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The Spinner of Dreams
7.0
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Inventive, empathetic, and strange in all the best ways, The Spinner of Dreams draws from the...
Ross (3284 KP) rated Foundryside in Books
Aug 31, 2020
Great world-building, good story
The world the author has created is very impressive. I hate to do it, but the magic system is very Brandon Sanderson-esque. Over time, symbols used by ancient civilisations to make contraptions and control objects have been deciphered and are now used in everyday life. Self-driven carts, guns, machinery: all are controlled by this clever magic system, but there is a feeling this is just the tip of the iceberg. The city of Tevanne is controlled by a council of the main merchant families, and each of those families is striving for the next big innovation in the use of these symbols. And with any major corporate hierarchy, there is a black market: a set of individuals striving to make things more cost effective, though of lower quality than the merchant houses.
Sancia is a key customer for some of this black market. She is a mercenary who will, for a fee, steal things. Not much of Sancia's past work is given, whether she is just a thief for hire, or has killed. She is a good strong, complicated character. Sancia has the ability to sense the thoughts of inanimate objects. For example, she can touch a wall and find out where the wall joins to other walls, whether there are gaps, whether someone is leaning on the other side, etc. This comes in handy when she successfully steals a box from a storage facility that contains a magical key that she can speak to.
There then follows a gripping plot to dethrone the merchant houses by seeking to stop them achieving more than just market share.
As with all the best fantasy worlds, the nature of things is revealed gradually over the course of the book. At times this verges on deus ex machina, but never quite goes over that line, things being mostly plausible given what we already know.
The dialogue of the book is where I have most of my issues with it. As with a number of recent books, the author is clearly an American and puts a number of Americanisms into the prose. While I am no language snob and can happily accept these in general, it is harder to do so in a fantasy book, especially one where other aspects of the language are clearly supposed to be more British English. The combination of a character saying "you all" or "most always" or "goddamn" and then using the word "arse" rather than "ass" just really ground my gears. It would have been much better to have been consistent and stick with "ass" and closer to the author's true voice.
Additionally, as with a number of fantasy books, new swear words are invented. These are partly explained and linked to the world, but it just comes across as a means of swearing without saying the actual "f" word. The word "scrumming" is far too twee a word to convey the same emotion as the word it is trying to replace and takes me right out of the book.
The pacing of the book was mostly fine, a few times it did seem to grind to a halt or there were long chapters of gradual exposition, but the action sequences, of which there were plenty, were thrilling and well told.
Overall, I did really enjoy this book, but the language used at times took me out of it and spoilt the mood a little. I can always tell how much I am enjoying a book by how quickly I read it and the number of comics I read simultaneously. My comic reading did go up a notch while reading this book.
Sancia is a key customer for some of this black market. She is a mercenary who will, for a fee, steal things. Not much of Sancia's past work is given, whether she is just a thief for hire, or has killed. She is a good strong, complicated character. Sancia has the ability to sense the thoughts of inanimate objects. For example, she can touch a wall and find out where the wall joins to other walls, whether there are gaps, whether someone is leaning on the other side, etc. This comes in handy when she successfully steals a box from a storage facility that contains a magical key that she can speak to.
There then follows a gripping plot to dethrone the merchant houses by seeking to stop them achieving more than just market share.
As with all the best fantasy worlds, the nature of things is revealed gradually over the course of the book. At times this verges on deus ex machina, but never quite goes over that line, things being mostly plausible given what we already know.
The dialogue of the book is where I have most of my issues with it. As with a number of recent books, the author is clearly an American and puts a number of Americanisms into the prose. While I am no language snob and can happily accept these in general, it is harder to do so in a fantasy book, especially one where other aspects of the language are clearly supposed to be more British English. The combination of a character saying "you all" or "most always" or "goddamn" and then using the word "arse" rather than "ass" just really ground my gears. It would have been much better to have been consistent and stick with "ass" and closer to the author's true voice.
Additionally, as with a number of fantasy books, new swear words are invented. These are partly explained and linked to the world, but it just comes across as a means of swearing without saying the actual "f" word. The word "scrumming" is far too twee a word to convey the same emotion as the word it is trying to replace and takes me right out of the book.
The pacing of the book was mostly fine, a few times it did seem to grind to a halt or there were long chapters of gradual exposition, but the action sequences, of which there were plenty, were thrilling and well told.
Overall, I did really enjoy this book, but the language used at times took me out of it and spoilt the mood a little. I can always tell how much I am enjoying a book by how quickly I read it and the number of comics I read simultaneously. My comic reading did go up a notch while reading this book.
Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated Harlem Nights (1989) in Movies
Feb 1, 2020
A Movie Packed With Entertainment
Harlem Nights getting a 21% on Rotten Tomatoes really leaves me scratching my head. Apparently I’m not the only one as the Audience Score is an overwhelming 80%. Critics (and I include myself in this) don’t always get it right and this is definitely one of those instances. The Story: Two black clubowners in 1930’s Harlem have to outsmart gangsters and corrupt police officers when they try to muscle in on their business.
Acting: 10
Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor are comedic legends and they work so well together in this movie. Murphy plays Quick, a flashy hot-head who carries scenes with sheer charm. Pryor’s role as Sugar Ray sees him take more of a fatherly approach. His voice of reason provides a sweet balance to all the chaos going on. Outside of these two, the supporting cast is filled with amazing performances from the likes of actors like Redd Foxx and Della Reese.
Beginning: 10
The first ten minutes are not only hilarious but get you quickly involved in the story. We get to see how Quick and Sugar Ray meet and the crazy circumstance that brought them together. Great setup that perfectly tees up the rest of the movie.
Characters: 10
Cinematography/Visuals: 7
Conflict: 10
Entertainment Value: 7
While I can’t put it in the category of All-Time Great, it’s still damn good. It’s the kind of movie with serious replay value. It gives you something to cheer for and plenty of things to laugh about.
Memorability: 8
One of my favorite all-time scenes for film happens in this movie when Quick faces off against Della Reese’s character Vera in an alley. All hell breaks loose when a big toe gets shot. It’s moments like this that adds a magic to this movie you just can’t get anywhere else. It reminds me why I love movies.
Pace: 10
Plot: 7
The story has some holes and relies on a couple of shortcuts to get through, but nothing too damning to impact the overall solidity of the movie. For the most part it works. I appreciated its originality, specifically with putting black characters in such a prominent position during that time period. Nice touch.
Resolution: 7
Not a perfect wrapping of the story, but feels complete nonetheless. I was definitely satisfied. A little bit more closure and I probably would have scored higher.
Overall: 86
If I’m being honest, I think critics sometimes suffer with trying to fit in. Desperately seeking approval from their peers, they produce like reviews that are not a fair indication of a movie’s actual quality.Damn the critics, Harlem Nights is an awesome movie and, if you haven’t checked it out, give it a shot!
Acting: 10
Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor are comedic legends and they work so well together in this movie. Murphy plays Quick, a flashy hot-head who carries scenes with sheer charm. Pryor’s role as Sugar Ray sees him take more of a fatherly approach. His voice of reason provides a sweet balance to all the chaos going on. Outside of these two, the supporting cast is filled with amazing performances from the likes of actors like Redd Foxx and Della Reese.
Beginning: 10
The first ten minutes are not only hilarious but get you quickly involved in the story. We get to see how Quick and Sugar Ray meet and the crazy circumstance that brought them together. Great setup that perfectly tees up the rest of the movie.
Characters: 10
Cinematography/Visuals: 7
Conflict: 10
Entertainment Value: 7
While I can’t put it in the category of All-Time Great, it’s still damn good. It’s the kind of movie with serious replay value. It gives you something to cheer for and plenty of things to laugh about.
Memorability: 8
One of my favorite all-time scenes for film happens in this movie when Quick faces off against Della Reese’s character Vera in an alley. All hell breaks loose when a big toe gets shot. It’s moments like this that adds a magic to this movie you just can’t get anywhere else. It reminds me why I love movies.
Pace: 10
Plot: 7
The story has some holes and relies on a couple of shortcuts to get through, but nothing too damning to impact the overall solidity of the movie. For the most part it works. I appreciated its originality, specifically with putting black characters in such a prominent position during that time period. Nice touch.
Resolution: 7
Not a perfect wrapping of the story, but feels complete nonetheless. I was definitely satisfied. A little bit more closure and I probably would have scored higher.
Overall: 86
If I’m being honest, I think critics sometimes suffer with trying to fit in. Desperately seeking approval from their peers, they produce like reviews that are not a fair indication of a movie’s actual quality.Damn the critics, Harlem Nights is an awesome movie and, if you haven’t checked it out, give it a shot!
Lantern (Danubian #1)
8.0
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In the black night, I alone uphold the shrine of the seven lantern gods. The year is 2448....
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LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Cursed Films - Season 1 in TV
Oct 7, 2020
Cursed Films is a 5 part series focusing on the ins and outs of film productions that were deemed cursed for one reason or another - the 5 parts concentrate on The Exorcist, The Omen, Poltergeist, The Crow, and The Twilight Zone movie respectively.
When this series is focused on the films themselves, it's a real treat. Some of the interviews are moving as hell - in particular the conversations with Richard Sawyer, Lance Anderson, Jeff Most, and Gary Sherman. These guys are to this day still affected by some of the things that happened during their film productions.
The Twilight Zone episode includes footage of the infamous on set accident which is genuinely haunting, and is honestly a really powerful part of the documentary having Sawyer's interview running alongside it.
The Crow episode is great as well, and the look we get at Anderson's relationship with Brandon Lee is so human and raw.
These moments really shine a light on how ridiculous the curse theories are, when in fact, they are just tragic events that effected real people, people who then had to deal with a following media circus.
The big thing I really didn't like about this series is only really relevant to The Omen and Exorcist episodes. It's almost like they didn't have enough material to fill the runtime of these segments, and so opt to pad it out with interviews with real exorcists, or magicians that practice black magic. I'm sure that there are interesting stories to be told by these people, but it feels really out of place and forced here. It's even cringe inducing at times and feels like very obvious filler. It detracts somewhat from what is otherwise a pretty solid documentary series.
Cursed Films is certainly an interesting watch, and is easy to digest in the 30 minute episodes that are presented. Also, that theme music is wild (found out it's by an Italian space-prog band from the 70s called I Signori Della Galassia!)
Worth a watch for sure, just ignore the silly filler parts.
When this series is focused on the films themselves, it's a real treat. Some of the interviews are moving as hell - in particular the conversations with Richard Sawyer, Lance Anderson, Jeff Most, and Gary Sherman. These guys are to this day still affected by some of the things that happened during their film productions.
The Twilight Zone episode includes footage of the infamous on set accident which is genuinely haunting, and is honestly a really powerful part of the documentary having Sawyer's interview running alongside it.
The Crow episode is great as well, and the look we get at Anderson's relationship with Brandon Lee is so human and raw.
These moments really shine a light on how ridiculous the curse theories are, when in fact, they are just tragic events that effected real people, people who then had to deal with a following media circus.
The big thing I really didn't like about this series is only really relevant to The Omen and Exorcist episodes. It's almost like they didn't have enough material to fill the runtime of these segments, and so opt to pad it out with interviews with real exorcists, or magicians that practice black magic. I'm sure that there are interesting stories to be told by these people, but it feels really out of place and forced here. It's even cringe inducing at times and feels like very obvious filler. It detracts somewhat from what is otherwise a pretty solid documentary series.
Cursed Films is certainly an interesting watch, and is easy to digest in the 30 minute episodes that are presented. Also, that theme music is wild (found out it's by an Italian space-prog band from the 70s called I Signori Della Galassia!)
Worth a watch for sure, just ignore the silly filler parts.
Wolves Always Bite (Willow Lake Supernaturals #2)
8.0
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What’s a simple human to do when he discovers supernatural beings are real? Ask many, many, many...
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Accidentally Vacationed with an Incubus (Briar Coven, #2)
8.0
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He wants a connection. She wants him gone. A steamy bargain changes everything. When 27-year-old...
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BJJ Concepts
Sports and Health & Fitness
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A STEP BY STEP FORMULA FOR HACKING BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU In BJJ Core Concepts you’ll learn how to...