Movie Review: Summer Wars

The clan gathers around the family computer.

Movie Review: Summer Wars (2009) directed by Mamoru Hosoda High schooler Kenji Koiso is a math whiz who almost qualified for Team Japan in the Math Olympics. But almost won’t get you a good summer job, so he’s a low level maintenance admin for the OZ online service. OZ is the most popular online virtual world,… Continue reading Movie Review: Summer Wars

Webtoon Review: Disenchantment Seasons 1 &2

Bean, Elfo and Luci after a night on the town.

Webtoon Review: Disenchantment Seasons 1 & 2 created by Matt Groening Princess Tiabeanie (“Bean” to just about everyone) is not at all thrilled about marrying some prince she’s never met to cement her father King Zog’s alliance with another country. She’d much rather be drinking and carousing at the local inn. But marry she must,… Continue reading Webtoon Review: Disenchantment Seasons 1 &2

Anime Review: Gegege no Kitaro (2018)

Kitaro and friends.

Anime Review: Gegege no Kitaro (2018) Two decades into the Twenty-First Century, most humans have lost the belief in yokai, folkloric monsters that exist on the fringes of the world. They can’t even see yokai. So when a Logan Paul-like video prankster accidentally unleashes a creature that turns humans into trees, the authorities are helpless… Continue reading Anime Review: Gegege no Kitaro (2018)

Book Review: Meditations on the Way of the Cross

Book Review: Meditations on the Way of the Cross by Mary Pezzulo We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by Your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world. Adapted from the prayer of St. Francis In this Lenten season, Christians prepare for the holy day of Easter by contemplating the ministry of… Continue reading Book Review: Meditations on the Way of the Cross

Book Review: Great Supernatural Stories: 101 Horrifying Tales

Book Review: Great Supernatural Stories: 101 Horrifying Tales compiled by Stefan Dziemianowicz This hefty volume collects a variety of public domain stories concerning the supernatural. While the majority fall roughly into the category of horror, some are more what we’d call “dark fantasy” and a handful are just “well, that’s a weird thing that happened.”… Continue reading Book Review: Great Supernatural Stories: 101 Horrifying Tales

Book Review: Swords Against Death

Book Review: Swords Against Death by Fritz Leiber Fafhrd is a tall barbarian from the Northern lands; the Grey Mouser is a relatively short and sneaky fellow who doesn’t know exactly where he was born, but has always lived in cities. They’re best friends, seeking treasure and adventure both in the fabled city of Lankhmar… Continue reading Book Review: Swords Against Death

Movie Review: Tales of Terror (1962)

Movie Review: Tales of Terror (1962) directed by Roger Corman This trilogy of scary stories was loosely adapted from the work of Edgar Allen Poe by Richard Matheson. By now, Roger Corman and Vincent Price were a practiced team at these adaptations. In “Morella”, Price plays “Locke”, a widower who has spent the last 26 years… Continue reading Movie Review: Tales of Terror (1962)

Magazine Review: Water~Stone Review Volume 9: What Prevails

Magazine Review: Water~Stone Review Volume 9: What Prevails edited by Mary Francois Rockcastle It is time again to look at Hamline University’s annual literary magazine. This issue is from 2006. It’s dedicated to Frederick Busch, author of Girls, who had visited the university shortly before his death the previous year. The subtitle, borrowed from one… Continue reading Magazine Review: Water~Stone Review Volume 9: What Prevails

Book Review: The Halloween Tree

Book Review: The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury Eight boys are out in costume tonight, looking for Halloween fun. Skeleton, witch, ape-man and so many more. Eight boys, but it should be nine. Where is Pipkin, merriest of the lot? He is taken, vanished into the darkness. What can be done? They must search for… Continue reading Book Review: The Halloween Tree

Comic Book Review: Peter Pan and the Language of the Dead

Comic Book Review: Peter Pan and the Language of the Dead by various creators Bento Comics is a collective of comics creators who do print-on-demand and ebook sales, and have made several themed anthologies. This is their 2012 offering, based on the theme of, well, Peter Pan. “An Awfully Big Adventure” written by Fehed Said and drawn by Svetlana Chmakova is a dialogueless tale of a man in… Continue reading Comic Book Review: Peter Pan and the Language of the Dead