Author of Understanding Gush
@volrathxp said in Best Films of 2019:
Steve,
Are you sure you meant Homecoming and not Far From Home? Homecoming came out in 2017.
Yes, sorry I mixed those up 
The first one was very good, but Far From Home was weirder and more surreal. The way that it used visuals to mislead viewers was original and frankly stunning.
@john-cox said in Best Films of 2019:
@Smmenen
Just wondering about "Joker" its numbered 5 but in the 3 position is it 3 or 5? You also call it a Zeitgeist movie. Do you mean Zeitgeist the German word or Zeitgeist the Marvel comic char? -either works oddly enough.
The former.
So, it's past time to do this again, share our favorite or best picks from 2019.
I've been doing this for about 10 years. For context, here is Last year's thread, and the 2017 thread.
Here's a full list of films released in 2019: https://www.firstshowing.net/schedule2019/
I saw 34 films on that list, with a few more I still intend to see.
With that said, here is my top 10, in reverse order.
- Knives Out
Entertaining from Go, and great twists along the way.
- The Marriage Story
Not nearly as depressing as people said, but brilliant acting performances, and touching at the same time.
- Spider-Man: Far From Home
The Spider-Man reboot has been an incredible success. This film was insane, surreal, and utterly compelling.
- Uncut Gems
An incredible slice of Americana, much better than I expected.
- Little Women
I was not expecting much, but it was a really good film, and had the best ending - one that reversed a mistake in the book.
- The Irishman
The perfect closing to Scorsese's gangster sagas. I watched this during Thanksgiving, and didn't feel it was too long.
- The Lighthouse
I disagree entirely that this film was too long. It was the perfect length. It didn't quite reach the heights of the Director's previous film, "The Witch," but it was damn good.
- Joker
This was agonizing in so many ways, but is a zeitgeist movie for our time.
- Parasite
Utter original and brilliant characterization, making you root for the protagonist family. Hard to watch, but impossible to turn off. It was worthy of it's awards.
- Queen & Slim
Riveting and thought-provoking while brilliantly executed.
@Klep , your turn!
Our set review is live on both EC & MTGCast networks!
https://www.eternalcentral.com/so-many-insane-plays-podcast-episode-97-theros-beyond-death/
0:01:00: Announcements
0:02:40: Throne of Eldraine Report Card
0:27:15: Theros Beyond Death Mechanics
0:31:15: Underworld Breach
1:09:50: Thassa’s Oracle
1:23:32: Dryad of the Ilysian Grove
1:36:27: Ashiok, Nightmare Muse
1:45:13: Ox of Agonas
1:50:15: Kuneros, Hound of Athreos
1:57:44: Soul-Guide Lantern
2:13:09: Eidolon of Obstruction
2:19:53: Whirlwind Denial
2:28:46: Nadir Kraken
2:31:15: Kroxa, Titan of Death’s Hunger
Total runtime: 2:37:34
Show Notes
– Theros Beyond Death Visual Spoiler
Contact us at @ManyInsanePlays on Twitter or e-mail us at SoManyInsanePlaysPodcast@gmail.com.
https://www.eternalcentral.com/so-many-insane-plays-podcast-episode-96-2019-vintage-year-in-review/
Kevin Cron and Steve Menendian review the year in Vintage, and award their annual Moxy awards for Best Card, Best Set, Best Deck, and Best Story of 2019.
Contents:
0:01:00: Announcements
0:05:40: The Year in Data
0:45:00: Best Card
1:13:35: Best Set
1:26:27: Best Deck
1:36:29: Story of the Year
2:06:00: Rise of Skywalker Review
Total runtime: 2:51:32
Contact us at @ManyInsanePlays on Twitter or e-mail us at SoManyInsanePlaysPodcast@gmail.com.
@grandpabelcher Thank you!
One point I intended to make in the episode, but forgot, is that opinion on the Vintage Restricted List is a spectrum that runs from Nat Moes at one end to Brian Kelly on the other. I think that's a useful heuristic for viewing these positions as endpoints along a continuum.
Kevin Cron and Steve Menendian discuss the results of the North American Vintage Championship 2019, as well as the November 1st Banned and Restricted List update.
0:00:57: Announcements
0:02:40: Vintage Champs Summary
0:08:30: Vintage Champs Metagame Breakdown
0:26:20: Top 8 Decks
0:56:00: Our tournament experiences
1:30:39: Narset Restriction: Analysis and Impact
Total runtime: 1:58:45
Show Notes
– November 1, 2019 Banned and Restricted List Announcement
– North America Vintage Champs 2019 Coverage and Results
– Vintage 101: US Eternal Weekend NA Vintage Championships 2019
Contact us at @ManyInsanePlays on Twitter or e-mail us at SoManyInsanePlaysPodcast@gmail.com.
Enjoy!
I have never played Pioneer and likely never will, so I can't say whether it's fun or not. But I had a rule of thumb long ago that I only play formats with Dark Ritual in them. Those formats are just more fun to me.
@grandpabelcher said in [Article] Information Cascades in Magic:
@tittliewinks22 said in [Article] Information Cascades in Magic:
If the game is so bad why play it?
There have been a number of people through the years where I've wondered why they play Vintage instead of another format, or even Magic instead of another game. I think some people actually enjoy complaining.
This might be the funniest thing I've ever heard you say.
I think people are chasing some feeling or experience they had at some point. Vintage offers some pretty potent experiences. The problem is that everyone has a different conception of what that experience is or should be.