moonage-moth

[moonage-moth]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutant Mayhem

Man, I just love TMNT! I've liked just about every movie of them, played lots of their games on the SNES and PS2, I even like the weird live action movies! I had heard good things about Mutant Mayhem, but it was even better than I expcted!

I think this was the first time the brothers felt like real teenagers for me. Not that it was bad or wrong before, just different interpretations, but... God, they acted just like I did when I was their age. Dorky, throwing references everywhere, trying to be cool, you know, teenagers.

I really liked the plot of them trying to fit in and be liked! Being really shy and really nerdy growing up gave me this kind of feeling too, so it was easy for me to connect. Seeing how each of their personalities expressed this was very interesting too.

It was also cool seeing how they grew into the personalities we know them for. Leo getting better at being a leader, Raph using his rage when it's right, Don coming up with smart plans and Mike just being cool and improvising (he's my favorite, in case that's not clear lol.)

The animation was very cool too! So many amazing fights and moving around, everything felt very fluid! It surprised me a bit how everything felt dirty. From the humans designs to the kinda gross mutants, it was refreshing seeing an animated movie where things aren't all pretty and perfect, you know?

By the end, what really shines, as always with TMNT, is the relationship between the brothers and their friends and family. The moment when people helped Splinter in the end made me tear up, and that alone is worth the movie for me. A must watch for TMNT fans!!

#tmnt #tmnt mutant mayhem #teenage mutant ninja turtles #teenage mutant ninja turtles mutant mayhem #movies

[moonage-moth]

Talk To Me

Man, it's always nice watching a good horror movie! I had watched the trailer for Talk To Me earlier this year but hadn't seen anything else, so watching it blind was a really good experience!

Let's get it out of the way from the start. Talk To Me is a movie about drugs. I'd be surprised if people didn't understand this. The way the hand is a party thing, how people feel good when they use it, how there are ruler, kids are not supposed to use it... It's very clear and it's great!

I gotta say, there weren't that many creepy or scary scenes though. There definitely were some VERY uncomfortable ones, especially when it comes to gore and violence. The ghosts were very good looking, but I think I'm jaded to it already.

It was very nice seeing a trans character on screen! I love when queer character are simply there being themselves and their characters aren't all about being queer, you know? Having them being mean and flawed is good too since, you know, we are people just like everybody else.

But if there's a performance I have to highlight is Mia's. Her character was great from the start, you could easily see how she was lonely and insecure, but found confidence and belonging in the hand. Again, an analogy for drugs and how people gravitate towards them when they can't find comfort in their lives.

The movie was GREAT, it had some very hard to watch scenes, everyone and the ending was chilling. Possession movies are some of my favorites when it comes to horror and this one did everything perfectly!

#talk to me #movies #horror

[moonage-moth]

Marrowbone

So, this one was on my watchlist for months. I've never heard of it before, but the cast surprised me enough to guarantee a watch. It was good, although a bit slow at moments, but enjoyable enough to keep me thinking about it!

I didn't know what to expect going in Marrowbone. I knew it was horror, had some famous actors and that's it. It started quite wholesome but eerie with the new beginnings, the mother's death and Annie's friendship, but everything changes after the time skip.

What shone the most, in my opinion, was the mystery on what was really happening. Was the father actually dead? Is he a ghost? What's up with the mirrors? Will the little kid ruin everything just like every other horror movie?

The surprise by the end when everything was revealed wasn't mind blowing, but still had a very strong impact. Things made much more sense and I even felt bad for the jerk lawyer. He had it coming, but it was still a bad ending for him.

Anya Tayler Joy's character surprised me a bit. I can't really see anyone wanting to stay in a house with so much trauma and death, but it was nice that she helped Jack and respected his "siblings" will to live.

I think Marrowbone was a story about human evil and how it, unfortunately, almost never leaves us. There is evil out there and only love can help us heal. At least that's what the message I got from it.

#marrowbone #movies

[moonage-moth]

Oppenheimer

Well, I thought Oppenheimer would be an interesting movie, but I didn't expect to feel so many things. I think I must say that this must be my first opinion that is a bit nsfw. Not really explicit, but there's a bit of a commentary about sexual things, so be warned.

The movie is good! It's not as complicated as people are saying online, the different events never feel convoluted and the timeline is well explained by the end. It's definitely an interesting view of an important time on human history, but... a bit too american at times.

So, let's get the sexual part out of the way already. When Florence Pugh made Cillian Murphy read a book while they had sex, something awakened in me. Not very proud to say it, but it happened. Their relationship was toxic and had a tragic ending, which I didn't know actually happened in real life.

Another moment that actually got to me was when they were building the actual bomb. I don't quite know how to explain, but I got really sad. I'm a crybaby, so I cry for almost anything, but a bomb being built... That was a first, I must admit.

The talk about communism also surprised me. I was unaware of this part of Oppenheimer's story, so it was refreshing seeing the government being portrayed as bad for hunting communists in America. Still not a good portrayal, I think, but better than expected.

The acting was great, the effects and sound very surprising! The main problem for me was the bad taste it left me with when the movie ended on a "am i the bad guy? the good guy? only time will tell..." note. Even it being a good story and very entertaining movie, I can't empathize with Oppenheimer.

#oppenheimer #movies

[moonage-moth]

Gravity Circuit

Man, I really love going through Steam and finding cool indie games! Gravity Circuit is clearly inspired by Mega Man X and MegaMan Zero/ZX, but gives it it's own spin and charm!

I think the main difference is how much this game relies on melee combat! You don't shoot at all, having to get close to enemies to defeat them. There also is a grappling hook which you can use to move around or grab defeated enemies to throw around!

I won't lie, it was a bit strange at the start, especially if you've played lots of Mega Man games before like me. But after one or two stages it feels quite natural! It was nice that all levels felt different from each other too, each having scenarios and mechanics of their own.

Having secrets was a big plus for me too. Platformer games, even fast ones like this, really shine on level design, so searching for lost bots and secret upgrades made the game quite replayable.

Another thing I quite liked was the home base. It felt like the one from MegaMan Zero for me, having bots all around which you could meet after rescuing them! They even made dog bots you could pet! Gravity Circuit is a gold mine for completionists, that I can say.

Being able to customize your skills, both active and passive, was the cherry on top for me. You can play the game in various different ways, which can make it easier or harder if you want to. I really recommend to people who enjoy Mega Man like games, it's really fun!

#gravity circuit #games #mega man #megaman

[moonage-moth]

Yumi and the Nightmare Painter

I just finished this book and I have to say I'm on the floor. I always think I'm used to Sanderson's endings, but they get me every single time. By the end of his books I'm always jumping with excitement or drowing in tears. With Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, it's definitely the latter.

So, let's start with the "bad" part. This story didn't captivate me at first, maybe because I've watched way too many anime for a lifetime. Body changing is somehow common in anime, so it took me a little bit to have interest in the characters and their lives.

The setting though, it was great. I'm kinda biased with Sanderson's worlds, they always seem charming, dangerous or unbelievably magical. This one was all of them, and it helped that the characters were feeling out of place, helping me know the place better.

It's somehow interesting that I saw myself in both protagonists. The way Nikaro lost the love for his passion really ressonated with me, but seeing Yumi feel constrained in her duties, in how she had to be, it really pulled some heartstrings in me. I cried a lot towards the end of the book.

The action was really great too! Not being able to fight the nightmares physically was scary at moments, but Yumi standing up for herself (or, maybe, Painter standing up in her place) was electrifying too! Design, especially, was a joy to read, I really wish we see more of her in Stormlight 5!

I think this is the first love story I really like from Sanderson. I felt really connected to the characters and cheering for them during the carnival. It was even better with all the references to the cosmere. A must read for me!

#yumi and the nightmare painter #cosmere #brandon sanderson #books

[moonage-moth]

Jurassic Park

So, another hole in my "movie watching carreer." I remember seeing a bit of Jurassic Park on TV when I was a kid, but it felt so scary back then. Seeing it today, I can still see how it'd be scary, but it was actually a very fun watch!

You can't bet against James Cameron, can you? His movies are always so complete with every thread tied up in a satisfactory way. Everything in this movie was set up from the start and resolved by the end with lots of fun in the way!

I think that he movie's theme, though, was about human greed. Greed from the park's owner, from his son, from the lawyer. Things wouldn't end up the way they did if there wasn't so much greed around, you know?

It was also nice seeing the themes of wanting kids being so well followed too! The movie even surprised me a bit with the commentary about sexism, I didn't think it'd even touch the subject!

The dinosaurs and their behavior felt really good, surprisingly. This was in 1993, before Toy Story that doesn't hold up thaaaat well. Yeah, the dinosaurs don't look amazing during the day scenes, but in the rain and during the night, you could really believe they were real, especially in the 90s.

I can't not comment about Jeff Goldblum. I know, there are lots of memes that came out of this movie, but he really was "hey, i'm a cool rock star scientist" at the start and a "i'm a sexy hurt scientist" at the end. The movie was great and I'll definitely watch the sequels!

#jurassic park #jurassic park 1 #movies

[moonage-moth]

They Cloned Tyrone

Do you ever go watch a movie on a whim because you're bored and leave completely amazed? I chose They Cloned Tyrone simply because John Boyega stars in it, but this movie is simply incredible.

I only saw the short preview on Netflix before starting the movie and, at the start, I thought it'd be a bit like Get Out. I wasn't totally wrong, but this is also VERY different. The setting was very real, the analogies so clear, the looks and music so incredible.

The cast was amazing too! John Boyega delivered through all the movie, Jamie Foxx was funny in pratically every scene he was in and Teyonah Parris was simply perfect and full of personality! I couldn't believe she was actually using a wig by the end of the movie!

I can't express enough how much the music made this movie better though. There always was some soul, funky song playing at the right moments that got you in the right mood for the scene and they all fit so perfectly with the setting!

The way they mixed these three's personalities was great too. Fontaine was always going forward, YoYo thinking about what to do next and Slick giving them resources in who to go to. I really loved how YoYo was a bit nerdy and kept throwing references around!

The cloning was a bit of a surprise, but I really liked how Fontaine and Slick got some time to ponder about their lives. Like, man, has it all been a lie? It was nice they got this little breather. They Cloned Tyrone was greatt all the way through and you should definitely watch the credits scene!

#they cloned tyrone #movies

[moonage-moth]

Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning

I sometimes think why I don't watch more Mission Impossible movies. They're always a fun time and have great spectacles! Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning wasn't different!

I can't say I know much about this franchise. I think I only watched the one where Henry Cavill plays the villain, but I don't even remember it that much. Dead Reckoning was easy to follow though, you can grasp everything from context and still enjoy all of it.

The movie went to lots of places, which I think was pretty interesting in not making it boring. The airport part was interesting and scary with the bomb. The chase in Venice was fun to look at with some very funny visual gags. The reveals during the night club finally made everything come together. The train sequence though... You can't make train fights boring, specially if you fight on top of it!

Grace was a very interesting character too and, if I'm not mistaken, a nice introduction to the series. I think Ilsa dying would be more impactful if I had watched previous movies, but it was still shocking.

Something that really got my attention was the character Paris. She was wild, quiet and dangerous during the wholo movie, always making Ethan Hunt's mission more difficult! I didn't quite understand her at first, but, by the end, she was my favorite!

Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning was a really fun movie and I'll definitely watch the second part! Maybe I'll even watch the previous ones until then, who knows?

#mission impossible #mission impossible dead reckoning #dead reckoning #movies

[moonage-moth]

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

Man, I always get surprised by Ghibli movies! I know, I know, they're great, everyone is aware of this, but sometimes I ask myself why I haven't watched all of them yet. Nausicaä simply blew me away!

As always, these older movies and animations are quite slow at moments, but it didn't really bother me. There was so much to look and gawk at! I simply LOVED the world and the design of everything! It being a mix of past, future and present was great!

I think my admiration of this movie was exponentialized by my taste for insects! It's always great seeing designs taken from them! Another thing I also liked was how everything was so chunky and hefty! From the armors to planes and tanks, it felt like early JRPGs to me!!

I somehow wished we could have spent more time in this world though. There seemed to be so much to explore, so many cultures, events, places to visit... Maybe I'll read the manga sometime, but the mystery of the unknown is cool too.

It was also great there being so many prominent female characters! From Nausicaä to Kushana and Obaba, they were all strong and important in different ways! Yupa was cool too, but is was interesting that he only shone by the end, even with all the talk throughout the movie.

I left the movie wondering how all the world of Nausicaä works, where did the technology came from and wanting to see more of it. The magic of the insects and the mysteries of the underworld trees caught my attention so much! I really recommend this movie!!

#nausicaa #nausicaä #nausicaa of the valley of the wind #movies #anime

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Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade

I think that I've never been so mistaken about something before. I've always seen pictures and gifs on Jin-Roh on the internet, they looked cool, violent and somehow futuristic. Man, I was wrong. This is a much more personal and emotional ride than whatever I was expecting.

The movie at least starts showing what it is: a post second world war Japan, rebuilding itself and trying to deal with the civil unrest of the country. There's violence, yes, but it's not the focus or big part of the run time.

The movie spends quite some time with who, at first, I thought was the protagonist, for her to die quite brutally. Only then we meet Fuse, the main character. I think I can say this as a compliment when he remembered me of Guts at times, from Berserk, my favorite manga.

His journey through guilt, grief, lack of identity... It was quite brutal. I think this also parallels well the japanese society of that time. Destroyed by the war, a new government, their own identity as a people shaken. And, even then, they became so economically strong, as Fuse was strong with his killing.

Having his best friend be the main antagonist, and it only showing at the last parts of the movie, was really good! Again, another thing that made me think of Berserk. Having both Fuse and Kei play each other without knowing was a surprise to me! I didn't expect the bitter ending, but I think it matched well with the mood of the movie.

I really enjoyed Jin-Roh, although I'm kinda glad it took me this long to watch it. Knowing a bit more about Japan's history and also having dealth with a identity crisis made me appreciate this movie more. It's a really good slow burn!

#jin roh #jin-roh #jin roh the wolf brigade #anime #movies

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Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3

A bit late, but I just watched this! As I've said before, Marvel movies lost their shine for me last year, and I think this showed when I watched Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3. The movie was fun at moments, but there wasn't much beyond that.

Some say the best parts of these movies are the characters and their time together. Unfortunately, this is what I cared the least this time. All the moments where Nebula, Drax and Mantis were together goofing around just... fell flat for me. I really didn't care for their characters, they didn't seem to have anything in their arcs.

The music too, a staple of GotG movies, didn't do much for me. I think there were two songs that felt right, but the rest... They felt like "oh, there's a song starting, guess this is an action sequence." I think if there were more of an original soundtrack it'd make the songs stand out more!

But what really got me was Rocket's story arc. Him having two found familis really was what really made the current group stick together. Nebula getting emotional when he came back hit me harder than I expected too!

The action scenes were very fun and well animated! There weren't any moments where I felt an effect was bad or out of place. What really felt shallow to me was the villain though. There never was a contrapoint to his ideals, so the High Evolutionary felt more like a plot tool to Rocket's past than a real enemy to the Guardians.

By the end, I had fun! I'm glad Peter and Gamora didn't get together by the end, but the group going separate ways felt a bit forced. Adam Warlock felt a bit random too, although I know his parts were just a setup and introduction for the future. It's worth a watch if you have some free time!

#gotg 3 #gotg #guardians of the galaxy 3 #guardians of the galaxy volume 3 #movies

[moonage-moth]

Friends of Mineral Town (True Love Edition!)

Well, here's a replay of a game from my childhood! I've always loved Harvest Moon and Story of Season games, but FoMT has a special place in my heart! It was the first game I had all for myself, but this time I modded it to a version where I can be a lesbian! :D

It was both refreshing and surprising coming back to this game! There are lots of farming games nowadays, Stardew Valley being the most famous (and best one, in my opinion), but most are... lacking in one way or another. Friends of Mineral Town though, it's great in its simplicity!

There isn't a great variety of animals os crops to grow, the bachelorettes are quite stereotypical, but there's a charm for everything. The art style helps it too, I think, but what shines the most in this game is its balance between a managing game and a life simulating one.

It's incredible how everything, from the farming, mining, upgrading and dating is related. If you want to do one of them you have to achieve things in another one (always with an "easy route" if you don't know much about the game). The game makes you experience all of it!

Another thing that I like A LOT in older Harvest Moon games is the amount of secrets in it. You can always find another secret spot, item, mini game, or tool to make your game easier! I played it with a guide (from 2007!!) so it was a bit easier.

What made it more interesting yet was the True Love Edition mod I used! It swaps the player sprite and fixes some dialogues so you can be a girl and date other women! I always went for Popuri (the easiest one) when I was a kid, but this time I married Ann and it was delightful! I hope I make a farming/life sim game in the future, I love the genre so much!!

#harvest moon #story of seasons #friends of mineral town #true love edition #gba #games

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The Last Crusade

And here's the end to the first Indiana Jones movies! They were all fun, and The Last Crusade was really good! The tone was definitely closer to Raiders of the Lost Ark than to Temple of Doom, which I quite liked!

Having Indy's father as a partner in this movie was really interesting! He's always been so strong and imposing, so having someone to counter that made his character fresh and intersting to watch! Their dynamic was really good all throughout the movie!

Having a flashback to Indy's start as a teenager was interesting too. I never guessed where he got his whip and hat, but it was fun seeing their origins. The tease of Sean Connery being Indy's dad was also nice!

One thing that I found really interesting was seeing tips to the end right at the start! There were paintings showing a character walking on air and such, so I was waiting for the moment that would happen! A well constructed movie, I have to say.

Another thing that was good was seeing nazis as villains again! At times I thought they would be a bit soft on them, but they were not! No mercy for nazis, as it should be, even to the romantic interest of the movie. It surprised me they went all the way and showed even Hitler though.

Having the crusader by the end was a bit weird, I must say. Not enough to take me out of the movie, but definitely not something I was expecting. Overall, these first three movies were all fun and interesting watches, I truly recommend them!

#indiana jones #the last crusade #indiana jones and the last crusade #movies

[moonage-moth]

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury Season 2

Well, there goes my first Gundam anime! With this second season I can finally say I've watched Gundam at some form and I really liked it! The ending somehow surprised me, but it left me with a nice and warm feeling!

I had some high expectations after the first season, I have to admit. They were almost all met, but I think this second one was really strong on its secondary characters and emotional arcs! The animation was great too, with some really beautiful visuals!

Suletta's arc was really sad at moments, which I think was necessary. If she was this happy girl all the time it'd get boring eventually. It was nice seeing her without Miorine around, even though I wanted them to get together all the time!

What really surprised me was Guel's arc! The way his character developed and the situations he went through really got to me, even making me think he'd become the main character at times! Elan got close to this too, but I think his situation could be a stand alone anime on its own!

The only thing that bummed me a bit were the ending episodes. There was SO MUCH to do and finish but it ended up being rushed. Having Guel, Elan, Miorine, Suletta, Prospera and everything else resolve in three or four episodes removed a bit of the depth the show had until them.

But, as I said before, I left this show very happy! Maybe it'd be better with some extra episodes, but the messages about love, standing your ground and disabled people were really strong and important! I actually cried when, by the end, I saw a ring on Suletta's finger! I'm so happy for them!

#gundam #witch from mercury #suletta #miorine #anime

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Jigokuraku

I've already read the manga of Jigokuraku, so it'll be kinda hard to talk about the anime without spoilers. Anyway, I've seen the anime getting some backlash and I think it's a bit unfair, so let's comment about it!

I think Hell's Paradise had bad luck from the start. The manga is good but nothing special, but it was announced by MAPPA, the studio behind Demon Slayer and Chainsaw Man. High expectations already, but... It was also made by a former assistant of Tatsuki Fujimoto, the author of Chainsaw Man. People were really looking forward to this!

I think the manga shone the most when it first released. Jump still didn't have many gore titles, so the high amounts of violence, sometimes even resembling horror manga. Otherwise, it has a traditional shonem story that isn't that special!

The characters are fun and diverse, although stereotypical at times, and it tries to show lots of different backgrounds and personalities. It surprised me this last episode when I cried with Senta's death though. The emotional moments impact you more than you expect!

At least the action scenes are great! Although not as good as Demon Slayer, Shingeki no Kyojin or Chainsaw Man, they are really fun and innovative (especially by the end). The chinese (I think) influences are refreshing too! Seeing things that aren't purely japanese in anime is always fun!

By the end, I think this first season of Jigokuraku is a fine introduction to the story! The message of discovering more about yourself by meeting different people is touching at moments and the misteries makes you want to watch more!

#jigokuraku #hell's paradise #anime

[moonage-moth]

The Temple of Doom

And the Indiana Jones "marathon" continues! This one was very fun too, maybe a bit too long on some scenes, a bit stereotypical on others, but an enjoyable watch nonetheless!

I think the biggest differente between Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Temple of Doom is the woman character in the movie. In this one Willie is simply... there. She doesn't do much more than help Indy, but she's the usual "I like beautiful things, money and comfort!" girl from old movies, which disappointed me.

Shorty, on the other hand, was really fun. He also is a bit stereotypical, but the way he mimics Indy and solves his own problems was very interesting. Havind Indy with partners to contrast with his personality and actions makes the movie very funny at moments!

The stakes in this one seemed higher too. In the first movie, things only got serious by the end, but in this one the supernatural started way earlier and at a way more dangerous place.The settings and props were all great!

Now, to the worst part. Both chinese and indian people were a linving stereotype in this movie. I understand, it was another time, but still... It was hard no to think "wow, no one thought this was a bit strange at the time?" Especially the indians, only serving food made to look weird and creepy or being depicted as very poor and uneducated.

By the end, it was a good movie. Indy still has a fun and strong personality with great action scenes. The mine cart riding by the end was a bit too long to my liking, it seemed like the final act lasted more than it should have. Still worth a watch in my opinion!

#indiana jones #temple of doom #indiana jones and the temple of doom #movies