"Into the Unknown" is arguably the equivalent of "Let It Go" for "Frozen II" in terms of its strong vocals and catchy lyrics setting the stage for Elsa (Idina Menzel) to go on her newest adventure.
A mysterious voice calls to Elsa to entice her into an adventure and Elsa spends most of the song trying to fight the call before eventually giving in. Aurora provides the mysterious voice calling to Elsa, which is perhaps even more of an earworm than the chorus and ever-evolving pre-chorus.
"Into the Unknown" really captures the feeling of wanting to explore the unknown. The song makes me want to drop everything and go on an adventure. Then I remember that I'm broke, out of shape, and perpetually anxious. But still, it inspires adventurous feelings.
Likewise, I'm a sucker for anything featuring the voice of Idina Menzel ever since my choir teacher had us sing songs from "Wicked" in sixth grade, and "Into the Unknown" is no exception. I keep trying to think of a part of the song to highlight, but I can't decide because I like the song from start to finish.
Listen to the song and tell me you don't feel at least a small twinge of desire to go on an adventure.
The covers of K.L. Fogg's "Serpent Tide," "Widow's Revenge," and "Diamondback Cave" (Amazon).
The "Serpent Tide" trilogy by K.L. Fogg is a fun realistic fiction adventure about a boy from South Carolina named Wesley Vandergrift discovering that he was separated from his real parents in a shipwreck and taken in by a desperate widow who's been posing as his biological mother his whole life.
And that's just one of many twists and turns discovered within the trilogy, hence why the first book is published with the subtitle "an extraordinary adventure of discovery." There's plenty of deception, kidnapping, and interactions with a celebrity wildlife adventure enthusiast not unlike Steve Irwin.
Wesley goes on several adventures that in some way revolve around Jack Mackey, the star of the in-story TV program "The Snake Stalker." And he goes on these adventures with his newfound biological family and his lifelong best friend Amanda.
Likewise, Wesley goes through plenty of coming-of-age experiences including dealing with bullies, dating, learning how to swim, learning how to drive, and choosing which religion he wants to follow, among other things.
I read the series after my sixth grade English teacher had us read along with an audiobook for the first book. The trilogy is perfect for kids and families of any age to read together.
In fact, I'd argue that the "Serpent Tide" trilogy would be the perfect book series to adapt into movies or a TV show rather than adding to the oversaturated market for reboots, remakes, and superhero content.
While "Serpent Tide" is relatively popular, there's not much of a fandom to speak of, so there's plenty of room for creativity and it would be something fresh and light with low audience expectations.
Either way, I highly recommend the series if you're looking for something easy to read that can entertain family members of all ages.
"The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie" debuted 19 years ago and sent SpongeBob and Patrick (Tom Kenny and Bill Fagerbakke) on an epic adventure to save Mr. Krabs (Clancy Brown) and the Krabby Patty secret formula from Plankton (Mr. Lawrence).
After being passed over for a manager promotion, SpongeBob and Patrick are forced to journey through unfamiliar landscapes and interact with dangerous characters to retrieve King Neptune's (Jeffrey Tambor) crown from Shell City.
And much like the three seasons of "SpongeBob SquarePants" that preceded it, "The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie" is highly quotable to this day.
I still find myself randomly quoting "You don't need a license to drive a sandwich," "We're on a baby hunt, and don't think we don't know how to weed 'em out," and the monologue leading up to the "Goofy Goober Rock," as shown in the video above.
The movie also doubles as a coming-of-age story as SpongeBob and Patrick try their best to become men and shake everyone else's perception of them as immature kids who can't handle responsibility.
As a kid, I mostly enjoyed the adventure and numerous funny quotes in the movie, but as an adult, I can relate to the idea of feeling like I'm still being perceived as a kid and wanting to shake that perception by proving how adult I am.
"The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie" really is something for people of all ages to enjoy.
The movie features bard Edgin Darvis (Chris Pine), barbarian Holga Kilgore (Michelle Rodriguez), half-elf sorcerer Simon Aumar (Justice Smith), and tiefling druid Doric (Sophia Lillis) going on an adventure to save Edgin's daughter (Chloe Coleman) from a former ally (Hugh Grant) who's working with a Red Wizard (Daisy Head).
"Honor Among Thieves" includes a lot of exposition through flashbacks and dialogue, but rather than making the movie drag, it actually feels like a nod to the game since detailed backstory exposition is common in D&D.
Likewise, the movie takes place in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting, so nothing is lacking in the world-building department and a variety of interesting creatures and characters are seamlessly woven into the narrative.
There's also a lot of punchy comedy involved, particularly from Pine, Rodriguez, and Grant. And there's a lot of interesting character development, though it is sometimes pushed through exposition, which makes it feel a bit rushed for some characters more so than others.
Either way, I had fun while watching "Honor Among Thieves," and that's the main thing a movie should strive for.
Something that still lives in my head rent free, especially since "Wednesday" reignited some nostalgia, is the scene in "Addams Family Values" where Wednesday (Christina Ricci) leads outcasted campers in a revolt, as shown in the video above.
What really makes the scene memorable is Wednesday's speech about all the injustices inflicted on Native Americans by colonists, which she uses as an excuse to attack Amanda's (Mercedes McNab) Pilgrim troupe and the camp's counselors (Peter MacNicol and Christine Baranski).
Despite some obvious stereotyping, the scene interweaves some clever commentary with Wednesday's macabre sense of humor, which makes it one of the best and most memorable parts of the movie. It's also one of my favorite early acting performances from Ricci.
Despite this part of the movie taking place at a summer camp, the Thanksgiving play and the November release of "Addams Family Values" have made the movie a Thanksgiving staple on par with "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" in my family.
And the theme of poking fun at Pilgrims only continues in "Wednesday."
In the third episode of "Wednesday," titled "Friend or Woe," Wednesday (Jenna Ortega) is forced to participate in local celebrations of Jericho's Pilgrim founder Joseph Crackstone, which includes scenes of her dressed as a Pilgrim in the town's Pilgrim World tourist attraction.
Wednesday spends most of her time shirking her duties and investigating Crackstone's connection to the mystery she's been trying to solve. But at one point, she maliciously complies by serving fudge while informing German tourists of how utterly inauthentic the experience is.
This felt like a solid callback to the speech in "Addams Family Values," and it served as one of several comedic moments in the episode.
Plus, there are a number of other moments poking fun at Pilgrims or highlighting the impact of colonization throughout the series due to Crackstone's connection to the overall mystery in the show.
There are even a couple of scenes that feature Wednesday fighting bullies who work at Pilgrim World.
Both versions of the character offer moments of macabre comedy that fit right in with the Thanksgiving holiday.
"Glee" has featured a number of chaotic song mashups, but arguably the most chaotic mashup of them all is "Let's Have a Kiki/Turkey Lurkey Time" from the season four "Thanksgiving" episode.
"Let's Have a Kiki" has a smooth techno style as it describes throwing a party for gossip and chit-chat, whereas "Turkey Lurkey Time" has a bouncy folk vibe that sounds like it could be used to get elementary schoolers excited about Thanksgiving dinner.
Isabelle's (Sarah Jessica Parker) bewildered face immediately after Rachel (Lea Michelle) suddenly transitions into "Turkey Lurkey Time" is possibly the best and most accurate reaction. The mashup is still fun, mostly because everyone just goes with it, but it's wild and doesn't quite fit.
Watching the "Let's Have a Kiki/Turkey Lurkey Time" mashup in the context of the episode might work, but listening to the song without the video would be a bit jarring. But given some of the initial character reactions, maybe that was intentional.
After all, it wouldn't be the first time that Rachel pulled a weird stunt to draw attention to herself while lacking awareness of just how weird the stunt is—just consider the "Run Joey Run" debacle, Rachel and Finn's (Corey Monteith) "With You I'm Born Again" performance, and when she sent a potential rival to a crack house.
And "Glee" thrives on awkward character interactions anyway. It's practically a staple of the show.
Either way, I always get a good giggle out of watching the "Let's Have a Kiki/Turkey Lurkey Time" mashup performance, so maybe you will too.
The above video is a poem performed at the December 2008 White Plains Library Poetry Slam. The poem is called "Dark Celebration" and addresses the dark side of Thanksgiving.
Essentially, the poem recounts how some details of the first Thanksgiving were exaggerated and how, regardless of the positive side of the first Thanksgiving, the holiday has come to be a reminder "of a friendship that was betrayed" for Native Americans.
The poem, performed by a young girl, is a poignant reminder of how complex holidays like Thanksgiving are considering the negative impact of colonization. In light of that, I completely understand why many Native Americans instead observe a National Day of Mourning.
That said, many other Native Americans still observe Thanksgiving due to the more positive side of the holiday and its similarity to other Native American celebrations.
Regardless of whether you celebrate Thanksgiving or the National Day of Mourning, peaceful and respectful observations are key, and a moment of silence to remember those impacted by colonization would be ideal.
"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" tackled a lot of complex and interesting subjects during its seven-season run. Season four episode eight, also known as "Pangs," addressed colonization and how complex it can be to point to a "bad guy" in some situations.
Specifically, the episode features Xander (Nicholas Brendon) discovering an abandoned Mission at a construction site, which results in a vengeful Native American spirit recreating the wrongs done to his people.
Meanwhile, Buffy (Sara Michelle Gellar) makes Thanksgiving dinner and tries to keep the peace between Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) and Willow (Alyson Hannigan) as they debate colonization and how best to deal with the spirit.
While I understand criticisms about the stereotypical portrayal of the Chumash people, I also appreciate that the show even attempted to address colonization and how it conflicts with Thanksgiving.
Likewise, I enjoy the usual elements of the show such as how it brings humor into otherwise dark subject matter.
Like Spike (James Marsters) repeatedly being shot with arrows while he's bound to a chair, Anya (Emma Caulfield) viewing Thanksgiving as a ritual sacrifice, and Xander getting syphilis from a bear.
Plus, the episode has a subplot featuring Angel (David Boreanaz) that leads into a major crossover episode within his "Angel" spinoff series.
The appeal of "Pangs" is wide reaching not only if you're a "Buffy" or "Angel" fan, but also if you want to see how a 1999 TV episode deals with big issues like colonization.
"A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" has become a staple of Thanksgiving tradition in homes across the United States and beyond since its 1973 debut.
Even in years when I don't watch the special, I inevitably end up thinking about it either because of the nostalgia or because of the characters' inclusion in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
"A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" showcases Charlie, Linus, Snoopy, and Woodstock preparing a makeshift meal for their friends after Peppermint Patty invites herself and others over to Charlie and Sally's home for dinner.
The special comedically offers a nice message about friendship and being thankful, and it continues the tradition of holiday themed Peanuts specials started by "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown."
And despite recent misunderstanding, Franklin's chair breaking was a plot device used to spotlight him since he doesn't have as many quirks as the other kids and having him separated from other characters may have been a way to give a better view of the incident.
If you haven't done your yearly viewing of "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" yet, here's your reminder.
The "Batman Arkham" games are some of my favorite games. Whether I'm achievement hunting, button mashing, looking for a good story to entertain myself, or experiencing interesting glitches like the one shown in the video above, the "Batman Arkham" games have it all.
In honor of that, let's talk about their best qualities from start to finish.
Arkham Asylum
Rocksteady's "Batman: Arkham Asylum" features Batman trying to set things right in the titular asylum, which has been overrun by its patients.
The game features a dynamic combat system that's just as fun when you're button mashing as it is when you learn to perform more skilled combos. There's also a lot of detective work involved as Batman investigates the free roam sandbox of the multi-level, multi-building asylum.
Both the main story and the Riddler side mission are engaging and satisfying. I've replayed the game multiple times over the years, and I'd be happy to do it again to finish collecting some of the harder Xbox and in-game achievements involved.
I also love the easter eggs in the game, particularly the one that reveals hints about where the next game will take place.
Arkham City
Rocksteady's "Batman Arkham City" sees Batman investigating and fighting crimes against new and returning enemies in an old part of Gotham that's been converted into a mass prison.
While similar in concept to the previous game, things are done on a much bigger scale with a number of improvements to things like combat and the investigative process. There's also a more fleshed out and improved set of gadgets, combat challenges, and side missions.
Likewise, this installment introduces DLC where you play as Catwoman and a new game plus mode that allows you to use your upgrades from the start of the story. There are also more Riddler challenges and easter eggs, including a well-hidden one that vaguely hints at what's to come in "Arkham Knight."
And while it was jarring at first, I also appreciate Tara Strong taking over the role of Harley Quinn from Arleen Sorkin. Her take on the character's voice took some getting used to, but she significantly improves by the time "Arkham Knight" rolls around.
Arkham Origins
In "Batman: Arkham Origins," a prequel made by WB Games Montréal instead of Rocksteady, Batman defends Gotham from assassins on Christmas Eve.
The northern part of Gotham appears to be a reskin of Arkham City and the gameplay is similar, though certain gadgets are swapped out, like the glue grenade acting as a precursor to the freeze grenade. In place of seeking Riddler content, you seek Edward Nigma's blackmail data packs.
Some aspects of the gameplay are choppy compared with the rest of the "Batman Arkham" series, not to mention the sheer lack of anything to do after the story, but "Arkham Origins" is creative and introduces several plot points that find their way into "Arkham Knight."
Despite having different voice actors than the rest of the series, like Roger Craig Smith replacing Kevin Conroy and Troy Baker replacing Mark Hamill, the voice acting continued to be solid and I'd enjoy hearing these voice actors in new content, especially in light of Kevin Conroy's passing.
Arkham Knight
In "Batman: Arkham Knight," Rocksteady's final installment in the series, Batman defends Gotham against Scarecrow and the Arkham Knight on Halloween while also dealing with hallucinations of Joker and flashbacks of losing Jason Todd.
"Arkham Knight" takes things to the biggest scale of the entire series and somehow manages to further improve the already fantastic gameplay and challenges from the previous games while also adding in new DLC content and the ability to swap back and forth between characters in some combat scenarios.
The story is also more fleshed out than ever before and character development is at an all-time high. And although there are no planned additions coming to the main series, there are a number of fascinating easter eggs to find.
"Arkham Knight" is my favorite installment in the series, with "Arkham Asylum" being a close second due to nostalgia and the ease of gameplay. It's a satisfying conclusion to a wonderful series that I've replayed time and time again.
Supergirl was a popular topic for pop songs during the early 2000s. Among many others that probably exist, I like four particular songs that are all called "Supergirl." All of them are very similar in their themes, but they also bring unique spins in their execution, all of which are enjoyable.
Namely, they all tend to rally around romantic themes either directly or indirectly, which I suppose is fitting since Supergirl was originally treated as merely a female version of Superman and many of her storylines centered around romance, as I understand it.
Likewise, these songs may just be using Supergirl as a symbol of feminine power and meshing that with whatever their definition of feminine power is.
Either way, here's a list of songs I like called "Supergirl," organized alphabetically by artist.
Krystal Harris
Krystal Harris' "Supergirl" is a 2001 pop ballad that's simultaneously empowering while also addressing loneliness. It's probably best remembered for being part of the soundtrack for "The Princess Diaries" movie.
I especially like the first verse and the chorus. Not only do those lyrics most resemble the actual hero Supergirl, but they also have a lot of fun and personality woven into them with descriptions of a "magic piano," for instance. I like the way it rolls off the tongue.
Between the more empowering lyrics about "conquering the world" and the softer lyrics about not wanting to be alone, the song is actually very fitting for the real Supergirl.
Laura Benanti
Laura Benanti's version of "Supergirl" is a bit of an oddity. No matter how much I try, I can't seem to find any reference to the song outside this video, regardless of whether she's the one singing it or not.
Based on what the YouTuber who posted the video has said, it's an unreleased song Benanti wrote that was recorded live in 2004. When I found it, I think I was binging through Benanti's Broadway and off-Broadway content after seeing her in season one of the "Supergirl" TV show.
The lyrics address themes of insecurity and putting up facades. It's beautifully written and sung, and it also has a lovely piano accompaniment. I wish there were a more official release of the song somewhere, but this video will suffice for now.
Reamonn
Reamonn's 2000 version of "Supergirl" is a more romantic number that also highlights both the strong will and the insecurity of the song's subject.
I especially like the chorus, which states: "And then she'd say, 'It's okay' / 'I got lost on the way, but I'm a Supergirl' / And Supergirl don't cry / And then she'd say, 'It's alright' / 'I got home late last night, but I'm a Supergirl' / And Supergirls just fly."
It's not about the literal Supergirl, but it still fits depending on the version you go with. And regardless, it's just a good song between the lyrics, the vocals, and the instrumentation. It's an easy listen.
Saving Jane
Saving Jane's 2008 version of "Supergirl" once again alludes to romance and being the life of the party.
The song feels like it could've been used in the soundtrack of a high school-oriented TV show like "Gossip Girl," though I can't find any evidence that it was used for anything other than being an athletic theme song for Danica Patrick and Nastia Liukin.
Regardless, the beat, vocals, and lyrics are fun and catchy. I especially like the counting theme used in the two pre-choruses.
The first of the two pre-choruses is the best: "(One) One, two, come and see what I can do / (Two) Two, three, everybody's after me / (Three) Three, four, let me tell you what's in store / Let's go, everybody on the floor."
Saving Jane is an underrated band with plenty of great songs like this one.
I've always had an appreciation for comics because of the stories they produce. Today I decided to buy a comic for the first time, and I chose the first issue of "Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong."
I love DC content and I also love the MonsterVerse, so when I heard there was a new comic series featuring both, I was intrigued. And I wasn't disappointed.
Multiple plot perspectives were successfully woven together. Clark Kent pulls double duty cleaning up crime ahead of his planned vacation with Lois Lane and prepares himself to propose. Meanwhile, the Legion of Doom yet again plots to get rid of the Justice League.
When the Legion of Doom and the Justice League finally clash, it eventually results in an incident that brings the monsters from the MonsterVerse into their world, as shown on the cover.
Unfortunately, this first issue was used mostly to set the stage for what's to come, so the monsters are only featured in a couple of short sequences. I do like where the plot is going though, and I just may buy the entire series as it comes out.
The friendly banter between members of the Justice League, the romantic back and forth between Lois and Clark, and the antagonistic banter between members of the Legion of Doom were fun and engaging as always, which serves well for character development.
Likewise, there was an interesting preview of the first issue of the "Alan Scott Green Lantern" series included as bonus material.
If you're a comic book fan who enjoys both the Justice League and the MonsterVerse, this series may be for you.
"Loki" season two finally gives a resolution to the cliffhanger we were left on for season one and introduces a few interesting new characters while further developing some returning characters.
New concepts of time are explored and the TVA's purpose in life is shaken by the consequences of Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino) killing He Who Remains (Jonathan Majors) during the previous season's finale. Loki (Tom Hiddleston) also struggles to discover his new place in life.
Admittedly, my motivation to watch "Loki" season two faded a bit during the two-year wait, especially since I've seen less advertising hyping it up this time around, but it was well worth watching.
The addition of Ke Huy Quan as Ouroboros and Jonathan Majors as a more prominent presence was both fun and refreshing. I also particularly liked the development of new character General Dox (Kate Dickie).
It was also nice to see more character development for Loki, Sylvie, Mobius (Owen Wilson), B-15 (Wunmi Mosaku), Casey (Eugene Cordero), Miss Minutes (Tara Strong), and Ravonna Renslayer (Gugu Mbatha-Raw).
While the current season initially had me concerned about the direction things were going, the ending nicely wraps up the majority of the plot and gives Loki a new sense of "glorious purpose" that has bigger implications regarding the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as a whole.
What more can we ask for in a second season? If you enjoyed season one of "Loki" and want context into the MCU's expanding multiverse, watch "Loki" season two.
"The Marvels" is a fun return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe's team up movies as it works to develop its titular characters.
The movie sees Carol Danvers' Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) team up with her newly superpowered niece Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) and her biggest fan, Kamala Khan's Ms. Marvel (Iman Vellani). The team up is caused by their entangled powers causing them to switch places.
The chemistry between the three of them is great as they navigate how best to manage their entangled powers and resolve personal issues while trying to save various planets from Dar-Benn's (Zawe Ashton) destructive actions.
Ms. Marvel in particular really shines in the movie as the plot picks up right where her series' first season ended. She breathes a new life and sense of enthusiasm into a long-running saga of Marvel movies.
Likewise, Captain Marvel seems to have gained a lot of character development. More of what she's been doing the last 30 years is brought forth and there's more exploration of how those experiences have impacted her and her relationship with Monica.
Captain Marvel even has moments when she takes responsibility for her current and past actions, which is refreshing when compared with the weirdly immature mistakes and lack of responsibility that seem to be running rampant with the older generation of superheroes post-"Endgame."
The one issue I have with the movie is that Captain Marvel's character development feels sudden and Monica's feels non-existent. A second "Captain Marvel" movie and perhaps a separate movie establishing Monica as her Photon, Pulsar, or Spectrum identity could've fixed that.
Roughly 30 years of Captain Marvel's history is skimmed and abridged, leaving me with context questions and a desire to see more of her adventures. Dar-Benn's motivation as a villain, which is closely tied with that history, ends up feeling lackluster as a result.
Similarly, very little is acknowledged about Monica that wasn't already addressed in "WandaVision," she hasn't explored her powers much since then, and her identity isn't solidified beyond her connection to her mother (Lashana Lynch) and Captain Marvel.
This issue isn't exclusive to "The Marvels" though. Both Marvel and DC have recently fallen into a pattern of skipping solo movies in favor of major team ups. Unfortunately, this comes at the expense of the character development that made the "Avengers" movies so satisfying leading up to "Endgame."
I am hopeful for the future though, especially after seeing where Monica, Ms. Marvel, and Captain Marvel end up by the time the credits finish rolling. The fun and character development that made the original "Avengers" movies work seems to be reignited by the end of the movie.
In my current locale, there's a noticeable trend of people complaining about soda shops. They're on every corner, causing diabetes, stealing space that could've been used to bring in Trader Joe's, Hobby Lobby, and authentic Chinese restaurants.
Car washes also receive complaints for being on every corner stealing space, as do snack-oriented shops. I really don't think it's that serious though. The reason soda shops, car washes, and snack shops are everywhere is because they're in demand.
With all the outdoor activities and the dirt flying around in our southwestern desertscape, it's not exactly surprising that there's a demand for car washes. And even though there are a bunch of them around town, they're usually busy with long lines when I drive by during the day.
Likewise, with Utah being a such an alcoholically dry state that also discourages coffee, there's an increased demand for non-alcoholic beverages beyond water and coffee, and soda tends to be one of the primary things that fulfills that desire, as illustrated in the above video.
You might not be able to drink cocktails, but you can have a mocktail of various soda flavors.
The complaint about how unhealthy soda can be is warranted, as is the complaint that increasing the number of car washes contributes to our growing drought issues, but the solution to that is simple: Don't buy it and don't interact with posts about it on social media.
The more engagement a topic receives, whether positive or negative, the more companies view it as a trend to jump on. Every time you mention the word soda or specify a company name, it increases the likelihood of the topic showing up on your feed and the feeds of others like you.
And regardless, I think most people know their limits when it comes to soda drinking. Much like my gripe with the "Super Size Me" documentary, I feel the need to point out that most people probably don't go to these soda shops every day multiple times a day, and if they do, that's their business to deal with.
Car washes and soda shops aren't a malignant plague on our society, and even if they were, the best way to get rid of them is to stop buying their products and stop giving them free press with your complaints.
And if they continue to thrive after you've done that, then that means that there's a market for it and you just don't happen to be part of it. You can also address legitimate gripes, such as car washes using too much water, by getting involved in local advocacy efforts.
Admittedly, I don't know too much about BTS other than the fact that the group is riding the Korean Wave of popularity, the group's fandom is appropriately called ARMY, and the members are currently taking a break to complete their mandatory military service.
I do know this though: BTS is unbelievably popular even in the wake of its hiatus.
I've seen the ARMY fandom all over the internet hyping BTS up, I've continuously had friends and colleagues recommend both the group and its members' solo endeavors, and I've even heard my dad listening to "My Universe" during his late-night music binges.
Likewise, even after group members started their military service, BTS and its individual members have continued to be nominated for MAMA and Grammy awards, and they've released their concert movie, a soundtrack, and a 10th anniversary single.
Plus, like other international artists, BTS has managed to foster diplomacy through the positive messages they send on the international stage, which has earned them special recognition from both the South Korean government and other international diplomatic organizations.
BTS' ARMY continues to grow strong even in its absence, and I look forward to seeing how much more growth occurs when the group has made its intended return.
Roald Dahl wrote children's books that have continued to inspire new film and Broadway adaptations even decades after his passing.
Dahl wrote books such as "The Gremlins," "James and the Giant Peach," "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," "Fantastic Mr. Fox," "The BFG," "The Witches," and "Matilda," among others. Many of those have also been adapted into movies and Broadway productions.
No matter the medium, Dahl's stories are an integral part of many people's childhoods, for better or worse.
For example, I remember reading "The BFG" for elementary school, and not long afterward, people started referring to me as the BFG. Unfortunately, it was being used as an insult since I was the tallest child in school for a while there.
Regardless, the story is a good one, as are Dahl's other stories. I particularly love "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "Matilda." While I didn't read the novels for either story, I've enjoyed them in every medium I've seen them in.
The "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" movie with Johnny Depp and the "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" movie with Gene Wilder are both great in different ways. The new "Wonka" film with Timothée Chalamet also looks interesting.
Likewise, I have a special place in my heart for the 1996 "Matilda" film and I also enjoyed the 2022 "Matilda the Musical" film. I relate to Matilda's love for reading and I think it would be cool to have telekinesis. Not to mention I'm a sucker for a well-done musical.
Dahl's influence is a lasting one and it will be interesting to see how that continues in the future.
The final episode of "M*A*S*H," titled "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen," is an emotional rollercoaster to watch even now, 40 years later.
While the episode is interspersed with the usual hilarious antics of the 4077th MASH unit, it's also interspersed with a dark undertone surrounding Hawkeye's (Alan Alda) stay in a psychiatric hospital in the wake of a mental breakdown caused by a traumatic event he experienced.
The reveal of the true nature of the traumatic event is a real sucker punch to the stomach that always leaves me in tears. I hate anything that involves hurting kids, pets, and other vulnerable populations. But damn if it isn't quality storytelling.
Fortunately, a lot of good things happen that lessen the impact of the traumatic event on the episode as a whole.
Characters such as Margaret Houlihan (Loretta Swit) and Charles Winchester (David Ogden Stiers) receive good news about their post-war job prospects, Klinger (Jamie Farr) marries Soon-Lee (Rosalind Chao), and the war ends, allowing everyone to go home.
The episode is a fitting end to a strong 11-season run, as evidenced by the fact that it was the most watched television broadcast in American history until the 2010 Super Bowl broke that record.
"Goodbye, Farewell and Amen" is a must-watch for anyone who loves "M*A*S*H."
"The Goonies" is a much beloved adventure comedy from 1985 that features a group of kids and teens searching for legendary pirate One-Eyed Willy's treasure in the tunnels beneath their town after finding a treasure map, all while being pursued by criminals who want the treasure too.
My family loves this movie and we watched it all the time when I was younger. To this day, we'll sometimes randomly blurt out "hey you guys" the same way Sloth (John Matuszak) does in the movie, along with a variety of other one-liners.
The movie even features a star-studded cast including Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Corey Feldman, and Ke Huy Quan, among others.
But what I really love about the movie is the genuine sense of adventure, the childish wonder as the characters explore the tunnels, and the mostly convincing practical effects. Even without nostalgic bias, I feel like "The Goonies" has a lot of things that are missing in current non-superhero movies.
The movie does of course have some stereotypical vestiges, like the way it pokes fun at Data's (Ke Huy Quan) accent and Chunk's (Jeff Cohen) weight, but it's still representative of how kids would interact at that age, especially at the time, so those vestiges are somewhat negligible.
"The Goonies" is a movie worth watching for anyone who loves a good adventure movie with a dose of nostalgia. If you like things like "National Treasure" and "Stranger Things," you'll like "The Goonies."
Much like the classic "Goonies never say die" line, the fun of this movie never dies.
While they may seem catered toward children, Lego games have a long-lasting appeal for people of all ages.
I've always thoroughly enjoyed the puzzle solving and button mashing that comes with every Lego game. The puzzles feed your mind and the button mashing makes even the most casual player feel highly skilled.
And even with all the similarities in gameplay across the roster of Lego games, each installment within each series brings something new and interesting to the table.
One of the more entertaining things each game does is find different ways to make characters who died in the source material stay alive in some weird fashion. One example of this is in "Lego Jurassic World" when all the "dead" characters are still alive in the mosasaurus' stomach, just playing a card game.
I wanna play cards with Zara too ;-; And Indominus Rex. He seems chill when dead 🥺🥺 AND THE CARDS ARE SO BIG IN ZARA HANDS 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/CKdPINN2JR
Likewise, achievement hunting within each game can keep anyone busy with hours upon hours of enjoyable content, even when cheat codes are turned on. My goal is always to try and 100% Lego games, no matter how long it takes.
And the popularity is clearly long lasting even for older Lego games. My brother's "Lego Marvel Superheroes" videos from a year ago are some of the most popular videos on his YouTube channel, as shown with the video above that has over 110k views.
Lego really is for everyone, especially in regard to its games.
JT Music is a two-man music group created by childhood friends John and Christian, aka Pat and Skull. They create all kinds of songs, many of which are based on video games. Some of my favorite songs they've made are about the "Five Nights at Freddy's" franchise.
In particular, I really enjoy "Join Us for a Bite," "We Don't Bite," and "Another Five Nights." The songs get better and better as time goes on. The songs for the first two games are sort of middling to me, but JT Music seemed to hit its stride starting with the third game's song and continued from there.
Each song infuses gameplay and lore while going back and forth between raps and electrically autotuned singing that perfectly fits the atmosphere of the games.
"Join Us for a Bite" and some of the other songs from the fifth game onward feature more real singing without electrical autotune since they feature different singers.
When I heard that the "Five Nights at Freddy's" movie was going to include cameos and fan-made content, I hoped to hear one of JT Music's songs, but the group's songs weren't included. Hopefully, there will be an opportunity to use the songs in future installments.
Variant covers of "Agent 47: Birth of the Hitman" vol. 1 issue 1.
"Agent 47: Birth of the Hitman" is a comic series dedicated to fleshing out the origin story of Agent 47 and his handler Diana Burnwood from the "Hitman" video game series.
I received a digital copy of volume 1 issue 1 as a bonus reward when I bought one of the more recent games. Today happens to be the anniversary of this issue's release in 2017, and looking back, there's plenty to like and plenty to critique.
For one thing, I enjoy the art style and character development.
One issue I have though is that Agent 47 and Subject 6 look a little too similar. I know that's part of the point since they're both cloned from the same DNA samples, but in some panels, I wouldn't be able to tell which was which if I hadn't gotten story context from playing the games.
And that leads into another point. While I enjoy the idea of fleshing out the characters' origin stories, much of what's in this issue is a rehash of flashbacks from the games. Or perhaps the games' flashbacks are a rehash of this issue, but still.
Likewise, while the jumps back and forth between Diana and Agent 47's stories would work in a more cinematic medium like a movie or a video game, I think those jumps are a bit disorienting in the written medium, even one that's as visual as a comic book.
I also have the original version of the comic where the year 1985 is mistakenly used instead of 1989, but I actually enjoy the idea of having that minor mistake in my copy since I'm sure copies with the mistake have become increasingly rare as revised copies have been printed.
All in all, the comic is interesting and I'm glad to have it, but there could be some improvements here and there.
