“The hell of the living is not something that will be; if there is one, it is what is already here… You must learn to recognize who and what, in the midst of hell, are not hell, and make them endure, give them space.”

Invisible Cities (1972) – Italo Calvino

I’m usually not the biggest fan of avant-garde films, especially the kind where the narrative feels like it is happening offscreen and the audience is expected to fill in the gaps. These are films that often rely on implication rather than exposition, where what is shown can feel minimal by design. Many of them are critically celebrated, and I understand why. They allow the viewer to construct their own meaning and personal narrative from what is presented.

Still, they do not always land for me.

That is what made Sonatine such a surprise.

Directed by and starring Takeshi Kitano, Sonatine is one of the most strikingly minimal yet emotionally forceful films I have ever seen. It presents the Japanese yakuza not as stylized caricatures, but as a group of ordinary men existing within a violent and unforgiving world. There are no romanticized reveals, no exaggerated bravado. These men feel tired, human, and real.

Kitano’s character, Murakawa, is introduced as someone already worn down by the life he inhabits. Early in the film, he remarks that he is getting too old for this. The line does not feel ironic or performative. It feels honest. When you operate within an illegal world where paranoia is constant and violence is routine, something inside you eventually dulls. Fear, anger, and sadness do not disappear so much as they flatten into a quiet emotional numbness.

The film reinforces this through unsettling details that are delivered without spectacle. Murakawa casually mentions that the first person he ever killed was his own father while still in school. The moment is not dramatized. It is almost brushed past, which is precisely what makes it disturbing. Violence has become so normalized that it no longer registers as extraordinary to those committing it.

One of the most telling scenes involves a game of Russian roulette. Two younger members of the group are ordered to participate by Murakawa himself, who watches with a faint, unsettling smile. The situation is life or death, even if it ultimately turns out to be a sleight of hand. What matters is not whether the gun is loaded, but that the men comply without hesitation. Authority, fear, and obedience are so deeply ingrained that resistance never enters the equation.

After a deal goes wrong, the group retreats to a quiet beachside town. This is where Sonatine reveals its emotional core. Temporarily removed from the violence, the men begin playing games reminiscent of childhood. They wrestle on the sand, set off fireworks, and engage in moments that feel almost absurd given who they are. These scenes are not filler. They suggest that beneath the hardened exteriors, some trace of innocence still exists, however buried.

It is also during this retreat that Murakawa finally smiles. Not once earlier in the film does his expression soften. That detail stayed with me. The only moment of visible happiness comes not from power or violence, but from distance and escape, however temporary.

Much of this emotional weight is carried by the film’s recurring musical theme (above). The track is used repeatedly throughout the film, and it is one of the most beautifully composed pieces of music I have heard in a crime film. Its calm, almost melancholic tone contrasts sharply with the violence and tension on screen. Instead of heightening action, it creates space. Space to reflect, to feel unease, and to sit with the quiet dread that hangs over every scene. It fits Sonatine perfectly, and it lingers long after the film ends.

Ultimately, Sonatine is a film about inevitability. Illegal power structures, whether gangs, organized crime, or corrupt institutions, almost always end the same way. The highs never last. Betrayal and collapse are not exceptions, they are guarantees. When Murakawa realizes he has been betrayed and responds with final, brutal clarity, the film’s message becomes unmistakable. Once you step into this life, there is no stepping out. The oath binds not just your actions, but your ending.

Sonatine is not a film for everyone. It is not action-packed, and it does not guide the viewer through its story. But if you are open to films that communicate through restraint, silence, and implication, this is one that stays with you. You may not feel deeply invested in the characters at first, yet by the end, their fate feels heavy and unavoidable.

And if nothing else, there is one certainty. You will leave the film remembering that song. You will search it up, put it on a playlist, and feel those same quiet emotions return.

Final verdict:
Sonatine is a haunting, minimalist masterpiece.
Score: 9.3/10.

ZP

2026

It is still jarring to say the year out loud: 2026. Time is one of those concepts that feels simple to understand yet difficult to fully grasp. We know it moves forward relentlessly, but we often lose sight of just how quickly it does so. It may sound cliché, but clichés tend to exist for a reason. Time, perhaps more than anything else, reminds us of that truth.

When I was younger, back in elementary school (K–6, roughly 2005–2011), I used an unusual way to conceptualize the future. I would anchor upcoming years to the FIFA games released around that time. FIFA 18. FIFA 22. FIFA 26. Even then, those years felt distant, almost awkward to say, as though they belonged to some far-off version of reality. Of course, we all knew those years would eventually arrive, but not like this, not so quickly.

Somewhere between starting university, graduating, and stepping into adulthood, time accelerated. Back then, days felt long and progress felt slow. In hindsight, those years vanished in what now feels like a blink.

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What Are My Goals?

There is a longstanding tradition of reflecting at the start of a new year of writing down goals for the next 365 days, often framed around self-improvement. Studies frequently suggest that writing goals down increases the likelihood of achieving them. Whether or not that is universally true, the ritual itself seems to offer people a sense of clarity and control.

Historically, I have never been the type to write things down with the intention of revisiting them later (I can chalk this up to my inherent laziness). I have lived much of my life by going with the flow. That approach has its downsides, but surprisingly, it has also brought unexpected benefits. For 2026, I will continue in that same spirit. I do not plan to define my year through specific, measurable benchmarks.

However, there is one aspiration that outweighs all others.

I want to be happy.

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Misery is universal. It exists across all races, social classes, and circumstances. No one is immune to it. Happiness, on the other hand, feels like the closest thing we have to life’s version of nirvana. I have experienced both extremes—the highs that feel untouchable and the lows that feel suffocating. Of the two, nothing compares to happiness, and it is something I pray for daily.

When your mind is clear and gratitude anchors you, you become resilient in ways that are difficult to describe. There is a quiet strength in that state—one so powerful that even adversity hesitates before testing it. This is why the often-dismissed phrase “money can’t buy happiness” holds more truth than many are willing to admit. We are reminded of this constantly by the wealthiest individuals, many of whom possess everything except peace.

Of course, I want the conventional things: better health, productivity, progress, and achievement. These are the goals people typically outline at the beginning of a new year. But more than anything, I want to pursue those things while being genuinely happy.

So here’s to 2026.

I hope it grants me that destiny.

ZP

Gaming is in a great spot these days. As we approach the end of 2025, we have seen a multitude of great games release and receive rave reviews from players. It feels like people from every corner of the gaming spectrum got something they really enjoyed. Triple-A, indie, and everything in between, there was something for everyone.

These are the nominees Geoff Keighley and his team have selected as the “official” GOTY contenders for The Game Awards. Fans vote, but their votes only make up 10 percent of the total while critics handle the rest. Critics know more than us, I guess.

From the nominees listed, I have only played about one and a half: Donkey Kong Bonanza and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. I fully completed Bonanza, while I dropped Expedition 33 after Act 1.

But that is beside the point. Who cares about their list when my list is the only one that matters? So without further ado, here is what I crown as Zino’s Game of the Year for 2025, but first I have to start with the honorable mentions:

First honorable mention: Donkey Kong Bananza – Nintendo Switch 2

I am at a point in my life where I respect Nintendo and their output, but I am not someone who really seeks out their games anymore. Sure, there are exceptions like Smash Brothers and Mario Party, but those are more party-style games that keep couch play alive with family and friends. Their other offerings? I pretty much do not play them at all and do not have any interest in doing so. Sometimes I try, but the games end up on my ever-growing backlog. The only Nintendo game I have beaten in the last decade has been Breath of the Wild when it first came out on the Switch, which I should note was a good one-time experience. I am looking at you, Tears of the Kingdom.

One day out of nowhere, my brother came back from NYC and brought gifts. Gifts these days are usually adult-oriented, such as attire, fragrances, or help with bills. He told me he stopped by the Nintendo store in Rockefeller, and he pulled out Bananza. At first, I told him, “You wasted seventy dollars,” because I had no intention of ever playing this game. I saw the trailers during the Nintendo Direct and had zero interest, even when it went on sale. I was put in a position of guilt since he used his hard-earned money to buy the game for me, so I knew I had to at least give it a whirl. Not even finish it, just try it. What a great decision that turned out to be.

My initial impressions matched my original expectations. I honestly thought my journey would end on the first day, but surprisingly that was not the case. I kept finding myself coming back to this delicately crafted world that Nintendo created. Every single square inch feels accounted for, with mysteries tucked into every corner. The gameplay loop that I once viewed as boring had much more depth than I expected. The satisfaction you get from breaking through all types of materials like rock, dirt, and stone is unmatched. The Bananza transformations add another layer to the loop, giving you a variety of ways to tackle whatever is in front of you.

All these elements make this game so special and bring back that feeling of being young again in a Nintendo-crafted world. I am honored to have played through it, and it definitely deserves its spot as an honorable mention.

Rating: 9.6/10

Second honorable mention: Rematch – PC

Rematch is one that took me by surprise. I remember the first time I saw gameplay of it, which I think was during the open beta, and once again I had no interest in playing it. It had a unique concept that I appreciated, but I did not feel any urge to pick it up. Spoiler: I ended up buying it on release day, and I am glad I made that decision. What an experience this game provides.

It is a mix of Rocket League and Super Mario Strikers, and it works incredibly well. Whether you are in goal saving shots like San Iker, locking down the defense like prime Ramos, creating plays like Andres, or being the lead goal scorer like CR7, every role in this game feels well built and satisfying.

The game is easy to get into, but it has layers of complexity that widen the skill gap. I found myself adapting to whatever each match required from me, all while improving my pitch awareness and my decision-making. Whether I was solo-queuing or playing with my group, I always wanted to keep going because every match brought something unique.

Here is an action shot of me scoring a goal early on:

Unfortunately, Rematch finds itself in a tough spot because the game is dying, and it is dying fast. A multitude of bugs have plagued it from the beginning, and while the experience has improved, a large portion of the player base left long before the fixes arrived. Looking at the Steam charts now and seeing peak numbers of only two to three thousand players in the past twenty-four hours tells the story. Even with crossplay, queue times continue to get longer. There is not much incentive for players who left to return. The only way this game could realistically get back on track is if it becomes free to play.

Regardless, I am still enjoying my time with it, and that is all that matters. One of the best offerings of the year.

Rating: 9.5/10

Final Honorable Mention: Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 – PC & PS5

For some, it is blasphemous to put Call of Duty in contention to win GOTY, but that is their viewpoint. Me? I love Call of Duty and nothing is going to change my mind. It is comfort food for me. I know what to expect and I enjoy the loop it provides. My mindset has always been that gameplay is king, and the gameplay in COD has been top tier since 2007. They have perfected the arcade shooter. In my opinion, it is the best FPS on the market, even when you include tactical shooters like CS and Valorant.

Sure, there are plenty of haters who irrationally dislike COD and everything about it, but I never concern myself with their opinions since they do not even play the games in the first place. I guess they dislike the fact that it has a yearly release cycle and remains a best seller every time. Somehow this affects them, but I will never understand that mindset. What I do know is that while COD does have an entry fee every year, it has essentially endless replay value. Since I am mainly a multiplayer player, every match always has different variables, which means no two games are ever the same.

While I love COD, I can admit there have been entries I played only briefly because they did not capture me. This one is different. I am getting that Cold War feeling with BO7. If you know me, then you know I consider Cold War to be one of the greatest COD games ever, so drawing that parallel means a lot. I thought BO6 was a bit too loose in how the gameplay felt, especially with the introduction of the first version of omni-movement. Now, it feels like they have perfected the movement, and as a result, everything feels tight, which is exactly what I wanted. The wall jumping is not overpowered and adds a nice element of traversal that expands the gameplay. The maps are also top tier, probably the best we have had in a long time.

All in all, I have been extremely impressed with Treyarch’s latest offering in my favorite series. It is still early in the lifecycle, but the sky is the limit for this one.

Rating: 9.4/10 (Multiplayer only considered as this is the only mode I have played so far)

And now, we get to what I think is Game of the Year:

Game of the Year: Elden Ring: Nightreign – PC

Nightreign has left an impression on me that I had been searching for so desperately in this form of entertainment. That feeling of discovery that FromSoftware has mastered applies to this title as well, and it goes even further. It is a departure from what From usually does. Creating a PVE co-op adventure that uses a storm mechanic inspired by battle royale games, separates the world into nights, and also functions as a roguelite? Who could have imagined that. I had no idea how all of those elements would come together. Yet it worked, and it resulted in one of the most memorable gaming experiences of the past decade.

This game expands on the gameplay Elden Ring offered but adds fantastic mobility through sprint surges, the ability to climb most objects freely, and the complete absence of fall damage. All of this makes the gameplay loop incredibly entertaining. It is hard to go back to Elden Ring or any other Souls game after playing this because you miss the mobility this game gives you. Character skills and abilities add another layer that keeps every cycle engaging.

All the characters are fun to play and offer different ways to experience each run. After some testing, I found myself always choosing Raider because Strength has been and will always be my favorite attribute in From games. I also like having high poise and being able to take a hit, and that is exactly what Raider provides. Raider’s uppercut ability is one of the most satisfying moves to land on enemies and bosses. Stunning a world boss with a perfectly timed uppercut is one of the best feelings ever.

I also want to note that I never played this game solo. It was always with my gaming buddies. There is nothing better than getting good RNG and suddenly feeling like a superhero. I cannot wait for the DLC so I can dive into more of what this world has to offer. Here is a picture from one of my favorite runs with some of my friends. We beat two Everdarks back to back on our first try:

Rating: 10/10

So that’s my thoughts on the topic of GOTY for 2025, take it or leave it.

– Z

Well, here I am on a random day (11/26/2025), doing the quintessential first post on my very own blog. This is probably the first time in history that this has ever been done before. All jokes aside, I wanted to create a small space in this vast world we call the internet just for me. Meaning, I don’t really care if anyone ever comes across this site. I can be the only visitor in history, but this is my corner, my domain. I express my thoughts and my thoughts alone with no need for approval from outside sources.

Why did I even do this in the first place? I want to get all my thoughts out there on any subject known to man. There is no distinct theme intended for this venture; rather, it is just a place where I can document my feelings on any given subject. I could talk about the political/economic state of the world, I could talk about my review of the latest entertainment piece I’ve viewed etc. So the subjects will range from anything and everything, which is what I want.

We are all complex beings that hold and value our own view of the world. Every experience gained throughout this journey called life deserves to be documented so we can always have the ability to go back and see what our state of mind was at the time. I very much value the ability to even do something like this. Prior to this, my thoughts were all over the internet and it was hard to keep track of everything. This my home now.

Enough of all that, welcome to my mind.

– Z