Missing You: Episodes 1-6

I'm pretty good with pain in dramas. But even knowing about what would happen didn't really help dull the wrench of actually watching it all unfold on Missing You. It's not just the horrific portrayal of pedophilia and rape, it's also the frustration of watching literal stock villains prance about with no hope of redemption. Our leads are hopeless against these caricatures, whom no pleading, begging, or rationalization will work with. It's sickening.

Skyfall

Those of you in the mood for a good holiday action film probably won't need to look much further than Skyfall. Now there's an action movie done right - dark, well-acted, tightly edited, and with a soundtrack worth listening to on its own. I daresay in terms of logic and pace it even manages to outshine The Dark Knight Rises.

Book Review: Divergent

Anybody else notice the fact that almost all the major buzz bestsellers these days are written in first person? (Twilight, Hunger Games, 50 Shades, Divergent, etc.) It's understandable, since this narrative style allows for a more immersive storytelling, perfect for today's shorter-attention span audience.

Divergent isn't anything mind-blowing, but it's a fun read and one I thought would be worth sharing my thoughts on. So far, I'd say the story seems more intricately crafted than the Hunger Games, with a world that's crystal clear and holds a logic of its own. I'm also liking Beatrice better than Katniss, and unless the author pulls a Mockingjay, will probably continue to prefer her. Tris isn't all that original of a heroine, but she shows herself to have enough fortitude to be admirable.

The Amazing Spiderman

The Amazing Spiderman was a disappointing miss for me as far as movies go. It's a harmless, fast-paced action flick, but without much heart or logic to enrich the CG-ified, all-too-familiar story. The script, acting, and directing are all quite frankly middling, and put together result in a piece that feels flat and forced.

Binge Dramas Round 2: Sandglass and Man of Honor

Here's to the second round of binging, after an unsuccessful Round 1. This time we've got two very disparate pieces - legendary old-school drama Sandglass and more recent, acknowledged trashy piece Man of Honor / Glory Jane. I'm 4 episodes into both of them, and wanted to share my verdict with those interested in pursuing one or the other.

Faith: Finale

Watching the end of Faith felt oddly like closing a chapter – bittersweet, ripe with both good and bad memories. It’s odd because I didn’t actually enjoy much of the latter half of the drama, yet I’m really sad to lose this as part of my weekly viewing routine. Probably because it’s been 3 months, holy crap. Why do dramas seem to come and go so quickly now?