Movies
Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring
Typically I do not like the initial movie of a know series, but this one was so well done. I mean it should be with 3.5 hours for the original and 4 hours for the extended version. This is a CLASSIC.
Fantasy
Movies
Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
I enjoyed this movie. It did take me the longest to get through. It might be a conditioned response from the times of trying to marathon these movies and just crashing at the end of the night, but I never wanted to start the last hour of this movie.
Movies
The Lord of the Rings Movie Trilogy
The Ring of Power is found and throws the world into chaos once again after centuries of relative peace from the forces of evil. The Fellowship ebbs and wanes against those forces as they work to get Sam and Frodo to Mt. Doom to destroy the ring.
Books
Star Wars The Fallen Star
I am honestly not sure if this series is written for young adults, but it feels like it. The plot is set before you and the book never deviates from it. No real surprises, but there is some decent character growth. It might be forced, but it isn't bad.
Books
Assassin's Apprentice
My "Book in 1 Sentence" is dead on. I have never been so looking forward to something to happen, and it never did. This kid grows up in a keep where half the family hates him, the other half is ok with him or loved his dad, and so he is given a modicum of freedom and support.
Movies
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
I am so mad at how dumb this movie is. Scene stolen from Star Wars, the Cantina line and the Jabba the Hut intro scene, the characters from Street Sharks, and lastly "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids". It was corny, bro-y, and just over the top stupid.
Movies
The Marvels
This movie was ok, but so full of plot holes that even to the most enamored, it doesn't make sense. The fight scenes are lazy and short, the story is half complete, and it just feels rushed and CGI heavy.
Books
The Bone Orchard
It took me so long to figure out how the character structures were as far as the main characters that you follow that I almost put it down. I am glad that I didn't as it was an interesting read, but it could have been so much more.
Books
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
I remember this book being my least favorite as a kid and after going through it this time, it isn't as bad as I remember it. I think as an adult I can see the growth and the importance of the character interactions. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets ...
Books
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
The continuation of a solid story that shows the growth of J. K. Rowling. You will see the cementing of characters personalities. This cementing also is what allows this to continue. Knowing how it ends, you can see the groundwork of where the book story is going.
Books
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
This is a really great start to a very good series. Even as a kid I was so excited about the next book and that feeling still sits with me even today. I know the story and still find things that I have forgotten or Easter Eggs to future books/additional storylines we get in the future.
Books
A Dance of Dragons
This book has to be the longest book that serves no purpose other than to be long. Characters are introduced that die, others are given a more prominent story section than in previous books, but play no big part. 900/1000 pages of nothing.