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Sarah (7800 KP) rated First Man (2018) in Movies
Aug 16, 2019
Dull
I'm so glad I didn't watch this film at the cinema. I don't think I could've gotten through it without falling asleep, it's that dull and drawn out.
Visually this film looks brilliant, the space scenes especially look great. It also has a very good cast, although unsurprisingly most appear to have been sidelined in favour of Ryan Gosling who is pretty average at best. This film may have been slightly more enjoyable had they gotten someone a little more charismatic in the lead role. I'm just very thankful for Corey Stoll as Aldrin for putting a little life into this! The main problem though is that it is far too long, drawn out and melodramatic, and spends too much time on the earth scenes and build up. They could have easily cut a lot of this out, speed up the pace and knock half an hour off the runtime without any noticeable issues. It isn't really helped though by the fact that we all know how this story turns out (spoiler - he walks on the moon at the end), so there's little suspense or tension and makes for rather a dull film.
I think I found the informative videos made for tourists to watch at Kennedy Space Center more entertaining than this film.
Visually this film looks brilliant, the space scenes especially look great. It also has a very good cast, although unsurprisingly most appear to have been sidelined in favour of Ryan Gosling who is pretty average at best. This film may have been slightly more enjoyable had they gotten someone a little more charismatic in the lead role. I'm just very thankful for Corey Stoll as Aldrin for putting a little life into this! The main problem though is that it is far too long, drawn out and melodramatic, and spends too much time on the earth scenes and build up. They could have easily cut a lot of this out, speed up the pace and knock half an hour off the runtime without any noticeable issues. It isn't really helped though by the fact that we all know how this story turns out (spoiler - he walks on the moon at the end), so there's little suspense or tension and makes for rather a dull film.
I think I found the informative videos made for tourists to watch at Kennedy Space Center more entertaining than this film.
Madbatdan82 (341 KP) rated Stranger Things - Season 3 in TV
Jul 6, 2019
Getting better with age
I've loved all 3 seasons of ST so far but this is the best so far. It's just just sublime. All the characters get depth and development whilst introducing a few new ones. The nostalgia shown in this is superb and unapologetic. At one point Mike and Lucas are having a convo about coka cola classic vs new coke and (very post modern tongue firmly in cheek) Lucas says 'classic is good but the remake is better'. Terminator, evil dead, back 2 the future, day of the dead, invasion of the body snatchers and many more are lovingly referenced with possibly the greatest and funniest being a brilliant neverending story shout out. The gore and horror is there in spades with more a focus on body horror and some very 'Lovecraftian' scenes which are equally awesome & disgusting. Steve & Dustin are the stars and continue their great team up from season 2 and honestly I think a spin off where they have a detective agency would be an amazing show that needs to be made!! It'll make u laugh, it'll make u cry but you will love it...PS keep watching for a post credits scene in last episode! Season 4 I cant wait!!!
Sarah (7800 KP) rated What We Do in the Shadows- Season 1 in TV
Jul 8, 2019
Hilariously wacky
When I first heard they were making a tv show out of the film, I was worried. The film is comedy genius, and I was concerned this wouldn’t meet my high expectations. However my worries were completely unfounded, as this show is a revelation.
Firstly, it has been created and produced by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi so you know it’s in good hands. And right from the start you can see how similar this show is to the film - same title music, same documentary style, and the same style of humour and ridiculously silly main characters. Despite the massive similarities though this is very much it’s own show and very good and hilarious in it’s own right. The cast are fantastic, I’ve loved Kayvan Novak since Four Lion and he’s a brilliant choice alongside Matt Berry. I can’t express how funny and clever this show is, and my favourite episode was by far the one with the Vampiric Council. I was downright hysterical watching this and some of the cameos in this are sheer brilliance (including some very familiar faces). And at 25 minutes an episode, nothing ever drags and in fact I actually wanted more.
I really hope they make more series of this, it’d be a crime not to!
Firstly, it has been created and produced by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi so you know it’s in good hands. And right from the start you can see how similar this show is to the film - same title music, same documentary style, and the same style of humour and ridiculously silly main characters. Despite the massive similarities though this is very much it’s own show and very good and hilarious in it’s own right. The cast are fantastic, I’ve loved Kayvan Novak since Four Lion and he’s a brilliant choice alongside Matt Berry. I can’t express how funny and clever this show is, and my favourite episode was by far the one with the Vampiric Council. I was downright hysterical watching this and some of the cameos in this are sheer brilliance (including some very familiar faces). And at 25 minutes an episode, nothing ever drags and in fact I actually wanted more.
I really hope they make more series of this, it’d be a crime not to!
Chesca (7 KP) rated Doctor Sleep (2019) in Movies
Nov 4, 2019
I have to say, like others before me, that I wish I had re-watched The Shining before seeing this film. I think then I could have made more of a connection between both and appreciated the story more. I did enjoy the concept, but, for me personally, it felt as though this film had nothing to do with The Shining. Or that maybe my idea of what the shining was, was in actual fact, completely and utterly wrong! Which is more than likely 😂 but I just found the whole idea of the soul eaters, well off base. Although, I have not read the books and having spoken with someone that had, they have said that its pretty much how it goes...
Anyway, even though I struggled to find the connection between the two films, I have to say that the idea itself really drew me in. And the execution was beautiful, it was so visually pleasing at times! The acting was also brilliant and I am pleased I went to see it. Wish it had been a little creepier, I remember not being able to sleep soundly after watching The Shinning! But fascinating film nonetheless, a definite must see.
Anyway, even though I struggled to find the connection between the two films, I have to say that the idea itself really drew me in. And the execution was beautiful, it was so visually pleasing at times! The acting was also brilliant and I am pleased I went to see it. Wish it had been a little creepier, I remember not being able to sleep soundly after watching The Shinning! But fascinating film nonetheless, a definite must see.
Nick Beaty (70 KP) rated The Grinch (2018) in Movies
Dec 8, 2019 (Updated Dec 8, 2019)
Unnecessary to say the least...
Where to start with Illuminations take on this classic Christmas tale. It felt very uninspiring, underwhelming and unnecessary.
From the get go the narration from Pharrell Williams was very poor and don't get me started on the music. Every time I felt like I could get into this movie the next awful track came on and ruined the moment.
There were very few likeable Characters, with the exception of Max the dog and a screaming goat that had my 3 year old laughing, I believe this is very much their target audience though.
It is very hard not to compare it to Jim Carrey's version or even the 1966 original short which are much darker, creepier and grumpier, all of the things you would expect from The Grinch. This version looks too clean cut, the voice of Benedict Cumberbatch is too friendly in my opinion and the whole thing just feels like a sugar coated version aimed at very young children.
I personally believe there was no real need for this movie to have ever been made other than to cash in on a brilliant Christmas story, that has already been told in much better ways than this.
From the get go the narration from Pharrell Williams was very poor and don't get me started on the music. Every time I felt like I could get into this movie the next awful track came on and ruined the moment.
There were very few likeable Characters, with the exception of Max the dog and a screaming goat that had my 3 year old laughing, I believe this is very much their target audience though.
It is very hard not to compare it to Jim Carrey's version or even the 1966 original short which are much darker, creepier and grumpier, all of the things you would expect from The Grinch. This version looks too clean cut, the voice of Benedict Cumberbatch is too friendly in my opinion and the whole thing just feels like a sugar coated version aimed at very young children.
I personally believe there was no real need for this movie to have ever been made other than to cash in on a brilliant Christmas story, that has already been told in much better ways than this.
Awix (3310 KP) rated 1917 (2020) in Movies
Jan 13, 2020
Powerful war movie is much more than just a one-shot-wonder gimmick picture. Two ordinary soldiers are sent to deliver a message across enemy territory; one of them is experienced but far from keen, the other is strongly motivated - he has a brother whose life will be in peril if he fails in his mission. Their journey takes them across no-man's-land, fields, forests and through ruined towns, with the horror of the war constantly around them.
It's obvious from early on that this is not actually a movie shot in one or two takes (to paraphrase Eric and Ernie, you can see the joins) but the important thing is not whether it was made in one take, but whether it has the same kind of immersive effect as a one-take movie. And mostly it succeeds: after a while you almost forget the virtuoso display of camera control and focus on the characters and their story. There are no very new ideas here about the war in the trenches - brave Tommies are led by officers of questionable effectiveness and intelligence in a futile meatgrinder war - but the quality of the sensory experience draws you in and makes you understand and care about what happened. A technically brilliant, very fine film.
It's obvious from early on that this is not actually a movie shot in one or two takes (to paraphrase Eric and Ernie, you can see the joins) but the important thing is not whether it was made in one take, but whether it has the same kind of immersive effect as a one-take movie. And mostly it succeeds: after a while you almost forget the virtuoso display of camera control and focus on the characters and their story. There are no very new ideas here about the war in the trenches - brave Tommies are led by officers of questionable effectiveness and intelligence in a futile meatgrinder war - but the quality of the sensory experience draws you in and makes you understand and care about what happened. A technically brilliant, very fine film.
Merissa (13808 KP) rated Ricochet (The Wolfborne Saga #2) in Books
Jan 2, 2020
Ricochet is the second book in The Wolfborne Saga and we return to Zev and Alia, plus family. As the blurb says, Zev knows that fighting back one wave of wolves isn't the end of it, and his view becomes fact when the wolf he let go before shows back up, with dire warnings to Zev and his newfound family and friends.
This really is a great take on wolves and vampires. I know I've said it before, and no doubt, I'll say it again, but it is! As the book moves on you find out about different types of vampire. And the wolves start to make a pack, something they had been denied.
There is one scene - I'll call it the spaghetti and naming scene - that really stood out to me. So many different parts to it, all fantastically written. And can I just say? Naming something and then it dying is NOT good!! LOL
A brilliant addition to the series and I really can't wait to see where it goes next. I just hope Zev finds someone for himself!
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
This really is a great take on wolves and vampires. I know I've said it before, and no doubt, I'll say it again, but it is! As the book moves on you find out about different types of vampire. And the wolves start to make a pack, something they had been denied.
There is one scene - I'll call it the spaghetti and naming scene - that really stood out to me. So many different parts to it, all fantastically written. And can I just say? Naming something and then it dying is NOT good!! LOL
A brilliant addition to the series and I really can't wait to see where it goes next. I just hope Zev finds someone for himself!
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Somewhat predictably, the Sherlock team's take on Dracula proves to be a studied piece of unfaithfulness - although, given just how well-known and iconic this particular story is, it's hard to see quite what else they could have done. It starts off looking deceptively faithful, turns into a bizarre inversion of an Agatha Christie-type murder mystery, and then really goes for broke with a third-act twist the likes of which have not been seen since AD 1972. Guaranteed to upset purists, but hey - at least they were still allowed to cast a man as Dracula.
Claes Bang is indisputably very good as the Count, mixing cool flippancy with genuine menace. The rest of it is a bit of a curate's egg, with brilliant moments mixed thoroughly with things that don't quite work. If you like Moffat and Gatiss' approach to scripting - sketch show and conjuring performance in equal measures, with big set pieces and reveals taking precedence over logic and cohesion - then you will obviously enjoy this. Otherwise, then the sound of Dracula is not so much the music of the children of the night, as that of the writers winking at the audience non-stop for four and a half hours.
Claes Bang is indisputably very good as the Count, mixing cool flippancy with genuine menace. The rest of it is a bit of a curate's egg, with brilliant moments mixed thoroughly with things that don't quite work. If you like Moffat and Gatiss' approach to scripting - sketch show and conjuring performance in equal measures, with big set pieces and reveals taking precedence over logic and cohesion - then you will obviously enjoy this. Otherwise, then the sound of Dracula is not so much the music of the children of the night, as that of the writers winking at the audience non-stop for four and a half hours.
Veronica Pena (690 KP) rated The Shawshank Redemption (1994) in Movies
Mar 2, 2020
I have heard so many things about this movie over the years, I was wondering if it would live up to the hype. I was a little worried it wouldn't, so I've been avoiding it for so long. And it hasn't been available to watch anywhere for free until it came out on Netflix.
I am so glad I watched this film. There is nothing about it I didn't like. It felt like every character was important, there was a story to tell. I loved Morgan Freeman's narration and his performance as Red. Andy is brilliant and kind and cunning and a good friend and a great teacher. Norton is everything the criminal justice system is and shouldn't be. I am floored.
There are very few movies that after I see it, I have to own it. It's only happened a few times and the bar is very high. This film is one of those. I can't recommend it enough. It is a great watch with a great plot and a rolling story that never leaves you hanging. This is easily moving to the top 10 movies I adore - it might even hold the number one spot right now. Watch. This. Film.
I am so glad I watched this film. There is nothing about it I didn't like. It felt like every character was important, there was a story to tell. I loved Morgan Freeman's narration and his performance as Red. Andy is brilliant and kind and cunning and a good friend and a great teacher. Norton is everything the criminal justice system is and shouldn't be. I am floored.
There are very few movies that after I see it, I have to own it. It's only happened a few times and the bar is very high. This film is one of those. I can't recommend it enough. It is a great watch with a great plot and a rolling story that never leaves you hanging. This is easily moving to the top 10 movies I adore - it might even hold the number one spot right now. Watch. This. Film.
High school drama (1 more)
Mystery murder
Hooked!
This dramatic Spanish program couldn't be more gripping. Although it is filmed in Spain the voices are spoken over in English and as annoying as it is it's subtitled too and they don't always match up to what they are saying, but all the same its kept me hooked.
It all starts when three poor students school collapsed and they are sent off to a rich private school where they are clearly not welcomed. Season one is all about a murder and trying to figure out who did it and why they died, it's a brilliant story and I managed to get lost in it, there is something for everyone to relate to. Typical high school drama between popular kids poor kids and a murderer. Season two was equally as good and gripping as the first one with the story unravelling and people are breaking and the truth comes out. I have just started season three and again couldn't be more engrossed.
If you've seen share your thoughts
I had to make this myself as it wasn't under the TV review section. Netflix Original
It all starts when three poor students school collapsed and they are sent off to a rich private school where they are clearly not welcomed. Season one is all about a murder and trying to figure out who did it and why they died, it's a brilliant story and I managed to get lost in it, there is something for everyone to relate to. Typical high school drama between popular kids poor kids and a murderer. Season two was equally as good and gripping as the first one with the story unravelling and people are breaking and the truth comes out. I have just started season three and again couldn't be more engrossed.
If you've seen share your thoughts
I had to make this myself as it wasn't under the TV review section. Netflix Original
Andy K (10823 KP) Aug 16, 2019