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

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

Raineedayze Reads: The Secret History of Wonder Woman

Hello, wonderful readers!

Today, I have a special treat because I'm finally reviewing Jill Lepore's book, "The Secret History of Wonder Woman". 

Guys, this book was gooooood. Even though it took me FOREVER to finish, I'm so glad I did because it was so good!

The book follows the history, not only of Wonder Woman, but of Dr. William Moulton Marston, the "creator" of Wonder Woman. I have "creator" in quotes because, as this book continuously points out, Wonder Woman was not a one-person idea. Lepore manages to trace every bit of history that may have contributed to the development of what of the most beloved and powerful icons in history. Not only does she provide a history of Marston and the women who shaped Wonder Woman's personality and design, she provides insight on the critiques, the movements, and the ideals that provided a platform for Wonder Woman.


This book manages to shed light on the fight for birth control, the suffrage movement, the divide between psychology and fame, and the free love movement, all which contributed to every bit of Wonder Woman's origin. Even her clothes, accessories, phrasing, and individual panels were carefully created to combine all of the events and ideas that Wonder Woman stood for. As an avid Wonder Woman fan, I was riveted by the amount of detail and research Lepore put into this book. 

There are even some fabulous early sketches of Wonder Woman inscribed on the inside of the book, along with pages of Wonder Woman panels throughout the year.

This was not something that can or should be read in a day, or even a week. It is something I had to re-read, flip back, and think about while I read. I believe it is vital for any feminist, fan, and historian. I truly recommend it because this book made me actively look at why I loved the character. When I found out the sheer amount of fighting to make Wonder Woman into the character she is today, I was nearly moved to tears. 

This book made me appreciate Wonder Woman, appreciate the details of others who shape my life, and appreciate how far the feminist movement has come over time. 

Rating: 4.5/5


Always, Raineedayze

Captain's Log 10: To Boldly Go

Hey you guys!


It's Monday, which means CAPTAIN'S LOG! This is what I've been up to this week.

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Yeah. A whole lot of nothing interesting.


I picked up a lot of extra hours at work since we were extremely short-handed. It's also the busiest time of year, so I was pretty much in a constant stress mode. However, I did manage to geek out at home with my entertainment choices.

I've decided to take a break from my phone time and actually catch upon TV I missed, books I haven't read, and projects I want to do. For example, I love Star Trek. I mean, the title of this post obviously shows that, but I want to indulge myself in fandom. Before this week, I hadn't watched an episode in years. This week, I poured myself a glass of wine and actually started my Star Trek rewatch. I've always had a plan to watch every single episode and movie, as I haven't seen them all, and I think this is the year I finally go for it. I know, watching TV is a weird goal, but I want to be a better fan of what I love.

I also set my Goodreads goal. I plan on reading at least 35 books this year, though I'm aiming for higher if possible. You can follow my goal and set your own here. Let's read together and keep each other on track!


Here's what else I'm doing this week.

The Secret History of Wonder Woman by Jill Lepore. I put this on a previous Captain's Log, however, I never finished the book. Life kind of got in the way, but I picked the book back up and hope to make it my first book out of the 35 that I read this year. It's incredible and cover the suffrage movement, the free love movement, and the fight for birth control. There's such a rich history that grouped together to form Wonder Woman and I feel so much more connected to the character by reading this book.

Roswell (Netflix). Roswell was a show I had vaguely heard of, however I didn't know too much about it. In an effort to try new things, I watched the first episode. IT WAS AMAZING! The show is very 90's, very cheesy, but it's so addictive. It gives me the feelings that drew me into sci-fi in the first place. The feeling of mystery, fear, but also hope. I definitely recommend this show to anyone. 

Star Trek: TOS. I began my Star Trek rewatch by going back to the beginning and it reminds me of why I fell in love with it in the first place. I love this show and even though I'ma TNG girl, Kirk, Uhura, Bones, and Spock will always have a special plae in my heart.

Herocraft. I have a weird relationship with Minecraft. It's one of Jonathan's favorite games, so I do try to play a bit with him. However, I also get a little bit of motion sickness when I play for a while so it's a struggle. We've dabbled on this server for years now but finally started playing more on it since we have more free time. I enjoy this server because it is Minecraft with an RPG twist. It's pretty fun when you have a whole group with you, which we do. I definitely recommend it if you enjoy Minecraft. 

That's all I have for this week! What are your plans for this week? Let's chat in the comments!


Always, Raineedayze

Captain's Log #8: Get into the Groove

Hey there guys! I'm hoping you're having a great day!

This weekend I finally finished Life is Strange and, oh my gosh, was it intense! 



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I had to take my headphones out and play the game next to Jonathan at the end because it got very creepy! However, it was a fabulous game and now I am suffering from a game hangover.
  
Because of my obsession with Doctor Who, I thought I would be good at time-travel but this game made me question everything. And now I'm just..





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I highly recommend it if you haven't played it, but it will drive you mad.

Other than that, I spent most of this week just sleeping or watching anime and Regular Show. I needed a relaxation break because this past week kicked me in the gut at every opportunity. It was just a huge stress and I refuse to let this upcoming week do the same. 

Right now to get ready for the week, I'm working on my to-do list and making some pumpkin bread for Jonathan to take to work and to have here at home.  I love fall so much and I love having the opportunity to go pumpkin crazy this season!! I already got my PSL game on and am just awaiting more pumpkin themed treats in the grocery stores so I can go insane! And it's almost Halloween!!




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So before I turn this into a fall appreciation post, let's talk about the Log!

  

The Secret History of Wonder Woman by Jill Lepore. I picked up this book at Half-Price Books the other day and I'm eager to finally start it. I'm a huge Wonder Woman fan and I love reading about her backstory and creation because the complexity is rarely discussed. I can't wait to find out more things about the creation of my hero.

Kasumi (Vol. 2) by Surt Lim and Hirofumi Sugimoto. I'm extremely excited by this purchase because I've been looking for this manga for YEARS! I picked the first volume up a few years ago and was never able to find part two. The storyline is so good and I'm a sucker for a magical romantic manga. Plus, the artwork is fantastic. I can't wait to start reading this later this week.

Marvel TsumTsum (Android). This is my first venture into the TsumTsum craze and I'm absolutely loving it. I had seen a lot of my fellow nerdy ladies get into TsumTsums and after I saw Desiree tweet that a Marvel version was available, I decided to download it and see what all the talk was about. I got insanely addicted and then downloaded the regular Disney version as well. Jonathan jokes that I've become obsessed, but I can't put it down! It's so cute and fun! Check it out in case you haven't yet.

Regular Show (Hulu). When I heard this show was getting cancelled, I knew I had to catch back up with it. Regular Show has been one of my favorite shows since it came out and I adore the humor and artwork. I love stoner comedies and that kind of grunge humor (Daria, Beavis and Butthead, Ren and Stimpy, etc) and Regular Show has been able to fill my 90's loving heart. I'm going to miss it but am enjoying rewatching it with Jonathan.


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That's all I have for this week! Let me know what you're up to this week in the comments! Let's chat!



Always, Raineedayze

Dollar Movie Reviews : Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice

Hey there interwebz!

Today is the kickoff of a new segment on here called "Dollar Movie Reviews". I usually rarely go see new movies until they hit the dollar theater (about 2 months later). So DMR is here for your late and spoiler-filled reviews. Let's start off with Zack Snyder's Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice.

I feel like I can sum up this movie in about 3 words.

WORST.

MOVIE.

EVER.

I went into this movie with high hopes. I love the Justice League, I liked Man of Steel, and I was excited to see Wonder Woman, Batfleck, and the cameos by Aquaman and the Flash. Boy, was I in for.....something.

We start off with another retelling of Batman's origins and though I was enticed by the grittiness, it felt more like goofy than troubling. The movie also starts the story in pseudo-daydreamy flashbacks. I wasn't sure where they were going with it, but I didn't judge too hard yet.

We then get the first glimpse of Batfleck. Here's what I liked: Ben Affleck looks amazing as Bruce Wayne. If Bruce stepped out of the comics, he would be Ben. I was now getting excited to see how they would make this terrific casting shine.

We start off with Batman and Superman's first encounter. It involves a falling Wayne building, a kid's trapped mother, and an employee of Bruce's getting crushed. At this point, I was tearing up and was excited for how emotional this was making me.

We see Lois and Superman in a hostage situation that has Supes saving her and so far everything is pretty okay. Everything seemed normal, and this is the scene where, it's pretty obvious, we are going to have to remember the details for later.

After this time, it gets kind of fuzzy for me. We spend 2 and a half hours on the storyline of a senator who is against Superman's destruction of the city. We see the world make Superman be out to be a destroyer rather than a hero. But it focuses so much on this one senator, who ends up befreneming Lex Luthor. 


Lex (Jesse Eisenberg) is just awkward. He tries to come off as scary and manipulative, but mostly comes off as a whiny trust-fund kid. It's pretty grating to watch any scene he's in. This is not the Lex I know. When the original Lex (think animated series) got sick from prolonged exposure to Kryptonite, he still tries to come off as intimidating. This Lex tries to be a weaker version of Jared Leto's Joker and would probably sit in bed crying about his dad.

Anyway, he hosts a party where he invites Clark, Bruce, and (in the first appearance) Diana. Bruce, being guided by Jeremy Iron's Alfred, tries to get into Lex's private rooms, and then is caught by Mercy.

Mercy is one of my all-time favorite characters in the DCU. Her casting in this was great and she has such a strong character in other materials, that I was looking forward to seeing how she was going to contribute to this movie. She confronts Bruce and then returns upstairs. So....I guess they're building her up, right?

Superman catches news about how a small girl in Mexico is trapped in a fabric factory during the Dia de los Muertos celebrations.
Wait....WHAT?
A small girl, let's say 5, is trapped in a fabric factory in the late night during one of the biggest celebrations in Mexico? Somehow, this doesn't add up and if they're implying what I think they are implying, it's not cool. It's also something that is kind of a throwaway line, said in Spanish, so it is easy for many viewers to miss. 

Superman saves the girl and the entire crowd starts praising him like he's some sort of god. At this point, I'm kind of irritated. It's very clear they are using Mexican cultural attire (the calavera face paint especially) to make the scene seem creepy and symbolic. It's also implied that Mexican citizens are falling over to worship a new god. As a Mexican-American woman, this is pretty dated and really annoying to see in a huge movie like this. Our culture shouldn't be used as an aesthetic.

A lot of this movie is based on symbolism, and if symbolism were salt, this would be a mine. It shoves it down your throat and tries to seem deep while just coming off confusing.

We spend more time focused on the senator from before and then during a meeting between her, the world, and Superman, Lex plants a bomb in the building. Obviously, everyone but Superman dies but guess who else was in the explosion. Mercy!

Yup. They took a character who once ran Lexcorp when Lex was being a brat, who once kicked Superman's ass, and who is basically one of the best female characters ever created, and delegated her to a throwaway casualty. 

I'm already done with this movie, now but we still have another hour to go. That's another problem with this movie. It is about 3 hours long and most of that is spent on storylines not involving any of the main characters, only to lose those characters in an explosion.

We see Diana being pursued by Bruce because she's just so gosh-darn fascinating. However, when they finally get to the five minutes of her actually being Wonder Woman, we get no sort of background information on her. She's just some lady in a dress who has a lasso and can yell a lot. Also, we get an upskirt shot of her during battle. I almost walked out of the theater as soon as that happened. Upskirt shots are not cool anyway, but to spend the time talking about how cool she is and then to focus on her skirt during combat is just....ugh.
 

When I walked in the theater, there was a woman who was waiting on her boyfriend to get there. I myself, had wanted to see this movie more than Jonathan and chose to go there. There were groups of ladies next to us (who walked out halfway through). And our characters are treated like this? I understand it's Batman vs. Superman but even the random shirtless sequences of them was just mindless pandering. Why is it so difficult to have strong female characters?

Also, Doomsday look like ET covered in snot and our glimpse of the Flash and Aquaman was so hastily added that there was no context to it shown other than "Look we told you they'd be in here so uh....here". 

My rating: 2 out of 10, only because the costume design, Batfleck's casting, and the score.

If you saw this, what did you think? If you haven't, are you planning on it? Let's chat about this in the comments!


 Always, Raineedayze