<a href="https://thebookravenblog.wordpress.com/" title="The Book Raven" rel="home">The Book Raven

Some BLM resources:

Posted on August 10, 2021 by Tiana (The Book Raven) · 11 Comments

Top 5: Top Picks For Me From Netflix

Recently, one of my favorite past times is watching Netflix. I love seeing what it’ll recommend me and if it would really be a movie or show I’ll enjoy. So I thought that I’d like to share the top 5 recommendations Netflix made for me:

5. A Series of Unfortunate Events

‘This series follows the tragic tale of three orphans — Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire — who are investigating their parents’ mysterious death. The siblings are saddled with an evil guardian named Count Olaf (portrayed by Emmy-winning actor Neil Patrick Harris), who will do whatever it takes to get his hands on the Baudelaires’ inheritance. Violet, Klaus, and Sunny must outsmart Olaf at every turn, foiling devious plans and disguises.’

It’s really not a surprise that this show is being recommended to me. This book series is one I had started when I was younger and greatly enjoyed. It’s slightly dark and weird, but so much fun. It’s a matter of time before I watch the show.

4. Crimson Peak

‘After marrying the charming and seductive Sir Thomas Sharpe, young Edith (Mia Wasikowska) finds herself swept away to his remote gothic mansion in the English hills. Also living there is Lady Lucille, Thomas’ alluring sister and protector of her family’s dark secrets. Able to communicate with the dead, Edith tries to decipher the mystery behind the ghostly visions that haunt her new home. As she comes closer to the truth, Edith may learn that true monsters are made of flesh and blood.’

I think that I keep thinking I’ve watched this movie before and then skipping out on it, but I actually am not sure I have. Whatever the case, I’ve definitely wanted to and will watch this movie very soon.

3. Moxie

‘Inspired by her mum’s rebellious past and a confident new friend, a shy teenager publishes an anonymous zine calling out sexism at her school.’

When the book Moxie came out I always had it in my mind I really wanted to read it, but I never got my hands on it, but it’s really no surprise that the movie is being recommended to me.

2. I Am Not Ok With This

‘A teenager navigates the complexities of high school, family and her sexuality while dealing with new superpowers; based on Charles Forsman’s graphic novel.’

Why wouldn’t I watch this? It sounds amazing!

1. Gunpowder Milkshake

‘To protect an 8-year-old girl, a dangerous assassin reunites with her mother and her lethal associates to take down a ruthless crime syndicate and its army of henchmen.’

I cannot say how strong the urge to watch this movie has been. It sounds so intriguing. God I hope I love it. I need to watch this soon!

THANK YOU ALL FOR READING! Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below!

Places to donate to Trans communities:

Some BLM resources:

My friend started Live Streaming so check them out HERE!!

Check out my Instagram and Twitter!

Posted on August 9, 2021 by Tiana (The Book Raven)

Watching: The Suicide Squad

Another fun movie night with my best friend last night. This time it was my choice and of course my excitement lead me to choosing ‘The Suicide Squad’. I knew the day before that this is what I wanted to watch and I’m very proud of my choice.

Looking at this poster, everything you need to know about this movie is right there. It was so much fun to watch. To my surprise, the same night my boyfriend texted me that he was watching this with his sister. I know he hasn’t seen any of the other movies related to this which is why I was shocked. This movie is definitely a stand alone so it didn’t matter. But, I was also excited cause I had already told my best friend I was going to watch this with her that night.

One thing this movie did was further increase my crush on Harley Quinn.

Harley’s growth is something I think everyone’s been talking about that’s seen the movie. She’s owned by no one and she saves herself and becomes more free in who she is as a person and I adore this for her! Every scene she was in was gold and watching her on the screen made me so happy. She’s witty and unpredictable and so strong and wild and free and one of the most amazing heroes in this film. I love her.

I now want a rat named Sebastian. This little guy I loved from the very beginning. He’s so adorable and has such a big personality. So many of the funniest and quirkiest moments in the film included him. I would die for Sebastian.

Rat catcher and Bloodsport had some of the most wholesome moments in the whole film. I wanted to give them both a hug so many times. I just adored them.

King shark a.k.a sharky boy or just sharky to me gave me so many laughs. I loved every moment he was on screen. He also caused some of the most gruesome deaths, but the balance he had as a character made me forgive him. I loved him too.

I thought at the beginning I wouldn’t care much about this character, but I did. His mom being everywhere was hilarious. Plus his power was so awesome looking. He was so fun to watch.

All in all, I absolutely had a blast watching the suicide squad. It’s a delightful film with dumb humor that was perfect for my heart. I’m definitely going to be rewatching in the future for the pure enjoyment of it.

THANK YOU ALL FOR READING! Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below!

Places to donate to Trans communities:

Some BLM resources:

My friend started Live Streaming so check them out HERE!!

Check out my Instagram and Twitter!

Posted on August 8, 2021 by Tiana (The Book Raven)

Watching: 13 Ghosts

Last night my best friend Marble asked me to watch a movie with her and of course I was down. I always enjoy watching a movie with her. So, this movie night she picked 13 Ghosts. A movie I’d never seen and knew nothing about. This is how it went:

The first thing of note is that this poster is exactly all that this movie is. The flashes of visions the psychic has and the all around fear that is present throughout the film. It’s a perfect representation of 13 Ghosts.

One thing about this movie is that it’s very memorable, especially because it’s visuals are so unique to it. The opening itself with the very strange way all this yellow tape moves in this car junk yard adds to the very creepy feel the movie has. Add that to the many many opening deaths that occur in very awful ways it is something to remember.

Then we have the family featuring the dad played by Tony Shalhoub who is also the actor who plays Adrian Monk. Seeing him in this movie is what initially really got me invested. I wanted to see the man who plays one of the most iconic characters ever play a whole different role.

Honestly, his role here wasn’t so dramatically different. His wife was also dead in this movie. He’s still acting scared even though in this movie there’s a more real threat then general germs like in Monk. He was still as steady and clear minded as he is in Monk.

What was cool and what I think most of the budget was spent on was the house. It’s massive and full of turning parts like a huge puzzle. Glass walls with words written on them are everywhere. If I had to guess most of the budget was spent on creating this for the movie. I gotta say they did a pretty awesome job with it.

I think the makeup done for the 13 ghosts was pretty much what you see at any six flags fright fest. Which is scary often, but it did make me analyze the film more in the way it was made rather being fully immersed in it, but again it is very much a product of that era of film so I’d say they did a pretty good job.

While there is quite a few glaring flaws of the film, I did very much enjoy watching it. I don’t really think any of them should have survived the film. The reasons for their survival were pretty chance based and so many more things could’ve gone wrong, but the ending was pretty neat.

Overall, I’d recommend this writers fever dream of an idea became real just for how unique it is. If you like early 2000’s horror films you’ll enjoy this movie.

THANK YOU ALL FOR READING! Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below!

Places to donate to Trans communities:

Some BLM resources:

My friend started Live Streaming so check them out HERE!!

Check out my Instagram and Twitter!

Posted on March 3, 2021 by Tiana (The Book Raven) · 4 Comments

Febuary 2021: Wrap Up

Looking back February was a pretty good month and I watched some really great shows and movies even if I didn’t get to finish a book in February.

Movies watched

Penguin bloom

Cute movie that made my heart feel warm.

Host

A really great horror film solidly set in the time and feel of 2020.

Hush

Intense horror with a deaf main character that would have been made better by proper representation.

Tv shows watched

Season 2, 3, and 4 of futurama

The bulk of what I’ve been watching lately and it’s only gotten better and better!

Season 2 The Mandalorian

Best part of this show was the finale and of course the relationship between Mando and baby Yoda. I loved it!

Games played

Genshin impact 1.3 update

I did a whole post on this but 1.3 was great! I loved the events and I even landed a Xiao in the coolest way which I talked all about in my blog post about Genshin Impact.

Overloot

This game is so cute! I drop in and play every once in a while and it’s a fun connect the weapons kind of game.

The Arcana

This is a visual novel type game and I love the romance in it and the mini game that you do daily. I know I’ll be playing and reading along for a long time.

Game playthroughs watched

Captain sparkles vault hunters

Little bit of Minecraft diaries

Among us videos

Little bit of clue videos

Exercise done

Breath 30 days of Yoga- started and didn’t finish due to my wrist dying on me due to work. Have an appointment to get it checked out soon and it should be resolved soon enough.

THANK YOU ALL FOR READING! Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below!

Places to donate to Trans communities:

Some BLM resources:

My friend started Live Streaming so check them out HERE!!

Check out my Instagram and Twitter!

Checkout The Book Raven Poetry Instagramand Twitter!

Posted on February 24, 2021 by Tiana (The Book Raven) · 2 Comments

Watching Hush

I have had a wonderful day and I was having a little trouble thinking about what kind of post I wanted to write. So, I decided to end off the day watching a movie randomly recommended to me off Likewise.

Hush is about a deaf mute writer who has a killer attack her home. The killer himself is completely deranged and takes pleasure in drawing out the kill when he can. He wants his victims to suffer and it’s a mind game for him.

Maddie lives alone isolated in the woods. The movie never explains why she was isolated, but she does say she didn’t chose it for herself.

I am writing as someone who isn’t mute or deaf and I read reviews from deaf and mute reviewers to get a better since of if the movie handled deafness in a respectful way. From what I gathered most really wanted a deaf mute actress to play Maddies role. This would have made her feel more authentic and the sign language wouldn’t have been mixed in its versions.

There also was a moment where Maddie reads the killers lips from too far of a distance that wouldn’t be plausible for someone who was truly deaf.

For a more detailed review of this from a deaf reviewer click here.

As far as the horror goes, I did enjoy it. 100% I’d have loved to see this played by a deaf actress and movie makers need to start listening to the communities they are portraying in films and actually cast people from those communities to play them. I think it’s important for everyone to see an authentic representation of themselves on screen.

Watching Hush was scary. There was certain things I felt where they were trying to get the deafness part right, but couldn’t hit the mark because they didn’t cast a deaf person for the role.

That being said enjoyable as the movie was I think it just showcases how important it is to cast the community your portraying and go that step further (though it shouldn’t be the step further, but the default) and make a movie that sorta is a step forward and steps backward all at once into something amazing and way more worth the watch.

I did find the other interesting part of this movie is that she used her brain as a writer to fight the killer. As I writer that is a part that I really enjoyed.

All in all, I’ll be really excited to watch more movies that actually incorporate deaf actors for deaf roles, and trans actors in trans roles, and actors who are autistic to play autistic roles and so on. This movie highlighted for me that I want to start searching for movies and shows that make it a point to cast from the communities the show portrays. It makes a world of difference.

Places to donate to Trans communities:

Some BLM resources:

My friend started Live Streaming so check them out HERE!!

Check out my Instagram and Twitter!

Checkout The Book Raven Poetry Instagramand Twitter!

Posted on February 22, 2021 by Tiana (The Book Raven)

Watching Host

I’ve been watching this podcast called Mee Dark Presents and they were discussing this horror movie that came out recently called Host.

Host is completely filmed on a zoom call. I highly recommend checking out the podcast after watching this film, because they describe some of the behind the scenes part and it was so entertaining to hear about. https://youtu.be/0CRBR22uoNQ

It’s freaky and unsettling. The way they use zoom features to create that feeling of suspense and fear is really creative. It feels very much like the whole of 2020. Just trying to connect with friends in a world that is entirely quarantined and doing something to have some fun that turns out horrifically.

All the actors did an amazing job. They felt so fluid and real. It felt genuine as they were reacting to what was going on on the screen. It’s definitely set in the reality of 2020, but with a paranormal twist that makes it feel something totally brand new.

I enjoyed this movie immensely. I highly recommend it to any horror movie fans out there. This definitely a horror film that fits perfectly in its era and it was beautifully done.

I want to talk so much more about this movie and the things I loved about it, but I do not want to spoil it for anyone and I have a feeling that not too many of you have seen it so this is me saying go on and watch it now or add it to your watch list because it’s amazing!

THANK YOU ALL FOR READING! Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below!

Places to donate to Trans communities:

Some BLM resources:

My friend started Live Streaming so check them out HERE!!

Check out my Instagram and Twitter!

Checkout The Book Raven Poetry Instagramand Twitter!

Posted on September 23, 2020 by Tiana (The Book Raven) · 4 Comments

My Horror Movie Triple Feature

I have been in the biggest horror movie mood lately and it’s been the best. Today I took advantage of all of it by doing a horror movie triple feature. Well somewhat quadruple feature cause I’m watching one more as I write this, but ultimately it’s been amazing!

You’re Next

This movie was amazing! I loved Erin and I loved the plot. It was super intense and I didn’t know the twist before it happened. Well, the initial one, but gosh it was so cool!

The Adams Family

Gosh this was adorable and I loved it so much! I loved the story it was so cute. The art was so awesome. The nostalgia felt great too. It was funny and made me feel the full on Halloween feeling and it’s just amazing.

Zombieland

This also was a really cute and fun movie. All I can think is “Get Tallahassee a Twinkie!”. It’s fun and still spooky in its own way. I really enjoyed it. It made me laugh.

While I’m writing this I’m watching the second movie and so far it’s great too. Today’s been so much fun. The blonde is crazy, but very funny. The flirting is so weird, but I love it.

THANK YOU ALL FOR READING! Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below!

Places to donate to Trans communities:

Some BLM resources:

My friend started Live Streaming so check them out HERE!!

Check out my Instagram and Twitter!

Checkout The Book Raven Poetry Instagramand Twitter!

If you love my content and wish to offer me extra support by me a Kofi on my donation page!

Posted on May 19, 2020 by Tiana (The Book Raven) · 21 Comments

Mini Disney Binge: Onward, Frozen 2, & Wreck-it Ralph 1 & 2

A long while back I did a Disney Binge and watched all four of these in a day! They were all fun and cute to watch and I thought it’d be cute to do a little post on them.

What I Enjoyed about Onward

Two brothers go on a quest of magic to get the change to see their dead father in the flesh for a day, but their time is running out. There’s growth in this film, true friendship, and some tear-jerking moments. It’s a really well made film and I loved every moment of it!

What I Enjoyed about Frozen 2

Frozen was definitely better then Frozen 2, but I did very much enjoy Frozen 2 as it all went along. What I took from it was the idea of doing the next right thing one at a time. It’s become a motto for me. Also, I did cry at the end of it quite a lot, so it was good in that way too.

I loved both of these! They were so much fun. I love Vanellope has such an adorable personality and I loved her so much! She’s such a sweetheart. The first film was better then the second, but both were great! I loved the friendship in both and seeing Vanellope go for what she wants for herself. Both films were a lot of fun!

THANK YOU ALL FOR READING! Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below!

Check out my Instagram and Twitter!

Checkout The Book Raven Poetry Instagramand Twitter!

Posted on December 14, 2019December 14, 2019 by Tiana (The Book Raven) · 4 Comments

Friday the 13th: A December Movie Kickback

I watch a lot of horror movies. Horror is one of my favorite genres and I don’t know why, but looking at the darkest part of what humanity could be is fascinating to me. However, I had never really watched a Christmas horror film. Mostly because that feels like betrayal to the essence of what Christmas is. But, this year, Friday the 13th happened to land in December and so, a Christmas horror film is what I wanted to see.

I choose to watch Pooka!

Pooka! is your Gremlin come to life worst nightmare. (An aside, I have seen Gremlins many a time, so I guess I have seen a Christmas horror film. I don’t know why that didn’t seem to count in my head). A toy that repeats what you say, but only what it feels like repeating. Yet it’s not the toy itself that is what makes this film terrifying. It’s the man who becomes Pooka!

Wilson is a struggling actor who gets a job to be Pooka! In person encounters, commercials, and any promotion is done with him being the sole actor behind the mask. But, quickly you come to understand that there is something off about Wilson. He’s strange. With strange inclinations and an oddly normal way of speaking that somehow doesn’t take away from the oddness.

This is one of those films that is made so much better by the ending. The ending shapes how you think about the beginning and makes you wonder what was really going on all along. The ending made this film well worth the watch for me.

There is a lot of stylization to the film that I really appreciate. The flashing of very specific colors. How it all comes full circle to what the ending is. How things unravel and come together very specifically just by the way the story was shown visually. That part for me was really cool.

I can’t talk about much else without spoiling the story. But, I if you enjoy horror and are looking for an interesting Christmas horror film Pooka! is definitely worth the watch!

Thank you all for reading! Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below!

Check out my Instagram and Twitter!