Alan & Jono's Watching/Reading List: August 2023

Alan:

Hello Heroes!

August! The kids went back to school. I worked a lot on a script. I read so many things.

What I’m reading!

• Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson. I bought the books from Brandon Sanderson’s record-breaking Kickstarter campaign (that he ran the exact same time as my Moonstruck campaign! The jerk!) and I’m finally getting around to reading them. I liked Tress. Charming. Felt like a spiritual successor to The Princess Bride and Stardust. Which, if you didn’t know, make a great double-feature.
• The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England by Brandon Sanderson. A rare sci-fi book from Sanderson. Of course, because it’s Sanderson, the character stumbles into the one parallel universe in the multiverse that has actual magic in it. But the rest of the premise is very fun sci-fi, with a Jason Bourne-style amnesia plot thrown in. Also in first person, a rarity for Sanderson. It’s fun! Honestly, very much the kind of movie I’d like to make.
• V for Vendetta by Alan Moore, drawn by David Lloyd. I haven’t ever read the graphic novel. And I gotta say, I actually think the movie is an improvement. There are a lot of side-bits that don’t add much to the story, and I’m really not a fan of the art style. It’s very early '80s but also quite muddy. I don’t really care for it. Still a masterpiece of feeling the oppression of a fascist regime. But I think the movie (and Andor, holy crap!) did it better.
• A lot more that I don’t have time to write about. Mostly Hollywood insider stuff. What can I say, I’m obsessed with movies, and the people who make them.

What I’m watching!

• Not a lot of movies this month that aren’t upcoming episodes. I’m trying to get out to see Gran Turismo and TMNT Mutant Mayhem this week, but it hasn’t happened yet.
• Poker Face. It will shock you all to learn that a murder mystery show by Rian Johnson (Knives Out, Glass Onion, Brick) and Natasha Lyonne (Russian Doll and a hundred other things) is really, really, REALLY good. Super-fun. Twisty. I love that it’s basically an anthology show, where the only character who carries over episode-to-episode is Lyonne’s lie-detecting Charlie. Can’t recommend highly enough. It’s almost worth getting Peacock for. 🤦🏼‍♂️
• Better Off Ted. This was an under-appreciated gem in 2009-2010. Super-funny show that somehow is completely absurdist and totally nails corporate America. Which I guess tells you everything you need to know about corporate America.
• The Afterparty S2 is still humming along. I don’t know if it’s not quite as good as S1, or if it just doesn’t feel like as big a magic trick, since they already did it once. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still spectacularly good. Just not… life-alteringly good?

What I’m playing!

• A delightful little indie that came out in early release on Steam (PC & Mac! Yay!) called Thronefall. It’s a base-building RTS that’s really simple to control but deep and fun. And it’s only a few dollars! Strong recommend from me for the chill vibes paired with exciting action. I know that sounds impossible. But that’s what’s so great about Thronefall!

And…

Watch Movies! (And television, and read books, and play video games)

Jono:

Hi all! Been a great month for enjoying things! I've been getting reacquainted with Psych, a show that always cheers me up and makes me laugh. Just started Monk, as well, so I guess I'm in a 2000s crime-solving comedy kind of mood. In theaters I recently caught Barbie, Oppenheimer, and Mission Impossible and loved all three for different reasons.

I'm reading TIny Habits by BJ Fogg right now, about how to start small and consistent to create big change in your life. I'm also starting Brandon Mull's Fablehaven series with my kids, which is just delightful.

What have you been watching and reading this month?