Love Of Kill Volume 07 by Fe with translations by Eleanor Ruth Summers and lettering by Chiho Christie may be 90% flashback, but I still could not put this manga down. Yen Press put out a terrific manga because I love the chemistry between Ryang-Ha and Chateau. Ryang-Ha may seem comical and clingy, but he is also deadly, and he compliments Chateau’s chilly personality. I love Fe’s work because the characters stand out from looks to mannerisms, and the story is a page-turner.
The Detective Is Already Dead Volume 3 Review
The pacing is picking up, and the interconnectivity between the characters left me reeling. From androids to aliens to vampires, The Detective Is Already Dead Volume 3 continues the comedy—at Kimizuka’s expense—and tension.
The Vexations of a Shut-In Vampire Princess Volume 1 Review (Light Novel)
The Vexations of a Shut-In Vampire Princess Vol. 1 drags near the beginning, but Komari and her world are hilarious, stressful, and page-turning as the story unfolds.
Top Gun: Maverick Review
The best parts of Top Gun: Maverick are Tom Cruise and the camaraderie between the pilots and the action. While there is little we learn about the other characters outside of their relationship with Maverick, Top Gun: Maverick is a captivating, exciting sequel that does not tarnish the original film. This film brings a smile to the face.
The Porter Review
The Porter is an 8-part series airing on BET+. The series stars Aml Ameen, Ronnie Rowe Jr., Mouna Traoré, Loren Lott, Olunike Adeliyi, Alfre Woodard, and follows railway workers—porters—Junior Massey (Aml Ameen) and Zeke Garrett (Ronnie Rowe Jr.) as a tragic event lead them on divergent paths. Set in 1920s Montreal and inspired by true events about the first Black union, The Porter grips audiences with a compelling story that does not stint on character.
They Talk Review
They Talk, directed by Giorgio Bruno, is a supernatural horror film following a sound engineer, Alex (Jonathan Tufvesson), who records voices from the dead while shooting a documentary. As Alex struggles to figure out what the voices want or are warning him about, danger escalates. The film checks some horror boxes thanks to tension and decent scares. But sadly, the movie lacks a cohesive story. There is far too much confusion and mid-road acting. At the end of They Talk, I seesawed between “this part is scary” and “what happened.”
Jethica [SXSW ’22] Review
and drama wrapped in a short 70-minute runtime. Jethica follows Elena (played by Callie Hernandez) as she helps Jessica (Ashlee Denise Robinson) deal with her stalker, Kevin (Will Madden). The situation becomes morbid and dark comedy as they seek assistance from beyond the grave to dispose of Kevin. Jethica keeps its pace, does not bloat the runtime, and stays unnerving and comical.
X Review
Ty West’s X follows a group of filmmakers making a pornographic film in rural Texas unbeknownst to the elderly couple renting them the cabin. When the couple discovers the truth, the group priority shifts from moviemaking to survival. X taps into the nostalgia for classic older horror films and, through some subversion, surprises audiences like memorable classics. Ty West directs a horror that moves beyond simple slaughter. He expands into a broader discussion of religion, sexuality, and gender, thereby making X a slasher joyride with something more to say.
Jujutsu Kaisen 0 Review
Jujutsu Kaisen exploded onto Crunchyroll and quickly gained a fan base. Based on the manga by Gege Akutami, each episode had the perfect blend of heart, action, and stunning animation. After the first season, fans awaited a second season. Although we have to wait till 2023 for the second season, Studio Mappa released a prequel film directed by Sunghoo Park, Jujutsu Kaisen 0. I love this movie. From the animation that shines brighter to the characters, Jujutsu Kaisen 0 gives fans more of what and who they love.
Sell/Buy/Date [SXSW ’22] Review
Sell/Buy/Date, a docudrama mixed in comedy, premiered at SXSW Festival. It stars Sarah Jones, with a story by her and David Goldblum that looks at the sex industry via the intersections of privilege. The documentary or, as Sarah Jones calls it “unorthodoc” is about Sarah Jones trying to make the documentary based on her play of the same name. Entertaining, honest in Sarah Jones’s confusion, Sell/Buy/Date skillfully touches on the main points regarding sex work, sex trafficking and decriminalization.