Dread

Spider-Man: still charming. Incredibly dated with the Macy Grey appearance. Man, they really missed the mark with that. Other than that, a fantastic film. Arguably the best "origin story" movie for a known character. Evil Dead Rise: this one has got a couple of really grotesque gore scenes and some real gnarly heretical shit, so I kind of loved that a little. Also, tons of kids die on-screen and you don't see that very often. The story? meh. Overall, it's pretty rote and plays by the numbers. If you think that anybody in an Evil Dead movie (or show) that reads from the Necronomicon Ex Mortis (or whatever variant of it they use in this movie) is stupid, just wait til you see a kid crawl into a crevice underneath the crack that opened up in his underground parking garage after an earthquake to pull the book out in the first place. All that said, if we're talking possessed violent people in a high-rise, Demons 2 is the better film. Features: 82 Shorts: 1 Documentaries: 7 Rewatches: 4

First couple episodes of The Changeling done and it's another favourite of mine so far. Lakeith Stanfield is a standout in basically everything I've seen him in. He's perfect to lead this series. I was critical of how the book would translate to TV, but clearly that is being done with very careful attention.

Currently debating a rewatch before watching the movie. I've watched season one relatively recently, so I think I'll do that. Season two of The Bear is even better than season one. I still have two episodes left, but it's already locked down the best TV of the year, so far. Easily. Something supremely great will have to come out if it's going to get knocked out of the top spot. Brilliant show. I'm laughing so fucking much at The Eric Andre Show that Stacy thinks I'm pretending. I am not. Checked out My Adventures with Superman and no. Not for me. Didn't make it through the first episode.

Chucky was awesome. I'll probably be paying for one month of this streamer again once season three is over and I can binge it. If the end of season 2 is any indication, 3 will be a wild departure. After that, watched a couple episodes of the newest season of the Eric Andre Show. Fucking hysterical. I miss Hannibal though.

Finished Young Justice. Not a big fan of the ending, but still hit a lot of good notes. Invasion: this shit is too slow. I think I'm done. Chucky: season one was fun and season 2 is even funner. This shit gets CRAZY. Jennifer Tilly is the best. Watched because it's on a free trial streamer I'm dropping. Once season three drops in October, I'll wait to see if any other streamers get it before doing a month's trial again.

For Love of the Game: 90s Kelly Preston *heart eyes* The Gift: the Sam Raimi film from 2000, not the far superior Joel Edgerton film from 2015. Features: 80 Shorts: 1 Documentaries: 7 Rewatches: 4

So here's a funny thing about Young Justice and it's streaming in Canada. Netflix used to have all of it. I imagine it did up until the WB Discovery bullshit. Same time all the Star Trek stuff disappeared off of Crave in Canada. But, by the time I went to watch it on Netflix, only season one was available. But I start a free trial and watch all of season two. As you may remember, S1 was 26 episodes and S2 was 20, but after that, YJ went to a more Netflix-style 13 episode miniseries/season, and is considered a six season show up here. On IMDB, it's considered 4 because they take the four 13 episode seasons and make them two. So, everything is available to stream except for season 3 (or the first 13 episodes of season 3 if you do the IMDB thing. BUT season 1 ends with a huge reveal and then season 2 takes place five years later, so there is a precedent for an interruption in the timeline naturally. I've also heard some shit about "season 3" that makes me not care so much about seeing it. Anyway, finished season 5. The show is remarkably well-written and quite violent. More than I remember. Great obscure characters.

Rewatched season one of Young Justice. Was gonna get a free trial and binge the rest of the show, but maybe might jump back to a Venture Bros. Rewatch. so I can watch the movie finale. I don't need a rewatch fro Metalocalypse, but I'm trying to find The Doomstar Requiem to watch before the newest movie. Trash reality: Love Island USA done. I don't understand how people can make out with, at least get to third base with, sleep beside someone else, say I"I love you" to for six weeks and get excited when asked to be their girlfriend/boyfriend. Is that a Millennial thing? Started Ultimatum. The most bullshit reality show of them all. it's awful. This one sees me using my phone for roughly 92% of every episode. I look up when the camera lands on an ass. Down for Love is a title I'm not sure is very appropriate, but maybe they can get by because Kiwis are so harmless. It's a dating show for people with Downs Syndrome (mostly, but everyone is a PWD) and it's absolutely lovely. Charming as all hell. Sweet, sad and funny. It's really great. Highly recommended on Netflix. If I ever get down to New Zealand I'll be looking for my man Brayden to buy him a beer. That guy gave me so much joy.

Airplane!: Fuck. This movie REALLY holds up. Funny as fuck. I would say every joke lands except one that requires knowledge of an old-timer song and dance woman, but that one is funny too. Lots of actors got jobs to deliver single jokes. It's ridiculous, nonstop, and makes your gut and face hurt from laughing. It is in the running (if not the top) of the list for greatest comedy ever. Dumb and Dumber: as always. Holds up. It too is in the running. I would argue Airplane! is more broadly and generally funny, and is actual more timeless than this one, but plotting hairs, etc. Great comedy. Jeff Daniels is the unsung hero of this one, but it's also Carrey at full power, so it's amazing he even has a presence in the movie, let alone what I would argue is a more enduring presence , is a miracle, but Daniels nails it. Sharper: a pretty stock and dull con artist film elevated only by the presence of Julianne Moore. Anyone else in that role, and this movie isn't worth watching. Nice to see John Lithgow too. Tiny role though. The Quick and the Dead: a really fun western I'd forgotten more about than I remembered upon this rewatch. Good stuff. Features: 78 Shorts: 1 Documentaries: 7 Rewatches: 4

To Catch a Killer: this weekend's morning movie with Stacy was this horribly titled halfway decent sniper spree killer film. This is pretty stupid overall, but has its moments. Shailene Woodly kind of always seems like a deer in headlights. Her character and a few others make some really stupid choices so that's on the script. searched "to catch a killer imdb" and got five separate versions of iron the first page. My favourite actor in the movie is the killer and they have like three lines in the entire film. Haha!What a mess! Darkman: I love this movie. It's been a long time since I've seen it last. It's for a reason too. Features: 74 Shorts: 1 Documentaries: 7 Rewatches: 4

Finished SNW . It had its ups and downs. Overall, good season. Had a good chat about it on the Postcards from a Dying World Podcast. Finished The Crowded Room: solid. Finished the Enterprise rewatch. Contender for best Trek. Terrible finale though. Yikes. Halfway through season 2 of Harley Quinn (animated). Those are the only seasons on Netflix in Canada, but I'm really enjoying it. Of course the twists and turns of your everyday episode of Love Island USA.

Man...I must have missed a few. Anyway... Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3: one of the better Marvel movies. A really beautiful end to this little franchise with probably the best special effects in a Marvel movie to date. I dug it a lot. The Boy In Blue/Peggy Sue Got Married: the next two episodes of Cage Dive are ready to be recorded on my end. Sharksploitation/Subspecies V: Bloodrise: reviews forthcoming Ghostwatch/Curtains/Deadtime Stories/Wer/Horror Noire: reviews forthcoming (as soon as Monday. RIP Sir Michael Parkinson Features: 72 Shorts: 1 Documentaries: 7 Rewatches: 4

Checkmate #5: this is really good. DC vs. Vampires #1: this is intensely dumb, but I'll give it another. Ant #1: not my favourite. I have a couple more of these and will still check them out just to see what ridiculous villains Erik Larsen comes up with. Black Hammer Reborn #5: this was really good. Cross to Bear #1: this didn't light me on fire. Deathstroke Inc. #2: nawww...The story is goofy and the art I really do not enjoy. I'm out. Hellboy The Silver Lantern Club #1: kind of fun. I hope these characters turn out to be the villains but I don't think that's going to happen. Hellcop #1: this is the same premise as a WIP of mine, but it's so different. I gave it a shot even though it isn't my cup of tea (weirdly) but I couldn't say I enjoyed it at all. House of Slaughter #1: I don't know a single prequel series to an already successful series that has worked as well as its predecessor. This isn't it either. It's ok, and I'll give it a few more, but I want to be entertained, not just taught the backstory of the secret society in Something Is Killing the Children. Human Remains #2: this is really good. intriguing premise and impressive storytelling. Moon Knight #4: this series is getting so good. Love seeing him and Tigra together. Search for Hu #2:still good. Task Force Z #1: I don't know what to think about this. I didn't know all these characters died, so seeing them as living dead is very weird. That Texas Blood #11: fuck, this is good. The Darkhold Blade #1: meh... The Invincible Red Sonja #5: i gave this too much of a shot. The Harbinger #1: not too sure about this. I'll do one more. The Rush #1: this was cool. I'll read more. Vinyl #5: haha! Still fucking crazy. Batman/Superman Authority Special #1: I'll be the cranky old fan. This is nowhere near my Authority. The only three members I recognize are Apollo, Midnight and Manchester Black, and only the first two are actually named in the book. None of the other members are at all. I have no idea who they are except it looks like Steel's nice or daughter or whatever is on the team. Still don't know her name and the book doesn't tell me. So dumb. Dark Knights of Steel #1: Ok, this is a fun Elseworlds thingI dig it so far. Amazing Fantasy #4: Kaare Andrews combines the energy of Joe Madueira (sic) with the visual finesse of Todd McFarlane and it really does make him an amazing Spider-Man artist. After Dark: a really great horror one shot from Aftershock. These guys make good comics. Crossover #9: still great. DC Horror Presents Soul Plumber #2: I think I'm done. I would have liked this a lot more if it was 1999. Dirtbag Rapture #2: I disagree in saying that main characters need to be palatable. They just need to be believable. That all said, I hate this character and refuse to read more. I get it. She's a dirtbag. But come on.Make her at least entertaining. Fire Power #17: still rad. Death of Dr. Strange Avenges #1: this kinda rules. Hellboy The Bones of Giants #1: this was a great start. Laura and Other Stories #1: I love Guillem March, and I was really hoping this was an erotic euro comic the likes of which the world needs more of and sadly it's a slice of life euro comic. Justice League infinity #5: god, this rules. Lucky Devil #4: this series is great. Issues: 663 Trades: 10 Omnibus: 4 Graphic Novel: 4

Ace Ventura Pet Detective: oldest said he'd watch a movie with me and chose this one. Still really transphobic, but there are some undeniable laugh out loud moments. I can do without watching it again though. Texas Killing Fields: this movie's about ten years old and I never knew it existed. Watched it this morning with Stacy. It's a halfway decent crime thriller with a great cast that in a lot of ways seems to deliver flat performances. 3/5 Features: 63 Shorts: 1 Documentaries: 6 Rewatches: 4

The Out-Laws: 90 minutes of dumb fun and pretty decent action. Bank Manager Adam Devine is pretty great set against Pierce Brosnan and Ellen Barkin as his soon-to-be in-law bank robbers. And through those three loud personalities collide throughout the film, still, Nina Dobrev shows up and easy-breezy steals the camera's focus. Also, is Lil Rey in EVERYTHING? It feels like he's in everything. Michael Rooker is also great in this and he's wearing the same weird barbershop quartet hat he was wearing in the Corrective Measure movie about a super-villain prison. Necropolis: Legion: I can't remember much about Necropolis (only just discovered it is also on Tubi!) but Chris Alexander's sequel/remake is very much in the vein of a Jean Rollin/Jess Franco film mixed with a little Cronenberg and Warhol with a splash of Bava and Argento. Eurosleaze horror reinterpreted. Really short runtime Parasite Lady: another film bearing the same descriptors above. This one has a lead who is someone whose face you can look at all day, which is good, because she's onscreen for damn near the whole thing. This one is only 42 minutes, so I'll count it as a short. Also on Tubi Features: 61 Shorts: 1 Documentaries: 6 Rewatches: 4

Hijack on Apple TV is a great fucking thriller. Strange New Worlds this season is just kind of meh for me so far. In fact, I'm enjoying my rewatch of Enterprise more.

Taxi Driver: youngest wants to start watching some Scorsese movies, so the only two I had in physical media was this and Casino. Someone else has my Goodfellas and Raging Bull discs...We chose this because of the runtime, but Casino is a movie I enjoy a lot more. the laconic 70s style really threw him. The bleakness of the end turning into a little bit of vindication and heroism really shook him. "What was that movie even about?" Me: welcome to nihilism. Features: 59 Shorts: Documentaries: 6 Rewatches: 4

Eat the Rich #3: honestly, this idea is good (if obvious) but this approach to it is very unique. It isn't driving me wild, but I'm glad it exists. Maw #2: still really solid Phoenix Song Echo #1: hahahahahahahahahahaeahaha....fuck no. Refrigerator Full of Heads #1: hell yeah. SHAZAM! #4: great little mini. Suicide Squad #8: oh good, Ambush Bug is leaving. Deadly Class vols 10-12: helluva way to end it. Great series overall. There's a bit of a lull, but this is still the comic book that has made me laugh out loud the hardest. It will always hold a special place in my heart. It's funny; the "special school for [wizards, assassin's, etc.] trope" is so overdone now. I really don't want to see it for a long time. Captain America Epic Collection Society of Serpents: finally got my hands on the first of this series in the Gruenwald Cap run. Great to see the last few issues of Mike Carlin's run for context as a meeting with Captain Britain turned into a battle with Modred the Mystic seems like it's not the kind of Captain America Comics that people want to read. Cue Gruenwald. Fuck, man. He moves from editor to writer and kills it from issue one. In his first issue he creates Madcap (one of my favourite weird Marvel characters_, redeems Armadillo, creates the Society of Serpents which will be a dominant villainous force in the Marvel Universe for years. Good shit. Contest of Champions: this is the oversized hardcover. What a fucking mess of a series that was. Could easily do a podcast about it. It was a cool first example of a crossover where EVERYONE shows up. Great idea with the international angle to give obscure characters like Shamrock and Peregrine something to do in continuity. Don't get me wrong, it's got a great writing team (Gruenwald again! with Defalco and Mantlo) and young John Romita Jr.'s pencils with Pablo Marcos' inks? *chef's kiss. Problem: Like JLA/Avengers and a million other event stories (shit even the battle with the Imperial Guard in the Dark Phoenix saga has the same pacing), the setup is heroes getting bunched into groups and having to complete tasks or battle each other. In this case, battle each other. The problem is, they attribute the win to the wrong "team." They fucked the whole thing up. Years later, editor Gruenwald got the opportunity to fix their mistake in a pair of Avengers/West Coast Avengers Annuals, in a really cool way. Those annuals are included in this collection. The United States of Captain America #5: as a fun harmless little miniseries, this was ok. As a new direction forward for the men who've called themselves Captain America over the last thirty years? not very good. Still, the miniseries was fun, it just did not stick the landing. Willy's Wonderland #1: nawww dog. Aquaman/Green Arrow: Deep Target #1: couldn't be more disinterested. Detective Comics Annual #7: from 1994. Pirate Batman. It ain't great. Flash Annual #7: from 1994. Talk about a great cover. Flash of this era and a couple years before had some great fucking covers. Unfortunately, the story is pretty ridiculous. Issues: 631 Trades: 10 Omnibus: 4 Graphic Novel: 4

3 episodes in and Picard fucking rules. This is peak Trek.

Firepower #16: this is still really good. Martial arts comics are hard to do. This does it well. Justice League Infinity #4: this is nuts. Last Book You'll Ever Read #3: Ok, I think this story is moving too fast. Read the first 2 issues and then this one and try not to think it just jumped into overdrive for almost no reason. Lucky Devil #3: I'm digging this. Out #1: ok, I'm in. Red Sonja #2: Y'know, I'd love to read a Red Sonja comic with art by Mirka Andolfo, but not one they wrote. Pass. Savage Avengers #25: Fuck, this is so goddamn good. The Cimmerian: Beyond the Black River #1: this was a very faithful adaptation. Just read this novella. Very cinematic approach here.. I dig it. The Nice House on the Lake #5: this is fucking nuts. I love it. Sort of like Lost if they'd done it on Showtime. We Have Demons #1: More fun than I'd expected. Batman: The Impostor #1: this gave off BIG Gotham Central vibes. Kind of like GC meets Year One set in Year Three. Rated R. Black Hammer Reborn #4: Great issue. Deadbox #2: not the second issue I would have written. Blue and Gold #3: I posit that this 8issue miniseries could easily have been a five issue miniseries just based on reading the first three. Eternals Forever #1: noooope Gamma Flight #5: great ending. He Who Fights With Monsters #2: I wouldn't follow up a first issue that is entirely a tension-building thriller with the most boring thing you'll ever read, but that's just me. I'm out. Iron Man #13: Still crazy and good. Justice League Last Ride #6: This is not a good series. The art isn't very good. The story is clunky. It's sort of been that way throughout. King the Conqueror #3: this was solid. Good Marvel time shit. Mazebook #2: Great issue! I'm in! Ninjak #4: cute ending. Still straddling the fence on this mini. Telepaths #2: great issue. Fantastic second issue in particular. Symbiote Spider-Man Crossroads #4: so much fun. The Army of Darkness 1979 #2: Yeah, no one needs this. The Darkhold Iron Man #1: I get it. It's a two issue event with a bunch of one shots based on the Darkhold Evil Avengers or whatever? A body horror Iron Man? Ok. It's good. The Joker #8: I'm actually interested in Lady Bane now. Is her name Vengeance? I don't know. The Unbelievable Unteens #3: this is great. Might be my favourite Black Hammer Universe thing. Which is saying a lot. Titans United #2: ok, I'm down. Vampiverse #2: this is so fcuking stupid, but I love the ballsiness of it. World of Darkness: Crimson Thaw #1: ok, this is fucking rad. Black Manta #2: the art in this is very much Phil Hester-ish which is right up my alley but I can't give a shit. Green Lantern #7: fuck man, give me Tom Raney art all day. Night of the Ghoul #1: this is fun. Scott Snyder and Francesco Francavilla. That's a banger lineup and they pay it off. Death of Doctor Strange #2: this was a lot of fun. Blacksad: They All Fall Down Part 1: I'm probably not in the mood for this. Maybe I'll grab the trade. Issues: 620 Trades: 6 Omnibus: 3 Graphic Novel: 4

Ok, everything I've seen about Picard boils down to: season three is the only one worth your time OR one and three are good. That second opinion I've only seen once, but I agree with it. At least the season one part. Season one rules. Season two is some of the dumbest shit I've ever seen. But I didn't think that until about halfway through the season. Starting three tonight. Dead Ringers on Prime is compelling, but I find it a little bit...flat. Not sure how else to say it.

The Flash: counterpoint: this is far better than any movie with this many reshoots and rewrites should ever be. It's heartfelt, fun and shows the massive power of DC characters incredibly well. A little bit of hinky CGI and Supergirl isn't a character but rather a plot device. Honestly, the opening with Batfleck in the blue cowl was enough to make this awesome to me. Best superhero movie in a long time. edit: further thoughts: Keaton was fucking awesome to see in and out of the suit again. The scene with the babies is one of the most delightfully INSANE things I have ever seen in a movie, and I adored every second of it. Also, it has an ending. Features: 58 Shorts: Documentaries: 6 Rewatches: 4

Finished TNG last night. Man season 7 is a real stinker overall. 3-6 have far fewer lame episodes per season, and now I'm thinking maybe I should go back to seasons 1 and 2. But I also started Star Trek: Picard last night and three episodes in it's rad. I love that it isn't so much a Star Trek story as it is a story set within the Star Trek universe. I am expecting that to change by the end, but it's a fun and nice switch from the typical Trek. Basically, I needed NOTHING from TNG to understand what is going on in Picard. It seems to be playing on things that happened since the end of TNG. Is this movie stuff or is it just made up for the show? We're all caught up on The Crowded Room too. Really well done 70s-set series. Tom Holland's American accent bugs the hell out of me. It's the same one he uses as Spider-Man. It's one of those sounds that my damaged ears can't quite pick up. Other than that, I love it. I want a lot more of Amanda Seyfreid in EVERYTHING please.

Blood Creek: rewatch before recording Features: 57 Shorts: Documentaries: 6 Rewatches: 4

I would argue that Empire has an ending. This film does not.