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The Angry Birds Movie 2 (2019)
The Angry Birds Movie 2 (2019)
2019 | Action, Adventure, Animation
The first Angry Birds movie is one of my favourites, it's light-hearted fun that I can just put on if I need some distraction, so I was just a little excited for this coming out.

The fight against the pigs is much more of a game than an all-out war these days. Red is living the life of a hero, but he worries that one day the inhabitants of the island won't need him.

Over on Piggy Island their attention is drawn to an uncharted part of the world when a large ice ball falls from the sky. Leonard raises the white flag to ask Red to join him in defending their island against this new frosty neighbour.

Red is very relatable in this one and it's nice that he's come on a bit since the first film. They've given him a lot of anxiety that the audience will be able to identify with, and he definitely holds my same views on speed dating.

Hatchlings have always been the cutest things in Angry Birds and these three are a brilliant part of this one. Their reactions to everything that happens with the eggs is hilarious. There's one troubling incident with a snake that makes them less cute... but the less said about that the better. [Although it's in the trailer above if you want to see it.]

I have to say that out of the new characters I found it very difficult to recognise them. Everyone did a great job though and the new faces were always what they needed to be. There was just one confusing thing for me, Leslie Jones and Tiffany Haddish. I think they're both great actresses and I particularly like Haddish's voice work, but... I feel like they were cast in the wrong roles. I don't know why I think that, perhaps because I associate Haddish with larger than life bossy characters? I'm genuinely not sure.

It's a fun addition to the universe but I don't think it was better than the first. It was nice seeing the birds and pigs working together in a sort of Mission: Impossible/James Bond style infiltration piece but I wasn't excited about the story that gets them there. This mystery island that no one knows about has appeared like a bonus level in a game but you've skipped the intro. We're left with lots of questions but not enough fun to cover them up. I can't say I was happy about the ending either, there was a very quick resolution to it. It was still untaxing entertainment though and sometimes that's just what you need.

Side note: Something you'll notice is that there's a lot of music to recognise, some real bangers, but when they keep coming it begins to get rather tiring. I attempted to make a list but it became such an effort that I gave up.

Originally posted on: https://emmaatthemovies.blogspot.com/2019/08/the-angry-birds-movie-2-movie-review.html
  
The Wife Between Us
The Wife Between Us
Greer Hendricks, Sarah Pekkanen | 2018 | Mystery, Thriller
9
8.1 (37 Ratings)
Book Rating
Assume Nothing
Assume Nothing …. Perfect description of The Wife Between Us!!! An unreliable narrator (the alcoholic, unhinged, scorned, jealous ex-wife) a young, beautiful new bride to be who questions the ex wife's behavior maybe event to the point of stalking status, and a wealthy man in the middle all make up this twisted love triangle!! But are they all who they appear to be??? Who is the good character, who is the bad, who do you believe, and who do you trust?? All these questions make this psychothriller a roller coaster of a ride in this page turner... At times it's slow but as you flip and read through the pages it picks up again and again. And can we say um huh after the first part of the book. It makes you sit there and say did I miss something and did they really just reveal one of the juiciest parts of the book in the middle after the first part!!! With the end of each chapter, you are sitting there wondering what clues are going to be revealed … how much more can there be. Whose side am I on?
I loved the writing style because it made the reader assume things that may or not be what you thought. The reader really can connect to each character because they were so well developed and so untrustworthy and trustworthy and various points in the book. I love that this book was broken into 3 parts that all made sense why The Wife Between Us was written in this format!!! It wasn't hard to follow at all .. everything seemed to have a purpose for the most part and flow into the development of the story.
A perfect summary from the book is this :
In my marriage, there were three truths, three alternate and sometimes competing realities. There was Richard’s truth. There was my truth. And there was the actual truth, which is always the most elusive to recognize. This could be the case in every relationship, that we think we’ve entered into a union with another person when, in fact, we’ve formed a triangle with one point anchored by a silent but all-seeing judge, the arbiter of reality.
  
The Confession Tapes - Season 1
The Confession Tapes - Season 1
2017 | Crime, Documentary
Brilliantly executed and produced (0 more)
Having to wait for another series (0 more)
Traumatic watch, another brilliant true crime series
I have to say I was deeply traumatised watching this astounding yet disturbing series on confessions. Netflix have showcased another incredible documentary series about police misconduct and failings of the judicial process in these six cases.

Like Making A Murderer, it is well produced and directed leaving only the voices of those involved in these cases within the documentaries. However, it looks at one case per 45 minute episode bar the first episode which is spread across two. And it's relentless. Police techniques in questioning the accused range from psychological torture to even what appears to be hypnosis.

The cases itself are horrific. From confessing to the murder of your family, and your children, to brutal murders that led to an entire neighbourhood in Washington DC to break apart after convicting nine innocent teenagers. And no other leads are followed, and it's all based on circumstantial evidence. It makes you really question if you can trust the system. Watch it with caution as it can be harrowing.
  
Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
2019 | Action, Sci-Fi
Great actors (2 more)
Amazing cinematography
Best sfx in marvel since Dr Strange
Twist you can see coming if you know the characters (0 more)
Swinging success
No spoilers. Just a quick review this time round. I really enjoyed this film, it works well with the tone of MCU post Endgame.

The cinematography is amazing and very well do. Worth paying extra to watch in IMAX. All the actors perform their characters outstanding and Jake Gyllnhall is amazing as Mysterio. Showing again another Interesting marvel character in a newer MCU light.

There are plenty of laughs as there have always been with spidey on the big screen. There is just something about Holland that makes him the perfect Spider-man, cheeky and awkward, noble and cocky. Just enough broodiness to be relatable. Unlike certain other animal theme super heroes (not Ant-Man).

Marvel however like DC do love a good old nod to the past and fans of the Raimi Trilogy will get a kick of the mid credits scene.

All I can say is bring on phase 4, on and marvel/ Disney give us the pairing we all want. Holland and Reynolds
  
It: Chapter Two (2019)
It: Chapter Two (2019)
2019 | Horror, Thriller
Skarsgard, the losers (0 more)
the funs just beginning
Contains spoilers, click to show
Im not usually a big horror movie lover, but having watched the IT double bill, i can say im getting more accustomed to the strange pleasure that a horror can bring. Bill skarsgard is honestly terrifying as pennywise. As the movie follows on from the first installment, youd expect a slow introduction onto how the kids have all grown up. But the movie surprised me by diving in early with a quite brutal scene that highlights some of the deep seated issues of the Derry folk. As with the first movie Pennywise wastes no time making an appearance. Some of the scenes in this movie were quite shocking even when you expect whats about to happen because of the way the suspense is built. One of my favourite things about this movie is the way it is actually hilarious, there are so many funny moments it keeps you off balance. The effects were so unsettling with how good they were. No tacky CGI here, its top notch. Also the best cameo ive seen in a long time. Overall a very good movie which i thoroughly enjoyed even though it was quite long.
  
Whispers and Wings (Brodyr Alarch #6)
Whispers and Wings (Brodyr Alarch #6)
Morgan Sheppard | 2026 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
OUTSTANDING!
I was gifted my copy of this book.

Gimme a few, ok? Cos it's taken me two days to get to this point after finishing and for me to come down, so if this review runs away with itself, I'm-a sorry, ok??

THis is book 6, the FINAL book in the Brodyr Alarch series. Now, I will say all the other 5 books can be read as stand alone books, within the series, and reading the prequel novel, Sealed with A Curse would be helpful, but not strictly necessary. HOWEVER, for THIS book, I think it's necessary to read Sealed first. It will give you the full scope of Gerallt's cruelty to Selene, and how his wing came to be. Because you don't get a full recap here, just hints as to what he did.

And you need that, because this book is heavy!

You can feel Gerallt's guilt about what he did, right from the start and you can feel the pressure he puts himself under. You can feel that pain he feels, every time he looks at Selene and remembers what he did to her. She has long since forgiven him and all the brothers, but Gerallt was the eldest, the instigator, and he knows that he can never atone for his sins, even after he paid his dues via the curse and it was lifted.

What this book is, my dear peeps, is a masterclass in keeping your writing head on, while everything else goes to pot, and actually being able to do Gerallt justice, because Lord knows the man needs his happy ever after!

I found myself crying for Gerallt in places, and Aderyn too, but not as much as Gerallt. When you find out how he judges himself, and what he did, it's painful reading. Aderyn lost a lot when her friend betrayed her, and you feel her pain too, but not as keenly as Gerallt.

I think, I've been waiting for Gerallt for so very long, so very VERY long, now I've finished his story, I want to cry from him all over again. It's taken him 24 years to get to this point, and now he has to make a decision.

I'm not going to tell you his decision, but I will tell you this: when he says those words, you feel the weight lifting off him, almost seeing it coming off the page, it's THAT powerful a scene. Honestly? I had to keep putting this down and coming back to it, because Gerallt pain for nearly all of the book is palapable, you can taste it.

There's no smex in this book, I don't think Aderyn and Gerallt even kiss, but there is so much emotion! So very much emotion, I'm getting emotional writing this review!

This book is full of Ms Sheppard's skill at describing things: people, places, things. She manages to enable you to see, so very clearly, what she is talking about. Example: when talking about the glamour on the castle, you can see it shifting the light slightly, shifting what people see. It's quite a skill!

I don't add books lightly to my Masterpiece shelf, and this is the third book I have added to that shelf in 3 weeks! But I must. I cannot NOT add it, because I think, given the wait for this book, it had the opportunity to be a diappointment and it really is quite the opposite.

This book is OUTSTANDING!!

But Lord now I'm sad. Sad because all the brothers have their happy ever after, Selene and Conway are happy with their family, and the Gods are happy, that Their subjects are happy, but it breaks my heart because this is the last time I'll be reading about these people!

Anyway, I told you this might run away with itself, and it did, so I'm wrapping this up, before I go and spoiler alert you!

The other books in the series have all been 4 or 5 stars, but this one?? Far surpasses any of those books and by a long mile.

5 full and shiny, but very VERY sad stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
A thoroughly enjoyable and informative book which brings the history of Highclere to life in energetic and engaging story telling.

Initially, the author shows their 'upper class' voice a little too often but as the story progresses and you begin to engage more with the people involved, it becomes less obvious, therefore making the book much more easy to read and enjoyable.

As an avid Downton Abbey fan from day one, I was engrossed with learning the true history of the actual house, and can honestly say that the connections between Downton and Highclere are not limited to merely the house. The Carnavons are a wonderful and very energetic family with fingers in so many pies and so rich a history that they truly deserve the accolade this book should give them. They do not come across as typical aristocrats at all, rather 'real' human beings who are committed to the improvement in lifestyle of all they are connected with, true philanthropists and dedicated historians.

I can honestly say that this book reads like a fiction story, and you have to pinch yourself at times to realise that these were real people who lived and breathed and carried out all of these wonderful acts. Truly, it is a fantastic read which is fully deserving of more than 5 stars and something that anyone interested in either Downton, late Victorian/early Edwardian society, the First World War and it's aftermath, or even the tomb of Tutankhamen should most definitely add to their 'to read' list.
  
American Gods
American Gods
Neil Gaiman | 2005 | Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy
I could live in this book
Contains spoilers, click to show
Short and to the point:

From start to finish I just did not want to put down American Gods, I just always really enjoy Gaiman's writing style he manages to create a world within a world that just feels so effortless and downright real. Their are so many amazing characters and most of them I just wanted more of, also with the amount of character we have we really get something that we never do and that is people of color represented and it is WONDERFUL .This is one of those few books that as soon as I was finished I wanted to turn it over and start reading again.

Characters:

Shadow Moon - I could wax poetics about Shadow, he was quiet and kind of dry and usually that would have me think a character is kind of boring but just not with Shadow he drew me and made me fall in love. It was a so a happy surprise to have a main protagonist who is a person of color which is something that is need so much nowadays.
Laura – I really loved how Laura was handled, most characters who died the way she did would have been either thrown aside or made to be hated but that is not the case here, I love how she helps Shadow and her love for him really comes through but also that we do see her as her own person.
Mr. Wednesday - What can I say about Wednesday besides from the moment you meet him I don't trust him but like Shadow I can't help what wanting to follow him where he's taking me.
The Gods - even though there are a lot and I mean a lot of characters throughout the book I found myself never feeling overwhelmed by them Gaiman really found a way to give them all a voice but in no way overshadow the plot or any of the other characters.

Plot:

We meet Shadow a few days before his release from prison he is taken into the wardens office to me given the devastating new that his wife Laura had been killed, when he is released from prison he meets a strange man know as Mr. Wednesday who offers Shadow a job to accompany him across America so he can recruit others to fight in an upcoming war, The Old Gods vs. The New Gods.

The story takes you to so many places and you meet so many just unique characters I love the differences between the gods how the old are left to do what they have to service feeding off of any belief they can get and how the new gods aren't at all what I thought I was going to be getting because let's face it there are not as many religious gods any more instead we worship TV and technology the way the Greeks worshiped the gods of Olympus.

Personal thoughts:

I could not get enough of American Gods even though the book was pretty hefty and it took me sometime to finish I still wanted more, Gaiman just creates such a wonderful and unique worlds that I could stay lost in them forever.