Happy Summer Game Fest for those who celebrate! My fiancée and I spent our Sunday lounging on the couch watching the Xbox and PC showcases. It’s not quite the same as the gone-but-not-forgotten Electronic Entertainment Expo or E3 for short, but it’ll do. I still get a lot of joy and hype from seeing world premieres and updates.
FILM
Highlight: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers | Peter Jackson | 2024 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I’ve talked about my undying love for this trilogy a few times here, so I won’t go on too much. This weekend I saw both The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers in a theater for the first time and it was incredible. Not only was the spectacle of these films something to behold on the big screen, but the communal experience of watching was perfect. The crowd laughed, cheered, clapped, and wept all together, aka the reason to see something in a crowded theater. The Battle for Helm’s Deep was meant to be seen on a big screen, and I felt like a little kid experiencing this all over again.
Kurosawa | 2000 | ⭐⭐⭐½
For as interesting of a life that director Akira Kurosawa led, this documentary was pretty dull in comparison. It does the job of getting information to the audience, but it’s rather dry, and if I hadn’t read the excellent The Emperor and the Wolf: The Lives and Films of Akira Kurosawa and Toshiro Mifune, I would have been very bored. However, I knew the juicier tidbits, so I had more context. This is definitely for the über fan.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring | 2001 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I had to choose one to highlight, but I love these movies equally. My introduction to these movies was on TBS and flipping to the channel right as the Balrog jumps into frame…I was instantly hooked. Getting to see that same scene on a big screen made me cry with joy.
SCAM Girls Movie Club
Summer 💅 Camp 💅
Psycho Beach Party | 2000 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This month’s programming started with a certified cult banger. It’s a lot of fun and super silly. I think it’s a great way to start the summer season: light, goofy, and all on a beach! There’s some drag, there’s some constipation from repressing your homosexuality, and there’s some light BDSM…it’s got everything!
TV
In Progress
House of the Dragon, Season 1, Ep. 1-2
Summer Baking Championship, Season 2, Ep. 2-4
Books
In Progress
Fire & Blood | George R.R. Martin — 70%
The Big Read
Jane Eyre | Charlotte Brontë — 55%
The Weathered Tome Society
The Rithmatist | Brandon Sanderson — 50%
Games
In Progress
Persona 4 Golden | PS Vita | Atlus
No Rest for the Wicked | PC - Early Access | Moon Studios
Hollow Knight | PS5 | Team Cherry
Animal Well | PS5 | Billy Basso
YouTube
My fiancée sent me this and, though I’m not really into Pokémon, this video is so interesting! The fact that the game it delves into, Pokémon Gold, is a direct replica of a real-world area of Japan is amazing, and then it just dives deeper into how based in reality the game is. I was floored by some of the revelations. Great lunch watch while at work!
Thanks for reading, I appreciate it!
Til next time!
— Colton