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[Harleen]

Harleen by Stjepan Šejić. This one took me by surprise. A very good and complex retelling of Harley Quinn's beginnings. Her relationship to the Joker is especially interesting. The book strikes a good balance between showing why it's far from a healthy relationship and how she can believe it is. Much like Batman's trauma, it's hard decide wether it's made her free or in a cage: in her quest/hope to cure a person (and perhaps herself) who's essentially a big bad wolf. Stjepan has made a really good job making sure there's no straight up answer to this, and without her loosing her agency --even when she's loosing it.

I'd also like recommend the youtube channel The deluxe version's fantastic job presenting the beauty of the hardcover edition of the book https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3mW6jKzX3U

Listening through the whole 7h of The Stooges - Complete Funhouse sessions on spotify.

Quite special listening to how my all time favorite album got recorded.

[Thinking, Fast and Slow]

Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman. Picked up a trick or two from this one. The book centers around the idea of thoughts being emotional or logical, and how those two are working together: often with excercises. My favorite one being "A bat and a ball cost $1.10 in total. The bat costs $1.00 more than the ball. How much does the ball cost?" which made me go Aha! quite the bit.

A good book. Especially since I'm about to start reading a book on cognitive behavioral therapy next

Might give Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain a try someday. Perhaos Blood Omen 2 as well.

I have a lot of fond memories for that series, and I would definitely recommend playing Blood Omen 2 to expand upon the story, from Kain's POV.
If I recall, it was released quite close to Soul Reaver 2 and they complimented each other very well (both featuring the voice talents of the late, great René Auberjonois).

I'll look for both during a steam or gog.com sale

Would be interesting to see Kain's beginnings. He became more and more interesting and many sided as the story went on.

Ive heard that BO2s gameplay is quite similar to SR1, especially when it comes to puzzle heavy boss fights.

[Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1-2, Defiance]

Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1-2, Defiance

Soul reaver is a classic in my book. Finished it numerous times. Still a very unique experience with it's gameworld morphing between the live world and spiritual realm. Outside the block puzzles, it hard to believe it was a psx game. Well written with a fantastic voice performances. Especially the fallen vampire/zombie (and main character) Raziel.

Soul reaver 2 was a first for me. Propably a last as well. The story and voice performances are ace, but I didn't like the gameplay. Too big and empty enviroments, with too few save points all too far between (came close to drive me crazy trying to finish before bed time). The fighting feels cheap, easy and weightless. Was really hoping to like this game. I took comfort in really liking the story. The end twist especially. Pure brilliance. I might give it another chance in a couple if years.

Defiance was another first, and luckily had all and all okay  gameplay. The fighting is a bit repetive and easy , but has weight. Biggest hurdle is the camera. The worst I've battled (and I've played a fair share of ps1-2 era 3d platform games hehe). Luckily I got used to it, because as with Soul Reaver 2 the story and performances makes the frustration worth it, and luckily it wasn't as painful as the former game. The ending is also as good at it's. Especially for the big bad anti hero vampire tyrant Kain. .

Soul Reaver intro https://youtu.be/4DOKzTHaPfM
Soul Reaver 2 trailer https://youtu.be/D0crSCNXXss
Defiance trailer https://youtu.be/387hULWKC9E

I'm likely to give Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain a try sometime soon. Not having played that one 

[The Ward]

Another John Carpenter double bill

The Ward Went in very low expectations. Heard it was bad. Wasn't that bad to be honest. Nothing mind blowing, but an okay film to watch and talk over with a couple of buddies.

Cigarette Burns Felt like Carpenter doing a David Lynch film. Some really cool and imaginative scenes. Didn't find it scary at all, but I really liked it. Felt like a follow up to Mouth of Madness.

[Spec Ops: The line]

Spec Ops: The line Heard a bunch of this one. Good things. Has an interesting setting (Dubai drowned in a sand storm) and scene or two which I haven't seen in other games, but I can't say it grabbed nearly as much as I hoped it would. Neither it's gears of war cover shooting or apocalypse now with a twist story. But I can appreciate what they set out to do with the game.

Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIoJnMT3yUI

Which difficulty level did you play on? I found it to become much more fun when playing on hard. Basically forcing me to toy around with the vigors and weapons (rather than just using my favorites, the rifle and machinegun). Especially on the lady comstock ghost level. Made me come up with a brilliant combination.

I probably played on Normal because that's usually my default, but I honestly can't say for sure.  It was a long time ago.  What I remember with Infinite is there being a succession of set pieces over and over and over again.  I don't think a harder difficulty would have relieved the tedium for me.  It's not my particular cup of tea.

I actually had some similar ideas about the combat in the game, but playing on a harder difficulty opened it up for me.

But as you say, might not be your cup of tea.

[Bioshock 2]

I have only played Bioshock 1 and Bioshock Infinite and only completed the latter.  The settings are nice, especially Infinite which looks fantastic (I love that style of architecture), but I found the gameplay to be utterly tedious.  It was really disappointing because I liked so much about it, but it didn't make up for the feeling that I was just slogging my way through.  I think I stuck with Infinite because of it's rollercoaster mechanics.

Which difficulty level did you play on? I found it to become much more fun when playing on hard. Basically forcing me to toy around with the vigors and weapons (rather than just using my favorites, the rifle and machinegun). Especially on the lady comstock ghost level. Made me come up with a brilliant combination.

Gave Bioshock 2 a try this morning. Tried at least. Constantly crashing on my PC, and I'm not a fan of the art direction they went with. Everything is more grey, and the enemy characters look more realistically proportioned compared to BS1 and Infinite. Also feels a bit samey to BS1. I didn't think playing as a big daddy felt that different from Jack outside new toys, heavier footsteps and being able to traverse the ocean now and then. Especially not with everyone making conversation to me as if I'm a person and not a big daddy: a scary and heavy diver suit clad frankenstein/minotaur who sounds like a drunk hellish cow https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBHDPwJeO6g

[Bioshock, Bioshock: Infinite, Bioshock: Burial at sea]

Bioshock, Bioshock: Infinite, Bioshock: Burial at sea Bioshock is one of those games which I manage to buy on every system I own which it's available on. PC DVD, Xbox360, PS3, PS4, GOG.com and the other day STEAM (the collection went on a sale, which made it cheaper than than buying the B:I dlc separately). Wouldn't surprise me if I'll end up buying it on Switch either. It's not a perfect game (at least not gameplay wise) but it's setting is fenomenal. Get's me everytime when I'm called out as a looter by the big baddie Andrew Ryan (a mix of Captain Nemo, Ayn Rand and Charles Foster Kane) when I'm doing just that. Picking up everything I can from the crazies I've just mowed down with a shotgun and electric shocks. It doesn't feel like Ryan is my enemy, rather I'm his by coming uninvited to his city.

As for Bioshock infinite, I really really like it's gunplay and roller coaster shenanigans. The story and setting isn't as gripping as Bioshocks, but it has a similar quality of ambiguity. Especially regarding what's keeping the heaven-esque city in the clouds (which I'm shooting to hell) afloat. It does that without being too on the nose. Rather it's smaller details which carries the point across. And as with the looting in the first game, I feel the violence in Inifnite has a similar thing going for it. The way it manages to play into the narrative.

While I've played Bioshock and Bioshock: Infinite countless times it's only the second time I've cleared the Burial at sea DLC of Infinite. First time playing it I really didn't have the patience for it, and mostly ran through it for the story. This time I had more patience and enjoying it for what the the two episode DLC does differently. Especially episode 2:s focus on stealth. Episode 1 feels more like the first game's gun play. One thing I wish they'd done is to include a map in the menu, instead of using the green arrow from infinite. The more open game world makes it easy to miss out on some quite large chunks of enviroments to explore (something I certainly did first time playing it years ago). I also enjoyed the story much more as well. Taking my time and letting it sink in. I remember it feeling a bit like mostly spectacle the first time around, but this time it really clicked. Especially the ending.

Bioshock https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfZ30sfjdLY
Bioshock Infinite https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsJ55BzIvkE
Bioshock Infinite Burial at sea https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IALc80SvwXw

As some may have noticed, I've skipped Bioshock 2. For some reason I've only played it once 10 years ago, but I plan on revisiting it soon. Especially for the DLC Minverva's end. Heard alot good about it.

[ju on the grudge]

ju on the grudge had a moment or two in the beginning which got me thinking "this is a bit creepy", but then it got lost on me. Never found the kid painted white scary at all. Still, I enjoyed the film's atmosphere. Has a nice little weird vibe going for it. Just wish it could'v been scary as well.

That said. I've actually never seen his 48h. Gonne try hunt it down at some 2nd hand store.

You won't regret it. A fantastic film, and maybe his best performance.

Saw it this morning. Was good! Murphy was really good in it!

[Strange Adventures #2]

Had a really nice pull this week. Due to the pandemic, I get my books a week later where I live. Can't complain, I'm just happy that my LCS is doing fine.

Strange Adventures #2 serves mostly as an introduction to Mister Terrific into the story. The story itself doesn't move much, but it makes for an interesting addition. I've never read Michael Holt before outside Final Crisis and Futures end. I mostly remember he had an interesting design in those, but in this story he's also shaping up as an interesting character to go up against the book's "T. E. Lawrence with a jetpack" Adam Strange. Also a character I ve not seen much of, but this book really got me hooked.

The Green Latern Season 2 #4 I've had a blast reading this, but this issue has me scratching my head. I'm not sure what it's about really. Hal fighting giant yellow and plastic prehistoric men over some sort of toy deal. They mention a thing towards the end, so I imagine I might have to reread the series to figure it out. Still fun. Amazingly weird.

The Question: Death of Vic Sage #3 Victor goes from wild west to being a PI. All of it is still a mystery. Just as good as issue #1-2. The Question is a very interesting character both morally and visually. Just wish the story would pop a bit more. Hoping #4 is more of a stand out. Some wild twist

[Beverly hills cop]

Beverly hills cop Roughly 20 years since I watched it last time. Not sure why haven't watched a 20 times since. A really good action comedy. One thing I really like is how there's almost a buddy cop dynamic between Axel and everyone he meets. I'm guessing that Eddie Murphy is a  really cool dude to be around having a reason to do with it. Just feels like like they all had a really good time making the film.

That said. I've actually never seen his 48h. Gonne try hunt it down at some 2nd hand store.

[Tintin in Tibet]

Tintin in Tibet Read a bunch of Tintin as a kid, but this is the book that stuck with me. Something about it's focus on friendship told through a down to basics adventure on snowy mountains. No spies or big plots, it's just Tintin trying to find his lost friend. Another thing I really like about the story is the yeti. It really feels like it's always near, but seldom shown. Fueling this are the different stories and opinions on the yeti people are telling Tintin. My favorite being the one about alcohol, and Haddock deducing one of it's supposed rampages to be a hang over. A hint of sympathy which is wonderfully broken when the yeti one night is believed to have stolen Haddock's last bottle of whisky 

Can't recommend the book enough