Search

Search only in certain items:

The Castles of Burgundy
The Castles of Burgundy
2011 | Dice Game, Medieval, Territory Building
Highly Strategic (0 more)
Component quality isn't very good. (1 more)
More luck based than I would like
I give the game a 6, my wife gives it a 10, so we'll settle on a 7.
My wife adores this game, she's incredible at it, my parents love it... I'm the wet blanket. It's ranked very highly on board game geek, but yet i don't love this game myself. It's a cool concept with a very boring theme. I love the idea of owning a village in burgundy and placing castles and boat houses, but it doesn't really make me feel anything when I play, and I worry too much about the dice and how to make them actually work with what I need. This one isn't for me, but everyone else loves it so you shouldn't listen to me.
  
40x40

Kaz (232 KP) rated I Am Legend (2007) in Movies

Jul 21, 2019 (Updated Jul 21, 2019)  
I Am Legend (2007)
I Am Legend (2007)
2007 | Action, Drama, Sci-Fi
The acting (0 more)
The C.G.I and the rushed ending (0 more)
A Good Film
Whilst I don't think this is as dark or delves as much into human psyche and the fight for survival as the original book by Richard Matheson does, I do think that this is a very good film.

Will Smith plays an emotive, believable role. I particularly liked the interaction he has with Sam, his dog. This has a lot of emotional moments, and a few jump scares too

The only negatives I could comment on about this film, are firstly, I didn't like the C.G.I 'infected'. They looked too fake to be scary. Also, I thought the ending to this film was a bit rushed.

Whilst there are some changes from the book, I do think that this is a really good film adaptation
  
Life as We Know It (2010)
Life as We Know It (2010)
2010 | Comedy, Drama
one of katherine heigl's best
I really liked this movie! I was really surprised by the ratings from critics and other people, I thought it was super cute. Sure, it was predictable, but it was still a really cute movie. It had a few hidden gems in there - "Having someone help you doesn't mean you've failed. It just means you're not in it alone." I think that Josh Duhamel and Katherine Heigl are great together. I can't say enough good things!

Everyone knows that my reviews always have a favorite character - almost always a supporting character and in this film it was Janine. She was so funny and when she cried? I lost it. I loved this film. It's an easy watch, it's a cute rom-com, great for a night in with some wine and popcorn!
  
40x40

David Bell recommended A Prayer for the Dying in Books (curated)

 
A Prayer for the Dying
A Prayer for the Dying
(0 Ratings)
Book Favorite

"When I was a kid, my dad read all the time, mostly westerns and thrillers. I was fascinated by the books, even though I knew they were too ‘adult’ for me, that I wasn’t quite ready to read them. When I turned fourteen, my dad gave me a birthday gift—a book called A Prayer for the Dying by the great Jack Higgins. It was a concise, powerful page-turner about a world-weary IRA hitman trying to do the right thing. I loved the characters and the plot, plus it was set in Ireland, where my dad’s family emigrated from. That book sent me down the road to reading more and more thrillers. And then eventually writing them. I still have that now battered paperback and re-read it from time to time just to feel connected to my dad."

Source
  
40x40

Adam Silvera recommended Where Things Come Back in Books (curated)

 
Where Things Come Back
Where Things Come Back
John Corey Whaley | 2015 | Fiction & Poetry, Young Adult (YA)
(0 Ratings)
Book Favorite

"I'm gonna be a good Adam and come back to review this over the weekend 'cause seriously, I was WOW'ed. This book is now on my favorites shelf. Why I put the book off this long was beyond me. I highlighted the hell out of this book to the point where my highlighter was drying out. For those who know me, you know I'm rather inhuman. I rarely cry in real life and have never cried over a book. I came close with a devastating scene in "Mockingjay", a super devastating scene in "Okay for Now", and the ending of "A Monster Calls". "Where Things Come Back" has been added to my Almost-Cried-Man-Tears List (which I think I might make a shelf for...) Hell yeah, John Corey Whaley! Big cheers to the next John Green, folks!"

Source
  
Freedom at Point Zero by Jefferson Starship
Freedom at Point Zero by Jefferson Starship
1979 | Rock
(0 Ratings)
Album Favorite

Jane by Jefferson Starship

(0 Ratings)

Track

"This one is kind of a rare bird - it’s one that I think rock lovers from the ‘70s and ‘80s will know. It was my Dad’s favourite song and it was his karaoke song. I think I have a video somewhere of him wailing it in a car when I was growing up. He could hit all the notes and I was always in awe of him. My Dad had such a beautiful voice and a big range, and he still does to this day. We’d sing along to it and all do air guitar to the crazy guitar solos. “It brings back childhood memories, but it’s also just a badass rock ‘n’ roll song, and it was my introduction to rock music. I love southern rock and it definitely has an influence on the music I make with DNCE now."

Source
  
I enjoyed this book. It was done well. I love the take on the uniqueness of names for each flavor. Bully Vanilli is a good one for the vanilla flavor. Mustachio Pistachio is clever, and I like that. Though his name is a bit hard to pronounce, that may be it for me to do. Otherwise, I did enjoy the naming concept.

I also really enjoyed each page. I like that there is a lesson that Bully Vanilli needs to learn about a few things. I like the way the author is teaching children about kindness and bullying through something sweet and tasty that children like.

This is a fun and wonderfully illustrated book. Children learn, and what a wonderful way to use ice cream. The pictures can tell the story of what is going on as well, which makes it even better.
  
TD
Two Dukes and a Lady
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A historical menage a trois involving childhood friends? Sign me up please! As soon as a I read the synopsis, I requested this book immediately. This is everything I wanted. Historical erotica is the best. Childhood friends to lovers is my weakness. Throw in a menage a trois and I am sold 100%.

And the novel didn’t disappoint. Overall, it was as erotic as it was romantic. I was a little annoyed at the characters, their actions/reactions to situations, and how they handled them. I mean, they haven’t seen this woman they loved for years, and the first time they do, they practically ravage her in the street after not contacting her in forever. It felt similar to reading a YA where the couple hasn’t quite figured out how to interact with their significant other as an adult.

Barring that, it was a great read. I wish I could find more novels similar to this mold (that aren’t garbage.)
  
Aspiring novelist Lena London has been given the change of a lifetime, helping her idol, best-selling author Camilla Graham, polish up her newest novel. But Lena has hardly arrived in town when she finds the dead body of a young man near Camilla’s house. What is going on?

There is a strong element of wish fulfillment in this novel, and I must admit I enjoyed that real life fantasy. Camilla writes gothic novels, and there are elements of those here as an homage to the genre. Even though I’m not familiar with that genre, I still spotted a few; I probably missed others, but it wasn’t that big a deal to me. The characters are fun and the plot was strong. I did have some issues with the pacing at the end, but overall, I enjoyed this. It certainly left me anxious for the next one.

NOTE: I received a copy of this book in hopes I would review it.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/02/book-review-dark-and-stormy-murder-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
40x40

Erika (17789 KP) rated The Shining (1980) in Movies

Nov 25, 2018 (Updated Nov 25, 2018)  
The Shining (1980)
The Shining (1980)
1980 | Horror
I just watched this film for the first time yesterday. I don't typically watch horror films/scary movies because I have an overactive imagination and don't need any other nightmare fuel.
I was finally convinced after a conversation with a co-worker when we were talking about how sometimes people just snap, and he emphasized how Jack Torrance's actions were completely fitting with a psychological break. I had also seen various references to the film, such as the extended scene in Ready Player One, and a South Park Halloween episode when Randy Marsh buys a Blockbuster and the same situation happens.
I wouldn't actually deem this as a straight-up horror film, it was definitely more of a psychological thriller. It was so well done (haven't read the book, nor will I ever, not a fan of Stephen King). The music fitting with the cinematography and creating the mood and overall tension in the film. It's definitely one of the best films I've watched as of late, and I'm glad I finally got around to it.
  
40x40

Andy K (10823 KP) Nov 25, 2018

It is a masterpiece for sure. You should try and find documentary Room 237 which talks a lot about The Shining and how Kubrick filmed the fake moon landing.