Queen Elizabeth II has passed away
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-61585886
Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth realms, has died at the age of 96 at Balmoral Castle. Her son, Prince Charles, is expected to succeed her.
Regardless of how you feel about the monarchy, I think we can all agree that this is a historic, momentous occasion. Many of us have never known another English monarch in our lives. Truly the end of an era.
SNSD- Forever 1
8 years after Jessica left, 5 after the rest disbanded, SNSD are back… all 8 of them sans Jessica that is, with Forever 1. This isn’t a review of the album, though I will give a short impression of the album at large, mainly that the 2nd half appeals much more to me, due to my preference for the more laid back, R& B feel of the tracks there. Musically, the group has progressed leaps and bounds over the years and it shows. But don’t take my word for it, go stream it for yourself (yes, they released the whole thing online- go listen to it here https://girlsgeneration.lnk.to/FOREVER1 and decide for yourself). Go educate yourself on why this was THE girl group of 2nd gen.
Highlights for me: Closer, Mood Lamp, Summer Night, Freedom. What a sequence of tracks.
Oh, and as for Jessica, she just won 2nd place on some Chinese Idol show. Which is nice, but man, this album would have been that much better with her in it, good as it is already.
Kazuki Takahashi has passed away
Breaking news- Kazuki Takahashi, the mangaka behind Yu-Gi-Oh has passed away. Japanese news reports indicate it was a snorkeling accident.
I grew up reading Yu-Gi-Oh, and although I was never rich enough to play the card game, I had one of the GBA games that I played religiously.
After Miura, this one hurts as well.
RIP, you will be missed.
Source: https://www.nhk.or.jp/lnews/okinawa/20220707/5090019050.html
Kentaro Miura has passed away.
Having just read Berserk, this one hurt.
RIP to one of the greats. You will be missed.
Film Review: Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker
Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker (TRoS for short) is the last in the newly minted Skywalker Saga that comprises Episodes I-IX. This movie has to do a lot. It has to provide a satisfying conclusion to the Saga, the current arc that is the last 3 movies, and please all the fans that have grown up watching Star Wars- and in particular this new iteration of Disney Star Wars. Oh, and it also followed up on Episode VIII- The Last Jedi (or TLJ for short), which is quite possibly the most divisive film in the series to date.
Film Review: The Lion King (2019)
The live action (actually animated) remake of the critically acclaimed 1994 classic, this version of the Lion King proves to be a beautiful, but inferior imitation of the original.
Film Review: Spider-Man: Far From Home
Set after Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man: Far From Home deals with a post Tony, Steve, and Natasha landscape. It’s a smaller film, both in scope and in ambition. That’s not to say it doesn’t have any curveballs to throw though. Oh no. Far From Home is still an engaging, witty, and funny film. And with some of the best post credit stingers in the MCU since the introduction of the Avenger Initiative, it’s safe to say that the future of the MCU, and of Peter Parker himself, is in good hands. ALERT SPOILERS AHEAD!
Film Review: Toy Story 4
When Disney/Pixar first announced that Toy Story 4 was going to be made, I, like many other people were skeptical. Toy Story 3 had ended on such a high note, and on such a perfect ending. And when Disney/Pixar announced yet another sequel, a lot of people, including me, thought it was nothing more than another cash grab.
Film Review: Aladdin
Aladdin (2019) is yet another Disney live action remake trying to cash in on nostalgia from their vast animated library. Following in the footsteps of its animated predecessor is enough, yet it has to match up to such box office juggernauts as the live action versions of Beauty and the Beast, the Jungle Book, and even Alice in Wonderland. Coming off the flop that is Dumbo however, has Disney lost the thread? Or does Aladdin bring the streak back?
