Hamnet
Iâm not much of a film buff, nor do I often go to a movie theatre. In fact, Iâve only been inside movie theatres three times in the last decade. Two of the three visits were this year. The first was with a friend to see the adaptation of Kiss of the Spider Woman. It was a colossal disappointment. But during the slog of previews, there was one film that grabbed my attention: Hamnet. I saw it with two friends and was in no way prepared for this emotional juggernaut. Mythologizing true historical figures can be tricky, but Hamnetâs grounded interpretation of Agnes and Williamâs love for each other and their children was nothing short of realâperhaps more so than any other family Iâve seen on screen as of late.
Babel
R.F. Kuang had a meteoric rise in the literary world, and Iâve been a fan since day one. Her messages about race, gender and politics are as subtle as a shouting match in a library and I live for it. Donât be fooled - a lack of subtlety does not equate to a lack of nuance or maturity. Kuang crafts her stories so deliberately and has a deep understanding of the messages sheâs conveying. Babel may be her most polarizing work yet. (Its only competition on that front being Yellowface.)Â But Kuang is not one to shy away from controversy. Also, how a certain demographic of people react to this book says a lot about them.
Baldurâs Gate III
For the second consecutive year, Baldurâs Gate III kept me occupied for a few hundred hours. With five completed playthroughs under my belt, and three more waiting in the wings, this game still finds ways to surprise me. With the final patch releasing in April, Larian let the game go with a bang and spoiled the players with a treasure trove of additions. The majority of the new subclasses are a blast, giving me more reasons to go on this journey again and again.Â
The third draft of my novella
I finally finished it this year! Speedrunning through it in the summer, it was a deep relief to get this off of my chest. Perhaps even more of a relief is that those who read my second draft all unanimously agreed that the third draft is far superior. Iâll come back to it eventuallyâthere is much more I need to say with these characters in this world. But for now, Iâve got uncharted waters to explore.Â
Maybe Happy Ending
Oh, Maybe Happy Ending. What am I going to do with you? After royally destroying my goodwill for the creators and producers, I wasnât sure how to feel. But now the world is healing and I still canât quit you. Itâs just some damn beautiful musical storytelling that keeps reminding me how dearly I wish to be in love and be loved in return. Truly, you are a champion of what an original musical should be. But seriously, please donât piss me off again.Â
Sinners
Itâs always a pleasure to witness a film that makes the industry quake in its boots. I was very much late to the Sinners party, and was in no way prepared for the experience it gave me. Racial tensions and southern horror are natural companions, and Sinners integrates the two with respect and utter brilliance. Oppression is an act of violence, and violence does not discriminate. Those who are unfortunate enough to fall under its shadow must learn to speak its language in order to conquer it. Also this film is a musical and I will not compromise on that front.Â
Lord of the Rings
What is old becomes new again. Long have I been acquainted with Lord of the Rings, but it not until this year where I truly embraced it in friendship. Revisiting these sacred tomes for the first time in seven years, followed by a first-time viewing of the extended editions of the entire trilogy filled a deep void in my fantasy-loving heart. Tolkien is a master world builder and lore crafterâthe likes of which feel like relics of a bygone age. Yet this story has stood the test of time, and will continue to thrive in the hearts of men.Â
Kpop Demon Hunters
In the modern, digital age of over-abundance, safeness, and cyclical derivativeness, true labours of love are becoming harder to find. And what a joyous labour of love Kpop Demon Hunters is. It knows exactly what it wants to be, and both commits and achieves it with flying colours. There is a common misconception with girl powerâthat being born special and being able to achieve things without assistance is true strength. Kpop Demon Hunters rejects that notion, reminding us that there is strength in vulnerability, and not all battles need be fought alone. Regardless of how one feels about this film, there is a greater lesson to be learned here: Someone online once said, âthe goal is not to create something that will appeal to everyone. The goal is to create something for a specific target audience that is so great that they canât stop talking about it and it becomes impossible to ignore.â Kpop Demon Hunters is the current flag bearer of this ethos, and I am glad that it became such a global sensation.Â
Hades II
At last, we have the first sequel in Supergiant's small, but mighty catalogue. Hades II builds on the masterful foundation that its predecessor set, presenting the player with a bigger world, a huge cast of characters, and more gameplay mechanics. Finally forced to expand their pool of vocal talent, resident composer Darren Korb got a chance to show what he could do with theatrical character writing, and brought a huge breath of fresh air into Supergiantâs musical legacy. All was excellent. However, on the first playthrough, Hades II did not stick the landing. The conclusion to this epic tale was rushed and empty, robbing its heroine of her agency. Ever a studio for the people, Supergiant listened and learned, and overhauled the main narrative to great success shortly after. But there is another game that nailed its endings without need for edits post-release. Â
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
When you know your end is nigh, do you bow to the inevitability or rise to fight it? How do artists cope with the fact that their art may outlive them? What happens when that art becomes more than it was intended to be, and is all that is left of you? Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is more than just a once-in-a-generation game, but a once-in-a-generation experience. Its rich world takes the player through watery depths, valleys of faces, and snowy heights; all while marrying the grotesque with the beautiful, and the inescapable end with new purpose. At first, Clair Obscur may seem like another operatic tragedy. But all good art takes time, and the love the artists put into this game resonates within the core of my being. From French artistry to Japanese gameplay, Clair Obscur was inspired by those that came before it. May it in turn inspire those who come after.Â
Honourable mentions: The Wild Robot (novel/film), Buena Vista Social Club (Broadway, musical), The Trees (novel), The Picture of Dorian Gray (Broadway, play)
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