To All The Boys I've Loved Before - Movie Review

In case you somehow haven't heard, Jenny Han's To All The Boys I've Loved Before has been made into a Netflix Original Movie and it just came out last week!

The book series is one of my absolute favorite trilogies EVER and was one of the first super-hyped books I started reading when I started getting into book blogging. I actually buddy-read the series with Becca and we would constantly text back and forth about the characters (mostly sobbing and heart emojis).

So of course I immediately watched the movie as soon as it came out and I frantically texted Becca to see if she was watching. She wanted to do a watchalong on Friday the 24th, so since I was already 80% into the the movie, I decided to host a rewatch for me/new watch for her and OMG you guys!

So I wanted to talk a little bit about this movie and I know it says review up there but let's be honest. This movie was golden. Literally nothing was wrong. It was flawless. Lana Condor and Noah Centineo are literally Lara Jean and Peter and I just....it was just so good.

Also spoilers ahead for both the movie and books so...read at your own risk.

As far as casting goes, it was just spot-on. John Corbett as Mr. Covey was just amazing. I loved him as Aiden in Sex and The City and he actually was my dreamcast for LJ's dad while I was reading. So that just made my entire life. Kitty was so adorable and spunky. I honestly liked her better in the movie than I did in the book (at least the first one). Janel Parrish really acts like Margot and embodies the big sister vibe from book-Margot. 

And obviously, Lana Condor and Noah Centineo. Yes. Just so much yes.

Like...look at these cuties.

Okay let's talk about THAT scene at the end of the movie. It's no secret I am a HUGE John Ambrose McClaren fangirl (sorry Peter). I loved him so much in the book and the scene in the book with the 1940's dress up party thing.....asdfgksfgajksd. Okay. So what does this movie scene mean?? To me, it really pushes for a sequel and given how much people are loving this movie, I think it may get one. Maybe that's wishful thinking, but I really need some more John Ambrose, and the love triangle between him, LJ, and Peter "whoa whoa whoa" Kavinsky will seriously just break me. I need this. 

As far as differences between the movie and books, there wasn't a huge difference. I loved how cool Chris was in the movie as she was kinda (hella) flaky and meh in the book. Also, a girl who sneaks out of school to get Subway is literally the coolest. I think the movie  did a great job of sticking to the source material and with Jenny Han being so involved in the project, I think it really helped. Also, the Jenny Han cameo was literally the best. 

I really loved that they brought Lucas out more in the movie. He is a little fleshed out in the book but he was absolutely amazing and supportive in the movie. I need more Lucas St. Clair in my life like now. 

Of course, I couldn't talk about TATBILB and not dicuss the outfits. I mean...

look

at

this

The outfits were so great and Lara Jean is #fashiongoals.

As you guys can tell, I absolutely LOVED this movie. What are your thoughts? Let's chat about it!

Also, check out my review of the book series here!



Always, Raineedayze

Black Panther: Spoiler-Free Review

I saw Black Panther this weekend, and I immediately knew I had to tell the entire internet about it. Let me tell you, the hype was well worth it.

I am a pretty big fan of Marvel comics in general, but I never really read any of the Black Panther comics. I have to say, this movie made me want to immediately pick up the story and immerse myself in the entire history of this character.

This movie had an incredible cast of characters, including such an amazing group of some badass women. The women made so much of the story and were the majority of the warriors in Wakanda, which was so inspiring. Between this and Wonder Woman, my body is ready for the gym.

One of my absolute favorite characters in the movie was Shuri, the hilarious tech goddess sister of T'Challa, played by Letitia Wright. She was so funny and her gadgets were incredible. 

Also, can we talk about the casting of this movie?? Chadwick Boseman, Lupita Nyong'o, Michael B. Jordan, Danai Gurira, Forest Whitaker, Andy Serkis, Angela Bassett, Daniel Kaluuya, and Martin Freeman? And the music was done by Kendrick Lamar. So much talent in two hours was just insane.

One of the greatest things to me about this movie was that it was completely self-reliant. There was one reference to Captain America: Civil War, but for people who are just entering the MCU, this movie was fantastic as a standalone. I was really glad that the movie didn't rely on other heroes because, for many, this is their first introduction to Black Panther and MCU. 

This movie was so good and it hyped me up so much for Infinity War. I can't wait to read more into the Black Panther comics after this because I can definitely tell this hero will be a new favorite.



Always, Raineedayze

Movie Weekend

Happy Tuesday!

This past weekend (well, Thursday) Jonathan and I obviously went to go see Wonder Woman. I may have gone a little crazy with the outfit.

Not pictured: WW earrings, shoes, & socks

As I'm sure you have all heard, it was INCREDIBLE! I pretty much started bawling as soon as the movie started and didn't stop until we got home.

The movie was so important to me because I have been such a huge Wonder Woman fan my entire life and if you're a collector, you know how limited her items and presence in merch is. I mean, I have seen more Justice League sets featuring the Joker than her....so to finally see her get a fantastic portrayal and know that little girls will be able to see a superhero movie of someone they can look up to, it just made my heart swell. 

And now I'm crying again...


                                    

I also happened to catch Baywatch this weekend with some friends from out of town. They stopped by for a short visit before taking off to the airport so being able to chat with them and have dinner was really nice, even if it was for just a bit. They also brought us some super awesome goodies including this cat-shaped wine bottle!!!

Baywatch was hilarious and I really liked the relationship between the Rock and Zac Efron. It was super fun and I urge you guys to check it out.


I also started Riverdale and WHY DID IT TAKE ME SO LONG??? I've been a huge fan of Betty and Veronica for most of my life so when the show was announced I was intrigued. But I finally sat down and watched it and loved it! I'm only on the third episode but it's already insane!!

The rest of the weekend was spent gaming (I'm still grinding for the D.Va skin to no avail!), and reading "Everything, Everything" for our book club (more on this later). I hope you guys had a great weekend and I look forward to hearing your thoughts!!


Let's chat in the comments!


Always, Raineedayze

Captain's Log 11: May Wrap Up

Hey ya'll

So, if you've been reading for a while, you may have noticed I haven't been doing my Captain's Log posts every Monday. I decided to move my Captain's Logs to the end of the month so I can kind of recap my month. I noticed that oftentimes, I wasn't reading/watching/playing anything new because, let's face it, nobody spends one week on a game never to return!

So, here's my May recap!

This is Where it Ends by Marieke Nijkamp, To All the Boys I've Loved Before trilogy by Jenny Han, Fireworks by Katie Cotugno


Total: 5 books read

Goodreads Goal

Beginning of May: 12/35

End of May: 17/35

Overall, my reading for this month was very good considering all the other stuff I had to get done. I thoroughly enjoyed all the books I read and now I just have to make room on my shelf!

Movies: Lego Batman, Pandorum, Bicentennial Man

TV: Bob's Burgers, Family Guy, Bridezillas, Naked and Afraid

Jonathan is happy because I finally saw Pandorum and Bicentennial Man. I am so bad at watching movies! But both were very good and we both loved Lego Batman. 

I've been catching up on the new episodes of Bob's Burgers and Family Guy, and even though I've seen all of Bridezillas, it's my guilty pleasure. Jon and I both started and binged on Naked and Afraid and it was so crazy! Jonathan likes the roughing it aspect and I love the drama! It was nice to finally get into a show together that neither of us had seen.

Heroes of the Storm (PC), Overwatch (Xbox One and PC), Magikarp Jump (Android), Mario Run (Android)

Overwatch is currently having their anniversary event so I'm grinding for the D.Va skin! I've also been super addicted to Mario Run and have gotten pretty far in it. It's good to pass the time. Magikarp Jump was okay, nothing too special. Heroes of the Storm was supposed to be just for grinding for the Officer D.Va skin, (can you tell I'm a D.Va main?) but I love it now!!

Other Goals

I didn't set any May goals (oops!) so I will have to get back on track with some awesome goals for June!

May was fun and I can't wait to see where the rest of summer takes me!



Always, Raineedayze

5 Fandom Friday: 5 Favorite Animated Movies

Happy 5 Fandom Friday guys!


This week's prompt comes from Sally over at The Indoor Adventurer! Definitely check her out for some nerdy awesomeness! 

My love for animated movies knows no limits

Animated movies are some of the greatest treasures to gift our eyeballs. I am a huge Disney fan but I love animated movies as a genre. Fun Fact: I actually spent a while debating on changing my major to Art and Animation! So, in no particular order, here are my top 5 animated movies!








5. Tangled

     This movie is beautiful, funny, sad, and silly all rolled into one. I fell in love with Flynn Rider and Rapunzel and I am constantly singing the soundtrack. Also, can we talk about the lantern scene?? One of my favorite movie scenes ever. I shed a tear every time I watch it. 



4. The Book of Life

     I went to go see this movie with Jonathan as soon as it came out. As a proud Latina, I've always been so happy when my culture is portrayed in films (correctly...looking at you BVS). This movie was so fun and had so many talented stars lending their voices to the characters. Plus, the art was beautiful!! I would love to cosplay as La Muerte because she has got to be the most beautiful character ever created in a movie. Plus, their was a PIG!



3. Wreck-It Ralph

     One of my absolute favorite movies. So much so, that Jonathan and I dressed up as Ralph and Vanellope for Halloween (shown above)! I adored the video game theme and the sassy spunky personality of Vanellope!



2. Corpse Bride

    
 Obviously, Tim Burton had to make it somewhere on this list! Although everyone loves Nightmare Before Christmas, I have to say, Corpse Bride is my all-time favorite Tim Burton film. It's so sad and beautiful. I also adore the music. I feel this is one of the darkest animated movies I've ever seen and it definitely holds a special place in my heart.



1. Mulan

     Mulan is my favorite Disney Princess. She was so brave and I love that she risked her life and literally saved ALL OF CHINA just so her fater would not be called into war. Plus, Mushu has to be my favorite sidekick ever. 



Honorable Mentions

The Lego Movie



    I hesitated about putting this on the list since it was more CGI than "animated". However, this is a movie me and Jonathan quote all the time. Plus, Everything is Awesome has to be the greatest theme song ever. This is a keychain I got for my birthday from the Lego Store of my favorite character, WyldStyle!






Alice in Wonderland

 I used to read this book all the time. I love the original animated film, much more than the newer live action film. It always gave me a creepy feeling but I adored it! The characters are drawn beautifully. Plus, I love the mean flowers. 





What are some of your favorite animated films? Did yours make my list? Let's chat in the comments, or tweet me @raineedayze! 

Megan's Blog
Sally's Blog



Always, Raineedayze

5 Fandom Friday: 5 Films I'm Excited for in 2017

Can you believe it's already 5 Fandom Friday? This week we're talking about 5 films I'm super stoked about in 2017!

2017 already looks fabulous as far as entertainment is concerned. I feel like within the past few years, it's been so great (and expensive) to be a nerd.We've seen an incredible spike in superhero, sci-fi, and historical movies and I am so here for it. There's been great (Civil War), funny (Deadpool), strange (Suicide Squad), and not-so-great (Batman V. Superman. Check out my review.)

For 2017, these are the 5 films I'm most excited to see.

5. Wonder Woman.

I love Wonder Woman. I mean, LOVE Wonder Woman. I am a huge fan and although I hated BvS, I adored the trailer for the Wonder Woman solo movie. I can't wait to get dressed up and see Wonder Woman kick some serious butt in June when it's released. Also, I really dig Chris Pine and Steve Trevor. He's no Nathan Fillion, but he will do great as the handsome yet arrogant Steve. 

4. Justice League. 

In the same category, I'm super excited for Justice League to come out. I am immensely excited to see Jason Mamoa as Aquaman, because as a huge fan of the animated series, Aquaman always was so tough and masculine. I'm super excited to see the whole team together and it's gonna be awesome to see some Flash wittiness on the big screen. This will be great!

3. Lego Batman. 

More DC, I know. I loved the Lego Movie. Jonathan and I watch this movie at least once a month. It's one of our favorites and I may or may not listen to Everything is Awesome when I drive to work. It is so much fun and Lego Batman looks hilarious and adorable! 

2. Beauty and the Beast. 

It's almost here guys!! I love Disney and the original movie and Emma Watson. Basically, this movie already wins. This looks fantastic and I can't wait to see how they transform from animation to live-action. 

1. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. 

The first one was fantastic. I loved the storyline, I loved the characters, I loved the soundtrack. I adore Chris Pratt and I can't wait for Baby Groot. It's going to be fantastic!! 


What movies are you most excited for in 2017? Let's chat in the comments!

Always, Raineedayze

Captain's Log #9: Back in the Captain's chair

Hey guys!

This weekend I went to Geek Girl Brunch! It was an absolute blast! Our brunch for this month was Lord of the Rings themed and it was fabulous.

I didn't know we doing a serious face with the props, so here I am smiling with a sword

Also, $2 mimosas? Yes, please. 

I'm so glad I got to hang out with old friends and make new ones! To top it all off, I won a copy of The Silmarillion and an Arwen bookmark!

  
AND....

***SPECIAL NOTE***

If you are attending PAX South, I will be at the after-hours GGB multi-chapter event!! Come hang out and say hi!  


And now, on to the Captain's Log!       

Wayward Pines Trilogy by Blake Crouch. (Book) If your a regular reader here, you know I was super obsessed with the Wayward Pines TV show. Since we bought a Kindle, I decided to start reading more and the trilogy was free on the Amazon library. I'm currently on book 2 and I love it! It's very different from the TV show, so I like not knowing what will happen at the end. If you like creepiness, definitely check this one out.

Dorkface. (Blog) It's no secret, I love my fellow geek girl bloggers. I found Jemma on Twitter from some of the IGGPPC girls and I love her blog. From blogging tips, motivational posts, fun ramblings, DIYS, she has it all. I even joined #theGirlGang. Definitely give her a visit here.

Pokemon Moon. (Nintendo DS) We picked up Pokemon Sun and Moon and I absolutely adore it. This is the first full Pokemon game I've played so I love experiencing it for the first time with Jonathan who has played all of them. The graphics are great and I love the characters and storyline. 

The ClueFinders. (PC...kinda) Okay, this is a little bit weird, but hear me out. When I was a kid and AOL was a thing, we received a free trial of this game. I absolutely loved the thing and played it for months, even though there was limited content. I mentioned it offhand to Jonathan a while back, and I couldn't even remember the name of it, just that it had math and Mothra (this was the 90's). Also, yes I was a nerd obsessed with an educational game. For Christmas, he managed to find the whole game and gave it to me. I cried of laughter and couldn't wait to reminisce on this dorky thing. Turns out, my math skills have barely improved but it's still as fun as ever. Now at 21, I can see how cheesy it is but I adore it. (Even though I had to do a little maneuvering since it only runs on Windows 95.)

Demolition Man. (Movie) It's no secret that I'm so behind on movies. I really suck at watching them, even though I love them. Last night, Jon convinced me to check this out and I'm so glad I did. It's like watching Galaxy Quest with Rambo. I loved it. Cheesy 90's action goodness is my favorite thing ever. I encourage all my fellow geeks to check this out.

Saturday Night Live. (TV) Ok, this is kind of weird but I cannot watch SNL on TV. I get too distracted and restless. Plus, I'm not usually a fan of the musical guests. So, I tend to watch the skits on Youtube or Hulu. I love to just watch these on my phone while I put on my makeup or when I'm cooking. Plus, I'm loving all the female comedians on there. They are hilarious!!! Check it out if you haven't seen it. I was one of those who checked out after Tina, Amy, and Jimmy left, but I'm so glad I got back into it.


What are you guys up to? Do you have any suggestions for what I should read, watch, or play next? Let's chat!


Always, Raineedayze

Captain's Log #2 - Preparation and Disaster

 

Happy Monday, everyone!

I hope your Monday is better than mine. I broke my phone walking into work today, and it looks like it's gonna be a lot of money to fix it, so I'm not very excited to foot that bill. The LED is currently bleeding into the screen and though it looks amazingly trippy, it's pretty crushing.

We are also preparing for a family vacation this weekend! We will be traveling a couple hours to camp with some of my family and I'm very excited to see everyone, since it's been a year since I've seen both my aunts. Jonathan and I are huge campers, so this week looks promising. We are going comfortable camping and our cabin has WiFi and central A/C so it's not the "great outdoors" but I'm really excited to get together and be surrounded by nature! Expect plenty of pictures and a full recap when I'm back home!

In true Captain's Log fashion, let's get down to the week!

 Jawbreaker (Movie). This is one of my favorite movies and if you have yet to see it, please finish this post and WATCH IT! The movie follows queen bees Courtney, Julie, and Marcy "Foxy", who accidentally kill the fourth member of their group with a jawbreaker. Yes, the candy. It's hilarious, the lines are so quotable, and it features cameos from Marilyn Manson and The Donnas. Plus the main cast is stellar! Rose McGowan, Judy Greer, Carole Kane, Pam Grier, Jeff Conaway, and Rebecca Gayheart all contribute to this movie and it's absolutely peachy effing keen.





 Board With Life (webseries). So I just found this series on Youtube while looking for a gameplay video and I absolutely adored it! The series follows a gaming group though their weekly game nights. At first, I was a little hesitant because it seemed to pit the wives in the group as killjoys for a "boy's club" and as a female gamer, I was a little turned off by this. However, as the show continues, it really does provide character depth, growth, and it makes you feel for all the characters. Plus, the actors (who also direct and write the show) are super sweet and have a bunch of cool stuff going on. Without spoiling it, it's something that should be watched the whole way through. The two seasons can be found here.

Gameinformer (Magazine). Okay, I know this sounds like a strange pick, but when we renewed our GameStop rewards, we were offered a subscription to GameInformer, a gaming magazine. I picked it up and must say, I look forward to getting the other issues. It sparked really great discussions between me and Jonathan ("Would you rather have a year of DLC or a sequel to a game?" "Are we buying the NX?") and I just love having an actual magazine in my hands instead of opening up 20 different gaming websites to get varying information. If you're on the fence about subscribing, go for it!

  

Overwatch (PC). I wrote my last post about Overwatch, but guys.....the game is SO GOOD! I'm obsessed with Dva and this game is my type of FPS. I like FPS in general, but I really enjoy goofy storylines (think Team Fortress 2, Gotham City Imposters). This game has incredible artwork and the character backstories are amazing! A friend of mine really enjoys Widowmaker and Jonathan switches between all the characters. All in all, this game is AWESOME.

 

Machi Koro (Tabletop). I have an extensive review of this game coming up soon but to sum it up, I adored this game. It's a very simple tabletop game and though some may find it too simple, I really enjoyed not having to spend half the game confused about what to do. It's a great starter game for tabletop novices. Plus, the trash talk opportunities are wonderful. And, I got to make a lot of puns, so that was great. 



What are you guys reading/watching/playing? Do any of these sound interesting? Let's chat about it!!



Always, Raineedayze