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David McK (3251 KP) rated Spider-Man: Hostile Takeover in Books
Jul 21, 2019
Mention the words Spider-man, and I'm sure the first thing most people think of is the Marvel comics.
Maybe closely followed by the 70s TV series or 90s cartoon, and the more recent big-screen outings.
What I'm pretty sure is not commonly thought of, however, is a Spider-Man prose novel, which is exactly what this is, alongside being a prequel tie-in to the really-rather-enjoyable 2018 PS4 game.
That game - and, by extension - this novel, sees Peter Parker roughly already 7 or 8 years into his career as Spider-man, with the novel serving to set up the entry levels into the game in which (no spoilers) Spider-Man takes on Wilson Fisk aka The Kingpin of Crime, and showing how he got to have his contact in the police force Yuri Wattanabe (sp?)
Maybe closely followed by the 70s TV series or 90s cartoon, and the more recent big-screen outings.
What I'm pretty sure is not commonly thought of, however, is a Spider-Man prose novel, which is exactly what this is, alongside being a prequel tie-in to the really-rather-enjoyable 2018 PS4 game.
That game - and, by extension - this novel, sees Peter Parker roughly already 7 or 8 years into his career as Spider-man, with the novel serving to set up the entry levels into the game in which (no spoilers) Spider-Man takes on Wilson Fisk aka The Kingpin of Crime, and showing how he got to have his contact in the police force Yuri Wattanabe (sp?)
Alec Baldwin recommended The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) in Movies (curated)
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990) in Movies
Dec 22, 2020
Gremlins Take Over The Big Apple
Gremlins 2: The New Batch- is a good sequel. Its still has its dark humor, comedy, horror and of course many gremlins. And you cant not forgot about Hulk Hogan, yes you read that right Hulk Hogan is in this. And the horror legend and icon Christopher Lee is also in this.
The plot: The magical collectibles store that Gizmo calls home has just been destroyed, and the tiny monster finds his way into a newly erected skyscraper. Billy Peltzer (Zach Galligan) and his bride-to-be, Kate (Phoebe Cates), who have previously dealt with Gremlins run amok, discover that Gizmo and an impish legion of reptilian pals are inhabiting the downtown building. The couple tries to stop the creatures from escaping into New York City, but this new batch of beasts might be uncontrollable.
Like the first film, Gremlins 2: The New Batch is a live-action horror comedy film; however, Dante put effort into taking the sequel in new anarchistic directions. The film is meant to be more cartoon-like and less dark than the original, with slapstick violence, so the film received a PG-13 rating by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). There are also a number of parodies of other films and stories, including Gremlins itself, the Rambo films, The Wizard of Oz, Marathon Man and The Phantom of the Opera.
Along with the main plot, there is animation by Chuck Jones in the film featuring the Looney Tunes characters Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Porky Pig. Jones had actually quit animation before returning to work on Gremlins 2: The New Batch.Dante explained the animation at the beginning of the film was meant to "set the anarchic tone."
The first scene appears at the very beginning of the movie, and features the classic Looney Tunes opening card, causing people to assume it is the short cartoon that usually plays before a movie begins; however, when Bugs appears through the rings on top of the Warner Bros. shield, Daffy interrupts the intro, and steals the shield from Bugs. Daffy attempts to recreate the opening with himself in Bugs' place, but the shield overshoots, causing the entire title card to fall apart. Daffy surrenders the stardom, claiming that since he will not star in the cartoon, they might as well just skip straight to the movie. Bugs is willing to do so, and spins Daffy off screen like a spinning top for the movie title to appear.
The DVD and Blu-ray include a longer version of the cartoon short. In it, Daffy is informed by Bugs that he has been promoted to executive and is subsequently put in charge writing the title of the movie. When Daffy mistakenly writes the title Gremlins 2 as "Gremlin Stew", Bugs corrects the error. Daffy then attempts to rename the film The Return of Super-Daffy Meets Gremlins 2 Part 6: The Movie, but Bugs rejects this for being too long, changing it back to Gremlins 2 (rendered in the font of the official logo). Daffy then quits his new job and Bugs decides to add in the subtitle, saying it looks "a little skimpy". This material was removed from the film because early audiences expected a live-action film and were bewildered by the lengthy animated sequence.
Throughout the film's closing credits, Daffy pops into frame sporadically and spouts off sarcastic comments. The last scene appears after the credits, and again features the Looney Tunes rings. This time, Porky comes out of the rings and tries to say his usual "Th-th-th-that's all, folks!" However, Daffy interrupts again and takes over. After Daffy says the slogan, the back of the Warner Bros. shield, with the words, "Title Animation Written & Directed by Chuck Jones (with Chuck Jones' signature)", smashes him. He peeks his head out to the left side and says, "Fade out," and the segment ends.
Its a good film.
The plot: The magical collectibles store that Gizmo calls home has just been destroyed, and the tiny monster finds his way into a newly erected skyscraper. Billy Peltzer (Zach Galligan) and his bride-to-be, Kate (Phoebe Cates), who have previously dealt with Gremlins run amok, discover that Gizmo and an impish legion of reptilian pals are inhabiting the downtown building. The couple tries to stop the creatures from escaping into New York City, but this new batch of beasts might be uncontrollable.
Like the first film, Gremlins 2: The New Batch is a live-action horror comedy film; however, Dante put effort into taking the sequel in new anarchistic directions. The film is meant to be more cartoon-like and less dark than the original, with slapstick violence, so the film received a PG-13 rating by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). There are also a number of parodies of other films and stories, including Gremlins itself, the Rambo films, The Wizard of Oz, Marathon Man and The Phantom of the Opera.
Along with the main plot, there is animation by Chuck Jones in the film featuring the Looney Tunes characters Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Porky Pig. Jones had actually quit animation before returning to work on Gremlins 2: The New Batch.Dante explained the animation at the beginning of the film was meant to "set the anarchic tone."
The first scene appears at the very beginning of the movie, and features the classic Looney Tunes opening card, causing people to assume it is the short cartoon that usually plays before a movie begins; however, when Bugs appears through the rings on top of the Warner Bros. shield, Daffy interrupts the intro, and steals the shield from Bugs. Daffy attempts to recreate the opening with himself in Bugs' place, but the shield overshoots, causing the entire title card to fall apart. Daffy surrenders the stardom, claiming that since he will not star in the cartoon, they might as well just skip straight to the movie. Bugs is willing to do so, and spins Daffy off screen like a spinning top for the movie title to appear.
The DVD and Blu-ray include a longer version of the cartoon short. In it, Daffy is informed by Bugs that he has been promoted to executive and is subsequently put in charge writing the title of the movie. When Daffy mistakenly writes the title Gremlins 2 as "Gremlin Stew", Bugs corrects the error. Daffy then attempts to rename the film The Return of Super-Daffy Meets Gremlins 2 Part 6: The Movie, but Bugs rejects this for being too long, changing it back to Gremlins 2 (rendered in the font of the official logo). Daffy then quits his new job and Bugs decides to add in the subtitle, saying it looks "a little skimpy". This material was removed from the film because early audiences expected a live-action film and were bewildered by the lengthy animated sequence.
Throughout the film's closing credits, Daffy pops into frame sporadically and spouts off sarcastic comments. The last scene appears after the credits, and again features the Looney Tunes rings. This time, Porky comes out of the rings and tries to say his usual "Th-th-th-that's all, folks!" However, Daffy interrupts again and takes over. After Daffy says the slogan, the back of the Warner Bros. shield, with the words, "Title Animation Written & Directed by Chuck Jones (with Chuck Jones' signature)", smashes him. He peeks his head out to the left side and says, "Fade out," and the segment ends.
Its a good film.
Night Reader Reviews (683 KP) rated Bendy and the Ink Machine in Video Games
Jan 28, 2020 (Updated Jan 28, 2020)
Amazing game
Ok, I have never played this game myself but I have watched it being played. I know that's not quite the same thing but I'll take what I can get. Anyway, not flat out scary but definitely creepy enough to keep even big gamers interested. It has a strong plot with unexpected twists all over the place. Once the game is over there are still so many theories as to what happened because the developers did such an awesome job of layering on just enough facts to get people thinking.
The artwork reminds me of Betty Boop meets Steam Boat Willie (not sure is I should know those references but hey I grew up with oldies lol). Even the music and the way the characters move look like an older cartoon. Can't say anything about the controls but I still find myself in love with this game.
The artwork reminds me of Betty Boop meets Steam Boat Willie (not sure is I should know those references but hey I grew up with oldies lol). Even the music and the way the characters move look like an older cartoon. Can't say anything about the controls but I still find myself in love with this game.
JoyKilla (6 KP) rated Justice League (2017) in Movies
Dec 5, 2017
Justice Beer League
Contains spoilers, click to show
What should have been an epic film for the decade fell flat on many levels. I got burned out with the whole superhero theme a while back. So I may have brought a little heat into the burning fire.
They took nearly 4 hours of a film and cut into barely 2 hours. Imagine the editing room floor for just a moment. So much was cut in this movie and seemed so choppy. You can see the edits that most try to hide. The bad guy of the film looked straight out of a cartoon. Which wouldn't be bad if everyone else wasn't portrayed to be a real life character.
It's a good popcorn family flick but for fanboys who have waited years for this movie will be greatly saddened.
They took nearly 4 hours of a film and cut into barely 2 hours. Imagine the editing room floor for just a moment. So much was cut in this movie and seemed so choppy. You can see the edits that most try to hide. The bad guy of the film looked straight out of a cartoon. Which wouldn't be bad if everyone else wasn't portrayed to be a real life character.
It's a good popcorn family flick but for fanboys who have waited years for this movie will be greatly saddened.
RəX Regent (349 KP) rated Dumbo (1941) in Movies
Mar 7, 2019
The cartoon returns...
Contains spoilers, click to show
I was never the biggest fan of this one, having seen it to death as a child. "Dumbo" was in many ways regarded as a lesser Disney classic, never really treated with the same regard as "Pinocchio", "Snow White" or "Bambi". But as I continue to work my way through this studio's classics, I am more than pleasantly surprised to rediscover this gem.
With a short running time of 64 minutes, which must barely qualify as film, this was the most cartoonish Disney feature of this era that I had seen, definitely not to the same higher brow animation standards of the afore-mentioned, but funnier and more enjoyable, without a doubt.
The little engine that could humour and the overall concept, being more zany that its counterparts help this stand out and being a much more entertaining piece of cinema than I had originally given it credit for. Not the greatest animation in history, but fun none the less.
With a short running time of 64 minutes, which must barely qualify as film, this was the most cartoonish Disney feature of this era that I had seen, definitely not to the same higher brow animation standards of the afore-mentioned, but funnier and more enjoyable, without a doubt.
The little engine that could humour and the overall concept, being more zany that its counterparts help this stand out and being a much more entertaining piece of cinema than I had originally given it credit for. Not the greatest animation in history, but fun none the less.
Well, now, that was ... unusual.
Unusual in that I don't think I've ever come across history told in such a manner before.
And, I have to say: I think it worked.
This tells the life story of Manfred von Richtohofen, otherwise (and perhaps more famously) known as The Red Baron - a German ace during the infancy of flight, and of warfare in the air (during The Great War, or World War One as it would later become known).
While it does, perhaps, gloss over the more horrific aspects of the war in the air (no parachutes,with the planes being death-traps, and with Richtohofens policy of aiming for the pilot rather than the plane) I have to say that I did learn more from this than I was already aware of - and no, unlike some of my American counterparts, my knowledge of him did NOT come from the Peanuts (right? isn't that the one with Snoopy?) cartoon!
Unusual in that I don't think I've ever come across history told in such a manner before.
And, I have to say: I think it worked.
This tells the life story of Manfred von Richtohofen, otherwise (and perhaps more famously) known as The Red Baron - a German ace during the infancy of flight, and of warfare in the air (during The Great War, or World War One as it would later become known).
While it does, perhaps, gloss over the more horrific aspects of the war in the air (no parachutes,with the planes being death-traps, and with Richtohofens policy of aiming for the pilot rather than the plane) I have to say that I did learn more from this than I was already aware of - and no, unlike some of my American counterparts, my knowledge of him did NOT come from the Peanuts (right? isn't that the one with Snoopy?) cartoon!
Deborah (162 KP) rated Belinda Goes to Bath (Travelling Matchmaker, #2) in Books
Dec 21, 2018
Belinda Goes to Bath is the second in the Travelling Matchmaker series. I really enjoyed the first, Emily Goes to Exeter, but I think I actually have to give the preference overall to this second volume. Emily was quite difficult to like to start with but Belinda is much nicer, although the second hero isn't perhaps quite so dashing...
The cartoon-style covers of these new editions really suit the tone of the books I think. They are fun and lighthearted and some of the characters a bit too 'larger than life' to be real - the unpleasant Penelope in this book really is rather horrid!
This book has a bit of everything; romance adventure, out-and-out villany and of course a mad aunt who really does have bats in her belfry; great stuff!
Now I'm off to Portsmouth with Penelope (not the one from this volume, fortunately!) and Miss Hannah Pym!
The cartoon-style covers of these new editions really suit the tone of the books I think. They are fun and lighthearted and some of the characters a bit too 'larger than life' to be real - the unpleasant Penelope in this book really is rather horrid!
This book has a bit of everything; romance adventure, out-and-out villany and of course a mad aunt who really does have bats in her belfry; great stuff!
Now I'm off to Portsmouth with Penelope (not the one from this volume, fortunately!) and Miss Hannah Pym!
Bob Mann (459 KP) rated Dora and the Lost City of Gold (2019) in Movies
Sep 8, 2019
A fun family movie.
Here’s a film that is not trying to be anything other than a fun and much needed summer outing for families. Disney used to do this sort of live-action family film thing so well in the 70’s and 80’s, before they got obsessed with pointless recreations of their cartoon classics.
The director is James Bobin, who’s formerly directed a number of the Muppet movies, and this movie breathes with the same sense of anarchic fun without being too up itself.
The film occasionally makes you cringe, with some dreadfully (and deliberately) naff songs, but I enjoyed it and for the right audience (kids 8 to 12) I think they’ll have a blast.
For the full review please check out One Mann's Movies here - https://bob-the-movie-man.com/2019/08/24/one-manns-movies-film-review-dora-and-the-lost-city-of-gold-2019/
The director is James Bobin, who’s formerly directed a number of the Muppet movies, and this movie breathes with the same sense of anarchic fun without being too up itself.
The film occasionally makes you cringe, with some dreadfully (and deliberately) naff songs, but I enjoyed it and for the right audience (kids 8 to 12) I think they’ll have a blast.
For the full review please check out One Mann's Movies here - https://bob-the-movie-man.com/2019/08/24/one-manns-movies-film-review-dora-and-the-lost-city-of-gold-2019/
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Meet the Fockers (2004) in Movies
Mar 9, 2022
Meet the Fockers is a less subtle, and far more slapstick affair than the first film, and it's just not as tight. It's comedy relies a little too much on callbacks to Meet the Parents and a lot of the characters are extremely cartoon-y, however, and perhaps most importantly, it's still a good time.
Barbara Streisand and Dustin Hoffman are welcome additions as the Focker parents, and their liberal lifestyle works at odds with Jack Byrne's uptight nature. It provides the bulk of the funny moments this time around.
The plot is essentially the same as the first film, just set in Miami, and as such follows a predictable beat, but it's a safe one that provides an easy watch, backed by some reliably pleasant Randy Newman music.
An inferior sequel then, but one that serves its purpose. An easy re-watch option for when you've been scrolling through Netflix for far too long.
Barbara Streisand and Dustin Hoffman are welcome additions as the Focker parents, and their liberal lifestyle works at odds with Jack Byrne's uptight nature. It provides the bulk of the funny moments this time around.
The plot is essentially the same as the first film, just set in Miami, and as such follows a predictable beat, but it's a safe one that provides an easy watch, backed by some reliably pleasant Randy Newman music.
An inferior sequel then, but one that serves its purpose. An easy re-watch option for when you've been scrolling through Netflix for far too long.