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MelanieTheresa (997 KP) rated The Kitchen (2019) in Movies
Dec 3, 2019 (Updated Dec 3, 2019)
Here's my quick review for this one:
I had zero idea this movie was based on a DC graphic novel; I was just intrigued by the premise of mob wives taking over. I enjoyed the story line. Margo Martindale is always great, no exception here. Melissa McCarthy felt weak, acting-wise and character-wise. Elizabeth Moss was EVERYTHING, and I don't normally care about her one way or the other. Her character's story arc was by far my favorite, her acting the most believable.
And then we come to Tiffany Haddish. She makes me cringe, and her voice makes me want to puncture my own eardrums. I just do not like her, and this movie did nothing to change my opinion. But if you can get past her, the movie was worth a watch.
I had zero idea this movie was based on a DC graphic novel; I was just intrigued by the premise of mob wives taking over. I enjoyed the story line. Margo Martindale is always great, no exception here. Melissa McCarthy felt weak, acting-wise and character-wise. Elizabeth Moss was EVERYTHING, and I don't normally care about her one way or the other. Her character's story arc was by far my favorite, her acting the most believable.
And then we come to Tiffany Haddish. She makes me cringe, and her voice makes me want to puncture my own eardrums. I just do not like her, and this movie did nothing to change my opinion. But if you can get past her, the movie was worth a watch.
Merissa (13298 KP) rated Dangerous Decisions (Obsidian Flame #3) in Books
Jan 22, 2020
DANGEROUS DECISIONS is the third book in the Obsidian Flame series and although we continue with the overall story arc, this one has Hank and Misha on prominent display.
Hank has been keeping a secret from Lara and so, as it turns out, has Misha. Both secrets have a massive impact on Lara in very different ways, adding brilliant elements to the story.
Lara and Raf are just as hot and pig-headed as before, but now we have Hank and Misha too. Think of Romeo and Juliet (but grown up) and you're there. I really felt for Misha in this one. She really didn't have an easy way out of any of it.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and can't wait for it to continue. Absolutely recommended by me.
Hank has been keeping a secret from Lara and so, as it turns out, has Misha. Both secrets have a massive impact on Lara in very different ways, adding brilliant elements to the story.
Lara and Raf are just as hot and pig-headed as before, but now we have Hank and Misha too. Think of Romeo and Juliet (but grown up) and you're there. I really felt for Misha in this one. She really didn't have an easy way out of any of it.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and can't wait for it to continue. Absolutely recommended by me.
BW
Begin with a Failed Body: Poems
Book
This collection of poems begins rooted in the landscape of the U.S. South as it voices singular...
PA
Pokemon Adventures Fire Red & Leaf Green/Emerald Box Set: Volumes 23-29
Hidenori Kusaka and Satoshi Yamamoto
Book
The FireRed & LeafGreen arc starts off with Green about to meet her long-lost parents, but they are...
New Order: Hungarian Poets of the Post 1989 Generation
George Szirtes, Istvan Kemeny, Krisztina Toth and Anna T. Szabo
Book
This first major gathering of the younger poets of Hungary witnesses to the poetics of a new...
David McK (3623 KP) rated Star Wars, Volume 2: Operation Starlight in Books
Oct 3, 2021
This is a compilation volume of Charles Soule's mainline Star Wars run, collecting issues 7 through 11 of said run that is set after the events of The Empire Strikes Back.
And what can I say about it?
It's OK: nothing all that special, but nor is it the worst Star Wars I have read.
there's also a whole plot arc about stealing an old translator droid from Coruscant, that feels like it would have been the perfect place to cross over with Doctor Aphra (a character that, truth be told, I never really took too all that much) but which completely squanders that opportunity - I also felt that Poe Dameron's parents (and the fate of at least one of them) is shoehorned just a tad too much for my liking.
And what can I say about it?
It's OK: nothing all that special, but nor is it the worst Star Wars I have read.
there's also a whole plot arc about stealing an old translator droid from Coruscant, that feels like it would have been the perfect place to cross over with Doctor Aphra (a character that, truth be told, I never really took too all that much) but which completely squanders that opportunity - I also felt that Poe Dameron's parents (and the fate of at least one of them) is shoehorned just a tad too much for my liking.
David McK (3623 KP) rated Star trek strange new worlds in TV
May 27, 2023
This, I feel, is a strong contender to be the best of the recent Star Trek shows.
It's just a pity that so few have seen it, locked away behind yet another streaming subscription paywall.
This goes back to the original, story-of-the-week, style of Star Trek storytelling (although there is a plot arc running throughout in that Captain Pike knows of his fate), with Ethan Peck reprising his role as Spock from whaterver-season-it-was (3?) of Star Trek: Discovery, as does Anson Mount as Captain Pike and Rebecca Romijin as Number One.
As it is so heavily serialised, some of the episodes are better than others: the standout one, for me, being the penultimate episode which borrows heavily from Alien(s) and Predator!
It's just a pity that so few have seen it, locked away behind yet another streaming subscription paywall.
This goes back to the original, story-of-the-week, style of Star Trek storytelling (although there is a plot arc running throughout in that Captain Pike knows of his fate), with Ethan Peck reprising his role as Spock from whaterver-season-it-was (3?) of Star Trek: Discovery, as does Anson Mount as Captain Pike and Rebecca Romijin as Number One.
As it is so heavily serialised, some of the episodes are better than others: the standout one, for me, being the penultimate episode which borrows heavily from Alien(s) and Predator!
Learn Objective-C on the Mac: for OS X and iOS
Scott Knaster, Mark Dalrymple and Waqar Malik
Book
Learn to write apps for some of today's hottest technologies, including the iPhone and iPad (using...
Kristin (149 KP) rated Rock 'n' Roll Promises (Rock N Roll Paraphantasy, #1) in Books
Dec 7, 2018
Disclaimer: I received an unedited ARC copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked this story from the beginning. It's a new spin on vampire lore, and there are other supernatural beings, as well. We find out about Anna's past throughout the book, as she goes into a trance to "relive" part of her life from the night she was turned, to determine how Jaxson knows her (after having a pretty steamy interaction with him). Her best friend Paige and Paige's boyfriend Ozzie, a hunter, come to protect her while in her trance, and the twists just keep coming throughout the story.
I also greatly enjoyed the use of music throughout the book. I knew pretty much all of the songs mentioned, and they were each relevant and used perfectly to describe certain situations, especially the ending. And speaking of the ending, it's definitely a cliffhanger, so I can't wait to see what happens next! An entertaining read, and one I would recommend to those who like the supernatural and supernatural romances.
My only issue (other than wishing it was longer and/or I had the second book already) was with some of the dialogue. I thought it was stilted at times, as characters would switch back and forth between using and not using contractions within the same sentence or paragraph, which didn't seem natural to me. Also, some of the inner dialogue within Anna's or Paige's head felt a little too descriptive. I know it was used to explain things and further the story, but it struck a small chord with me, as I just didn't think it was natural. (However, I was reading an unedited ARC, so this may be changed in the final version.)
4 stars, and I really want to read the next one =)
I really liked this story from the beginning. It's a new spin on vampire lore, and there are other supernatural beings, as well. We find out about Anna's past throughout the book, as she goes into a trance to "relive" part of her life from the night she was turned, to determine how Jaxson knows her (after having a pretty steamy interaction with him). Her best friend Paige and Paige's boyfriend Ozzie, a hunter, come to protect her while in her trance, and the twists just keep coming throughout the story.
I also greatly enjoyed the use of music throughout the book. I knew pretty much all of the songs mentioned, and they were each relevant and used perfectly to describe certain situations, especially the ending. And speaking of the ending, it's definitely a cliffhanger, so I can't wait to see what happens next! An entertaining read, and one I would recommend to those who like the supernatural and supernatural romances.
My only issue (other than wishing it was longer and/or I had the second book already) was with some of the dialogue. I thought it was stilted at times, as characters would switch back and forth between using and not using contractions within the same sentence or paragraph, which didn't seem natural to me. Also, some of the inner dialogue within Anna's or Paige's head felt a little too descriptive. I know it was used to explain things and further the story, but it struck a small chord with me, as I just didn't think it was natural. (However, I was reading an unedited ARC, so this may be changed in the final version.)
4 stars, and I really want to read the next one =)
Kirk Bage (1775 KP) rated The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928) in Movies
Jan 28, 2021
This was another first for me. Previous to watching this silent “masterpiece” Dreyer was a name I had only read in film history essays and when anyone writing for Sight and Sound wants to look clever. As a stepping stone to what could be achieved it is of course a valuable historic document. As a film to be enjoyed almost 100 years later, it is all but unwatchable at 110 minutes. There is perhaps a half hour’s worth of story and images, merely extended and repeated to an excruciating degree. It’s not that it is silent, or has very strange religious overtones that don’t resonate now in the same way they once might – because it is very beautiful and remarkable in small sections – it is that a monotony of accusation, followed by denial, followed by crying, followed by spiritual revelation is all there is to it. And it goes on and on and on until you really could not care less.
The story of Joan of Arc is extraordinary, but this is not the story of Joan of Arc, it is her passion only, as in her trial and execution. The close ups of Maria Falconetti as the eponymous saint are all you can really take away from it in the end. Her odd beauty and commitment to the role do leave a lasting impression, but the two dimensional fire and brimstone evil of her accusers is just too much, even comic, to behold and believe in 2021. For study purposes, seeing where certain techniques and shot ideas had their Genesis, for example, it is of great interest. As a film to watch and enjoy it has sadly outlived its worth. When you consider Fritz Lang’s M was only 3 years later, it all comes into context.
The story of Joan of Arc is extraordinary, but this is not the story of Joan of Arc, it is her passion only, as in her trial and execution. The close ups of Maria Falconetti as the eponymous saint are all you can really take away from it in the end. Her odd beauty and commitment to the role do leave a lasting impression, but the two dimensional fire and brimstone evil of her accusers is just too much, even comic, to behold and believe in 2021. For study purposes, seeing where certain techniques and shot ideas had their Genesis, for example, it is of great interest. As a film to watch and enjoy it has sadly outlived its worth. When you consider Fritz Lang’s M was only 3 years later, it all comes into context.