, 2022
Neil deGrasse Tyson is gloves off in his commentary on society through the lens of a scientist. From how our legal system and government works to the historical context behind our astronomical legacy to what death is and his opinions of it, Neil covers a lot of ground. He does not do it in the most graceful or emotionally cognizant manner, but he does manage to explore topics in such a way that he is able to get his points across. Some of the topics he covers such as how both sides of the political spectrum don't follow science is very interesting as well. Overall, a worthwhile read.
Feb 22, 2023
Carl Weston, Dec 6, 2018
A very short book that offers a primer on quantum physics as well as different areas that utilize it. It stars with a history of the field, and then moves to basic concepts before touching on its use in industry as well as more theoretical aspects. I don't recommend it unless you are fine with a surface level coverage and are pressed for time.
Feb 21, 2023
Feb 21, 2023
I don't usually watch reality shows, but this was interesting as it pitted people from different physical disciplines against each other. The challenges are actually very functional from a work out perspective, and in many ways, it helped to inform what types of muscle groups and bodies work best for certain tasks. What I learned from watching this is that functional strength is the most useful with stamina, technique, and tenacity being equally important. Overall, well produced, and quite focused on what it is trying to do which is to pit people at their physical peak against each other.
Feb 21, 2023
A few days ago, a paper was made which could offer an explanation for a possible source for dark energy in the universe. If it turns out that super massive black holes are a source of dark energy, it would be a huge game changer for theoretical physics. I am also curious how this affects theories like super symmetry and string based theories. From my perspective, this seems to strengthen the case for more dimensions of space, but I am curious how the field develops over the coming years. Also viewed a video provided by RAL Space which is a short explanation of the idea.
Feb 18, 2023
Aug 14, 1975
Although this is a cult classic, it feels very clumsily executed with Tim Curry being one of the only reasons to watch this. The music was okay, but there was really only 1 or 2 good songs here. The story was not the easiest to follow, and while things were zany, I thought it felt muddled. When compared to a film like Hedwig and the Angry Inch, this seems to lack the appeal or the deeper message that I would expect to see in a great film. Overall, it was not for me. There are better musical films out there.
Feb 11, 2023
Apr 28, 2006
This is a Paul Greengrass film which means that it feels real, and it is expected to have a high amount of suspense. This did not disappoint, and the last ten minutes where the passengers rush the cockpit of United 93 was incredibly tense. The details around the first three flights which were part of the 9/11 attacks were very well handled. We could see how communication and clearance to act were severely limited as well as the events leading up to the crash in Pennsylvania. Overall, very tense and is consistent with the high level of tension one would expect from Paul Greengrass.
Feb 8, 2023
Jul 1, 2022
I like rockets, so this film about ISRO which focuses on Nambi Narayanan was in guilty pleasure territory for me. What is nice about this compared to other Indian films is that it is primarily focused on its subject matter. With that said, editing and pacing is not the best, so it is lacking in the execution department. CGI is also quite lacking. Overall, while I liked it, it is not something everyone would enjoy, and from a critical angle, it is definitely flawed.
Feb 6, 2023
Jan 25, 2023
I have recently been getting more and more interested in aging at the cellular level, and then this came up which was good timing. In this, Bryan Johnson outlines his protocol for slowing down aging. While the content is interesting, it is also scientifically shaky. I believe greater scrutiny of the metrics used as well as examination of cellular aging would have made this much more interesting. With that said, I am glad that this topic is gradually making its way to the mainstream.
Jan 30, 2023
Feb 11, 2022
This is a game where you solve ciphers which are used to decode a coded version of an excerpt from a famous classical work. Ciphers are split into genres and difficulty of the ciphers can be adjusted. Overall, I think despite its simplicity, it's quite good. Completing this can provide a wider lexicon and grasp of the English language at a high level.
Jan 28, 2023
Oct 21, 1967
Not quite as good as Touch of Zen, but this was a lot of fun. Choreography, while dated, can be stylistic at times. Camera work and frames which include nature are great and colorful. Overall, fairly consistent with what I'd expect from a King Hu flick.
Jan 27, 2023
H.G. Wells, Jan 1, 1894
A short story about a haunted house and the nature of fear. It is quite simplistic.
Jan 27, 2023
H.G. Wells, Jan 1, 1897
This is a short story by H.G. Wells which involves a star flying through our solar system. It's a bit fantastical and unrealistic, but I imagine it was quite entertaining for people who read it at the end of the 1800's.
Jan 20, 2023
Jul 28, 2021
This is not the best Korean movie, and execution can be rough around the edges. It starts off slow, but really picks up after the Somali civil war begins to start up. While this is a film that takes place in Somalia, it is more about relations between the two Koreas. With that said, I think while the dialogue and plot structure is not the best, the final convoy scene in the third act was at levels of suspense that was reminiscent of Mad Max Fury Road. Overall, I consider this to be a good movie that has its flaws.
Jan 20, 2023
Sylvia Plath, Jan, 1963
This is an interesting story that felt like a female take on a cross between Ningen Shikkaku and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Like those other works, there are aspects here that are fairly relatable. I was not the biggest fan of the prose, and found that it could have been leaner. With that said, it managed to carry across feelings of depression relatively well.
Jan 17, 2023
Virginia Woolf, Oct 24, 1929
I went into this completely blind after it was recommended to me. This is feminist literature and is effectively an essay that starts out on the premise of why every woman should have a room of their own. It then dives into the opportunities that have been afforded woman and all the potential that has been lost in the process. Its approach is thoughtful and its use of a narrative manages to make the different ideas it brings up flow together without problem. While books of this nature can get preachy, I don't think this ever did since all it ever does is explore ideas to their logical conclusion which is how I prefer such works in general.
Jan 15, 2023
Kurt Vonnegut Jr., Sep, 1968
This is a book with an interesting premise where death has become obsolete and population control has become very strict. For every person born, someone already living must die. While the premise is interesting, the exploration of it is lacking. It is a very short book and I guess it tries to answer a question very quickly without discussing how it got there.
Jan 14, 2023
John Steinbeck, 1952
This is an epic book that takes place over many years like War and Peace or One Hundred Years of Solitude. While I don't consider this to be at the same level as those novels or even the best of Steinbeck's works, it is well thought out and a great epic. My biggest qualms come from the actions of the characters which seem forced because they are intended to follow in the footsteps of their parents in a Biblical sense. Often, this is natural, but sometimes, the progression of the plot does not seem quite as graceful. This is a minor complaint as the book is very well written and easy to follow. It is accessible and also has an overarching theme which makes it better than a large majority of novels out there. But is it the best classic I have ever read or the best epic? No. Was it one of the more enjoyable? Yes. It was a very pleasant read and I did not need to fight with the words which I think is something to be praised.
Dec 31, 2022
Dec 28, 2022
The hype is well justified and this is one of the best animated series ever made. We're only on season 1 as well, so I'm curious how they build on this in future seasons. This feels like the works of Tsukamoto Shinya mixed with Tarantino. I don't think I have found a work this interesting and energetic since I last watched a Takashi Miike film or this coherently stylish since Bleach. The animation is very creative and mixes 2d and 3d in ways that I don't think I have seen before. Characters are unique and honestly, that is something that is getting more and more rare nowadays where many works reuse past tropes. Music is not exactly attention grabbing, but it great when it needs to be does its job. I am looking forward to season 2.
Dec 30, 2022
Nov 4, 2017
I thought that this was a movie about zombies, but it is much more than that. This is about filming a movie about zombies in one shot. The first part is the movie. The second part is the proposition for preproduction. The third part is the actual production. In that sense, this is a very meta film, because not only is this about a zombie film that was filmed in one take, it is also about filming the filming of a zombie film that was filmed in one take. Because of this, it has an added layer of analysis that other one take films don't have and makes it very interesting compared to other indie films.
Dec 30, 2022
I now understand the hype, and I have to say that this was a mindblowing conclusion to part 6. There was a speeding up of time, control of weather, suspenseful and very unconventional battles, and callbacks to other seasons. I think Jolyne Kujo is just as iconic as Kujo Jotaro, and the characters here were quite memorable. Like all other entries in the series, this operates on its own logic and yet it manages to work very well. I don't think I have enjoyed a Jojo show quite as much as this one since the second or third parts. Overall, probably my second favorite or most favorite entry in the series so far.
Dec 29, 2022
Sep 1, 2018
This was on my to watch for a few years, so I was glad I managed to get to it eventually. Although this did not need to be an animated film, it was and it uses its animation in subtle ways to enhance what is effectively a drama. I think while the story is compelling and emotional, if it slowed down and was just a few minutes longer, it would have been better. The themes of social isolation, identity, and (sudden) death are universal as always and well handled here. Overall, while imperfect, quite good.
Dec 27, 2022
May 15, 2019
This is like Heat if Al Pacino and Robert Deniro teamed up. It's a lot of fun, and fairly suspenseful. I was skeptical about Ma Dong Soek's role as a gang leader, but he plays it so well. The plot structure is great, and it manages to weave a good web. What I think might have been lacking was the motives of the serial killer, but other than that, this is a solid crime drama and thriller.
Dec 26, 2022
Oct 18, 1966
This is a shorter film that is trying to do something deep in a very indirect way. The closest thing I can think of is The Lighthouse, but this is less Lovecraftian and is more psychological which I personally prefer. There are themes of duality, a meta aspect regarding the filmmaking process, and enough ambiguity for some level of interpretation. Ingmar Bergman plays with light in very interesting ways. In addition to this, fact that the main characters are female is also a very unique aspect of this film. Overall, I think this played with concepts that I found more interesting than The Seventh Seal and it is of extremely high qualilty.
Dec 26, 2022
Dec 25, 2022
A Manwha with a reincarnation type of mechanic. It's quite enjoyable and it has a sort of power fantasy aspect to it. I don't know how this would be regarded critically, but I had fun with it.
Dec 25, 2022
Dec 12, 2019
A very short visual novel with a branching structure that is effectively a simulation of the future in the way Ace Combat 3 was a computer simulation. There are very interesting things here such as discussion of meaning, free will, and mind viruses that can affect humans. I think it is definitely worth a look.
Dec 25, 2022
Sep 25, 2021
The downhill trajectory that started with the previous season continues here and the quality just seems to get worse in terms of storytelling. Most plot events are inconsequential with the exception of some well handled origin stories at the end. Hayashi Yuuki's score is wasted on this.
Dec 24, 2022
Mar 12, 1988
This starts off blasting right out of the gate and the pacing is ridiculously fast even by today's standards. The Mobile Suit Gundam series has come a long way, and this seems to throw everything at the viewer. Animation is great, and there is even some convincing cgi which is very surprising for 1988. Battles are large scale and nuclear weapons are used left and right like crazy. The score is great, and from a craftsmanship perspective, the only thing lacking are longer and more focused shots and scenes. The weak points are character motivations and the plot, but things move so fast that I think the flaws don't stand out quite that much. There is also not much of reference given to the Gundam Zeta or ZZ and characters from those series don't make an appearance which is disappointing. Overall, this is dense in detail and it is the best entry in the UC timeline that I have seen so far. With this, although there are more items in the UC timeline, this marks the completion of the main works within the timeline.
Dec 24, 2022
Dec 8, 2022
When I heard that there was a Lookism adaptation, I was curious how Korean animation would compare to Japan or China since Korea has many studios that do gruntwork for these other countries as well as some American animations as well. I think what surprised me first and foremost was the character design which felt more reminiscent of American animations like Avatar. While I think it is better than Japanese adaptations of webtoons as this is actually done in a Korean style, the story and execution has the feel of something that might have been popular in Japan 10 years ago. In other words, it feels dated, and execution is not necessarily the best. That said, this is in guilty pleasure territory for me, so if there is another season, I probably won't complain.
Dec 23, 2022
Jul 22, 2020
This has a Death Billiards type of feel, but it has some missteps in its execution. While the story is about death and it uses a novel mechanic of 3d scenes in a visual novel, this is not enough to make up for the weak story. Dialogue seems shallow at times and cutting out the fat could make it much better. Character designs are bland, and portions of the game where you get side items like memories are underdeveloped in terms of being engaging. The setting is fairly static with everything taking place at a cafe which makes it come across as more boring than it actually is. Music by Kevin Penkin is good, but not his best. Overall, I consider this mediocre. While it hits some notes, it can definitely be better.
Dec 23, 2022
Leo Tolstoy, Jan 1, 1886
This is a story of a man who is slowly dying while everyone around him abandons him and denies his illness. Ivan Ilych is not special, and as the main focus of our attention as the reader, he acts as us which means that the messages here regarding death are universal. This shows that Tolstoy can tell a great story not only in the traditionally long Russian format as seen in War and Peace, but also in the short novella format.
Dec 22, 2022
Martin Guessmann, Jan 1, 2015
A very very short overview of wine, tasting, smell, and food pairings. I don't know why this is a book.
Dec 21, 2022
Walter Isaacson, Oct 17, 2017
A thorough book that covers the life of Leonardo da Vinci while also analyzing what makes him tick. The way in which Leonardo da Vinci is always asking questions about everything and his status as a polymath comes across quite clearly. The man was literally the human equivalent of a physics engine. Overall, well researched and a great overview of a painter and scientist.
Dec 20, 2022
Emil M. Cioran, 1927
A collection of musings on life, pessimism, absurdism, and death. It is quite thorough, and the prose is very well done. With that said, topics can be disconnected in a sense, and each essay? or short piece? can be read alone. I think with many works of philosophy, structure matters less than ideas. However, when compared to something like Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Kant's The Critique of Pure Reason, or Plato's Republic, the larger picture is not the clearest which is a bit disappointing. Overall, I really liked it, but I question where it should be as highly regarded as it is given some of the shortcomings I have mentioned.
Dec 18, 2022
Aug 30, 2016
This was completed on the Khan Academy site. This covers everything from charge to signals to fourier coefficients to reverse engineering of household devices. The field seems to be multidisciplinary with a heavy usage of physics, mathematics, logic and some work with circuits and hardware. I would say that out of many of the other areas that I studied, this seems to have the most overlap with other fields.
Dec 17, 2022
Dec 27, 2017
30 years later, the story of an event that led to South Korea ending the fifth republic and moving towards a real democracy is told in a dramatized form. This film focuses on the death of a student at the hands of the military regime due to torture. We are shown how free speech is suppressed and pretty much anything goes in order to catch North Korean spies. Although this is more than 2 hours in length, it does not ever get boring and it feels incredibly dense in details. Another thing that was well handled was how different Korean culture was in the 80's. It is quite different from South Korea today. Acting was well handled and while everything else in terms of craftsmanship did not stand out, the fact that it was unnoticed is by itself an accomplishment. Overall, this is a political film of great scale that tells of a turbulent time in modern South Korean history.
Dec 15, 2022
Hermann Hesse, 1927
This is a book that is among decent company. Not only does this get across the feeling of disillusionment and misanthropy, but it also gets across the feeling of being disaffected as a generation. There are references to the bourgeoius and rejections of the new. These themes are still relevant today and the surreal way in which the story is told manages to to get across its ideas. Overall, I think Steppenwolf adds to its genre in the same way Albert Camus' The Stranger did as well.
Dec 11, 2022
Dec 18, 1975
This is a period epic by Stanley Kubrick. This means that it is automatically a great film. Every frame is like a painting due to the careful lighting and color grading. Camera movement is deliberate like pretty much every Kubrick film, and the plot, while clinical in its treatment, is well crafted. Like every Kubrick film, it should be studied.
Dec 10, 2022
May 27, 2022
An absolute thrill from beginning to end. Almost everything is good. The dogfights and filming is good. The music is good. The acting is good. Pretty much everything that I care about in a movie is handled well here and the visual quality is consistent with what I would expect of a film directed by Joseph Kosinski. There are times when I felt like it hit notes that Ace Combat did. The planes were real planes (except for the enemy ones), and the camera work inside and outside the cockpit is terrific. However, unlike Ace Combat which can have anti-war messaging, this is undoubtedly a piece of propaganda. This means that the geopolitical notes fall flat (the enemy belongs to an unnamed country), but themes of moving past tragedy and teamwork are very well handled. Overall, I enjoyed it very much and it is a very good film.
Dec 10, 2022
Dec 20, 2021
This is a continuation of the first part, and it is just as good if not better. Animation is fluid, and we are starting to get to the meat of the story. Characters develop well and we also see some world building. Although it plays to genre tropes, it manages to subvert those tropes, and I found it thoroughly enjoyable and look forward to the next season.
Dec 9, 2022
Mar 8, 2020
This is a lot of fun and it takes its time to make something that is beyond the traditional creature flick. In addition to this, this shows off some aspects of Comanche culture which was interesting. I think the special effects were not that convincing, but it manages to be suspenseful, the camera work was interesting, and the score was well done. Overall, it is a good film that has a full character arc and interesting action sequences.
Dec 9, 2022
Dec 8, 2022
I have been following Coffeezilla for a while, so it was interesting to see more attention being given to outing snake oil salesmen. This interview covers everything from fake gurus to bitcoin to FTX which brought Coffeezilla into the mainstream.
Dec 6, 2022
John C. Maxwell, Apr 1, 2003
Get over the things causing you to procrastinate. There, you don't need to read the book anymore. With that said, this was quite humorous and the thesis statement was strong despite it leveraging religion as a justification for human expression.
Dec 5, 2022
John C. Maxwell, Mar 8, 2000
If you fail once, don't give up or prevent you from moving forward. That's it. There is more to it than that, but each failure is effectively a stepping stone to success. This is essentially a simplified version of Atomic Habits with smaller scope.
Dec 3, 2022
Mar 8, 2020
This is a film that is fairly consistent in quality when compared to the previous entry. It is just as suspenseful, and Millicent Simmonds acting really carried the film when she was on screen. This film also expands on the background behind the aliens and provides a certain level of exposition in a visual format. The act of adding exposition as well as expanding the scope of the film could backfire, but it did not take away from the quality of the film and Krasinski's directing remains focused. While I don't think it is better than the first film, I think it is fairly close in terms of quality.
Dec 3, 2022
Apr 3, 2014
A video game that uses M.C. Escher type visuals as a mechanic in its puzzles. The music is calming, and the visuals are simple. It manages to use a simple mechanic to great effect. When compared to something like Manifold Garden, it is more simplistic, but what it is trying to do is fundamentally different. Overall, solid game.
Dec 3, 2022
Jan 31, 1987
I liked this one more than Zeta despite it being less critically acclaimed. For one, the mixture of humor at the beginning with the heavier themes at the end seem to compliment one another and act as better character development. Because of this, the characters were more likeable. With that said, this suffers from the same strange plot developments as Zeta while missing cameos from Amuro and Char. As we progress through the UC timeline of Gundam, I am noticing that the novelty factor which made the first Mobile Suit Gundam so interesting is lacking in the later installments. This is what makes the later series like Zeta and ZZ underwhelming for me. With that said, I am looking forward to Char's Counterattack which is said to be the crown jewel of the timeline. It is nowhere close to perfect and is arguably not even that good, but I found ZZ easier to bear than Zeta.
Dec 2, 2022
Malcolm Gladwell, Nov 18, 2008
The short story is that we do not live within a meritocracy and that hard work alone is not enough although it is required. There is also a matter of the opportunities available at a particular time as well as the luxury of spending the time needed to master something. Because these are things I already knew, I did not find this to be all that novel. With that said, this book was published in 2008, so maybe it was more novel at the time.
Dec 1, 2022
Neuralink went from pigs to monkeys. Apparently, they will soon move onto humans. With that said, the technology still seems rudimentary and compared to two years ago when they were working with pigs, it seems like the pacing is not quite what one would expect when looking at the agility of companies like SpaceX and OpenAI. Telapathic typing is cool, but what if you do not need to move a cursor around and could just think the words or the letters? This is what I think is missing and as long as the software side is stuck in a world that can be viewed with a screen, it will be limited compared to what is truly possible with a neural interface. With that said, the translating of messages from the brain and spinal cord is promising. I wish they can improve the software portion of it, because that feels underdeveloped.
Nov 30, 2022
James E. Wisher, Jun 19, 2020
This reads well, but in terms of content, I was not the biggest fan. The prose and the pacing worked, but I did not care for the characters. The main character gets cucked which was a strange decision, there is a magic system that is decently developed but not fully explored, and the world is not that fleshed out. There are wars and political maneuvering, but it seems like there are no greater themes, morals, or purpose behind the writing. At the end of the day, I guess it's a tale of revenge and triumph with an identifiable arc for its characters, but I don't see the point or a clear idea of what it is setting out to do and as a result, it was not all that memorable. I think if I was younger, I might have enjoyed this, but anyone who is reading for content and substance may be disappointed.
Nov 29, 2022
Feb 2, 2018
I only watched the first season because I heard it only goes downhill from there. With that said, I was not a fan of the first season. The primary reasons being cinematography and editing. It feels like a tv show and not a carefully planned work which is what makes it feel less worthwhile despite it being a work in a genre that I like. Camera angles make no sense, cameras shake for no reason, and pacing is either slow or inconsistent. The future shown in Altered Carbon seems drab and dull due to questionable color grading as well. It really should not be like this, because I feel like the underlying story has promise. Concepts like switching bodies like they are interchangeable parts is interesting. However, the execution is sub-par.
Nov 27, 2022
Jan 13, 2017
A horror game based on the White Terror period of 1960's Taiwan. This has had a movie and a tv show based off of it, so it has had an impact within Taiwanese culture. Like most East Asian countries of the time, the 20th century was a time of turmoil and that turmoil came across quite well in this game. On its own merits, it is quite minimal in terms of sophistication, but it is able to sell the feeling of dread expected of this type of work while offering an emotional conclusion and historical context to the events of the story. When compared to a truly great game like Signalis which I played recently, it may be a bit underwhelming, but this is a good game for an indie studio that does what it set out to do.
Nov 26, 2022
Apr 7, 2018
Suspenseful from beginning to end and has the novel approach of telling a story entirely through cameras and computer screens. Unlike other films which use the internet as a gimmick, this seems to have a more realistic approach to how people use computers and social media. Because of this, it comes across as more convincing. John Cho seems to singlehandedly carry this film and does very well. Overall, it is very entertaining and does not let up once it gets moving.
Nov 26, 2022
Sep 13, 2022
This is a good combination of CD Projekt Red's storytelling with studio high paced Trigger's animation style. The fast pacing and unconventional animation makes for an exciting and fast moving story. The soundtrack which appears to draw from Cyberpunk 2077's soundtrack works very well. It does not feel Japanese which in turn makes it feel fresh. With that said, I think its first half was significantly better than the second half and while it was good, it could have been better if it slowed down a bit. I felt this to be the case particularly with some of the more emotional scenes and the ending in particular. As a result, while I enjoyed it quite a lot and think it is Imaishi Hiroyuki's best work since Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, it flaws were obvious and unapologetic.
Nov 26, 2022
Michio Kaku, Feb 20, 2018
Basically an overview of what the future holds in store for us all the way till the end of the universe. It is somewhat limited on details when it comes to specific dates and even cultural and ethical changes, but it has a clear vision in terms of the macro changes we expect to see. Overall, not groundbreaking, but it serves as a decent survey of what modern science has to offer to predict our future.
Nov 25, 2022
Oct 27, 2022
Criminally underrated. This is a love letter to ps1 era games and feels like a cross between Silent Hill, MGS, Dead Space, and Neon Genesis Evangelion. The gameplay is suspenseful and the story, while difficult to understand, is emotional and even romantic. The cyclical nature of its story and the multiple endings is something I also very much appreciated. There are references to H.P. Lovecraft and The King in Yellow. The mixture of different languages such as Chinese and German made it feel very similar to Evangelion at times. Music is simple but does its job effectively. In terms of ambience it is similar to Iron Lung due to the Lovecraftian aspects. Honestly, this is one of the best horror games I have ever played and it is impressive to see what two developers are capable of.
Nov 24, 2022
Jul 11, 2015
Mamoru Hosoda films are fairly solid, and this is another film that delivers while providing a fully developed story with memorable characters. The animation is top tier and the crowded nature of Shibuya well depicted. Action is fluid, and the story has decent emotional backing. I wish the world had more depth to it and that the film was longer, but that did not take away from my enjoyment. This is not the best Mamoru Hosoda film, but it is still very good and recommended.
Nov 23, 2022
Oct 2, 2020
This is an OVA that takes place in the same world as Bleach. The animation is well handled, but the world building is a bit lacking despite it having some stylized aspects which is typical of Kubo Tite's works. Also, it does not have the character development or the same stakes as Bleach. Probably not recommended if you don't have the time to spend.
Nov 22, 2022
Apr 2, 2018
This is a well executed film that takes advantage of sound to build suspense. What this does well is keep viewers on edge throughout the film while building up its characters. John Krasinski's ability to act with his eyes is very impressive. I think it won't blow you off your feet, but it is very well done and its usage of sound and sign language is fairly novel.
Nov 22, 2022
Oct 23, 2012
A very short game that is like a playable picture book of sorts. I think what it does that is novel is its use of color to create puzzles. With that said, gameplay is very minimalistic, and the story is also like a picture book where it is very simplistic. I think the tie-in to What Remains of Edith Finch was interesting. It may have been more meaningful to play this before What Remains of Edith Finch, but since this was a PS3 release, that was not possible for me. Beyond that, I think it does not make a substantial impression.
Nov 20, 2022
Dec 25, 2020
Many of the Pixar films are well crafted and critically acclaimed, but there are only a few that seem to go beyond and ask deeper questions. Never have I had a Pixar film affect me as deeply as this since Up or Wall-E. Inside Out came close, but it wasn't quite there in terms of asking the bigger questions. Honestly, the combination of jazz, black culture, and the purpose of life is something that hits way harder than I expected. This is something that I think adults would appreciate more than children, and I think that may have been the intention of this film. The idea that the spark of life is different from a purpose is very profound. The music is great. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross use their style of music to create a great ambient backing while the crazy pentatonic jazz runs of Jon Batiste are face melting and emotional. If Akira Kurosawa's Ikiru had a kid friendly update and was animated, I wonder if it would be like this. And like always, the animation is at top level with some of the New York scenes coming across as almost photorealistic at times. Despite some level of oversaturation Pixar seems to still have their magic.
Nov 20, 2022
Jul 19, 2022
This is an interesting concept with a great world to get lost in. The environments are beautiful and the word building is great. Cat parkour works without requiring too much skill, and as a result, it is not frustrating at all. The score is subdued, but does its job. I think this is most interesting in its more open world segments with exploration, but there is a good balance of open ended as well as linear parts with puzzle elements. Overall, I think the hype is well deserved and the quality is what one would expect from an Annapurna game.
Nov 19, 2022
May 18, 2022
This is the sequel to The Outlaws and it is just as entertaining despite it not being as tight. I think what makes this series work is the interesting characters and Ma Dong Soek. The antagonist in this one is not as interesting, but the globe trotting makes for some funny scenes. The mixture of comedy and tense action keep it fresh. I think it is worth watching, and it never gets boring.
Nov 16, 2022
Isaac Asimov, 1955
I liked this one despite it having characters that felt like caricatures and some hard science fiction aspects were dated. Concepts like Eternity show where Loki got a fair bit of its inspiration from. The ending and the way in which certain times were blocked of from the time traveling reaches of kettles was interesting as well. In many ways, the way people are trying to make sense of the timeline felt like characters from Phillip K. Dick's Ubik trying to make sense of their reality. The time traveling is the fun part and it does that well. Everything else did feel a bit weak, but I found it interesting.
Nov 16, 2022
Compared to a SpaceX broadcast, this seems to be more intended for a general audience, and telemetry seemed worse. Despite this, it is good that the launch and initial maneuvers went on without a hitch. The absence of any reusable boosters felt jarring as a viewer, but it is good that SLS worked as expected after all the delays that occured over the past couple of months prior to the first launch.
Nov 15, 2022
Oct 23, 2020
This is a mini series that has a lot of momentum from the moment it starts. There are references to older chess masters and common openings. I wish it showed more chess moves and explained things like pinning and other strategies. With that said, this is a story about characters and not necessarily chess despite many of the boards looking really legit. Anya Taylor-Joy does very well in her role and is able to bring out the idiosyncrasies of Beth Harmon. Things like the cold war, childhood trauma and drugs are examined as challenges that go beyond simple chess playing and make for original traits in a chess player. The score by Carlos Rafael Rivera was also very good. Overall, quite entertaining, very well paced, and I can't find major flaws with it.
Nov 12, 2022
Red Bull has sold out despite making its way back to the home of breaking and has made their stream unavailable to those in the U.S. This, and the technical problems in addition to terrible camerawork make this the worst final in terms of management. The breaking, on the other hand is very high level and we are seeing levels of physical prowess and stamina that would have been considered abnormal 10 years ago. In addition to this, all competitors had signatures and a certain level of originality which was missing in the previous year's competition. Judging was questionable and it did seem that Red Bull sponsored competitored were favored at times. Sound quality on streams seemed fairly low. With that said, It is nice to see how bgirls are improving in terms of dynamism and difficulty. I believe they are more precise than bboys in terms of execution and if it were not for fewer rounds and less explosiveness, they would be pretty much the same as the bboys in terms of skill level. Overall, some trends are favorable while many are not. I'm starting to believe musicality, personality, and originality are starting to get overshadowed by execution and difficulty which is very concerning.
Nov 12, 2022
Jun 16, 2022
This is a fun one. Its appeal comes from its premise in which Zhuge Liang is reincarnated to modern day Japan to act as the manager of a singer. I have no idea how the creators came up with this, but it is so different that it is interesting. The stylized presentation and references to Romance of the Three Kingdoms flesh out many of the plot developments in a balanced and grounded manner. Also, the opening is great.
Nov 12, 2022
Nov 18, 1999
Simply great. I would not place it at the same level as Chrono Trigger, FFVI, but I consider it to be as good or better than FFVII, FFIX, and FFX. I think the main flaws are that battles are too slow, and not all characters are fully developed (there are too many characters who do not have a deep purpose). With that said, it ties in well with Chrono Trigger, and the music is among the best video game soundtracks that I have ever listened to. This is not an exaggeration, its score is superior to Chrono Trigger in my opinion. From a visual perspective, although the PS1 graphics are dated, the art direction and decision making regarding what to place in each environment makes each area look visually pleasing. Sometimes, this is to the extent that it seems superior to FFX at times. The concept of parallel realities is growing in popularity today, but this is among the first works to do it in the mainstream, and it handles it very well while utilizing it as a game mechanic. With regards to gameplay, I consider it to be challenging, but it you learn the mechanics such as the element field and to run away from enemies, then it should be manageable. I wish there was more to this series, because although its true ending wraps things up somewhat well, it feels as though something is missing. As to what that is, I don't know, but since Japan does not output works like this anymore and the generation that made games like this are retiring, I think we will never find out which is a shame.
Nov 11, 2022
Jun 23, 2022
I feel like they lost the plot with this one. In addition to this, some of the cgi just seems bad especially in the beginning. Another thing I felt like this dropped the ball on was going out of character to get out some jokes that ultimately fall flat. I think Gore the God Butcher was a great character. Everything else felt less thought out. Finally, there were too many Guns N' Roses song for no absolute reason.
Nov 7, 2022
Mar 18, 2017
Despite the story telling being rather simplistic, this is an iconic genre bending work. The animation, despite its simplicity and minimal character design, is also not that bad. It's not fluid, but the elementary shapes used to construct characters and backgrounds seem to do their job. What I think really makes this interesting, however, is how, with its episodic format, it's able to tackle different types of genres effectively. The fifth season, while not being as high scale as I thought it would be for a conclusion, used advances in technology to create more fluid sequences reminiscent of cowboy films and jidaigeki. Overall, I think it's worth watching at least the essential episodes and the fifth season.
Nov 6, 2022
Feb 22, 1986
This is one of the higher rated entries in the Gundam UC timeline, but I did not understand the hype. Perhaps it was due to me watching the film trilogy for Mobile Suit Gundam, but the episodic format of this particular show did not agree with me. For me, the characters were the weak point and the melodrama fell flat. Having your main character be autistic is fairly unique, but it can be frustrating to the viewers. In addition to this, the sci fi aspects seemed to have been partially replaced with new age mumbo jumbo and a lack of structure when compared to the previous entry. I believe this would have worked far better if there was more of continuity between episodes and romances stopped popping up out of nowhere and ending a few episodes later. It very much felt like a Saturday cartoons type of show rather than a deep drama despite its antiwar sentiments and its darker ending. With that said, it has far better animation than the series that preceded it which makes things more bearable and it was nice to see characters from the previous entry make appearances and cameos. Overall, it's not bad, but I did not consider it to be that enjoyable.
Nov 5, 2022
Oct 3, 2017
This reminds me of those action crime films from the 80's like Lethal Weapon and Die Hard. Ma Dong Soek in this film has the impression of those 80's stars and a tough personality that comes across as iconic. With that said, this feels modern as well. Camera work is focused and tight and the editing is stylized. The insight into the Chinese-Korean aspects of the Korean population is also interesting. I don't think it is anything that we would find to be new, but the film is so well executed that it is an easy watch with a sense of humor. I recommend this as a good time as it is a good crime film with smooth pacing and it is not a film where the viewer needs to get emotionally involved.
Nov 5, 2022
Apr 23, 2021
This is a show that had a premise which placed it in guilty pleasure territory for me. I have not engaged in works of fiction that take place in alternate history, but I always wondered what we could have accomplished if the space race continued. In this show, it tries to answer that question and takes the race all the way to Mars in the third season. It does well and although it portrays the bureaucratic pains and inefficiencies of NASA and its different hierachies and divisions inaccurately, its focus on the physical aspects of space travel were welcome. What I did not appreciate, however, was the melodrama. It felt like it had situations that were contrived simply for the purpose of suspense rather than drawing suspense from the premise alone which has an ample amount of it. There was also a clear agenda in some of the subplots which felt unnecessary while also being clumsily handled. Because of this, I consider this imperfect, but very enjoyable. Events such as an actual race to Mars, launch of sea dragons, and the Soviet Union's Buran were great.
Nov 4, 2022
Larry Niven, Oct 1970
Maybe it is because of the age of this work, but it feels fairly dated and goes on strange tangents. In many ways, it feels like old school Star Trek, but it is more of an adventure than a cerebral hard scifi work. Many of the tropes and concepts used here have been used in other series and works that came after the publishing of this book. For this reason, it does not seem all that novel. Beyond this, the characters don't seem all that interesting, and it is really the setting and history of the universe Niven created which can have potential. Concepts such as breeding races for slavery and other purposes are novel. However, they don't seem fully explored. For this reason, while this may have been interesting for the time and though this is only part of a larger series, I cannot recommend this.
Nov 1, 2022
Nov 1, 2022
After 4 years, Falcon Heavy flies again. I wish the cameras were a bit clearer, but it is still satisfying to see side boosters land in parallel at the same time. Although it feels like business as usual, it was great to watch after a long time.
Oct 29, 2022
Sep 23, 2019
I feel like I have either read many books or movies with elements similar to this film, but never a single work that had everything I saw in one package. This has acting on the level of There Will Be Blood, Moby Dick level dialogue, and the drudgery of daily work found in The Turin Horse. All of these (with maybe the exception of Moby Dick) are great building blocks and they lead to a solidly crafted film. This is psychological and Freudian and it is very different from a psychological film with a more modern take. I don't think I've seen anything like this, and it is a very unique work that draws from many different sources to create something that feels fresh.
Oct 28, 2022
Dec 24, 2021
The story may be unremarkable but well executed, but the main draw in my opinion are the visuals. Rarely are there films that have such a fluid level of 2d animation. In addition to this, every scene is highly detailed. Compared to the show, I consider this to be better in terms of pacing and stakes which is a fairly strong statement to make. With that said, this still feels like part of a show at times with regards to how the story is structured into segments. While I would have preferred a better flow between sections, I think it is overall an experience that the audience takes in rather than one that viewers analyze.
Oct 26, 2022
Joe Haldeman, Dec 1974
This is a book with a focus on anti-war sentiment while also using such sentiment within a setting that allows for some hard sci-fi world building. Despite the large scale of interstellar war and the changes the human race underwent over the course of many centuries, war on the ground seems somewhat unimpressive and gory as always. Since this is told from the perspective of infantry, the war is not that interesting, but the journey to and from the war zone is. Here, we see the effects of time dilation and it is used to great effect to allow the protagonist to see the course of a war over the centuries. Homosexuality becomes the norm and eventually all of humanity becomes a hivemind composed of clones. Seeing the protagonist navigate this future and the alienation in such a strange place is what makes this an interesting read. I think this has similarities to Starship Troopers. I think it's above average and interesting, but it didn't blow my mind.
Oct 23, 2022
Liu Cixin, Nov 2010
The best in the series despite some smaller misteps with characterization and a story with a level of scale that is usually never seen in science fiction. This takes theoretical physics and uses it as an instrument to extrapolate to future and past universes. We go from concepts established in the previous novels such as dark forest deterrence and push the envelope to life forms capable of living in other dimensions. There are concepts here that are simply ahead of their time such as stellar class particle accelerators that utilize the vacuum of space, weapons that can flatten space into the second dimension, and alterations of physical constants to achieve light speed travel. In addition to this, cultural changes over the development of the human race were also a good detail that colored the story quite well. While this novel seems to look at a universe that was originally going to be cyclical in a big crunch manner, the way in which Liu Cixin warps the dominant heat death end state of the universe as the result of wars using dimensional weapons is simply genius. This brings to question what in the universe was caused by natural forces and what past it may have had prior to the big bang which is a question that many theoretical phycists don't have the imagination to even consider. It also asks what our moral obligations towards the universe and its entropic tendencies are. Overall, this is probably among the greatest science fiction novels I have ever read, and the trilogy as a whole should be studied as required reading.
Oct 17, 2022
Hunter S. Thompson, Jul 7, 1971
This is a novel that does two things: cover the influence of drugs, and talk about the American experience. Both of these are not exclusive and it does this in a way that is fairly unhinged. If there is a greater point to this novel, it tends to get lost in the strange events that occur throughout the book, but when compared to On the Road, this is not a bore. I don't know if I've ever read a book like this before, and the way it borders on the edge of coherence is somewhat unique. Whether it is good is another question, but I think it is an acquired taste.
Oct 16, 2022
Dec 14, 2021
I am of the belief that it is better to do one thing well rather than many things not that well. This is a game inspired by Shadow of the Colossus that tries to do similar boss battles in addition to survival mechanics, crafting, and Dark Souls style combat. All of this takes away from what should be the focus which is the atmosphere, story, and boss battles. In addition to this, the controls feel broken at times where physics sometimes goes out the window. This is less of an issue for the beginning bosses, but for the later bosses which require more sophisticated strategies to beat. I think the boss battles are well done if the frustrating aspects mentioned before are ignored. Now, when I think of Shadow of the Colossus, I think of a mysterious and fully fleshed world with inspiration from Ainu culture, incredible architectural design, a very unique soundtrack, and a protagonist whose motivations are somewhat known. All of this is mostly missing from Praey for the Gods. In addition to this, the lack of minimalilsm and presence of explicit exposition, I think the developers lost the plot. The inspiration from Fimbulvetr in Scandinavian mythology is interesting, but it feels surface level and the world feels very empty. For three developers, this is impressive and I think we should have more games like Shadow of the Colossus, but it should have spent more time being tuned and tested before being released.
Oct 15, 2022
Nov 25, 2021
This time, south India has their own take on the time loop mechanic and it is very interesting. The main concept is interesting where the main character trying to stop religious riots from occuring. Unlike some other films, this actually has an explanation of why the time loop may be happening. In addition to this, there is an antagonist that is also capable of acting against the protagonist within the loop which is similar to Palm Springs in a way. S.J. Suryah as a corrupt police officer was great in his role. I think where this is weak is in execution. The idea is interesting, but camera work, stunt work, and other aspects are a bit sloppy. I do think it is enjoyable, but it is definitely flawed and it seems to play to some South Indian tropes to appeal to its targetted audience which may make it difficult to get into at times.
Oct 14, 2022
Aug 30, 2021
I have had dreams similar to the main premise of this film, but this film manages to provide a logic to its premise which makes it very remarkable. The idea of a cold war allowing for scientific discoveries that can reverse the pull of gravity to create two worlds of humans operating within opposite gravities is very interesting. The use of Russian in some scenes and in some of the music helps to ground the story and flesh out the world. The way in which gravity is used to allow for characters to travel through the sky and underground is very fascinating and further play on perspective helps to enhance this. It can be mind bending at times, and there were moments that felt like something out of one of Nolan's sci fi films. From a story perspective, it may be a bit light on details, however, this is something that can be easily dismissed because of how enjoyable it is. This definitely shows and does not tell. However, it tells enough and everything is wrapped up quite well. Within around 95 minutes, it provides a full story with a resolution. Honestly, the film could have been longer and probably should have been, but this was really enjoyable and it does something that is very rare in the industry where an original IP was delivered from concept to execution. This work by Yoshiura Yasuhiro is consistent with the level of quality in animation that he has maintained since his work on Pale Cocoon and is recommended for those who are familiar with the genre.
Oct 14, 2022
Apr 3, 2018
In this one, Philomena Cunk explore's Britain's history while making fun of it and satirizing the BBC. Some of the references are very British such as mentions of the BBC sitcom Brush Strokes. I liked it quite a bit.
Oct 13, 2022
May 11, 2016
This reminded me of many of Sacha Baron Cohen's works and I found it funny. I'm surprised that I've never heard of Philomena Cunk before and would definitely like to watch more works featuring her.
Oct 11, 2022
Ursula K. Le Guin, 1969
This is a strange story that takes place on a planet with people who have a single gender. The text can be dense with a lot of terminology specific to the world that is being built. Despite this, once the reader gets past that, what they will find is an emotional story that explores social norms within the context of a galactic scale sci fi setting. It meanders from a main plot to the cultural underpinnings of the strange planet in which it takes place, but still manages to cover a lot within the short amount of time it takes to read it. At the same time, it manages to show deep friendship beyond sexual relations. Overall, what it is doing is may not be particularly novel today, but for 1969, I think it was probably ahead of its time.
Oct 9, 2022
Aug 30, 2021
It took me a while to get through this one. Its themes are heavy, and human mortality is always at the forefront of its subject matter. The animation is decent and the soundtrack is great. There is a lot that can be covered when discussing immortality, but this does not dwell on the existential, but rather uses it to drive character development. This is a an advantage and a disadvantage. The advantage is that it does not get preachy. The disadvantage is that it is difficult to get attached to any mortal characters. With that said, it is quite a good ride despite its flaws and how it plays out in its continuation will determine the impression it ultimately makes. I think this is a strong start to something that could be profound and do recommend it.
Oct 8, 2022
Jul 30, 2021
This was fairly impressive as it is able to make the most of a small budget to make a moderately higher scale film. At the same time, it tries to tackle Arthurian legend which is not an easy thing to do when adapting for a modern audience. All acting is good with Dev Patel as Gawain fulfilling his role effectively. There are some choices here that are probably divisive, but it is not as though they do not make sense. The names of the characters are withheld and the focus on Christianity is slightly diminished. The ending is similar to The Last Temptation of Christ, and just like that film, this one also has similar ambiguity. While it may not please everyone, everything done here is deliberate. Outside of the pacing and editing I consider it to be very well made.
Oct 7, 2022
Oct 12, 2018
I loved the visual style of this film. It manages to be suspenseful and use imagery that is deeply profound. It has a feeling like Indiana Jones crossed with The Exorcist. One thing I wish there was less of, however, was the cgi. The theme of greed was an interesting one, but it seemed like the story may have lacked some depth. This, however was made up for by the atmosphere and the soundtrack by Jesper Kyd. Overall, while the story was not up to par, I do think this is a great film simply because what it is trying to do visually is so unique.
Oct 7, 2022
Cormac McCarthy, Oct 2, 2005
It is a post apocalyptic novel with simplistic prose. It does not make any large mistakes and it is short enough to not overstay its welcome. The relationship between father and son is well established, and I can see familiar themes in other post apocalyptic works. There is a certain level of ambiguity that requires some work on the part of the reader as well regarding the cause of the apocalypse which was an interesting touch. I don't think it is particularly groundbreaking, but it is palatable and atmospheric.
Sep 30, 2022
Ralph Ellison, Apr 14, 1952
The pure bitterness as well as parallels to the struggles of the civil rights movement that followed in the years after the publication of this book make this a prescient work in addition to it being very human. The prose was very deliberate and it felt as though the words were hammering down on many themes with intensity. On an emotional level, it is able to portray anger and confusion in a way that many novels are unable to do so. It is direct when it needs to be, and it monologues when it needs to make a point. Overall, a viscerally charged novel.
Sep 25, 2022
Nov 18, 1971
This is a film that should get more attention. Despite it taking its time, it never gets boring, and it seems to tackle a number of themes that I would expect to see more often in Chinese film, but don't. There are Buddhist themes, but also some common tropes seen in the wuxia genre. The choreography is interesting as it is more like old school Hong Kong without the wire work. Shots are great and resemble samurai movies and westerns. If this were on a larger scale, I may even consider this to be as great as Sergio Leone's The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Overally, definitely worth watching.
Sep 24, 2022
Aug 23, 1998
My first Guy Ritchie film. I found it to be edited like a music video and the cinematography to be the same with some inspiration from new wave cinema. Films like these are definitely indicative of the 90's as directors like Darren Aronofsky also used similar camera work. The script is fast and tight. Honestly, this has all the makings of a great film, but it has a few issues. The first is that there is an unusually high level of silence in the film when such films usually fill empty spaces with music or dialogue or sound effects. The second is that the color grading does not make any sense. It is a sepia tone with some color. Because of things like this, it feels like it is the work of a director who has yet to achieve full maturity with respect to their style. Since this is a debut film, that is not surprising. However, this makes this a good film, but not a great one in my eyes.
Sep 24, 2022
This is the usual schtick just executed very well. Stands have unique abilities and the situational nature of different battles keep things interesting. I in particular like the inspiration drawn from Memento and the battle that involved figuring out how to combat weaponized amnesia. With that said, I am glad that the series will be moving out of an American prison, as two seasons spent in the same setting can get tedious despite the good execution and consistent pacing. I hope it can move away from stands as well, because the concept is starting to get repetitive as well.
Sep 23, 2022
Aug 15, 1991
This film is significantly better than the film that preceded it. Not only is there better camera work, tighter script, and better filmed choreography, but the Wong Fei Hung theme hits harder as well. I feel as though this film knows what it is and while it has some serious themes, it also does not take itself too seriously at all times. It is, at the end of the day, a fictionalized account of a folk hero that has taken many liberties to create a highly stylized film. Donnie Yen's ferocity has also made an impression, and I feel that this film was able to showcase his speed quite well. Overall, this is one of the great Hong Kong kungfu films and should be remembered as one of Jet Li's best.
Sep 20, 2022
Gabriel García Márquez, May, 1967
After reading this, I think I can say a fair amount of it probably flew over my head, because I did not understand whether it was a comedy, a satire, a work of fiction, or some strange combination of different genres. In addition to this, the use of the same names for many characters makes it very difficult to follow. I'm not sure what the point is. Is it about the cyclical nature of human behavior, or about the impermanence of all things? Maybe it is good. Maybe it is more of an organized meandering. Regardless, I will probably need to revisit this novel.
Sep 18, 2022
Aug 15, 1991
This is a movie about Wong Fei Hung that took liberties with historical events to set up some entertaining kung fu fights. I think that is what the main draw of this is. The story is centered on imperialism, but the nationalistic story did not feel particularly interesting to me. Choreography is incredible and uses a variety of wire work and high level acrobatics that showcased a great amount of physical prowess. I think this should be watched for the choreography.
Sep 17, 2022
Apr 22, 2021
This is a game that takes place in a post apocalyptic future where nuclear radiation has turned vegetables into sentient creatures capable of self-governance. The game is short and it is like a simplistic Legend of Zelda. What keeps it fun is its sense of humor and its commentary on taxes, government, and the premise of the game.
Sep 17, 2022
Mar 17, 1997
This is the War and Peace of Japanese animation, and it is quite great. The story just builds and builds and it also offers great commentary on modern political systems while acting as a work of science fiction. In that sense, it is like Dune crossed with War and Peace or Romance of the Three Kingdoms. The advancing of the plot and different events feel almost like a documentary at times, and it is clear that research into history and politics was needed to make this work. The way in which democracies can fall is quite prescient and very relevant to todays' events. Animation is dated, and it may be the weak link. This is particularly true in the beginning. However, this is a space opera, so this may not be a big deal. Characters are thoroughly developed. There are no complaints there. The only other flaw may be the unsatisfying nature of some events and threads, but that could also be to the merit of the work as having being inspired by history. Overall, I am glad I spent the months it took to get through the 110 episodes and 2 films in this series. Works like this are a rarity.
Sep 16, 2022
Dec 18, 1993
This covers the first few episodes of the series, and it is far better executed due to the higher budget, quality of animation, presenatiion, and pacing. While the series may seem more like a documentary due to the narration, this felt like it placed you in the moments. Battles and strategies make more sense and the idea of fighting in three dimensional space is well portrayed. Despite already seeing the first few episodes, the content is made quite compelling, and it is a great way to start the series. If the series were to be remade with a higher budget, a similar approach would have improved it significantly.
Sep 13, 2022
William Faulkner, Oct 7, 1929
For some reason, Faulkner's name rarely comes up when discussing classic literature, but after reading this, I believe Faulkner to be a giant. This is a book with heavy themes that approaches the presentation of such themes in an experimental manner that I found to be audacious and fresh. The four narrators and their biases color the story with personality while guiding the reader through the downfall of a family and the American south. This is brutal without necessarily being violent or melodramatic. I think this is a story with the ability to do quite a bit with a great deal of subtlety which is very rare even in great novels.
Sep 10, 2022
May 2, 2022
In my opinion, this is the best in the series and it is probably the film that I enjoyed the most. Unlike the other films which depends on the contrived stupidity of humans as a way to move plot forward, this does not resort to such cheap tricks. In addition to this, this builds on the foundation that was set by the other two films as well as the original film from 1968. Caesar and Andy Serkis who plays him is a fully fleshed out character that has developed well over the series. Cgi is great and almost photorealistic at times. There are parts of this that are reminiscient of The Great Escape which is great, but also funny, because it is an ape escape. Overall, a great film that also shows the previous films in a better light.
Sep 9, 2022
Compared to the series, this has animation that is on another level which is to be expected. With regards to the story, this is a story of the beginning of the rivalry betwen Yang Wen-li and Reinhard von Müsel. It is entertaining and a slow burn like the series, but it is also more of an episode in the greater epic rather than a standalone work. If the series had an animation style similar to this throughout, I think I would have enjoyed the series more as well especially in the earlier episodes.
Sep 9, 2022
Truman Capote, 1965
While the story itself is not anything novel, the way it was presented allowed for a certain level of suspense and tension. Because of this, it has a certain momentum that can be found in other non fiction books that have a similar style. This is Alfred Hitchcock in book form which is quite impressive.
Sep 7, 2022
May 5, 2022
A great rpg game with multiple endings that takes place on a space habitat. This is primarily text based with great art and music to fill in the gaps. Turns and actions are based on dice roll mechanics which is unique and makes it similar to a table top rpg. The story is interesting, and while not the most sophisticated in terms of hard sci-fi, it manages to make its setting feel like it has presence. Character interactions are meaningful, and it really does feel like a game that excels on all levels.
Sep 6, 2022
Bram Stoker, May 26, 1897
For a gothic horror, this is surprisingly modern with its publication being at the end of the 1800's. While I think it could have been significantly shortened and tightened, it can be entertaining when it comes to the vampire hunting aspects of the story. With regards to its status as a classic, I'm a bit more skeptical. I don't know what the greater theme is behind this, and in that regard, it does not match up to Frankenstein or Jekyll and Hyde. While entertaining, its approach and presentation in the form of diaries is roundabout and lacks immediacy. Overall, I find it flawed.
Sep 4, 2022
May 2, 2022
Sam Raimi is what makes this film unique, but the writing lacks coherence and purpose. The imagery and scenarios are quite interesting and the Bruce Campbell cameo was great as well. Benedict Cumberbatch and Elizabeth Olsen perform well as different versions of their characters. With that said, there is no clear arc that acts as a pillar to tie everything together. All of the characters have their own development, but there is no central theme or character by which to give the film focus. As a result, it is not as good as it could have been which is quite a shame. Adding onto that, fatigue and saturation associated with the series is starting to set in, so expectations are higher than they usually would be. Despite this being about the multiverse, it does not take advantage of this in the same way Loki did. As a result, this feels more like an adventure with no conseequences. It is clear that it is there for the purpose of setup, but the after credit scene tells us next to nothing. Overall, fun, but also disappointing.
Sep 4, 2022
Dec 7, 2021
This is a game where you buy organs, sell organs, fulfill requests, and can use the stock market to increase your wealth. The game itself is not that difficult as long as you only fulfill profitable requests, and buy low and sell high. The concept of human and alien organs is interesting. The soundtrack is good as well. It can be quite addicting and the simple interface makes for quick gameplay.
Sep 4, 2022
Jul 1, 2022
While I consider this to be good, I also consider it to be a mixed bag at times. On one hand it is derivative. On the other hand, each season builds on itself and develops characters all while making references to the 80's. While I would like to see psychic battles on the scale of Akira, this is more of a better executed version of the Goonies. For me, the major appeal comes from the development which makes it feel similar to something along the lines of Harry Potter. The second and third seasons did not have much for me beyond character development, but I thought the first season which had the novelty of being first, and the fourth which played up all the past events for emotional scenes were the best. This is a show that has its moments. It is not perfect throughout, but those moments make watching it worth the time. In terms of craftsmanship, this feels more like tv than cinema, which is fine. Acting is good, and original music is great, but not better than some retrowave music I've heard in the past. Usage of music from the 80's is one of my favorite aspects, and it is done quite well. I am looking forward to the conclusion.
Sep 3, 2022
Sep 28, 2021
This is Daniel Craig's last outing as Bond, and it while it was not bad, it did feel strange and a little bit underwhelming. Within this series, there were two films that I thought were great while the others were not and those were Casino Royale and Skyfall. With this film, camera work seems to be all over the place and it feels as though it is trying to be many different things and failing. In fact, what I thought this did well was all the things it did differently. I liked Ana de Armas' character who was a wildcard that only showed up in a few scenes. The ideas of using genetically programmable nanomachines to infect people was interesting, but I thought it felt like a cheap imitation of what the Metal Gear Solid series did a decade ago. It's not bad and it is better than Quantum of Solace and Spectre, but it is not the conclusion I was expecting.
Sep 2, 2022
Oct 6, 1960
It's Stanley Kubrick, so it is great. This was a film from a time when Kubrick made more conventional films. With that said, this is a great epic with great writing, camera work, and acting. There are many films that attempted to depict the scale of the Roman Empire, but this is one that succeeds. Historical inacuracy aside, this is deserving of its awards and its subject matter of slaves at the time of the Roman Empire manages to provide a new understanding of what freedom is.
Sep 1, 2022
Liu Cixin, May 1, 2008
One of the best science fiction books I have ever read. Liu Cixin is the closest thing to a modern Isaac Asimov that I have read so far. In the previous novel, we are told of a war that is about to begin between Earth and a civilization light years away. Earth is given centuries to prepare and that alone may not be enough. While the events between the beginning and the end may not be the most plausible and may be culturally ignorant in some moments, the concept of a Dark Forest theory redefines how the Fermi Paradox is perceived. This, in addition to its rigorous basis of story in past events, science, and science fiction, makes the story very compelling despite its flaws. I absolutely enjoyed this, and I hope that the third novel in the Remembrance of Earth's Past series can improve upon the flaws while continuing with what makes the series so great.
Aug 31, 2022
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Jan 1, 1818
One of the most beautifully written books I have read recently that manages to cover a lot of ground through the use of Frankenstein's monster. While in popular media, the monster is a green thing with nails in its head, the monster described here is far more interesting than the caricature we may be more familiar with. The way in which both the creator and the creation show the ugliness of human behavior is very well handled. I was quite lucky in that I read Paradise Lost prior to reading this and the way in which literature was used to contextualize some of the happenings of the story was a good touch. Overall, this is a novel that I think has impact and makes an impression.
Aug 29, 2022
Robert Louis Stevenson, Jan 5, 1886
A good short story about the duality of man. It manages to maintain a certain level of suspense while still getting into some interesting themes despite its Victorian nature. Due to its short nature, it may not have as much depth as longer novels, but it does manage to cover some ground with its last chapter.
Aug 28, 2022
Oct 26, 2015
The issue with this film is that it feels as though it was molded out of the same formula as other James Bond films while offering nothing unique. If it were not for Sam Mendes and Hoyte van Hoytema's cinematography, this would be a bad film. What this ended up being, however, is a film that is mediocre. The biggest problem is the writing which does not allow for interesting plot developments. This, in effect, wastes the effort of the actors. Spectre and Blofeld should be a big deal for a James Bond movie, but this was underwhelming.
Aug 26, 2022
Honoré de Balzac, Mar, 1835
This is an interesting read and I consider it a better work than Madame Bovary, but the two should not be compared simply because they are French. This novel covers French society, from commoners to nobles as well as familial ties. The continuous downfall of father Goriot was well handled and is what makes this most interesting to me. Since Balzac gets mentioned in the same sentence as Shakespeare and Tolstoy, I was curious how it would be. While not as epic as Tolstoy or as witty as Shakespeare, I was not disappointed.
Aug 21, 2022
Jun 7, 1985
This is one of those movies that is more fun than it is good. What this feels like is a cross between Raiders of the Lost Ark and Home Alone. Despite that, both of those movies are better than this. I think this is a fun time and is a B tier movie. It was interesting to see modern actors today as children. However, there are better 80's movies and other movies that are more worthwhile in my opinion.
Aug 20, 2022
Mar 11, 2022
I think this is my favorite A24 film so far. If Gen X had The Matrix, Millenials had Inception and The Lego Movie, then Gen Z has this and it is simply great. I had many flashbacks to The Matrix, but this is not about simulations but rather possibilities and alternate realities. In addition to that, it handles existential topics with a certain level of humor. I can't wrap my head around how this idea was developed due to the depth the themes have. I think the casting was interesting with this being Michelle Yeoh's best work. The special effects are convincing and stylized, and I am honestly surprised at the level of quality despite the scale and location not being quite at the level of an epic. Music is great too. I think despite the budget, it manages to have an unstoppable momentum and intensity that is very rare to see in films. In my opinion, this is one of the best films of 2022 and perhaps the decade so far.
Aug 19, 2022
Anne Frank, Jun, 1947
While I am unsure of how many editorial changes were made by Otto H. Frank, this was interesting in that you could see a writer develop over time. Although I have read excerpts of this in the past, I think reading the whole work allowed for an understanding of the development of Anne as an individual and the war. It should be noted that this is a diary, so an overarching narrative is not something you will necessarily find here on the surface. Since this is relatively short, I think it is worth the read.
Aug 17, 2022
Anonymous, Richard Francis Burton, 800
A collection of stories that have a nested/recursive structure. I did not feel like going through 8000+ pages of these, so I just read through the first volume. The individual stories are a mix of interesting ones and mediocre ones, but they do offer a glimpse at the eastern world of the time. Many of the stories don't seem Arabian, and they probably were not. The influence of Islam is strong and there are religious overtones everywhere. In addition to this, many of the stories can be quite sexual as well which is something that is in stark contrast to the Islamic world of today. For me, the most interesting part of this was how people tell stories of people telling stories to the point that you don't know how many layers deep you are. Overall, very interesting. The stories themselves were sort of a take it and leave it type of situation, but the collective experience was good.
Aug 14, 2022
Oct 9, 2020
This is series of three shorts by Don Hertzfeld that take place in multiple times with the same future. There are concepts such as the sharing of memories, using clones to achieve immortality and expand your lineage, and the degradation of human civilization. I liked the third short the most, but all of them have something to offer form hard sci-fi concepts to humor. While this was not quite what I was expecting with it being concerned with the future that takes place centuries from now, I think it was great and it brings up many existential questions that are fairly thought provoking. I particularly liked the concept of being able to move in between time which is something that I never even considered as a possibility.
Aug 13, 2022
Mar 13, 1982
This is next level and made the previous two films worth it. It is hard to tell that this was based on a show that used an episodic format and the quality of animation is beyond that of a show. Scenes flow into each other and the scale is epic. Character development goes a step further and I would say that characters reach maturity. There is also a sense of resolution in how the leadership of Zeon is faced against instead of a series of battles strung together. The concept of newtypes has also been elaborated on and used as a mechanic to move the plot forward. There were times when I was reminded of Akira and Star Wars which makes this a great sci-fi epic and space opera film in my book. The scale of the battles and the use of weapons of mass destruction that utilize entire suns is quite eye opening. I am interested in continuing my foray into the UC timeline of the Gundam universe if time allows.
Aug 12, 2022
Jul 8, 2022
This is a pretty fun inversion of the superhero trope. While this is about superheroes, it is more about other topics. There is political maneuvering, corporate espionage, and fun dialogue. The acting by everyone is pretty good and all the characters are well written. I think while it does cover some interesting topics, its main qualities are its bingeable nature and edgy approach. While Invincible was fun as well, I do consider this to be superior and more meme-worthy.
Aug 12, 2022
Anonymous, Mar 18, 632
This is three things. First, it is Abrahamic religion with an Arabic spin. Second, it is the continuation of Christianity. Third, it is a work that significantly affected the Arabic language. Although I read an English translation, what is apparent is that this has a certain structure and deliberate approach in its subject matter. The suras, when compared with the disjointed nature of books in previous incarnations of the Abrahamic religion, seem to be ordered in a particular manner where each sura is shorter in length than the one that proceeded it. With that said, since this lacks narrative, it can be very dry. Also, there is significant overlap with the old testament since the new testament is considered by muslims to be corrupted. Overall, I think I learned quite a bit about Islam, but I wish there was more about the prophet Muhammad. When compared with the Bible which covered the life of Jesus in the gospels, this is lacking in that department despite Muhammad being a central figure. Although I understand why, from an outsider's perspective, it would have been appreciated.
Aug 5, 2022
John Milton, 1667
This is a poem that shows the battles fought between heaven and hell prior to the consumption of the fruit of the tree of life. I was expecting something with depth matching The Divine Comedy. This is not that, but it is true that Milton had a great respect for Christian mythology. The focus on Satan was interesting and its interpretation of Christianity was original, but I don't think I got much out of this one. Part of the reason for this is that there may have been some parts that were satirical, but they probably flew over my head.
Aug 3, 2022
Aug 29, 2015
A psychological drama based on the same series of works by Thomas Harris as Silence of the Lambs. It is bloody and tasteful at the same time. Unlike the Hopkins films, this seems to have a better representation of the other characters. That is not to say that Mads Mikkelsen's portrayal of Hannibal Lecter is inferior. His take on Hannibal as Satan incarnate was unique. Visuals were creative for a tv series. The dichotomy between the characters of Lecter and Hugh Dancy's role as Will Graham made for an interesting contrast. One thing I wish there was more of was the element of mystery. In this show, there is no guesswork since the characters figure things out through their empathetic capabilities. It would have been nice if there was some role for the viewer to play as well.
Aug 2, 2022
Anonymous, 1611
This was an interesting and long read. Each book seems to have its own purpose, and while the Old Testament seems to have had some narrative coherence in the first few books, that seemed to fall apart. I personally would have preferred more narrative cohesion written in the form of a single voice, but I also understand that this is more of a collection of books. There is a definite tonal shift between the Old Testament and the New Testament which was interesting to see. Focus on Egypt and Babylon switches to that of Rome and away from the Israelites. The Book of Revelations was radically different from what followed before which was also something of interest. What is quite fascinating is how certain aspects of religion seem to be followed today while others are mainly ignored in their modern incarnation. I also find it interesting that although this also functions as a historical chronicle of sorts, books following the New Testament were excluded or simply not written. I am interested in reading the sequel to see what that changes and builds upon in comparison to this after I complete Milton's Paradise Lost so that I can have a well rounded understanding of Abrahamic religion.
Jul 28, 2022
Markus Zusak, Mar 14, 2006
This is a great book despite it not being the most technically impressive work. Prose is simple, organization is straight forward, and all you have is story. What it offers in terms of story is one that is emotionally charged within the context of world war II era Germany. In that sense, it is effective. It does what it needs to do and nothing else. The most innovative aspect is that the narrator is death itself. Outside of that, characters are well built, and there are no major flaws that I could note. I understand now why this is recommended in literary circles.
Jul 24, 2022
Apr 17, 2020
A casual trading sim in a steam punk style world. It has a fun art style, some cute characters, and a sense of humor. There is a fair bit of addictiveness to the gameplay and much to do in the world. I wish there were more depth to some aspects of the gameplay or a bit more of a streamlined approach, but for an indie game, it is good.
Jul 23, 2022
Jan 3, 2019
Good animation, and a good conclusion to the trilogy. It's a fun time. While in terms of story, it is not groundbreaking, it manages to build off the previous entries to provide an entertaining entry in the series. I think at this point, what separates Pixar from Dreamworks is the style and approach to story. Animation quality seems to have reached parity.
Jul 18, 2022
Feb 3, 1996
This is a visual novel style game from the Super Famicom era that was a sort of pseudo sequel to Chrono Trigger. Gameplay is completely text based and involves navigating a manor while solving puzzles, interacting with characters and fighting random battles. Since it is text based, I recommend drawing up a map as you travel around since there is nothing to spatially anchor the player other than textual descriptions. The story is interesting, and the way in which it ties in with Chrono Trigger is clever. Gameplay is engaging despite being minimalistic, and music is great despite technical limitations. It definitely brought back memories of Chrono Trigger despite it having a very short playtime.
Jul 16, 2022
Jun 11, 1981
This is a continuation from the first film. We see less of the politics and more of the incompetence of military structures with this film. Finally, there is some good old fashioned robot on robot action with some commentary on the evolutionary future of the human race. This felt like a continuation of events and it is difficult to see where things are going. There is character development and the antiwar themes continue, but the episodic format of the original series seems to show in its conversion to a film format despite changes made. I am hoping the third film in the trilogy wraps things up in a conclusive manner.
Jul 16, 2022
Jun 25, 2022
A psychic, a spy, and an assassin form a family in East Berlin during the midst of the cold war. This is both a love letter to 60's spy tropes while also being its own thing. Animation is nothing crazy, but it is good enough to do what it needs to do. There are no complaints in that department. I think what makes this so great is just how much fun it is. In addition to its premise, it seems to build on itself while also using its episodic format to its advantage. It's one of those shows that has a momentum and is incredibly entertaining.
Jul 16, 2022
Nov 16, 2021
This is a fun zombie game with crafting mechanics where you can break down any object in the game and use it to make other things. It was quite fun with its crafting and combat and could be quite addicting with its mix of exploration and story.
Jul 13, 2022
Albert Camus, Jun 10, 1947
A very relevant novel given the impact of Covid-19, but while this is a book about a plague, it is an allegory for something else. Apparently this was more about humanity, death, and inspired by World War II. While the relationship to World War II seems more related to propaganda, musings on humanity and death are easier to see during a reading. The prose is thoughtful, and compared to other works by Camus it also seems quite clinical in its descriptions of events due to Dr. Bernard Rieux intending to be as objective as possible. While I prefer The Stranger, this offers its own take on madness, group dynamics, how people behave under extreme circumstances, and much more. It is a high quality work that is not the same as the other writings of Albert Camus and adds to the diversity of his body of work.
Jul 11, 2022
Fyodor Dostoevsky, Nov 18, 1879
This is a musing on what life is, what it is meant to be, and also a murder mystery. It's quite a lot to think of, and it does a lot. While Crime and Punishment is more straight to the point, this can be a bit more abstract. That is not to say that it is unorganized. Each part has a point and a purpose. In that sense, it is very well structured. However, it is unconventional in most senses and yet manages to be comprehensible and profound. Dostoevsky strikes again with another banger. Hurrah for Karamazov.
Jul 9, 2022
Jan 21, 2005
This is a short animation that covers the evolution of humanity. It's not on the level of It's Such a Beautiful Day and it does not have a narrative or overarching thread.
Jul 9, 2022
Aug 24, 2012
A great animation about the human condition by Don Hertzfeldt. While I was hoping for something closer to the SB-129 episode of Spongebob, this is an interesting exercise in death. Animation is not complex, but the way it is put together is unique. The use of film in addition to shots that were taken of the real world was something I have not seen much of in modern animation. The story telling and narration is good, and it has a sense of humor about it so that it does not take itself too seriously. That said, this can be quite the downer of a film if you can think beyond what is being told and shown to you. Overall, this is quite profound, and while it does not actively draw conclusions like the works of existentialist philosophers, it at least provokes thought. There is not much out there that has tried to cover similar themes.
Jul 8, 2022
Jul 7, 1984
I've seen some more recent offerings in the Macross series, but with this, I finally have some context on the history of the series. This is a film that has a lot of charm. All the animation is hand drawn and highly detailed. Action is quite intricate. The music is very 80's J-Pop which means that it has its own charm while also coming across as dated at times (particularly with regards to lyricism) when compared to how Japanese music would later evolve. The story is interesting, and the plot, while not perfectly paced, is like a fairy tale that takes place in space. The concept of using music to end conflict is a central theme of the Macross series, and it can be found here. There are some themes involving gender that came across as bizarre and behind the times, but other than that, it was an enjoyable time.
Jul 3, 2022
May 12, 1986
This isn't the type of film that will be winning awards for anything but the music, but it is a guilty pleasure for those who like planes and 80's music. The dogfights are well filmed, and Tom Cruise is perfect in his role. The soundtrack is iconic. Really, the only parts I did not like that much were when people were involved in them. The main stars of this film are the planes, and although all the planes seem to be American models, it is still a good example of dogfighting for the time. I would still rank the Ace Combat games as a better experience of dogfighting, but what this has going for it is its 80's charm and tight editing.
Jul 2, 2022
Mar 14, 1981
While I have seen some of the non-UC related Gundam series, this is my first foray into the UC timeline. Given the fact that this came out prior to Japanese animation reaching maturity in the late 80's, the animation is crude. Despite this, it has story elements that make it appealing and entertaining despite its shortcomings. The hero's journey here is quite standard, but it backs it up by showing the development of characters and fleshing out a somewhat realistic future. Influences from science fiction are apparent with the use of mechas, O'Neill cylinders and other futuristic technologies. I can also see how influential this was. This series seems to be a blueprint for many mecha related works that came later on. While I question whether this is good since it is more of a compilation lacking an overarching narrative, it was entertaining even now.
Jul 1, 2022
Jan 18, 2008
I remember liking The Machinist, so I thought I would like this too because it had the same director. While I did like this, it is not quite at the level of The Machinist. Part of the reason is because what this is more of a thriller than a psychological film. As a thriller, it is well structured and paced despite being quite slow to begin. In that sense, it is more of a slow burn, but it is rewarding, and the third act pays off. This does not try to be too ambitious, but the use of themes that show up in Crime and Punishment was an interesting touch. Overall, good, but maybe not as good as the Machinist.
Jun 29, 2022
Anna Wiener, Jan 14, 2020
I read this, because the subject matter was relevant to my industry. I should have probably read the title first, because I could not care less about the author and did not find her that interesting. In this, a non technical individual works at startups and gets some exposure to start up culture and Silicon Valley. While some of her insights about the blind spots of those who work in the bay area are valid, she does not express them all that well or in a coherent manner that would come across as persuasive or meaningful. There are some threads here that should have been elaborated on such as the effect of companies on society and the counterproductive nature of the culture. I think lay people might find this a useful read, but I did not get much out of it.
Jun 28, 2022
Feb 4, 2021
This is a story driven puzzle game with horror/supernatural elements. The story is emotional, and fascinating from a western perspective. There are aspects of Chinese culture such as their attitudes towards death, the use of fireworks at funerals, and occultism that I found very interesting. In terms of gameplay, it felt like a game on rails in that none of the puzzles were difficult, and there was not much exploration or freedom in the process. For this reason, I think this would have been better if the gameplay were beefed up, or if it were stripped down and the story was given more attention instead. In my opinion, the latter would be more preferable.
Jun 26, 2022
Mar 8, 2021
It took some time, but I'm glad I could see this to the end. This is the ending of all of Evangelion, and stands as an antithesis to The End of Evangelion. Unlike End of Evangelion, this is a bit more explicit, a bit more meta, and somewhat harder to understand without context. In this, there is an emphasis on catharsis and coming to terms with who you are. In addition to this, this feels like a subtle love letter to 90's era Japan, and many of the influences of Anno such as Space Battleship Yamato, and Gainax's other works. The art style which continues the mixture of cgi and 2d animation with almost photorealistic backgrounds continues in this work in a surreal fashion like Dali brought to life, but deconstructs itself towards the end. Going into this, I thought I would see something like the human instrumentality project realized, but the ending is quite different. I think this will be divisive, but Anno's refusal to be clear about his messaging makes me believe that this is something I will be thinking of well after viewing. While End of Evangelion had a greater influence on me, the way in which Anno counter's the depression and suicidal tendencies of the series shows his growth as a creator. I would not quite say that he matured, but that he has changed. This is a satisfying, but puzzling ending.
Jun 25, 2022
Feb 10, 2007
This is a film about Operation Bernhard. The contents here have some similarity to The Imitation Game, but unlike that film, this is about counterfeiting currencies. It is very fascinating, and the mix of financial intrigue along with the character drama over the course of the second world war was a good combination. Overall, a very solid film that is deserving of its Oscar win.
Jun 24, 2022
Agatha Christie, Nov 6, 1939
My first Agatha Christie novel. This is a mixture of a mystery and slasher type story and it may be the first instance of an "Amongus" type of premise. While I did not care for any of the characters, the way in which the plot fit in with the contents of a children's rhyme was very interesting. While this was somewhat simple in terms of plot, the plot structure was very clear which can be something of a rarity. There is also some themes that are reminiscent of Crime and Punishment. Overally, it manages to pack quite a bit in despite its short length.
Jun 23, 2022
Franz Kafka, Apr 26, 1925
Life is unfair, and this story can be taken and applied to many aspects of society beyond the justice system. Although this is from an earlier time, it is quite applicable today. From bureaucracies, to social ostracization, this is very generalizable. This is helped by Kafka's familiarity with legalese as well as the surreal elements of the story. Honestly, you could also apply this to being run through the modern healthcare system. Overall, I think this is good and can be profound without necessarily being overly explicit.
Jun 20, 2022
Leo Tolstoy, 1878
This makes Madame Bovary seem pedestrian, and reminded me of what a monolith Russian literature can be. While similar in its themes of marriage and adultery, this seems to have more breadth while also using its length to thoroughly examine motivations, events, and show off the culture and ideologies of the time. With that said, this is inferior to War and Peace, but this is also trying to do something different with regards to the themes it is tackling. In terms of negatives, I think the final part after the death of Anna was underwhelming. If it ended as strongly as it started, I think I would consider this to be lacking in any major blemishes.
Jun 19, 2022
July 2, 2014
This was completed on the Khan Academy site. Covers aspect of many areas of biology such as organic chemistry, cells, central dogma, molecular biology, genetics, natural selection, animal behavior, ecology and many other topics. This is probably one of the largest modules in Khan Academy, and all of these topics are covered in depth while not necessarily quite reaching the cutting edge. The latest and greatest in biotechnology is not covered, but the foundational concepts needed to understand it is. There is also AP Biology questions and the entirety of the Crash Course Biology playlist included. Will probably look at physics, electrical engineering, or organic chemistry next depending on what is most immediately useful.
Jun 17, 2022
Jan 20, 2012
I've had this on my radar for about a decade, so I'm glad to finally watch this film. This film really has an indie feel that was unique to films that were unable to take advantage of the technological advance of video software and cameras that we see in most products today. Most of the actors had no acting experience, and yet they gave very good performances. The special effects are somewhat subdued, but are filmed in an evasive manner such as to hide it, and it surprisingly works. There was cgi used, but it is surprisingly very convincing. There are many themes that are addressed here from mortality to hurricane Katrina, to climate change, but they are presented in a approachable manner. One thing that I wished there was more of was the fantastical elements, but that is a small complaint. Overall, this is a unique film that manages to represent the bayou very well while telling a straightforward but compelling story.
Jun 13, 2022
Jun 27, 2014
I was originally interested in this due to my interest in Blame!. Unfortunately, this is not quite at the same level despite the source material providing a strong foundation. There is an interesting premise here of a generation ship traveling through space while fighting aliens. With that said, the heavy use of cgi which did not blend in well with the backgrounds turned me off. Also, there are a number of cliches here in terms of plot development. With that said, that does not mean it isn't fun. At times it does have a Saturday morning cartoons type of vibe. However, that is not enough for me to consider this good.
Jun 11, 2022
Jul 27, 2009
This was a divisive one. Animation is on another level, and there isn't a frame that is wasted. Everything is done deliberately, and all aspects except for the plot itself are unquestionably well done. With that said, I felt lost throughout much of this film, and character interaction felt somewhat limited compared to previous films. In that said, it feels like a step down from 2.0 despite not necessarily being bad. The largest problem is that when compared with the show, I didn't know why things were happening, and the use of Biblical terminology which has helped in the past only obfuscated things. Perhaps this is good and I'm simply unable to comprehend what is going on, but the lack of clarity and shorter runtime makes this feel more like an episode on the journey to the end rather than an important piece of the whole story.
Jun 10, 2022
Jul 2, 1982
A short, genre bending animated film about animals on a farm. Starting out, I thought this would be a fairly standard movie about animals and humans, but it ended up being about more than that. It's about family, about animal experimentation, and there is even a little bit of mysticism in there too. The craftsmanship is great with highly detailed backgrounds, fluid animation, and good orchestration. All of this is packaged into a short, but effective movie which ultimately ended up being Don Bluth's best work.
Jun 8, 2022
Neal Stephenson, Jun 1992
Ready Player One was turned into a film, but this was not, and I consider that to be a crime. This novel, while not as large scale as Neuromancer, has a certain countercultural feel to it that made it entertaining despite not being as sophisticated. When compared with Neuromancer, this is less cyber in terms of human augmentation, but the use of the metaverse allows for an interesting foray into what the future of the internet would have looked like. Things such as Google Earth being predicted a decade in advance is one such accomplishment. Conversely, there are aspects of this such as mind viruses that use linguistics and ideas to destroy the mind without the need for cybernetics are quite original. The characters were interesting as well, and there was a stylistic edge to this that made it feel very 90's. From katanas to skateboards to nuclear submarines, this was a fun ride that didn't get too emotional, but managed to explore an interesting world that isn't too different from ours today.
Jun 6, 2022
Johan Huizinga, 1938
This is an analysis of the element of play in culture. This book manages to successfully argue that there is a aspect of play in almost all of human behavior while broadening what play actually is. From language to philosophy to competition, the concept of play pervades our daily lives at a micro and macro scale. This is the crux of what this book is trying to get at, and it makes a strong case. One aspect that I wish could have been elaborated on is the unclear division between play and seriousness. Similarly, seeing how old this work is, I would be interested in seeing how it applies to modern forms of media and the internet. Overall, a surprisingly well written work about an area that is more important than I originally thought.
Jun 5, 2022
Jul 9, 2021
It is great to see mainland China create animated donghua works that push the boundary of the genre. I don't know if Chinese donghua get a larger budget than Japanese anime, but the animation here is more fluid, and the use of modern techniques allows for sophisticated lighting within 2d environments. The opening with its rotoscoped tutting is unskippable, and the score is good as well. The premise and concept is original and quite fitting in a modern setting and within the urban fantasy genre. The ability to view the past and perhaps change it by diving into photos is unique. Character development is good. I think this is proof that Chinese writers are beginning to understand how to tailor narratives to a mass audience. I'm definitely looking forward to the next season seeing how this ended on a cliffhanger.
Jun 4, 2022
Jul 27, 2009
This is some next level stuff and this film represents the departure of the remakes from the show. Unlike the show which took its time, to a somewhat infuriating degree, this is a film which means that pacing is more streamlined. When compared to the first film which did not have as much character development as I would have preferred, this was made as a film with its own unique plot developments from the very beginning which meant that Anno could plan in development and pacing from the outset. This means that it works where the previous film may have stumbled, and it is simply great. The new character of Mari Illustrious Makinami was an interesting development, and I am curious to see what she adds to the plot development in future films. Music by Shiro Sagisu is at the level of previous entries with aspects of his more recent style making an appearance such as the use of choirs. Animation is great with cgi and 2d animation blending very well. You can really get an idea for the scale at which everything takes place, and Anno's fetish for electric cables is present here as well. The plot is handled incredibly, and the imagery is just as profound as it was in other entries. This is not quite at the level of End of Evangelion, but this touches upon human instrumentality quite early despite there being two movies left in the series which means that this has a chance to go deeper into its themes and be more audacious than the show. I'm looking forward to the later entries.
Jun 4, 2022
Covers the basic features of Tableau. I was able to create basic graphs and dashboards using this.
Jun 3, 2022
Jan 26, 2020
Another film with the time loop mechanic. Unlike Groundhog Day, this has a more modern take in a different setting that acts as a deconstruction of romantic comedy tropes. Because this has Andy Samberg's sensibilities, it does feel like Groundhog Day even though it hits some similar notes. At the same time, it asks questions about life in general that even Groundhog Day never did. Overall, it is quite enjoyable, but towards the shorter side which results in the third act being quite short. I think adding about ten minutes may make it better as you can't have too much of a good thing.
Jun 2, 2022
Jane Austen, Oct 30, 1811
I liked Pride and Prejudice, but I found the humor here to not be as entertaining, and the content matter to be somewhat boring. Getting into the financial matters of marriage, and watching characters make mistakes out of pure naïvety is not entertaining. In fact, it is frustrating which may be effective for a comedy, but the humor here did not really connect for me. With that said, the prose is great, and it reads extremely well. Because of this, it is hard for me to dismiss this work, because I can tell that there has been a fair bit of thought placed into the comparison between sense and sensibility. But, with a modern lens, there are many aspects here that may come across as unrelatable especially when taking cultural shifts into account.
May 29, 2022
Jun 24, 2019
A really cool film with a interesting premise and a vast and detailed world. It is easy to get lost in the backgrounds and that is almost enough to make up for the weak plot for me. The cgi characters don't work for me, but everything else in the background did. The closest thing I could think of in terms of the world here are some of the infinite environments within Manifold Garden. This, combined with the great soundtrack which channels in the spirit of John Williams at times with sweeping melodies made it an enjoyable time for me. The character of Killy reminded me of westerns and if the film played up some of the tropes from the genre, this could have been improved. The concept of self building cities and humans losing the ability to manipulate the technology they built themselves is somewhat original, but I have never seen it done in film before. Overall, I liked this and thought it had a lot of potential and if a sequel comes out, I will watch it. With that said, I don't think I can say that this is a good film due to weak characterization and simple plot.
May 28, 2022
Jun 24, 2019
A24 seems to make consistently interesting films. This one feels stylistically like a cross between Jodorowsky and Kubrick. While it is portrayed as a horror and slasher film, I think this works more as a psychological one. Cinematography is very interesting and unique. There isn't a shot that looks terrible. Florence Pugh's acting is on another level here. In terms of concept, I imagine this is similar to The Wicker Man, but the Scandinavian aspects of it kept it unique. There are some fascinating viewpoints here on human relationships which I think could have been developed further. Pacing, despite being slow, works for this film. Overall, I think this is a film I will be revisiting at some point.
May 28, 2022
Dec 7, 2012
A compelling psychological horror indie game. This is interesting because it is rough around the edges, and the pacing may be unbalanced, but its message and the character arcs regarding suicide and depression are well handled. The soundtrack with music by many artists is original and suits the game well. Despite it being quite dark in nature, the game ultimately tells an optimistic story depending on how you as the player decide to end it.
May 27, 2022
Apr 1, 1923
An iconic film from the silent era. Harold Lloyd's physicality and his stunts in this one are very impressive. Despite it being old, it is suspenseful and entertaining. This is the case particularly towards the end where Harold has to climb a multi story building.
May 27, 2022
Gustave Flaubert, Dec 15, 1856
While I can appreciate how this was written and organized, the contents of the story itself were not that enjoyable or profound for me. Honestly, if you want to see how a person's actions lead to their own ruin, there are many better stories out there. If you want something better, there are the Shakesperean plays. Conversely, if you want something newer, there is reality television. I didn't get much out of this and could pretty much predict where things would go after halfway through part 1. Overall, I don't think this is worth the time despite its reputation as a classic novel.
May 25, 2022
Hideo Kojima, Oct 19, 2021
This is a book where Hideo Kojima presents a number of works that were formative in his creative expression. I thought this was quite similar to the types of books that film reviewers might author, but unlike those, this provides some background on the personal meaning those works had. In addition to this, often times, there is a narrative where we are brought back to a time where Kojima was younger to provide additional context. I found a lot of overlap with Kojima's influences and Anno's influences which was quite interesting. As a work of literature, I don't think this is anything special, but since I had interest in the subject matter, I considered it worthwhile.
May 23, 2022
Søren Kierkegaard, Jul 30, 1849
A hard read, but also a rewarding one. In this, Kierkegaard analyzes despair and how it relates to the self. I found the subject matter here quite interesting due to how it closely ties in with human identity. In many ways, this is on the cusp of discussing Jungian concepts, but it never quite gets there due to its preoccupation with Christianity and God. I think the concept of the destruction of the self and the finite life becoming at odds with the infinite were profound with regards to the suffering that is involved in the act of despair. There was also some interesting theological commentary on how Jesus is God's example for all of humanity. There is also the implication that humans should allow themselves to be crucified which is an interesting one. Overall, I think this made much more of an impression on me than Fear and Trembling.
May 21, 2022
Sep 19, 2019
This is an English language film that takes place in Germany towards the end of the second world war. Some actors use a German-ish accent while others don't even try and just have a New Zealand accent. Taika Waititi is completely trolling in this film in that he is precise in some details and other details completely go out the window in terms of historical accuracy. This works for comedic purposes and I did laugh often in this film. At the same time, this also clashes a bit with the heavy subject matter. While this results in some level of inconsistency, it seems to be handled with enough sensitivity that it is not a large problem. I think acting was pretty good especially with Taika Waititi as Hitler. Overall, I think this is a good film. I would not place it even close to the level of Schindler's List or The Great Dictator, but it is good.
May 21, 2022
Nov 2, 2021
This is the second game that I played by Frictional Games, and SOMA is better in my opinion. Gameplay consists of puzzles and running away and hiding from enemies. From a design perspective, it seems to have been play tested extensively, because everything seems to happen for a reason. There is an interesting sanity mechanic based on how often you are in the darkness which I consider to be quite unique. The story is supernatural and bordering on cosmic horror, but not anything ground breaking in my opinion. When compared with other horror games like Silent Hill 2 and the aforementioned SOMA, I don't think this matches the atmosphere I expect from horror games. I also think the setting and story did not impress me, but it was good overall and quite good for an indie studio.
May 20, 2022
Sep 2, 2005
I consider this to be an American reply to Farewell My Concubine. However, while Farewell My Concubine also managed to show the growth and development of a country, this film takes place on a smaller time scale of about two decades. Like Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, this has great shots of the locations, and shows how beautiful North America can be as well as capture the feel of rural America. Acting is great. I think Heath Ledger was the best with his ability to show a range of emotions without speaking much in the film. The film plays like a good book and does not overstay its welcome. It seems to be the right length despite being meandering in nature. Overall, quite well crafted and definitely unique for its time.
May 20, 2022
Philip K. Dick, May, 1969
This is a strange, but great mind bending novel that was published more than half a century ago. I like to think of this as a cross between X-men and Inception where psychic abilities are used for corporate espionage, there are moon bases, and people can live on after death so long as they are not brain dead. The concept of half-life where you can live after your body dies and still communicate with the living is very interesting and reminds me of a conversation within Waking Life. The idea of trying to figure out who is dead and who is not, what simulated life after death is like is profound, and allows for all rules of reality to go out the window. Not only does Phillip K. Dick play with simulation and reality here, but he also plays with time. I'm very surprised that a film of this has not been created yet when the source material is this good.
May 18, 2022
Charlotte Brontë, Oct 16, 1847
I'm not usually a fan of British literature from this time period, but this story read easily in a way that is quite similar to the works of Dickens. Specifically, this very much reminded me of Great Expectations. However, unlike that book which had a benefactor, this one emphasized the autonomy of its protagonist. While it can be said to be ahead of its time by providing Jane Eyre with the strength to stick to her principles, I think it should be noted that the lessons learned here are not just feminist, but human. Each chapter reads well, and it's hard to get bored despite the contents of each chapter being filled primarily with drama. Where this excels is in the emotional challenges of all the characters involved to the point that all of them are understandable. This is a full package of a story with an arc starting from childhood, a full journey, and a romance that I think should be crowd pleasing. Victorian England, despite its wealth, truly did suck due to the effects of industrialization, and the suffering and joys that could be seen during the era were well depicted here. I can see why it is considered great, but I would not quite put it at the top of my list of greats with works like War and Peace or The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Similarly, while I think Wuthering Heights might be the better novel produced by the Brontë sisters, I did enjoy this far more.
May 15, 2022
Dec 29, 1972
This is like a South American equivalent to Heart of Darkness, and it handles itself very well. This is a great movie, and I understand why it served as inspiration for Apocalypse Now. While Apocalypse Now may have been more explicit about its themes, Werner Herzog does a lot of show don't tell, which means that the actions of the characters speak for themselves. The filming onsite adds a layer of authenticity to the setting. While all the characters speak German instead of Spanish, this does not take too much away from the film, and the acting of Klaus Kinski is among the highlights. Overall, this is a great story of greed that focuses on unique characters much like Herzog's other works.
May 15, 2022
Nov 2, 2021
A cute and short puzzle game where you follow the life of the main character by unpacking her stuff every time she changes residences. It is an interesting approach that does not try to do too much and can be calming at times.
May 14, 2022
D.J. MacHale, May 12, 2009
The final book in the Pendragon series. While I am glad I finished the series, I think I would have enjoyed this more when I was younger. With this final book, we see questions answered, and final conflicts on a larger scale with a fair bit of fanservice. References to previous books are high in number, so I think anyone who reads the series will find themselves to be adequately rewarded. With that said, the way in which the multiverse is used was not quite as strategic or as philosophical as I would have preferred, and visions of other worlds and futures felt lacking in terms of depth. Pacing and events in the plot felt as though they were not organized in a way that necessarily made sense, and characters sometimes did things that felt shallow or unintelligent. Finally, the exposition dump that was provided at the very beginning of the book that was attempting to answer questions brought up in previous books was simply clumsy. Overall, I consider this quite flawed, but it may satisfy its target audience.
Apr 30, 2022
Mar 1, 2022
This is a movie that focuses on Batman as a detective which is something that got brushed over in other films, so it is refreshing to see. Pattinson makes for a convincing young Batman. Cinematography is great, but they might have gone too heavy on the grainy aesthetic as there are often shots that lack clarity of image. Editing is good, and it is a slow burn, but it could have definitely been shorter without much lost in the process. Music by Michael Giacchino is orchestral and melodic which is just how I like it. Acting is great with Paul Dano as The Riddler being the standout performance. The overall tone of this is gritty an realistic, but not necessarily in the same manner as the Nolan films which makes it unique in its own right. The concept of fear as a weapon is interesting and Machiavellian, but I wish it was explored more. I also wish there was some stronger emphasis on overarching themes or more detailed character development. I think this and the length of the film are its biggest flaws, but it is a good movie that is very well made.
Apr 30, 2022
Apr 4, 2021
A great continuation from part 1 with a few surprises that brings it full circle with the first season in a way that is inspired by Greek and Norse mythology, but a fair bit of it does seem predictable at times. The first half is great as it continues from a cliffhanger, and has a few mindbending aspects such as time manipulation through memories of the future. The second half is after the rumbling begins is surprisingly slower as it is trying to deal with the fallout of the rumbling. From an animation standpoint, I am surprised how well the cgi blends in with the normal 2d animation to the point that I am often unable to tell the difference. Action is great too, and it manages to do some fairly novel things in terms of how time and movement is represented within animation. From a story standpoint, this is fairly consistent with the previous entry, but the political maneuvering has been replaced with more commentary on freedom, fate, conflict, morality and genocide. I think the question asked in this work of whether humanity is an existence that deserves to live is quite profound is quite applicable to today. Music by Yamamoto Kouta is consistent with the quality from the previous entry, and at times meets or exceeds the quality of Sawanou Hiroyuki's work. Overall, I think the first half is absolutely terrific, and the second half, while great, is a bit of a slow burn. This series is still a must watch.
Apr 29, 2022
Feb 26, 1969
A great political drama that takes place within a fictional country where the police are corrupt and actively interfere with political opposition to the current regime. Apparently this was based off of Greece, but there were many elements that were quite similar to what can be found in the history a number of Latin American countries as well. The references to foreign interference from outside countries made it feel quite real. The way in which those in the inside who are trying to fix corruption and determine the truth are obstructed is quite realistic as well. Camera work and the way in which the camera moves really places the viewer in the moment and it is a very modern style of cinematography. It starts a bit slowly, but it picks up after the initial parts are established, and it it carries itself with moderate momentum to the end afterwards.
Apr 29, 2022
Mar 10, 2022
A simple atmospheric horror game that takes place in a submarine with an interesting premise. The tank controls, while frustrating, are not something I am new to and manage to be an interesting mechanic in a game where you cannot see the outside world. The concept of blood oceans and every known habitable planet and star disappearing is an interesting premise. I wish it could have been explored deeper. Despite it being short, it is good for a one man effort.
Apr 28, 2022
Thomas Ligotti, Jun 25, 2010
This is a work that builds off of works of Peter Wessel Zapffe, Schopenhauer, and other philosophers in addition to drawing from writers of works of horror like Lovecraft. What I like about this is its modern take on the topics of the meaningless of life with elaboration on the human-centric abstraction of meaning, as well as coverage of antinatalism. The recognition of the idea that life has worth is based on societal concepts and has no backing through some form of empirical basis is quite profound in nature. The breaking down of societal concepts that sees life as insignificant on the cosmic scale and miserable on the human scale is quite similar to what can be found in Buddhism. With that said, tangents on works of horror, while relevant, seemed to weaken arguments and the focus of the book. Overall, I consider this to be good while imperfect.
Apr 25, 2022
Jack Kerouac, Sep 5, 1957
America has changed quite a lot compared to the 50's, and I think that is part of the reason why I had trouble relating to this. I think the intention was for this to be a book you can get lost in and experience feelings of wanderlust from. I, on the other hand, found the characters to be uninspiring. This meant that the book, as a whole, was a bit of a slog. And since America has changed over the decades, even if I wanted to have experiences similar to the ones described in this book, it is unlikely that I can.
Apr 24, 2022
Aug 29, 1961
An experimental and somewhat surreal film that plays with time such that past and future are indistinguishable. It is quite creative in the way it manipulates movement and sound to come across as otherworldly while being grounded in the real world. The images on screen are vivid and framed in an expert manner. I don't understand it, but its dreamlike aspects appealed to me tremendously along with its meandering script. Overall, this is a great French new wave film from the left bank.
Apr 24, 2022
Andy Weir, Aug 15, 2009
A short story about death which is only 3 pages in length. It does what it wants to with minimal text and manages to create a profound plot twist in the process. Just read it. It will only take you about 3 minutes.
Apr 24, 2022
Jul 28, 2021
An interesting game with a time loop mechanic. While, I believe Outer Wilds does the time loop mechanic the best, this is a good game with some interesting philosophical musings regarding morality. This one of the few games I've seen where you can undergo debates and dialogues about morality. There is also some coverage of the connection between religions practiced by different civilizations. From a gameplay perspective, you'll find yourself performing different actions to achieve different results in each loop, but the game creates shortcuts to save time as you make progress. There are multiple endings, and the true ending, while tricky to find, is rewarding.
Apr 23, 2022
Jun 19, 1989
I saw Batman Returns a long time ago, but never this film until now. Compared to the Nolan films or some of the animated offerings, this is nothing special, but I imagine it felt new for the time. Elfman's soundtrack and Burton's aesthetic make for a unique Gotham. Special effects are quite good, and the scale models, while coming across as fake at times are rather detailed. The film starts off slow and does not really explore motivations, but it does have minor character arcs. In this sense, it felt like a compromise between a darker aesthetic and the Adam West Batman show. There is also some goofy dialog. Actors handle the material quite well with Michael Keaton handling his clunky suit quite well given the circumstances and Jack Nicholson delivering the aforementioned goofy dialog with flourish. Overall, I think people will have fun, but I question whether this is a good movie.
Apr 22, 2022
Jul 25, 2018
This is an underrated, but also imperfect Korean adaptation of Jinrou from the Kerberos saga. From the perspective of craftsmanship, it has great visuals, and good action. The soundtrack, while being nothing special does have some pieces from the original material, which However, the editing and pacing make it a film that can also be too long while moving too quickly despite not doing all that much. What this does well is its premise it is working with, the political intrigue, the action, and the depiction of the Panzer cops. A slower and more stylized approach may have worked better. While Kim Jee-woon is not Mamoru Oshii, it would have been wise of him to learn from his predecessors with regards to what worked and what didn't.
Apr 19, 2022
D.J. MacHale, Jan 20, 2008
I read previous books in this series and left off at the previous book which is effectively a cliffhanger. This book continues the story of Pendragon, and its multiversal/multi-world adventure. There is nothing groundbreaking here, and the plot isn't particularly innovative compared to more modern offerings. With that said, as we get closer towards the ending and the stakes are raised, the story becomes somewhat entertaining as the fight is brought to Earth.
Apr 18, 2022
Sep 1, 2021
This is, in my opinion, in addition to being the game I enjoyed the most so far this year, it is also the best game I played so far this year. Compared to previous Sigono games which were admirable given what the indie studio had to work with, this is a full fledged game that is indicative of a studio that has reached full maturity and it is a great game regardless of the budget or resources. The narrative is incredible and it feels like a cross between Dune, the works of Makoto Shinkai, and Journey. The premise of memories and emotions being carried across time along with a universe that has a deep lore and history makes for a story that stands out. Where Dune has spice, this has lumen which is influenced by sound. Needless to say, when gameplay is based on sound, the sound design has to be great and it is. The soundtrack is also great, and it follows a more melodic approach in a manner which is similar to many Japanese works which is growing more rare in modern scores. Gameplay, while not being particularly innovative, is smooth and moves the narrative forward without being obvious nor being a drag. There is a mixture of exploration, resource management, and dice rolling which is not mechanically heavy, but relatively fresh and manages engagement. Overall, I consider this to be proof that a great story can be told in a game and that games can easily rival other mediums of storytelling. If there is one Sigono game you play, it should definitely be this one.
Apr 17, 2022
Nov 5, 2017
Building off of the first Paddington, this one continues with the same level of consistency and style. It could be argued that this is better, but it is difficult to tell. From a technical perspective, and in terms of acting, this is indeed improved. I enjoyed this just as much and it is just as heart warming Only Paddington can make prison seem like an okay place.
Apr 16, 2022
Nov 23, 2014
This is an entertaining and beautifully filmed movie that does not get too heavy while maintaining appropriate levels of suspense to keep it interesting. For the time, the cgi for Paddington and other animals is quite convincing. Many live action family movies which mix cgi characters often fall flat as cash grabs, but this was truly quite great and had a lot of heart. It also managed to make the rainy and gloomy setting of London seem somewhat charming at times which is an achievement as well.
Apr 13, 2022
Sep 20, 2018
I have been playing this on and off for the past two and a half years, and I am glad to finally finish this. Apparently, there is additional content, but I don't think I will complete that any time soon. This is an action rpg in the vein of SNES style games with many puzzle style mechanics. Game mechanics are well balanced, and can be further tuned with highly customizable difficulty settings. The game is filled with content despite being an indie game, and does open world far better than most AAA studios today. The game plays with concepts within vrmmorpg's and AI, and while it may not be as heavy on the story as I would have liked, it manages to create the most fully fleshed rendition of a vrmmorpg that I think I have seen so far along with memorable characters. Where this shines is in its world, and its gameplay which is terrific. There are some aspects such as isometric platforming in a 2d environment which might have been improved, but this has definitely gone through the ringer in terms of testing. I think this sets the standard for what to expect from games in terms of depth of content, and any time a game claims to be open world, it should be compared with this to determine if it fails to meet the mark.
Apr 12, 2022
Bill Bryson, Sep 14, 2004
While this can be said to be a book about history, what this is, is a book about the history of science. We see the background on discoveries such as the microscope, atoms, continental drift, and other cornerstones of different areas of science. There is nothing here that was particularly new to me, but it was interesting to learn about the people behind certain concepts as well as the journeys that needed to be taken to bring certain ideas to the forefront.
Apr 10, 2022
Feb 17, 2022
This is a show that picks up after the ending of The Suicide Squad and in my opinion, it may be better. We have more character interactions, funny dialogue, and a great intro that I think most people won't skip due to its originality. John Cena and Freddie Stroma are great in this, and many of the characters have arcs and a fair amount of development. The similarities to Invasion of the Body Snatchers was not something I liked, but it got events moving so that we could get to interesting situations for the characters. Finally, Clint Mansell's music, while subtle, was great as well, and the commentary on 80's hair metal was much appreciated.
Apr 8, 2022
Dec 19, 2014
This is a film about an alien played by Aamir Khan who loses the remote control for his spaceship and has to live among humans in search for it. During this time, he discovers the many religions found within India and this becomes the main focus of the film. This can be quite funny and generally entertaining, but it hits many of the same notes as OMG regarding religion. In that sense, it feels like it brings nothing new in addition to a somewhat familiar premise that can be found in films such as E.T. This is a generally enjoyable film that is carried by Aamir Khan, but I think it's not the best film to address this topic nor is it the best comedy directed by Rajkuumar Hirani.
Apr 6, 2022
Ovid, 8
This is very much in the style of Greek works like the Iliad and Roman works like Aeneid. In this, we have a bit of an overarching goal which is to tell the history of the world from its beginnings up to the state of the Roman empire with Augustus. It is quite ambitious in nature, but ultimately achieves what it sets out to do. I for one did not enjoy it quite as much due to some of my prior familiarity with the source material. There is quite a bit of death and murder and rape in this one which can be off putting as well. With that said, for the time in which it was written, it is quite an achievement.
Apr 2, 2022
Jul 28, 2021
This felt like an 80's movie and more like a sequel to Tropic Thunder which means that it was a good time unlike the 2016 film. Most of the characters in this film are bottom of the barrel DC characters that are smartly written which means that everything felt new. The actors made their characters work quite well and had great chemistry as well. This had great humor which placed it on the same level as movies such as Deadpool. I do question the pacing of the film and felt that it could have been trimmed down, but it is a fun time and showed James Gunn at his most indulgent. I don't think this is necessarily the suicide squad concept done right because I have seen it done better, but it is the best live action entry so far.
Apr 2, 2022
May 12, 2002
A mini series that ran almost 20 years ago when dinosaurs had more popularity. This is a fairly standard adventure story that functions with a lost in another world style premise. In this mini-series, dinosaurs did not die out and live on an island with humans. The world does not make much sense, but there is good set design to flesh things out. Dinosaurs are a mixture of cgi and animatronics and tend to appear quite dated. The story and characters could have been written better. Overall, not terrible, but I don't consider it good.
Mar 27, 2022
Mar 10, 2021
This is a surprising slice of life that manages to be funny and emotional in a way that I don't think I've seen before. This short series follows a four year old who is living independently and gets into heavy topics such as child abuse, family, and friendship. The format is simple, it does not have a high budget, but it manages to work with what it has to great effect. There should be more shows like this one and I hope there will be a sequel.
Mar 26, 2022
Dec 18, 2021
I question where this movie should have been made or even considered in the first place. This is not the Matrix that I am used to, and the music, cinematography, ground breaking special effects that mixed CGI and practical techniques are gone. Even the great kung-fu choreography from the previous films are gone. It was nice to see Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss return, but the absence of Laurence Fishburne and Hugo Weaving in particular made this feel incomplete. There are many interesting ideas in here that are executed badly. I thought there was the potential to draw from modern philosophy to modernize the ideas from 20 years ago, but that potential was wasted. While I enjoyed some parts and was even impressed at times, this film relies heavily on nostalgia. The religious themes from the other films are no longer here, and the commentary on society is neutered compared to the first film. It tries to hit some familiar notes, but it's just not the same. At the very least, it is self aware, and I don't regret watching it.
Mar 25, 2022
Dec 13, 2021
This is probably among the best live action Spider-Man films and it is my favorite within the Home trilogy. What this film does is not necessarily revolutionary, but it is a crowd pleaser that feels just like a Marvel comic. We see things in this film that we would have thought was impossible given the state of Hollywood 10 years ago. In this, we see the appearance of all three spidermen that made an appearance over the past 20 years, and most of the villains. We also see some familiar faces from the Dr. Strange side of things. I guess if there was something I would have preferred more of, it was the banter between characters. I felt they could have gone further with the character interactions which is what I consider to be the main strength in these Marvel films. With that said, the movie was already long enough, so it may be the case that there was much that needed to be cut. Overall, this is a good conclusion to a trilogy that, while it does not do anything profound in its messaging, manages to appeal to fans and do justice to the hero's journey.
Mar 24, 2022
Christopher Paolini, Nov 8, 2011
I remember reading up to the third book as a child, and always wanted to finish the series, but never got around to it. Now that I've reread everything and finished the last book in the cycle, I can understand why. Everything is too long and Paolini is not Hemingway, so it is to be expected that mistakes made are more obvious than they would be under typical circumstances. Dialogue is one area that I found to be questionable and it felt stilted and seemed to convey a lack of understanding of the English language, both modern and old. That said, it is clear to see how Paolini managed to improve through each book, and the way in which the cycle ended, while leaving much to be desired, was an ending that I believe only a more mature writer would come up with. World building and lore was interesting and there are some good ideas here. The ability to fight through one's thoughts could have been used to a greater effect in a philosophical sense, but was only used as mechanic here which was disappointing. It was also good to see that there was inspiration taken from many Germanic languages when coming up with the names of places and people. With regards to originality, this felt like a cross between a watered down Lord of the Rings and Star Wars, but this felt as though it hit some notes better than the sequel trilogy of Star Wars. I think overall, this is a flawed series, but it is clear that a substantial amount of work had went into it, and I'm sure that a younger audience would appreciate it.
Mar 20, 2022
Dec 5, 2018
I remember reading the first book of the series and being intrigued by its premise. I was hoping this film would bring back such feelings, but that was not the case. This is an example of great ideas being wasted due to bad execution. From a craftsmanship perspective, only the work by Weta Digital and Junkie XL was worth redeeming. There are great sets and environments, but the editing is so fast paced that you don't have time to take them in. Everything else from the cinematography to the frantic editing and the world building was lacking. When there are films like Fury Road which can be taken as inspiration for a post apocalyptic world that feels post apocalyptic, this falls short. The moving city of London is disappointing, and nothing like modern London. The world is not scorched into a wasteland like I thought it would be after the 60 minutes war. Many characters are underdeveloped with some side characters participating in subplots that don't go anywhere. This had potential to be decent, but it felt like a waste of a budget.
Mar 20, 2022
Dec 10, 2021
I don't have much to say about this one other than that it is very entertaining and holds up very well with the rest of the series. The show just never seems to run out of creative battles and scenarios, and the Japanese take on Florida was quite interesting as well.
Mar 19, 2022
Nov 16, 2010
This is a direct sequel to Assassin's Creed II, and it continues the story of Desmond Miles and Ezio Auditore. Compared to the Assassin's Creed II which is the best of the series, this is fairly consistent in terms of quality albeit it is lacking slightly in comparison with the game preceding it. Unlike the previous game where you have a story told in multiple cities during the Renaissance, this one only takes place in Rome. There are a lot of side distractions which can be fun I guess, but the main story line is not as involved. This time, we are dealing with Cesare Borgia as the main antagonist, and he isn't really anything special despite being plucked out of history and being the inspiration for Machiavelli's The Prince. I prefer my antagonists to be memorable, but he is not. The overarching story with Desmond Miles and aliens is disappointing as always, and it might be better to have had his part completely removed. The music is on par with the previous entry, but this is because Jesper Kyd returned and recycled much of his previous work. Overall, it does nothing wrong, and is consistent in quality but not content with its predecessor. If you want to see Rome during the Renaissance, this could be for you.
Mar 15, 2022
Sep 17, 2009
I watched the first 3 seasons, and that's all I plan to watch for now as there seems to be a slight downward trend in quality despite fairly clever writing. I haven't seen a lot of media that takes place within a community college, so that is fairly novel to me. In addition to that, this actually made community college seem appealing at times which is somewhat impressive as well. The comedy is quite meta and this is probably a result of Dan Harmon being involved and the many pop cultural references. In addition to this, there are some other big names such as the Russo brothers and Ludwig Göransson lending their skills. The acting is nothing spectacular, but good enough to sell the jokes and make the characters each actor's own personal work. Each of the actors here had something to offer with the main study group and the dean having the largest impact. Overall, very enjoyable, self aware, and meta.
Mar 14, 2022
Sep 28, 2012
This was a surprise going in. It starts off with a man going to court against God before ultimately teaming up with God to take on organized religion. From a craftsmanship perspective, the camerawork and other aspects are nothing special. But the script is well handled, and the pacing is great. It is stylized and entertaining in a way that is not overbearing. This is something that Bollywood finds hard to do, so I was pleasantly surprised. It's a well written story that does not get bogged down in the typical glamor and set pieces that may be seen in Indian films. And if that is not enough to sell this, there is even a cameo by Prabhu Deva. Overall, it definitely is not perfect, but it is a fun time and even thought provoking given how open minded it can be at times.
Mar 11, 2022
Aug 18, 2006
This is one of those comedy dramas where everything goes wrong for the characters. The character interactions and the actors playing the members of the dysfunctional family that comes together at the end of this film are what sells it for me. In addition to the script, the satirizing of the American dream, vanity, and child beauty pageants all within the context of a road trip make for a a interesting and unique film. It is a good debut for the Dayton/Faris duo.
Mar 5, 2022
Jun 3, 2016
An indie rpgmaker game that takes inspiration from games like FF6 and Chrono Trigger, but does not quite match or is in the same realm as those games. The setting of a world that is floating up in the sky is interesting and it has a very promising ending, but everything lacks depth compared to their Japanese counterparts from the SNES era. It is a good attempt for an indie game that has the bare minimum needed to be enjoyable, but I found that from the combat to the world to the story, everything except the exploration was lacking in some way or form, but not in content. There is a lot of content, and a good progressing that keeps grinding to a minimum, and you don't need to spend hours upon hours on it like Final Fantasy. It has good balance, just not that much depth.
Mar 5, 2022
A very well explained overview on the rise and fall of empires through an economic perspective. This covers concepts such as the power of reserve currencies, borrowing, wealth gaps, and bubbles provides insight into the health and longevity of a country. With regards to world order, this is referring to treaties and reserve currencies which inevitably set up a hierachy of countries. What is unclear is when the transfer of power will occur where China replaces the United States at the top and how long China will last at the top. While it is clear what will happen, when is a harder question to answer. This may be a problem that might be good to throw at a ML algorithm.
Mar 4, 2022
May 16, 1994
This is the crowning jewel of Keslowskki's Three Colors trilogy. This is focused on the color red which focuses on fraternity. We see the interconnectedness between people who supposedly have nothing in common and the plot weaves the stories of many people together in a calm and collected manner. Like the previous films, this has great cinematography, and many of the moving shots here are some of the most memorable witihn the trilogy. The color red shows frequently and often in a noticeable manner like Blue. The ending had mysterious properties and the inclusion of cameos from characters that showed up in previous films was a curious touch. Overall, a great way to end the trilogy and a great way to end a career.
Mar 4, 2022
Feb 26, 2022
This is a conversation that asks the hard questions and dives deeper into what Mark Zuckerberg is trying to do. At the same time, it also manages to provide more insight into Mark Zuckerberg himself.
Mar 3, 2022
Jan 26, 1994
This is the second entry in Kieslowski's Three Colors trilogy. This one focuses on the aftermath of the court proceedings we got a glimpse of in the previous film Blue. In this film, the protagonist wishes to achieve equality after being placed into poverty due to divorce and achieves it through revenge. This is a very strange film, and part of the reason for that is due to it being a comedy-drama. With that said, I did not find this funny at all, but it was still engaging due to the way in which the plot progresses in a somewhat stilted way and the visual language. Despite this having a focus on the color white, the colors are vibrant, which separates it from black and white films that did similar things in the past. Although this does not quite match up to Blue, it is good, and it maintains a certain level of quality that is consistent with the previous entry.
Feb 27, 2022
Nov 20, 2021
The fact that this exists is quite surprising, but the fact that it is good is an even bigger surprise. From an animation standpoint, this is quite impressive with its mixture of 3d and 2d which is reminiscent of the strides made in Into the Spiderverse. Characters are incredibly expressive the art style feels like it has reached full maturity already with the first season. The story, while not perfect in its pacing, is well done with character interactions and world building being the main strengths. The way in which the characters and the world from League of Legends develop over time is handled quite well. For me, the main strengths of this work are best shown when it takes a more stylized approach in its presentation of material. The weaknesses tend to show in sections where the writing is less detailed or less deliberate. I think, while this is a great start to an interesting story, it can be tighter, further streamlined, and perhaps have a more sweeping scale. Overall, I consider this to be an achievement in western animation, and a good start to a story that I hope improves over time.
Feb 27, 2022
Oct 9, 2020
A walkthrough of Material UI. As someone more familiar with bootstrap, I found that while the differences were somewhat significant, the integration with ReactJs made it quite useful. The grid system seems somewhat more complex, but also more flexible while having similar properties. I wish there was some coverage of the MUI system (e.g., sx or boxes), but reading through documentation might be a more straight forward way of understanding that.
Feb 26, 2022
H.P. Lovecraft, Jan 1, 1926
A fairly interesting short story by Lovecraft that focuses on isolation, identity, and fear of the unknown. The premise is interesting on its own, and I would be curious how other authors might develop such a premise in different directions. The ending where the main character who lived in isolation his entire life looks into a mirror was not something I liked, but I did find it to be creative.
Feb 25, 2022
Feb 6, 2009
This is a film about the Montreal massacre of 1989. From a narrative perspective, this is above average. It does not do anything special, nor does it have time to do anything special due to the short runtime, but it still manages to weave an interesting narrative in the later half. Where this excels is its visual style which I believe to be perfect. There is not a shot here that is wasted, and despite it being black and white, each frame is clear and vibrant. While this is not Villeneuve's best work, it is still quite good, and it does what it sets out to do.
Feb 23, 2022
Jul 11, 2013
A biographical film about track and field sprinter Milkha Singh who was also known as The Flying Sikh. This has great moments and moments where I have questioned what the director was thinking. The primary reasons for this is the structure in which the story is told which is in the form of flashbacks and due to it being a Bollywood film which means that it is overly long, and people break out into song at weird places. The moments that work for me are character driven and a greater focus on character interactions may have helped the film. This is a biographical film after all. There are are also some shortcomings in terms of special effects with some green screen effects coming across as incredibly obvious. When it does work, however, it can be inspiring, and the music helps. Overall, it is a mixed bag that has moments when it shines. I think many may consider this a good movie, but I found the narrative to not have as tight a focus as I would have preferred.
Feb 20, 2022
Sep 1, 2006
This suffers from pacing issues and the usual Bollywood melodrama, which means that it is not quite at the level of the previous entry in the series. With that said, it keeps its humor, and as a result is quite enjoyable. For those who are expecting a sequel, this story might come as a surprise, because it is not a continuation of Munna Bhai M.B.B.S., but it does have many of the same characters. Despite it having no continuity, I think this works, because while the previous was about being a doctor, this is about Ghandi's practices being applied in the modern world. Since the two premises have nothing to do with each other, I believe the approach taken here, while lacking in terms of execution, ultimately works.
Feb 20, 2022
Shirley Jackson, Jun 26, 1948
A short story that explores themes of tradition and mob mentality. Due to the shortness of the story, there is quite a lot of flexibility in how to interpret it. I believe this is why this short story had a lasting impact.
Feb 19, 2022
Seneca, 49
The contents of this work are basically the justification for its title. It discusses how to spend a life and learning how to live. It basically ruminates on how not to waste a life. Since there are many works I have read in the past that covered similar topics, nothing here felt new to me, but the brevity of the work allowed for me to tolerate it.
Feb 17, 2022
May 5, 2016
A fairly good point and click detective game to occupy one's time. Puzzles are manageable, and voice acting is above average. It has a mix of 90's nostalgia and supernatural aspects which distinguish it from other point and click entries.
Feb 13, 2022
Sep 17, 2021
More than a decade after multiple works like Battle Royale and Kaiji in Japan, South Korea has its own approach to the high stakes games genre and takes a bit from the Hunger Games to add additional social commentary. This is well executed with great set design and camera work, but the selling point is the acting and all of the actors do very well in their roles. The use of popular childrens games in South Korea is an interesting touch that adds to the appeal. There are some plot points that add to suspense such as the use of an undercover cop, but ultimately end up going nowhere other than to serve as foreshadowing which may be somewhat disappointing. When the subplots are ignored, what we have is an interesting drama that unfolds by placing characters in interesting situations where their morality is forced into conflict with their personal needs. It should also be noted that themes regarding capitalism and class inequality have been gradually making their way to the forefront in South Korean media, and this is one example of such media that manages to be coherent in its messaging. Overall, while this is not a perfect show, it is well crafted, and in all reality, I would not be surprised if games like this existed in real life. Although this could have ended satisfyingly at one season, the ending leads directly to a possible second season.
Feb 13, 2022
Epictetus, 125
While this is viewed as part of stoic philosophy, I think what makes this different and profound is its understanding of the feeling of control. Epictetus notes that perceived control is what determines how we feel about something regardless of whether that thing is in the past, present, or future. Once one loosens the grip, any emotional restraints that come with the concept of control are gone as well. It is similar to many philosophers talking about internal states and responses to external stimuli. How you choose to respond to things and whether you choose to be affected by things determines how those things will ultimately affect you. There is also coverage of the temporary nature of things and that all things will be lost eventually. While this could mean that you should not take things for granted, you can also view those things as borrowed. I.E., they were never yours to begin with. Overall, quite good especially when considering its short length.
Feb 12, 2022
Dec 19, 2003
This is a wacky comedy about a gangster trying to become a doctor. The premise alone is quite interesting, and the above average execution allows for it to be a Bollywood success. This also led to the making of remakes in other languages such as Vasool Raja MBBS. While this does not excel at anything in particular, it manages to do well because it does not take itself too seriously. Because of this, I think I may have enjoyed this more than 3 Idiots.
Feb 12, 2022
Dec 8, 2016
A game that breaks the fourth wall and can only be played once unless you change a few files on your computer. Inclusion of manipulating files on your computer to progress in the game is fairly novel. Among games that do such a thing, Undertale comes to mind, but in terms of gameplay, this is more like a 2d rpg. On the first playthrough you are allowed to choose between two endings. However, to get the true ending, you have to have a second playthrough. I highly recommend doing the full run instead of stopping after the first playthrough, because there is a greater sense of closure with the true ending. Overall, I found that it is a highly memorable and interesting game that makes you attached to the characters in it and forms interesting questions about game worlds, simulations, and desires.
Feb 11, 2022
Feb 10, 2022
More than 2 years after the 2019 presentation, this presentation has been made to as an update on the status of Starship to provide some clarity on revised timeframes. Compared with the 2019 presentation, we have a fully stacked starship configuration in the backdrop this time instead of just the Starship prototype. The Raptor has a new version with fewer parts and more thrust which means higher robustness with higher performance and lower cost. With this presentation, there is a new rendering and animation of the stack as well that showcases launch and landing changes and a reversion with regards to how starships will mate for refueling in orbit. Overall, it is good to see the progress made, but based on the rate of progress, I am concerned that we will most likely miss the Q3 Mars launch window for 2022. The lack of information on the governmental side of things like the FAA is concerning as well especially regarding environmental impact assessments (EA) vs environmental impact statements (EIS). Finally, it looks like while the stack and manufacturing is progressing, the lack of information on the life support systems and internals for long haul flights make it seem as though manned flights are a long way away.
Feb 10, 2022
Jul 10, 2013
With this, I have completed the three flavors cornetto trilogy. Of the trilogy, I think I enjoyed this the most. Like other Edgar Wright works, this has great cinematography, tight pacing, and tight editing. This film is a combination of the most epic of pub crawls, a mid life crisis, and science fiction story. In many cases, it feels like Attack the Block, but with better craftsmanship. Simon Pegg's acting in this is the best I've seen from him out of all the entries in the trilogy. Overall, I found this to be a great time and a greatly constructed film.
Feb 9, 2022
Dec 25, 1926
For a silent film, this is quite suspenseful and entertaining. Buster Keaton's physicality and his stunts keep things exciting. There is no cgi, some practical effects, and the majority of the things you see in camera was done for real. Overall, this mixes comedy, action, and suspense in a way that places it in a list of genius films that should be required viewing.
Feb 9, 2022
I've made some of the mistakes (particularly with state handling) in here quite frequently, so it is good to have a list of common mistakes and best practices in one place. The examples are not the best, but the lessons are clear.
Feb 8, 2022
Nov 7, 1920
This short is over 100 years old and showcases Buster Keaton's comedic sensibilities. While this may not have the crazy stunts, this has some great gags that were most likely brought over from some vaudeville acts used in decades prior. While I may consider Chaplin to be the better filmmaker, I do think Keaton may be a better comedian due to the faster pacing of the different gags.
Feb 8, 2022
Feb 5, 1936
This pseudo-silent film with Charlie Chaplin manages to be a great work of slapstick comedy along with a good commentary on social and economic challenges of the time. Even today, there are many elements of this that are quite relatable. Overall, this is an iconic and impeccable work that shows some of the best Charlie Chaplin has to offer as the silent era comes to a close.
Feb 8, 2022
Mar 8, 2016
A Wadjet Eye game that takes place in a post apocalyptic setting with an authoritarian government. The shards in shardlight refer to shards of uranium glass. Point and click puzzles range from easy to cryptic and progression of difficulty can be erratic based on situational puzzles. Overall, this is not quite as original or fleshed out as some of the publisher's other games, but it is not terrible and it is clear that a fair amount of work has been placed into it.
Feb 7, 2022
Jul 2, 1980
A spoof movie that looks at the experience of flying on a commercial plane. Since this is a Jim Abrahams and Zucker movie, you know what you are getting into if you've seen The Naked Gun or some of their other works. Compared to those other works, this is a bit more subtle and not as over the top, but it is still over the top, so I believe it will check all the boxes for different audiences. Jokes are funny, and while some references are dated, its faster pacing manages to easily get past any bumps on the road. Simply put, it does not drag, and it works as a good comedy.
Feb 7, 2022
Feb 6, 2022
I was considering creating a frequency based brute force method to solve Wordle as a project in the future, but 3Blue1Brown beat me to it. In this video 3Blue1Brown uses a probabilistic approach that tries to minimize entropy to solve Wordle efficiently. Whether this is the most efficient way of going about the problem is questionable, but it is a good starting point, and I believe any improvements will most likely build off of the techniques used here.
Feb 6, 2022
Jun 19, 2014
An original mockumentary about vampires in New Zealand. It's not groundbreaking, but it is funny, and it does what it sets out to do very well. Within Taika Waititi's body of work I prefer Thor Ragnorok which has more of a narrative structure with improvisational elements.
Feb 6, 2022
Sep 10, 2021
A game inspired by Chinese mythology that has game mechanics that have a mixture of standard point and click puzzles and some time manipulation. Translations to English are not perfect, but are handled mostly well. The art style utilizes pixel graphics which is quite different from many other games that have what I am assuming is a mainland Chinese cultural influence. Overall, this is one of those games that is short enough to avoid making any significant mistakes, but long enough to leave an impression.
Feb 5, 2022
Dec 29, 2021
I think this is one of the first Korean webtoons that I've completed in full and I was overall very satisfied with it. It has a good progression in season 1. Season 2 raises the stakes and ends in a way that is quite creative provides a sense of resolution. The story is one of power leveling and power fantasy which utilizes a common Korean fantasy trope of hunters and dungeons, but then evolves it beyond the genre tropes. Illustrations, panels and pacing is great as well. I think anyone can get into this and enjoy it or at the very least appreciate it.
Feb 2, 2022
Feb 3, 1994
An imperfect, but enjoyable comedy. If you want comedy, you get it here, and the jokes are usually rapid fire and well done. Because of the frequency of the comedy, moments that are not used for comedic purposes tend to drag. With that said, it is a fun time and quite enjoyable. If you have seen other Stephen Chow films, you may notice some references to other films he has completed.
Jan 31, 2022
Feb 16, 1996
This is a genre bending comedy that is one of Stephen Chow's better entries. Some of the contents can be similar to From Beijing with Love, but the historical setting and significantly different plot manages to differentiate it well enough. I think, generally speaking, the movies where Stephen Chow had directorial credits (with the exception of Flirting Scholar) tend to be movies that I like more myself.
Jan 30, 2021
Sep 22, 2021
This is a Japanese take on Star Wars that is similar to The Animatrix or Gotham Knight. There are 9 animations included here that were made by different famous Japanese studios. Many of these animations draw from Japanese culture and history with special attention given to samurai flicks. While the animations are episodic and don't add much to the lore, they do show a different approach to the material with a unique artstyle that the more recent live action entries don't come close to. While I watched this in Japanese, there may be some animations that may be better to watch with an English dubbing if they contain some familiar characters from the movies and shows.
Jan 27, 2022
May 19, 2020
A modern game about photography that seems like it stepped out of the 90's and has inspiration from Maori culture/history. Graphics are like something out of PS1, N64 or Dreamcast and music is like something out of Jet Set Radio, but it is completely original and has its own unique tonality and approach. Compared to other games that deal with photography, this is not on rails, and you get full control of the camera. From different lenses to post processing, this can make for a somewhat decent primer on beginner level photography. The environments you can photograph are vibrant and feel like something out of Evangelion or Akira with a color pallete that matches that specific generation of anime. It is beautiful and the game feels like a curated art installation that you might purchase a ticket to experience. As you photograph different objects and progress through different environments, you get to also experience a story that is told indirectly. Overall, I was quite impressed by this and find that the sentiment behind Umurangi Generation or the last generation to be clear. This is deserving of any awards it receives.
Jan 26, 2022
Aug 13, 2021
A movie that takes place in a video game that plays out similarly to The Lego Movie or The Matrix. This is somewhat refreshing because it is an original IP, but at the same time, it is not the most original. Ryan Reynolds sells this film for me. It's a fun time, but references to twitch streamers and Fortnite may make this feel somewhat dated when watching in the future.
Jan 23, 2022
Nov 18, 2021
A game that feels like a cross between Journey and Interstellar. This takes you on a journey through time and space where you control an alien craft to travel through vast distances in space. Gameplay can be repetitive, and at times, it can be more frustrating than relaxing. Music is slow and relaxing, but also feels uninspired. The story, while obscure, felt quite familiar when looking back on sci fi films of the past. Play time is short, and can be done in one sitting or in chunks. Overall, I feel like gameplay could have been paced better and that this is lacking.
Jan 17, 2022
Nov 12, 2019
This is Star Wars done correctly. The original Star Wars was influenced by jidaigeki and spaghetti westerns. This feels like a cross between the two with the western aesthetic and a story that has similarities to Lone Wolf and Cub. At the same time, it feels like an original take especially when compared with the sequels. While this is a show with an episodic format with fillers, it still manages to be superior to the prequels and the sequels. In addition to this, I felt like the acting in this was superior to the acting in some of the entries in the original trilogy. Overall, I think most people that watch this will be quite satisfied. This apparently has connections to the animated Star Wars series, so I'm curious what fans of that may think.
Jan 15, 2022
Mar 29, 2004
A very British comedy that spoofs the zombie genre. This is quite well handled and the comedy is less overt compared to other films and sometimes is obvious and is sometimes subtle. There is commentary on society, relationships and good situational humor. For some reason, while this did not need great camera work, it had it which is very rare for comedies today. Honestly, the cinematography is probably one of the best aspects of this film which is to be expected from Edgar Wright. Overall, a very solid comedy that has aged well and has replay value. I consider Hot Fuzz to be more enjoyable, but this is quite close in quality.
Jan 14, 2022
Oct 13, 1994
Before Austin Powers, there was Stephen Chow's take on James Bond. This has a fair bit of good comedy, but the absence of Ng Man Tat was a bit disappointing. Unlike some of Stephen Chow's other movies, this one will probably appeal more to an adult audience. In terms of Chow's body of work, this is probably average to below average.
Jan 13, 2022
Feb 13, 1999
Despite this being called King of Comedy, this is more about acting, and the mo lei tau style comedy is somewhat subdued compared with other Stephen Chow films. That said, since this is directed by Lik-Chi Lee, it is somewhat on par with works like Flirting Scholar and God of Cookery. I consider this to be an above average comedy drama overall.
Jan 12, 2022
Oct 18, 2021
If Terrence Malick directed a superhero movie, it might look like this. This is the most stylistically unique Marvel film since Guardians of the Galaxy. Unfortunately, while this had great potential, the pacing and insufficient character development made for an inconsistent film that does not work. This could have been slow and meditative, or more fast paced and thrilling. Unfortunately, there is a strange middle ground where the pace of things either feel rushed or dragging in nature. Given the approach provided, I think a slower and deeper approach may have worked better like the Snyder cut. With that said, the visual aspects of this are very well done.
Jan 9, 2022
Andy Weir, May 4, 2021
This is a book that reads itself and it has an unstopping forward momentum. It has a sense of humor while also being a good hard science fiction book. In many ways, this felt like a mix of The Martian, and Arrival where communication with an alien species is a mainstay of this novel. There are many interesting concepts here (some of which seem like they have been recycled from other sci fi works especially those of Arthur C. Clarke). Some of the science does feel a bit loose in terms of the biochemical aspects, but overall, it was a fun time.
Jan 8, 2022
Mar 31, 1994
I was hoping for something on the level of Flirting Scholar. Unfortunately, the pacing does not make it work. Also, I have no knowledge of how Qing Dynasty era law works, so some of this stuff flew over my head. My main problem is that this is not funny enough. It drags in the beginning to set things up. It gets better later on with well constructed jokes, but I don't think it's enough to save the film. Also, Hong Kong films need to chill with the fake blood.
Jan 7, 2022
Jul 18, 1991
A fun Stephen Chow flick that is inferior to some of his best. In this one, he plays a cop that is undercover at a school.
Jan 2, 2022
Aug 29, 2019
A fun, casual puzzle game that is based on the spy genre of the 60's. Mechanics are simple and it is primarily point and click. It starts out good and falters a bit in the later chapters due to extensive backtracking, but quite enjoyable overall.
Jan 1, 2022
Jun 9, 2021
I was expecting this to be a mini series like all the other Marvel shows, but it turns out that this was just season 1. When compared to the other shows, I felt this had higher highs than Wandavision and lower lows which puts it at about the same level in my book. While this is a good Marvel entry, it is also a great work of science fiction. This show goes all in on the multiverse and the concept of the time variance authority is quite original. This makes for interesting scenarios and a good mystery that the main characters need to figure out along with the viewers. There are some negatives such as Loki's ridiculously quick character development over the course of a few days which felt a bit inconsistent with the other entries in the MCU. There was some filler which was interesting, but if that was cut out, then this could have worked as a movie as well. That said, I think this can be easily overlooked since Marvel does often play fast and loose with the details when they are more minor and don't have a direct impact on the plot.
Dec 31, 2021
Dec 1, 2020
This is the first viable competitor to Ace Combat I have seen and it had a development team of 3 people which is crazy. That should be kept in mind, because although this is influenced by Ace Combat, it does not quite match it. With that said, it does come close and it sometimes exceeds some of the craziest aspects of Ace Combat in its gameplay. Dogfights in this game can be frantic with some enemy aircraft shooting hundreds of missiles and many railguns and forcefields which makes dodging a mainstay of this game. In that sense, this is Ace Combat on steroids. The music is also good and is reminiscent of older Ace Combat entries. Where this falls short is in the details and in how the story is delivered. Enemy variety and mission variety is limited in comparison to Ace Combat. With regards to the story, everything is told in mission briefings, debriefings, and during missions. While cutscenes are not necessary, an approach similar to Ace Combat 4 would have been appreciated to at least provide a human touch to the characters as well as a satisfying ending. The themes explored in this story such as private military corporations, and dramatic tectonic activity upending civilization are interesting and could have been explored better in the exposition. Overall, this is great, and while this may not measure up to Ace Combat's best, it is not far behind and is definitely better than some of the more mediocre entries in the series.
Dec 30, 2021
Jan 15, 2021
The best of the Marvel shows I have seen so far. This is great, and it does not feel derivative or formulaic in any way. The concept of using sitcom style formats to explain psychological troubles is quite shrewd and meta as it also allows for an overview of the history of American television. Acting is well done, and the way in which different eras of sitcoms are reproduced is handled very well. In addition to this, all the non sitcom related content made for an interesting mix of genres especially at the beginning where it almost felt as though it was something out of The Twilight Zone. Overall, I was quite impressed with this and felt that it managed to work quite well despite only using side characters and being in a mini-series format.
Dec 29, 2021
Feb 8, 2018
This is the second entry in the Opus series and it is great to see indie studios like Sigono have the opportunity to continue with their work. Compared to the previous game, this has more gameplay. Music is just as good, and art is simplistic. I think the main problems this might have had was with pacing and character development where characters don't change gradually. In addition to that, I wish character interactions were more nuanced. The premise is very interesting with the concept of space burials during a plague being quite novel and manages to differentiate itself from To the Moon which has somewhat similar themes. The concept of using cryosleep to maintain a religion over time and overcome disasters was also an interesting feature of the story that played out in a way that I found to be surprising and well done. Overall, I thought that its strengths outweigh its weaknesses.
Dec 27, 2021
Mar 19, 2021
The high production quality makes this seem more like a stretched out Marvel film which works to its disadvantage. Works like this which play to thriller genre tropes tend to come across better with tighter editing and pacing which this does not have due to the length. In addition to this, while there is good chemistry between the main characters, this lacks some of the humor that I tend to like in Marvel works. I would consider this better than Black Widow, but worse than the Captain America films directed by the Russo brothers.
Dec 25, 2021
Aug 11, 2021
Quite good. This explores multiple alternate realities and character arcs that were not explored in the MCU (yet). Some of the characters are voiced by the respective actors, and the animation is decent. Episodes got better later on, and the last episode which brought everything together was a nice touch.
Dec 24, 2021
Nov 24, 2021
I don't usually watch shows, but Marvel movies help me manage stress, so I figured I should try out the shows. This is like a Marvel film, but stretched out. While production value may be somewhat lower, since a lot of this is more dependent on stunt work instead of cgi, it manages to get away with it. It also manages to somehow make a New York where no one is wearing a mask and there is no pandemic seem normal. Writing is okay. I was not particularly impressed with it, but I found it enjoyable after turning my brain off. Episodes got better later on, and there were some interesting tracking shots during the action scenes. The events that happen in the story are low stakes and probably won't affect future films and stories all that much. Overall, it's fairly average and lighthearted.
Dec 21, 2021
Arthur C. Clarke, Jan 27, 1956
Quite an interesting post-apocalyptic/dystopian science fiction novel. The story of what happened to humanity in the distant past and uncovering it piece by piece is reminiscent of many other sci fi stories, but I liked it. I imagine when it came out, it was fairly original, but now, there are a number of movies, books, and games that look into the idea of past civilizations out there among the stars. Like many scifi offerings, this struggles with characters and development, but compared with works of other authors like Asimov, this is not too bad.
Dec 19, 2021
Jul 7, 2021
Quite bad. Lacks substance. I found some of the interactions between characters interesting, but the action sequences (especially later in the film) felt like they were shot terribly. Lighting in some scenes does not make sense and physics seem to go out the window every once in a while. This often times felt like a cheap imitation of a movie from the Bourne series, but they don't deliver on the visceral action like Bourne does. People speak English and sometimes Russian despite most characters being supposedly Russian. Maybe I might have appreciated this more if it came out after Civil War, but at the moment, I find its positive qualities hard to identify despite the hard work that went into it. I don't think this is worth watching.
Dec 18, 2021
Aug 16, 2021
This was quite fun despite the Marvel formula starting wear a bit. This had a great cast which some of the actors like Tony Leung being overqualified for the script. Choreography is interesting and strikes a good balance between quick cuts and longer takes which was much appreciated. If one was to compare this to other martial arts films, this is definitely not among the best, but it is good and it is a fun time. Use of Mandarin and English was interesting, but I'm not sure why a mixture of the two was used at times when only Mandarin or Cantonese was needed or appropriate. Overall, recommended for a fun time, but I would not place it in the same category of some of the best that is to be offered by superhero films.
Dec 15, 2021
Jan 25, 2018
After dying thousands of times, I have managed to get through the A side of the game which comprises the main portion of this challenging platformer. The platforming aspect of this is very well tuned and the A side which constitutes scaling a mountain and achieving inner peace is doable. The themes this handles are quite similar to Journey, but unlike Journey, characters speak, interact, and everything is far more concrete which makes it an equal in its own right. Art direction and music, while simplistic, are handled well. I see this as a Super Mario, but with a story and themes that are far more relevant to players of today and that is quite an achievement. While I wished I could have played through the B side, the level of difficulty requires such a high level of precision that it would have doubled or tripled the time I originally placed into the game. I'm not one for platformers, but this is very well done and is one of the best indie games I have played in a while.
Dec 13, 2021
Aug 30, 2013
This is a documentary of the story of Jodorowsky's attempt to make his version of Dune. The documentary is entertaining and a good watch. That said, I'm not convinced that Jodorowsky's version would have been a good film. I doubt that audiences would have wanted to spend 12 hours in a theatre watching a film that would disrespect the source material. I am glad that this did not come to fruition and that Villeneuve's version did, but it might have been interesting to watch.
Dec 13, 2021
W. Timothy Gallwey, 1974
A lot of what can be found here can already be found in many of the books I have read in the past. What makes this different is that it contextualizes inner thought processes and approaches to that of tennis and sports which is a bit novel. Other than that, this is review.
Dec 12, 2021
Dec 7, 1984
This is inferior to 2001, but it is not a bad film by any means. The main problem here is that it is not directed by Kubrick and the approach is far more conventional. The classical music of the previous film is replaced by 80's synth, the shots are far less deliberate or audacious, and there is more dialogue and exposition. In addition to this, while 2001 is timeless in image and ahead of its time with regards to its technology, 2010 is very much a product of its time and it almost seems as though the technology has regressed with larger space suits and older analog electronics. One thing I did find charming was the fact that characters had arcs and that there was a focus on the interplay between the Soviets and the Americans. It was interesting to see Jupiter get turned into a star, and some of the miniatures and effects were genuinely well done. One its own, I may even consider it a good movie due to the strength of the source material. I do recommend it, but it should be noted that it lives within the shadow of its predecessor and removes much of the mystery and ambience that came with 2001.
Dec 12, 2021
Jul 10, 2017
I'm quite surprised that University of Washington's biology department had a course dedicated specifically towards identifying disinformation. This covers things such as scientific review, misleading data visualization, misleading statistics, fake news, and logical fallacies. What this does not cover in quite as much detail are recommendation algorithms, marketing tactics, targeted attacks by bad actors, bots, and some of the more sophisticated methods that are intentionally used to spread misinformation. Overall, a good primer, but as someone who has published scientific work and the like, much of the content was review. What it did offer, however, was a good packaging of many different topics.
Dec 11, 2021
Dec 2, 2021
Rocketlab is making a larger rocket. This one is similar to the Falcon 9, but it is made of a carbon composite instead of aluminum-lithium alloy. As many may know, carbon is difficult to manufacture, but Peter Beck argues that Rocketlab can use it quickly and integrate it easily within their 3d printing process. So, if this all works out, we may get a highly reusable rocket with a better benefit cost ratio than the Falcon 9. In this case, they also manage to keep the fairing by making it a part of the first stage and hold the second stage. It should be noted however, that this rocket design will always land at launch sites instead of sometimes at sea like the Falcon 9 which may limit mission envelopes. Based on the profile of its deliverables and payloads, it also seems like it may be shorter than the Falcon 9, but it should also be noted that it is wider and the Archimedes engines have higher impulse and will be lifting a lighter rocket. I'm looking forward to see how this compares to Falcon 9 and whether this can be made a reality.
Dec 9, 2021
Jiddu Krishnamurti, 1969
This is a discussion of the limits people place upon themselves which prevents them from reaching joyfulness or peace. In this case, much of what is examined is the past, present and future's hold on one's thoughts which are preventing people from living in the moment. In many ways, this is covered by Sadhguru's Inner Engineering, but since this predates that work by decades, one can think of this as a more intellectual version of the aforementioned work.
Dec 7, 2021
Dec 12, 2019
A great indie game developed by one person. As a space sim, this strikes a good balance between casual play and world building such that you don't need to micromanage everything. The way the story unfolds adds another dimension to the gameplay, because you have to explore an entire galaxy to piece everything together. The general feel of this is as though you were placed in the middle of a Star Trek episode where you meet new races and decide interact with them as you travel through space. Really, the only thing that I felt was somewhat lacking was the depth of content, but for one person, this is great. If there is a sequel, I would like to see more character interactions and greater rpg style world building, faction building, and character building.
Dec 6, 2021
Martin Heidegger, 1927
The hardest philosophical work I have read and the extensive use of German based terminology such as Dasein did not help. The primary concern of this work is to ask what it means to be or exist. Heidegger makes references to Hegel, Kant, and Descartes in an attempt to explore this, so prior reading is to be expected. In this work, Heidegger calls into question the ontological underpinnings established by philosophers like Kant and Descartes and asks whether an object and its properties can truly be separated. Later on, he adds the effect of temporality into the mix to show that existence is a temporal phenomenon. While this is not quite as logically dense as Kant, the reasoning provided by Heidegger to jump from one topic to the other looks very much into human perception as a way to explore what existence is, what it means to exist, and intellectual blindspots. Because of this, the existence Heidegger analyzes is that of human existence as opposed to existence in general. I did not understand everything due to the density of the text and a lack of experience with phemenology, but this is quite an interesting view on human existence and its relationship to time along with the human perspective of time.
Dec 5, 2021
Jul 12, 2021
I wanted to get a better understanding of Torchaudio, and this helped with that. The code generated within this tutorial is compact and straight to the point which is a plus as well. There is a bit of review regarding the Pytorch aspects for training, testing, and predicting, but things like how to process audio prior to loading for training was quite informative. The example used here is that of classification of audio. This is good for educational purposes, but I think I would have preferred something more like audio generation as an example instead.
Dec 2, 2021
Feb 15, 2021
A run through how to make a chat bot using Pytorch and NLP techniques. Much of this felt like review to me, but it was interesting to see how the different pieces fit together. To put things simply, this is an intent based conversational agent that tokenizes sentences and then constructs a bag of words representation which is used as training. Any sentences passed by the user is then used to determine what response to provide by determining the intent using a probabilistic threshold which makes it a classification problem. The model used is a simple feed forward network and there was some coverage on how to create a GUI for the project by using tkinter. I'd like to try building something similar myself and pair it with a torchaudio model to enable text to speech and possibly speech to text for spoken conversation.
Nov 29, 2021
Nov 21, 2020
I needed a refresher on Pytorch as well as a full overview of the parts that I have not used in projects in the past. This covers the basics needed for the training and testing loops. It does not cover stuff like torchvision or torchaudio which can be disappointing, but since this is a beginner course, I suppose that is fine. It should be noted that more complex architectures like transformers, autoencoders, deep q learning for reinforcement learning and GANs are not covered either. There is coverage of pretty much everything for training from data loaders to optimizers, to learning rate scheduling to Pytorch lightning. Pytorch lightning in particular seems quite useful and since I hate dealing with boilerplate, it might be something I would be interested in using myself. Overall, useful for jogging one's memory, but I think the best way to really address one's weaknesses is by writing code and running it on collab. In my case, the parts that I find to be most troublesome is dealing with tensor shapes and formatting data accordingly for loading data and running predictions.
Nov 26, 2021
Apr 25, 2021
A short game with simple gameplay and great art direction. Cutscenes and animation is quite reminiscent of Studio Ghibli's work which is quite impressive for a small team. Pacing is great and the themes of art and dementia represent an approach to the topic that is quite different from other works like Everywhere at the End of Time or the works of William Utermohlen.
Nov 25, 2021
Nov 17, 2021
Quite an interesting video from a gem of a channel. It covers pacing and rate of learning and the needs of gifted children which is an area I don't hear all that much about in mental health discussions.
Nov 24, 2021
Feb 2, 2020
Quick explanation of what NginX is. Put simply, it is a server that is used for load balancing and can be used as a reverse proxy. With regards to what a reverse proxy is, the differences between a proxy and a reverse proxy are not all that distinctive. In a reverse proxy the client doesn't know which server it is connecting to (balancer). In a proxy the server doesn't know which client it is connecting from (VPN). So, you can have both.
Nov 21, 2021
Jonathan Haidt, Greg Lukianoff, Sept 4, 2018
This is a book that gets brought up frequently in online discussions, so I went into this blind to figure out what all the fuss is about. This focuses on free speech and how social trends are leading to a larger populace of people who are more easily offended. Given the topic, it raises interesting points on education, personal development, and discourse in a non-partisan way. What this book argues for is quite simply to avoid conflict, to assume no ill will when the intents of others are unknown, and to expose oneself to the challenges that one may realistically face rather than avoid them. That sentence by itself should be enough, but it manages to take the core premise and turn it into a book when an article may be sufficient. I appreciated the use of cognitive behavioral theory due to my own use of it in my research, but also found that this book relies too heavily on it and even simplifies it a bit more than I would prefer. Overall, I found this thought provoking despite its flaws.
Nov 10, 2021
Thich Nhat Hanh, Aug 13, 2013
I recommend reading this instead of Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People. To begin, this is more straight to the point, and it actually takes personal development into account instead of simply end results without accounting for whether those end results are desireable. The teachings here are informed by Buddhism and seem reasonable unlike some other books which makes it superior to many of the works in the same category.
Nov 6, 2021
Nov 6, 2021
I am mixed about how much I enjoyed this year's world final, but what I am clear on is that this is one of the most interesting and most meta world finals. The camera work was mediocre and the music was probably the most problematic and disappointing part with beat drops and the like being fewer in number and many tracks sounding like simple drum beats on a loop. I agreed with most of the judging with Shigekix and Flea Rock being one that I somewhat disagreed with. With this world final, we have the first and youngest winner from the U.S. for the bgirls, and for the bboys, we have the first winner from Kazhakhstan and the first winner from the last chance cypher. This year seemed to have style clashes as well as clashes with regards to the philosophy by which competitors express themselves which was further exaggerated by the presence of Flea Rock and Nadia. There is a clear emphasis given to style, expression and clarity when all else is equal which is quite interesting because in previous finals, physical capabilities and execution made a larger difference. In a sense, this is something of a paradigm shift similar to what 2014 was where the previous generation was supplanted by the next and shows that anyone can win the belt.
Oct 31, 2021
Apr 22, 2016
A respectable first game from a Taiwanese indie studio working with limited budgets. I found this to be too simplistic in terms of game mechanics, but was partial to the focus on story. The short playtime allows for it to be enjoyed without losing much in the process and the score is notable.
Oct 30, 2021
Sep 11, 2021
I am quite impressed with this surreal epic and its performance makes me more hopeful for the future of blockbuster cinema. I read Dune when I was in middle school and luckily, the only thing I remembered about it was how strange it was. This is a story that has deep lore and the way in which exposition is interleaved with visual elements is masterful to the point that I did not even notice it. Cinematography and most aspects of the craftsmanship were impeccable. Even clothing and costumes were quite thought out and I could trace some of the inspirations. Music by Hans Zimmer felt like a cross between Peter Gabriel in The Last Temptation of Christ and A.R. Rahman in Bombay and had a sense of spirituality mixed into its tonality. I was not a fan of the heavy use of cgi and would have preferred more practical effects if possible despite the cgi being quite high in quality. With regards to acting, there is an ensemble cast of experienced actors who are all accomplished in their own right. The primary problems that might be found with this film relate to pacing and what I believe to be insufficient focus on the philosophical and spiritual musings. That said, I feel that anyone who could successfully work with this source material and turn a homogenous desert into something more is ranked quite high in my book. Overall, quite good in IMAX and now that we have all this build up, part two should have the expected payoff which I am looking forward to.
Oct 23, 2021
Sep 3, 1993
The first entry in the three colors trilogy. This is great. Cinematography is on point, music is thought out, and everything is deliberate. The closest thing I can think of are the works of Wong Kar-wai, but where Kar-Wai's works can be more dreamlike, this feels more carefully calculated. Krzysztof Kieslowski knew exactly what he was doing in every scene. This film was meant to cover the color blue and its meaning in the French flag which implied liberty. While Kieslowski covers liberty in a more emotional sense, this decision was a shrewd move from a dramatic perspective as it can allow for exploration of character motivations The process of grieving along with liberation from emotional chains was handled well with subtlety, and Juliette Binoche as the main character carries much of the film on her shoulders without any misteps.
Oct 18, 2021
Sep 1, 1902
This is less like a film and more like a play with advanced staging. Camera movement is non-existent or minimal at most. It is clear that people were just figuring out how to do things, so there isn't an aspect of this film that does not have holes in it when compared to films today. What is interesting is how special effects were handled using the limited technology as well as how people viewed the moon at the beginning of the 1900's.
Oct 12, 2021
May 4, 2019
I wanted to understand how routing can work in react. It turns out that you need another library for that. That said, this video covers everything that I wanted to know, so I recommend it. This is a bit dated, however, so while it may still apply conceptually, syntax and smaller things may be different with the most recent versions of libraries.
Oct 12, 2021
A good overview of popular stacks as well as what make goes into choosing a tech stack. Also illustrates the compromises between simplicity and complexity.
Oct 12, 2021
Voltaire, Jan, 1759
I feel like Voltaire would either be fun at parties or a spoilsport. There is no middle ground. In this book, there is a happy ending that is completely disappointing. Voltaire tries to dismantle and criticize everything. He comments on the enlightenment, philosophy, intellectualism, aristocracy, war, wealth and does all of this while his characters travel the world. For a short read, it still feels like Voltaire could have been more straight to the point when satirizing everything. In that sense, it feels similar to Gulliver's Travels. Some of the philosophical musings are quite dated as well when considering the works that came in the centuries after.
Oct 10, 2021
May 27, 2021
Covers mediapipe usage. This covers pose, hands, and facial detection. Although this is more than 6 hours long, it is quite useful and straight forward to follow and it's fairly recent. I wish they had a project that utilized the facial mesh, but since each of the modules uses similar landmark based structures, the other projects included are useful as well.
Oct 8, 2021
Nov 3, 2020
I need to learn how to use OpenCV for computer vision purposes. This covered OpenCV from basic image manipulation to recognition using existing libraries. The video lasted four hours, but I think most of it was worth the time due to video being a good medium to learn about computer vision. Different concepts are split up by chapter within the video making it easy to follow and learn what you specifically want to learn. The last lesson may be considered a waste of time due to it going through the deep learning pipeline and utilizing a library developed by the author of the video. It is very much a case of the video creator peddling his own goods which would be fine if his libraries were used by many, but that is not the case. Overall, not bad and a good starting point for things like object detection and recognition.
Oct 6, 2021
I have not taken the chance to learn regular expressions until now, but this video makes it seem very easy. As long as you understand what each individual code snippet does, you can assemble them together to create useful expressions. While it is doubtful that I would need to use regular expressions in large amounts in the future, it helps to know this.
Oct 6, 2021
Feb 6, 2019
I have done extensive things with Node.js in the past such as i18n json translation into multiple languages, but I needed to refresh my knowledge. This covers the basics and ends with the creation of a web server that is able to serve html webpages. The video also shows how to deploy to Heroku which was quite useful for me.
Oct 6, 2021
I wanted to get a refresher modern javascript and this pretty much covers it. Unlike other videos which have a fetish for arrow functions, this provides a better overview of many of the features available. That said, if you are experienced with javascript like me, you may be able to cover ground faster just by skimming through documentation.
Oct 5, 2021
Jul 16, 2019
Simply great and easy to understand. I now understand the advantages and disadvantages of NoSQL, as well as how its queries are structured. Since I have worked extensively with JSON in the past, this felt as though it was made for me. The way in which ATLAS can immediately be set up with AWS, Azure or whatever is an extra plus which takes some of the complexity of devops out of the equation.
Oct 5, 2021
Jul 7, 2018
A description of what Django is, and an example application. This does not show the full range of what Django can do, and in my case, what I was interested in was its use as a backend in a full stack web app. This did not satisfy me, but it might be an acceptable starting point.
Oct 4, 2021
Jun 9, 2019
A great overview of many of the services offered by AWS as well as a great overview of large scale applications. Highly recommended, straight forward, and thorough.
Oct 4, 2021
Oct 22, 2019
Covers the basics of React in 30 minutes and does nothing else. This covers a todo list example in particular. There is no routing, there is no coverage of single binding and double binding, no CRUD's, and I think most people would be lost if they did not have prior experience with some of the technologies involved. While I did understand what was going on, there were some things people won't pick up on such as how binding in React works due to it not being covered explicitly. This also did not cover things like best practices. This only covers the main mechanics. I recommend a more in depth overview regardless of whether you are an experienced front end dev or a newcomer. What is also not clear is the advantages over Angular, although at face value, React seems easier to pick up.
Sep 29, 2021
Mar 3, 2019
I have been considering multiple solutions for hosting a dynamic website with a fully functional backend. As I've experienced with Google products in the past, documentation is not that great. This video is short enough to cover what Firebase is and the concept of database as a service. What it does not show is the full range of functionalities available-- specifically if it is possible to separate business logic from the frontend and have it within Firebase itself.
Sep 29, 2021
Sep 4, 2019
I have heard a lot about Docker for many years and I watched this to determine if it is something I needed for personal projects and prototypes or not. While this is useful, I think the quickest way to determine its value is to try it out yourself.
Sep 29, 2021
Apr 18, 2013
Quick and straight to the point. Shows how to trace a reference image and add text. Despite this being eight years old, it is still useful.
Sep 26, 2021
Sep 17, 2021
This is only significant because it is the first civilian crew. The launch architecture has already been proven, so its success was expected to be quite high. A good achievement and an expected milestone, but technically speaking, there is nothing new here.
Sep 25, 2021
Nov 14, 2018
This is good, but it does not measure up to the first Creed. That said, it is better than many of the Rocky sequels. Everyone plays their part well, and the return of Drago was good but underutilized. What this lacks is an arc and development with high and low notes. It should be noted that even the training montage was weak in this one which was quite surprising. It's worth a watch, and it is good, but more than one watching of this work is unlikely.
Sep 25, 2021
Oct 9, 2020
This should have worked on paper. The premise is interesting, Kitamura Ryuhei was directing, even Jean Reno was there. Unfortunately, this is like Die Hard except it was stupid and terribly executed. The acting and writing was worse, and the action was horrible. Ruby Rose who was the star of this has the acting ability of driftwood. Fight choreography should be entertaining, but simply gave me a headache. Overall, just bad and not even good for wasting time.
Sep 25, 2021
Mar 13, 2016
I enjoyed this one at times, but I do not recommend it. One would think that Key and Peele can make a decent movie given their experience with sketches and all they needed to do was make a coherent narrative. This felt like a drawn out Key and Peele sketch rather than a series of sketches strung together. The later would have been more fun. The former is what this movie was and while it has its moments, it is questionable whether this is passable.
Sep 25, 2021
Jan 25, 2020
Disappointing. Things are stylized which is good. Color grading isn't washed out. The soundtrack was unoriginal, and the action choreography was bizarre. This is not quite like the comics, and it feels like it wastes the talents of the cast. Better writing was definitely needed. Overall, not bad, but I don't recommend it.
Sep 15, 2021
Meredith Russo, May 3, 2016
I went into this completely blind without knowing what it was about and came out of it satisfied despite it being a young adult novel. This reads very easily and is quite accessible without expecting the reader to understand much about the subject matter of transgender people. There are themes here that are relatable outside of the particular intended scope of the novel such as loneliness, depression, and identity which can be said to be universal concerns. With regards to the transgender side of things, the author acknowledges that certain aspects of the experience has been excluded to make it easier for readers to digest. This can hurt the impact, because details can make scenes more vivid. In addition to that, the main character does not appear to have a recognizable personality outside of her transgender experience which is unfortunate. Other characters can be quite cliche at times as well with common tropes making an appearance multiple times. That said, the happy ending, while unrealistic, does make for a satisfying story that can be used to fill in time without much regret.
Sep 6, 2021
Mar 10, 2019
Despite this being fairly predictable, I thought it was an entertaining satire of modern martial arts. For a black comedy, this is not the best, but the way it made fun of parts of modern martial arts such as weird techniques, the belt system, and weird masculinity was fun. Jesse Eisenberg's acting is typical. He plays himself like he does in most of his films, so most people may know what to expect. Nothing special, but I enjoyed it.
Sep 6, 2021
Oct 11, 2019
I believe this is my first Romanian film. Solid execution made this documentary feel like a tightly edited drama. Actual individuals, journalilsts, and politicians feel like actors in a drama. This covers the aftermath of the Collective fire and the high amounts of corruption within Romania's healthcare system. The film provides insight into the challenges faced by the Romanian people, the journalistic process, and the difficulties of political reform. Quite educational and unflinching in the way it shows how things are.
Sep 6, 2021
May 18, 2012
I don't think I have ever seen a film about marketing or advertising. The closest thing I can think of is Argo or The Post, but those are completely different. The way in which this is filmed brings the viewer back to the time during the No campaign which helped to oust Pinochet in Chile and it feels as though you are watching history. In terms of contents, what makes this novel is the perspective given of the Chilean people, their politics, and the propaganda side of things. Everything else is played rather straight with a realistic portrayal of events and the style of filming used. It would have been nice to have been given a look at other aspects of the campaign against Pinochet, but as a film, its focus on the television campaign manages to create a compelling narrative.
Sep 5, 2021
Jul 19, 1997
What an experience. This is a film on the level of Akira or 2001: A Space Odyssey that transcends its own genre by even including non animated scenes of real people. This is sexual, grand, psychological, and philosophical to the point that the second half feels more German than Japanese. In the series, the final two episodes show internal struggles during the acquisition of human instrumentality and this film shows the external aspects of the process which makes it more grounded. While the reflection on life and suicide is not at the level of Camus' works in terms of explicit reasoning, this manages to create a deep analysis of the degeneration of ego, escapism, depression, individuality, collective conciousness, isolation, identity, and suicide. The theological aspects such as Jewish Kaballah are woven into the imagery and are quite thought provoking. In this, humans kill God, create God, become God, and reject God. I don't know much of what to make of the ending. It is not exactly sad or happy in an obvious way. It is rather a deconstruction of traditional story telling and is quite ambitious at that. I don't know if it is tragic, cathartic, or none of the above. There is closure in a vague sense and a demand for interpretation created by unapologetic ambiguity. In that sense, it is quite representative of life and reality.
Sep 5, 2021
Jan 31, 2013
Prior to Manifold Garden, this was the non-euclidean game to play. I tried playing this once and failed to complete it about five years ago. The non-euclidean aspects are a bit underutilized with the majority of the mechanics being related to manipulation of blocks. Progression involves a high amount of exploration with quite a bit of trial and error which effectively trains the player in critical thinking. Unlike Manifold Garden, it does not seem as though there is a lore or backstory which makes it quite a bit more minimalistic in comparison. Soundtrack is primarily ambient. I wish there were some themes or purpose woven into the greater world of the game, but it is quite a unique puzzle game that challenges the player and teaches them in a way that causes growth in players who manage to practice a certain level of patience.
Sep 4, 2021
Mar 15, 1997
I only watched the Death portion to prepare myself for End of Evangelion. Did this manage to jog my memory? Yes. Would I recommend this to others who have have not watched the series? Absolutely not. This made me remember that even though I did watch the series, I did not understand it at the time due to the fact that this story is like an iceberg with much of the context hidden under the surface. What this manages to do well, however, is give a decent overview of the psychological backgrounds of each of the main characters which is what seems to matter. Since Evangelion devolves/evolves from mecha and action based scifi to that of a dive into psychological despair and the flaws of humanity brought upon by free will, I doubt that my understanding will improve without outside reading. General plot is somewhat clarified here with with the inclusion of a string quartet composed of the main characters, and the general outline of the human instrumentality project is clearer to me now. I recommend also watching Alex Jones describe the plot of Evangelion to Joe Rogan to gain a high level understanding of the trajectory of the work. As a stand alone product, this is not good and it truly leverages the works that came before it to reach its high points. Good for the recap, but it fails to recreate the emotional rollercoaster and pacing of the series. On the plus side, if I decide to watch the series again, I can still watch it as though I am watching it for the first time due to this work only covering the most relevant angels/apostles.
Sep 3, 2021
Sep 1, 2007
It has been almost 10 years since I saw the Evangelion series and during that time, I had no idea that there was another ending or another series of films. In an attempt to recap without watching the entire series, I watched this to start. This transported me back to the 90's. Animation faithfully reproduces the scenery of Hakone, and it feels just like the original Evangelion in terms of animation and terrific sound design. Hideaki Anno's shot composition is truly some of the best in the industry and it translates well to live action as indicated in Shin Gojira. Music by Shirou Sagisu is iconic and recognizable as always, and the end credits song by Utada Hikaru was a surprise. In terms of story, character development is stunted in comparison to the original series, but the bibilical and psychological themes still come across due to the strong imagery. Since this is a recap of the first quarter of the series, this can be easily forgiven, but it would be concerning if this was the case for the rest of the rebuild tetralogy. The angels make for a great set of antagonists, and the way in which psychological abstractions are presented within biblical conditions seems to be unique to only a handful of works. Overall, quite impressive with pacing being its main problem.
Sep 3, 2021
Sep 22, 2020
An endearing point and click hidden object game about loss and mortality. Simply put, it is cute, not preachy, and relaxing.
Sep 1, 2021
Nov 20, 2001
Covers the production and creation process involved in making The Matrix. Interesting to see that some things I thought were CGI were actually real and other things I thought were real were actually CGI.
Sep 1, 2021
Jorge Luis Borges, 1944
As a whole, this can be a hard read, but among the short stories presented are some of the best short stories I have ever read. These short stories are usually defined by a single unique idea that comes to light at a climax at the end of the story. This is like the literary equivalent of Escher or Dali. The stories begin with a dense introduction that expects readers to be cultured and well read. The book is split into two sections and the first section The Garden of Forking Paths, in my opinion, is far more interesting when compared to Artifices. There are aspects of this that I did not fully understand due to certain novels I have yet to read or a lack of familiarity with Argentina and its culture, but I feel that this is something I will definitely come back to in the future.
Sep 1, 2021
July 2, 2014
A coverage of differential equations, first order, second order, Laplacian transforms, and convolutions. I finished this in Khan Academy which involved completion of quizzes. While some of this was review, it helped me fill some gaps in my knowledge.
Aug 30, 2021
Jan 17, 2020
Continuation of 2017's Made in Abyss and just as brutal as the first season. This does not pull any punches. This could have been more successful as a series of episodes or a slightly longer movie with more content and faster pacing, but in its current state it is still quite good. In this film, we are shown a full conflict with Bondrewd who is one of the most interesting and unique villains I have seen recently and a great display of sociopathy within science. Animation is great and the music by Kevin Penkin is great as always. Since this is a film, the amount of world building which was a strength of the previous entry is not all there which is unfortunate. That said, this is a good-- maybe even great-- experience and while not quite at the level of the first season, it does not diminish the previous entry and maintains a level of consistency one might expect from the same director as Monster. While my initial viewing may see flaws in the development of the story, I was thinking of this quite long after viewing which means that it did manage to leave a deep impression.
Aug 30, 2021
Nov 12, 2019
This is a game that uses perspective as its primary mechanic to varying degrees of success. Small objects can become large, 3d can become 2d, and objects can be born within monochrome homogeneity. It is truly interesting, but due to the short nature of this game, it is not used to its full effect. In addition to this, there was an opportunity to do something more profound with regards to the story. This is a game about exploring dreams, but the background of a company using dreams for psychotherapy is not enough and I was hoping for more. It tries to be Portal, but unlike Portal, this is not humorous, so I am not sure what the developers intended here. Overall, this is a very interesting game that is too short. It should also be noted that due to the way this plays with perspective, this can force the player to do disorienting things which results in side effects such as nausea.
Aug 29, 2021
Sep 29, 2012
The conclusion to the trilogy. This was satisfying, but the level of quality is only slightly higher than the previous entries. I think this would have functioned better as a single film with more carefully planned pacing and structure, but what's done is done. All threads were concluded, and the themes of transhumanism and abuse were elaborated upon.
Aug 29, 2021
Jul 21, 2021
A supposedly futuristic game where you play a private investigator who is confined to her house. While the premise might make one imagine a hard boiled neo-noir, this is anything but. The game is comprised of multiple cases that look at different facets of the island of Farca and how those affect society. Gameplay is repetitive and while player choice may affect outcomes, choices and their consequences are not always clear. In additon to this, there are some mechanics such as a hacking AI, and what the character is doing away from her computer which are underutilized or misused. Overall, mediocre and probably not worth the time or money unless you are fine with wasting your time on something that is just okay.
Aug 28, 2021
Sep 11, 2011
This may be divisive due to how it has a limited amount of character development and simplistic plot structure. In that sense, this could be viewed as filler, but the ending as well as the presentation of transhumanistic concepts made this interesting for me. This goes into greater depth regarding the world building, cybernetics and the bonds between humans and synthetic lifeforms. In terms of progressing the main story, there was not much to be seen here, unfortunately.
Aug 27, 2021
Oct 8, 2010
A work that is the first in a trilogy. This has the feel of an older work from the 90's or early 2000's which is indicative of the source material it is based off of. The future presented in this is not quite as advanced as Blade Runner or other cyberpunk stories and it feels somewhat grounded despite some of the technological advancements coming across as a bit exaggerated. Action and visuals are stylized and feel like a cross between a manga and a western graphic novel. Pacing and plot structure needs work, but it should also be noted that this is only the first of 3. That said, based on what I have seen so far, this work does not stand on its own, and the world building is also lacking. What this does manage to do somewhat adequately was cover the effects of rape and abuse from a young age. How this will develop will determine the quality of the work as a whole, but on its own, this entry is mediocre.
Aug 26, 2021
Nov 21, 1949
This entire film is a meme. It is quite enjoyable, but it is not Scorcese's best nor is it the best film about Wall Street. Acting and character interaction is the best aspect of this and DiCaprio nails it. Plot structure literally feels like a straight line with everything being relatively predictable. That said, it is very fun and it never gets boring and the cameo by Jordan Belfort was a nice touch.
Aug 26, 2021
Aug 20, 2021
Effectively all of the content covered in a semester's worth of Bachelors level general chemistry or a year's worth of high school level AP Chemistry with a bit of coverage of organic chemistry as well. This starts from the fundamentals of atoms and electron behavior to coverage of concepts such as balancing reactions, redox reactions, electrochemistry, nuclear chemistry, alkanes, and kinetics. Overall, quite thorough, and I recommend following the videos on Khan Academy's website to complete quizzes and questions to reinforce one's understanding of the concepts.
Aug 25, 2021
Aug 19, 2021
A short game which utilizes a time loop mechanic. Unlike Outer Wilds, this utilizes interaction with environments and characters to change possible outcomes. The twists and turns themselves are not the best, but it was entertaining while it lasted. Voice acting by James McAvoy, Daisy Ridley, and Willem Dafoe was well done. The endings were quite disappointing and the payoff was somewhat underwhelming. There is some sort of deeper psychological underpinning, but it is not clearly elaborated upon which weakens the psychological subtexts. Parallels to Oedipus are there, but don't seem as strong as they should be.
Aug 25, 2021
Ray Bradbury, 1951
Short story that serves as the origin of the butterfly effect. Interesting rumination on the effects of time travel.
Aug 24, 2021
May 24, 2019
A self aware film that is probably quite divisive in nature with regards to its qualities. This is similar to Hiroyuki Imaishi's other works in that it is extremely stylized. In the case of this work, the art style is like the works of Genndy Tartakovsky on steroids. The animation is more reminiscent of western 2d animation than Japanese animation in that sense. Story is threadbare with the writers literally saying that they are making things up as they go along and declaring a deus ex machina within what I assume is the third act. This is a film that requires a high suspension of disbelief and an ability to keep up with its spastic pacing. That said, for fans of studio Trigger, this is a highly indulgent film that offers a lot of self referential nods to previous works by the studio that are in my opinion far superior.
Aug 24, 2021
Aug 20, 2021
Lex Fridman's commentary on the Tesla AI Day is actually far more insightful than that of journalists due to the way in which he does into detail regarding the neural architecture and machine learning pipeline. The sophistication of what Tesla is doing is on a level that I think is only really comparable with Google, Deepmind or OpenAI at this point.
Aug 24, 2021
Aug 11, 2021
I wanted to learn how to make a logo. This did not necessarily teach practical matters related to that, but it did teach about fundamentals of graphics design and offered a few manageable tutorials with Canvas. The entire playlist is somewhat shorter lin length compared to a full class, so it is good as a primer into the industry.
Aug 21, 2021
Aug 26, 2020
An exploration of schizophrenia or OCD. A surreal and depressing exploration of mental illness through empathetic means. Short and befuddling.
Aug 20, 2021
Nov 21, 1949
Said to be one of the greatest movies ever made. While I would not necessarily place it on the same level as Citizen Kane or Vertigo, I do agree that it is quite close. This is supposedly a film about a bicycle, but there is much more going on beneath the surface. At the same time, this is a film about postwar Italian society, relationship between father and son, and adversity. There are no special effects, camera movement is simple but effective, and we can only depend on the acting of those involved to sell the story. The way in which it is structured is quite well done-- particularly with the ending of the film.
Aug 20, 2021
Apr 9, 2021
Simple and innovative. A great work that moves the medium forward. This game uses a webcam to detect blinks and the blinking of the player controls the progression of the game. The story is simple, but handled terrifically and touches upon the topic of life, meaning, and mortality. It has similarities to That Dragon, Cancer, but this is less tedious, more to the point, and more effective. The score is also well done. Gameplay is simple, but the use of blinks seems to have some sort of psychological effect when playing the game that affects the player in a greater manner than standard gameplay. There are areas where there is a challenge of not blinking which is something that I have never trained which can be challenging for some players. I believe that similar mechanics that utilize webcameras and computer vision to do interesting things have a lot of promise for the future of the medium.
Aug 19, 2021
Dec 20, 1946
This has quite a bit of acclaim due to its popularity as a classic Christmas movie, and while I think it is a good film, I also cannot understand how people miss some of the obvious flaws. Some of the editing is jerky. James Stewart plays James Stewart like he does in all of his movies. Cinematography is above average. Potter who stole money at the end of the film gets away with his crime. This is a crowd pleaser, but on a critical level, it has problems. What it does handle well is the its reflection on life beyond material aspects.
Aug 16, 2021
Sep 17, 1981
Wolfgang Petersen can be hit or miss, but this is a definite hit. Given the long runtime of this film, I had to split this up over multiple days which is probably the preferred method of viewing. This film feels like something that was made in the 70's with its general pacing, cinematography, and special effects which is very welcome. The film ranges from tedious to a rollercoaster of emotions, but it never gets boring. The set design makes it feel like they used an actual submarine and at times I wondered if they did. Since this was made before the use of widespread CGI, everything is practical which means that everything looks real. The German perspective combined with the claustrophobic nature of the U-Boat provide a distinctive feel that is only ever matched in part by other films. Overall, a triumph with a somewhat surprising ending.
Aug 16, 2021
Jun 7, 2016
I enjoyed the original Mirror's Edge, so I was looking forward to this as well. The decision to replace handcrafted linear levels partially with an open world was questionable, but also welcome in that it offers something to do outside of the story. The story's quality is questionable as well due to a substandard method of delivery and lack of character development and interactions. When compared to Mirror's Edge, the parkour movements felt as polished, but the combat aspects are just as weak and should have been removed. The setting and aesthetic is beautiful and should have been turned up to 11. Music and score by Solar Fields is great. I felt that writing as well as design of levels and the world were the primary problems, and fixing these would partially improve the game. An open world is wasted if it is not populated with interesting things to do which is one of the main failings of this game. Collectibles are nice, but have no meaning beyond gaining experience to unlock skills. Outside of that, there is no character customization.
Aug 13, 2021
Feb 3, 1960
Hypnotizing and broad in terms of the topics it explores. There are themes of intellectualism, love, journalism, family and many others. This film shows a naive version of the way things are and then deconstructs those things to show that everything is worse than it actually is. This is a film about images, and Federico Fellini moves cameras over scenes in deliberate fashion. Characters are distinctive and easy to identify with almost half of the characters being of non-Italian origin which gives this a cosmopolitan feel. I enjoyed this more than 8½, but I am unsure of which is the better film. That said, this is undoubtedly a great film and solidifies my opinion of Fellini as one of the best Italian directors.
Aug 13, 2021
Mark Twain, Dec 1, 1884
I don't have much to say about this one. It is similar to Tom Sawyer, but has more going on in my opinion. The humor is a bit dated, but at times it can still be used to make statements about society. Controversy regarding this work is overblown when considering the time and location in which the story takes place. Good, but when compared to other great novels of the time, this does not compare.
Aug 12, 2021
Aug 11, 2021
This is less packed than the other parts and primarily covers the orbital launch table. In this, the contents covered are less about the engineering involved and more about the primary goals of SpaceX which are covered in other presentations, making this somewhat redundant.
Aug 10, 2021
Mar 15, 2006
There have been many films about world war II, but there are fewer films about the GDR and Weimar republic which tend to be overshadowed by the war. This film covers the GDR and domestic surveillance and it is a home run of a film in terms of all aspects. This is moving, well paced, a film over two hours that is never boring. It is hard to believe that this is a directorial debut. The way in which a Stasi officer is affected by the people under his surveillance was well handled and convincing and it managed to show character development as well as the state of the GDR during the time. Overall, an outstanding film that is one of the best to come out of the German film industry and it is unfortunate that Ulrich Mühe passed away shortly after this film.
Aug 9, 2021
Sep 29, 1988
This reminded me of Hugo in its adoration for film, but I consider this to be better. This starts off slowly, but it builds over time and ends quite well. The Italian used here is sometimes Sicillian, so it is not the easiest to understand. This movie has no violence, no special effects, no complex plot, only passion for film and the way its characters use it to live their lives. Cinematography is great, and it manages to capture the allure of an Italian town and the feel of an older theatre quite well. Attention to detail regarding projection adds to the general feel of the film. This has sentimental value, and it manages to move through its story in an indulgent and deliberate manner without lagging.
Aug 8, 2021
Sep 14, 2010
With this, I have completed the last decent Halo game developed by Bungie and conclude my interest in the series. This is an improvement upon Halo 3 in terms of presentation of story and gameplay despite it being a prequel that is missing many of the main characters from the previous games. Characterization and development is lacking in comparison to previous games due to a minimalist touch which is one of the main drawbacks, but gameplay, pacing, and technical aspects are quite improved. The decision to have players play as a Spartan who is not Master Chief was interesting and changed the way players would approach the game. Overall, quite solid with great variety. Storywise, it is reminiscent of Rogue One.
Aug 7, 2021
Aug 7, 2021
This part covers the assembly tents where Starship designs are being updated and iterated upon. We see the use of tiling for the heat shield, as well as the improvements in techniques for the assembly of nosecones. This also covers the possibility of in orbit refueling by side by side mating as proposed in 2016. This is in direct contrast to mating at the rear as proposed in 2017.
Aug 6, 2021
Dec 20, 1997
Roberto Benigni, for better or worse, is what makes this film. He was the main character, the director, and one of th writers and his personality is what drives the primary message of optimism, gratitude and beauty. This man brings an energy to the screen that is not matched by many and makes this film a unique experience. The backdrop of the holocaust brings about some mixed effects that may be a point of division for many since it is not primary focus, but rather a way in which to contextualize the aforementioned themes. As a result, realism and brutality of the event may not be quite at the level one might expect and the film may be conflicting in nature to some. This is definitely the case when compared with a film like Schindler's List which I consider to be the superior film despite it being completely different in terms of focus. That said, I thought the Oscar wins were well deserved and that this was an unapologetically Italian film that wears its heart on its sleeve and manages to make an impact.
Aug 6, 2021
Sep 25, 2007
Solid conclusion that has flaws, but ultimately does what it sets out to do. Gameplay is very much the same as previous entries with this feeling like a continuation of other games with improved graphics. Vehicle handling feels worse for some reason, however. Story picks up where the previous game left off, but I felt as though it was underdeveloped and could have offered a larger amount of world building and character interactions as fanservice at the very least. More cutscenes and more dialogue could easily fix some of the problems that I had. Overall, I am glad that I was able to finish the trilogy and see the conclusion to its end. Music is great and iconic as always. Although I felt that it could have been a grander ending with greater scale, it was enjoyable and had a feel similar to action movies from the 80's like Aliens.
Aug 5, 2021
Dec 1, 1982
Smartly written, funny and insightful. In this, Dustin Hoffman plays and actor who pretends to be a woman so that he could gain a female part in a soap opera. As the story progresses, his relationships with other characters becomes strained and affected by his choices. There is a statement on society, acting, and gender roles which may have been ahead of its time, or perhaps a response to second wave feminism. Overall, Dustin Hoffman kills it here and absolutely deserved his oscar nomination and would have won if Gandhi did not come out the same year.
Aug 5, 2021
Dec 16, 2020
Quite bad. I had no idea why anything was happening. The previous Wonder Woman movie took the setting of World War 1 into account and played upon serious themes to create compelling arcs and characters. This film felt like a caricature where the setting of 1984 was more of a novelty and all the development from the previous film was thrown out the window. It is for this reason why this felt like 2.5 hours wasted. What this goes to show is that bad writing and narrative can waste a large budget and experienced actors. There was a Linda Carter cameo which also seemed hamfisted and should have been handled far better. After seeing Zack Snyder's Justice League, this felt like a definite step backwards because of bad writing and terrible directing.
Aug 5, 2021
Mar 26, 2021
A fun and casual viewing that does not try to do too much. The story is not ground breaking, but it presents a standard action story with a self aware sense of humor. Choreography is not ground breaking either, but it was entertaining and the fast editing was not fast enough to make things feel incoherent which was a plus. It is nice to see Bob Odenkirk as the main character in the film and it is interesting to see Christopher Lloyd play an old man like he has for many decades. Overall, very enjoyable when not viewed critically.
Aug 4, 2021
Aug 3, 2021
While it is easy to determine the overlay of Starbase, what this offers is a primer on the manufacturing process, design, and optimization. I am looking forward to the first orbital flight of Starship.
Aug 1, 2021
Sep 10, 1991
As a Zhang Yimou film, the first question many may have is whether this is historically accurate, and this takes fewer liberties than other Zhang Yimou films. The story is told in a very simple manner and is easy to follow. Visuals are the main attraction and are handled extremely well where many frames are quite memorable. The use of color in particular is quite striking. The location does not change and the main visual changes are in seasons and colors, but for some reason this manages to stay interesting through its runtime. In addition to that, the story is not a happy one. As a result, it has more of an effect of haunting the viewer after completion.
Aug 1, 2021
Oct 31, 2001
As a game, this is disappointing. As a story, this is promising and very interesting. Gameplay is boring. The open world structure of the previous game has been made more linear which takes away from much of the appeal of the previous game. This game introduces time travel, eternal recurrence, and has an arc where the main character of Raziel sees the completion of his arc as a tragic hero in the Shakespearean sense. Lore is further refined and conversations on free will, good and evil, and false dichotomies continue in this work as well. I don't know if it is worth playing, but the story is interesting enough that at least reading up on it is worth it despite the cliffhanger.
Jul 30, 2021
Aug 10, 1950
It appears that many of the greatest films have some sort of meta aspect to it. In the case of this film, this is a Hollywood film that criticizes Hollywood. In addition to that, it crosses across multiple genres which differentiates it from the others Billy Wilder films such as Some Like it Hot. At times it is a comedy, sometimes a drama, and once in a while, a horror film. Similar to Singing in the Rain, it also offers commentary on the move from silent films to talkies and features cameos by some famous figures such as Cecil B. DeMille and Buster Keaton. Acting in this is interesting in that side characters had better performances than the main ones with the exception of Gloria Swanson who stole the show. Despite this being more than 70 years old, it is still engaging and should be required viewing.
Jul 30, 2021
Friedrich Nietzsche, 1886
In this work, Nietzsche uses a more traditional style of writing without a narrative like Thus Spoke Zarathustra. This covers morality, Christianity, free will, and deconstructs some of the works of previous philosophers while building his own thoughts upon the base they provide. The organization of this book is in similar form to Thus Spoke Zarathustra in that topics are not covered in logical steps and are instead covered in thematic steps which is quite unconventional. I think to understand this, emotion plays a role, so mileage will vary. I personally found Thus Spoke Zarathustra more useful. Since this covers similar topics, the former may be a better use of time. One aspect I did find useful was Nietzsche's explanation of the will to power.
Jul 28, 2021
Jul 19, 2019
This has quite a similar feel to Kimi no Na wa. With regards to story, it is somewhat similar in quality, but on a technical level, it feels as though it is far superior. This showcases unbelievably detailed animation that is bordering on photorealism at times which is quite impressive, because I thought it was originally impossible for Makoto Shinkai to outdo himself given high levels of detail in his previous films. This, combined with its highly realistic depiction of Tokyo makes it very memorable. The focus on weather and heavy rainfall references the impact of global warming during the rainy season. The third act was weaker than the rest of the film, but it was enjoyable throughout. Although I think Kimi no Na wa was a better film, but I think I enjoyed this more due to the nostalgia it brought for me. Crossovers and cameos of characters from Shinkai's previous film were appreciated as well.
Jul 28, 2021
Aug 16, 1999
Surprisingly deep lore and philosophical musings make this stand out among other entries during the time it came out. Questions regarding life, death, free will and good and evil make it directly related to the works of Nietzsche and maybe Dante. Gameplay can be repetitive, but approaches to puzzles are reminiscent of Zelda games at times. Given the time in which this came out, it can also feel clunky at times. Finishing this game can be quite difficult due to aged graphics and obscure solutions that may require a guide to be solved. Voice work was handled well and definitely was great considering the time of release. It's age holds it back, but its story makes it unique. It is unfortunate that it ends in a cliffhanger which requires players to experience the sequel as well. A remaster would help to solve many of the problems this game has.
Jul 26, 2021
Jan 15, 1957
A Japanese version of Shakespeare's Macbeth. Mifune Toshirou plays the main character as is typical in many of Kurosawa's other works. Like many Shakespearean plays, the plot devices are the same, but this lacks the wordplay and prose for obvious reasons. Instead, it replaces that with cultural fixtures and strong acting. Since this is a work by Kurosawa, camerawork and shots are great as always. In addition to this, it offers something different by bringing attention to the setting as well. A great film, but there are better among Kurosawa's body of work.
Jun 21, 2021
Apr 4, 2021
A Japanese treatment of skateboarding. When most of the media depicting skateboarding is American, this offers a fresh look at skateboarding under the lens of a different culture. Story-wise, I do not consider it to be remarkable, but animation and sound is handled well.
Jul 20, 2021
Oct 18, 2019
A reimagining of The Myth of Sisyphus which draws inspiration from the source material and Suna no Onna to create something new. The short playtime and free price make it easily accessible.
Jul 18, 2021
Oct 18, 2019
This is a work of genius that should be considered as art. The utilization of simple geometry to create infinite environments that draw from a variety of styles of architecture from classical Greek to Japanese is handled extremely well. Use of infinite environments lead to scenes of a scale that I have never before seen in a game and give birth to fractal patterns that mimic mandala style configurations which complements eastern architectural styles in the game. The dynamic sound system makes it so that your actions can directly affect the music played based on the areas you are in, and Laryssa Okada's score leaves a strong impression. Similar to Inception, this takes M.C. Escher based ideas to the next level. It is clear that an understanding of physics, architecture, eastern styles of spirituality, and technical expertise was needed to develop this game. When taken at face value, this is a puzzle game, but in my experience, the appeal of this lies within the environments the player explores as they make their way through the game. It feels as though one is traveling through a stripped down manifestation of human civilization when it is freed from space, time, color, and the people that built it. Environments are simple in nature, but easily evoke emotions that are congruent with standing on top of a mountain, within a large temple, or in an empty metropolis. I have had dreams like what I saw here, but it is truly liberating to be able to explore such environments of my own free will.
Jul 17, 2021
Feb 18, 2021
An overview of how suburban city planning centered around cars results in higher debt and many disadvantages. This provides clarity as to why many North American city plans are ugly, sterile, inefficient, hostile, and insolvent. Quite educational from a civil engineering and architectural perspective.
Jul 17, 2021
Madeline Miller, Sep 20, 2011
The Song of Achilles builds upon the story in the Iliad and manages to add to the story in a way that is similar to The Historian. For those who are familiar with the Iliad, the general sequence of events does not come as a surprise, so what is impressive about this work is the way in which it manages to keep the familiar story fresh. In the case of this work, a greater focus is given to the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus which has not been covered all that well in the past. This work offers a unique perspective in that it is centered on Patroclus and his experiences. This dynamic is similar in nature to the dynamic seen in My Fair Concubine. The author makes a point in bringing the emotional ties between characters as a center focus which can be easily lost within the poetic text of the Iliad. This makes this work innovative and novel.
Jul 16, 2021
Dec 6, 1990
Probably my favorite Tim Burton film. This manages to excel in terms of its ability to portray isolation and ostracism while also having a sense of humor. Johnny Depp handles the role of Edward very well despite not speaking all that often in the film. His ability to physically depict emotion is reminiscent of Charlie Chaplin. In terms of visuals, the setting is a cross between fairy tale, and a caricature of suburbia. Special effects are handled well. The combination of its different aspects increases the absurdity of the whole thing, but does not take away from the emotional underpinnings of the film.
Jul 15, 2021
Mar, 1992
Violent, exaggerated, and hyperreal with highly detailed artwork that easily stands the test of time. In terms of story, it is in the vein of Blade Runner, but due to it being quite short, nothing of significance could be said to have been accomplished with its narrative. I think this could benefit from expansion due to its short length, minimalistic story, and unexplained setting. If built upon, I could see this being on the same level as a work like Akira.
Jul 14, 2021
Oct 17, 1968
A film with some action that is still impressive today. Steve McQueen plays his role as Bullitt well, and the film has a sense of groundedness and grit that was quite uncommon during the time. It's crazy to think that Steve McQueen did his own driving, but it paid off very well in the car chase this film is famous for.
Jul 12, 2021
Richard Branson goes to sub-orbital space more than two years after the VSS Unity mission. The rate of progress was quite slow, but it still managed to beat out Bezos which is quite concerning for Blue Origin.
Jun 11, 2021
Jul 17, 2010
Quite good and solid Ghibli film. This manages to handle its subject matter quite well in a way that outclasses other similar works like Indian in the Cupboard and Thumbelina. In terms of story, this is not the best Ghibli film, but it knows what it wants to do and does not try to do more or less. It should be noted that this is not directed by Miyazaki, but it is still well handled since it does not try to be too ambitious. The animation and sound design are the best aspects of the film with details such as fluid dynamics at smaller scales being accurately handled.
Jul 10, 2021
Jul 9, 2021
I don't usually watch or read things based on the premise alone, but this was an exception. From a critical angle, this is not particularly remarkable, but the premise of autism gives it some interesting situations. The struggle of participating in social and educational situations with the condition of autism can be quite educational at times. Similarly, the inclusion of LGBT themes were not particularly forced. Outside of that, the show is filled with tropes that are standard in family dramas and as a result, I cannot say that this is comparable to many of the great works I have previously watched, but this was entertaining.
Jul 8, 2021
Nov 1, 1974
A very strange film that, when taken at face value, does not seem all that strange despite the premise. However, there are aspects of this that seem like very strange directorial choices. Camera work is unconventional, the actor who plays Kaspar Hauser was in his 40's at the time and had no acting experience. Similarly, the narrative structure is bizarre. This film does not try to make any statements regarding Kaspar Hauser and whether he is a fraud or not. It is up to the viewer to figure things out, but the riddle being posed is not all that obvious either.
Jul 8, 2021
Jean Baudrillard, 1981
This is the first work of postmodernism that I have read and it signifies a shift towards more societal concerns within philosophical works. In this, the primary argument is that everything within our reality has become abstracted through societal and cultural constructs to become hyperreal to the point where everything no longer represents reality. This is quite relevant to our world today if one simply looks at social media, modern education, or financial institutions. With regards to the place of this work within the larger tapestry of philosophy, Baudrillard makes references to nihilism which I believe is correctly identified as the area that his work is a corollary of. While past philosophers may question existence itself, in the case of Baudrillard, even if what we perceive exists, such existence is invalidated due to the way in which increasing levels of abstraction are utilized. Interestingly enough, there are aspects of this work that consist of simulacra, making me wonder whether how valid the conclusions found here truly are at times. I am curious to see what Baudrillard would think of dataism as well as whether absurdist philosophy can complement his works. I am also curious to see what solutions exist as a possible resolution to the problems defined.
Jul 7, 2021
This is the textbook that TU Delft utilizes for teaching Dutch to foreigners. It has about 2000 words of Dutch vocabulary and 42 chapters covering different topics. This may be a companion piece to actual classes, but this textbook alone should not replace conversations. In addition to this, the explanation of grammar is quite badly handled. This is okay, but there are definitely more efficient ways of balancing survival, understanding, and conversational fluency than is handled within this textbook.
Jul 4, 2021
Oct 25, 1967
I loved this. It is subtle and stripped down and does only what it needs to do. For more attentive viewers, there are smaller details hidden here and there, but it handled its noir elegantly. In addition to this, it used Bushido principles in a somewhat misguided way, but somehow it managed to work. The color grading is saturated and dark and complments the characters and themes very well. Alan Delon's character as Jef Costello is simply iconic and reminded me not only of characters from other noir films, but also some spaghetti westerns. I can definitely see the influence this had on many crime dramas and thrillers that came afterwards.
Jul 3, 2021
Mar 14, 2019
This 6 hour long album is a deep dive into a recreation of the first 6 stages of dementia and is quite ambitious in nature. I listened to each stage on a separate day and the increasing levels of modulation and modification of the original tracks in the first stage along with the passage of time successfully made it more and more difficult to tell what the original samples were. The more interesting progressions begin to occur from the 3rd to 6th stages where music can be disorienting and the semblance of a time signature, key or any other conventions are becomming increasingly difficult to determine due to the aleotoric nature of the music. In my opinion, instances of neural retrogenesis in stage 5 as well as terminal lucidity within stage 6 were probably the most interesting. What is quite clear is that by modifying the music, the sense of time becomes lost along with the identity of the work which translates well to the parallel of dementia, but it should be noted that other forms of neural degeneration can have similar effects. I recommend listening to this with no visual or other sensory simulation to increase the effects. The Caretaker's work has shown a deep understanding of music production, dementia, and simply a large amount of research that managed to successfully capture some of the existential concerns inherent in dementia.
Jul 1, 2021
Sep 2, 2016
This is a great film that felt very real. The way in which it depicted events and places was not only poetic, but also very easy to relate to. Although this is on the surface about being black and being gay, it is more about understanding one's identity and growing up in hard conditions. This shows the flaws in all people, and at the same time, there are instances that offer moments of lucidity. The film is split into 3 moments in time, and all actors of all ages delivered spectacularly for their roles. Themes and ideas are presented subtly and with grace which is quite difficult to do. The ending hits hard and is incredibly relatable. I could not find any major flaw in this film.
Jun 29, 2021
Mar 22, 2016
I remember when this was a highly rated and ambitious mobile game. That said, many years have passed since the first episode was released for mobile, and the novelty is not quite the same on another platform. Story is cryptic, but not in a good way. It is similar to many dystopian stories, but the way in which information is presented indirectly makes it difficult to make out a coherent story at times. Topics regarding clones used as hard drives by storing information within DNA does not make logistical sense for anyone who is familiar with DNA based computers. Characters are supported by a good voice cast, but the writing is lacking. Gameplay is reminiscent of metal gear solid, but has a twist where you don't play the protagonist and instead are forced to watch through cameras in a manner that is similar to Observation. This can be fun, but repetitive milestones and tasks with limited variation makes it so that the engagement does not last until the end.
Jun 28, 2021
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1832
I had some prior experience with Goethe due to my familiarity with his theory of colors, but I have only just now began exploring what is considered his greatest work. I did not like part 1 of Faust. It felt far too similar to The Picture of Dorian Gray, and the conversations between Faust and Mephistopheles were probably the only thing about the first part that I found to be interesting. It should also be noted that I was not a fan of many works of Gothic literature which is also why I most likely did not enjoy part 1 despite it being a more personal experience for doctor Faust and his pursuit for knowledge and purpose. The second part seems to aim higher and become far more ambitious with a more classical approach to the plot with elements of Greek literature and mythology making an appearance. It is this part where I began to see the value of the work and why it was considered one of the best works of German literature. That said, it is hard to determine how well this can translate to the stage by simply reading it, because there are parts of this work that can get quite abstract at times. It should be noted that there are instances of humor in this work to even things out. In addition to this, there are figures who make an appearance who are not from Greek mythology or Christianity who I can only assume are from a German mythos. Overall, I don't know what to make of it as a whole, but I can see tremendous value in certain parts of this work.
Jun 27, 2021
Sep 12, 2006
Paul Verhoeven generally had a downward trend in the quality of his films over time, but this one is one of the better ones despite it being quite flawed. This is unique in that it has a female perspective of the second world war from the Dutch side, but it is also quite indulgent and hits some of the same notes as Soldaat van Oranje which makes it feel derivative in many ways. There are aspects of this that have been handled better by Paul Verhoeven's previous works, the works of Steven Speilberg, and many other films that have been released prior to this one. The positives lie within the story and the acting, but if there was a point to this film or primary message, it is a bit unclear. The organization of events, pacing, and transitions are quite messy which is what prevents it from being on the level of films by the aforementioned directors. The depiction of postwar attrocities was well done, but do suffer from the flaws previously mentioned. As far as Dutch films are concerned, this seems to be one of the better ones, but it should be noted that the film output of the Netherlands does not quite compare with the film industries of other larger countries which means that there is not much competition domestically. Overall, good but lacking.
Jun 25, 2021
Oct 27, 1988
For a Dutch film, this felt more like a French film due to that being the primary language spoken. In terms of genre, I could not figure out if this was a thriller, a horror film, or a psychological film and it is similar to Psycho in that sense. In terms of suspense, this is Hitchcockian in that it shows who committed the crime from the very beginning and instead of trying to determine who did it, we try to understand why and how. The sociopathic tendencies made the main antagonist almost relatable at times due to the smartly written script. We care less about what happened and try instead to understand what motivates the characters and that is what makes this film engaging and great.
Jun 23, 2021
Feb 15, 1964
A greatly constructed analysis of the human condition based on a novel by Abe Koubou. This is well shot and the focus on sand as a source of suffering is very new to me. I have seen humanity's fight with the sea, with the frigid cold, and the heat, but never sand, and that made this feel very different from many other films. The premise is quite simple where one much dig sand out of a pit that is continuously filling with sand everyday. This has been stated to have some similarity to The Myth of Sisyphus, but the enjoyment of the moment as is stated in absurdism is very limited in this context and is only ever indicated towards the end of the film. This seems to be its own original study in eternal labor and that makes it a film to be studied.
Jun 22, 2021
Dec 11, 2014
This game and its DLC are quite basic in its execution, but ambitious in concept. The story is a combination of Biblical myth, AI, and simulation theory. It tries to tackle and question things such as free will, consciousness and truth within the context of a god. Gameplay is composed of exploring a world composed of puzzles which makes it similar to The Witness. The puzzles themselves involve exploration of 3d space and taking advantage of simple mechanics that can be used to manipulate the environment like Portal. Puzzles themselves are quite challenging and build upon themselves quite effectively. The way in which the story and concepts are delivered are highly minimalist which leaves much to be desired especially when compared with a game like Soma, but it at least provides the bare minimum.
Jun 19, 2021
Feb 15, 2011
So, this is apparently related to the horse that caused Nietzsche to have a mental breakdown in the city of Turin. That said, the connection is not all that clear because we never see the aforementioned scene and this seems closer to something like Eraserhead with its feelings of emptiness. This is a slow film that breaks conventions in film and simply follows a simple life of endless hardship and boredom. Béla Tarr provides a genius film that focuses on the minutia of a simple and hard life that consists of eating boiled potatoes and dealing with an endless storm that snuffs out hope in the middle of a degenerating society that we never see in full. The film plays with light, subject and movement with perfect cinematography and the way in which light is snuffed out towards the end makes it truly unique and audacious.
Jun 19, 2021
Mar 25, 2021
I enjoyed this very much and found it to either match or exceed the previous season's performance. The appeal and flaws of the previous season remains and new inventions of human civilization are leveraged as plot devices. In this season, steam power, gun powder, nitroglycerin, vacuum tubes, hydroelectrically powered devices, refrigeration, and cellular communication make an appearance this time in anachronistic fashion. For a show intended for a younger audience, there were moments that impressed me and touched upon deeper themes such as the morals of science and the purpose of human civilization.
Jun 18, 2021
Jean-Paul Sartre, 1946
I like to think of this as a general explanation of existentialism that is intended as a type of primer while also making a few personal statements on the matter. Basically, the partially novel part of this work is that Sartre states that life is meaningless unless you give it meaning and that life is what you make of it. There are certain things that are out of our control, but what is within our control are our own actions. This is why existentialism can be considered to be humanism. This is what I consider to be of interest, but I have also seen this in other works as tangential topics, so this did not come as a large surprise.
Jun 17, 2021
Peter Wessel Zapffe, 1933
It is my opinion that the essay format is far more effective for philosophical ponderings and such was the case for this essay. In the case of Peter Wessel's work, he states that the human intellect is overdeveloped for the purpose of sustaining a life. Zapffe talks about anchoring such as the choosing of a goal which is a way to temporarily forget about the abject meaninglessness of reality. In that sense, many of the things society advocates, be it love, a profession, or family, are more of distractions to delude oneself into thinking that life has greater meaning if it has meaning at all. Quite well done for its short length with the only criticism being that it lacks empirical backing with regards to human emotion. One thing I notice in many of the nihilistic works I have come across is that the majority seem to depend on certain concepts as axioms that may not even exist such as meaning, cause and effect, and time. In that sense, they don't go as far as they can with regards to pushing the philosophy to its absolute limit.
Jun 17, 2021
Arthur Schopenhauer, 1850
The version I read contained sufferings of the world, emptiness of existence and vanity of existence. This is a comprehensive overview of suffering and misery and I feel as though it should be a required prerequisite prior to reading any Buddhist texts or Nietzsche. Schopenhauer is the most realistic philosopher I have had the pleasure of reading that correctly identifies pain and suffering as a primary driver of human existence which is an intermediary step in a larger process. He also acts as a primer for ascetic practices and in many ways retreads the same ground as mystics thousands of years prior, but unlike those individuals, Schopenhauer manages to outline his arguments eloquently. Although Schopenhauer does not recommend ascetism, he does seem to follow a more Epicurean prescription whereby pain is minimized during life. Whether such approaches are truly successful are questionable, but since On the Suffering of the World focuses on the suffering rather than the potential cure, Schopenhauer manages to sidestep the problem of explaining the answer to suffering within this work at least.
Jun 16, 2021
Søren Kierkegaard, Oct 16, 1843
This is a short analysis of faith through the story of Abraham. There is a contemplation of the anxiety or fear Abraham had prior to his attempted sacrifice of Isaac and he then extrapolates this to human life in general. This is supposed to be an answer to Hegel's work, but since I did not read Hegel's work because I am not a masochist or particularly interested in Christian theology at the moment, this was not quite as rewarding as other works. In many cases, the concepts provided here felt quite basic and self-explanatory with many of the lessons in ethics and life seeming to be a repeat of other, more modern, works that I have read previously except those works did not have theological aspects found in this work.
Jun 15, 2021
Immanuel Kant, 1781
This is probably the most difficult philosophical work I have read and it often reads more like a mathematics textbook rather than a work of philosophy. Those with prior mathematical knowledge of predicate logic and probability theory may already find some of the concepts such as a priori and a posteriori as well as syllogisms, paralogisms, tautologies, and antimonies to be familiar. This work introduces concepts such as transcendental idealism, schematisms, Kantian manifolds and noumenons which are a staple of Kantian philosophy and builds upon those concepts with succeeding complexity to approach many areas of study. It builds off of the work of previous philosophers such as Hume, Leibniz, and Descartes. Kant's work can be simply summarized as a critique and analysis of empirical thought, science, and intuitions due to the limitation of human perception. Kant analyzes what makes a concept, what is needed for something to be recognized as a thing or object. This is a work that is quite significant because it calls into question the existence of time, space, cause and effect, what is required to prove an omniscient and omnipotent creator, as well as how our understanding may truly be a description of our perception rather than our reality. This later aspect is why Kant considers this work to be his epistemological Copernican revolution.
Jun 14, 2021
Feb 18, 2021
An overview of entropy presented in collaboration with Sean Carroll. I don't like the presentation style of Sean Carroll, but since this is only a 15 minute playlist, I consider it to be acceptable. This covers concepts like complexity, cause and effect, and the use of entropy to deduct a meaning of life. While this does take initial steps towards using entropy to answer philosophical questions, the lack of an explanation with regards to how entropy affects perceptions of utility, morals, and meaning as well, whether time exists or not, as well as physical manifestations of the central value theorem made this somewhat disappointing. Simply put, a Kantian perspective on the matter can be used to easily poke holes in what was presented which is why additional steps must be taken to fill in the holes offered by this playlist. Next steps would include learning information theory and chaos theory.
Jun 13, 2021
May 5, 2020
The final film in a long series of films to conclude a continuity that was started by The Flashpoint Paradox 7 years prior. This is a surprisingly good film because it manages to sidestep problems like character development by simply standing on top of the previous works to provide something that is coherent and satisfying. With regards to the story, it is not particularly novel and it is predictable to a point, but the way in which heroes that were the main characters of previous installments were dropping like flies gave it some weight. I think this is worth the time if one is familiar with all the characters.
Jun 12, 2021
Jan 10, 2019
A continuation of the story in The Death of Superman. This acts as a setup for a final battle with Darkseid and has many parallels with the Snyder cut of Justice League in terms of setup. Due to its short runtime, it does not make a lot of progress in terms of character development, but it does manage to build upon the film that preceded it. I would consider this to be mainly unremarkable, but it does have its moments.
Jun 11, 2021
Nov 3, 1953
This is a film that is very Japanese. It feels old, new and timeless all at the same time. The setting is that of traditional family relations that center around aging parents. Camera work is higly minimal with movement being entirely absent in most scenes which is apparently unique to Yasujiro Ozu's films. The story is quite standard, but it ends up offering a more profound commentary on human relations and society during the time in which the story took place which was years right after World War II. From a historical perspective, this can be educational, because Tokyo back in the 50's is completely different from Tokyo today. When compared with other great Japanese films like Ikiru for example, this does share a number of similarities, but in comparison, this is far slower in pacing which makes it different from the Kurosawa films. Overall, quite great and among the best when it comes to older Japanese films.
Jun 10, 2021
May 21, 2019
A video game equivalent to 2001: A Space Odyssey where the player essentially controls the game's equivalent of HAL 9000. Story is fascinating and gameplay is composed of straight forward puzzles where the primary entertainment value comes from the story and the novelty of controlling a space station computer. The game is great to look at with scenes looking photorealistic at times. The game has interesting aspects to it such as remote control of probes in zero-g, an equivalent to 2001's monolith in the form of a pentagon, transhumanism, and the use of a many worlds interpretation to add an interesting dimension to the flow of the story. Gameplay is not the strong point of this game, but overall it was an enjoyable and cinematic experience.
Jun 9, 2021
Jun 19, 1969
While I prefer Sergio Leone's works, this is a great stylistic western that is just as iconic as Leone's works. The use of anti-heroes as the main characters made this quite unique where all of the characters had some sort of flaw. This is a violent movie during a time in which violence was not quite as common within film and the way in which it was unapologetic about was quite interesting. Cinematography is great with the way in which the camera pans over landscapes and scenes that are taken out of the early 1900's. This definitely is among the best when it comes to westerns.
Jun 7, 2021
Carl Schmitt, 1927
Due to the time in which this was published as well as Schmitt's role in the Nazi party, his works have only recently been given serious treatment from the academic community. Similar to The Allegory of the Cave, while this is a work in political theory, I found the existential implications far more fascinating. Schmitt deconstructs politics and frames it as a distinction between friend and enemy similar to how economics is a distinction between utility and valueless constructs. It also highlights the downsides of liberalism by framing it as a naive oversimplification that ignores human nature. The most important themes that I found to be interesting were that of proper identification of friend and enemy, that the lack of an enemy will result in friends becoming enemies, that reality is inherently hostile, and that the pressure of survival is a key part of human nature. This not only tries to touch upon a key aspect of human nature, but also manages to describe accurately the policies of many modern governments today. In particular, I found this to be a useful tool to analyze the United States' military industrial complex and its purpose. Schmitt is also one of the only individuals of his time that considers the nature of the political to change based on technology and he seems to get close, but never reaches the concept of countries and nations becoming obsolete.
Jun 5, 2021
Mar 22, 2021
This was the first light novel I read multiple volumes of from beginning to end completely in Japanese about 6 years ago, so I was quite surprised that an animation studio was created specifically to fully adapt the written work. This has high production value, and the animation work is well done. The story is as described in the light novel for beter and for worse, so there is not much to be said there other than that this manages to innovate in the isekai genre with its detailed lore, but is weaker with some of its character flaws which fall into standard tropes within the medium. I quite enjoyed this and am looking forward to the second season.
Jun 4, 2021
Albert Camus, 1942
An introduction and argument towards the acceptance of absurdism. Absurdism in this case refers to that which is beyond the realms of rationality. Camus takes a journey through the history of philosophy before finally arriving at his using of Sisyphus to make the point that a life of torment is that of happiness due to the struggle involved. Camus states that absurdism is a step beyond nihilism where absurdity is close in meaning to meaninglessness. Accepting this meaninglessness is what Camus states is the antithesis of physical or philosophical suicide which is a statement of an inability to accept the the absurd nature of our reality. Instead Camus states that an act of metaphysical rebellion against death is a way to optimize life. This last statement is what makes this work valueable an an interesting area of study as it directly contradicts the works of many notable philosophers.
Jun 2, 2021
Dec 13, 2016
I enjoyed this, but this is a flawed work. For a game that is linear and consists of cutscenes, I am surprised at how computationally heavy it was for some strange reason. In terms of story, I consider it to be quite well handled with pacing being the best strength. In the story here, it retreads familiar ground as The Dark Knight, but it focuses more on Bruce Wayne and functions like an origin story that manages to do something other origin stories have not. In that sense, the more story based focus which is a centerpiece of many Telltale games allows for greater exploration of inner motivations which was quite good. The main problems here is that of the gameplay which is quite problematic due to the fact that this is a game first and foremost. Mechanics involve quicktime events, simplistic puzzles, and choices that do not truly affect the story all that significantly. Compared to other Telltale games like The Wolf Among Us or Borderlands, I consider this to be inferior, but I did enjoy it at least.
Jun 1, 2021
Friedrich Nietzsche, 1883
Ambitious, contradictory, and perhaps timeless. This is a work that tries to do many things and retreads familiar ground, but takes a more modern approach with interesting results. At face value, this feels like a combination of themes that can be seen within Christianity and Buddhism, but in many cases, this is a rejection of Christrian themes. Nietzsche focuses on reaching the state of the overman where one transcends their humanity to become something greater which is similar to that of enlightenment in Buddhism. Similar to Buddhism, Nietzsche recognizes the suffering in the world and the value in overcoming. That said, Nietzsche takes a more beligerent approach that values laughter in place of the eightfold path. There is also a strange focus on the negative aspects of women which did not age well. The way in which it presents its ideas is with a narrative structure which I found to be quite effective, but the journey that Zarathustra or Zoroaster takes seems quite meandering and preachy. This is why, although I have a positive opinion of the work with regards to the individual commentaries that it makes, I am mixed regarding the larger overarching theme. In that sense, it truly is a book for everyone and a book for no one.
May 31, 2021
Jul 24, 2018
Average and unremarkable. Although this focuses mainly on the Doomsday fight with Superman, there is limited character development, and the world does not feel fleshed out. Pacing is also inconsistent. The only reason to watch this is to watch the sequels.
May 30, 2021
Jul 4, 1963
A fun ride that is very much in the spirit of other action films during the time like The Magnificent Seven. All characters are memorable, all actors play their parts well, and the way in which the escape from the Nazi prison camp was paced kept it engaging throughout. The writers made a smart decision by not only showing the escape, but also the aftermath in the final act which brings the story to a larger more cosmopolitan scale. This is also old enough that the movie actually has a score where the theme is memorable which is quite rare nowadays. This is a classic that should be required viewing.
May 29, 2021
Mar 27, 2021
This shares many similarities to Kimetsu no Yaiba, but I enjoyed this far more, because it seemed to cater more to my interests. Stylistically, it felt modern, but it also had similarities in style to older shounen stories like Bleach, and Hunter x Hunter. Unlike those previous entries, this had extremely high quality animation that made it feel like Fate/Zero at times. In the case of this work, the animation is so well done that the episodic format of the story can work against its best aspects at times and drag down the pacing from time to time. Sound design is also great with the modern score not taking away from the other aspects of the work. With regards to the story, it is standard and not particularly ambitious, but the use of curses that are generated by the accumulation of negative human emotions allows for commentary on human nature to be made. That said, it does not get as philosophical as it can be, but if taken purely at face value, it makes for an enjoyable ride.
May 28, 2021
Dalton Trumbo, 1939
This is an anti-war novel that inspired a Metallica song as well as lead to the creation of a film in the 1970's. Despite these other mediums being considered, I feel that only a novel can truly emulate the sensory deprivation and isolation described in the novel. The novel is told entirely from the perspective of Joe Bonham who cannot see, hear, smell, or taste due to injuries that took away his major senses, his limbs, his face, and his ability to speak. This was a smart move on Trumbo's part because it creates an element of suspense and maintains a certain level of mystery that is seen throughout the novel. While the focus of this novel is regarding the implications of war, I was more fascinated with some of the philosophical aspects of it. Specifically, I was quite interested in the egocentric predicament and the basis of reasoning which I will explore in the near future when I read one of Immanuel Kant's works. Overall, this is one of the better novels that I have read recently and it has a visceral impact that very few novels have.
May 27, 2021
Oct 2, 1992
Fast paced, sharply edited, and well acted. There were no weak links in this movie about real estate salesmen. The story is simple, and there are no bells or whistles, just pure acting and writing that keeps you engaged from beginning to end with its intense dialogue. From the moment Alec Baldwin opened his mouth to the end, it was a film that never stopped. Jack Lemmon's performance in particular showcased a range of motions from desperation to triumph. While it does not take full advantage of the medium of film, it works as a great drama.
May 26, 2021
Jan 22, 1964
Quite good albeit somewhat unrealistic story of love that lasts for decades. It's first half was strong with the second half being a bit weaker. In terms of narrative trajectories, this felt like a cross between Before Sunrise and Lost in Translation, but when compared to the two, this felt quite a bit more minimalistic. The largest difference is that this is less philosophical, involves less talking, and more retrospection where all characters have more of a backstory. This is quite accessible, slow, and very well shot with cinematography and music being one of its better aspects. Music is simple but effective, and dialogue is also straightforward. The use of flashbacks in some films is not handled very well in terms of pacing, but in this film, it works. There are aspects of this film that come across as stalking in a western context and take away from the positive aspects, but other than that, since this film does not try to do anything too ambitious, it does not make many mistakes.
May 25, 2021
Aristotle, c. 330 B.C.
Dense, fascinating, boring, visionary, and wrong all at the same time. This manages to explain the foundations of reasoning as explained by pre-Socratic philosophers and Aristotle himself. He manages to reduce all non-tangible items to first principles, monads, and forms. At the same time, he brings non-rational concepts into the conversation such as essences, will, and goodness which have no empirical basis. This is a mixed work, but also a work to be studied due to how esoteric it is. One thing that surprised me was how concepts like Newton's first law of motion and functional programming were being discussed at a basic level almost two millenia prior to when such concepts became conventional. Overall, it is a two-sided work that is flawed and rationally prophetic which makes it a good work to use to test or tune one's intuitions by further breaking everything down through successive gradations of abstraction.
May 23, 2021
Mar 26, 2021
This is like a satire of DC comics which took inspiration from DC, Dragon Ball Z, and Akira. Very entertaining and a bloody alternative to currently available fare that is easily bingeable. While it can be predictable at times, that does not stop it from being engaging. Animation is well done, but it can be obvious when the animators took shortcuts and used CGI. I am quite curious to see how this compares to The Boys.
May 21, 2021
Jan 22, 1964
Great, never boring, and always epic. While the story is above average and can be considered good, the tension, pacing, and sprawling landscapes in which battles take place are what make this engaging. For characters there is a bare minimum done in terms of development which for this film was all that was needed to make it feel complete. Although it is not historically accurate, at times, it does feel like the film places you right in the middle of the time in which the story takes place and details the British forces and Zulu forces quite well. The acting was well done, and it felt very much like a western in spirit despite the setting. The last act in particular was shot incredibly well with camera movement being quite mesmerizing.
May 20, 2021
Alfred Tennyson, 1885
I've wanted to read the work of Alfred Tennyson as well as familiarize myself with Arthurian legend, so this allowed for me to kill two birds with one stone. The prose is handled very well, which is to be expected of a poet and words flow from one to another beautifully in blank verse. Although the term idyll is used in the title, this is not idyllic, but rather tragic with the idylls starting from Arthur's rule to ending with Arthur's death and the dissolution of the round table. Similarly, although in popular culture, Arthurian legend focuses on things like Excalibur and the grail, the idylls included the ugly parts of the story with details of Arthur's illegitimate birth, and the presence of Christianity in every part. I would not say this is ground breaking, but it does provide great prose with a classic story of heroes.
May 17, 2021
Jan 28, 2020
A very ambient and surreal game that feels almost like a choose your own adventure book where you don't really choose anything. The story is convoluted and bizarrely paced albeit written with great prose. In fact, this felt more like a novel than a game with gameplay changing only to vary the way in which the story is told in the many acts the game presents. Themes of death and debt are found throughout the story. The soundtrack is interesting which a mix of ambience, some country songs, and a few songs that sound like something Pink Floyd would come up with. For a point and click style game, this was strangely engaging despite struggling to understand everything thoroughly. It made me want to visit some of the locations in Kentucky and also research some of the game's avant-garde influences.
May 17, 2021
Mar 29, 2021
Despite a new studio, a new composer, and the use of more CGI, this is a great slow burn that manages to continue the story without diminishing it. The story is not no longer a story of survival, but the story of a race of people. The use of flashbacks interspersed throughout this season was questionable, but it did not hurt the pacing. The story continues with the previous parallels to the Jews and Nazis during World War II, but has parallels to the Ottomans and other similar nations from World War I in addition to references to chemical and nuclear warfare. It is clear that this work draws from many other works such as Arthurian Legend, Metaphysics, The Old Testament, and Greek Philosophy. The commentary on genocide and war crimes is quite thought provoking, because it seems to convincingly try to ask the question of whether there are instances where committing human rights violations can be just. The story ultimately ends on a cliffhanger, and we will need to see the succeeding part to get a full answer, but overall, this is quite well thought out and difficult to predict especially when taking into account some of the existential and ethical implications. The growing levels of abstraction and western esotericism is truly ambitious. Next steps may include reading German philosophy. E.g., Immanuel Kant, Heidegger, Nietzsche, Carl Schmitt.
May 15, 2021
Oct 24, 1962
Cynical, well written, and well paced. The editing was not necessarily the best, but it was nothing out of the ordinary for the time in which the film was made. It operates as an effective thriller, but also offers satirical and political intrigue. The use of cacausian actors to play Koreans and Chinese characters was questionable. The psychological implications of brainwashing is interesting, and the concept of the U.S. already being compromised by foreign agents is an area of interest even today. Overall, this is a greatt film that aged very well despite the previous cold war being over for decades.
May 15, 2021
Karl Marx, Sep 14, 1867
A very hard and dense read which is why I have decided to stop after the first volume which is in excess of 1000 pages on its own. This manages to offer some historical context on the effects of industrialization during the 1800's and how it resulted in reduced welfare for many due to unfair and predatory practices by employers. This work has the appearance of a work focusing in microeconomic effects, but it does invoke pathos to make an emotional plea against capitalistic practices which pulls it into the realm of subjective reasoning. That said, many of the concerns brought up in this work are concerns that are often times ignored today such as economic externalities which are imposed upon society and the greater public. This is a problem typically handled and regulated by governments since the externalities enter the realm of public welfare. Despite its relevance to the modern world, it should be noted that it is quite limited when it analyzes machinery due to a fully automated economy not being a consideration given the technology at the time. In addition to this, there are times when Marx oversimplifies situations or generalizes when it suits his arguments which ultimately weakens his statements. Overall, this is a work that manages to identify many problems brought on by industrialization, but does not offer a solution. Such a solution may be presented in the succeeding volumes or the manifesto written by Marx, but I've seen everything I wanted to see.
May 9, 2021
Feb 7, 2017
When Hollywood is incapable of delivering, the animated works of DC can sometimes be better than the live action material. The Dark Knight Returns, The Flashpoint Paradox, and Assault on Arkham are such examples. However, this is only true based on the skill of the director the quality of the source material, so DC animated works can be hit or miss. In this case, it is somewhat of a mixed bag. This work offers a look into the supernatural side of D.C. comics and although this is a Justice League type story, other than Batman, the familiar characters one might expect are rarely seen. Instead, we are given a look at other characters who don't get as much attention such as Constantine and Zatanna. This could work, but character development is limited and in a work that is less than 80 minutes long, depth is something that is lacking which hurts the story. If you think of this as an episode in a long running series, it could make it more tolerable, but as a stand-alone work, it leaves much to be desired.
May 8, 2021
Oct 16, 1998
This is a movie that operates with no logic whatsoever which can work to its advantage as long as it does not take itself too seriously. In many cases, it does not take itself seriously, so it works, but the majority of the film feels like a long 3 hour slog with overacting and stereotypes that don't add much to the experience. The writing is absolutely terrible at times, but the camerawork is great which makes for a very confusing mess because it feels like Kubrick is behind the camera, but a complete moron wrote the script. Overall, a very mixed bag that relies on the appeal of the 90's to create a romance film that is worse than DDLJ and did not age all that well.
May 6, 2021
May 6, 2021
With SN15, there comes multiple improvements and it seems that these improvements as well as the lessons learned from previous tests have led to the first successful test of a Starship on the same day that Americans have gone to space for the first time. The live feed was not the best, so telemetry is still a problem, but overall things seemed significantly better. The biggest problem that is apparent is that parts of the rocket are still catching on fire which is a problem that plagued the prototypes since day 1.
May 5, 2021
Oct 25, 2005
This is a game where you can guide a country through the entirety of human history. This can be quite addicting and time consuming, but once you've played through a game from start to finish, I would argue that you've seen most of what the game has to offer. That said, it has quite a bit of replay value based on the type of maps and options you choose and there are multiple ways to win a game from world domination to technological supremacy. Overall, it is quite a rewarding game that offers the option of micromanagement or a casual automated approach to gameplay.
May 2, 2021
Nov 5, 2020
A 3 part series that examines in detail the transition from hunter gatherer society to small settlements to large civilizations that utilized writing. Unlike other series, this actually covers literature in archeology and findings to support the claims and statements it has made. This covers changes in populations, changing weather cycles, geography, and technological developments that led to a logical transition from one era to the next. Overall, this provides high quality information in a way that would not be found in most standard documentaries.
Apr 21, 2021
Jan 16, 2014
This is a virtual world where you can interact with other people. There is a bit of a learning curve when you are not using the application with a VR headset, so a VR headset is definitely recommended. Due to the way conversations work, the voice chat is proximity based where volume is dependent on how close or far away you are from other players. If your goal is to have a conversation, this is not the most efficient way of going about it, but it does offer something that is unique and relatively modern for meeting people.
Apr 18, 2021
Nov 5, 2020
A detailed mechanical explanation of how to reach side splits and what is required. Far more useful for working towards splits than many other resources out there.
Apr 9, 2021
Mar 18, 2021
The original Justice League was a bad movie. This 4 hour flim is a significantly better one. With regards to Zack Snyder's previous work, subtlety and nuance is not one of his strengths, but every once in a while, he makes something decent. This is one such film. While I would not call this great and I question the heavy use of periodically unconvincing CGI which takes away from the image, this manages to improve upon most DC films released before it. In this film, the mythos of the DC universe begins to be established, each character gets the respect they deserve, and most characters get their own arc. In many ways, it felt almost reminiscent of the Lord of the Rings due to the scale and the lore that is being offered. The return of Junkie XL for the soundtrack is also much appreciated. What we see here is a story of triumph in terms of a director's passion as well as within the film's story itself, and the universe being established is quite promising. For the casual filmgoer and fans, this undoubtedly makes for a satisfying experience. The 4:3 ratio was strange, but it makes the film really feel like something out of a DC comic which makes it a success to me at the end of the day. It shows a certain level of care and it offers something you cannot find in the Marvel films which makes it quite unique despite its shortcomings.
Mar 30, 2021
Mar 30, 2021
The fourth one ended in another explosion. This time, the rocket took off in foggy conditions, and the video feed froze, so it is very difficult to figure what went wrong. Chances are that the rocket exploded after one of the engines began its landing burn.
Mar 22, 2021
Bill Aulet, Jul 31, 2013
Provides a series of steps and tasks to complete to develop an idea into the beginnings of a startup. The reasoning behind the steps are well explained, but like much of management and market related literature, research is lacking. At the very least, it at least provides examples and a logical progression.
Mar 21, 2021
Sep 24, 2020
A bunch of highschool teachers try to maintain a certain blood alcohol level to improve their lives. This shows the benefits and disadvantages of drinking, and it handles with a a subtle sense of humor and very few missteps. Camera work is similar to The Hunt, and it plays with lighting quite often to a decent effect. Everyone played their roles well with Mads Mikkelsen providing a great performance as usual. For a movie with an original premise and study of drinking culture, this is unique and definitely worth watching.
Mar 15, 2021
May 28, 2019
This felt personal, and the music was well done and memorable. Use of Irish culture as a sort of backdrop for the coming out story presented here was a nice touch. The primary mechanic of erasing memories to move forward makes sense, but also feels somewhat tedious and may detract from future playthroughs. That said, it also is short in duration, so many player may not mind so much. This mechanic may be better suited for a mobile device. I feel that at this point, if you want a good story, Annapurna Interactive is a publisher that can consistently deliver.
Mar 15, 2021
A great visual overview of material properties. This covers many of the concepts covered in Structures: Or Why Things Don't Fall Down, but in a more practical and applied way with a visual walkthrough. Covers elasticity, ductility, poisson ratio, Young's modulus and briefly Hooke's laws.
Mar 13, 2021
Founding Fathers, Feb 29, 2008
Despite this being a short read with very simple English, it is not required reading for American students which is a very strange thing. This contained the Constitution, and all 27 ratified amendments including the Bill of Rights. Reading this now, it feels that the work was quite forward thinking in terms of how it allows for U.S. law to be dynamic in nature. That said, it also feels outdated in that it does not seem to consider changing technologies, human relations, and paradigms. The use of amendments to allow for the document to be a living document is well thought out, but it seems as though this document won't be able to keep up with the speed many developments we have today.
Mar 10, 2021
Jul 26, 2013
The first of Ryan Coogler's collaborations with Michael B. Jordan and Ludwig Göransson. As a first film, this is well made and covers one of many police shootings. The first hour is basically build up of the characters and in the last 20 minutes, we watch a man die. We know exactly what will happen, but it is still engaging throughout. There are a few minor problems, however. The roles played here are not that challenging in that every character is fairly normal in nature. In addition to this, the camera was shaking when it did not need to be. Finally, if there is some sort of message, it was not the clearest and requires some background knowledge on race issues and police issues in The United States. That said, for a debut film, it is well done.
Mar 6, 2021
Apr 20, 1977
Woody Allen's sharp dialogue and script are what make this a great film. Some of the references are dated, but this has aged relatively well and it will get a few laughs. While this is a story about a relationship, the conversations meander between many facets of life that may be considered mundane. Commentary about driving, death, relationships and antisemitism indicate the variety of topics the script visits in no particular order. As a result, it can be fast paced, but also meditative in a way due to the way it muses on an eclectic collection of subjects. Probably the best Woody Allen film I saw so far.
Mar 5, 2021
May 28, 2019
A waste of time. It functions as fan service for those familiar with the series, but gameplay is shallow, and the story did not impress. Controls feel clunky, and it feels like a step back. Everything is bigger compared to previous entries like a Michael Bay film, but at the same time, everything is boring as well. It's basically a dumbed down arcade game if you play it solo.
Mar 5, 2021
Adam Smith, 1776
This was published in the same year that the Declaration of Independence was written. While everything covered here can be learned in a far more efficient manner from a microeconomics and macroeconomics textbook, the historical context makes some of the content interesting. What is surprising about this is the level of detail by which the sophisticated networks through which money and value exchanges hands is described. This talks about almost every industry during the time from rent to land ownership to the financial considerations involved with slavery. It compares and contrasts between different countries during the time such as India (described as the east Indies), the Dutch, and the colonies in America. It is truly quite impressive, but it is not an easy read. It is also very rarely an enjoyable read and is quite dense. Although Adam Smith is said to be the father of capitalism, if the contents of his book are anything to go by, the merchant trade enjoyed capitalism or some primitive variant of it since as far back as the ancient Greeks.
Mar 4, 2021
Mar 4, 2021
Third time is the charm, but a hard landing and the fact that the raptor engines are always on fire even when they are shut down is a concern. SpaceX still has work to do with regards to the durability of the skirt and engines. Having a methane leak or some type of leak on pretty much every test flight indicates a serious problem especially if you are planning on refueling in orbit.
Feb 25, 2021
Sep, 1988
Great film that reminded me of 400 Blows and Requiem for a Dream. This film directs its gaze towards the homeless and children living on the streets of Bombay. The film manages to depict the uncertainty of living on the streets from the perspective of a young boy who is trying to save up money to go back home. This is a movie where nothing goes right for the characters and everything ends badly. In that sense, it is similar to Requiem for a Dream, but this came out more than 10 years before Requiem for a Dream and has a different pacing and editing style. This burns more slowly, and as a result, there isn't a time when the viewer is ever feeling all that great. There are no clear ups in this films, which means that it is very much a slow burn of suffering. I have heard that this is based off of a Brazilian film called Pixote, so that may be something to watch in the future.
Feb 23, 2021
Plato, c. 375 B.C.
I have read the allegory of the cave before, but this is my first time reading Plato's Republic in full. While this is focused on concepts such as what is the best way to govern and rule, it makes a number of tangents to cover other grand topics. The exploration of these ideas is presented in the form of a Socratic dialogue where Socrates basically debates with a bunch of straw men to prove his point. The argumentation and reasoning is outdated, but the topics covered are still quite relevant today as they are very central to civilization and being human. I think if some of the arguments were stripped from their context of being used in favor of certain topics such as whether justice is good, it may have been less messy and easier to digest. That said, it was an interesting read, and the age of the work also implies that things are kept bare-bones in terms of narrative structure and devices. The only bells and whistles here are the many allegories used to prove certain points.
Feb 14, 2021
Oscar Wilde, July 20, 1890
The prose is well written, and the content is thoughtful. I was not the biggest fan of this, but it does manage to do what it set out to do quite well. There is an underlying complexity to all the characters presented that speaks to the flexible nature of man and how he is influenced by the forces around him. The focus on vanity and mortality as Dorian Gray ages without physical change is well done. For me, I personally could not care less about Dorian Gray as I read this novel, so its impact is lessened for me. The way in which Dorian Gray struggles with the choices he makes is quite similar to Crime and Punishment, but the consequences and torment of questionable actions do not seem to be quite the same which is quite interesting. There are a number of quotable moments and takeaways, so its acclaim is understandable.
Feb 12, 2021
Jan 14, 2003
This was enjoyable, but mixed when viewed from a critical angle. The duo of Kamal Haasan and Madhavan is great, but underutilized. The buddy travel dynamic is the best part of the film, but the decision to use up almost half of the runtime on a flashback is simply a bad decision in terms of pacing and unnecessary in terms of character development. This may be a result of it trying to be a mass movie and a movie with an emotional hook which results in it trying to do many things at once. There is communism, humanism, capitalism, and other isms, which is fine, but for many of these themes, discussions are often only surface level. I think a general audience would not have a problem with this, but streamlining certain parts would have been pragmatic decision that would have strengthened the film as a whole. The main lesson of God and love are great and are delivered very well in the final act of the film. Overall, this is a film that has great parts, but did not live up to its potential. I may consider watching Planes, Trains, and Automobiles next since it apparently does something similar.
Feb 12, 2021
May 28, 2019
This is quite an achievement in terms of premise, gameplay, and mechanics and is comparable in quality to that of a Nintendo game despite it being an indie game stemming from a thesis project. I have personally been waiting for more games to use a groundhog day style mechanic in a meaningful way and this is the first work that has satisfied me. In addition to this, the physics which were somewhat inspired by real physics is quite welcome and adds a level of immersion when the player is forced to struggle with the controls of the spacecraft. The way in which different events only occur at different times within the timeloop means that there is an added level of exploration involved. You may have explored a planet fully, but as time passes, more may be revealed. Because of this, this manages to strike a good balance between exploration and exploitation while managing to weave a story that is coherent and manages to touch upon hard sci-fi themes that are often covered in Arther C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov novels. It may not be cinematic, but the philosophy by which it operates manages to successfully execute one of the core parts of games which is playful exploration and improvement. It is one of those games that manages to move the medium forward. If a game came out with a similar Groundhog Day mechanic with a bit of urgency and character interaction like Edge of Tomorrow, I think all bases will be covered with this type of premise.
Feb 11, 2021
Mar 16, 1960
This movie by Jean-Luc Godard is a French New Wave film with very experimental editing and camera movement for the time. It makes references to American film while paving its own path in its approach. The way it displays Paris, plays with language, and seems to mimic and subvert other crime dramas from 1940's Hollywood was quite interesting. The acting by the duo of Jean-Paul Belmondo and Jean Seberg was very well done with Belmondo's role coming across as an exaggeration of a traditional 1940's protagonist who frankly does not give a damn. Overall, while it may not seem remarkable in comparison to the many generations of films that came out afterwards, for its time, it feels very unique.
Feb 9, 2021
Dec 1, 2017
This is a film with an almost meandering pace that you can get hypnotized by if you enter it with no expectations. This feels like a well constructed indie film, but once you see the cast, you will realize that it is packed with talent. Saoirse Ronan's acting as a teenager from Sacramento was quite convincing, and the often subtle humor matched the pacing quite well. For a coming of age story, this felt quite real and relatable. I'm not sure if this is one of those movies with a particularly memorable plot (especially given that this is one of those coming of age stories), but it was quite well executed while I was watching it.
Feb 9, 2021
A video by Coldfusion that covers the majority of the activity that occured with relation to the Gamestop stock. The event is not over yet, and what is to follow is the response by government and financial institutions.
Feb 6, 2021
S.E. Hinton, April 24, 1967
A story of Ponyboy Curtis who is from a low income group known as the Greasers in th 60's and is constantly getting into fights with a higher income group known as the Soc's. I have a mixed opinion of this novel despite its praise. While it does seem to have some similarities to Catcher in the Rye and Camus' The Stranger, this does not seem as profound. This is understandable because this is a young adult novel, but the general takeaways and musings seem very basic. Universal, but basic. Other than that, it doesn't ever feel terrible, but the way in which characters interact with each other seem unrealistic in the way a writer may embellish their prose with unnecessary details to make it flow better. This may be good for a younger audience, but for those who are more well read, you may not gain as much from reading this.
Feb 4, 2020
Jan 16, 2014
I don't know if Katsuhiro Otomo is in semi-retirement, but I wish he would be more prolific. This is what I imagine is a spiritual successor to other similar works consisting of shorts that Katsuhiro Otomo worked on like Manie Manie, Memories, and Robot Carnival. The biggest difference between this work and its predecessors is its main theme being focused on Japan and the use of CGI which was still developing during the time of its predecessors. While I believe the predecessors (Memories in particular) will have a greater legacy, this was rather impressive and reminded me of the artistry involved in animation. The fact that one of the shorts in this was nominated for an Academy Award should speak for its quality. My personal favorites within this collection is that of the opening sequence by Koji Morimoto and Buki yo Saraba. The ending song of 夢であいましょう from the NHK variety show that ran in the 1960's was a welcome touch, but it did surprise me since I imagine it would be considered a very obscure reference for any Japanese person born after the 1970's.
Feb 4, 2021
May 21, 2014
A best selling indie game from the creators of Bastion. This feels very similar to Bastion except the setting is slightly different and the gameplay has a more strategic approach which emphasizes experimentation. In terms of art and sound design, it also feels very similar to Bastion, but it has less of the dynamic narration that Bastion was famous for. The story feels like something that can only be described as fantastical science fiction. It is hard to make sense of it, because it is more fantastical than it is science despite it taking place in the future or within a simulation. In that sense, it is somewhat similar to TRON. Character development is good and bad at the same time, because I know very little about the motivations of the characters, but also because the player spends a lot of time with them. In terms of gameplay and content, this has quite a bit of variety and manages to keep things fresh by packing everything within a short play time.
Feb 2, 2021
Feb 2, 2021
Basically a repeat of SN8. I thought I would have seen something different this time, but unfortunately not. On the bright side, lift-off is quite solid and the raptor engines are quite performant.
Feb 2, 2021
May 17, 2011
A very shrewdly constructed mature game that is superior to the previous entry in every way and far more streamlined. This is less buggy and manages to create a great balance between open world and linear design. In addition to this, the combat and mechanics are far better and feel fluid despite its difficulty. The first parts of the game has a momentum that is not shared by many games, but this game does lose that momentum over time which is somewhat unfortunate. The story is deliberate and shrewd to put it lightly. This is a game that values player choice, but the story is very messy in the sense that your choices have consequences that are realistic and can result in complex outcomes. Unlike traditional stories, this does not alway have satisfying results, but that is part of what makes it unique. If you choose to kill everyone, you get some satisfaction, but doing so can feel out of character if role playing is a priority. Similarly, if you decide to choose the lesser of evils like a witcher may, you may find that the climaxes are not climaxes, but rather whimpers. There are not many games that are willing to allow for the player to do such a thing, but this is one that is confident enough to deceive and overturn expectations. Great, but imperfect. I am interested in the next game which may allow for plot points to be resolved, greater variety, greater scale, and some level of resolution as hinted by the story.
Jan 30, 2021
Jun, 2009
My first Greek film. This is a strange film that has an interesting premise, but I was not a fan of the execution. I imagine for most audiences, the opinions on the quality will most likely be divided. The premise of children who cannot leave their home is reminiscent of Peter Pan while their outlook is reminiscent of Plato's allegory of the cave. That said, this did not exactly focus on the existential angle and spent more of its time on the psychological and surreal. In that sense, it somewhat succeeds with its bleak visuals, but the lack of variety in the scenery can definitely make it feel as though it drags. Overall, it is thought provoking, but lacking in some aspects to make it what I would consider to be a great film.
Jan 29, 2021
Nov 11, 2014
This was one of those films that does almost everything correctly, but also may not be all that memorable due to its lack of moments that stand out. Pretty much every part of this film is good, and the portrayal of 1960's America is fairly accurate. The historical accuracy, particularly in its depiction of LBJ, was not, but everything else felt real to the point that it was almost like a documentary which is an accomplishment to be noted. The main aspects that are particularly good are David Oyelowo's acting and the self control of the director to not dramatize anything and just show what is happening. The way in which some aspects of America have never changed make this film and its contents still relevant today.
Jan 28, 2021
Jan 26, 2021
This is one of the more exciting events of this year and the year has just started. I have never seen retail investers take on institutional investors in such a manner, and it has the potential to change how people approach investment in the market. In addition to this, this event also brings some of the more questionable actions of some short sellers to light.
Jan 22, 2021
Nov 11, 2020
A good underdog story of a man trying to bring low cost air travel to India. It can be melodramatic at times and although they had access to real planes, they chose to use CGI instead in some scenes. Cinematography is decent, but the acting is probably the best aspect of this film. The pacing is also well handled and the film moves along without feeling slow. The level of detail with regards to how it describes commercial air travel and the logistics is very interesting and helped fill in some gaps in my knowledge with regards to the aerospace industry. Overall, it is enjoyable and crowd pleasing.
Jan 20, 2021
Oct 30, 2007
A clumsy and sub-par game that has heart. It has lore, and quite a bit of thought placed into its world building and story telling. Voice acting is sub-par and the gameplay and UI is clunky. Much of the game is spent going back and forth between different places to complete quests which can get tedious and even frustrating if you become aware of how much time is being wasted. For 2007, this is also not all that graphically advanced or well optimized. Voice acting or localization left quite a lot to be desired. This reminds me of the first Mass Effect, but unlike that game, this focused more on the rpg elements. There are romances, but they are fairly shallow in nature. As a result, it was less cinematic and I enjoyed it less. Conversely, the story and some of the moral choices which involve choosing the lesser of two evils places players in situations that many games do not do. It is strange to see a game handle story well, but fail in gameplay. I believe the mistakes made here are easy to fix and a remake will result in a great game. I would be interested in the sequel or a more cinematic approach to the contents here like a film if one ever gets made.
Jan 18, 2021
Nov 25, 1991
Another great Mani Ratnam film. I was expecting this to be similar to Nayakan, but unlike Nayakan, this is less of a crime drama and more of a drama in the classical sense like a Shakespearean play. This is not so surprising, because it seems to be somewhat based off of the story of Karna from the Mahābhārata. Cinematography is great as always and color grading is well done with all scenes having an orange hue to represent the sun and the main character played by Rajinikanth. Music is by Ilaiyaraaja, so an older sensibility is to be expected regarding the main theme. That said, it does have some grandeur that gives the film a feeling similar to that of a spaghetti western at times. Action scenes feel dated, but do not take away from the film. Acting and the general simplicity of the themes of family and justice were one of the greatest strengths of this film with Rajinikanth showing that he could actually act with nuance. This is a deliberately made film that showcases the expertise of all who were involved.
Jan 15, 2021
I have bought into some of ARK Invest's financial packages and while the general philosophy behind their strategy aligns with many of my values, this is the first time I have listened to the people behind the company. While I am not thoroughly impressed due to a lack of rigor regardign what they consider to be "innovation", they seem to be the most knowledgeable out of most of the companies that I buy ETF's from and their definition conforms with the neoliberalist trend of growth based investment. They are also the only company offering packages that focus in technological advances in different industries. Also, like Cathie Wood, I also believe a sizeable correction will be inbound. With regards to when, I am not quite as sure, but it is unlikely that stocks will be going up forever.
Jan 9, 2021
Jul 9, 1982
I did not enjoy this and I find the sequel to be the better film. Usually, with film, story and plot are the most important aspects, but with this, the visuals are given more emphasis. While the visuals were given a tremendous amount of work, they don't look all that great to me. On a technical and historical level, this has value, but the story is not that great. Acting is quite terrible as well with Jeff Bridges coming across as the only actor who seemed to be putting in any effort.
Jan 9, 2021
Aug 31, 2001
This is very different from other musicals that I have seen. It has the feel of a musical for a stage, but it also has the feel of a low budget indie film. This felt like a cross between Pink Floyd's The Wall and Spinal Tap. What this offers which many films don't offer is a conversation on gender and the idea of feeling whole. When this is combined with the unique state of music in the late 1990's and the fall of the Berlin wall, it feels like it is ahead of its time and also frozen in time at the same time.
Jan 9, 2021
May 24, 2019
This is a film that blows other films in the same genre out of the water. The script is always filled with sharp content, and as long as you realize that everything in the movie is a caricature, the film works as a stylized comedy that does not slow down. Because of this, as long as you don't take it seriously, this film will deliver. When compared to other films like The Hangover or Superbad, this feels smarter and almost feels like it has an element of improvisation which makes it feel more genuine and better executed. The soundtrack is composed of mostly already established music from popular culture, but the choice of music used is appropriate. That said, it makes many references to politics and other sources that might make it effective today, but may affect how this film is received in the future.
Jan 9, 2021
Apr 12, 2019
An imperfect, but fun film that is carried by the performance of Jessie Buckley who plays the lead role. The concept of country music being enjoyed and generated outside of the U.S. feels like common sense, but until this film, I have not considered it. This film is not particularly groundbreaking, and the general progression of the main character does not seem to be paced all that well, but it is able to generate drama by presenting conflicting decisions where the main character has to choose between her dreams and the worries of her current life. One thing that is quite interesting about this film is that it is not overly romanticized, and it shows a more realistic outlook on the music industry as a whole which worked to the benefit of the film.
Jan 8, 2021
Jul 11, 1975
I have no idea if this is a good movie or not, but the imagery is on another level. In a word, it is psychedelic, and while it seems to initially be a reference to Christianity, the inclusion of tarot cards, astrology and other pseudoscientific aspects make it difficult to pin down. This is thoroughly original. It breaks the fourth wall, and it has sequences that are downright confusing. Production quality is high and on a technical level and it feel like the budget is much higher than it truly is. It is difficult to critically analyze this film, and I have not read any of the literature that acted as inspiration for this film. It is also difficult to recommend, because I think people's opinions on this will drastically differ.
Jan 7, 2021
Marcus Aurelius, 180
By the Roman emperor who was also a philosopher. I have seen the lessons mentioned here repackaged and retold in multiple ways in many other stories and self help books, so I found that I did not learn much here. That said, this is clear and to the point and it covers quite a lot of ground. Unlike more derivative works, this has very little fluff. While this is an overview of the stoic philosophies of Marcus Aurelius, it is not quite the same as the works of Confucius or other philosophers. Rather, it feels more like many musings that have been organized after the fact. The organization of the books means that there is no conversation between multiple parties or a narrative. Because of this, it is possible to read different parts at different times without losing much in terms of clarity. I think this work is important and the way it covers topics like perception and its relation to oneself is quite important for handling feelings of failure, pride, and entitlement.
Jan 5, 2021
Sep 20, 2018
What this game does well is art, sound, and puzzle design. It tells a simple story of childhood friendship, but the story does not get more complex or detailed than that. The mechanics are interesting and similar to Braid in that you can reverse and speed up time to solve puzzles. What is different about this is that it does it in 3d and utilizes occlusion and global events to add challenge to figure out what to do. The two main character are always controllable through the flow of time, but other mechanics allow for some objects within levels to ignore time and move even when time is frozen. This makes non-linear thinking an important part of the process. I found the puzzles interesting. Only big flaw is that there are a number of bugs related to display and progression that can be blocking, but they are never overly frustrating.
Jan 5, 2021
Margaret Atwood, Aug, 1985
This isn't the type of book that you read for enjoyment. The contents are that of a dystopian novel that felt somewhat similar to The Giver, but this had more of an emphasis on theocracy and freedom-- specifically reproductive freedom. I honestly don't know what to make of the contents of this, because it feels extremely unrealistic and also somewhat dated. The idea of a autocratic theocracy popping up overnight in the form of a coup within the United States is not impossible, but the way in which it is described here shows a lack of research regarding government, military, and economics. That said, it is thought provoking and mirrors organizations that we have seen in the past as well as in other countries. The book even correctly cites Iran and the Phillipines as having similar constructs. With regards to the characters, I felt that was well done and well thought out. Subtlety is the name of the game in a society like the one described here, and this books manages to handle subtlety and nuance well. For me, it is a mixed bag, and I felt it to be slow, but I can recognize that mileage will indeed vary for different readers. Edit: After the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol, this may not be quite as unrealistic as initially stated.
Jan 3, 2021
Sep 8, 2004
A story of the final moments in the bunker where Hitler died. Most of the World War II movies I have seen have excluded the German perspective, so this film which takes an unbiased look at the German side felt fresh. Although Hitler has committed atrocities, he was a human, and a realistic portrayal helps to provide a more educated outlook on the war as a whole. Bruno Ganz as Hitler is accurate. He gets inflections and small details right and performs his job well. The desperation on the German side towards the end of the war is made very clear in this film and the educational value of this film should not be understated. It is an impressive film that felt real and hits hard.
Jan 2, 2021
Jul 26, 1993
I originally confused this with Zhang Yimou's Raise the Red Lantern due to somewhat similar topics which I plan to watch in the future. This is an ambitious story that is difficult to watch. The story is rich in Chinese culture and follows the country through the eyes of opera actors starting in the 1920's. In this sense, it is very similar to Bernando Bertolucci's The Last Emperor, but unlike that film, the settings are not quite as grand, this has more Chinese culture, and is completely in Mandarin. The topics this film tries to address are quite daring for the time. Not only does it try to display Chinese opera in detail, but it also covers the rise of different factions such as the CCP, the cultural revolution, and homosexuality. This is a tragic story that is quite reflective of the experiences of those who lived during the time and does not try to shy away from showing what happens if it can. If I were to say that I enjoyed it, I would be lying. This is not the type of movie that you enjoy. This is the type of movie that you experience and it is a great experience at that.
Jan 2, 2021
Mar 22, 2005
A solid game with well optimized gameplay that does not have many flaws. The story is large in scale, but it works and can actually work as a part of the Greek mythos with some modification which is rather impressive. This is not filled with ridiculous amounts of content, or the greatest variety of enemies, but somehow this manages to have just enough to stay entertaining and compelling. Levels have enough variation, boss battles are unique, the platforming is not frustrating, puzzles are reasonable, and the camera is not that bad despite it not being controlled by the player. Despite this being a PS2 game, it still manages to provide a sense of scale in some of the larger levels in a way that even some modern games struggle to do. It is clear to see that this game pushes the PS2 to its limits even though I am able to emulate it at more than 1080p resolution with little difficulty. Since the story shown here is a full arc that has a satisfying conclusion, I have to wonder what point there is in playing the sequels, but I am curious to see how technical improvements over time can affect the fundamental gameplay.
Jan 1, 2021
Jun 22, 2012
This two part film was directed by Anurag Kashyap who also directed Black Friday and is another great film. This is a film that has great pacing and a guerilla style of filming which made me get lost in the film in a way that I forgot about the meta aspects of the film. The way in which we watch generations of gangsters grow and die is hypnotizing and felt as though I was watching a piece of history with the rise and fall of different factions. Although this is stylized, this is never rushed and each scene has its own carefully thought out pacing which reminded me of Scorsese's Goodfellas. It is apt to compare this to Goodfellas and The Godfather, but it should be noted that this is trying to do something different and should be judged on its own terms. This film follows the development of its characters along with the development of India which makes it a masterful weaving of crime, family, country, politics, and the trends of the times. Definitely one of the best films of the previous decade.
Dec 30, 2020
Mar 28, 2002
A game that has clearly had a lot of work put into its story, sound, and art, but is lacking on a technical level. This is unique in that it has characters from Disney and characters from Final Fantasy games (specifically FFVII, FFVIII, and FFX). Gameplay is clunky, and frustrating. The camera is controlled by the trigger buttons rather than one of the analog sticks. Platforming is tedious, combat lacks depth, and magic is a pale imitation of what can be seen in the Final Fantasy games. A decent number of the voice actors from Disney the movies voiced their characters here which was a pleasant surprise. Character models are less animated in comparison to their film counterparts, but due to this being an early PS2 game, that is to be expected. The inclusion of Disney worlds and settings is quite shallow with character motivations and traits from the films being excluded or only touched upon on a surface level. The way in which levels are set up encourage exploration which is similar to other Square games and a secret ending is provided to reward exploration. Music is good with remixed versions of Disney music being unremarkable, but music made specifically for the game being incredible. This original music elevates the work and overshadows its flaws with memorable leitmotifs. The story is a standard hero's journey with a fight between darkness and light, but quite endearing at times. I believe many of the problems in this game are a result of the time it was made in, and that future games should improve upon the flaws.
Dec 29, 2020
Jul 21, 2017
A modern retelling of Baital Pachisi. I had no prior knowledge of story, so my impressions are based on the film alone. It is a solid neo noir story that tackles the topic of morality, and black and white. The editing was distracting and made shots shorter than they needed to be to artificially generate excitement. Outside of this, the dynamic between Vikram and Vedha was great and both roles were well acted. It is to the extent that all other actors ended up dragging down the film due to being outshined by Madhavan and Vijay Sethupathi. The interactions between Vikram and Vedha are well written and feel very similar in quality to interactions between Deniro and Pacino in Heat or the interactions in The Dark Knight. Overall, great film with some flaws that seem to be less of a problem with the film and more a characteristic of the tastes of the demographic it caters to.
Dec 28, 2020
May 30, 2019
This is Bong Joon Ho's best work and probably the best Korean film I have seen so far. This is a director that has consistently done good work and of the films of his that I have seen the only one I did not find all that enjoyable was The Host. It is a total homerun of a film that feels like a 1930's black and white film brought to the modern age. The symbolism and commentary on the divide between classes and the current state of late-stage capitalism is fairly obvious, but not presented in a way that comes across as preachy. The content is genre bending and original. It is a black comedy, a thriller, it has horror elements, and finally it becomes somewhat Tarantino-esque towards the end. The depiction of a rich family and a family of scam artists is interesting and counterintuitive. Surprisingly, the more educated individuals come across as the least clever which works well for the comedy, but it leads to some thought provoking discussion as to how accurate this is about the real world. There are a lot of things packed into this that can make multiple viewings worthwhile.
Dec 27, 2020
Mar, 1986
A series that tries to converge all the different D.C. universes and realities through an epic conflict. Since this came out in the 80's, this is complete with many of the conventions of that time. Dialogue can be cheesy and unrealistic. In addition to this, the way in which the story was told was needlessly wordy. The costume designs are obviously dated. The physics of the multiverse is bizarre and impossible. Overall, it was a chore to read and not that enjoyable, but it did provide some historical perspective on some major and many minor D.C. characters. It was somewhat fun seeing three different versions of Superman fighting together, but because of the scale of the story being told, the multitude of characters made the story feel crowded and convoluted. A refresh of this story with a more modern writing style would be interesting to see.
Dec 27, 2020
Mar 23, 2018
A very enjoyable film by Wes Anderson that takes place in a caricature of a future Japan. The main characters which are dogs speak English, and the humans speak Japanese. This is a strange choice, but it makes for an interesting presentation of the exposition and dialogue. Animation is well done, detailed, and aesthetically unique. The use of Japanese and English feels awkward at times, but in a Wes Anderson film, that can actually work towards the film's advantage. When compared with Fantastic Mr. Fox, this is about the same and maybe slightly inferior due to Fantastic Mr. Fox's better characterization, but overall, this is a great film.
Dec 24, 2020
May 28, 1983
This is imperfect and rough around the edges, but it has many merits. The first is that it has a good cast with notable figures such as David Bowie, Kitano Takeshi, Tom Conti and Sakamoto Ryuichi. The premise is that of the experience of POW's in a Japanese prison camp in Java during world war II. The story is unflinching and shows a somewhat realistic representation of how the Japanese treated POW's. This is surprising, because the director is Japanese, and typical protocol is to deny or ignore the actions of the Japanese empire during world war II. Although this is an English and Japanese language film, I recommend using subtitles, because the English of the Japanese actors is not the best and Tom Conti's Japanese pronounciation is imperfect. Music is probably the best part of the film. I would consider the score in this to be Sakamoto Ryuichi's best work and even better than his work in Bertolucci's The Last Emperor. The flaws of this film are that of a general awkwardness in structure and acting. There seems to be a difference in western and Japanese styles of acting which results in a certain dissonance. Camera movement is not the best, but shot composition can be great at times. Finally, characterization was not the best, and it is questionable who were the main characters and why certain characters had a greater focus than others.
Dec 24, 2020
Isaac Asimov, Nov, 1956
A short story that is about the heat death of the universe. It involves a series of succeeding civilizations and entities asking a universal computer how to reverse the rise of entropy. I have no idea what a universal computer is, but if it really existed, it probably would not have any vacuum tubes and would be more sophisticated than what was described in the story. The story is interesting, because it tells the story of how sentient life evolves over time intervals of growing levels of magnitude. It also alludes to a cyclic model of the universe which I think should be explored more often in science fiction. Of the stories that Isaac Asimov wrote, this is one of my favorites, but like many works of science fiction, it fails at characterization and emotional investment of the reader.
Dec 24, 2020
Jul 13, 2017
Great video by Isaac Arthur about civilizations and technologies at the end of time when sentient life will need to fight against entropy to remain alive. This covers concepts such as Boltzmann Brains, reversible computing, utilizing black holes to slow time and replacing biological systems with computer systems to experience time at a slower rate to reduce energy consumption.
Dec 23, 2020
Khaled Hosseini, May, 2004
Although this is a fictional story, it felt real and quite personal. The story manages to paint a detailed picture of how Afghanistan developed and some of the demographic and cultural challenges that existed in the country and how they changed or worsened over time. Its unflinching treatment of rape, abuse, war, ethnic cleansing and the harsh nature of Islam in Afghanistan made it quite impactful. The American perspective offered by the main character immigrating to the U.S. from Afghanistan to escape conflict is nothing new, but the Afghani perspective made it unique. Overall, it helped me to better understand the middle east as a whole, provided some perspective on the region, and left an emotional impression.
Dec 22, 2020
Mar 29, 2019
A great series run as part of the noitamin A programming blcok about children raised for consumption as human cattle trying to escape the farm they were raised on. This was never predictable and always managed to defy my expectations in interesting ways which is very rare. This has elements of many dystopian stories, but also has an element that is similar to a fairy tale as the name Neverland suggests. There are parallels to the human slave trade, current farming practices, as well as a deep conversation on purpose and what it means to be free. The allegorical aspects of the work should be noted. In terms of flaws, pacing could have been improved, but the source material may not have the same constraints that the series has, so it may have been better to read the manga. That said, this is easily one of the best works of Japanese story telling to come out recently and it sets itself up nicely for a second season that has a high level of potential.
Dec 21, 2020
May 3, 2017
The only Thai film I have seen before this was Ong Bak. This was quite entertaining despite containing mistakes that I think the casual movie-goer will notice. While the concept of a heist style of storytelling is not completely new in television, it is quite novel within film, and the Thai perspective is an interesting one. The way this is filmed is exciting and stylized in a way that is not seen as qiote often nowadays and is usually not done quite as well when it is. Camera work and shots are handled extremely well and I have no complaints regarding the cinematography. The actual script could have used some work, mainly because most people who have taken a standardized test would understand how unrealistic some of the events in this film are. This could be mainly because the film was intended to appeal for the general Thai audience, but certain plot devices used can be jarring at times. That said, this is a fun heist film that manages to create engaging drama while also offering commentary on education and income classes within Thailand.
Dec 19, 2020
Dec 13, 2019
While I do consider this to be flawed, I also consider this to be underrated as well with regards to critical acclaim. Clint Eastwood is one of the oldest active directors right now, but he still managed to make a compelling film despite his age. Richard Jewell is the story of a security guard that foiled a bomb attack in 1996 and was later investigated as a main suspect of the bomb attack he helped partially prevent. This is a film that, despite its runtime of over 2 hours, manages to never get boring and stay emotionally impactful. It also manages to shine a light on problems such as malpractice and questionable actions by the media and government agencies. With regards to its flaws, it is somewhat simplistic in nature with many details lacking when it comes to character motivation. This is made up for by the skills of the actors, but most viewers who reflect on the film afterwards will most probably notice this. That said, I did enjoy this and thought its presentation of Richard Jewell's story was compelling.
Dec 19, 2020
Jan 12, 2018
Despite the critical acclaim for this film, I was not quite as impressed due to the what I considered to be a lot of wasted time. I believe this film could have been shorter and been more effective. In addition to this, I felt that it was lacking details with regards to the contents of the Pentagon papers which i believe resulted in a reduced impact. Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep performed well in their roles. The film was also able to successfully recreate the time in which the papers were released and paint a decent picture of how the Washington Post operated during that time. In terms of execution of the story, I was not as convinced. There is very little nuance or subtlety, and the messages that the film wanted to put forth were repeated in obvious ways that made it come across as though it was insulting the intelligence of the audience. Spielberg has made better films, and when it comes to films about journalism, there are better options like The Insider, Spotlight, Good Night, and Good Luck as well as All the President's Men.
Dec 19, 2020
May 19, 2019
This, along with Parasite, got quite a bit of attention at Cannes in 2019 and rightly so. In many ways, this did for me what Call Me By Your Name could not and I consider this to be the better film. This was quite focused and functions as both a period piece as well as a romance story that is centered around women. The absence of men in this film was rather striking and the focus on painting in the 18th century was also interesting. The film is meditative, but not slow. Scenes can be sensual, but are never explicit and always have a certain tastefulness about them that fits with the rest of the general aesthetic. Color is used quite well in the film and mimics baroque and rococo art styles. I am not sure how it managed to do it, but this made me focus on nuances without boring me. This is a great film. I do not recommend watching this on a plane, however, due to the content.
Dec 18, 2020
Feb 14, 2012
This is a haunting and dreamlike game that has the player exploring an island that has a similar look to that of the coast of Scotland. The only thing the player has the ability to do is move and choose the paths they take to get to the end. In that sense, it is a true walking simulator and feels like something a writer would make. The story told through the branching paths and requires multiple playthroughs to properly piece together the different paths to make a coherent story. Music is good and play time is short. On a technical level, the source engine and its quirks are on full display and as a result, it suffers from a few display issues. Generally speaking, this is thought provoking despite the small team that was needed to create it. The way it plays with the player's perception is probably most similar in approach to that of an M. Night Shyamalan film when executed correctly.
Dec 17, 2020
May 1, 2020
This isn't really a game nor is it particularly groundbreaking. It can also be buggy at times. I found it enjoyable since I thought it was able to recreate the experience of being in a Japanese house during the rainy season very well. The house was complete with dated technology which made it emulate the country side very well. I'm not sure if I would recommend it, but with its short playtime, there is nothing lost by giving it a try.
Dec 16, 2020
Feb 13, 1963
My second Fellini film and my first fully Italian film. This was very interesting. All the dialogue was dubbed over in Italian, because the video was recorded without sound which gave the film a more surreal feeling. That said, the film was fairly surrealist to begin with, and the meta narrative of a film maker basically making the film that he is in is quite create and unique. Camera work is iconic with all scenes feeling like they had something special. Compared to many other films, this one is particularly dialogue heavy. It manages to take a simple story and turn it into commentary on art and relationships. There are many layers to this film, and I think it is very well suited for multiple viewings.
Dec 15, 2020
May 10, 2017
This is a memorable game that manages to have an impact despite its somewhat smaller scope compared to other games. The game is accessible and I think it can be enjoyed by players of any age. Its design is relatively linear, but it had enough branching detail for players who have a more exploratory style of play. The subject matter is heavy and deals with the concept of mortality and sacrifice. Sound design is well done and also memorable. The music felt similar to many of works by studio Key and the game itself shares many similarities with Maeda Jun's works. Similarly, this also had many Japanese elements due to the background of the main developer Laura Shigihara who was also the composer and composed the music in To the Moon. When compared to To the Moon, I consider to be definitely superior with a better balance of story and gameplay and a more relatable story. I think this is one of the rare games that manages to enforce feelings of empathy and is definitely worth a playthrough.
Dec 13, 2020
Sep 11, 2020
This is the definitive drift racing game, and the mechanics are handled very well. Different types of cars handle differently, which means that every car has a learning curve for mastering oversteering. The story mode does not have much of a story, but it is a good way to familiarize yourself with the mechanics. The visuals and the audio design are well done and feel similar to an outrun style aesthetic. There are a number of unique tracks which all emphasize different things which makes the experience stay fresh. The general feel of this is not like Initial D due to the lack of a Eurobeat soundtrack, but for a racing game, this is close to the top out of all the racing games I have played so far.
Dec 11, 2020
Jan 22, 2017
This is a movie that has 3 languages: English, Italian, and French. With regards to this movie, this is a film with a lot of firsts for me. This is the first Italian language film that I have seen, the first Timothée Chalamet film that I have seen and the first film I have seen where homosexual men are the main characters. The film is well crafted with everything about it coming across as intentional and deliberate which places it on a higher level than many other films. In addition to that, I found it to be well acted and thought that Timothée Chalamet was deserving of his nomination for the academy awards. In terms of impact, I would say that it was not as impactful as I would have thought it would have been given its critical acclaim, but all of the acts of the narrative were well paced. That said, this is probably the type of movie that I would grow to appreciate more after multiple viewings. One final thing I appreciated about this film is how it references many works of literature I have never heard of which makes it a good movie to watch if you want to supplement your reading lists. After watching this, I would like to also watch the other films in Guadagnino's thematic "Desire" trilogy.
Dec 10, 2020
Dec 9, 2020
After about 1 month's worth of delay, Space X finally carried out the SN8 high altitude flight test where they tried to test the belly landing. The altitude was not as high as what was originally planned, but it looks like the test was useful. It seems like this system has decent engine out capability as shown by its ability to fire different engines at different times. I expected the starship to take off based on the hop tests, but I was skeptical about whether it would land since they were doing the belly maneuver for the first time. Surprisingly enough, it was on target. I saw some interesting things in this test. The first is that some parts of the skirt seemed to catch on fire during the burning of the engines. The switch to an upright position during the landing also seemed to happen very quickly which won't be appropriate for a crewed flight. Finally, the landing burn happened far too late. I believe the landing would have been handled much better if the engines had a more controlled burn over a longer period of time and started firing earlier. I have high hopes for the next high altitude flight test.
Dec 8, 2020
Jun 27, 2014
A series by NHK that I found to be a lot more rigorous than programming that can be found in American television or British television. The only series that I can consider to be even remotely comparable is Brian Greene's The Elegant Universe. Unlike many similar programs that can be found in western media, this actually shows some mathematical syntax and explains how some essential formulas were developed over time in the 20th and 21st centuries. The four videos cover four topics which are particle physics, mass, the beginnings of the universe and string theory. As it presents these topics, the formulas associated with them and the researchers who discovered those formulas are covered in detail. The audience is taught fairly difficult concepts like the different types of symmetry, super symmetry, Calabi-Yau manifolds, partical physics, spin, M-theory, etc. Unlike other programs which may highlight the standard researchers like Einstein, Hawking and Newton, this program actually covers many researchers who are just as deserving of recognition despite not being covered as much in popular media. We are introduced to Dirac, Yang Chen-Ning, Matvei Petrovich Bronstein, Shinichiro Tomonaga, Yoichiro Nanbu, John Schwarz, Higgs, and many others who have been awarded for their research. In addition to this, there are interviews with some scientists who have since passed like Dyson and Hawking.
Dec 6, 2020
Dec 22, 1978
This is not the best film directed by Philip Kaufman or even among the best horror or science fiction films that came out within the 70's. This film exemplifies the definition of second place or good, but not great. Some of the concepts are interesting, but share similarities with other good movies like The Thing. The practical special effects are well done. The writing in this film is good in many places and bad in some places, which is why I am conflicted with this. That said, it is a good film and it makes many relevant points through its premise which can be applied to modern culture's views on conspiracy theories and contagions. I would consider this to be a B tier film. Although it might be worth your time, it would not be my first choice among other better films.
Dec 4, 2020
Sep 6, 2018
I consider this to be Zhang Yimou's return to form after many disappointing films. The narrative here is not particularly novel, but the third act felt almost Shakesperean and the duels felt reminiscent of jidaigeki films. The strength of this film is its visual style and cinematography which manages to make the entire film feel like an ink painting or a work of calligraphy. That, combined with the use of Daoist principles and concepts, make it very well done. When compared with movies like Hero this does not have a moral, the soundtrack is minimal, and the spectacle is on a smaller level. While this may not appeal to a larger audience, from a critical perspective, this is carefully crafted and technically consistent and original.
Dec 4, 2020
Dec 2, 2020
This video by Lex Fridman basically confirmed some of the thoughts I had when I saw Deepmind's recent work with AlphaFold. This answered a few questions that I had about the possible deep learning architecture used in the newer version of AlphaFold and also provided a bit of insight into the general trends in deep learning. Overall, I actually found this more informative and useful than the video that Deepmind made themselves.
Dec 2, 2020
Kevin Hart, May 21, 2020
This was unique in that it was never actually published as a book, so the content only exists in audio form. In terms of content, the content seems relatively straightforward and can be found in most self help books. The reason why I listened to this was mainly because of Kevin Hart's delivery. His delivery was what made it worth listening to, and it felt more like a comedy special because of that.
Dec 1, 2020
Nov 30, 2020
It was interesting to see this succeed. I remember reading a paper published in Nature in January, and I was surprised to see that they already reached global distance test scores of 80 or higher only a few months after. What this shows is that the application of neural nets to problems that humans and traditional computing are unable to solve can result in satisfying results. The approach used here was apparently one that leveraged the graph-like structure to apply an attention based neural network to the problem. That said, there isn't an updated paper, so details regarding the architecture are a bit unclear. In the Nature paper, Deepmind used convolutional blocks and stochastic gradient descent which does not seem all that novel, so I am curious to see what changed between now and January.
Nov 29, 2020
Nov 28, 2020
It was originally announced that there would be no Red Bull BC One this year due to COVID-19, so this completely took me by surprise. The competition felt weird because there was no audience in the stadium. That said, everything else was good. The lineups were good. The judging made sense. Commentary was good. The camera work was actually not that bad this time. The MC was sub par, but acceptable. The music was acceptable with some good tracks. Starting at the quarter finals meant that everyone had a fresh set of moves that they could use for the entire competition. Shigekix winning was not surprising at all given that he competed at a high level from a young age and the level of conditioning that he had combined with his musicality was simply incredible. What is even more surprising is that his current form compared to two years or even one year ago is on another level and the rate of improvement is something I have not seen before. He simply smoked all the competition in such a way that he made the strongest competitors look mediocre.
Nov 28, 2020
Oct 17, 2005
This game's strengths lie in its gameplay. The shooter mechanics are fluid and the use of slow motion was also nice. It felt similar to Half-Life, but the physics were not used as a mechanic by the player. It also felt like Halo, but the weapon selection and enemy variety was limited in comparison. What makes it unique is its horror tropes which seem to be inspired by Japanese film. However, that premise was not fully utilized which prevented it from being as great as the other games mentioned.
Nov 27, 2020
May 21, 2004
A surprisingly modern film that is quite representative of the times it was made in. During the late 90's and early 2000's, mainstream film had quite an experimental streak with many films playing with time such as Nolan's Memento and Zhang Yimou's Hero. This film is not different, and like Hero, it also plays with color for each of its characters. Because of this, it is not particularly original given the films that preceed it even when compared with Mani Ratnam's other works like Alai Payuthey which also played with time. Even the quick editing felt reminiscent of some of the earlier works of Darren Aronofsky and Danny Boyle which also came out during the same time. That said, I enjoyed this simply due to its momentum, tight script, and well acted characters. The use of three colors for three characters, three ages, and three classes to highlight strata within South Indian society was well done. It's main glaring weakness are action scenes which Mani Ratnam seems to struggle with for some strange reason despite his ability to film choreography for music and large groups of people. The music is modern and the use of Tamil lyrics combined with modern genres is handled very well. Its runtime is long, but it does not drag, making it time well spent.
Nov 26, 2020
Harlan Ellison, Apr, 1967
A short story about an AI called AM that tortures humans within a virtual world without allowing them the option of death after human civilization has collapsed. The premise is interesting, and I have seen similar concepts in other science fiction stories, but this is the only book to try to thoroughly explore it. That said, the exploration of the premise is not that thorough mainly because the story is short. The way in which AM tortures humans makes sense, but does not seem to be the most effective way of causing distress and pain. I would have expected the form of suffering to be less physical and more psychological, but perhaps such schemes cannot be covered within a short story. It may be interesting to also play the game that is based off of this.
Nov 25, 2020
Brad Stone, Oct 15, 2013
This is a novel that offers a lot of clarity regarding Jeff Bezos as well as the growth of Amazon. Although Amazon is currently one of the largest companies, the journey that was taken was not always one of an upward trajectory and was filled with ups and downs. The emphasis on the customer as well as Amazon's culture and Jeff Bezos' volatility offers quite a bit of insight into the company for those who are only familiar with Amazon's public face. Another interesting thing to note is that although Amazon is viewed as a tech company today, this was not always the case, and it is interesting to how a company that is older than Google managed to live through the tech bubble and the recession of 2008 to become what it is today. One thing that I found myself agreeing with is that information should be presented with some narrative, and this strategy should be more widely adopted. This has many similarities with Walter Isaacson's novel about Steve Jobs, but I think this is worth the read despite it being, in my opinion, inferior to Isaacson's works.
Nov 24, 2020
Mar 12, 1971
Despite the heavy theme of mortality, this film can have surprisingly light hearted moments. When compared to a film like Ikiru, I preferred Ikiru, but this is unique and easier to digest. The character of Anand was original and memorable which his primary characteristic of making friends with everyone he meets. The uniqueness of the main character is what made this film, and without him, this would have not been as memorable. This combined with the death of Anand made for a story with a lot of depth that was presented in a minimalistic manner that anyone would be able to appreciate. Outside of Anand, there were no mistakes made, but camera work and other technical achievements were relatively unremarkable. Overall, it is understandable why this is praised as one of the best Hindustani language films.
Nov 23, 2020
Sep 22, 2015
The title of this game originates from the Greek word 'soma' which means body. This is a game with a great hard sci-fi story that had above average gameplay. On a technical level, it was superb with distinct levels, good dialogue, and some of the best sound design I have seen in a game. The post-apocalyptic underwater setting was similar to Bioshock, but the use of detailed claustrophobic underwater habitats/facilities helped with the horror aspect of the game. The story is what impressed me the most, and it seemed to draw on many of the same themes as that of Ghost in the Shell and The Matrix that touches upon concepts of free will and conciousness which is often covered within classic Greek philosophy. The gameplay mostly consists of a series of sequences where you try to get from point A to point B while avoiding certain monsters that you are powerless against while navigating some moral dilemmas that don't affect the ending. For someone who has made video games, and understand how game engines work, the horror was not quite as effective for me and had a certain level of predictability, but the jump scares were sometimes effective. For a hard sci-fi story, there isn't a big reveal at the end, and the story has many smaller reveals that give the story a slow burn. The concepts covered in this game also have some repercussions for technologies that might be developed in the future such as teleportation, digital legacy, cybernetics, simulation, and the technological singularity.
Nov 20, 2020
Cal Newport, Jan 5, 2016
This book makes a distinction between shallow work and deep work and states that deep work is more valuable because it leads to new ideas and is not easily replicable. This is partially true, but only if the shallow work is something anyone can do. If you are used to doing something that no one else can do, it can be shallow. Because of this, on the face of things, this book seems to offer sound advice for deep meditative working conditions, but it also fails to quantify the effect of deep work in a rigorous manner. It may be preferable to actually read the research behind the book rather than the book itself, since the book seems to be directed more towards a general reading audience. That said, since I am used to completing a lot of different types of work and using an algorithmic approach, this book was not quite as useful for me.
Nov 19, 2020
Oct 25, 2019
I was impressed by this work by a Taiwanese Indie company. The gameplay is like Ori and the Blind Forest with a little bit of Metroid mixed in. The story is a tragedy with a little bit of cosmic horror mixed in. In fact, this is probably the one of the only works of cosmic horror that I found to be effective although the way in which it was presented may have been a bit lacking. The use of multiple endings based on whether the player finds all of a certain item in multiple locations was a nice touch. It is not particularly groundbreaking, but what it manages to do, it does very well. The mechanics of single directional jumping is not completely original, but it is used very well. Art direction is well done, and the general environment design and color pallete felt reminiscent of high budget anime films from the 1980's and 1990's. Although this is Taiwanese, this felt like a work that might have been made in Japan a few decades ago. The music is well done and memorable. Overall, this is a great game that deserves better marketing.
Nov 18, 2020
E.M. Forster, 1909
A surprisingly well written short story that managed to make a somewhat prescient premise that manages to predict the internet, social media, content creation, automation, and environmental collapse. This is particularly impressive when one considers that the story was written more than 110 years ago. Like many other works during the time like The Time Machine and Brave New World, this draws on dystopian themes as well as older philosophical works like Plato's Allegory of the Cave to make an entertaining read that is thought provoking. Overall, this is original, but also feel dated which adds to the charm.
Nov 16, 2020
Nov 15, 2020
This is the launch of the second crewed mission to the ISS and the first fully crewed mission. Because of the reliability of the block 5 Falcon 9 which has seen many flights, the only real problem that might occur would be with the dragon capsule. That said, due to the testing infrastructure and methodology used by SpaceX, even this seems to be more of a negligible concern given past missions.
Nov 11, 2020
Dec 12, 2002
I enjoyed this more than The Departed, but The Departed might be the better film from a critical perspective. This film is one of the best Hong Kong films I have seen, and its strengths lie in its editing and pacing. The idea of having moles on both the side of the criminals and the side of the police works here just as well as in The Departed, and the setting of Hong Kong made the film feel fresher when compared to The Departed. The use of Buddhist themes to supplement the premise was also interesting. This is good in its own way and functions as a great thriller while the Departed is more of a drama.
Nov 6, 2020
Oct 31, 2020
The cinema cartography has been a channel that I have been following for some time as a way to review the medium in a more rigorous manner. In this video, I have not heard about any of the directors on this list and will probably revisit this multiple times in the future. Interestingly enough, there are some correlations between the name recognition of a director and the level of maturity of the film industry in the country they worked in.
Nov 5, 2020
Mar 2, 2010
This was fun, but not particularly memorable. A good game to fit between breaks if you are busy. Unlike COD, this is less realistic, but the lack of seriousness and destructible environments gives it its own identity. There is an emphasis on open environments and AI is not particularly sophisticated, which gives it some level of repetitiveness in the single player campaign
Nov 3, 2020
Nov 1, 2020
Rick Graham has one of the most economical picking approaches that I have seen, and this video happens to focus on one of my biggest shortcomings as a shredder. This focuses on outside picking to target the most challenging part of alternate picking.
Nov 1, 2020
Sep 28, 2018
This is a good film with casteism as its primary theme. Films like this can get preachy, but this film is not. There are many aspects of this film that are educational. There are different dialects of Tamil presented, and as well as a profile of different castes. We are shown what college life is like in South India, as well as the concept of quota. There are also references to B. R. Ambedkar not only in the script, but also with the use of the color blue. Acting by Kathir in particular was well done with his ability to effectively express emotions with just his eyes. On a technical level, there are many shots and sequences that are fantastic while there are some jarring sequences that could have been improved with better editing. While most films within Kollywood romanticize Tamil Nadu for the sake of entertainment, this film felt very realistic and showed things as they truly are.
Oct 29, 2020
May 1, 2020
This is not so much a game, but a tool for establishing a habit of meditation. While I did not find it useful for mindfulness, it helped me establish permanent nose breathing and reduced sensitivity in my sinuses. This has a variety of meditation techniques such as abdominal breathing, breathing for calmness, breathing for relaxation, guided audio meditations and offers a visual guide to match your breathing with. Unfortunately, it is missing holotropic breathing and Wim Hof breathing as well as other techniques. By utilizing this game, I have spent more than 10 hours meditating over a period of more than 140 days. The game allows for the player to choose the duration of the meditations to fit their busy schedule, but the longer the session, the better the results. I recommend a minimum of 8 minutes per session for the best time to performance ratio. To go from beginning to completion requires patience. With regards to the game itself, the primary goal is to grow an ecosystem by meditating. The more days you spend meditating, the more the environment grows. Once the game is completed, you are given an island that you can walk through and plant trees in. The trees grow the more you meditate. Overall, this is not perfect, but it seems to be the best meditation app I have found so far and should be effective for most people's purposes. This is also one of the only meditation apps I know of that offers a spatial connection with the meditation.
Oct 27, 2020
Mar 26, 2013
This is a great game. It is ambitious despite providing a linear experience and offers a high concept story that is thought provoking. In the case of this game, while the gameplay seemed fairly standard when compared to the first Bioshock, it is the story that makes it shine. Unlike the first game which takes place in the underwater city of Rapture, the main campaign of this game takes place in the floating city of Columbia. Unlike previous games, this felt more like an American take on a Jules Verne style concept, but backs up the extraordinary premise with quantum theory which was researched by Procopiu and Bohr close to the same year in which the game takes place (1912). Characters are convincing, and the main AI companion of Elizabeth was both endearing and well developed without being an obstacle during gameplay. There are quite many concepts covered in this such as alternate realities, free will, and other existentialist themes. This, in combination with many social issues that plagued the United States in the early 1900's made for a very unique experience. The Burial at Sea missions offered an interesting connection with the events in the first Bioshock and offered an interesting continuation of the main campaign. Overall, there are not many games that are as polished and well thought out as this one, and I consider it to be one of the greats.
Oct 18, 2020
Oct 2, 2015
This is a mediocre film where Michael Moore visits different countries to learn what they do better than the U.S.. On the face of it, this is not a bad idea, but the pros and cons of countries are cherry picked and don't show the nuances. The majority of the countries visited were European and most people who lived in a European country know that the general situaton tends to be more complicated than pictured in the documentary. The content would have been better if it provided a more accurate picture of the world with less of a focus on just Europe, but the movie itself was not terrible.
Oct 14, 2020
May 27, 2014
When this was first shown in previews, this was touted as a next generation experience. After playing it, I was unimpressed. This game lacks depth, rendering and physics can be buggy, and the open world feels limited. The hacking is unimpressive and is reduced to just pressing a button or solving a puzzle. This is also fairly unrealistic. While realistic hacking may not be all that entertaining, the idea of an entire city running on a single operating system is simply ridiculous. Controls feel clunky, and the story had generic characters and cliches. This is not a good way to spend your time and is fairly disappointing given the amount of resources were spent on its development.
Oct 7, 2020
James Nestor, May 26, 2020
A book about the advantages of nose breathing. While the contents of the book are useful, it is advised that you only read the epilogue and appendix if your main goal is to put some of the suggestions into practice. The main contents are told with a narrative structure, but the narrative was not particularly engaging for me. This is heavy on anecdotes and seems to lack scientific rigor. Because of this, most readers' time is better spent studying techniques listed at the end of the book and trying it out for themselves.
Oct 5, 2020
A video that is highly useful for statistical tests that can be used for hypothesis testing in research. This is fairly comprehensive and it takes its time in explaining the concepts.
Sep 27, 2020
Oct 12, 2012
This is a coming of age story that has its moments and does not bore. It felt more like a good novel than a good movie and it made me wonder if the strengths of the medium were utilized properly. There are some good scenes in here like a car ride through a tunnel, but I was not impressed with cinematography. The editing was good. This movie tries to tackle a variety of topics and in the process it manages to be a decent character study. There are some memorable lines, and good acting by the three main actors involved. It is not perfect, but I think if you are able to relate to the characters going through high school, you will find it to be a good experience.
Sep 27, 2020
Mar 8, 2019
This is an indie game centered on dialogue choices. The story and premise is its main strength. The premise is that you as the player are stuck in a time loop where you are in a conversation with another version of yourself from 35 years in the future where climate change has doomed humanity. The concept is refreshing and it manages to work despite the simple interface provided. It also provides an interesting take on time travel as well as a corollary of simulation theory which has similar properties. Overall, it manages to make an impact with its short playtime.
Sep 26, 2020
Apr 23, 2013
This is a game that is rough around the edges, but has quite a bit of depth and ambition. This also manages to provide one of the few convincing implementations of the hero's journey in games in a way that does not represent the world as simply black and white that I have seen. This is a game that had a good idea, a good premise, good music, good mechanics, good voice acting, and a unique story, but struggles on the technical side of things. There is a richness in assets with different enemy types, high character customizability and freedom that is common in open world games and MMORPGs. That said, the world is small and not all that populated. NPC AI can be limited which can make the world feel shallow despite the detail that it has. This can make the game tedious at times and also frustrating due to its difficulty. This is a game that moves slowly. This can be a good thing because it can emphasize the player's investment, but it can also make for a negative experience for more casual players. Overall, I enjoyed it. It has quite a bit of replay value, and it encourages exploration. If it were fleshed out more and had more depth to the non-gameplay related elements, it would be tremendously better. Interestingly enough, there is a show that is based off of this, and I am curious to see if it fares better than the game.
Sep 20, 2020
Dec 25, 1964
This is one of those movies that is enjoyable and brilliantly shot. In many ways, this feels like a Disney animated film brought to life. For a musical, this has a certain level of intelligence in it. Topics like class struggle, language as a way of attaining higher positions is still relevant today. In addition to this, this film provides a unique window into the English language. Sets and locations are colorful and well constructed and music does not take away from the story. Hepburn does great in this as she does in everything she is in and she outclasses all other actors in the film. While many musicals can be quite shallow this manages to go deeper to provide an engaging experience.
Sep 17, 2020
Oct 23, 2018
I knew of Toge Productions since the times when they developed flash games. In addition to this, some of the unity assets that were used in this game were used in some of my games as well. I was rather surprised to see that Toge was based in Indonesia this entire time. Coffee Talk is a visual novel style game that is similar to other bartending games, but in this game you are a barista that serves coffee. The crux of the gameplay involves experiencing the story through the customers that visit the store. These customers are made more interesting due to the world that the game takes place in which has fantasy elements in a modern world like Bright or Fables. These elements are utilized in a way that they are able to tackle themes like racism, traditionalism, and general societal changes.
Sep 16, 2020
Sep 17, 1994
I don't know why I watched this movie. The story is not that good, and plot events are hamfisted to match common tropes. It is also very long and it did not need to be. What is good about this is A.R.R's music and Prabhu Deva's great dance and choreography.
Sep 13, 2020
Oct 23, 2018
A game that simulates what goes on the news and how that affects politics and viewpoints in a country. You have the option of spreading conspiracies, supporting corporations, and reducing support for politicians. Multiple playthroughs make the content engaging, and it is interesting to see how the news affects individual people from different walks of life. What is most interesting is that providing a fair and balanced view of both sides of an issue can lead to distrust because people expect an angle and distrust that which is feigning honesty.
Sep 13, 2020
May 5, 2010
This is not a good movie, but it is very entertaining at times due to Jay Baruchel's acting as a modern day Leon Trotsky. Also somewhat informative about French-Canadian culture.
Sep 12, 2020
Aldous Huxley, 1954
This is a book about Aldous Huxley's experiences taking mescaline. I'm not sure if this needed to be as lengthy as it is (despite it being quite short), but it does manage to sufficiently argue about the limits of human perception.
Sep 11, 2020
May 12, 2015
A turn based stealth game. The idea is unique and because levels are procedurally generated, this has a high level of replayability. Due to this being from the same developers as Mark of the Ninja, the art style is somewhat similar. The story is not that engaging, but it does not take away from the experience.
Sep 9, 2020
Jun 29, 2010
This is an example of a good premise being wasted. Time manipulation is something with many possibilities, but in this game, the possibilities are limited. In addition to this, the use of time travel without any sense of strategy made it feel like a standard first person shooter that just has scenes that take place in the present and the past. You as the player have no decision making in how the time travel works. In additon to this, enemies either fall into generic soldiers or generic monsters. The mechanics are simply not all that compelling. Story is given through exposition. Only the variety of weapons seemed decent. Overall, this is like a substandard Bioshock clone.
Sep 8, 2020
Albert Camus, 1942
This felt like the western world's equivalent to 人間失格 and like an adult's version of Catcher in the Rye. Although the contents of this are said to be absurd, this felt very real, and may not be considered all that absurd in our modern world. The purpose of life and the emptiness in it are well conveyed. Unlike other great novels that I've recently read, this actually felt like it had impact and it was straight to the point. In terms of existentialism, I consider this work to be rather great and very accessible.
Sep 5, 2020
Oct 6, 1961
I think this is my first Audrey Hepburn film. The dialogue feels real and flows well, shots are well thought out, and many parts of this felt modern for the time. Audrey Hepburn carried this film and her acting was what made this work. The ending really tied things up for me in a satisfying way. Most jokes are funny, but Mickey Rooney's performance as Yunioshi felt unnecessary and lacked the cleverness that could be found in the rest of the film. This is also a film that stars Orangey who actually won an award for his appearance in this film.
Sep 4, 2020
Aug 29, 2020
This time, SN6 performed a hop, and there were no visibly identifiable problems.
Sep 4, 2020
Apr 18, 2017
This is one of those games where the medium is able to take advantage of its capability to hybridize itself with other artistic mediums. In this case, it manages to create what is essentially a film with choice. While other games may have cgi characters, this is composed of fully acted FMV's that have quality that is similar to what may be found in decent modern television dramas. Some acting in this can be lacking, but the main character is well executed. The story itself is not anything particularly innovative. It is a heist-gone-wrong style crime drama. That said, it is entertaining. It shows potential in the future of gaming and television and is something that can offer a more personalized experience for each individual viewer.
Sep 2, 2020
Aug 26, 2020
This released worldwide earlier than it did in the United States. The general directorial feel of this is that it is like a cross between something Hitchcock and Shane Carruth would come up with. Compared to other Nolan films, this is very stripped down with most, if not all, of the focus on the plot. As a result, character development is more limited and it is harder to find an overarching theme or emotional hook like other Nolan films. On the technical side, this is an example of a director who knows what he wants and executes without any compromises regardless of whatever limitations may be brought on by the premise. Everything is practical including many aspects of scenes that are supposed to be happening as a result of time inversion. In terms of negatives, the film does not pay off until the second half when the time inversion mechanic is utilized in an unrestrained manner. Nolan spends half of the film setting things up which can be tedious, but the payoff is good. That said, despite its unrestrained nature, I felt that the idea was not pushed to its limits. In terms of replay value, this has it due to the nature of the palindrome-like structure. Scenes happening in reverse are accompanied by a smartly composed score by Ludwig Göransson that also has parts that can be played in reverse. Acting by all players is well done. If you are familiar with the mechanics, you may notice most of the details and predict the second half, but this is worthy of multiple viewings despite its shortcomings compared to other Nolan films.
Aug 30, 2020
Mar 19, 1959
This is my first Billy Wilder film and my first Marilyn Monroe film. The script is clever, but not so clever that it loses its comedic value. The setting of the 1920's made this feel like a pre-code Hollywood film due to its racy content which only added to its authenticity. This is also probably the only film I've seen with crossdressing as a comedic gag that was actually good. While this has been stated to be one of the greatest films ever made, I would not go quite that far due to some aspects of the film being good but not particularly unique or innovative. That said, I think this is worth watching, and that its comedy is enjoyable even today.
Aug 29, 2020
Jun 25, 2014
An example of narrative done well in video games, and one of the better historical games that I have played. The representation of WWI was well done with historical context given to all of the locations and scenes that play out. In particular, the focus on the French effort was interesting, and something that is not covered all that often in media. The casualty rate of the war was well portrayed. While not everything was historically accurate, and liberties were taken, it managed to ground itself within actual events that played out in the war to deliver an emotional journey. All chaacters were given some level of development, and the story was not predictable. Overall, I consider this underrated.
Aug 29, 2020
Aug 29, 2020
An update from Neuralink that was made for the purpose of recruiting. The main improvements shown are the creation of a hardware architecture that is able to take the implanted nodes and detected spikes. There is actually a live demo involving pigs this time. The use of bluetooth and a custom software architecture is concerning due to this being a potential platform for neural based interfaces and software. For one year, this is good improvement. In terms of a product, development is still needed.
Aug 28, 2020
Aug 9, 2019
This is one of those movies that does not make major mistakes, but also does not make any particularly audacious moves other than its premise. From an American perspective this is unique in that it is a bilingual film that takes place mostly in China, and provides a unique perspective on Chinese culture. Awkwafina's Mandarin skills as an ABC were convincingly mediocre, and her acting, while not particularly memorable, did the job. This is a simple film that had one goal of showing familial dynamics within Chinese culture, and it executed it without any problems.
Aug 26, 2020
Jul 19, 2001
Although this is a favorite of many fans of the series due to nostalgia, I found it rather tedious. While the ideas presented here had potential, the execution made it hard to enjoy. With the improvements brought by the PS2, you would expect the world presented to be more vivid, but while it feels real and feels larger, it also feels somewhat empty. The gameplay is more linear and exploration is not encouraged as much as previous entries. FMV's look great, but their in game counterparts look lifeless in comparison, which indicates that the improvements in technology did not lead to an improvement in the general player experience. This game could have just as easily been made for PS1, but with less complex graphics and no voice acting and it might have been improved in the process. The music is good, and the story seems to draw from an amalgamation of religious ideologies and South Asian/Oceanic cultures with its concepts of dying to save the world from sin. Side characters don't have the level of development given in other entries, and the English voice acting is absolutely horrible (which is a product of the times). I am sure some people may enjoy it, but when grinding and the end game feels like work, I consider the product to be flawed.
Aug 22, 2020
Dec 10, 2018
A very unique film with good production value and film technique. The story is very simple, but the way in which it is executed is what makes this work. The dialogue is short and not particularly elaborate, but it still manages to be poetic. The closest thing I could think of was what can be seen in Wong Kar-wai films, but Wong Kar-wai films can be more meandering at times. That said, I don't think Wong Kar-wai did something on the level of the single 1 hour+ take in the second half of this film. Apparently this film involved three cinematographers, but I honestly had trouble telling. This is a dreamlike film that I am surprised has not received more attention in the west given its general quality and its success in China.
Aug 22, 2020
Jul 21, 1989
This is a film that is completely dependent on its script and the actors who manage to sell it. This comes as no surprise since this is from the same director as The Princess Bride There is a certain cynicism in the writing which makes this romantic comedy more endearing than other entries in the genre. It does not portray relationships in a perfect light, but makes sure to mention the ups and downs as well as some of the tediousness involved. There are not many good romantic comedies where romance and the comedy take center stage, but this is one of them.
Aug 22, 2020
Aug 30, 2019
Reminded me of films like Following and Pi where new directors tended to use black and white in their first films. In the case of Mark Jenkin, Bait is not his directorial debut. There are some interesting topics covered here such as the decline of traditional industries. This film also provided me of a better understanding of Cornish people and villages. This film is deliberate and shows what it wants to show without being rushed or too slow despite longer takes.
Aug 21, 2020
The premise of the first season is being stretched to its limit, while it is a good premise, the original idea is not used well in this film. This film's best aspects are the short runtime and the sound design. Other than that, the film seems to lack an overall focus and does not have a particular message or goal. The idea of mental health being related to a person's criminality is an interesting topic to cover, but the ideas are never actually explored, but rather just used as a back drop for some sort of mediocre crime drama. Overall, this was fairly disappointing due to other works in the series being significantly better.
Aug 20, 2020
Feb 23, 1996
This is not an easy movie to watch, but the amount of deliberate touches and artistic flair make it something with its own identity. Danny Boyle has a unique style, and the methods and techniques he uses here are very similar to what can be found in Requiem for a Dream. Unlike Requiem for a Dream, this is a bit more light hearted, and the ending is not quite as bleak in nature. Ewan McGregor's performance here is great, and he executes the script very well. I was not a fan of some of the toilet humor in the begining of the film, but the later parts of the movie more than make up for it.
Aug 20, 2020
Tomas Schuman, Jun, 1984
I read this as a way to familiarize myself with Yuri Bezmenov. This covers the tactics of the KGB, and subversion as a way to overthrow an existing regime. There are some facts and arguments that are weak, but it is thought provoking. Short, but still relevant and calls into question whether the Cold War had ever ended.
Aug 19, 2020
Apr 21, 1930
For a 90 year old movie, this surprised me in many ways. The level of violence was unrestrained, the themes are mature, and this ultimately does not shy away from showing war as it truly is. As my first pro-code film, this impressed me very much. Scenes of war looked very real despite some frame rate issues, and the perspective of the Germans was something that I thought was very ambitious given how controversial it might have been. Given that this was made during a time that was not that long after WWI, the general look of the film is very similar to what one might have seen during the actual war. In terms of camera work, the film felt like it was at least 20 years ahead of its time in certain scenes in terms of how it used movement. Despite it being as old as it is, there are parts of this film that feel modern.
Aug 18, 2020
1969
The works of Charles and Ray Eames were influential to many film directors who grew up in the 60's and 70's. This short work shows a variety of tops, some made for play, some decorative, and many that use the kinetic energy in unique ways.
Aug 18, 2020
Apr 25, 2006
One of the best games I have ever played and criminally underrated. Everything is improved over previous entries. The story is mature and told with a poetic flair, the dogfights are intense, there is choice and mission variety as well as an ace style system. Although this takes place in an alternate reality, the war that the player experiences in this game is a mixture of WWII and the Bosnian war and references to Arthurian legend are made in parts of the story. The music is also better than in previous entries with a mixture of different types of genres as well as the use of Flamenco guitar as a motif. The planes themselves, which were designed in partnership with major aerospace companies, are also very intricate and detailed. In light of the series, this is not particularly innovative, but on its own merits, it is great. This series, overall, should receive more attention and praise, but it seems like it has not due to the niche nature of its content.
Aug 17, 2020
Feb 3, 2017
A very intellectual work set in a bizarre post 9/11 future where biotechnology and AR are ubiquitous. The main premise is focused on an exaggerated application of the Sapir Whorf hypothesis where speaking certain words with a specific grammar can eventually lead to genocidal behavior by inception. There are some very unique ideas presented here such as the use of civil war as a way to enforce class separation, the rhetoric of tyranny, and the recurrence of genocide as a byproduct of human evolution. All of these are controversial, but all of these have some rational basis which is what makes them particularly interesting as an area of study. The combination of linguistics and anthropology with the direction the world is heading in is something that has only been done in MGSV. Depiction of American politics and military is not accurate, but it does make for good entertainment. Generally, the story seems like something that Kojima or Oshii might have come up with, but the presentation is lacking. The main problems here are the lack of character development, the flawed pacing, and the subpar presentation, but everything else is very interesting. I'm not sure if this would be considered a good movie, but the content of the story is very interesting. The novel this is based on may be a better use of time than the film.
Aug 16, 2020
C.G. Jung, 1957
This is insightful, but also limited by the state of psychology during a time when it was more of a pseudoscience. I can also see how the arguments postulated here fit into the basis of some of Jordan Peterson's work. For anyone reading this, the ideas of the id, ego, and unconcious stem from Freudian psychology, so familiarity with the field should be expected going into this work. There is quite a bit of ground covered here. Carl Jung talks about the role of the individual, how the individual is constructed, how the individual can get lost in the masses, and the influences and reach of the individual within larger society. He frames the microconcepts involving individual psychology within larger political and societal concerns of the time like the cold war. Overall, this is not a bad read, and it can help one to understand one's place in the world. There is an emphasis on the west and religion as a foil to the state and tyranny, but I chalk this up to a byproduct of the times.
Aug 16, 2020
Feb 19, 2013
When this was announced, I was looking forward to a stealth based game, but then PlatinumGames took over the development, and it became something different. The gameplay became more high paced, but it kept many elements of the original vision. This is a game that is very high paced, high energy, and there is very little that is quite like it. The story is cartoonish in comparison to other works in the Metal Gear Solid series, but as long as you don't take it too seriously, it is very enjoyable. I recommend reading The Selfish Gene before playing this game, because there are many references to memes.
Aug 14, 2020
Jun 29, 2018
Superior to A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood and offers a far more nuanced representation of Fred Rogers. One of the best documentaries I've ever seen, and it doesn't bore at any time.
Aug 14, 2020
Anonymous, 1800 BC
It is very interesting to see how intelligent humans were during a time when civilization itself as a concept was still somewhat new. Despite this being as old as it is, it is understandable and fairly relatable. This reads very much like other bronze age era stories where lessons are taught by vicariously experiencing them through some character. In the case of the epic of Gilgamesh, the focus is on mortality and grief. Although humans can live forever through immortality, this epic shows that humans can also live on through their legacy. It is also interesting to note how monotheistic religions seemed to plagiarize concepts from this epic.
Aug 14, 2020
Ryōsuke Takeuchi, Takeshi Obata (Illustrator), Hiroshi Sakurazaka, Jun 19, 2014
The conclusion of the story is interesting, but not as entertaining as the first part. While the first part was interesting due to its exploration of the loop mechanic, the second part focuses more on character development. This makes it have less momentum than part 1, but a more fleshed out world. Unlike Edge of Tomorrow, the ending in this is far more tragic, and the mechanics by which the looping occurs is different. The looping in the manga is more believable and mimics the principles by which memories are sent back in time in Steins;Gate. Overall, I think this is a great series that is very unique, and that while this is better than Edge of Tomorrow, Edge of Tomorrow also has its own unique appeal. In terms of the reading experience, the vocabulary is not particularly difficult for someone who is fluent and furigana is provided, so it is not a bad way to practice Japanese.
Aug 13, 2020
Jul 11, 2014
I have a mixed impression of this film. While it is superior to the 70's Battle for the Planet of the Apes, the writing in this felt weak and seemed to depend on the stupidity of humans as the primary thing that moves the plot forward. While the original series had a certain mystery about it that had viewers piece together events to figure out how each film fits in the whole scheme of things, the reboot is told in chronological order. Also, anyone who knows anything about apes knows that being intelligent is not enough to speak like a human especially when the throat of an ape has not been evolved to make human-like sounds. In terms of positives, the subject matter is very relevant to current events. There is a simian flu, a weird skepticism of science among some of the characters, and a general lack of trust between the major parties. Drama among the apes seems Shakespearean. If this was better written, I might recommend it, but the use of some tired tropes made it an irritating experience for me.
Aug 13, 2020
Franz Kafka, 1915
This is a story of Gregor Samsa turning into a cockroach. The subject matter is surreal, and the way in which the transformation was handwaved made it seem bizarre. The impact the transformation had on his family made up the majority of the story. It is difficult to say what this book is truly trying to say, but the story can be related to society, depression, and familial relations. For a short story, it could have been made even shorter and still accomplished the same thing, but overall, it is interesting.
Aug 13, 2020
Nikola Tesla, 1919
This is split into 6 sections which are each individual articles written by Nikola Tesla for Electrical Experimenter magazine. It covers different periods of his life from his childhood to telautomatics. Since it is written by Nikola Tesla himself, there is really no better alternative if you want to learn about him and his work.
Aug 12, 2020
Mar 16, 2010
For an FPS, this was surprisingly refreshing. The world had its own lore, there are multiple approaches to combat for some levels, and physics seem somewhat realistic. Also, there are mechanics that emphasize resource management better than other games. It provides enough variety to entertain. In terms of negatives, there is not much weapon variety, mediocre AI, and voice acting can sometimes miss the mark. It would have been nice to use the Russian voices, but background conversations are not given subtitles, so this was not a viable option.
Aug 12, 2020
Feb 17, 1922
Silent films are not easy to watch or enjoy due lower image quality in addition to the use of text to indicate dialogue. The last silent film I liked was Metropolis. In the case of Nosferatu, the image quality lends itself to the horror and the use of black and white works to the advantage of the lighting. With regards to the acting, it is difficult to tell whether the acting is good or not because it is hard for subtlety to be conveyed to the audience without the ability to convey everything through physical movement. That said, Max Schreck in this case is difficult to imitate, making his performance very memorable despite it looking comical at times. Generally, as long as you don't take this too seriously, I think it is easier to appreciate the work and craftsmanship that went into this. Small things such as the use of a hyena as a werewolf make this a fun watch.
Aug 11, 2020
Dec 29, 2016
A respectable, but flawed film from a young director with mostly unknown actors. This clearly had a lot of work put into it, but this also seemed to value style over substance in certain aspects. Editing and camera work ended up being jerky and this hurt the pacing despite some common practices being followed. Color grading was well done. While this does follow tropes in the mystery and crime genre, events are spoonfed while twists and turns end up being forced with very little to prompt them. As a result, this ends up being a film that does some things great and some things in a flawed manner.
Aug 10, 2020
Apr 18, 2015
At the moment, Youtube has numerous free movies available and this is one of them. In this, Noam Chomsky outlines 10 principles that have lead to wealth inequality within the U.S. There is no real solution provided, but the general content is informative and somewhat prophetic. This could have worked just as well as an audiobook, and I have no idea why this was made into a film, because the visuals don't seem to have much purpose.
Aug 10, 2020
Ryōsuke Takeuchi, Takeshi Obata (Illustrator), Hiroshi Sakurazaka, Jun 17, 2014
Towards the end of my first trip to Japan, there were a number of sales happening to promote the Japanese opening of Edge of Tomorrow in Japan. As part of this promotion, the manga and original novel of All You Need is Kill (which is the source material for the film) were being sold at a discount. Although six years have passed, I am finally getting to reading the copy that I bought. Since I already saw Edge of Tomorrow six years ago, comparisons will be made. I consider this to be superior to Edge of Tomorrow (so far) due to the focus that has been placed on the time loop rather than the enemy. Characters' pasts are actually covered here. All You Need is Kill also does not shy away from the violence and provides a bleaker outlook on humanity's war against the ギタイ. The aliens that show up are different and appear far more terrifying in my opinion. This is also more clearly made for Japanese sensibilities as indicated by the tropes seen within the first manga. So far, this is very good, and I am hoping that the second manga improves on what was established in the first.
Aug 8, 2020
Aug 4, 1954
This is classic Alfred Hitchcock where he creates suspense by withholding information from the viewer. By trying to piece together a case by viewing people through their windows Hitchcock creates a premise that gives him a lot of freedom. While the shots used are repetitive, we do see each window act as a frame through which to place the camera such that small differences are emphasized. Topics such as voyeurism and the ethics of observing a crime or suicide are also covered. In terms of acting, James Stewart was not all that impressive (because he plays James Stewart like he does in all his movies) with many of the actresses overshadowing him. While much of the attention towards the actors goes towards the voyeurs, credit should be given to the actors who play the role of the observed as well. In addition to this, there is something of a meta narrative here where each room represents a tv channel. Overall, there are many way to interpret different aspects of this film which makes it a work that is worthy of being studied.
Aug 8, 2020
Hiroshi Takashige, Ryōji Minagawa, Apr 1, 1993
Read this in the original Japanese as a way to practice and review the language. When compared to the feature film, this varies quite a bit because it reads more like a modern day Indiana Jones except artifacts are protected instead of stolen. In addition to this, it uses technology of ancient civilizations to introduce some futuristic elements in addition to the supernatural. While entertaining, I don't consider it to be particularly different from other works that were published at the time.
Aug 6, 2020
Oct 9, 1952
Deserves to be listed among the greatest films of all time, and is on the level of films such as Citizen Kane. This excels in every aspect. Cinematography includes long tracking shots and creative use of lighting which works great in a black and white film. Imagery and the composition of each frame is carefully thought out. The story records how a man lived his last days and the aftermath. By doing so, it manages to make a statement regarding society, life, purpose, family, and work. In addition to this, it is also a good documentation of the state Japan was in after recovering from the second world war. The themes here still apply today and seem to be growing with relevance as time passes which is very rare to find in a movie.
Aug 5, 2020
Nov 22, 2019
This is more a film about Mr. Rogers' philosphy rather than about Mr. Rogers himself. As a result, Tom Hanks' character's screen time is limited and the main focus is placed on the character played by Matthew Rhys. Tom Hanks plays his character well, but not perfectly, and smaller mannerisms don't seem to be recreated. I think the overall story is well structured and it does not try to be overly ambitious which allows for it to reduce mistakes. What this does well is that it shows humans as imperfect and how to deal with a chaotic world in a positive manner while dealing an emotional message.
Aug 5, 2020
Oct 21, 2005
Not as great as Ace Combat 4 in terms of gameplay, and not as ambitious in story when compared to Ace Combat 3. There are a sufficient number of missions and the focus on geopolitics, while lacking realism, manages to provide a good parallel to cold war era politics. One thing that is improved in comparison to the other games is that there is a clearer arc that can be followed with the characters which may make it more crowd pleasing. However, when compared to AC4, this also means that there is a decrease in realism. Levels lack variety and don't seem to offer much in terms of innovation compared to previous installments. The AI of enemy planes actually seems to be worse despite the fact that programming such AI should be relatively straight forward. Finally, unlike previous installments, there is not a single ace who acts as the antagonist within the story which made this feel somewhat lacking. Overall, this is like Ace Combat 4 with more content, but less refinement. I enjoyed it and consider it to be a cut above many games made today. One thing to note is that the animations seemed to be made with English in mind rather than Japanese, so English audio is recommended.
Aug 4, 2020
Aug 4, 2020
Space X completed the first hopper test with Starship serial no. 5 after experiencing a series of problems with the preceding serial numbers. It was not perfect, and the engine was on fire, but it managed to go from point A to point B with a single raptor engine while traveling more than a tenth of a kilometer in altitude. With the current rate of progress, I think a 2021 test of Starship with all engines may not be out of the question.
Aug 3, 2020
May 27, 1999
Playing this made me feel grateful that I understand Japanese. The EU and North American versions apparently had the entire story and cutscenes completely cut out. Being a PS1 game, graphics and gameplay are limited in comparison to Ace Combat 4, but the basic mechanics are there, and the game feels modern. Storywise, this is a cut above other games due to its coverage of geopolitics and technology in a future where world powers are corporations instead of countries. In addition to this, it allows for five unique endings where choices matter. While, there are some holes in the premise, this is rather ambitious given the time in which this game was developed.
Aug 2, 2020
Sep 7, 2019
With Rian Johnson, it seems like every other movie he makes is good, and this is probably his best. This is a whodunnit with modern sensibilities, and the ensemble cast makes it so that the story can be sold in our current times. The mystery itself is surprisingly well done in that it does not give too much away and has a twist in that part of the truth is provided to the audience at the very beginning. Ana de Armas was great and Daniel Craig with his southern drawl was iconic. This is a great film that should have won more awards.
Aug 2, 2020
Aug 2, 2020
With this successful splash down, SpaceX has officially left Boeing in the dust and managed to counter Roscosmos. The trampoline works, and I am looking forward to the succeeding launch in September.
Aug 2, 2020
Kurt Vonnegut Jr., 1969
This holds similarities to Catch-22, but the themes that it tackles are different and the way in which events are presented are wildly different.. The narrative structure of this book basically involves time skips between different events in Billy Pilgrim's life. There are fantastical elements like aliens and absurdist conversations that have comedic value, but are not realistic. With the mix of real world events and fantastical elements, there is some discussion of free will, being able to change events in the future, and hope. Commentary on war is also hidden within the prose where PTSD and viewpoints on other nationalities are described through the eyes of POW's during WWII.
Aug 2, 2020
Jun 29, 2015
A series from Yavapai College. Despite this being a community college course, it is actually very technical and is dense with data and terminology. I think the high level may be due to this being a 200 level course in Geology which I have no experience in. This covers things from the basic atmospheric makeup to cloud formation/classification to atmospheric optics. This is a very thorough lecture series and covers almost everything you would want to know about Meteorology at the introductory level.
Aug 1, 2020
Sep 28, 2019
The title means demon destruction blade, and the story focuses on its main character beginnings as he gains the skills to kill demons. The production quality for this work is on the level of feature films and seems like overkill which is typical for studio Ufotable. The animation is fluid and integrates both 2d and 3d methods. The score is handled by Yuki Kajiura who is my favorite Japanese composer. That said, the writing seems to be typical modern shounen fare which means that I don't consider it to be novel despite its great execution. Demon slaying has already been presented in other works within the medium (although maybe not as well or in the same way). Despite this, there is a high amount of care given to character presentation and development, and while the plot is not innovative, it does nothing wrong. References to Japanese history is done well, with its depiction of a vibrant and varied Taisho period Japan. The story did not impress me as much as its technical achievements, but I can understand why it is highly rated since it does not make major mistakes and does a lot right.
Jul 31, 2020
May 11, 1931
I have already seen Fritz Lang's Metropolis, and seeing how this is his first film with sound, it is interesting to see how he uses it to his advantage with editing. From a cultural perspective, it is interesting to see how Germany was in the 1930's especially during a time when the Nazi's were coming into power. In terms of cinematography, it is similar to Metropolis, but carefully planned shots make the compositional quality of each frame rather high. In addition to this, with improvements in technology, the camera is portable enough to actually follow characters around. A good example of this is a shot that tracks Peter Lorre's character and zooms in during a chase. In terms of story, this handles suspense and moral dilemma's well. The first half depicts the search for the child murderer well, and the last part handles topics such as insanity, the legal system, and punishment. Overall, a great film, and one of Germany's best.
Jul 31, 2020
Apr 5, 2017
There are not a lot of games that have a retro eastern European aesthetic, and the look of this work is just one of its unique characteristics. There are references to many different works like Final Fantasy, NES games, and it uses these references to essentially steal mechanics from other games for one hit gags. Art direction is well done and varied with many different styles of art being included. Along with all this, there are FMV's, some of which include live action sequences. Puzzles are bizarre and take advantage of the strange post apocalyptic surreal world of Paradigm to create unique challenges that would not work in any other point and click adventure.
Jul 30, 2020
Dec 20, 2013
This is the most tightly constructed film I've seen in a long time. The editing is deliberate, and each scene has a logical flow. It doesn't have a dull moment, and is best watched in a single sitting. It is also unique, because this is one of the few films where almost all the characters have questionable morals. The casting does come across as bizarre, because they seem to have casted the least Italian looking people to play Italian Americans. This is most likely due to that fact that David O. Russel prefers to work with actors he has worked with in some of his previous films. If Martin Scorcese made a heist film, it might be similar to this due to the pacing.
Jul 30, 2020
Feb 24, 2005
One of the best fighting games and one of the best games on the ps2 is also one of the most frustrating. For each character, there is usually more than 70 moves, and the cpu seem to sometimes cheat by using previously used moves to anticipate what the player will do. For many of the harder fights, it is necessary to win by using cheap moves instead of mastering the fighting system. Outside of that, presentation is nice, characters from different countries actually speak their language instead of using dubbing. There is quite a bit of depth offered here, but the game does not hold your hand and expects you to have the patience to master the movesets and mechanics for each of the characters.
Jul 29, 2020
Oct 10, 2007
Better than episode one, and we see the return of the car. This one is more story heavy, and is also more fair and balanced. There are also references to Aperture Science which was interesting. A third episode would have been nice since this one ended on a cliffhanger, but since Alyx exists, this might be a non issue.
Jul 28, 2020
Jul 26, 2019
For a Quentin Tarantino film, this is not his best, but is at the level of some of his other well known films. Much of the craziness found in other films is rather subdued in this one. The first 2 hours of this very long film are basically an indulgent journey through 60's era Hollywood with a focus on television rather than film. Some shots from older shows are recreated, and references to films from that time are made. In the last 45 minutes, we suddenly get a narrator, and we see some of what Tarantino is most known for. Historical accuracy gets thrown out the window by that point and things go from 0 to 100 quick. Overall, this is most similar to Inglorious Basterds, and while it is not perfect, if you are familiar with film from the era, this may be entertaining. That said, it does feel bloated and indulgent, and there are some scenes that could be edited out.
Jul 27, 2020
Richard Dawkins, 1976
A very insightful book that basically shows how all forms of life is composed of greedy functions from the elements that they are made of to the behaviors that they exhibit. While it may imply that there is an intent behind everything, the way I like to think of it is that it is the result of stochastic processes that prioritize survival or try to optimize a particular metric. This is also where the term 'meme' is apparently coined, and Richard Dawkin's use of it is very creative, because it is able to use the greedy nature of genes to extrapolate to human culture and behavior. There are also applications of economics which can be used to determine the optimal condition, and then show how evoluationary processes can lead to local optima. Overall, this was very fascinating.
Jul 27, 2020
Feb 13, 2003
This is better than the first game in all aspects. Graphics are improved, the music is better, the story is better, there are more environments with greater variety. Pacing is better, gameplay is dynamic and quicker. Levels have variety, and the narrative actually has a full, satisfying arc. Even voice acting is better. I recommend playing only this in the series, because this entry even has a recap of events in the first game. The only thing I wish were better were for the world building to have more depth.
Jul 26, 2020
Jun 15, 2019
Series of lectures at Miami University. Introduces Anthropology, what it means to be human, culture, ethics, and ethnography. This field is tangential to many other fields which make it not only relevant, but interesting.
Jul 24, 2020
Apr 4, 2020
This is the weakest entry in the series. It is definitely not bad, but whether it is good or not is debatable. There is very little innovation happening here, and I hope this is not a sign of worse to come.
Jul 24, 2020
Dec 6, 1996
Played and upscaled on epsxe. Because of its age and status as what is probably the first rhythm game and one of the only rapping games, the experience was somewhat frustrating. Playing on easy means that you can only play through half of the songs which means that you need to play on normal if you want the full experience. Timings don't match up with what is on the screen which means that you need to have an understanding of the underlying timings if you want a good score. The visual style is rather unique for the era given that 2d animation within a 3d environment was rarely done prior to this game in many mediums. All versions of this game have the same voice acting and music which means that the Japanese version really only differs in terms of its menu and subtitles.
Jul 23, 2020
Oct 5, 2017
This is like a cross between Apollo 13 and Gravity. This is unique in that it provides a cosmonaut's viewpoint, and it actually has a somewhat realistic portrayal of orbit. Music is good, but the story is not entirelyy historically accurate. There were quite a lot of dramatic liberties taken, and I felt that a more realistic approach might have worked better. Some of the liberties taken involved fabricating entire events to make partially political statements which did not add much to the quality of the story as a whole. That said, for something that was created on a significantly smaller budget than many of its Hollywood equivalents, this is rather impressive.
Jul 23, 2020
Sep 24, 2001
Played using PCSX2. This is one of the best horror games and one of the best games of all time. That does not mean it is perfect, but the imperfections seem to be intentional. Dialogue and voice acting is awkward and stilted. The controls are clunky, and it is difficult to find items within levels which bears similarity to earlier Resident Evil games. I ultimately had to switch from 3d controls to 2d controls. The limitations of early PS2 era games seemed to work to the atmospheric properties with glitching graphics. Nothing actually felt real, and this manages to actually work to the advantage of the game. The story, while not entirely clear, has similarities to great novels like Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment and Dante's Inferno. There are also references to Jungian psychology which is rare to see in any work. This game does not settle for cheap scares and delivers through atmospheric tension and strong imagery. Finally, the multiple endings makes the actions taken by the player meaningful.
Jul 22, 2020
Sep 20, 2019
A very broad course that covers topics from grammars and syntax to morphology and phonology. Some of this was review due to overlap with topics covered in natural language processing. Other topics such as phonology was rather technical and difficult to grasp. For the more technical topics, working through problem sets is recommended. Overall, the course is useful for natural language processing applications as well as language learning.
Jul 22, 2020
Feb 22, 1934
A great Frank Capra film that does not bore despite its age. In addition to being a decent comedic romance film, it also manages to make some commentary on social classes. Cinematography is rudimentary which is to be expected given the time in which the film was made. This is also a good documentation of how America used to be culturally in the early 1900's.
Jul 21, 2020
Ernest Hemingway, Sep 1, 1952
Published more than 100 years after Moby Dick. While Moby Dick's Ahab had a hatred for the sea, this holds an appreciation for the sea and fishing. Although this is rambling as well to some degree, this is quite meditative and the structure actually works. The discussions on age and life are actually rather thorough given it's short read time.
Jul 21, 2020
Aug 15, 2019
The closest thing to Inception in game form. Not perfect, but has a lot of potential. There is no narrative, but the puzzles are well constructed.
Jul 20, 2020
Jun 15, 2018
On a technical level, this is superior to the original in every way. Hair behaves like hair when it is not stylized, water has accurate reflections, and materials have correct specularity and texture. Storywise, the novelty of the concept is not quite as high, but this is both a good superhero film as well as a family drama. The 70's silver age feel is still there, and the story continues right where the first film ended. This runs longer compared to other Pixar films with the runtime straying closer to 2 hours rather than the usual 90-100 minutes. This is not Pixar's best, but I think most people will enjoy it, and it is consistent with other Pixar films in terms of quality.
Jul 20, 2020
Herman Melville, Oct 18, 1851
This is a hard book to read and a book that is somewhat boring. While the topic of whaling in the 1800's can be interesting, the level of detail and ramblings on what I would consider to be insignificant really hurt the general pacing in my opinion. The narrator Ishmael is uninteresting and is only there to tell the story and act as a vehicle for some of Melville's opinions. There is not much of a plot here, and the main draw is in its details and characters. While there is a lot of thought placed into the content, what Moby Dick offers would be equivalent to if Star Wars suddenly went on a tangent and started focusing on the rocket science behind the space ships that show up in the film. In my opinion, this had an interesting beginning and a good end, but everything in between (which constitutes the majority of the novel) was tedious to read. Interestingly enough, I do think the structure of the novel might make for a good game with Moby Dick being a good final boss.
Jul 20, 2020
Aug 26, 2017
An overview of Art History. Covers most of the topics covered in a standard art history class and does so in a concise manner. Topics range from the stone age to cubism, and the development of styles in the context of world events are mostly well explained.
Jul 19, 2020
Provided by Ohio State University. Covers many different aspects of designs and presents famous architects like Frank Lloyd Wright and the New York Five. Buildings discussed tended to be more unique buildings. There seems to be a focus on public spaces such as concert halls, museums, and libraries. There is no coverage of any technical skills, geometry or structural engineering. Also, outside of France, most of the buildings discussed are US buildings.
Jul 19, 2020
Mar 26, 2020
A remarkable game that manages to tell a story through the objects that people want repaired. Voice work was well done, and disassembling of objects were not needlessly complicated. The main complaint is that it is too short, and an expansion of what was explored here will definitely be received well.
Jul 18, 2020
Oct 1, 2015
This is a very meta game that supposedly presents game developed by someone else. The levels themselves are surreal and interesting, but lack depth outside of dialogue and interconnectedness between the levels. It is hard to determine the quality of this game, because while there was a fair amount of thought placed into it, it is also minimalistic making it difficult to tell what the point of it was.
Jul 17, 2020
Aug 20, 2018
This is a really good film that is a dramatization of Ron Stallworth's infiltration oft the Ku Klux Klan. This is highly stylized and draws from Blaxploitation films and Black culture in terms of its score and the way it is edited and shot. While it may not be entirely historically accurate, this has its moments that were thoroughly entertaining, moments that were funny, and moments with momentum. It is also not all that preachy and delivers its message without being overbearing. While it may suffer from pacing issues and could be trimmed down to make a tighter film, this is a Spike Lee film that is worth watching and is very relevant to modern events.
Jul 17, 2020
Mar 30, 2020
This is a unique, mature work that is very different from other works in the genre. There is a mixture of 3d and 2d art here that is often seemlessly woven together. World building is handled very well with a thorough exploration of Hole where humans live and the sorcerors that use the humans as human test subjects for practicing magic. Dialogue is well written, and characters are memorable due to the unique setting and general outlandish nature of the story. The source material was said to be impossible to adapt into an anime, but I consider this to be a success that disproves the claim.
Jul 17, 2020
Jun 6, 2019
A full coverage of all applications of integrals and integration theory. This covers physics, probability theory, statistics and the relations between the two fields which is often overlooked. Some of this is review, but I don't think I've ever seen the concepts explained this well. It also provides a good progression from moving from univariate to multivariate cases through the Fubini theorem and finally applying them. Overall, this makes many university lectures seem amateurish at best. I would like to take a look at other entries in this series, but would like to gain a better understanding of physics and chemistry first.
Jul 15, 2020
Aug 2, 1986
An imperfect, but engaging movie that introduces gun-fu and dual wielding pistols to film. The story is one regarding organized crime and redemption. I was unsatisfied with most of the actors except for Chow Yun Fat who performed very well. It is clear to see how influential this film was on Hong Kong films that followed afterwards.
Jul 15, 2020
Mar 1, 2001
Emulated on PCSX2 and upscaled to 1440p. Despite Hideo Kojima being involved in this, this is not a philosophical game or even one with a particularly interesting story. There are some references made to ancient Egyptian mythology, but this seems to be more for the purpose of stylization. The gameplay is tight, but it lacks depth and variety. The player is given a variety of weapons, but enemies tend to be the same, and enemy AI is rather unsophisticated. For cutscenes, due to this being an earlier PS2 title, the graphics are lacking, but the main weakness is relatively bad voice acting and badly written dialogue. I wish I played this in the original Japanese version, but finding a Japanese rom for a legacy game console is easier said than done. The main strengths here are the soundtrack and the art and mech design which seems to have been done by Yoji Shinkawa. I felt like this had potential, but it didn't really live up to my expectations. Mech games aside, I've seen similar aesthetics and settings in the animated feature films that probably influenced the art direction for this game. That said, I am open to playing the sequel which I have been told is supposedly better in all aspects.
Jul 14, 2020
Sep 2, 2013
This is a great minimalist film that leveraged Tom Hardy's acting to create a story with ups and downs that all take place during a drive. Dialogue is realistic, and the way in which phone calls progress the narrative is creative. Tom Hardy has always been consistently great in all his films and this film is no exception. Cinematography and music is simplistic, but this only serves to emphasize the acting. Locke is one of those films like Twelve Angry Men that shows what can be done with a limited budget and a simple premise, and it knocks it out of the park.
Jul 14, 2020
Nov 2, 2018
This is pretty bad. Not sure why this won awards, but the story was bad, the gameplay was unengaging, and the acting was horrible. After playing florence, this felt like a step down. I don't think there was much about this that I liked from a critical or player perspective.
Jul 13, 2020
Jul 10, 2020
Although Wim Hof is a proponent of a breathing technique, his unclear explanations and weaknesses in English make it difficult to narrow down what exactly is happening. This interview with James Nestor clears things up and also provides explanations on the topics such as asthma, the impact of breathing on bone structure, the benefits of CO2, and the impact of nose breathing vs mouth breathing. I would like to read James Nestor's book at some point to see if some of the techniques explained here are credible.
Jul 13, 2020
Feb 9, 2007
This is a great film and differs from Bombay in that it does not have a narrative or a message. It just shows what happened. In many ways, this is more like a documentary and is similar to other great films like The Battle of Algiers or Zero Dark Thirty. It also does not portray either side as right or wrong, and shows the flaws of both the investigators and the perpetrators of the bombings that followed the riots. Not only is this a good film, but I think it can be used as an educational tool due to its somewhat unbiased nature.
Jul 13, 2020
Feb 14, 2018
This is not a game, it is more like interactive fiction. Its strengths lie in its art and music. The music is great which is to be expected because it was composed by Kevin Penkin who worked on Made in Abyss. The story itself is somewhat standard and covers a relationship from beginning to end, but it does not get melodramatic or make any mistakes. From a critical perspective, this is a good game, but for those who are expecting more from their games than a story (like gameplay with more depth), this may disappoint. That said, I think this can appeal to a wide group of people and the short playtime makes it worth a try.
Jul 12, 2020
Aug 4, 2016
This is free to play, and despite being a short game, it is one worth playing. Apparently this is inspired by Tibetan theology and philosophy. While I did come out of this not learning much about Tibetan theology, the art and sound direction do evoke feelings of spirituality. The closest game to this is Journey, but unlike Journey, this has less of a narrative. It is more minimalist, and this works to the advantage of the game. Overall, this is rather impressive for a game developed by a team of four.
Jul 11, 2020
Aug 2, 2017
This is a hard hitting game that covers the purgatory of PTSD. This is also one of the few games I know of that allows players to commit war crimes and offers a criticism of the US military without needing to explicitly do so outside of text on the loading screen later in the single player campaign. The script is well written, and the development of the characters is well done. Although the story is based off of Heart of Darkness, it manages to add a layer of psychology to the story to give it a twist. There is a level of meta narrative here that places it in a category of its own that groups it with films like Inception. The setting of Dubai where water is the new oil acts as its own character and reflects the mentality of its characters. There are not many games that handle story telling in the way this game does, and the lack of acclaim definitely makes it underrated.
Jul 11, 2020
Mar 10, 1995
This is one of Mani Ratnam's best, and it's emotional impact is probably the highest out of all of his works. On a technical level, this is comparable to Dil Se, and the camera is never needlessly static as we see in some of Ratnam's other works. There is a dynamism to the camera work and it helps tremendously. Music by Rahman with its Islamic influences is very memorable. The way in which this film not only tackles interfaith marriages, but uses that as a way to highlight aspects of the Bombay riots was cleverly done. This is heavy in imagery, the dialogue is simple but to the point, and the acting is powerful. As is typical with many of these Tamil films that take place outside of south India, more Tamil is spoken than is realistic, but I think that can easily be forgiven.
Jul 10, 2020
Aug 2, 2017
This is the second game developed by Fullbright after Gone Home. Like Gone Home, this is an exploration style game that is short in duration. This time, the story takes place on an orbital station, and involves piecing together events that happened using an AI interface. The general design of the station and story are well done, but the short duration seemed to lessen the impact of any reveals. Finally, the idea of retrieving AI data through an AR interface does not make much sense.
Jul 9, 2020
Aug 15, 1975
This is the first film I saw with Amitabh Bachchan and the first film I saw that used Hindustani instead of just Hindi as its language. This is a fairly solid movie, but much of its appeal was lost on me. The reason for this is because it seemed to copy from westerns like Magnificent Seven, and Once Upon a Time in the West without improving upon those films in a significant way. While those films had signature soundtracks and camera work, this film seemed to be a bit lacking and simplistic in comparison. One thing to note is that the restored HD version has a few gimmicks that were intended to be used for 3D viewing, and it is noticeable in that it seems to distract from the actual contents of the film-- whenever there is an explosion, it is pretty much always guaranteed that there is some cgi object flying out towards the camera. That said, I do have a similar reaction when I see Star Wars films nowadays, so it's not too surprising that I wasn't all that caught up with the style of this film that is so clearly designed for mass appeal.
Jul 9, 2020
Sep 13, 2001
Played using PCSX2 without upscaling with the software renderer. This is supposedly the best that the Ace Combat series has to offer, and while it is a great game, it is very much a product of its time and a remaster or remake would be very much appreciated. There are no drones, the planes are older models, and the graphics are representative of early PS2 graphics complete with dithering. Consequently, there is a limited simulation of atmospheric conditions with no condensation, icing or wind taken into account. That said, the story is grounded, the concept of anti-asteroid railgun system known as Stonehenge was innovative, and the fictional universe known as Strangereal felt very much like our own. The ability to hear the radio chatter of both allies and the enemy makes for a very immersive experience and is probably one of its largest strengths. The dogfights were intense and enemies use techniques that are common in dogfighting even today. The missions made sense in the context of a larger military conflict and the way in which you play an active role and affect the flow of battle is very well done. This is not an easy game. There is a learning curve, but once an understanding of missile systems and dogfighting techniques is reached, it pays off.
Jul 5, 2020
Jun 1, 2006
A continuation of Half Life 2. There are no new mechanics introduced, so it's really more of the same. This is not necessarily a negative, but one thing to note is that the huge changes scene between Half Life 1 and Half Life 2 are not seen here. We see the return of the gravity gun, but we don't see Gordon Freeman's signaturue crowbar until the middle of the game. Alyx as an AI controlled partner was surprisingly tolerable. Overall, it's good, but nothing compared to Half Life 2.
Jul 4, 2020
Dec 23, 1992
This is Al Pacino at his best, and I would consider this role to be one of his most defining. This is a story where Al Pacino plays a retired blind army colonel with a unique personality. The story is good enough, but I think the main attraction here is Al Pacino executing signature lines with ease.
Jul 4, 2020
Apr 11, 2019
This is like a Hong Kong version of The Intouchables without the music. More emphasis is placed on the shots and color grading, and the story, while not particularly ground breaking, depicts a story of a caretaker's relationship with her boss. This brings attention to Filipina maids and the troubles they go through, and the shots of apartment complexes in Hong Kong are stunning. There are a mixture of languages in this one including Cantonese, English, and Tagalog.
Jul 4, 2020
Jul 12, 2002
This has received quite a bit of critical praise, but I feel like what was great about it as lost on me. Scenes tend to be rich and oppulent, and Shah Rukh Khan plays an NRI returning home like he does in pretty much most of his films. The plot is unimpressive. It has elements that can be found in Sophoclean or Shakesperean plays, but the way in which events lead to other events seem hamfisted at best. Motivations for characters are underdeveloped, and the flowery language and interesting shots can't really save it in my eyes.
Jul 3, 2020
Sep 19, 2017
This is rough around the edges, but it was made by mostly one person, so that can be forgiven. The art is not that great, and the voice acting is cheesy. This can work because it is partly satirical, but it's hard to tell when to take the content matter seriously. That said, this is a very detailed work with a lot of thought put into it although the writing does seem amateurish at times. From a sci-fi perspective, this is probably the only work that gets as into the details as books I've read in the genre by William Gibson or Neal Stephenson. This makes it very impressive because it is difficult to get across that level of detail in a game. The music is very reminiscent of Blade Runner, but it isn't a cheap imitation and uses elements like dialup tones, static, and gunshots to add texture. In addition to this, this manages to move genre tropes forward by introducing concepts like unilaterally assured destruction as an evolution of mutually assured destruction or weaponizin parallel timelines. This makes this a very unique game, and I don't think I've seen anything like it even when I compare it with other cyberpunk games.
Jul 2, 2020
Dec 21, 2007
Covers mental deficiencies like dyslexia and how it can go untreated within the Indian education system. An interesting thing I noticed is how Indian education seems to be leaning towards processing a large number of students as quickly as possible like a factory. Unfortunately, it seems like this is the trend for education at all levels in many parts of the world due to increasing population, so it is questionable whether students who have certain deficiencies will receive the specialized care that they need. All things said, this was an informative film with good shots caught in frame, and shows that Amir Khan is a good director, producer, actor and one of the more versatile individuals in Bollywood.
Jul 1, 2020
Apr 21, 2009
A surreal first person fighting game with a story that is as surreal and bewildering as its setting. All I can say is that it is very different, and I'm not sure exactly what to make of it in terms of quality.
Jul 1, 2020
Oct 20, 1995
This is a movie that operates with its own logic and is so Indian in its identity that I felt like I could smell spice while watching it. SRK's character is openly wears his feelings, and the way people act in this film make it seem more like something out of a Disney movie. Cinematography and overall direction make it seem more like a classic film from the 70's or 80's rather than something out the 90's, and the different locations used make it hard to tell when the movie takes place. The mix of Hindi and English along with many words and phrases being repeated throughout actually make it a nice way to learn some Hindi phrases.
Jun 27, 2020
Nov 15, 2019
One of the best racing movies I have ever seen and definitely one of the best of 2019. Christian Bale and the racing scenes are the main attractions of this film. The way in which racing scenes were filmed were not only thrilling, but technically impressive with the mixture of practical effects and CGI. Mangold's completion of this film after Logan show that he is at the start of an upward trend in his directorial career, and I am interested in seeing if he can continue to deliver in his next film.
Jun 27, 2020
Oct 5, 2016
This is a personal game that basically walks the player through the story of Joel and his parents as Joel fights and eventually loses against an agressive form of cancer. While this is not a perfect game, and the video game medium may not be the most effective way of giving this story, this game delivers its story well. Overall, the content is heavy, and it is not delivered in a way that is particularly coddling, making it effective at times.
Jun 26, 2020
Jan 12, 2007
This movie is to Mani Ratnam what The Aviator was to Martin Scorsese, and solidifies my impression of Mani Ratnam as India's Martin Scorsese. This film is not Mani Ratnam's best, but the depiction of a developing India and Turkey was very interesting to see. This film has a certain intense momentum in parts of the story that can suck you in, and it would have been nice if the story was written to emphasize those parts. Abhishek Bachchan's performance as the businessman Gurukant Desai was intense and just great, making him the centerpiece of the film. Other than Madhavan, who managed to hold his own, other actors were either good or just adequate in comparson. The score by A.R. Rahman was great, but the individual songs were good but unimpressive compared to his more memorable works. Editing lacked subtlety and is probably the weakest part of the film due to it being more flashy than it needed to be. Apparently this was based on the life of Dhirubhai Ambani which I did not know about beforehand.
Jun 24, 2020
Apr 14, 2000
This is like Roja without the political backdrop. When compared to Dil Se, this is the opposite in that it has clearly good writing, acting, but a smaller budget and scale. In this film, the cinematography is conducted by P. C. Sriram instead of Santosh Sivan and as a result, there are some clear differences in the shots. With regards to Mani Ratnam's previous work, the director innovates this time by using an anachronistic structure which is not often used in films in general. In addition to this, this offers a realistic depiction of married life. While I prefer Mani Ratnam's works that feature a larger scale, this is a good film with decent cinematography and features some memorable tracks by A.R. Rahman.
Jun 24, 2020
Aug 8, 2018
A point and click game developed by Wadjet Eye games. This one deals with the supernatural, and while the game is polished, it's story is nothing special. A better story would have made this memorable, but overall, this is somewhat enjoyable.
Jun 19, 2020
Dec 21, 2016
This is one of the highest rated Indian films in Imdb. This is also one of the few sports films that focuses on women. Aamir Khan's acting in this one is probably the best out of all the films of his I have seen so far. Cinematography is also very good. I think the plot was not all that ground breaking, but despite that, this executes well on all aspects. Scenes involving wrestling clearly involve a great deal of technique and physicality and it was impressive to see the actors deliver on that. This is one of those films that does nothing wrong and is well executed.
Jun 18, 2020
Aug 21, 1998
The music is great, the cinematography is great, the acting and script are debatable. The main character would be categorized as a stalker by today's standards. In older Islamic stories, this type of behavior may be considered normal, but when you place such as story in a modern setting, it becomes a conflicting point. This is what prevents this from being a great film in my opinion. Acting also seems to be overdone by SRK and the melodrama seems to have removed any subtlety from the picture. That said, for Mani Ratnam's first Hindi film, this is a good achievement, and the film seems very modern in terms of technical achievements. In terms of songs, I think this also one of AR Rahman's best works. This film also covers the topic of liberationists which many in the west may not know about India. While it may not be a perfect film, it has iconic moments, and is worth watching despite the long runtime.
Jun 14, 2020
Jul 15, 2011
This is a road trip style comedy drama that has good cinematography. Out of all the Indian films I have seen so far, this is the least Indian film I have seen. The film takes place in Spain, the music breaks are not as abrupt as other films, and the general style seems very western. It presents philosophies about life through experiences on the trip and does a lot of "show don't tell". The way scenes of diving, skydiving and Encierro were filmed puts you in the moment. That said, the skydiving was somewhat unrealistic, because free fall does not last as long as they show in the film. I went into this with no expectations and came out impressed.
Jun 12, 2020
Aug 15, 1992
This is the first film that A.R. Rahman scored and you can tell because of the heavy use of synths. Roja is a very different film from Nayakan in terms of story despite both being directed by Mani Ratnam. This film borrows from the Mahabharatha making it a very strange film in terms of how its story plays out due to it not using completely modern conventions in its story telling. Cinematography is as good if not better than Nayakan. One thing that seems fairly obvious is that Mani Ratnam is not used to filming action and stuntwork seems amateurish. The political backdrop is one of the strengths of this film, and offers some context that grounds the older origins of the story in modern times. Overall, this is a good film that showcases Mani Ratnam's unique style. One thing to note is that English subtitles are mostly accurate, but do not appear to be direct translations, so some level of nuance is lost in the translation process.
Jun 9, 2020
Dec 17, 2004
Ashutosh Gowariker and A.R. Rahman team up again to create another great film after Lagaan. This is also the first film I saw with Shah Rukh Khan in it. This time, the scale is smaller, but the writing and cinematography is better. Instead of historical India, this takes place in modern times and focuses on societal problems, poverty, and traditionalism. The concept of an NRI is explained and explored. There is a good visualization of a hydro electric turbine as well as shots taken at NASA during the space shuttle program. The GPM system mentioned in the film was an actual system that was developed and launched in 2014, which I found interesting. Overall, this is solid, and does not get boring at all. I'm not sure why this did not do well in India.
Jun 7, 2020
Jun 15, 2001
Despite this having some cliches, this is a very novel and original story. Like many Indian films, this is a long one and comes complete with an intermission. I doubt that most people watch it through in one sitting. It is also a good way to get introduced to the rules and convensions of cricket. I don't think I've seen a movie about cricket and I don't think I've seen a good historical sports film that did not involve boxing or running. The mixture of Hindi and English make this accessible to a western audience despite some of the music breaks, which are less abrupt compared to other films. The classic story of an underdog is well done and characters are unique which helps the unique setting of the story. Acting is good, and cinematography is occasionally great, but usually mediocre. The setup is flawed, but the actual cricket match towards the end is very entertaining. Overall, this is a great film.
Jun 4, 2020
Jan 17, 2019
This is not NUMPY in 5 minutes. This is NUMPY in 13 minutes, but it is still the shortest overview of the library I could find.
Jun 4, 2020
May 31, 2020
Pretty funny, but also episodic. I think this has wide appeal. Jokes tend to be current and culturally relevant. The characters are fairly novel with their own quirks that do get a little bit stale after a few seasons. Character development is there, but it is limited.
Jun 4, 2020
Kahlil Gibran, 1923
A collection of poetic musings that are beautifully crafted and never sounds like rambling. Despite covering a variety of topics like love, family, journeys, and other topics, it never seems to drag.
Jun 2, 2020
Confucius, ~500 B.C.
One of my goals when I learn Mandarin is to be able to quote the Analects from memory. This is a good initial step towards that goal, but it also allows for a deeper understanding of east Asian culture. This holds many similarities to some of Plato's works and some of the Greek works that were written during the same time. There are conversations between characters and anecdotes about certain characters as examples of certain principles that are emphasized in The Analects. The majority of this book is about this character (usually Confucius) saying a certain thing or another character saying something else. Filial piety, propriety, the branches of learning, the mandate of heaven, and other concepts that were tested within the imperial examination in ancient China are all here. There are many things here that, by modern standards, will seem sexist or contradictory. Overall, like many older works, this has its flaws and should be read critically.
May 30, 2020
May 30, 2020
Space X beat ULA to the ISS and successfully managed to dock. This is the first time humans were aboard a privately developed rocket. Overall, the mission went smoothly, but it is not over until Crew Dragon is able to successfully land on earth. With this, maybe a larger amount of focus can be directed towards Starship.
May 28, 2020
Oct 12, 2018
This is a good, but imperfect movie. Camerawork is way more shaky than is necessary. The Apollo mission was pretty accurate. It matched what I saw in archival footage. Although not historically accurate in every sense, it manages to tell a good story by dramatizing parts of Neil Armstrong's life despite his life already being somewhat dramatic. There are some good shots in here, but this is not Damien Chazelle's best work and it did seem like he was out of his element working in a non-music related film.
May 27, 2020
May 25, 2020
Kevin Hart was in a car accident and could not walk due to major back injuries as recently as 9 months ago. His recovery is on the level of Bruce Wayne in The Dark Knight Rises. Overall, a fairly inspiring discussion.
May 27, 2020
Nov 29, 2019
I remember Suicide Squad being really bad, but this more than makes up for it. This is like an animated version of Deadpool, and it entertains throughout. I don't think there was a moment that I hated. It also introduces some really minor characters in the DC universe such as Kite Man which I think only comic readers would know.
May 26, 2020
Apr 17, 2019
This takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where AI is rejected thoroughly. The science behind it is not all that well researched, but as a detective game, it is perfectly fine. I don't consider this particularly novel or even something that you can get emotionally invested in, but it passes fast, so it is not as though time is being wasted. In terms of story and technical achievements, this is unremarkable, but I don't consider it to be bad.
May 23, 2020
Mar 12, 2019
An interesting take on internet browsing from the 90's with a twist where the users are browsing the internet while they are sleeping through some sort of dream based interface. The operating system of HypnOS mimics Windows 95. While this can get frustrating at times, the experience feels very faithful to the experience of using a computer in the 90's from dated references to general user experience. The developers manage to tell a story through the clunky interace and also show how the internet changes over the years. The concept of a Hypnospace enforcer is also reminiscent of the cyber police meme.
May 21, 2020
Dec 20, 2019
I thought the series ended with the second movie, but then they made a third one and then a fourth one. The third one felt like a decent conclusion, but this fourth did not feel like that at all. Donnie Yen was good as always and Scott Adkins did well as the antagonist. As is typical in these types of movies, foreign influences act as an oppressor of Chinese endeavors. The writing felt weak in this one, but the technical quality is consistent with previous films. Choreography is good, cinematography is decent and Kenji Kawaii's score is good as always. Although the Ip Man series has a lot of fictional events, this one is the least historically accurate and it shows. A good overview of the film as a whole can be found here.
May 19, 2020
A good introduction and explanation of matrix factorization and its use in recommendations presented within the domain of Netflix movies. I doubt that Netflix actually uses matrix factorization now instead of some form of neural net, so some coverage of the state of the art would have been nice.
May 4, 2020
Jul 30, 1987
This is included in Time's all-time 100 best films. Overall, this is a film with great cinematography and acting. The cinematography in particular is well thought out, and it plays like something from the 70's despite it being filmed in the 80's. For a gangster film, this is also fairly unique not only in terms of the setting, but it also provides questions of morality which is somewhat uncommon since gangster films usually don't argue about the moral incompetencies of their main character.
May 4, 2020
Miyamoto Musashi, 1645
I struggled to find the original Japanese, so I read this in English. This is a book that is about sword fighting and martial arts. How to hold a sword, how to answer attacks and defend are covered in detail. The five attitudes are also explained. I personally struggle to understand how this can be applied outside of martial arts. There are words of advice that are useful elsewhere-- particularly philosophies regarding martial arts and strategy--, but when you get into the details, it becomes harder to abstract literal sword positions and apply them to other domains.
May 3, 2020
Aug 6, 2004
I think this is the first non-Chinese and non-American martial arts biopic I've seen. Like most martial arts films, the story is not perfect, but the choreography is quite impressive. I think this is one of the few times I've seen Karate presented as a full contact martial arts, so punches and movements don't have clean lines like you may see in a typical form. In addition to that, I think this is the first film I've seen that covers the perspective of Zainichi Koreans. Choreography is brutal, and I think people were hit with full force during the fight scenes which is not very common. Overall, this is a very unique film.
May 2, 2020
Aug 12, 2019
I came away from this very impressed. The story felt like it was written by someone who had a background in computer science or at least in the tech industry. Terms regarding semantics and natural language processing were used correctly, and discussions of AI did not come across as overly optimistic. The concept of online counseling as a way to accumulate a corpus that can be used to train a general intelligence is original despite the concept of online counseling not being an economically scaleable business in the form that was presented in the game. There is also some coverage of the debates regarding psychology and psychotherapy as a rigorous field of study. I felt somewhat disappointed with the way the endings were handled, but despite that, I found this to be a realistic treatment of technology and the different motivations behind it.
Apr 28, 2020
Jan 11, 2019
A short game that might as well be classified as a tech demo. Play time is less than 30 minutes. There is not much, but it makes for a decent teaser for a full sequel. At least it is free on Steam and Itch.io.
Apr 27, 2020
Jul 30, 2019
A relaxing platformer. The closest thing I can think of is William and Sly or a game by Thatgamecompany. For such a short game, there is much to do. Only negatives are the strange pixelated asthetic and bizarre camera, but other than that, it manages to provide a positive experience within its short play time.
Apr 26, 2020
Jul 20, 2016
It has been years since I last saw a good zombie movie, so Train to Busan to me felt reinvigorating for the genre. The cinematography was excellent and the story was not predictable at all. You felt what the characters felt and it was very visceral. This is a movie that keeps giving and giving. The behavior of zombies can be inconsistent at times, but other than that, this is a tight film that knows what it is doing. Overall, a thrilling film from start to finish that has a few flaws that are easy to overlook. Great to watch during a pandemic.
Apr 26, 2020
Jul 7, 2000
Like all Final Fantasy games, this is quite a time investment. In terms of how this compares to other games, this is probably the best executed, but also the safest game. What I mean by safe is that there is nothing particularly groundbreaking here. It does what has already been done in previous games in the series, but better. It is for this reason that I actually prefer FFVII over this. In terms of graphics, this improves upon FFVII. Characters no longer look blocky, and FMV's look like something out of a painting. This game has actually aged quite well. Conversely, the music is not as great as other games. That is not to say that the music is bad, but I found it lacking for a Final Fantasy game despite a great main theme. Battle mechanics are also fairly standard. Finally, the world feels less fleshed out and smaller compared to other entries. Despite this, I felt that the story was on par with more ambitious entries despite it not being quite that detailed due to the main characters. All things said, this was probably my least favorite out of all the Final Fantasy games I have played up to this point, but when I heard the main Final Fantasy theme come on during the end credits like the Disney theme comes on at the beginning of a Disney film, I felt fairly satisfied.
Apr 25, 2020
Covers the role of computer science and bioinformatics in epidemiology and virology. Dmitry explains exactly what computer science and computational biology enables researchers to do. He also explains what is currently being worked on from the research side of things in his field in regards to the current COVID19 pandemic. An explanation of viruses and the coronavirus from a biological perspective is also provided. There is also an interesting conversation at the end about Russia and collaboration in research or lack thereof.
Apr 24, 2020
Dec 25, 1993
This was way better than I was expecting it to be and I was pleasantly surprised. Writing is mature and dialogue is smooth. Action and animation is simplistic compared to the state of the art during the time, but the images and backgrounds compensate. The city of Gotham looks like something that came out of the 1940's, and this adds to the atmosphere. While watching this, I could not help but compare this to black and white noir films from the late 30's and 40's which reflects the high quality of the work. Overall, this is a solid Batman film that thoroughly explores the motivations of its main character.
Apr 23, 2020
Chang Yu, 2014
While the contents of this book may be considered novel from a western standpoint, it uses a lot of common tropes that show up in Chinese webnovels. This is a book that takes place in an alternate reality where certain events haven't occured. This allows for the main character of Zhang Ye to introduce popular books and shows from the original reality to become famous. In addition to this, the book uses a system mechanic that shows up in other Chinese novels to add to the the novelty of the story. In many ways, this is a book about wish fulfillment. The main character becomes a jack of all trades that stands at the top of China all because he has knowledge from the original reality and a system that gives him game-like bonuses. This can get old quickly, but it is very satisfying if you are willing to suspend disbelief. In my opinion, the biggest strength of this novel is its thorough overview of Chinese culture. This novel covers famous books and movies and people that have been influential in China while also covering what foreign works have been of greatest influence in the domestic market. There is also a decent coverage of differing cultures across the different provinces of China. While it may not be worth reading all 1600+ chapters that were written before it was discontinued, I would say that the first 600 chapters are entertaining.
Apr 23, 2020
Aug 18, 1990
Stephen Chow's take on the whole gambling genre. It's good fun, but I would not say that it is a good movie. That said, it handles comedy better than God of Gamblers and for some reason exceeded the box office of the film it is drawing influence from.
Apr 22, 2020
Dec 14, 1989
This film is considered iconic among Cantonese films, and while it has its moments, it is also imperfect. Part of this is culturual. There are abrupt shifts from comedy to serious moments, and a western audience will most likely view this as a weakness despite it being rather common within Hong Kong films. I feel that if it focused more on the gambling and action and less on the comedy, it might have functioned better. The beginning and the end are great, but the middle is not in my opinion, and the usage of a head injury as a cause of amnesia is somewhat cliche. It is not a bad film, but it is on the border between an average film and a good one.
Apr 20, 2020
Sep 29, 2018
Although this is inferior to Steins;Gate, but is still a good series. This series builds upon the events of Steins;Gate by analyzing an alternate world line that did not have the same ending in Steins;Gate. In this timeline, World War III will still happen, and the gimick of AI is presented as a way for people to achieve some form of immortality. The strengths of this series lies in its abilities to take the mechanics introduced in Steins;Gate and expand upon them to flesh out the futures and pasts that were hinted at in Steins;Gate. Overall, it does not do anything particularly new when compared to the original Steins;Gate, but it manages to use time travel to tell a compelling story that drags at the beginning, but picks up later on.
Apr 17, 2020
Sep 12, 2019
This is a highly simplistic multiplayer game where you can write letters to strangers and get replies back. Everything is anonymous, and the community is very positive. In many ways, it is like a pen pal type of setup, but it does not require any level of commitment. It is highly effective for assisting with mental health.
Apr 14, 2020
Feb 4, 1995
I consider the second part to be better than the first because part two seems to play to the strengths of the source material, and build off of the events in part one. We finally see the appearance familiar characters such as Monkey and Pig, and a reasonable conclusion to the story. The fight between the Monkey King and Bull Demon King was well done. With more modern works, typically CGI would be used for the more nonsensical aspects of Journey to the West, but this film uses practical effects which I felt added to the quality. Overall, I found it to be creative and thought it was one of the few films that manages to successfully mix tragedy and comedy.
Apr 12, 2020
Dec 20, 2019
It's not as bad as people say it is, but it isn't a good movie. Special effects and the score are great, acting is fine. Writing is seriously flawed, and pacing and editing are rather bad. Typically, in Star Wars movies, the point is to tell a story, but here it seems like the writers were just trying to work through a checklist and get from point A to point B. There are many contradictions, hanging threads, plot holes, unexplained motivations, and inconsistencies with previous films. Transitions between scenes are abrupt and horribly handled. I honestly don't know what they were trying to do, and I don't think anyone would come out of this movie thinking they spent their time wisely.
Apr 12, 2020
Sep 20, 2019
When you try to take a web series and turn it into a movie with a story, it stands to reason that you won't make a good movie. The interview scenes were funny, but everything else would be considered terrible by most people's standards.
Apr 11, 2020
Jan 21, 1995
This is a film that is directed by Jeffrey Lau, but it stars Stephen Chow. This film, like many Stephen Chow films, brings in Man-Tat Ng to add Mo Lei Tau style comedy to the story. A Chinese Odyssey is based on Journey to the West, but this is a reimagining of the story from the perspective of the Monkey King rather than a retelling of the Ming dynasty classic. Some of the comedy and plot will not make sense if you don't have some familiarity with Journey to the West and Chinese culture beforehand. This film drags at the beginning, but improves towards the end. Overall, it is a good film, but execution is not the best. Acting and comedy is fine, but pacing and special effects do seem a little bit lacking from a western perspective. I have higher hopes for Part Two.
Apr 11, 2020
An analysis of the possible long term economic impacts of COVID19. Somewhat useful for timing when to invest in the market. A continuation of the American perspective can be found here.
Mar 30, 2020
Jun 17, 2019
A playlist that covers CNN's, RNN's, basic neural networks and other deep learning topics. Not an exhaustive list, but it makes for a good foundation.
Mar 29, 2020
Nov 27, 1976
Network was a film made during a time when CNN, MSNBC, FOX, and televangelism were not available. It not only covers the conflict all news faces when trying to inform and entertain, but also has larger messages about the country and state of the world. Although the film focuses on television, the general messages apply, perhaps even more so, to how people consume information today. While I was not a fan of the cinematography, the story is tight and well scripted. Acting by Faye Dunaway and Peter Finch was top notch. Like 12 Angry Men, this Sidney Lumet film is engaging.
Mar 28, 2020
Mar 27, 2020
Covers the mathematics involved in epidemiology. The math here can also be applied to robustness networks and other similarly large systems. The primary mechanics analyzed are probability and the parameters that affect infection rates over time. A good explanation of R values are also included. I was hoping for a graph/network theory style treatment of the mathematics, but anyone who has a masters level understanding of mathematics can apply a graph like an Erdos Renyi style graph to see patterns in the mechanics of infection.
Mar 26, 2020
Jul 1, 1993
This is a great example of Stephen Chow's talents and Hong Kong's Mo Lei Tau style of comedy. When watching this, it is clear why Jackie Chan broke through to the international stage while Stephen Chow did not. Jackie Chan is a martial artist that dabbles in comedy while Stephen Chow is a comedian that dabbles in martial arts. Because of this, the word play and cultural references in Stephen Chow's works don't translate as well. That said, if you are familiar with Hong Kong culture and Chinese scholarship in general, you will find that this is a smartly written film that has something for the literate as well as the common people. There is a nice mixture of classical poetry, Chinese opera tropes with modern references that I've never seen in western cinema and was very rare in mainland Chinese films during the time. If you are looking to understand Cantonese a little better or just have an interest in historical Chinese figures like Tong Pak Fu this will satisfy your needs.
Mar 21, 2020
Mar 2, 2018
A video that I referred to to get a better understanding of the following paper on transformers in neural networks for natural language processing. The channel associated with the video is actually fairly useful for deep learning, so I consider it to be of note because the field is still in active development and educational resources are scarce.
Mar 21, 2020
Jan 26, 2016
The most mentally challenging game that I ever played. The puzzles were difficult and were challenging despite the commonality of drawing lines. The philosophy and message of the game flew over my head in a way that I've only see happen in Shane Carruth films. For many, this can be hit or miss due to the lack of a narrative and the difficulty and abundance of puzzles. Despite this, I found the imagery, use of Feng Shui and Zen Buddhist ideas in combination with western philosophy and poetry to be very original. This is not a game that you speed through. This is a game that takes months to complete with frequent breaks away from the screen. While some of the puzzles can be brute forced, it is recomended that you focus more on pattern recognition unless you are an extremely patient person.
Mar 19, 2020
Dec 25, 2005
I don't remember the last time I saw a Bollywood film if ever. There was also a lot more English in this film than I was expecting which was a surprise. This is a film that I think will appeal almost universally to the general audience and be received a little bit more mildly although positively by film critics. One thing to note is that since it is a Bollywood film, it is very long, people will teleport to random places and start singing, and there will be instances of somewhat overacted melodrama. That said, the main themes of the film such as friendship, purpose and education along with its humor and wit allow for it to be easily relatable. There are many things that I did find to be rather fascinating from a cultural perspective. I did not realize engineers were a big deal in India, and I did not realize that instructors had as much authority as they did in educational institutions. The closest thing I can think of to this is attitudes towards education in mainland China.
Mar 17, 2020
Mar 14, 2020
I'm not a big fan of CNBC because they can oversimplify content, but this manages to provide an informative overview of vaccine development from research to manufacturing and distribution that even a layman can understand.
Mar 15, 2020
Sep 8, 1989
Kickboxer is not that great of a movie. Its plot is cliche, the music is not as good as Bloodsport and the fight scenes are not as good as Bloodsport. Just watch Bloodsport. What this movie does offer is Jean Claude Van Damme dancing and some Muay Thai. If you came for the Muay Thai, just watch Ong Bak.
Mar 15, 2020
Apr 18, 2019
A game that I basically speedran because of how immersed I was in the mechanics. This is a 2d game with simple but satisfying mechanics with everything requiring only a single click. There are many similarities in gameplay to Hotline Miami, but I prefer Katana Zero because of its clean art style and unwillingness to fill the screen with too many things at a time. The noir style story of drugs developed by the military to slow down and replay time was very interesting and would have worked well in a comic or film. Overall, very solid and watertight. I am interested in seeing the conclusion of the story.
Mar 14, 2020
Oct 16, 2018
While it may drag in the beginning, the film is breathtakingly beautiful once the sound and color enters the frame. This is a film that shows World War I from the British side with no reservations. The gruesome and harsh nature of the war is shown in great detail with voiceovers from soldiers during the time. It really takes you back 100 years into the past. I wish they used learning/AI techniques to generate more images and videos, but the final result is good, so I'm not complaining too much about the abundance of content.
Mar 12, 2020
Mar 10, 2020
An insightful conversation about disease control and immunology. Very relevant today with COVID-19 spreading across the world.
Mar 3, 2020
Arthur C. Clarke, May 12, 1982
The initial premise was similar to a short story I wrote years ago except my story was from the perspective of the supervisors and not the natives of the planet. Childhood's End is a different take on the first contact story where the aliens have a special plan for humanity and help humanity despite not revealing their intentions. It is one part science fiction and one part mystery where the reader is learning of how humanity society can be improved into something more utopian while at the same time losing certain freedoms. The third act is probably the best part of the book despite its abstractness. Concepts regarding cosmic level intelligences and the evolution of life into something more formless draws from not only Greek philosophy, but also gave similar impressions as what one may experience when reading H.P. Lovecraft. Overall, this is an entertaining read. The only large complaint I might have is one that I have with other Western science fiction which is that characters seem to only be instruments to move plot forward. This was apparently a three part mini-series on the Syfy channel.
Feb 18, 2020
Arkady Strugatsky, Boris Strugatsky, 1972
I remember watching Stalker many years ago and falling asleep in the middle of it (I still liked the movie though). Unlike Stalker, Roadside Picnic seemed easier to follow and denser in content despite lacking some of the philosophy that Andrei Tarkovsky was known for. Also, in Roadside Picnic, they actually explain what caused the creation of the zone. In Stalker, I was convinced that it had something to do with nuclear power, but in Roadside Picnic, it was clarified that the cause was aliens. The concept of the zone as a sort of Bermuda triangle on land is highly original. This is a short read, but it has interesting ideas. I'd like to play the games that were based off of this next if I have the time.
Feb 17, 2020
Dec 7, 2017
I don't play a lot of flash games nowadays, but Caravaneer is such a unique series that I find myself returning to this work every once in a while. This is an unforgiving and long game, but if you use hacks like ArcadePreHacks, you can fly through the game and enjoy the story. Caravaneer 2 is a game that is heavy on story and manages to successfully build a post apocalyptic world set years after the entire world got turned into a desert. You have the opportunity to be a merchant and take advantage of changing economies. You can take part in politics and change how different factions interact with each other. There are many similarities to Fallout, but unlike the Fallout series, this seems to have a better thought out story and it feels like your actions actually have some weight despite its significantly lower budget and scale. I would like to see a sequel make it onto Steam, because it would be a shame for games like this fade into obscurity with the rest of the flash games.
Feb 15, 2020
Oct 15, 2004
I think the last time I saw something with puppets was either Thunderbolt Fantasy or Sesamstraat. I don't know why they decided to use puppets, but it seems to work and effectively allows for the film to use more practical effects. This gives it somewhat of an 80's feel. Despite all that, I would consider this to be a unique, above average comedy. It seems to mix subtlety and over the top comedy to create an interesting commentary on the war on terror, American foreign policy, activist actors, and geopolitics. In spite of this, the issues are dated, making it difficult for viewers from a younger generation to fully appreciate the jokes. The best part of this film are the songs. The puppetry is not that sophisticated. The movie is aware of this, and pokes fun at the puppetry.
Feb 14, 2020
The most in depth interview with Elon Musk that I have seen so far. It covers his entire life and is not afraid to get very technical. This interview hits many different areas such as finance, management, programming, manufacturing, materials science, and physics. It is a good video to remind you how engineers should approach problems and how technological progress should be conducted. I wish there was more on Neuralink, AI, and maybe even a little more on rocket technology, but there are other interviews and talks you can watch that more than make up for the deficiencies of this video.
Feb 8, 2020
Sep 25, 2018
An overview of Pytorch that not only covers the library, but also the general deep learning workflow. This explains what tensors are, different loss functions, as well as how to create forward and backward functions. It also explains activation functions like RELU. Comparisons and differences between Pytorch and Tensorflow are covered. Overall, this is a good introduction to the library. I recommend watching at 1.25x speed.
Feb 7, 2020
Gaston Dorren, Dec 4, 2018
This is a book that covers the top 20 most spoken languages. While I don't like how information is presented, it does the job, and it provides useful information for any aspiring polyglots. Each language is given its own chapter, but what is discusssed for each language varies. Some chapters discuss words and grammar while other discuss culture and history. This inconsistency is what I find to be the largest problem with this book, but if you can get past that, you might find it to be palatable. One thing I appreciated was its coverage of loan words. It made it easier determine an order in which to learn languages based on which languages were influenced by others. E.g., learning Chinese before Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese, or learning Arabic before learning Persian, Turkish, Swahili and Hindi.
Feb 6, 2020
Dec 4, 2019
The cinematography in this film is its strongest point and it is all due to the skills of Roger Deakins and Sam Mendes. There are not many weak points in this film other than its premise. The attention to detail and the ambitious nature of the long takes makes it a film to be studied like Birdman and Rope. Every second of this film felt real and highly immersive. This is one of the few films I can think of that could actually be improved with a higher frame rate. In terms of WWI films, I consider this to be better than Paths of Glory. In terms of verisimilitude, the entirety of this film is comparable to the D-day sequence in Saving Private Ryan. In terms of quality, I'd say it is neck and neck with Saving Private Ryan where Saving Private Ryan had better character development and 1917 had better action and technical milestones. It is that great and it makes a strong case for more WWI movies.
Feb 5, 2020
Mar 4, 2014
I'm not a big fan of South Park, but I found this funny and thought it was decent in its execution. The game is like an episode of South Park and it plays like an rpg without many of the annoying aspects. In that sense, it is approachable to a casual audience and does not end up being too time consuming. Fans of the show will like this, but others may find the show to be a bit much with its outrageous humor.
Feb 3, 2020
Andrew Yang, Apr 3, 2018
This is a book explaining most of the reasoning for Andrew Yang's 2020 presidential campaign. I found it to be insightful and thorough in its coverage of societal pressures, changes in the economy, and the future of the United States. It also talks about certain concepts that are rarely talked about like social credit, cognitive bandwidth, and it questions what a college education is actually supposed to do.
Jan 26, 2020
Jan 7, 2019
A playlist of videos that make the mathematics of machine learning far more accessible. Granted, you don't know machine learning if you don't know how to use matrix representations of the concepts, but it is a good way to have a conceptual understanding of classifiers, regression, and other techniques. I'm not a big fan of the presentation style, and the videos tend to be towards the longer side, but I think that this is one of the better resources on Youtube for machine learning. This seems to lack certain concepts like Bayesian approaches, Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods, and Laplacian point estimation which is unfortunate, but it is a good starting point. I would have also liked to have seen more on how to optimize hyperparameters, as well as a gradual progression into more mathematical representations of the concepts. This might be good for a programmer who just wants to know how the apply the concepts, but if you are in academia and are trying to do research, write a paper, or study for an exam, this is lacking. That said, resources for ML on youtube are either limited or lacking in pedagogical quality, so most people will need to settle for this.
Jan 21, 2020
Max Tegmark, Aug 29, 2017
Unlike the Russel and Norvig textbook, this is more of a speculative book that fouses more on what may be possible rather than the current technology. It analyzes and extrapolates what may happen in the future as AI improves and how society and the human race will change as a result. It compares and contrasts many different scenarios. Overall, it is well thought out and well researched. There are many references to other works that I read such as Thinking Fast and Slow, Homo Deus, Sapiens, I Robot, etc. Overall, I found it to be a serious treatment of the field that was grounded in reality and tried to provide possible guidelines in terms of how to think about the technology.
Jan 18, 2020
Jul 23, 2019
I now use this in place of meditation because playing this game at high speeds allows me to easily enter the zone. This game is one of the best games I have ever played and it proves that the Tetris Effect is real. The game of Tetris is simple, but in combination with the sensory stimuli and effects powered by Unreal Engine 4 allows me to reach altered states very quickly. Although it does make players enter the zone, it does not do this artificially. You will actually become a decent Tetris player by the end of the journey mode if you play in normal or expert difficulty. I have never had a game do anything like this to me ever. It is imperfect, but the flaws can easily be improved. If speeds and difficulty can be adjusted as the player plays, this can allow for altered states to be entered far more quickly. A larger variety of music tracks and visuals would also be appreciated. Finally, if the game can take in biometric data like heart rate into account, I think it may be possible to do things other than just enter the zone. Highly recommended not only to gamers, but to everyone. I think this has therapeutic aspects that can be very useful. I would really like to try this with VR if I get the chance.
Jan 13, 2020
Jan 7, 2019
I find 3Blue1Brown's videos very helpful and it was good to understand Grant Sanderson's philosophy and approach towards mathematics. This also introduced me to The Princeton's Guide to Mathematics which I'd like to read if I have the time.
Jan 4, 2020
Jun 7, 2019
The last film I saw on my Delta flight to Amsterdam. This one was above average, but it had holes. Character motivations seemed contradictory at times, but it was definitely thought provoking. The concept of a machine raising a child is something that isn't covered very much in fiction. Many ideas are presented, but I would have liked to have seen the exploration of a single idea at greater depth. It felt as though it were trying to tackle many themes at once, and I felt that weakened the film as a whole. It may be just me, but I feel that as I learn more about AI, the films about the subject don't seem to hold up with the most recent literature.
Jan 4, 2020
Oct 30, 2018
It has been a while since I've seen an indie film with a low budget. Jim Cummings absolutely nails it not only with his directing, but with his acting as well. He singlehandedly sells the film and the long duration shots that had him really flex his acting chops made the film something special. I didn't seem to be the intended audience of this film with its themes of divorce, fatherhood, and loss. There were awkward moments in there due to the mix of comedy and heavy drama, but somehow Jim manages to make it work.
Jan 3, 2020
Jan 24, 2019
This shows exactly what happened during the Apollo 11 mission and nothing else. There is no extraneous narration and all footage was footage taken during the mission. Picture quality is great, and you feel like you are experiencing exactly what the world experienced when the mission happened. It blows my mind that some of the sequences and shots they had were actually taken during the time of the mission. I didn't realize they had the technology for some of the techniques that were utilized at the time. Overall, an undeniably great documentary.
Jan 2, 2020
Oct 3, 2013
This is like a cyberpunk Uber simulator. Most of the game plays out like a sophisticated visual novel that takes place within a car. Concepts like automated driving vs human drivers, automation, quantum decryption and AI are touched upon. The emotions of the main character and the navigation of complicated conversations and social situations like handling gaslighting are well done. For an indie title, it is solid, but as a game, it is lacking in details. The world outside the cab feels almost desolate. You don't feel as though you are in a large city. It's a low budget game, so assets had to be kept to a minimum but additional details would have made it way better. I'm not asking for high graphical fidelity, but a more realistic world.
Jan 1, 2020
Sep 20, 2019
This one got better critical acclaim than it did with general audiences. I think I can understand why. Ad Astra is an introspective film that takes place in space. Unlike Interstellar or Gravity, this focuses more on relationships and seems to be deliberate and comparatively minimalistic. Other similar films focus more on action and suspense. Rather than comparing with more modern space films, this should be compared with Solyaris or 2001: A Space Odyssey. If you want a succint summary, this feels like a cross between Solyaris, 2001, and Apocalypse Now. That sounds like a pretty good combination to me. The focus is on character and cinematography, and I feel that it succeeds in that respect. In addition to this, while it is not completely realistic, it does seem real enough to seem possible. Similar to 2001, Ad Astra also hints at what commercial space travel and tourism might look like and it is very convincing. Overall, I feel that it is highly underrated and that we need more films like this in the genre.
Jan 1, 2020
May 23, 2013
This is an arcade style game with storytelling in the style of Bastion. It draws from the exaggerations made in old western dime novels. There were many moments in here that reminded me of The Unforgiven. Overall, it was fun. Nothing groundbreaking, but fun. The two endings were a nice touch.
Dec 31, 2019
May 17, 2018
This reminded me of Studio Ghibli films like Nausicaa and Howl's Moving Castle. Like Nausicaa, there is a post apocalyptic steampunk aspect to this, and like Howl's Moving Castle, there is the aspect of controlling a large machine by running around and manually adjusting different things. Unlike some other games where you are the only character, this one has an exaggerated feeling of isolation because the setting makes you feel as though it is at least populated by other people. In that sense, it is somewhat similar to Machinarium. Far: Lone Sails also has a similar ambience. Like many others in the genre, it is a short and simple but satisfying.
Dec 31, 2019
3Blue1Brown has the best animations and graphical representations, but this seems to have the best presentation of the topic in an engaging way. Khan Academy seems boring and long winded in comparison to this. This actually has thorough coverage of applications and does not merely present the abstract details. In addition to this, videos are short and compact. I think this is an underrated series given the high quality. I would have liked more details on eigenvalues, but I watched this for decent coverage of matrix algebra, so it served its task. If I have time, I'd like to view the next volume since that has Lagrange Multipliers, calculation of Nash Equilibrium and some coverage of linear regression which is very useful in machine learning.
Dec 30, 2019
Aug 12, 2014
P.T. is short for playable teaser. This was directed and designed by Hideo Kojima in collaboration with Guillermo Del Toro. Since I don't own a Ps4 and P.T. is no longer downloadable, I had to watch a playthrough instead which can be found here. Compared to other games, this one is far more stripped down and has a very simple level design. The game is organized in an infinite loop where you explore different variations of the same floor over and over again. It was very surreal and very M.C. Escher"esque". Get rid of the colors, and you might have something close to Eraserhead. I did not know what to make of it. Any narrative was told through a radio and weird messages that show up on the walls of the building. As a game, it is lacking, but as a tech demo and teaser, I felt that it was effective. I think you have to play it to get the full experience. Having someone fly through the puzzles doesn't really allow one to have full appreciation for the game.
Dec 30, 2019
Stuart Russell, Peter Norvig, Nov 1, 2009
With graduate school, I read a lot regarding learning, uncertainty, reinforcment learning, and a fair amount of the later half of the textbook. In my bachelors, I read a decent amount of the first half. I think this all adds up to me reading most of this textbook which has about 700+ pages of material. Total page count is about 1100 with a large part being exercises, appendixes, summaries and other complementary information typically found in a textbook. The Russell, Norvig textbook was written by experts in the field, and the most recent editions have been updated to include more modern techniques and discoveries. This is THE book for AI. I found this to be well written, but explanations regarding algorithms could have been structured better. With this, I have a fairly decent understanding of AI and its limitations. If there is one thing I got out of this, it is that we have a long way to go. That said, there are some very interesting applications that can be made using current techniques that will still be disruptive. We don't necessarily need general AI to accelerate the progress of civilization. Modern techniques offer quite a number of possiblities, and it is not necessary to wait for the silver bullet of general AI to discover the potential of AI.
Dec 29, 2019
Dec 12, 2019
Gris means grey in Spanish. In this game, you restore color and music back to a broken world. This game is highly minimalistic and shares many similarities to Journey. Similarly, there seems to be some sort of hero's journey, and a mythology that governs the world of Gris. Like the art design, the music is also minimal. It all works, and the gameplay is simple and easy to follow. In terms of art direction, this game is one of the best indie games I played this year.
Dec 28, 2019
Feb 14, 2019
Based on what I remember of the source material, this film falls short. It's not bad, but it's also not good. The world in the film is a bit more vibrant and less brutal than the world in Gunm. Part of what made the source material so compelling was an idea of hope in the face of desolation and incredible suffering. This movie lacks that and all of the philosophical musings that came with it. In that sense, the OVA that came out decades ago excels where this fails. Technical aspects and acting are well done, but a movie needs to have a compelling story and characters first and foremmost. Finally, there were instances where I had flashbacks to Sharkboy and Lavagirl. That should be somewhat telling. I don't think Robert Rodriguez's directing style works for this film, but he also has not directed a movie I would consider great within the past 8 years, so maybe I should not be so surprised.
Dec 27, 2019
Dec 12, 2019
Sayonara Wild Hearts is an arcade style music game that has a mix of endless runner and shmup style gameplay. The visuals are a beautiful mix in the style of outrun and matches the music. The music is also very well done with a mixture of synths and vocals. Gameplay is dynamic and changes between different modes based on your place in the music. It is not overly difficult, and as long as you have average reflexes, you should be able to finish in a short period of time. This is not a genre that I am a fan of, but this game's creativity has won me over. Finally, Queen Latifah as the narrator is like icing on a highly polished final product.
Dec 27, 2019
May 17, 2019
Story is not the strong point of the John Wick series and this movie is no exception, but if you came for great action, this movie delivers. This is a film that tries not to be smarter than it actually is and just delivers great stunts and set pieces. It is stylistic. The editing is not spastic like other lesser action films, and in regards to stunts, they had some of the best in the industry for this one. I don't think there was a weak link in terms of acting. No one here will take home an Oscar, but I think everyone did their part well with Keanu Reeves successfully selling his role as John Wick. When it comes to action, John Wick 3 is creative, visceral, and it does not cut corners in any way. You will see gun fights on horses, incredible usage of trained dogs, and good gunwork. It's definitely worth watching.
Dec 26, 2019
May 28, 2014
A Story About My Uncle is a platforming game that starts out as a bedtime story. The story itself is nothing to write home about and the graphics are unsophisticated. So the platforming must be good right? It's actually mixed. The ideas presented are interesting and the mechanics are used well, but the platforming itself felt unbalanced. Hitboxes seemed to not match what was rendered on the screen, and grappling did not seem to follow the laws of physics exactly. To put it simply, this game is unpolished, but the short playtime makes the flaws a little less of a problem.
Dec 24, 2019
Dynasty Warriors 2 was one of the first games I ever played and it is interesting to see how it is in one of its most recent incarnations. Graphics are unimpressive, the gameplay is still the same as it was 10 years ago and like most Koei Tecmo games, it is a buggy mess. That said, I seemed to have no problems with these things due to nostalgia and my appreciation of The Romance of the Three Kingdoms. There is something satisfying about mowing down hundreds of enemies in historical China. This installment has more than just the three kingdoms of Wei, Shu, and Wu. It also has a campaign for Jin (the Sima clan) and a campaign for Lu Bu. In addition to this, it also has more playable characters and many of the officers are no longer faceless mooks like they were in previous installments. I managed to make it through all the campaigns except for Wei and Shu due to those campaigns crashing for me after certain missions. So would I recommend it? Not at all. Did I have fun? Yes.
Dec 23, 2019
Dec 13, 2019
I wish this show was around when I was younger. It truly makes me want to reverse engineer everything I see to find out how they work. It covers chemistry and its applications in a basic and accessible way in a context where the introduction of scientific ideas isn't forced. In addition to that, it offers suggestions on how to rebuild modern human technology starting with a level of technology matchin that of the stone age. Dr. Stone is a shounen anime, so it falls into some of the tropes that come with the genre. As a result, pacing isn't the best, but it gets better in the second half. There are moments in here that have impressed me. The idea that you can create a human powered electric generator using stone age technology is something I never would thought of. The importance of fire and pinpoint heating helped to explain why humanity took so long to go from the stone age to the iron and bronze ages. While there is a requirement for suspension of disbelief, there is quite a bit of science in here that is legitimate. This is a show that is rich in ideas. Its execution isn't perfect, but I found it enjoyable. I'm looking forward to the next season.
Dec 23, 2019
Jan 23, 2018
This is an addicting sandbox. I initially played on survival mode, but switched to creative mode to have a bit more freedom and to save time. It was still time consuming despite this, because of the massive underwater world that required hours of exploration. I think freedom mode would be the best mode because it would better emphasize the crafting aspect, but if you are not a fan of spending hours farming for resources, creative mode can't be beat. The world itself is rather detailed. It has many biomes and large amounts of biodiversersity. The unique setting and story provides a background that has a bit of urgency and a lot of wonder. This is a well made game that never dragged.
Dec 22, 2019
Dec 20, 2019
An automated drifting car is the coolest thing I can think of when it comes to self driving. There are obvious applications within racing, but being able to control a car when drifting can also improve safety. It doesn't look like there is a paper that goes into details, but there is a Stanfor article which can be found here. There is also a great video that showcases the ability of MARTYkhana that can be found here.
Dec 22, 2019
Jan 28, 2015
Played Dying light and the dlc Dying Light: The Following. The main game is very well done. It felt like Far Cry 3 with parkour and zombies. Dying Light: The Following felt like Far Cry 3 with zombies, but no parkour. The playthrough time was rather long and it took a while for me to finish. Overall, it was a good open world zombie game. It gets repetitive later and the story isnt' particularly innovative, but I felt engaged for most of the game.
Dec 21, 2019
Dec 21, 2018
Probably the worst movie I saw out of the three on my flight from Amsterdam to Detroit. This had the most lazy god awful writing I've witnessed in a long time. Dialogue is predictable and I didn't care about any of the characters. Aquaman basically took bits and pieces from many superhero films and created a Frankenstein of a film. Action scenes were mainly CGI and lacked creativity. Before watching this film, I was curious to see how Aquaman could be made interesting. After watching this film, I realized that the only redeemable thing about this was Jason Momoa's personality and Nicole Kidman's acting.
Dec 21, 2019
Feb 5, 2019
This is a mixed one that had a lot of potential. There is some great imagery here. Scenes of Earth traveling through space, its atmosphere being swallowed up by Jupiter are absolutely sublime. This is despite the CGI looking very fake when compared to films produced by Hollywood. The emphasis on people across the world coming together was appreciated. Pacing is not that great and the characters suck. There are some cliché tropes that show up here. If you've seen a Chinese film before, you probably are familiar with certain stereotypes that show up here. The premise is interesting albeit rather unrealistic. I consider Cixin Liu to be China's Isaac Asimov, but this didn't meet my expectations.
Dec 21, 2019
Aug 2, 2019
The story isn't deep. It won't make you shed tears, or make you think. The action scenes look very fake due to CGI, weird use of slow motion, and the color grading is garbage. What this does have going for it, however, is great casting and interesting dialogue. Dwayne The Rock Johnson and Jason Statham have good chemistry. Despite this being a Fast and Furious spinoff, there is not much to do with cars in this one.
Dec 21, 2019
Jen Sincero, Apr 23, 2013
Another self help book. This one was more intended for the average Joe trying to get a leg up on life. Generally speaking, there was not much I got out of it. There is nothing here that isn't presented in other books in a better way. The only thing I got out of this was to love yourself.
Dec 19, 2019
Dec 19, 2019
I alreay knew much about the Artemis missions, but I like how the information was presented here. The mention of the role of commercial and international partners was a nice touch.
Dec 18, 2019
Dec 17, 2019
Ocean Cleanup was on my radar, but I never actually looked into it until now. I never realized that Ocean Cleanup was founded in the Netherlands and that Boyan Slat attended TU Delft. Leave it to the Dutch to do something interesting under the radar. Boyan Slat knows every technical aspect of the project he is working on and there are not many founders who have that level of knowledge. I've never really been all that interested in reusability because so many people are already working on it, but now I am seeing that there are many aspects to reusability that many people are unaware of I am starting to see it in a new light.
Dec 12, 2019
A very concise and understandable explanation of the minimax algorithm for two agent games.
Dec 9, 2019
Stephen Hawking, Apr 1 1988
Finally got to the end of this. This is surprisingly dense despite the low number of pages. Stephen Hawking covers much of the science that is used in modern physics today from Netownian mechanics, to quantum theory, to imaginary time. Despite it being meant for a more general audience, it is not an easy read. The documentary based off of this may be easier to digest, but I have not seen it.
Nov 27, 2019
Dava Newman: Space Exploration, Space Suits, and Life on Mars | Artificial Intelligence (AI) Podcast
Nov 22, 2019
Dava Newman is the former deputy administrator of NASA. It is interesting to hear about the research that is being done in the field and how philosophies may differ when compared to more corporate entities like SpaceX. The conversations regarding space suit technology were fascinating as well given that a majority of news coverage in the space industry focuses on rockets and satellites.
Nov 23, 2019
Sep 29, 2017
This is a good documentary that covers the five games played by AlphaGo and the preparation that occurred before the games. It does not get too technical, but it does go over the three network architecture of the agent. This film is more focused on the go side of things, but the opinions and commentary of Lee Sedol and Fan Hui were useful. It provided an inside look that could not be seen by watching the games. This was overall an enjoyable experience and made me excited to learn about reinforcement learning over the next few weeks.
Nov 17, 2019
Jan 15, 2018
The Man from Earth was a great thought provoking film. This sequel was not that. There are a few instances that felt like the first film, but this simply does not measure up due to what I can only call lazy writing. I'm not sure why this movie exists.
Nov 17, 2019
I used D3 when working as an engineer, but I need a refresher since I will be taking a course in Data Visualization and the library has had some changes since. Also, chances are that I will need to use more complex geometry than I did at work, so this was useful for building a good foundation. This tutorial is nothing special, but it is brief. Covers basic graphs, scales, and axes. Circular graphs are not covered at the level of detail I would have liked.
Nov 13, 2019
Nov 12, 2019
This was a conversation about Neuralink which covered the future of human augmentation. There was a bit about Tesla's work to have their cars navigate parking lots, but this podcast was mostly about Neuralink. As a fan of Ghost in the Shell and Deus Ex, it is good to see efforts towards human augmentation actually being realized in some form. The final note on the Pale Blue Dot was a nice way to conclude everything and remind us all of how insignificant we all truly are.
Nov 9, 2019
Nov 9, 2019
This Red Bull BC One was not as enjoyable for me as others. The judging felt somewhat predictable up until the end and there was very little sense of suspense up through the quarterfinals. That said, the crowd in Mumbai was great, and the final battle was incredible. I loved how they just added extra rounds. Menno may have won over the judges, but Killa Kolya definitely won over the crowd. The bgirl battles were entertaining as well. Commentary from Ronnie was better appreciated than the usual commentators.
Nov 9, 2019
Nov 7, 2019
I did not know much about WeWork was before, and after learning about it, I still don't know why it got as much hype as it did. What WeWork was doing was not particularly groundbreaking or technologically scaleable.
Nov 8, 2019
Oct 4, 2014
Watched this at Pathé in standard quality as a way to recover after exams. I would have preferred Imax, but availability of Imax screens in the Netherlands is low. That said, it was one of the best experiences I had watching in standard quality even though there were Dutch subtitles. Joker is the current's generation Taxi Driver and it is easy to forget that it is a comic book film. It is operatic, artistic, and often indulgent in nature. Similar to a Scorsese film, it values story over plot, but it places less emphasis on dialogue and more emphasis on image. It also pays homage to many older films. Every frame is beautiful, hypnotizing and most shots seem deliberate. The music is dramatic and reminded me of Pink Floyd's The Wall at times. Hildur Guðnadóttir is a talented composer and her music reminded me of Jóhann Jóhannsson's work due to its brooding nature. It was only afterwards that I realized that Hildur is Icelandic as well. In addition to this, Joaquin Phoenix's performance is one of his best and rivals Daniel Day-Lewis' performance in There will be Blood. Although there are scenes where it might drag and the movie as a whole is not perfect, I found Joker to be one of those rare films that I will revisit in the future.
Nov 7, 2019
Dec 28, 2012
This is like Oregon Trail except it takes place in a post nuclear wasteland with zombies. It's humorous and it harkens back to older retro games. The short play time and general structure of the game allows for it to be played without much time needed to be invested.
Nov 6, 2019
Sep 18, 2019
In terms of hard sci-fi, this show was way better than it had any right to be. I don't remember the last time I had my mind blown, but some of the twists and reveals in the second part of this show took me by complete surprise. What follows will contain spoilers. Kanata no Astra derives its title from the latin phrase Per aspera ad astra. This is where the film Ad Astra also derives its title from. The show follows the standard tropes of a Shounen anime, but takes things to the next level with its thoughtful premise. Concepts like illegal cloning for the purpose of expanding longevity, revisionism of history, and weaponized wormholes are covered. It also includes one of the only representations of an intersex human I have seen in media. I wish it would have also included time dilation. It seems like the show played loose with relativity, but this may have allowed for the show to be more accessible for the scientifically illiterate. If you are used to genre tropes in Shounen anime and are willing to suspend disbelief, this is definitely worth the time.
Oct 27, 2019
Michio Kaku: Future of Humans, Aliens, Space Travel & Physics | Artificial Intelligence (AI) Podcast
Oct 22, 2019
I recommend watching at 1.25x speed. Michio Kaku is far more philosophical and far more forward thinking in the content he presents when compared to other science personalities that appear on TV. This podcast covers the future of human existence, the nature of information in the universe as well as the limitations of deriving ethics from science. Overall, I found this to be very thought provoking.
Oct 26, 2019
Nov 26, 2014
I am currently reading through A Brief History of Time, so I thought this movie might make a decent companion piece and serve as inspiration for studying. This was not the case, because the film is full of historical inaccuracies, and it does not focus on the science. This is disappointing because it has great cinematography and a great soundtrack by Jóhann Jóhannsson. In addition to this, Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones were terrific in their roles. One thing people might be confused about coming into this film is that this is a film about Stephen Hawking. This is incorrect, because it is based on a memoir by Jane Hawking. The film might be better if it focused on Jane Hawking, but it seems to split its attention between Stephen Hawking and Jane Hawking which ultimately degrades the script. It is a good film, but it lacks focus.
Oct 26, 2019
Jul 7, 2019
A high level overview of differential equations. I did not expect to completely understand everything about differential equations, but this overview gives a sampling platter of topics in the area. I wished he covered Fourier Transform pairs, but there is a limit to how much you can cover in a simple overview, and there may be new videos added to the playlist in the future. The graphical visualizations of Fourier series were very well done and are a great teaching tool.
Oct 25, 2019
Aug 25, 2018
A very unintimidating explanation of U substition for integration that I really liked. This shows examples and talks about strategies for finding a good u. I wished more educational videos on Youtube had this sort of relaxed delivery.
Oct 23, 2019
Oct 23, 2019
This guest came as a complete surprise. Snowden is currently promoting his book, and it is good to hear things from his side of the story. Offers a perspective that was not offered in Glenn Greenwald's book. I'd like to be able to read Snowden's book if I get the time.
Oct 22, 2019
Oct 22, 2019
Richard Dawkins' The Selfish Gene is on my list of books to read. This episode covers what Dawkins is more famous for in recent times which is his views on religion.
Oct 17, 2019
Rich Karlgaard, Apr 16, 2019
A book that examines society's harmful obsession with early achievement and identifies late bloomers as a large segment of the population. Reading this enforced my understanding that humans are the sum of their experiences and that you can bloom not only early or late, but throughout life. What matters is that you have many different experiences throughout life and a chance to explore and find out what you are good at.
Oct 14, 2019
Apr 25, 2017
A really short game with less than 2 hours of playtime from beginning to end. Within those two hours, it managed to remind me of dreams I had as a child, and the imagination I used to have when I was younger. This game successfully captures the story of an entire family while also taking a walking simulator and improving it with alternate perspectives and new approaches to exploration. It is an accomplishment to show the beauty of life within two hours, and the only other games I can think of as doing the same thing are those by Jenova Chen. The design and layout of the house is not only great in terms of progression, but it seems exactly like the type of house I would have loved to have lived in as a child.
Oct 11, 2019
Jun 20, 2019
Another short game that I could fit between breaks to take my mind off of things. I remember when My Friend Pedro was a flash game, and it is good to see it come back as a full fledged game. Outside of the standard 2d side scrolling bullet time action, there are additional mechanics that are introduced to keep everything fresh. It has style, but it also has substance in its gameplay. Like Superhot, it has a short playthrough, but a lot of great replay value.
Oct 7, 2019
May 19, 2018
Another series by 3Blue1Brown. This time, he uses a visual approach to calculus. This is rather thorough and covers all the staples. Derivatives, limits, integration, and Taylor series are each provided at least one video.
Oct 5, 2019
Sep 30, 2019
I am currently using Artificial Intelligence A Modern Approach in one of my classes, so the timing of this podcast ended up working out extremely well. This podcast helped me understand what Peter Norvig's priorities are and how he views education of computer science related topics. It also helped to highlight some of the shortcomings of the class I am taking right now which emphasizes technique without philosophy. There is a reason why his textbooks include a section on philosophy, and the fact that he made a point of that in this podcast shows that blindly using the techniques within his textbook without any considerations of implications they may bring is mistaken.
Oct 1, 2019
Thomas Frank, Jan 5, 2015
A short book about useful habits and strategies to optimize the learning process to excell in classes. Most of these I am already doing, but the chapters on scheduling and note taking were useful. It reminded me that a purely algorithmic approach to optimize studying without taking human behavior into account will have limited results.
Sep 29, 2019
Sep 28, 2019
I was unable to watch this live due to the time differences. Musk starts off with his usual spiel about being a multiplanetary species, but once he finishes with that, he gets down to details and presents the technical details. The largest improvement in the Starship design is the usage of 301 stainless steel which is far cheaper than whatever carbon composite or aluminium composite that was being considered before. This presentation also covers the design of the heat shield to prevent cracking under extreme heat. Interestingly, Musk mentioned that refueling in orbit is more trivial than docking with the space station. Finally, another simulation involving the Superheavy and Starship has been made with the updated designs. Some of the timelines presented here are ambitious even for Musk, but if it is him, we may see a fully functional Starship Superheavy combo in 2 years. On another note, I really liked what he said about schedules. If it's long, it's wrong. If it's tight, it's right.
Sep 28, 2019
Dec 1, 2018
Matlab is a scripting language primarily used for mathematical tasks. This video covers every thing from the data structures to classes and even briefly covers plotting with Matlab. I don't remember everything, but I remember the quirks of the syntax and how printing works. For everything else, I can just look at the documentation, so this video did its job.
Sep 28, 2019
Feb 25, 2016
A game that is short enough that I could finish it between breaks. Superhot is a game that manages to do a lot with a simple premise and in the process, it ends up being very thought provoking even though the the story is rather simple. The primary mechanic is that time will only flow when you move. This allows you to dodge bullets, cut bullets out of the air with a sword, and do things that wouldn't be possible with a traditional fps. Later in the game, you gain the ability to transfer your conciousness to enemy characters which adds another layer of freedom to the game. I found this to be very similar to the Matrix despite in being not as wordy or philosophical. Great way to let off steam.
Sep 26, 2019
Sep 24, 2016
A graphical explanation of linear algebra that can be used to build a more visual intuition of the subject. I found the first few videos the most useful, but it is a solid series throughout. I recommend watching it from the beginning in order to have a good understanding of the fundamentals. I used it to gain a better understanding of eigenvectors and eigenvalues myself. I really wish 3Blue1Brown can do videos on probability theory.
Sep 22, 2019
Aug 7, 1992
In the 50's and 60's, Westerns were a more romanticized genre that had a certain veneer about it. In the 60's and 70's, the western became more violent, but also more stylized. This film draws from those eras, but also adds a dose of realism and cynicism to its voice. In addition to being directed by Clint Eastwood, it was written by David Webb Peoples who was one of the writers of Blade Runner. Unforgiven is a film that is on the level of other great Westerns like The Searchers and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. I found its third act to be particularly well done and thought the dialogue was better written than some of the classic Westerns directed by John Ford and Sergio Leone.
Sep 21, 2019
May 4, 1959
Although this is a tale of adolescence, it doesn't fall within the traditional trope of a coming of age story. In that sense, it is somewhat subversive, but the story is not the strongest point of this film. The strongest aspect of this film is the camera work. The way the objects inside of the frame tell the story and the way movement is used is quite different from other films during the time that played things by the book. I had flashbacks to Scorsese and Kubrick films that used similar shots, but came after this film was released. There is an obvious stylistic influence on directors who saw this film during their formative years and its role as a film that is representative of the French New Wave is well deserved.
Sep 20, 2019
Brian Christian, Tom Griffiths, Apr 19, 2016
A great overview of how algorithms affect every part of our lives and how we can use algorithms to make life easier. This covers a large amount of modern algorithms and the problems they try to solve. It also explains tractable and intractable problems in simple terms without getting too mathematical. I found it to be a great companion piece to the classes I am taking right now.
Sep 18, 2019
Sep 17, 2019
I just think this is cool. It shows how important an environment is for an agent to learn in addition to the actual way trials are carried out. Anything that is input can become an incentive or a consequence. The concluding point that simple rules can lead to high levels of intelligence makes me wonder if general AI is a significantly simpler problem than most people think.
Sep 9, 2019
May 10, 2019
I enjoyed the visual style of this. Story wise, it was not anything special, but I thought it was true to the spirit of the brand. Ryan Reynolds was enjoyable at Detective Pikachu. It was not a bad movie, but I wouldn't consider it a good one either.
Sep 8, 2019
Jul 27, 2018
Tom Cruise is getting older, but his stunts are getting more and more elaborate. Fallout is, in my opinion, a great example of Hollywood style action. Set pieces are great and the locations are well thought out. Camera work is deliberate and everything seems to have been well thought out. It works as a thriller that does almost everything right. I think the last time I was thoroughly impressed with stunt work like I've seen here was John Wick 2.
Sep 7, 2019
Sep 18, 2012
Probably the last game I will have the time to complete for a while. Borderlands 2 is like Borderlands 1, but it is bigger and seems to have an emphasis on coop play. This can make it frustrating for anyone who is playing solo. Also, because of the lack of weapons types and abilities, it can come across as repetitive. In terms of the looter shooter genre, this seems to be one of the best, but I think it was definitely made for multiplayer. It has much of the same type of humor as the previous entry, but if you want to live in the world of Pandora without dealing with some of the more frustrating elements of the game, you might be better off playing Tales from the Borderlands instead.
Aug 31, 2019
Jun 29, 2017
Space elevators, skyhooks, and orbital rings are the trinity of methods to allow payloads to reach space very cheaply. Although the space industry is currently obsessed with rockets, if you want truly sustainable space travel at a very cheap price, the orbital ring is the gold standard for getting into space. If such infrastructure exists, multistage rockets might become obsolete, and single stage rockets launched directly from orbit for interplanetary travel may become the next new thing.
Aug 27, 2019
Aug 27, 2019
The final starhopper test. This shows that the raptor engines can be used in a controlled manner and bodes well for the Starship prototypes. SpaceX's rate of progress is truly amazing.
Aug 26, 2019
Sep 30, 2016
Thunderbolt Fantasy is the result of a collaboration between Japanese and Taiwanese companies. The story draws from old samurai and swordsman stories like the Seven Samurai and is set in a world similar to the kind seen in Chinese Xuanhuan novels. It truly is a mixture of cultural tropes, and the main selling point of glove puppetry only makes it all the more unique. There is very little like it, and the only things that might be even remotely comparable are the works of Studio Laika, and The Dark Crystal.
Aug 25, 2019
Feb 14, 2013
A browser game that emulates what it is like to live with depression. Any choices that allow one to recover from the disorder are scratched out, making the game very linear with very little choice. It could be that this was intended to simulate the downward spiral associated with depression, but it it also sacrificed depth as a result. I find this design choice to be questionable, because it is possible to recover from depression. If there is no choice, there is no point. As a result, this was a rather unenjoyable game that seems to have been made to educate and make a point rather than to entertain. I think it can be improved if there was more choice or at least an explanation of how choice is understood and considered within the context of this game.
Aug 24, 2019
Apr 5, 2019
This movie introduces Shazam and also offers a preview of the Shazam kids. It is humorous and doesn't get into any heavy themes. In many ways, it feels like it is following the Marvel formula and shares similarities with Dr. Strange, but lacks many of the metaphysical aspects as well as the complicated special effects of the later work. It isn't anything special, but it is a fun time and if DC continues with this level of quality, they may be able to have something on par with the Marvel universe in the future.
Aug 21, 2019
Dec 6, 2016
It's like Journey, but not quite. The soundtrack by Austin Wintory is in spectacular form and the art direction is identical to what may be found in Thatgamecompany's games. However, the narrative structure and level design is different. Abzû's level design is more simplistic, but at the same time there is more on screen. Giant Squid Studios successfully replicates some of the mystery of our oceans and in the process sacrifices the feelings of isolation and spirituality that was present in Journey. This sacrifice seems intentional, because Abzû is going for something different. Abzû is not necessarily going for feelings of the spiritual kind, but rather the primeval. The Sumerian origins of the game's title seems to support this. As such, it may not bring out introspection like Journey, but a different kind of externally directed feeling towards the expansiveness of our reality that is very difficult to describe. In many ways, this feels like a companion piece to Journey that tries to do what Journey did not to create a complete whole. I feel like it succeeded, but I would have preferred a more clear emotional narrative like Flower or Journey.
Aug 15, 2019
Mar 18, 2019
Although this is well made, reading Bad Blood is a better experience and better use of your time. This documentary features interviews with individuals not all thatt closely related to Theranos, and it does not have a clear message. Simply put, it lacks focus, and the characters involved are not presented with all of the interesting aspects associated with them.
Aug 14, 2019
Aug 31, 2018
It is amazing how something as lifeless as rock can have so many dimensions and features. While the movie Free Solo focuses on Alex Honnold's free solo climb of El Capitan, it manages to also successfully express the depth involved in the world of rock climbing. It talks about the risks, the techniques, and the history. In addition to this, the editing made an activity as slow and methodical as free soloing an exciting affair. A great documentary deserving of its awards.
Aug 10, 2019
Spent over 4 months to complete this. This covers statistics from the basics to ANOVA. It does not cover MANOVA or other multivariate techniques, but it does cover regression techniques. Also thoroughly covers combinatorics and basic probability theory.
Aug 10, 2019
Dec 15, 1989
A civil war epic that focuses on the first all black volunteer company. Edward Zwick made his best movies earlier in his career, and this is towards the top of his filmography. There are not many civil war movies, but this is one of the good ones. It's a complete package. Good script, good music, good soundtrack. Definitely worth the time spent watching.
Aug 9, 2019
May 1, 2013
It is the near future. The apocalypse has had an apocalypse. A rogue cyborg army is reshaping the world into cyber hell and only one thing can stop them. From the toxic ashes of Vietnam War 2, a new breed of renegade soldier is born. Part man, part machine, all cyber commando. Sergeant Rex Colt is leading the battle between good and evil as it's never been fought before. He's on a desperate mission to bring down a battalion of ruthless killer cyborgs and save the world. The only game where I used my knife more than I used my guns. This is as 80's as it gets and I loved it.
Aug 9, 2019
大暮 維人, May 16, 2003
I wanted to read something in Japanese, but reading an entire novel seemed like a chore, so I settled for this. I remember buying this in a Book Off when I was in Japan for the first time. Unlike the animated series, this seems slower paced. That's not to say that the original source is any less of an urban jungle, or any less kinetic, but there is a little more fat on the bone with this one. They don't make manga like this anymore, so the subject matter is still fresh. The idea of rollerblades on steroids to do high speed parkour is still interesting and the feelings of freedom that accompany the premise are still there. That said, there are a few small things that annoyed me when I was reading this. Often times, there is incorrect Japanese or simply incorrect furigana accompanying the kanji. This could be due to the characters speaking in a rough manner, but it made what should have been an easy read a little bit harder.
Aug 8, 2019
Dec 25, 2012
Among all of the film adaptations of Broadway musicals that I have seen, Les Misérables has the best cinematography. This is not too surprising because Tom Hooper directed The King's Speech before this. That said, the camera shakes a little too much for my liking. One of the things I found surprising was that the music was actually not up to par with other musicals. One of the reasons for this is singing ability. The cast can sing, but for some reason, they always sound out of breath. I'm not sure if this was a directorial decision, but I found that it took away from the impact. My general impression is that this is just below what is expected of a great film, and improvements in sound and pacing would have raised my opinion of the work.
Aug 8, 2019
Nov 29, 2012
This is said to be the best Far Cry game and also the game with the best story in the series. While it has less realism than Far Cry 2, this does not diminish the gameplay. One thing I noticed is that it seems to have many similarities to the Assassin's Creed games in terms of game mechanics. This can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on whether you have the patience to explore the open world presented. Vaas is a well written villain and a memorable one. In regards to the open world, there are many places to explore, but the islands seem pretty much the same throughout, and the npc's lack depth. It is designed well for eating up time, but not so much for making meaningful memories in its world. I recommend first capturing radio towers, then finishing the hunting missions, and finally the steamrolling through game's story for the best experience and minimal fuss.
Aug 7, 2019
Jan 24, 2002
Chicago is one of the longest running Broadway musicals, so I was interested in seeing how a stage musical would be adapted to film. It's done rather well, but it's not for me. The songs used the jazz of the 1920's as a basis to create catchy tunes, and the acting was well executed as well. Due to its satirical nature, I personally found that there were no characters I could relate to or identify with. If you're into tap or jazz dance, this might be for you, but in film, I believe that story is most important and I did not like the story in this one.
Aug 6, 2019
Covers arithmetic and geometric sequences and series. For some reason, I struggled with approximations in the past due to intimidating nature of the mathematical notation involved, but after completing this module, the concepts feel far too simple. I don't even know why I even found it hard anymore other than that I got a subpar education in the past.
Aug 5, 2019
I really liked this musical. Despite the name, you actually don't need to know anything about opera before seeing this. The operas referred to within this play are fictional and don't even exist. The music is also very accessible with electric guitar parts and lyrics intended to win over a larger audience. The story is a mixture of The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Beauty and the Beast. Like those titles, this has the appeal of a disney film and it ends up being rather meta as well. There is a certain 4th wall breaking aspect to the play due to the fact that there are stage sequences inside of a staged work. Overall, it is a fun musical that I found to be better than Cats.
Aug 4, 2019
Jul 28, 2019
I'm not the biggest fan of the Jojo series, but I keep watching it so that I can keep up with the memes. I personally liked the second part the best because it did not have stands, but now that we are on part five, I can say that this manages to take the concept of a 'Stand' to a new level. There are tons of Stand battles and, at this point, Araki Hirohiko has gotten rather skilled at using the limitations and strengths of Stands to draw out as much suspense as possible. It also helps that characters have exaggerated reactions and characteristics. Overall, I found this to be an entertaining entry.
Aug 4, 2019
Sept 24, 2001
Emulated and upscaled through PCSX2. Ico is one of the greatest games ever made for good reason. Ico is great in the classical sense. It tells a simple story of companionship and isolation and draws from many ancient cultures such as ancient Greece and Rome for architecture and storytelling, and ancient Japan and ancient China for geography, language, mythology, clothing and everything else. The puzzles use simple mechanics in multiple different ways to create variety. Due to its age, the combat mechanics are nothing special, but they don't take anything particularly away from the work as a whole. Despite it being overshadowed by Shadow of the Colossus (which I played as a child), it manages to sufficiently stand up on its own and lay the technical and stylistic groundwork for Fumito Ueda's later works. Similarly, many of Jenova Chen's works seem to have many stylistic elements taken from Ico. This is an important work that is often unfairly overlooked. I highly recommend it.
Aug 3, 2019
Is having the heroine die from sickness a common opera trope? Anyways, the story begins like a bad joke where a poet, a painter, a singer, and a musician all walk into a bar. Despite the characters having different professions, I found it funny that everyone including the singer could sing. La Boheme, unlike other opera entries did not have highly technical music, and in some ways, it came across as cliche. Despite this, the delivery of the story was a great reflection of the time in which it was made, and it managed to balance comedy, tragedy and drama rather well. I would consider this better than The Magic Flute, but not better than Carmen or La Traviata.
Aug 2, 2019
Jul 1, 2019
When I saw that there was a part 2, I thought they were selling out, but I could not have been more wrong. This entry elevates the series to become one of the greatest works of Japanese animation and puts it on the same level as Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood and Steins;Gate in my opinion. The first half had action on a scale similar to Lord of the Rings with pacing and stakes that was similar to Mad Max Fury Road. The second half finally provides answers to questions that were asked in previous seasons and subtly introduces philosophical questions and concepts. There were allusions to World War II, gestures to Plato's Allegory of the Cave, and a healthy dose of cynicism to keep everything from getting pretentious. This does everything right, the payoff is amazing, and we're still not at the end. Regardless of whether everything ends with a bang or a whimper, I am confident that the ending will be thoughtfully constructed and provided with the same high quality treatment we have seen in previous entries.
Aug 2, 2019
Jul 19, 2019
It is strange seeing Eric Weinstein with his boss, but somehow this conversation manages to work due to its subject matter. There are topics presented here that I don't usually see being talked about such as the technological stagnation we are currently experiencing. While it may be true that there are many gradualistic advances in technology, there are very few fundamental saltatory improvements in the technology we currently use. This is why technology appears to be stagnant. Simply put, there are no new discoveries being made. We are simply finding new ways to use the discoveries that were made in the past. The second topic that is covered at length is the counterproductive nature of higher education and academia within the United States and the damages caused by those running the larger institutions that fall within this category. All in all, I found that this was a thoughtful conversation that examined a problem many have not even acknowledged.
Aug 1, 2019
Tracy Kidder, July, 1981
Back in the day before computer manufacturers just assembled parts and just made things fit within a chasis, there were companies that built entire computers from scratch. This is one such story. This is not the story of a company starting small and then making it big. It is just the story of how a single computer (Eagle) in Data General was made from beginning to end. Many of the things here were all too familiar to me since I was an engineer, but since it was in a different industry, during a different time, I found it interesting to see what people were concerned about back then. Needless to say, not much has changed over forty years.
Aug 1, 2019
I'm sick and tired of Mozart. I hear his stuff everywhere and I have trouble enjoying it anymore. It sounds like a bunch of arpeggios and scales to me with nothing to distinguish it from other classical music-- almost as if a mindless computer wrote it. The story of the Magic Flute is simple, but it makes up for its simplicity for its imagery and symbolism. Vocals are also very technical. German is rather similar to Dutch, so I found myself understanding some of the content without needing subtitles.
Jul 31, 2019
Feb 15, 1985
The Breakfast Club is unorthodox in its organization, but it manages to work because it places all of its actors in one room and asks the simple question of what happens. There are no weak links because of its small cast. While it does not necessarily say the most profound things in its main message, this coming of age story is fun to watch from beginning to end and does not drag at all. I enjoyed it more than Bueller.
Jul 31, 2019
Patrick Ness, May 1, 2014
This book, in my opinion, was almost perfect for its first half. Because it is a young adult novel, the prose is simpler than other works, but it still read beautifully. Books don't need to be a convoluted mess of high diction to be good and this novel is a testament to that fact. In terms of characters, all of the characters are given an appropriate amount of attention and the emotional weight of their struggles are carried to the reader rather effectively. In regards to the hard sci-fi themes that show up later in the book, they are explored rather well in the first half, but never truly explored in depth in the later half. I don't think Patrick Ness is a sci-fi writer, so this may be easily forgiven if he focused more on the struggles of the individual characters rather than fill pages with strange detours in the later half. This book had so much potential, and that is why I like it, but it is not a perfect book. If you read just the first half and stop there, you may actually enjoy it better. That said, the ending was rather thoughtful, so I'll leave it up to your judgement.
Jul 30, 2019
My second opera. This time, instead of a film, I watched the full production with subtitles. I was originally watching the Royal Opera's version, but for some reason, they dropped the subtitles, so I finished with the Taomina Festival version. Unlike the Royal Opera (which has Carmenita in a gorilla suit for some reason), the Taormina Festival version was far more faithful to the source material. This made it far more accessible to me. In terms of story, I felt that Carmen was better than La Traviata, but did not have the same level of vocal technicality as La Traviata. The characters were more understandable this time around, and I found it interesting that I didn't like Carmenita, but actually rooted for Micaëla. The music, in my opinion was the best part. This was, in many ways, a compilation of best hits of Georges Bizet and that worked to its strengths. Unlike older operas, the music here had something of a unique oriental flavor that set it apart from other operas that were far more rigid due to their classical occidental influences.
Jul 29, 2019
Nov 10, 2009
We see some old faces in this one like Soap and Price. While this is a continuation of the first modern warfare, there are some differences in style. The first difference is that while the first modern warfare was more realistic, this was a little more over the top like a Hollywood blockbuster. This made for some very interesting levels with high stakes, but in the process, it lost a little bit of what made the first modern warfare great. The soundtrack by Lorne Balfe and Hans Zimmer was well done and better executed in this entry. Overall, it is a great game that went by very quickly, but it does not seem to reach the heights that were reached by its predecessor.
Jul 28, 2019
Oct 16, 2009
A charming point and click game with a fantastic art style. Some of the puzzles involved were rather challenging too. Reminded me of the movie Robots in many ways. In terms of plot, it's not as complex as what you might see in a point and click game by Wadjet Eye games.
Jul 27, 2019
H.P. Lovecraft, Feb, 1928
This is a book that is highly dependent on suspension of disbelief. It may be because of the age of the work, but the timescale that the Old Ones operate within is simply unrealistic. Despite this, the main premise and the creeping dread involved with the subject matter make for an interesting story. This did not make me an H.P. Lovecraft fan, but I would be curious to see if similar cosmic horror can be done better in a more modern work.
Jul 21, 2019
Jan 4, 2016
I saw the first film in the trilogy and heard that the rest of the Hobbit Trilogy was a bloated mess, so I decided to watch the Maple Films edit instead. This version is rather faithful to the source material and cuts out much of the fat to create a tighter story. Unlike what I've seen of the trilogy previously, this came across as coherent. While Lord of the Rings was a story of Men and Hobbits, this was a coherent story of Dwarves and a single Hobbit. That said, I do think it is a bit long for one book and it does not match the scale of Lord of the Rings.
Jul 21, 2019
Max Brooks, Sept 16, 2003
I read The Zombie Survival when I was in middle school and I remember loving it. It doesn't hold up in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, it's a decent book, but it can get repetitive. It's a good way to waste time, but not the best book.
Jul 20, 2019
Jul 27, 2018
I'm not sure what got me watching this, but I found it surprisingly entertaining. I watched the original Teen Titans as a child, but I've never seen Teen Titans Go!. This made everything seem fresh to me. The animation was way better than it had any right to be. Lines were delivered quickly, but also with careful timing and jokes did not lower themselves to the common denominator. There is some cleverness to this juvenile work and I enjoyed it.
Jul 20, 2019
Stephen King, Oct, 1998
Read the extended version. Stephen King is an author who is capable of flailing around in the darkness and grabbing a decent story without planning it. By planting seeds and symbols throughout the post apocalyptic novel, he was able to add many different layers. There is the Dark Man who shows up in many of Stephen King's novels. There is the biblical and supernatural aspects that mirror the rapture. And finally, there is the intricacies of human nature in all its beauty and ugliness. This is Stephen King's War and Peace. It isn't consistent in terms of quality throughout, but it is a great book with depth that manages to be entertaining.
Jul 20, 2019
Tapas Guha, 2004
Another book from childhood I decided to revisit. It's nothing but a collection of stories from Hinduism presented to an English speaking audience. Good for entertainment purposes as well as for better cultural understanding of how religion may have developed in South East Asia.
Jul 20, 2019
Hergé, Oct, 1952
A continuation of the story presented in Destination Moon. Many of the ideas and scenes presented here may be recreated by American astronauts who participate in the Artemis project. Ice on the moon, sabotage by other countries, etc. I really liked this as a kid, and it still holds up today.
Jul 20, 2019
Hergé, Mar 30, 1950
Due to a power outage, I decided to take the time to go through some old books on my shelf. This includes a portion of my collection of the entire Tintin series. Destination Moon attempts to explain how rockets may eventually send humans to the moon. The rocket presented is nuclear powered unlike the Saturn V. It is very interesting to read this now that we have visited the moon. I'm not sure why Starhopper was fashioned after the rocket presented here, but I do appreciate the nostalgia.
Jul 19, 2019
Jul 17, 2019
What is presented here looks like what vacuum tube computers looked like back in the 50's and 60's. It's not where we should be, but it is a start. What is presented here is an order of magnitude improvement on the state of the art in brain computer interfaces. It can be used to restore certain faculties of the mind for those who have some form of nerve or brain damage. The use of needles, threads, and robots to optimize the process allows for a less invasive and far more scaleable solution compared to standard brain surgery. I really want to see what they come up with, but at the moment, the technology is still in its infancy and because the N1 is the first product, it is too soon to determine if the trends in the industry are promising.
Jul 14, 2019
Jun 20, 2015
The best entry in the Arise series, and one of the better Ghost in the Shell films. It definitely beats out the live action film, but it does not live up to the Mamoru Oshii film. I still need to watch the Stand Alone Complex series, but what I've seen here was impressive. The improved budget led to better production values, but the script lacked the emotional weight of other entries in the Ghost in the Shell universe.
Jul 13, 2019
Jun 22, 2018
I really liked this one. It's like a cross between a traditional school life 4-koma show and Mob Psycho 100. Animation is decent, and it brought out some genuine laughs.
Jul 13, 2019
Seth Godin, May 10, 2007
A short book with little to offer that I haven't read about already in other books. Also, the idea that nothing is worth doing if you are not the best at doing it is highly flawed and will lead to an unfulfilled life. The concept of what is "Best" needs to be elaborated on further than it already is. What it has that I consider to be useful is unoriginal. I do not recommend this read.
Jul 13, 2019
May 20, 2019
Available for free on Itch and Steam. A short relaxed game about depression with multiple endings. There's not a lot of depth to it, but it manages to make a dent in its short playtime. The game does what it has to do and nothing more. It makes no mistakes in that sense, but I can see this improving with a longer story. Overall, a great entry for a college student dabbling in indie games.
Jul 12, 2019
Jul 2, 2019
One of the better Spiderman films out there. It's higher in scale than the previous MCU Spiderman Film, but it isn't quite as epic as an Avengers film. It knows not to take on too much and it sets itself up for Phase 4 rather well. I'm going to be visiting Europe next month, so I also appreciated the set pieces and locations. I personally think Phase 3 should have ended with Avengers Endgame, but this wasn't a bad way to end the Infinity Saga.
Jul 12, 2019
Gordon Livingston, Nov 9, 2004
An imperfect but good read. Consists of general life lessons and teachings in a way that is similar to Jordan Peterson's 12 Rules. It is a short read and it complemented Inner Engineering very well. One of the things I always find myself is thinking about what I could have accomplished if I only knew something a little earlier. With this novel, I hope I have those thoughts a little bit less often.
Jul 11, 2019
Feb 6, 2015
A flash game and also available on Steam. A good way to waste time, but it gets repetitive towards the end. I believe it takes inspiration from FFVII.
Jul 8, 2019
Sadhguru, Sep 20, 2016
This book was highly impactful for me. The first chapter in particular was very useful. Inner Engineering is split into two parts. The first focuses on Sadhguru's experiences and the shortcomings of modern society to foster joy. The second focuses on yogic principles framed in a modern context. It also provides activities that can be followed to train the mind. Much of the book is organized in such a way that you can focus your efforts on what you struggle with. If you want to have a better grasp on how to handle your emotional needs and approach life in a more joyful manner, you will find this book very helpful.
Jul 8, 2019
Dec 8, 1978
Michael Cimino made one good movie and this is it. There are many Vietnam films, but this is one that stands closer to the top. I wouldn't consider it to be as good as Apocalypse Now, but I think it is rather close. The Russian roulette scenes were the best parts of the film. Not only were they brutal, but they could draw out an incredible amount of suspense in short bursts. It also helped that the acting of Robert Deniro, Christopher Walken and Meryl Streep elevated the film higher. Although it is a bit long, I consider it to be essential viewing.
Jul 7, 2019
A great way to review different common algorithms. It even covered concepts I was not explicitly taught in school such as bitwise operations for increasing performance as well as memoization. One thing to note is that solutions provided here aren't perfect and seem to have an unusual focus on recursion. Recursive solutions aren't incorrect, but they can be inefficient.
Jul 7, 2019
Jun 9, 1989
I forgot how great of an actor Robin Williams was, and this movie was very effective in reminding me of that. All this film needs is more Robin Williams and more poetry, and it would be perfect. There are not many films that touch on the subject of nonconformity, but this acts like a primer in the art. An inspired work that lasts past the time of viewing. If you learn nothing else, carpe diem.
Jul 5, 2019
The final installment tries to tread the same ground as the 1995 film, but does not make any deep emotional or philosophical conclusions. This time, it presents the possibilities of fused conciousnesses, single conciousnesses that can diverge, and multiple people sharing one body. In the future, the concept of a body will fundamentally change and become separated from one's identity. As our humanity becomes more abstract, it will be interesting to see how we maintain or try to maintain the things we believe makes us human.
Jul 4, 2019
May 10, 1967
My first opera. Anna Mofo was terrific as Violetta. The story was not anything complex, but the vocal gymnastics involved was just insane. Also, it was interesting to see the context of Verdi's music. I have typically just listened to the music of Verdi, but now I understand what scenes they were used for. Opera is truly an interesting genre. Every bit of dialogue is sung, but unlike broadway plays, the vocal talent required is higher and there is less choreography. It is not very accessible due to the language, however. I recommend watching operas with dual subtitles to get the best experience.
Jul 2, 2019
Walter Isaacson, Oct 24, 2011
My second Walter Isaacson book. The general impression I have is that people have an opinion of Steve Jobs that ignores his flaws. Bill Burr makes this point in one of his interviews. This book does not simply praise, and Walter Isaacson shows both the good and the bad. Steve Jobs had successes and failures, and Walter Isaacson covers all of it. Unlike the film, this also covers his childhood and his identity as an adopted child. A worthwhile read. I don't identify with Steve Jobs, but I understand him better after completing this book.
Jun 30, 2019
Dec 14, 2017
A short but memorable game that evokes feelings of spirituality through its surreal nature and game mechanics. Gorogoa's strengths lie in its visual style. It is through this visual style that the player feels like they are brought into the pages of a picture book or a 2d dream. The soft music with experimental electronics only serve to further that surreal nature of the game. There is a story being told throughout the levels, but because nothing is concretely explained, it is up to the player to offer their own interpretation.
Jun 30, 2019
Jul 1, 1959
Interestingly, tomorrow is the 60th anniversary of this film. North by Northwest is a fun, delightful film by Hitchcock. Possibly my favorite of his works. In my opinion Eva Marie Saint stole the spotlight. This is probably the closest Hitchcock would ever get to directing a James Bond film. It's suspensful, intriguing, and the premise is original. Set pieces are well made, and none of the scenes bore. For a film from the late 1950's, this manages to entertain even today.
Jun 29, 2019
Jun 28, 2014
This is a weaker entry, but it does address certain ideas that will become concerns once human augmentation becomes mainstream. The conflicting ideas of the cyborg body as a tool versus a part of oneself are questioned. While there were no conclusions brought, it did use that question to implement some interesting scenes.
Jun 29, 2019
Nov 1, 2017
R is a great language for displaying data. I think Python has more flexibility because of all the libraries that can be brought in through PIP, but I can see why many statisticians prefer R. It's definitely different from other programming languages I have learned in the past, so there is something of a learning curve with this.
Jun 29, 2019
Oct 27, 1998
I'm trying to get into Broadway plays and this is the first play to introduce me to the genre. In terms of accessibility, I think this is a good play to start with. I probably would have enjoyed it even more if I saw it as a child. The story is simple and much of the emphasis is placed on choreography and music. The level of athleticism required for the roles in this play is high, and as someone with a dance background, it made for a decent work to study. Memories is a good song, and it has qualities similar to many of the songs in West Side Story that allow for its impact last well beyond the viewing of the play.
Jun 28, 2019
Feb 21, 2017
Night in the Woods is a game with anthropomorphic characters that takes place in a small, struggling town with a dwindling population. This is a game that focuses not on gameplay, but on story. The story itself is above average. While I would not call it a coming of age tale, it shares many qualities of that style of story with Life is Strange. Similarly, Mae, the main character, walks slowly, talks slowly, and it takes a long time to do simple things which artificially lengthens the play time. Where the story truly shines is in its third act where mysteries are solved and arcs are concluded. Its focus on story helps, and I hope others follow its example while taking care to actually focus on the quality of the story similar to how screenwriters craft the flow and pacing of a film.
Jun 24, 2019
Nov 10, 2014
Covers python quickly and efficiently. I personally find the syntax of python to be very infuriating despite the fact that I've used it in the past, so this review was very valuable for me. Despite the video being a few years old, it thankfully does not cover the older 2.7 version.
Jun 24, 2019
J.E. Gordon, Jul 10, 2003
A very accessible book about structural engineering and the many considerations that go into structures. It covers not only buildings, but vehicles and biological systems. Readers will leave with knowledge of what stress and strain is. In addition to this, aesthetic decisions and the art that goes into structures is spoken about at some length. The only thing it does not cover is how materials behave at different temperatures, but it might have been intentional to leave that out due to the complexities of thermodynamics.
Jun 23, 2019
Nov 30, 2013
This series is starting to grow on me. I find it quite a bit more enjoyable when I consider it as an episode in the context of a series instead of a standalone film. This entry is bigger and more action packed than the first film. Action sequences are well thought out and coordinated in a way that is only comparable to The Matrix. You'd have to wonder which work drew its influence from which. We also start seeing mentions of the concept of a ghost which may mean that quality will be increasing in the following films. The soundtrack by Cornelius is also starting to improve.
Jun 23, 2019
Nov 22, 2017
A solid film albeit a bit predictable. From a technical standpoint, it does not disappoint. Images are vibrant and movement is fluid. As a guitar player, this definitely played to my tastes and some of the songs were catchy. Story-wise, it does not do anything groundbreaking and I was able to figure out what would happen in the third act because it dropped too many hints. Portrayals of Mexico tend to be rather negative in Hollywood, so this film with its bright colors, positive outlook on death and emphasis on family is a welcome change.
Jun 22, 2019
Aug 29, 2014
Overview of mysql that does not mince words. Great way to review sql and database concepts.
Jun 17, 2019
Jun 22, 2013
The original 1995 film was a huge influence on me and I am glad to enter that world once more. Ghost Pain is the first entry in a series of four films that act as something of an origin story for Section 9 and a refresh of the IP. With a different director behind the camera, one should expect different results. There are fewer existential questions being asked, the scale is smaller, the music is more subtle and drawn back. In terms of emotional punch, it is definitely inferior to the original TV series as well as the original films, but it still somehow manages to be thought provoking. They don't censor the violence, and the content is not dumbed down for a modern audience. Stylistically, it is faithful to the source material.
Jun 17, 2019
Aug 12, 2015
Prolog is a bizarre language that does certain things very well, but isn't all that useful for most programming related tasks. This video is a good primer for understanding the language and what it is capable of.
Jun 16, 2019
Jun 3, 2014
Great video for experienced developers to learn or refresh the syntax of Java. Straight to the point and does not cover the basics of programming that most devs already know like most programming tutorials.
Jun 16, 2019
Jun 21, 2012
A gem of a film that is about parenthood and childhood with a twist. It should come to no surprise given the number of awards it has won. Mamoru Hosada is a skilled director whose films I have seen before. The last film of his that I have seen is Summer Wars, and that was more than 6 years ago. While the scale of this story is not quite at the level of Summer Wars, the smaller scale allows it to be a more touching story that is able to connect with its viewers due to its personal touch. Single parenthood in Japan is not often covered in film, so this film in particular was covering new ground while telling an original tale of its own during the time it was released.
Jun 15, 2019
Dec 21, 2018
A crime drama in the vein of The Departed that takes place in the United States. In terms of plot construction, it does not break new ground, but its treatment of gangs in the U.S. is interesting. To see a Japanese treatment of American culture is fascinating, and although there are some strange stylistic choices, they pay enough attention to the details to provide a rewarding drama from beginning to end. In that sense, it is similar to the Metal Gear Solid, but does not enter into political intrigue quite as much.
Jun 15, 2019
Aug 15, 2018
It was not for me, but it is an above average romance film. Scenes of opulence might impress initially, but I feel like it won't be all that impressive after time passes and will degrade with multiple viewings. This film does not do anything new in the genre, but it does provide a window into East Asian culture. Many of the Confucianist principles such as filial piety are emphasized. Honestly, I don't think I am the target audience.
Jun 14, 2019
J.R.R. Tolkien, Oct 20, 1955
Great book, but it drags a little compared to the others in terms of pacing towards the end. Despite this, I still liked it for its dark treatment of the subject matter. Unlike The Fellowship of the Ring, it was dark in tone like The Two Towers, and it provided a long but rewarding conclusion to a great trilogy. Just a wonderful adventure, deep lore, and a world that the reader would like to visit again and again. It's kind of a shame that the main offerings of Middle Earth are this trilogy and The Hobbit. I wish J.R.R. Tolkien had other epic stories similar to The Lord of the Rings, but there is always the Silmarillion and The Children of Hurin to keep me satisfied.
Jun 10, 2019
May 21, 2019
Sadhguru has a talent for placing many of life's questions into highly simplistic terms. In many cases, this is very appropriate due to the fact that people overcomplicate life when doing so is unnecessary. I found this thought provoking and it made me question some preconceptions that I had.
Jun 9, 2019
Jun 4, 2019
A thoughtful conversation with Naval Ravikant about freedom, the future of society, suffering and what is life. It also covers technology and how the world will change. Naval Ravikant has a libary's worth of aphorisms and quotes to offer, making his experiences very valuable for someone who is in the same places he was when he was younger.
Jun 8, 2019
Mar 11, 1995
One of the best on the SNES. It is as great as FFVI if not better. The music was iconic, the character development was well thought out and each character had weight and importance to the player. The idea of a time traveling antagonist is genius. We've seen this trope more in Japanese culture, but in American films, this trope is very rare, making it feel novel. Lavos is one of the best villains ever. It does not say a word, but it had presence. In terms of depth, it is not as deep as FFVI, but I think that was perfectly fine because there was no grinding involved. The game mechanics accomplished their goal and a great story was told. The addition of the FMV's and multiple endings was much appreciated. Definitely a game everyone should play once in their lives. The details and complexities of the plot lead to some interesting theories too.
Jun 8, 2019
Feb 23, 1940
This ends my foray into Disney's 2d animation. I don't have much to say about this one other than that it seems to embody everything that Disney represents as a brand. Stylistically, it is very similar to Snow Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, but unlike that film, there are great lessons that everyone can take away from this film.
Jun 7, 2019
Covers basic finances in the U.S. in an accessible way. Taxes, and saving cash are covered in detail.
Jun 5, 2019
J.R.R. Tolkien, Nov 11, 1954
The second entry in the Lord of the Rings. A really great read that expands on characters in a way the movies just couldn't. The lore is presented in greater detail, and it is just a fine adventure that doesn't get majorly sidetracked. Only complaint I have is that sometimes it focuses too much on description instead of the actions of the characters, but this adds to the world building, so it can be easily forgiven. From Helms Deep to the Ents to the taming of Smeagol, this book is just consistently high quality. For me, it was better than The Fellowship of the Ring.
Jun 2, 2019
Apr 1, 2019
Mob as a middle schooler with psychic powers returns in the second season. The fights are scaled up on a level that you would only see in the final battles of shounen manga. Despite the scale, the work stands by its principles and keeps its comedic senses without getting too serious.
Jun 1, 2019
Nov 25, 1992
I am gradually getting convinced that the Disney Renaissance was the best period for 2d animation at Disney. Aladdin is unique in that it has a male protagonist. It is set within the context of Arabian Nights, and the writers did not shy away from mentioning beheadings and the punishment of cutting off hands for stealing. I found that rather interesting given that this is intended for children. It is also a film that had celebrity voice actors that knocked it out of the park such as Robin Williams and Gilbert Gottfried. The character design is slightly different from The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast, and the animators went for a more flexible slapstick style when it came to movement. CGI was also utilized during a time when the technology was still in its infancy. This is definitely not a traditional Disney princess film, and it brings a lot of new things to the table.
May 31, 2019
Pretty self explanatory. I don't remember everything, but I have a working knowledge that is close to adequate for understanding common phrases. Next steps will probably involve drilling grammar or watching childrens shows.
May 30, 2019
Covers basic home economics related matters in a very accessible way. Simple skills that you should learn, but don't are the point of this series. While I wouldn't consider it an efficient way to cover the material, it seemed to do the job.
May 30, 2019
J.R.R. Tolkien, Jul 29, 1954
The level of depth in this work is incredible given how accessible the story is. It does not use overly sophisticated language, but it still manages to fit in an entire universe worth of lore without coming across as overwhelming. Unlike the films, there is a greater emphasis on the hobbits instead of Aragorn which seems appropriate to me because they make more suitable heroes if one is going off of Joseph Campbell's work in The Hero with a Thousand Faces. One thing that I noticed here that I did not notice when watching the film was how there seemed to be a strange emphasis on race that borders on racism. I don't think this is intentional, but it is noticeable. Reading this gave me greater respect for the film. There are parts of this that I would have thought were unadaptable, but somehow Peter Jackson managed to make it work.
May 28, 2019
Neal Stephenson, Feb, 1995
My first Neal Stephenson book. This comes across almost as a steampunk story where the steam is replaced with nanotechnology. The oppressed groups are there, and the young child getting abused is also there (although she isn't an orphan). Emotionally, this book is kind of stunted, but the world building and detail is on another level. The adventures Nell goes on through the Primer are entertaining and offer a hint of what one may consider a decent education to be. One complaint I have is that although Neal Stephenson has pages upon pages of great descriptive imagery, his technical descriptions are lacking in rigor. Another complaint I have is pacing. The last parts of the novel came quickly and brought no closure. I guess maybe the reader is supposed to figure all that out on their own, because the end comes suddenly and mercilessly without allowing the reader a chance to take it in.
May 27, 2019
May 26, 2019
Oh boy, does Intel and NVIDIA have competition. AMD is now at 7nm while Intel is stuck at 14nm. NVIDIA is currently at 12nm. With updates to ZEN 2 EPYC, Ryzen processors and the introduction of NAVI, prices better be going down now on Intel and NVIDIA's side. I'm really excited to see how Intel and NVIDIA fire back (if they can).
May 27, 2019
Jul 4, 2014
Roger Ebert was part of why I got interested in film and for the longest time, I wanted to watch this film to bring some level of closure in regards to what he was to me. The film handles many themes: writing, life, mortality, pain, movies, friends, and family. It goes through the life and career of Roger Ebert from the very beginning to the heartbreaking end and pays appropriate tribute to his impact on film criticism.
May 26, 2019
Nov 17, 1989
The one that started the Disney Renaissance. There are a lot of things this did better than Beauty and the Beast despite the fact that it seemed to suffer in the third act and that it is the older of the two. The character design seems better, the score is better, the songs are more memorable, Ariel is a more expressive and more relatable character (for me at least), and I liked Flounder and Sebastian as side characters. I think I can say that I liked this one more than Beauty and the Beast during the first half, but I think it lacks in terms of the relationships between characters and character development.
May 25, 2019
Dec 19, 1980
An undeniably great film from Martin Scorsese. It was filmed in black and white and harkens back to older films from the 40's and 50's with its style. There are shots in here that are so original, I honestly don't think I've seen anything similar over my 10+ years of serious/critical film watching. The cast is great and Robert Deniro's weight gain to play Jake La Motta in his later years made him almost unrecognizable. The changes the characters go through feel real and unforced due to the script.
May 21, 2019
Joseph Heller, Nov 10, 1961
This is a strange book. The meaning of Catch 22 is always changing. Events are told out of order. The subject matter is serious, but it is told in a comedic and satiric way. Yossarian is probably what any soldier feels like. Based on what I've been told, the military is a highly inefficient monster and the experiences of personel is dependent upon the groups you are assigned to. Catch 22 seems to emphasize this, and exaggerates it to create a caricature of the U.S. military that is both hilarious and accurate. Like in Catch 22, officers are not only underqualified for their jobs, but they obsess over strange things and try to get out of their responsibilities. It was an interesting read and I have a positive impression of it, but it is definitely an unorthodox novel.
May 19, 2019
Dec 31, 1937
The one that started it all is also one of the greatest even when compared to Disney's other works. The amount of love and care that was placed into this movie is easy to see. For 1937, this level of quality was at least 10 years ahead of its time. Snow White has decent screen time, the songs are memorable even though they can get rather technical, and the Dwarves are well thought out. For me, this film is neck and neck with Beauty and the Beast.
May 18, 2019
Aug 17, 2007
Similar to the Hangover, but focuses on highschool and relationships made towards the end of highschool. Typical American comedy fare with a raunchy sense of humor. In terms of acting, there were no weak links, but the script does go overboard at times with Jonah Hill's character. I can see why people may like it, but it wasn't for me.
May 17, 2019
Sep 21, 2014
This was airing the first time I was in Japan and I never really had the time to watch it until now. Shounen sports anime is a highly saturated genre, so it is very rare when a show about men's volleyball raises the bar. For this first entry in the series, they focus on the team more than the individual. There are those with exceptional talents, but it takes more than one to keep the volleyball from hitting the ground. Although there are main characters, everyone is treated with great importance. The sport is introduced to viewers who are unfamiliar with the game in a very effective way with all the positions and moves fully explained. Sets itself up for the future entries in the series very well.
May 14, 2019
Virgil, John Dryden
Read the John Dryden translation which emphasized meter and rhyme compared to what may be found in more modern translations. The Aeneid almost reads like a fan fiction that somehow ended up improving on the material that served as inspiration. Because it is more modern than The Iliad, it has more sophisticated narrative structure. One thing that I found to work against The Aeneid was its length. Because it was short, many of the characters who were introduced were less memorable than the characters introduced in The Iliad. Overall, I found it to be better than the Iliad just because of its sophistication and because it knew how to end.
May 12, 2019
Liu Cixin, Nov 11, 2014
Written by Liu Cixin and translated by Ken Liu. There are some very well thought out and great concepts presented here. Aspects of communication between species separated by light years is covered in detail. The concept of a sophon or artificially intelligent proton was mind blowing. As a civilization begins to improve in sophistication, its ability to control things at the microlevel and eventually transcend dimensions is an inevitability. The way covers the techological advances of the Trisolaris civilization is creative and just on another level. The progress of civilization being split between stable and chaotic eras is also a great touch. The author truly understood how intelligent progress and science works and managed to also tie it in with the cultural roadblocks presented by Chinese society.
May 12, 2019
Mar 30, 1988
This is such a weird imaginative film. I did not recognize Michael Keaton as Beetlejuice. That's how great his acting was. The practical effects, makeup and puppetry really sold the afterlife and gave it an identity of its own. This is a great example of Tim Burton's style and his unique directorial idiosyncrasies.
May 11, 2019
Introduced the Blue Moon lander and the New Glenn. It was interesting to see Jeff Bezos present his ideas and how they differed from Musk's. While it is discouraging to see that they currently just seem to be retracing Space X's steps at a slower rate, the purpose of Blue Origin is fundamentally different, so this may be fine. Jeff Bezos is more of a big picture guy and he is focused more on space infrastructure than anything else. Musk on the other hand wants to go to Mars and seems to have a better understanding of the details involved to improve execution. I'm curious to see if Gradatim Ferociter will be a winning strategy. I see the Gradatim part being exhibited, but don't quite see the Ferociter.
May 11, 2019
Mar 4, 1950
One of the higher rated Disney princess films, but I didn't understand the point of it. The fairy godmother showed up out of nowhere. The mice and other animals got more screen time than Cinderella. Like usual, the animation is well done, and human characters are fluidly animated due to rotoscoping. Cinderella is not a character with much depth and is only a vehicle for wish fulfillment unlike Beauty and the Beast. The prince is one dimensional here unlike what could be seen in Sleeping Beauty and newer films. There are some iconic songs here, but it boggles the mind that the film gets as much praise as it does.
May 10, 2019
Leo Tolstoy, 1869
About three weeks of intense reading was what it took to make it from one end of this book to the others. This is a book that is consistent throughout if you ignore Leo Tolstoy's philosophical musings. That said, his philosophical musings and justifications explain the purpose of this novel as well as the greater reasons as to why this novel was written. This novel covers everything. The rich, the poor, how war affects all, love, family, life and death. I remember thinking about reading this in highschool, but decided not to then because of the character count. For those who are intimidated by the more than 500 characters presented in this novel, you'll only need to focus on the main ones. Pierre, the Rostov's, the Bolkonsky's and the higher rank figures in the war are really what you'll need to remember. I recommend reading this great novel. You might be turned off because of its length, but as you start to dig in, you'll find that it is manageable due to the short chapter lenghts. This is a journey you will wish to never end, and luckily, it's so long that it feels like it doesn't.
May 6, 2019
Apr 26, 2019
A fitting conclusion to a decades worth of world building and story telling. Unlike other superhero films, it was not quite as predictable, and it seemed to check all the boxes for what I wanted for the penultimate film of phase 3. It had good moments, and it also made callbacks to films that were made earlier in the Marvel universe. In terms of scale, it wasn't quite as large as Infinity War, but I think that helped to keep the plot tight and prevent things from getting convoluted. I have no complaints. It's not a perfect film, but I think most people will leave theatres satisfied.
May 5, 2019
Nov 22, 1991
A near perfect Disney animated film. The animation is fluid, and the music is iconic and has survived over the years. The characters faces look lopsided, but I think that is more of a stylistic choice. It copies details from Sleeping Beauty and other predecessors. Overall, its qualities lie in the lack of mistakes, but it doesn't seem to do anything particularly groundbreaking. Its quality is consistent with the other great Disney films of its time.
May 4, 2019
Aug 26, 2016
The last time I saw a Makoto Shinkai film was about 5-6 years ago when I saw the beautiful Kotonoha no Niwa. In many ways, this feels almost like a thesis statement that Shinkai built up over his 10+ years of experience. The fluid animation and vibrant colors from his previous works can be seen here. The common themes of the distance between people and what separates them and brings them together is thoroughly explored through the main premise of trading places in dreams. In addition to this, he infuses Japanese culture and presents Japan in a very realistic way. It really is deserving of all the praise that it has received.
May 3, 2019
Jun 20, 1941
There is nothing else like it. The music was conducted by the legendary Leopold Stokowski, and the animation was on point. For 1940, this level of fluidity and abstractness in an animation is absolutely mind blowing. It's an experience that is unique and difficult to reproduce. It is one thing to film something and set it to music. It is another to animate something to music. In this work, the marriage of sound and image are treated in a highly expert fashion.
May 3, 2019
Mar 27, 2019
There aren't many shows about running, but this is one of them and it is great. This was originally a book before it was adapted to a movie and finally into a show. I loved how it covered the personal journeys everyone experiences in running as well as the competitive scene involved in running long distance as a team. The soundtrack by Hayashi Yuki was great as well. I really need to get my miles in.
Apr 30, 2019
Mar 8, 2019
Watching this before I watch Endgame. Captain Marvel is a movie that tries to do many things. It hits some notes, but it does not hit all of them. There are enjoyable moments and moments where where it drags. There are great shots and scenes where the camerawork was not thought out all that well. The special effects are impressive as always. The way Samuel L. Jackson was made to look younger was something that I found to be techincally notable. I was skeptical of Brie Larson's casting, but she does well in her role as Carol Danvers. Overall, I liked it, but I thought it could have been better. My guess is that important scenes had to be edited out for the theatrical cut, because it felt like something was missing.
Apr 28, 2019
Dec 25, 1959
Unlike Disney's offerings in the 40's, this felt a lot more polished. The animation is beautiful, and I can even see great implementations of rotoscoping in character movement. Any shortcomings in animation were successfully compensated by great background work. Despite Sleeping Beauty being part of an oversaturated genre, I found it enjoyable, but the characters could have been given more depth.
Apr 27, 2019
Atul Gawande, Apr 3, 2007
Better is a book about the struggles and triumphs of the medical system. He not only covers how medicine and treatment works in the U.S., but also in other countries like India. This provides a window into the challenges that are faced by practitioners. People sometimes forget that doctors need to worry about malpractice lawsuits and that diagnosis of an illness isn't quite as straight forward as it might seem in media. I found the end notes on how to be a positive deviant particularly useful. If you are planning on creating a startup that is centered on improving healthcare, understanding a doctor's experience can be very valuable.
Apr 27, 2019
Aug 21, 1942
I actually liked it. It covered the sensitive topic of growing up very well and managed to do that through Bambi's experiences through the four seasons. Unlike Dumbo, this felt quite a bit more polished. You can really tell that it is a product of its time. The songs weren't made with commercial success in mind, and the characters weren't created with merchandise on the brain. If you were to compare it with The Lion King, you can find some of Bambi's DNA in the Lion King and other succeeding works.
Apr 26, 2019
Aug 15, 2014
It is so cool to watch an interesting concept be implemented so well. The actors age as time passes, and it does not feel like the cast is actually acting. The time where the characters grew up was the same time I grew up, so I found it very easy to relate. Instead of using digital cameras, film was used, and this allowed for the quality of the picture to stay consistent. I believe that this should be required viewing for any student of film due to its innovation and execution.
Apr 26, 2019
Sep 29, 2018
I'm not sure what to say other than that the series is consistently good and that you can't seem to go wrong with it. The second arc of this season was great, but it weakened in the final arcs. If you view the series as one continuous story instead of splitting it between seasons, you may find it more enjoyable. All Might gets pushed to the limit and the stakes are raised higher and higher as all the characters gain greater skill in their journey to become superheroes. It has its ups and downs, but I consider the time spent watching it to be worth it.
Apr 23, 2019
Christopher McDougall, May 5, 2009
This book covers quite a bit of ground. It covers the Tarahumara who are exceptionally skilled at long distance running. It covers how central running is to being human. It introduces us to the world of ultra marathons, and it also discusses the disadvantages of shoes due to how they restrict our feet and increase the chances of injuries. While the writing can come across a little strong due to how it tries to tell a story instead of just present the facts, this also helps to make the read a little more enjoyable. What I took away from this is the following: run many miles to become good at running, be consistent, use shoes that does not restrict the toes and provides as flat a surface as possible.
Apr 22, 2019
May 14, 2004
It's not a great movie. It's not even a good one. But at least it had a Trojan horse. Other than that, it was a complete waste of 3 hours.
Apr 21, 2019
Sep 28, 2013
Kara no Kyoukai was a highly influential work for me, and I am glad that I can finally view the final movie in the series. The film covers the nature of the future and how prediction may be a less magical phenomenon than may appear at first glance. Like the other movies in the series, due to the achronological nature of the series as a whole, this film manages to not only tell a compelling, thought provoking story, but also provides what can be seen as a great conclusion or continuation of the series.
Apr 20, 2019
Sep 22, 1977
I'm not a big fan of Paul Verhoeven's Hollywood films, but this has all the makings of a classic. While Paul Verhoeven is unable to do subtlety all that well like usual, this has a story that has enough momentum to avoid stumbling over the mistakes that it might make. Camera work and scenes are shot very well. All in all, it is a solid film that displays much of what makes the Dutch people who they are today and offers a good explanation of the resistance movements in the Netherlands during Nazi occupation.
Apr 19, 2019
Susan Thurman, May 1, 2003
It's not often that I read what is essentially a text book from cover to cover, but I wanted to improve my skills as a writer so I picked this up. Topics are covered in simple and digestible pieces. This made it easy to comprehend and made the grammar rules presented easier to remember. This book not only helps with grammar, but also covers what makes one's writing more effective.
Apr 16, 2019
Homer, Alexander Pope
Oh boy, I have a lot to say about this one. First, where is my Trojan Horse? I read the Alexander Pope translation which made the read a struggle in the beginning. Luckily, I have read The Rape of the Lock before, so I gradually got over the difficult English and began to appreciate the masterful usage of the English language to maintain the poetic qualities of the epic. Roman and Greek names are used interchangeably which caused much confusion as well. The actual story is bloody, and sometimes nonsensical. The gods don't always behave rationally, and sometimes they can be bested in battle by mortals. The fact that Achilles pretty much singlehandedly turned the tide of battle towards the later part of the story made for a very strangely paced work. There are many characters and not all of them are introduced. You really need to read the rest of the Epic Cycle to truly gain a proper understanding of what is going on. Overall, it is great for a poem spread through oral tradition, but as an actual story, I found it lacking by modern standards. If you want something better, I recommend Romance of the Three Kingdoms or the Mahabharata.
Apr 15, 2019
James Clear, Oct 16, 2018
Atomic Habits breaks down what is needed to build positive habits and remove negative ones to reach success. Everything here makes sense and is presented in a way that is easy to implement. There are many important ideas presented here. James Clear not only covers the compounding benefits of building habits on top of habits, but also presents the idea that systems are far more effective than goals. There is a lot here that I can utilize on top of the system and process I currently use.
Apr 14, 2019
Jun 1, 2007
Remake of the original Tomb Raider. For those who are not able to run the original Tomb Raider, this is a great alternative that fixes many of the problems in the first game. Although the level design may have suffered slightly, this holds up very well. It is easy to see where Uncharted gets its inspiration from. Tomb Raider is basically Uncharted with more of an emphasis on problem solving and less of an emphasis on story and cinematic thrills.
Apr 14, 2019
Jun 5, 2009
I watched this due to its cultural significance and for the memes. It isn't anything groundbreaking, but I did laugh multiple times, and found it to be an above average American comedy.
Apr 13, 2019
Oct 31, 1941
My journey into the world of Disney 2d Animated films begins with Dumbo. For 1941, the work is impressive, but an experienced viewer will notice that the animators were focused mainly on the animation and music. The sound design and the story were not given as much attention. Not all movements by the animated characters have a sound, and because the story was simple enough, there was not as much effort placed there. I couldn't figure out if the crows at the end were a racist caricature or not. It seems like others have mixed opinions about them as well.
Apr 13, 2019
A short 30 minute conversation conducted by Lex Fridman on the future of AI, computer vision, autonomous vehicles and the possibility of general purpose AI. Unlike other interviews, this one was more rigorous and does not simply touch on the surface level of things.
Apr 12, 2019
Mar 14, 1987
A highly underrated film. This was created during a time when backgrounds and animations were carefully drawn by hand and technology did not allow as many shortcuts as they do now. While they could have gone for spectacle like many other Japanese animated films during the time, this work carefully navigates many topics such as the cold war, class warfare, and religion and frames those topics within the context of space travel. The storytelling is its strong point, but the animation and the score are able to stand up as prime examples of their medium.
Apr 11, 2019
Apr 11, 2019
3 out of 3. What Space X did not do the first time, they succeeded in doing the second time. Not only did they land all 3 boosters, but they managed to recover the fairing as well. That level of reusability is insane in a heavy lift vehicle. 20 years ago, this would have been considered near impossible.
Apr 9, 2019
Lewis Carroll, Nov 26, 1865
This is a nonsensical story that I read to get a better understanding of references made in other books. Alice is an innocent child placed into strange situations that has her speaking with talking animals and crazy people. It's a weird book. I have trouble understanding how it reached the level of popularity it currently has.
Apr 8, 2019
Isaac Asimov, 1951
The first entry in the Foundation trilogy covers the creation of the Foundation and the first century of its development. While I understand that this is an influential work of science fiction, I can't help but feel as if many of the concepts presented are quite dated or unrealistic. I find it strange that thousands of years in the future, we will have space faring monarchies, and that nuclear power will by the prime method of generating energy. In addition to this, I find it unrealistic that we would still be humanoids and struggle with many of the things we struggle with now. If one were to ignore all this, it does have the workings of a great political drama that takes place in space.
Apr 7, 2019
Jun 3, 1988
Tom Hanks nails it. Adults want to go back to their childhood and children want to grow up. What people don't realize is that the grass is always greener on the other side and fail to understand that what they have is also valuable. Growth as a person is not merely external, but also a process that involves a change in mindset. Big seems to capture that very well.
Apr 6, 2019
Aug 7, 2009
Before directing the Andrew Garfield Spiderman films, Marc Webb directed 500 Days of Summer. The composition of each scene is great, but the writing is not the best. There are many films that did what this film did, but just better. The acting is not lacking and its somewhat more realistic treatment of romance in modern times makes it a worthwhile watch. I would consider this to be be better than a time killer, but not a great film.
Apr 4, 2019
David Goggins, Dec 4, 2018
Every detail from beginning to end on how David Goggins became who he was. Every challenge was covered, and the big takeaways as emphasized. The strong reinforcement on the breaking down of goals and being consistent in your actions make this a highly valuable read.
Apr 1, 2019
Sep 29, 2017
I was avoiding the last episode for a decent amount of time and it did not disappoint with the brutal amount of emotional weight it dumped on me. Made in Abyss might appear accessible to children on first glance, but this is a series that is mercilessly realistic in regards to the unforgiving nature of the world. To summarize Made in Abyss in a single sentence: two children journey to the depths of hell. The story is shown as an adventure into the abyss in search of the truth. With solid world building, this series beautifully displays the hero's journey in its entirety-- good parts and bad. Watching this reminded me of many greater works I have read in the past as well as historical tragedies: Dante's Inferno, Nietzsche, human experimentation during the Holocaust, and Grimm's Fairy Tales. The deep themes combined with Kevin Penkin's sophisticated score made this a very impactful story for me. I am wary and excited for the continuation and conclusion of this adventure.
Mar 31, 2019
Dec 25, 2007
Juno was surprising in that it had an overqualified cast and a script that is great during most of the film (although sometimes it does feel like it is trying too hard at times). The delivery of dialogue is quick and deadly. Camera work is above mediocre. I'm not sure if the film was trying to be hip or come across as quirky, but this sometimes backfires when it takes away from the emotional punch that can be delivered by the situation of unexpected teen pregnancy. Despite all this, I don't think that there is any other film like it and because of the short runtime, there isn't much to lose if the film doesn't connect.
Mar 30, 2019
Nov 19, 1998
On its own merits, I don't see what the big deal is. Half Life 2 was a better game. What this game did have going for it was good level design. Story-wise, it was better than other games during the time, but it's nothing to write home about. While the player is given multiple weapons, they don't really add any new mechanics to the gameplay. Overall, the game is good, but I feel like it is overrated. The final boss was a pain to beat.
Mar 29, 2019
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Jun 29, 2000
This book is a commentary on adulthood and childhood. Although it reads like a childrens book, its lessons are never explicitly stated. Despite the low page count, The Little Prince manages to say more than is written.
Mar 25, 2019
Jun 20, 1974
A classy noir film that is very similar to L.A. Confidential, L.A. Noir and The Maltese Falcon. Unlike those films, this is arguably darker and more unforgiving. I don't understand why, but 1970's films seem to have been more willing to take darker and more depressing turns compared to previous decades. This increase in realism allows for an easier suspension of disbelief and a smoother film to follow from the perspective of the viewer.
Mar 24, 2019
Dec 25, 2002
I don't think I have ever seen a movie like this. This movie follows the story of Frank Abagnale and his adventures posing as different people while forging millions of dollars worth of checks. Bank fraud is something that I never would have thought was interesting, but somehow, Spielberg managed to spin this into a thrilling character study. Very fun to watch.
Mar 23, 2019
Nov 5, 2007
Back when this came out and helped to increase the popularity of multiplayer first-person shooters, I was unsure of what the big deal was. Now that I have completed it, I found that the realism and the ability to mimic the chaos of war made it an addicting and immersive experience. I can understand why it is praised by Iraq war veterans. Even though this game is more than 10 years old, it still feels ambitious and manages to hit most of the right notes. Even modern games developed today struggle to do the same.
Mar 23, 2019
Eric Schmidt, Jonathan Rosenberg, Sep 23, 2014
This was an interesting read due to many companies adopting the practices that Google has-- my company included. In many companies, the creative element needed to introduce interesting new products tends to be stifled, and in most they are not fostered. While it is unclear whether Google's approach is the best, what is clear is that the company takes risks and is more fluid than most companies of its size. Due to this, it manages to act as an example that helps to disprove many commonly held beliefs about how a company needs to be run to achieve success.
Mar 20, 2019
Joseph Cambell, Mar 1, 1972
This novel is a tough but rewarding read that dives into the relations between heroes and our lives. It covers the many stories we tell and the similarities between all of them. The text is ripe with examples compiled from many different cultures. Because the story of the hero is in many ways the story of man, I found that by reading this, I not only learned about myths and religions, but of what the goals of man as an individual are.
Mar 17, 2019
Nov 9, 2004
Halo 2 expands upon Halo: Combat Evolved by continuing the story, adding weapons, new enemies, dual wielding, and other combat mechanics. The game is solid, the story explores the inner politics of the covenant, and ends with a cliffhanger. While I don't approve of the cliffhanger, it makes for a great way to sell the third game. I hope that I can one day finish the fight.
Mar 17, 2019
Apr 30, 2004
I am starting to view movies not just based on critical acclaim, but also keeping cultural impact in mind. Mean girls is a movie that has had great impact on modern American culture. Going into this, I was expecting it to be more family friendly, but the contents are suprisingly mature given the high school setting. In many ways, this movie is very similar to Easy A, but it focuses more on highschool cliques than on just popularity. I think Easy A is the better movie, but both are close in quality. The only major problem with Mean Girls I can think of is that it feels somewhat dated with cliques and types that have gone extinct in the 2000's.
Mar 15, 2019
Napoleon Hill, Apr, 2016
The first step in achieving anything is the intention of achieving that thing. Think and Grow Rich emphasizes the importance of mindset and how it leads everything and can ultimately lead to success. Although Napoleon Hill has not accomplished much himself, this book and the modern edits has some useful information. It also showed me how similar many self-help books are. I intend to take a long hiatus from books in this genre just because of diminishing returns.
Mar 12, 2019
Robert T. Kiyosaki, Apr 1, 2000
I feel conflicted about this book. While I do agree that the American education system does not teach the right things, I feel like this book does not either. Advice can be vague and sometimes even counterproductive. An example of this is Robert Kiyosaki's praising of multi-level marketing. In many ways, it reads very similarly to The Art of the Deal, and does not provide enough concrete action items to work from. I agree that financial education should be more important. I agree that you shouldn't work for your money and that your money should work for you. However, the contents of this book felt more like a sales pitch for a class than something that people can use.
Mar 10, 2019
Aug 11, 1973
This film is many things. It is a series of interconnected coming of age stories. It is a bunch of adventures simultaneously occurring at the same time. It is a stylized representation of an era. Watching this reminded me that George Lucas used to be a good director, and the writing had stylistic elements and quirks that viewers might recognize in A New Hope.
Mar 8, 2019
Contains interviews with entreprenuers such as Elon Musk and Richard Branson. Covers topics such as how they started, how to manage and grow a business, as well as the skillset needed. CEO's come from a variety of industries such as energy, fashion, as well as non-profits.
Mar 5, 2019
Apr 2, 1994
I think the last time I found myself with a deep sense of saudade with a video game was after finishing the Mass Effect series about three years ago. That was exactly how I felt when I saw the credits roll the end of FFVI. From beginning to end, the game had something to offer in the form of a great story, and memorable characters. Because of this, I was sad to see it end. The game had great pacing, kept the grinding to a minimum, and was filled with worlds of exploration. It was ambitious, not only in its story, but in its refusal to center itself on a main character. Each character was given care and attention which made the payoff at the end all the more worth the hours poured in by the player. The creators knew exactly what they were doing when they named you the player as one of the characters in this SNES epic.
Mar 3, 2019
This took about 4-5 months to complete and after finishing it, there are areas that I find to be shaky. This isn't all that surprising considering that the math involved is difficult to conceptually understand. That said, I find it fascinating that the primary building blocks of linear algebra are the skills that we build in Algebra 1. By completing this, I improved my understanding of matrices, vectors, and alternate coordinate bases. I also gained a better understanding of what my weak areas are. I think the next step to take, in my case, is to improve my ability to complete and understand proofs.
Mar 2, 2019
Mar 2, 2019
I unfortunately could not watch this live due to the time difference. I recommend watching the post launch press conference as well. Now that Crew Dragon has been successfully launched, the next step will be to ensure that it can correctly dock and to test with real passengers. I can't wait to see how ULA responds. Between the crewed demos, the upcoming Starhopper tests, and Falcon Heavy launches, I'm not sure what I'm most looking forward to.
Mar 1, 2019
Feb 12, 2019
A conversation with Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang. It covers universal basic income in detail as well as what it can look like when UBI is implemented. Given the rate of technological improvement and automation, the economy and government policy is not evolving quickly enough to compensate. Seeing how this is already a problem, it is interesting to see someone try to attack the problem. While I am not sure how far he will go, I'm looking forward to seeing Andrew Yang in the Democratic presidential primary debates.
Mar 1, 2019
Dale Carnegie, Oct 1, 1998 (first published October 1936)
A book that teaches how to win favor and positive opinions from others. Many of the items here are common sense, but there are rules here that I think anyone can find useful. That said, the contents of this book may not apply well to countries other than the U.S., so tread with caution when applying the teachings in this book. Another thing to note is that it is not always advantageous to expend energy to appear favorable to everyone. It is just as important to choose who you want to be friends with and who you want to influence. Failure to do so can result in coming across as fake and possibly superficial.
Feb 24, 2019
Nov 22, 2013
This film did not have the greatest start, but picked up in quality as we started getting into the meat of the story. Dallas Buyers Club takes place in Texas during the AIDS epidemic in the U.S. and follows the story of Ron Woodroof who worked to get medication to help AIDS patients when treatments were still in development in the U.S.. While it may not be historically accurate, it manages to capture the tragic nature of living with AIDS with the great acting. Jared Leto and Matthew McConaughey's performances were what carried this movie.
Feb 23, 2019
Apr 5, 2018
Violet Evergarden is a series focused on the intentions infused into letters. The creators handle this subject matter with an appropriate amount of sensitivity through the fluidity and detail in the animation. Episodes cover the topic in a simple manner by focusing on the writer, the recipients, the process of writing, delivery, and how the letters are affected by the times in which they are written. In addition to this, the usage of letters as a motif that is used as an engine for character development is nothing short of masterful. In this day and age where physical letters are becoming more rare, this show manages to remind us of how humans can connect with one another.
Feb 20, 2019
Joshua Foer, Mar 3, 2011
This book introduces readers to the world of competitive memorization and some of the techniques one can use to remember things better. It covers in decent depth what memory is and what role it plays in our lives as well as the history of mnemonic technique. In addition to this, it also covers Joshua Foer's journey into the world of competitive memorization. While the book may read like a long article in a newspaper or magazine, it has useful information. Unfortunately, it is not an instructional guide to memorization and should not be treated as such. If you want to improve your mnemonic techniques, I recommend reading this book to introduce yourself to the world of memorization and then researching and practicing techniques on your own. Create a memory palace, and get into the habit of chunking. This book is like the packaging for a product, but not the product itself.
Feb 18, 2019
Jul 18, 1986
Aliens feels like what you would get if you crossed the original Alien with Die Hard and then scaled everything up. Although Aliens is more of an action film than sci-fi horror, James Cameron manages to keep much of what made the previous film great by only turning up the action in the second half of the film. For the first half, we don't see a single alien, and this allows for the maintaining of suspense as well as foreshadowing. While I prefer the original Alien because I prefer Ridley Scott's sensibilities, Aliens not only manages to match Alien in certain areas, but also manages to improve over Alien through its own unique qualities.
Feb 17, 2019
Jun 25, 1982
There are not many films that take place in Antarctica, and there are even fewer that can take advantage of the setting in the way The Thing did. The Thing touches on themes of isolation, distrust, and combines them with a simple but solid premise. The special effects were impressive, and it is easy to see why this film influenced many horror directors as well as many Japanese directors such as Hideo Kojima and Takashi Miike. While it may not be particularly ground breaking, this is a good film that is wonderfully constructed.
Feb 14, 2019
John Carreyrou, May 21, 2018
This was a book that went by very quickly. It read very similarly to Glenn Greenwald's No Place to Hide in terms of the general pacing and momentum the subject matter brings. After reading The Lean Startup, I found myself questioning how in the world Theranos could survive for as long as it did. I suppose that proves how important the pitch and connections are. That said, it seemed like they did everything wrong except for PR and marketing. The executives did not listen to the engineers that worked on the testing machines, Elizabeth Holmes and Sunny Balwani lied to investors and customers, the culture was toxic, and the concept of an mvp was completely foreign. All I can say after reading this book is that an idea with potential and the passion of many individuals went completely to waste.
Feb 11, 2019
Eric Ries, Sept 13, 2011
Eric Ries is one of the founders of IMVU, and offers his approach to startups and entrepreneurship. While many of his ideas are sound, if you have worked in development, you may not gain as much as others by reading this book. That said, his views on using the proper metrics, innovation, and the emphasis on the minimum viable product are lessons that are very useful in both new companies and established companies. Depending on your prior knowledge of agile, mvp's, innovation teams, process optimization and improvement, and startups in general, you may gain more from Peter Thiel's book than from Eric Ries'.
Feb 11, 2019
Oct 15, 2018
The series continues with quality that is consistent with previous seasons and arguably hits notes that have not been hit before in previous seasons. The focus this time around is not on what lies outside of the walls, but rather what lies within. The third season plays more like a political thriller and as a result is able to provide exposition about the kingdom with nuance instead of through more heavy handed methods. A pattern a keen viewer might notice is that the director is gradually cycling through the six types of conflict in literature. In previous seasons, man vs. nature and man vs. man was covered thoroughly. This season focuses on man vs. society and man vs. self. If the previews of season 3 part 2 are anything to go by, we will soon seen man vs. technology and perhaps man vs. the supernatural make an appearance. I am looking forward to the next part and am curious to see how the work is concluded.
Feb 10, 2019
Sep 8, 1960
For anyone who has seen episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, you will be familiar with his playfulness with the plot to create suspense. I enjoyed Psycho more than I enjoyed Vertigo, and I wonder if it is the better film. Everyone played their roles perfectly, and Anthony Perkins was the main attraction. The way this movie is structured is not only smart, but contrarian and subversive. There are not many films that kill off the main character half way through the film. I imagine audiences during the time were caught off guard, expecting what is perhaps a crime drama, only to find that it was something closer to a psychological thriller. It is comes to no surprise that this influenced many directors in the succeeding generation.
Feb 9, 2019
Jul 24, 2014
I remember the usage of proxy wars by PMC's within Metal Gear Solid 4 as a strong plot device, and wondered why the U.S. military was not as privatized when contractors were used to deliver products and services to be used by the military. Not surprisingly, there were more contractors in Afghanistan starting in 2007 than there were U.S. forces. Yet, for some reason, this information is covered in detail in the news or by the U.S. government. This video on the evolution of PMC's shows how they have played a larger and larger role in conflicts on the global scale. I not would be surprised if PMC's disrupt government militaries in the future by not only performing better, but working more efficiently without a large bureaucracy. While the concept may be troubling, I think it's only a matter of time for PMC's to do to the military what Space X has begun to do to NASA and ROSCOSMOS.
Feb 6, 2019
Daniel Kahneman, Oct 25, 2011
This is a hard, time consuming read that is dense with ideas. The book introduces us to System 1 and System 2 which are the two systems that govern how how thinking and brain power is allocated. These two systems are used as the basis of explaining many of the insufficiencies of the human mind. Topics such as the limitations of intuition, inability to maximize utility, and the superseding of rational thought by emotional reactions are covered. While the book may read like a textbook, it is very thought provoking. The implications extend to all aspects of our society and may explain why certain policies are favored in government, why one interview candidate was chosen over the other, even if the other choice is objectively better than what was ultimately chosen. Daniel Kahneman also gave a talk at Google that you can view here.
Feb 1, 2019
Mar 16, 1963
Given the time this film was made, the director definitely had the choice of using color, but chose to use black and white. I feel that this was the correct decision. After reading the book, I watched the film. While the film cuts out characters and many details in the source materials, I felt that it managed to faithfully capture the spirit of the book. Gregory Peck's portrayal of Atticus Finch was perfect.
Jan 27, 2019
Dec 24, 2009
A series of interconnected stories about different people stuggling with different psychological disorders and mental illnesses with the only constant being Dr. Irabu the psychiatrist. The show uses a combination of different animation techniques such as rotoscoping and live action to better show many of the abstract thoughts the creators wished to convey and to better educate about the disorders including the outlining of any artistic licenses that have been taken. The experimental approach to the topics covered is growing more rare in the animation industry in Japan, but the care given to the work reinforces the case for greater risks to be taken in animation. Because many of the cases are specific to Japan, the show also manages to touch upon the collective unconcious of the country. I think Carl Jung would be proud.
Jan 27, 2019
2013
A text based browser game that tells a story through the environment that it builds rather than through expositions. Through its simplicity, it is able to keep the player's attention by incrementally building off of the mechanics that it gradually introduces. This can be said to be one of the precursors to the increase in html5 based browser games we see today. I think it would be interesting to create a browser game myself in the future.
Jan 25, 2019
Jan 24, 2019
Also watched the game which can be found here. I felt like I had deja vu watching this, because, like the Lee Sedol vs Alphago games, I did not have a full understanding of the rules of the games. That said, it was exciting to watch just like the alphago games. This time, Deepmind set their sights on Starcraft II. What I found interesting about the AI was that it did not have as high of an APM as the pro players. It seemed to deliberately choose its actions. This most likely indicates that the pro players have many redundant actions. My guess is that the AI noticed patterns within the game that humans have overlooked. I recommend reading Deepmind's blog post about the event here. It would be nice to see Deepmind's AI go head to head with OpenAI :)
Jan 24, 2019
Harper Lee, Jul 11, 1960
It's a sin to kill a mockingbird. I have never read this novel before, and after reading it, I can understand why it is part of many high school curriculums. While, many focus on its coverage of the treatment of African Americans during the depression era, the novel is a coming of age story at its heart that shows how nonsensical the world can be through a child's eyes. I found many of the characters to be convincing and well thought out. This was particularly the case with Atticus Finch who is shown to be a rare example of a principled man in a town with racist tendencies. I intend to watch the film in the near future.
Jan 21, 2019
Sep 30, 2018
A highly educational series about the workings of the body that is very much in the vein of works such as Fantastic Voyage and Osmosis Jones. The details are highly accurate, making the series a useful tool for learning about microbiology and immunology. The series covers topics such as allergic reactions, food poisoning, and other inner body events that require an immune response. In terms of narrative, it is not the strongest, but within its genre, it is probably one of the best and makes what is usually a dry topic very interesting. I recommend supplementing your viewing with Dr. Hope's Sick Notes commentary of the individual episodes.
Jan 21, 2019
Nov 25, 2009
I remember reading the book as a child, so seeing the movie was a joy for me. The film adds to the source material with clever writing, great stop motion animation, and many of the quirks Wes Anderson is famous for. The voice acting by George Clooney and Meryl Streep suited the characters very well and added traits to the characters that was not described in the book. Because of the sophisticated writing, I feel that adults will enjoy this more than children. Overall, it is a great film that surprisingly manages to fit in a lot of story within its short running time.
Jan 20, 2019
Aug 26, 2011
During Freshman orientation at U of M, this film and Moonrise Kingdom were playing. I chose to watch Moonrise Kingdom and always wanted to view this film afterwards, but never got the chance until now. Headhunters is a skillfully crafted thriller that effortlessly plays with suspense. The story covers an art thief who is on the run from the owner of one of the art pieces he stole: an above average cat and mouse thriller. While it never touches on any heavy themes, its pace makes it so that it never bores.
Jan 19, 2019
Jan 6, 2019
This is the first time I've viewed any of Osamu Hayashi's work. Japan has a constant focus on work, and the debt one owes society. However, in many cases, this can remove meaning from one's existence within society. Here, Hayashi Sensei discusses with many Neets who have performed well academically what it means to have a job, and why it is unreasonable to always expect for society to conform to your wishes. He also explores the topics within the context of his own life experiences and clearly outlines the differences between what one wants to do in life and what what can do in life. The conversation is nuanced and touches upon many different subjects and offers meaning to aspects of life that are usually never explored in depth in Japanese society. If you understand Japanese, I recommend taking 30 min out of your day to view this video.
Jan 16, 2019
Hermann Hesse, Dec 1, 1981
Siddhartha is written in a lyrical style and reads very similarly to Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist. One of the main themes of the novel is that wisdom cannot be taught, but that it must be gained through experience. The usage of Siddhartha as a foil to Gautama's philosophy offers nuance that can provide greater insight into what Samsara and Nirvana is. While it may come across as simplistic, I felt that the simple writing style allowed for better introspection.
Jan 12, 2019
Jun 20, 1975
Great film and very well written. It's rated PG, but I have no idea why. Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw stole the show. Each of the characters were carefully considered and have unique qualities that make them memorable. Compared to many of the monster movies of today, this film was well thought out and carefully planned. We can see the deliberate style of Spielberg beginning to take shape here.
Jan 10, 2019
Viktor E. Frankl, Jun 1, 2006
The book is split into two parts. The first covers Viktor Frankl's time in the German concentration camps and the second covers logotherapy. The usage of Viktor Frankl's experience during the Holocaust to explain the significance of meaning was very powerful. I found logotherapy to be a more rational approach to psychotherapy and finding meaning to life than other approaches, but it does seem dated. A more modern approach might utilize statistics and mathematics to clearly outline patterns in human behavior. Overall, the way this work outlined purpose, the will to live, and the various perspectives by which to view suffering made it a useful read.
Jan 8, 2019
Jul 16, 2015
An introduction to Wim Hof and the power of his breathing technique. I also recommend watching his talks with Joe Rogan and his recent appearance on Impact Theory. Using hypoxia to improve mental and bodily tolerances is something that I have never tried before, and the amount of added control it provides to the body makes it seem like a very valuable skill that is very similar to that which is exhibited by Shaolin monks. Wim Hof's insistence on taking rigorous metrics and scientifically analyzing everything has expelled any doubts that his technique can allow for the human body to overcome various limits. It's a good thing that it's Winter right now, because it's the perfect time to test myself against the cold.
Jan 6, 2019
Fyodor Dostoyevsky, 1866
This was not an easy book to read due to my ignorance about Russian culture and history. That said, the plight of Raskolnikov was not only relatable, but it can be observed in one form or another in the lives of people today. Because of this, the philosophical underpinnings were not lost in translation or lost to time. The organization of the book may seem strange to some, because it switches its focus to its side characters frequently. While this may be interpretted as a flaw in the novel, the treatment of the Marmeladovs and Svidrigailov gives us a more complete study of human behavior that may not be exhibited by Raskolnikov. Dostoyevsky added an epilogue at the end. This, in my opinion, weakened the ending, and I recommend thoroughly skipping it.
Jan 3, 2019
Dec 4, 2018
A conversation with Ben Goertzel the founder of SingularityNET. Unlike other AI researchers, Ben does not seem quite as dismissive of ideas that have originated in science fiction and Hollywood movies. As a result, the conversation reaches areas that may not be covered by other individuals who work in the field. One interesting thing that Ben noted during the conversation is that the apocalypse scenario with AI seems to originate in western culture and does not seem to be recognized as much of a problem in East Asia. This is a good podcast to go back to once in a while.
Dec 30, 2018
Dec 25, 1987
This is not Steven Spielberg's best film. Although it may be lacking in terms of story and plot, the technical achievements and scale of the the set pieces are impressive. The accuracy with which locations in China are presented is one of its strengths. That said, the writing felt mediocre, and Christian Bale's acting could not save it. I personally did not enjoy this film or find it impressive at a critical level, but I think this may be depend on the person watching it.
Dec 28, 2018
Dec 26, 1973
Horror movies usually don't affect me, but I found the imagery in this film to be more effective than other entries in the genre. Since this was directed by William Friedkin, great camera work is to be expected. I can see why this film had staying power more than 40 years after it was released.
Dec 25, 2018
Aug 14, 2012
It's not the best game, but its usage of puzzles to tell a story made it entertaining. The environments were beautiful and captured some of tlhe visual energy of favelas in Brazil. A good showcase for Unreal Engine 3.
Dec 25, 2018
Reviewed Matrices on the Khan Academy website to better improve my ability to comprehend the linear algebra lessons on Khan Academy. Videos on determinants were particularly useful. I recommend completing this on the Khan Academy website rather than on youtube so that you can also practice with the online quizzes and tests.
Dec 24, 2018
Jun 1, 2018
A fun film that offers a glimpse into the future where automation, robotics, and neural interfaces are beginning to become more ubiquitous. While the movie is not great, it is good. The story is thought provoking, the choreography was well organized, and it is entertaining from beginning to end. If you have an hour and a half to spend, this film is a good way to spend it.
Dec 24, 2018
Jesse Itzler, Nov 3, 2015
This book went by quickly not only because it was short, but also because it was well written. It provides in concrete terms the types of workouts David Goggins undergoes as well as an intro into the type of person Jesse Itzler is. The book offers a clear representation of the numbers that need to be reached and the attitude with which to approach tough problems to reach the level David Goggins operates at. I intend to incrementally work my way up to some of the numbers in this book and hopefully surpass them in the future.
Dec 23, 2018
Dec 14, 2018
I was in absolute awe of the animation style the entire duration of the film. The boundaries between 2d and 3d are seamlessly intertwined. The hip hop soundtrack was much appreciated. As someone who read many of the Spiderverse comics, I found this to be thoroughly enjoyable, and to have a great story. Even if you aren't a fan of the source material, I feel that there is a lesson for everyone to take away from this movie. Although this is missing characters like Silk, Anya, and Jessica Drew, I think their exclusion worked to the benefit of the film by preventing things from getting too complicated. If the end credits is anything to go by, we'll have a sequel and I am looking forward to it.
Dec 22, 2018
Jan 14, 2009
A trilogy of three interconnected stories that take place in Essex County in Ontario, Canada. The stories are simple, somewhat surreal, and take place in different times. Each deals with characters of different ages, and covers a large breadth of themes. Although it doesn't tell a singular story, the comic makes up for this with compelling characters.
Dec 20, 2018
Walter Isaacson, Jun 2004
My first Walter Isaacson biography. It covers Benjamin Franklin's life from beginning to end. I found that I learned quite a bit about colonial and post independence America that I did not learn in grade school. In school, our knowledge tends to be very America specific, so global events, France's involvement and Canada are covered in very little detail if any. I also found the tips and tricks that Benjamin Franklin developped in regards to work to be very useful. Overall, I learned that Franklin's achievements extend past his actions during America's Revolutionary war. Not only was he a politician, but he was a scientist, a printer, and a well rounded person who influenced many things we take for granted today.
Dec 19, 2018
Watched the livestream on Dec 18 as well. You can find it here. The test tunnel is very proof of concept. The electric skates in the simulation are gone and replaced with a set of wheels that are attached to a Tesla. The tunnel itself was disappointing, but the highlight of the show is the many-fold gains made in tunneling and boring technology. I'm hoping that the actual tunnels are a far more refined and practical.
Dec 18, 2018
Dec 17, 2018
It seems like there are a lot of things happening even as we are finishing up the year. VSS Unity went past what the United States Air Force defines as the Kármán line. With this success, I am hoping the we can get more sophisticated aeronautics in the mainstream. I am hoping that we'll not only be using this for tourism, but also for high speed air travel in the future in a way that is similar to Space X's BFR Earth to Earth plan. I was hoping for a live stream, but this video had some great footage.
Dec 17, 2018
Feb 24, 2016
A somewhat sad film that brought back a few bad memories while I was watching it. That said, it is short and simple. It does not dwell on topics, but it also does not shy away from the troubles faced by many of the children in the foster home. The stop motion animation is clean and vibrant. I recommend it not only for children, but for adults as well. There is something here for everyone. If you don't have a lot of time, this is a great short movie to watch.
Dec 16, 2018
Sep 17, 2011
A slow moving and short piece that presents a simple tale of a relationship between a girl and a forest spirit. Rated highly for its emotional punch and character development. Because it does not try to be more than what it is, it does not have any large mistakes to take away from its impact.
Dec 14, 2018
Nov 1, 2010
It seems like many of the works I've been consuming lately deals with life and death. Daytripper is a work that has a unique device where the main character dies at the end of each issue during different points in his life. Daytripper not only discusses the important life changing moments that can result in the rebirth of one's identity, but also the fact that everyone will die. In many cases, it treads similar ground as Siddhartha Gautama, but it offers a more personal and modern touch that may make it easier to relate to.
Dec 9, 2018
Oct 13, 1958
I think this is the first Swedish film I have ever seen. Although this film is not fast paced, it does not drag on and moves from scene to scene with purpose. Themes of Death and God are tackled in this film and are handled very well. Even though it is in black and white, images have staying power and are carefully thought out. In many ways, it makes me feel like it is an older version of Death Parade and may actually be one of the sources of inspiration that Death Parade drew from.
Dec 8, 2018
This video from VICE begins with a demonstration of what a malicious attacker is capable of when they take advantage of vulnerabilities in a self driving car. We live in a time where cybersecurity is growing in importance. Israel and it's military and private institutions are growing and attaining global dominance in these areas. Usually, we think of the U.S., Russia, China, and the U.K.'s GCHQ as the giants in the security arena. Now, it must be acknowledged that Israel is a powerful force in intelligence and cyber warfare. Recently, we've seen glimpses of Israel's power in Snowden's files, and Harvey Weinsteins' hiring of Black Cube. With the growth of private companies in Israel, I expect the frequency of Israeli firms in the news to only increase.
Dec 6, 2018
Dec 5, 2018
David Goggins' second appearance on the podcast. Here, we see him touch on details that he doesn't usually touch on in his other interviews. Joe Rogan is a great interviewer, and brings out new tidbits from David Goggins. Goggins usually says that he has a sense of humor, and we got to see it in this episode. Can't wait to read his book.
Dec 4, 2018
A soft introduction into deep learning in the context of self driving cars. This is a class that is led by Lex Fridman. I found this to be highly interesting. It includes talks by people in the industry and not only covers the technical aspects of the field, but also how policy and business is changing to accomodate the changes. Also includes a very simple example that helped me better understand how gradient descent and backpropogation works. You can find it here. The class also includes some very cool projects to introduce students to concepts. I have completed the DeepTraffic project and if I have time in the future, I'd like to take a look at DeepTesla.
Dec 2, 2018
Feb 19, 1999
A film that I was told should be required viewing for any office worker. It wasn't as funny as I expected it to be, but I enjoyed it all the same. I found that it did not connect as well because it takes place in the late 90's. That could just be the effect of a generational gap. That said, I think most people who have worked white collar jobs will find something in here that they will like. I'm honestly quite surprised that the critical response is not higher.
Dec 1, 2018
Iris Chang, Nov 1 1998
A book that covers the Nanking Massacre in great detail. The novel is split into three parts that details the event from the perspective of the Chinese, the Japanese, and foreigners that were in Nanking during the time. The contents of this book were heavy, and the descriptions of many of the war crimes that occured were difficult to stomach. Iris Chang wrote a compelling book, and it is unfortunate that she committed suicide. This book is not easy reading, but I feel that it is something that should be read so that we never forget what occurred.
Nov 25, 2018
James Legge, Mar 1 2018
Available on Gutenberg. This is a translation of the Lao Tzu's work. The Tao or the Dao is often contradictory and this is to be expected because of the inherent nature of yin and yang in the Taiji. In many cases, the teachings seem like common sense, but in some, the messages can seem cryptic or often unintuitive. For those who are unfamiliar with eastern philosophy, this can be difficult to conceptually grasp. One thing that I found interesting was that I could see some of concepts that would later show up in Confucianism. Concepts such as humility which are very common in east Asian cultures can be found here.
Nov 24, 2018
Dec 14, 1977
A great alien film. Although it does seem dated at times, the story keeps everything moving at a decent pace. I found it interesting how the main theme that is used to communicate with the aliens was integrated into the soundtrack. Overall a very solid film with a ton of replay value.
Nov 23, 2018
Jordan B. Peterson, Jan 23 2018
12 rules for making more sense of the world. This was intended to be a more accessible version of Maps of Meaning, but I found that this read less like a helpful guide and more like a series of essays. References to the Bible were thorough and used to explain points, but I found them to detract from the lessons being covered. The book is well written, but overly long. My impression of the book is mixed. I recommend listening to Jordan B. Peterson's lectures instead.
Nov 22, 2018
Mar 23, 1991
A film that may not appeal to everyone. It's a slow moving, but stylistic and beautiful film. Shots are well constructed and thoughtfully paced. It's scarce on plot, but high on artistry. I believe it is better to think of this as a film that's in the same vein as Koyannisqatsi rather than as a drama with a narrative.
Nov 17, 2018
Nov 17, 2018
Snipes Battle of the Year has been getting greater and greater attention over the years. This year, the heavy hitters were Jinjo Crew, Foundnation, and the Vagabonds crew. Because Jinjo had Wing and Hong10, they pretty much demolished the competition all the way to the finals.
Nov 15, 2018
Jocko Willink, Leif Babin, Oct 29 2015
A book about improving leadership. It covers concepts such as responsibility, leading up the hierarchy, and decentralized command. The book's chapters are split into three parts. The first part describes a combat situation experienced by one of the book's authors that demonstrates a concept. The concept is then explained in clear terms. Finally, the concept's application to the business world is clearly shown. The teachings in this work provide simple advice with clarity.
Nov 11, 2018
Mar 28, 2015
A work of art that I believe should deserve more attention. There are not many works that cover topics such as heaven and hell as well as life and death. The emphasis on the void and reincarnation diverges from the traditional themes of good and evil that can be found in monotheistic religion. As a result, a more nuanced interpretation of the topics is provided in the show. This is a show that I believe can appeal to a critic's sensibility as well as to the mainstream. Every detail seems purposeful and well thought out. In my opinion, this is the best anime I've seen so far this year.
Nov 3, 2018
Aug 27, 2018
Provides some of the same information about AI you might see in other videos, but this provides a more nuanced blueprint in regards to how jobs may change over time. It also offers some insight into the Chinese tech industry and how technology augments life in China differently from the U.S.
Oct 28, 2018
Sept 20, 1967
An important film that shows both sides of the war. It is also a great representation of how a guerilla resistance can be maintained and organized.
Oct 25, 2018
Stephen King, Jul 2002
A combination of autobiography and advice for writers. Stephen King splits up the craft into easily digestible sections. The only thing I disagreed with was his outlook on plot. As someone who loves film, it was disappointing to see such a limited perspective on plot construction.
Oct 21, 2018
Oct 9, 1971
A gritty and cynical police drama that is not afraid to displease the viewer. The camera is always moving and provides a kinetic energy that is rare for films that were made during its time.
Oct 15, 2018
Feb 19, 2018
A deep conversation about David Goggins and his life philosophy. I found this to be highly influential. His viewpoints on suffering have been very useful for me and are currently helping me increase my pain tolerance tremendously.
Oct 7, 2018
Jun 20, 2014
A show with great animation and art style. The ambitions of many of the competitors were tastefully covered and effectively carried emotions and tones in unconventional ways. A highly recommended series that gets easily overlooked because of artistic choices that don't conform to mainstream tastes.
Sep 29, 2018
Sep 29, 2018
After 14 years, Red Bull BC One returns to Switzerland. I found this world final to be easier to digest compared to last year's world final. Although the judging seemed questionable, it was still an enjoyable experience. Lil Zoo is a skilled bboy with tenure. The inclusion of the bgirl world final was also appreciated.
Sept 28, 2018
Barbara Oakley, Jul 1 2014
A comprehensive guide on what to how to succeed at mathematics. Covers topics such as different modes of thinking, optimal ways of studying and creativity in the field.
Sept 28, 2018
Henry David Thoreau, 1854
Reading this was a chore. I read Walden due to references made to it in Shane Carruth's Upstream Color. I found that it was redundant and many times contradictory. That said, it was impressive how many different ways Henry David Thoreau was able to state his appreciation of nature and the outdoors.
Sept 24, 2018
Sep 30, 2017
The first season was what got me started with my current routine of waking up at 4:30 and going to the gym. So, I have a bit of attachment to this series. The second season is just as good in my opinion. Because it is a shounen anime, the concept of incremental progress is baked right into the themes driving the show. This Japanese take on the superhero genre is unique and it has heart.
Sept 24, 2018
Sep 3, 1998
I played through the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection in Japanese, Ground Zeros on PS4 and The Phantom Pain on ps3. Because of that, I thought it would be strange for me to play this last. Despite this, I found MGS to be one of the best in the series and thoroughly enjoyable despite its age. The care given to Sniper Wolf made her one of my most favorite characters in the series. Although I played the integral version, I think the game should play well on any console because of the simple controls. This is a cinematic game that I think anyone will be able to enjoy.
Sep 22, 2018
Aug 6, 1999
An entertaining animation that takes place during the cold war. I watched this so that I could get more of the references in Ready Player One. It's not anything ground breaking, but it was a good time. Usage of CGI was a nice touch.
Sep 22, 2018
Mar 25, 2018
A great time waster where the animators and the voice actors basically just had fun with the whole concept. Episodes are about 12 minutes each, making it a nice way to fill time. People just took their ideas and ran with it. It's difficult to explain, but I think most people will either enjoy it or be weirded out.
Sep 16, 2018
Sep 27, 2016
Similar to Saiki Kusuo and One Punch Man. Since it was made by the same person as One Punch Man, you will find many similarities. There are comedic moments as well as highly elaborate action scenes that can take on any scale due to the combination of fluid animation and simplistic details in backgrounds.
Sep 15, 2018
Multivariable Calculus for Khan Academy. Covers topics such as partial derivatives, gradients, curl, divergence, triple integrals, line integrals, etc. Not all of the content has been committed to long term memory, but important concepts like a partial and a gradient have stuck. One thing I underestimated was how much of a time suck this would be. Each video is about 10-15 minutes. After this, I'll probably move onto linear algebra, or physics.
Sep 2, 2018
Apr 15, 1988
An epic film by Bernando Bertolucci. It not only covers the life of the last emperor of China, but it also covers a period of great change in China where China transitioned from imperial rule to a communist government. The soundtrack by Ryuichi Sakamoto was very memorable.
Aug 30, 2018
Mark Manson, Sep 13 2016
A well written book about what to prioritize and what to not worry about in life. A work for life in a world of social networks and high stress situations.
Aug 26, 2018
May 16, 2012
A graphic novel that takes place in a world where fairy tale characters have to live in the modern world. Takes place in the same world as The Wolf Among Us.
Aug 26, 2018
Mar 9, 2001
One of the best modern Chinese language films. The color composition makes every shot look deliberate. I enjoyed Chungking Express and 2046. This Kar-Wai Wong work is no exception.
Aug 21, 2018
David Graeber, May 15 2018
A book about jobs, their productivity, purpose, and general meaning. It makes a decent case for automation while also considering how our labor market became the way it is.
Aug 20, 2018
Feb 1, 2009
A comic that captures the essence of what it means to be Superman. Said to be one of the best comics about Superman.
Aug 19, 2018
Dec 23, 1971
One of the films that Clint Eastwood is most famous for. A classic that emphasizes violence during a time when violent movies were just starting to become more mainstream.
Aug 18, 2018
Sept 1, 1991
An introduction to one of the most original comic book characters. It also offers a decent introduction to Neil Gaiman and his form of story telling. Sandman is unique, and surreal. There truly is not much like it.
Aug 15, 2018
Scalable and accurate simulation of light within a virtual environment. If the technology continues at the same pace, we'll hopefully have photorealistic computer graphics in films within 5 years and the same for video games within 10-15 years. This will allow for the immersive nature of VR and AR to increase tremendously. Now, all we need are sophisticated haptic feedback systems or neural links to allow for better interaction with the virtual environments. That said, I would have liked to have seen some info about graphics cards for consumers.
Aug 15, 2018
Jul 1, 2003
Another coming of age tale. It seems like this is a common theme in graphic novels given the general audience that reads this form of media. Blankets focuses on the conflict between social identity, sexuality, and religious beliefs. Winner of the 2004 Eisner Award for best Writer/Artist.
Aug 13, 2018
Mar 2010
One of the better Batwoman stories after the character got a revamp. A good introduction to what is one of my favorite female characters in the DC universe.
Aug 12, 2018
Chris Jones, Jun 1, 2011
Details the story of the astronauts that were trapped on the ISS after space shuttle Columbia disaster. Not quite as thrilling as I thought it would be going into it, but it does thoroughly cover what is required to be an astronaut and how the ISS works.
Aug 12, 2018
Mar 1, 1998
A coming of age tale. I don't have much to say about this one, because I didn't find the characters all that likeable. Apparently, it was made into a film in 2001.
Aug 11, 2018
Jan 31, 1997
Played this in English. Many people view this title with nostalgia. Although this is a solid turn based rpg, I didn't feel that it aged well. Compared to other 3d titles, the visuals were not the best and took away from the depth offered by the combat system and detailed story. I can see why this is being remade. After finishing this, I recommend watching Advent Children. Althoough the story may be convoluted, the characters make up for it with their uniqueness and originality.
Aug 11, 2018
Jan 1, 2005
Covers the beginning of Frank Castle's tenure as The Punisher. Gives the reader a primer on The Punisher and his philosophy.
Aug 7, 2018
Dan Lyons, Apr 5 2016
A humorous book about Dan Lyons' experience at a start up after he left Newsweek. It covers the advantages and flaws of start ups and start up culture. Although it does show a biased perspective, it is entertaining nonetheless.
Aug 6, 2018
Apr 1, 1994
A comic with artwork from Alex Ross that covers the rise of mutants and superheroes in the Marvel universe told from the perspective of a journalist.
Aug 5, 2018
Feb 6, 2009
A charming animation that emphasizes the importance of family. The movie was great and the voice acting was well done. Adults will probably enjoy it more than children.
Aug 4, 2018
Jun 2007
A comic about a hitman that tries to go back in time to kill Adolf Hitler. Winner of the 2008 Eisner Award for Best U.S. Edition of International Material.
Aug 3, 2018
Nov 1, 2002
This was a comic on the list of comics to read before you die. The comic series is about Spider Jerusalem, a journalist in the future. The series has a great sense of humor, a mature tone, and a cynicism that is applicable to today's world. In addition to this, it also covers that may be faced by humanity in the future as news evolves over time.
Jul 23, 2018
Jan 12, 1997
A classic that should be required viewing. This is my favorite out of all the Studio Ghibli films. Although I have seen this before multiple times, this is my first time seeing in theatres through GKIDS. GKIDS offers showings that are dubbed in English and subbed in English with Japanese audio. Unfortunately there is not a showing that offers Japanese audio without subtitles.
Jul 22, 2018
Jan 22, 2016
This was recommended to me by the instructor of a creative writing course that I took while I was in university. I put off watching this for a while, and I regret doing so. Brie Larson was great, but the star of the film was Jacob Tremblay. His performance was probably the best I've ever seen out of a child actor. The film captures the relationship between mother and son with great care. Although the story can be emotionally heavy, I recommend it for multiple viewings.
Jul 21, 2018
Nov 16, 2012
A bit on the long side, but Daniel Day-Lewis's acting manages to keep the story from ever getting dull. It's not the best movie that Steven Spielberg directed, but it is still a great film that can be used as reference in regards to learning what makes a good leader.
Jul 9, 2018
Dec 1, 2003
A comic series about the the last man left after all mammals with a y chromosome die on Earth due to a plague. I was surprised by this work in that it was not only an adventure, but a philosophical one that managed to act as a coming of age tale for adults. It's not one of the best graphic novels ever made for no reason.
Jul 7, 2018
Mar 28, 2014
A film with Wes Anderson's style all over it. It's organized very well, and it has a feel that is very similar to the "A Series of Unfortunate Events" YA book series.
Jul 5, 2018
May 21, 1982
This managed to satisfy my post-apocalyptic cravings. The pacing was good and the action was consistent. Mel Gibson was great as Max. Better than the first in my opinion.
Jul 1, 2018
Dec 23, 1961
I'm not a fan of Romeo and Juliet, but I liked West Side Story. The music was unconventional, and the camera work was deliberate. Despite seeing it for the first time, I could recognize some of the songs.
Jun 29, 2018
Niccolò Machiavelli, 1513
A useful work on how to rule. It also highlights the important difference between being feared, being loved, and being hated.
Jun 25, 2018
Nov 1, 1991
A depiction of Art Spiegleman's father's life during the Holocaust. It is a personal story that is accentuated by the presentation of different groups as certain types of animals.
Jun 17, 2018
Jan 22, 2018
A thought provoking cyberpunk game with a great story and atmosphere. Felt similar in tone to Technobabylon. Plot points may change based on player choice, but the variance in plot might not be enough to warrant a replay.
Jun 17, 2018
Mar 6, 1987
A good cop film, but I'm somewhat surprised by the praise it gets as well as its staying power. The film may have been more impressive back when it came out compared to now.
Jun 10, 2018
Mar 6, 1979
I went into this film expecting a post apocalyptic wasteland and came out of it somewhat disappointed. The movie feels dated, and because it is the first film, it doesn't seem to have the apocalyptic landscape that was present in Fury Road.
Jun 8, 2018
Oct 23, 2012
The retrowave soundtrack, general atmosphere, and the quick gameplay offer an indie game with a ton of replay value.
Jun 4, 2018
Stephen LaBerge, Apr 1, 1985
A good introduction to how to get started with lucid dreaming. Although it is older compared to other works in the field, it provides the basics needed. I intend to eventually use the techniques detailed here to experiment with lucid dreaming.
Jun 3, 2018
Nov 18, 1994
Directed by Luc Besson. The camera work was great and every image seemed deliberate. The only film I've seen starring Jean Reno. His presence really sold Leon as a character to me.
Jun 2, 2018
Jun 17, 2017
Not quite as thrilling as the first season, but still maintains the same level of suspense. Manages to keep the quality of the series up while also exploring new ground in regards to what the titans are.
Jun 1, 2018
Nov 15, 2001
I can see why this is considered one of the best first person shooters ever made. The story mode has a good difficulty progression. The music is memorable, and Master Chief is a great protagonist. For a game that is over 17 years old, it does not feel old at all.
May 31, 2018
Kayt Sukel, Mar 1, 2016
A non fiction book that outlines the advantages and consequences of risk taking behavior.
May 28, 2018
Nov 23, 1998
I played the gamecube version of this on the dolphin emulator with a 3rd party xbox controller formatted like a ps4 controller. It is easy to tell why this is one of the greatest games ever made. In addition to bringing the Zelda franchise into the 3rd dimension, this game boasts great level design, and finely tuned controls. The music is iconic, and the characters are memorable. This game has aged well. It appeals to players of all ages and backgrounds, and has something to offer to anyone who picks up the controller and gives it a go. The playtime is over 30 hours, so you won't need to worry about it ending too soon.
May 27, 2018
May 18, 2018
In this sequel, the budget is higher and the jokes are more expensive. Deadpool is no longer something new, so it is interesting to see how they try to keep him fresh. In terms of the script, the quality is about the same as first, but there are times when it drags. If it was shortened slightly, it would be a tight film.
May 26, 2018
Dec 22, 2018
A film by Guillermo Del Toro. If I were to describe it, I would say that it is like a cross between Pan's Labyrinth and Amélie. It had the feeling of a fairy tale meant for adults.
May 25, 2018
A course about how to start a start up. Run by the YC founders. Discusses many aspects of different types of startups, how to handle financial operations, hr, etc. Some of the lectures include guest speakers from successful startups.
May 14, 2018
Apr 27, 2018
Watched in Imax. A film that is the culmination of three phases of films in the Marvel cinematic universe. Although it may be lacking in story, it more than makes up for it with its scale and the ambitious plot that brings together all of the characters in the marvel universe. In addition to this, it finally brings Thanos to the forefront and provides him with greater depth than he had in the comics. I saw the first Avengers film when I was in high school, so the payoff was particularly rewarding to me.
May 13, 2018
Feb 24, 2017
A film that offers subtle commentary on race relations. If you were to ignore the undertones, you will find that it is still a solid horror film. There are many details hidden throughout, so I recommend multiple viewings.
May 13, 2018
Peter Thiel, Blake Masters, Sept 16, 2014
Details the challenges and what must be prioritized when starting a startup. I recommend watching the CS183B Stanford lectures after completing this.
May 6, 2018
Dec 25, 2016
Damien Chazelle delivers just like he did in Whiplash. The songs are catchy and they stick in your head days after you finish the movie. Gosling's piano skills were extremely impressive and the absence of a hand double only added to its quality.
May 4, 2018
Steve Kamb, Jan 12, 2016
A well organized book about the advantages of gamification for acquiring skills and accomplishing goals. It also manages to effectively explain why risks are a necessary part of the hero's journey.
Apr 28, 2018
April 28, 1995
An interesting documentary about the cartoonist Robert Crumb. Although it wasn't my cup of tea, I appreciated the how deeply the cartoonist's past and his relationship with his family was explored.
Mar 1, 2018
Feb 18, 2006
The most refined show in the series in my opinion. The Eurobeat and the adrenaline pumping action does not let up. In addition to this, technical aspects of the mechanics of car racing are also covered in depth.
Feb 6, 2018
Feb 6, 2018
One of the most memorable events of the year. I never thought the rocket would successfully take off. The climax was the simultaneous landing of the side boosters. It would have been nice to see the center core land on the droneship, but 2/3 is still great. The shot of starman floating off into space was a good touch. Space x's have been continuously getting better over the years and this launch proved that they could not only nail the launch, but the telemetry as well.
Dec 9, 2017
July 21, 2017
Saw this in imax. Great film. Although this was not my favorite Nolan film, it easily is one of the most well made among his works. The shots of the fighter planes were the most technical and impressive scenes in the film. Hans Zimmer's usage of the Shepard's tone could have been more emphasized. I actually did not realize that a Shepard's tone was used until looking it up after the fact. Because of how drawn out the auditory illusion was, in many cases, it felt as if the effect of the illusion was diminished.
Nov 4, 2017
Menno wins again. There are some great battles in here, but it didn't feel all that satisfying. On the bright side, it did showcase the Netherland's hip hop culture which was great to see.
Oct 8, 2017
Oct 6, 2017
Saw this in imax. An underrated film; just as great as the first. Probably the best experience I've had watching a film in a movie theatre. The custom Imax intro was a nice touch. The sound engineering was incredible and allowed for the audience to feel the sound instead of simply hearing it. This is a movie that sticks in your head days after you see it.
Sep 29, 2017
Sep 29, 2017
Introduced a more realistic rendering of BFR. Also elaborated on how to improve the profitability of the new architecture. Although earth to earth travel was hinted at in the 2016 IAC presentation, we were provided with more of an explanation on how it would work in this update.
Sep 27, 2016
Sep 27, 2016
Introduction of Musk's plans to reach Mars. This was why Space X was created and it is great to see an actual system that has been designed to reach that goal in a realistic way.