![The Bad Batch (2016)](/uploads/profile_image/f0b/4850cbc9-81d9-402e-9443-eb8345571f0b.jpg?m=1522361514)
The Bad Batch (2016)
Movie Watch
-THE BAD BATCH follows Arlen after she's left in a Texas wasteland fenced off from civilization....
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2099 KP) rated The Clockwork Teddy: A Bear Collector's Mystery in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-review-clockwork-teddy-by-john-j.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
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Kristy H (1252 KP) rated The Hopefuls in Books
Feb 13, 2018
I was intrigued by the premise of this book--a relationship set to the backdrop of the Obama campaign and administration. Living close to the DC area, I can say that Close's description of many DC citizens is spot on: the Blackberrys, the obsession with security clearance and work standing, the fashion. She's excellent at weaving a story in the details.
The problem, however, is that Beth--the novel's narrator--is just so dull. She's beyond passive, willing to watch life unravel as she watches. It doesn't seem as if Beth is interested in anything, beyond whining. After a while, I just became so frustrated with her, I wanted to scream. It doesn't help that her husband, Matt, is similarly self-absorbed, and Jimmy and Ashleigh aren't any more likable. The book sort of bumps along, with no real movement to swing it along, or a character with any redeeming quality of any sort (good or bad). Even the DC details can't save this often frustrating novel from its own irksome and passive characters. 2.5 stars.
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Riverdale - Season 3
TV Season Watch
Archie Andrews starts the school year with the world weighing on his shoulders. He's decided he...
![Fundamentals of Public Relations and Marketing Communications in Canada](/uploads/profile_image/d49/def9907d-a065-4e18-a7e0-17a5e9c78d49.jpg?m=1522324854)
Fundamentals of Public Relations and Marketing Communications in Canada
William Wray Carney, Leah-Ann Lymer, Mike Coates and Colin Babiuk
Book
Experts in public relations, marketing, and communications have created the most comprehensive...
![Verity](/uploads/profile_image/476/f887cb8a-cb24-49cb-9fd1-26003145b476.jpg?m=1542808079)
Verity
Book
Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer...
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Mothergamer (1521 KP) rated NOS4A2 in TV
Jul 22, 2019
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Gareth von Kallenbach (971 KP) rated The Goldfinch (2019) in Movies
Sep 13, 2019
This film is based on the Pulitzer Prize winning book by Donna Tartt of the same name. I have not read the book so I cannot make a comparison between the two. The director, John Crowley (Brooklyn and Closed Circuit) makes a visually beautiful film. You can tell that care was taken to make the film have a certain feel and texture. The cast is very good, including those mentioned above and Finn Wolfhard, Sarah Paulson, Aneurin Barnard and more. I particularly thought the casting of Oakes Fegley as the Young Theodore and Ansel Elgort as the adult Theodore was particularly good. The story skipped in sequence and you could see the similarity in the two actors as on character. The overall story is original and fascinating. But the film jumped around and made it feel choppy. Also the run time of two hours and twenty nine minutes somehow felt longer than that. The story moved at a snail’s pace and really seemed like it had no direction. Then in the final 10 minutes it wrapped up in a flash.
I thought overall the performances were good and the story was interesting but how it was presented really lacked. It was slow and developed in a non-compelling way. I could definitely see potential but it fell a little short for me. It did make me want to read the book and see how the author meant for the story to be told. I would recommend seeing this in a theater for the cinematography because it was beautifully shot.