 |  Love Letter (5) |  |  Dinosaur Island (2) |  Star Realms (2) |  7 Wonders (1) |
 |  Carcassonne (1) |  |  |  Dice Forge (1) |  Factory Fun (1) |
 Get Packing (1) |  Godspeed (1) |  |  On Tour (1) |  Quarriors! (1) |  Q•bitz (1) |
 |  Santa Maria (1) |  Seasons (1) |  |  Silver & Gold (1) |  Small World (1) |
 Stone Age (1) |  Takenoko (1) |  Tiny Towns (1) |
This Month's Winners
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Santa Maria - Honorable Mention
This game probably deserves to be higher on the list. I have really enjoyed every play of it and have been meaning to try more of the expansion content included in my Kickstarter copy. This game incorporates a lot of satisfying game mechanisms such as polyomino tile placement, dice rolling/manipulation, engine building, etc.
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Rajas of the Ganges - 3rd Place
The most interesting element of this game is its 2 progress tracks on which players advance in opposite directions with the end of the game being triggered when any player manages to advance their markers on these tracks enough that they meet or pass one another. This game offers so many interesting decisions to be made with your handful of dice and the artwork is beautiful!
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The Ancient World - 2nd Place
This is one of Ryan Laukat's best designs in our opinion. The recent reprint introduces better component quality as well as some new elements to gameplay that really seems to improve the overall experience. This game offers a bit of worker placement, tableau buildings, and set collection with gorgeous illustrations done by Laukat himself! |
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Dinosaur Island - 1st Place
Dinosaur Island is an impressive game design with a ton of replay value. The game offers you a way to dictate how long the game plays with short, medium, and long game objective cards. In our first play this month, my wife won the game in 3 rounds using short game objective cards... we played again and I think I won but can't recall... that's not a good indicator of victory though! This game is essentially Jurassic Park in a box. The theme is very strong in all aspects of this game from the amber-colored DNA dice to the building of dinosaur enclosures in your own area of the park. Additionally, the publisher did everything they could to play up 90s nostalgia from the color palette to the slap bracelet "fast pass" 1st player marker. We have a ton of expansion content that adds so much variability to this game that I can't to play again just to see how the other content affects the experience!
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In May of 2020, I watched the following:
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It's a Disaster
I was sure that this film was released just in time for the current pandemic so I was very surprised to see that it came out a few years ago. This film was a pleasant surprise! It centers on a group of friends having a luncheon where a big announcement is going to be made that will change the dynamic of their social circle forever. Just as the luncheon is kicking off, the group finds out that dirty bombs were released nearby and that everyone is likely going to die in a few short hours. Secrets are revealed and relationships are tested. The ending of this film was so abrupt but in the best way possible. I really enjoy dark comedies and recommend this one to anyone who finds the humor in condemning friends to death outside of the house because they habitually late to lunch gatherings. Too much fun...
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Frank & Lola
This film should have been better. Despite the age difference, Michael Shannon and Imogen Poots had a strange sort of chemistry. Michael Shannon portrays a seasoned chef with a strong, quiet demeanor. The whole film focuses on his struggle to cope with Imogen Poot's present actions and seedy past. The film never quite reaches a climax and concludes with a somewhat ambiguous ending regarding the future of Shannon and Poots' relationship that was just as unsatisfying as the rest of the film. Not exactly the same but I would recommend Ryan Gosling's Drive over this film. |
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Code 8
This was an interesting take on the superhero genre, focusing a society in which powers are outlawed and those who possess them are regularly subjected to prejudice. What happens when you can't find work, are frequently mistreated by the majority of society, and posses the ability to freeze things or shoot electricity from your hands? You turn to crime to support your family. This is definitely an indie film with a small budget but a decent score. It's worth watching or at least playing in the background while you're doing something else more productive!
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 | It: Chapter 2
What a disappointing follow-up to the excellent first chapter of this remake... I just have to express my total disdain for the way this movie is structured and the god awful ending. Some reviewers have described this as It: Chapter 1.5 and that's extremely accurate. This movie plays out sort of like a mash-up of unnecessary flashbacks and half-cooked scenes with a ton of talented actors 100% committed to matching the energy of their child-actor counterparts while being given absolutely nothing to do. The structure of the film feels very choppy with each character going off on their own to discover some artifact from their past and inevitably being tormented by Pennywise. The best moments of the film involve Pennywise randomly attacking extras and side characters as if the director could sense that the movie was dragging at certain points and needed a kill to wake up the audience. Having said all this, nothing compares to the ending in which Pennywise is defeated through the power of... name calling? How does a group of adults facing off against an infinitely powerful "eater of worlds" pale in comparison to their younger selves. Those kids beat the clown senseless with a bat! I have nothing else to say. This movie has forgotten the face of its father... |
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Prospect
This is a feature-length adaptation of a short film of the same name. I had a hard time staying invested in this film that centers on a young woman (Cee) and her father who are mining for gems on an alien moon. The process is confusing and looks like they are performing surgery on living organisms growing out of the ground. Upon encountering another miner names Ezra, played by Pedro Pascal, Cee reluctantly joins Ezra in an effort to find transport off of the moon. As with many indie sci-fi films, this film is stylistic but doesn't do much to expand upon the narrative featured in the short film. The cinematography and soundtrack for this film shine. I would only recommend this film to fans of the sci-fi genre.
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The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot
From the title, I expected this film to have a much lighter tone akin to something like Bubba Ho-tep This film follows Calvin, played excellently by Sam Elliott, a man who is rumored to have personally killed Hitler, claiming that the widely known death of Hitler was actually that of a double. Calvin is hired to find and kill Bigfoot, a creature believed to be infecting people. What follows is a surprisingly serious account of Calvin's earlier life with several flashbacks as well as an awkwardly touching showdown with the Bigfoot. Having sworn off killing, Calvin is conflicted with the notion of actually pulling the trigger which leads to a silly fist-fight between an old man and a laughable Bigfoot. While I don't know what to think about this film... I can't recommend it. For a more entertaining film about an old man facing off against a creature, check out Night of the Wolf (previously titled as Late Phases). Just picture a blind veteran with a particular set of skills tasked with facing off against a creature terrorizing his retirement community! |
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Man of Steel
I decided to revisit this film after someone online mentioned it. I really enjoy the first 1/3 of the film where Clark Kent is a drifter and I almost wish the film was more about that with flashbacks to his childhood. Henry Cavill and Michael Shannon do an excellent job in an otherwise forgettable film. Not much else to say about this one.
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Color Out of Space
This was very much a "style over substance" sort of film. Nicholas Cage is doing the same crazy dance he's become known for, especially in recent films like Mandy. As a horror fan, the body horror in film made it worth the $.99 rental fee. However, this film is just shy of 2 hours long and I think it could have been shaved down to a 90-minute feature without losing much. Maybe just cut the scene where Nicholas Cage randomly screams in a fit of rage while sitting in his car? For fans of sci-fi or body horror films check out this film as well as others like Slither and The Thing. |
 | Schitt's Creek: Seasons 1-5 This excellent show has been a bit of a binge for my wife and me this month. The show follows the Rose family, an affluent family who suddenly lose their entire fortune save for the small town of Schitt's Creek which was previously purchased as a joke. The first season or two really embraces the fish-out-of-water theme with later seasons showing how the various family members have embraced their new stations in life. The characters are all very entertaining in different ways. I can't recommend this show enough! |
 | Fargo: Seasons 1-3 This show is excellent! The first season had a very similar tone to that of the feature film Fargo with an excellent villain portrayed by Billy Bob Thornton. While Season 1 was my wife's favorite, I really enjoyed Season 2. The second season was a much grander spectacle with a larger cast and interconnected story arcs. My only complaint about this season was the weird UFO element included in what is reportedly based on true events. In my opinion, season 3 was the weakest despite it's strong cast that includes Ewan McGregor (portraying twin brothers) and Mary Elizabeth Winstead. The most intriguing element of this show is how all 3 seasons share common threads. I won't spoil how these seasons are connected but just knowing that there are connections makes it enjoyable to try and deduce just HOW they storylines tie together. I highly recommend this show! |
 | Kim's Convenience: Season 1-3 This show represents one of the few times that Netflix's recommendations were actually useful! I cannot get enough of this show and its lovable cast of characters. The show centers on the Kim family and their family-run convenience store. At times, the show can be predictable but the performances of the cast make it so entertaining. The banter between the mother and father is so good and I dare anyone to not fall in love with this show after a few episodes. This one is a high recommendation as well! |
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 | Aliens Omnibus - Volume 2 Genocide - This story was strange! With the last book ending with the future of Earth unclear, this story opens with humankind resuming life on Earth in a futuristic society where a company is testing out a new drug called "Xenozip." This drug is a synthesized form of the black "goo" introduced cinematically in the film Prometheus and referred to frequently throughout the comics as "Royal Jelly." This substance is produced by the Queen alien and is, understandably, very hard to obtain. This story focuses on a team sent to the alien home world with the intent to capture the queen. When they arrive, they discover a war raging on between two xenomorph sub-species (one black and one red). The team ends up suffering several casualties before escaping without the queen. Harvest - I really enjoyed this story! It focuses on a xenomorph droid designed by humans and trained to mimic their behavior while maintaining the ability to communicate and interact with humans while following commands provided by them. The idea behind this droid is supported by research concerning synthetic ants that successfully infiltrate colonies. This xeno-droid is not well received by drones within the hive it infiltrates; however, this droid whips out an organic laser canon and wastes a bunch of drones! I would love to see something like this in the cinematic universe! Colonial Marines - I think this was the longest story in either of the first two volumes and, honestly, the toughest to get through. A few memorable moments include aquatic xenomorphs with whale tales, a giant android that sweats an acid neutralizing enzyme before destroying an entire corridor full of xenomorphs; the inclusion of a character named Carmen Vasquez, the sister to Jenette Vasquez from the film Aliens; and, the inclusion of a humanoid "bug-men" race of soldiers who openly pray to someone they call "father." We discover who this "father" is in the end; however, this person's true identity is not mentioned until volume 3 so I'm not sure why Colonial Marines was included in Volume 2 as a precursor to a story (Rogue) that was originally published almost 20 years earlier. |
 | American Gods - Volume 1: Shadows
I read this book after watching a few episodes of the television adaptation. I have enjoyed Neil Gaiman's The Sandman but think I may end up liking American Gods a bit more. This graphic novel series centers on an ex-con named Shadow Moon who discovers that America is home to a number of old gods (e.g. Odin) who are being threatened by new gods (e.g. technology and media personified). There were some shocking events within this first book that hooked me. I'm invested in the world of American Gods and can't wait to read more! |
 | The Boys Omnibus: Volume 5 This volume was a little tough to get through as it focused heavily on corporate corruption and military events that are of little interest to me. Most of this volume centers on Billy Butcher's account of events from his past and I did enjoy seeing the military's horribly failed early attempts to bolster their forces with super heroes and a super fetus breaking Butcher's fingers while shooting lasers from its eyes. I think this volume was better than Volume 4 but still a bit underwhelming. Hoping that the series ends on a high note with Volume 6. |
 | The Boys Omnibus: Volume 6 This volume was incredible. This book features some very exciting surprises that help to explain or reveal elements of the story that have been present or hinted at since the very first issue. I wish I could say more about the events within this book but I don't want to risk spoiling anything for the 1 person that may decided to start reading The Boys. I left this series truly caring about the characters, mourning the loss of some but ultimately feeling very satisfied with the conclusion. It is as if Garth Ennis & Co. had a running list of elements never before revealed and seamlessly tied up all loose ends before the final page. The last few frames of this story are incredibly touching and left me feeling a little choked up. For all of this series' high and low points, I definitely think there is some fat that could have been trimmed. However, this volume provides an excellent payoff for anyone who invests the time in reading the series in its entirety. Truly the greatest graphic novel I've read to date. |
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