2015 Media Log

[Del Murder]

The idea of this thread is to post what things you are reading/playing/watching for each month of 2015. Ideally you should have one post and come back and edit it each month. Of course, you can post more if you want to comment on what other people are doing. You can also give ratings to the various media.

For this year, let's also set goals for the year as to how much we will consume. Particularly with books, I think it is a good to set a reading goal for yourself since reading enriches the mind and all that jazz.

My Goals
Books to read: 15 (15/15) GOAL REACHED!
Games to complete: 15 (16/15) GOAL REACHED!
Movies to watch: 15 (14/15)

15 for '15!

At the end of the year we'll have something to look back on and see what we did and if we met our goals!

My Ratings
*Meh
**Good.
***Great!

January

Books

• Shadow of the Wind ** - Very entertaining though a little contrived.
• Fall of Hyperion - in progress

Games

• Suikoden II (PS1 on PSP) - in progress
• Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor (PS4) *** - A clear GoTY contender and a nice evolution of the action open world game.
• Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker HD (PS3) ** - Fun continuation of the Big Boss story. It was also fun to start building his army.

Movies

• Snowpiercer * - Uh, what a weird movie.
• Grand Budapest Hotel *** - Beautiful and hilarious.
• Interstellar ** - A mindtrip of a movie but it was a lot to get through.

TV

• The Daily Show **
• The Nightly Show ** - Has promise.
• Jimmy Kimmel Live **
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine * - My new Netflix show. Slow to get going.
• Brooklyn Nine-Nine **
• The Simpsons *
• New Girl **
• The Bachelor ** - Chris is not very interesting.
• Gotham *** - Returned strong.
• Parks and Recreation **
• Modern Family **
• Marvel's Agent Carter **
• Shark Tank ***
• Top Chef **
• The Flash *
• Arrow **
• The Big Bang Theory **

February

Books

• Fall of Hyperion *** - This is shaping up to be my favorite sci-fi series. Possibly even better than the first book.
• American Psycho * (did not finish) - Tried it out since I liked the movie but it's too slow paced.
• The Horse and His Boy - in progress

Games

• Suikoden II (PS1 on PSP) ** - Some parts 2 star, some 3 star, but overall enjoyable.
• Jeanne d'Arc (PSP) * (did not finish) - I love tactical RPGs but this one was too slow and there wasn't enough variety.
• Dragon Age 2 (PS3) - in progress
• Valkyria Chronicles II (PSP) - in progress

Movies

• The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies * - Worse than I could have thought. Bad Peter Jackson, bad!
• Selma * - Fell asleep halfway through.

TV

• The Daily Show ** - Noooooooooo!
• The Nightly Show *
• Jimmy Kimmel Live **
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine * - My new Netflix show. Slow to get going.
• Brooklyn Nine-Nine **
• The Simpsons *
• New Girl **
• The Bachelor ** - Chris is not very interesting, but the drama has been top notch.
• Gotham **
• Parks and Recreation ***
• Modern Family **
• Marvel's Agent Carter **
• Shark Tank ***
• Top Chef **
• The Flash **
• Arrow **
• The Big Bang Theory **
• The Walking Dead * - Ugh, slowest start ever.
• Better Call Saul **

March

Books

• The Horse and His Boy ** - Fun little story I could read to my kids some day.
• The Picture of Dorian Gray ** - Not bad for a classic.
• The Wise Man's Fear - in progress

Games

• Dragon Age 2 (PS3) - in progress
• Final Fantasy Type-0 HD (PS4) - in progress
• Valkyria Chronicles II (PSP) - in progress

Movies

• none

TV

• The Daily Show **
• Jimmy Kimmel Live **
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine **
• Brooklyn Nine-Nine **
• The Simpsons *
• New Girl **
• The Bachelor **
• Gotham **
• Parks and Recreation *** - Goodbye Pawnee
• Modern Family **
• Marvel's Agent Carter **
• Shark Tank ***
• The Flash **
• Arrow **
• The Big Bang Theory *
• The Walking Dead **
• Better Call Saul ***
• House of Cards ** - Did not finish as strong as prior seasons.
• Survivor: Worlds Apart **
• The Amazing Race **
• Marvel's Agents of SHIELD *
• Saturday Night Live *

April

Books

• The Wise Man's Fear - in progress

Games

• Final Fantasy Type-0 HD (PS4) - in progress
• Valkyria Chronicles II (PSP) *** - Even better than the first VC. One of my favorite PSP games.
• Star Ocean: First Departure (PSP) - in progress

Movies

• none

TV

• The Daily Show **
• Jimmy Kimmel Live **
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine **
• Brooklyn Nine-Nine **
• The Simpsons *
• New Girl **
• Gotham **
• Modern Family **
• Shark Tank ***
• The Flash **
• Arrow **
• The Big Bang Theory *
• The Walking Dead **
• Better Call Saul ***
• Survivor: Worlds Apart **
• The Amazing Race **
• Marvel's Agents of SHIELD *
• Saturday Night Live *
• Daredevil *** - Quickly rose to the top of the superhero shows.
• Game of Thrones **

May

Books

• The Wise Man's Fear ** - Great in some places, terrible in others. Overall the writing was bad and the plot took strange turns but I enjoyed the world and I like Kvothe. Also this was possibly the longest book I ever read.
• The Martian *** - Very suspenseful and surprisingly practical.

Games

• Dragon Age II (PS3) - in progress
• Star Ocean: First Departure (PSP) ** - A gem from the past that I've overlooked.
• Front Mission 3 (PS1) - in progress

Movies

• Avengers: Age of Ultron ** - Did a good job splitting screen time among the many characters (except perhaps Thor) and Ultron was an awesome villain, but the action was choppy and it was not as epic as the first movie.

TV

• The Daily Show * - Jon sees the light at the end.
• Jimmy Kimmel Live **
• The Late Show with David Letterman *** - Great final show. Goodbye Dave!
• Brooklyn Nine-Nine **
• New Girl **
• Modern Family **
• Shark Tank **
• The Flash ** - Growing on me.
• Arrow **
• The Big Bang Theory **
• Survivor: Worlds Apart ** - Terrible casting this season but still one of my favorite shows.
• The Amazing Race *
• Saturday Night Live *
• Daredevil ***
• Game of Thrones *** - Last few episodes have been heating up.
• Marvel's Agents of SHIELD ** - Just don't think too hard and it's fine.
• The Simpsons *

June

Books

• The Leading Indicators - in progress
• Endymion - in progress

Games

• Dragon Age II (PS3) - in progress
• Axiom Verge (PS4) - in progress
• Front Mission 3 (PS1) - in progress
• Pokemon Y (3DS) - For the tournament.

Movies

• Kingsman: The Secret Service ** - Quirky and enjoyable, full of gratuitous violence and humor

TV

• The Daily Show *
• Jimmy Kimmel Live **
• Modern Family **
• The Amazing Race *
• Saturday Night Live *
• Daredevil ***
• Game of Thrones ***
• The Simpsons *
• Gotham **
• America's Got Talent **
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine *
• Orange is the New Black *** - Best (funniest) season yet.
• Last Week Tonight *** - John Oliver is fresh and entertaining.

July

Books

• The Leading Indicators * - Interesting as far as books about economic statistics go.
• Endymion - in progress
• Avengers vs. X-Men - in progress

Games

• Axiom Verge (PS4) *** - Best Metroid clone I've played.
• Dragon Age II (PS3) ** - Not as good as DAO but not bad at all.
• Child of Light (PS4) ** - Beautiful game with an engaging battle system. The terrible forced rhyming dialogue is the only thing that kept it down.
• Batman: Arkham Knight (PS4) - in progress
• Front Mission 3 (PS1) - in progress

Movies

• Inside Out *** - A return to Pixar greatness though not the very best

TV

• The Daily Show *
• Jimmy Kimmel Live **
• Saturday Night Live *
• America's Got Talent **
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine *
• Last Week Tonight *** - John Oliver is fresh and entertaining.
• American Ninja Warrior **
• Mr. Robot *

August

Books

• Endymion *** - I love this series including this book which felt like a Star Wars adventure across the galaxy.
• Avengers vs. X-Men **
• X-Men: House of M - in progress

Games

• Batman: Arkham Knight (PS4) - in progress
• Front Mission 3 (PS1) - in progress

Movies

• none

TV

• The Daily Show *** - Why did you leave us Jon? Whyyyy
• Jimmy Kimmel Live **
• America's Got Talent **
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine **
• Last Week Tonight ***
• Mythbusters **
• Mr. Robot ** - Gets addicting as it goes.
• American Ninja Warrior **

September

Books

• X-Men: House of M ** - A cool story but I expected something a little more epic with the praise it gets.
• S. - in progress
• Influence: Science and Practice - in progress

Games

• Batman: Arkham Knight (PS4) *** - Not sure which Arkham game I like the best but they were all phenomenal and the Batmobile was not as cumbersome as some have said.
• Mass Effect (PS3) - in progress
• Front Mission 3 (PS1) ** - Battles sometimes got repetitive and the story was convoluted at times but I enjoyed that tactical mech action.
• Lunar Silver Star Harmony (PSP) - in progress

Movies

• Mad Max: Fury Road ** - A long car chase heavy on action and explosions and light on plot, exactly as advertised.

TV

• Jimmy Kimmel Live *
• America's Got Talent **
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine **
• Last Week Tonight ***
• Mythbusters **
• Mr. Robot ***
• American Ninja Warrior **
• Orphan Black *** - Why didn't I watch this before? It's great.
• The Late Show with Stephen Colbert ** - A tamer Colbert, but closer to his old show than I thought.
• Modern Family **
• Shark Tank **
• The Big Bang Theory **
• Penn & Teller: Fool Us **
• Survivor: Second Chance **

October

Books

• S. ** - Interesting to follow all the threads but like most of Abrams's work they don't solve all the mysteries!
• Batman: The Long Halloween ** - Cool too see the parallels with TDK trilogy
• Marvel Civil War - in progress
• Influence: Science and Practice - in progress

Games

• Mass Effect (PS3) - in progress
• Lunar Silver Star Harmony (PSP) - in progress
• Odd Bot Out (Android) ** - Kept me entertained while in line or on the crapper.

Movies

• The Martian ** - Enjoyable 'competency porn' but nothing groundbreaking.

TV

• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine **
• Last Week Tonight **
• Orphan Black *** - Current favorite show.
• The Late Show with Stephen Colbert **
• Modern Family **
• Shark Tank **
• The Big Bang Theory **
• Penn & Teller: Fool Us **
• Survivor: Second Chance **
• The Flash *** - Cheesy show but somehow I'm really into it.
• Arrow **
• The Simpsons **
• Saturday Night Live *
• The Walking Dead ** - Decent opener.
• Supergirl * - Other than the feminist angle, it's a little too standard.
• Brooklyn Nine Nine **

November

Books

• Marvel Civil War * - The heroes seemed to act inconsistent with their characters and that threw me off.
• Rise of Endymion - in progress
• Influence: Science and Practice **
• Nudge - in progress

Games

• Mass Effect (PS3) *** - A little slow to get used to the older controls but overall excellent space adventure.
• Super Mario 3D World (WiiU) *** - Great Mario game worthy of his legacy.
• Lunar Silver Star Harmony (PSP) ** - Combat was as vanilla as it gets but story and characters were great for its time.
• Alundra (PS1) - in progress
• The Room 2 (Android) **
• LIMBO (Android) - in progress

Movies

• Ant-Man ** - Charming and funny.

TV

• The Late Show with Stephen Colbert **
• Modern Family **
• Shark Tank **
• The Big Bang Theory **
• Survivor: Second Chance **
• The Flash **
• Arrow **
• The Simpsons **
• Saturday Night Live *
• The Walking Dead * - Done with you.
• Brooklyn Nine Nine *** - Probably the funniest thing I watch.
• Marvel's Agents of SHIELD **
• Master of None **
• Jessica Jones * - Not my thing.

December

Books

• Rise of Endymion ** - Too descriptive of random stuff to make it my least favorite in this awesome series.
• Nudge - in progress

Games

• Dragon Age Inquisition (PS4) - in progress
• Alundra (PS1) - in progress
• LIMBO (Android) - in progress

Movies

• Star Wars: The Force Awakens *** - Everything I wanted.
• Jurassic World ** - Full of cheese and absurdity but I kinda liked it.
• Creed ** - Good movie though I've seen this story before.

TV

• The Late Show with Stephen Colbert *
• Modern Family **
• Shark Tank **
• The Big Bang Theory **
• Survivor: Second Chance **
• The Flash **
• Arrow **
• The Simpsons **
• Saturday Night Live *
• Brooklyn Nine Nine ***
• Marvel's Agents of SHIELD ***
• Gotham * - Meh, I've concluded this isn't the show for me.
• Narcos * - Learned a lot in the first episode but it was too much exposition.
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine **