Film and 2022

 I find myself in a very strange place in regards to film in this year of our lordt, 2022. I used to frequent the cinema, constantly keeping up to date with next big thing or little gems here or there. That just isn't the case anymore. I love film and I'm lucky to find myself in a place where it's a hobby, but I suppose that strict discipline no longer pushes me to be absorbed in the next piece of some cinema big shot's latest opus. Regardless, someone encouraged me to also do a write up of film, not just video games, asking why I didn't. Honestly, in last couple of years with film my relationship has felt sordid. I often wasn't invited amongst the crowd of consistent filmies nor did I feel as if I could invite my less involved friends to that of the more obscure. It's not that I had to watch films with people but truly, I'm in a point of my life where I just want to. I enjoy seeing their smile, picking at their thoughts after. I think my fondest memories of the cinema this year have been shared! So maybe there will be a theme with this small list. I only want to touch on five. They are five films amongst the very small amount of films I've seen this year that struck a chord with me. There's plenty more that I wanted to watch but that kind of gluttonous viewing experience just isn't in my cards anymore. Maybe one day I'll got back to the buffet table, but for now I'll take the time to appreciate this finer, more intimate meal.

Barbarian - Zach Cregger

Barbarian was one of the last of a series of horror films I watched in October due to it being the Halloween season and all that. It was a fun series of viewings because my friend Zen was looking to expand his filmic side. My sister, Dori, was also looking to just watch horror films in general. It was a strong list that included the likes of Alien, Aliens, Halloween, Cabin in the Woods, The Thing, all V/H/S films, amongst others. It was fun in hindsight to view all those because it kind of led up to this point. This was a newer horror film and what could it deliver I had wondered? I started hearing whispers on social media as well as reviews coming in citing it as one of the most fun and scary films of the year. The trailer did an incredible job hiding everything. I absolutely needed to see this.

What begins as an AirBnB mix up slowly turns feral, taking turns that I wasn't expecting. It makes use of the allure presented to us by the names used in this picture (Bill Skarsgard, post IT, carrying a sort of weirdness about him; Justin Long, placed with a pure wacky energy). I loved this film as a capper for the month of October because everyone who was attending filmic viewings at my house hadn't really seen it (Minus Max). The majority of us were just strapped in for a ride and when the revelation hit halfway through we were all glued to the screen. Just an absolute blast of a horror film.

RRR - S.S. Rajamouli

I had no idea what to expect heading into RRR. I just knew that it was apparently nutso and that it was one of the best films of the year according to a lot people. To me, if I had to pick a pinnacle of a screening that was representative of the friendship I developed watching films in the past year it would be the screening of RRR. Much like the protagonists of this Malywood picture I felt as if I had found kindred spirits; brothers in arms that look out for each other during times of strife (or strive hehe). Genuinely, Jacksonville Savage Base has been kind to me and this film, as a representation of me doing screenings again, will stand tall in the history of landmarks found in what I hope to be a lasting friendship with these guys. Indian cinema stays winning. The most fun viewing of the year.

Decision to Leave - Park Chan-wook

The most romantic film of the year also contains the most memorable ending of all the films I've seen this year. It's also romantic in the strangest way as it is a  police procedural with a lot of it being in the head of our detective, Hae-Joon. The feelings in this crime thriller are evocative of In the Mood for Love which recently was ranked the highest amongst Wong Kar-Wai's oeuvre in the 2022 Sight & Sound poll among directors. That's not surprising. This is also Park Chan-wook's best film since Oldboy. The twists and turns in it's narrative are so unreasonable yet so coated in the patina of love that you can't help but feel this is just how deep our protags are in. 

This is also already a really strong year of acting performances so it's crazy to think that Tang Wei's performance as Seo-rae stands out. The last lines of the film have stuck with me since the moment I watched those credits roll and it owes a lot to her gripping control of my emotions. Is it a date movie? I'm not sure about that, but it's a testament to love.

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery - Rian Johnson

I could say the same thing about the ending to Glass Onion as I did with Decision to Leave. The final shot of Glass Onion is easily the best among all films I've seen this year. Rian Johnson stays winning again with his deft ability to reframe a character that we've come to know at the start of the film to something completely different in the end. So many little things make this film such a blast to watch. I'm sad I couldn't drag more people to the theater to catch this on the big screen but it's limited run was how the cookie crumbled. With this film I'm reminded of a great line in Roger Ebert's The Great Movies book and that's (I'm paraphrasing here) "Great films will ask you a question the first time you watch it then answer it the second time." It's easily the film that will provoke it's viewer to go in for an immediate second viewing. The sheer tragedy of catching it late on the last night only to wait until the Netflix release a couple of weeks later is a true crime. It is forgiven though, because the movie is just too damn good.

Also, I don't know how the nominations will shape up come awards season but, like Tang Wei, Janelle Monae absolutely devours any scene she's in. An incredible performance.

Everything Everywhere All at Once - Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan

It's weird to me that this feels like an out-of-left-field masterpiece. After all the Daniels have created some really memorable pieces of media the past couple of years. I suppose that comes with the territory of a film that actually lives up to the title. Somehow, someway this film is the embodiment of the overwhelming burden of everyday life. It perfectly captures the assault of feeling as if you must be doing everything everywhere all at once. The performances here are so intimate in capturing a true immigrant tale as well as a portrayal of queer grief. My poor sister, I could tell she felt moments of this film within every fiber of her body. From top to bottom the decisions here are impeccable and it left me with a film that I found to be the best of the year and it's not even close. All the actors and people behind the camera deserve every bit of praise that has come and is coming their way. One of the best films of the past decade and a film I can only describe as almost perfect.

Conclusion

I'm lucky to be here. I'm lucky to be at this very moment, at this very point in time. To the friends that have invigorated my love of films thank you so much. I hope you feel what I feel and if not to that level I hope it's at least enjoyable. I cannot wait to share more new experiences with you, both in terms of introducing you to what I love as well as new films along the way. Genuinely you've revived something in me I long thought dead. Thank you.

You can find more film content on Letterboxd, Twitter, and Instagram.

Clash of Kings, Queens, and Everything-In-Betweens

 I feel as if it's been a hectic year for most. I also feel every year is hectic for most. However, in the midst of all the hullabaloo and nonsense too I can say for the first time in a long time I feel as if I've been a part of something that I can look back at that was creative, fulfilling, and bright. The Charity Clash was something I threw out as a kind of ha-ha to a couple of friends that some part of me fully expected to get shot down. I know, I know, woe is me, but it's such a distinct place for me to be in that shows a genuine image of a me at the beginning of the year to the person I am at the end. I wanted to take the time to acknowledge a couple of goons who have been a part of all this in some shape or form because I find it important to let them and other people know how this seemingly little thing feels so big to me.

The First Time Our Swords Touched Tips

The first game we played was decided on was a random spin of the wheel. The wheel of fate happened to land on a little multiplayer platform builder called Ultimate  Chicken Horse. This was exciting for me because 1. I love Ultimate Chicken Horse, and 2. I get to share to other goons the joy that is Ultimate Chicken Horse. As it neared I realized something that this event would ultimately (haha) become for me: a way to showcase my amazing friends. This was especially important to me because I ended up inviting someone who made a lasting impact on me in the tail end of last year. That's Travis or Shrimpy Nobashi. I still constantly tell the story of how I remember we met. It brought to me this unbridled joy that showed how, some way, and in an immediate fashion I was wholly accepted. In fact, a lot of my year has been defined by actually finding a group of friends that embrace a lot of the quirks and loves I have while also sharing what they've taken to. I feel bad that we live kinda far away in what feels like the biggest city in the world because I want to hang out with you more. You made the first Charity Clash so exciting and thrilling while somehow having this cool demeanor about it. The match was so close and thrilling! I really hope you enjoyed it and I think most of all I want to play a board game with you soon. I cannot understate how your welcoming energy made me feel as I tried to get involved with the FGC.

Oh, this was also, for me, the event that raised the most money. I remember crying after it was done thinking wow... I feel validated... in a decade of creative beatdowns and no-gos that shred of hope within me stood up. It was an absolute flood of emotion. I feel as if I owe so much this year to this moment and to everyone who did donate thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

Team: Shrimpy Nobashi, Praujekt

Boomer Bingo

The next game played would be the first of the chosen games and pxlhearts chose one of their classics: 7 Days to Die. Now we were in the throes of it. How would our follow up fare? Thank goodness that creative Asher was now awake and wanted to make sure this was a great follow up to an already great first outing. I shelled out for a shiny jpeg made by snkagawa and started to recruit a team that I thought would bring the ha-has. This was also rad in the sense that it would be the first time Stef, Jess, and I talked about playing a game creatively. There wasn't a true competitive mode in 7 Days to Die so how would we go about it? My long time friend in the Bot Lane Kvjams suggested to me that we take a competitive Minecraft approach and play 7 Days to Die Bingo. I brought it to the table and we immediately got to coming up with goals which was one of the funnest parts to be honest.

To Mark: I need you to know that you introducing me to Vtubers and actively engaging in the here or there of anime makes my day every time. During this clash I figured I'd bring you on as a cooler methodical head and you didn't disappoint. Your team kill during this stream might be the hypest moment of all the clashes and I look back on that highlight periodically.

To Phil: My roommate of 4 years. My friend for over a decade. I'm glad that we've been friends for this long. You never cease to make me laugh. How you come up with this many jokes is so unhinged. I'm glad we can still talk cooking, romance anime, and video games even if we're not living together anymore.

I tasted defeat this event but the next would take this clash to a whole new place.

Team: Tinfoil, Hentaiface, Praujekt

Kings, Queens, and Everything-In-Betweens Gambit

This is the game where I would say we started to test each other's boundaries. I brought Chess to the table. The main reason I wanted Chess was to challenge them in a game that would test both our abilities to learn. I'm cringe and enjoy learning things. The unfortunate truth is the nature of our careers and how it's impossible to provide even a little in terms of time for that. I still feel a certain anxiety hoping they had fun regardless. I enjoyed so much of how much I learned! Jmayday was such an excellent teacher. You really opened my eyes to what Chess could be. Also, shoutouts to some of my homies who taught me Chess in the North Carolina mountains during a bachelor party. It really was a full blown anime arc.

Even though he couldn't be there the entire time I'm so glad that BigNonsense was enthused enough to participate in this event. You're truly one of my best friends and I'm so glad to have you in my life. You've acted as an encouraging soundboard throughout all of charity clash and I really hope I can have you in more going down the line. You cannot comprehend how I feel to have your support.

I also look back fondly at this event because it would be the first of these Clashes that I would do with my sister, I know she's heard this probably a trillion times but you've been my longest tenured friend and I'm glad we make people jealous with how close we are as siblings. This was huge for me because you also got to partake in helped local children's hospitals to which you were the primary reason I did those charities. I really couldn't ask for a better sister nor could I fathom having any other. I'm glad you wanted to partake in this one.

Finally Zen. There's so much I wanna say about you but that could occupy a whole entire other blog post. Only within the context of this Charity Clash I can say I was insanely hyped that you were interested in being a part of my Chess squad. Your fighting game knowledge still pushes me and excites me on a day to day basis, which makes it an exciting fit for Chess. I still get hyped thinking about that stand off you had with Jess which was the longest game without a piece taken. You've been a truly amazing friend this year and I'm so glad you're also a part of Charity Clash lore now.

Team: Zenosuke, BigNonsense, Doriosaur

Halo Halo

Oof, in many ways Halo was rocky to say the least from the start. Originally intended to be Halo: Infinite, we found the game so poorly optimized that it was impossible for my wimpy computer to play it on stream. Instead we opted into playing Halo:Reach. The intent here was that I wanted a First Person Shooter and, similar to Chess, I wanted to learn the ins and outs. As we neared the date neither team really had time to practice. I remember only having one day. While my intent was there I think I could have approached prep and consideration better for this one. Regardless it was very successful charity wise, still fun, and I think tested my friendship with pxlhearts more that ultimately resulted in a healthy step forward even if it didn't seem like it at the time.

My team for this event was assembled with some of my favorite local goons. I brought on not only Phil again, but his brother Paul. Paul is one of the kindest souls I know and I'm glad both he and Jenni continue to invite me to things. I really look forward to what y'all do content wise going forward since the Food challenge is something I look forward to every year now. Of course there's KvJams, this time not only providing advice but actually playing. We've played so many games for so long. We're also just family and I'm so glad to have you as a brother.

Team: Hentaiface, Slam, KvJams

Improv Magic

In hindsight Witch It! was wild. For a time it seemed like we were going to have like 16 people playing it. Leading up to the event the number of people fluctuated and I was genuinely unsure how many people were going to be involved for both teams. In the end it still ended up being our game with the most participants and there were so many highlights from each member. What was fun for me was I had originally intended to keep the hunter roles locked. I realized this was a mistake and on stream changed the mindset for the better which provided wild results.

A big highlight was Toophunkey who surprised me with how good he was at hunting. I started putting him in more and he wowed me. He found some people in an insane fashion, it genuinely looked like he was cheating. Double-whammy with this pick, he's also one of the funniest goons I know. To this day he still is the purveyor of my most viewed clip on Twitch.

Of course we can't forget stackofbears, the speed run king. You make humor seem so... seamless. I'm always glad when we hang out because I can fully expect a good laugh. I'm very glad that we've done so much more streaming this past year. You had some wacky hiding spots in this clash and provided great sound bits during commentary.

We had a run back with sister unit, Phil, and Zachy poo. Specific shout out to my sister unit who showed up after a dental appointment talking with a lisp.

Team: Toophunkey, Stackofbears, Hentaiface, Praujekt, Doriosaur

Dessert

The last game of the year was Overcooked 2 and like a food critic I found myself reflecting on what we have done.

I have to reiterate this. pxlhearts effectively made my year infinitely better. I feel as if in many ways we grew as friends and creators. You both wow me every day and I'm so lucky to include y'all in my cadre of daily constituents. I hope we can keep this going as long as we can and here's to it continuing to change us for the better.

And, of course, Praujekt, Zachy poo. An absolute king. You're one of the goons who made me fascinated with learning games. Starting with DBD and continuing to have patience with various things, which is funny thinking of you. I have so many clips that I can look back on of our streams together and it's amazing what all of this has turned into. Thank you and here's to a constant parade of incredible jokes and content.

Team: Praujekt

Thank you to my friends who have tuned in to the magic that is the Charity Clash. Shout outs to my Discord homies. I cannot wait to see what the future has in store.

2021: My Favorite Games

#10: Tales of Arise

Boy, I Sure Wish These Bosses Weren't Ass

  Damn, Tales of Arise... While I had Tales of Berseria in my Top 10 of 2017, I will admit it was more of a cling to nostalgia. Tales of Arise would have my favorite characters since Vesperia and it would no longer feel as if all we were doing was traveling from set piece to set piece. It would also have characters that I would say, more so than ever before, felt completely different from one another in terms of play style and that there wasn't a single character I wouldn't use in any given moment depending on the circumstances. What prevents it from actually being the highest rated jrpg on my list (there are 2 of them) are the grievances I have with the boss battles. They're often too hard for no reason at specifically the tail end of the fights which have already been a slog up to that point due to the ridiculous life pools. This often drains the really great moments of any emotional resonance. The story is overall fantastic though and I hope that the good here can carry some momentum for the next Tales game.

#9: Resident Evil Village

I Actually Wanted to Throw Up, It Was So Scary

This game has some stunning highs. Everyone always talks about the House Beneviento moment and with good reason. It was an iconic showing of a return to form; a master class of building terror that stuck with you well after it's moments were history. Just as good is the fact that this is a book end for the complete tale of Ethan Winters. Thematically this game and Resident Evil 7 click. What initially ropes you in with a promise to return to it's horror survival roots becomes a careful and tragic tale of what it means to have a family. Everyone's definition of family is different and so many characters showcase the many different facets of being a part of one. Really what holds it back is that some of the segments are rather meh towards the tail end. Capcom hit their rhythm with this one though and I can't wait to get my scare pajamas on for the next one.

#8: Deathloop

You Just Missed Outer Wilds

Deathloop was SO FUN in the beginning. There was a unique sense of intrigue and the chemistry between the major voice actors was just a blast to  experience. On top of that the back stories of a number of the primary antagonists actually made me feel bad for them. The discovery of why anyone would want to continue the same day over and over again due to a particular kind of trauma they would never want to recreate in the real world had big mood energy. The way it tells this there-and-back again story would've have also had more impact if it weren't for two things: The method and overall story of Outer Wilds was just better and it came out a year ago. They are different games from a gameplay stand point so that's something to be had, but it's those small things that can keep a game from true greatness especially since I've already tasted it.

#7: Guilty Gear Strive

A Smelly Game

The promise of roll back netcode laid pungent in the air. How good could it REALLY be? How much of a difference could it REALLY have? The answer was a lot. Guilty Gear Strive would be the anchor that weighed the FGC with a new precedent. Roll back is a necessity. Tragically this standard was further bolstered with the pandemic fully ablaze. It felt like the only way to play fighting games with other people was to play online. Combine that with a new take on the Guilty Gear formula and the creative expression of the new Roman cancel, you've got yourself a fighting game. To be honest this game means a lot more to me due to the fact that it is the game that got me involved with the local FGC. Also my frustrations with the system have actually allowed me to grow as a learning individual which helps with all of the games I play going forward.

#6: Metroid Dread

I've Died at This Boss 50 Times, Yet I Persist

It's been a bajillion years since I played a sidescrolling Metroid game and to me it is still my preferred and best way to experience a Metroid game. I was curious about the title. The game that created the most fear within me from the Metroid series was Metroid Fusion and I was pleasantly surprised to find out the ties this game has with it. The game is just long enough, with me beating it over a weekend. The mystery is fun, the puzzles are challenging, and the bosses are distinct and brutal. This game would actually prompt me to begin my run at beating a Souls game, something I honestly didn't think I'd ever do. There's one nitpicky control set up that agitated me during some boss fights, but it was a little thing that I eventually got over. It didn't take away the satisfaction I got from defeating a difficult opponent. Please please make more of these. I just can't get enough.

#5: Shin Megami Tensei V

The Quintessential Attack and Dethrone God Experience

Admittedly I'm still playing through Shin Megami Tensei V, but from what I have played of it has been an absolute delight. The demon Pokémon formula still holds up and the interactions with said demons often bring a smile to my face. What I find wholly rewarding about the game is that it never feels like you can grind so much that you completely overpower the game. The game requires you to interact with it's systems. Make one mistake, get struck at weak point, you could suddenly find yourself staring at a GAME OVER screen. That might turn some people off who prefer to grind but for me it made most challenges rewarding in terms of puzzle solving. At all points of the game the story bosses are solvable depending on the demons in your compendium and the items you utilize. A truly rewarding JRPG experience that keeps me going with the mystery of it's story. As a long time fan this actually might be one of the best yet in the series.

#4: No More Heroes III

Pop Culture Deviance

After that first suplex I knew I would get it: a shot of nostalgia. Suda51 takes aim at a new realm of pop culture fandom: the superhero genre. What Suda51 does so well is make an attribute associated with popularity so... trivial. The game has "Superheroes". This isn't true at all of course and we've felt it before with the "open world" game that was No More Heroes. And while it makes the fact that it has superheroes carry no heft at all there is still substance here in the midst of all the insane style. Weirdly enough Travis Touchdown, after spending over a decade with him, has become someone that I strive to be entering my 30s. He genuinely does not care what other people think of him and his passions. Also, he's a home owner. Making moves Travis! And I'm right on that trail.

#3: Psychonauts 2

It Doesn't Have to Be Gamers =/= Mental Health

Wowzers. A game with a sequel about 10 years in the making and it hasn't missed a beat. The gameplay is crisp, the humor is rampant, the emotional undertones and overtones will stick with you for the rest of the month! This is possibly DoubleFine's best game yet and it is the continuation of one of their most special properties. As mental health becomes more and more prevalent within the gaming community, games like Celeste and Psychonauts keep up the discussion on the warfront. There are so many occurrences in Psychonauts 2 that someone, somewhere will resonate with and whatever it is, is tackled with such verve that I can't help but smile. We must learn to love each other and love ourselves if we're to be a strong gaming community. Content like this will bolster that push and definitely has already helped me a lot heading into 2022.

#2: Inscryption

I'm Not Crying, You're Crying

Inscryption is the sad version of every card gamer's Toy Story. That's all I can really say. The game really is the benefactor of it's intriguing mystery. The game will surprise you. It will make you feel a little dread. Most of all, if you have a soft spot for card games, it will make feel something other games have difficulty encapsulating when it comes to self study of a genre. To go on talking about this game would only hurt the experience. Play this masterpiece.

#1: Loop Hero

There is An End to This Wasteland, I Promise You

I did a little bit for the JSB Gamescast regarding this game but I want to reiterate how I feel about it. I love the mixing of it's genres. I think they really experimented here with the actual concept of what a game could be. I feel that Roguelikes as a genre are really poignant right now, whether you're dealing with grief, you lost a job, or you're dealing with this pandemic. Everyone ends up in a wasteland at some point of their life. There is an end, I promise you. Loop Hero captured that feeling for me and all the pieces clicked together, top to bottom, as a work of art. For that, Loop Hero is my GOTY 2021.

Notable Games I Haven't Gotten the Chance to Play at the Time of Writing:

Solar Ash
Death's Door

Axiom Verge 2

Monster Hunter Rise

12 Minutes

Life is Strange: True Colors

Eastward

Lost Judgement

Guardians of the Galaxy

Returnal

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart