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Sarah (7798 KP) rated American Gods - Season 1 in TV

Jan 27, 2019

An intriguing & decent adaptation

I really enjoyed the book and had heard good things about the show, and I’m please to say that for the most part this is a very good adaptation.

I completely agree with everyone else that has compared this to Hannibal. From the effective visual imagery and the dream sequences, to the impressive amount of blood and gore, it’s difficult not to recognise parts of Hannibal in this. Unsurprising though considering they’re both made by Bryan Fuller. Ian McShane is truly fantastic as Mr Wednesday, they couldn’t have picked anyone better and even Ricky Whittle is brilliant as Shadow. He really has come a long way from his Hollyoaks days! There are also some great cameo/supporting performances from Gillian Anderson, Crispin Glover, Peter Stormare and Orlando Jones.

The story does at least start off following the book but does veer off slightly as the episodes move on. In some cases, this isn’t a bad thing. I like what they’ve done with Shadow’s character, making him more outgoing and vocal than his too quiet persona in the books. This works. What doesn’t work is what they’ve done with Laura. I can see why they’ve wanted to make her a more central character, but for me this just doesn’t work. She’s so annoying and brash and the episodes that concentrate mostly around her were the dullest of the entire series. I just hate her whole angry persona and if it wasn’t for the fact that she’s usually on screen alongside Mad Sweeney (who’s a great character), I’m not sure I could tolerate her. The show also puts you in the same position as Shadow, completely confused about what’s going on. It’s not too bad when you’ve read the book, but I can imagine it being a little too much if you haven’t.

In all a visually stunning show with a few flaws, but still some great potential.

Kudos

Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Not If I Save You First in Books

Jun 21, 2019

Not If I Save You First

Ally Carter | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry, Romance, Young Adult (YA)

8.5

(2 Ratings)

Book Rating

Maddie and Logan were best friends when they were kids. Granted, it was under slightly unusual circumstances: Logan's dad was President, and Maddie's dad was one of his Secret Service agents. So when something happens that causes Maddie's dad to move the two of them to an isolated cabin in the middle of Alaska, everything in Maddie's life changes. She has no contact with the outside world beyond letters--no Internet, no phone, no anything. Just a tiny cabin, a few library books, and her Dad. Maddie learns to become self-sufficient, and she learns to be alone. Then, suddenly, six years later, Logan turns up at her door. In Alaska. Before she knows it, someone attacks Maddie and Logan. Maddie has no choice but to put her wilderness skills to the test to save them both. Maddie's pretty angry that she hasn't heard from Logan in the past six years, but she's going to have to get over it for a bit, while the two cling for life in the cold.

"She was through with waiting for letters, for phone calls, for people and friends. Maddie was absolutely through with looking back."

So this is a totally crazy and wild book (just read that plot summary), but it's also really fun and an enjoyable read. I've never read anything by Ally Carter before, but this book inspired me to grab a couple others by her. It's exactly what it claims to be.

Even though they are tramping through the Alaskan wilderness, trying to save their own lives, Maddie and Logan's banter is pretty great. The story is dramatic at times, but also romantic and cute at others. It's complete and utter escapism, but that's what I wanted when I picked it up.

Overall, a really fun, quick read. I felt transported to Alaska, and I enjoyed the back-and-forth between Maddie and Logan. 3.5 stars.

Kudos

Gareth von Kallenbach (977 KP) rated The Nut Job (2014) in Movies

Aug 6, 2019

The Nut Job (2014)

2014 | Animation, Comedy

8.1

(8 Ratings)

Movie Rating

The Nut Job, starring Will Arnett playing Surly the squirrel, and Liam Neeson playing Racoon, is a kids movie, but has political undertones that won’t be missed by the adults. It does send a good message to kids in that it portrays Surly starting out caring only for himself and then growing to learn to help his friends and take care of others.

My 5 year old son says “it was funny, and it made me laugh”. He says he would see it again.

Down at its core, this movie really is about politics. Raccoon rules the park with the outward appearance of benevolence and coordinating all the animals to “work for the good of the park” while Surly is out for only himself, and refuses to conform. He is the cause of an accident that causes their food-storage tree to be burned to the ground, taking all their food with it, and is subsequently banished from the park without a trial, even though Andie, a lady squirrel (voiced by Katherine Heigl), begs her friends to not banish him without a trial. She is almost instantly voted down by the angry residents of Liberty Park.

Surly leaves Liberty Park and has to try and make it on his own. He finds his way to a HUGE stash of nuts, and devises a plan to get them to hold him through the winter. Andie finds him, and wants “in” on the stash to help the animals in the oark, and makes a deal with him to split them if they work together to collect the haul.

After the point in the movie where it is revealed that Racoon is not so benevolent after all and that his goal is to “control the food to control the animals”, some of the animals antics might be a bit troubling for younger viewers, but overall I thought it was a decent movie that kids will likely enjoy & parents can tolerate as well.