This adorable hobbit family stopped by our table for a photo. (I’d forgotten the 4 hobbits were in town at comic con this year because we weren’t able to get any autographs – the lineups were too long!)
(Permission to post given by the mother.)
2024
Resolution Review 2024
Hi,
At the beginning of the year, I wrote a list of goals for the years that I called resolutions. I reviewed my progress in July. Let’s see how I did.
1. Write a serial story. (Success)
I managed 12 chapters and an epilogue. I think it’s a really good story and I’m happy with it.
Go read: Red Day, Ere the Sun Rises
2. Finish Speakers of the Rebel Sun (Success)
I’ve finished it and done a few passes of editing. I’m going to wait until Jen looks at it then I’m going to submit it. I’m excited to share this one.
3. Finish Fanatics! Inevitable Honeymoon Crashers (Success)
We finished in early December and it’s with beta readers now. We should be submitting it early in the year.
4. Clean up FADDS and continue the re-skin towards making the Aetherverse the default setting. (Fail)
I’ve done a lot of work but there’s a lot of cleaning and work to do.
5. Play more Ukulele and Bass (Fail)
I’ve maybe touched each once every few weeks. I want to practise more but it’s hard to find the time.
6. Work weekly on my magical café (Fail)
I really have started to loathe this thing. I need to do more work on it… sigh
7. Read at least 10 books (Success)
I’ve managed 25 books this year and I’m happy with the success. I still need to work on the guilt I feel when I read but I’m trying.
8. Be kind to myself (Success)
I’ve discovered a few things that have helped me understand myself and I’m working through that emotionally but it makes being kind to myself easier. It’s still a fight but I’m getting there.
9. Find time for me (Fail)
I feel like I relied on the mythical “free weekend” too much and didn’t set aside time for myself. I need to learn to internalize that it’s okay to do things for just me and not work, hobbies, family, or writing.
10. Restart posting JenEric Movie Reviews (Success)
I haven’t missed a week since I started and I have a few set up for next year. It is a little stressful now that all my favourite Halloween and Christmas movies are done but I’m enjoying it and think I’ll continue next year.
Six successes and four fails. 60% is good. I do these to push myself and hold myself accountable and I think I did good. I still need to work on my own needs to avoid burnout.
How did your year go?
Éric
Time Cut – JenEric Movie Review
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Hello Cinephiles,
Today we’re talking about the 2024 film Time Cut.
Story
A fun mixture of time travel and slasher story elements but with a paradox twist that isn’t normally explored.
Score: 1
Characters
I have a soft spot for smart characters. They are rarely found in slasher films and unfortunately the smart idiot trope happens a lot in time travel. Thankfully neither is the case in this movie. They act fairly logically and they are smart.
I do think the quiet nerd being picked on and being rejected turns them evil trope is a little overdone.
Score: 0.5
Dialogue
The dialogue is pretty good but I would have liked the slang differences to be explored more. Other than fashion, the main character didn’t seem out of place.
Score: 0.5
Visuals and Music
The visuals are great. I like the choice of lighting and colouring to denote the decade. The special effects are minimal and mostly practical.
The music is oddly nostalgic for only being twenty years ago.
Score: 1
Fun
I was expecting a dumb movie and after really liking Totally Killer I didn’t expect to enjoy this one. I was happily wrong. It was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed the ending.
Score: 1
Overall
An excellent time travel movie with mild slasher elements. It doesn’t shy away from fun or asking question. It’s nice to see a movie that feels like a rehash do something different with its conclusion.
Final Score: 4 Stars out of 5
Abigail – JenEric Movie Review
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Hello Cinephiles,
Today we’re talking about the 2024 film Abigail.
Story
A remake of the Daughter of Dracula, they make a good effort to update the story and add some fun twists. The pacing was good and the references to other books and movies were a nice bonus.
Score: 1
Characters
It’s hard to balance this much blood, violence, and atmosphere while still giving the large cast of characters time to breathe. Not only do we get to know the characters but even like them, despite the fact that they were all willing to kidnap and maybe torture a child. The actors did a fantastic job at making horror action tropes into real feeling people.
Score: 1
Dialogue
The dialogue feels like it belongs in more of a mystery or action movie and that’s a good thing. The horror is built with atmosphere and intercharacter tension as much as the vampire.
Score: 1
Visuals and Music
The special effects were minimal and practical which worked really well. The quantity of fake blood was awe inspiring.
The music was perfect. I’ll never hear the nutcracker the same way and the rest of the score did everything it could to enhance the action.
Score: 1
Fun
Bad guys getting destroyed by monsters is a fun relaxing night for me. (I might be weird.) This was perfect and it even gave me the “Final girl gets pissed and fights back” trope that I love so much.
Score: 1
Overall
If you like old-style slashers and watching bag guys getting ripped to shreds, this is a lot of fun. It’s a smart horror that knows enough to reference its influences and do its own thing. Coupled with a great cast, it’s a perfect film.
Final Score: 5* Stars out of 5
*A 5 star review doesn’t mean the movie was perfect nor that it is perfect for everyone but it is a movie I believe is as close to perfect as possible.
Carved 2024 – JenEric Movie Review
How This Works – Read Other Reviews
Hello Cinephiles,
Today we’re talking about the 2024 film Carved.
Story
The story is ridiculously simple and follows the usual teens being hunted by supernatural creature. Instead of the older obsession with vilifying sex, POC, or queer characters, it has a heavy handed message about cannabis. Other than the deaths and violence, this is Disney PG with nary a kiss. Oh and the Black queer characters do die fairly fast. The ending also seemed too easy.
Score: 0
Characters
Overachieving theatre writer who’s in charge of her little brother with a disability. Hunky boy and various other tropes. The characters are flat and the majority of the actors are obviously going through the motions. Peyton Elizabeth Lee, DJ Qualls, and Wyatt Lindner do an excellent job with what they were given, but the rest of the cast felt like they were in a different movie.
Score: 0.5
Dialogue
The dialogue is terrible. Trying to be serious but quip like Bruce Campbell, and failing at both.
Score: 0
Visuals and Music
The death scenes and special effects were okay but not creative. Lots of carving people like pumpkins.
The music was okay but derivative.
Score: 0.5
Fun
This was terrible and I almost gave up. I think if the main actress wasn’t so good I would have.
Score: 0
Overall
Some horror movies are so bad they attain cult status but this one can’t even manage that. It deserves to be forgotten for simply being boring and formulaic. Save yourself the trouble and watch anything else.
Final Score: 1 Stars out of 5
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire – JenEric Movie Review
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Hello Cinephiles,
Today we’re talking about the 2024 film Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.
Story
They abandoned the small town setting and embraced the NYC feel of the originals. The story is interesting and I like how they weaved the two parts.
Score: 0.5
Characters
This cast was massive, upgrading the originals from cameo to secondary characters, adding two new characters, and balancing the cast from the previous film. The result is that only a few characters got growth and the others were either background or comedy relief.
This time the villain is actually terrifying.
Score: 0.5
Dialogue
The dialogue is quippy, smart, and fun. It mixes mythologies and technobabble in amusing ways.
Score: 1
Visuals and Music
The movie is extremely pretty and avoids being too dark or using too many quick cuts. The special effects are flawless.
The music was a good mix of the classic themes and songs with new ones.
Score: 1
Fun
This is a fun Ghostbuster movie that balances old and new really well. I feel like we could use more time for some of the characters, but overall it was lots of fun. I watched this alone but I look forward to watching it again with the family.
Score: 1
Overall
A near perfect melding of old and new. This will make all Ghostbuster fans happy. It could use a little more time with it’s expansive cast of characters, but overall it’s fun, fast, and quippy.
Final Score: 4 Stars out of 5
Kiki’s Delivery Service
This is such a great cosplay – casual, comfortable, and it comes with a bag! Genius.
Descendants: The Rise of Red – JenEric Movie Review
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Hello Cinephiles,
Today we’re talking about the 2024 film Descendants: The Rise of Red.
Story
It’s very Back to the Future meets Monster High. They take a lot of time with the set up and the ending feels rushed and unfinished.
Score: 0
Characters
The two main characters are great and have wonderful chemistry as a grumpy/sunshine style odd couple. They also grow and learn throughout the movie.
The villains were superbly cast and are amazing. I hope to see more of that group in future movies.
Seeing the cast from the 1997 Cinderella was fun, although it’s important to note that the backstory is different.
Score: 1
Dialogue
The dialogue is cutesy and does a great job at sounding young while still being understandable to older people. There are some very interesting conversations about ethics, rules, and doing what’s right.
Score: 1
Visuals and Music
They colourful villain aesthetic of the first three movies carries through into this one but with upgraded camera equipment and camera work. The choreography is superb.
The songs are extremely catchy and weave elements from classic Disney and the first three movies.
Score: 1
Fun
The story is weak and there are a lot of weird choices on the part of the characters, but overall it’s a lot of fun and everyone in the family loved it.
Score: 1
Overall
An overdone story that is more than made up for with excellent acting, singing, dancing, and set design. If you enjoyed the others in the series, you’ll enjoy this one.
Final Score: 4 Stars out of 5
Mirabel
This is the first time I have seen a Mirabel cosplay, and I was extremely excited to see her (as was Dragon). Her costume was detailed and perfect. She was with the Merida cosplayer from last week, and I love the idea that these two teen characters are friends. They’d totally get into mischief together.