Alan & Jono's Watching/Reading List: July 2023
Added 2023-07-26 15:00:08 +0000 UTCAlan:
Hello Heroes!
July! It’s happening! It’s hot! I went to Lake of the Ozarks for a family reunion!
What I’m reading!
- Zoe’s Tale and The Human Division by John Scalzi. More Old Man’s War books. They’re a really fun diversion, and there are some interesting bits of commentary about capitalism, etc. in them. Nothing spectacular, but they’re awfully fun. I love me some Scalzi dialogue!
- Burn It Down by Maureen Ryan. A scathing look at how the Hollywood system functions, by someone who has been reporting on it for almost 30 years. Makes me feel bad about my life choices, my chances of actually “making it” in Hollywood, and what it means about me if I do. Interesting, but a real downer for the most part.
- To PIXAR and Beyond! by Lawrence Levy. He was the Chief Financial Officer that Steve Jobs brought in to PIXAR to help take it public. Very inside-baseball film business stuff, but I'm super-interested in it, because I want Telekinesis Studios (my production company) to basically do what PIXAR did. It's not well-written. I'd avoid it unless you're a die-hard PIXAR fan and not just obsessed, but deeply invested in the film business like I am.
What I’m watching!
- BarbenHeimer, or, since I’m watching them in reverse order: OppenBarbmer! A wacky fun romp, and a thoughtful treatise on the place of women in society! I loved both!
- Mission:Impossible(s) Had to get ready for Dead Reckoning, and hoo boy, I love these movies. This is basically what I want to make. Globe-trotting adventures with stunts, twists, chases, and fights. Granted, I’d like to care just a bit more about the characters (save Fallout, which has some really solid character work). I don’t understand how the IMF works. I don’t understand who Ethan’s boss is. I don’t get why he goes rogue on literally every single mission, but you know what? It doesn’t matter. Each one is fun.
- Ozark. It’s basically blue-tinted Breaking Bad. Still, really solid acting by the cast, and really assured direction from one Mr. Jason Bateman, who directed at least four episodes a season. I didn’t love it. But I also didn’t hate it. That used to be most of my TV watching, but we’re so spoiled for choice now that usually, if I don’t love a show within 3-4 episodes, I just bail on it. Which brings me to…
- The Afterparty S2 started on Apple TV+. This was one of my favorite shows last year, and this season’s mystery is shaping up just as cinematically fulfilling, silly, and twisty as last year’s. This comes from Lord & Miller, who might just be my second favorite working Writer/Director/Producers (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, The Lego Movie, 21 and 22 Jump Street, and writer/producers on the Spider-Verse movies. Also produced The Mitchells vs. the Machines!).
What I’m playing!
- Literally nothing this month. Too busy. I hate it. I just want to finally beat The Witcher 3! Can I just get 100+ hours with nothing to do! And no kids around, because it’s definitely not kid-appropriate.
And…
Watch Movies! (And television, and read books, and play video games)
Jono:
Hi everyone! I'm watching the TV series New Amsterdam. Wholesome and uplifting if you like medical dramas. Also, the therapist on there is on my short list of excellent pop culture therapists.
I just watched the How to Train Your Dragon trilogy. I'm also revisiting my Harry Potter Blu-rays with my kids. I diverge with J.K. Rowling on some key issues in real life, but I still love the art.
I just read Zachary Levi's Radical Love, which is a powerful look at his journey to self-acceptance and mental health. I just started BJ Fogg's book TINY HABITS, about small changes in daily choices that make a big difference.
What have you been watching and reading this month?
Comments
Uuuh, I loved New Amsterdam, at least as far as I watched. That idea gernerally was really appealing. Sadly/porbably will ever happen in RL. Nonetheless a hopefull series with tis usual drama. And I am waiting for the day where the Flashpoint series is on the list. :P
YashaShiva
2023-07-30 17:35:51 +0000 UTCBook: Uncertain by Olivia Jackson which is a collective memoir of deconstructing religion. TV: I binge watched Ted Lasso this week because of last weeks episodes. It was awesome. I’ve told my coworkers that while I work through some things I’m approaching everything with the energy of Roy Kent which is helpful cos I work in IT and say F a lot. YouTube: I’ve just seen Markiplier has just started playing the new Five Nights at Freddie’s game so will go check those videos out.
Pam Jackson
2023-07-29 12:28:00 +0000 UTCHey, if you ever want to get back into Jane Austin stuff - aside from how much I want you to cover the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice - I highly recommend the movie Lost In Austin. That would be hilarious to watch you cover! Oh...and if you're willing to watch a very not family friendly YouTube show, Helluva Boss might be one heck of a ride for you too. 😉
Jenae Bakke
2023-07-28 04:47:09 +0000 UTCWhat would it take to convince Jono to do a reaction to the Billie Eilish from Barbie?
Shani Gribben
2023-07-26 23:17:34 +0000 UTCGot into the hype and started reading 4th wing, but also listening to the audiobooks of Song of Ice and Fire while at work
Oscar Cervantes
2023-07-26 21:16:06 +0000 UTCOoh, just looked up a synopsis for Fourth Wing and it sounds really interesting. Always love a world full of dragons!
Cinema Therapy
2023-07-26 19:50:26 +0000 UTCI have been re-reading crazy rich Asians love the book and I have been watching Rurouni Kenshin the wondering samurai which is a anime series I 100% recommend watching this anime not only does it follow the history of what Japan back then was going through but the story about Kenshin and how he overcomes his past and redeems his sins by helping others and being touched by others around him it's really good the book series is good too
Rena nice
2023-07-26 16:11:31 +0000 UTCReading, I can scarcely do anymore, but audiobooks are a godsend. I finished Emma by Jane Austen a while ago, but am contemplating starting the second Red Rising trilogy by Pierce Brown. Another dystopia series but set in a settled solar system with a color-based caste system. The second trilogy is coming to a close with the Light Bringer novel that released a little while ago. Now I can finally bring myself to go through the brutally depressing Dark Age novel to see how this second trilogy ends! As for watching, I've just caught up on Secret Invasion, and I'm enjoying it. Not my favorite series, but I'm eager to see the setup for The Marvels and the upcoming Secret Wars Avengers movie in a few years. MCU isn't as great as the Infinity Saga was, but I'm still anticipating great hype again in the future. I also watch a ton of YouTube, and I can't get enough of Bricky and his Warhammer 40,000 content! Language advisory on that one but the lore in Warhammer is soooo fun. And finally, gaming. Destiny 2 is still a side chick relatively, and I have been blasting through Pokemon Scarlet. Despite gameplay optimization being subpar, the gameplay is SO FUN. Zelda Tears of the Kingdom is amazing but Dark Souls Remastered is my current main squeeze at home. Armored Core 6 Fires of Rubicon is on my greatest hype list along with Dune part 2!
Chris Breezy
2023-07-26 16:08:36 +0000 UTCI just started this!
Lauren Wagstaff
2023-07-26 15:30:17 +0000 UTCCurrently reading a Bridgerton and Psychology of Money and other books lol. Liked Barbie more than Oppenheimer but both are good. Burn It Down sounds depressing and interesting. Alan: did you know a new studio is being built in NC? Ascent Studios. About an hour NE of me! I just love the idea of being on a film set, watching it come together. Childhood dream of mine. Finished Ted Lasso. My god this show is good. Now I can watch CT videos and not worry about spoilers.
Lauren Wagstaff
2023-07-26 15:30:07 +0000 UTCI read Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. Excellent fantasy book, the first in a while that I was super psyched to pick up every day. Also the first where I actually crushed on the love interest. Going to see the Barbie movie tomorrow.
Ayesha Ali
2023-07-26 15:18:01 +0000 UTCCatching back up with Jim Butcher amd the Dresden series, amd the next book in the Black Hat Bureau series. It's been all fiction and enjoyable reading for me this month. We've been watching the new eposodes of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds as well.
Traci Koehler
2023-07-26 15:17:04 +0000 UTCI'm on book 2 of the Bob-o-verse books, For We Are Many. It's fun sci fi with a lot of jokes around serious things. Also, as I can, playing Dave The Diver. A wonderful indy game that everyone should play! Just stumbled upon The Righteous Gemstones, and I love John Goodman so much.
HuskyHighlander23
2023-07-26 15:03:46 +0000 UTC
