Author: Skye

Top 5 Pixar Movies

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Happy August, Geekly Gang! My bi-monthly movie posts are usually based on a holiday or awareness event. With August, I have no clue what would work, so I decided to make August a wildcard. Instead of holiday or “Month of Honor” movies, I’d like to take this time to talk about one of my most beloved animation studios, Pixar.

I’ve mentioned my preference for Pixar films over Disney films on my movie blog (TGIMovies), just not with the Geekly Gang. I still enjoy classic Disney, but if I had to choose which studio has more personal, relatable, and adult themes in their films, it’d be Pixar. To this day, many of Pixar’s films are household names and have raised a generation of film lovers. Me included. I’d like to honor my favorites in the post. I hope you enjoy!

5) Toy Story

It’s hard not to include a Toy Story film. While I enjoyed Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3, the original has always been my favorite. Despite the now-outdated (yet charming) animation, the magic of childhood is what keeps me coming back to the first Toy Story. When I first saw Toy Story as a kid, it ignited my love for toys and my imagination. The filmmakers knew what it felt like to have a friend you could hold in your hand. Not only that, but the first Toy Story encouraged me to analyze films for deeper meanings.

After countless viewings in my childhood, I started thinking about why I enjoyed Toy Story so much. I broke down the situations, how effective Sid was as an antagonist, and how the toys are really a reflection of their owners. I started doing this with Toy Story at the age of 10. I couldn’t help but include Toy Story on this list. And Pixar wouldn’t be what it is today without Toy Story. Toy Story easily claims the fifth spot, but over time, I’ve grown to love other Pixar films a bit more.

4) WALL-E

I adore WALL-E. The idea, the execution, the visuals, and the experience are unlike anything else in Pixar’s library. Given the lack of dialogue, the characters’ actions and the visuals tell the story. I respect WALL-E for its dedication to visual storytelling while still being a mainstream, big-budget children’s movie. This shows the filmmakers have deep respect for children by letting them draw their own conclusions.

As an adult, my favorite aspect of WALL-E is its message. WALL-E is unequivocally an environmental movie, but it’s unlike any other environmental film. Most others look at the issue from a pessimistic perspective, but WALL-E is (as far as I know) the only optimistic one I’ve seen. WALL-E addresses the issue realistically while urging us to make a change and focusing on the good we can do if we just try. I’ve already reviewed WALL-E at length on my blog; you can check it out here if you’d like to see my more detailed thoughts.

3) The Incredibles

The Incredibles is a movie that pops into my head without warning. I remember watching The Incredibles as a kid, getting engaged in the action, drawing comparisons between the Parrs and my own family, and loving the comedic beats. What sets The Incredibles apart from other superhero films is how it wasn’t based on a comic, and it preceded the comic-book film boom of today. Part of me can’t help but wonder if the success of The Incredibles paved the way for the reintroduction of superhero movies.

Much like other classic Pixar films, The Incredibles is chock-full of things that went over my head as a child. It still appeals to my inner child, but it challenges me in my adulthood by discussing mature topics. I never noticed it before, but The Incredibles deals with concepts like suicide, targeted legal/government actions, civil rights, big business, socio-economic divides, and cultural genocide. When I was young, all I remembered was “No capes,” but now I know what a difficult place the world is. Thanks, Incredibles.

2) Inside Out

Inside Out has a simplistic premise of emotions controlling your actions. I first saw Inside Out when I was approaching my teenage years, and Inside Out managed to put life in perspective. Inside Out’s greatest strength is its realistic depiction of emotions, but my favorite aspect is how it manages to be both one and two stories at the same time. Inside Out is technically a movie about emotions inside the head of Riley Andersen, but it’s really about Riley herself.

We see what Riley’s emotions go through to keep her on track, and the effects of those actions on Riley in the real world. In the process, Inside Out paints a nearly perfect picture of what it feels like as a real-life girl going through a crisis. When I first saw Inside Out, I saw myself in Riley. I felt her inner turmoil. As I’ve gotten older, Inside Out continues to help me work through difficult past experiences while trying to be the best person I can. What a movie.

1) Finding Nemo

A major part of why Finding Nemo claims the top spot is its story and characters. The characters endeared themselves to me, and the situation they found themselves in was engaging. Each character’s distinct personality, relatable goals, and identifiable flaws make them real. I’ve always preferred Marlin’s story over Nemo’s. In fact, Finding Nemo is the movie that taught me how my own parents are more complex than I first thought.

Before I saw Finding Nemo, I thought my parents were benevolent beings who mercifully gave me life and could do no wrong. I was kinda dumb. Finding Nemo showed me how difficult a parent’s life could be. My parents were more like me, and they have significantly more problems. Granted, a not insignificant part of me wanted to put myself in danger so they could “prove” that to me, so I may have originally misunderstood that point in Finding Nemo. This movie holds a special place in my heart. Finding Nemo features fabulous animation, spot-on pacing, timeless characters, and its story is unforgettable. Without a doubt, Finding Nemo is my favorite Pixar movie.

There are plenty of Pixar films that didn’t make this list. This list was difficult to make because there are so many great Pixar films to choose from. Maybe this post can help y’all decide your favorite Pixar films. Do you agree with my picks? What would you change? Are there any Pixar movies you’re excited about? Feel free to leave a comment; we always love hearing from y’all. Also, why not give your parents a hug? I’m sure they miss you. Take care and keep watching movies!

Skye’s 5 Pride Month Movies

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Happy Pride, Geekly Gang! What better way to celebrate Pride Month than with movies? Being a member of the LGBTQ+ Community myself, it was fun to curate this list for y’all. My favorite part was seeing how film evolved in its coverage of LGBTQ+ themes. Sometimes heartwarming. Sometimes depressing. Sometimes downright cringeworthy. But what’re you gonna do? Regardless of content, these movies serve as great time capsules for how far we’ve come with discussing LGBTQ+ concepts. We still have a long way to go, but these movies are still cool.

I’d like to clear one thing up real quick. I don’t mean to imply that, as a member of the LGBTQ+ Community, only I can determine the best LGBTQ+ movies. Not at all. I’m one person, and these are some of my favorites I watched this month. There are also several other movies I saw and didn’t mention. Feel free to mention them in the comments. As always, thanks for your understanding. With that said, these are my picks for 5 LGBTQ+ movies for Pride Month.

The Birdcage

I’ll start with a goofy one. That’s mostly what The Birdcage is: goofy. Even with The Birdcage‘s simple premise, it managed to get some good laughs out of me. If you haven’t seen The Birdcage, here’s the run-down. A young man with gay fathers is getting married to a woman whose parents are deeply conservative. So, the whole movie is trying to convince the girl’s parents that the boy has straight parents. With a star-studded cast including Robin Williams, Nathan Lane, Gene Hackman, and Christine Baranski, how could I not recommend The Birdcage?

Also, I truly underestimated the comedic potential with Hank Azaria in The Birdcage. His role as Agador Spartacus had me rolling on multiple occasions.

The Kids Are All Right

Let’s take it down a bit. We go from off-the-wall humor to a more heartfelt premise in The Kids Are All Right. Two children with lesbian parents discover their sperm-donor father and try to connect with him. Another simple yet effective premise. The Kids Are All Right results in some complicated emotions and difficult relationship questions being raised. The mothers are worried about the sperm donor, Paul, taking their children away from them. Meanwhile, with the kids getting older, they’re already having conflicting feelings about their parents. It’s a cute coming-of-age film wrapped in an LGBT blanket.

If you’re in the mood for something more realistic and personal, I recommend The Kids Are All Right, if for no other reason than to remind yourself that Mia Wasikowska has emotions. I was shocked, too.

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

Here’s where it gets more complicated. While I really enjoyed The Adventures of Priscilla, it elicited a wide variety of emotions from me. As three drag queens make their way across the Australian Outback, they have several misadventures along the way. That doesn’t seem like much on its face, but it results in all sorts of interactions. The upsides, downsides, and everything else that comes with being a drag queen in the 90s are put on display here, and it’s not always easy to watch. However, y’all may know that movies like that are the kind that attract me.

Sure, The Adventures of Priscilla can be difficult to get through, but I recommend it only for Terence Stamp. Yeah, it’s fun seeing General Zod as a drag queen.

Paris is Burning

Paris is Burning is a classic. While the creation of the film raises some ethical questions, what’s detailed in it is unlike anything else I’ve seen. Paris is Burning outlines the intricacies of Ballroom culture in New York City at the height of the AIDS crisis. This month was my first time watching it, and it raised several difficult emotions. I found myself reflected in each of the folks on-screen and relating to their struggles to an unhealthy degree. We will survive, and Paris is Burning shows us how they do it in “Gay World.”

Paris is Burning also does a fantastic job of highlighting the difficulties of combining LGBTQ+ issues with race issues. This is still an issue today, but if we don’t talk about it, it’ll never change.

Disclosure

Of the movies on this list, the ones I would consider “must-watches” in today’s climate are Paris is Burning and Disclosure. While Paris is Burning has proven to maintain relevance after 35 years, Disclosure was released 5 years ago, and its importance is already striking. Disclosure takes an elaborate and detailed look at the coverage of transgender people in the public eye over the years. From as far back as the 1910s, Disclosure shows us how transgender people have been humiliated from the start. As the world continues to grow and evolve, especially now, we need movies like Disclosure.

Even thinking about Disclosure now, I can’t help but feel emotional. For me, Disclosure hits too close to home, but that’s also why it’s important.

So those are my 5 movies for Pride Month this year. What do y’all think? Are there any movies I mi – Yes. I couldn’t even finish that sentence, but yes, share your favorite LGBTQ+ movies in the comments with us. We always love to hear from you! Now go out there and show the world how you’re not afraid to live your life on your terms. 😉

Skye’s Favorite Christian Films

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Hello, and happy Easter. I’m not Christian, but that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy Christian movies, and I can respect the value of their beliefs.

Not only do some of these stories hold enduring morals, but some have been made into (what some would consider) the greatest films ever made. I’m inclined to agree. I’d also like to clarify that these aren’t objectively the best Christian films. As a non-Christian, I feel it’s only fair to mention these films as my favorites. Thank you in advance for your understanding.

With that said, let’s start Easter weekend off right with my favorite Christian movies.

1. The Ten Commandments

I’m a classic film lover. Even though The Ten Commandments might be a cliché choice, I can’t deny that I loved every minute. The Ten Commandments has everything you’d expect from an “epic” film. By the time I finished watching it, not only did it feel like I had marched to Jericho with Moses and company for 40 years. The Ten Commandments makes me question my reality days after viewing.

On top of that, the acting is stellar, the story is gripping and well-paced, the morals are strong, and The Ten Commandments sticks with you. If I had to nitpick anything, I’d say it’s a bit too long. The Ten Commandments is a three and a half-hour long movie, so shaving off a few minutes wouldn’t make much of a difference. Either way, The Ten Commandments reminds us that what we’re promised will always be ours in time.

2. Ben-Hur

Wow, Charlton Heston really got around back in the day, didn’t he? While technically not a Christian film, Ben-Hur does have many hallmarks of one. Similar to The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur is another three and a half hour epic. It has characters experiencing crises of faith, takes place in a biblical setting, and of course, includes everyone’s main man: J. Crizzle. Despite having clear similarities to The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur manages to be a distinct story with a definitive message to convey. What’s the price of revenge?

When a Jewish man, Judah Ben-Hur, is betrayed by his Roman childhood friend, Messala, he dedicates the next five years to regaining what he had lost and killing his new arch-rival. In the process, Ben-Hur poses some interesting questions when Judah becomes consumed by his goal. Despite coming into contact with Jesus Christ himself on multiple occasions, Judah never heeded Jesus’s words of forgiveness. Judah becomes more cruel to the point where there’s no difference between him and Messala. Ben-Hur asks the question, Was it worth it?

3. The Prince of Egypt

The Prince of Egypt might be cheating since I already put The Ten Commandments on here (which is based on the same biblical story), but screw it. The Prince of Egypt is awesome. Not only was it the first Christian film I ever watched, but it also contains some of the most awe-inspiring and epic hand-drawn animation I’ve seen. During my childhood, Disney had this system called “The Disney Vault.” Certain films in the vault wouldn’t be available in stores to increase their value. Because of that, my family never owned The Lion King on DVD. Instead, The Prince of Egypt was my Lion King.

Looking back, The Prince of Egypt didn’t go all out like The Ten Commandments with the epic tone of the story. It wanted to hit a wider audience. In doing so, The Prince of Egypt maintained a solid dedication to film-making and craftsmanship while paying homage to the greats that came before it. Honestly, The Prince of Egypt resonates with me more than The Ten Commandments. While The Ten Commandments is amazing, The Prince of Egypt explores the humanity of its characters, and that’s powerful. If you haven’t seen The Prince of Egypt, I highly recommend it.

4. Barabbas

After watching a variety of Christian films, I realized something important. While I love Jesus (I mean, how can you not?), it’s difficult for me to get invested in his story. Like I mentioned with The Prince of Egypt, what’s always resonated with me more is connecting with characters on a personal level. When it comes to Jesus, however, he’s perfect. At least, he’s always portrayed as perfect. Because of that, he’s hard to relate to as a character. So, what’s more powerful to me is exploring the power Jesus has over other people. That led me to Barabbas.

If you’re familiar with the story of Jesus Christ, you may remember that the citizens of Jerusalem were allowed to choose one prisoner to walk free during the Passover season. Instead of making the obvious choice (Jesus), they decided to free a man named Barabbas, a thief, ruffian, and overall criminal. This movie follows Barabbas’s life after he was set free and the struggles he experiences. While not a sympathetic character (especially in the beginning), Barabbas goes through several crises of conscience and faith.

Initially, Barabbas doesn’t believe in Jesus and demands answers from Jesus’s Apostles, Lazarus, and many others. In the process, Barabbas realizes the meaning of the life he’s been granted and wishes that he had been sentenced to death instead. Barabbas is a powerful film, and one I think more folks should watch regardless of religion.

5. Monty Python’s Life of Brian

This is a bit of a curveball, but let me explain. Like Ben-Hur, Monty Python’s Life of Brian technically isn’t a Christian film, but it does deal with Christian themes. Also, Life of Brian is hilarious. Even if it doesn’t always make sense, Life of Brian gives the movie-going public a lighthearted reminder that we should never take religion too seriously. That is probably the most enduring part of this movie. If you try to apply logic (or “bizarro-world”) to religion, you start to realize how silly it can be sometimes. That’s essentially what Life of Brian is: the perfect balance of both sense and nonsense that results in comedy.

As a long-time fan of Monty Python myself, it’s only natural that I’d feel attached to Life of Brian. Similar to Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Life of Brian is one of those movies my family likes to refer to as “infinitely quotable.” Any line from it, either in or out of context, can get a huge laugh if you quote it among friends and loved-ones. If you need a pick-me-up this Easter, pop in Monty Python’s Life of Brian and experience one of the best Christian comedies ever made.

Those are my picks for my favorite Christian films. What are your favorite Christian movies? Feel free to let us know in the comments, and maybe one day I’ll get around to watching some Pure Flix. When it comes to movies, I’m like a Pokémon Trainer. Gotta watch ’em all! Thank you for joining us this Easter season, and always look on the bright side of life.

Black History Month Movies

5 Movies for Black History Month

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Hello, one and all! First of all, I love you. I’m sorry I missed you on Valentine’s last week, I promise to buy you something next year, babe. In the meantime, let’s talk about something different. What else is February known for? Black History Month.

I usually make “Top” lists for the posts I make on this site, but I won’t be doing that here. Since I’m as White as an albino moth in a snowstorm, I don’t think it’s my place to judge the “Top” 5 Black History Month Movies. Instead, I made a list of 5 movies about Black experiences that I watched and enjoyed this month. I hope you understand.

Without further delay, let’s discuss some movies about one of America’s most commonly misrepresented, underappreciated, and deeply resilient minority communities.

These films aren’t in any particular order. All are worth a watch, I promise

Marshall

Starring everyone’s favorite Black Panther, Chadwick Boseman (R.I.P., legend), Marshall is a story about America’s first Black Supreme Court Justice: Thurgood Marshall. While not the story of how he became a Supreme Court Justice, it goes into detail about one of the landmark cases he oversaw: The State of Connecticut vs. Joseph Spell.

Featuring fantastic acting while outlining Marshall’s quick wit and ability to navigate a system that’s stacked against him, it really kept me invested. The courtroom drama aspect was compelling. Granted, one of my favorite movies is 12 Angry Men, so take that for what it’s worth. This film will keep you on the edge of your seat, just don’t Google anything. Spoilers!

12 Years a Slave

Y’all knew this was gonna get heavy at some point. While not for the faint of heart, 12 Years a Slave is certainly a gripping story that makes you want to see the main character escape with his life. Detailing the real-life experiences of a man named Solomon Northup (played by Chiwetel Ejiofor), he was originally free until he was sold back into slavery for, you guessed it, 12 Years.

Going through different masters with varying levels of cruelty on his quest for freedom, Northup can never be safe until he makes it back to his family in the North. If you’re up for the brutality portrayed in the film, I’d say this is a great one to watch detailing both Black struggles and Black triumphs. Also, be prepared for an incredibly racist song to be stuck in your head until you die. I said that and now it’s back in my head. Frick.

13th

I wanted to put one documentary on this list. I was torn between this film and I Am Not Your Negro for the longest time, but I went with 13th because it details problems that actively face the Black community today and outlines ways we should approach fixing them. If you have the time, I still recommend I Am Not Your Negro, but for now, let’s talk about 13th.

As the title suggests, this film documents the impact the 13th Amendment to the Constitution has had on our society. The same Amendment that banned slavery in this country is the same that made it okay as punishment for a crime. And we wonder why there are so many Black people incarcerated. This film explains it far better than I could, and the facts it contains are far beyond what any White person is prepared to face. I know I wasn’t, but that’s why I’m recommending it.

Malcolm X

In case you couldn’t tell, I’m a big fan of provocative films that challenge the way I see the world. What better way to do that than with one of the most controversial Civil Rights Leaders in history? Spike Lee’s 1992 biopic about the life and times of Malcolm X is an emotional powerhouse. Denzel Washington gives a career-defining performance as the titular historical figure, and it’s just as epic as it sounds.

You’re gonna need a huge chunk of time to watch this one, but I promise it’s worth it. Despite being 3 and a half hours long, Malcolm X never left me bored. This film has everything including the good, the bad, and the ugly of a great orator’s life. My favorite part is how the film portrays him as an imperfect human who managed to make a huge impact on society through his experiences. If you like that kind of stuff, I bet you’ll love Malcolm X.

Shaft

I know I exude a distinguished film historian demeanor. At least I think I do. I’m cool, right? That doesn’t mean I don’t like to have fun. That’s what Shaft is to me. Fun. Don’t get me wrong, there’s plenty of racial themes in this film as well, but it mostly focuses on the star power of everyone’s favorite NYC Private Investigator from the early 70’s, John Shaft. I’m tellin’ y’all, this cat, Shaft, is a bad mother–

What? I’m just talking about Shaft.

This month, revisit the awesomeness of Gordon Parks’ cinematic adaptation of Shaft. Bumpy Jonas’ daughter has been kidnapped and it’s up to John Shaft to find her. Will he be able to do it? Is it possible Ben Buford was behind it? And how many women will John have sex with? All these questions and more in Shaft. You’re with Shaft every step of the way, and it’s an unforgettable ride. I love this movie, and if you haven’t seen it, I hope you’ll dig it, too.

With that said, those are my 5 movies for Black History Month. Are there any I missed? Absolutely. If I were to list each of my favorite Black films here, this post would be essay-length. If there are any y’all would like to discuss, let us know your favorites in the comments. We’d love to hear from you! Or if you’d just like to discuss movies, I’d be more than happy to oblige. Have a great rest of your Black History Month and always keep an open mind. 😉

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Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man: “Tangled Web” Review

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Skye’s Thoughts

It’s safe to say: I’m hooked on Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. After the previous episode, “Scorpion Rising,” “Tangled Web” complements it perfectly. Considering how heavy and action-packed the previous episode was, this episode is more introspective and patient. As a result, some of the most emotional moments of the series so far came out of this episode.

Peter doubts his abilities as Spider-Man after being put out of commission by Scorpion. It feels genuine and heartbreaking when Peter breaks down in front of Aunt May. That was the closest I’ve come to tearing up in this series so far. I imagine I’ll be bawling when Lonnie passes the point of no return.

Speaking of Lonnie, his progression from lovable meat-head genius to cruel and hardened gang member, has been done believably. Getting him into the 110 in the first place was kinda forced, but now that he’s in it, he’s started embracing the violence. In a way, it reminds me of Walter White’s progression from Breaking Bad. Only much faster. He starts committing criminal acts to protect his family only to eventually realize he loves it and fully surrenders to crime. There are many opportunities for dramatic moments here, and they start with Pearl breaking up with Lonnie. 😦

Norman’s development is the most interesting. In a surprise twist, the creators make us think he’s going to coin a famous Spider-Man phrase, but he spins it. In the process, he reveals his true personality. Instead of saying “With great power comes great responsibility,” he says “With great power comes great respect.” Norman thinks Peter needs to use his powers to make these criminals submit to him, and I’m getting excited about the Green Goblin’s introduction. We already saw the Goblin Glider in the last episode.

I could talk about Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man for pages on end; I love it that much. Also, never once have I skipped the intro. And I never will. There’s a lot that went down in this episode, and plenty I didn’t discuss. Season, what are your thoughts?

Season’s Take

I also liked Norman changing the famous “responsibility” to “respect.” He makes the phrase his own. This is very telling for his character. It’s a very “Norman” thing to say.

Harry played quite the role in “Tangled Web,” acting as Peter’s confidant when he didn’t think he could talk to anyone else. It’s a little on point when Aunt May said she wanted Peter to have a person he could confide in like Uncle Ben. However, I’m digging the exploration of Harry’s character.

Nico takes a back seat in this episode, and that’s warranted. I don’t think there was much they could have done with her in this episode. Pearl and Lonnie breaking up makes me wonder if this will be the catalyst for Pearl becoming Wave in the coming episodes. I kind of hope it’ll happen before the end of Season 1.

We saw him in “Unicorn Unleashed!” as Dmitri Smerdyakov. Today, we saw him as “Chameleon,” dealing as an information broker. I never thought a plain white mask would be so iconic.

Thank you for reading. If you’d like to dive deeper into Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, follow this link for episodes 6, 7, and 8’s Secrets (Easter Eggs).

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Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man: “Scorpion Rising” Review

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Skye’s Thoughts

So…things are looking pretty bleak right for the Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man gang. Nico and Peter’s relationship is on the rocks. Pearl just found out Lonnie’s secret. Norman’s second identity is starting to appear. And, to top it all off, Scorpion nearly killed Spider-Man. Despite the huge moment at the end of the episode, I still found myself caring a lot about Peter’s and Lonnie’s social life.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man balances genuine character moments with harsh comic-book action well. I was worried in the last episode that the show wouldn’t be able to deliver on the plot threads it set up. Thankfully, the show is proving me wrong. Now that we’ve had ample time to get to know these characters, their personalities, choices, and struggles are falling into place. Considering this is a superhero story, the social drama is surprisingly fun to watch. In my opinion, because it subtly reveals a lot about Peter’s friends’ backstories.

With Nico, we’ve seen her win an impromptu street race with the help of Harry’s rich car, and her crystal necklace. As someone who’s into crystals and tarot, this speaks to me. Not only that but the way she and Harry have been interacting shows who they are. Harry has a shaky relationship with his father. After learning Norman called Harry to talk for Peter and not his own son, Harry deflates. Nico has a difficult family life too, and the show implies she and Harry would make good friends.

With Lonnie, it’s not looking good. Both he and Pearl got caught up in the Scorpion’s attack on the 110, and this makes me even more excited for what’s to come. I will say, the way Pearl found out Lonnie’s secret was a bit forced. Dre texts her because he somehow knows Pearl’s phone number. I don’t know.

I want to keep talking about this show because it ignites the imagination. If you’d like to discuss the show with us, leave a comment and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can. I don’t want to take too long though, so let’s let Season have a turn.

Season’s Take

I agree with Skye that Pearl showing up at 110 did feel a bit forced in the sense of the timing. I think she would have shown up regardless due to her worry for Lonnie and Dre’s being upset with Lonnie for taking “his thing.” She just happened to show up at a violent moment in the show because drama.

I like that Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man has, so far, not been as centered on Spider-Man himself as opposed to Spider-Man stories in other mediums. Don’t get me wrong. We see a lot of Spidey. I’m just enjoying the time we get to spend with not just the other characters, but how other characters in the show interpret Spider-Man/Peter Parker. There are moments sprinkled throughout the show of people speaking for Peter when he’s not around (mostly Nico and Harry).

Speaking of Nico and Harry, I thought it was cute watching them become friends naturally. The scene with Nico racing in Harry’s car to stand up for him was one of this episode’s highlights.

I thought Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man was more of a kids’ show at first glance. After watching “Scorpion Rising” through to the end, I’ve changed my tune. I don’t think many kids’ shows have stabbings in them. The Easter egg of Norman Osborn’s Goblin Glider swooping in to save Spidey at the end served as a nice precursor for what’s to come.

Thank you for reading. If you’d like to dive deeper into Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, follow this link for episodes 6, 7, and 8’s Secrets (Easter Eggs).

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Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man: “Duel With the Devil” Review

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Skye’s Thoughts

Ah, another Wednesday. Time for more Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man! In my opinion, this episode laid out interesting future story threads. While I was intrigued by the ideas in the previous episodes, I mentioned that it didn’t feel like they were progressing. Now, everything is falling into place.

In fact, so much happened in this episode that it’s difficult to cover in one post. Just a heads-up: Spoilers. Lonnie’s connection with the 110 Gang catches up with his everyday life. School is getting difficult for Peter, Pearl, and Nico. Especially after Nico found out Peter’s secret. Thanks, Harry. There’s more to Norman than what’s on the surface after Spider-Man’s encounter with Daredevil (hence the episode title). And Mac Gargan’s Gang has tracked down the 110’s hideout while getting outfitted with Octavius tech. Yeah. That’s a lot.

If I had to nitpick anything, the show’s feeling overcrowded. Sure, each of these developments makes me want to keep watching, but there are a lot of them for one episode. I can see why these episodes are 30 minutes. Despite longer episodes, will it be possible to give each of these story threads the attention they need?

I mentioned in the past that it felt like the show was looking for excuses to keep audiences watching. By throwing in major developments at the end of episodes, it seemed like the show was desperate for viewers. What I like about these new developments is that, after the buildup of the previous plot threads, it feels like they’re starting to amount to something. That’s where I give leeway.

Of course, there’s still time for this show to either wow me or disappoint me (I hope it’s the former), but let’s throw it over to Season before I start rambling.

Season’s Take

For me, “Duel with the Devil” didn’t feel overcrowded so much as expecting to have a long run with the dozens of characters. I mean, it’s Spider-Man. They’re likely going to get several seasons out of this show. Spider-Man also has a large rogues gallery. If this show is taking notes from Harley Quinn, they’re going to explore many of Spidey’s rogues.

That said, I do like the time the show takes to pull in smaller Spider-Man villains as part of the main cast. As someone more familiar with the prolific Spider-Man villains, it’s nice to see something different. The show progressed naturally with this episode having a lot of rising action regarding relationships between the characters and themselves. We saw a bit of doubt in previous episodes, but “Duel With the Devil” brought that doubt to the forefront.

The way it is now, the show is somewhat predictable. We know Norman Osborn is going to be the Green Goblin at some point and we already saw Lonnie get his nickname as Tombstone. Nico will likely become Sister Grimm or The Gloom. I really hope they go with the latter. Harry’s a bit of a wild card. I’m curious to see who he chooses once the inevitable Green Goblin/Spider-Man showdown occurs. If I’m wrong about my predictions in future episodes, I’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Thank you for reading. If you’d like to dive deeper into Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, follow this link for episodes 6, 7, and 8’s Secrets (Easter Eggs).

Top 10 Classic Christmas Films

Top 10 Classic Christmas Films

Published on by Skye1 Comment

Hello, and Merry Christmas to you. This is Skye once again and thank you for inviting me back to the platform for another holiday update. This time, it’s Christmas, so what better way to celebrate than with movies?  

Trust me, I went through a lot of movies to pick out my favorites. With that being said, this list will also include animated Christmas specials. I know this post is called “Top 10 Classic Christmas Films,” but I wanted to make sure all my bases were covered. Some of those specials deserve praise, too. Now, let’s get on with the list. 

10. The Polar Express

This may be a controversial choice, but bear in mind, it’s number 10 for a reason. I don’t deny this movie has problems. It absolutely does. From the wonky mo-cap animation to the overused action sequences, this movie isn’t perfect. At the same time, it can be beautiful.  

When the girl’s ticket is flying across the winter landscape, it’s genuinely impressive to watch. Also, some of the environments can be grand when shot properly. However, the most enduring part of the film is its message. It’s not the most original message, but they tackle it in such a complex way that it still sticks with me.  

So, while flawed, The Polar Express has earned a spot on this list.

9. Home Alone

Much like The Polar Express, this movie is difficult for me to defend. It often doesn’t know what tone it wants to convey, is awkward at times, and can be overly childish. To that same end, there are some genuinely heartfelt moments.  

There isn’t a single bad performance in the film from any actor (even Macaulay Culkin), plus the chemistry Kevin has with his mother helps ground the film to its holiday roots. Overall, it’s uneven, goofy, and mean, but it also has a John Williams score. That’s the main reason this film beat out The Polar Express. You just can’t beat John Williams. 

I reviewed Home Alone on my blog last Friday, so click here if you’d like to see my more detailed thoughts.

8. The Rankin/Bass Specials

Our first Christmas specials. Yes: specials plural. I’m including both Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town! in this slot, because they’re both of equal value. Why are they so low on the list? They’re still corny and random, y’all.

Both specials are weird and only created to give us the origin behind the songs. Also, both make little sense in hindsight. Some things are thrown in for the sake of padding the runtime, but I can’t help feeling Christmas-y whenever I see them. Despite their flaws, you can’t say they don’t remind you of Christmas. We all watched the Rankin/Bass Christmas Specials as kids, and we’re gonna show them to our kids too. 

Because of that, this list would feel naked without them.

7. A Christmas Carol

I know what you’re thinking: “Which one?” Honestly, all of them. Don’t get me wrong, none of them are perfect, but what I love is the concept. It’s so powerful that everyone wants to give their take on it from the Muppets to Mickey Mouse to Robert Zemeckis. That last one might need some therapy. 

Richard Donner threw his hat in the ring with Scrooged, The Looney Tunes did their own rendition, George C. Scott gave us a subtle Scrooge in 1984, there’s even a Christmas Carol stage show. Basically, what I’m saying is we all have our favorite version. Whichever one you prefer, there’s no doubt it’ll give you that Christmas feeling with a crotchety man changing his ways due to a certain jolly holiday.  

There’s several adaptations and there’ll likely be several more in the years to come which is why A Christmas Carol is on the list.

6. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

With few exceptions, the originals are always better than the remakes. This one, however, is no exception. My favorite aspect of Miracle on 34th Street is how it treats the concept of Santa Claus in such a realistic way. Also, Edmund Gwenn’s performance as Kris Kringle is my favorite cinematic Santa Claus.  

While Christmas is a magical time, here we’re viewing Christmas through the lens of the adult world. Miracle on 34th Street proves that the power of the holiday can transcend even the most uptight/rigid adult institutions, and it does so in spectacular fashion. Miracle on 34th Street left me hooked from beginning to end and represents the season in a way that resonates with both children and adults. 

This is certainly a film I’d call a holiday classic.

5. The Snowman

While not explicitly about Christmas (there is Christmas imagery here and there), The Snowman mostly revels in the wonders of winter. You could probably guess that with the special being called The Snowman. Even though it’s not about Christmas, whenever I see The Snowman, I can’t help but feel Christmas-y.  

The same way “Winter Wonderland” is a Christmas song, The Snowman is a Christmas special. The Snowman is a very dream-like experience. It includes stellar hand-drawn animation, a great musical score, and no dialogue. In a way, watching it feels like an elaborate dream a child could’ve had on the night of Christmas Eve, and that’s what makes it feel Christmas-y. Some parts are drawn out or odd, but The Snowman is definitely worth a look. 

Check out The Snowman. You’ll return to this Christmas classic year after year. 

I put Joyeux Noël above The Snowman, because it’s more outwardly related to Christmas. Much like Miracle on 34th Street, Joyeux Noël focuses on the power of the holiday. In this case, it’s the power of the holiday in the darkest of times. 

Joyeux Noël tackles the Christmas spirit in ways I haven’t seen any other film accomplish. Soldiers in WWI call a truce during the holiday and become friends with their enemy. Each of them goes through complex emotions when the truce ends. They must resume fighting with the friends they just made the day before. Despite the misery and death surrounding them, these people still knew that the Christmas spirit was too great to kill. 

If you’re looking for a great Christmas cry, Joyeux Noël is exactly what you need.

Hear me out. I know Die Hard isn’t really Christmas-y. It doesn’t represent Christmas in the ways that any of the previous films and specials I’ve talked about do. That’s the reason I like it so much. There’s no other Christmas film like Die Hard. 

Die Hard diverges from what you would typically expect in a Christmas movie, but both the film and the holiday are inseparable. It makes sense that John would try to make up with his wife during the season of perpetual love and hope. Also, Hans’ plans likely wouldn’t have worked during any other time of the year with everyone distracted by the holidays. With all of this, Die Hard is still one of the greatest action flicks.  

There’s no other Christmas film like Die Hard, and there likely won’t ever be again. 

2. A Christmas Story

Some people probably see A Christmas Story as annoying at this point. If that’s the case with you, I understand. Although, in my experience, that’s mostly due to the over commercialization of the film with sequels, merchandise, and a live TV musical despite A Christmas Story lampooning those very things. 

Remember when A Christmas Story used to be the small film only you, and a few people you knew watched? That’s when the movie works best. The reason it’s become so heinous is due to people trying to make it bigger. A Christmas Story works the best when it’s just a small family in a small town dealing with small stuff. Oddly enough, when A Christmas Story focuses on the small moments, that’s when it feels the biggest and most personal. 

A Christmas Story takes place 80 years ago, but it still feels like a family Christmas that could happen today which is why it’s my number two.

1. Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

Yes, my absolute favorite Christmas special takes the top spot: the original Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas. You can’t go wrong with the classics, and there’s a lot to appreciate with this Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas.  

Everyone knows the story: a mean green man hates seeing people happy around the holidays so he does what he can to put a stop to it. From the brilliant animation heralded by the legendary Chuck Jones to the outstanding vocal talents of Boris Karloff and Thurl Ravenscroft, Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas is, without a doubt, synonymous with Christmas. That and the ever-enduring message for kids that Christmas cannot be stolen is one that will live on forever. 

Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas is short, sweet, and undoubtedly the best Christmas classic. 

With all that said, I hope you enjoyed my Top 10 Classic Christmas Films. Before I leave you, I’d like to add some honorable mentions that didn’t quite make the list including National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, The Santa Clause, and the animated Frosty the Snowman special. Each of them, while not great enough to make the list, are still worth a look if you’re interested. 

Also, what are your top 10 Christmas classics? Let us know in the comments and have yourselves a Merry little Christmas now. We’ll see you next year! 

-Skye

Top 5 Horror Tropes

Top 5 Horror Tropes

Published on by Skye2 Comments

Hello, Geekly Community! My name is Skye, and I love movies and TV. You could call me a “Screen Geek.” I make deep dives on TV shows and movies on TGIMovies (here’s the link to my website). Everyone who clicks the link gets a free year-long Netflix subscription (JK, just kidding). I’m excited to write for this site and get to know you all. Thank you for inviting me to this platform, it means a lot to be here. Without further ado, let’s begin my very first post. Woo-hoo!

Happy Halloween! Since it’s that time of year, let’s talk about something scary. But not too scary. (͡° ͜ʖ ͡°). While I view myself as a refined connoisseur of visual media (don’t we all?), I’m drawn to certain tropes (whether they’re good or not). Sure, I love killers and dumb idiots dying as much as the next person, but there are other tropes in horror that I just can’t resist. With that said, these are my 5 favorite horror tropes.

5. Creepy/Evil Children

The Evil Children trope has been done to death. Sometimes, literally. Creepy Children show up a lot in horror because children are supposed to be innocent and non-threatening, and this trope flips that expectation on its head. It can be jarring when done well. Unfortunately, I’ve seen far too many poor implementations of Evil Children to put it higher on the list. But let’s focus on good Creepy Children.

4. “Final Girls”

While mostly associated with slasher films, the “Final Girl” trope has experienced an expansion in recent horror media. In the past she was the most moral character of the movie, typically a virgin—and usually white—she suffers more hardship than any other character. She’s always the last to survive, hence the term “Final Girl.” Since Sally Hardesty from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, this was the purpose of “Final Girls.” Look pretty, be nice/modest, and maintain innocence throughout her ordeal.

3. The Slow-Burn

The type of horror that scares me the most is the kind that takes its time. Too many movies are desperate to get reactions out of people and blow their load in over-the-top jump scares which only exist to create the illusion of fear. In case you were wondering, jump scares didn‘t make the list. When it comes to legitimate horror, you must get your audience invested in your characters, story, atmosphere, and of course, pacing.

2. Monsters/Practical Effects

Monsters are awesome! I love a good creature feature, and that’s because you can do so much with monsters. My personal favorites are the ones created through practical effects and shot in front of the camera. It makes them more real and horrifying. I’m not entirely against computer-generated effects but considering Hollywood’s overuse of these kinds of effects in the past 30 years, you can’t deny that CGI has become easy to spot. If I had to choose between a bad practical effect and a bad digital effect, I’d choose the former 10 times out of 10.

1. Music/Sound Design

This one is a cheat. Music and sound design are less a trope and more an essential part of filmmaking. But I believe music and sound design are the most important parts of filmmaking when it comes to Horror. Music instills emotions. Horror needs to create specific emotions to get its audience on edge. It’s been scientifically proven that jump scares almost entirely lose their power without the assistance of sound.

Top 5 Horror Tropes Creepy Children

-Skye