Saturday 28 April 2018

Geeky Purchases

Geeky Purchases of the Week


In all honesty, this is the first time I've managed to sit down all week and write without feeling poorly so I haven't had time to do the write the content I'm really excited to share. Thus, this will be a relatively short blog post, but I thought I'd share it with you nonetheless.

However, I did buy a couple of geeky things this week. Our local cheap DVD shop is closing down soon, and they've been having sales non-stop for the past few weeks. So I went and checked it out for probably the fifth time this month. 
Today I did actually buy something (duh!). I bought the Family Guy Star Wars specials. I haven't seen these since they came out, which is eleven years ago! Admittedly, I prefer the robot chicken version of Star Wars (I can still recall the escalator sequence in the Death Star), I couldn't resist to buy this version and will definitely be watching it over the next week. 

The other geeky purchase I made this week was pre-ordering the script for Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelward. Whilst the trailer makes me believe this will act more as a filler, I am still really excited for it and had to pre-order it! It did make me consider buying the updated covers of the Hogwarts library set, but I thought better not do that today. 

Yes, I know it's a short one, but in between being poorly and playing the Hogwarts Mystery game (blog post on that coming soon), I haven't had time to sit and write. 

See you next week! 

-Emmaberry-

Saturday 21 April 2018

Shows I'm Currently Watching

TV Shows I'm Watching


For the past few years I haven't considered myself an avid TV fan. At least, not for shows aired in the UK. And that is true. I still wouldn't consider myself an avid TV watcher, but I am watching quite a few shows right now. 

So I thought I'd share with you the shows I'm watching and why I love them. I'll also be including shows on my to watch list, as some of those are airing, but I haven't caught up with them yet.


 

Supernatural

It has only been in the last three years I joined the Supernatural fandom. Second hand fandom knowledge on Tumblr finally compelled me to watch the show. 
Season 13 is just starting to air in the UK, and after the first episode, I am so excited to for the rest of the season. Even with knowledge on what happens in later episodes (thanks to being on Tumblr so frequently), I still didn't expect the emotional roller-coaster that came from the first episode. 
I love the characters and narrative of the show (for the most part anyway). I started watching the show on UK TV when Season 11 aired, and re-watched the entire box-set of Seasons 1-12 before this semester started in January.

MacGyver

The reboot of MacGyver is one that originally, I wasn't that invested in. It was only after episode 13 of Season 1, that I became hooked and heavily invested in the show. 
Again, I have prior knowledge of later episodes because of being on Tumblr. However, that doesn't deter me from wanting to watch the episode. If anything, some of the spoilers I see make me want to make it even more. 
The UK is currently halfway through airing Season 2 (whilst the season finale airs in America on May 4th), and I have been loving it. I did have to spend time over the Easter holidays playing catch up with the show, but I enjoyed watching episodes in bulk, something I haven't done since I binged the box-set in two days.
I adore the characters and the story arc is even more compelling than Season 1. Definitely one of my favourites.


The Resident

The Resident is a medical drama, and if you asked me a few months ago, I would have said I am not a fan of medical dramas. However, since the pilot in the UK a couple of weeks ago, and it kept popping up whenever I logged into Sky Go, I thought I'd give it a go. 
For the most part, the show focuses a lot more on the drama, rather than medical accuracy, and at times was slightly predictable. But it's the characters that are keeping me invested in the show. There are some I despise, some I love, and one I love and hate simultaneously.
Without any prior knowledge of the show (aside from the fact Season 1 is still airing in America), it's definitely not all what I expected. I'm going to keep watching and give it a fair chance, but I am really enjoying it so far. 

The Good Doctor

Another medical drama! However, ever since I first saw promotions for the show last year, it is one I wanted to see, but never got round to watching. I'm only two episodes in, but I love it. 
It's more medically accurate than The Resident, but again, it does focus on the drama to drive the characters.
The only context I had with this show, was Dr Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore) was autistic. They represent his autism really well and it's great to see a character that isn't perfect. 
It is a show I'm definitely playing catch up with, but I can't wait to continue watching the show. 

Doctor Who

I always love coming back and re-watching episodes from Doctors 9-12. I have my favourite episodes I like to revisit (the Weeping Angels will always be my favourite), and most likely watch 10 (David Tennant) and 11 (Matt Smith) more than I probably should. 
I'm going to be re-watching these Doctors in the run up to 13 (Jodie Whittaker), and will probably always continue to revisit these Doctors every so often. 

Friday Night Dinner

I  only recently found out this was on Netflix. I went straight to it and watched a couple of episodes. I adore this show, if for nothing more than the fact I get to laugh out loud at least once a week. I will definitely be re-watching Seasons 1 and 2 before Season 3 airs on May 4th. 

Catch Up?

There are a few shows that I need to catch up on before I watch their most recent episodes. These are all shows that the catch up sessions need to start from Season 1 so I can understand the story clearer. The three I can think of off the top of my head are: Arrow, The Flash and Criminal Minds. 


Arrow

I have Seasons 1-5 on a box-set and I know that Season 6 is currently airing in the UK. However, I missed a lot of Season 5 and thought it was best to start again. Although I've had a spoiler given to me (you know who you are), it's one I'm annoyed with since I haven't caught up with the Season they spoiled. It won't deter me from watching, but I would have rather found out about it myself, rather than from someone else.  

The Flash

The Flash is one I only [seriously] got into prior to Season 3, because I knew Tom Felton would be on it. Though I hardly watched Season 3 (due to university), now Season 4 is out and I'm getting spoilers on it through Tumblr.
I want to re-watch because I do need to understand the story again. Knowing what I'm like if I don't, I'll be a confused child and hate the show, and I don't want to hate the show. 

Criminal Minds

Criminal Minds is one I've dipped in and out of over the years. I got up to a certain point, then stopped watching. I can't actually remember the reason why. 
But the reason I want to re-watch the show is because of Dr Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler) appearing on my Tumblr and Wattpad recently. Spencer was one of my favourites when I watched the show, and now we're on Season 13, I really need to catch up so fanfictions don't spoil episodes for me. 


Sunday 15 April 2018

Love, Simon Review

A Heartwarming coming-of-age film.



I saw Love, Simon (Greg Berlanti, 2018) last Thursday (12/04/2018), and I absolutely adored it. I bawled at certain parts of the film, laughed at other parts, and felt myself feel sorry for characters I didn't think I would. 


Love, Simon is the film adaptation of the novel Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda, written by Becky Albertall. Simon (Nick Robinson) is sixteen and trying to figure out who he is and what he wants. When a student who goes by the name of Blue, announces on the school gossip page he is gay, Simon reaches out to them through email. When the emails fall into the wrong hand, Simon will do whatever it takes to keep them from surfacing. As he falls deeper in love with Blue, finding their identity is a big deal. 

At its most basic level, Love, Simon is a coming-of-age love story. No one should be put off because it happens to be a gay love story rather than a heterosexual love story. Nor should anyone be put off because the friendship group happens to be multi-cultural. 
For some people, this might be the first major motion picture film they watch where the protagonist is gay. It might be their first chance at seeing themselves represented on the big screen. It's incredible to see how far we've come in the past 20 years. We went from not having serious gay characters in TV and Film, to independent films and major motion pictures. 

This film is all about seeing a boy fall  in love, and the struggles some people go through to come out and accept their sexuality. A line from the book, which wasn't included in the film was:
"White shouldn't be the default any more than straight should be the default. There shouldn't even be a default." 
Though this isn't explicitly said in the film, with the casting not being 100% white, or the "coming out" as straight in the trailer actually says it fairly well. 

The Cast

Nick Robinson, known for roles such as Zach in Jurassic World and Ryder Scanlon in Melissa and Joey, plays Simon, in what he says will be his final high school film. In an interview with Ellen, he confirmed one of his brothers actually came out as gay during the filming of Love, Simon. As a heterosexual, playing a gay male, his portrayal of Simon is great. Because he doesn't go for over the top, "typically gay" character tropes. He's just playing a regular High School student and that's what makes him so charming and brilliant in this role.

Katherine Langford, known for her role as Hannah in 13 Reasons Why, plays Leah, one of Simon's best friends. Leah is better in the book than in the film, but Katherine plays her really well. The conflicting emotions she has throughout the film make her relatable. I could really see myself in her, and it's been four years since I was sixteen and in the position she was in during the film. 

Alexandra Shipp, known for playing Storm in X-Men Apocalypse, plays Abby, the girl who moved to Creekwood three months prior to the film start. She is a bubbly character, and I always had a smile on my face when she was on screen. Parts of the film where she was involved did make me laugh and I could relate to the other characters during those scenes. 

Logan Miller, known for playing Kent McFuller in Before I Fall, plays Martin, the antagonistic character. I both love and hate his character, which hadn't changed from reading the book. In the film, I actually felt more sorry for his character than with the book, but I also hated his character more. Logan does a fantastic job creating a character I simultaneously want to punch in the face, and just give a hug to. His portrayal of emotions is fantastic and I commend Logan for his acting skills. 

Keiynan Lonsdale, known for playing Wally West in CW's The Flash, and Uriah in Divergent, plays Bram, the lovable friend. As soon as I saw the trailer, I was already excited being a fan of Keiynan's. And he didn't disappoint. His acting in this film is brilliant and there was a time I really wanted to slap him for his actions. Overall though, Bram is a character I have to love and Keiynan played him perfectly. Exactly how I saw him in the books. 

Jorge Lendeborg Jr., known for his role as Jason in Spider-Man Homecoming, plays Nick, Simon's other childhood best friend. Though his character had the least impact on me during the film, I never felt like he wasn't important. Jorge's acting was incredible and I wish we had seen more of Nick than what we did. 

Overall Rating

Love, Simon gets a 7.5 out of 10. I loved the film and hadn't cried at a film in a while, but having read the book prior to viewing, there were differences that were hard to overlook. Furthermore, there were certain choices with editing that I wasn't keen on. 
I do highly recommend seeing the film, and reading the book. 

Love, Simon is out in cinemas all over the UK now. 


Tuesday 10 April 2018

Hello

Hello Everyone


Hello to fellow nerds and bloggers. Welcome to my new blog!

I've never been good with introduction posts, but here we go. 

I know I have tried to blog with a university blog on this site, under emmajguni, and have been sorely inactive with it, BUT I'd like a chance to redeem myself. 

The name of this blog is actually the same as my Tumblr, but will be different from that. Whilst on Tumblr I mainly reblog fandom and writing stuff, this will give an insight into what I'm interested in across all medias. 

I chose the name as I am part of a lot of fandoms - anyone that knows me will tell you that! I love films, books, musicals and Greek mythology. My world is pretty filled with fandoms and being nerdy, so I thought it fitting to name my blog just that. 

I hope you'll stay and enjoy my posts. It'll be quite varied. I'll have posts out at least once a week. 

See you soon!

-Emmaberry-