Just a reminder: January does not count. It is a liminal period between years. And February is a trial month so don’t feel bothered if you don’t find your feet until March. Protect your peace.

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This month’s playlist:

Nosferatu

My most anticipated release of 2024 did not disappoint--though I only had the opportunity to watch it in the new year. A fantastic refinement of the 1897 novel Dracula, expansion of the 1922 film Nosferatu, and an improved synthesis of both. I expected nothing less from Robert Eggers.

But while I was obsessing over the nerdy literary details, my sister had a different experience. She told me she found no emotional connection to the characters and left the theater thinking, ”What was the point of all that?” So I feel I should watch this remake again and try to distance myself from the lore and trivia I love to try to judge it as a movie on its own.

Akira

A friend lent me the complete manga series over the holiday. I ripped through all six volumes in a couple weeks. Akira was already an exceptional film. But now that I’ve read the source material, I understand it is also an exceptional adaptation. The narrative is sprawling and mysterious--ranging from slapstick to horror. The illustrations are staggering. And it becomes clear that Kaneda is the most underpowered protagonist of all time. Even the entire power of the universe can barely handle an oblivious hothead.

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex

I’m a big fan of the animated film, an appreciator of the visuals of the animated sequel, and a reluctant defender of the live-action remake. I’m not digging this series. The animation is fine, but the story took too long to become marginally interesting. Far inferior to the miniseries, Arise. But better than the hideous Netflix show. I think it’s time for me to read the original manga.

God of War: Ragnarök

The previous game is a far better curated experience.

Ragnarök is beautiful, mostly fun to play, reasonably well written, and the narrative is engaging--truthfully the only element incentivizing me to see this game through.

Ragnarök is messy. It is too long. The experience is uneven and not well-paced. It has bored me on several occasions. The quality of the writing dips dramatically at multiple moments. There are too many unnecessary progression systems. The combat is inconsistent and sloppy.

I’ve yet to finish this game. My opinion is subject to change. As it stands, Ragnarök’s predecessor is the superior game. A tight, yet epic, experience. Better written. Better emotional moments. Better focused combat. Better length.

Ragnarök suffers from severe sequelitus. They added and inflated a bunch of shit because they thought it was necessary to justify a sequel. They only succeeded in diluting its potency. I’m here for these characters and this fantastic setting. I don’t need seventeen upgrade trees.

The Knick

I was singing praises for the series again recently and decided to listen to its perfectly anachronistic soundtrack composed by Cliff Martinez. Fantastic. Take a listen. Better yet, watch the series.

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This month I also reflected, a lot. I posted some reflections here, but most went into the physical journal for my eyes only. I feel I’ve acknowledged 2024 well and settled on solid patterns for 2025. Am I ready to face the new year? We’ll see.