July

Books


Vineland

Messy in the usual Pynchon way, but the jokes were easier to parse than Gravity’s Rainbow.

The Honorable Schoolboy

It’s a pleasure to see how much this influenced so much spy media later. I haven’t read or seen too much media in British-run Hong Kong in the 70s, so that was a neat thing to dive into as well. Interesting that some of the same proxy war stuff is still being fought between the UK, US, Russia, and China.

Movies

Maddie’s Secret

What if Lifetime movies were good

Forbidden Fruit

I super don’t understand how their personal style at all connects to the store they work for… I’m from Dallas and the only thing I can make sense out of is that they mostly just don’t know what they’re doing? reminded again how we didn’t even have a GSA at my high school in Austin, lol

anyways, witch shit is cool but also this was very uneven.

The Odyssey

And I don’t even like Homer much

Sisu: Road to Revenge

Non-stop action and murder from a silent protaganist. It’s not John Wick, but it’s fun.

Avatar 3

Pretty to look at but not very compelling.

The Beyond

Absolutely delightful from the accents of the house workers, to the perverse Italian impression of what New Orleans is, to the over-the-top gorefest. When a movie is completely in English, yet feels dubbed, you know you’re in for a good time. A+ spider foley.

Ready or Not 2: Here I Come

fun set-pieces, and a lot of silly deaths. one and a half stars for Elijah Wood playing a weird little guy. hail satan