Wondering what to do with your upcoming free time? Good thing we have some suggestions for what you should be watching, playing, reading, listening to, etc.
Lauren’s Anime Pick: Scott Pilgrim Takes Off – I’m sure I wasn’t alone in assuming this adaptation of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s Scott Pilgrim was going to be a closer take on the original series than Edgar Wright’s film because: 1) all 6 volumes are actually out now, and 2) the show has double the runtime to explore the character development/backstories that simply couldn’t fit in an under 2 hour film barreling through round after round of Scott Pilgrim vs evil ex battles. Which is why I was completely shocked that instead of doing the safe thing to ensure the happiness of the fans, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off fully “what ifs” the premise in a way that not only elevates Ramona’s part in all of this, but shifts focus away from the toxic element of exes feeling ownership over Ramona’s life to something more interested in exploring a better understanding of self, the importance of closure, and healthier coping mechanisms in the aim of becoming better people. Something I most definitely was not expecting. The overall tone and humor (and importance of pop culture references) that made this series what it is are still definitely an integral part of the world and character building, but I dunno, there’s just something more self aware here. Maybe not self aware enough to understand how mean it is to have Envy Adams’ one performance in this not be sung by Brie Larson given the decade long demand for the release of her version of “Black Sheep” (no offense, Metric, your version of “I Will Remember You” is great), but self aware enough to be a pleasant surprise with this new take on Scott Pilgrim’s story. Bonus points for bringing back the entirety of the film’s cast, as well as Anamanaguchi for the soundtrack.
Ben’s Movie Pick: Bullet Train – Bullet Train is an almost completely mindless, albeit consistently entertaining, action flick with a weirdly endearing cast of assassins, most of whom are trying to kill each other. Director David Leitch refuses to — for better and worse — let things like logic or realism keep his latest movie from having as much fun as possible with its characters, plot, or explosive setpieces. Not every joke or story beat lands, but they hit their target far more often than they miss; and the action keeps finding new, interesting ways to play out despite the seemingly limited setting. If you enjoyed the likes of Con Air, Shoot ‘Em Up, and the Crank movies, odds are you’ll enjoy Bullet Train‘s flavor of quirky, comedic violence too. The feature’s imperfections can easily be forgiven thanks to the sheer craziness and style it exudes pretty much through its entire runtime.
Ben’s TV Pick: Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix – Netflix has apparently found the same spiked well that Ubisoft was drinking out of when the latter developed Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon, because Captain Laserhawk is just as bonkers. This truly out there series tells the story set within a cyberpunk dystopia, sprinkling in and — as the title implies — remixing some of Ubisoft’s biggest properties; characters from Far Cry, Assassin’s Creed, Beyond Good & Evil and even Rayman all have a place in this bizarre world, albeit in different forms than you’d expect. I was initially thrown for a loop when the show’s trailer featured an assassin frog, but he is far from the craziest thing that Captain Laserhawk has to offer. The show also experiments with quite a few styles of animation (which are often reminiscent of retro video games), giving the series an even stronger identity all its own.
Now for the love of everything, MAKE A BLOOD DRAGON SEQUEL, UBISOFT!
Ben’s Video Game Pick: Horizon Forbidden West – Just like Horizon Zero Dawn, Horizon Forbidden West is one of the most visually stunning games I’ve ever played. From snowy mountaintops to arid deserts to lush forests and jungles, each corner of this post-post-apocalyptic world is full of breathtaking scenery. Forbidden West also adds underwater biomes, and is one of the only games I can think of where swimming usually felt like a fun change-up rather than a slow-paced chore. In addition to the new depth (heh) of exploration, Forbidden West‘s combat and traversal methods have evolved too. The new skill trees offer up more varied playstyles, and… Well, let’s just say that climbing isn’t the only way Aloy can move vertically anymore. Speaking of the red-haired warrior, Aloy remains one of Sony’s strongest and most memorable protagonists as she realizes yet again that she must save the world from a previously long-dormant threat, and uncovers more forgotten history along the way. All in all, I think anyone who enjoyed Horizon Zero Dawn will find themselves lost in Aloy’s second outing as well.
So what do you think about these picks? What content did we miss over the past two weeks while we were spending time with these? Be sure to leave a comment below letting us know about everything (both current and simply new to you) you’ve been consuming lately!
Middle of the Row 