The Long Halloween

Based on the graphic novel of the same name, The Long Halloween is a two-part DC Comics animated movie. A serial killer is loose in Gotham! Striking every holiday, the killer is targeting members of Carmine Falcone's family and operation. Batman must use his renowned detective skills to find the killer before they strike again, as DA Harvey Dent and Commissioner Gordon find themselves in the bizarre position of having to protect the known crime lord. Adding to the chaos, Falcone has enlisted Joker, Poison Ivy, and Scarecrow to help track down the killer. It's enough to break a man, good or bad. 

I loved the graphic novel; these movies were good, too. The combined 3-hour run time seems long but is warranted to develop the story appropriately. It's gritty and suspenseful but not overly dark; this is more of a mystery, with focus on Batman as detective (vs. fighter). The animation is just okay, and the language can be strong (part two is rated R), but it's a good tale overall.

Rating: A-

Two Old Women (Velma Wallis)

In a harsh winter famine, two old women of the Athabascan tribe (which once roamed in Alaska, near the Arctic Circle) are abandoned by their tribe. Left to their own devices, it is assumed that they will quickly die. But the women refuse to give up . . . using skills from their youth, they roam the land for wood, food, fur, and survival. And when, the following year, the struggling tribe finds the women alive and thriving, they have a choice: should they help those who betrayed them, or turn their backs?

This story is based on Indian legend many generations old. It's good. Betrayal, survival, love, forgiveness, and courage are themes explored (though briefly- it is only 127 pages long). I can't imagine life in such harsh conditions, but it is somehow heartening to see people of every tribe and tongue and nation wrestling with the same realities in this world of good and evil.

Rating: A

Towers of Midnight (Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson)

The Wheel of Time saga continues! Shortly after The Gathering Storm . . .

Rand has changed. No longer tormented and conflicted, he faces his fate with peace and love as he seeks to set things right and prepare for the end. 

Perrin has changed. A reluctant leader, but one who now realizes that he is one all the same, and his people need him. Though he leads them to their doom.

Mat has changed. A little, at least. He'll do what he must, but he's no bloody hero. When a friend feared dead is rumored to be alive but imprisoned, he must investigate. Can it be? If so, at what cost can freedom be purchased?

Egwene sits as Amrylin, readying the Aes Sedai. Elayne as Queen of Andor, making alliances. And Lan gathers his forces for one last strike. The Last Battle is upon them.

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So we approach the end; just one more book remains. As with the last, Sanderson's work moves much faster than Jordan's. And I appreciated that, especially as this book is the longest in the series by far, coming in at 1,219 pages. There is some downtime, but not much. The book is good. It doesn't stand on its own, but you can see the author drawing together various storylines and laying the groundwork for the final volume.

Rating: A

Batman Forever

In Batman Forever, the Caped Crusader faces a new menace- well, two, actually. And when Two-Face and Riddler team up and use new technology to infiltrate the minds of everyone in Gotham, Batman will need a partner to take them down. Enter Dick Grayson, whose parents were killed by Two-Face during their circus act. But will they be in time?

My word, this 1995 film was terrible. Really, really bad. (My youngest wanted to start with this one for some reason.) The third film in the initial Batman movie franchise, the new director (Joel Schumacher) tried to mix the former's (Tim Burton) dark tone with the campiness of the television series. And it failed horribly. The plot was bad. The characters and dialogue were abysmal. The action and effects were poor. I'm trying to find a positive here . . . it was cool to see how Dick Grayson joined as Robin, I guess? I think it's been twenty years since I last saw this film, and I hope it's twenty more before I watch it again.

Rating: D

Batman: Hush

Batman's old foes turn up one after another in Hush, the animated film based on the graphic novel. But it appears they are all being controlled . . . and the real power is the mysterious Hush, who knows Batman's true identity and promises to take what he holds most dear. Can Batman figure out this puzzle before it's too late?

The graphic novel was great; this animated adaptation fell short. It was okay, but the art was lacking (the comic was outstanding), the story changes were for the worse, and it was less enjoyable overall. As with many such things in life, the [graphic] novel was better.

Rating: B-

Zack Snyder's Justice League

Earth is in danger- Steppenwolf has arrived and is seeking the three mother boxes, hidden long ago and kept safe by different peoples. Once collected and linked, it will give him the power to remake the Earth and prepare it for Darkseid's rule. But Earth has faced this threat before- in ancient times, Amazonians, Atlanteans, and humans banded together to defeat the aliens and protect the mother boxes. Now, it's up to Batman to unify a band of heroes to ward off the threat . . . but do they have any hope without Superman?

The original Justice League movie was released in 2017. That movie wasn't great, for two main reasons: concept (DC produced this movie without previous movies for Cyborg, Flash, and Aquaman, meaning we had no backstory on those and the whole movie seemed poorly developed as a result) and execution (due to family tragedy, the director changed from Zack Snyder to Joss Whedon partway through filming, leading to a disjointed experience). Fans cried out for what might have been, with Zack Snyder hinting that his version of the film, had he been able to complete it, would have been much different. So they let him! They brought the actors back for re-shoots and enabled Snyder to complete his vision. Hence Zack Snyder's Justice League. How did he fare?

Pretty well, actually. This movie is a whopping 4 hours long. Adding footage doesn't inherently add quality (see Batman vs. Superman theatrical vs. ultimate cuts as case in point), but here, Snyder gave more backstory to characters we hadn't previously seen and fleshed out the plot in satisfying ways. I was surprised just how much changed- he didn't just add a bunch of scenes to the existing work, he went back and changed a lot, removing certain scenes or altering them to better fit his vision. It is a completely different movie. It's hard to get through in one sitting- I did it in four, actually- and some problems still exist, but this version is notably better than the original.

A final note: Snyder's daughter committed suicide during the production of the first movie, and I couldn't help but notice a theme of relationships with parents in this new version. The film is dedicated to her; a suitable tribute.

Rating: A-

Wonder Woman 1984

"Life is good, but it could be better." So says Maxwell Lord, the leader working a ponzi scheme in 1980s America. But this is no common criminal . . . Lord is scheming for so much more. Meanwhile, Diana works for the Smithsonian curating artifacts, and new colleague Dr. Minerva is assigned to look at a curious object. They have stumbled upon the dreamstone, a powerful artifact made by the gods. Unknowingly, Diana and Dr. Minerva get their wishes . . . but there's always a cost. And it gets worse- when Lord gets his hands on the dreamstone, he turns himself into a giver of wishes- at tremendous cost to the wisher. And Dr. Minerva now possesses superhuman abilities, becoming the Cheetah. Can Wonder Woman stop them before it's too late?

Ugh. I really enjoyed the first Wonder Woman movie, but this was pretty bad. I get that superhero movies require suspending disbelief, but even fantasy tales have their limits, and this one exceeded them on several occasions. On the one hand, there are cool action sequences, nice effects, a theme worth exploring (the concept of wishes and cost), and nostalgic nods to eighties culture. On the other hand, there are baffling plot holes, poor character development, disturbing elements left uncritiqued or analyzed, and wild inconsistencies that ultimately leave the viewer confused and dissatisfied. The potential was there, but this was poorly executed.

Rating: C-

Batman Arkham: Mr. Freeze

Mr. Freeze collects 11 comic book issues about this Batman villain told over the decades ('50s, '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s, '00s, '10s). Here, we learn of Freeze's beginnings (as "Mr. Zero")- a lab accident forced him to live in sub-zero temperatures, either in the environment or a regulated suit. And we see the formative tragedy in his life- his wife, Nora, was terminally ill, so he cryogenically froze her until scientists could develop a cure. But things haven't gone as planned, so now he's doomed to a life of loneliness . . . and he wants others to feel the coldness in his heart. So he develops 'freeze-ray' technology and uses his freezing abilities for evil. This collection presents select stories featuring him as the primary antagonist.

As with the Clayface collection, I really like the concept of this series- seeing how both villains (and art, and storytelling) have evolved over sixty years is fun and interesting. I like this one a little better than Clayface, as there weren't multiple characters becoming Mr. Freeze, so the stories are less repetitious. And the 1997 story ("Mr. Freeze #1") delved more into his origins and was particularly good. That said, there is repetition in that the other Mr. Freeze stories here follow the same arc- Mr. Freeze commits crime, Batman arrives, gets frozen solid, somehow escapes, smashes Freeze's helmet to raise his temperature, and saves the day. Not the most original, but somewhat entertaining.

Rating: B+

Friends: the Reunion

Friends: the Reunion is the 2021 reunion special looking back at Friends, one of the most popular sitcoms of all time. The six cast members are brought back to re-created sets to reminisce, re-enact select scenes, answer questions from host James Corden, and get surprise visits from iconic guest stars.

Meh. I don't have high expectations for reunion shows, expecting predictable comments ("it was an amazing experience," "everything was perfect," "it was the best time of my life," etc.) and situations (plenty of hugs and tears and 'shock' when guest stars come on stage). This special was largely along those lines, but included bizarre extras, like random people from around the world saying how much they liked the show and how much it meant to them, or celebrity cameos that had nothing to do with the original show (David Beckham thought the show was great . . . so what?). There were a few enjoyable moments, and I enjoyed seeing how the cast looked 17 years later, but this was a letdown overall.

Rating: C

Unwanted (Jay Stringer)

We live at a critical inflection point in our world's relationship to sex. Sexual pain and confusion are commonplace. The debris of sexual violence is scattered across every continent. - Jay Stringer

In Unwanted, pastor and counselor Jay Stringer takes an unorthodox approach to "unwanted sexual behavior" (things like affairs, pornography, and hookup apps). Arguing that "lust management" techniques are ineffective, he instead insists that "the underlying issues that drive our sexual lust and anger" must be explored. Using his experience as a counselor and data from a study involving 3,800 people, he explores the theology of the topic and then looks at it in three parts, described below.

Part 1: "How did I get here?"

Nobody has a perfect childhood, and one doesn't have to be subjected to something as horrific as abuse to have great pain in their past. One premise of his work is that "the formative experiences of our childhood (loneliness, pain, sexual arousal, secrecy, and relational ambivalence) are all being repeated in our unwanted sexual behavior as adults." He looks "to the past not to find excuses for reprehensible behavior but because narrative holds the key to unlocking destructive patterns and implementing all future change," and argues that "our way out of sexual brokenness begins by healing the wounds within us." So he looks at dysfunctional family systems (those overly rigid or disengaged), emotional abandonment, triangulation (emotional enmeshment, when the child is expected to fill the emotional void vacated by the spouse), trauma, and sexual abuse.

Part 2: "Why do I stay?"

Stringer's research shows that "unwanted sexual behavior forms when six core life experiences are linked together: deprivation, dissociation, unconscious arousal, futility, lust, and anger. Any of these experiences on their own are not enough to create pervasive damage, [but] . . . when these experience link and reinforce one another" bad things can appear. He spends time explaining each element; for example, deprivation is when people "deprive themselves of meaningful relationships and self-care because they do not feel as if they deserve them," often leading to a cycle of turning to destructive counterfeits. Or dissociation is seeking to escape from reality and its difficulties and failures. He also looks at the influences of society on the struggle.

Part 3: "How do I get out of here?"

Stringer explores transformation in three areas: self, primary relationships, and broader community.

Self: "To find freedom, disarm the power of shame," as "shame convinces us that we are unwanted, and we pursue behavior that confirms it." In addition, "choose joy and develop a routine of delight," "choose personal integrity," and "anticipate your struggles." Things like self-care are important.

Primary relationships: Learn "to invest in transformative relationships characterized by 'attunement and containment,' 'conflict and repair,' and 'vulnerability and strength.'"

Broader community: "For community to reach its full potential, . . . you must experience structure and accountability, learn to have your story held by others, offer empathy and curiosity for the stories of others, [and] discover purpose, living for a bigger story." We need friends and allies to engage in "consistent, enjoyable, and intentional time." In community, discover your purpose, for "the mark of healing is not merely the cessation of problematic behavior but rather a life filled with greater passion, contribution, and purpose."

All sin- sexual sin included- is the corruption of a legitimate desire. "If you want to fight, don't fight to eliminate desire; fight to discover meaning." In the end, "true recovery is not about quarantine of the body but about its restoration." "Central to the gospel we proclaim is a belief that God is active in our story, inviting us to participate with him in restoring all things. For this reason, God loves to invite us to use our story . . . to bring personal and communal healing." For "in God's economy, nothing is lost."

Review

This was a great book. In my opinion, the concepts, mindsets, and approaches are helpful to anyone struggling with any sort of addictive sinful behavior (which can be nearly anything- materialism, gossip, etc.). Some things were new to me; others were familiar but presented in slightly different fashion (and well worth the reminder). Highly recommended.

Rating: A

Super Camelot

Today's review is of the 2019 release, Super Camelot. For 2-4 players, it takes 40 minutes.

Overview

You are King Arthur or one of his entourage, and you seek the grail! Or 40 gems . . . either will win you the game. On your turn, you have three actions- move up to 3 squares, attack enemies/objects, open treasure chests, etc.- and your goal is to acquire 40 gems or obtain the three shrines and get back to Camelot to retrieve the grail. Do so first and you win!

game components; image from here

The game starts with four square tiles. If one of your actions has you move off the existing board, you lay a new tile in the area and populate it with everything shown on that square (bushes, rocks, enemies, treasure). But beware- enemies can move and attack you, so be ready to fend them off! And if nobody is on a given square, everything that's "non-persistent" will vanish, and be respawned if someone revisits that square in the future. 

When attacking enemies or swinging at bushes, you must roll a sword or two (to beat them) *and* a gem icon (to be eligible to draw treasure). Bushes drop 'litter' (which could be gems or potions or keys), enemies drop 'small loot' or 'big loot' depending on their difficulty (which could be more gems or special potions or keys/etc.). You need keys to open treasure chests, which can have special objects (like better swords or other weapons).

Review

From the appearance of the game and the overview, you might infer that this is like Nintendo's original Zelda video game. And you'd be right. It's almost exactly like the video game. The tiles, the art, the rules- it's like the designers thought "you know what would be cool? Let's make Zelda with an Arthurian theme into a board game." But it's not as interesting as said game, unfortunately. Obtaining 40 gems can be difficult (though items you pick up have a gem value that contributes to your total), so this is about getting the three shrines. And there's not that much strategy to do so- you need to explore to reveal the tiles with those shrines on them, then race to get one (there are enough copies for all players, so that's good), and then be the first to get back to Camelot with them. I've found it pays to stick together and mooch off another player, as once a tile is cleared of enemies and obstacles it remains so provided there is a person on the tile. So let your buddy clear it, then run in and get a shrine before he leaves the tile, so you don't have to clear it.

In the end, my kids liked this game, and I think it's okay, but I was annoyed by the overt similarities with NES' Zelda and relative lack of strategy.

Rating: C

So Begins 2022

image from here

As is my custom, this post lays out goals for the year. The goals themselves are in italics, with explanation where needed in regular font.

Spiritual

This is where it all begins. Man's chief responsibility is to 'glorify God and enjoy Him forever,' and so how to do those things is important and should be a focus. To that end, my goals here:

- Be disciplined in prayer/scripture routines (and keep tracking them to encourage it). 

- Teach the family.

- Take a more active leadership role in church.

- Redeem the time. By which I mean wasting less of it.

- Overcome two besetting sins. 'Besetting' means those I commonly struggle with. There are too many to count, but being better in two areas would be a huge start. This goal is easy to distort- I have to be careful. I pray for success, but must be reminded that the goal is holiness in everything, not just a few areas. It's tempting for Christians to view a few sins as worse than others, and think that once you're over them, you're good. This will never be the case. But we are commanded to be holy, for God is holy, and so we should strive, and it makes sense to focus on areas known to be problems.

Nutritional/Fitness

My fitness is okay; it should be great. Though I'd love to be under 180 lbs, history shows me that when I'm in my best form, I'm still around 185, so that is now the goal. One challenge here- ironically- is that I often stay close (within 7 lbs) to the goal, so I don't feel any sense of urgency in completing it. May that change this year. 

- Get (and keep) weight under 185 lbs.

- Complete 240 workouts (run, bike, gym, soccer, hikes, etc.).

- Eat less sugar/carbs/food in general.

Financial

Would love to see progress here. We've always struggled with how to budget. I know, it sounds crazy.

- Get good budgeting system in place.

- Follow it.

Reading

I've dabbled with an American Reading List for years, and have chipped away at works that will likely be included. That said, my 'owned but unread' pile of books has crept up (now at 33!), so I need to tackle those first. Many of those happen to be in the fantasy vein, so I'll focus there for now. So, the goals:

- Read 40 books.

- Focus on fantasy (a number of series) and American history/literature.

- Pick another topic and 'get smart' (i.e. read a few books) on it.

House

As homeowners, there's always something that needs to be done. This year, it would be amazing to finish our basement. Ourselves (the only way we could afford it). Armed with nothing but knowledgable friends, this one would be a challenge but oh so satisfying. We'll see how it goes; this might be a two-year goal.

- Finish the basement.

Language

I started studying Spanish this year, after years in German. I don't think I'll get through DuoLingo's Spanish course by year's end, but that's a possibility. I need to read a book or two on the mechanics of the language, and continue daily studies. The goal is competency (so 2/2 in the language test) by early 2023.

- Continue studying Spanish. 

Games

I'd love to- and need to- get through the games I have, play them all (12 remain unplayed), and minimize the collection, as it so easily gets out of hand. I'd like to build a cube in Magic: the Gathering, and resume regular game nights with friends (we have one now; I'd love to do a few more. Hard in the pandemic). 

- Play the 12 games in my 'owned but unplayed' pile.

- Minimize game collection to what I play regularly.

- Build a cube for Magic.

- Have more game nights.

To 2022!