I’ve been stuck lately because of the end of the school year. So much has happened and I am more than happy to greet summer break with open arms.
That aside, I do want to go over some of the things I’ve been watching and reading. I started this post back in May, but got lost in my workload. It’s been a fun ride. May’s list will follow shortly!
This is how I rank anything I read or watch!
- No redeeming qualities whatsoever visually, aesthetically, or as a story.
- So boring I could barely pay attention.
- I had a headache but somehow made it through.
- I could make fun of it. . . because of how bad it is.
- It’s not good, it’s not bad. It’s just blah.
- There were various interesting aspects but nothing to really gush about.
- A solid story. Good characters, plot, and visuals. However, not amazing.
- I genuinely enjoyed watching/reading it. I could see/read it again with friends.
- A great experience! As a film it is visually stunning and has an incredible story I could go back to multiple times. As a book, I could do the same.
- Near Perfect (nothing is perfect. ) It has become one of my favorites. I could also write entire articles on it.
Movies
The Return of the King (1980) 2/10
Good golly I had no idea this movie even existed until my brother showed me some online reviews for it! I thought it couldn’t possibly be as bad as they said. . . but I was wrong. It was one of the worst fantasy films I’ve ever seen.
I struggled to pay attention and wanted it to end within the first five minutes. I couldn’t even make fun of it like Bakshi’s The Lord of the Rings (1978). It must have been the relentless songs they slipped in there.
I can only recommend this film to curious George’s out there who want to say they watched it to impress friends.
Strangers on a Train (1951) 8/10
My students chose to watch this film for out Alfred Hitchcock Unit for film class. My favorite film from him is Rebecca (1940) but I’ve always wanted to see this movie and compare it to some of his others.
Overall, it was a fantastic movie. The cinematography, acting, camera work, and pacing was impeccable and I had NO complaints with its ending. Like when I watched Marnie (1964). The villain Bruno Antony played by Robert Walker became one of my favorites within the first ten minutes.
I recommend this movie to Hitchcock fans, Film Noir junkies, or general mystery lovers.
The Rescuers (1977) 6/10
You’ll be seeing, eventually, my brother and my Disney animated films ranking. Sadly, this will be on the bottom of the list. It wasn’t bad. It was just. . . meh. I still love the Rescue Aide Society song though.
Rescuers Down Under (1990) 7/10
I might be one of those weirdos who actually thinks this isn’t a bad film. Trust me. I’ve seen bad movies lately (cough Ray and the Last Dragon (2021) ) and REALLLLY bad movies throughout my life (See the aforementioned The Return of the King). This isn’t. . . one of them.
I actually like the animated sequences with the eagle, think the villain is legitimately frightening, and like Bernard and Bianca. *shrug* I don’t think it’s nostalgia talking either.
If you’ve never seen this movie and are curious about why Disney decided to make this sequel give it a go!
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977) 8/10
You’d be surprised how many of my students had never actually watched the original Star Wars. It was fun learning about its Sound design and Special Effects all over again and was overall happy to see it again.
That said, Sci-fi is generally not my genre of choice. I appreciate this movie wholeheartedly but don’t love it to the moon and back. (Don’t blast me fans!)
Books
Piranesi (2020) 7/10
Hmmm. . . I wanted to like this story. I loved the premise inside a mysterious world of statues, oceans, and journals but found myself drowning in the narrator’s catalog-esque way of presenting information.
The ending also frustrated me. It was like I fell with the narrator into madness. I felt sad for him because he was a victim who didn’t want to be healed.
The False Prince (2012) 10/10
I don’t have too much to say about this book. I’ve loved it since I read it ten or so years ago. If you liked Meghan Walen Turner’s Attolia series this is definitely the book for you! I did enjoy listening to the audiobook this last time!
Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life (2017) 8/10
When I go on walks I love to read books like this as part of my spiritual practice. I have the fun habit of walking while I read and enjoyed this book’s take on finding one’s Ikigai (or purpose???) and finding joy in the present. It also made me want to go on a trip to Japan!
Manga
Warning: Most of these manga and webtoons will have really short reviews because I couldn’t honestly care less about most of them. I went on a manga binge and came out with no stories I truly loved.
A Delinquent’s Life Hacks (2019) 7/10
I like how the main character Kyou Sakurai went out of his way to help others despite his scary demeanor. He helped a lot of people with various struggles and I realized anew I want to be like that. However, besides the main character I didn’t find this manga too interesting.
This Love is Strawberry Sweet (2022) 7/10
I liked the cute romance and how it didn’t create unnecessary drama between the main characters. I don’t like stupid misunderstandings and tension. What I didn’t like as much was the ending. It felt rushed and I thought important questions remained unanswered.
Sesame Salt and Pudding (2018) 6.5/10
A lot of readers liked this story but I thought the main guy was stupidly flawed in all the wrong places. I do think the idea of such a large age gap marriage can work with the right people. However, the story fell flat for e within the first five chapters.
My Darling Next Door (2021) 5/10
It’s a bad sign when I can barely remember what the heck happened in the story. All I know is I read it on a whim on an age-gap romance binge and thought it was blah.
Our Precious Conversations (2015) 7.5/10
This story had a very interesting concept. The main girl confesses to the main guy in the first chapter, only to get rejected. But, they continue a friendship afterwards and talk about various relationship and gender questions. When they finally got together in the end I thought it was well-earned and paced.
Hosaka-sensei no Ai no Muchi (2016) 3/10
Yeah, I will never understand why a pushy, domineering guy is appealing in these stories. Most of the time, he exhibits types of behavior most women would view as toxic and criminal. That’s what happens in this story.
The main guy suddenly decides he and the female lead are engaged, walks around naked in front of her, forces her to go to his house, and kisses her without consent. I didn’t like him and breathed a sign of relief when the story ended.
Yamada-kun to Lv999 no Koi wo Suru (2020) 5/10
Meh. I read this story for one of my students and thought it was boring, two dimensional, and the characters altogether forgettable.
Love, That’s an Understatement (2023) 6.5/10
I don’t know how to feel about this story yet. Good girl meets bad guy stories tend to not end well, so I’ll keep an eye on it and see if I continue reading it.
The Invisible Man and His Soon-to-Be Wife (2023) 5/10
I never felt any real connection to the main characters, their coworkers, or anyone else in this story. I honestly felt. . . blah about the whole concept which is a crying shame! An invisible man falling for a blind woman is a very interesting story idea! Too bad I couldn’t care less about it.
Yamaguchi-kun wa Warukunai (2020) 5/10
This was also a story where I felt the characters, their motivations, and goals felt two dimensional. I don’t remember. . . really what happened in this story at all beyond main girl and guy falling in love . . . somehow.
Those Not-So-Sweet Boys (2021) 5/10
Like the others, I didn’t care about the romance back stories or goals of any of the characters and nearly fell asleep while reading it.
Daily Report About My Witch Senpai (2022) 4.5/10
Cute idea. . . bad execution. You can tell how little I care about it because I have nothing else to say.
Kamibukuro-kun wa Koishiteru (2020) 7/10
Redemption for a main guy wearing a paper bag! I liked how the main couple come together in this story and how past grievances healed. But I don’t think I would ever read it again.
Bungo Stray Dogs (2013) 9.5/10
The only reason why this doesn’t have a 10/10 is it isn’t done and I’m annoyed because I want to know what happens! Overall though, I love this story and wish it would finish already!
Webtoons
The Rewards of Marriage (2018) 8/10
Now, I like this story. But I can’t give it a higher score until it is finished. The male lead isn’t unlikable and the female lead actually gets things done and isn’t a pushover! (Hurray!) Although it is an isikai, it is interesting to see the story unfold. I also think the romance is sweet, though, I want them to just be honest with each other.
You At First Sight (2021) 7/10
Some of the major reveals in this story were dumb. But I liked the ending. *shrug* I won’t read it again though.
Demon Queen Just Wants To Make Peace (2021) 5/10
They lived happily ever after and I got confused because the main female lead was really the twin sister all along but she was sent to another world for her protection. . . Sorry that sentence made about as much sense as this webtoon. I don’t have the energy to explain any more about it. . . .
An that’s a wrap! I’ll write the one for May soon so stay tuned!
From the Perspective of an Old Soul 