Media notes: Roundup for April 2025

 

  

 

Welcome to my somewhat random selection of the movies and series on DVD and/or online I watched during April 2025.

Movies and films (links to IMDB.com for basic information unless noted otherwise). Some of these I watched via TubiTv.com or other online source. The DVDs come from the public library (unless noted otherwise). In addition, I will try to add other trivia notes, such as when a film is based on a book adding the information about the book (at least the WorldCat record if available).

This was a slow month for movies for me. I did not watch any, in part because I've been reading a bit more, and in part because I was binging a TV series (see below). I am almost done with the series, so I should be back to watching a film or two next month. 

Television and other series (basic show information links via Wikipedia unless noted otherwise). Some of these come in DVD from the public library. Others may be via YouTube, which, as noted before, I keep finding all sorts of other old shows in it, often full episodes:

• Master Chef (American series. 2010 to present. Reality. Cooking. Competition). Plot description: " MasterChef is an American competitive cooking reality television series that premiered on Fox on July 27, 2010. Based on the British series of the same name and produced by Endemol Shine North America and One Potato Two Potato, the series features amateur and home chefs competing to win the title of 'MasterChef'." I have been binge watching this from last month. I will be caught up next month I hope. It is the kind of thing I can watch with some ease, and I can also do small tasks while I am at it. In other words, some light entertainment which is helpful to tune out the Hard Times.
  
• This month I continue with Season 7 and finished it. Apparently they could not secure a permanent third judge, or just decided for some variety, as the third judge will be a series of guest judges, among them Wolfgang Puck. In Season 7, they had three finalists instead of the usual two. The finale has been stretched to two episodes, in part because of the three finalists, but in part because we get some more filler such as the finalists going home for a week and then visited by Ramsay and Tosi. 
• In Season 8, they keep the format of three finalists. Christina Tosi stays as second judge, and Chef Aaron Sanchez comes on board as the third judge. Joe Bastianich makes a return to judge in the finals. 
• I mentioned previously that it seems there is a rule one of the competitors, at least one, has to be an arrogant asshole. An extension of the rule seems to be if they pick someone from some elite university, like Harvard, that guy or gal tends to be an arrogant asshole (because they think they are above the rest). And yes, we got one of those in Season 8. 
• In Season 8, at least at that point I noticed, the judges do more lessons for the contestants, demonstrating techniques and recipes, and the contestants get to watch before having to do it. Heck, I feel like I am learning something, and I appreciate those small educational moments. 
• Season 9, the format changes. Now the three judges battle. They each will pick 8 contestants, and they each will mentor their 8 to see who gets the winner at the end. Joe Bastianich returns as the third judge, Aaron Sanchez stays as second judge. On a side note, by the season, the show has a marketing machine pretty much including a summer camp, online website for cooking lessons, and an online store for merchandise. 
• In Season 10, format changes again for the initial rules. The same three judges return: Ramsay, Sanchez, and Bastianich. However, no mentoring as in Season 9; this was a feature that I honestly liked, and wish they had continued. Now, to qualify for the white apron, all three judges have to agree on a contestant, but judges may get one pass to give someone a second change. For prizes, they still get the $250K and the trophy for winning, but adding this season the winner will get training and time in restaurants owned by each of the three judges. Oh, and one more twist. In the finals, they still take three finalists, but one of them is eliminated after the entree round and before the desert, ending with two finalists leading to the winner. Rest of the format remains pretty much the same. 
• In Season 10, Episode 12, Iron Chef Morimoto has a guest appearance for a king crab cooking event. 
• By now, the show has been stretched. For example, mystery box followed by elimination was done in one episode, and now it takes two full episodes. Result is the show episodes feel long and a bit dragged. One way they fill space is more banter with the competitors and drumming up drama. At this point, I am glad this is already done and recorded so doing fast forward is an option. 
• Season 11 is the "Season of Legends." This means they bring in more guest chefs such as Emeril Lagasse, Masaharu Morimoto, Paula Dean and others. This includes the celebrity chefs giving lessons and demonstrations to the competitors as well as judging some of the events. At the start, they will only take in 15 competitors, and to get a spot, they have to impress 3 out of 4 judges, the fourth being the guest chef. In first episode, it is Emeril Lagasse. 
• For Season 12, we get an "All Stars" season where we get 20 previous Master Chef contestants (who did not win previously). An interesting detail is two of those contestants were competitors in Master Chef Junior, and they are now competing as adults, which shows a bit the longevity of the series as well as how time flies. It's the "Back To Win" season. They do auditions to bring the number of former contestants from 40 down to 20 in the first three episodes, then the competition is on. This season has 20 episodes, two more than previous season. I finished Season 12.

 

 

Book Review: Eerie Archives, Volume 2

Archie Goodwin, et.al., Eerie Archives, Volume 2. Milwaukie, OR: Dark Horse, 2023. ISBN: 9781506736204. 

Genre: comics, horror

Subgenre: vintage, magazines

Format: large trade paperback

Source: Eastside Branch, Lexington (KY) Public Library  

I continue enjoying this series. This volume collects issues 6-10 of Eerie Magazine. Each issue features seven tales. In addition, the issues include a "Monster Gallery," highlighting a specific monster or creature, the letters to Cousin Eerie with readers commenting on stories, and great covers by Frank Frazetta The cover art is a great reason to pick up this volume. You can get it also for the fun stories of mystery, horror, and supernatural. Eerie had various artists on staff, so you get a great variety of art styles throughout the stories. Most of the scripts were done by Archie Goodwin, but there are a few stories written by others including an adaptation or two of a classic tale. Additionally, I love the inclusion of various vintage ads. One that caught my eye was the ad for Sax Rohmer's early Fu-Manchu novels.

If you enjoy horror and supernatural fiction and comics, you'll enjoy this volume. The stories often have a twist or sudden revelation at the end that adds to the horror. I enjoyed reading the tales two or three at a time, just relishing the horror, suspense, and art. This volume can be a great selection to read in the Halloween season, but you can enjoy it any time of the year. Once in a while you want some horror but nothing too heavy. This volume is perfect for that. The stories and art draw you in, and you want to keep reading. 

Some of my favorite stories in the volume include: 

• "The Curse of Kali." A British expedition in India messing with local curses despite the warnings. Naturally, they fail to heed or even acknowledge the warnings and signs until it is too late. 
• "Witches' Tide." This is about a town wanting to destroy a local witch, but there is a deadly twist. 
• "Oversight." This one is a bit reminiscent of the later film "They Live." 
• "Dark Rider." A small group of cowboys caught in a snowstorm realize something or someone sinister is following them. This is an example of what is often called a "weird Western." 
• "Fair Exchange." In this story, an old greedy rich man wants to live forever by transferring his mind to a younger body. He should've done better due diligence.
• "An Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge." This is an adaptation of the Ambrose Bierce tale. The first time I read the tale as a kid I did not quite get it. I wish I had this adaptation back then. The visual element would've helped a lot. I ended up liking the tale now. 

Overall, I highly recommend this volume. Libraries that collect comics and graphic novels need to add this. You get some good value with this collected set and some seriously fun reading. I would buy it for my personal collection.

5 out of 5 stars. 

Book Review: Tarot for Self-Care

Minerva Siegel, Tarot for self-care: how to use Tarot to manifest your best self. Avon, MA: Adams Media, 2019. ISBN: 9781507210970.

Genre: Tarot

Subgenre: self-care, self-help

Format: hardback

Source: Eastside Branch, Lexington (KY) Public Library

This is a Tarot guide that looks at the cards as a tool for self-care. The author "teaches you how to deepen your intuition and trust the cards, letting them guide you on a path of self-care and exploration" (from book back cover). 

The book is arranged as follows: 

• Introduction.
• Self-Care: Beyond the Buzzword. This briefly defines self-care, explains why it is important, and defines three kinds of self-care: mental, physical, and spiritual. 
• Chapter 1: Set the stage: Methods for Manifesting a Magical Mood. This discusses some ways to get in the mood and get ready to read cards including using candles, smoke cleansing, and reading tea leaves. Some methods may be more complicated. 
• Chapter 2: Find the Divine in the Details: a Crash Course on Interpreting Tarot. Goes over the Fool's Journey, provides a brief guide to numerology, and a look at the four suits. 
• Chapter 3: Take up Space: Exploring Tarot Spreads. Goes over basic card layouts like single card and three card. Naturally the popular Celtic Cross is included. We also get a Week Ahead 9-card spread and a 5-card Elemental Spread. 
• Chapter 4: Major Arcana Interpreted. Each entry includes a basic image, interpretation, a list of self-care activities featuring the card's symbolism, and reversed interpretation. You get about two pages per card entry. 
• Chapter 5: Minor Arcana Interpreted. Entries here are similar to the Major Arcana, just a bit shorter. 
• Chapter 6: Open Your Third Eye: Harnessing the Power of Intuition. This presents some ways to improve your intuition such as meditation and creativity, for example, doing art. 
• Chapter 7: Get Your Sparkle On: Enhancing Tarot Readings with Crystals. Lists some crystals you must have, very brief discussion of crystal grids, and pairing Tarot with crystals. 
• Chapter 8: Dive Deep: Using Tarot for Self-Care Exploration. Some discussion of shadow work and Tarot, and journaling (something I do and encourage). 
• Chapter 9: Own Your Potential: Embracing Your Personal Power Tarot Card. Gives some ideas for figuring out your personal power card, and notes on Tarot and astrology. 
• Chapter 10: So What's Next? Further Tarot Lessons for Everyday Self-Care. Brief discussion of other techniques like palmistry and pendulums. 

The book offers a lot of information and content, but it is very lightweight. Many of the topics are covered superficially. These are topics that have full book treatments, and you just get quick overviews here. Very often you may want to get a full book on a specific topic such as shadow work or astrology and Tarot. The idea of using cards as a tool for self-care is a good one. This book just feels light and superficial, like a book to read in a tub with a bubble bath and champagne. If that is you, then this book is for you. For others seeking more substance, there may be better books out there. 

In regards to better books, note that this book lacks a bibliography or list of suggested readings. This is not a requirement, but given the lightness of topics a list of works could have added some value. 

A strength of the book is in the card interpretations. The interpretations are down to earth and easy to read and understand. Esoterica and jargon are kept to a minimum. Want a book with more contemporary meanings for the cards? This may be for you.

If you look for diversity and related topics in your cartomancy, this book may not be for you. It feels very homogeneous. 

Overall, for me the book was just OK. It is not bad, and some readers may like it, especially if they want something very basic. For me, a bit further along in my cartomancy journey, I need something more substantial. I am happy that I read it, but it is not a memorable book. I would consider this book an optional selection. If you can, borrow it rather than buying it. For libraries, I would consider it optional, more for public libraries that may want more basic texts. This is not a book I would order for our small academic library. 

2 out of 5 stars. 

This book qualifies for the following 2025 Reading Challenge: 

 

 

 

Book Review: Cobra Commander, Volume 1

Joshua Williamson (author), et.al., Cobra Commander, Volume 1: Determined to rule the world. Portland, OR: Image Comics, 2024.  ISBN: 9781534398153.

Genre: comics and graphic novels

Subgenre: G.I. Joe, villains

Format: trade paperback

Source: Hutchins Library, Berea College 

This volume is part of a new, at the time of publication, Energon Universe series crossing together G.I. Joe and The Transformers. The volume is part of four miniseries in the Energon Universe where each part focuses on a specific character. This one focuses on Cobra Commander. 

The story goes back to a time where Cobra the organization did not exist yet. The man who would become Cobra Commander is a rogue member of an alien underground civilization: Cobra-La. He plans to use the energon energy source to take over the world. This is pretty much how the man gets started. 

The story is mostly OK. Along the way, he meets the Dreadknoks and eventually meets Destro. This is where their alliance starts to form. The plot is OK, though it is a bit all over the place. The art is good and colorful, though it has a bit of that modern cartoon aesthetic. If you want something closer to the classic comics, this is not it. It was an OK read, and it is easy and quick. It presents an interesting idea or two; we'll have to see if they develop those ideas later in the series. For now, not a terribly memorable volume. Pretty much read it and done. 

Fans of the franchises may like it better; for casual readers this may be optional. Libraries collecting either franchise may want to consider it, but it feels like an optional selection. We ordered it here, but if it had been up to me, and I had read it ahead of time I likely would not have added it. Still, I am curious to see some of the other volumes, though not urgently. 

2 out of 5 stars.

Deck Review: Dancing in the Dark Tarot

Gianfranco Pereno (art) and Lunaea Weatherstone (writer), Dancing in the Dark Tarot. Torino, Italy: Lo Scarabeo, 2021. ISBN: 9780738769592. 

Genre: Tarot decks

Subgenre: Tableaux vivant

Format: 78-card deck and little white book

Source: I own this one  

The High Priestess- II

 I first used this deck during February 2025. The deck comes in a tuck box with a little white book (LWB) and the 78-card deck. 

The LWB is written in four languages: English, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese. The LWB has 64 pages, and 25 pages are in English. The LWB includes a description of the deck's concept, a brief look at Tarot structure, the card meanings starting with the Major Arcana followed by the suits. The Major Arcana entries include a sentence or two of interpretation and a short list of key meanings. The Minor Arcana entries include just a short interpretation. 

The deck's concept, according to the LWB, is based on tableaux vivants (living pictures) where actors silently pose to create a scene. These are brief scenes where stage lights come up, you see the scene, then the lights go out again. 

The cards do show the tableau vivant art well. You get an image in mostly black and white with a prominent color. For example, in the Queen of Swords, gold is prominent in her throne and sword and red in her hair. There is a small glow, as if the light hits the scene, surrounded by darkness. We get brief moments in time. I thought initially this would be a black and white deck, but it has a good amount of colors in selected areas. The result is that the dark makes the colors pop, making for a modestly colorful deck. The art has an overall realistic style. The art is well within Rider Waite Smith (RWS) tradition, so if you read in RWS, you'll be good to go. 

Two of Pentacles

I found the deck to be a straightforward, reliable deck. I found that it draws you in; you just want to spend some time looking at the scenes. I enjoyed using the deck over the month, and it is a deck I would use again. 

Note that some cards have artistic nudity. I think it is well done, but I mention it for those who may need to know. 

The cards measure about 4 3/4 inches by 2 1/2 inches. Cards have a very soft gloss, and they shuffle with ease. Art has a thin narrow brown border, like an art frame. The card back is a bit baroque in style, and it is not reversible. 

Overall, I really like the deck. As I wrote, I would use it again. It can work whether you use it privately or to read for others. I am glad to have it in my collection, and I would recommend it. 

4 out of 5 stars.