rebekah writes stuff.

Tag: review

  • I watched The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, so you don’t have to

    I watched The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, so you don’t have to

    When The Super Mario Galaxy Movie was teased in September 2025, I was beyond excited. As someone who loves the Super Mario Galaxy games, I couldn’t wait.

    After enjoying The Super Mario Bros. Movie, I had high hopes that The Super Mario Galaxy Movie would be just as good.

    However, I was slightly apprehensive when it came time to actually watch the film. In the lead-up to the movie’s release, extended trailers came out showing more characters and scenes that made me think, ‘Oh dear, I hope this doesn’t suck.’

    Well, I watched the movie and I must say I was disappointed. The film started off strong, with foundations for a good story, but was quickly de-railed.

    *spoilers start now*

    What’s the plot?

    Unlike Super Mario Bros., Mario is the protagonist of the Super Mario Galaxy games. After Princess Peach is kidnapped by the evil Bowser, Mario sets off collecting powerstars and fighting foes, all to defeat Bowser and rescue Peach.

    However, in this case, Mario wasn’t even the star of his own movie. Instead, the red plumber’s screen time was overshadowed by Princess Peach, and his array of co-stars, some of which felt very random, like Fox McCloud. I’m sure moviegoers were excited to see Fox, but I think he served as a reference, rather than a plot device.

    Speaking of plot, it was all over the place. So much was happening and yet nothing was happening.

    For context, Rosalina – powerful mother of the stars – is kidnapped by Bowser Jr. and rendered useless for the remainder of the film. What a waste, by the way!

    Rather than Mario and her stars (the lumas) going on a quest to rescue Rosalina, they seek help from Peach. She and Toad go on a wild goose chase around the galaxy. The main plotline is turned into a side quest for Princess Peach to rescue and reconnect with her long lost sister…

    Yes, Rosalina and Peach are now sisters. Guys, I’m getting Mufasa flashbacks.

    Meanwhile in the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario and Luigi, and gang, feel like spare parts. They eventually get involved in Bowser Jr.’s plans and help defeat the evil koopas, but in the end, it’s sisterhood that breaks the curse, and thaws Ana’s frozen heart.

    I mean, it’s Peach who frees Rosalina, and the cosmos is saved.

    What should’ve happened.

    If it was me in the writer’s seat, this is what I would’ve done:

    The evil Bowser Jr. is stealing stars from planets in the galaxy. He wants to rescue his father, Bowser. Meanwhile, everyone in the Mushroom Kingdom is enjoying Princess Peach’s birthday celebrations.

    BOOM. Bowser Jr. attacks the Mushroom Kingdom, kidnapping Peach and rescuing the imprisoned Bowser. Mario and the gang must rescue Peach and save the galaxy.

    Enter Rosalina – who is wary of Bowser Jr. She helps Mario and the gang. Aboard the Comet Observatory, they venture in search of say, 2 or 3 Powerstars, in order to have enough energy to travel to Bowser’s lair at the far end of the galaxy. One of Rosalina’s lumas helps Mario by giving him cosmic powers. Along the way, we meet some characters from the Super Mario Galaxy games.

    The gang help defeat Bowser Jr, as Mario defeats Bowser. The galaxy is saved and Peach is rescued.

    Bowser: King of the Wimps

    Oh and another thing – we need to talk about Bowser’s character arc.

    Bowser is the Mario-loathing, galaxy-conquering antagonist, and he’s been beefing with Mario since 1985.

    So when you portray that evil king as having a sudden change of heart, and questioning his own dastardly ways, we have a problem.

    Having been defeated in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Bowser is imprisoned and sentenced to live the rest of his days in a tiny body. But when Mario makes him big again, instead of admitting it’s all been a ruse and escaping, Bowser doubles down and insists that he is a changed koopa.

    Well, that is before being reunited with his evil son and returning to his evil ways, as quick as you can say ‘flying blue shell’.

    I didn’t buy the emotional pathos for a second. Instead, Bowser should’ve convinced Mario to make him big Bowser again, tricked him and reunited with Bowser Jr.

    This could’ve been a great movie

    I think there is the temptation with films with a massive fanbase, like Super Mario Bros., to want to include everything. This made for an insanely fast paced film. By shoehorning in characters that felt completely out of place, and taking us to different universes that didn’t add anything to the plot, it made for a weak story. It didn’t do justice to the Super Mario Galaxy games.

    Most importantly, if the writers had’ve stuck to one singular quest which rang true to the source material, then this could’ve been a great follow up film.

  • I finished The Hunger Games trilogy

    I finished The Hunger Games trilogy

    I finished Mockingjay, the final book in The Hunger Games trilogy, and I wanted to write about it. Obviously big spoilers ahead, so if you haven’t read the books, or want to, then click off now.

    I volunteer as tribute

    In this future world, The Capitol governs and controls the 12 Districts of Panem, each of whom must provide two tributes to participate in The Hunger Games; a violent, televised spectacle where tributes must fight to the death. Whoever is left standing is crowned victor and gets to live a life free (mostly) from The Hunger Games, with wealth and benefits for themselves and their home District.

    When the 74th Hunger Games is announced, Katniss volunteers in her sister, Prim’s, place, and Peeta is the male tribute for District 12.

    However, as in Katniss and Peeta’s case, winning wasn’t the one-way ticket to a life of peace as they thought.

    During the games, The Capitol tell the tributes that they will be accepting two winners from the same District. Katniss finds Peeta and works hard to keep them both alive. When they are the only remaining tributes, their victory is short-lived, when The Capitol announces that they have changed their minds and would only be accepting one tribute as winner. Left with an impossible decision, Katniss and Peeta threaten to commit suicide with nightlock berries and the Capitol intervene, crowning them both victors.

    Caesar Flickerman, as portayed in the film adaptation. Caesar Flickerman is The Capitol’s interviewer and talk-show host of The Hunger Games.

    Katniss and Peeta’s act of defiance against the rule change sees their newfound freedom quickly taken from them.

    President Snow announces the upcoming Quarter Quell, a special version of The Hunger Games held every twenty five years. The Quarter Quell marks the anniversary of The Capitol’s defeat of the Districts. During his announcement, he declares that tributes will be selected from the pool of previous Hunger Games victors, which ultimately throws Katniss and Peeta back in to the games.

    When an uprising occurs during The Quarter Quell, Katniss is rescued from by the rebels, and becomes the symbol of the rebellion against The Capitol: The Mockingjay. Through warfare, televised propaganda and the eventual overthrowing of The Capitol regime, Katniss and the rebels win, but it comes at a terrible cost.

    The Aftermath

    In the end, The Hunger Games are abolished and, in the epilogue, we are given a glimpse of Katniss’ future. Katniss lives a life of peace with Peeta and her two children, the pair still coming to terms with their trauma. However, while they might have won, it wasn’t victorious or triumphant.

    Katniss, and the people of The Districts, lived their lives in fear of The Capitol. The popular slogan of the games; “May The Odds be Ever in Your Favour!” is ironic, for The Capitol created the odds. The Capitol changing rules at the drop of a hat, showcased that the tributes, and the Districts, never had control, not even in the arena.

    A new regime of peace begins, but Katniss lost her sister, and many of her friends. Peeta was mentally tortured by The Capitol. Katniss lost her childhood and endured trauma, so much so, that her special place in the woods no longer provides the sanctuary it once did.

    It parallels Frodo from The Lord of The Rings. Sauron was defeated, Aragorn takes his rightful place as King and there was peace. Frodo got to return to The Shire with his friends, but it was never the same. Frodo too endured great trauma on his journey to destroy the ring in Mount Doom, hence he left with Gandalf to Valinor (the Undying Lands), where he could heal.

    “We set out to save the shire, Sam, and it has been saved … but not for me.”

    Frodo, The Lord of The Rings: The Return of The King (2003)

    Final Thoughts

    I genuinely really enjoyed this series. I couldn’t put it down and I thought the themes of reality tv, war and power were really interesting. Suzanne Collins’ pacing and world building are exceptional. The saga reflects the impact of war, the trauma and loss. I would highly recommend this series.

  • 2024 Wrapped

    2024 Wrapped

    Spotify Wrapped is here again and it has inspired me to share my top players, not only in music, but in books and movies. Let’s start with Spotify…

    Top Artist: Post Malone

    Yup, Posty’s put on his cowboy boots and I’m here for it. To be fair, I’ve enjoyed all of his albums, but his newest country style is particularly infectious. Don’t believe me? My Top Song was “I had Some Help” by none other than Postie and Morgan Wallen. It’s fair to say I’ve had this song on replay since it got released – I don’t know, there’s just something about it that makes me feel happy and carefree. Give it a listen here!

    Top Book: 127 Hours

    What would you do if you got your hand stuck under a boulder weighing 360kg (800 pounds)?

    This is the exact conundrum that outdoor enthusiast Aron Ralston grappled with (literally). You may already be familiar with the famous story, but for those of you who aren’t …

    In 2003, Aron was scaling rocks in Bluejohn Canyon (Arizona, USA) when a boulder dislodged and fell – dragging Aron down with it. What’s worse is that, during the fall, Aron’s hand got trapped under the rock. He was alone, had little food or supplies and had told nobody where he had gone.

    With such a grim premise, you might think “why on Earth would I want to read about such a horrible ordeal?”. Well, because he survived.

    This is a book that will inspire you, amaze you and make you cringe. You will feel like a fly on the wall in that dusty canyon and, at times, you will feel just as helpless as he felt. I guarantee you that his quest for survival, the human spirit to never give up, is what makes this book an absolute winner in my eyes. In those moments of suffering and sadness, there is also light and laughter.

    I could hardly put 127 Hours down – you can check it out right here:

    Top Movie: Kung Fu Panda 4

    As a huge fan of the Kung Fu Panda franchise, I didn’t know what to expect from yet another Kung Fu Panda sequel. However, I was pleasantly surprised and I ended up seeing it multiple times at the cinema. I genuinely didn’t mind this movie at all. [Spoilers ahead duh].

    We’re back in the Valley of Peace, where Po isn’t quite ready to give up being the Dragon Warrior, despite Master Shifu’s badgering. In one final hurrah, he sets out to defeat the Chameleon with a crim call Zhen. A skilled sorceress, The Chameleon sets her sights on the past with her vision to conquer the future. When Po is outsmarted by Zhen, The Chameleon is granted access to the Spirit World, where she harnesses power from fallen Kung Fu masters.

    Not only is there a banging Britney Spears cover by Tenacious D, but a pretty cool Boss Battle (not quite as epic as Tai Lung in the first Kung Fu Panda, but still). Not bad Dreamworks – Skadoosh!

    What were your top picks of the year? Let me know below in the comments or on my instagram @rebekah_writes_stuff 🙂

  • Stuff I thought would flop but didn’t

    Stuff I thought would flop but didn’t

    Avatar: The Last Airbender

    Ok, before you make a b-line for the unsubscribe button, you’ll be happy to know this show is among my favourites. It truly is a work of art – but I didn’t get to experience the beauty of this show without some convincing.

    Like many people, I was dissuaded by its cartoonish style and, no shade to Nickeloden, but I figured it was a kid’s show. How could this be relevant to me? I hadn’t grown up watching Avatar: The Last Airbender (ATLA) and it was a show I wasn’t all that interested in watching. When people desperately begged me to watch it, I was never that keen, no matter how amazing they said it was.

    I thought it was just a cartoon.

    Left to right: Momo, Aang, Sokka, Toph, Katara

    Eventually, I did give it the chance it deserved and my perceptions were sorely wrong. Each season became richer and the stakes kept getting higher and higher. I was hooked and it blew my expectations of a kid’s show out of the water.

    Why? In a war-torn world, these tweens and teens are pushed into the roles of adults, not unlike many youth who stepped up in World War I and II. Our protagonists sacrifice their childhood to be warriors, leaders, and, in Aang’s case, to be the saviour of the world. This bildungsroman, or ‘coming of age’ story, shows us how each character navigates their way in an unforgiving world. Indeed, the themes of war, genocide, oppression, politics and power shape the narrative. It breaks the mould for what can be included in a kid’s show and, for this reason and boldness, ATLA has been praised and received countless awards.

    It’s so much more than just a cartoon, and I highly recommend you watch it.

    Being an early bird

    I’ve never been a morning person. I never thought it could be for me. There was zero appeal in seeing the sun rise, leaping out of bed and pursuing a life that started before 10:00am. It baffled me that people could have so much vim and vigour that early in the day.

    I admit, I am a bit of a bear. I enjoy my sleep and love a good lie in. If it was an olympic sport, I’d have many a gold medal. I thrive in the evening, where most would start to dip in energy. But the world isn’t designed for sleepy bears like me and, eventually, I had to swap my sleepy ways and join the hordes who wake up early.

    And wouldn’t you know, I actually don’t mind it.

    The peace of the morning is unmatched. You get more out of your day. Sure, the inertia after waking up feels terrible, but give it five minutes and boom, it’s actually bearable. Yup, even a sleepy bear like me can change their sleep schedule – with the help of the snooze button and a bunch of alarms.

    Art by Jennifer Thermes

    If you want to wake up earlier, but think it’s not for you, I’d honestly say don’t knock it til you try it.

    Wonka

    I didn’t even want to see this movie, I had my mind so fiercely made up. I didn’t see the point of adding yet another Charlie & The Chocolate Factory movie to the world. It’s a cash grab, I would say. I stood so strongly with Johnny Depp’s portrayal of Willy Wonka that nobody could move me.

    When I was forced along to the movie, I sat with my arms folded, enduring the 1 hour 56 minutes. But I didn’t endure it. I actually left the movies in a state of shell-shock. While my mum and my sister spoke excitedly about how much they’d loved it, I was speechless. I couldn’t believe how horribly wrong I’d been about this movie.

    The storyline was original and heart warming. The songs were catchy and we proceeded to blast them as soon as we got home.

    I went back to see it again and the tone was completely different. I actually let myself enjoy it – I had the movie experience I should’ve had the first time. I laughed, I bobbed my feet and saw Wonka in a whole new light.

    It’s easy to get protective over our favourite movies and the constant reboots and poorly written sequels (Mufasa, for example). I’m glad I went, because I would’ve missed out on such a sweet gem of a film.

    Have you had any similar experiences? Let me know below in the comments!!

  • Saddest Disney Deaths

    Saddest Disney Deaths

    I love Disney movies and you better believe they’ve made me cry. Why Disney? Why do you do it? Without further ado, here are just some of the saddest deaths that Disney has come up with. Let’s get into it:

    Bambi’s mum

    This is up there as one of the saddest. The pair flee a hunter, but Bambi’s mum is shot. Bambi only realises his mum isn’t behind him when he reaches a safe spot. Bambi calling out “mother” into the howling wind is heart breaking. Lost in the storm, he meets his father, who tells him, rather stoically, “your mother can’t be with you anymore”. :((((

    Tarzan’s parents

    Tarzan is one of my all time favourite movies – they just don’t make them like this anymore! Before becoming Tarzan, king of the apes, Tarzan is a defenceless baby. Luckily, he has his two parents to protect him. They have seen their fair share of tragedy. Clearly, they are a quick thinking and innovative pair, as they build a treehouse high up in the African jungle in order to survive. But as we see when Kala, Tarzan’s adoptive gorilla mother, enters the treehouse, Tarzan’s parents were no match for leopard Sabor.

    Tadashi

    Disney has this habit of creating wonderful, caring and gentle characters that the protagonist loves dearly and needs, all to be taken away too soon. Every time! Tadashi, from Big Hero 6, is one of those characters. He and his younger brother Hiro lost their parents and live with their Aunt Cass. Hiro is a genius but has lost his way, entering bot fights and narrowly avoiding trouble. Tadashi steers Hiro onto a better path – and frankly a better use of his big brain: The San Fransokyo Institue of Technology. Hiro is inspired and, after a successful presentation, he is offered a place. But then there’s a fire and Tadashi dies in the explosion. WHY??

    Mufasa

    Yup, I’m sure you were waiting for this one to come up. This scene will never not make me cry. Mufasa is King of the Pridelands. He is an enormous lion with an even bigger heart. He is wise, brave and fun-loving. He is just such a beautiful character, why Disney? Why did you have to do it? As one of my fave films, this ranks among the top for me on the sad scale.

    Sitka

    This might be a lesser known Disney character’s death. Brother Bear is the story of three boisterous brothers; Sitka, Denahi and the youngest Kenai. In a nutshell, Kenai is presented with his totem, but he is disappointed. Adding fuel to the flames, Kenai finds the salmon basket, that he was responsible for tying up into a tree, has been found by a bear. Embarrassed and angry, he goes after the bear and provokes it. It escalates to where the brothers are fending off the angered bear on top of an ice shelf. In a moment of peril, Sitka sacrifices himself to save the others. He drowns in the calving ice shelf. Another beautiful character who left too soon.

    Have any of these made you cry? Which ranks the saddest for you? And if you have anymore I’ve missed out on, let me know and I’ll do a part 2!