carpe diem

1. Latin. seize the day; enjoy the present, as opposed to placing all hope in the future.

Set against the intimately beautiful backdrop of New England, Dead Poets Society revolves around a group of boys at the prestigious, yet fictional, Welton boarding school in 1959. Todd Anderson, played by Ethan Hawke, is beginning his junior year. Anderson is a painfully shy, uncertain young man who is daunted by the legacy of his older brother, a Welton valedictorian. Through Anderson, we are introduced to his roommate, Neil Perry, as well as his friends Knox Overstreet, Richard Cameron, Steven Meeks, Gerard Pitts, and Charlie Dalton. Amidst the stifling strictness of the school and the authoritarian rule of the headmaster, the boys are introduced to someone that stands out. John Keating, played by Robin Williams, takes the role of English teacher. Keating, a Welton alumni, shocks the class with his unorthodox teaching style. One of Keating's first instructions is for the boys to tear the page with a stale, formulaic approach to poetry from their textbooks. 

Through a series of scenes, Keating uses his unique and unconventional teaching to nurture not only a love of poetry but also a sense of individualism and inspiration. Keating has the class step atop his desk to change their perspective and recite lines of poetry while playing sports. Of particular depth and cult classic status, two scenes in particular stand out. In the first scene, three boys are instructed to walk around the courtyard while the others observe. As Keating points out, the three boys each begin with their own unique gait and pace but quickly fall into lock step. “The dangers of conformity,” he says, before encouraging each student to walk in their own manner, an exercise in individualism. 

As for the second scene, it occurs when each boy has been instructed to create an original piece of poetry and to read it aloud for the class. Todd Anderson, wholly unsure of himself, reveals that he did not create a poem. In response, Keating says “Mr. Anderson thinks that everything inside of him is worthless and embarrassing. Isn't that right, Todd? Isn't that your worst fear? Well, I think you're wrong. I think you have something inside of you that is worth a great deal.” 

Keating then writes “I sound my barbaric yawp over the rooftops of the world,” a line from the poem Song of myself by Walt Whitman. Keating makes Anderson stand up and give his own yawp, a loud yell or cry. Anderson is meek and hushed but at the pestering of Keating, he finds his voice through anger. Keating then guides Anderson through an impromptu poem from the heart. In this dramatic display, Todd finally finds his voice in a beautiful display of self expression and sureness of one’s own thoughts. 

It is Neil Perry, played by Robert Sean Leonard, who discovers that Keating was a member of the Dead Poets Society, an unsanctioned student group dedicated to poetry and self expression. Perry restarts the club and himself and the other boys sneak to a cave where they hold their meetings. At the meetings, members read poetry, perform music, create unique works and find outlet, amongst the typical behavior of teenage boys. Through the Society and the mentorship of Keating, the boys find themselves and, as the poem read at every meeting says, they “suck the marrow out of life.” 

Charlie Dalton adopts the self given moniker of Nuwanda and embraces a roguish behavior, bringing girls to the cave, painting himself with symbols in the style of American Indians and publishing an article in the school paper suggesting that girls should be allowed to be admitted to Welton. This article, published under the Dead Poets Society moniker, and the accompanying stunt he pulls, evoke the wrath of the headmaster. The headmaster beats Dalton in an attempt to elicit information about the Society from him, but Dalton remains stoically silent. Another boy, Knox Overstreet, embraces the idea of carpe diem that Keating encourages the boys to follow and manages to woo the cheerleader he pines for, despite her current boyfriend, a football star. Each character gets their story of self actualization and coming into their own, but it is Neil Perry’s story that is most important. 

     Through Keating’s class, Neil discovers his love of acting and gets the leading role in a local production. However, he secures the part by deceiving his overbearing father, who pushes Neil to become a doctor at Harvard. Neil's father discovers his involvement in the play and arrives at Welton to demand that he quit on the eve of the opening performance. A crestfallen Neil seeks the counsel of his mentor, Keating, who encourages him to stand his ground and to show his father what acting means to him. His father begrudgingly agrees to let Neil continue with the opening performance. His father unexpectedly shows up at the performance and is intensely disapproving of his son. Neil’s father angrily takes Neil home and has plans to withdraw Neil from Welton and have him enrolled in a military academy so that he may continue with his father’s vision of him becoming a doctor. Neil, unable to make his father understand his love of acting and unwilling to live the rest of his life in a manner that he does not want, takes his own life. 

Keating is immediately blamed by both Neil’s parents and Welton administration for Neil’s tragic actions. The boys, deeply distraught by the tragic death of their friend, are miserable at the firing of Keating and the loss of such an impactful figure in their lives. The final scene of the film has the members of the Dead Poets Society climbing atop their desks in defiance of the headmaster and wishing a heartfelt goodbye to Keating with a final “Oh captain, my captain.” 

Dead Poets Society has long been one of my favorite films. The tragically beautiful plot and dialogue carry untold meaning in finding one’s own true self. The boy’s performances are quite well done yet they are overshown by the work of both Ethan Hawke and Robert Leonard, as Todd and Neil, respectively. Both roles are simply exquisite and their individual performances and on-screen chemistry make the film ever more impactful and tragic. The interactions between all of the boys are authentic, deep, quick-witted and sometimes even raw, yet always believable. It is my opinion, however, that the screen is dominated by the presence of Robin Williams. This film comes on the back of William’s 1998 performance as the therapist Sean Mcguire in Good Will Hunting. Although Williams was a revered comedian, I believe that these serious, emotional roles shine on his charisma and persona. As John Keating, Williams infuses that magical presence into the film without letting the character become overdone or a persona. He plays the teacher that everyone wishes they had, the kind that changes lives, in a masterful way. 

Overall, I think that the messages and story of Dead Poets Society alone merit the watch and the excellent performances, classic cinematography and fitting soundtrack simply elevate the film to its unique and impactful status. 

John Keating : Now we all have a great need for acceptance, but you must trust that your beliefs are unique, your own, even though others may think them odd or unpopular, even though the herd may go, "that's bad." Robert Frost said, "Two roads diverged in the wood and I, I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference."

Season 9 of Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege is finally here! The latest update includes  more ranked rewards, replacement of all the 1.5x scopes with 2.5 scopes and best of all, even receive a new character! The new character is called Deimos and is a Front-line character with an amazing new skill to send drones and locate different enemies. Though many players are excited to receive the 2.5x scopes, I for one find it a bit annoying as  I just got used to the 1.5x scopes. 

I'm really happy about the new character that is dropping mainly because it will force players to adapt more to that character and communicate more. This is because Deimos has the ability to detect enemy players' location which will allow the other team to communicate in order to win. Another player called Jackal who has the ability to detect defensive players is often banned from being chosen in ranked matches because of said ability. However, now with the new character Deimos, when players are on the defensive team they will have to adapt to the ability of locating enemy players anyways. This ability also allows for the defensive players to not roam freely as there is now a bigger chance of being found and killed.

 I feel as if this will help players to play the game properly with defenders being more defensive rather than offensive. I like this because it will bring a new play style to our ranked matches instead of always banning the same characters.

Helldivers 2 promises to retain the core elements that made the original game so beloved while introducing exciting new features and improvements. One of the most significant enhancements is the expanded weapons and equipment available to players. From high-tech firearms to devastating explosives, Helldivers 2 offers a diverse array of tools for players to unleash upon their enemies. This expanded selection not only adds depth to the gameplay but also encourages experimentation as players discover their favourite loadouts.

In addition to new weapons, Helldivers 2 introduces fresh enemy types and environments to challenge players. From hordes of relentless alien creatures to treacherous planetary conditions, players must adapt their strategies to overcome each new threat they encounter. The game's procedurally generated levels ensure that every mission is unique, keeping the experience fresh and unpredictable with each playthrough.

One of the defining features of Helldivers is its emphasis on cooperation and teamwork. In Helldivers 2, this cooperative aspect is taken to new heights with enhanced multiplayer functionality. Whether teaming up with friends or joining forces with strangers online, players must coordinate their actions and communicate effectively to achieve victory. From coordinating attacks to reviving fallen comrades, teamwork is essential for survival in the unforgiving universe of Helldivers 2.

Beyond its engaging gameplay mechanics, Helldivers 2 also boasts stunning visuals and immersive sound design. The game's graphics have been given a significant upgrade, with more detailed environments, dynamic lighting effects, and realistic character animations. Combined with an adrenaline-pumping soundtrack and immersive sound effects, Helldivers 2 pulls players into its action-packed universe like never before.

Overall, Helldivers 2 looks poised to be a worthy successor to the original game, building upon its strengths while introducing exciting new features and improvements. With its emphasis on cooperative gameplay, a diverse arsenal of weapons, and challenging missions, Helldivers 2 promises to deliver countless hours of thrilling entertainment for both newcomers and seasoned veterans alike. So gear up, grab your friends, and get ready to dive into the chaos of Helldivers 2!

I recently saw Priscilla (illegally btw) directed by Sofia Coppola and honestly I thought it was really good! 

This movie offers new perspectives in regards to the relationship between Elvis and Priscilla by showing both the positives and negatives of the relationship. The movie follows the true story about Priscilla Presley on how she met, got married to, and left Elvis Presley. They met in Germany, when he was 24 and she was only 14. The story as a whole is heartbreaking, and really highlights the unheard of abuse and toxicity in their relationship in ways other movies, such as the 2022 film “Elvis” truly failed to do. In contrast to “Elvis”, this movie has a different narrative, and it has a more neutral approach to the relationship whereas the Elvis movie glorifies the relationship, showing the good parts only. 

In the movie, Cailee Spaeny (Priscilla) puts on an emotional, moving performance perfectly capturing the sadness and confusion the real Priscilla Presley writes and talks about even today. Personally, I think she did a brilliant job in emphasising the loneliness and vulnerability Priscilla felt throughout the relationship. Alongside her, Jacob Elordi (Elvis) arguably put on a better performance than Austin Butler himself in the Elvis movie. Elordi did a good job on portraying the toxicity within Elvis, and his controlling and manipulative abilities, but even the good parts. Additionally, Elordi put on a more realistic performance than Butler in regards to his accent. The only complaint I have about this film is the rushed ending. 

Personally, I felt that some aspects of Elvis and Priscilla were neglected which I would have wanted to see featured more in the film. For instance, Priscilla Presley has mentioned before that Elvis had a rather strange and unusual relationship with his mother, however this was not mentioned in the movie whatsoever. Additionally, the ending felt rushed, as it had a short buildup and whilst their divorce was seen coming, it was very sudden. Overall though, the movie had beautiful cinematography and a sad but telling story. 

For that I rate it 8/10. 

Technical Data

The DG-1000S is an acrobatics rated sailplane first introduced by the German company DG Flugzeugbau in July of 2000. 

The sailplane has two seats with duplicate controls for flight instruction. Depending on the winglet type, the wingspan can be either 18 or 20 meters. It measures 8.5 meters long and 1.6 meters tall. 

Maximum speed is 270 km/h while cruise speed sits around 110 km/h. The maximum glide ratio is 46.5 to 1 meters. 

Soft Factors 

The technical data shows that the DG-1000S is a high performance sailplane but, in my personal opinion, there are a number of other things that can make a glider much better. 

First off, as a tall person, I appreciate the roomy front cockpit. Despite being 195 cm, I fit comfortably with the adjustable rudder pedals extended all the way with plenty of space between my head and the canopy. 

Overall, the cockpit is very well designed and stays comfortable even on long flights. All important controls are color coded and with easy reach. Both the trim adjustment lever and microphone push-to-talk are located on the control column, which I find very convenient. 

Complaints

While the DG-1000S has a plethora of features, there are some minor grievances to be had. 

The airbrake handle in the front seat scrapes against the edge of the canopy when it is closed which leads to accelerated wear. 

This particular airframe has had issues with the front seat microphone being inaudible.

It can be difficult to climb into the cockpit because of how high it is off the ground, which can be a problem for older pilots. 

My Thoughts

 Of all the sailplanes and gliders I have flown, the DG-1000S has definitely felt the best to fly and been the most comfortable by far. The controls feel responsive and the performance in a thermal is excellent, especially when flying solo. The long wings and large air brakes make the landing approach a breeze. The nose coupling for the tow rope is, in my opinion, far superior to the center of gravity coupling and makes the towing process easier and safer. Overall, I highly recommend this sailplane for those who are learning to fly or simply looking for something new. 

Experience the DG-1000S 

If you are interested in learning to fly sailplanes, check out Landskrona FlygKlubb!

https://landskronaflygklubb.se/ 

The airframe, SE-UTS in all of these photos is owned by the club. 

For around three years now, I have been making my own short films due to my keen interest in filmmaking and all the aspects around it. As well as this, I consider it to be my preferred form of expressionism. With that being said, I am going to attempt to look back on two films that I have created; something that is unorthodox for myself in my reviews.

Over the years, I’ve released 11 short films, ranging from experimentals, to dramas to lighthearted comedies. Genre has never been an inhibiting factor and I like to create what feels appropriate for the point of life I find myself in. This review will focus on what are my most popular films: The Pure and the Damned and The Killing of Time and looking at them in retrospect.

THE PURE AND THE DAMNED

The Pure and the Damned was a short film I had created for FilmISH in 2023. In all honesty, I had no intentions of creating this film, but was rather put up to the task. My friends had really been into Breaking Bad at the time and wanted to create a short film with drugs and crime in the forefront. I never had any experience writing or creating anything along these lines, but in and of itself, that challenge was interesting. I had written the screenplay over a couple of nights and the process was quite. I drew most of my inspiration from the Safdie Brothers and their work on Good Time. Everything from the score, the title and the names of characters was drawn from Good Time.

I knew that I would have to incorporate my friends and have them as leads. Originally, I had Aly as the main character and nobody else to support him. This decision was quickly overruled when I came to the realisation that a more enjoyable and nuanced watch could be crafted had I implemented a dynamic between two characters. That’s what I did. And that is exactly when Kamyar joined the project as “Benny” (directly inspired by Benny Safdie), who would act as the support for Aly’s “Ellis.” The both of them would act as best friends, and their off-screen dynamic would sell their on-screen chemistry all the more.

While this film is considered my most popular, I do have my issues with it, mostly in the narrative. Constrained to a 15 minute runtime, I couldn’t include so much that would have solidified the characters’ place in the world. A large plot point is Benny’s family struggles, which is only ever talked about rather than shown to the audience. I wish this had not been the case. As well as this, the entire catalyst for the plot occurs off-screen, which makes everything feel just as inconsequential.

Without a doubt, this had been the largest and most difficult undertaking as a director. The shooting schedule was messy and everyone had their own lives to attend to, so finding time was increasingly difficult. With that being said, I am really glad that I was able to complete it and while I had a hard time shooting, I have fond memories of the project.

THE KILLING OF TIME

This film might have been the most original concept I had actually come up with. After 7 months of The Pure and the Damned being out for the public, I knew that I would have to create something with Ellis and Benny once more. The budget, shooting and concept would have to be less grand than its predecessor, but I think this worked in its favour. I was coming off of releasing Out of Focus, my most intimate and emotionally potent film. I needed something that was on a more light-hearted note but retained the dark tones found in The Pure and the Damned. This is what catapulted my interest to create The Killing of Time. Even the name itself was more dark than it let on, and was only just about Benny and Ellis trying to pass the time.

The guys wanted something to do with cars in the forefront. For once, I really took to this idea and loved the idea of creating a one-location film. This would inadvertently solve countless problems, such as the size of the crew, the length of the shoot and shooting techniques. I often draw from films directly as a source of inspiration, but with this, I had a hard time doing so. The one film that acted as the source of inspiration was probably Drive, but even then, this was so minimal. 

The film would incorporate a lot of b-roll, dialogue and place an emphasis on the dynamic between Ellis and Benny, even more so than the first film did. I was lucky enough to have an ambiguous ending in The Pure and the Damned, so incorporating the characters into a new narrative wasn't really an issue. I decided that The Killing of Time acted as a spiritual sequel/successor to the original film.

The shoot itself, while short (lasting only a couple of hours), was easily the most gruelling. The weather, temperature and circumstances had honestly been the worst I ever had to endure on any shoot. While Kamyar and Aly were inside the car and were warm, I spent all those hours in the wind, making sure my camera would not restart. There were points where I really thought of calling it off, but I knew I had to keep it going. This was the most difficult film to set up and plan, but it paid off.

Comparing the two films is quite futile, as they are two different genres and telling two different stories, but I do have my own preferences between the two. While The Pure and the Damned attempts to tell a grander story with more moving pieces, I think The Killing of Time goes out and successfully achieves its vision more so than The Pure and the Damned really could.

These two characters have become more than just fictitious creations, they embody the struggles and issues present in today’s society. They are vessels in which countless stories can be told. They have transformed into characters I genuinely adore and love creating narratives around them. Creating a feature film with them would seriously be a dream.

EA Sports FC 24 is the latest instalment in the EA Sports FIFA series, representing a new era for the franchise. The game features a range of new technologies and gameplay elements aimed at delivering a more authentic and immersive football experience. With over 19,000 fully licensed players, 700+ teams, 100+ stadiums, and 30+ leagues, EA Sports FC 24 offers an extensive and realistic representation of the world of football(not)... 

Gameplay and Features:

The game introduces HyperMotionV, a technology that aims to capture the rhythm and fluidity of real-world football using data from top-tier matches to enhance the in-game animations and player movements. Additionally, PlayStyles(+) optimised by Opta and the enhanced Frostbite™ Engine contribute to the unparalleled realism and authenticity of the gameplay experience. Although what a large majority of the community would argue is that the game mechanics can be easily manipulated, this fact is completely true...

Ultimate Team and Career Mode:

Ultimate Team, a popular game mode, the best game mode, has been enhanced with new features such as Ultimate Team Evolutions, which allow players to develop their own club legends by improving their players through completing objectives to boost their individual skills, PlayStyles(+), and overall ratings. The game also unites men's and women's football in the Ultimate Team mode, unlocking a new world of player and manager career opportunities.

In summary, EA Sports FC 24 represents a significant step forward for the FIFA series, offering a more authentic and immersive football experience through the integration of new technologies and gameplay features. The game has been both positively and negatively-received for its realism and fun gameplay, although some aspects, such as microtransactions, have been subject to criticism. The game has been positively and negatively received for its 'fun' and immersive gameplay, while also incorporating RPG elements, such as player skill upgrades, to enhance the overall experience and create abominations of players. However, some reviews have highlighted the continued presence of microtransactions and the need for further evolution in certain aspects of the game.

An analysis of the consequences of fighting the status quo in HBO’s ‘The Wire.’

—- Contains major spoilers —

‘The Wire’ is rightly considered to be one of the best pieces of television ever put to screen. Created, produced and written by David Simon, a former Baltimore Sun police reporter and author, as well as Ed Burns, a former Baltimore murder and narcotics detective turned public school teacher. The show is set in the city of Baltimore, Maryland and draws heavily from the experiences of both men. Every aspect of the series and how the city’s institutions are portrayed are highly authentic and real.  

The first season of the show revolves around the Barksdale gang and the special detachment of police trying to put them behind bars. Later seasons expand the scope of the story to other areas of Baltimore, such as the dock workers, politicians, public schools and newspapers. Still, the core of each season is always the same. It’s about what is known in Baltimore as “the game.” The game is a colloquial term for the drug trade in the city, the unspoken rules and social norms of the drug world. But the game extends far beyond the street corners and alleyways. The game is representative of the dismal status quo of the whole city, the failure of its institutions, the peculiar social norms and the unspoken  Whether it be the police, who are forced to ignore the drug trade in favor of boosting crime stats for politicians, or public schools, who abandon real learning to have more students pass standardized tests. The game is also played by the politicians, corrupt and noble alike. In truth, the game IS Baltimore and everyone who lives there plays it. 

Yet not every character in ‘The Wire’ is content with maintaining the status quo or playing the game by its rules. A number of characters, from a number of different factions and institutions, try to change the status quo and each and every one of them faces the consequences of doing so. 

The original game, the drug trade, may seem like the last place to push for reform. Yet it arrives in the form of Stringer Bell. The character of Stringer Bell, played exquisitely by Idris Elbra, is a lifetime friend of Avon Barksdale and functions as the second in command to the Barksdale criminal organization. Throughout the show, it’s made clear that Avon Barksdale is a die hard gangster, ready and willing to throw down the gauntlet and spill blood. Bell, however, is a different man. Despite being a drug lord, he is shown attending economic classes and reading Adam Smith. Throughout the first three seasons of the show, Bell tries to reform the drug trade, creating a “collective” of the city’s drug dealers so that they can work together to obtain the best product. He even has the collective of city gangsters meeting in a hotel conference room and following proper meeting procedure. When a new, power hungry gangster named Marlo Stanfield starts taking over Barksdale territory, Avon wants to take back what is his with violence. Bell, however, is content to let Marlo hold the corners because he is using their drug money to invest in legitimate businesses and real estate. By season three, it is clear that Stringer Bell is trying, and to some degree succeeding, to legitimize the drug trade in Baltimore and make it run like a real business. But that isn’t the way the game is supposed to be and the drug trade will not let itself be civilized. Stringer Bell’s actions catch up to him and he is shot dead at the end of season three. For trying to change the status quo, Bell pays with his life. 

It’s not just the criminal world that is laced with the apathy of the game. The Baltimore Police Department is shown to be politically corrupt and morally bankrupt throughout the series. The department is only focused on boosting the crime stats to make whatever politician is in office look better for their reelect attempt. The top brass therefore dumps all the money and support into busting people on the street instead of targeting the upper levels of these criminal organizations. While the majority of Baltimore police simply continue the status quo, there is one character who is willing to break the mold to do real police work. Jimmy McNulty, played by Dominic West, is a rebellious, disobedient and frankly grating person but he is one of the best detectives in the city. When the police department refuses to act on the Barksdale organization because it would rather focus on low level enforcement, McNulty challenges the institution by going outside of it. He uses a connection with a judge to force the police department to do something about the Barksdale organization but makes the department look bad and pisses off a number of powerful people by doing so. McNulty fights past the apathy and frank corruption of the police institution to secure the investigation into the Barksdale organization like he wanted, but the drastic measures he had to take come back to haunt him. Several high ranking members of the gang are sentenced and put in prison, so McNulty does receive some succession despite breaking the status quo. However, he is punished far worse for doing so. Despite the excellent police work that was done, McNulty is set to work one of the worst jobs in the whole department, the marine unit. Later on in the series, he has to do increasingly drastic things to get the police institution to take action on serious criminals and he eventually ends up losing his job as a consequence. 

Although the consequences are far more deadly for Stringer Bell, because of his gang status, both characters face undeniable consequences because they went against the status quo of their respective institutions. “The game” is extremely resistant to change, in no small part because very few people, like Bell and McNulty, are willing to try to change the way that it is played. Most everyone else only perpetuates the game, playing by its rules until they either die or retire. These people are either ignorant or apathetic to the status quo, and by playing by and enforcing its rules, they make it almost impossible for real change to happen. This brutal reality of the game extends beyond the fictional city of Baltimore shown in “The Wire” to the real city and the world behind. It is something that seems to be proven true more and more in the real world with each new scandal or story. 

In the words of Omar Little, “the game is the game.” 

This franchise started out as horror driven and majestic, but has slowly made its way to action/adventure, and Jurassic World: Dominion was the film that solidified that shift in genre and storytelling aspects. Dinosaurs don’t feel like they serve a purpose anymore and they don’t have an impact when on the screen. They come and go way too often and it feels way too packed. The practical effects are laughable and really unrealistic, and the dinosaurs themselves don’t feel scary. Besides a singular scene with Claire and the Therizinosaurus, and their composition and placement within the frame makes them little really unthreatening and not menacing whatsoever. The gravitas of seeing the Rex in the first film and the terror of the raptor encounters just don’t exist anymore.

As the trailers suggested, the film would heavily rely on nostalgia for any impact, and that it did. Seeing the original trio together once more was great, but the exposition dumps they spewed out just becomes annoying. Their motivation for returning back into the franchise was interesting, but the corny dialogue and just overall thematic presentation makes any character seem uninteresting. It was definitely great to see them again, but really not worth any wait.

There is a lot of good here and a lot of bad. Good concepts that could have been interesting had they been fleshed out, but rather, the film chose to be an action movie without any lasting impact. It came, and then it went. And I doubt I’ll ever be watching this again. The days of interesting and thought provoking Jurassic films are most definitely behind us. In regards to whether I look forward to watching the newest instalment of the franchise when it inevitably arrives, that remains to be seen. I remain cautiously optimistic that the creators will realise that the allure of the Jurassic films is not rooted in action, but the majesty in witnessing an act of God before our very eyes, though I know this is something foolish to hope for.

In retrospect, 2023 has been a very successful year for the film industry and the movies being released (aside from the strikes). For the most part, the most popular releases were from renowned and highly regarded filmmakers who have already made a name for themselves, such as the release of Oppenheimer from Christopher Nolan; Killers of the Flower Moon from Martin Scorsese; Barbie from Greta Gerwig; The Killer from David Fincher; Asteroid City from Wes Anderson and countless others. In comparison to 2022, which had an impressive and thoroughly surprising collection of films from both established and independent filmmakers, 2023 seems to have veered away from largely independent films. With that being said, there are still a fair share of films that have been released in 2023 that pertain to this category of independent cinema, such as Celine Song’s Past Lives or Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers, which have both become critically acclaimed. 

With that being said, 2023 can be defined by its diversity of films released and the types of films being made. I myself have found that the most strikingly poignant films of this year have, surprisingly, originated from the action genre. I tend to avoid or loathe action films due to their lackluster portrayal of themes and cheap excuses at blockbuster entertainment, but found that various releases from 2023 cement their place as some of the strongest films from this year. In particular, Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant, Fincher’s The Killer, Christopher McQuarrie’s Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One and perhaps the most striking of them all, Chad Stahelski’s John Wick: Chapter 4 (which turned out to be my favorite film from the year as a result of its emotional impact, scale, grandeur, filmmaking prowess and overall execution). I never would have imagined that this would be the case, and in all honesty I am pleasantly surprised by this fact. 

Of course, I have yet to see the majority of the films released this year, and with the passage of time, I will continue to see more and more and gain a more concrete and better understanding of the direction that this year has taken. This knowledge and understanding can potentially be used to assess or predict what 2024 will be like for cinema. Similarly to 2023, 2024 will be defined by its domination of pre-existing filmmakers releasing new films, such as Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two, Bong Joon-ho’s Mickey 17, Todd Philips’s Joker: Folie à Deux, Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers and countless more. While I may have my eye on 2024 releases, there are still films from 2023 that I have been awaiting, particularly Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Monster (particularly due to his expertise with children in movies and the profound impact they have on me) and Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn. I would very much like to continue watching films from this year and continue to evolve my palette and appreciation of modern day cinema (rather than constantly remain a cynic and always looking back on older films).

In regards to films I am anticipating the most for the upcoming year, I definitely have my eye on various films, such as Dune: Part Two, Robert Egger’s Nosferatu, and potentially Terrence Malick’s The Way of the Wind. Regardless of all these names and films, every year is a good year for cinema and each year is different in some aspect, and it will be exciting to see what 2024 has to offer, which looking back on 2023 has given us the chance to do.

The game has a very interesting concept, and combined with this “analog” style, I was quickly hooked. So, to explain, the setting of the game is a firewatch lookout tower, in the Appalachian mountains, where your character has just started to work. Living in almost complete isolation, aside from daily radio messages to other lookout towers, and visits from a park ranger who brings your supplies, the game definitely had an unsettling feeling. Which is by far what this game does best. The gameplay on its own, was incredibly bare bones. Clicking different dialogue options or collecting fire food is most of what you do. However, the atmosphere of the game turns every little thing into pure nightmare fuel.

 At one point in the game, you hear a knock at your door. The music immediately stops, I instinctively get out of my chair. It is pitch black outside, with hundreds of miles of empty forest. I grab my flashlight and run over to the bed, hiding under it. The knocking continues for almost a minute until I finally get up to answer the door. Standing right in front of you, is the park ranger from earlier. He just gives you your weekly supplies and continues on his way. It’s not even a jumpscare, but the game builds up so much tension around these small, harmless things that everything is terrifying.

 There are obviously nerve racking moments with jumpscares or times where the game is even more eerie than usual, but that isn’t where this game shines.  The game consists of probably around 2 hours of gameplay, making it a very short game, designed to be finished in one sitting, which I think is fair for only 5 euros. Overall, I would recommend this game to anyone, especially if you're tired of lazy horror games with cheap jumpscares, and you're looking for a game that will keep you on edge with atmosphere and setting alone. I'll definitely be sure to check out more games from the “Fears To Fathom” series.

The game has a lot of stuff to keep the players engaged. Such as designing your own layouts to help defend your village, and you can try different strategies to win an attack on other villages. The main objective is to upgrade your townhall, and unlock more buildings as you progress. The max townhall level as for now is townhall 15.Once you reach town hall 4, you can access a new village, called “builder base”, where the gameplay is very similar to your normal village but there are some unique troops and buildings. There are also clan wars where your clan competes with other clans.

There are other modes in the game such as single player mode where you attack on goblin maps. Another mode released in June 2023 called “raid village” where the whole clan contributes to build the village.C

These features make it very difficult for the players to get bored, which is why Clash of clans is still very popular. Most of the time players spend in game is chatting by chatting with their clanmates. As someone who has played this game for more than two years, I have never seen a hacker in game, and even if someone manages to hack the game, it does not affect the other players in any possible way and the hackers gets banned instantly. The game has one of the best customer support services, as you can chat with a developer about your issue and get the response in a few hours. The developers also keep bringing new updates and events frequently to keep the game interesting. 

The only limitations with the game are the upgrade times and the prices of ingame items. The upgrade times of buildings and troops are huge. There are 99 buildings at Town Hall 15, and the upgrade time for one building can be upto 20 days! Yes there are 5 builders, but it is too much to wait, not to mention the heroes upgrades are so long that by the time you max them, you are already on the next town hall level. The gems in the game, which can be used to speed up upgrade times or buy special items are very expensive as well. 14000 gems cost $100.

To conclude, Clash of Clans is a perfect game for anyone who likes strategy games. Unlike many other games, Clash of Clans actually appreciates you leaving the game for a while, as they are confident you will come back. If you take a break for 90 days, you are actually rewarded when you come back.Even if you take a break for a few weeks and decide to download the game again, you'll discover new events, which makes it seemingly impossible for this game to die any time soon. 

A Captivating and Award-Winning Narrative

At its core, Uncharted 4 is an action-adventure game that revolves around the captivating story of Captain Henry Every's lost treasure. Nathan Drake, our charming and witty protagonist, along with his brother Sam, embarks on a quest to explore the far corners of the world, solving puzzles and overcoming obstacles to reach the hidden treasure. The narrative is a rollercoaster of emotions, offering unpredictability, drama, and intense moments that make it impossible to put the controller down.

Breathtaking Graphics: A Timeless Marvel

The game's graphics were groundbreaking in 2016, and they continue to impress today. Naughty Dog's attention to detail is nothing short of remarkable. From lush jungles to intricate ancient ruins, the environments are a work of art. The game also features dynamic weather effects and realistic lighting, creating a seamless transition between cutscenes and gameplay. Uncharted 4 is not just a game; it's a visual masterpiece that showcases the true potential of the PlayStation 4 hardware.

Diverse and Meticulously Crafted Environments

One of the game's standout features is the wide array of locations you'll explore. From bustling cities to remote, exotic landscapes, each setting feels meticulously crafted. The level of detail in these environments immerses you in the game's world, making it a joy to explore.

Puzzles and Obstacles: A Refreshing Challenge

Uncharted 4 is not just about running and gunning. The puzzles and obstacles you'll encounter require keen problem-solving skills, quick thinking, and a high level of awareness. These challenges break up the action sequences and offer a refreshing change of pace. It's this mix of gameplay elements that keeps the experience feeling fresh throughout.

Unique Combat System: A Tactical Triumph

The combat system in Uncharted 4 is a testament to the game's depth. Each character has their own unique abilities and skills, making every encounter feel like a strategic puzzle to solve. The variety in combat keeps the gameplay engaging, and it's a showcase of Naughty Dog's dedication to delivering a top-tier experience.

Accessible to a Global Audience

Accessibility is another strong point. Uncharted 4 supports various languages, ensuring that players from different regions can fully enjoy the game in their native tongue. This inclusion broadens the game's appeal and makes it more accessible to a global audience.

Uncharted 4: An Investment in Gaming Excellence

In conclusion, Uncharted 4: A Thief's End is a game that transcends its medium. Its gripping narrative, stunning visuals, diverse settings, challenging puzzles, and unique combat system make it a must-have for any gaming enthusiast. Whether you're a long-time fan of the series or a newcomer, Uncharted 4 offers an investment in gaming excellence that is sure to provide hours of enjoyment and leave an indelible mark on your gaming memories. With all these qualities, it's not just worth buying; it's a game that belongs in every gamer's collection, and I really recommend everyone to give it a try.

We watch our main character, Oh Dae-Su, as he goes on this journey to find his captives and rain down vengeance on them, making them suffer for his 15 years of unbefitting captivity, while also trying to understand the reason for this unjust brutality. During the film’s crucial events, Oh Dae-Su narrates what we presume to be his truth, based on his general recollection and understanding of his situation. But we as an audience understand that his captivity of 15 years has taken a toll on his psyche, thus making him an unreliable narrator, which is what is so great about this film. 

This film is founded upon manipulation and perspective. It is seen first hand through the unreliability of the narration and our main character’s perspective, making our perception of what and why the plot is the way it is, less objective and more fragmented, which stems from Oh Dae-Su’s perception. This further webs to other elements of the film. Because the way the plot unfolds is nebulous, the visuals that portray said-plot are also nebulous, creating an ambiguity of “what to believe”, although we can see what happened. Can you always believe what you see? And this notion is brought forth by this film's ambiguity.

In my opinion, there are two scenes in this film that captivate the two concepts perfectly. One of them being Oh Dae-Su’s reminiscences of his school in which an event that I shall not renounce for the sake of your future viewing happened. The way the scene jumps back and from from young Dae-Su in school to the current perspective of Dae-Su going back to the building is so fluid, both shots are so synchronized that they almost merge to create one beautifully cinematographed scene. You need to see it for yourself to understand. 

I would like to write about the other one but I would spoil the movie doing so, which would be a DISSERVICE with a capital EVERYTHING, it's great and much like the one I described earlier in terms of its expertise in editing - which I would say is a pivotal component in creating such masterful scenes involved in this film. 

The acting, oh my god, it’s almost perfect. Deprivation, forgiveness, rage, spite and lust all depicted with such eloquent, expressive acting. The two standout actors for me are most definitely our main character played by Choi Min-Sik and our antagonist played by Yoo Ji-tae, both of whom capture the essence of their characters to the core. I really can’t say much without explaining the plot myself, so I’ll let you do the exploring.

To conclude I’ll say this. Oldboy takes it to the extreme in all of its aspects, it's hard to watch and drains you mentally, but it's worth it. The acting, choreography, cinematography, concepts and everything else are first-rate and the film is comfortably one of the best of all time till this day.

-Aly Agha , November 7 2023

Decisive. Delicate. Deliberate. These are the three words I would use to describe legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese’s latest film, Killers of the Flower Moon. The film follows the discovery of oil in the land of native americans - the Osage, creating a rich population governed by invading white men, which creates a string of murders, forcing the FBI to intervene.

Both Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro star in the film, and this would be the first time that both of these actors find themselves sharing the screen in a Scorsese picture; quite monumental in this regard. Without divulging any plot details, DiCaprio plays the main character of the film, Ernest Burkhart, while De Niro plays Ernest's uncle, William "King" Hale. While both of these stars steal the show, Lily Gladstone's performance as Mollie Burkhart is perhaps the most impactful and impressive singular performance in the film as a whole.

It is always of great interest to see what film these prestigious actors find themselves in, especially DiCaprio, as he is one of the finest performers of this generation, and one that is notoriously particuar about the films he involves himself in.

It would be surprisingly difficult to discuss Killers of the Flower Moon without bringing up the surprise appearance by the latest recipient for the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, Brendan Fraser. While only in the film for a handful of minutes, his performance is truly captivating; one that manages to outshine and undermine even DiCaprio in some instances, though this is mostly as a result of the dynamic between their characters. Regardless of this, it was still a pleasure to see Fraser return to the big screen for another impressive outing.

The film's production is of course splendid and equally as massive as the story being told. Once again, this is of no surprise, especially due to the film's $200 million budget. The practical sets and the thousands of extras allows for otherworldly-immersion into this world.

Robbie Robertson's terrific work in the soundtrack and score of the film truly embodies the Osage culture in a very sonically cohesive manner that allows for expression in different ways. As a result of the uncomfortable score that plays for the entirety of the film's runtime, the heart and soul of the people of the film can be explored in completely new ways.

A problem I often find in Martin Scorsese’s filmography as a whole is the structure of his films. For the most part, his films begin as self-contained stories that eventually branch out into expansive films that forget what they were when they first started, only to find themselves in the finale of the film. 

The grandiose scope of his films often can mean that as the narrative unfolds, the picture loses itself and can potentially lose the viewers' interest along the way. The only other times this has been truly effective (for me personally) is in a number of Scorsese's prior films, particularly, Goodfellas and The Departed. In this regard, Killers of the Flower Moon is very much a "Scorsese film," in the sense that it follows this large narrative structure. This, accompanied with a near three and a half hour runtime (thus forcing upon itself an unconventional four act structure), easily makes this one of Scorsese's most risky and ambitious films. 

With that being said, this risk is completely understandable. Martin Scorsese himself is an 80 year old man, meaning that this might very well be his final film. As a result of this, any choices he makes are completely forseeable and excusable, the runtime being one of them.

With all things taken into consideration, Killers of the Flower Moon is one of the most brave films in recent history that tells an important story of real events in history, doing so with grandeur, style, patience, deliberation and self-restraint. It is definitely a defining film of 2023, and one that fits nicely in Martin Scorsese's filmography. The fact that he continues to make films at this high a standard is truly a testament to the power of filmmaking and what dedication to a singular craft for a lifetime can result in.

-Adam Bondar, November 7th 2023

In all honesty, I wouldn't normally be so keen on having to read subtitles for over two hours, however the hype this movie had around the release date means sooner or later, I’d have to. Safe to say it was worth it. Directed by Bong Joon-ho in 2019, this movie deserved all the hype, and kept viewers at the edge of their seats. The movie follows two families, the Kim family, and the Park family. The key difference between these two, being their class and status, with the Kim family being stuck in poverty (to the extent of even living underground) and the Park family being extremely wealthy (living in a fancy mansion high up in the city). Throughout the film, the Kim family plots against the Park family, scamming them out of jobs and money, and secretly infiltrating their home, tragically ending in disaster. What I personally love about this movie is its in-depth themes of class division, along with the socio-economic elements. However, it does so very subtly, without interrupting the thrill or intensity of the movie’s plot. There are so many meanings below the surface that can be analysed, which really highlights the thought that went into the movie, along with its brilliance. For example, in the movie, whenever a member of the Kim family travelled to the Park residence, the movie always showed a camera shot of them climbing up a long set of stairs. This was symbolising their climb upwards socially, entering the territory of a family of much higher social class. Elements such as these were subtly placed throughout the movie, making the viewers note the dramatic differences between the families, without taking away from the plot. Overall, there is so much thought and meaning behind this cinematic masterpiece, and it has the perfect combination of suspense, dark comedy, and symbolism. Another noteworthy element of the movie is the acting performances of the entire cast, as the performances were nothing short of spectacular. The actors do an incredible job of immersing the audience into the movie, encouraging a desire to know more about their complexities and traits, especially that of the Kim family, successfully portraying the emotional and overall mental struggles of a family so far in poverty. Overall I would consider this movie a cinematic masterpiece that has deserved every ounce of attention it has received. It is, without a doubt, a representation of the greatest pieces of cinema produced in the 21st century, and for that I'd give it a 10/10. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Darren Aronofsky’s 2022 film The Whale is a beast of a film that has far too much to dissect in too little time. Bringing forth one of the most powerful performances in acting in recent years and as a whole from the lead Brendan Fraser, the film has countless things going for it, including its score, cinematography, performances and production design (to name a few). The film’s plot follows Charlie, a severely obese English teacher who attempts to reconnect with his daughter in the final days of his life.

The most undeniably prominent component of this film is the leading performance heralded by Brendan Fraser, who plays Charlie. Fraser was awarded with the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role - and for good reason. Fraser shows a dynamic range of emotions that are able to exhibit his range as a performer, something that Fraser has never had the chance to do. The rest of the film is littered with great performances all around (especially with its cast of only around six other actors besides Fraser), but none are able to match the caliber of Fraser’s absolutely thunderous display of acting talent, though the most noteworthy of all supporting performances would be that of Hong Chau, who is also able to present a really captivating performance, though is quickly overshadowed by Fraser.

Another point of interest is how blatantly revolting the film is as whole, but in particular, the character of Charlie. I have never felt so sickened at a protagonist, while still maintaining emotional connectivity that left me feeling betrayed by what I witnessed on screen. Certain sequences within the film are quite nauseating to look at, though this is fully intentional on the part of Aronofsky, who more than likely wants the audience to be uncertain of their stance on Charlie.

I tend to connect my emotional state with the films I review and discuss how much it resonates with me, and in the case of The Whale, no other film is able to elicit such a strong emotional reaction as much as this one does. But does this justify the praise that goes for it? Not necessarily. Once again, this is a point of contention, as I maintain the notion that good art has a lasting effect, whereas the best of art knows its place among its equals and is able to speak its truth. With that being said, I do not think The Whale knows its place, as it seems to be dealing with a highly convoluted and underdeveloped story that dares to say so much with a runtime that isn’t able to match its valor.

The most unfortunate side of this is the fact that every plot point is crucial in telling the narrative, and removing one would only diminish its structure, delivery and impact. Had it been a longer film that dealt with more personal matters and allowed the audience to connect with Fraser’s Charlie over a longer period of time, its flow would have maintained a more consistent narrative rhythm and kept the audience engaged, whereas the current cut of Aronofsky’s film leaves the audience wanting so much more out of the characters. This is something that can be attributed to its source material; The Whale is an adaptation of Samuel D. Hunter’s 2012 play of the same name, one that has a story that revolves around a singular location - something that the film does expertly - but could potentially benefit from expanding its reach.

Having mentioned its location, the film does a wonderful job of creating an interior space that is reminiscent of a prison for Charlie, trapping both the characters and the audience in a pit of despair, which is further accentuated by the dim lighting and acute cinematography of Matthew Libatique, who places a great emphasis on the artificiality of the lights in the interior, with only a handful of windows allowing natural light to seep through - further solidifying the apartment as an entrapping location.

With all things taken into consideration, The Whale is many things; a heartfelt film with a wondrous performance that is sure to encapsulate any viewer; a convoluted mess that doesn't know what quite to say with the story it is trying to tell, and; a well crafted and produced film that has the makings of a masterpiece, though falls short in multiple departments - resulting in one of the most contentious and disputable films in recent memory.

Free Fire is an immensely popular battle royale game developed and published by Garena, 2017. With over 1 billion downloads on the Google Play store and the distinction of being the most downloaded mobile game globally in 2019, it's easy to see why this game has become a sensation among players of all levels of experience.

One of Free Fire's shining attributes is the brevity of its matches, typically lasting between 10 to 15 minutes on average. This quick and accessible gameplay ensures that players can enjoy a match anytime, anywhere, even in the midst of a busy schedule. This level of accessibility is a boon to casual gamers and competitive enthusiasts alike. Furthermore, Free Fire offers a Training Mode, a feature that provides players with a safe environment to hone their skills, experiment with various weapons, and refine their shooting techniques. This inclusion is particularly valuable for players seeking to improve their gameplay without the pressure of live matches. The game's arsenal is another impressive aspect, featuring a diverse range of weapons, and character skills, each with its own distinct characteristics. This wealth of options encourages players to explore different playstyles, ensuring that no two matches ever feel quite the same. Also, the graphics of the game have improved quite a lot since when it was released. 

However, it's important to acknowledge the game's limitations. One notable drawback is the online-only requirement, meaning players must have a stable internet connection to enjoy Free Fire. This constraint can be frustrating for players in areas with unreliable or limited internet access, as it restricts their ability to engage with the game. Another contentious issue that has raised eyebrows within the Free Fire community is the introduction of pay-to-win elements. The game now features costly skins, bundles, and gun skins that offer tangible in-game advantages. Some of these microtransactions come with hefty price tags, with the most expensive bundles costing between 200 to 300 SEK. This pricing model has caused debates about fairness, as players who invest in these items gain a noticeable competitive edge. To compound the issue, Free Fire offers the controversial Evo bundles and Evo gun skins, some of which can cost players up to 600 to 800 SEK. These items provide substantial in-game benefits, including increased damage, rate of fire, and range. This overt pay-to-win aspect has left many players feeling disappointed, some of which even left the game. 

Another pressing concern is the prevalence of hackers within the Free Fire community. While they are typically kept in check in ranked modes, where they often face bans before reaching high ranks, they pose a significant problem in friendly matches known as "customs." If a new players want to start playing free fire, they either need to invest a lot of money to get advantages at the start, or they need someone to teach them how to play. Otherwise, they will force quit after a few days due to unfair matching. Yes, you cannot play ranked matches before a certain experience level. In order to get that experience level, unranked game modes are required to be played. In these gamemodes, there is no rank, so players are randomly matched. If there is a single highly experienced player who is practising outside rank matches, it will destroy the match for new players as they simply stand no chance. 

Overall, free fire is fun to play, as most of the game is free to play(except for several gun skins and bundles), unless you meet a top-up player. The game has a variety of modes so you never get bored. I would highly recommend downloading it to anyone who enjoys playing survival shooter games. 

'Generation Kill’ is a seven part mini-series by David Simons and Ed Burns, co-creators of “The Wire,” the acclaimed drama series about crime in Baltimore, Maryland. The series is adapted from the book of the same name written by Rolling Stone journalist Evan Wright, who was embedded with the United States Marine Corp First Recon Battalion during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Both the book and series chronicle the experiences of Evan Wright during the opening weeks of the invasion. 

Although the show features most of the First Recon Battalion, it centers mostly on 2nd Platoon, Bravo Company. Minor characters do make frequent appearances but the show revolves around four main characters. Evan Wright, of course, played by Lee Tergesen, Sergeant Brad "Iceman" Colbert, played by Alexander Skarsgård, Corporal Josh Ray Person, played by James Ransone and Lieutenant Nathaniel Fick played by Stark Sands. Throughout the series, we mainly follow the HMMWV that Brad commands, Ray is the driver and Evan is riding with them. 

The cast of Generation Kill each give spectacular performances that, frankly, make the series. At no point are the characters unconvincing or overshadowed by the actor portraying them. The portrayal of the characters is perhaps one of the most realistic depictions of soldiers ever put to screen. The Marines are vulgar and morbid, which may turn off some viewers, but those who are familiar with the nature of soldiers will know just how accurate this is. The actors walk and talk just like real Marines, flaws and all. 

The series feels more like a documentary than an action film, in both cinematography and content. In fact, there is very little “action” throughout the series. There are a few firefights here and there but the show is dominated by long sequences of inactivity, mostly driving. A common complaint about visual media depicting the Iraq war is that it is too boring. The film Jarhead, also depicting soldiers during the invasion, was heavily criticized for this. However, this show is just the opposite.The sequences allow the viewer to discover the characters, who they are and how they act. While driving in between objectives, there are moments of levity, where the Marines talk, joke, even sing, as well as moments of boredom, frustration, stress and anger. 

One interesting detail of the series is its lack of a score or any type of soundtrack save for one song in the last episode. Even the show’s intro lacks an opening theme, instead each episode opens with the chatter of radios in the background. This helps give the series its documentary feel without detracting anything of note. 

To summarize, Generation Kill is unapologetically gritty and raw, and it doesn’t shy away from showing the harsh realities of war. It may not be a show for everyone, 

The tone of Generation Kill can be intense and dark at times. It has a bleak, pessimistic outlook on the war in Iraq, and it doesn’t paint a rosy picture of the American military. It’s an unflinching look at war, and it isn’t afraid to show the ugly side of combat and the people who partake in it. The series also captures the absurdity of war, and how the Marines can find humor and camaraderie in the most dire situations.

Overall, Generation Kill is a powerful and gripping series that captures the intensity and chaos of war. It’s a raw and unflinching look at the Iraq War, and it doesn’t pull any punches. The performances are strong and the tone is intense and dark. The series only has one season which runs about seven hours, so I recommend it to anyone with a few hours to spare. 

If there's any movie that deserves a place on IMDbs top 250 list, it's “Whiplash.” A movie that was released in 2014, and directed by Damien Chazelle, this movie gained lots of widespread attention, and was even awarded 3 oscar awards. The movie follows a hard working, dedicated drummer, by the name of Andrew Neiman (played by Miles Teller), who is noticed by a particular teacher called Fletcher (played by JK Simmons) who will stop at nothing to mentally torture Neiman to embrace his full potential and capabilities. However, what makes this movie so unique? The movie does an excellent job at portraying the power that obsession can have over a person, and raises the question of what it will take to achieve perfection. The movie isn't only about music, but it also leaves viewers wondering about the lines between abuse, and teaching, along with the lengths it can take to push oneself to their limits. What separates this movie about “the obsessed artist” from other stories such as “Black Swan” or “The Queen's Gambit”, is that this movie additionally explores the importance of the mentor character, and the abuse that can come along with them, along with the severity and power they have that pushes the said artist forward. This is a concept neglected in the other stories about the obsessed artist. Lastly, the movie successfully achieved beautiful cinematography with long, careful, shots, along with captivating colour grading. Overall, the movie is an incredible story that is gripping, emotional, and even thought provoking. Thanks to this movie (along with “Babylon” and “Lala Land”) Damien Chazelle has made a name for himself in the history of cinema, and without certainty, this movie of his is my all time favourite. 

As old Hollywood professionals and old-style moguls died away and a new generation of filmmakers emerged, the cinema of the 1970s was characterized by the industry allowing their creatives independence, urging them to take greater chances, and encouraging them to experiment with alternative, young filmmakers. The impact of different European "New Wave'' groups and the original works of other foreign-language filmmakers gave many viewers and movie-makers of the late 1960s a glimpse of new possibilities, new story-telling approaches, and more relevant "artistic" alternatives. On the other hand, instead of starting any new trends comparable to the numerous buddy-cop pictures that marked the previous decade, the 1980s tended to consolidate the advancements established in the 1970s. Few films from the 1980s that were created and marketed for a broad audience could be considered "classics." Few films were able to bridge this gap and attain the title of being a "classic", being able to be both artistic while also being marketed to a broad audience. One of these films was Ridley Scott’s 1979 horror science-fiction flick Alien.

The film follows a simple premise, where the crew of a commercial spaceship, the Nostromo, receive a distress signal from a nearby planet on their voyage home, where they decide to reach out and sort out any commotion. Subsequently, the crew makes contact with an alien creature which thrusts them into an exaggerated game of cat and mouse, where failure could mean death at the hands of the “perfect organism,” a xenomorph. In addition to this, the film has a very reserved cast of characters, with only seven cast members (not including the four people who wore the alien costume) playing in the film. Limited to only one location for a vast majority of the film, Alien pits its actor ensemble against the xenomorph in familiar territory, where the humans believe they have the upper hand, but end up gravely mistaken and forcing them to underestimate their newfound adversary.

Alien was able to break new ground in its representation of female characters in movies, as its main character, Ellen Ripley (played by the now legendary Sigourney Weaver) acts as the ideal female heroine, as she was just as strong and capable as her male counterparts, if not more so, but also compassionate and vulnerable, managed to embody the necessary qualities that make up a strong female character. Her standout performance is one of the key takeaways from the film and is still remembered to this day for being revolutionary. With that being said, that doesn’t mean that the rest of the cast were necessarily overshadowed or dulled down by Weaver and her performance, as the rest of the actors all perform really well given the circumstances, able to pull off the believability needed for a horror film like this. From Ian Holm to Tom Skerritt, all members of the phenomenal cast play their parts to perfection.

Talking about Scott’s Alien would be impossible without mention of its glorious production design. Gothic in nature, the sets of the film evoke a sense of entrapment. The interior of the Nostromo is dimly lit and consists mainly of winding passageways reminiscent of tunnels of gothic terror, comprised of a variety of materials, mostly white in color, though this is changed when the crew of the film is forced to enter tunnels in order to fend off the alien, which is tight, black and composed of lengthy pipes. As previously mentioned, the setting of the film is also something that is perfectly ideal for a horror film as a result of being completely alone and having a pressurized condition that induces tremendous claustrophobia. An outcome of the film being produced before visual effects and computer-generated images is that everything seen in the film is practically done. One of these things is the xenomorph itself, which was a suit worn by actors. The entire lifecycle and habits of the alien were all created as a way of grounding the film into a reality founded by naturalism. From the creature’s inception to its growth, the viewer is able to see how a face-hugger transforms into an adult xenomorph capable of hunting its prey. All of this is due to the wonderful concept art of Swiss surrealist artist Hans Ruedi Giger, who fused technology with human elements, capable of creating and designing the now revered artwork which has become a staple of the film.

Another necessary point of discussion would be the score of the picture composed by Jerry Goldsmith, known for his work in “Mulan” as well as “Chinatown”. Some consider Jerry Goldsmith's classic avant-garde score for Alien to be one of his greatest and most memorable. Instead of directly emphasizing themes, Goldsmith was able to create a somber and dissonant score to fit the film's dark and dramatic atmosphere. This paired with haunting cinematography that largely made use of low light helped the viewer gain an understanding of how the characters represented on screen feel while they attempt to survive.

A watch that never gets old, Ridley Scott's Alien is a rollercoaster of dread and horror like no other. This picture's setup into a world of anxiety-induced tension begins when the slow title appears. From then out, Scott presents the audience with a situation like no other, where the enclosed environment of a spaceship plays a key role in kindling unease and angst, and in the end, a tense situation partnered with brilliant set design and environment generates a horrific game of cat-and-mouse. From a standout performance from Sigourney Weaver; her character is the definition of a strong female character, naturally making her character a necessary part of the cast. Everything from the long takes; to the long setup; to the glorious payoff and to the atmospherics are all pulled off to utter perfection. All in all, Alien is perfect in so many ways: performance, production, dread, horror, execution, and can go down as one of the greatest science fiction films out there, one that can most definitely be considered a classic.

Adam Bondar, September 2023 

God of War Ragnarök is the widely anticipated sequel to the highly praised video game God of War (2018). The game was developed by Santa Monica Studio and released by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It continues the thrilling and epic saga of Kratos and his son Atreus as they traverse through the treacherous world of Norse mythology. God of War Ragnarök promised to be an amazing gaming experience for both franchise enthusiasts and novices alike, with magnificent graphics, immersive gameplay, and a captivating narrative. In my humble opinion, it truly was a magnificent experience and more. Read down below to find out why!

This game offers quite literally everything a good video game requires. The overall story is beautifully structured, with good pacing and a strong emphasis on character development.  There are multiple well-written and complicated characters throughout the game, each with their own motives and goals. The dialogue is both genuine and realistic, with the voice acting further bringing the characters to life and immersing players into the game. The bond between Kratos and Atreus is one of the story's most memorable elements. As a father-son duo, they have to acknowledge their own identities and the roles they play in this world. Atreus is a half-god, half-mortal who struggles to conform to his heritage and the expectations that have been placed on him. Kratos, on the other hand, is wrestling with his past as the God of War and the ramifications of his actions, as well as his responsibility as a father. I’m still in complete awe of the game despite playing multiple times. It’s as if you learn life lessons with every mission you complete. 

Aside from the main story, there are numerous side quests and optional content that contribute to expanding the world while giving the characters more dimension. These side quests aren't just filler content; but rather frequently have their own distinct plots and ideas that connect into the broader narrative. The seven realms in this game are enormous and full of hidden mysteries, lore, and side quests. The game encourages exploration, with plenty of rewards for those who stray from the path. It includes a variety of puzzles and environmental challenges that require players to use their wits and problem-solving skills to progress. The universe is breathtakingly beautiful, with stunning views and complex landscapes that further immerse players in Norse mythology.

Another aspect of the game is a robust craft system which enables players to put together their own armor and weapons, allowing for a sense of progression and customization. Kratos and Atreus have a diverse set of combat talents and skills, including melee and ranged attacks as well as magical abilities. The combat is intense and exciting, featuring foes that necessitate a variety of methods and approaches to defeat. The game has a plethora of weapons, armor, and upgrades that can be obtained during the game, allowing players to tailor their playstyle to their preferences. Atreus' skills are one of the most significant updates to the gameplay in God of War Ragnarök. He is able to summon varying creatures to assist him in battle, as well as cast spells that stun or weaken opponents. Atreus' talents are crucial in combat, and players must use them strategically to triumph. Speaking of opponents, there is no end to the different types of foes you encounter throughout the game, with most of them being incredibly challenging and equally as rewarding. However, the game provides different modes that the players can choose to play from. These include story, easy, normal, hard and give me god of war. Please stay away from me if you play on the last one, I’m extremely scared and concered for you. 

God of War Ragnarök's gameplay is vastly improved over the previous one. The fighting system along with the graphics have been enhanced and expanded, resulting in a more enjoyable and immersive experience for gamers. Overall, the gameplay in God of War Ragnarök is a joy to experience. The combat is intense and satisfying, the crafting system is deep and rewarding, and the world is a pleasure to explore. Santa Monica Studio has truly outdone themselves, creating a game that not only surpasses its predecessor but also sets a new standard for action-adventure games. This game is 100 percent worth the price and I would highly recommend it to everyone. If not for the gameplay itself then for the story because both are just gorgeous!

Mariyah Khan

7 May 2023

What is The Sims 4 about?

The Sims 4 is a game developed  by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts where you get the power to create and control your own Sims characters. In the Sims 4 you can create families which are also called households in the game, build homes, and you can make your household complete everyday chores such as eating, sleeping, going to work etc. The Sims 4 is a great game to unleash your creativity and your imagination, you can do this by creating unique sims with dynamic personalities, distinct appearances, and inspiring aspirations. Another way to use your imagination is also to build homes, by using Build Mode you can create the home of your dreams by planning its layout, choosing its furniture, and by modifying the terrain and landscape. You can also travel between worlds and discover and discover different neighbourhoods. Your Sims can visit new communities, hang out with friends, and throw parties.

Sims CAS 

CAS (create a sim)  is where this journey begins. You begin by getting a randomised sim which you can customise however you like. You can first start by customising their skin tone, there are four categories; warm, neutral, sool, and miscellaneous. In the base game there are many different options for clothing, I do think that some of the options are old fashioned since the game came out in 2014. To get better and newer options you can either download Custom Content (CC) which is free to download, or you can buy the Sims 4 Expansion Packs. You can choose your sim's aspirations, their likes and dislikes, and their personality traits. You can also customise your Sims' age from; infant, toddler, child, teen, etc. you can also choose their tone of voice, the way they walk and their relationship with other Sims in the households, their gender, and their sexuality preferences. 

Sims build mode

In The Sims 4 build mode you can either choose to build on an empty lot from scratch or you can move into a premade house and you can choose it to be furnished or unfurnished, in the beginning you only get 20,000 simoleons (currency in The Sims 4), and choosing an unfurnished household can make it cheaper to buy a house. The Sims 4 has two base game worlds which are Willow Creek and Oasis Spring. They later released an additional lot known as Newcrest. Newcrest is completely different from the other base game worlds. In this world all of the lots are completely empty which gives you an opportunity to be as creative as you can be. Below is an overview of how build mode looks like. This picture shows all the things you can build your house with, walls, roofs, wallpapers etc. on the left is the furniture by room and under that is all of the objects and furniture which you can filter by colour, style, etc. 

Photo Credit 

Expansion packs

The Sims 4 expansion packs help make the game more fun in my opinion. The game overall is great,with amazing graphics and game play but sometimes it can get boring. This is why I buy the expansion packs or the stuff packs. With the expansion pack you get a brand new world, build mode items, and new CAS items. With the stuff packs you can get build mode and CAS items, but not a new world. The expansion packs are quite expensive, they are around 430 kr. Not all of the expansion packs are worth it in my opinion but these are:

 1. Seasons: without seasons the weather stays the same which makes the game boring in my opinion. With Seasons you can experience snowstorms, rainfall, hot weather etc. If you are just starting out with the Sims 4 I would recommend getting Seasons, this pack has modern build mode items and new CAS items. 

2. City Living: The second pack I would recommend is City Living, in the base game world you do not have apartments but here you can discover a brand new world with apartments and penthouses. In this world you can discover cultural festivals, living in apartments, and experience city living. For me this has made the game so much more fun, starting off with one sim in an apartment is a lot of fun and worth it in my opinion. 

3. Growing Together: The third pack I would recommend is Growing Together. With this pack you can discover new family dynamics, discover your sims as they grow, they can gain new personality traits  as new things happen to them. Your sims can also immediately connect with new sims or they can also immediately clash. 

 I would say that spending a lot of money on a video game is not worth it which is why if you would start playing The Sims I would say to start off with the Base Game which is now free and when you have gotten the hang of it this is when you should start buying stuff packs which are about 50 kr, then buying the expansion packs. In my honest opinion I think The Sims is worth it, I feel like I can escape everything and enter a new world full of creativity and imagination. 

Sims 4 cheats

Here is a list of all the cheat codes you can use in the game: The Sims 4 Cheats, Codes, Unlockables 

(Spoiler free!) 

Most of you, if not all of you, probably grew up with Harry Potter. If you haven’t, what rock have you been living under? For a long time, since the beloved franchise ended, Harry Potter fans have been anticipating a game that allows them to immerse themselves in the magical world of Hogwarts and its surroundings. Developed by Avalanche Software and published by Warner Bros. Games, that dream is now a reality. This expansive open-world game focuses on events around the late 1800s and permits players to build their own witch or wizard, choose their own house, participate in classes, make friends, and go on perilous missions to learn the secrets of the wizarding world and live out their story. But it begs the question: does the hype revolving around "Hogwarts Legacy" hold true? Here’s my two cents on the matter.

I was a bit hesitant on starting this game as I wasn’t really too into the “Wizarding World” thing but as I saw my sister play, the feeling of excitement and nostalgia overtook me by surprise. So when I did decide to play,  I found myself lost in the castle for hours, exploring every nook and cranny and reliving fond memories of the books and movies. It was an overwhelming task to explore the castle at first as it was enormous. Not necessarily a bad thing though, considering the amount of secrets/items you get to uncover. The game makers did a superb job at capturing the feeling and the magic of the world. From the familiar streets of Hogsmeade to the dark and mysterious Forbidden Forest, every location felt true to the world we know and love. With that said, I think it’s definitely safe to say that this game is an open-world experience. I really liked that aspect as the more you explore, the more you get rewarded. These rewards include customization items for your character, decoration items, wand handles, and achievements in general. Personally, I see this as a huge win as I loved dressing up my character in cute outfits as well as decorating my room of requirement.

Of course it wouldn’t be a proper video game without some enemies to vanquish. Thankfully, there is no shortage in the variety of foes you will encounter on your journey including Goblins, Dark Wizards, Trolls, and Spiders. Fret not, there is an impressive arsenal of spells at your disposal. But first, you have to learn them. (Unfortunately, this is still school. No matter how magical.) The classes provide you with mini tasks to complete pertinent to the subject and in return, you get to master a new spell. It’s not as bad as doing Service as Action, don’t worry. What made it so unique is that this particular combat system allows for flexibility. You can customise your spell combo to cater to your preferred playing style. Enjoy playing defensive? There’s a combo for that. Aiming for the more aggressive approach? There’s a combo for that. Somewhere in between? Yes, you guessed it. There’s a combo for that too. Mix and match to your heart’s content, experiment and then find what suits you! It's a great way to add depth and strategy to the combat, and it ensures that the game doesn't get stale or repetitive. Ultimately, whether you're a pro or a newcomer, the combat in "Hogwarts Legacy” is sure to be a highlight of your overall experience. There’s also different difficulty levels ranging from story mode, easy, normal, and hard. 

However, as much as it pains me to say it, I will say (regretfully) that "Hogwarts Legacy" falls short of the sheer potential it had. Even your story, the main story, often felt lacklustre and it wasn’t really all that memorable which is a shame considering the rich world and characters it's based on. In comparison, the companion quests were the ones that stole the show and offered some of the most interesting and engaging moments in the game. They posed controversial questions about morality which our own story failed to accomplish. Another disappointing thing was the fact that the decisions you make have little to no effect on the story. Though the process might differ a little, the outcome remains the same. The game solely gives you the illusion that you have the power to decide how your story unfolds, Furthermore, the final climax conflict of the whole game which it was all building up to turned out to be rather underwhelming. Despite promising creativity, in the end it was just a cliched and unoriginal good vs evil battle. Lastly, when the magic wore off, I realized just how repetitive the game actually was. It doesn’t really achieve anything groundbreaking which other games have not already achieved. Thus, all of these major shortcomings prevent the game from being as impactful or as meaningful as it could have been.

These were my opinions on the game, yours could be different! All in all, I think despite the shortcomings and whatnot, the game was a good way to relax and immerse yourself. I would recommend it to people who love Harry Potter (obviously) but not to those who play for an adrenaline rush or pure anger. I would, however, wait until the game goes on sale. 

With plot details out of the way, it is important to focus on the performances that make up the film, as Tarantino’s pictures (alongside excellent writing) tend to bring out exemplary performances. This film is no exception to this and follows the trend perfectly, with Pitt and DiCaprio both bringing forth incredible performances. Even with limited screen time, Robbie was also able to have a powerful on-screen performance.

As has always been the case with all of Tarantino's works, his taste in music is immaculate and more than appropriate, and without certain tracks, the experience that was "Once Upon a time…in Hollywood '' would really have not been the same. The film almost exclusively uses music from the time period alongside the KHJ Los Angeles radio channel that acts as a support to the soundtrack.

Though all-in-all, Tarantino’s latest work is a genre-bending, entertaining, nuanced, deeply personal film that comes together to form a love letter to the industry and art as a whole and is a pleasure to watch.

The Tree of Life is often considered to be Malick's magnum opus, encompassing so much about life and the unique approach to filmmaking that has now become characteristic of the director, and for good reason. While this approach may be criticised for breaking continuity of the film and the overall movie-watching experience, I am under the belief that doing so elevates the experience to an almost ethereal level.

A father yelling abuse at his son; a boy trying to find what it means to be a man; a woman supporting her own family: this is life and this film is one of the most realistic portrayals of it I've seen in recent memory. A fictitious disapproving father is just as terrifying as it is in real life, and Brad Pitt totally nails the performance and gives off one of the most realistic performances of fatherhood I have seen. With that being said, every cast member is incredible in the film, especially Jessica Chastain, and even the children, who are tactfully given very few lines of dialogue to solidify their place in reality and realism.

The Tree of Life is a beautiful film about life, loss, growth, hatred, and love. The Tree of Life is a movie that is so intimate it feels almost real. Malick's unique directing accompanied with an absolutely stellar and understated score, as well as the legendary cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki adding his signature look to the piece all unite to form a film that can only be described as one thing - holy.

This film is as real as it gets, the characters are not your cliche heroes that neutralize the enemy and save the day, they have their flaws, their morale unsettled, their moral compass tainted and withering as a result of  the dehumanizing scenery that fans out across Vietnam and Cambodia. Every character has their own coping mechanism for the despicable events that they partake in. In fact, you can say that the soldiers around Willard represent different tropes and prototypes of soldiers, different outlooks on life within the war. This allows for beautiful and contrasting character dynamics, such ones that help our main character progress in terms of his soul searching. 

Although Apocalypse Now has its fair share of pzazz, it keeps its ambiguity throughout the whole timespan, which I feel mysteriously tethers all the film aspects involved and permits the viewer to interpret what they see as the truth. Apocalypse Now really is something else.

The score alone is one of the most underrated things about the film and is easily one of the best to come out of a film released in 2022. The blend between period-accurate road-trip music and a distinctive melancholic soundtrack composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (who are responsible for composing music featured in The Social Network, Mank and Bird Box) and overall, their addition to the production brings so much gravitas to the piece and I could not imagine the film being as impactful as it is without the score.

Bones and All is - without a shred of doubt - one of the grossest films to come out of 2022 and it may not be for everyone because of how disturbing it may be, but if you are able to look past that, you will be able to see that there is a really beautiful and compelling love story being told under the guise of a body-horror film. But all in all, this film does remain an underrated one that many people have seemingly avoided, forgotten or simply weren’t aware of, which is upsetting because it has a lot to say but not a large-enough audience to say it all to.

One thing that goes without saying is the phenomenal sound design utilized in this film. Attempting to put the audience in the point of view of a deaf person is no easy task, and the story must be told in a different way. Rather than fill the runtime up with subtitled sign-language, the film chooses to focus on Ruben adapting and altering his life to an altogether new one. There is nothing more powerful than the sound of silence, and Sound of Metal  makes a point of that. In addition to this, the technical specs of the film are commendable, with the bold choice to stay away from shooting digitally and rather opting to shoot on filmstock that tells a more personal and intimate story, grounded in the reality of the situation

With these technical details aside, the performances are just as grounded and realistic as the sound design, with Riz Ahmed playing the leading character. Ruben coming to terms with the loss of his hearing and his determination to adapt to this stark change is perfectly helmed by an admirable performance that got the recognition it deserved in the form of an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.

Sound of Metal  is no conventional story and its conscious effort to be bold while also telling a devoted story about hearing loss should not go unnoticed. While maybe slow, there are countless hooks for any audience member; this film justifies its existence and offers a great experience.

As soon as “Bardo” starts, the audience is immediately thrust into a complex, nuanced and impossible narrative that is almost inexplicably difficult to comprehend. Most films, similarly to literature and other works of art, would use metaphors in a subtextual setting. “Bardo” is a completely unique case in this regard, as a vast amount of the film is a physical manifestation of a metaphor. It may be difficult to understand what this exactly entails, as one must see it for themselves in order to truly understand what I am referring to. These physical metaphors are some of the most original and potent pieces of filmmaking that I have witnessed for myself in quite some time. It goes without saying that this is not for everyone, and may even detract from the overall cinematic experience. 

Many would have found this film to be self-indulgent and tried its hand at consciously becoming a pretentious film, though I do not share this opinion. Sentimental and personal film is not only important to the audience, but for the filmmaker - Iñárritu in this case. As an immigrant himself, the struggles experienced by Silverio are ones that he has experienced himself. This film is not entertainment, it is a reflection of one’s self. It is made so that its audience looks at their own life in retrospect to ponder whether or not the choices they ultimately made were the right ones. 

As for its filmmaking aspects, Iñárritu proves once more that he is one of the leading directors and visionaries in the field, with the film having a great score and beautiful cinematography as well as camera work. As is usually the case with a contemporary Iñárritu film, the lens being used is a wide angle one which allows for a greater field of view and more to be in the image, capturing the almost euphoric themes of the film.

From reacting to trauma; finding love; losing a loved one and experiencing moments of true bliss, “Bardo” covers all one would want to find in a piece of contemplative art. It is definitely not a film for everyone, but in spite of this, it remains as a relevant work of fiction that is able to have a profound effect on its audience in the real world.

In addition to his musical abilities, Tyler is also known for his highly visual and creative approach to music videos and live performances. His concerts are marked by their high-energy, theatrical nature with Tyler often incorporating costumes, props, and other elements of performance art into his shows.

One of Tyler's most notable works is his album "IGOR," which was released in 2019. The album received widespread praise for its innovative production and emotive, introspective lyrics with many critics hailing it as Tyler's best work to date. The album's lead single, "Earfquake," was a particular standout, with its catchy, soulful hook and heartfelt lyrics.

Overall, Tyler, the Creator's music is a testament to his creativity and willingness to take risks. His unique and genre-defying sound, combined with his highly visual and theatrical approach to performance, makes him a standout artist in the world of hip hop and beyond. Whether you are a fan of rap, punk, or alternative rock, Tyler's music is sure to offer something fresh and exciting.

Besides its simple plot and quite one-dimensional characters, another criticism of the film that I have often heard is that in its expansive three hour runtime, Avatar: The Way of Water is seemingly…uneventful. What is meant by this is that there are countless scenes in the film that do not necessarily push the plot forward in any way, and if removed, nothing would really be lost. This is one criticism that I feel like I must forcefully disagree with. While dialogue is a great opportunity for the audience to learn the mannerisms of a character and what they may be thinking, taking a moment to step back and place the camera in their world helps the audience to truly understand their behaviour. The characters we see are, after all, the vessel with which we experience the world of Pandora (the planet the film takes place on), and without them exploring, standing, eating, sulking and simply…living, then how else could a filmmaker communicate that their world exists?

Avatar: The Way of Water is a technical marvel – though this should not come as any surprise to anyone. Its revolutionary visual effects work, sound design, impeccable character design and world building literally creates an addictively immersive experience that its audience does not want to leave. James Cameron asked himself the question of what life would be like for Jake Sully the moment the first film ended. Using this singular question to predicate his narrative, Cameron was able to construct a fully functioning world and an organic story that made sense in regards to the first.

All in all, Avatar: The Way of Water may very well suffer from an overly simplistic story, but its world and visual appeal alone can hook viewers into their seats without any trouble for the entirety of its three hour runtime.

Being able to describe exactly how I felt after immersing myself in this soundscape of fear and uneasiness would be close to impossible. Captivated, on-edge, and completely entranced by this cosmic horror, I was able to witness a piece of art that managed to explore so much and exude more emotion than I feel like I could convey in words.

Sleep Has Her House deliberately places itself in a vulnerable position; lacking in any actors, voiceover, narrative, or for the most part, music. It chooses to be a grounded piece of work that doesn’t necessarily ask anything of the viewer. It simply…is there. Its twisted documentation of nature has us feeling as though we must ponder something, anything, but its abstract nature is heavily subjective. Soothing. Frightening. Even poetic. Scott Barley has crafted something truly remarkable here, something I doubt could be replicated by any other. This really is a rare achievement of artistic filmmaking.

Blade Runner 2049, as its title suggests, is set in the year 2049, in Los Angeles and follows the story of blade runner, Officer KD6-3.7, simply known as "K". In this universe, blade runners are replicants - machines - created with the sole purpose of hunting down other rogue replicants as a member of the police force. The narrative follows K as he unravels mysteries about his case. I would rather not spoil the film, though what ensues takes the character on a grandiose journey of self-discovery, where he starts questioning his reality, humanity and authority.

Something that has to be mentioned when talking about Blade Runner 2049 is world building. The design of the real world is precisely predicted by and influenced by the meticulous execution, wide-ranging breadth, and vision of the fictitious future world. As a result of this film being a sequel, it needs to somehow connect to its predecessor, and it does so in various ways, such as worldbuilding. Blade Runner 2049 is a dystopian vision based on assumptions about the future made in 1982 (when the original film was released), yet it highlights where we are in the real world through contrast, maybe more effectively than a science-fiction future based entirely on our present circumstances. The surreal 1982-future mirror reveals our current technological and cultural presumptions.

The amalgamation of all that has been learned in the film industry over the past few decades, this film is a visual spectacle; an auditory tour-de-force; a subtextual masterpiece, yet, with all these positives present, there is a stark negative that caused its failure at the box office. With a runtime of nearly 3 hours, audiences were bored. The film also was subtle in performance and its plot also confused viewers. In short, the film demanded too much from its audience, asking them to watch a slow-paced, long film that many people were not accustomed to. This is why great films fail.

One of the first takeaways of this film is how pretentious it may be. Many pictures attempt to make themselves appear pretentious and smarter than they truly are in actuality, and oftentimes, this does nothing but detract from the overall experience, but in Tár, this just is not the case. The film tricks its audience into believing that they are about to witness an extremity of pretentiousness as soon as the opening scene starts; with exceptionally long takes jam packed with dialogue. As the movie goes on, they lessen and lessen, and as Lydia's reputation worsens and as her ego soon dictates her choices, scenes become shorter and any form of action occurs more frequently. 

Tár is truly a masterclass in performance, as Cate Blanchett offers her talents to yet another Oscar-worthy role. The actress goes above and beyond for this role, playing the piano, speaking multiple languages, conducting an orchestra and displaying a wide range of emotions. I am inclined to believe that nobody else would have been able to bring that much grandeur to the role as Blanchett was able to do.

This film is almost reminiscent of other pictures that centre around characters chasing perfection, notably Black Swan and Whiplash, which respectively chose to explore ballet and dance. Tár acts as another entry in the genre of "troubled artists" and just like the previously aforementioned films, is great filmmaking and offers an incredibly interesting character study, but unlike the others, fully utilises the meta of films.

All in all, Todd Field's Tár is intense, demanding, and overall a powerfully moving film about an obsessed artist attempting to perfect an already sublime craft. Stacked with some of the best performances of the year alongside eerie cinematography, this film is a great sign of the bright future cinema has to offer.

Production aside for a moment, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly tells a compelling story of three men on the hunt for one common goal - a fortune of gold. While this may come off as simplistic, the picture is riddled with nuance and offers a lot in terms of perspective and a dramaticized historical context.

Once again, Clint Eastwood steals the show with his brooding and tight-lipped portrayal of The Man with No Name, though he goes under the alias of Blondie for this entry. It should be noted that Eastwood's character takes a different name for every film in the trilogy; Joe in A Fistful of Dollars; Manco in For a Few Dollars More, and in this film; Blondie. As well as this new alias being presented in every new entry, the trilogy itself has an aura of ambiguity regarding whether or not they are truly connected, as there seems to be little continuity apart from the similar character design in Eastwood’s character. The way I see it, the presence of this ambiguity does not diminish the storytelling potential of these films and doesn’t in any way detract from the narrative being told.

When the title of a film is The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, one must wonder who these people are. All introduced in the first half hour of the movie and destined to meet in a face-off, these separate people are characterised by their acts and honour, which is then juxtaposed with their costume design that reflects who they are. On the topic of costumes, the production of this film is next-to-none and the environmentals created as a result of the production design is truly captivating. 

All things considered, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is possibly Leone’s masterwork, with impeccable production, casting, composition, cinematography, grandiosity and acting, this film has gone down in history as one of the most well known and beloved spaghetti western pictures.

I think MM…FOOD is one of the most unique hip-hop albums ever; the flow of this album is insane. The album starts with Beef Rap which feels like a classic crime cartoon intro. 

What makes this album unique is that each song is connected to the next one. However, that's not the only special thing about the album; the beats used in each track are so different, so sometimes it feels like you're listening to jazz (Guinnesses), and other times it feels like rap.

It’s really hard for me to say which song is the best in this album, cause I think it’s perfect, but Rapp Snitch Knishes has to be the best song. I remember listening to this song for the first time.I Remember that it got stuck in my head for 2 weeks, especially when DOOM said:

“Rap snitches, telling all their business 

Sit in the court and be their own star witness

"Do you see the perpetrator?" Yeah, I'm right here

Fuck around, get the whole label sent up for years”.

MF DOOM’s unique vocals, lyrics, and beats are the reason why this album deserves a rating of 4.5/5. 

The way the story’s told is through emails and instant messages, in which we get to see intimate conversations between the two characters in the beginning of 2000s. It follows the conversations of two women who met online through one of them; Agnes, selling an antique apple peeler and the other one; Zoe, being interested in buying it. After some descriptive emails that were sent, their relationship turns out to be not only a seller and buyer relationship, but something way more than that. The author seemingly aims to disturb the reader as much as he can through events that the reader would have never thought they would be reading. Even though the story is short, these disturbing events/situations are explained until there is no detail left. If your imagination is vivid, this book will make you wish it wasn’t. 

The book shows the reader how an online relationship can get more serious and complicated through unknowns. In the beginning of 2000s, the rise of online communication was surreal to many people and most of them weren’t aware of the dark side of toxic online relationships, which is portrayed in this book. While exploring loneliness and the limits one can reach in order to feel they belong to someone (or something), the book reveals the twisted and immoral things one can do. These things aren’t illegal, but they are most definitely not things you hear someone admit doing on a daily basis. Although the reader is prone to building a feeling of disgust and judgement towards Agnes, it is hard to dismiss the fact that the things she does are mainly caused through somebody else’s manipulation that supports the rapid decline of her mental state. 

To approach the book from a critical point of view, even though it was absorbing, the story was told quickly and the relationship between the characters was developed too suddenly for it to be convincing. The emails that are sent don’t give the feeling of a conversation between two women in their 20s because of the way language is used, which could possibly be a foreshadowing of the upcoming events. There is no character building besides what we see from the emails and messages, which don’t give much background information as to why Agnes is vulnerable enough to listen to a stranger she met online, and what Zoe gets from manipulating her. Despite my opinion on it, don’t stop yourself from giving this book a chance. Don’t forget that the characteristics of the book that made it less likable to me may be reasons for you to like it more. Join the discussion and decide for yourself if shock value is more important than character and story building, but only if you can handle Eric LaRocca pushing your boundaries.

Another issue that ties into the previous theme and is shed light upon in the film is animal exploitation. A sub-plot is shown in the film about a Sit-Com that revolves around a chimpanzee. Jordan Peele addresses how having animals in an artificial environment for the sake of entertainment and prospect will only prompt said animals to reach their breaking point, resulting in tragic fallout, a scenario that happened on multiple occasions in real life. This subplot is a metaphoric thread tied to the main plot of Jean Jacket (“UFO”); similar to Gordy the Chimp, Jean Jacket is simply reacting to how he's being addressed, which is a negative feedback to those who label it a “spectacle”. 

I didn’t want to lay out my thoughts on this movie but I felt inclined to do so when I finished it, which I feel is a result of Jordan Peele’s filmmaking. It allows us to challenge ourselves and to find out what the intentions of the work really is, and I really appreciate that.

The movie is based off of a real life person, who’s recently been identified as “Gary Francis Poste”. The Zodiac killer, like almost every serial killer out there, wants to make himself known - in this movie, through puzzles or ciphers. In the movie, he threatens the police and the public with killing more people unless they publish his messages in the media. This creates an upheaval in the general public and every detective gets to work trying to figure out the identity of this killer. 

Although the brilliant part of the movie, it is extremely dark and not for the faint-hearted. The musical composition of the movie adds to this dark atmosphere along with the amazing storytelling of the director that makes the audience as frustrated and hopeless as the detectives at the time. The movie is also very easy to follow since it’s like the chapters of a book being unfolded, another great thing about this movie. 

The only negative side of this movie is how it enters into the personal lives of the detectives. I felt like it deviated from what the movie’s about. A recent movie that didn’t delve deep into the personal lives of the main characters and stayed on track of the story is “The Batman”. Although there were some romantic and traumatic stories told in “The Batman”, the director did a great job at making everything about the Riddler in the end - a character who unsurprisingly was based off of the Zodiac Killer. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this movie - even though it’s almost 3 hours long - and my rating is a 5/5.

The characterization was another of the more nuanced aspects of the show as a whole. It pulls off the most unexpected of feats extremely brilliantly. It showcases a more morally grey character as the lead which is very difficult to do. While it is obvious that these types of characters are in a very subjective gray area, oftentimes the writers make a mistake and the character tips over to more questionable regions. This was not the case in this series which made it a whole lot more enjoyable. The credit also goes for the most part to the actors who portrayed these characters impeccably. People often forget how important it is for there to be the right casting. Personally I think the casting ultimately makes or breaks the entire show no matter how original or good the premise of it is. Both the leads really did what was expected of them and way more, it was clear that they really took the time to understand the essence of their characters to a deeper level.

What was unexpected were the numerous side characters and minor characters that appeared all throughout the show and how they really added so much to the story. They added a whole new level of emotion which just the main leads themselves could not have provided. There was an abundance of these side characters who really gripped me into the show because in a dark world, these ordinary day to day people maintained a sense of hope. 

I would also like to mention the thing that really sealed this whole wonderful package with a nice bow on top. The soundtrack. Weird? You might think so but hear me out. As a listener of various different movie and show soundtracks, I am always on the lookout for pieces to expand my ever growing soundtrack playlist on Spotify. You know, as one does. While most shows have one or two tracks in the album that are worth listening to quite often, this particular drama has not one skippable track on it. Sorry for my being informal, but they slap so hard it’s not even funny. All of these aforementioned tracks had a variety of different emotions that they conveyed. Excitement, eeriness, badassery, chills down your spine, tear jerkers, and all that jazz.  It made the show that much more memorable. 

Overall, this show is a truly impeccable bit of entertainment and brought great joy into my life which still continues to persist even to this day, an entire year after watching it.

As always, one of the more memorable lines for me from this show:

“War and art are best observed from a distance.”

Arrivederci to you all. Make sure to keep your friends close but your enemies closer!

 Amna Khan

The book starts strong with a girl that unfortunately reflects the situation of many women at that time in the 18th century and even many women of today. This automatically keeps the reader rooting for her to get out of the situation and live the way that she wants to. It also makes her extremely relatable with her feelings of loneliness, dreams, and her love for the arts. Schwab managed to create a character that felt real, her emotions flowing off the page and into the hearts of the readers. Admittedly, some characters do fall a bit flat further into the story and it is quite difficult to connect with them. This book had characters that were either a complete hit with well-fleshed-out personalities or a complete miss with no memorable thing about them. There was no in-between. 

Coming to the development of characters, I was left feeling very disappointed with Addie’s growth by the end of the book. I didn’t feel like she was at a different place with all the things that had happened. When we get to view flashbacks of her previous years, we see the tremendous amount of growth she has gone through from that time until the present day. However, when we are taken through her life in the present day, there is not much growth happening. I thought that was a bit of a negative aspect of the book since growth never really stops in time and is a constant thing and we don’t get to see her develop any further.

Talking about the switches between timeframes, they were handled significantly well. You would think that it would get a bit confusing but both times contained a distinctly different type of Addie and there would be no trouble distinguishing and remembering what timeframe we were currently in. 

It is important to note that this is more of a character-driven story and it is very slow-paced. That is understandable because this book spans 300 years in the life of the same girl, which can get boring if you’re not into that sort of thing. I was also awfully let down by how Schwab covered the 300 years. You would think that Addie would explore much more to a variety of different places but it was mainly America and some places in Europe. There was a potential for such great diversity and a chance to really dive deep into a plethora of extremely beautiful cultures and places around the globe which then felt like a neglected aspect of the book. On the other hand, I guess what they say is true that no representation is better than bad representation. I would also like to stress again that it was incredibly slow even for me to get through because I generally prefer more fast-paced books.

Overall, it is still an exceptionally beautiful read with an abundance of great and memorable quotes, but it must be stressed again that it was incredibly slow to get through, especially for people who generally prefer more fast-paced books. The almost lyrical writing will keep you hooked where anything else might fail 

Here is one of the hundreds of lines in this book that I adored with all my heart:

“Because time is cruel to all, and crueler still to artists. Because vision weakens, and voices wither, and talent fades. Because happiness is brief, and history is lasting, and in the end, everyone wants to be remembered.”

I bid you goodbye mes amies and remember. Never pray to the gods that answer after dark.

 Amna Khan

Schwab describes the world in a very gripping manner so that you feel it down to your very bones. One of these descriptions includes the Night Market. It was teeming with all sorts of magical bits and bobs and honestly? I’m glad I don’t live in that world, I would be really broke. The magic system was well developed and not full of holes like sometimes it can be when creating a whole new system. Her writing flowed so it was easy to follow and easy to get lost in for hours on end. This series contained adventures of all sorts which was one of the reasons you would never get bored. What with travelling between the different Londons, adventures at sea, tournaments, and everything in between, there was never a dull moment.

The characters in this series will have you laughing, furiously sobbing, enraged and any more emotions you can think of which indicates them being well developed. Now anyone who knows me will testify, I am an absolute sucker for banter. I live on it. And this series had banter galore. If you ask me, the best friendships develop that way. And develop they did. Be it friendships, romances, or even family relationships. Having three siblings, I can account that the sibling relationship was portrayed extremely well. Oftentimes, in books, these relationships can seem awkward because they don’t really reflect the beauty of how it is in real life but this series managed to capture it. Although, they do have a little too much love for each other which I don’t think I have for my own siblings (Haha, I jest, I jest). 

That being said, I had some minor questions I needed answering but the book glossed over them. There were some things in the characters’ pasts which if addressed could’ve really added something to the series. Additionally, the way some scenes were executed in the book left me feeling pretty disappointed because there were ways they could’ve been done better but they felt hasty and rushed.

In conclusion, there were definitely some things that could have been improved but the sheer magic dripping from every corner of this series just overpowered every other thing. 10/10 would recommend!

The time has come to present to you once more, an exceptional quote from this series,

“Power in Balance. Balance in Power.”

I say anoshe to you now my friends. Until another day. 

This heartwarming show has some good jokes and is funny enough to watch the full season, however, the main character Garrett is quite useless and makes the whole story unrealistic as most of us would have given up on him long ago. On the other hand, the immigrants he is helping make it 100% worth watching; they are funny without being full on racist stereotypes and actually have a bit of depth.

Even though Sunnyside is a comedy, it still shows the dark facets of the lives of immigrants but also how easy it is to fall victim to the system. This satire of the nationalisation process could be especially interesting for those of us wanting to move to the US in order to truly see how insane the whole process really is. There is only one season out on NBC and season 2 got cancelled due to low ratings (understandable) but I do still recommend watching if you have nothing else to do. There are 11 episodes and IMDB gives it a 5.1/10. 

One of my absolute favorite parts of this book was finally getting to see how the characters had grown throughout the series and it certainly did not disappoint. We see them make decisions their past selves could never have coped with which makes it very interesting. Of course, they had their friends to get them through it all. (Awww. Found family.) Bardugo truly part really worked for me because I often find myself falling in love with the side characters and wishing they had more screen time (page time?). 

I was on the edge of my seat for the entirety of this book and while I didn’t see any way out, (I would be the first to die in these worlds) in shocking twists, our protagonists always find a way out through their resourcefulness.

One problem that arises often in books is that the authors stray too far from the original idea that formed the whole concept. Luckily, that cannot be said about this series as Mal and Alina’s story felt like one big story divided into three books which is how it should be for a series. 

The epic conclusion was exactly as epic as I imagined it to be, possibly even more. The characters were not given an out-of-character ending that would contrast their entire personality and who they are as a person and who they have grown to be. It felt like a perfect, peaceful ending which concluded the plethora of chaos that the characters had to go through. And also ended my pain and suffering, thank you very much.

This brings us to the end of a long and perilous journey. Hope you wore your seatbelt. 

I present to you our last and final quote from this series: 

“They had an ordinary life, full of ordinary things—if love can ever be called that.”

I will now raise my hand in the Hunger Games salute.

Review: Привет! That is hello in Russian! Did you know that the Ravkan language was inspired by the Russian language just like the nation of Ravka is inspired by the country? Little fun fact for you there. We are once again jumping back into a world full of political intrigue, adventure, and darkness. In my personal opinion, the second book in the Grisha universe is my favorite out of all of them. Naturally, the stakes are higher for our heroes in this book as darkness lies ahead on every horizon. 

Our protagonists, Mal and Alina, set off on a journey to find the second of the amplifiers which were introduced in the first book. This journey leads them out to sea, which is also one of the more exciting parts all throughout since it expands a little geographically on the world that was established in the previous book. In this way, Siege and Storm took what was already great about the first book and managed to convert it into something that surpassed that greatness.

Ravka’s dream couple (Mal and Alina) encounter new allies who eventually go on to become their most loyal friends. These new characters give the book a certain freshness and add a comedic side to an otherwise dark story. 

One of these new characters is Nikolai Lantsov. A pirate- uh I mean Privateer but also, as we shockingly find out, prince of Ravka. (He is my one true love as well.) This, of course, means a deeper dive into the politics of the nation and the impending war both inside and outside their doorstep. This war allows for more growth and character development from the new and the existing characters as they are thrown right into the middle of it. 

There is brand new darkness waiting around the corner as well which is equally interesting but terrifying as hell. These new monsters, known as the nichev’oya, have far more sinister and dangerous powers. No big deal.

Paired with all new characters, settings, evil, and everything in the first book, this book ends up with a god-tier dynamic and a certain vibrantness to it. 

All in all, this book was a really fun ride but will simultaneously take you through the five stages of grief. Good luck!

I would like to present to you a memorable quote from Siege and Storm:

“The ox feels the yoke, but does the bird feel the weight of its wings?”

Au revoir from me today! Watch out for the nichev’oya! 

Review: Hello my fellow bookworms! I, like you, make my love of books my entire personality and so here I am! Let’s jump straight into book review #1. Now this book was very hyped up and praised across all social media platforms by the book community. Reading the synopsis, I found that it had a very promising premise and could possibly be the next great fantasy series. Well, if it was done right of course. Boy did it meet my expectations; nay exceed my expectations! I was completely transported to this world of politics, epic quests, war, lifelong friendships, and of course romance. I believe that half the success of the book can be determined by how easy and natural it is to picture the world that the author is writing about. At that, Ms. Leigh Bardugo shined. This aspect is essential to feel as if you are not at home but rather miles and miles away in a faraway land. This book takes place in the nation of Ravka which at this point feels like I’ve visited multiple times meaning that worldbuilding was a very striking aspect of the book. 

This book also handles many interesting themes in equally interesting ways. One such theme is power and how hard it is to bear the responsibility of that power as well as covering the saying that ‘power corrupts.’ Other themes this book revolves around is self-acceptance, friendship, greed, and good versus evil showing how it is not always so black and white. These themes were very well written and the language used to describe it and the language used in general throughout the course of the book was one of my absolute favourite things about this series. 

Let’s move on to the last part which I consider to be the most important part of any book. It is also my favourite part of the book. I usually like books that are more character-driven and focus a lot on developing and fleshing out their characters. These characters start off as not really developed and they do have some growth by the end of the book but considering that it is a series, I hoped and expected that the growth would be more evident by the end of the third book. Their backstories are really enjoyable and directly tie into who they are as a person today and what motivates them. The relationships they form with each other is also a very endearing detail of the book as they influence each other for better or for worse all throughout the book. The romance that develops between the characters is very intriguing as well and keeps you invested in the relationship. #MalinaStan. It is certainly not an easy road for them as they fight to make their way through this new world that they have been thrown into, but that makes it all the more fun to read. 

Overall this book was a very fun experience and is certainly worth investing your time in. This universe will pull you in like no other and have you hooked so go ahead. Give it a try if you haven’t already!

I would like to leave you with a quote from this book:

“What is infinite? The universe and the greed of men.”

That’s it from me today. Ciao! And don’t let the volcra get you!