Hello, friends.

We’ve made it to the end of 2020. These past several months, I’ve consumed a Lot of content. The many holidays from October to December mean a lot of classics to catch up on. Prepare for the heftiest stories post I’ve ever made.

october

Most of the stories I consumed this month were Halloween-related, plus a few bonuses.

to watch

Halloween movies

1. Nightmare Before Christmas: This movie has never been one of my favorites, but Ray had never seen it, so we watched. The music always confuses me a little, as there’s no discernible melody, and the plot is just a step beyond convoluted. There’s also something uncomfortable about the villainization of Oogie Boogie, the only Black-coded character, with voodoo associations. But Ray really enjoyed the movie, and I appreciate the aesthetic. 6/10
2. Poltergeist: As Ray and I were both scarred by this movie as children, we felt this was the year to face our fears. It was better than I remembered and still pretty scary, in my opinion. I did not cower in fear during this rewatch, and I do appreciate the cinematic significance. 7/10
3. Monsters University: Another rewatch for the Halloween season. It’s ripe with nostalgia, heart, and humor, and truly one of the best prequels to come out of Disney/Pixar. 9/10
4. Rebecca: The only new thing I watched this month was Rebecca, the one streaming on Netflix. I read this book in high school for a summer requirement, and although I didn’t remember much about it, I remembered loving it. My best friend Sara and I decided to watch it together via Netflix party so we could discuss it. I thoroughly enjoyed it, from the gorgeous costumes and sets to the character dynamics. Honestly, I felt like I was experiencing it for the first time as the plot twists kept coming up, and I’d forgotten all about them. I heard a lot of criticisms about the movie because of how it measured up (or didn’t) to the Hitchcock version, but considering I’d never seen that one, I really liked it. 9/10
5. Beetlejuice: Another classic rewatch on Halloween day. Everything about this movie is simply iconic, I can’t even list my favorites. 10/10
6. The Lost Boys: This 80s vampire flick is another favorite that I watch every year on Halloween night. The effects are bad, the acting has its moments, the characters are hilarious, and the whole movie is spectacular. 10/10

The Home Edit

This might be the greatest show I’ve ever discovered, and there’s far too little of it. I absolutely adore organizing and maximizing space. I play Tetris with every closet, bookshelf, cabinet, and storage space I can encounter. This entire show is dedicated to helping people find a system or organization for their messes. It’s satisfying, it’s soothing, it’s inspiring. Literal dream job is to be Clea and Joanna. 10/10

to listen

Ungodly Hour by Chloe x Halle

I started listening to this before October but forgot to include it earlier, so I’ll mention it now. Chloe and Halle’s newest album is an R&B vibe. Their voices are beautiful, their sound is energetic and sexy, and their lyrics are so fun. 8/10

november

November was basically pre-Christmas, so there was quite a bit of Christmas watching to prep for the holiday season, intermixed with some other fun things.

to read

Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer

I did it. I finished reading the Twilight series. Truthfully, I enjoyed this book a lot more than I expected and much more than Eclipse. I do understand why the filmmakers split this into 2 movies, because there really are 2 plot arcs in the book.

The story was entertaining, as always. It was cool to see Bella as a vampire and watch her integrate into the Cullens’ lives. The part where she suddenly needed to become a mother and allied herself with Rosalie was definitely out of character, but I blame the pro-life Mormonism for that.

The random section from Jacob’s perspective was annoying. In my opinion, it supports my theory that SMeyer was just trying to make him unlikeable to make Edward more appealing. Jacob is whiny and obnoxious and his voice as a narrator is so juvenile, just in the way he speaks. I enjoyed seeing more of Leah and Seth, and I understand why Bella couldn’t narrate this part. But in general, it was just a drag to read this section.

Obviously, the book had its weird moments. Jacob imprinting on a baby was uncomfy, and while SMeyer can make the argument that imprinting is not inherently sexual, it sure feels weird that the kid grows exponentially fast to catch up to him in age so that romance is an option. In my opinion, it should’ve been established that was never going to happen, because it is undeniably pedophilic for an adult man to groom a child to be his partner, no matter how fast she matured.

Breaking Dawn was a solid end to the series. It had its toxic and uncomfortable parts, as did every book before it. But it was perfectly, stupidly entertaining. I’m a little sad to have finished it. But glad to move on to better stories. 8/10

to watch

Pirates of the Caribbean movies

I’m not 100% sure I watched all of these during November, but I have been rewatching all the Pirates movies with Ray and her mom and sister. This month seemed to have enough space to mention them.

1. The Curse of the Black Pearl: The first Pirates is definitely the best. It’s got the right amount of worldbuilding, humor, and mysticism, without taking itself too seriously. Obviously, the older effects date it a little, but the strength of the plot means you hardly notice. The movie sets the stage for such an iconic franchise full of incredible characters. It honestly could’ve been a stand-alone, given the closure it provides for each character arc and the plot. But what’s the world without more Jack Sparrow? 8/10
2. Dead Man’s Chest: This movie suffers from the unfortunate condition of being a middle movie, which forces it to serve as a bridge between what could’ve been an independent movie and the final installment of the franchise. This film is forced to set up new characters, conflicts, arcs, and themes which can’t be completed until the third movie, leaving this one to feel somewhat unfinished by the end. I also think the filmmakers went way too hard on the CGI after the budget increase. The best part of the movie is always the sword fight. 6/10
3. At World’s End: Similar to the second one, this movie finds itself doing too much. Too much plot convolution, too many characters and too many arcs, and of course, too much CGI. This one does embrace a bit of the absurdism of the first movie, particularly in Davy Jones Locker. But, like the second one, it takes itself too seriously. I will say the end of the character arcs for the main 3 characters over the course of the 3 movies is pretty satisfying; freewheeling Jack Sparrow proves a selfless friend, good man Will Turner becomes a full-time pirate, and proper lady Elizabeth Swan becomes a leader in the pirate community. Despite their tendency to be more serious than they need to be, I will always appreciate the Pirates films. 7/10

Folklore: The Long Pond Sessions

Because Miss Taylor Swift loves to treat us, she released a surprise documentary/performance on Disney+ of her (then) newest album, Folklore. It was beautiful, it was enchanting, I cried a little. It was fun to hear the backstory on the songs, even if I don’t agree with all of them (James is a girl, don’t try to dissuade me). 10/10

Noelle

This came out a while ago, but I never got around to watching it. Ray and I wanted our first movie of the holiday season to be a good one, but not necessarily one of the classics we always watch. So we decided to try Noelle. And it was really fun! Anna Kendrick is phenomenal, Bill Hader was a riot, and it’s always refreshing to see a Black man as a) the charming romantic lead and b) a tender, loving father. Plus, it’s a joy to see secondary roles featuring icons like Billy Eichner and Shirley MacClaine. The story felt like a mix of Elf and Enchanted, with a touch of The Santa Claus. 8/10

Happiest Season

I have… a lot of thoughts about Happiest Season. Mostly because I had a lot of hope about having a queer Christmas rom-com, especially one starring K-Stew. Things I liked: Kristen Stewart in suits, Aubrey Plaza at any given moment, Dan Levy stealing the show. I also appreciated the way the movie talked about coming out as a personal journey. However, I did feel a bit let down by the ending, as I’m sure many people did.

Spoilers ahead: it is my opinion that Abby and Harper should not have stayed together. Harper consistently showed herself to be a bad partner to Abby, by first lying to her about coming out, then trapping Abby into coming along into a situation where she has no choice about her identity. She makes no acknowledgement of Abby’s sacrifices on her behalf, and actually holds her pain against her as if she isn’t doing enough. Harper also repeatedly lets her down during the entire visit with her parents, failing at every opportunity to show up for her emotionally. In any other rom-com, the lead always ends up with the random stranger who pulls them out of their suffocating relationship; in this instance, that character was Riley. Harper should’ve learned the consequences of her actions, but still come out to her family for herself, not to win back the person she has (in my opinion) irrevocably lost. The amount of pressure placed on Abby to take her back is so toxic and frankly unfair. Coming out isn’t a joint experience and queer people should not be expected to share their partner’s trauma, especially after being so mistreated. If I had written this movie, Harper and Abby would’ve broken up, Harper would’ve come out to her family for herself, and Abby would’ve learned to choose herself instead of continuing to sacrifice her own comfort. Also, Abby and Riley would’ve been a much happier couple. 6/10

Downton Abbey: season 5

Over a year ago, Ray and I started watching Downton Abbey (a rewatch for me), and we got through the first 4 seasons. For some reason, we delved back in this month and watched all of season 4 in about a week, but lost our momentum before finishing the final season. I always love Downton; it’s one of my favorite period pieces and part of the inspiration for my novel. Hopefully we can finish the rest soon so we can watch the movie, which I have yet to see. 10/10

to listen

Stranger in the Alps by Phoebe Bridgers

In my quest to discover new music lately, I wanted to delve into the world of Phoebe Bridgers. While I know she created one of the top albums of 2020 in Punisher, I felt like I should ease myself into her world, sample the table, before approaching her masterpiece. Stranger in the Alps is such a gentle, vibey album for the forlorn and wistful. It makes me nostalgic for experiences I’ve never had. 8/10

Plastic Hearts by Miley Cyrus

If one good thing happened in 2020, it’s Miley Cyrus becoming a rock artist. The power of her voice was always made for more than pop. In this album, she reaches her full vocal and lyrical potential, while also covering some iconic rock anthem and collaborating with several rock legends. 10/10

december

Perhaps the best month for content, I filled my December with a lot of holiday movies. And I mean a lot.

to read

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

This will be one of the only outliers for this month, since I read The Hobbit with my small group of fifth graders at school. For many years, I have claimed to have read The Hobbit in middle school. However, as I read it this time, I’m realizing I either a) did not pay attention to it, b) did not understand it, or c) did not finish it, because I did not remember the entire ending. I really enjoyed reading it! It’s just one big adventure story, which can be tedious at times, but is overall pretty fun. It was especially fun to read with the students and go over it with them; they were really enthusiastic, particularly for a book that was pretty advanced for their age. I’m looking forward to watching the movies and appreciating them more. 8/10

to watch

Christmas movies

Because there’s roughly a thousand of these, I’m just gonna leave a short comment about each one.

1. The Princess Switch franchise: one of my new holiday favorites. The story is so cute, the romances are so sweet and believable, and the more Vanessa Hudgenses, the better.
   • The Princess Switch: 10/10
   • The Princess Switch 2: Switched Again: 10/10
2. A Christmas Prince franchise: My first year watching all 3 of these, I enjoyed them even more than the first time. Last year, I thought the romance between Amber and the prince was a little forced, but I noticed more chemistry this time. Plus, I love a wedding movie, and a holiday wedding might be the best kind. Then the absurdity of the third one was simply delightful.
   • A Christmas Prince: 9/10
   • A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding: 10/10
   • A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby: 9/10
3. Polar Express: Better than I remember. Tom Hanks should simply play all characters from here on out (in addition to Vanessa Hudgens). Plus the Josh Groban classic “Believe” never fails to bring out the nostalgia. 8/10
4. Frozen franchise: Maybe it’s controversial to watch these, since neither of these movies actually take place in the winter. But there’s snow, so it counts. Both are good movies, and Frozen 2 is frankly impeccable. I weep during “Show Yourself” every time. Also the holiday special: absolutely balled over Olaf being their tradition.
   • Frozen: 9/10
   • Olaf’s Frozen Adventure: 10/10
   • Frozen 2: 10/10
5. Elf: A holiday classic. Its innocence and Christmas spirit in its purest form. 10/10
6. Christmas Vacation: Never not funny. Some jokes don’t age well. But most of it remains great. 8/10
7. Home Alone: Not my favorite Christmas movie, but it’s cute. Plus I have a new appreciation for Catherine O’Hara after Schitt’s Creek. The traps at the end are kinda disturbing the more you watch. 7/10
8. How the Grinch Stole Christmas: This would be the Jim Carey version. You may not know this, but I cannot stand Jim Carey. I think his acting is cringey and clownish. The backstory on the Grinch is simply too much for me. I liked the last 40 minutes that were based on the actual cartoon. 4/10
9. Scrooged: Another Christmas classic, for me personally. It’s a little dated, but Bill Murray is a hoot. 8/10
10. Smoky Mountain Christmas: Unfortunately, this made-for-TV movie is hard to come by these days, but if you can get your hands on a copy, it’s a hidden gem of Christmas cheese for all Dolly Parton fans. The picture quality may be low, but the songs are spectacular. 8/10

The Great British Baking Show: Holidays

I’m not big into the baking shows (mostly because they make me too hungry). But I watched the holiday specials of The Great British Baking Show, and they were super fun. Yes, they made me hungry, but they also made me so stressed. I got emotionally invested in making dishes I’ve never even heard of. Yet, at the same time, they were so funny and wholesome, I couldn’t complain. Plus, the most recent season featured the Derry Girls for no discernible reason, so that was the greatest treat of all. 10/10

to listen

Evermore by Taylor Swift

In true Taylor Swift fashion, this lady released another surprise album. Before any of us could recover from Folklore or Folkore: The Long Pond Sessions, she gave us Evermore, another album of emotional turmoil in the woods. This one is more mature; the stories are older and heavier. They’re sister albums, but this one is definitely the eldest. I absolutely love it, and all the stories and emotions that come with it. 10/10

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If you made it this far, congratulations. There is no prize. I hope to stay at least a little more on top of my bloggings this year.

That’s all for now. Thanks for reading, and happy new year!