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3 Idiots (2009)
3 Idiots (2009)
2009 | Comedy, Drama
5
6.0 (2 Ratings)
Movie Rating
So, I am writing a coffee table book that selects the 200 top films of 2000 – 2019. Called, predictably, 21st Century Cinema: 200 Unmissable films. It uses a system of rating I devised called The Decinemal, which takes the ten categories by which a film can be rated (Direction, Script, Design, Lead Acting, Support Acting, Music, Photography, Critical Acclaim, Watchability and X-Factor) and scores them out of 10, to give an overall score out of 100. Whilst not foolproof, it does give a remarkable working basis for comparing movies of different genres, and the ratings often bear a striking relation to the democratic system used by IMDb – a film scoring 7.2 on that website might be a 75 decinemal, for example, and that feels like that validates its use.

It has been a very fun, if time consuming, project. The difficulty is keeping up with new releases every year, and trying to catch some of the more obscure foreign language films out there that get high scores on IMDb. One such film was 3 Idiots, to date the highest rated Bollywood film on that website, with a score of 8.5; which is high! Very high! So I have to watch it and find out for myself.

Now, Bollywood is not me for, barring the odd amusement of how bizarre they can be. I find the musical interludes often grating and incongruous, and the melodramatic acting styles something that the cinema of most other countries outgrew decades ago. So it is hard for me to be objective about it. On the whole they just don’t compete on any level with American, European or, well, any other country’s output. In short, I would never normally watch one at all.

Surprisingly, I found 3 Idiots, although clownish and OTT, quite entertaining from the start. I even found one or two of the obligatory musical numbers very catchy and a lot of fun! Also, lead actor Aamir Khan, one of India’s biggest stars, was very charming and watchable. Of course, it is colourful, loud and has a childish sensibility, but some moments made me genuinely laugh. The main problem actually came from it being padded out to almost 2 and 1/2 hours, which was far too long for comfort. If it had been more economical I may have even been able to say it was worth watching.

Sadly, it is the moments of cultural difference and pure silliness that dragged it down. Despite its positive points, ultimately it is a mess, and to compare it on the standard I judge all films I see I have to be fair and not patronise it. Certainly in terms of the Bollywood fare I have seen bits of over the years, I can see why it is so well thought of. I can also see how films like this gain such a high rating, because it is the native audience it was made for that cast the votes. Which is fair enough, but does give it an unreasonably high score.

I think if more people watched it and rated it, it would balance out at a 6.5, and it probably deserves that for sheer entertainment value. I have certainly seen many worse films! Applying The Decinemal objectively, however, it comes out like this: Direction 4, Script 5, Design 6, Lead Acting 6, Support acting 4, Music 5, Photography 6, Critical Acclaim 7, Wachability 5, x-Factor 6. Added up that gives it a Decinemal of 54 – a far cry from the 74 it would have needed to make my top 200. And I stand by that score, as the level of likelihood of everyone’s enjoyment of it.

To an extent it discourages me from watching anything from this part of the world again, but I can’t say I didn’t appreciate why it was such a big hit. Interesting.
  
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Kelly (279 KP) rated Diablero in TV

Jan 11, 2019  
Diablero
Diablero
2018 | Horror
8
6.1 (7 Ratings)
TV Show Rating
Creepy demons (1 more)
Likeable main characters
Some low budget special effects (0 more)
A Mexican Supernatural
This appeared on my Netflix recommendations list, so I thought that I would give it a try. I am a huge fan of this type of series, and would liken the series to Supernatural and the exorcist.

Series 1 follows Elvis (a Diablero or demon hunter), Father Ramiro (a priest hunting for his daughter, conceived prior to his joining the Catholic Church, but later abducted by a demon), Keta (Elvis’ sister) and Nancy (a young women who attracts demons). The story primarily centres around the groups search for the truth in finding Ramiro’s missing daughter, although strongly hints at stories that could be followed up in a future series.


Despite being in Spanish originally, Netflix have dubbed the show in English relatively well. I am not opposed to subtitles, but I do like to be lazy at times.

I thoroughly enjoyed this show and binged on it in two sittings. The show itself was quite dark at times, which fits in well with the genre. The story line includes the plight of small children which encourages us to route for the main characters, there is also on and off romantic tension between Ramiro and Nancy, which I found interesting. One thing I will say though, is at times the special effects were a little low budget, although I can imagine that this will improve as the show picks up credibility.

I eagerly await a second season (please renew Netflix), and hope that series 2 is longer than season 1!
  
Military Wives (2020)
Military Wives (2020)
2020 | Drama
8
8.6 (7 Ratings)
Movie Rating
The music helps shine outstanding performances by the cast! (0 more)
I hoped that more of the characters backstory would have been more explained and developed! (0 more)
War United Them! Music Made Them A Family!
When their spouses are called to war, a group of military wives form a choir to deal with the distraction of the impending war. Unaware of what it takes to start and form a choir, the ladies learn that they have a lot more in common than what they think. The war may have united them but their love of music is what made them a family.
 When I watched the trailer for the movie, I was left somewhat baffled. I couldn't tell if the film was garnered more for fans of music or military families. But being a fan of Kristin Scott Thomas, I threw all doubts and hesitation about the film away and watched it...and I'm glad I did! Not knowing much about the story and it's characters, I became very enthralled with the movie. At first viewing, I thought I was watching a "military" version of the movie Pitch Perfect. Not knowing that the movie was based on a true story, it peaked my interest to learn more about the "true" military wives choir. After multiple watches though, I can honestly say that the overall plot and feel of the movie makes this a must see film. Fans of music and military films will enjoy this movie very immensely. A must see and highly recommended film!!!
  
No Fourth River: A Novel Based on a True Story. A profoundly moving read about a woman's fight for survival.
No Fourth River: A Novel Based on a True Story. A profoundly moving read about a woman's fight for survival.
Christine Clayfield | 2017 | Biography, Philosophy, Psychology & Social Sciences
3
6.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Full review can be found on: www.diaryofdifference.com


 No Fourth River is a very powerful story about swimming up to surface, when the world is against you. A story about child abuse unlike anything else, and one very determined woman.
This is the second Audiobook I have listened to, with the first being Ready Player One. Two completely different experiences. It was disturbing listening to such a painful story for a while, and it took me a long time to finish it.

The story of Christine is so sad and so unique. She is being molested by her father in ways you could never imagine. She goes to boarding school and she is being bullied even by the nurses. She wets her bed every single day. And bad things keep happening, one after another, after another, until she is in her thirties and almost dies being beaten to almost-death by her husband.

And then she decides to change her life and to be the most successful woman.

At first, when I read the synopsis, the thing that thrilled me was the ill mother that suffered from dementia. I thought this book will revolve and focus on this point, but it didn’t. And I was very disappointed.

Then I manned up, and decided to continue listening, despite my unhappiness. It was a decent story, a powerful, motivational one, but not realistic. And it hurts me saying this, because this book is autobiography. Of course these terrible things happened. But I didn’t felt for the woman. Not in a way I usually would.

The writing was just about average, or maybe the woman reading in the audiobook was to blame. I will leave that up to you, who have listened to the audiobook, or choose to do so.

The character of this woman was honest, but I still can’t imagine how and why a person would stick to people that keep hurting her, despite everything. Even if love, even if forever after, I would not stay one more day with a person if he, for one moment, loses control and raises a hand over me. I would be out of the house in a minute, never returning back. A man would never hurt a woman. No matter what she could do, or couldn’t do. I can argue for hours, and I can admit being wrong, and I can cope with being yelled at, because I have done something stupid. But the moment the line is crosses, I would be out – FOREVER.

If you guys are looking for a story that will keep you thinking about whether you’ve made right decisions, this is a great book for you. A powerful success story of a woman that was brave enough to say NO (after a few years, that is) and brave enough to start building a new life. I recommend it, even though I personally did not really enjoy it a lot.

I have won this Audiobook as a giveaway from LibraryThing, and all my opinions are honest and completely unbiased.
  
Deckscape: Crew vs Crew - The Pirate's Island
Deckscape: Crew vs Crew - The Pirate's Island
2021 | Card Game, Pirates, Puzzle, Real-time
Who out there has ever gone to an escape room and not enjoyed themselves? I know nobody (though if that’s you, it’s okay). I have only been to one in my life (eek!) and I absolutely loved it! I have watched videos of celebrities tackling escape rooms and have been riveted. I like the shows you can now find streaming of similar type activities and am always glued to the screen. Heck, I have played the EXIT and Unlock systems of board games and enjoyed them as well. So having the experience I have and having played two other Deckscape games, how did this one fare for me? Much better. Read on.

These one-shot escape room style games are difficult to explain without major spoilers, so I will try to explain what I can as best I can. Please don’t flame me for being vague. I am protecting you.

DISCLAIMER: We were provided a copy of this game for the purposes of this review. This is a retail copy of the game, so what you see in these photos is exactly what would be received in your box. I will describe the overall game flow and major rule set so that our readers may get a sense of how the game plays. For more info, you may purchase a copy online or from your FLGS. -T


To setup, open the box and take out the cards. Done. Read Card 1.
This one is quite a bit different from previous Deckscape games I have played in several ways. First, this is a head-to-head game where two players (or teams of players) will be taking sides of two pirate captains and attempting to figure out the answers to puzzles offered on cards in the game. Each side will have equal time and opportunity to solve the puzzles, but the first side to claim that they have solved it will be able to flip over the puzzle card to check for accurate answers. If they have succeeded, they earn the booty. If they fail, the other team has a chance to complete the puzzle successfully.


Play continues through the deck of cards with each side engaging in battles of wits until the end of the game draws near. The side with the most booty earned will be the winner and the game can then be passed along to another group of players to enjoy.
Components. This is a box of cards. The cards are all bigger than normal playing cards and feature pretty great art and vivid colors. I totally dig the pirate theme, so I was already destined to enjoy to aesthetic, but I do believe this is the better-looking game of the ones I have tried in its family.

Gameplay is also so different from the other two games in the Deckscape system and that’s a great thing. Having this head-to-head style really suited my situation when I played it: my 10-year-old niece was bored while her twin brother was at baseball practice, so I invited her to play this with me. Long story short, she ended up beating me by one point in the end, so that made her incredibly happy. I also highly enjoyed my playthrough of it, even in defeat.

I wish I could speak more on the specifics why I liked this, but again, as River Song would say, “Spoilers.” Do know that of the three Deckscape games I have played, I believe this is the best of the group. The puzzles are all fantastic, and I feel like I had a good handle on the solutions, but my niece obviously beat me to them more often than I would have liked to have admitted. That said, I can recommend this one to anyone interested in the Deckscape system with one caveat: this is head-to-head instead of the typical cooperative experience in the series. So you have been warned. It’s very good, though, so do check it out. Purple Phoenix Games (with guest score from my niece Keira) gives this one a puzzly 10 / 12, If you are wanting a little different flavor in your bottle of rum, grab a copy of this and enjoy. Just play it with someone your own age, or prepare to BE owned.
  
My Little Scythe
My Little Scythe
2017 | Fantasy, Fighting, Kids Game
OMG look at the cute cover! Ok, the title is a little strange to those who are oblivious to its origin, but I knew the game to be a scaled down version of Scythe. This version started as a fan-made revision by a dad and his young daughter to make Scythe more playable for them. It’s basically about curating friendship through apple picking, delivering gems, baking pies, and trying to just be heckin good bois. My Little Scythe. Just don’t play it on My Little Game Table. It’s definitely a table hog, but it’s a glorious table hog.

Accost me later, but I have never played Scythe. I have played lots of area control and pick-up-and-deliver games. I have just now oversimplified an already mechanics-simple game. Without explaining the entire rulebook here, you are these cute little animal “seekers” who are buzzing around the board collecting apples and gems to deliver to the castle, upgrading your movement or “make” abilities, completing quests on the board, improving friendship, baking pies, or even winning pie fights against your opponents! Each of these accomplishments can equal trophies for your team and the first to four trophies triggers the end game.

Ok the good stuff. Everything. I absolutely love this one. The board is BIG, beautiful, colorful, and it makes me happy just looking at it. The theme is so easy to love, and the goals are clear. The game play couldn’t be simpler in what you do on your turn, and the components are absolutely top notch. It certainly doesn’t overstay its welcome on the table, and I want to keep playing it over and over. Those are signs of a GREAT game to me.

So, the bad. Well, I don’t really have anything negative to say about this at all. At least not that is the game’s fault. I have different strategies I still want to try in the game, but that keeps me playing more and that is actually a positive trait. Ok ok fine, I will give it a couple negatives, but they are just MY opinion based on what I enjoy. Can we borrow the idea of the berry component from Everdell to make the apples here cuter and squishy? Can we linen finish the cards? Can we make the Quest tokens bakelite or acrylic or something other than cardboard? Can the trophies be pre-painted minis of trophies? Can the seeker minis be pre-painted? Yeah sure. All that could easily be added to this game. But be prepared for another $50 added to the price (maybe, idk, I’m not a component manufacturer. Jamey, what’s the cost to bling this out?).

I digress, but the game is super solid. If you see it in the wild and you do not yet own it, pick it up. You will certainly thank me later. Let’s just propel this one into my Top 10 Games of All Time. Looks like I am not alone as Purple Phoenix Games gives this lovely adventure a 22 / 24.

https://purplephoenixgames.wordpress.com/2019/02/08/my-little-scythe-review/
  
Scream (1996)
Scream (1996)
1996 | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Labeled a classic and dubbed as a mystery/slasher film, Scream is a film you can turn to for years to come when you’re in need of a blood bath. If you’re a 90s baby like me, then you probably have. I wouldn’t go so far as to say I consider it a favorite, but it is definitely a movie I like to watch when I need to relax.

One of the things that I really like about Scream is the fact that it serves a dual purpose: it sates my thirst for blood while simultaneously making a mockery of itself. If you’re new to the horror genre, then it’s an easy and entertaining way to learn the “rules” of horror movies – and then watch as the cast adheres to them without failure. Of course, these aren’t real rules in as much as they are unspoken. For prime examples of movies that highlight these rules, I point you to Halloween, The Nightmare on Elm Street, and Friday the 13th.

Scream is one of those films that is more likely to draw a bit of laughter from me than it is likely to scare me. To some degree, this is because I’ve seen it so many times. To another… it’s honestly hilarious.
  
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019)
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019)
2019 | Drama
First of all, for an unpopular opinion, Tom Hanks does not, "look exactly like Fred Rogers". I was so sick of hearing that before the movie came out. He looks like Tom Hanks, playing Fred Rogers, wearing Mister Rogers' outfits. I didn't need him to look exactly like Fred Rogers. Tom Hanks is an actor, and it's a movie. I did enjoy watching the movie. Not that I can say I enjoyed the story in a happy way, since it touched on some very real, very dark adult emotions that had been hidden away for the majority of the main character's life. The way that Lloyd was woven into an episode of Mister Rogers for effect was trippy at times. Since they started out that way, it felt strange, as if the story's execution was wrong at the beginning. But the story does make sense. I just think that the beginning was a little uncomfortable. It was an interesting story, overall, though. Mister Rogers was an amazing man. I'm glad that they found a way to make a story about him that was more focused on an adult issue. It gave the magic and love of Mister Rogers yet another dimension.
  
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Kate (493 KP) rated New Kid In Town in Books

Jun 30, 2020  
New Kid In Town
New Kid In Town
Jacky Gray | 2017 | Romance, Young Adult (YA)
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Can only purchase the books on Amazon (0 more)
This book was for a younger audience however I did enjoy it. It was easy reading and reminded me of my days at school. So I would say the intended audience was probably teenagers who are going through school. They would probably be really able to relate. I would recommend this book to this audience.
The blurb grabbed my attention but it was a shame the story didn't end when the book did. I wanted to read the full details of how Ray became disabled as we were only teased with a bit of information about it in this book. The books are only available on Amazon and I have a Kobo so am unable to read them. Kobo do not support Amazon books.
The author's writing helped each character have their own personality which helped distinguish each character. Their personalities shone though.
The character's changed slightly throughout the book. This looks to be all down to Ray but also people change as they go through the school year and when new people come into their friendship group.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
  
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Beth Ditto recommended First Take by Roberta Flack in Music (curated)

 
First Take by Roberta Flack
First Take by Roberta Flack
1969 | Rock
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"Roberta Flack speaks to me in that same way that Melanie speaks to me. She's such a beautiful songwriter and composer and pianist and I don't think she gets enough credit either. She's such a beautiful songwriter and she's, to me, up there with Joni Mitchell. She covers 'Hey, That's No Way To Say Goodbye' by Leonard Cohen so beautifully. And that piano part, I think it's a minor key, it's a small part that's been sampled by Lil' Kim and I think Notorious BIG. It's so subtle and I don't think you would notice it unless you loved that record. It's so good. It's also so curated perfectly from start to end. I am no spring chicken and making the new album, it was my first record where the Spotify playlist was what mattered the most, and it's really difficult because that beauty in curating the song-list and what comes where, really thinking about it, and the titles of the tracks, that mood, is gone. It's all gone. No one cares about albums anymore. The labels want you to put the songs that they've chosen to be singles first and before you would never put the single first. Ever. First Take is very visual. I can see it in my head."

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