Updates on Top 10 Lists for The Walking Dead (First Eight Seasons Only/SPOILERS)

When I started this blog, The Walking Dead was a major talking point, seeing as it is one of my favorite shows ever. Since then, however, I have become immensely frustrated with how the show progressed these past few years, and with its popularity gradually declining, I started to shift my focus away to other things. As such, I haven't done any predictions or other special posts for Season 9, even as many big things were happening. Despite Season 9 doing a lot to improve the show and managing to regain some of its former glory, I still feel that my desire to post about it has all but evaporated and it's going to take a lot more to bring it back. That said, I did have my top 10 lists, and pre-Season 9, each list has made substantial changes, so regardless of how I feel about the show right now, I still feel that I must put these out there. For this post, all three lists will be presented with the new additions and changes that I made. Note that these are based around Seasons 1-8 as Season 9 has not concluded yet. Once it does, expect a new post like this one if any changes are made. Now, without further adieu, let's begin:

Top 10 Moments

10. Escaping Terminus (Season 5 Episode 1 "No Sanctuary")

 9. Shiva and the Kingdom save the day (Season 7 Episode 16 "The First Day of the Rest of Your Life")

  8. Rick vs. Negan (Season 8 Episode 12 "The Key")

 7. Carol kills Lizzie (Season 4 Episode 14 "The Grove")

 6. The Death of Shane (Season 2 Episode 12 "Better Angels")

 5. Lori's Death (Season 3 Episode 4 "Killer Within")

 4. Carl's Death (Season 8 Episode 9 "Honor")

3. The Prison War (Season 4 Episode 8 "Too Far Gone")

 2. All of "No Way Out" (Season 6 Episode 9 "No Way Out")

 1. Glenn and Abraham's deaths (Season 7 Episode 1 "The Day Will Come When You Won't Be")

Top 10 Episodes

 10. "Pretty Much Dead Already" (Season 2 Episode 7)

 9. "The Grove" (Season 4 Episode 14)

 8. "Better Angels" (Season 2 Episode 12)

 7. "Killer Within" (Season 3 Episode 4)

 6. "Honor" (Season 8 Episode 9)

 5. "No Sanctuary" (Season 5 Episode 1)

 4. "Too Far Gone" (Season 4 Episode 8)

 3. "No Way Out" (Season 6 Episode 9)

 2. "The Day Will Come When You Won't Be" (Season 7 Episode 1)

 1. "Wrath" (Season 8 Episode 16) 

Top 10 Characters
 10. Carl Grimes

 9. Shane Walsh

 8. Maggie Rhee

 7. Glenn Rhee

 6. Daryl Dixon

 5. Morgan Jones

 4. Negan

 3. Carol Peletier

 2. Michonne

 1. Rick Grimes

And that's it for this post, guys. Tune in for more on the way :)

The Best of 2018

Well, a new year is upon us. Hard to believe it's come by so fast. 2018 has been a roller coaster ride in so many ways. It has also been a big year for movies, so to celebrate, I will rank what I consider to be the ten best movies of the year. If you would like to know my more in-depth thoughts for some of these movies, my reviews will be linked in the list. Also, if you would like to know my picks from last year, you could check that out right here. Now let's get started:

 10. Black Panther

 9. A Quiet Place
 8. Blackkklansman

 7. Halloween

 6. A Star is Born

 5. Incredibles 2

 4. Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse

 3. Bohemian Rhapsody

 2. Avengers: Infinity War

 1. Alpha

And that's it for the year 2018, guys. Tune in for more posts in 2019 and...

Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (SPOILERS)

What's up Danger...

Spider-Man is my favorite superhero. I believe that has been firmly established by now. However, I am mainly pertaining to Peter Parker and realize that there are so many more Spider-People out there, among them being Miles Morales. Overall, my knowledge of the character isn't as extensive as that of Peter, but I have always found him to be a cool character and a worthy successor to the former. When I learned that this movie was going to be based on him, I was excited. However, the movie has gradually changed since it was first announced, with it being revealed that it was not only about Miles but about the entire multiverse of Spider-People. This includes Spider-Gwen, Spider-Noir, and so many more. Now, given that this was thought to be a Miles movie, was the addition of all these other Spider-Folk necessary? Probably not. Is that a bad thing? In this case, absolutely not! This movie is fun, inventive, and unique, bringing a real breath of fresh air to those who felt the Spider-Man franchise needed to shake things up. Let's see what made Into The Spider-Verse work and what (if anything) didn't:

UPS

1. Miles is great. Despite the plethora of Spider-People in this film, Miles still retains his place as the main character of the story, which is just splendid given that he is cool, likable, and has a great character arc all brought home by a great design, solid dynamics with the other characters (especially Peter, Gwen, and his father and uncle,) and Shameik Moore's excellent vocal performance. Overall, I really enjoyed the way he was depicted and found his story to be just as triumphant and fulfilling as Peter's. Speaking of which...
2. The original Wall-Crawling Web Slinger is spectacular. At first glance, I didn't think that I was on board with the way he was depicted since I wasn't sure Jake Johnson's voice quite fit. By the time the movie came along, Johnson and this version of Spidey really won me over due to how different he is from what we are used to. His life is a mess, he's a deadbeat cynic, and he ultimately has really lost his way. This movie is all about building up Peter just as it does with Miles, and we watch his arc unfold without having Miles fall to the sidelines, which is genuinely appreciated by me.
3. The other Spiders were fun additions to the cast, and thankfully didn't eat up too much screentime than what was necessary. What's even better is that there isn't one clear standout; all of them are so different and unique that there really isn't a way to choose between them.
4. The villains. For me, these guys were the most surprising thing about the whole movie. While I was firmly on board with Kingpin being the main antagonist, I didn't think he could ever reach the heights set by Vincent D'Onofrio in Daredevil, which makes it even crazier to see that he not only matches that, but can prove to be even darker by killing the Peter Parker in Miles' universe and having a tragic backstory that shapes his goals in the movie. In addition to him, we have the Prowler, who provides a hefty amount of emotional drama for Miles while also having a kickass design and Mahershala Ali's voice. Alongside them are a female version of Doctor Octopus, Tombstone (who is Kingpin's hitman, which I think is a nice touch,) and a bunch of other classic baddies that serve their purpose well. They may not be the standouts, but they more than fulfill their roles. 
5. I think this article speaks for itself...

DOWNS

There really isn't anything to mention. I would have preferred a Miles solo movie but what we got more than made up for that. 

OVERALL

I loved Into The Spider-Verse. It's definitely one of my favorite Spider-Man movies by far, maybe even up there with some of the best live-action ones.

And that's it for this post, guys. Tune in for my Best of 2018 list to close out the year and then it's onto 2019.

Retro-Reviews Christmas Special: Die Hard (SPOILERS)

Yippee Ki-Yay, Mother Fucker...

Around the good times of Christmas, there's always one Christmas special people hold near and dear to their heart. From It's A Wonderful Life to How The Grinch Stole Christmas, there's a variety of classics to choose from. However, some people have picked a rather unique choice to view during the holidays, and that is none other than Die Hard, one of the greatest, if not the all-time best, action movies ever made. There's a lot to love about this film, and given that it's set during the big day and littered with references galore, it does make sense why people would see this as their go-to pastime for Christmas, even if many, including Bruce Willis himself, say otherwise. Overall, in this very merry post, I will go over what makes Die Hard great and, if necessary, what doesn't:

UPS

1. Bruce Willis as John McClane. It's easy to say that Willis stands alongside heavy hitters like Arnold Schwarzenegger as the definitive live-action star, and it is this role that solidifies it. What makes McClane such a perfect protagonist is that he isn't some swash-buckling hero who swoops into danger to rescue the girl, defeat the villain, and save the day; he's just a normal guy, much like anyone else, with his own set of strengths and weaknesses who finds himself unexpectedly thrown into danger. This idea of him being the unwitting hero makes for some of the funniest and most intense scenes in the movie, as you really root for him to succeed, even when the stakes get higher and higher and his chance for survival gets slimmer and slimmer. Overall, McClane is a great hero, and Willis captures that perfectly. Of course, every great hero must always have their perfect villain, and fortunately we have that in the form of...
2. Hans Gruber. Played by the late great Alan Rickman, Hans really is the best villain for this film and the perfect counterpart for McClane. In sharp contrast to Willis' rugged, foul-mouthed, hot-headed protagonist, Rickman plays Gruber with such calm, cool, sophisticated suave and is such a devious and calculating mastermind that he really makes him just as enjoyable to watch. His back-and-forth banter with Willis is excellent, and he also has stand out moments of his own. Overall, Hans is a great bad guy, and he really gives McClane a run for his money.
3. Honestly, this movie has all the makings of a perfect action movie, Aside from having the best hero and villain, the script is filled with such amazing, sharp, and witty dialogue that is so immensely quotable, and along with that we have pulse-pounding action and a great place of setting with the Nakatomi Plaza, which really feels like its own little world thanks to the filmmakers exploring every little corner of the building. This film just really makes the most of every single detail. 

DOWNS

1. While it isn't enough to detract from the movie as a whole, I do wish the cops were portrayed as being a little more competent. Sure, there wasn't much they could do, and Hans playing them all only made things worse, but the fact that they had no idea what was going on yet still went out of their way to not trust John and be a thorn in his side became very infuriating, as if the poor guy wasn't going through enough already. John even lampshades this in a very hilarious way. Overall, I can't help but wonder if everyone was like Powell, the movie would be a lot shorter.

OVERALL

Die Hard is a perfect action movie...and yes, I consider it a Christmas movie. You can't go wrong with this one.

And that's it for this special, guys. Tune in for more on the way and above all...

Bohemian Rhapsody (SPOILERS)

Is this the real life?...

Among the Beetles and the Rolling Stones, Queen is a British rock band many won't soon forget, so it's fitting that we get a movie about them. However, reviews have been rather divisive, with many praising Rami Malak's performance while criticizing the movie for being a cliché and generic biopic with a ton of inaccuracies. With that being said, what were my thoughts? Personally, I absolutely loved Bohemian Rhapsody, and here's why:

UPS

1. Rami Malak. Even if this movie was an utter disaster, I think he would still be its silver lining. He may not be a spitting image of Freddie Mercury, but in his performance he embodies the icon in every single way. He really captures the essence of this man, who lived a fulfilling yet troubled life, and we adore him, feel for him, and are outright amazed by him. It really is a performance to remember, maybe even the performance of the year for me. 
2. The music. Of course I cannot write a review for a movie about Queen without mentioning their music, and I think this movie gives the right amount of exposure. They capture every famous hit and show how some of them were made. The making of "Bohemian Rhapsody" is a particular highlight. If you're going in expecting to hear many of the band's greatest hits, then you're definitely in the right place. 
3. The Live Aid Concert sequence. Aside from Rami Malak, this was the moment that had all the people talking and for good reason. It is the absolute best way to close out this movie and a truly glorious spectacle to behold. I don't have any words to describe it. You just need to see it for yourself. 

DOWNS

There was nothing in this movie that really brought it down for me.

OVERALL

Bohemian Rhapsody was a great movie, definitely a contender for best of the year for me. It may not be completely accurate to Mercury and the band's lives, but it's still a worthy way to commemorate their legacy, and I'm sure anyone who loves the band will find it enjoyable. 

And that's it for this blog, guys. Tune in for more on the way :)

In The Mind Of: Rick Grimes (SPOILERS)

They're fucking with the wrong people...

With The Walking Dead's ninth season entering its midseason hiatus, I feel that now would be a good time to reflect on the show's former main character. For the past eight seasons, Rick was the centerpiece of the story; the one we were meant to follow as this show took us on a journey through his eyes. For those eight seasons, we watched a man grow from a young, idealistic sheriff into a more hardened, determined, and at times ruthless survivor. He became a man who would do whatever it takes to protect his family and his group, and even with that noble goal in mind, he was often tested on how far he'd go to make sure that was the case. His humanity began being put into question, and I was often questioning whether we were seeing our protagonist morph into a villain. At the end of the day, though, he was always able to bounce back from every hurdle he's faced and was ultimately able to make a new safe haven a reality for his people. 

By the end, Rick was someone who, while losing everything that defined his past (including his wife, son, and best friend,) was able to find new meaning in this dark and treacherous world. Andrew Lincoln brought a true humanity to the role and it's going to be hard to watch the show without him. That being said, he has survived his final episode, so while we may never see him return to the show, his story is far from over.