Welcome to the ever present story of me stopping my writing once the school year starts. I write excessively as a teacher, so it takes a lot of coaxing to get me to actively write for myself. (Even if it is simple things like these synopses of my reading and watching for the month).
Now that I’m off my soap box, I do find these posts therapeutic, even if no one reads them. Sometimes, I just like to write for MYSELF. This month was definitely the month of CONSUMPTION. I especially threw myself into the anime and manga I’ve been putting off for awhile, which you’ll find out if you make it farther down the list!
Here is how I rate things on my blog:
- No redeeming qualities whatsoever, visually, aesthetically, or as a story.
- It was so boring I could barely pay attention, or it frustrated me SO much I couldn’t finish.
- I had a headache, but I somehow made it through. This category is also for when I absolutely DESPISE something I’ve watched or read.
- I could make fun of it because of how bad it is or because it lacks any real merit.
- 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, it’s not amazing.
- I genuinely enjoyed watching/reading it. I could see/read it again with friends.
- A great experience! As a film/show, it is visually stunning and has an incredible story that 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.
Books
Tress of the Emerald Sea (2024), 8.5/10
The only life Tress has known on her island home in an emerald-green ocean has been a simple one, with the simple pleasures of collecting cups brought by sailors from faraway lands and listening to stories told by her friend Charlie. But when his father takes him on a voyage to find a bride and disaster strikes, Tress must stow away on a ship and seek the Sorceress of the deadly Midnight Sea. Amid the spore oceans where pirates abound, can Tress leave her simple life behind and make her own place sailing a sea where a single drop of water can mean instant death?
Adapted from the novel and produced with a full cast of actors, immersive sound effects and cinematic music!
Performed by Chris Davenport, Crystal Lee, Torian Brackett, Wyn Delano, Eva Wilhelm, Natalie Van Sistine, Shanta Parasuraman, Bradley Foster Smith, Christopher Walker, David Cui Cui, Gabriel Michael, Keith Richards, Ken Jackson, Matthew Pauli, Mike Carnes, Morgan Dalla Betta, Nick J. Russo, Scott McCormick, Stephanie Németh-Parker, and Yasmin Tuazon.
Synopsis via Goodreads
I previously read this book several years ago after my sister recommended it to me. She knows I like dry, witty humor and non-conventional fantasy stories so it seemed like a good fit.
Turns out, she was right! I especially liked the movie theater style the audiobook had, with sound effects, a full cast for the characters and Chris Davenport narrating as Hoid. It really brought the story to life for me!
Dragonwatch: Wrath of the Dragon King (2018), 8.5/10
War has come to the dragon sanctuaries of the world and nowhere is the danger more intense than at Wyrmroost. After a humiliating defeat at the hands of Kendra and Seth, Celebrant, King of Dragons, prepares to unleash his fury and take control of his native preserve. Armed with information from a new ally Ronodin, the dark unicorn, Celebrant seeks a legendary talisman the dominion stone.
However, the powerful stone is protected by a cursed castle. Upon entering the castle fortress, an unyielding power strips all magical beings of their power and forces Celebrant to take his human avatar form. Kendra and Seth must enter the cursed castle as well. The race is on. Will the two young caretakers rally enough support from the creatures of Wyrmroost against the greatest threat the magical community has faced in ages? Can they foil Celebrant’s plan and beat him to the mighty dominion stone? Or will all hope be shattered by the wrath of the Dragon King?
Synopsis via Goodreads
I’m SLOWLY getting through these books. Not because they are bad, but because they are hard to hold reading and walking. (Yep, I read and walk more than I sit and read. It comes with my job). Although I enjoy the first Fablehaven series more, I’m always a sucker for Brandon Sanderson books, so it isn’t a surprise I’ve been trying to really DRINK in this series rather than rush through it.
These Dragonwatch books feel a bit more rushed than the others, but that might be because we already KNOW the main characters. I’ll give me final verdict once I’ve completed the full series.
Falling For Your Boss (2020), 7/10
I am not that woman. The one who falls for her much older, extremely handsome, and totally unavailable boss. That’s what I keep telling myself, anyway.
I’ve watched the other women in the office fawn over Gavin, who just so happens to be one of Texas’ richest and most desirable bachelors.
But I’m interested in business. Totally professional.
We would be a terrible idea. And yet … I can’t seem to make myself want to stay away, despite the whole boss thing and an age gap bigger than the Grand Canyon.
When Gavin’s past slams into his present, the lines between business and personal suddenly become very hazy.
Now I have to decide what I want most: my carefully planned future or a man who offers me everything I didn’t know I wanted…
Synopsis via Goodreads
What an unexpected story this turned out to be. The age gap was quite big, but honestly, I didn’t notice too much. Age gaps tend to lose their sense of immorality and edginess once you realize both parties are fully functioning adults. That said, I did enjoy reading the story from BOTH Gavin and Zoey’s perspectives and how open and honest they were about things with each other.
They Do It With Mirrors (1952), 8/10
A man is shot at in a juvenile reform home – but someone else dies…
Miss Marple senses danger when she visits a friend living in a Victorian mansion which doubles as a rehabilitation centre for delinquents. Her fears are confirmed when a youth fires a revolver at the administrator, Lewis Serrocold. Neither is injured. But a mysterious visitor, Mr Gulbrandsen, is less fortunate – shot dead simultaneously in another part of the building.
Pure coincidence? Miss Marple thinks not, and vows to discover the real reason for Mr Gulbrandsen’s visit.
Synopsis via Goodreads
I’m always up for a great Agatha Christie mystery and this one found me on the road to a camping activity. I’m not as much of a Miss Marple fan, but as always the twist at the end threw me for a loop! I don’t have too much more too say about it, since it didn’t really keep me up at night, wondering about the mystery.
An Overdue Match (2025), 7/10
If the covers of every romance book ever published hadn’t convinced librarian Evangeline Kelly that she isn’t heroine material, her fiancé calling off their wedding when she lost her hair to alopecia did. But what’s a girl head over heels for love to do when her feelings are unrequited? Matchmake, that’s what. Armed with library patrons’ check-out histories, she’s determined to make at least one love connection—even if it’s not her own.
Tattoo artist Tai Davis is used to people judging him with a single glance, so it doesn’t surprise him when the town’s quirky new librarian does the same thing and believes his bad-boy reputation without giving him a chance. He can’t help being intrigued by her, though, so when he discovers Evangeline’s secret matchmaking scheme, he’s not above striking a bargain with her. She just has to agree to one date with him for every time she uses his hometown knowledge to set up library patrons on a romantic rendezvous. The deal is made, but in the process, they both might learn you can’t judge a book—or each other—by the cover.
Synopsis via Goodreads
I forgot to write about this book last month, which is quite strange for me. I liked how the author didn’t make Evangeline’s alopecia this huge galactic reveal. Rather, she found love with someone who saw what she had as something beautiful. For me that plays into the idea that true love and beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Anyway, I liked the book but haven’t thought about it much since I read it in July.
My Phony Valentine (2023), 8/10
My days usually consist of agonizing over my failing restaurant, worrying about my mountain of debt and nursing my broken heart.
Everything changes when I bump into a man in the coffee shop and claim him as my new boyfriend. To my absolute horror, he turns out to be hockey’s most renowned bad boy, Dallas Burke. To my absolute delight, he goes along with my story.
When his no-nonsense manager and meddling grandmother jump in the picture, they see a win-win solution for my failing restaurant and Dallas’s less-than-stellar reputation.
A full-fledged fake romance complete with contract negotiations, pretend dates and phony PDA.
But as I get to know the real Dallas Burke, who is not the man the press says he is, it becomes clear that if this isn’t real. . . someone better tell it to my heart.
Synopsis via Goodreads
What a chore it was to finish this book! I lost it on Libby for a few weeks TWICE and finally pushed through to the end! I liked how their were TWO narrators for Dallas and Poppy. It felt like I got to listen to realistic views on romance from a male and female perspective.
This book didn’t change my whole world, but it was nice to listen to a romance focused more on emotional connection and open conversations rather than steamy passion.
The Quarterback and the Ballerina (2020), 6/10
He thought he knew what he wanted.
Turns out, all he wanted was her.
ColletteI’d kill to be the kind of dancer my mom wants me to be, but it’s just not in the cards. I’m sick of dieting. I’ll never fit into the perfect ballerina mold and I’m tired of wishing that I could.
I’m over it. I’m done trying.
I’m perfectly content to dance alone in the dark while the rest of the school is sleeping.
EthanCoach says our football team needs discipline. That dancing alongside a bunch of prissy prima donnas is how we’ll learn our lesson.
Only problem?
I don’t have time for ballet. Not when I’m busting my butt to be the star quarterback, the dutiful son, and the perfect student…all so I can achieve my father’s dream.
When I meet Collette, I can’t help but take notice. She’s a vision of grace and beauty all wrapped up in snark and sass. And she helps me see that my own dreams aren’t so stupid after all.
I just wish she could see that in herself. But when I try to bring her out into the light, I can feel her slipping away. Her walls are built up so high, I fear they’ll never come down. I want to love her like she deserves—but that’s just the problem.
She doesn’t believe she deserves it.
Synopsis via Goodreads
Yep, this book was NOT written for me. It definitely had teenager problems blended with emotional teenager reactions, smooshed together with too much drama. But, I wouldn’t mind showing this to a daughter in the future.
A Little History of the World (1936), 9/10
In 1935, with a doctorate in art history and no prospect of a job, the 26-year-old Ernst Gombrich was invited by a publishing acquaintance to attempt a history of the world for younger readers. Amazingly, he completed the task in an intense six weeks, and Eine kurze Weltgeschichte für junge Leser was published in Vienna to immediate success, and is now available in seventeen languages across the world.
Toward the end of his long life, Gombrich embarked upon a revision and, at last, an English translation. A Little History of the World presents his lively and involving history to English-language readers for the first time. Superbly designed and freshly illustrated, this is a book to be savored and collected.
In forty concise chapters, Gombrich tells the story of man from the stone age to the atomic bomb. In between emerges a colorful picture of wars and conquests, grand works of art, and the spread and limitations of science.
This is a text dominated not by dates and facts, but by the sweep of mankind’s experience across the centuries, a guide to humanity’s achievements and an acute witness to its frailties. The product of a generous and humane sensibility, this timeless account makes intelligible the full span of human history.
Synopsis via Goodreads
I would need to read this book again to give it a true 10/10 but my history brain ATE UP this lovely gem from the 1930s. I would have LOVED meeting Gombrich in person to see what he would write for the 1940s-1990s, and even some things he would have changed.
Dragonwatch: Master of the Phantom Isle (2019), 8.5/10
Cursed by the Key of Forgetting, Seth has lost all memory of his past – his relationships, his experiences, and who he really is. For now he will align with his new mentor, Ronodin, the dark unicorn, who takes him to the Phantom Isle, the secret gateway to the Under Realm. Though Seth is not formally a prisoner, Ronodin wants to use him and his shadow charmer powers for his own dark ends.
Kendra is frantic to find her missing brother, but the quest will take her and her companions, including Warren, Tanu, and Vanessa, far from Wyrmroost to Crescent Lagoon – a recently fallen dragon sanctuary made up of many islands and underwater domains. Its caretaker has regained a foothold on one of the islands. If Kendra and her friends can save that sanctuary, they might uncover the answers they need to rescue Seth.
With each sanctuary the dragons overthrow, Celebrant, the Dragon King, comes closer to the dawn of a new Age of Dragons. With the forces of darkness on the march, can Kendra and her allies gather enough power to win the epic dragon war?
Synopsis via Goodreads
My thoughts about Wrath of the Dragon King apply to this book as well! I was glad Seth stopped being a manipulated tool but sad there wasn’t enough time to explore more of the character’s stories. (I mean, the book was PRETTY long). We shall see how I feel about books four and five in the future!
Comics
Twilight Blade (2026), 7.5/10
Hikari, a young boy who lost his mother in a fire, begins living with Youjin, the investigator assigned to the case. Their peaceful life is often interrupted by the appearance of otherworldly creatures.
Synopsis via Myanimelist
I have a feeling in my gut this manga might be cut short. The premise is engaging, but the chapters don’t release consistently. I thought it would be more like a slice-of-life paranormal found family sort of story. But, so far, it’s been more action oriented. We’ll see what happens!
The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity (2021), 9.5/10
Despite being adjacent to one another, Chidori Public High School and the all-girls Kikyo Private Academy seem to exist in two different worlds. While the latter boasts an immaculate reputation and favors students from wealthy backgrounds, the former is a nest for dim-witted delinquents. Everyone at Kikyo harbors a deep hatred for their Chidori neighbors.
Sixteen-year-old Rintarou Tsumugi is a student at Chidori whose intimidating face leads people to avoid him. Rintarou pays no mind to this, as he is content with his group of friends. However, there is something he has not told them yet: sometimes, he helps out at his family’s cake shop.
One day at work, Rintarou sees a customer at a table, but she runs off before he can talk to her. The next day, he receives an apology from the girl, Kaoruko Waguri, who explains that she did not run away because of his appearance and that she believes Rintarou is a kind-hearted person. Although he is not used to Kaoruko’s bright personality, Rintarou looks forward to forming a friendship with her. There is just one obstacle that stands in his way: Kaoruko is a Kikyo student!
Synopsis via Myanimelist
The more I watch and read this story, the more impressed I become. I truly hope it ends well, without any stupid content at the end. If you are looking for wholesome romance, with engaging relationships with friends and family definitely give this story a try.
Tokyo Fears Rhapsody (2022), 7/10
Hachiro keeps his true identity as a Fear a secret while working odd jobs—until he sees the Unbelievables, a newly established mecha-suited unit of the Metro PD. Now he wants to be just as cool as they are! But are there limits to what a monster can do?
Synopsis via Myanimelist
I got REALLY into this story and then. . . POOF. . . the chapters stopped coming out. Hopefully it doesn’t just END but I’ve been burned before by dropped series!
Bug Ego (2023), 7.5/10
Makoto Hitsujiya transfers to a new high school and meets a strange classmate named Takehiro Kokudou. Kokudou introduces him to Bugs, a variety of phenomena that produce certain outcomes only if specific sequential actions are performed. The phenomena can range from bird droppings appearing on a sidewalk after pressing a certain combination of vending machine buttons to being able to lift weights beyond one’s normal physical limits.
Gradually, Hisujiya and Kokudou’s friendship grows as they take advantage of the handy—and sometimes outrageous—conditions to activate Bugs that transcend the laws of science and humanity. Following Kokudou’s footsteps, Hitsujiya becomes addicted to triggering these anomalies. But when he discovers a bizarre set of conditions required for a ridiculous Bug that can change his future, his curiosity may have serious consequences.
Synopsis via Myanimelist
ONE is such an underrated WRITER. I loved One Punch Man (before and after the upgrade art) and Mob Psycho 100 is one of my favorite anime. This series. . . is more fragmented, with a less than clear direction. That is not necessarily a detriment to the story! For this series, it feels right since the main characters are traversing paranormal phenomenon not bound by time or space.
Hopefully this story continues and has a satisfying end!
Shinobi Undercover (2024), 7/10
Even in modern Japan, ninja still hide in the shadows. Young ninja Yodaka has received his mission–protect high school student Aoi at all cost. But can a ninja survive the wild world of high school while also fulfilling his mission?
Synopsis via Myanimelist
The longer I’ve waited for and read this story the less excited I’ve felt. I care about what happens in the end but not necessarily HOW the story gets there. What would make the story POP more for me would be if Aoi had more of a personality.
Under Doctor (2026), 8/10
If you want to live, find him. If you don’t want to die, don’t go near him. He is the greatest doctor and the strongest hero, the legend of the underworld—Under Doctor Haiji. Medical drama x heart-pumping action!
Synopsis via Myanimelist
Out of all the new manga I found this month, this one appealed to me the most. I like male leaders like the Under Doctor, who have a lot of skill but choose to be kind and humble anyway. This is another manga that might not get finished, because not as many people would like it. But I have enjoyed the medical jargon and I like the main character so. . . I’ll keep reading until I get bored.
The Mage Next Door (2025), 7/10
In the Magic Realm, mages train hard to master their arts. However, one mage named Toya Osoegawa only cares about using magic to live a comfortable life! But now, thanks to the orders from the Divine Magus, the least motivated man in the Magic Realm has been sent to the Human Realm! Can he use his bizarre magic to protect humans and send evil wizards back to their world?!
Synopsis via Myanimelist
The lazy mage with his everyday magic items was one of the most enjoyable things I’ve come across lately. Too bad this series was DROPPED.
Mr. Villain’s Day Off (2018), 8.5/10
As a member of a malevolent organization, the General is tasked with invading Earth and wiping out humanity. Even an extraterrestrial being like him, however, needs a chance to rest.
Not even the Rangers—a team solely dedicated to defeating the General and his colleagues—will stand in the way of him visiting pandas at the zoo, buying ice cream at the convenience store, and enjoying his well-deserved day off from committing evil deeds.
Synopsis via Myanimelist
Cute pandas, references to Japanese convenience stores I miss more and more each day, and a softy “villain” are a great combination for me. I’ve gone back to this series multiple times and hope it keeps going!
QQ Sweeper (2014), 7/10
In human hearts, negative energy sometimes finds a place to dwell. This negativity can begin to take shape into monstrous creatures, which can only be dealt with by “Sweepers,” special people with the ability to banish them and bring peace.
Kyuutarou Horikita comes from a long line of Sweepers, but most of his classmates see the second-year Kurokado High School student as a grumpy boy obsessed with cleaning. While in the old school building, he runs into a sleeping girl named Fumi Nishioka, a new transfer student who, as it turns out, has nowhere to call home.
But when Kyuutarou and his family realize that Fumi can fight against negative infestations, they invite her to stay with them as a live-in housekeeper and begin training her as an apprentice Sweeper. However, just as negative energy can reside in human hearts, a latent power sleeps within Fumi, and a malicious group wants to use it for their own ends.
tSynopsis via Myanimelist
This series was . . . fine. It was the finest manga to ever be sort of not really a mystery romance.
Beast Master (2006), 7/10
Yuiko Kubozuka, a 17-year-old single high school student, loves animals; unfortunately, because of her overwhelming affection, they always run away from her. One stormy night, Yuiko accidentally scares her own cat up a tree, but a boy with fierce eyes and the looks of a wild animal helps save her cat and leaves without a word. The next day, the same boy turns out to be the new transfer student, Leo Aoi, whom everyone is frightened of due to his intimidating appearance.
Regardless, Yuiko drums up the courage to thank him for last night. She soon finds out that underneath his frightening guise, Leo actually has a very sweet nature and also seems to have a way with animals, which makes her envious. However, Leo holds a dark secret: whenever he sees blood, he loses his human reasoning and unleashes his beastly instincts on those around him. Will Yuiko be able to tame the wild beast inside Leo or will he flee from her like all the other animals?
Synopsis via Myanimelist
I remember particularly loving this when I was a teenager. Now, it is but a simple hyped up romance I don’t particularly care for anymore.
Ramparts on Ice (2020), 7/10
Inept at dealing with people, Koyuki Hikawa maintains a wall between herself and others. She spends her time in high school away from others, all alone. At least until she encounters Minato Amamiya who keeps closing the distance between them for some reason. The aloof Koyuki, the popular Miki, the boundary-less Minato, and the easygoing and kind basketball team member Youta. This is the story of these somewhat complicated four and their tantalizing, bumbling youth.
Synopsis via Myanimelist
I loved this manga until . . . the end. The almost sex scene was jarring and way to sudden. Given how this author has written romances before it didn’t make sense why it was suddenly there. I also thought the ending was rushed.
Strobe Edge (2007), 8/10
Through the eyes of Ninako Kinoshita, it seems as if everyone knows what love is. Even when it comes to her own feelings for her childhood friend Daiki Korenaga, it is her friends who attest she is in love. However, a drop of doubt forms in her heart when Ren Ichinose, an attractive idol of the school, accidentally breaks Ninako’s phone charm on the train. His earnest promise to compensate for it touches Ninako and she wonders if this is what real love feels like.
Love is like an apple: its outer appearance may look sweet, but its taste can be deceiving. For Ninako, she meets the bitterness of unrequited love as her very first. But as her knowing friends go through different experiences with love, Ninako struggles to understand its complex flavor and fails to notice the way a certain someone looks at only her.
Synopsis via Myanimelist
Oh my goodness. I read this manga TOO many times as a teenager. The hyped up emotions and tense love triangle made my heart go pitter patter. Now, I think it is an insightful look into how our relationships shift and evolve. It’s easy to see other people in romances as ENEMIES and hard to realize they are also just living normal lives, hoping and dreaming too.
Shiba Inu Rooms (2023), 8/10
The highly popular one-shot is finally back!! A newly built 1LDK apartment with rent of 4,800 yen! The reason is the “earthbound spirit of a Shiba Inu”…!? A heartwarming comedy about a cool and sightly awkward high school girl, Kori, and a quirky Shiba Inu spirit, Mu-chan, begins!
Synopsis via Myanimelist
I did not expect to like this story, however the cute shiba dogs won me over! Reading chapters from this manga is one of my weekly highlights.
Ultimate Exorcist (2024), 8/10
The most powerful exorcist in history—Kiyoshi! In order to protect that which is precious to him, Kiyoshi has attained ultimate strength. But he has a secret he can’t tell anyone… Become a sword that slays evil! Become a shield that protects the weak!
Synopsis via Myanimelist
This is my favorite ACTION oriented manga I discovered lately. I am a sucker for over powered sincere goobers. I just wish the chapters weren’t so short. Then again, the art is quite intense so maybe it is a good thing the author isn’t over exerting themselves.
Movies
Suzume (2024), 7/10
On her way to school one day, Suzume Iwato stumbles upon Souta Munakata, a young man searching for abandoned areas. The high school girl directs Souta to a nearby ruin, but out of pure curiosity, she herself decides to head to the same destination.
Once there, Suzume discovers an isolated door with a dreamlike universe lying beyond it—a place that she can see and feel, but not enter. A strange stone rests on the ground nearby, but it turns into a cat-like creature and scurries away when Suzume lifts it. Suddenly afraid, she heads back toward her school, not realizing that her act of leaving the door open will have consequences.
With the “keystone” released, the evil within the other universe can now freely escape and wreak havoc throughout Japan. Intending to correct her dangerous mistake, Suzume joins Souta—whose true goal is to prevent evil from festering—in finding and locking all open doors before the country is destroyed.
Synopsis via Myanimelist
Man, I wanted to like this movie more. However, it had a pacing problem. I thought the animation was absolutely gorgeous but I needed more of a payoff when it came to the romance. Plus, the conflict and background seemed rather rushed, considering how long the movie was.
Support Your Local Sheriff (1969), 8/10
McCullough is “passing through on my way to Australia” when he takes a job in a gold rush town. After a startling display of marksmanship, he immediately arrests the youngest son of the evil landowner (Danby). A battle of hired guns begins as McCullough continues to tame the town and defeat the gunslingers with a combination of skill and wit.
Synopsis by John Vogel <jlvogel@comcast.net> via IMBD
This cooky Western is one of my favorites, partially because of the memories I have of my dad watching it with me. My nephew Henry also truly loved this film when he came down for our small family reunion. I believe he watched it through twice.
I am Frankelda (2025), 6/10
Frankelda, a determined 19th-century Mexican writer, journeys into her subconscious to face the monsters she’s written about. Guided by a tormented prince, she must restore the balance between fiction and reality before it’s too late.
Synopsis via IMBD
Here is yet another film I wish I loved more. But, it also had a pacing problem. I think the creators had SOOO many ideas they wanted to showcase they got lost in all the details. This is a shame because I thoroughly enjoyed the stop motion animation and dark undertones.
Bubble (2022), 6/10
Five years ago, gravity-defying bubbles with mysterious powers rained down upon the earth. After a huge explosion of uncertain origin, Tokyo became ground zero, with the city being enclosed in a gigantic bubble. As a result of this “Bubble Fall” phenomenon, the metropolis that was once the capital of Japan drowned in a gravity-bending sea; the government declared it a prohibited zone, and the residents abandoned it.
Children orphaned by the Bubble Fall now squat illegally in Tokyo, partaking in dangerous parkour team battles across the city’s dilapidated buildings. Hibiki—a talented ace in these games with the ability to jump between bubbles—claims he can hear sounds from the Tokyo Tower. Determined to uncover its mysteries, he sets off toward the source, but he falls into the waters below.
A strange girl, whom he later nicknames Uta, saves him. But little does Hibiki know that Uta’s appearance in his life will reveal the secrets behind the disastrous event that changed their world forever.
Synopsis via Myanimelist
The premise for this one, with how it played with light and sound harmonizing into life intrigued me, but I tend to hate Little Mermaid remakes with bittersweet endings. This might be because I grew up with Disney’s 1989 version, but it might also just be me hoping love can work out despite the obstacles.
Milky☆Subway: The Galactic Limited Express – the Movie (2025), 7.5/10
Arrested for reckless space driving, super human Chiharu and cyborg Makina are sentenced to clean the Milky☆Subway—an old interplanetary train.
Easy enough, right? Wrong. When the train suddenly takes off, they are thrown into a high-speed space-train spectacle packed with chaos, no plans, and zero strategy.
Just pure momentum!
Synopsis via Myanimelist
What fantastic characterization this movie had! Its creator Yōhei Kameyama created, wrote, directed, and independently produced it, which impressed me. There are still some problems with its structure, but overall I can understand the hype behind it. My hope is that this project will help Kameyama create more without having to give in to corporate influence.
Robot Dreams (2023), 8/10
The adventures and misfortunes of Dog and Robot in New York City during the 1980s.
Synopsis via IMBD
What a bitterweet, yet poignant story this was! It touched on themes like loss, found friendship, reforming connections, and letting go in such a beautiful way. What intrigued me was how well it conveyed these ideas without dialogue. I still think The Boy and the Heron and Across the Spiderverse were better films, but am glad there are more animators out there making passion projects like this!
A New Hope (1977), 8.5/10
A farmboy joins forces with various allies to save their galaxy from the evil Empire’s planet-destroying battle station, while also rescuing the princess leading the rebellion against them.
Synopsis via IMBD
Ahhh my childhood. I’m not the biggest fan of science fiction, but my father ADORES Star Wars so I have inevitably watched the movies numerous times over the years. The hype for these movies is real and I think watching it on VHS at my family trailer in Alpine made the experience even better!
Lost in Starlight (2025), 9/10
Nan-young, whose astronaut mom failed to return to Earth when things went awry during her Mars probe. Nan-young has always dreamed of exploring space too and longs to go to Mars in hopes of finding a trace of her mom. Her dream comes true when she is selected as one of the astronauts for a Mars probe project. Before she blasts off though, she meets Jay, a musician who also fixes retro sound instruments.
Synopsis via IMBD
Wow, this is one of TWO space travel movies I’ve watched this month that blew me away! I’m glad Korea is able to produce animated films that are unique. This movie was a visual feast and I was pleasantly surprised when the ending was ACTUALLY HAPPY. I had geared myself up to see their relationship break or someone to die. Luckily, I didn’t have to experience it. . . I mean, sometimes I just want things to work out without having to learn a bittersweet lesson about grief and letting go.
Persuasion (2007), 7/10
Anne was in love with Frederick, who was rejected by her snobby parents 8 years ago. They’ve now hit hard times and rent out their mansion to his brother-in-law. He returns a Royal Navy captain. Will he remember Anne?
Synopsis via IMBD
This movie was fine but I was underwhelmed by the actor who played Captain Wentworth. Maybe I like the 1990s film too much or I just got used to him being a bit more JOVIAL and open.
Project Hail Mary (2026), 10/10
A science teacher wakes up alone on a spaceship. As his memory returns, he uncovers a mission to stop a mysterious substance killing Earth’s sun, and realizes that an unexpected friendship may be the key.
Synopsis via IMBD
Wow, just, WOW! I wish I could my younger self and tell her to go tot he movie theater to see this movie. It was beautiful in every way POSSIBLE. Rocky is my new spirit animal, my hope in humanity was restored, and my eyes feasted on out of this world cinematography. Also, I finally realized Ryan Gosling is actually good at acting. (I blame my hatred for The Notebook).
Our Hospitality (2023), 9/10
A man returns to his Appalachian homestead in 1840 to claim an inheritance. On the trip, he falls for a young woman. The only problem is that her family has vowed to kill every member of his family.
Synopsis via IMBD
Going through films from the 1920s, I’ve rediscovered/fed my obsessive love of Buster Keaton movies. His comedy has aged like beautiful miso. . . cheese. . . anything that isn’t alcohol? You get the idea. I don’t want to give anything away. . . so go watch his movies, especially if you love silent films.
Safety Last (2023), 8/10
A boy leaves his small country town and heads to the big city to get a job. As soon as he makes it big his sweetheart will join him and marry him. His enthusiasm to get ahead leads to some interesting adventures.
Synopsis via IMBD
Behold I finally watched the movie with Harold Lloyd hanging from the clock! It was as I expected: a good movie with some funny bits and great stunts. My faovorite scene was actually watching Lloyd face hungry/crazy women shoppers during a sale.
Nanook of the North (1922), 7/10
In this silent predecessor to the modern documentary, film-maker Robert J. Flaherty spends one year following the lives of Nanook and his family, Inuits living in the Arctic Circle.
Synopsis via IMBD
I have mixed feelings about this movie. On the one hand, it was great to see that there were people trying to record historical documentaries. On the other hand, I didn’t like how Flaherty generated his own romanticized vision of those living in the Arctic Circle. Plus, he did some pretty icky things. . . at least I can now say I’ve seen it!
The Navigator (1924), 8.5/10
Rollo decides to marry his sweetheart Betsy and sail to Honolulu. When she rejects him he decides to go alone but boards the wrong ship, the “Navigator” owned by Betsy’s father. Unaware of this, Betsy boards the ship to look for her father. whom spies capture before cutting the ship loose. It drifts out to sea with the two socialites each unaware of there being anyone else on board.
Synopsis by Ed Stephan <stephan@cc.wwu.edu> via IMBD
As a historian, I found this movie fascinating! You learn so much about underwater technology, shipbuilding, and societal norms from the 1920s. As a film, it was also hilarious watching these two spoiled rich kids know how to actually cook and care for themselves while stuck on a ship alone.
The strangest part of the movie was when they cam across the cannibals by an island. This was fairly common from the 1880s-1930s so I wasn’t surprised to see it, but I can understand why some wouldn’t like the “black native” caricatures. This is also a problem in Winsor McKay’s Little Nemo in Slumberland with the Little Imp. (I don’t like these types of characters but like to understand WHY they exist and how we moved away from them in storytelling. It means we’ve changed as a society!)
Her Night of Romance (1924), 8/10
An impoverished British lord (Paul Menford) impersonates a doctor in order to woo an ailing American heiress (Dorothy Adams). The lord is in it for love, but his business associate (Joe Diamond) smells money.
Synopsis via IMBD
This was at the bottom of the list for 1924, but Marty and I thought it was funny. Ronald Colman was the best part of this movie because he was logical and honest despite being in a romantic comedy. Near the end, we skipped through some of the drama, but still think it was one of the better films that year.
Shows
Inuyasha (2004), 8/10
Kagome Higurashi’s 15th birthday takes a sudden turn when she is forcefully pulled by a demon into the old well of her family’s shrine. Brought to the past, when demons were a common sight in feudal Japan, Kagome finds herself persistently hunted by these vile creatures, all yearning for an item she unknowingly carries: the Shikon Jewel, a small sphere holding extraordinary power.
Amid such a predicament, Kagome encounters a half-demon boy named Inuyasha who mistakes her for Kikyou, a shrine maiden he seems to resent. Because of her resemblance to Kikyou, Inuyasha takes a violent dislike to Kagome. However, after realizing the dire circumstances they are both in, he sets aside his hostility and lends her a hand.
Unfortunately, during a fight for the Shikon Jewel, the miraculous object ends up shattered into pieces and scattered across the land. Fearing the disastrous consequences of this accident, Kagome and Inuyasha set out on a challenging quest to recover the shards before they fall into the wrong hands.
Synopsis via Myanimelist
I’m still picking my way through this show’s episodes and genuinely think it’s an interesting story. Honestly, though, the Japanese sub is actually better than the English dub this time. The translations didn’t quite translate well from Japanese to English, so the English voice acting can be corny.
Rampart on Ice (2025), 8/10
On the surface, high school student Koyuki “Koyun” Hikawa seems unapproachable and terrifying to most other students. In reality, Koyun is just insecure and prone to overthinking due to her uncomfortable experiences in middle school. However, her chance encounter with two boys in school—Minato Amamiya and Youta Hino—sparks a change in her. Like her friend Miki Azumi, the boys are never afraid to approach Koyun and see her for who she really is.
Although Koyun starts spending more time with Miki, Minato, and Youta, she finds herself torn between her newfound bliss and her fear of getting too attached to others. Meanwhile, each of her friends quietly struggles with their own challenges. But as the new friend group continues to navigate high school together, Koyun and the others start to break out of their shells and enjoy their adolescence to the fullest.
Synopsis via Myanimelist
Before I read the manga and didn’t like the ending, I watched season one of this show and thought it was nice. I also watched You and I Are Polar Opposites (2026) and still think the author is great at portraying more down-to-earth teenagers without a lot of the angst and brittleness you see nowadays. This show leaned more toward characters facing trauma and learning to build relationships. For what it was, I liked it.
Kill Blue (2025), 8/10
Rumors say that Juuzou Oogami, a middle-aged, professional hitman, will assassinate anyone for an adequate reward. The hearsay could not be further away from the truth, though, as he has a personal rule to only kill those who are truly evil and irredeemable. But due to starting his killing career early, Oogami never experienced a normal childhood, and he regrets some of the choices he has made over the years.
However, Oogami’s life takes a drastic turn when—after another seemingly regular job—a mysterious wasp stings him with venom which reverts his body to the form of a teenager! Although taken aback, Oogami soon receives a mission that is perfect for his new body: he needs to blend into and investigate a private middle school, where his boss is enrolling his daughter next year.
Despite failing to leave a good first impression on his classmates, Oogami quickly falls in love with schoolwork. Moreover, he discovers that his classmate Noren Mitsuoka has connections to the company that created the very same wasp that stung him. As he befriends Noren and other students, Oogami sets out to enjoy the little things about being a teenager while searching for a way to restore his body.
Synopsis via Myanimelist
I finished season one of this show and actually enjoyed it quite a bit! Granted, it is probably because I am nearish the age of the main character and understand some of the things he is going through. I’ve noticed recently that I like a lot of shows that are more niche, so not as many people actually watch them or praise them like I do. This show is not over yet, but I worry it will be canceled because there isn’t as big of an audience for it.
Anyway, at last I finished this post! I’ll see you again soon and hope you can find something you want to watch/read.
