Sinners

★★★★★

Every bit as transcendent as I was promised it would be. Watched in a class, left with my jaw on the floor. I will forever be bummed that I didn't see this one in theaters. Maybe if I beg The Apollo enough they'll re-screen it.

The Secret World of Arrietty

★★★★☆

One of the many Ghibli films I grew up watching on long road trips with my sister. Specifically the US dub with Brigit Mendler as Arrietty. Beautiful lush world and touching story.

Elio

★★☆☆☆

Pixar's movies will always have a mirror-shine polish to them in terms of quality, and my animation-loving heart will always get excited for a pretty picture. But, this movie felt more like it was going through the thematic motions that having a cohesive theme.

Bottoms

★★★★☆

Fucking hilarious. Such a treat seeing a lesbian character allowed to be such a blatant asshole while still feeling like well-considered queer rep. Best enjoyed on the floor of a dorm with some good friends.

The Muppet Movie

★★★★★

Magic on film. It really, truly is. Got lucky enough to see this in a theater full of Muppet fans. Rainbow Connection is classic for a reason, but Gonzo's "I'm Going to go Back There Someday" also yanks on my heartstrings something fierce.

The Bob's Burgers Movie

★★★☆☆

Goddamn the team at Bento Box Entertainment can animate! This movie is at times distractingly beautiful. I wanted more from the songs, especially "Not That Evil" and "Lucky Ducks". The story was just ok.

Scooby-Doo and the The Witch's Ghost

★★★★★

Now, does my star ranking seem overly generous? That's because it is. I'm not an objective observer on this franchise and I won't even try to be. The debut of the Hex Girls. A member of the core four SD movies. Absolutely stunning autumnal vibe. What more could anybody need?

Doctor Who 2005

★★★★☆

A disaster, a masterpiece, a theseus's ship of a TV show. There's always something to like about it, even in its most maligned eras. (Yes, even Thirteen.) I include Gatwa's run in this too, because I can't make heads nor tails of that from a production standpoint. But from a viewer standpoint, it was a good time!

Abbott Elementary

★★★★☆

Funny, comforting, and heartwarming. I love a mockumentary sitcom and I LOVE a romance between two awkward sweeties. Gregory and Janine have my heart, and Mr. Johnson is a hilarious recurring character.

The Simpsons

★★★★★

By now it may be obvious that I have a thing for franchises which have been going for far longer than I have been alive. The Simpsons earlier seasons are such a enthralling time-capsule back to the 1990s. I was obsessed in middle school and I still love it today.

Hooked

Nir Eyal

★★☆☆☆

I am glad to have read Chaos Machine before Hooked as the former thoroughly inoculated me against the potent bullshit the latter espouses. Positively drenched in Silicon Valley's willful ignorance. Its discussions of ethics are perfunctory at best and actively malicious at worst.

Despite my repulsion to the morals of the book, it does do a good job at being what it promised: an instructive experience with applicable advise. It's written in a crystal-clear voice which conveys meaning while being totally approachable. I can see myself applying what I've learned to a parody of the Hook model of product engagement, which has become depressingly common in the twelve years since its publication.

The Chaos Machine

Max Fisher

★★★★☆

More summer research reading! It was refreshing to recognize some pop-culture references, especially after Postman's book. Fisher builds on the points made in Amusing Ourselves to Death, arguing that social media, like TV is not the neutral conveyor of information it claims to be, but is instead a medium which shapes its message. A great look at the issue, especially given its unique focus on people involved. From tech CEOs to content moderators to everyday users.

Because I already had a surface level familiarity with many of the book's case-studies, I sometimes found the repetition a bit tiresome. However, it is an excellently thorough review of its subject, accessible to a wide audience.

Amusing Ourselves to Death

Neil Postman

★★★★☆

Read in the course of my summer research project. It was written in 1985 and today is hailed as prophetic. It's a sometimes difficult to sympathize with the author's points, given that the threat of TV seems quaint in the face of social media algorithms and AI. That's to be expected especially given that this book celebrated its twentieth anniversary the same year I was born.

Written in dense, precise prose which was a bit challenging at times, but enabled the author to make his points effectively.

Wincing the Night Away

The Shins

★★★★☆

The first half of this album packs a strange, mellow punch. It feels very emotional but also well structured. The opening line of the whole album, "go without until the need seeps in," always strikes an unexpected chord with me. Similarly, "faced with the dodo's conundrum" from "Australia" is a favorite. The latter half is still an excellent listen, just a little less personally resonant.

The Skatalites: Essential Artist Collection

The Skatalites | Trojan Records

★★★☆☆

I like a lot of newer Ska music, so it seemed like a good idea to go straight to the source. I was surprised by the lack of any lyrics. The vocals are treated more like percussion than I expected. It feels strange to say, but I almost wanted it to be cheesier than it was.