Tania Michele: geeky

Showing posts with label geeky. Show all posts

Monday, 17 February 2025

Master Game Night: Fun Tips to Boost Your Board Game Skills!

If you're anything like me, board games aren't just a rainy-day activity - they're serious business. Whether you're a hardcore strategist or just here for the snacks and a good time, there’s always room to up your game (pun absolutely intended). So, if you're ready to go from casual player to board game boss, here are a few tips to help you crush it on game night!

Play the Part

Let’s be honest - half the fun of board games is the vibe. So why not lean into it? Treat yourself to some fancy dice, stylish card sleeves, or even a quirky game-themed mug. Not only will you feel like a pro, but you might just intimidate your opponents a little (and that's a win in my book). Plus, having your own personalised game bits makes every game night feel extra special.

Mix It Up

Sure, you could stick to Monopoly and Cluedo forever, but where’s the fun in that? Trying different types of games - from strategy-heavy ones like Catan to chaotic party games like Exploding Kittens - can help you pick up new skills. Each game teaches you something different: negotiation, bluffing, teamwork… even how to pretend you’re not furious when someone steals your last property set. Plus, digital versions of board games and online tabletop simulators are perfect for solo practice.

Actually Read the Rules (Yes, Really)

We all know someone who tries to wing it after a five-second glance at the rulebook. Don’t be that person. Knowing the rules inside and out can give you a massive advantage. Plus, understanding the mechanics can help you spot sneaky strategies or game-breaking combos. Bonus points if you read the FAQ sections - that’s where the real gold is hidden!

Practice Makes Perfect

If you're diving into a new game, give it a practice run. Play a couple of rounds solo or with a patient friend before game night. There are loads of online platforms where you can try games for free, or you could even download something like Tabletop Simulator to get familiar with the gameplay. Turning up prepared? Iconic behaviour.

Train Your Brain

Board games aren’t just luck - they’re brain games too! Sharpen those mental skills with brain training apps or puzzle games. The more you flex that logic muscle, the better you’ll be at strategising, planning ahead, and maybe even bluffing like a champ. Sudoku today, world domination tomorrow.

Stay Chill (Even When You’re Losing)

Let’s be real - no one likes a sore loser or a gloating winner. Board games are about having fun (and maybe a bit of healthy competition). Keep it light-hearted, laugh off your losses, and remember it’s just a game - unless you’re playing for snacks, in which case, all bets are off.

So, there you have it - a few fun ways to level up your board game skills and maybe even snag a win or two. Got any game night tips or favourite games? Drop them in the comments; I’m always looking for new games to obsess over!

Happy gaming!

Thursday, 8 October 2020

Knives Out | Movie Review

I have mentioned this film a few times this past year, and I totally loved it the first time I watched it. The first experience of this movie cannot be replicated on the next viewing as you already know the outcome, but, you pick up on other little clues the following times that you maybe didn't notice first time!

This was one of the last new movies I watched before all of the pandemic and lockdown happened, and since then, I've just been catching up on movies from last summer that I hadn't seen yet. Maybe that is why I love it so much? Or maybe it's because I'm a big Chris Evans fan, and also couldn't get enough of Daniel Craig's Southern accent. Possibly both!

Knives Out

Released: November 27, 2019

Cast: Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, Lakeith Stanfield, Katherine Langford, Jaeden Martell, and Christopher Plummer.

A huge cast as you can see!

Director: Rian Johnson

Plot: When renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) is found dead at his estate just after his 85th birthday, the inquisitive Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is mysteriously enlisted to investigate, by an unknown source. From Harlan's dysfunctional family to his devoted house staff, Blanc and Lieutenant Elliott (LaKeith Stanfield) sifts through a web of red herrings and self-serving lies to uncover the truth behind Harlan's untimely death. (Partially taken from IMDB)

My rating: ★★★★★

(Images from NY Times)

Review

Ooookay. Where to start? I love TV shows like Miss Marple, and Poirot, so this was right up my alley. The trailer looked awesome, stuffed with some of my fave actors - Evans, Craig, Curtis, and I was obsessed with Craig's accent as Detective Blanc immediately. In fact, I'd forgot about the accent when I first watched it, and missed his first few lines as I took me by surprise!

It starts off as a 'who-done-it movie' trope, only for it to be revealed quite early on who killed Harlan. It then turns into a 'how are they going to get away with it' movie, which is what really hooked me. Usually you don't get the murderer until the end, but not this time! Even when we then think we have the whole story, more and more twists and turns happen, until justice is rightfully served.

I was on the edge of my seat watching this. The movie is shot beautifully, the acting is wonderful - Craig, Curtis, Evans and Armas did such a good job with this, that I sadly didn't take much note of the rest of the cast, but they still filled the roles well. This has to be up there with one of the best murder mystery movies I've seen for a while, and is one I like to watch a few times to see all the bits and pieces I didn't notice in the first run, and also to just appreciate how well Rian Johnson wrote and filmed this.

Trailer

If you haven't seen this film yet, I beg you to give it a try as it is a great take on the 'who-done-it' mystery genre. If you have already seen it, what did you think of the movie overall? Let me know! Hope you have a great day and keep safe :)

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Thursday, 21 March 2019

3 Reasons To Love The New Captain Marvel Movie*

(source)

If you thought all things Marvel had come to an end after the finger-snapping events of Avengers: Infinity War, one of our favourite movies of 2018,then think again. Sure, many of our heroes were sent into dust-scattered oblivion thanks to hissable baddie Thanos - boo! - but if you stuck around for the end credits sequence (probably because you were too stunned by the movie's end to leave your seat), then you would have seen Nick Fury send a call-out to Marvel's latest hero (and probable saviour of the Avengers) Captain Marvel!

And now here she is, kicking ass on our cinema screens (at the time of writing), and if you're a Marvel fan, you have probably seen the film already. It's had a slightly mixed reception from the critics, but it's still better than many of the so-called blockbuster movies filling up our cinemas.

Here are three good reasons as to why you might love the film.

#1: It's the MCU's first female superhero-led film

There are plenty of female superheroes in the Marvel Universe, some of whom we have seen on our screens - Scarlet Witch, Gamora, Black Widow - and some we are still desperate to see - She-Hulk, Spider-Woman - but none have led a movie until now. But what about Elektra, we hear you cry. Okay, well that is the exception, but the movie was awful, and despite being a Marvel character, it's not officially part of the MCU universe. And neither is Wonder Woman (she's from DC), in case you were going to bring up that recent example. Hoorah then for Captain Marvel, the first official leading lady in the MCU, and from what we see in the film, she is a match for any guy in a super suit!

#: 2: There is a wonderful tribute to Stan Lee

Stan Lee passed away in late 2018, and as the news was heard, a billion Marvel fans cried out in pain. You see, without this great man, there would have been no Captain Marvel, no Spiderman, and let's be honest, no MCU. He didn't found Marvel comics, but he did create some of the greatest superheroes that still exist in the public consciousness today. He has made a cameo in nearly every Marvel movie since 1989, and thankfully for us, makes a similar appearance in Captain Marvel. But before his appearance, there is a wonderful tribute in the opening credits sequence, where, instead of the usual montage of MCU heroes flashing up on our screens, there is a montage of Stan Lee in all his forms, both on and off screen. You will shed a tear! Excelsior!!

#3: The film is a nostalgia-fest

The film is a prequel to Infinity War and is set predominantly in the '90s. The film is jam-packed with nostalgia from the time, alongside relics of the past. For those of you with a VHS recorder still in your attic, you will send out a wistful sigh when Captain Marvel crash lands into a Blockbuster store (remember them?),lined with movie video cassettes of the time. If you spend more time playing classic arcade games on your console than recent releases and have a virtual arcade pinball machine in your games room, then you will get a thrill at the perfect replicas of both a classic Space invaders arcade cabinet and pinball machine, fittingly located (bizarrely) in an alien spaceship. And then there are Troll dolls, Koosh balls, pagers, and with surprising significance in the movie, a Happy Days lunchbox, with the Fonz plastered all over it. See how many other relics from the past you can spot in the movie.

Not only but also…

There are more reasons to love the film, of course. There's some kick-ass action for a start, alongside some amazing special effects. You get to see Agent Coulson and Nick Fury at the start of their careers, and finally learn the truth about Fury's missing eye. Brie Larson is amazing (as always) in the lead, and she is joined by Jude Law, Ben Mendelsohn, and erm… a cat who isn't really a cat. And the film brings us hope, tying into the present day and the current events of the MCU. Captain Marvel will save the day, we promise!

In short, go and see the film. We think you will love it!

Friday, 28 December 2018

What I Got For Christmas 2018

I had an amazing Christmas and festive period with my friends and family, and before the New Year rolls in, I wanted to do a final post about Christmas, in the form of a WIGFC post!

Disclaimer: I'm not trying to brag or show off, I just wanted to share these as I like to see what other people got themselves! So please link me you yours if you've done a similar post, so I can be nosey!

I was spoiled beyond belief and am so grateful for everything I received from my friends and family. What did you get for Christmas? Let me know on twitter on in the comments if you've done a post/vlog about your gifts! Hope you have a great day and keep safe :)

Monday, 17 December 2018

My Fave Movies Of 2018

I've seen a good handful of movies this year, and though not as many at the cinema as I'd have liked, still enough for me to make this list! These are the movies I've really enjoyed this year. In no particular order, as all from memory, here they are!

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!

The Greatest Showman
I left the cinema singing 'This is me', and promptly went home and bought the CD off iTunes, and then a hard copy from the supermarket for my car. I even went about learning some of the 'this is me' dance routine. Obsessed.
I know it's not a very good representation of the very flawed real life P.T Barnum, but Hollywood changes things for it's own gain, and I liked this glitz version that Hugh Jackman gave us. The songs made a lasting impression on me, as did all the various dance scenes. I get teary eyed during the fire scene, as I loved the relationship between Philip and Anne.

Black Panther
This was amazing. I'm majorly into this movie because of a few things. 1 - Wakanda is darn beautiful. 2 - Women and men were seen as equals, and this was wholly clear when M'Baku called out the people of Wakanda for letting a child be in charge of their tech, not a woman as we would see in most movies. 3 - The Dora Milajie, are a super group of warrior women who are the army of the country, and the protectors of the King. I loved the idea of the women being the army, and a big shoutout to Danai Gurira who was the perfect General. The colours, themes, villains - all perfect.

Avengers: Infinity War
I barely know where to start here. It is, after all, only the first half of longer running movie. There were so many twists and turns. I was not excepting Loki and Heimdall to die so quickly. Or for the way so many of various Marvel cast ended up in scenes together. There were some lighter moments - such as the "Get lost, Squidward" moment - to the downright horrendous moments. Such as Tony being stabbed and the entire cinema collectively gasped loudly, but he then lived. Or when Spider-Man is turning to ash, and his words provoked the cinema to audibly voice with worry.
I cannot wait for the next part of this film - though I have a few worries about what will happen, and it's nothing to do with people dying!

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again!
I pretty much cried from start to finish with this film! I went into the film knowing that Donna had died as twitter is a hellhole for spoilers. I was blubbering the second that it was mentioned, and then pretty much any time that Donna was mentioned, and the last song pretty much destroyed me, to the point I don't actually remember much, other than Sophie and Donna singing opposite one another.
The rest of the film was incredible. I loved the songs, dance scenes, and the casting of the younger versions of the characters was so spot on - I'm looking at you Lily James!

The Incredibles 2
One film that I could have happily watched on repeat during release week. I've wanted this film for over a decade, and happily can report that I was not disappointed. There were plenty of good moments, and I loved that the kids to be part of the rescue team again!
However, the best moments from all of this was when Jack Jack was on screen. His overnight stay with Edna is meant to be a special feature when it comes to DVD/Blu Ray, so I'm excited to see that. Finding out he has pretty much every superpower going was a fun thing to witness after so long of wondering!

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Another Jurassic movie I'm in love with. I was fully excited for the original Jurassic World when it was released, and even more excited when I heard there was going to be a sequel to it. I was hoping to have less island time in the film, and was not disappointed here. I'm glad they have moved off the islands for this film, and hopefully the next one in the trilogy.
Also really intrigued as to what else will crop up, now that we've been introduced to our first human clone - using the same techniques to bring the dinosaurs to life. Maisie's story was a great addition to these movies, and will hopefully give us some new adventures in the upcoming movie.

What films have you enjoyed during 2018, and do we have any of the same one? Let me know! Hope you have a great day and keep safe :)

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Monday, 10 December 2018

My Fave TV Shows Of 2018

There have been some amazing TV shows this year, but these ones below, are the ones that I've really looked forward to each week. They may contain spoilers, so beware!

It was really difficult to pick which shows to pick for this list, as I've watched over 20 different shows this year, so here are the ones that made it to to top. May it be because I laughed, cried, cheered - or all three, these are the best of 2018.

Station 19
I found this show back at Easter, and not long before it finished airing. A spin off to Grey's Anatomy, this has been a welcome relief from Scandal, which ended last season. We've got to follow the firefighters, and a police officer through some really good episodes, and that ending to season one, was too amazing for words!

9-1-1
A new show this year from the creators of Glee, this follows the lives of the 118 firestation members, as well as the police, and the 911 emergency center in Los Angeles. I binged the first season during the summer, and fell in love with instantly. Also helps that Oliver Stark, who plays Buck, is a nice piece of eye candy! It's been both stressful, edge-of-seat tense, and funny, in such a way that I've not seen on TV before.

Legends Of Tomorrow
Probably one of the best CW/Arrowverse shows, this show never fails to make my day when I watch it. Quite the underdog compared to it's Arrowverse counterparts, this show is full of fun, laughter, and also some sad moments too. #RIPFirestorm!! I've been enjoying this new season a lot too, especially with the new addition of Constantine to the crew, and the magical creatures that have been showing up.

The Flash
This beats out Arrow and Supergirl, down to the laughs this show brings me. Mainly due to Cisco. Can't say I've loved the many versions of Harrison Wells we've had over the show's few seasons - actually, I'm really bored of the other world versions of him, and though I love the actor, please just write him out for good, or bring Earth 2 Harry back! Loving this new season with the addition of Barry and Iris's daughter Nora, who's come to see them from the future!

Chicago PD/Fire/Med
Couldn't pick a front runner for the #OneChicago franchise, so they all made the cut! PD is the one I get most excited about, but that's down to me having a huge crush on Kevin Atwater actor, LaRoyce Hawkins. *heart eyes*
All three have had amazing seasons this year, and the new fall seasons have been just as impressive. I'm still reeling over Olinsky's death, Gabby leaving the firehouse, and the fact that Med has lost Dr Sarah Reese to another hospital - due to the actress leaving. Can't wait to see how the rest of each season plays out.

RuPaul's Drag Race
Let's recap this one... We had All Stars 3, immediately followed by Season 10 the week after All Stars ended, and in a few days time, All Stars 4 is going to be airing! That's 7 months of Drag Race this year! I've been loving this show for ages now, but this year I feel it it at the height of recognition it deserves. And yes, I've been listening to the remix top 4 raps a lot this year.

What TV shows have you enjoyed the most this year and why? Let me know! Hope you have a great day and keep safe :)

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Wednesday, 28 November 2018

RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 4 Predictions!

Original images from Billboard

Gentleman, start you engines! And may the best woman, win! It's been a few weeks since the cast for All Stars 4 was announced, and after a good gander at the promo images, it's time for my predictions. I am really excited for the new season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, which starts next month. Season 4 has 10 Queens from previous seasons - as well as Latrice and Manila, who also competed on All Stars 1.

This All Stars 4 cast consists of the wonderful:

Farrah Moan
Gia Gunn
Jasmine Masters
Latrice Royale
Manila Luzon
Monet X Change
Monique Heart
Naomi Smalls
Trinity Taylor
Valentina

So here are my predictions, all based on their current promo pictures and what I can remember of them from their seasons!

My top three have to be Trinity, Monet, and Valentina. Trinity is serving such a look here, I'm actually mesmerized. I wasn't a huge fan of her at the start of her season, but grew to love her as it went on - and her Category Is rap was amazing. I loved Monet on her season, and will never get over that fake death drop during her lip sync against Dusty. Valentina was another great competitor on her season, but after that 'I'd like to keep it on please' fiasco, she left early. Hopefully these three will get to the top this season and one will snatch the crown!

As for the others, I really struggled to think of where to put them, but I finally came to a decision!

I've put Naomi in 4th, Manila in 5th, and Latrice in 6th. I love all of these three, but I feel like Naomi has done pretty well after her RPDR season, and as much as I love Manila and Latrice - plus they were shoved out too early in AS1, I feel they've been on the show enough now.

Monique in 7th was good on her season, but I couldn't get along with some of her looks! Gia in 8th place, was a good fishy queen on her season, and HALLELOO, she is the first openly trans woman to now walk the runway! Gia transitioned a while after her season, so this will be a great moment for RPDR. However, as much as I like Gia, I always struggled with her looks and attitude, so I have hopes she will be better this year.

Farrah in 9th... I loved her, but her last name is so apt. She moans all the time! I couldn't get on with her personality all that much. In 10th I've put Jasmine, which hurts me a little, but I barely remember her from her season, and I can't say I'm loving her look in this promo too much. I remember thinking she was eliminated too early, but honestly cannot remember her at all, except her voice!

Recap on my predictions! Who's going to win in my opinion?

Trinity Taylor
Monet X Change
Valentina
Naomi Smalls
Manila Luzon
Latrice Royale
Monique Heart
Gia Gunn
Farrah Moan
Jasmine Masters

Who do you think will win, and what order will you be placing the queens for All Stars 4? Let me know! All Stars 4 premiers on VH1 on Friday December 14th. Hope you have a great day and keep safe :)

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Monday, 19 November 2018

10 Things I Love About Comic Con

I'm experiencing con flu - and not just the actual flu where I feel like death - but con flu, the one where I am missing comic con a great deal. It's been a little over 3 weeks since MCM London was all over, and I want to be back there already!

The planning
There is just something about planning when to get tickets, what days to go, what trains we're getting, and what food we'll quickly munch before we get going. I get super excited during the planning, and that's before I'm even there!

Convention only items
Predominately Funko's POP! figures, I love seeing what items are specifically for the convention, as it is more likely I'll buy it!

Cosplaying
Still getting into this, but I've done this for the last 4 times I've gone. I've been a generic Gryffindor student twice, and Arkham Knight Harley Quinn, as well as animated series Dr Harley Quinn.

Meeting other geeks!
I've meet a handful of amazing people at these conventions. Even if it's just a quick chat when I'm getting a picture of their cosplay, or even via Instagram after the event is over, I love making new geek buddies! Plus there are always a dozen meetups going on for different fandoms, where you can meet loads of people.

Time with my cousins
I go with my two cousins, Daniel and Lucy, each time. It's nice getting to spend a whole weekend with them, and being right in our comfort zones of shopping goodies, and pointing out all the amazing cosplayers we see!

Panels
Though I don't really go to these, I've been to a few of the Creator Space ones in the past. I'd love to go to the main stage ones at some point, but they're always so busy! This is a great way to see what your fave YouTubers, actors, comic writers/artists are up to.

Celeb Guests
On the subjects of panels, you can see an array of celebs at these events. I've seen a few of the original Power Rangers, Paul Bettany, David Bradley, and others from a distance! Also spotted Warwick Davies one year and managed to catch his eye and wave at him, and he waved back. Hoping that MCM London has more amazing guests in the future - fingers crossed for Captain America himself, Chris Evans!

Buying goodies
My nerd soul is always fulfilled from all the things I buy. Do I need any of it? No. But that doesn't stop me dropping £200+ every time I go!

Sneak peeks at upcoming TV shows/movies
At the panels, you can sometimes be lucky and get a sneak peek at trailers that are not yest released, scenes from upcoming TV episodes, and sometimes a clip or two of a movie you are dying to see!

The exhaustion
A weird one to add I know, but as much as I ache all over from the weekend of walking, heavy bags and the thousands of steps at the train stations - it's a sign of a good weekend!

I really hope I can go again next year, so I can go mad and buy more things! What things do you like about Comic Con, if you've ever been to any around the world? Let me know! Hope you have a great day and keep safe :)

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Wednesday, 14 November 2018

Stocking Fillers Under £10

Shock. Horror. A Christmas post!

It's the middle of November, and I'm about to give you a stocking filler gift idea post! I think Superdrug, Find Me A Gift, and Jewellery Box UK, are all fab for this kind of mini gift, so all of the below items can be found via their site, or in stores.

I tend to get a few items for small gifts for my friends and family - and maybe not quite small enough for a stocking, but they're all amazing ideas. May it be a little chocolate treat, something fun, or even a beauty item! All of these are under £10, so perfect if you are on a budget!

Hope this was helpful and you can find some goodies for people! What sort of items do you like to get as stocking fillers? Let me know! Hope you have a great day and keep safe :)

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Friday, 9 November 2018

London MCM Comic Con Haul!

Okay, so I'm still sick, and I have little energy to go to work, let alone do a blog post. SO, here's a cheat day for me! I was originally going to take pictures of everything for you to see, but that didn't work out, so here we have my MCM London Comic Con haul video!

It's filled with a bunch of goodies, such as jewelry, mystery boxes, Harry Potter and Harley Quinn merch, and more!

And if you're confused about the bag idea I saw people walking around with, here's my bag after an hour and ten minutes of pinning things to mine! I drew blood for this beauty, and I'm super happy with how it looks - even though it now weighs an awful lot! What fandoms can you spot?

See you all next week when I am hopefully a lot better! What did you like from my haul?
Let me know! Hope you have a great day and keep safe :)

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Friday, 2 November 2018

London MCM Comic Con 2018!

Last weekend was time for us to head to London, for MCM Comic Con! I've been excited about this since May, and thankfully got to get the weekend priority tickets just before they sold out.

We only done a few hours on the Friday as I was going out in the evening, but it meant we could see everything with less people, and buy a lot in a quicker time. Saturday and Sunday meant being up at 5:30am for the really early 6:45am train, after I collected the cousins from home and getting to the station! We were all exhausted come Sunday evening. We met a bunch of amazing cosplayers, bought copious amounts of goodies - and I got to meet Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner, who write and illustrate the Harley Quinn comic books respectively.

I'm not going to go on and on about the weekend too much, as there are a billion pictures in this post - BUT, if you'd prefer to just watch what we got up too, there is a quick lil vlog down at the bottom! Grab a drink and get comfy, this goes on a while...

I had such a great weekend, albeit hurting from head to toe come Monday morning for work! If you went to the Con, how did you find it - and did you meet any of the celebs up there? Let me know! Hope you have a great day and keep safe :)

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