Spot Reviews 09/06/24
Sep 06 2024
Madame Web (2024) [/] Netflix movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Hard luck paramedic Cassandra Webb (Dakota Johnson) starts developing precognitive powers which she immediately has to use to save three girls -- Julia (Sydney Sweeney), Anaya (Isabela Merced), and Mattie (Celeste O'Connor) -- from the spider-powered supervillain Ezekiel Sims (Tahar Rahim). The movie is about Cassandra coming to grips with her powers and responsibilities (although a paramedic Cassandra is a rather "that's none of my business" sort of loner). The three girls don't get to do much which I suppose sets up future tv series or movies. That first third of the movie is quite boring but it gets better and the final act is fairly exciting.
Tetris Beat (2021) [/] Apple Arcade's version of Tetris. It's Tetris but you want to drop the blocks to the rhythm of the song which makes it very hard, especially without a controller. There is also a classic mode. Oh, it's no longer in Apple Arcade.
Monster Hunter Stories+ (2021) [/] Apple Arcade version of MH Stories ($20) with no changes. A third-person JRPG set in the world of Monster Hunter where you play a kid capturing and taming monsters. It plays better with a twin-stick controller than using the virtual sticks.
The Last Astronaut (2019) [/] Science fiction novel by David Wellington. In 2034 an extra-solar asteroid is found to be decelerating towards Earth which means it's Humankind's first alien contact. Unfortunately with NASA scaled down to almost no budget they have to put a middle-aged Sally Jansen, who led the last NASA manned mission and it ended in disaster, in charge of a crew with three non-astronauts. Oh and it turns out they have to compete with KSpace, a commercial space exploration company, who is sending their own ship with a three-person crew... Once they get inside it's a very alien environment and there's the mystery of whether or not the aliens are friendly. It's the kind of setup I should like but the tone is a bit more horror than wonder so in the end I'm ambivalent about the story.
Morey's Fine Fish & Seafood - Wild Alaska Salmon Seasoned Grill [+] Individually wrapped salmon fillets already seasoned. Cook in a toaster oven for 30 minutes (from frozen) and it comes out very tasty and juicy and goes well with plain rice.
Tetris Beat (2021) [/] Apple Arcade's version of Tetris. It's Tetris but you want to drop the blocks to the rhythm of the song which makes it very hard, especially without a controller. There is also a classic mode. Oh, it's no longer in Apple Arcade.
Monster Hunter Stories+ (2021) [/] Apple Arcade version of MH Stories ($20) with no changes. A third-person JRPG set in the world of Monster Hunter where you play a kid capturing and taming monsters. It plays better with a twin-stick controller than using the virtual sticks.
The Last Astronaut (2019) [/] Science fiction novel by David Wellington. In 2034 an extra-solar asteroid is found to be decelerating towards Earth which means it's Humankind's first alien contact. Unfortunately with NASA scaled down to almost no budget they have to put a middle-aged Sally Jansen, who led the last NASA manned mission and it ended in disaster, in charge of a crew with three non-astronauts. Oh and it turns out they have to compete with KSpace, a commercial space exploration company, who is sending their own ship with a three-person crew... Once they get inside it's a very alien environment and there's the mystery of whether or not the aliens are friendly. It's the kind of setup I should like but the tone is a bit more horror than wonder so in the end I'm ambivalent about the story.
Morey's Fine Fish & Seafood - Wild Alaska Salmon Seasoned Grill [+] Individually wrapped salmon fillets already seasoned. Cook in a toaster oven for 30 minutes (from frozen) and it comes out very tasty and juicy and goes well with plain rice.