And so ends another year! I’m sure I’ll watch a bunch of movies tonight instead of going out for NYE buuuuuut you’ll just have to wait until the end of January to find out.
Film:
Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
I’m in the camp that really enjoyed it. There are so many other opinions about this movie on the internet so I’ll keep it short: Poe should’ve listened to his superior, Phasma & Maz Kanata deserved better but Snoke did not, and that shoulder dust at the end was the woooooooorst (even more than the momma joke at the beginning).
The Family Stone (2005)
New holiday tradition: watch this crazy movie and get real sad. The characters are great, the acting is solid, the festive vibe works well, and the plot is absolutely bonkers.
The Holiday (2006)
What a weird and wonderful movie. Some stuff seems so over-the-top (Cameron Diaz’s run at the end), and yet the whole thing is super sweet. I also really dig Jack Black as a love interest although some moments feel a little too Jack Blackish.
Television:
The Toys that Made Us (Episode 1.01 to 1.02)
Has anyone else watched this on Netflix? The dramatic reenactments at the start of each ep are a little off-putting but once you get past that, there’s a lot of really interesting info (even if you weren’t big into any of the properties). Worth checking out.
Stranger Things (Episode 2.09)
And that’s it! Everything wrapped up in a nice little bow in time for the Snow Ball and I can’t fault them for managing a plot that gave the entire cast (existing and new) something to do during the finale. It was good and hopefully next season gives poor Will a break. Oh and Billy is the red ranger from that new Power Rangers movie and realizing that blew my mind.
Cowboy Bebop (Episode 1.10 to 1.15)
We finally learn more about Faye! Now to see what’s up with Edward. I’m really digging this show and am defo open to more.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Episodes 4.16 to 4.20)
Always a good time.
Bachelor Canada (Episode 3.07 to 3.11)
Oof what a finale! I had flashbacks to season 1 of Unreal and it was SO GOOD! Definitely the most dramatic season of Canadian Bachelor yet.
Reading:
Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett
(page 70 of 285)
Death will always be my favourite character and the Discworld books are like comfort food. So far Death has abandoned his post since he’s…dying…and snowglobes are popping up everywhere. It’s the best.
Uprooted by Naomi Novik
(Complete)
This is such a wonderful fantasy novel. I really wasn’t sure where the story was going but it has a balance of warmth and danger that you really only get out of classic fairytales.
Saga: Book Two by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples
(Complete)
You know how this appears on every “must read” list of comics? It’s for good reason. It embraces the weird and wonderful possibilities of a sci-fi world, each character is fully realized and never forgotten, and the entire plot is built around a loving (albeit flawed) family. It’s a great example of what the medium has to offer and for that, it’s worth checking out.
The Sandman: Endless Nights by Neil Gaiman and countless talented artists
(Complete)
This is by far my favourite entry into the Sandman saga. I’ve always liked the stories that focus on the Endless and their relationships and this delivers. I’d read another 10 volumes structured exactly like this.
Audio:
Aquarium by Aqua (1997)
I was sick over the holidays and this is the only thing that kept me going. I’m not sure a band like this would make it today but dang this is the good stuff.
Gaming:
Super Mario Odyssey (Nintendo)
I have collected 63 power moons and I think there are over 900, right? Clearly I got a long way to go but I loooooooove it.
Dungeons & Dragons Hexcrawl Campaign (Wizards of the Coast)
Okay so the party found the orangutan and had a really conflicted conversation about what to do. The man who is their best way out is not well-liked by this kindly orangutan and no one is sure what to do. We also took a little break to do a holiday one-shot full of yetis and caroller harpies and a cursed gnome with white beard and blood-red cloak.
Hey thanks for everything this year. If you’re reading this then you’ve stuck through a lot (just this post let alone everything else) and I really appreciate it! Stay safe out there and see you in 2018!
Andrew Kolb
Kolbisneat
Illustrator Andrew Kolb first garnered attention with his illustrated version of David Bowie's "Space Oddity." Since then, he has created illustrations for clients including ChickaDee Magazine, The Toronto Zoo and Pixar. In 2015, he published his first picture book, Edmund Unravels, with Penguin.