Alan & Jono's Watching/Reading List: December 2024
Added 2024-12-25 15:00:06 +0000 UTCAlan:
Hello Heroes!
It’s been one of the warmest Decembers on record here in Utah. So… yay? Go climate change? Not really. It’s also been super-polluted (look it up, Utah has weird temporary air pollution issues every winter).
What I’m reading!
They Shouldn’t Have Killed His Dog - by Edward Gross & Mark A. Altman. An oral history of the making of the John Wick films. It’s a bit all-over-the-place, which is not my favorite, but there was good info in there too. Lots of fun personalities you get to know while reading the book (all the people who worked on the movies).
Travel by Bullet - by John Scalzi. Fun little novella set in Scalzi’s The Dispatcher universe, where people who die just kinda… come back. For some reason. It’s great that it’s never explained, people don’t understand it, and they just kinda accept it. I enjoy these as much as just about everything by Scalzi, my favorite currently-working sci-fi author(?).
What I’m watching!
3 Body Problem on Netflix. I’m really enjoying this! I haven’t read the books, though I hear only good things. And I’m really excited to see where the show goes! I’m particularly excited to see what Dan & Dave can do to wrap up a TV series, based on a book series, that actually has an ending already!
What I’m playing!
Nothing this month. Though I’m really excited about Sunderfolk. And I’m REALLY excited about Intergalactic.
Watch Movies! (And television, and read books, and play video games)
Jono:
Hey all, how has December been treating you? Hoping for a peaceful, happy holiday season for you all!
What I've been reading:
I've really been enjoying Mindset by Dr. Carol Dweck. This is ground zero for the idea of "fixed mindset" (the notion that your traits are fixed) and "growth mindset" (the truth that you can improve in almost any way). Fantastic reading if you're feeling hopeless or stuck in a rut.
What I've been watching:
For the holiday season I've been taking in a bunch of season movies, like Red One (not half-bad if you're watching free at home), Edward Scissorhands (I forgot that this is a Christmas movie, but it very much is), and A Christmas Story (such a classic!). What's more, this month Alan and I have reviewed Hot Frosty, LOTR: The War of the Rohirrim, and Mufasa on our new Cinema Therapy Reviews YouTube channel! I'm going to try to see Sonic 3 and Nosferatu before the year ends as well.
What about you lovely folks? What have you been watching and reading this month?
Comments
The books are good - they start off a little science heavy and seem like they aren't going anywhere and then BAM everything comes together brilliantly. I read all three this year and they're beefy but thought-proking.
Nova Villmark
2025-01-20 20:12:18 +0000 UTCI loved 3 body problem, just the kind of intrigue that gets me a bit obsessed. I might have to read the books. I’ve mostly read this month. I finished A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. It was a tough read, both in terms of the story and the actual… readability? I just found it a bit repetitive and slow after a while, unfortunately. It’s really hyped up but it just was not living up to the hype for me - even though it was still pretty good. I then read ”I’m glad my mom died” by Jenette McCurdy in like.. 2 days? Incredible. It stays with me even now. I didn’t even know who she was before reading and it was still so so good. My mother was a bit concerned about the title though, as I brought it home for the Holidays lol I also read a biography of a Jewish man who grew up in the same little town that I’m from, and that I spoke to many times. I knew he was a survivor of the holocaust but reading about it was tough.. a very special experience though, and I would recommend it. But it might only be available in Swedish (it’s called ”vad dina ögon såg”, which I believe is from a verse from a book of Moses and translates to ”the things which thine eyes saw”, and it was very centered around him wanting to write down his experience so that it may never be forgotten). Been watching quite a lot of Netflix since I started my subscription again. Squid Game 2 (meh), Black Doves (👌) and am now on Arcane s2 (chef’s kiss). Also re-watched ”Dash & Lilys books of dares” before Christmas (it’s just so sweet) and yesterday I squeezed in Love Hard which was actually good! I think I love it a little bit.
Sara Wagiström
2024-12-30 23:45:47 +0000 UTCGreat choices, though.
Cinema Therapy
2024-12-27 17:35:49 +0000 UTCI also watched Red One and loved it. It was fun. Watched all the holiday classics including Die Hard, Home Alone and Lethal Weapon. Watched “Is It Cake: Holiday Edition” yum! 🤤 Not much time for recreational reading.
Lynettra
2024-12-27 03:09:14 +0000 UTCNot yet, but I’ll look into it!
LG Alfonso
2024-12-26 22:40:54 +0000 UTCI absolutely loved Braiding Sweetgrass. Have you read her book about moss? It's wonderful, too.
Sarah Bowen
2024-12-26 22:07:27 +0000 UTCThank you for the recommendation. I have heard of this but not in a while. I will put it on my list. Are there other books you recommend? Along the same lines - or completely different?
Sarah Bowen
2024-12-26 22:06:05 +0000 UTCWicked was PHENOMENAL. I've seen it in the theaters twice - which I haven't done since Titanic!
just me
2024-12-26 20:49:11 +0000 UTCEnjoy isn't the right word here.... but it's only one coming to mind?
just me
2024-12-26 20:44:46 +0000 UTCYou might enjoy The Cross and The Lynching Tree by James Cone. I read it as a part of an ethics course - it's a gut-wrenching evaluation of how the white American Christian churches helped to propagate everything from slavery and Jim Crow to surpressing the Civil Rights movement. It hurt to read, but I'm so glad I did.
just me
2024-12-26 20:44:23 +0000 UTCI finished Sofie's world. It was an interesting read, though I missed the thought provoking questions from the middle that were present at the beginning and the end. Last week I watched Dune pt 1 and 2 on consecutive days. I wanted to watch them back to back, but I was busy with making gifts. I found them even better watching the whole story together. I find the science of Dune bonkers, but the story itself is beautifully written and heartbreaking. I think it's a better fall to the dark side and "this is jow liberty dies" story than the SW prequel trilogy. I plan to watch Arcane season 2 and The Dragon Prince season 7, though I heard only bad things about the latter and I didn't enjoy some previous seasons either. I want to find time to play Baldur's Gate 3, but I spend most time embroidering, so it may have to wait.
András Balogh
2024-12-26 20:36:00 +0000 UTCI saw Nosferatu last night and it was absolutely depraved and profane
Castiel Destler
2024-12-26 18:39:30 +0000 UTCRecently finished reading Caribbean Heiress in Paris, now reading Braiding Sweetgrass. I also like to read A Christmas Carol as narrated by Tim Curry at this time of year, but this year I haven’t finished it yet. My holiday watchlist this year was Muppet Family Christmas, Muppet Christmas Carol, Home Alone, and Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas.
LG Alfonso
2024-12-26 12:42:46 +0000 UTCReading: "Time on Two Crosses: The collected writings of Bayard Rustin". It's been an inspiring read of a person of great faith peacefully standing against injustice while seeing the humanity of those who enforce the injustice. For those who may not know, Bayard Rustin was a Quaker civil rights activist who planned the March on Washington. Through reading this book, I'm learning he did a lot more for the civil rights movement, too. He didn't get enough credit in his day because he was gay. He is now starting to get some recognition. Watching: Charlie Brown Christmas, Guardians of the Galaxy holiday special - so bad it might have been good. Maybe. Grumpy Cat's Worst Christmas Ever - terrible, but my son picked it and I enjoyed being with him. Sometime over the next few days I will watch a Child's Christmas in Wales and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.
Sarah Bowen
2024-12-25 20:31:10 +0000 UTCReading: A Christmas Carol by Dickens (very seasonal but WOW I didn't realize this is a straight up horror novel!), Making Sense of God by Timothy Keller, The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young Watching: Wicked for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th times (no regrets, I've cried multiple times every time), and I won't bore everyone with the list of Netflix Christmas movies but there were quite a few lol. Also the list of K-dramas (as per usual) is Record of Youth (ok), My Love From the Star (jury's still out), Destined With You (YES) and Beauty Inside (good).
Lydia Hartzler
2024-12-25 20:00:45 +0000 UTCOutside of rewatching Home Alone on Christmas Eve, I managed to catch Sonic 3 with friends. I’ve been meaning to watch Mufasa and Wicked, but at the same time, not really? Sonic 3 was great. Outside of some on-the-nose dialogue (then again, it was made during the actor’s and writing strikes tbf), the movie was great overall. Delivered on the action and laughs and the emotional moments were great as well, such as Shadow’s backstory and more. Jim Carrey SLAYS as both Ivo and Gerald Robotnik and his send off (?) was heartwarming and a crowning moment of awesome. Also delivers on the callbacks and references to the games and the mid and post credits scenes were a nice addition and harbinger for the movie ahead. Overall, Sonic 3 delivers and earns a S Rank!
Matt
2024-12-25 17:40:26 +0000 UTCWatching: The Big Bang Theory, Best Christmas Pageant Ever, (fun fact I’m friends with the director’s son because we went to the same film school) also rewatched The Phantom Menace and the old Miracle on 34th street.
Kate Larson
2024-12-25 17:22:02 +0000 UTCJust put this on! It's my favorite yearly Christmas movie to watch 🎄. Light the lamp, not the rat!
SaucyJTD
2024-12-25 16:40:06 +0000 UTCI rewatched the BEST Christmas movie: The Muppet Christmas Carol!
Ann Brookens
2024-12-25 16:21:41 +0000 UTCReading I have been rereading The Witcher book series since the announcement of the witcher 4. I am currently on The Last Wish the first book. One of my favorite books of all time. Watching I am currently on season 12 of Supernatural rewatch, and Seinfield. I also have watched some Christmas movies of course for this year. I am hoping to watch Nosferatu sometime this month or next I am super excited for it! Video games. I have been playing a bit of witcher 3 again which I enjoy but I am hoping for a release date for Metal Gear Solid Delta. I just started a new job this month so I'm excited for this new year! Hope everyone has a merry Christmas and a happy new year!!!!
KrissyArtist
2024-12-25 16:00:27 +0000 UTCHusband has been rifling through Netflix for interesting little gems and he found a series from Thailand, TOMORROW + I, which a similar anthology series to stuff like Black Mirror but a little more hopeful/less overtly grim. The Octopus Girl episode has some tonal whiplash but all of them have still been great watching. He's also found K-Dramas like Sweet Home (starts to meander after a season but still not a bad watch), and The 8 Game (a Squid Games-esque miniseries). I haven't read anything of note per se, but I've been listening to The Financial Diet's discussions of the books "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" and "Lean In", and how scammy/financially irrelevant they have really been to anyone who isn't constantly trying for an Ed, Edd, 'n Eddy-level scam as their bread and butter. RDPD is especially trash and it's having a resurgence due to the financial climate. I've been enjoying Ken play his way through the new "Like A Dragon: Ishin!" and he just finished. The whole LAD universe is very cool. No word on if we're planning to trust the TV show just yet. When he gets frustrated, his palate cleanser is a little top-down 16-bit dungeon crawler called Binding of Isaac that he's been playing for AGES. It's surprisingly difficult for it's simplicity but it's one of the games he's gotten the absolute most replay value out of.
Smidge
2024-12-25 15:42:49 +0000 UTCReading: I read Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson in just three days. Every second spent was well worth it! Been slowly chipping away at Batman and Psychology by Travis Langley, as well. It's a bit dry, so I have been easily distracted by many other "Oh, shiny!" Watching: I've a game going to go and see movies that I'm interested in that I think you guys will review on the same opening night as you guys. As such, I did go and see War of the Rohirrim and suffered through Hot Frosty. I didn't see Mufasa, though. I'm not really interested in seeing the NOT "live-action" Disney movies, to be honest. I did set aside some time this month to watch all three A Christmas Prince movies in honor of Alan's love for them. Did I love them? Gosh no. Were all three better than Hot Frosty? Hell yes. By a wide margin. So that's... something? I also spent yesterday, Christmas Eve, watching movies that aren't classically accepted as Christmas movies but are totally Christmas Movies. Die Hard, Lethal Weapon, The Long Kiss Goodnight, and Batman Returns. Time well spent! Most importantly... I have finished my 24 journey as of this morning. I'll be spending the rest of the day watching healing Christmas movies to emotionally recover lol. My next watches will be to continue Superman & Lois and to start The Office, finally. Merry Christmas CT team! You're all awesome, and I look forward to seeing how the rest of this year goes and how many awesome things will be coming in 2025. As always, keep kicking ass and taking names! 💕
SaucyJTD
2024-12-25 15:20:31 +0000 UTC
