Sanctuary Road Trip Day 2: October 15, 2021 This past Friday (one week ago), I did relatively little driving, as I spent a good portion of the day volunteering at Woodstock Sanctuary in High Falls, VT. It’s an amazing place that obviously has much better funding than some other, smaller Read More
Reflecting on 4 Years as a Vegan
Last month was my four-year vegan anniversary (vegiversary?); I’m not sure of the exact date, just of the general circumstances that lead me to finally commit to veganism. It happened one day in late July in 2017, two months after my 30th birthday and after a fun trip to Thailand and then Iceland, wherein I ate vegetarian. I unsuccessfully attempted to be fully vegan twice before, so apparently the third time was the charm.
Review: Nomadland (2020)
Nomadland is currently the frontrunner for the Best Picture and Director Oscars (among others), and it’s easy to see why: it’s an extremely well-made contemplative film that probably isn’t for everyone due to its slow, introspective nature, but is popular among cinephiles like myself. The film is based on the book of the same name, written by Jessica Bruder (which I haven’t read, but now I want to).
Sanctuary Road Trip 2021: Day 1
First, I drove with my mom to pick up her car at the dealership, where it’d received some repairs and I transferred my stuff from my car to hers; I’d half-jokingly complained that it’d be a schlep to have to move my stuff twice, but of course there really isn’t that much of it.
Review: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
Overall, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is a solid solo film that manages to be entertaining, funny, and heartfelt. The emotional core of the movie was the most surprising element for me, and I’m excited to include it in my yearly MCU rewatch, and for Shang-Chi (and Awkwafina’s Kate) to appear in future installments.
Review: Free Guy (2021)
Shawn Levy’s Free Guy is yet another film whose release was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic — well over a year, in fact. Its star, Ryan Reynolds, has been [seemingly] ceaselessly been promoting the movie on social media since the first trailer was released.
Review: Old (2021)
Old certainly isn’t a perfect film — for one, I was confounded as to choices behind some of the cinematography and random close-ups — but I found it to be rather entertaining and unique, and a solid entry in M. Night Shymalan film catalogue.
Review: Bo Burnham: Inside (2021)
Bo Burnham’s Inside — the comedy special he shot during quarantine, over about a year — is a difficult film to review, as it’s not so much a “film” as it is a reflection of the artist and a deeply personal piece. I’m reluctant to even classify it as a “comedy,” although it does have it share of laugh-out-loud moments.
Review: Black Widow (2021)
It’s fair to say that Black Widow has been one of the most anticipated movies of 2021, and not just because of the pandemic, which delayed its release for over a year (going two years without a Marvel film is very difficult for a MCU nerd like myself, but thankfully there are several being released this year alone). This is the first [and only] time Scarlett Johansson’s Natasha Romanoff gets a solo film, despite having been around since 2010’s Iron Man 2.
Review: In the Heights (2021)
Is In the Heights perfect? Probably not, but it’s the perfect summer movie. It’s a crowd-pleaser that’s actually very well-made and well-acted, featuring a diverse cast and characters. Sure, it’s probably a little long, but what else do you need for a summer movie?
Review: A Quiet Place Part II (2021)
A Quiet Place Part II is among the many theatrical releases that got postponed due to the pandemic, and is one that almost requires this kind of viewing, as opposed to the option of viewing through any number of streaming services — not that there’s anything really wrong with streaming, but this film is one with such excellent sound design and thrilling scenes that would make it difficult to appreciate its technical qualities on a smaller screen.