Alan & Jono's Watching/Reading List: August 2024
Added 2024-08-28 19:21:52 +0000 UTCAlan:
Hello Heroes!
August. The end. Of Summer. Of Freedom. Of glory. The beginning. Of FOOTBALL SEASON!!!
What I’m reading!
I really couldn’t tell you. I’ve basically been chilling? Just lots of watch time this month, but I’m starting a Chuck Wendig book! Looking forward to not sleeping well for the next week or two.
What I’m watching!
Twisters - I loved this movie. Was it a great movie? No. Was it 11,000 Fun? Yes. I love movies like this, and we don’t get enough of them. Tonally, very similar to Top Gun: Maverick. Just Americans whippin’ ass! I’d happily spend the next 20 years of my career making “light” films like this.
Alien: Romulus - An above-average Alien film? Thank you, I’m in! The first two films are both in my top 20 all-time films (Aliens is in my top 5), and this one was scary, fun, and had a good time with the lore. Didn’t take itself too seriously, but seriously enough? Anyway. If you like scary, gory Alien movies, this one is pretty good!
What I’m playing!
Spider-Man 2 - Finally beat this. What a great game. Solid storytelling alongside the absolutely delightful play loop of swingey-glidey-fightey. Excited for the next one. Now if only someone would make an Iron Man game this good. Or a HULK game. Holy cow, that would be fun. Or a Captain America game like X-Com, tactical shooter-style, but your squad is the Avengers? Why do I have to come up with these ideas?
Watch Movies! (And television, and read books, and play video games)
Jono:
Hi all! How's it going? August has been such a wild month! I've caught some good movies this month. Harold and the Purple Crayon wasn't groundbreaking, but it was still fun for my whole family. I loved catching Coraline in 3D for its re-release, with the third dimension really making LAIKA's "build-it-for-real" animation pop. Alien: Romulus was terrifying and a very good time! I've also been revisiting Loki, Bridgerton, and Gilmore Girls.
This month's book has been Massacre at Mountain Meadows by Glen Leonard, Richard Turley, and Ronald Walker. Printed by Oxford University Press, I find it to be a more level-headed answer to the more-famous Under the Banner of Heaven, which in my opinion took rather extreme liberties with its conclusions.
Massacre at Mountain Meadows explores a dark corner of my faith's history, and I like to be informed. It also serves as a larger psychological purpose of uncovering how, exactly, normally-peaceful people can turn to extreme violence. It's a warning to all of us to beware of losing our compassion to fear.
What about you lovely folks? What have you been watching and reading this month?
Comments
i was curious if yall might do twisters- i thought that it was really well done and the quote that he has to her about the storm is categorized by the damage it creates- how much more are you going to let it take from you was a really beautiful and empowering scene. its as you've said before one of the reasons we enjoy these kind of movies is to take the journey with the characters and I think yall would have fun with it and would have some really great insight on the relationship dynamics with her childhood friend and the other chaser team. There's also a lot of fun parallels with the first movie.
NinjaFoxStudios- Allison Adams
2024-10-11 00:53:23 +0000 UTCLove the reading lists! I don't know if Cinema Therapy cast will see this and there's a ton on your list of movie reviews obviously! But recently, I came back to "Imagine That" with Eddie Murphy, and it'd be wonderful to delve into the child psychology of a little girl using imaginary friends to cope with emotional needs not being met. The dynamics and how they change between the child and father is endearing. So, if ever looking for more comedies to laugh and cry at and delve into some cinema therapy! That'd be so awesome to see! I love all of the reviews that come out! Stay awesome!
Austin Daniel
2024-09-16 10:39:43 +0000 UTCAlan, the x-com game with the avengers already exists, its called Midnight Suns. I have it on PS5 and its very enjoyable, it takes out the percentages (since super heroes don't miss) and adds in a card system that makes you think very carefully about when you'd use them, I highly recommend it.
Ryan3000
2024-09-02 17:25:50 +0000 UTCMy reading list for August: Spiritual Cleanse, Detox Your Mind, Body & Spirit by Jupiter production i have been getting into crystals and working on myself and my relationship with my husband it actually has been very helpful and inspiring what I have been watching “from me to you: Kimi ni todoke” it is a anime based on the manga series by Karuho Shiina it is about a girl named Sawako, who meets Shota Kazehaya, a classmate who treats her like a normal girl With his help, Sawako learns to make friends and come out of her shell. It is a really good anime and good manga series what I have been playing: “alone in the dark” it is a horror mystery game you play as a detective that entires in a strange world and tried to solve the mystery of the missing Derceto but you also have to survive the horror of nightmares in the darkness and end the suffering of the asylum manor These are what I have done for August and I already have a set of what I will be reading, watching and playing for September:)
Rena Nice
2024-09-01 05:14:34 +0000 UTCThanks for the recommendation! I mentioned it to my parents, and my dad said he's already watched it and really liked it. We've slated our family viewing of Open Range for this Sunday. I'll let you know how it goes, but between the cast and the genre, I can't imagine what there could be to dislike.
Catherine Ginn
2024-08-31 14:48:12 +0000 UTCMy reading list for August is long. Here are some highlights. I read the last two books in a series by Ellen Frankel, one of my Story-Power guests, They are The Hyena Murders and The Passover Protocols. Ellen's books give the reader a view of what it's like to live in modern Israel, which a melting pot of the disparate Jewish cultures and Muslim and Christians living there as well. I also read Time's Convert by Deborah Harkness and The Lost Apothecary, by Sarah Penner both excellent books. My husband and I watched a quirky mystery series based in Tasmania titled Deadloch. it takes place in a small town on the coast where the first man found naked and dead on the beach only leads to the discovery of many more bodies. It appears the lesbians have a vendetta against the misogynistic men of the town. Most of the characters are annoying as hell in the beginning, but in the end it was a good series. We watched lots of other series, movies, and documentaries, but I won't bore you with all of them.
Lucinda Sage-Midgorden
2024-08-29 19:01:41 +0000 UTCAlso finally got around to watch the Last of us-series, and I was blown away. Episode 3 was like one of the best short films ever.
Frida
2024-08-29 07:03:24 +0000 UTCI’ve watched Trap and and Blink twice in cinema. Trap was okey but like many other of his films they lack finesse and dialogue is bad… Blink Twice however was high above expectation! I really liked this one, it reminds me alot of Get out but still is a film of its own. As a directoral debut I think its fanatastic! Would love to see a CT-episode with this one.
Frida
2024-08-29 07:00:33 +0000 UTCJono, thanks for talking about what i'm sure is not an easy subject with the Mountain Meadows Massacre. I'm not a Mormon and only heard about it from a youtube channel I follow that occasionally covers old west history. I'm curious to know a little more about the incident but it's probably a difficult read! Glad to know the LDS church has done some work to reconcile with that incident rather than ignoring it.
Kyle Pocock
2024-08-29 03:13:45 +0000 UTCOpen Range, with Duval, Kevin Costner, Annette Bening, and Diego Luna is fantastic. A true overlooked gem and Costner's best movie as a director since Dances with Wolves. Duval steals the show. - Jono
Cinema Therapy
2024-08-29 03:01:00 +0000 UTCIsn't the 3D amazing? I'm not even a 3D fan in general, but I will see anything Laika in 3D just to be immersed in their handmade worlds. - Jono
Cinema Therapy
2024-08-29 02:59:13 +0000 UTCI've been rewatching friends and I also rewatched psych was my mom. I also read a few John Grisham books and wow can he write. And it isn't watching or reading but I've been really busy prepping for my first short film that I'll be shooting next week. It’s my first time writing and directing and I'm beyond excited! This is actually my senior project for film school and I'm doing it with a bunch of my classmates!t
Kate Larson
2024-08-29 01:29:31 +0000 UTCI watched Twisters in theaters three times and I am not sorry. It was so fun! This month I got turned on to an author named Martha Wells who wrote an incredible series called The Murderbot Diaries. Blasted through the whole series, loved every one of them!
Lydia Hartzler
2024-08-29 00:22:19 +0000 UTCHow fun! It's such a fun story. Break a leg!
Cinema Therapy
2024-08-28 22:00:22 +0000 UTCWe've been wanting to re-watch LOST (probably with our two oldest kids) but haven't had time yet! Some day... - Alan & Megan
Cinema Therapy
2024-08-28 21:57:10 +0000 UTCI'm officially very jealous that you met Sandra Cisneros!! - Megan
Cinema Therapy
2024-08-28 21:55:06 +0000 UTCI watched the final season of Umbrella Academy. It was ok I guess? They probably should have ended it earlier, but I do love the characters a lot so I’m gonna eat it up anyway. Also binged ”3 body problem” and ooooh that is exactly my cup of tea. I’m a bit obsessed with the Fermi Paradox. Looking forward to the next season. Just started reading A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. Haven’t gotten far but I can already tell that I’ll enjoy it a lot. Also started ”Silent Spring” by Rachel Carson, simply because it was referenced in 3 body Problem and that’s like the 5th time that book has snuck its way into my life so I’m just gonna go ahead and read it now.
Sara Wagiström
2024-08-28 21:22:10 +0000 UTCWatching: Coraline. Whisper of the Heart. The Cat Returns. Everything Everywhere All at Once, playing later tonight. Playing: Baldur’s Gate 3. Zenless Zone Zero. Just started Black Myth Wukong.
Watts
2024-08-28 21:02:33 +0000 UTCReading: - Finishing Cinema Speculation by Quentin Tarantino - I have a laundry list of movies to see now - Began The Mercy of Gods by James SA Corey - 100pages in and whoa! I went to the National Book Festival in District of Columbia and it was glorious! Met Sandra Cisneros! Watching: - finished Monk *chef’s kiss* - Snyder Cut of Rebel Moon - Furiosa (it really lags in the middle) - Longlegs - Trap
Lynettra
2024-08-28 20:55:10 +0000 UTCThe other day I finally saw Inside Out 2 and loved it! Saw Longlegs (didn’t care for the Satanism but crafted immaculately), Lawrence of Arabia for the first time in the theater (absolutely stunning epic!), Trap (so much fun, felt like I was watching Hitman as a movie), The Instigators (fun time but not a great movie itself), and Dandelion (shot in my state so I liked that but other than that wasn’t a fan). Haven’t done much reading outside of some manga here and there. I finally beat Pentiment which is an amazing conversation based RPG in 16th Century Bavaria about various murder investigations over the course of 25 years. Now I’m trying to get back into Persona 3 Reload be the DLC drops, Alien Isolation has been calling to me since the movie dropped, and Elden Ring has been giving me the stink eye since only playing it the day I bought it (oops).
Andrew Feistner
2024-08-28 20:39:13 +0000 UTCI really enjoyed Coraline. I haven't seen the 3d version but I bet it's a better experience! I didn't care for the book as much as the movie. I think the movie very much did it better.
KrissyArtist
2024-08-28 20:32:50 +0000 UTCAgreed. I'm glad they aren't trying to restart the series. It was really good!
KrissyArtist
2024-08-28 20:32:00 +0000 UTCI haven't been reading anything the last half of the year, but I have been watching quite a bit. Most of which is/was available on Netflix, and a few things on Prime Video. A lot of movies and shows have been things I rewatched. The most recent show I finished rewatching was LOST. It was my third time, and the entirety of the final season I kept blurting out loud in my apartment was the singular truth the final episode shows. Mainly so I wouldn't get caught up and let myself get confused like the first two watchings of it. Alan: Did you know they made a Hulk game years ago on the original Xbox? It's basically the Rampage style game of demolishing stuff just in a 3D virtual setting.
CajunDreamz
2024-08-28 20:27:29 +0000 UTCOh, I also just saw Coraline last night because I remembered Jono talking about how much of a difference the 3D actually made. I couldn't agree more! The 3D really immersed you in the world, and especially after seeing the Laika MoPoP exhibit, I had so much fun just appreciating all of the different textures and materials that were used. What a labor of love that movie is 💖
Kambria
2024-08-28 20:23:29 +0000 UTCCongrats on your new job! I agree that Punisher was marginally better than Daredevil in the TV series. Charlie Cox does an excellent job as Daredevil, though, and that fight scene down the hall was a masterpiece. I watched that scene so many times. So glad they're continuing their stories rather than ditching them.
SaucyJTD
2024-08-28 20:15:33 +0000 UTCI totally forgot about Longlegs. I'm so happy to read that I wasn't the only one disappointed with it! It started with such great potential, then it just went... meh.
SaucyJTD
2024-08-28 20:11:50 +0000 UTCRomulus was such a pleasant surprise! I went into it not really expecting much, but it's one of the best Alien movies we've gotten in a while imo! After being so disappointed in Longlegs, I was happy to get to see a good horror movie in theaters this year! (Well, I Saw the TV Glow was actually pretty decent too!)
Kambria
2024-08-28 20:09:50 +0000 UTCIt feels like I see a new email of the month’s watch/reading lists every week! The months are just FLYING by! I actually watched the horror movie Tarrot recently. I don’t think it was a very good movie, but it was a lot of fun to watch, and I really liked the story/concept of it. Also Jacob Batalon is just funny. I’m also reading 2 books currently: The Art of War and Assistant to the Villain
Kalie Shepherd
2024-08-28 20:00:28 +0000 UTCI’ve been watching an anime called Frieren! It’s about an elf who has lived for over 1000 years. She and her party had just finished their adventure and killed the demon king but Frieren takes her time with her party for granted. She later learns the repercussions of this and regrets not getting to know her party more after they all begin to pass peacefully from old age. She does her best to learn more about her current party and it is one of the most beautiful stories I’ve ever seen. I’ve cried so much and I’m only halfway done with the first season!
TheskinnyOne 1
2024-08-28 19:56:49 +0000 UTCMe getting this notification: "Watching/Reading List? Weird, it's not the end of the month... OH, HOLY HELL, IT IS THE END OF THE MONTH ALREADY." What the hell time? Reading: I read "In the Blink of an Eye" by Walter Murch! It was really interesting to read about how he views editing, as well as the transition period of going from Moviola and KEM to editing on a digital platform. I definitely enjoyed it far more than I anticipated and am glad I own it now! I just started reading "How to Avoid Falling in Love with a Jerk" by Dr. Van Epp. I already know that I will end up needing to read this at least twice through just to fully absorb everything. Already, in just the first few chapters, many of my issues that I've had in relationships were blatantly called out. Honestly? I loved it, even if it did hurt a little with how blunt it was. Sometimes that's needed for a wakeup call. Watching: A lot lol. I finished up to almost halfway through season 6 of 24. It's. Such. A. Great. Show. I'm not enjoying the 6th season as much, but I'm happy to persevere. This also led me to go back and fully enjoy The Bauer Up trilogy in all its early 00s glory. I had watched CTU: Provo already. Having all the context that I was missing my first time around made it a million times better. I'll happily enjoy going back to rewatch the trilogy again just to enjoy seeing you guys having fun! I've also just started a deep dive into the Star Wars universe, in world chronological order. Many thoughts, mostly cringe lol. I've been loving The Clone Wars movie/series so far, so I'm looking forward to continuing. I've also been casually rewatching the Rocky series on days when I want something comforting and enjoyable. Not something I ever thought I would type/write, but here we are lol. Twisters was WAY better than I thought it would be. I enjoyed it so much, and was so happy to have made time to see it in theaters. I'll have to make some time to watch Alien next! Playing: Nothing. I've been on a gaming hiatus since I've had a bunch of personal stuff going on. Getting lost in informational books and entertaining movies/shows is what I've really needed this past month. Looking forward to September, though! Soooo many things to look forward to! Thanks for sharing, as always! ❤️
SaucyJTD
2024-08-28 19:53:56 +0000 UTCI'm currently reading "What Love Is This?" by Dave Hunt to complete my theological knowledge of the Reformation. At the same time I'm also reading "Baptist Church Perpetuity" to fill in the gaps of my Church History knowledge. As far as watching goes, hubby and I just finished the Oceans Trilogy (AMAZING!) and we watched Stealth last weekend too. We hope to watch the DnD movies for movie nights this weekend, both the old one and the most recent one.
Amber Mason
2024-08-28 19:50:30 +0000 UTCI am currently reading the Fellowship of the Ring. I haven't been wanting to read the series for a long time but have never jumped ship until now. So far I am enjoying it, I love that some of the dialogue in the movies is from the book. Which I think is fantastic and very quotable. Speaking of the dialogue it can be a bit corny at times but I know its an older book and that's probably how people talked back in the day. I may be wronflg. I finished a book called Kill The Beast which is the villain backstory of Gaston (beauty and the beast) and I must say I really enjoyed it minus a few things that I didn't love. Overall it was pretty good though. I do feel out of all the disney villains he isn't as popular which I think is a shame since he is my favorite male disney villain. (I also have met a few Gastons in my life so I would say he is pretty realistic for an animated villain. There are a few others who aren't as popular that i feel fall into that category.) I am currently watching Daredevil so I can be caught up in time for the new Daredevil series and I am enjoying it so far. I still have enjoyed the portrayal of punisher over Daredevil. (Which is controversial I know. I just find his character more interesting. I don't think he's a hero or the best person but he has a very interesting and somewhat relatable motive. Hate on me all you want it is just my opinion. Although I do think both characters are great, as are both actors. The whole cast really) I am replaying Cult of The Lamb which is really fun and just waiting for a release date for MGS 3 Delta (Metal Gear Solid). One of my favorite and nostalgic games of all time. I will never forget watching my dad play it as a kid and playing it myself when I was older. I also am starting a new job this month and am very excited to start working on my art goals and signing up for some classes. My new work schedule should help with that which makes things easier. Hope everyone had a good August and has a great September!!!
KrissyArtist
2024-08-28 19:40:59 +0000 UTCMy bookclub is curently reading “The Housekeepers” by Alex Hay. Has an average rating on Goodreads but I think it could be fun (kinda like that show “Devious Maids”, but I might be mislead by the title and book summary). Anyway, we finnished reading “The Count of Monte Cristo” which was quite an eyeful (a mouthful but for reading? 🤔😂🥸). But it was good. 😁💪 What’s even better is that we got to see the new french remake of the same movie yesterday so it was fun to check out how they did the adaptation this time around. It was about 3 hours long but time flew by so we think it was a good watch. Have a nice ending of summer y’all❣️ Can’t wait for autumn book reading season. 🔥🙉😍 Oh, I almost forgot: I hope you guys do an episode on “It Ends With Us”. 👀🤐 And also, can’t wait for the Jocker sequel. 😃🃏
Ana Bulat
2024-08-28 19:40:43 +0000 UTCThat sounds so cool, being cast in a play. 😃 Good luck and enjoy!
Ana Bulat
2024-08-28 19:34:11 +0000 UTCI’ve been on a sort of Robert Duvall arc. My parents started out the month by visiting my grandparents, so we used FaceTime to watch all of the miniseries in the Lonesome Dove miniseries anthology, the titular of which stars Robert Duval; most of these miniseries were at least enjoyable and interesting, but only Lonesome Dove (1989) was a must watch. Next, I watched Second Hand Lions (2003) with my mother, and it was a tear jerker for sure; more of a family film, but a really good one that adults could relate to and learn from as well as enjoy. So far, the arc has been capped off by watching The Great Santini with my parents, which was a bit of a difficult watch because for most of the movie, Duvall’s character was such an ass and his wife was such an enabler and I just felt so sorry for their kids; however, the last act delved into the true complexity of Duvall’s character, and makes it so that the ending is as sad as it’s meant to be. Up next - if we want to continue the arc - might be a rewatch of The Godfather and The Godfather II. If anyone has any recommendations for what Duvall works to watch after that, I’m all ears!
Catherine Ginn
2024-08-28 19:33:21 +0000 UTCI'm super excited to watch Romulus. In a world where there's an Alien film every 2 or so years, this one definitely stands out to me. Knowing you've both given this a thumbs up gets me even more pumped!
Comity1992
2024-08-28 19:30:07 +0000 UTCI’ve mostly been focusing on reading/watching Murder on the Orient Express due to being cast as Hector MacQueen in a stage production I’ll be doing in October.
Castiel Destler
2024-08-28 19:27:27 +0000 UTC
