Felt like I couldn’t get a full head of steam this month. Got interrupted by our annual ’snowcalypse’ mid-way. To its credit, this was a genuine snow and we had a delightful winter wonderland for a couple days. But then it was cold and icy and grimy the rest. Though, it was nice to work remote for over a week. Making coffee, bundling up on the couch, embarking on a much-needed deep clean of the apartment... I have that I-could-have-done-more feeling when I really did-a-lot. My brain needs to shut up.
This month’s playlist:
Runaway Train
I did not get what I expected from Runaway Train. I expected an 80s action flick with a twist of Kurosawa, due to his involvement in the script. I should have known better.
It has the trappings of 80s action (a prison break and an out-of-control train and everyone is sweaty despite it being set in Alaska in the dead of winter) but with the dark existentialism often present in 70s cinema. When the train first emerged from the mist I was struck the same as when the truck roared to life in Sorcerer.
The movie delivers on its violence and adrenalin. But in the next moment, when the shouting stops, in the silence, you hear the throbbing grief of injustice, of stolen life, of the futile desire for something better for the next generation.
Runaway Train’s final image will haunt my imagination.
Nobody Saves the World
Fun to play and the writing is goofy. The constant form changes and mix-n-matching abilities between them are a blast. How all these move sets and passives work together is a testament to the excellent game design. Just the right depth and consistently engaging. The only thing I’m not crazy about is the art style, but that’s mere indifference.
Dune
Second read, this time on tape. Enjoyed the pacing much more when read out loud. Grasped the themes and arc far better. Dune’s universe remains fascinating, as does its themes of battling fate and free will. Light on action, but the long, nuanced dialogue scenes are riveting delivered via audiobook.
Already listened to the sequel, Dune Messiah, and well on my way through Children of Dune. I’m going to be so prepared when Dune: Part Two arrives in March.
Bocchi the Rock!
I’ve been on an anime binge this month. Caught up on Jujutsu Kaisen (had to rewatch S1 too because I forgot most everything) and Demon Slayer. The former was neat, the latter got annoying. But I saw the Bocchi the Rock! tag circulating on Tumblr and decided to check it out.
What a pleasant surprise. I need more slice-of-life in my life. Very funny. Love the experimentation of animation style and medium for comic moments. Ryo is my spirit animal. I need a second season of this.
Khun Narin
Forever grateful to my friend for discovering this cassette tape at our local record store. Been listing the album off and on all last year. It’s been comforting to listen to Northern Thai rock so far away from the villages where I grew up hearing it.
This month I also remembered how much I loved Jujutsu Kaisen’s season one ending and I’m checking out PI.FYI, a brand-new social network. Seems like a fun little experiment.