LIST: February's Rants & Reviews

  In the shortest month, we have another long LIST and what an interesting LIST it is. Very high highs and some very low lows. I guess I'll let the LIST speak for itself so here we go.

28. Possessing Her Book 2: Now You're Mine by Morgan Bridges: 5.5 - RANT

    Oh dear. This book. In hindsight I was actually very nice to the first book in this duology. Upon hindsight, I would drop its original ranking down to a 6.5 and the worst piece of content from January. There is just too many problems with this book. The Male Main Character (MMC) is a red flag psycho and our Female Lead is weak and has no real good qualities and lets the MMC get away with literal murder. This was also a scene in this book that the MMC does, that gave me serious ick and almost made me DNF (Did Not Finish) this book. The smut was detailed and I'm still not used to such colorful language used outside of erotica but even the timing of some scenes just felt egregious and un-neccessary.

    The only reason why this book has a 5.5 is because the writing and prose was not bad but the story, the characters, the side characters and the conclusion just all felt silly. The big bad 'reveal' lacked impact and very convenient without a real set-up. I regret spending time with this duology and needless to say I will not be reading anymore books by this author.

27. The Mystery of Marie Roget by Edgar Allan Poe: 6.5 - Okay

    

    High on my enjoyment from reading Murder in the Rue Morgue by Poe, I decided to also read its direct sequel. That seemed un-necessary. This novella did not have the well plotted story 'Murder..' had and there is no big twist which made 'Murder..' so memorable. Instead, we were given a barely read-able investigation into a real life crime with Poe using substitutions to not make it obvious what it is about. Poe continues to use his literally un-named detective to comment on a real life murder and his theories through his character. However, he presents no solutions just muses.

    I read a lot of Poe's short stories during this month and compared to some of the other stories like The Tell-Tale Heart, the Pit and the Pendulum, heck even Metzengerstein were much better reads than this one. The later have complex stories, great imagery and a conclusion. The Mystery of Marie Roget had none of those.

26. Hellraiser 3: Hell on Earth: 7 - OKAY

    As previously posted on this blog, February started a movie series called 'Raising Hell' where I re-watched or watched all the Hellraiser films. Yes, all 11 of them. I remember watching Hellraiser 3 and did not mind it (more on power of nostalgia in a later entry) but upon my re-watch I realized this film did not age well.

    From turning Pinhead to a stereotypical psycho killer (in the vein of Jason and Freddy) complete with one liners and mocking characters to a complete genre switch at the halfway point where it became more of an action films in the vein of Robocop and other late 80's films (with exploding cop cars and man-hole set pieces) instead of a horror film, this movie was lacking. The only decent part of the film were the main leads, Doug Bradley is still amazing as the Hell Priest and Terry Farrell (my forever Star Trek crush growing up) was a very believable female lead especially compared to Ashley Laurence's rather wooden acting in Hellraiser one and two.

    However instead of great ending to the what was a good duology we have tons of new cenobites with no redeeming factors, a barely there story and a (I feel) an un-necessary redemption arc for Pinhead which is un-done by the next movie. Before this re-watch I always felt the movie after the 4th seemed like cheap cash grabs but I am now seeing it started much earlier than that.

25. Alien Earth: 7 - OKAY

    I bounced so hard off this. Taking what should have been a slam-dunk, what we got was a very meh opening (where I nearly DNF a show which I don't think I've ever done), a decent middle (with one of the best stand-alone episodes which felt like a lost Alien film and how it at least got the 7 based off that) to a very meh ending with a lot of 'please give us another season' bait.

    90% of the characters were either unlikeable or too stupid/silly to have any feelings of attachment. The concept of putting children inside synthetic bodies and sending into a active warzone made me shake my head too and made me wonder who greenlit this idea. Also our Female lead having a pet Alien was a bridge too far as well despite how cool it was. If this show does get a second season I know I will not be back. I feel this show could have worked with just any type of Alien enemy (and they tried because the xenomorph was only one of many hostile species) and not besmirched Alien's problematic legacy.

24. Hellbound: Hellraiser II: 7.5  - OKAY

    As I said in the Hellraiser 3 entry, nostalgia is a bitch. I really thought Hellbound was my favorite Hellraiser film of the four I have seen. I remember so many scenes from it and some of them even gave me nightmares growing up (because I watched it when I was way too young), it was that memorable. So why was it during this re-watch I realize that Hellbound was just... okay. I always thought and even told people Hellbound to Hellraiser was Terminator 2 to the original Terminator but now after this re-watch I no longer feel that way.

    Hellbound rehashes a lot of Hellraiser, even using the same concept (bringing someone back from Hell) but it is just copy/ paste and nothing new. What is new is the new villain who un-ceremoniously kills all the cool cenobites to prove he was the big dog but then subsequently goes out like a bitch with no pay-off. The acting is still decent but as I mentioned before Ashley as Kirsty is doing the bare minimum in all her scenes and in hindsight is not a heroine really worth cheering for. If anything she is slightly overshadowed by the secondary female lead, Imogen Boorman as Tiffany (who has the best line, hands-down, in the film).  I am kind of happy I did this re-watch because now I see the original is the superior of the two.

23. Prodigy (entire series): 8 - Rave

     Continuing my exploration of the Millar-verse which started with Nemesis and Big Game, we have arrived at Prodigy. Prodigy's main character Edison Crane has been touted as Mark Millar's favorite creation and a mixture of James Bond, Jason Borne, Sherlock Holmes and more. I find him incredibly boring. Edison reads and acts like a Gary Stu, the name you give to literary characters who are perfect in every way and have zero flaws. The problems with Gary Stu characters are they just feel made up and not real. Sure Edison can write complex sonnets, while solving the water crisis in India and also be a world-class athlete but when all he does with it is go in National Treasure/ Jason Bond globe-trotting adventures with no real consequences at the end, it gets kind of samey and when I completed the third volume I was happy to be done with him. Also I do not enjoy (at least until the third book) that it is always about Edison and how amazing he is. It low key kind of reminded me of Star Discovery and how they wrote Michael Burnham (and y'all know how I feel about that).

    Despite these low points, the art is still amazing, some of the set pieces were cool and when Edison wasn't always winning, it did have some cool moments. This series just shows the problem about a  book with perfect characters and a case study for why flawed characters make much more compelling reads. In the Millar-verse I rank this slightly above Night Club which isn't great for Prodigy.

22. Hellverine Vol. 2 Hell Hulk Unleashed: 8 - Rave

    

    Speaking of continuing series I enjoy, the latest volume of Hellverine (and probably his last as a solo star) was a good fun read. This arc features Mephisto and a new enemy, the Hell Hulk which was interesting, especially in the way it drove people mad. Akihiro continues to work with his new found family and confront not only his inner demons but outer ones too.

    My only gripe with this series is due to the nature of the characters we don't really have any high stakes because everyone can be resurrected due to the nature of the story. Also Percy finally brings in Akihiro's love interest Aurora from X-Factor and later the Marauders to break them up? For no reason other than to do it? I have been wanting to see Aurora's reaction to Hellverine and I must say it was very disappointing. However the art was still good, the story was strong with a good hook and it ended well so I liked it enough to give it a Rave.

21. Gook: 8 - Rave

    Gook was a unique film, very uncompromising and cautionary tale about racial disharmony. Justin Chon stars and directs well, with some well done shots and a real vision. However this movie doesn't make one feel well. From the excessive swearing, a lot of scenes that felt like they needed more time to truly stick and a very downbeat ending I am surprised I still enjoyed it.

    Justin and David So perform great for people who aren't know for their dramatic work, Simone Baker as our main character Kamila brings her role to life which is impressive for one so young. The funniest story is when I finally sat down to watch this film, I felt like I have watched it before. I had some strange deja vu as I re-watched certain scenes and I can't say for sure if I did watch it before and just forgot. All in all, a good directorial debut by Justin and a story that needed to be told.

20. Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning: 8 - Rave

    A compelling beginning (with a pay off we have all been waiting for) and a strong ending but with a meddling middle gave me flashbacks to book two of the Fever series which I thought was just okay. This (the 4th book) at least showed the consequences of the 3rd book well and it did move the story forward and I enjoyed learning more about Dani (who is low-key my favorite character) and Ryodan but I am happy that with this book done we can move onto the final book of the original ending.

    Depending on how Shadowfever ends, I might either continue with the Fever series second era and go all the way to the end or I might just stop with Shadowfever. I guess we shall see soon enough because I am reading the 5th right now. I enjoy this series but I won't lie, I do wish its pace was much faster.

19. Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer: 8 - Rave

    A cozy fantasy that was recommended by my wife, with low stakes (at least at first) was an enjoyable read. It definitely was not like any other fantasy series I have read before and I think I enjoyed that the most about it. I do agree with some reviewers that I wish they had a bit more time together before they started swooning over each other but I did not hate it. It is ironic that it falls right next to the series where I felt it took forever for the main characters to get together. I guess I just enjoys book where the romances is more well paced, not too fast, not too slow. The big bad reveal was also well plotted and got the right reaction from me though I did wish it got to that moment much faster.

    I did this book purely as a audiobook and I enjoyed the narrator and I like the cast of characters. My only real gripes with it was I do not feel this book needed to be as long as it was and it took awhile for it to get really good but I will be adding the remaining books to my TBR so it did make a impression on me.

18. Hellraiser: 8 - Rave

    As briefly mentioned above, I used to think Hellbound: Hellraiser II was better than the original. Now I can say beyond a doubt I was wrong. After re-watching the original, I now have so much more appreciation of how close it stuck to the original material. Sure, some small changes were made regarding Kirsty but I actually felt that change made sense and made Uncle Frank much more creepier in retrospect. I also appreciate that after being screwed twice with Transmutations (Underworld in some regions) and the abominable RawHead Rex (owner of the Golden Rant from this very blog), Mr. Barker decided to direct this one and despite it being his first project, he truly imbued it with his himself.

    I appreciate this film so much more now I realize how tired I am of the slasher horror genre and that this film tried something different with its own story and he even kind of accidentally created a horror icon in the form of Pinhead aka The Hell Priest. Top that off with a surprise turn from Andrew Robinson (Garak of ST: DS9) playing a good guy and then a not such a good guy was a pleasant surprise too since I forgot he was in this film. Honestly I forgot a bit about this film even though I've watched it before so this was a great re-watch. 

17. Murders in the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allan Poe: 8.5 - RAVE

    Much like the month of January was about exploring the classic works of H.P Lovecraft, February was all about Edgar Allan Poe. Confession time, I have known about 'Murders...' ever since I became a fan of Poe but I have actually never read the novella until now and boy, was it a treat. To believe Poe can be credited with creating the modern detective story back in 1841 is truly awe-inspiring and he gave everyone a formula writers are still using today with a determined detective, a string of clues, a confession to the crime and a twist that still blows me away.

    This novella really drove home what I enjoy about Poe's writing and it started me down a path of like stories. As noted above I read the sequel to this story (which did not end as well) and I aim to read Clive Barker's take on it in the month of March. Truly a pleasant surprise and worth doing my deep dive into Poe's writing.

16. Where the Crawdads Sing: 8.5 - RAVE

    A well paced, enjoyable murder mystery with a killer twist. Based on a novel my wife has read, she mentioned it stayed pretty close to the source material which is always nice.

    Not much more to say other than this was a good film, well directed, the cast did well and the storyline was compelling enough it kept me interested until the final twist. Also it was nice to see a strong female lead taking her life back especially after so many people treated her so badly.

15. Beyond the Hanging Wall by Sara Douglass: 8.5 - RAVE

    This one surprised me. Despite being a big fan of Sara Douglass I never explored her standalone novels and after I found out this book, Threshold and her Wayfarer Redemption series are all linked together through Darkglass Mountain trilogy I decided to read the two books I never read. Now the surprising part. Unlike Threshold which had me under a spell until near the end, Beyond the Hanging Wall felt very safe and pedestrian and was actually disappointing me. It actually felt like one of Sara's earlier novels, re-released after she became popular off her other series.

    However near the end, this book does the opposite of Threshold and makes me much more invested, the story gets richer and the characters more three dimensional. I prefer the ending for this book much more than Threshold even tho I feel Threshold was a better novel overall. I am happy I read it and I now look forward to Darkglass Mountain trilogy and see how Sara combines all these fantasy worlds she has created.

14. Found Season One: 8.5 - RAVE

       Thanks to Netflix, me and my wife was able to finally watch a show we missed when it was airing originally. Found has a unique premise and I enjoy how it focuses on people whom are typically ignored and making sure every person is valued. Sure, some of the cases can get a bit generic and also a bit preachy sometimes (like network tv loves to do) but the strong cast carries the procedure nature of the show.

    The real strength of the show is the chemistry/ antagonistic relationship between series leads Shanola Hampton and Marl-Paul Gosselaar (who plays menacing a bit too well) which really makes it good TV. Combined with some interesting backstories for the main cast and a crazy mic drop moment for the season finale, it is definitely worth a watch if you like these type of shows. 

13. The Thief of Always by Clive Barker: 8.5 - RAVE

    

    Clive Barker as any regular readers of this blog knows, is my version of comfort food. The Thief of Always was one of the first novels I read of his after I read all six volumes of his Books of Blood and I remembered a lot of it to my surprise but also is a sign of a memorable read. Whilst it was written for a younger audience, it still has a timeless appeal to it.

    By the end of this novel, I was surprised how much of the final chapters, resounded with me, especially now as I am much older. I won't lie, this book really got me in the feels and that feeling elevated from a 8 to an 8.5 and the higher end of this LIST.

12. The Dark Tower Book Two - The Drawing of the Three by Stephen King: 8.5 - RAVE

    

    Continuing my re-read of the Dark Tower books (which I have decided to combine with an audio books going forward) I am happy I decided to stick to it. As previously mentioned, the Gunslinger can be a rough read and even with my new appreciation for it with my most recent re-read it was still a 8/10 book for me. The Drawing of the Three does not have such issues, from the jump, I really enjoyed this re-read and consumed it in record time thanks to double teaming with the audio book.

    I think Mr. King in this volume really understood where he wanted to go with The Dark Tower and it shows. Compelling and complex characters, a more realized setting and some insane set pieces make this a great read. With this volume, I am much more excited to continue my journey to The Dark Tower again to the point where instead of waiting as long as I did last time, I aim to jump into Book 3 at my first convenience.

11. Magisterium Book 4 - The Silver Mask by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare: 9 - RAVE

    

    I hate to compare oranges to apples but since they are both book 4, Holly Black and Cassandra Clare showed how to write a penultimate book especially compared to Dreamfever. This book truly upped the stakes, moved the needle and all the other metaphors lol. A couple majors things happen in this book and it sets the scene for a wild finale for sure.

    Oh and we finally get a pay-off for Call and Tamara relationship and yes, I still don't like Call as a Main Character. Funny enough, despite that, I do like this series and I am eagerly looking forward to the conclusion because if it keeps up this constant quality uptick, I think I will really enjoy it.

10. Bridgerton Season 4: 9 - RAVE

    

SPOILERS! Jump to 9 if you have not seen this season.

    So, I have been a fan of Bridgerton since season one (which I still believe it is one of the best seasons) so me and my wife have watched every season (and the Queen Charlotte spin-off) with interest. One thing I enjoyed about this season is seeing some East Asian representation and Yerin Ha playing Sophie gives her all. She is funny and charismatic and has natural chemistry with everyone.

    Sure the story was kind of paint by the numbers 'Cinderella story' but it was nice for the show to confront the class struggle that exists in Regency times. My only really gripe with this season is sadly the same as the previous season where the writers are doing too many side-plots drawing attention from the main couples so they can keep the rest of the cast busy. I like Hyacinth and Eloise but did they need a story this season? I was also not a fan of giving Violet a significant storyline this season but for it to be a means to an end of her 'finding herself' again. That could have been done in a couple scenes, not a season long arc. I am also not a fan of Sophie being a very intelligent woman being told by a man that their is no way her father would abandon her especially when the original source was a woman who clearly hated her. I feel Sophie did not need spurring to find the truth about her father's will.

    However, something that elevated this season was the sad love story of Francesca and her husband, John. Hannah Dodd as Fran continues to be one of the best casted additions to this ensemble and she portrayed Fran's love and grief over losing John so well. Episode 7 broke my heart and the only thing it has done has made me super invested in her upcoming full season.

9. The Beautiful Struggle by Ta-Nehisi Coates: 9 - RAVE

    I have been dying to read something written by Ta-Nehisi Coates for a couple years now so during Black History Month, I decided to just do it and I read his memoir 'The Beautiful Struggle: A Father, Two Sons and the Unlikely Road to Manhood'. What an elegant read this was. Coates is a masterful story-teller, weaving past and present into one compelling narrative. This book as the title implies mainly focuses on Coates, his brother, who is referred to as Big Bill and their upbringing under a strict but fair father in the 80's.

    Reading this reminded me of hood classics like 'Boyz N The Hood' and 'Menace 2 Society' but in book form and I really got to know the man behind the storywriter which I know is the goal behind most memoirs. I consumed this in record time, which is a sign I really liked it. I do wish it was a bit more focused at time but that is only a small gripe. Based on the strength of this, I think I will continue to read Coates' essays, his novels and his comic book runs and not just during February.

8. The Vision (entire series): 9 - RAVE

    As a big fan of the character, I always had an interest in Tom King's The Vision run. I even bought the first volume (with issues 1 to 6) and after I read it, I liked it but I must admit I was not immediately hooked by it like I thought I was going to be, especially after hearing everyone call it an 'instant' classic. Time went on and I never finished it. However this year, thanks to Hoppla I was able to read the whole series and I get it now. I really do.

    The final six issues really drive home the themes and it really comes to life for me where I actually really enjoyed reading it. I became really invested in the thought provoking story and the art matched it so well. Never too dynamic but perfect for the story it was telling. Vision's family ties and his relationships with others has never been explored as well as it was in this series and I think I see a lot of inspiration for WandaVision in this series. I am happy I finished this story and I now believe it is essential reading, especially if you like the Vision.

7. Avatar Fire and Ash: 9 - RAVE

    

    I might be in a minority but I really enjoy the Avatar films. I like the characters (most of them), the storylines and the epic scope of it all. I feel Fire and Ash in particular re-captures the thrill and action of the first film and was not as over-loaded with the worldbuilding the second film was. This epic was 3 hours and you felt the 3 hours but it was an enjoyable 3 hours if that make sense.

    This film also gave us a new antagonist in the form of Varang who is the anti-Neytiri in everyway and she was compelling in her insanity and bloodlust. The visuals to no surprise are still amazing and I continuously get lost where the CG begins and the real filming begins. Some of the technology and warfare in this film gave me Dandelion Dynasty vibes which I really liked because as regular readers of this blog know, I love me some Dandelion Dynasty.

6. Steering the Craft by Ursula K. Le Guin: 9.5 - RAVE

    

    As I continue to learn the craft of writing, I have been looking into aids and guides. I previously reviewed Stephen King's book on it, 'On Writing' and while I really enjoyed it, I did feel at times Mr. King enjoyed diving down memory lane a bit too many times and not enough tips on writing. Ursula K. Le Guin's guide 'Steering the Craft' however is much more a writing guide and wow, did I learn a lot from this book.

    I think a big part of this book is how much Le Guin encourages you to write, form peer workshops and practice your knowledge. Filled with illustrative examples and a good sense of humor, this helped me understand writing in ways I have not looked at it before. I borrowed this book from my local library but as soon as I finished it and returned it, I instantly brought a copy for my own personal library and I now look at it very fondly. This guide gets one of my highest recommendations if you have any interest in writing or enjoy literature. 

5. The Dandelion Dynasty Book 3: The Veiled Throne by Ken Liu: 9.5 - RAVE

    

    So after an amazing run for Ken Liu novels where he held the # 1 spot on multiple LISTs, The Veiled Throne is my first Ken Liu novel that I enjoyed but not my favorite piece of content for the month. Now, I still love The Veiled Throne and it still gets a 9.5 but to come in at number 5 shows you how competitive the this month's LIST is.

    The Dandelion Dynasty is still a compelling read, filled with nuanced, complex characters and even the new additions work so well in this universe. We still have some of the most darkest takes on war and the loss and each scene hits with the impact of a gut punch. However due to the rather extended 'Dandelion Dynasty: Iron Chef' I feel these scenes lasted a bit too long and lowered the final score and my overall feeling about this novel. Yes, the Iron Chef scenes and characters eventually pay off in a big way but I feel the length of it was a bit self indulgent on Ken's behalf.

    However, the big twist, the impending sense of another big war coming with the re-opening of the Wall of Storms combined with brilliant characterization still has me in thrall and I still read this massive volume in record time and eagerly look forward to the conclusion.

4. Spartacus: House of Ashur: 9.5 - RAVE

    

    Spartacus: House of Ashur takes an concept I would have never thought believable and just made it work. Like how can Spartacus creator and visionary, Steven S. DeKnight take Ashur, one of the most infuriating, evil members of the Spartacus lore and make him not only a hero of his own story but a likeable person? How!? But by Jupiter's Cock did he do it. By episode 3 of 10, I found myself cheering for Ashur and his people and by episode 10 I was roared with him when he delivered the coup de grâce in one of the most amazing endings for a episode of television I have ever watched. If you know, you know. Combined that with a natural born star in Tenika Davis as the female gladiator Achilla and her tragic and compelling story and you have a season filled with thrills and chills. The final battle between Achilla and her opponent was so satisfying that as soon as I finished the episode, I instantly re-watched the fight again, something I have never done before.

    I actually purchased Starz so I could watch this and I must say I was not disappointed. I am so ready for a season 2 announcement because I can not wait to see where they go from here. I have a prediction that House of Ashur will have a very high spot on my year end LIST and it is just February. Yes, it is that good.

3. The Empyrean: Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros: 9.5 - RAVE

    

    As my previous LIST mentioned, I enjoyed 'Iron Flame' the second book of Rebecca Yarro's Empyrean epic but I felt it suffered from some pacing issues. Well did Onyx Storm address those issues and more. Onyx Storm's motto should be 'All Gas, No Breaks' because from the first chapter, this was a full-on tour de force that never let me go. This book had some moments that still stick with me and the emotional trauma Rebecca puts us through is just not right. This book now stands as my favorite book in all her Empyrean books I have read so far and that is no easy feat because I LOVE Fifth Wing.

    However it is not all praise. I feel some of the spice can get a bit much (and I know, I know, you need the romance in the romantasy) but why is all the love and angst between Xaden and Violet? I would like some other characters. Like can we explore their relationships? I know we might see some more of that in the upcoming thanks to the introduction of multiple POVs (which I really enjoyed) so we might be moving in the right direction there but yes, Xaden x Violet pairings for the fifth/sixth time does not take away from how much of a win this book is. I was already invested in The Empyrean but now I am ravenous for the next volumes.

2. Absolute Batman Vol 2 Abomination: 10 - RAVE

 

    A perfect 10 and it is still not the # 1 piece of content? Yep. But does it deserve its perfect 10?! Even more of a yes. It is hilarious I have spoken in length of Scott Snyder and when he writes certain characters I like his writing but I don't always love it however when Scott is locked in, the man is locked the fuck in. Absolute Batman was always a highlight for me but in this second volume, so much happens and it is all amazing.

    From Absolute Mr. Freeze, to Bane's origin and him breaking Bruce's friends to get to him. This was a rollercoaster ride I did not want to get off. Combine this with Nick Dragotta doing magic with his pencils and illustrating the most intimating Bane and Killer Croc I have ever seen. All Dragotta's re-designs are frame-able to be honest because they are all amazing.

    Top it off with one of the best, knockdown dragged out battles to conclude the arc and there was no way I was not going to give this volume a 10. Absolute Batman is a movement right now with a lot of people discussing it and praising it and it deserves it 100%. This is the pinnacle for comic story telling right now, no doubt. If you have not gone 'All In' and you enjoy comics? You owe it to yourself to give Abs Batman a try, you won't be disappointed.

1. Predator: Killer of Killers: 10 - RAVE

    In a month of Yarros,  Liu's,  Absolutes and the return of one of my favorite TV shows (I own all the seasons of Spartacus... long live physical media) who had the honor of taking the top spot? Why Predator: Killer of Killers of course. This anthology of short films all tied in with an amazing ending is hands down my favorite media for the month of February. Everything about this was amazing, cool predators, cool weapons, cool kills (Predators in the SKY!) and some of the most epic stories told. Under the guiding vision of Dan Trachtenberg, the Predator franchise for me has gone from strength to strength. Prey was amazing, Badlands was amazing but hands down my favorite piece of media he has made is this animated epic right here.

    The Japanese storyline of Samurai vs Ninja vs Predator was everything I have ever wanted in a Predator story and it was told mostly without dialogue which made it even more epic. My only gripes with this film are so minor it won't even deduct points from it. Also the set-up with that post credit scene makes me salivate for more of this. I currently write two sets of notes for this LIST, the final product which you are reading here and my thoughts, immediately after I watch it. I wrote in my immediate thoughts that I feel if this was not animated it would be my favorite piece of Predator media. I no longer feel that way. This IS my favorite piece of Predator media. If this was available on DVD or Blu-ray I would buy it without a thought. In a month stacked with easy # 1 on any other LIST, Predator: Killer of Killers rose to the top.

Phew, that was a lot so without more to say, see y'all next month!

AV

PITSTOP: Raising Hell: Hellraiser watch series

 

We might be just streaming movies 9 to 11.

    It has been a long time coming, as a life-long Clive Barker and Hellraiser fan I felt it was time for a re-watch/ watch series and subsequent RANTS & RAVES. The plan is to watch all 11 (!!) films divided into 3 parts/ months (Netflix doesn't have a lockdown on splitting stuff in half hah).

    February will be dedicated to re-watches so Hellraiser, Hellbound: Hellraiser 2, Hellraiser 3: Hell on Earth and Hellraiser Bloodlines. These will all be re-watches but it has been a minute since I've watched them so it'll be interesting which ones hold up.

Clive Barker's original art for Clive Barker's Dark Worlds by Phil & Sarah Stokes

    March will be interesting because we will be diving into Hellraiser films I have never watched and kind of avoided due to the lack of Clive Barker's involvement. These films will be Inferno, Hellseeker, Deader and Hellworld.

    Depending on how much more I can take, we go into April with the final three: Revelations, Judgement and the Hulu 2022 remake.

    This is my first time planning a project this large so stick around for some thrills, chills and blood. Lots and lots of blood.

AV

LIST: January's Rants & Reviews

 

    Okay, if y'all thought November had a lot on my LIST, January is out of control. A lot of it comes from the Phams letting Disney Plus go so I decided to watch all the shows that was on my watchlist that I have been sitting on. On top of that, this month has our first 10 and my first DNF. Hilarious that. DNF or Did Not Finish is something I rarely do in reading. Even if I am not enjoying something, I at least try to finish it. However this one particular novel (which will rename nameless) definitely was not for me and I made the wise decision to put it away so I could read something I did enjoy. Life is too short to read books you have no interest in finishing. On that long preamble. Lets kick off January's LIST.

27. Terrifier: 7 - OKAY

    This movie was an experiment for me. I have heard a lot about this and I not one to shy away from splatter-punk horror (I grew up on Clive Barker). I had an opportunity to watch it for free thanks to Hoopla and well. It wasn't that good. The plot was paper-thin, the main antagonist does not speak so he relies on facial expressions and body language so he didn't even have the charisma most horror villains have. The long cast of victims were really vapid one dimensional characters just there to up the body count and definitely were not trained actors however I will say they acted leagues better than the cast of the stinker Rawhead Rex.

    I can say the particular gore effects were particularly gruesome and even I was turned off at some points. I have heard the director is a fan of old skool practical effects and you can see it in this film. As I said it was an experiment and if it was successful I would have watched the other films in this series but as it stands I don't think I will. I think I've might have outgrown these older splatter-punk type of horror films to be honest.

26.  Possessing Her: Once You're Mine: 7.5 - OKAY

    This is part 1 in a duology of books making up the 'Possessing Her' series. This was my first time reading smut/ spice type of books and it was... interesting and very detailed. I gasped at some of the colorful language and I am not a prude so that says a lot. I did not dis-like this book (it got a 7.5 after all) however I do have a couple issues with it. One, I found the Main Male Lead a bit too over-possessive and a bit cringe in how far he'll go for the Female Lead. The Female Lead is also a bit so submissive for me to take her seriously as well. I love strong female leads so this did not work for me. Two, the story was kind of spinning in circles and I wished it had more forward movement instead of focusing on the male lead and his obsession.

    I won't lie, I read the trigger warning and also did some research so I knew what I was getting into but this book is just missing something for me to really enjoy it. I will complete the duology because it ended on a cliffhanger but I don't think I'll continue reading works for this author.

25. X-Men Dark Phoenix: 7.5 - OKAY

    This was a very safe and lack-luster sequel. Fox and their X-Men movies really have no in-between. They are either really good (X2, First Class, Days of Future Past) or forgettable (Last Stand, Apocalypse and now Dark Phoenix). You can tell Fox was really scraping the bottom of the barrel for this one. The villains are a instantly a non-issue with paper-thin motivations, Magneto's new goon squad is made up of some of the most WTF mutants I have ever seen and they took a enormous epic like the Dark Phoenix saga and made it... meh.

    This 7.5 is very generous and its mainly because Michael Fassbender is still acting circles around everyone else and his scene on the train was amazing and some of the action was cool but it was weighed down by a barely put together plot, everyone acting like they are just fulfilling their contracts (especially Jennifer Lawrence), incredibly complex heroes like Quicksilver, Storm and Cyclops just being boiled down to 'what can there powers do' and ignore their backstories and I hate to say it, I like Sophie Turner in Game of Thrones but especially in this film she seemed out of her depth portraying a character as complex as Jean in her Dark Phoenix form. Her multiple deadpan expressions did not help either. I am so happy this was the last FoX-men picture and hopefully Marvel does much better now the franchise is back in their hands.

24. Tempest (Kdrama): 8 - Rave

    Tempest is an odd one, It feels like a kdrama but it also feels very American coded which is no surprise because they had the backing of big name US production house Skydance. Despite this unique mash-up of cultures instead of taking the best from each other, they ended up taking the worst. The American need to have raised stakes but to draw it out for long periods, the Korean need to have everything be a moral lesson. This show has the budget, the cast (including stalwart Korean veterans like Gianna Jun and American stars like John Cho), the set-up and stakes to make it something spectacular. However after a very promising start, it falls apart at the end and you are left with a show that had potential and dropped the ball.

    A lot of bad characters have redemption arcs for no reason other than to do it, our heroine who was given a lot of agency at the beginning and bad-ass moments falls apart at the end, nearly dying to a generic no-name solider and the male lead has to save her all for a lack-luster, boring ending with no real resolution for the main couple. I gave it a 8 based on its first couple episodes and the potential it showed but in the end, this was not it.

23. Night Club (full series so far): 8 - Rave

    Continuing my deep dive into Mark Millar's whole Millarverse, we arrived at Night Club. A bunch of teens get vampire powers and decided to fight crime, hormones and each other. This was a fun series and premise but it got pretty generic. This series did have great art and it got really gruesome at times which I did not mind. Vol. 2 of the series was the best one with some real stakes (pun intended) and some dark moments but overall it does not do anything different than numerous teen vampire stories like this.

    I kind of expect more from Mark Millar but it seems his ideas really lacks staying power for a 'long series' which we will see again later in this LIST on a different comic. Also Vol. 3 ends with an very obvious sequel bait/ cliffhanger moment which I feel is entirely un-necessary which also left a bad taste in my mouth. They really could have ended after the third volume and the series would have been fine.

22. The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath by H.P Lovecraft: 8 - Rave

    In the month of January I decided to finally do a deep dive into the writings of H.P Lovecraft. I read a lot of his short stories and a couple of his novellas but we will only be reviewing the  novellas. As someone who knows about the influence of Lovecraft on so much of the media I consume, I always said to myself I need to actually read the source material. Well January was the month I started my own quest into the world of H.P.

    The Dream Quest... has some issues, it did not read like a story, more of an extended travelogue as Lovecraft hits with so much world-building and ideas you are left amazed by his imagination. However, this was all for naught because this is a Quest without a satisfactory end (at least for me). His 'purple prose' could also be a bit much especially if you are not used to Lovecraft and his long descriptions of basic things could be a bit much. Despite my shortcomings with it, I did enjoy the reading along with an audio book because simply reading it was not working for me. The audio book really enhanced the experience.

21. The New Mutants: 8 - Rave

    This film legit surprised me. I went in with low expectations and I was genuinely surprised by how much I liked it. Sure they Fox-fied most of their lore, changed characters motivations around just for the Hell of it (Rahne/ Dani's romantic pairing comes to mind) and side-washed a predominantly black female character for a Hispanic one (Dr. Emilia Reyes) which was weird and un-necessary but despite that, this film actually wasn't bad.

    The casting was inspired, Anya Taylor-Joy being the obvious stand-out and rocked as Ilyanna (a casting I hope they keep which Marvel has been known to do). The special effects were good, the action set pieces were nice. My only real negatives was once again, a meh first half villain in Reyes and lack of pace/ stakes in the first half of the film. Could it have been better? Yes but it still stands heads and shoulders over Dark Phoenix so they have that.

20. Dracula by Bram Stoker: 8 - Rave

     

    It is amazing that Dracula by Bram Stoker is still so relevant and so readable despite it being so old. Yes, it has outdated notions of gender roles but it was a product of its time so we shouldn't hold that against it. Yes, the final 'battle' with Dracula was kind of anti-climatic and the book reads mostly like a travelogue but unlike Unknown Kadath above, this book at least had some meat on it at its core, it is a good story of good vs evil and good triumphs in the end.

    I enjoyed my re-read especially since it had been a lifetime since I've last read it but I still remembered many scenes like it was yesterday. That truly shows how much of an impression it left on me. I am going to be continuing with my goal this year to read or re-read at least one classic a month and Dracula was a great way to kick it off. Also I will die on the hill that Dracula is a pro-Christianity book despite its subject matter or perhaps it is because of it.

19. Battle Royale: 8 - Rave

    Speaking of classic, a classic of modern cinema, Battle Royale has inspired so many videos games, anime, manga and stories. However before last month I had never seen it. Seeing it show on Amazon Prime peaked my interest but when I realized it would be dubbed I instead borrowed it from my library so I could watch it with the original Japanese subtitles. Battle Royale has a reputation for being insane, gory and very hard to watch. Quentin Tarrinto has even called it one of the best films of all time. For me, I would not go that far.

    I felt a bit of disconnect with this film. From everything I heard I thought it would blow me away but I came away mildly disappointed. The themes will still confronting, the deaths were gory and some were really insane but I could not escape the fact that this film, while entertaining (I gave it an 8) had too many faults I could not ignore. I really did not like the main characters acting in this film, it just did not resonate with me and I felt he was always screaming for no reason. 95% of the storylines involving the students were about unresolved crushes, lost loves and jealously but with the fourth or fifth storyline about love, I was hoping for some other storylines. By the end of the film, I did not really connect with it as much as I would have liked despite it being a good film.

18. Wonder Man (TV series): 8 - Rave

[SPOILER WARNING... JUMP TO 17 IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE SPOILED]

    Wonder Man feels like one of the most boldest experiments by Marvel TV since WandaVision. Focusing more on the Man instead of the Wonder and released under the Marvel Spotlight umbrella (which is known for its more experimental approach to shows), Wonder Man is a grounded superhero show which truly examines the soul of a actor and what they sacrifice. Yahya Abdul Mateen II provides a nuance, driven performance as Simon and Sir Ben Kingsley kills it as Trevor Slattery (the ex-Mandarin as people love to remind him). Trevor's character might be the sink or swim of this show for some people. Some people might love his random non-sequitur moments, some people might hate them. However the bromance between him and Yahya is undeniable and also kind of sweet.  

    I applaud Marvel TV for taking a chance on Wonder Man, I feel Marvel TV has reached the point where it can branch out more and tell different stories and this was one of them. Also the black and white episode Door Man is a movie in itself and told the same story Wonder Man was telling in 52 mins which was impressive. So why is it only a Rave and not a RAVE? It comes down to a couple things. I felt the show really tried to fill in its 8 episodes with too much filler, a lot could be trimmed and this could have been a much stronger, more focused TV movie instead of a TV series. Also having no true antagonist (unless you count the Hollywood or Damage Control) hurt it slightly in my eyes. This is a Marvel slice of life drama (something you get used to if you watch a lot of Kdramas like me and wife do) and for me, it mostly succeed. 

17. The Little Mermaid (2023): 8.5 - RAVE

    

    One of my favorite Disney animated films of all time gets the live action treatment and I actually enjoyed it a lot. Halle Bailey does a great job adding sass and personality to Ariel especially in a role that requires her to only use facial impressions and body language. The songs are great, including some news ones still fit with the theme and always feels like it belonged in the movie.

    It does take some liberties with the story-telling including gender swapping some characters, giving certain side characters more to do and letting Ariel control her fate instead of being saved by the prince which I enjoyed. The extended endings was also a nice touch and really drove home the need for acceptance and understanding of others cultures which is sorely lacking in times like these.

16. The Last Voyage of the Detemer: 8.5 - RAVE

        Another surprise for me this month was The Last Voyage... Like everyone else I came in with a healthy amount of skepticism. How can they make a film of a chapter... just one CHAPTER of Dracula. However they did and it was good. Dracula was reimagined in a way that actually made him scary and menacing in a way he has not been done before. The film kept its pace and even introduced new elements and lore but also make sense in a way that it was diverting too much from the source (which I reviewed above).

    I actually felt bad for some (emphasis some) of the crew as they were hunted and stalked by this version of Dracula. I wished the they stuck the ending better but overall I really enjoyed this and I actually recommend it to anyone who wants a different type of vampire tale.

15. Last Christmas: 8.5 - RAVE

   

     A charming cute Christmas flavored movie with like-able leads in the form of Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding. You kind of get the feeling a big twist was coming and the foreshadowing was done well but nevertheless when it hit, it hit.

    I also enjoyed how the film interwoven some many of George Michael popular and not so popular songs into it. A easy recommend if you enjoy romantic comedies with a bit of heart.

14.  Final Destinations Bloodlines: 8.5 - RAVE

    Okay, I kind of fell of hard when it came to the Final Destination franchise that I didn't know how many films they made since the last one I watched which was the second one. This was a pleasant surprise though and I found myself really getting into it. I enjoyed the set-up at the beginning and how it ties into the family being haunted by death in the present timeline.

    Some of the kills were very gory and over the top but that is what you expect from a Final Destination film. My only real gripes was it had a very down-beat ending (which horror films loved so I should have expected it) and how some of the 'victims' were really just there to be killed and add to the body count. I am not expecting great character work but dude is a dick all the time doesn't make a deep character worth cheering for to survive. Also it was really cool that they let Tony Todd adlib his final lines which was his final role before his passing as a farewell present to all of us. It was a nice touch.

13. The Elenium Book 2: The Ruby Knight by David Eddings: 8.5 - RAVE

    So confession. After completing my re-read of the first book of The Elenium I was wondering if I should continue with my re-reads of book 2 and 3. I still enjoyed reading it, I love the characters (Sephrenia especially) but the whole fetch quest and travelling from one region to another to unlock clues to go to another region didn't do it for me on my re-read. As I mentioned in my previous review of The Diamond Throne, I felt my fantasy tastes had got more complex.

     So imagine my surprise when I found myself really enjoying The Ruby Knight much more than book one. Sure, we still have a fetch quest but the enemies felt far more dangerous, the scenarios were more high stakes and everything just felt better. Heck, the battle with the troll in the final chapter was better than multiple chapters in book one. Also now knowing the 'Flute' reveal, I enjoyed all the foreshadowing in this book. I now look forward to finishing the trilogy which will probably be reviewed next month judging by my reading schedule.

12. Freakier Friday: 8.5 - RAVE

    A fun, cute un-offensive film which kept most of the original cast and brought in some fresh new faces as well. Even without watching the original (like I did) I was able to pick up the plots and enjoy the storyline about found family, learning to work past each others differences and seeing people for who they really are.

    Also shout-out to Manny Jacinto for killing it as the male love interest and kudos to Disney for going with a POC too. As a fan of Manny since the Acolyte (which he killed it in) I was hoping to see more of him in TV and film.

11. Dynamite Kiss (Kdrama): 8.5 - RAVE

        Speaking of fun, cute and un-offensive, Dynamite Kiss was the perfect chaser after the decent While You Were Standing By, this drama hit all the marks with a relatable storyline, good side characters, a villain to shake your fist at and a couple with chemistry for days.

    We already knew Jang Ki Yong had some nice acting chops but this drama really let us discover female lead Ahn Eun Jin, who killed being determined but also adorable at the same time. We also appreciated this drama with it giving everyone a happy ending and the out-take outro was hilarious. Even with it's old skool feel, it had new drama sensibilities and it was a good end result.

10. The Magic Order (whole series): 9 - RAVE

    This was a great series with consistently good art. A story about a group of magicians and their secret order fighting against the magical enemies of the world and fellow magicians who have fallen to the dark side. I won't lie through, if my review was based on the first 2 volumes, I actually rate it even higher but as mentioned previously I feel Mark Millar runs of steam the longer his series goes on. I started losing interest in middle of Vol. 4 and beginning of the final volume (Vol. 5) BUT it was able to recover and the epic finale was worth it.

     I also not a fan of Millar using a 'dramatic' resurrection as a get out of jail free card which he has now used a couple times in multiple projects of his. However, this series still has some moments that'll stick with me, the first 'throw the book at them' scene, the first reveal of house-keeper Edgar's true power, the epic finale as mentioned above. The art across all 5 volumes was consistent too with the first two volumes looks amazing due to the superstar talents Oliver Coipel (Vol. 1) and Stuart Immonen (Vol. 2). All of the good, allows it to crack the top 10 in a very competitive month of content.

9.  The Immortal Hulk (full series): 9 - RAVE

    Al Ewing is a twisted genius. Through 50 issues (and some occasional side-stories) Ewing told one of the most compelling Hulk saga in centuries. Part horror story, Part family drama, All insanity. Not since Greg Park or Peter David (RIP) has someone understood the lore and complexity of the Hulk and his friends and foes. Ewing even adds new elements and new characters that even enrich Hulk's history and all I can say is I am a big fan of this run.

   I only have a few issues with it. There was an extended intermission where Hulk became a cosmic being I could have done without, the pacing sometimes got a bit slow and I wished the art was a bit more consistent. Speaking of, it is a shame that the series main artist Joe Bennett isn't a great person IRL because his art in this series was terrifying and he drew body horror straight out of a Clive Barker novel. Also it was nice to Ryan Bodenheim (of Secret fame) draw a issue as well and it was nice to see his complex, highly detailed art which I fallen in love with. This series is definitely something I would like to own as an omnibus one day. It was that good.

8. Threshold: 9 - RAVE

    

    Growing up, I had a couple of fantasy authors that I adored. David Eddings (as mentioned above), Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis of Dragonlance fame and Sara Douglass. Ms. Douglass was especially close to my heart because she was an Australian, like me. While she is no longer with us, Ms. Douglass has left a lasting impression on me throughout the years and since I've decided to start reading again seriously, Ms. Douglass sprung to mind and book of her that I always dismissed because it didn't appeal to me, came to the forefront. In the year of 2025, I was going to read Threshold and boy was I happy I did.

    This book had me hooked from the first couple chapters and I found myself devouring it in record time, even breaking my 'only one' chapter a day rule for it... multiple times. I love the setting, the characters especially our very morally gray male protagonist. Everything was going amazing until the very end and sadly, the ending felt very flat to me. The ending could have been so much better and I feel it lost a full point because of it. However the ending does not detract from the fact that I enjoyed the Hell out of this book and it consistently reminded me how much of a fan of Ms. Douglass writing I still am. Because of this book, I pretty much immediately dived into another one of her books and looking forward to reading a trilogy of hers where she ties all her worlds together.

7. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3: 9 - RAVE

    I know I am late to the party but before my Disney + membership expired I had to watch GotG Vol. 3 and I am happy I did. James Gunn decided to put the focus on Rocket for the final film with the OG Guardians and what a great decision it was. Because Rocket's origin is tragic and moving. Also we actually get a proper antagonist and what a piece of work he was as well. A true foil for Rocket and someone you just loved to hate. Gunn also shows great restraint in not re-trending old paths and letting Gamora and Star-Lord not fall back in love which was a bold move and was appreciated. Everyone truly gets to shine in this volume and it shows a real understanding of their characters (something I feel both The New Mutants and Dark Phoenix especially lacked).

    My only gripes are the need for the generic NPC bad guys flooding our besieged heroes set piece which has been done to death since the first Avengers film, the trademark Gunn humor which sometimes hits but also misses pretty badly and some pacing issues. I am also not the biggest fan of how he portrayed Adam Warlock but its par for course that Gunn doesn't always go by comic version of people (his Drax vs comic Drax for example). Those are small gripes though, I thoroughly enjoyed this film and I felt Gunn went out on a bang and gave us a true finale, at least for this version of the Guardians.

6. Run Away by Harlan Coben : 9 - RAVE

    As regular readers of this blog know, I loved me a good Harlan Coben book and this book was no exception. This book at first had me scratching my head when it came to certain scenes but when things started clicking and the plot start dovetailing into each other I was blown away.

    Coben's characterization remains on point and that final twist? Masterful. If the TV show can replicate the final twist as well as the book does I will be impressed because when it hit, boy, it hit. A easy recommendation to anyone who is a fan of Coben or the genre in general.

5. Moana 2: 9 - RAVE

    A great sequel and just a great film period. Moana 2 ups the ante and gives Moana a new quest, a crew and all the insanity that ensues. Dwayne continues to ham it up but in the best way as Maui. Also the introduction of Moana's baby sister was amazing and she stole me and my wife's heart.

    The new songs are also amazing, the storytelling was true to the character's roots and the humor was never forced. Also can we talk about how well they animated the water and the character's hair? Amazing. It is shame this film isn't as talk about as much as the first one because it was just as good, if not on the same level as the first one and the first one was amazing too.

4. Red Cliff (Theatrical Cut) : 9 - RAVE

    Wow... and this was the shortened version? This film was amazing. John Woo delivers in what may be one of the most epic Asian dramas filmed. The action was on-point, the characters were amazing and everyone played their role to perfection. I have been told their is a two disc version which expands this film even more and I will definitely watch and probably review that too because if it is as good as this one I am in for a treat.

    This film felt like the Dandelion Dynasty books come to life, which is no surprise because both are loosely based around the Han dynasty. Tony Leung's commanding presence was also the star of this film but Takeshi Kaneshiro was no slouch either in his co-lead spot. If you have any interest in Han dynasty, epic battles (land and sea), played a Dynasty Warriors game or just like a good action flick, boy do I have a recommendation for you.

3. A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E Schwab : 9 - RAVE

    With this book, I believe I have found a new author to obsess over. V.E Schwab's A Darker Shade of Magic had me in a literally trance. I enjoyed everything about this book, I love the world building (multiple London's with different types of magic... what?!), the unique magic systems and the characters. I enjoyed this so much I pretty much started looking up anything V.E Schwab has done and I have the second book in this trilogy in my TBR pile (To Be Read).

    Late last year, I let some Booktubers help me find some new authors to look into and while some crashed and burned (the aforementioned DNF book) I am happy to say the recommendation to try A Darker Shade... paid off. This book had everything I wanted in a young adult fantasy series hence it's number 3 spot.

2. The Empyrean Book 2: Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros : 9 - RAVE

    Part 2 of the Empyrean starts a bit slow for me but once you reach the half way point, this book builds to a fever pitch and stays hot to its dramatic conclusion. I have read some people felt Iron Flame wasn't as good as the Fourth Wing and I agree but to say Iron Flame is bad is just folks hating. This book is AMAZING.

    Rebecca's ability to write characters you either love or despise should be cheered on especially with such a large cast. The stakes continue to escalate and Rebecca pulls zero punches as well. This book has moments that have still stuck with me way after I finished reading it and this was at the beginning of January. For it to stay # 2 until the end of the month is something as well especially with the tough competition. However as epic as Iron Flame was, this month's clear winner is...

1. The Dandelion Dynasty Book 2: The Wall of Storms by Ken Liu : 10

    Book Two of The Dandelion Dynasty gets the first perfect 10 since me starting Rants & Raves reviews. I feel I have been sitting on giving away a perfect score until I felt it was 100% earned and I can say without a shadow of a doubt, The Wall of Storms earned it. Everything I love is in this book. Strong female leads? We have plenty. Twisting Labyrinthine plotlines with satisfying payoffs? Here in spades. Heart stopping and heart breaking moments? Yep. This book and series has low key become my life. I consumed this in record time and I regret nothing.

    Never has the art of moving a story forward been done to perfection as well as The Wall of Storms does it. Just when you thought things were going well, an invading force comes and destroys the already fragile hard fought peace that was established in The Grace of Kings and everything just goes to eleven.  Mr. Liu's prose and storytelling is next to none and it is criminal that this book is not on more peoples' radars because it is amazing and the breath of fresh air the epic fantasy genre needed.

    To paraphrase Stephen King when he talked about Clive Barker; 'I have seen the future of Fantasy and his name is Ken Liu'.

 

    Well that was quite a month wasn't it? Our first perfect 10 in a month of really great content. My whole top 10 this month was nothing but 9's! Now to enjoy some much need rest and to prepare for February's LIST and here is a quick preview. Rebecca and Ken might be going head to head again but a new upstart might come and ruin everything...

AV