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Janicza Bravo recommended All That Jazz (1979) in Movies (curated)

 
All That Jazz (1979)
All That Jazz (1979)
1979 | Drama, Musical, Sci-Fi
8.5 (4 Ratings)
Movie Favorite

"This is probably my favorite film in the whole collection. It’s a solid kick in the seat. Stellar staging, camera, choreography. Every inch of this film has a pulse. It’s the story of a director (Roy Scheider) who, at the end of his life, is editing a film and mounting a production. He knows he’s dying, but he doesn’t engage with that fact. That’s exactly how I would like to go: deep in my work. There were at least two periods in my twenties when I listened to Ben Vereen’s closing number, “Bye Bye Life,” multiple times a day for months on end. Looking back I don’t think I was having the best time in my head, but the song was very danceable."

Source
  
Pearl Harbor (2001)
Pearl Harbor (2001)
2001 | Action, Drama, War
Movie set around the events of the surprise Japanese attack on the US naval base of Pearl Harbo(u)r in 1941, that mixes the action around that attack with a love triangle between Kate Beckinsale, Josh Hartnett and Ben Affleck with the latter two playing two best friends in love with the same girl, and with both Hartnett's Danny and Kate's Evelyn believing Ben's Rafe to be dead - at least, for about the first half hour or so - after he is shot down in Europe.

Of course, he returns from the dead after Danny has fallen for Evelyn and she for him, and just before the attack on Pearl Harbour begins ...

Obvious how said love triangle is going to end.
  
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Lindsay (1693 KP) rated An Amish Cradle in Books

Feb 15, 2018 (Updated Apr 9, 2019)  
AA
An Amish Cradle
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
In His Father’s Arms by Beth Wiseman: This is a story about a couple that struggles with a baby with Down syndrome. What they do not know if how to deal with it. Ruth Anne finds out the truth about her best friend first pregnancy. Ruth Anne can not understand why her best friend is acting really strange around her and her baby boy.

Levi is also struggling to deal with his little boy illness. He knows his little cousin died from this illness. He afraid that is son will be taken from him. Do learn to deal with their little boy medical issues and learn to trust God?

A Son for Always by Amy Clipston: Carolyn is happy to know that she is a pregnant with her and Joshua first child together. She worried that she will have to keep her job and financially secure Ben's future.

Joshua seems to want to let Carolyn that she can stop working at the hotel. Carolyn is still having doubts that Joshua will help her with Ben future. Even though, Joshua has adopted Ben and wanted Ben to have his last name.

Carolyn needs a sign that Joshua will treat her son Ben as his own. She gets that sign, but I do not want to tell you when or how. That would be giving the ending away.

A Heart Full of Love by Kathleen Fuller: Ellie is expecting her first child with her husband. Though when she gives birth to twins. Her mother decides that will take care of the twins and keep them safe. In doing so, she will not let Ellie bond with her daughters.

What is Ellie's mother dealing with that she won't let Ellie take care of her own daughters. Ellie knows she will need help with her daughters. Ellie wants time with her daughters and takes care of them.

Ellie starts to have questions about what happen with a girl named Rachel. She goes over to her parents house and to find the answers. What a sweet ending his story has.

An Unexpected Blessing by Vannetta Chapman: Etta finds out that she is expecting once again. She as a frighting labor. She seems happy with her new little one. She is worried about her overgrown son, David and wants her to return.

Her other children are overjoyed for her and their dad. They help to give her the crib that was made be their dad. They get a surprise when their one son returns. He gets a surprise as well.
  
Right Place, Right Time (The Pilsdale Chronicles #1)
Right Place, Right Time (The Pilsdale Chronicles #1)
H.L. Day | 2023 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME is the first book in The Pilsdale Chronicles. In it, we meet Ben, who left Pilsdale four years ago after his parents died, and Jasper, the father of Ben's best friend, Finn. Ben had had a crush on Jasper for years but thought nothing would come of it. When he returns to Pilsdale to sort out his aunt's house, he goes to see Finn. Unfortunately - or luckily - Finn isn't around, but Jasper certainly is.

This was a hug in a book! There is some angst but it's fairly low-key. There are some steamy scenes but they are entirely in keeping with the story and not just there to add sex appeal. And with a wonderful cast of supporting characters, plus the gorgeously described countryside, what more could I have asked for?

This was a great start to a series by a new-to-me author and I look forward to returning to Pilsdale in 2024 with the next book in the series. Definitely recommended by me.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jul 20, 2023
  
Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014)
Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014)
2014 | Action, Comedy
6
6.9 (9 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Night At The Museum: Secret of the Tomb, is a new movie (rated PG) starring Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan, Dan Stevens, and Rebel Wilson.

It is the third installment in the ‘Night At The Museum’ series.

The movie begins in time before any of the movies take place in time, throwing us back to the discovery of the magical tablet that brings the museum to life after sunset.

We then flash forward to current day,
and Ben Stillers character, Larry Daley, is the ‘special effects’ manager, in charge of all the magic of the museum.

Things go awry, and the rest of the movie is spent wrapped up in an attempt to first find out how to stop the erosion of the tablet, and then how to implement the information that is discovered.

The movie is fast paced, and it did draw me in. It is likely I was more emotionally invested in this film because it is the last film I will see Robin Williams in, and that was definitely at the forefront of my mind while watching the movie.

Some of the scenes between Rebel Wilson and Ben Stiller were less than funny to me, and some of the jokes were definitely groan worthy.
It was fairly predictable, but Dan
Stevens as Sir Lancelot did throw a few curve balls that mixed it up a bit.

It seems, based on some of the scenes, that Night at The Museum might be better in 3D than it was in 2D.

Over all, I liked the movie, but wouldn’t bother to take my son, who is 6 to see it ‘at the theatre’. It is one of those movies where the best parts seem to be in the previews.

http://sknr.net/2014/12/19/night-museum-3/
  
Last Stop in Brooklyn
Last Stop in Brooklyn
Lawrence Levy | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry, History & Politics, Mystery
6
7.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Mary is a case when she feels like someone is following her. But she cannot tell who at the moment. Once she sees her friend's husband talking to Colleen. She thinks the worse of her best friend's husband.

On her way out, she confronts a man see that is following her. When she does, he wants her to look into his brother case that is that Ben Ali is not a killer.

There seems to be some corruption going on in the NYPD in the year of 1894. Who does all the cover-up? Who the Killer of more than a dozen woman.

Looks like Mary get pulled into an investigation that has to do with Sage Bombing and as she gets more into the case of Ben Ali she finds more clues and finding the killer. Who is Jack the Ripper, the killer?

You will be turning the page to find out. Have you read the book you learn about that time period in NY? We even meet Teddy Roosevelt before he becomes President of United States and the reason why or at least partly.

If you are a historical Fiction fan you will enjoy this book. It a Mystery and part historical so you will get both if you are a fan of both or one or the other.
  
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
2018 | Action, Animation, Sci-Fi
Don't see Uncle Ben getting killed (again) (0 more)
Headache inducing! (0 more)
Headache inducing!
To the best of my knowledge, the first Spider-man film to follow the exploits of Miles Morales instead of the more famous Peter Parker, with Brooklyn teen Miles also getting bitten by a radioactive spider and acquiring new abilities just as Kingpin opens a portal into parallel universes after finally killing 'his' version of Spider-Man, as a (un-intended, from his point of view) result of which various other Spider-verse characters arrive in his universe and start to teach Miles Morales the ropes.

Much has been made of this movie, and of it's soundtrack and attempt to portray comic-book panels on-screen: bot of which, I have to say, I found to be headache inducing rather than the (supposed) 'fresh and vibrant' I had read they were.
  
The Debut (2000)
The Debut (2000)
2000 | Comedy, Drama, International
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Must See
Bottom Line: You need to watch The Debut. It's not the best movie out there, but I think it's absolutely necessary as we strive to understand race and our place in the world. No, the acting isn't out-of-this-world and the film is a bit cheesy in spots. The beauty of it all is that it still manages to deliver a powerful message in spite of its shortcomings.

The story revolves around Ben Mercado (Dante Basco). Ben is trying to find himself. He's torn between the lines of his Filipino culture and the rest of the majority world. Racism is tackled head-on, self-racism being one of the most central focuses. When you come from a strong, influential culture, it's not unreal to be scrutinized by others within that culture because you don't confine to the norm. There's power in seeing it unfold in front of you.

I thoroughly enjoyed the insight into the Filipino culture and their traditions. As different as cultures and races can be, it's very interesting to see the similarities that bind us. The birthday party that was thrown for Ben's sister had a familiar feel to the cookouts my mom used to host growing up. At the same time, the differences are also glaring. There is a scene where Ben hits up a party with his friends and he's the only minority there. While he was with people he knew, he still felt out of place. Been there. Interestingly enough, he felt most comfortable around the family and culture he spent part of his life running from, even when there was heavy tension afoot. If that's not real life, I don't know what is.

Director Gene Cajayon made it pretty easy for you to become invested in Ben. You've got everyone trying to decide his life for him while he puts his heart and soul into a passion that no one respects. His father wants him to go to medical school and follow in his own footsteps, but Ben has other plans. Everything comes to a head at his sister's birthday party where the story primarily takes place.

I do wish there were subtitles during the scenes were they were speaking Filipino, however I understand the director's choice to keep that barrier up. At the same time, I felt it lessened the impact of what was being said. It was awkward in spots, but awkwardly real.

The film reinforces one thing among many: We still struggle with race issues today and, unfortunately, it's hard for people on the other side of the coin to properly address those issues. Progress is slow, but as long as there is progress of some sort, it's the only way we can really hope to get better as a society.

So glad this film randomly found its way onto my Movies 365 list. I give it a 73.
  
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Lesley (60 KP) rated Lies in Books

Aug 11, 2018  
Lies
Lies
T.M. Logan | 2018 | Mystery, Thriller
10
9.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
This thriller had my heart racing, and surprised me at every turn!
I received an ARC of this novel in the mail, I was so excited! As much as I love a digital ARC, holding a real book in my hands pre-publication was next level. I was delighted. Anyhow...SOFT spoilers ahead. Not worth marking as spoilers but just a warning if you'd like to go in completely blind.

What a fun read! I was hooked within the first few pages. The premise seems so simple - Joe is driving in London traffic when his son, in the backseat, spots mommy's car across the road. They decide to surprise her and Joe sees her with another man...her best friends husband, Ben. Sounds so predictable, right? Joe decides to confront the man, since he already knows him after all, and he doesn't want to believe his wife would be unfaithful. We all want to hear the simple explanation that clears up what we genuinely hope is a misunderstanding. Unfortunately, this particular conversation becomes a physical altercation when Ben becomes aggressive, and he ends up unconscious and bleeding on the ground in the parking structure. Joe's son begins to have an asthma attack, so he leaves him there. From there - the book gets really good. What happened to Ben? Wherever he ended up, he decides that the battle against Joe has begun. As Joe slowly finds himself the main suspect in a murder investigation, even without a body, the lies of his life begin to unravel all around him. You're so busy engrossed in figuring out the mystery that you miss the obvious truth right in front of you - much like Joe. The twist blindsided me, and I thoroughly enjoyed the clever way it was written and the way it tricks and leads your mind as you read. Thank you MacMillan Publishers and St. Martins Press! I am loaning it to friends and family next to spread the word!
  
BP
Baby Proof
Emily Giffin | 2006 | Fiction & Poetry
6
7.3 (6 Ratings)
Book Rating
Claudia Par has decided that she doesn't want to have children, ever. Ben Davenport has decided the same thing. They are perfect for each other. Until their best friends have a baby, and one of them changes their mind. How will this affect their relationship?

When I started reading this book, I thought that it was going to be a continuation of the Darcy/Rachel drama. But I guess that is all done now. This book wasn't as good as the previous books I have read by Ms. Giffin, but I will continue to read her writing.

I remember there was a time in my life when I didn't want children so I could related to Claudia on this level. It wasn't until I actually had a child that my opinion on this matter had changed. Well, it actually didn't change, I just learned to accept it.