August 24th - August 30th 2026

Movies

• Scooby-Doo (Live Action) | Raja Gosnell | 2002 - My girlfriend had never seen this(!) I personally don’t like the first live-action Scooby-Doo, they shoehorn in Scrappy as a villain. It feels like an afterthought, like given the cutscene halfway through, it literally feels like they made most of the movie without a villain and had to figure it out after shooting most of the film. The Spooky Island theme I never connected with and the mystery solving didn’t capture the magic of other iconic Scooby-Doo films in the animated universe - CyberChase, Alien Invaders, or Witch’s Ghost. The casting is immaculate and I’m torn on the theming. It feels a little past the period of literal translation of animated to live (i.e. the outfits being as bombastic as the original even in they’re Y2K-ified). Like, those crazy Batman films with Jim Carey and Arnold Swartz-whatever. Velma’s actress is so hot so honestly does any of this matter? Anyways, it’s a fine watch, but what I need to say(!) WATCH THE SECOND FILM. It does everything the first one should have. And it finally appeals to OG Scooby-Doo heads.
• Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith | George Lucas | 2005 - Oh my God. Just thinking about this movie makes me want to cry. My god it’s just gut punch after gut punch after gut punch. I’ve never been so affected by Episode III. I imagine it’s because I hate Episode II so much I never make it to III and just skip right into the comfort of the OG trilogy. I have to give it to Lucas, this story really sucks. It’s so good at making you feel so bad. Hayden Christensen is so excellent as an actor, there is less of the romance BS (rip Padme, you went from girl boss to useless in two movies) and more about Anakin’s descent. I did not respect the political and personal anguish that it took for Anakin to fall to the dark side. How many blind eyes and the impotence of the Jedi council to see or do anything. While Anakin falls, it is the Jedi’s hubris that is to blame and I think that comes through very clearly. And the true star of this film is Obi-Wan, Ewan McGregor is a masterclass in grief. The moment when Yoda sends him to Anakin and he cries out not to do it - tears. Christ, watching Obi-Wan walk away only to inherit his brother’s (assumed dead) children with no parents is pure misery. Watching Episode IV immediately after III I was stewing in the what it must feel like to live just outside the purview of Anakin’s children, disconnected but always watching the results of your actions. I don’t think I will be able to watch this one for awhile, it’s too much.
• Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope | George Lucas | 1977 - Pure fun. I love the original trilogy because the practical effects and starting at a point of hope, rather than the fall from grace of Episodes I-III feels like playing on easy mode. I ended up watching the 2K remasters for the first time and had my jaw dropped for most of the movie. Shooting on location with mostly practical effects makes this movie better and better with every fidelity bump. I have nothing but good to say. The world-building is truly unimaginable for the 70s, the practical effects are world-class and even when they fail there is a true charm to them. The trifecta of Leia-Luke-Han is just such a samp trio!! They’re like elementary school children bickering and teasing each other constantly. Leia is strong and hilarious, Luke is painfully a teen country boy, and god damnit do I love some Harrison Ford. I will say, there is this deep sense of pitty and dread witnessing Obi-Wan after Episode III. I felt such deep empathy and relief when Obi-Wan passed on his own terms, I loved how sure he felt that Anakin would be put to rest soon. It sucks seeing him go. I will say, Ewan McGregor’s Obi-Wan is also such a scamp and it was nice to interpret Obi-Wan in the OG trilogy through that lens. He’s so funny and does not give a fuck, he also has gone Force deep end which I really like. This is such an easy watch where the world is enough on its own, but then you get a pretty solid story that has enough of space opera trappings to feel meaningful.

News/Essays

• China Before the Infinite Camera Roll | Cai Yineng | Sixth Tone - An interview with an artist that rescues film negatives from the massive trash dumps in China and restores them for art exhibits. Truly emotional experience hearing these stories and being so moved by simplicity of the photos.
• Despite Myself, I’m Obsessed With This Irish Language Food Influencer Drama | Riley Macleod | Aftermath - Title says it all, so fun and silly.
• Reliving Kotaku’s Theme Week About 2002, From 2036 | Nathan Grayson | Aftermath - Irreverent and fun!
• Underground No More: China’s ‘History Fangirls’ Stand Up | Xiong Zhiying | Sixth Tone - I’ve never felt more seen - stanning a 1700 year old dude UwU.

Books/Manga

• Super Nintendo: The Game-Changing Company That Unlocked the Power of Play | Keza MacDonald - I’m so sad I didn’t finish the book in time before I moved and had to send it back to the library. But, I got it on libby to listen to so we are sooooo back! The hour long commute never looked so good.

YouTube

• The Fashion History of the White Mage | clovergirlie - If you are lover of fantasies that are final, you gotta check this one out.

Games

• Strange Jigsaws | FLEEB | 2025 - Check out the full review here!